Interview with Martina Sobková

Martina Sobková is living proof that elegance begins with courage. At 36, the Czech model made history as the first transgender woman from her country to compete at the prestigious Miss Trans Star International in São Paulo, where she proudly earned the title of Miss Evolution. In doing so, she didn’t just walk a runway, she stepped into history. But Martina’s story is about far more than crowns, sashes, and glittering stages. It is a story of resilience, reinvention, and radical self-acceptance. From navigating her transition in a country where transgender visibility is still limited, to carving out space in the competitive world of modeling at an age when many women are told their moment has passed, she is redefining what beauty, ambition, and femininity can look like. Her journey challenges outdated narratives about both gender and age, quietly dismantling stereotypes with every appearance. She represents a generation of women who refuse to shrink themselves to fit expectations. And perhaps most powerfully, she shows that authenticity is not a weakness in competitive spaces, it is an advantage.

 

Beyond the spotlight, Martina is equally formidable. As the newly appointed editor-in-chief of Bankovnictví magazine, she proves that intellect and glamour are not opposites, they are allies. She is building her modeling career with the same discipline she brings to finance, embracing new opportunities and pushing boundaries with determination and grace. Balancing boardrooms and backstage preparations, she moves seamlessly between two worlds that rarely intersect. Her ability to excel in both speaks not only to ambition, but to extraordinary focus and resilience. It is this multidimensional strength that makes her story so compelling. Today, Martina stands not only as a beauty queen, but as a symbol of representation. Her visibility matters, not for fame, but for the quiet revolution it represents. Because when one woman dares to take up space, she makes it easier for others to follow. And that is exactly why this conversation matters.

Interview with Bernadette Wagenblast

Monika: Bernadette Wagenblast, also known as The Voice of the Subway, is an American transportation journalist, radio personality, and voice-over artist. She is the founder and editor of the Transportation Communications Newsletter and the voice of various transportation facilities in New York City, such as the AirTrain and the Subway. She was active in her college’s radio station, WSOU, where she served as the news director and station manager. She also appeared on several New York City radio stations over five years, including WINS and WABC. She later joined the New York City Department of Transportation, where she helped to establish the city’s first transportation communications center. Hello Bernadette! Thank you for accepting my invitation.

Bernadette: Thank you for the invitation, Monika!

Liz Hodgkinson on Bodyshock: The Truth about Changing Sex

Monika: Today I have the sheer pleasure of talking to Liz Hodgkinson, a British prominent author and journalist who has written more than 50 books that have been translated into over 20 languages. She has also written articles for most of the major British national newspapers in London, and for magazines for women. And she is the author of “Bodyshock: The Truth about Changing Sex” (1987), one of the best journalism books on transsexuality, a book that is very dear to me too. Hello Liz! Thank you for accepting my invitation.

Liz: That’s OK. Happy to talk to you.

Monika: We have just entered into a brand new year. Do you have any special commitments for 2024?

Liz: Just to get my new books published!

Monika: Are you working on a new book now?

Liz: I have just finished a new book, titled: "A Mink Coat in St Neots: My Mother’s Flower Shop and the mystery of a Wealthy Russian Princess." It is an extraordinary true story, never before told, and will be published this Autumn by Mount Orleans Press.

Interview with Emma Smith

Monika: Today let me introduce you to Emma Smith. Emma is a British journalist, podcaster, and trans woman that shares her transition story on social media. Hello Emma! Thank you for accepting my invitation.

Emma: Thank you for asking me!

Monika: Could you say a few words about yourself?

Emma: I’m never any good at this bit. I’m 30 years old, I’m originally from Newcastle-upon-Tyne in the north-east of England, and now I live in Manchester. I’ve worked for a whole bunch of newspapers and websites in the UK, and now I work for the BBC Sport website. Since joining in August I’ve written about everything from Premier League and WSL football to trans table tennis players and ice hockey teams. It has been fun.

