Interview with Faye Seidler

Faye Seidler is a dedicated transgender activist, educator, and writer focused on improving awareness and representation of transgender people across healthcare, education, government, and business sectors. Growing up in poverty, Faye developed a pragmatic approach to life and fashion, valuing comfort and utility over trends. Despite these humble beginnings, she has become a respected voice in the fight for trans rights and social justice. Faye’s advocacy centers on challenging harmful stereotypes that have long dominated media portrayals of trans individuals, especially the outdated and reductive tropes of victims, sex workers, or villains. Drawing on historical data and cultural analysis, she emphasizes the need for authentic transgender representation and participation in storytelling.

 

A self-taught researcher and lifelong writer, Faye combines her passion for social justice with grassroots activism. She actively works to create safer school environments through initiatives like the Gender and Sexuality Alliance (GSA) project in North Dakota, mentors LGBTQ+ youth, and develops transgender cultural competency trainings in healthcare. Faye understands the complexities of gender dysphoria and the transition journey, recognizing that medical interventions like hormones and surgery are tools that bring some relief but not the entirety of liberation. She advocates for self-acceptance beyond passing and stresses the importance of emotional support from friends and partners. Currently involved in community journalism and education, Faye plans to expand her work by pursuing continuing education grants and possibly writing memoirs. Supported by a loving polyamorous relationship, she finds strength in love, community, and the hope of a future where transgender people can live authentically without societal limitations.

Interview with Galen

Galen is a woman of quiet strength, fierce intellect, and deep reflection. At 29, she began the tender and transformative journey of transitioning, stepping into her truth with both courage and thoughtfulness. Through her writing on Trans Substantiation, a beautifully curated space where philosophy meets lived experience, Galen offers readers more than just personal reflections. She invites them into meaningful conversations about identity, embodiment, and the intricacies of gender. Her early transition years were marked by hesitation and internal struggle, a pattern many in the trans community will recognize: the cycle of coming out, retreating, and reckoning with the pain of repression. 

 

But once she stepped fully into herself, with the support of her loving wife, she found not only affirmation but a sense of home in her own body and mind. Beyond the screen, Galen is a mother, a partner, a cyclist, and a thinker. Whether she’s writing about gender theory, laughing with her son Kellan before bedtime, or pedaling with the Trans National Women’s Cycling Team, her life is a testament to authenticity and love in action. She’s not chasing conventional beauty or fame, only honesty, clarity, and the quiet joy of being understood. In this conversation, Galen shares her journey with disarming honesty, balancing political insight with personal warmth. Her story reminds us that while transition may be one chapter, it is not the whole book, and that the most profound transformations often begin in the quiet bravery of self-acceptance.

Interview with Kenna Aloi

In the ever-expanding digital world, there are countless voices sharing their lives, hopes, and struggles. Yet every so often, one of these voices stands out, not because of flashy editing or viral fame, but because of authenticity. Meet Kenna Aloi, a 22-year-old American video blogger whose YouTube channel, Kenna’s World, is less about curated perfection and more about honesty, growth, and connection. Between juggling two jobs and working seven days a week, Kenna somehow finds the energy to document her gender transition, share personal reflections, and invite viewers into her life as though they were old friends. Kenna’s channel functions as a living diary, one that she hopes will not only serve as a record of her own journey but also as a beacon for others navigating their own paths. Whether she’s talking about the realities of hormone therapy, reflecting on her coming out, discussing the challenges of dating as a trans woman, or weighing in on how transgender characters are represented in the media, her approach is refreshingly candid. She prefers to improvise rather than read from a script, believing that unpolished honesty resonates more deeply than anything rehearsed.

