Demystifying the Transgender Journey

Demystifying the Transgender Journey

By Lynn W. MurphySociety & CultureHealth & FitnessEducationSelf-ImprovementSexuality
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Demystifying the Transgender Journey episodes

  • Episode 35: Love at the Core: Renee Thibeau Embraces Supportive Parenting and the Transgender Journey

    In this episode of "Demystifying the Transgender Journey,

     hosts Lynn Murphy and Wendy Cole interview Renee Thibeau, the mother of three whose transgender daughter, Elle, first expressed at age seven that she was “supposed to wake up a girl,” then at age 10 sent a message that confirmed every parent’s worst fear. Renee describes choosing to embrace her daughter, seeking family therapy and medical support, and helping Elle socially transition with clothes and affirming steps, while noting Elle’s twin brother with autism immediately used her name and pronouns correctly. Renee discusses bullying, school changes, puberty blockers and estrogen, misconceptions about youth medical care and surgeries, and how policy changes delayed Elle’s planned surgery, leading to a gap year. She emphasizes education, biology, and unconditional love as essential to supporting transgender kids.

     

    For more episodes about the biological process of being born transgender:

    https://demystifyingthetransgenderjourney.podbean.com/e/episode-25-transgender-youth-dr-diana-sorrentinos-crucial-insights-for-parents-and-families/

    https://demystifyingthetransgenderjourney.podbean.com/e/episode-020-dispelling-myths-dr-diana-sorrentino-on-transgender-truth/  

    https://demystifyingthetransgenderjourney.podbean.com/e/episode29_no_one_transitions_alone_dr_diana_sorrentinos_advice_for_parents_and_partners/  

    For additional episodes about families supporting transgender loved ones: 

    https://demystifyingthetransgenderjourney.podbean.com/e/episode-013-david-blackers-gift-using-therapy-to-support-lgbtq-families/  

    https://demystifyingthetransgenderjourney.podbean.com/e/staci_brathwaite_embracing_her_daughters_journey/ 

     

    For more about Renee Thibeau:

    https://www.tiktok.com/@neebeaux

    https://www.youtube.com/@Reneethibeau-3cgm

    https://www.facebook.com/renee.newcombe.7

     

    For more information about this project:

    https://www.thetransgenderjourney.com 

    https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/demystifying-the-transgender-journey/id1799458202 

    https://www.facebook.com/thetransgenderjourney 

    https://womenwhopushthelimits.com 

     

    To contact Wendy:

    https://www.MeetWendyCole.com  

    https://www.facebook.com/wendycolegtm 

    https://www.youtube.com/@wendycole8326 

    https://www.linkedin.com/in/wendy-cole-gtm 

     

    55 min
  • Episode 34: Leading with Purpose: Juli Grey-Owens- Community Champion for Gender Equality in New York

    Juli Grey-Owens on Transition, Advocacy and GENY: Demystifying the Transgender Journey

     

    Hosts Lynn Murphy and Wendy Cole interview New York transgender advocate Juli Grey-Owens, founder and executive director of Gender Equality New York (GENY), who helped pass the Gender Equality Non-Discrimination Act signed in 2019 and provides training for agencies, police recruits, and healthcare workers. Juli recounts early childhood experiences of gender identity, years of privately presenting as a woman, and how dysphoria intensified with age while she built a manufacturing career, marriage, and family. After being outed and fired following public advocacy in 2015, she pursued a legal settlement, began living full-time as Juli at 62, and expanded statewide activism, including town halls that led to GENY’s incorporation and 501(c)(3) status. She describes transition as a personal journey with different “stops,” discusses safety and allyship, and urges understanding that transgender people seek peaceful lives, not harm.

     

    For more information about Juli:

    https://genderequalityny.org/ 

    https://www.facebook.com/GenderEqualityNY/

    https://www.instagram.com/genderequalityny

     

    For more information about this project:

    https://www.thetransgenderjourney.com

    https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/demystifying-the-transgender-journey/id1799458202

    https://www.facebook.com/thetransgenderjourney

    https://womenwhopushthelimits.com

     

    To contact Wendy:

    MeetWendyCole.com.

    https://www.facebook.com/wendycolegtm

    https://www.youtube.com/@wendycole8326

    https://www.linkedin.com/in/wendy-cole-gtm

    1 hr 13 min
  • Episode 33: Curiosity in Practice: How Wolfie Connects Personal and Professional Experience as an LGBTQ+ Therapist

