Interview with Casey Plett

Monika: Today’s interview will be with Casey Plett, an American transgender writer, author of "Other Women", featured in Topside Press‘s "The Collection: Short Fiction from the Transgender Vanguard". Hello Casey!

Casey: Hi Monika! Before we start, I must apologetically let you know I am actually living in Canada as of this January, so I'm only sort of American at the moment!

Monika: How did you start writing?

Casey: Well I've always read. I think I was eight when I got this idea that being a writer would be cool, and then I alternated writing sad or wacky shit off and on through my pre-teen and teen years.

A month before my nineteenth birthday, I was in Seattle for a weekend and suddenly in a rush just started writing down everything that had happened to me in the preceding months and that's when I thought "Nah, I'm really gonna give this writing thing a go, I'm actually gonna try and do this."

And like lots followed after like I did a bunch of schools, and I had periods where I didn't write and just smoked weed and got drunk. But that weekend in Seattle is the turning point that exists in my head, I guess.

Interview with Britany Somers

Monika: Today it is my pleasure and honor to interview Britany Somers, an American transgender radio host, comedian, and transgender advocate. Hello Britany!

Britany: Hi Monika.

Monika: Could you say a few words about your career so far?

Britany: Like most terrestrial broadcasters licensed prior to the '96 Telecom Act, it's over. The little show I have keeps my toe in the rapidly evaporating water. That's about it.

Monika: How long have you been producing the Boca Show? Which topics does it focus on?

Britany: The show is in its third year. Seriously thinking of just renaming it The Brit Somers Show. “Boca” is a well-known nickname from the Neil Rogers Show which I was part of for 20 years. I kept it for the local South Florida listeners familiar with my material. Too parochial for online. My show is intentionally General Interest. (AOR; All Over the Road).

Interview with Ivory Oasis

Ivory Oasis, also known as Dani Landers, is a game developer, artist, and YouTube vlogger based in Los Angeles. As the founder of Studio Fawn, she pours her heart into art, writing, and design, while also documenting her transition to help others navigate similar journeys. Having been on hormones for over 29 months, Ivory shares her experiences to provide guidance to those beginning their own transitions. Rather than fitting herself into traditional gender roles, she’s embraced the freedom of simply being herself, rejecting societal labels in favor of living authentically. Despite the challenges, including rejection from her father after coming out, she remains hopeful and committed to breaking stereotypes about transgender people.

 

Ivory’s creativity is inspired by androgynous fashion and transgender characters in anime, who live confidently and express themselves freely. She believes true beauty comes from embracing diversity, rather than conforming to narrow standards. Although she prefers to stay out of the spotlight in local LGBT communities, Ivory is passionate about using her work to create more visibility for transgender people and to inspire others to live their truth. Looking ahead, Ivory remains focused on her career, prioritizing stability and growth as she continues her transition at her own pace. While her journey is ongoing, she feels grateful for the progress she’s made and is excited for what the future holds.

Interview with Lynda Oudenhoven

Monika: Today I would like to introduce to you Lynda Oudenhoven, an American mechanic and video blogger that documents her transition on YouTube. Hello Lynda!

Lynda: Hi Monika and thank you for inviting me to be part of your interview series, it's a pleasure to meet you.

Monika: Could you say a few words about yourself?

Lynda: Sure, I'm a 51-year-old Denver Police Fleet Mechanic. I have another 3 years, 9 months until I retire, after 27 years of service, and pursue other employment interests. I have a beautiful 29-year-old daughter and I live with my two dogs and one cat near the foothills of Denver Colorado.

Monika: Why did you decide to share your transition details on YouTube?

Lynda: Probably for a couple of reasons. I wanted to have something for my daughter to remember this time. Something she can look at long after I'm gone. I also wanted to share with other women in the community, that might be contemplating transitioning/surgery, so as to provide some comfort for them. If I can overcome my fears/anxieties... anybody can.

