In this episode of Headstrong, Jake Graf joins Louis Strong for a deeply honest conversation about identity, resilience and protecting your mental health in a world that can feel increasingly hostile. Jake opens up about growing up trans with no language or representation, the isolation that shaped his early life and the coping mechanisms he turned to just to survive. He reflects on the mental toll of persistent transphobia, the exhaustion of public scrutiny and the fear that can exist in the most ordinary moments of daily life.

At the heart of this episode is hope. Jake speaks powerfully about fatherhood as an anchor for wellbeing, the joy and grounding he finds in family life and how vulnerability has become a source of strength rather than weakness. He also shares why representation in film and storytelling matters so deeply – not just for trans people but for anyone who has ever felt unseen.

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