Demystifying the Transgender Journey cover art

Demystifying the Transgender Journey

Demystifying the Transgender Journey

Written by: Lynn W. Murphy
Listen for free

About this listen

This podcast features a diverse array of voices of people who were born transgender, their families, friends, coworkers, and healthcare professionals. Your cohosts, Lynn W. Murphy, a cisgender woman, and Wendy Cole, a transgender woman, created a unique partnership to interview a wide array of transgender individuals and allies. Their goal is to combat misinformation and disinformation by educating people and facilitating compelling conversations.

For more information go to

In this episode of 'Demystifying the Transgender Journey,' hosts Lynn Murphy and Wendy Cole engage in a candid conversation with Dr. Diana Sorrentino, a leading expert on gender diversity and transgender identity. Dr. Sorrentino shares her extensive research and personal experience to help parents understand and support their transgender children. Topics include the impact of social acceptance, the biological and psychological aspects of gender identity, and practical steps parents can take to provide affirmative support. This episode offers valuable insights for families, medical professionals, and anyone eager to learn more about the transgender experience.

Dr. Sorrentino is a member of:

World Professional Association for Transgender Health – WPATH

Gay Lesbian Medical Association – GLMA

Outcare – LGBTQ+ Healthcare

Author of Transgender Families: Helping Parents and Families Understand Gender Diversity and Being Transgender Because No One Transitions Alone.

https://www.amazon.com/Transgender-Families-Dr-Diana-Sorrentino/dp/B0DLQHVX8Y

Host of Paradoxes of Gender Podcasts – academically focused on CE requirements for medical and behavioral healthcare professionals working with gender diverse and transgender individuals, families, and allies.

https://paradoxesofgender.com/

paradoxesofgender@earthlink.net

LinkedIn: Dr. Diana Sorrentino, Ph.D.

Podcast: https://paradoxesofgender.com/podcasts-1

For More Information:

https://www.thetransgenderjourney.com

Copyright 2025 All rights reserved. Hygiene & Healthy Living Self-Help Social Sciences Success
Episodes
  • Episode 32: Teaching By Example: Tommy's Story of Expression and Visibility

    Episode 32: Teaching By Example: Tommy's Story of Expression and Visibility
    Feb 20 2026
    Tommy’s Transgender Journey: From History Teacher to DC Activist | Demystifying the Transgender Journey In this episode of "Demystifying the Transgender Journey," hosts Lynn Murphy and Wendy Cole interview Tommy, a semi-retired high school history teacher, musician, and trans visibility advocate. Tommy shares growing up in a wealthy, conservative family, first experimenting with women’s clothing around age 10–11, and not finding accurate representation until adulthood, when media portrayals often linked trans people to violence. She recounts early experiences seeking gender-affirming items in New York City, joining the Tiffany Club/Trans Community of New England in the early 1990s, and how support groups and the First Event conference provided safety and community. Tommy discusses marriage, parenting, secrecy and compartmentalization, accidental outings to her wife and later her children, and the strain that hiding placed on family life. After her marriage ended in 2015, she came out at work, planned her transition around a sabbatical, and began living full-time as a woman in 2018, returning to teach in 2019 and noting changes in student relationships and a small number of transphobic complaints. She describes later being blackballed from further school jobs by a transphobic administrator and moving to Maryland to be near family, where she supports trans and non-binary people, engages in Maryland advocacy, and promotes visibility in Washington, DC, including visits to congressional offices. Tommy reflects on the realities of womanhood, the importance of representation, current anti-trans rhetoric and policy fears, and her hope that trans progress will endure despite backlash. Music remains a lifeline throughout her story, from punk bands to her country singer alter ego Alison Young, including albums that reference the trans experience.

    For more information about Tommy:

    https://www.alisonyoungcountrymusic.com

    For more information about this project:

    https://www.thetransgenderjourney.com

    https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/demystifying-the-transgender-journey/id1799458202

    https://www.facebook.com/thetransgenderjourney

    https://womenwhopushthelimits.com

    To contact Wendy:

    MeetWendyCole.com.

    https://www.facebook.com/wendycolegtm

    https://www.youtube.com/@wendycole8326

    https://www.linkedin.com/in/wendy-cole-gtm
    Show More Show Less
    1 hr and 26 mins
  • Episode 31: Karen Kendra Holmes: Advocacy, Service, and the Journey to Authenticity

    Episode 31: Karen Kendra Holmes: Advocacy, Service, and the Journey to Authenticity
    Feb 13 2026

    Demystifying the Transgender Journey: Karen Kendra Holmes Shares Her Inspiring Story

    Join hosts Lynn Murphy and Wendy Cole on another enlightening episode of Demystifying the Transgender Journey as they welcome Karen Kendra Holmes. Karen discusses her personal journey of transitioning, starting her journey in 2010 at the age of 53. She shares the challenges she faced in her professional life as a federal employee and volunteer, and how she became a respected advocate and trainer for the transgender community. Karen emphasizes the importance of education and understanding, and how her work with law enforcement and various organizations aims to bridge the gap between communities. This heartfelt conversation highlights the importance of authenticity, service, and grace in fostering a more compassionate world. Don't miss this empowering episode, and be sure to like, share, and subscribe!

    For more information about Karen Kendra Holmes:

    https://www.kkholmes.com/

    https://www.pgcmls.info/butterflyproject

    For more information about this project:

    https://www.thetransgenderjourney.com

    https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/demystifying-the-transgender-journey/id1799458202

    https://www.facebook.com/thetransgenderjourney

    https://womenwhopushthelimits.com

    To contact Wendy:

    MeetWendyCole.com.

    https://www.facebook.com/wendycolegtm

    https://www.youtube.com/@wendycole8326

    https://www.linkedin.com/in/wendy-cole-gtm
    Show More Show Less
    1 hr and 8 mins
  • Episode 30: Reincarnation as Robin: A Story of Transitioning Later in Life

    Episode 30: Reincarnation as Robin: A Story of Transitioning Later in Life
    Feb 6 2026

    Robin's Journey: Transition, Triumph, and Embracing a Second Life

    In this episode of Demystifying the Transgender Journey, hosts Lynn Murphy and Wendy Cole introduce Robin, a remarkable woman who transitioned at the age of 67. Robin shares her profound and emotional story of transitioning, the loss and joy it brought, and her journey to self-acceptance. From kayaking epiphanies to life-changing decisions, Robin opens up about her experiences, including her relationships and her embrace of both sides of life. Join us for an inspiring conversation that touches hearts, opens minds, and challenges perceptions.

    For more information about this project:

    https://www.thetransgenderjourney.com

    https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/demystifying-the-transgender-journey/id1799458202

    https://www.facebook.com/thetransgenderjourney

    https://womenwhopushthelimits.com

    To contact Wendy:

    MeetWendyCole.com.

    https://www.facebook.com/wendycolegtm

    https://www.youtube.com/@wendycole8326

    https://www.linkedin.com/in/wendy-cole-gtm
    Show More Show Less
    1 hr and 16 mins
No reviews yet