Transparently Speaking

Send us Fan Mail From challenging gender norms (e.g., boys don't cry) to exploring gender inclusive language, join Joy and Diana as they explore the opportunity for greater awareness and language shifts to create a better world.  Listen in to hear about mistakes they've made in assuming gender pronouns and misgendering individuals, and how they are working diligently to practice a langua...

Send us Fan Mail Hear how Joy and Diana have navigated health care offices to help them affirm their children. They discuss their experiences before and after a legal name change. They also share some obstacles they have faced along the way. If you’re taking something away from our podcast, we’d appreciate it if you’d subscribe and/or take a moment to provide us a review; the more listeners and re...

Send us Fan Mail In episode 29, Diana and Joy explore their preparations for and experiences with transgender travel. Listen as Diana prepares for Clark’s journey to Israel, and as both Diana and Joy reflect on learnings and approaches, including getting through TSA (Transportation Security Administration), navigating legal and preferred names, considering carry letters and safe folders, updating...

Send us Fan Mail This is the second of the two-part series in celebration of Father’s Day. Joy and Diana reflect on the essential and supportive role their husbands have played in the lives of their kids, and interview their husbands to allow these two men an opportunity to share their story, experience, and wisdom with listeners.  In part 2, Diana interviews her husband,  Arthur to explore his jo...

Send us Fan Mail Joy and Diana kick off a two-part series in celebration of Father’s Day; they reflect on the essential and supportive role their husbands have played in the lives of their kids, and interview their husbands to allow these two men an opportunity to share their story, experience, and wisdom with listeners.  In part 1, Joy interviews her husband Hugh to explore his journey and unders...

Send us Fan Mail Join Diana and Joy in gratitude and celebration - one year of podcasting, and many years of pride celebration ahead!  This episode reflects on a few pioneers who have inspired us, and ends with a note of hope and love, dedicated to any and all children who may not be surrounded by the support of their loved ones.    If you’re taking something away from our podcast, we’d appreciate...

Send us Fan Mail Diana answers listeners' questions about the testosterone journey episodes. Joy discusses where Samantha is on her path to start estrogen. Diana and Joy discuss the requirements to start cross-sex hormones and their concerns.  If you’re taking something away from our podcast, we’d appreciate it if you’d subscribe and/or take a moment to  provide us a review; the more listener...

Send us Fan Mail In episode 24, Joy and Diana explore the hesitance behind sharing episode 23 - A (Testosterone) Path Less Talked About , which had been recorded nearly 6 months prior to posting.  Diana identifies her fears and also shares why she ultimately decided to share her experience.  This episode also provides insight into how both Joy and Diana invite their children to openly explore thei...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, Diana speaks candidly about Clark’s journey with Testosterone.   Join us to learn about Clark's early experience with gender-affirming hormone therapy;  it is a narrative not often heard, and it's filled with pain and joy.  Listen as Diana witnesses Clark come to know himself fully.  If you’re taking something away from our podcast, we’d appreciate it if...

Send us Fan Mail Diana interviews her 82-year old dad to discuss his experience with his grandkid’s transition. Join us to hear his thoughts and how he approaches acceptance.  This episode was recorded remotely and although sound quality is not optimal, the quality of content is superb. A very special thanks to Abuelo. If you’re taking something away from our podcast, we’d appreciate it if you’d s...

Send us Fan Mail Diana and Joy share how they are experiencing recent anti-trans legislation.  Efforts underway include: 1) bans on affirming healthcare for transgender youth, 2) the Texas governor’s order to investigate gender-affirming care (and parenting) as possible child abuse.  Listen as we voice our vulnerability and concerns. This was recorded prior to courts halting the order in Texas. Th...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, we discuss some of the initial questions we were asked when our children transitioned. By reflecting, we look at the reasons and meanings that may be behind the questions. Our hope is to learn, and never to judge.  If you’re taking something away from our podcast, we’d appreciate it if you’d subscribe and/or  take a moment to  provide us a review; the more listene...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, Diana and Joy explore the distinction between privacy and secrecy, and the concepts of shame vs. empowerment.  We grapple with the question of our role in our children’s choice to be undisclosed, and we explore whether our focus on safety negatively influenced their sense of self.  Join us to hear more about our perspective on the risk of disclosure, and our belie...

