A Life Lived Trans

In this episode of A Life Lived Trans, Mardi P. and Lenny Z. sit down with activist Shannon Axe for a candid, heartfelt, and often funny conversation about growing up as a transgender child long before most people had even heard the term. Shannon shares stories from her childhood in Colorado, coming out at age seven, and finding herself at the center of a national media storm simply for wanting to...

In this episode of "A Life Lived Trans," hosts MahD and Lenny Z celebrate a historic moment as Qween Jean becomes the first trans woman to win a Tony Award for costume design. The episode is filled with discussions on Pride Month, the importance of trans visibility, and the ongoing fight for LGBTQ+ rights. The hosts share personal stories, including Mardi's last Pride Parade experience and the imp...

Most people believe Pride is just a celebration, but for many, and Today more than ever, it’s a Protest! A powerful act of resistance and affirmation—especially in places where being queer or trans still faces fierce opposition.  In this heartfelt episode our hosts Mardi and Lenny share raw, inspiring stories from their journeys—navigating love, politics, and community acceptance in a world still...

Mardi and Lenny, two trans elders carrying over a century of lived experience, open their hearts about the realities facing the trans community today. The episode centers on the devastating violence claiming trans lives. Trans women of color face the most brutal violence, often from intimate partners. They honor Erica Caldwell, Aliana Royal Bechdel, Devonta Curtis, and Shael Diamond Sanchez McCrae...

Join trans elders Mardi P. and Lenny Z. as they bring nearly 100 years of collective lived experience to the table in this deeply personal episode. Recording from their favourite spot – the elder folx house. This week, they're getting real about aging parents, health challenges, and the importance of self-care and boundaries. They dive into Canadian citizenship fast-tracking options for trans Amer...

On this episode of A Life Lived Trans, Alexandra Billings drops by in all her hilarious glory and discusses together with Mardi P. and Lenny Z., the need for connection and understanding between trans generations and the significance of sharing experiences of acceptance and resilience.  Show notes: Russo, Why We Fight (1988): https://youtu.be/C0Q8p0HCQEs?si=s4jJCAQbHyXcXYSO The AIDS Monument: http...

Season three, episode 12 of A Life Lived Trans opens with hosts Mardi P. and Lenny Z. checking in personally before diving into a packed agenda. Lenny shares that he's navigating some difficult family struggles, which leads to a warm exchange about the complexity of family relationships for trans people — estrangement, boundaries, and the particular pain of having unsupportive family members, incl...

Mardi and Lenny open the episode with their signature irreverent energy, welcoming new Patreon supporters and giving a shoutout to their editor "Sparkly Fairy" for elevating the show's production quality.  They reflect on why they started the podcast — to counter the false narrative that trans people are a recent phenomenon — sharing how both men and women transitioned in the 1970s and have watche...

In this deeply moving episode, hosts MahD and Lenny Z sit down with guest Justin A. for an intimate and wide-ranging conversation about life, identity, and resilience. Justin opens up about his personal journey of self-discovery and acceptance — a path marked by courage, reflection, and an unwavering sense of self. The conversation takes an honest look at the realities many trans individuals face...

Honey, pull up a chair — this one has got everything: psychiatry, policy and community celebration. Between them, Mardi and Lenny carry nearly a hundred years of a life lived trans – through the decades when there were no words for it and no roadmaps. Just persistence, instinct and an absolute refusal to disappear. This episode opens with a listener message from a mother navigating her four-year-o...

In this provocative episode, Mardi and Lenny peel back the layers of the current political landscape, from Minnesota’s legal battles to global efforts to erase trans identities.  They share candid stories from recent activist efforts in Kelowna and reflect on their decades of experience living through transformative times in the trans community.  Discover how undercover agendas, media manipulation...

In this episode of A Life Lived Trans, hosts Mardi P. and Lenny Z. welcome internet sensations Shay and Amanda Scott — a couple whose love story began in a tight-knit Mormon community, wound through decades of friendship and faith, and ultimately blossomed into something beautifully unexpected. Shay came out to Amanda as transgender about seven years ago, and the two navigated that journey togethe...

