Interview with TS Candii

Monika: TS Candii is my lovely guest today. TS Candii, also known as Kiyziah Vaughn, is an American transgender rights advocate, journalist, and writer. She is the founder of Black Trans Nation, a non-profit organization whose primary objective is to advocate, educate, and motivate the public to take collective action in support of the transgender community, with a particular focus on Black and POC individuals. In 2022, she published her memoir “Becoming TS Candii: My True Transgender Story“. Hello TS Candii! Thank you for accepting my invitation.

TS Candii: Hello Monika! Thank you so much for the kind invitation - it's a pleasure to be here. I look forward to talking today about my memoir, Black Trans Nation, and the importance of advocating for transgender rights.

Interview with Marisa Richmond

It is with heartfelt admiration that I introduce today’s guest, Dr. Marisa Richmond, a pioneering figure whose grace, strength, and intellect have long lit the path for so many in the transgender community. A trailblazer in American politics and a historian by vocation, Marisa embodies the spirit of service, advocacy, and unapologetic authenticity. Her name is synonymous with trans rights progress in Tennessee and far beyond. As a former lobbyist for the Tennessee Transgender Political Coalition, and a member of the Boards of Directors for both the National Center for Transgender Equality and the Trans Advocacy Network, Marisa has used her voice to amplify the needs of our community at the highest levels of government. She has helped craft inclusive platforms within the Democratic Party and has served with distinction on the Davidson County Democratic Executive Committee in her beloved Nashville, Tennessee.

 

Beyond her political work, Marisa’s heart lies in mentorship and education. A passionate historian, she treasures the classroom and the power of stories to shape the future. She has witnessed firsthand the slow but steady unfolding of trans inclusion across federal, state, and local landscapes, and has been a crucial force in that unfolding. And yet, she is quick to remind us that her activism is not a career, but a calling, driven by love and a profound sense of responsibility to future generations. In our conversation, Marisa reflects on landmark victories, persistent challenges, and her dream of a world where every young trans person can see themselves not just surviving, but thriving. With a gentle fierceness and an unwavering belief in justice, she invites us to remember our shared history, and to keep writing it, together. It is my deepest honor to share this moment with her.

Interview with Carla Lewis

Carla Lewis is a woman whose life story is as inspiring as it is complex. Carla is a transgender woman, activist, software engineer, mother of two, grandmother, and U.S. Air Force veteran. She makes her home in East Tennessee, near the foothills of the Smoky Mountains, with her loving partner Jaime. To say that Carla has lived many lives would not be an exaggeration, her journey weaves together resilience, advocacy, creativity, and an unshakable belief in living authentically. Carla’s path has never been easy. Growing up in Arkansas, she carried within her a sense of difference that she could not yet put into words. Later, her dreams of becoming an astronaut led her to the U.S. Air Force Space Command, but her service was cut short when her gender identity was discovered. What might have ended as defeat became the beginning of a longer story, one of survival, rebuilding, and ultimately embracing the woman she always knew herself to be. 

 

Her transition in the late 1990s was marked by loss, heartbreak, and even moments when life itself hung by a thread. Yet Carla’s courage to begin again, to choose truth over silence, became the cornerstone of her new life. Over time, she reclaimed not only her identity but also her family, reuniting with her children after years apart and stepping into the joyful role of grandmother, a role she embraces with warmth, humor, and a touch of playful mischief. Beyond her personal journey, Carla has been an outspoken advocate for transgender rights. Whether through local LGBT community work, online petitions that influenced corporate behavior, or simply standing proudly as herself, she has made her presence a force for change. She understands the dangers transgender women still face, from discrimination to violence, yet she continues to raise her voice for equality and dignity. Carla is also someone who finds joy in creativity and community.