Pridefinder: The Rainbow Road Trip Podcast

Merle (she/her) is a 75-year-old activist, athlete, and proud lesbian living in Bendigo, Victoria. In this episode, Merle shares her incredible journey of resilience, from leading strikes for equal pay in the late 1960s to competing in the Gay Games in Amsterdam and Sydney. Growing up in Echuca, she lived the life expected of her—marrying a man and raising children—before finally embracing her tru...

Rhys (they/them) is an arts therapist, LGBTQIA+ advocate, and board member of LINE Wangaratta, working to create safer spaces in regional Victoria. In this episode, Rhys shares their journey of self-discovery and self-love, reflecting on the significant changes they’ve made since their last appearance on the podcast. They open up about the deeply personal decision to change their name as part of r...

Claire (she/her) is an oral health therapist and passionate community advocate living in Wangaratta, Victoria. In this episode, Claire reflects on her journey over the past year, from officially changing her name and gender marker to growing into her confidence as a transgender woman. She shares how embracing her sense of style and self-expression has helped her feel more comfortable in her own sk...

Shelley (she/her) is a proud trans woman from Yallourn North, Victoria, who is finally living life on her own terms. In this episode, Shelley shares her journey of self-acceptance, coming out as a trans woman at 51 after decades of suppressing her true identity. She reflects on growing up in the 70s and 80s, facing relentless transphobia, and the deep losses she endured, including losing long-term...

Pypa (she/they) is a genderfluid young person from Wonthaggi, Victoria, exploring self-acceptance and identity in a supportive queer community. In this episode, Pypa reflects on their journey of discovering their gender and sexuality, from questioning their identity at a young age to finding confidence in embracing their authentic self. They share how the YES Youth Hub has provided them with a saf...

Tiffany (she/her) is a proud transgender woman living in Shepparton, Victoria, who has overcome immense challenges to embrace her true self. In this episode, Tiffany shares her powerful journey, from growing up in a children's home and struggling with addiction to finally living authentically as the woman she was always meant to be. She reflects on her move to Melbourne in search of acceptance, on...

Sharna (she/her) is a journalist and LGBTQIA+ advocate living in Warrnambool, Victoria, dedicated to amplifying queer voices in regional media. In this episode, Sharna shares her journey of growing up in a small country town with a gender-fluid sibling and how this shaped her understanding of identity, acceptance, and advocacy. She reflects on the challenges of supporting her sibling in an environ...

Clinton (he/him) is a proud father, LGBTQIA+ advocate, and founding member of the Gippsland Pride Initiative. In this episode, Clinton shares his journey of self-discovery, growing up in a small country town of around 1,000 people, where he struggled to see a future for himself as a gay man. After spending years in a heterosexual marriage and raising three children, Clinton came out in his late 30...

Hailey (she/her) is a 16-year-old pansexual young person from Wonthaggi, Victoria, dedicated to creating safe and inclusive spaces for LGBTQIA+ youth. In this episode, Hailey shares her journey of self-acceptance, from first realizing she was pansexual at a young age to finding the confidence to fully embrace her identity. She reflects on the impact of supportive friends, teachers, and the YES You...

Liam (he/him) is a passionate LGBTQIA+ advocate based in Albury, NSW, working to create safer spaces for queer people in regional communities. In this episode, Liam reflects on his journey of self-acceptance, growing up in regional NSW where he didn’t feel safe to be his authentic self. He shares his experiences of hiding his sexuality, navigating secrecy, and the risks he took in his search for c...

Cass (they/them) is a genderfluid young person living in Ballarat, Victoria, who is learning to find validation from within. In this episode, Cass reflects on their journey of self-discovery, coming out as bisexual at a young age before later embracing their genderfluid identity. They discuss the challenges of growing up in Ballarat, experiencing bullying at school, and the impact this had on thei...

Sav (she/her) is a proud lesbian and social worker living in Wodonga, Victoria. In this episode, Sav reflects on her journey of self-acceptance after growing up in a small rural town of just 1,000 people in New South Wales. She shares how the fear of coming out deeply impacted her mental health and how leaving her hometown gave her the space to embrace her identity. Sav discusses the importance of...