    Demystifying the Transgender Journey: Wolfie Lopez on Being Non-Binary, Gender Exploration, and Finding Joy

     

    Hosts Lynn Murphy and Wendy Cole interview therapist and social worker Wolfie Lopez, a non-binary, queer clinician with an MSW from the University of Michigan and over a decade of crisis-intervention experience. Wolfie shares their personal journey from feeling different in childhood and discovering LGBTQ vocabulary online to exploring identity in college, considering transitioning, and ultimately identifying as non-binary without pursuing HRT or surgery. They define non-binary as existing outside the male/female binary while emphasizing that gender is a spectrum and definitions vary by person. The conversation covers puberty and body dysphoria, body acceptance, representation in media, how to approach learning with curiosity and respect, the importance of pronouns (especially in families), therapist competence, suicide prevention basics like Mental Health First Aid, and the need to seek joy and gender euphoria amid a reactionary political climate.

     

    For more information about this project:

    https://www.thetransgenderjourney.com

    https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/demystifying-the-transgender-journey/id1799458202

    https://www.facebook.com/thetransgenderjourney

    https://womenwhopushthelimits.com

     

    To contact Wendy:

    MeetWendyCole.com.

    https://www.facebook.com/wendycolegtm

    https://www.youtube.com/@wendycole8326

    https://www.linkedin.com/in/wendy-cole-gtm

    1 hr 10 min
  • Episode 32: Teaching By Example: Tommy's Story of Expression and Visibility
    Tommy’s Transgender Journey: From History Teacher to DC Activist | Demystifying the Transgender Journey
    In this episode of "Demystifying the Transgender Journey," hosts Lynn Murphy and Wendy Cole interview Tommy, a semi-retired high school history teacher, musician, and trans visibility advocate. Tommy shares growing up in a wealthy, conservative family, first experimenting with women’s clothing around age 10–11, and not finding accurate representation until adulthood, when media portrayals often linked trans people to violence. She recounts early experiences seeking gender-affirming items in New York City, joining the Tiffany Club/Trans Community of New England in the early 1990s, and how support groups and the First Event conference provided safety and community. Tommy discusses marriage, parenting, secrecy and compartmentalization, accidental outings to her wife and later her children, and the strain that hiding placed on family life. After her marriage ended in 2015, she came out at work, planned her transition around a sabbatical, and began living full-time as a woman in 2018, returning to teach in 2019 and noting changes in student relationships and a small number of transphobic complaints. She describes later being blackballed from further school jobs by a transphobic administrator and moving to Maryland to be near family, where she supports trans and non-binary people, engages in Maryland advocacy, and promotes visibility in Washington, DC, including visits to congressional offices. Tommy reflects on the realities of womanhood, the importance of representation, current anti-trans rhetoric and policy fears, and her hope that trans progress will endure despite backlash. Music remains a lifeline throughout her story, from punk bands to her country singer alter ego Alison Young, including albums that reference the trans experience.
     

    For more information about Tommy:

    https://www.alisonyoungcountrymusic.com 

     

    For more information about this project:

    https://www.thetransgenderjourney.com

    https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/demystifying-the-transgender-journey/id1799458202

    https://www.facebook.com/thetransgenderjourney

    https://womenwhopushthelimits.com

     

    To contact Wendy:

    MeetWendyCole.com.

    https://www.facebook.com/wendycolegtm

    https://www.youtube.com/@wendycole8326

    https://www.linkedin.com/in/wendy-cole-gtm

    1 hr 27 min
  • Episode 31: Karen Kendra Holmes: Advocacy, Service, and the Journey to Authenticity

    Demystifying the Transgender Journey: Karen Kendra Holmes Shares Her Inspiring Story

    Join hosts Lynn Murphy and Wendy Cole on another enlightening episode of Demystifying the Transgender Journey as they welcome Karen Kendra Holmes. Karen discusses her personal journey of transitioning, starting her journey in 2010 at the age of 53. She shares the challenges she faced in her professional life as a federal employee and volunteer, and how she became a respected advocate and trainer for the transgender community. Karen emphasizes the importance of education and understanding, and how her work with law enforcement and various organizations aims to bridge the gap between communities. This heartfelt conversation highlights the importance of authenticity, service, and grace in fostering a more compassionate world. Don't miss this empowering episode, and be sure to like, share, and subscribe!

