Interview with Lady Dane Figueroa Edidi

Lady Dane Figueroa Edidi is an artist, activist, and visionary whose life and work defy boundaries. She is of Nigerian, Cuban, and Indigenous American heritage and has built a career as an actress, singer, dancer, writer, radio host, oracle, healer, and teacher. Known as the Ancient Jazz Priestess of Mother Africa, a title given to her for the timeless power of her performances, she has carried her ancestral legacy into every note she sings and every word she writes. Lady Dane is also a pioneer, becoming the first trans woman of color in Washington DC to publish a work of fiction, breaking barriers in literature while uplifting the voices of those too often silenced. Her novels, poetry, and cabaret performances reveal her devotion to storytelling as an act of resistance, remembrance, and love. Whether honoring her birthplace in Baltimore: A Love Letter, weaving spiritual narratives in Yemaya’s Daughters, or conjuring new magical worlds in her Ghetto Goddess Series, she demonstrates how fiction and poetry can both heal and empower. Her artistic vision is inseparable from her activism. Lady Dane serves as a leader in the Trans Women of Color Collective, one of the few organizations founded and led by Black trans women.

Interview with Crista Lynn

Crista Lynn is a video blogger who has been sharing her transition journey on YouTube, offering an unfiltered and honest look into her life as a transgender woman. She began her transition at the age of 22 and completed it within a year, including gender-affirming surgeries and cosmetic procedures, while navigating both personal discovery and societal expectations. Crista is known for her adventurous spirit, whether exploring waterfalls, deserts, or engaging in creative projects at home, and for her bold, sometimes shocking sense of humor, which she uses to connect with her audience and challenge conventional ideas about gender and identity. Beyond documenting her own experiences, she seeks to inspire others in the transgender community and beyond, showing that living authentically is both possible and empowering, and emphasizing that personal growth often comes through self-acceptance and courage. Crista is also an author, currently sharing her memoir, When Fantasies Are Fulfilled, through her videos while it undergoes the publication process, giving her audience a direct, performative insight into her life story. She often reflects on the pivotal moments of her transition with honesty and humor, showing both the triumphs and the struggles she faced along the way.

Interview with Elle Bradford

Elle Bradford is a stunning New York–based model, fashion maven, and YouTube video blogger who has captured hearts with her grace, honesty, and timeless style. A true modern woman of the city, Elle blends the fast-paced energy of New York with a thoughtful, classic aesthetic that sets her apart in today’s fashion world. As a transgender woman, she uses her online platform not only to document her personal journey but also to share her insights on beauty, style, and life in the city that never sleeps, creating a space that feels both aspirational and deeply relatable. Elle is known for her impeccable taste, particularly her love of Dolce & Gabbana’s signature print dresses, which she wears with a natural elegance that recalls old Hollywood glamour yet feels entirely fresh.

 

Her fashion philosophy, one of balance, mystery, and understated allure, reveals a woman who understands that style is both armor and self-expression. But what makes Elle truly magnetic is not just her look, but her voice: warm, candid, and unafraid to address the joys and challenges of transition with a rare combination of vulnerability and quiet strength. Whether she’s discussing the perfect lipstick shade, strolling through Manhattan with her beloved dog Isaac, or opening up about intimate aspects of her journey, Elle radiates authenticity and elegance. Her vlogs are more than beauty tutorials or fashion diaries, they are a window into the life of a woman defining success on her own terms and giving representation to a community still fighting for visibility. In doing so, Elle has become both a style icon and a thoughtful advocate, inspiring countless viewers with her story, her resilience, and her timeless vision of femininity.

