How to Be a Girl

By Marlo Mack

What's How to Be a Girl about?

How to Be a Girl is an audio podcast I produce about life with my six-year-old transgender daughter. It stars the two of us -- a single mom and a six-year-old "girl with a penis" -- as we attempt together to sort out just what it means to be a girl.

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How to Be a Girl episodes:

12.25.2023
Episode XXXIII: How We Are Now
It's been over two years. I wanted to let you know how we are doing. Thank you for your patience. (Spoiler: My daughter is still amazing.) ...
09.06.2021
Episode XXXII: The Medical Stuff
For years, people have asked me what I would do when my daughter hit puberty. Was I going to let her do... the "medical stuff?" Well, right after the pandemic struck, so did puberty. And this is what my...
11.02.2020
Episode XXXI: M is for Middle School, Take Two
This episode is different from any of our previous episodes. It’s also a do-over, because the first version of this episode overlooked the fact that my daughter is growing up, fast. She’s almost a teenager, and...
09.18.2020
Episode XXXI: M is for Middle School
A long-overdue update on the life of my beautiful transgender daughter. She's almost a teenager. She's in middle school. She's still magical. (And middle school girls can still be super mean.) ...
09.23.2019
Episode XXX: Emma at last
I want you to meet my good friend, Emma. When she was a little girl, she was just like my daughter. But no one knew her for 60 years. I'm so glad she's here now.
01.25.2019
Episode XXIX: Eleven
...
12.31.2018
Episode XXVIII: The Tell
...
11.29.2018
Episode XXVII: Playdates with Christians
...
11.06.2018
Episode XXVI: Sarah McBride
...
10.30.2018
Episode XXV: To Tell or Not to Tell? (Advice from HTBAG listeners)
...
08.20.2018
Episode XXIV: Moving & Marrying, Part III - New School
...
07.31.2018
Episode XXIII: Moving & Marrying, Part II - Won't you be my neighbor?
...
05.17.2018
Episode XXII: Moving & Marrying, Part I - The Prince
...
05.10.2018
Episode XXI: Going First
In this episode, my daughter and I get to talk with two of our heroes. Jazz Jennings is a reality TV star, LGBTQ activist, and arguably the most famous transgender teen in the world. Her mom Jeanette is as brave...
04.26.2018
Episode XX: The Betrayal
Of course I knew this was going to happen eventually. But that didn't make it any easier when it did. ...
04.19.2018
We're back! Welcome to a new season!
After a pretty lengthy hiatus, we're back! The first episode of the 2018 season comes out next week. Here's a little taste of what's to come. ...
01.15.2018
We Shall Overcome
12.25.2017
A little girl, a holiday, big news, and... a miracle!
This mini-episode contains: One VERY excited little girl awaiting Santa, news of the big changes coming to our lives, my plans for the future of this podcast, and... a miracle! Music credits: Dee Yan-Key, "Santa on Tour" (licensed under CC...
07.06.2017
When it rains it pours
How can the best of times also be the worst of times? This spring nearly washed me away... but not quite. ...
02.22.2017
Episode XIX: Red State Mama
I thought I was pretty brave until I met my counterpart from a red state. ...
02.18.2017
A little update from Marlo
This tiny episode is mostly silly, and a little bit serious. I also have some news. Plus, cat videos. (KUOW is hosting a How to Be a Girl listening party in Seattle on February 26! Reserve a seat at http://kuow.org/post/join-us-how-be-girl-listening-party) ...
02.01.2017
Episode XVIII: Big Sister
I'm not transgender, but my daughter is. That means she needs someone to model the future who isn't me: A transgender big sister. ...
01.11.2017
Episode XVII: The Window
In 2013, Obama opened a window for transgender people when he made it easier to change the gender on your Social Security record. But with Trump coming into office, it looks like that window is about to close. I hadn't...
12.21.2016
Episode XVI: How to Be a (Teen) Girl
It’s still five years off, but I think about it all the time. What’s it going to be like when my transgender daughter becomes a teenager? ...
11.30.2016
Episode XV: Just Maybe
She hasn't got a womb or ovaries but she wants to be a mommy. How do I tell my young daughter that she won't ever be a biological mother? ...
11.21.2016
A post-election message from my 8-year-old trans daughter
My 8-year-old transgender daughter is not giving up. She's eating popcorn and singing and telling jokes and she has some advice for you. ...
11.09.2016
Episode XIV: My Friend Lauren
When I first realized I had a transgender child, Lauren reached out and told me it was going to be OK. Ever since, she's been the one I lean on when I'm terrified. She's the bravest woman I know. ...
10.19.2016
Episode XIII: Play Date
My daughter has lots of friends, and she's big on play dates with other little girls. But sometimes we need to book a special play date, because sometimes you just need to hang out with somebody who's just like you....
09.28.2016
Episode XII: How to Be a Dad
When my husband and I split up four years ago, we agreed to share custody of our...."son." Four years later, we have a transgender daughter, and the crazy truth is that I've never really asked him how he feels about...
09.04.2016
Short and Silly
This isn't a full episode. Just a little update on what we've been up to, with some very silly audio of my daughter. (What can I say? It's been a silly summer!) There's also an important announcement about the future...
06.30.2016
Episode XI: Bathroom Bill
I never thought a bathroom bill - the kind they passed in North Carolina - would come to my home state. But it did. They're trying to pass one where I live, and this is the story of my fight...
03.24.2016
Episode X: School (Part II)
This is a continuation of Episode IX. It tells the rest of the story of what happened when my transgender daughter started second grade at a new school. ...
03.09.2016
Episode IX: School (Part I)
This episode has been six months in the making, because that's how long it took for this story to play out. It's the story of my daughter entering second grade at a new school where we knew no...
08.05.2015
Episode VIII: Meeting Laverne
Earlier this year, my daughter got to meet the transgender TV star Laverne Cox. I wrote about it for my blog, and that heart-warming, feel-good post went crazy viral on the internet. But there's more to the story. ...
06.30.2015
Episode VII: THE FACTS (about transgender kids)
When my "son" first started saying that "he" was actually a "she," I went looking for information. I wanted hard numbers. I wanted data. I wanted science to tell me to do. This is what I discovered.
12.25.2014
Episode VI: The Interview
This episode is a little different from the others I've made. It's mostly just my daughter talking, answering my questions about what it's like being a transgender six year old.
11.20.2014
Episode V: Looking for Love
She's six years old and transgender. I'm a single mom. This is what happens when we both hit the dating scene and compare notes about it. Music credits: "Night Owl" by Broke for Free, "Is This What...
08.24.2014
Episode IV: Tom Boy Trans Girl
How girlie do you have to be to secure your spot in the girl club? And what happens when your own mother questions your girl credentials? Bonus: The Origins of Acrobat Girl: Music credits: "Action" and "Eastern" by...
07.08.2014
Episode III: How Old is Gender?
Am I insane? How can I be so sure that my young child is transgender?Music credits: "Her Love Comes in Air" by soundZcapa, "Gato" by Rod Hamilton, "Kaikou" by Satori.
06.07.2014
Episode II: Daily Life in the House of Girls
What's it like raising a transgender child? How did your family respond? What about school? How in the world does this work? This episode gives you the low-down on what daily life is really like for...
06.07.2014
Episode I: Mama, I'm a Girl
When he was three years old, my son informed me that she was actually my daughter. I'm now the mother of a happy, confident little transgender girl, but it took a while to get here.