Interview with Anshu Christa Jacobson

Anshu Christa Jacobson is a truly remarkable woman whose life and accomplishments defy convention, transcend borders, and challenge every preconceived notion we might have about what it means to be a warrior, an artist, and a human being. Anshu is the Headmistress of the Budo Ryu Kai, one of the most respected and sought-after instructors in both traditional and eclectic martial arts, and a celebrated member of the World Martial Arts Hall of Fame. She is widely recognized as the only non-Japanese individual to have been awarded a Menkyo Kaiden, the highest license in Japanese martial arts, and Sokeship, signifying her status as inheritor and grandmaster of a koryu bujutsu/ninjutsu tradition. Anshu’s journey into the martial arts is as unconventional as it is inspiring. While many may find her path through the disciplined halls of combat training impressive on its own, it is her unwavering commitment to authenticity, history, and integrity that sets her apart. In 2004, disillusioned by mainstream schools misrepresenting the art of ninjutsu, she founded Budo Ryu Kai to preserve and teach real, traditional ninjutsu, combining her extensive research, personal experience, and deep spiritual insight to create a holistic system that develops the mind, body, and spirit.

 

Today, her teachings resonate on an international scale, with students from across the globe following her instruction and guidance. But Anshu’s talents and passions do not stop at martial arts. She is an openly practicing Wiccan, deeply connected to nature and ancient spiritual practices, and she is equally known for her work in adult entertainment as an escort, courtesan, and erotic dancer, a choice she views as an essential expression of personal freedom, art, and femininity. Anshu embraces every facet of her identity unapologetically, embodying the belief that the human body, its sensuality, and its capacity for expression are forms of art that should never be constrained by society or government. Her life story is also one of courage, resilience, and authenticity. As a transgender woman, Anshu faced immense challenges when she began her transition at the age of 26: the loss of friends, family difficulties, and even a thriving business. Yet, she pursued her truth with unwavering determination, proving that strength and identity cannot be defined by the limitations imposed by others.

Interview with Yvette Tourettes

When it comes to online creators, authenticity often makes the strongest impression, and my guest today embodies exactly that. Known to her YouTube audience as “Yvette Tourettes,” Kelly Pärlefrost is a content-maker from Stockholm, Sweden, who shares her journey with remarkable honesty and creativity. At just 23 years old (soon turning 24), Kelly has already worn many hats: assistant nurse, student preparing for higher studies in pharmacy and chemistry, and now an emerging voice within the trans community through her online presence. Kelly’s channel is more than entertainment, it is a personal archive of resilience and growth. One of her most notable projects, a video montage tracing her life from childhood to the present day, reflects not only her evolving style but also the courage it takes to embrace one’s identity publicly. For years, Kelly preferred to keep her transgender background private, dreaming of simply being seen as any other girl. Yet, over time, she came to understand that her journey is not something to hide but a source of strength, and by sharing it she may inspire others walking a similar path. Her influences include trailblazing figures like Caroline Cossey, a model and actress who carved out space for trans visibility in the 1980s, and whose career Kelly admires for both its glamour and resilience against prejudice. Like Cossey, Kelly is drawn to fashion and beauty, particularly the artistry of make-up, which she describes as a way to express moods, eras, and emotions.

Interview with Kira Darling Brand

Kira Darling Brand is a writer, musician, and YouTube personality whose work offers a candid window into the experiences of a transgender woman navigating life, identity, and resilience in the American South. She is best known as the author of Becoming Her: From Man, To Woman: Part 1 (2016), an autobiographical account that documents her early struggles and triumphs in transition. Written with honesty and vulnerability, the book quickly established her as a voice willing to speak openly about the realities of transgender life at a time when authentic stories were still scarce. At 28 years old, Brand has already built a diverse creative portfolio. Based in Alabama, she has faced the challenges of seeking stability in a workforce that is often hostile toward transgender individuals, yet she continues to pursue her passions in literature, music, and digital media. Her YouTube channel, which has drawn an audience of more than two thousand subscribers, blends political commentary, comedic sketches, practical guides, and reflections on civil rights activism. This mix of humor and advocacy has allowed her to connect with a wide range of viewers, many of whom find in her work a sense of relatability and encouragement. Brand’s personal history adds depth to her public presence.