Transparently Speaking

Send us Fan Mail Diana sits down with Aidan, founder, and Johnny, CEO, of TransFamilies — an organization that has spent over two decades building community and support for parents and caregivers of gender-diverse, transgender, and non-binary children. Aidan shares how TransFamilies came to exist, what it looks like to walk into a support group for the first time, and why the organization meets fa...

Send us Fan Mail In our 5th Annual Pride Month letter, Diana and Joy speak directly to their children, to transgender youth, and to every family navigating a world that continues to make trans existence extremely challenging.  They reflect on fear and exhaustion while reminding listeners that history has always moved forward because brave, resilient humans refuse to disappear. Pride is not only a...

Send us Fan Mail Diana shares an encouraging update after a virtual consultation with a new gender-affirming care provider. Joy & Diana discuss what makes a provider stand out, the therapist letter process, and the real barriers they continue to navigate on the path to care. If you’re taking something away from our podcast, we’d appreciate it if you’d take a moment to provide us with a review;...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, Diana opens up about the frustration and emotional exhaustion of facing yet another barrier while seeking a provider for youth gender-affirming care (GAC). Listen in to understand new challenges related to transitioning care across state lines and explore how this barrier raises questions about medical ethics and whether hospital administrators fully understand th...

Send us Fan Mail Five years ago, Joy and Diana were talking bathing suits and holiday cards. Today, they're talking survival. In this honest check-in, they share what survival mode really looks like — stepping back from the news, scaling down work, and finding distractions just to keep anxiety at bay. They also get into the practical stuff still on their plates: finding gender-affirming care,...

Send us Fan Mail Join Joy and Diana as they reflect on Spring Break experiences If you’re taking something away from our podcast, we’d appreciate it if you’d take a moment to provide us with a review; the more listeners and reviews, the more people we can reach and support. As always, feel free to reach out to us at transparentlyspeakingpodcast@gmail.com .

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, we continue the conversation on transgender dating through the lens of parents navigating both their transgender teen’s experience and the perspectives of their cisgender sibling. After listening to the Taboo Science podcast on dating, we explore how beliefs, assumptions, and social norms shape reactions to attraction, disclosure, and identity. What does it look l...

Send us Fan Mail Join Joy and Diana as they share the latest trans related news headlines, and how they are processing and navigating sensational news when it directly impacts them and when it doesn't.  Key takeaways include being critical in assessing the news, sources, and being intentional about managing energy and wellness in navigating media consumption. If you’re taking something away f...

Send us Fan Mail What happens when your teen is dating, and their partner doesn’t know they’re transgender? In this episode, we explore the complex reality of transgender teen dating, including the ethical questions around disclosure in relationships. When is the “right” time to tell? Is there an obligation to disclose? How do privacy, trust, and safety intersect in adolescent relationships? From...

Send us Fan Mail In episode #115, Joy and Diana share what they're learning and how they are exploring options to support their kids by seeking gender-affirming care after their providers and clinics stopped providing care to youth under 19.   If you’re taking something away from our podcast, we’d appreciate it if you’d take a moment to provide us with a review; the more listeners and reviews...

Send us Fan Mail What happens when gender-affirming care for transgender youth suddenly becomes uncertain? In this episode, we share a real-time look at what families are facing as gender-affirming clinics pause or stop care, along with the emotional toll, urgent decision-making, and quiet self-advocacy that follow. This is a conversation about endurance, adaptation, and finding steadiness as acce...

Send us Fan Mail Join us in this episode as Diana helps Joy reflect upon and process the 5 minute window during which Joy thought her and Samantha's name change information (and photo) were shared publicly on social media.   If you’re taking something away from our podcast, we’d appreciate it if you’d take a moment to provide us with a review; the more listeners and reviews, the more people w...

Send us Fan Mail Last week brought a surge of anti-trans legislation proposals that felt impossible to ignore, especially for families raising transgender kids. In this episode, we step away from our planned content and talk honestly about what it’s like to live inside this moment, in real time. We share how these proposals land differently depending on where our kids are in their journeys, how we...

