Interview with Stephanie Dunn

Stephanie Dunn is a remarkable woman whose journey of self-discovery and courage has spanned decades, culminating in the full embrace of her authentic identity. Born in Aldershot, Hampshire, in 1962 and raised in nearby Fleet, Stephanie spent much of her early life navigating feelings she could not yet fully understand. She grew up in a family of four siblings, including two brothers and a sister, whose loss she still feels deeply. Despite these challenges, she built a successful career and family life, marrying young and raising two children, Richard and Eleanor, who are now grown and supportive pillars in her life. For many years, Stephanie lived in denial about her gender identity, immersing herself in her career as an engineer and later at British Airways, as well as in traditionally masculine hobbies such as motor sports and American football. Yet, beneath the surface, the woman she always was continued to emerge quietly. It wasn’t until her children were grown and she became an empty nester that Stephanie allowed herself to explore this part of her identity, beginning with tentative crossdressing and gradually discovering the joy and freedom it brought her.

Interview with Andrea Christine Brookes

In every generation, there are individuals whose journeys carry the weight of both personal struggle and communal resilience. Andrea Christine Brookes is one such voice. Born in 1961 to a mother who was a teacher and a father who served as a Chief Petty Officer in the Royal Navy, Andrea grew up in the English Midlands in what, from the outside, looked like a fairly ordinary upbringing. Yet behind the curtain of a “normal” childhood lay questions of identity that surfaced as early as age seven, when Andrea first began cross-dressing, long before there was public language or cultural understanding for what she was experiencing. Like many trans people of her generation, Andrea entered puberty in a world devoid of resources, where curiosity and self-expression were often stifled by silence, shame, and stereotypes. Still, the urge to live authentically kept resurfacing, a quiet but unshakable truth that refused to be buried. Andrea’s path, however, was not a straight line. She built a successful career in IT, became a wife, and later a widow, and even weathered some of life’s darkest storms, including periods of deep depression and moments of contemplating suicide. 

Interview with Emilia Japonka

Emi Japonka - one of the first transgender people in Poland to publicly share her story. An activist for the LGBTQ+ community, co-founder of the country’s largest online support group for transgender people, and the initiator of numerous aid projects. Editor of the TransNews portal, columnist, and author of the world’s first mental guide on gender transition, "Tranzycja" (Transition), as well as the book "Zrozumienie" (Understanding). Her work encompasses both support initiatives and cultural events. She has participated in projects such as the “Rainbow Christmas Eve,” was a panelist at a conference held at the Office of the Commissioner for Human Rights, and a special guest at the New Horizons Film Festival, where she shared her knowledge and experience following a screening of the film "Girl". She also lent her voice to the theater play "We’ll Eat Your Children! With Onions" and co-led career activation workshops for transgender people. Privately, she is passionate about cinema, photography, and spiritual development, with a deep fascination for Indian culture. She speaks about her transition in Poland with her characteristic distance and sense of humor - the “joy” she went through is something she now uses to support and inspire others.

Interview with Tiffany Rossdale

Born and raised in Manila, Tiffany Rossdale has called Tokyo home for over 25 years. A true renaissance woman, she has lived many lives, first as a celebrated figure in Japan’s vibrant VIP nightlife scene, and now as a transformational lifestyle coach and LGBTQ+ wellness advocate. After arriving in Tokyo in the late 1990s, Tiffany quickly became one of the city’s most recognizable socialites, curating dazzling fashion events and luxury parties under her brand Tokyo Fashionista for five-star hotels, top fashion labels, and mega-clubs. She has worked alongside international talents including Kat DeLuna, Vita Chambers, and Lavelle Smith Jr., famed choreographer to Michael Jackson, Janet Jackson, and Beyoncé.

 

In 2010, Tiffany turned her passion for music into a DJ career, spinning at exclusive parties in Tokyo, Beverly Hills, and Miami. But her path took a deeply personal turn when the pandemic prompted her to launch Breakfast With Tiffany Show, a podcast focused on LGBTQ+ wellbeing, spirituality, and personal growth. Tiffany’s own story of transformation is nothing short of remarkable. Assigned male at birth, she transitioned after arriving in Japan, following her heart from a job in an electronics factory to dancing in a transgender cabaret. Her journey included modeling, heartbreak, substance abuse, and ultimately, a spiritual awakening. After a painful breakup and a series of personal struggles, Tiffany chose to leave her nightlife persona behind, embrace sobriety, and rediscover herself through meditation, personal development, and a silent retreat in Bali. That pivotal time led her to a new purpose: helping others find peace, purpose, and self-love. 

Interview with Mandy Goodhandy

Navigating life as a transgender woman in the entertainment world demands resilience, authenticity, and a fierce sense of purpose, qualities embodied fully by Mandy Goodhandy, also known as Amanda Taylor. Born in Scotland and eventually making Toronto her vibrant home, she is often celebrated as Canada’s first trans woman stand‑up comedian and the first trans woman singer accepted into the prestigious TD Toronto Jazz Festival in 2016. With a career spanning decades, Mandy has worn many hats: singer, comedian, author, entrepreneur, and outspoken advocate. She’s the author of Just Call Me Lady: A Work of Completion, a memoir that charts a powerful journey from hiding her true self to emerging whole, with humour, courage, and clear-eyed honesty. 

 

Mandy co‑owned and co‑operated Club 120 and the 120 Diner in Toronto (formerly Goodhandy’s Nightclub), hosting her iconic weekly T‑Girl parties that created safe, affirming spaces for trans women and allies starting in the early 2000s. And when that chapter closed, she rose again, continuing music, comedy, book projects, and public speaking with unwavering passion. In this candid and compelling conversation, Mandy reflects on choosing her name, navigating transition, breaking creative ground, and amplifying trans stories on stage, screen, and in print. Her voice is bold, her humour is sharp, and her commitment to visibility is unwavering.