What's How to Be a Girl about?

Download our free app to listen on your phone

How to Be a Girl episodes:

Episode XXXIII: How We Are Now

Episode XXXII: The Medical Stuff

Episode XXXI: M is for Middle School, Take Two

Episode XXXI: M is for Middle School

Episode XXX: Emma at last

Episode XXIX: Eleven

Episode XXVIII: The Tell

Episode XXVII: Playdates with Christians

Episode XXVI: Sarah McBride

Episode XXV: To Tell or Not to Tell? (Advice from HTBAG listeners)

Episode XXIV: Moving & Marrying, Part III - New School

Episode XXIII: Moving & Marrying, Part II - Won't you be my neighbor?

Episode XXII: Moving & Marrying, Part I - The Prince

Episode XXI: Going First

Episode XX: The Betrayal

We're back! Welcome to a new season!

We Shall Overcome

A little girl, a holiday, big news, and... a miracle!

When it rains it pours

Episode XIX: Red State Mama

A little update from Marlo

Episode XVIII: Big Sister

Episode XVII: The Window

Episode XVI: How to Be a (Teen) Girl

Episode XV: Just Maybe

A post-election message from my 8-year-old trans daughter

Episode XIV: My Friend Lauren

Episode XIII: Play Date

Episode XII: How to Be a Dad

Short and Silly

Episode XI: Bathroom Bill

Episode X: School (Part II)

Episode IX: School (Part I)

Episode VIII: Meeting Laverne

Episode VII: THE FACTS (about transgender kids)

Episode VI: The Interview

Episode V: Looking for Love

Episode IV: Tom Boy Trans Girl

Episode III: How Old is Gender?

Episode II: Daily Life in the House of Girls

Episode I: Mama, I'm a Girl

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