Interview with Jasmine Isabella Neuenhaus

Monika: Today’s interview will be with Jasmine Isabella Neuenhaus, a multinational corporation employee and charming lady from Queensland, Australia. Hello Jasmine!

Jasmine: Hi Monika! Thank you for inviting me to interview with you.

Monika: Jasmine is such a lovely name! Did you choose it yourself?

Jasmine: I did indeed choose my new name. When I was young I was obsessed with escaping into the fantasy world of cartoons, none more so than the classic Disney animations.

And my favorite Disney cartoon? Aladdin of course! Aladdin’s Princess Jasmine was more focused on being true to herself than just accepting the path others paved for her. That character was the first role model I identified with and taking her name seemed an easy choice.

Interview with Natasha Muse

Monika: Today it is my pleasure and honor to interview Natasha Muse, an American stand-up comedian, and artist. Hello Natasha!

Natasha: Hi Monika!

Monika: How did you start your artistic career?

Natasha: Well, I started performing at a restaurant here in San Francisco called 'AsiaSF.' I never really thought performing would be a path for me, but someone approached me while I was working out at a gym and asked me to audition. In all honesty, I didn't think they would even give me a second look since I'm a shy person by nature. I just did it so I could say I gave it a good shot and did my best. But (as you may have suspected) I got the job and slowly but surely grew to love being on stage.

Monika: You perform all over the San Francisco Bay Area, including Cobb’s Comedy, the SF Punchline, Harvey’s, and the Dark Room. Do you have any performances outside the Bay Area?

Natasha: Oh yeah. Actually one of my goals this year has been to perform further away from what I've come to think of as my 'comfort zone,' San Francisco.

Interview with Toni Newman

Toni Newman is a distinguished author, activist, and advocate for transgender rights. A graduate of Wake Forest University with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Sociology, she has dedicated her life to championing equality and visibility for the transgender community. Her memoir, I Rise – The Transformation of Toni Newman, is a groundbreaking work, marking the first 21st-century memoir written by an African-American transgender woman. In it, Toni bravely shares her journey of self-discovery, resilience, and survival, offering an unfiltered look into her experiences, from struggling to find employment to working as an escort, and ultimately emerging as a powerful advocate for change.

 

Beyond her literary contributions, Toni is an active force in the fight for LGBTQ+ rights. She has served as a writer for The Huffington Post and as Community Editor for Proud to Be Out – The Digital Magazine. She currently works with a major equality organization, advocating for policies that protect and uplift the transgender community. Toni is also involved in the world of entertainment, having adapted her experiences into the screenplay Heart of a Woman, which features a diverse cast of talented actors, including transgender actress and activist Angelica Ross. Despite facing rejection from family and friends when she transitioned in her late twenties, Toni persevered, drawing strength from her faith and inner conviction. Today, she continues to be a beacon of hope for transgender individuals, fighting for their rights in legislative spaces and striving to complete her law degree. Her advocacy underscores the importance of education, employment opportunities, and political engagement in achieving true equality.

Interview with Racheal McGonigal

Racheal McGonigal was born on August 12, 1955, in Gisborne, New Zealand. A proud Kiwi, she has lived a life filled with diverse experiences, personal transformation, and an unyielding zest for life. From an early age, Racheal was an achiever. Growing up as Andrew David, she excelled in academics and sports, serving as Head Prefect at Lindisfarne College in Hastings and playing as a first XV prop in the school's rugby team. She naturally gravitated toward leadership, becoming the chairman of various organizations and a respected figure in her community.

 

Her academic journey led her to university, though her reputation as the ‘Phantom Dippy’, a reference to her penchant for skipping classes, became well known. Despite her unconventional approach, she remained a sought-after confidante and leader among her peers. Racheal’s early adult years followed a traditional path. She purchased a sheep and beef farm in Patoka, near Napier, married, and became the father of two children. However, beneath this conventional exterior, she wrestled with an identity she had yet to fully understand. She had been crossdressing from a young age, but it wasn’t until much later that she recognized her true self.