Transparently Speaking
We are Diana and Joy - two moms who each supported their children to transition in early elementary school to become their true selves. We are using our voices to reflect our child’s voices, and have navigated everything from family and friends, to health care offices and schools. We are here to share our experience and our learning along this transgender journey, to provide support and guidance, parent-to-parent, and if you find yourself on a similar journey, we want you to know that you are not alone. Beyond parenting, we are also excited about building a community of allies and chosen family who will stand together with us, Transparently Speaking.
Episodes
Episode 129 begins with updates from Joy on the journey towards her daughter's desired surgery, and continues with examples from both Diana and Joy of how anti-trans narratives are seeping into the language and beliefs of our allies. This episode also includes Diana's frank recognition of our culturally normative language of "boy/girl" at birth, which perpetuates that an individual's gender is the same as the...
Insurance says surgery is covered at 18, but the process tells a different story. In this episode, one mom breaks down what she's learned chasing gender-affirming surgery access for her daughter, including a wait list that pushes actual surgery closer to age 20, and international options she's researching in parallel, with hopes of having it done before college. The conversation also digs into the surprising challen...
In this episode, Diana and Joy explore “gender noise” — the background thoughts many transgender people experience about safety, bathrooms, being outed (and general thoughts as they navigating the current environment). They reflect on how this "noise" may show up differently as their trans kids grow up, and they also reflect on their current experiences navigating healthcare, health insurance, scho...
Diana and Joy catch up on a summer full of both medical logistics and hard moments. Diana walks through the challenge of scheduling Dinah's first blood draw around needle anxiety, and the added caution hospitals are showing around gender-affirming care even as federal pressure on Medicaid and Medicare funding appears to be easing. Joy shares a surprisingly smooth visit to Planned Parenthood for overdue care, followe...
In this episode, Joy and Diana share their progress in searching for medical care for their transgender kids after their previous providers stopped providing care in January. Joy shares details about her first meeting with Samantha's new provider, and Diana talks about taking Dinah out of state for care. Diana also shares insights and updates about her road trip home with Clark and frustration with antiquated langua...
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 families wherever they are in the...
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 celebration of diverse existenc...
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; the more listeners...
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 the real-life impact of their decision...
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, surgery timelines, and whether to s...
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 attransparentlyspeakingpodcast@gmail.com.
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 like to hold love, respect, and ...
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 from our podcast, we’d app...
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 a parent&rsquo...
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, the more peo...
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 access to transgender healthcare con...
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 we can reach an...
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’re balancing staying inf...
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 stress, enhance happiness, boost immun...
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 taking...
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