Interview with Shauna Marie O'Toole

Shauna Marie O’Toole is a woman whose life story reads like an epic, full of resilience, reinvention, and radiant authenticity. An activist, scientist, engineer, educator, and mother, Shauna has lived many lives before fully embracing the one that brings her the most joy: her life as a transgender woman, committed to fighting for justice and equality. Currently living in Geneva, New York, she is the Director of the We Exist Coalition of the Finger Lakes and a proud voice for her community. Her activism is grounded not only in policy and advocacy but in profound personal experience, from moments of homelessness to the power of reclaiming identity and voice. 

 

A self-described “accidental heroine,” Shauna began publicly transitioning at the age of 50, documenting her journey in her deeply moving memoir, You Can’t Shave in a Minimart Bathroom. With honesty and heart, she has spoken out about the joy and heartbreak of transition, the importance of chosen family, and the continued fight for transgender visibility in political and social arenas. Whether she's standing at the podium at the Women's March in Seneca Falls or speaking from her heart in a quiet classroom, Shauna radiates the kind of quiet courage that changes lives. In this interview, we meet a woman who has not only walked through fire for her children and her truth, but who continues to stand tall, spine forged in steel, voice full of empathy, so that others might walk a little more freely. With her fierce intellect, biting humor, and unwavering hope, Shauna reminds us that authenticity is not only beautiful, it is revolutionary. 

Interview with Lisa Bunker

It is my joy and privilege to introduce Lisa Bunker, a woman whose life and words shimmer with authenticity, resilience, and quiet grace. Lisa is best known for her imaginative and deeply human novels Felix Yz and Zenobia July, stories that open portals not only to other worlds, but into the hearts of young readers who yearn to see themselves reflected with tenderness and truth. After decades of persistence, Lisa is now living her dream as a full-time writer, creating stories that blend whimsy with wisdom, and crafting characters who are wonderfully, unapologetically themselves. Having transitioned in her mid-forties, she speaks with gentle clarity about the realities of gender, love, and becoming.

 

Her path was not without its challenges, but Lisa’s story is one of remarkable grace: she did not lose family or friends, she found herself. Beyond the page, Lisa has also stepped into the realm of politics, advocating for LGBTQ+ rights and standing as a powerful example of how trans voices can shape public life with dignity and purpose. In love, too, she has found joy and sanctuary, engaged to the woman who loves her for exactly who she is. Lisa Bunker is not only a writer of trans stories, but a writer of human stories. Her voice is thoughtful, lyrical, and grounded in a deep belief in the worth of every person. In this conversation, she opens up about her creative journey, her experience of transition, and the quiet power of simply not giving up. Let’s meet her.

Interview with Marissa Alexa McCool

Meeting Marissa Alexa McCool is like stepping into a world where words are electric, emotions unapologetically raw, and courage is worn as elegantly as eyeliner. A vibrant force in the transgender and neurodivergent communities, Marissa is a proud trans woman whose voice resonates across books, podcasts, and stages alike. Based in Saint Paul, Minnesota, she is a loving mother of two, a devoted spouse, a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania (cum laude, no less), and a fierce advocate for visibility and justice. A storyteller by instinct and craft, Marissa was typing before she could tie her shoes, dreaming up characters and conversations that would later come alive in her novels, essays, and public performances. Whether exploring the pain and poetry of identity in Passing Cars: The Internal Monologue of a Neurodivergent Trans Girl, speaking out against bigotry in The PC Lie: How American Voters Decided I Don’t Matter, or weaving the ache of adolescence into fiction like False Start, Marissa creates space for voices so often pushed to the margins. Her work doesn’t just reflect her life, it becomes a lifeline for readers searching for representation, reflection, or simply the comfort of not being alone. 

 

As a public speaker, podcaster, and community builder, Marissa is radiant and relentless. She’s not afraid to raise her voice, whether it’s to a hate preacher or a packed auditorium, and she does so not for attention, but to deflect the fire from others who may not have the safety or privilege she’s fought hard to secure. Her activism is deeply personal, born of trauma, transformation, and an unwavering desire to make the world more livable for the next generation of trans kids. Marissa’s journey is one of defiance and discovery. From coming out in the aftermath of the Pulse nightclub shooting to co-founding the Trans Podcaster Visibility Initiative, she has turned grief into grit, silence into stage presence, and marginalization into meaningful change. And through it all, her message remains beautifully clear: we exist, we matter, and our stories are worth telling. It is my heartfelt honor to share this conversation with Marissa Alexa McCool, a woman whose presence is as powerful as her prose, and whose light continues to reach those still searching for their own.

