Transparently Speaking

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 children safe in today's political climate.

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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. 

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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 are deeper conversations about what it means to parent...

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 research and patient care
• What it means for parents of t...

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 recording, in late July, the U.S. Olympic & Par...

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, reflection, and raw honesty.

They explore:

• The differenc...

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 updates, join us to learn about impacts and implicatio...

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 kids.

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In this special Pride Month episode, Diana and Joy share their third annual letter to LGBTQIA+ youth, families, and allies. In a year marked by escalating attacks on transgender and queer youth, they offer solidarity and support and speak to the fear, the grief, and the fierce love that define this moment.  Pride is more than celebration — it’s resistance, resilience, and community. To our kids, and to all trans folx out there: You...

In this episode, Joy shares updates from her daughter’s recent endocrine visit—including conversations about hormone levels, breast development, and timing for potential surgeries. She also reflects on a powerful session with a legal coach that shifted how she understands disclosure, identity, and what it means to legally and medically define sex. Together, Joy and Diana explore how policies, procedures, and personal decisions inte...

In this episode, Diana receives an SOS call from Clark and cancels her commitments to travel and support him.  This episode explores Diana's approach to supporting him, and the layered frustration and fear resulting from our current sociopolitical environment. 

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From a hard-won court victory to the uncertainty of college athletics, this episode moves through triumph, fear, frustration, and hope. Joy shares the emotional journey of changing her daughter’s birth certificate—and the questions that remain about safety, outing, and the future of sports for transgender youth.

Listen in as we explore what progress looks like when the path ahead is still uncertain.

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In Episode 95 of Transparently Speaking, Diana and Joy share their response to the new federal proclamation, "National Child Abuse Prevention Month," which indicates that gender affirming care is child abuse.  They also reflect on how they are choosing to show up and resist, each in their own way.

 https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2025/04/national-child-abuse-prevention-month-2025

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Spring break used to mean picking a destination based on fun and weather. Now, it involves scanning state laws and planning how to stay safe in public spaces. In this episode, we talk about how political shifts are changing everyday decisions for families with transgender kids—and how we try to hold onto joy anyway. We also share two court rulings that offer real hope.

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Join Diana and Joy as they reflect on continued national and state level legislative efforts, specifically transgender girls in sports.  The key arguments offered by those proposing these bills are based largely on considerations of safety and fairness.  In this episode, those considerations are explored and challenged.  

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What happens when a name becomes a risk factor? In this episode, we explore the emotional toll of parenting transgender children in a time of heightened scrutiny, the delicate balance between advocacy and safety, and the exhaustion of constantly weighing the risks of visibility. How do families decide when to speak up and when to stay quiet during a child's transition? And what does it mean to reset expectations with self-comp...

Diana and Joy share how they are navigating their anxiety associated with the current political environment.  Since the 47th President's inauguration there have been 4 Executive Orders focused on transgender people (youth especially).  In this episode, join us to hear how Diana is setting boundaries in offering support to other families and how she is finding space for joy, and how both moms explore the concept of trust as the...

The latest executive order banning gender-affirming care for anyone under 19 has sent shockwaves through families with transgender children. In this episode of Transparently Speaking, Diana and Joy share their raw and honest reactions—from shock and anger to the looming fear of what comes next.

How will this order impact hospitals, physicians, and the future of care for trans youth? What can parents do to fight back? And how do we p...