     

    For more information about Karen Kendra Holmes:

    https://www.kkholmes.com/

    https://www.pgcmls.info/butterflyproject

     

    For more information about this project:

    https://www.thetransgenderjourney.com

    https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/demystifying-the-transgender-journey/id1799458202

    https://www.facebook.com/thetransgenderjourney

    https://womenwhopushthelimits.com

     

    To contact Wendy:

    MeetWendyCole.com.

    https://www.facebook.com/wendycolegtm

    https://www.youtube.com/@wendycole8326

    https://www.linkedin.com/in/wendy-cole-gtm

    1 hr 8 min
  • Episode 30: Reincarnation as Robin: A Story of Transitioning Later in Life

    Robin's Journey: Transition, Triumph, and Embracing a Second Life

     

    In this episode of Demystifying the Transgender Journey, hosts Lynn Murphy and Wendy Cole introduce Robin, a remarkable woman who transitioned at the age of 67. Robin shares her profound and emotional story of transitioning, the loss and joy it brought, and her journey to self-acceptance. From kayaking epiphanies to life-changing decisions, Robin opens up about her experiences, including her relationships and her embrace of both sides of life. Join us for an inspiring conversation that touches hearts, opens minds, and challenges perceptions.

     

    For more information about this project:

    https://www.thetransgenderjourney.com

    https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/demystifying-the-transgender-journey/id1799458202

    https://www.facebook.com/thetransgenderjourney

    https://womenwhopushthelimits.com

     

    To contact Wendy:

    MeetWendyCole.com.

    https://www.facebook.com/wendycolegtm

    https://www.youtube.com/@wendycole8326

    https://www.linkedin.com/in/wendy-cole-gtm

    1 hr 16 min
  • Episode 29: No One Transitions Alone: Dr. Diana Sorrentino's Advice for Parents and Partners

    Demystifying the Transgender Journey: Transgender Healthcare and Family Dynamics with Dr. Diana Sorrentino

    In this enlightening episode of Demystifying the Transgender Journey, hosts Lynn Murphy and Wendy Cole dive deep into the complexities of the transgender experience with renowned gender identity expert Dr. Diana Sorrentino. Explore the importance of empathetic familial support, the unique challenges faced by transgender individuals, and gain insights into gender diversity from neurobiological, physiological, and psychological perspectives. Dr. Sorrentino shares her extensive research and personal experiences, discussing the significant roles of parents, siblings, partners, and the broader community in the journey of gender affirmation. Don't miss this valuable discussion that aims to counter misinformation and provide a factual understanding of the transgender experience.

     

    Demystifying the Transgender Journey with Staci Braithwaite: https://youtu.be/FDjokJoRSD4?si=Ci2wxB4_wizw0AcK

     

    "The Handbook of Complex Trauma and Dissociation in Children" https://www.routledge.com/The-Handbook-of-Complex-Trauma-and-Dissociation-in-Children-Theory-Research-and-Clinical-Applications/Gomez-Hosey/p/book/9781032388908

    Dr. Sorrentino is a member of:

    World Professional Association for Transgender Health – WPATH

    Gay Lesbian Medical Association – GLMA

    Outcare – LGBTQ+ Healthcare

    Author of "Transgender Families: Helping Parents and Families Understand Gender Diversity and Being Transgender Because No One Transitions Alone".

    https://www.amazon.com/Transgender-Families-Dr-Diana-Sorrentino/dp/B0DLQHVX8Y

    Host of "Paradoxes of Gender Podcasts" – academically focused on CE requirements for medical and behavioral healthcare professionals working with gender diverse and transgender individuals, families, and allies.

    https://paradoxesofgender.com/

    LinkedIn:  Dr. Diana Sorrentino, Ph.D.