Interview with Susan Jane Bigelow

Monika: Today let me present Susan Jane Bigelow, an American transgender writer, librarian, political columnist, and author of "Ramona’s Demons", featured in Topside Press: “The Collection: Short Fiction from the Transgender Vanguard”. Susan writes a weekly political column for the outstanding Connecticut political news website, CT News Junkie, where she focuses on politics inside and relevant to the Nutmeg State. In 2005-2010, she wrote for the Connecticut political blog CT Local Politics. Hello Susan!

Susan: Hello, Monika! Thank you for having me.

Monika: Could you say a few words about yourself?

Susan: Sure. I’m a librarian, a political columnist, and a writer. I live with my wife in the northeastern United States. I’m the author of the Extrahumans series, the Grayline Sisters series, and you can find my writing in QUEERS DIG TIME LORDS as well as the Topside Press COLLECTION.

Monika: How did you start writing?

Susan: I’ve always been a writer, even when I was little. I would make up stories, and my mother would encourage me to write them down. I can’t imagine myself without writing at this point.

Interview with Carol Mapley

Monika: Today it is my pleasure and honor to interview Carol Mapley, a Scottish nationalist, LGBT activist, and a former policewoman. She served in the RAF’s Observer Corps for 18 years. Her police career started in 1977 when she joined Grampian Police. She is Scottish Labour’s first transgender election candidate for the Castle Douglas and Glenken council seat. Hello Carol!

Carol: Hi Monika! It's lovely to speak to you.

Monika: Could you say a few words about your career so far?

Carol: I’ve had two distinct career strands to date – the police and mental health. I work within the Police Service of Scotland where I help formulate national policy and service delivery in relation to transgendered officers and staff as well as the transgendered people that we the police come into contact with every day in Scotland.

I play an active role in delivering mental health, and trans awareness training at our national police college in Fife. I also serve as a director of a major Scottish mental health charity – Vox Scotland. Vox is a charity that represents the views of mental health service users in the planning and provision of mental health services within Scotland.

Interview with Mikki Whitworth

Monika: Today’s interview will be with Mikki Whitworth, an American transgender writer, author of "Masks of a Superhero", featured in Topside Press‘s “The Collection: Short Fiction from the Transgender Vanguard” (2012). Hello Mikki!

Mikki: Hello, thank you for this opportunity to reach out to my readers and the community at large.

Monika: Could you say a few words about yourself?

Mikki: What can I say about myself? I guess the one part of my life that stands out is that I am a disabled American veteran. I served my country in my youth. Now 25 years later, I am still picking up the pieces of that service. I have been with a wonderful man for 18 years, he has stood by my side through understanding my mental illness, standing next to me through transitioning, and returning to college at nearly 40.

Monika: How did you start writing?

Mikki: I started writing as a way to deal with my illness. I began writing with a group of veterans at my local veteran’s hospital. My first two major works were entered into the VA National Creative Arts Festival. They won silver and bronze medals. I knew I was doing something right and thus began my goal to write more and better, which eventually led to my desire to return to college.

Interview with Azora Alexander

Monika: Welcome, everyone! Today’s interview is with the wonderful Azora Alexander, a young and inspiring American video blogger from North Carolina. She’s been documenting her transition on YouTube, sharing both her struggles and triumphs with an ever-growing audience. Azora, it’s a real pleasure to have you here today. How are you?

Azora: Hello Monika! It is such an honor to be here.

Monika: Could you say a few words about yourself?

Azora: Well I’m 25 years old, and I live in a small town in North Carolina.

Monika: What motivated you to start sharing your transition journey on YouTube, and how has the experience evolved for you over time?

Azora: I actually started making videos about 3 years ago. They started as just makeup videos, and over time I would talk about various personal things. When I decided to start my transition, I felt that vlogging about it would not only be therapeutic but also that sharing both my good and bad experiences could help others feel less alone. It became a way for me to process everything I was going through while also providing a support system for others.

Interview with Birdy Reene

Monika: Today’s interview will be with Birdy Reene, a young American video blogger that documents her transition on YouTube. Hello Birdy!

Birdy: Hi, hi, Thanks for wanting to interview me.

Monika: Could you say a few words about yourself?