Monika: What inspired you to share your intimate life moments on social media?

Emma: I don’t actually share that much intimate stuff on social media, I like to keep private stuff private for the most part. The most intimate thing I ever shared was when I came out to the wider world as trans in November 2019, and that was more to get that out of the way more than anything else. Otherwise, I just share nice outfit pics on Instagram or stories I’ve written on Twitter. It means I, mostly, avoid the pointless arguments that can crop up.

Interview with Claire-Renee Kohner

It is my heartfelt honor to introduce Claire-Renee Kohner, a remarkable woman whose life story weaves together resilience, motherhood, and tireless advocacy. Claire-Renee is an American transgender journalist, activist, blogger, and devoted mother of three sons. Through her writing, she brings attention to both the everyday realities and the extraordinary achievements within the transgender and queer communities, with a special focus on artists, entertainers, and changemakers who are shaping culture from the margins inward. Claire-Renee has contributed over 100 published articles to esteemed outlets including The Advocate, Bustle, PlanetTransgender, GayEssentials, Original Plumbing, and her own platform Claire Channel Media, which she developed to amplify underrepresented voices in trans and queer storytelling. She has appeared on HuffPost Live, The Queer Radio Network, and MyTalk107.1, boldly discussing trans visibility, dating, and representation in media. Her digital presence, including PlanetClaire, continues to serve as a thoughtful hub for global transgender news.

 

Behind every article and appearance is a personal journey of astonishing depth. Claire-Renee came out publicly in support of gender-inclusive policies before city councils and national television cameras, moments that were as brave as they were vulnerable. Her path to womanhood was not easy, shadowed by depression, survival, and ultimately, rebirth. Yet, with quiet strength and radiant authenticity, she embraced her truth, turning hardship into hope, not only for herself, but for those who see themselves reflected in her words. Claire-Renee speaks not only as an advocate but as a survivor, a parent, a woman who knows loss and love, and a fierce believer in the power of community. Whether highlighting trans representation in media or confronting injustice in politics, she brings a fearless, compassionate voice to the ongoing fight for transgender dignity and visibility. Today, I am deeply moved to sit down with Claire-Renee, a woman whose story deserves not just to be read, but to be remembered. 

Interview with Eden Lane

Eden Lane is an award-winning American journalist, producer, and arts and culture reporter for Colorado Public Radio. She holds a groundbreaking place in broadcast history as the first openly transgender person in mainstream television journalism in the United States. But Eden’s story is not just one of firsts, it’s a testament to quiet strength, resilience, and grace under pressure. Raised in southeast Michigan, Eden's early love for storytelling and performance led her to New York, where she studied in college and immersed herself in the worlds of theater and dance. This artistic spirit later found a new home in journalism, where she built a respected career by giving others the spotlight. For more than a decade, she produced and hosted programs for PBS12, including the LGBTQ magazine Colorado OUTSpoken and the acclaimed In Focus with Eden Lane, a weekly interview series celebrating the voices of artists, writers, performers, and visionaries in Colorado’s cultural scene.

 

In 2008, Eden became the first openly transgender journalist to cover a major U.S. political event for PBS, when she reported on the Democratic National Convention. Her visibility, though never her initial goal, made her a role model to many in the LGBTQ community. Even when her transgender history was weaponized by others in politics and the media, Eden stayed focused on her work, refusing to let the noise derail her mission: to tell human stories with integrity, depth, and empathy. Balancing a demanding career with life as a wife, mother, and homemaker, Eden has always embraced her many roles with humility. She has also anchored national news segments and continues to use her platform to explore the intersections of identity, art, and social change. Whether she is interviewing emerging artists or producing a documentary on trans representation in media, Eden Lane leads with quiet courage and unshakable dignity. Today, Eden lives in Colorado with her loving husband and daughter. She remains deeply committed to creating space for underrepresented voices, while also proving that you can live a meaningful, ordinary, beautiful life, even while making history.