Send us Fan Mail Join Diana and Joy as we explore privacy boundaries to support our children of trans-experience; in this episode we reflect on how we set expectations that siblings are not to talk about or mention anything related to their brother or sister being transgender. We distinguish between talking openly within the family about our transgender children’s transition and require confidenti...

Send us Fan Mail In episode 17 we explore how cosmetics (makeup and nails) have been part of both of our children's journeys. We also explore our own feelings around this aspect of our child's journey, and get curious about how our emotions and experience were impacted by the fact that they are children of trans-experience. If you’re taking something away from our podcast, we’d appreciat...

Send us Fan Mail Diana shares her experience of talking with educators about using non-binary language.  Joy and Diana both express the challenge in learning and building new habits, and the importance of inclusive language expression.   Gendered language is very often habitual; we discuss how it can perpetuate inaccurate assumptions and how conscious use of language is essential for identity vali...

Send us Fan Mail In Episode 15, we explore the role that hair played in our children’s journey of living their true self.  Of note, the definition of “gender expression” is “the external ways in which a person expresses their gender identity to the world, such as through their behavior, emotions, style of dress, hairstyle, makeup, interests, or choice of toys, colors, or activities“ (from https://...

Send us Fan Mail Join Diana and Joy in exploring their experience of loneliness on the journey of supporting their children.  In episode 14, we come to greater self-awareness regarding a sense of space and place, specifically recognizing how essential the experience of community is for us in feeling supported. Episode 14 references the movie Boys Don’t Cry (1999).  This article summarizes the divi...

Send us Fan Mail In episode 13, Diana and Joy share their experience navigating holiday cards after transition.  We share the thoughts and considerations that went into our decisions, and Joy reads an excerpt from her family’s first holiday card following Samantha’s transition.   The discussion naturally extends to family photos on display in the home, and we explore the thoughts and feelings surr...

Send us Fan Mail Joy shares details from Samantha’s most recent Endocrine Clinic visit, in which they seek to understand what is needed to prepare Samantha for feminizing hormone therapy.  The intent is to avoid male secondary sex characteristics (e.g., increased body hair, changes in voice pitch, etc.). Feminizing hormone therapy is also known as gender-affirming hormone therapy.  If you’re takin...

Send us Fan Mail Diana navigates emotional conflict in episode 11.  Diana seeks to protect Dinah yet maintain relationships when her mother (Dinah’s grandma) resists recognizing Dinah’s gender identity. This episode was recorded in two parts.  The first part was recorded a year ago, when Diana first experienced her mother’s resistance to recognizing Dinah’s gender. The second part provides listene...

Send us Fan Mail In our 10th episode, Diana shares her experience with Dinah’s first days of school. We cover tips for communicating a child’s gender identity with parents and students, and we continue to navigate disclosure and privacy considerations for our young children.   Episode 10 references the following resources: "Red: A Crayon’s Story" by Michael Hall "It Feels Good to Be...

Send us Fan Mail In episode 9 we head back in time to explore our concerns and considerations in deciding to launch this podcast.  The recording is unscripted, and in-the-moment as we face our fears and prepare ourselves to place our families and our stories in the public eye.  If you’re taking something away from our podcast, we’d appreciate it if you’d subscribe and/or  take a moment to  provide...

Send us Fan Mail Episode 8 provides additional guidance for those on the journey of engaging with school administrators and teachers during and after transition.  This episode is focused on disclosure, and Diana and Joy’s approach (and how it’s changed) in regard to engaging schools and making requests to support their transgender children.    If you’re taking something away from our podcast, we’d...

Send us Fan Mail Episode 7 provides guidance to consider how to engage your child and the school during the process of transition.  We cover key topics including: name and pronoun changes, bathrooms and facilities, and misgendering.  Here are the resources mentioned in the podcast: Welcoming Schools  https://welcomingschools.org/ Schools in Transition http://assets2.hrc.org/files/assets/resources/...