Interview with Johanna E.

Johanna E. is a vibrant and multi-talented Austrian woman whose journey has captivated audiences across German-speaking Europe. Known for her appearance on the acclaimed reality TV show Transgender – Mein Weg in den richtigen Körper, Johanna brought authenticity, wit, and depth to the screen, using her platform to raise awareness about transgender experiences. Beyond television, she wears many hats: stewardess, yoga instructor, storyteller, and spiritual guide. Born with a strong sense of instinct and ambition, Johanna made the bold decision to share her transition story on national television, turning what could have been a private journey into a powerful statement of visibility. Though the reality TV spotlight came with its challenges, Johanna remains deeply grateful for the opportunity to inspire others and connect with the trans community.

 

Professionally, Johanna splits her time between the skies, working part-time as a flight attendant, and the yoga mat, where she teaches with a unique blend of healing energy and shamanistic insight. She also runs the platform healingYOGAvienna.com, and is currently working on her first book, GleichMut, a cleverly titled work that explores both equality (Gleich) and courage (Mut), and delves into the emotional and spiritual lessons of her life. With her unapologetically honest voice, Johanna challenges stereotypical narratives often imposed on transgender individuals. She advocates for self-love, conscious living, and finding empowerment in one’s own story. Whether she’s flying at 35,000 feet, teaching a sun salutation in Vienna, or writing heartwarming children's stories, Johanna continues to be a beacon of strength, resilience, and joyful rebellion.

Interview with Julie Nemecek

Monika: Today it is my pleasure and honor to interview Rev. Dr. Julie Nemecek, an American transgender activist, lecturer, professor, ordained Baptist minister, and Presbyterian Church elder. She was born in Chicago, Illinois but Michigan has been home for many years. In 2007 she hit the national headlines when she was fired from Spring Arbor University when she came out as a transgender professor. In 2008 Julie was appointed co-executive director for the LGBT civil rights organization Michigan Equality to become the first transgender person to serve as executive director for a statewide civil rights organization. Hello Julie!

Julie: Hello Monika!

Monika: Could you say a few words about yourself?
Julie: I am 63 and retired, but still active for LGBTQ rights and equality. I will have been married 42 years this June; have 3 boys – all married – and 5 grandchildren with another on the way.
Monika: In 2007 you made headlines for being fired by Spring Arbor University after saying you were going to transition into a woman. Are you still bitter about that act of discrimination?
Julie: Not really. I have had a lot of support from former colleagues and students. It was mainly the Board that had issues (fearing lost revenue and/or students). I worked for 18 months AFTER they knew I was trans and transitioning.
We reached a mediated settlement to my Equal Employment Opportunity Complaint after 13 hours of negotiation over two days. They knew they were in a difficult position because they taught the standards of care that I was following and had admitted a transgender student to a graduate program based on her Christian witness.
One positive outcome was that their act of discrimination brought me over 100 media interviews in 2007 including Newsweek, Wall Street Journal, Fox News, and even Christianity Today. This, along with two other highly publicized trans stories in early 2007, had a collective impact of bringing trans issues to the forefront of public thought.

Interview with Maki Gingoyon

Monika: Today it is my pleasure and honor to interview Maki Gingoyon, aka Maki Eve Mercedes, a Filipino trans woman beauty queen, most well known for winning Queen of Cebu 2010, and being one of the Queens for Super Sireyna 2013. Hello Maki!

Maki: Hey Monika! Thanks for having me on your blog. And it is nice to meet someone like you, a fellow transgender woman making a difference in promoting a good image among trans women.

Monika: Could you say a few words about yourself?
Maki: I am 24, turning 25 this year, and I am a transgender woman from the Philippines. I studied BS Psychology, unfortunately, I was not able to finish it due to some family issues, which challenged me to be independent and work my a** out by applying for a call center job. This is a very common job opportunity in the Philippines, especially for 2nd-year college students who want to work. That actually helped me to support myself and my transitioning.
And currently, I work as a digital online marketing director for a transgender dating site together with my boyfriend.

Interview with Kenna Henderson

Monika: Today it is my pleasure and honor to interview Kenna Henderson, an American writer, ghostwriter, editor, and the author of the book titled "I'm Not The Man I Used To Be" (2012). Hello Kenna!

Kenna: Hello! I’m very flattered that you would consider me for an interview. I see all the lovely ladies you have talked with and wonder “What on Earth am I doing here?”.

Monika: Could you say a few words about yourself?
Kenna: I’m sure you’ve heard the term “late bloomer”. I was born in 1941, knew without a doubt by age six that I was transgender, and I kept it secret for more than five decades. I don’t remember how I learned it was something to be ashamed of, but I had no relatable examples in the media and no one I could talk to.
It was only in 1994, when I gained access to the internet, that I began to understand what I was dealing with and realized that there were a lot of other people like me. From that point on, I began to evolve. It took another ten years or so for me to know and accept exactly where I fit on the gender spectrum - and find peace.

Interview with Tammy Powers

Monika: Today it is my pleasure and honor to interview Tammy Powers, an American transgender activist, the owner of the bike shop in San Francisco. Hello Tammy!

Tammy: Hi, thank you for contacting me. I’m glad you want to ask me some questions about me and my bicycle shop, A Tran’s Bay Bike Shop.

Monika: Could you say a few words about yourself?

Tammy: Sure, I’m a businesswoman, part-time stand-up comedian, helpful, sincere, trustworthy, tenacious, lover of dogs, and I make the best vegetarian lasagna you ever had.

Interview with Dallas Denny

At once tender and formidable, Dallas Denny has woven her life into the very fabric of transgender rights. From a childhood certainty, “I wanted to be a girl”, she courageously faced adversity, eventually embracing her identity in the late 1980s and relocating to Atlanta, where she has lived authentically ever since. Dallas’s early experiences were fraught with challenges: at nineteen, she lived alone in a downtown Nashville hotel room, navigating fear and invisibility while concealing her truth. Despite daunting obstacles, she persevered. By her late twenties, she had begun hormone therapy, an emblem of her unwavering self-awareness. Finally, with newfound support at age 40, she shed her previous identity entirely, becoming a woman with steadfast grace. Her transition cost her dearly in personal relationships, she lost the love she cherished and was estranged from her family for over a decade. Yet, through sacrifice and resilience, she not only found acceptance but thrived. Within a professional environment, her identity became ancillary, until public articles and television brought her truth to light; still, colleagues responded with respect rather than prejudice, a testament to her quiet strength.

 

A prolific advocate, Dallas has spent decades meticulously researching and documenting transgender experiences. In 1990, she began compiling a groundbreaking bibliography on transsexualism, which led to a publishing contract and, in 1994, her seminal book, published just as terms like “gender dysphoria” began to emerge. Her work earned her prestigious honors from IFGE’s Trinity and Virginia Prince Lifetime Achievement Awards, along with the Transgender Pioneer Award from Real Life Experience. Dallas’s inspiration was shaped by those who came before her, Jan Morris, Renée Richards, Canary Conn, women who embodied authenticity with courage, intellect, and poise. It is that same spirit she brings to her writings and advocacy: a blend of compassion, insight, and steely resolve. Her life story is not merely a journey toward self, it is a beacon for authenticity, compassion, and resilience. She has shown that true bravery is both quiet and profound, and that living one’s truth, even in solitude, can illuminate the path for countless others. With this portrait as our guide, we look forward to delving deeper into Dallas’s journey, a reflective conversation shaped by wisdom, tenderness, and unwavering authenticity.