Interview with Pauline Park

Pauline Park is a pioneering transgender activist whose life and work have left an enduring mark on both local and global movements for equality. Born in Korea in 1960 and adopted by European American parents, she grew up in Milwaukee before embarking on a distinguished academic path that took her from the University of Wisconsin–Madison to the London School of Economics and ultimately the University of Illinois, where she earned a Ph.D. in political science. Her scholarship was recognized with a Fulbright fellowship to France, where she conducted research on the Maastricht Treaty and met Senator William Fulbright himself. In New York City, Park became one of the most visible and influential voices in advancing transgender rights. She co-founded Queens Pride House, Iban/Queer Koreans of New York, and the New York Association for Gender Rights Advocacy, playing a central role in securing funding, drafting organizational bylaws, and building networks of support. Her leadership was instrumental in the passage of New York City’s transgender rights law in 2002 and in shaping guidelines for its enforcement, as well as ensuring that gender identity and expression were included in both citywide and statewide safe schools legislation.

 

Park’s activism has extended far beyond legislative efforts. In 2005, she made history as the first openly transgender grand marshal of the New York City Pride March. She has been recognized as one of the most influential LGBT Asian icons, a leading transgender advocate in New York, and a role model celebrated on Transgender Day of Remembrance. Her visibility and advocacy have also been documented through films such as Envisioning Justice: The Journey of a Transgendered Woman and Coming Full Circle: The Journey of a Transgendered Korean Adoptee. Her work has taken her across the globe, from speaking at the Queer Korea Festival before a crowd of more than 35,000 to joining the first US LGBTQ delegation tour of Palestine. Whether through activism, scholarship, or public visibility, Pauline Park continues to stand as a vital figure in the ongoing struggle for human rights, bringing together her experiences as a Korean adoptee, a transgender woman, and an advocate for justice.

Interview with Jennell Jaquays

Jennell Jaquays is a legendary figure in the world of role-playing and video games, whose creativity and vision have shaped the landscape of both tabletop and digital gaming for nearly five decades. She first rose to prominence in the late 1970s with groundbreaking Dungeons & Dragons modules such as Dark Tower and Caverns of Thracia, adventures that remain celebrated classics for their depth, innovation, and storytelling. Her career quickly expanded into the emerging video game industry, where she became a pioneering designer and artist at companies like Coleco, TSR, id Software, and Ensemble Studios. Along the way, she contributed to some of the most iconic titles ever produced, leaving an indelible mark on the medium and helping to define the role of game designers as creative visionaries. Jennell’s professional path has been extraordinary, moving seamlessly from pen-and-paper adventures to the digital worlds of Doom, Quake, and Age of Empires. She built and led some of the earliest multidisciplinary teams in video game development, demonstrating not only her artistry but also her ability to innovate at a structural level within the industry.

Interview with Micheline Montreuil

Micheline Anne Hélène Montreuil is a remarkable Canadian lawyer, professor, writer, radio host, trade unionist, and politician whose life and career reflect both intellectual curiosity and resilience. Born under the sign of Gemini and the Dragon, she pursued extensive studies in law, management, and economics in Quebec, Winnipeg, Ottawa, and Paris, eventually establishing herself as a lawyer, management consultant, professor, and lecturer. Alongside her academic and professional work, she authored numerous books and articles on law, business, and management, showing her wide-ranging expertise. Micheline also became known as a speaker on finance and banking, a radio hostess, and a member of many boards, while continuing her teaching career at the University of Quebec in Rimouski. Her personal journey has been no less extraordinary. Since 1998, she has lived openly as a woman, fighting tirelessly for transgender rights in Canada.

 

Her legal battles, which went as far as the Supreme Court, eventually contributed to reforms that made it easier for transgender people in Quebec to change their legal names and gender markers without being forced into medical requirements. She has also challenged discrimination in the workplace and was the first transgender woman to be nominated as an electoral candidate for a major political party in Canada, representing the New Democratic Party in 2007. Outside of her professional and activist commitments, Micheline embraces life with vitality and passion. She enjoys sports such as swimming, diving, tennis, and badminton, while also cherishing cultural activities like theater, museums, and cinema. Known for her elegance, humor, and determination, she proudly calls herself the “Princess of Gemini and the Daughter of the Dragon,” a reflection of both strength and spirit. Her story is not only about breaking barriers but also about living authentically and encouraging others to do the same. Today it is my great pleasure and honor to speak with Micheline Montreuil.