Interview with Scottie Madden

Scottie Madden is a woman who has spent her entire life telling stories, whether through the lens of a camera, the pages of a book, or the intimate words of her blog. An American writer, director, producer, and showrunner, she has built a career that spans adventure reality television, documentary filmmaking, and feature films. Her projects are as diverse as they are ambitious, ranging from rugged wilderness expeditions to the romantic horror-comedy of her cult indie film the kiss. Yet, no matter the medium, Scottie approaches every story with the same guiding principle: complete immersion, authenticity, and the pursuit of emotional truth. Her memoir, Getting Back to Me: From Girl to Boy to Woman in Just Fifty Years (2015), has become a cornerstone of her legacy. It is not just the account of a transition, it is the story of reclaiming a life, of love tested and renewed, and of finding the courage to live openly after decades of carefully constructed armor. Written with humor, candor, and heart, the book continues to resonate with readers who find in Scottie’s journey a mirror of their own struggles and a beacon of possibility.

Interview with Melody Maia Monet

Melody Maia Monet is a 46-year-old American video blogger and outspoken transgender advocate, whose YouTube channel offers an authentic and candid glimpse into her life as a transgender woman. Living in Orlando, Florida, Melody is five years post-op and has dedicated herself to creating content that is both relatable and educational for a wide audience. Born in New York City to Latino immigrant parents and raised on Long Island, she later attended Princeton University, where she met her ex-wife. Married for 15 years, Melody is also the proud mother of a teenage son. After coming out as transgender, she moved to Florida, where she continues to cultivate a life rich with family, community involvement, and advocacy. Melody’s decision to share her life on YouTube was born from a desire to offer an alternative perspective to the transition-focused narratives dominating the platform. She noticed that many prominent transgender creators were young, straight, and glamor-focused, often emphasizing the early months of hormone therapy with undertones of sadness or resentment. Melody wanted to create a space that was positive, grounded, and honest, showing that a transgender life can be real, approachable, and full of the everyday experiences that people don’t often see. Her content addresses everything from voice development and hormone therapy results to intimate questions about sexuality and post-surgery experiences, all handled with frankness and humor.

Interview with Christi Brekke

When it comes to storytelling, few things resonate more powerfully than honesty. Christi Brekke, a writer, blogger, and memoirist from the Pacific Northwest, is a living testament to how vulnerability can become a source of strength. Known for her candid and heartfelt memoir I Want to Be Her (2016), Christi chronicles her personal journey through gender dysphoria, health struggles, transition, and ultimately, self-acceptance. Her book, originally drafted as a form of therapy and self-reflection, has since become a beacon for many in the transgender community and beyond, offering solidarity, hope, and recognition to those who see their own experiences mirrored in her words. Christi’s story is not one of simplicity but of transformation in every sense of the word. At one point, weighed down by severe health issues and carrying the silent burden of dysphoria, she was given a stark medical ultimatum: lose weight or prepare for the worst. What followed was not just a physical transformation, shedding over 150 pounds and overcoming life-threatening conditions, but also a profound personal rebirth. Once she embraced her true identity and began hormone replacement therapy, the need to self-soothe through food and drink diminished, and with it, many of her health issues.

Interview with Gabriele Orman

The world of YouTube has become a lifeline for many transgender people who are seeking information, community, and a sense of belonging. In recent years, countless brave women and men have decided to share their deeply personal journeys online, offering viewers not only a glimpse into their day-to-day lives but also the raw, emotional truth behind transition. Among these voices is Gabriele Orman, a British video blogger who has been steadily carving out her own corner of the internet by documenting her transition with honesty, wit, and a touch of glamour. Through her channel, Gabriele shares candid updates about her hormone replacement therapy, the ups and downs of navigating healthcare systems, and the emotional reality of being a transgender woman in the UK. But her videos go beyond her own story: she also posts product reviews, practical advice, and motivational content for trans viewers who may be at earlier stages of their journeys.

Interview with Caisie Breen

Caisie Breen, a remarkable transgender writer and the author of the compelling biographical memoir Songbyrd: Becoming She (2016). Caisie’s journey is a powerful testament to resilience, authenticity, and love, proving that the path to self-realization can be both challenging and deeply rewarding. At 61 years old, she has lived a life full of experience, having been married to the same devoted woman for over 36 years, raising two adult sons, and managing a small plumbing and electrical service company in Portland, Oregon. Caisie’s story is not just about her transition, it is about embracing who you truly are, even when the world expects something else. Her decision to write a memoir stemmed from a recommendation often given to transgender people early in their journey: journaling as a tool for self-discovery. For Caisie, this advice became a transformative practice, capturing the complex emotions, challenges, and triumphs she faced while navigating life as her authentic self. One of the most insightful aspects of her memoir addresses the question that many trans women face, especially those transitioning later in life: “Do I pass?” Caisie recalls the early days of her transition, when she wore women’s slacks and tops and struggled to find the confidence to present fully as herself in public. Her honesty and humor shine as she describes her anxieties and the unwavering support of her wife, Brenda, emphasizing that true courage often requires stepping boldly into visibility, even when it feels uncomfortable.

Interview with Renee Norlander

Renee Norlander is a woman who has lived her life on both sides of the gender spectrum and found the courage to put her journey into words. A writer, blogger, and storyteller at heart, she is best known as the author of Life from Both Sides: Deciphering the Transgendered Mind (2015), a biographical exploration that gives readers an honest and heartfelt glimpse into the challenges, discoveries, and triumphs of being transgender. Beyond her literary work, Renee is also a screenwriter and co-owner of Risa Tortuga Productions, balancing creativity with resilience as she continues to build her career in the arts. Her story, however, is not only about words on paper. Having spent years wrestling with feelings of being “wrong” for her identity, Renee finally embraced the woman she had always known herself to be, embarking on her transition in 2015. Alongside her personal transformation, she has navigated divorce, motherhood, and the pursuit of self-acceptance, all while maintaining her signature grace and dignity. Renee’s honesty about these experiences, whether about the pain of broken family relationships or the joy of rediscovering love with a childhood friend, makes her voice relatable to many who are searching for themselves.