    Podcast: https://paradoxesofgender.com/podcasts-1

     

    For more information about this project:

    https://www.thetransgenderjourney.com

    https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/demystifying-the-transgender-journey/id1799458202

    https://www.facebook.com/thetransgenderjourney

    https://womenwhopushthelimits.com

     

    To contact Wendy:

    MeetWendyCole.com.

    https://www.facebook.com/wendycolegtm

    https://www.youtube.com/@wendycole8326

    https://www.linkedin.com/in/wendy-cole-gtm

    1 hr 5 min
  • Episode 28: One Hair at a Time: Maria DeNicola Fosters Physical and Emotional Transformation in the LGBTQ Community

    Demystifying the Transgender Journey with Maria DeNicola: Empowerment, Advocacy, and 40+ Years of Support

     

    In this episode of "Demystifying the Transgender Journey," hosts Lynn Murphy and Wendy Cole introduce Maria DeNicola, a celebrated electrologist and laser hair removal specialist with over 43 years of experience. Maria shares her heartfelt journey of supporting the transgender community through her business, Senza Pelo Med Spa in Phoenix, Arizona. She provides deep insights into her advocacy efforts, her nonprofit work, and her enduring commitment to empowering transgender individuals. Join us for an inspiring conversation about compassion, respect, and the humanization of the transgender experience.

    Visit our website at thetransgenderjourney.com for more information.

    For More Information About Maria DeNicola:

    https://senzapelo.com

    https://azaai.org/ 

     

    For more information about this project:

    https://www.thetransgenderjourney.com

    https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/demystifying-the-transgender-journey/id1799458202

    https://www.facebook.com/thetransgenderjourney

    https://womenwhopushthelimits.com

     

    To contact Wendy:

    https://meetwendycole.com/

    https://www.facebook.com/wendycolegtm

    https://www.youtube.com/@wendycole8326

    https://www.linkedin.com/in/wendy-cole-gtm

    56 min
  • Episode 27: Crossing the Line: Emily Embraces Authenticity and Purpose

    Demystifying the Transgender Journey: The Story of Emily

    Join us for an engaging and heartfelt episode of "Demystifying the Transgender Journey" where our host, Lynn Murphy, and co-host, Wendy Cole, interview the exceptional Emily. With a fascinating life story, Emily opens up about her lifelong journey of transitioning, the challenges she faced, and the powerful lessons learned along the way. As she transitions from pretending to be someone she's not to embracing her true self, Emily shares candid insights about the transgender experience and the importance of human connections. Don't miss this powerful episode filled with unique perspectives, personal regrets, and Emily's extraordinary narrative of growth and self-acceptance.

    For more information about Emily:

    https://quenyar.wordpress.com/ 

     

    For more information about this project:

    https://www.thetransgenderjourney.com

    https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/demystifying-the-transgender-journey/id1799458202

    https://www.facebook.com/thetransgenderjourney

    https://womenwhopushthelimits.com

     

    To contact Wendy:

    https://meetwendycole.com/

    https://www.facebook.com/wendycolegtm

    https://www.youtube.com/@wendycole8326

    https://www.linkedin.com/in/wendy-cole-gtm

    1 hr 3 min
  • Episode 26: Unyielding Strength: Kendra Bardot's Accelerated Transformation

    Kendra Bardot's Extraordinary Transgender Journey: Courage, Resilience, and Reinvention

    In this powerful episode of "Demystifying the Transgender Journey," hosts Lynn Murphy and Wendy Cole welcome Kendra Bardot, a transgender woman with an extraordinary story of courage and resilience. At age 39, Kendra shares her journey of transitioning, her military service, and how she's channeling her drive into becoming a psychiatrist and researcher. The episode dives deep into Kendra's experiences growing up in a deeply religious home, navigating the challenges of transitioning, and her realization of self-love. Don't miss this enlightening conversation that provides unique insights and fosters understanding of the transgender experience. Stay tuned for more inspiring stories at thetransgenderjourney.com.

     

    https://www.instagram.com/kendragothmommy

    https://www.thetransgenderjourney.com

    https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/demystifying-the-transgender-journey/id1799458202

    https://www.facebook.com/thetransgenderjourney

    https://womenwhopushthelimits.com

    https://meetwendycole.com/

    https://www.facebook.com/wendycolegtm

    https://www.youtube.com/@wendycole8326

    https://www.linkedin.com/in/wendy-cole-gtm

    1 hr 14 min

About Demystifying the Transgender Journey

From the publisher's feed

This podcast features a diverse array of voices of people who were born transgender, their families, friends, coworkers, and healthcare professionals. Your cohosts, Lynn W. Murphy, a cisgender woman, and Wendy Cole, a transgender woman, created a unique partnership to interview a wide array of transgender individuals and allies. Their goal is to combat misinformation and disinformation by educating people and facilitating compelling conversations.

(c) 2026, Key Innovative Solutions, Inc.