Send us Fan Mail Join Diana and Joy as they reflect on the people and things they are grateful for during this holiday season.  Although they've faced many challenges (and anticipate more), there is still much to be grateful for!  Plus - the saying "where attention goes, energy flows" is real!  Science continues to provide evidence that the practice of gratitude can help regulate st...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, we unpack what happens when an adult in a position of authority chooses “respect” over real understanding, and how that choice shapes a transgender child’s daily experience.  A recent school meeting revealed just how much harm comes from assumptions, unchecked bias, and a teacher’s refusal to learn about gender, even after years of knowing a student. If you’re tak...

Send us Fan Mail Joy and Diana open up about their current challenges amid the ongoing attacks on youth gender affirming care. They discuss the real-world hurdles of managing prescription renewals, medication access, and insurance barriers. The episode also offers an inside look at Samantha’s upcoming endocrinology appointment and the thoughtful planning behind timelines and next steps for blocker...

Send us Fan Mail Diana and Joy share the profound isolation of raising transgender children while maintaining their privacy. They discuss why they limit who knows their children's identities, the risks they're protecting against, and the loneliness of being unable to share their biggest challenges with friends and family. A raw conversation about the emotional cost of keeping their child...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of Transparently Speaking , Joy and Diana explore the challenge for everyone in adopting new names and pronouns.  They share personal stories and reflect on how it feels when someone dismisses or neglects pronouns, how to respond (or not), and how allies can do better.  If you’re taking something away from our podcast, we’d appreciate it if you’d take a moment to p...

Send us Fan Mail From new driver’s licenses to marathon training, we share family updates alongside deeper reflections on advocacy, trans rights, and why a simple message like “You Are Loved” matters more than ever. In this episode, we catch up on big life updates—from teenagers getting their driver’s licenses to the final stretch of marathon training. But woven through these everyday milestones a...

Send us Fan Mail Diana and Joy reflect on the impact of the Minneapolis shooting (Aug 27, 2025) as they prepare for sending their trans kids off to a new school year. If you’re taking something away from our podcast, we’d appreciate it if you’d take a moment to provide us with a review; the more listeners and reviews, the more people we can reach and support. As always, feel free to reach out to u...

Send us Fan Mail A physician dad shares how politics are disrupting research, parenting transgender kids, and the sports debate. In this episode, Diana sits down with her husband, Arthur, a physician researcher and parent, to talk about how today’s shifting policies and headlines affect real families. Together, they cover three big themes: The ripple effects of political decisions on medical resea...

Send us Fan Mail Recorded in the first half of July, Episode 103 is a reflection of how Joy and Samantha are feeling since the Supreme Court agreed to take up the constitutionality of laws that bar transgender women and girls from participating on girls’ and women’s sports teams.  Since 2020, 27 states have banned grade school transgender girls from participating on girls sports teams.  Since this...

Send us Fan Mail What does it mean to truly be yourself in a world that often demands conformity? In this episode, Diana sits down with author, coach, and nonbinary trailblazer Jeffrey Marsh to talk about authenticity, allyship, parenting, and the emotional stamina it takes to keep showing up. From Buddhist wisdom to real-talk about crying in public, this conversation moves between laughter, refle...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, Joy and Diana provide listeners an update and overview of the latest political and news stories impacting them and all transgender youth.  From US vs. Skrmetti (6.18.25 - which upheld Tennessee's law banning gender-affirming care for minors) to the announcement that the LA Children's Hospital Gender Clinic will be shutting down, to passport sex marker up...

Send us Fan Mail Speaking up for transgender youth doesn’t always mean being loud or public. In this episode, Diana and Joy explore different forms of LGBTQ advocacy, including private conversations, writing to lawmakers, and simply staying informed. They also examine subtle media bias around gender-affirming care and explain why naming misinformation is a powerful way to protect and support trans...