Interview with Sheila Newsom

Monika: Today I have the sheer pleasure of meeting Dr. Sheila Newsom, an American physician, published author, public speaker, successful entrepreneur, experienced producer, and lifelong student. Sheila can boast a military background, including graduation from West Point and service as an Airborne Ranger. She spent 22 years in private practice focusing on nephrology and critical care. She is is the founder of Finding Metis, an in-home ketamine therapy service, and the author of A Calling from the Bones (2018), a biographical book that covers different aspects of her transition. Hello Sheila!

Sheila: Monika, I am honored that you would ask me to contribute.

Monika: Our road to womanhood is usually long and winding. Was it the same in your case?

Sheila: The first forty-two years of my life I constructed the persona of an alpha male. I was raised in West Texas within the bosom of a close and loving family. My parents were intelligent, supportive, hardworking people who were not afraid to display affection. My father owned the local grocery store that was the heart and soul of the community. Yet, paradoxically I see them now as an elegant pair, a power couple living in the bardoland.

Interview with Jessica Potak

Monika: Today I am talking to Jessica Potak, an American social media influencer from Long Island, NY, YouTube vlogger, and a transgender woman that documents her transition on social media. Hello Jessica!

Jessica: Hayy Monika!!! Thank you so much for having me on and giving me a chance to share my story!

Monika: Could you say a few words about yourself?

Jessica: Well, I'm an almost 40-year-old post-op transgender woman from Long Island New York. I'm a single mother and have custody of my wonderful 13-year-old daughter Leah, who is one of my biggest supporters! I'm a visual artist, rock guitarist, model, and earth angel. I use social media as a way to outreach to the trans community and connect with the people that need a friend or mentor.

Interview with Tiffany Ryan

Monika: Today I am going to introduce to you Tiffany Ryan, a talented woman from New York that happens to be a comedian and stand-up artist. Hello Tiffany!

Tiffany: Hi Monika -- it's great to connect with you!

Monika: Could you say a few words about yourself? 

Tiffany: Like you said, I am a stand-up comedian. I am a parent to two puppies, Gretchen Wieners and Chauncey. I also work as an event planner and personal assistant. I've been trying my hand at acting recently as well. I was born in New Jersey and raised in Las Vegas. I'm currently living in New York City, so I was very excited for comedy clubs to open up when it's safe, so I can get back on stage.

Monika: You are not the first trans comedian that I interview. I am very happy to list you among Natasha Muse, Julia Scotti, Alison Grillo, Maryanne Marttini, and other talented ladies. It seems that our community can boast a surprisingly high percentage of ladies with a sense of humor... :)

Tiffany: Yes, and so many more -- Robin Tran is my current favorite! We're a talented community. I feel like humor was a defense mechanism I developed when I was growing up as an outsider in school and I'm thrilled that I get to use that talent to entertain people.

Interview with Victoria Rubio

Victoria Rubio is a proud transgender American woman, recovery professional, and passionate advocate for the LGBTQ+ community. Born in Kansas City in 1976 into a large Latin and military family, Victoria came out as transgender in the early 1990s, at a time when visibility and understanding were scarce. At just 16, she bravely shared her story on national television through The Montel Williams Show, using the platform to educate others and spark crucial conversations about transgender identity. Despite facing rejection, addiction, and life on the margins, Victoria found her way to healing and transformation. A former adult film star who later lived in the shadows for two decades, she emerged once again into the public eye, this time sober and committed to helping others. Today, Victoria is working in an LGBTQ-specific recovery center, studying to become a certified drug and alcohol counselor, and using her voice to support and empower her community. With a twin sister who is also transgender, Victoria’s journey is one of resilience, sisterhood, and unwavering authenticity.

Interview with Iden Crockett

Monika: Today I have the pleasure and honor of interviewing Iden Crockett, an American trans female artist working in collage, pencil, and ink, and a former firefighter. Hello Iden!

Iden: Hello! I am so excited to do this. It is an absolute pleasure to speak with you.

Monika: Could you say a few words about yourself?

Iden: Well, I am a forty-two-year-old bi-racial trans-female artist and writer. I work in pencil and ink but what I really do is make collages. Most of my drawing is in service of my collage work and I incorporate all of what do, the drawing, the poetry, into those pieces. I have three wonderful children and one amazing (A M A Z I N G!) wife, and we all live here in the U.S. in a small town called Yellow Springs.

Monika: How would you define your art?

Iden: Confessional. I was recently asked to write an artist's bio and I believe that I used the phrase "deeply personal." I came to art as a way of working through the difficulties I was experiencing with my mental health. I believe strongly that by being as open and candid as I can be about my own struggles, I can not only heal myself but also empower others to leave behind their secret shames as well.

Interview with Mylee Blake

Monika: Today I have the pleasure and honor of interviewing Mylee Blake, an American immersive experience designer and experiential gender and sexuality coach from Colorado, the USA that shares her transition story on social media. Hello Mylee!

Mylee: Hello! Thanks for asking to interview me. I love sharing my story, as other trans women's stories helped me along the way through my transition.

Monika: What does an immersive experience designer and experiential gender and sexuality coach do? Could you say a few words about yourself?

Mylee: Well, as an immersive experience designer, I create worlds and stories for participants to explore, play, and transform their perceptions of "reality". As an experiential gender and sexuality coach, I sort of do the same thing, just with a focus on exploring one's gender and sexuality, with exercises, real-life games, and a little bit of active listening.