Birdy: Well, I'm 26, I'm a home health aid who looks after the mentally handicapped. Outside of work I play video games, run my own anime art website and play around with the concept of doing my own manga.

Monika: Why did you decide to share your transition details on YouTube?

Birdy: My friend Sour Skiddlez has been doing video blogs for a long time, and exposed me to the process in one of her videos so I started doing it myself. I more or less wanted to show transition isn't the nightmare people make it out to be, its rough I won't lie, but I feel like if more of us were to educate the future trans community, maybe they can take from us and help themselves better.

Interview with Christina Warburton

Monika: Today’s interview will be with Christina Warburton, a young American video blogger that documents her transition on YouTube. Hello Christina!

Christina: Hello Monika, It is a privilege to speak with you today. I feel very honored to be looked at as an Idol.

Monika: Could you say a few words about yourself?

Christina: Sure, I was born in Liverpool, England, moved to Philadelphia, PA when I was 10 years old. As for me currently, I’m a 35-year-old MTF, who is a proud parent of 3 children. I’m really no one special, I’m an average blue-collar worker that works for a landscaping company.

I pay my taxes, bills, go to work every day, and do the same things as everyone else, despite what some people would tend to try to make everyone believe. I am also a musician, I have been playing bass since high school, and am an avid video gamer and general techie.

Interview with Fiona Corwin

Fiona Corwin is a vibrant, multifaceted woman who has been sharing her transition journey online with honesty, wit, and grace. At 41, Fiona balances an impressive array of roles: she’s a web developer, IT consultant, manager, business owner, carpenter, machinist, musician, writer, martial artist, and poet. She's also a dedicated spouse and a loving parent to six children. Fiona began her transition in October 2012, started hormone therapy in January 2013, and began living full-time as a woman in May of that same year. She decided to document her journey on YouTube, especially to support other women transitioning later in life who, like her, were looking for relatable examples of what was possible. Her openness, particularly about the emotional and physical aspects of her transition, has offered invaluable reassurance to many.

 

With her characteristic blend of courage and candor, Fiona speaks out about the challenges of being transgender in today's society and the importance of visibility and self-love. She’s a passionate advocate for LGBTQ+ rights, having recently attended her first PRIDE event, and is committed to living openly and authentically. Her philosophy is both uplifting and clear: transition doesn’t make you brave, it reveals the strength that was already there. Fiona is happily married, deeply values family, and finds joy in fashion, artistry, and the subtle magic of everyday womanhood. She dreams of writing novels and possibly making films in the years ahead. For now, she continues to inspire others by simply being herself. It’s my great pleasure to introduce you to Fiona Corwin. Our conversation below explores her life, her transition, and the heartfelt wisdom she’s gained along the way.

Interview with Calpernia Addams

Calpernia Addams is an American actress, musician, author, spokesperson, and activist for transgender rights and visibility. Her journey is one of resilience, artistry, and advocacy. Born in Nashville, Tennessee, Calpernia served as a hospital corpsman in the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps. It was during her final year of military service that she embraced her identity as a transgender woman. The name "Calpernia" was inspired by both Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar and a tombstone in The Addams Family movie, a perfect blend of classic literature and gothic charm! Her career has been multifaceted, spanning entertainment, activism, and education. In 2002, she co-founded Deep Stealth Productions with Andrea James, creating educational and entertainment content about gender identity. She even coached Felicity Huffman for her Academy Award-nominated role in Transamerica.

 

Calpernia's presence on screen has been just as impactful. She starred in Soldier’s Girl, a film that told the heartbreaking story of her relationship with PFC Barry Winchell, whose murder became a pivotal moment in the discussion of LGBT rights in the military. She also appeared in the 2006 documentary Beautiful Daughters and headlined the 2008 reality TV series Transamerican Love Story, where she brought humor and heart to the dating world. 

Beyond acting, Calpernia is a talented musician, releasing her own music and collaborating with artists such as Willam Belli. She has also used her voice for advocacy, becoming a spokesperson for PFLAG’s This Is Our Love Story campaign and performing alongside icons like Jane Fonda, Glenn Close, and Salma Hayek in The Vagina Monologues.