Interview with Shandi Strong

From the heart of Winnipeg, Manitoba, emerges a woman whose resilience and advocacy have carved out a path of courage, compassion, and transformation. Shandi Strong is not only a powerful voice for transgender rights in Canada, but a symbol of what it means to rebuild a life with fierce authenticity and tender hope. As a public speaker, author, photographer, musician, and dedicated community leader, Shandi's journey is one of deep losses and even deeper triumphs. Crowned as the first transgender Grand Marshal of the Winnipeg Pride Parade in 2015, honored with the Trail Blazer Award by the Winnipeg LGBT* Chamber of Commerce, and currently serving in multiple leadership roles, Advocacy Coordinator for Pride Winnipeg, Executive Secretary for Manitobans For Human Rights Inc., and a constituency assistant at the Manitoba Legislature, Shandi has committed her life to lifting others even as she walked through her own storms.

 

Her story, detailed in a forthcoming book and widely shared across Canadian media, is a mosaic of personal reinvention, political ambition, and quiet grace. From performing live music at Pride events to organizing Winnipeg’s first Trans March, she embodies the beautiful intersection of creative spirit and civic service. What stands out most, however, is her unwavering belief in the power of visibility, empathy, and the strength found in simply being oneself. In this interview, Shandi speaks openly about her journey, her heartbreaks, her rediscovered connection with her daughters, and her unrelenting hope for the next generation of trans youth. Her words are honest and warm, touched by a lifetime of growth, and a heart that never stopped loving, dreaming, and believing in a better world for all of us.

Interview with Lisa O'Connor

In a world where the transgender community often finds itself navigating uncharted terrain, it is heartening to meet women like Lisa O’Connor, who not only survived her own transition but chose to transform it into a beacon of support for others. A physician, therapist, and proud founder of Healthy Transitions, LLC, Lisa is a steady and compassionate presence for countless transgender and gender-diverse individuals seeking guidance, affirmation, and care. Born and raised in the vibrant heart of New York City, Lisa brings a blend of sharp intellect and warm humor to everything she does, from her clinical work in endocrinology and psychotherapy to the simple yet profound act of helping someone pick their first outfit or find the courage to come out. Her approach is holistic, deeply human, and grounded in lived experience. Lisa’s journey into womanhood was anything but easy. 

 

Like many of us, she walked through fire, losing family, a job, and nearly her peace of mind. But in the ashes, she found a calling. Her mother’s unexpected embrace became a light in the darkness, one that still shines in Lisa’s practice today, where kindness and knowledge go hand in hand. She’s the kind of woman who understands that beauty isn’t about passing, it’s about presence. That health isn’t just medical, it’s emotional, social, and spiritual. And that freedom for trans people won’t come in a bottle or a scalpel alone, but in the fierce, daily act of living authentically. Today, I have the honor of speaking with this extraordinary woman, part healer, part advocate, part philosopher, and always herself. Please join me in welcoming Lisa O’Connor, a woman whose work, wisdom, and warmth continue to shape lives far beyond the walls of her clinic.

Interview with Rachel Eliason

Rachel Eliason is a deeply thoughtful writer, speaker, and author whose life’s calling has always been two-fold: a passion for storytelling and an unyielding journey to live as her true self. Growing up in the U.S. Midwest during the 1970s and ’80s, she harbored fantasies of transformations and adventures within the pages of science fiction and fantasy, worlds where the impossible felt not only possible but profoundly personal. Her path led to the creation of The Agony, The Ecstasy and The Buddha: One Woman's Month in Thailand having a Sex Change, a work that blends memoir with courage. Alongside, she nurtured a reflective creative life, crafting both fiction and nonfiction from the quiet of her attic office. 

 

One of her proudest works is Run, Clarissa, Run, a novel born from her determination to portray the intricate and beautiful diversity of transgender lived experiences, and from her belief that no single story can encapsulate them all. Rachel’s activism is rooted in gratitude. She credits her supportive community in Iowa, including the civil rights climate, her transition-friendly workplace, and vibrant local groups, for helping her embrace her identity with grace and resolve. She stands inspired by trailblazing voices like Aleshia Brevard, Laverne Cox, Janet Mock, and Michelle Hendley, along with younger activists like Jazz Jennings. Driven by earnest conviction, she remains active in politics and education, giving talks, supporting causes like One Iowa, Des Moines Pride, the ACLU, and the Sierra Club, and trusts that courage and focus can change even the smallest part of the world.