Linda (she/her) is a 64-year-old pansexual woman living in Shepparton, Victoria, who recently discovered her queer identity. In this episode, Linda shares her deeply personal journey of self-discovery, coming to the realization that she was queer just months before this conversation. She reflects on a lifetime of feeling like she didn’t quite fit in, how societal expectations shaped her path, and...

Olivia (she/her) is a Polish, Bosnian, Italian, Australian cis woman living with her wife and young child in a small town west of Albury-Wodonga. In this episode, Olivia reflects on her experience growing up in a Catholic family and the challenges she faced while coming to terms with her identity as a young lesbian woman. She shares the powerful moment she first said the words "I am a lesbian" to...

KL Joy (they/them) is a trans and genderqueer advocate, LGBTQIA+ advisor, and disability rights activist living in Ballarat, Victoria. In this episode, KL reflects on their lifelong journey of self-discovery, from publicly identifying as a cis woman at 48—despite knowing it didn’t feel right—to embracing their true identity. They share how their transition has been shaped by personal growth, resil...

Keven (he/him) is an 80-year-old former tram conductor, LGBTQIA+ activist, and storyteller living in Melbourne, Victoria. In this episode, Keven shares his experiences of coming out in the 1970s when holding hands in public could lead to arrest. He reflects on the profound changes he has witnessed in LGBTQIA+ rights over the decades, from police persecution to Pride celebrations filling the street...

Stella (she/her) is a Canadian medical student living in Geelong, Victoria, who is passionate about challenging relationship norms and advocating for aromantic visibility. In this episode, Stella shares her journey of self-discovery, from realizing she was aromantic just shy of 20 to navigating the societal pressures of romantic relationships. She reflects on how relationship hierarchies often pri...

Cath (she/her) is a later-in-life lesbian, community advocate, and proud mother living in Wangaratta, Victoria. In this episode, Cath shares her journey of self-discovery and coming out in her 50s after spending much of her life conforming to societal expectations. She reflects on growing up in a culture where being with a woman never seemed like an option, her experience navigating relationships,...

Ren (they/them) is a genderqueer, neurodivergent social worker, podcaster, and proud parent living in Shepparton, Victoria. In this episode, Ren shares their journey of self-discovery and the intersections of being trans, neurodivergent, and a parent in regional Victoria. They reflect on their experience growing up in Shepparton, navigating gender identity, and the challenges of visibility in a sm...

Reilly (he/him) is a youth worker, community advocate, and self-proclaimed cheerleader for young people living in Warrnambool, Victoria. In this episode, Reilly shares his journey of self-discovery and personal growth, from navigating life in a small regional town to working at The Foyer, a youth accommodation service run by Brophy Family and Youth Services. He opens up about the transformative pe...

Robbie (she/her) is a transgender woman, pilot, and race car driver living in Bendigo, Victoria. In this episode, Robbie shares her remarkable journey from flying jet planes at 19 in the Air Force to racing cars and navigating life as a trans woman in a male-dominated world. She reflects on her struggles with dyslexia and gender dysphoria, the challenges of growing up in an environment that didn't...

Riley (he/him) is a 15-year-old trans man from Wonthaggi with a passion for climate change awareness, disability rights, and queer activism. In this episode, Riley shares his journey of self-discovery, including realizing he was queer at a young age and later identifying as a trans man. He discusses the challenges of navigating school environments, moving to a new school where he found a supportiv...

Angela (she/her) is a pansexual transgender woman and the former General Manager of Transgender Victoria, living in Gippsland. In this episode, Angela shares her deeply personal journey of self-discovery, from coming out as pansexual to embracing her identity as a transgender woman a year later. She reflects on navigating depression, self-doubt, and societal ignorance, and how transitioning transf...

Zara (she/they) is a non-binary trans woman, community development worker, and advocate living in Bendigo, Victoria. In this episode, Zara reflects on her journey of self-discovery, coming out as transgender at 40, and navigating gender expectations in a deeply gendered society. She shares her insights into the challenges and triumphs of transitioning in a regional town, the power of self-love, an...

Cris Stevens-Todd (he/him) is a podcast creator, activist, and proud dad living in Shepparton, Victoria. In this episode, Cris shares his journey from navigating his sexuality in a small regional town to becoming a media award-winning podcast creator. He reflects on his advocacy work for marriage equality, his experiences raising his daughter Fletcher with his husband Damien, and the joy and chall...