In this episode we dive into the complexities of gender identity and the freedom that comes with embracing fluidity over binary thinking. Drawing on candid personal stories and sharp cultural commentary, we explore how fear of losing privilege drives societal backlash against inclusion — and why the push for acceptance is inseparable from the pursuit of authenticity. We talk about the recent groun...

In this episode Mardi and Lenny explore the trans experience from a parental perspective with Joy and Diana from the Transparently Speaking podcast. These parents stories are filled with strength, unconditional love and the lengths we have to go through in today’s America. This generational discussion of trans childhood history is a required listen. Links: Transparently Speaking podcast: https://t...

In this episode Mardi P. and Lenny Z. begin with a guided breathing before diving into current events affecting the trans community. They recommend alternative news sources in light of mainstream media's decline, call out widespread shadow-banning of queer content on social media, and revisit the Kansas driver's license law. They also call out Lyft's "trans joy" discount as performative rainbow ca...

In Episode 3 of Season 3 of A Life Live Trans, we kick things off with Wizard of Oz banter before diving into the big topics of the day. Our main focus is the alarming (but potentially overhyped) news about Kansas attempting to invalidate transgender people's IDs and driver's licenses. Drawing on a community contact in Texas, we find out Kansas has tried and failed to enforce similar legislation b...

In this lively episode of A Life Lived Trans, Mardi and Lenny—self-declared trans elders with nearly a century of combined wisdom—tackle the “trans tropes” that make their eyeballs roll clear out of their heads. With sharp wit and plenty of sidebars, they call out myths like “trans people are mentally unstable,” the backhanded compliment of “I never would have known,” and the rigid gender rules th...

Mardi and Lenny open up about their journeys through aging, health scares, and the ongoing fight for visibility, sharing stories that will inspire you to stand tall despite the chaos. Unlock the surprising truth behind how resilience, humor, and authenticity can transform the challenges of the trans community into powerful stories of hope. When facing societal intolerance, personal health crises,...

Staying centered isn’t about escaping life—it’s about knowing what to do when one of your wheels comes flying off at 60 miles an hour. It’s about meeting life exactly where you are, breath by breath. This short pre-break episode is a grounded, heartfelt exploration of mindfulness and meditation as lived practices. We try to use humor, honesty, and hard-earned insight as trans elders to demonstrate...

From 70s transitions to "yoga granny tata’s ," trans elders Mardi P. and Lenny Z. have seen it all—and their eyeballs actually ache from the view. This week, the duo tackles "political pick-me's," the anatomy of Quebec’s prison laws, and why you should never get breast implants. It’s raw, it’s radical, and it’s served with a side of Annie Sprinkle-inspired glitter. If you think the world is going...

Join Lenny Z and MahD as they delve into the profound connections between nature, community, and personal healing. In this episode, they discuss the wisdom of indigenous cultures, the sentience of plants, and the transformative power of meditation. Tune in for a journey through the ancient rainforests of Vancouver Island and discover how embracing interconnectedness can lead to resilience and peac...

Is Toxic Inclusivity really a thing? Or is it just more "pick me" fodder? Lenny and Mardi go deep into the fear sweeping the trans community triggered by some current viral events caught on tape at several Planet Fitness locations. Digging into LGBT history they discuss how being marginalized has left us to connect in unsafe places. Has this suppression by society continued to stunt us in acting o...

What a journey it has been to navigate healthcare for Lenny and Mardi thru these last, almost 100 collective years! Lenny talks about meeting progressive doctors in the 1970s, while Mardi's shares surviving the more common and dangerous DIY journey of the streets for transition needs. They also discuss ageing and trans healthcare and how they are still teaching the medical establishment because no...

In this shorter holiday episode Lenny and Mardi discuss the importance of sharing personal stories to combat misinformation and the documented tactics used by anti-trans groups.  Through humor and candid reflections, they highlight the ongoing struggle for acceptance and understanding in society. If you are not a Patreon member watching the video episode, Mardi is giving exhausted Greek tycoon wid...

Join us this holiday week for some heartfelt stories, insights and knee slapping ha ha that would make any Grinch’s frown turn upside down.  We also talk about how to navigate unsupportive family at this time of year and make a call-out for greater understanding and inclusion of trans voices in the media. Remember you can email us at lifelivedtrans@gmail.com and send us questions, admirations, upc...