In this episode Mardi and Lenny explore the trans experience from a parental perspective with Joy and Diana from the Transparently Speaking podcast. These parents stories are filled with strength, unconditional love and the lengths we have to go through in today’s America. This generational discussion of trans childhood history is a required listen.

Links:

Transparently Speaking podcast: https://transparentlyspeakingpodcast.buzzsprout.com/

Plume Clinic: https://getplume.co/

The Trevor Project: https://thetrevorproject.org

Trans LifeLine: https://translifeline.org/

In this episode Mardi P. and Lenny Z. begin with a guided breathing before diving into current events affecting the trans community. They recommend alternative news sources in light of mainstream media's decline, call out widespread shadow-banning of queer content on social media, and revisit the Kansas driver's license law. They also call out Lyft's "trans joy" discount as performative rainbow capitalism.

They reflect on their own history of having no rights as trans women in the 1970s, drawing parallels between today's rollbacks and historical struggles like Jim Crow. Trans tropes of the week include strangers asking invasive questions about trans people's bodies, and "trans pick-me" gatekeeping of those who transition later in life — a bias Mardi admits she once held herself. On a lighter note, Mardi shares her excitement over her new supportive French bra and they tease upcoming guests including a well-known Instagram figure who transitioned after having a family.

Buckle up for an episode soaked in some fun crazy wisdom! Alternatives to mainstream media: I've Had It Podcast (YouTube) - https://www.youtube.com/@ivehaditpodcast AlJazeera News - https://www.aljazeera.com/where/united-states/

In Episode 3 of Season 3 of A Life Live Trans, we kick things off with Wizard of Oz banter before diving into the big topics of the day. Our main focus is the alarming (but potentially overhyped) news about Kansas attempting to invalidate transgender people's IDs and driver's licenses. Drawing on a community contact in Texas, we find out Kansas has tried and failed to enforce similar legislation before, and question the fear-mongering and clickbait — even from within the trans community — that spreads panic without proper context. We suggest listeners to seek out boots-on-the-ground sources, read full articles, and connect with local human rights organizations rather than reacting to sensational headlines.

There's Mardi's near-miss with cartel violence in Puerto Vallarta, Lenny's hot take on drug decriminalization, musings on AI and ChatGPT after a viral TikTok clip of a young trans woman having an emotional breakdown while chatting with the bot about selling her Birkin bag, and a shout-out to their new European collaborator who connected with them through Patreon. Hope you enjoy our humor, and hard-won wisdom. We've survived far scarier times — and our trans community (along with our allies) is stronger than the algorithm wants it to believe.

In this lively episode of A Life Lived Trans, Mardi and Lenny—self-declared trans elders with nearly a century of combined wisdom—tackle the “trans tropes” that make their eyeballs roll clear out of their heads. With sharp wit and plenty of sidebars, they call out myths like “trans people are mentally unstable,” the backhanded compliment of “I never would have known,” and the rigid gender rules that shaped their early transitions under old-school medical gatekeeping. They mix social commentary with sass, poking fun at gender reveal parties, binary nonsense, and the political circus surrounding trans lives in the U.S. and Canada—all while reminding listeners that trans people have always existed and aren’t going anywhere.

But it’s not all ranting and righteous indignation. The episode meanders delightfully through “Happy Bits Day” celebrations, questionable hospital compliments, crying therapy to Silver Springs, and the spiritual benefits of self-pleasure. Mardi shares heartfelt (and hilarious) reflections on love, loss, and surgeries past, while Lenny offers grounding wisdom and the occasional well-timed reality check. By the end, what started as a trope takedown turns into a warm, funny reminder to protect your peace, call a friend, have a good cry (or other release), and find joy—even when the world feels like it’s being run by the National Enquirer.

Mardi and Lenny open up about their journeys through aging, health scares, and the ongoing fight for visibility, sharing stories that will inspire you to stand tall despite the chaos.

Unlock the surprising truth behind how resilience, humor, and authenticity can transform the challenges of the trans community into powerful stories of hope. When facing societal intolerance, personal health crises, and political turmoil, this episode reveals the unexpected ways you can turn adversity into strength — with a little laughter along the way. Crisis hotlines: 🇨🇦 Canada: BC: 1-800-784-2433 Canada: 9-8-8 (text or call) U.S. - https://988lifeline.org/ or dial 988 Alex Verbeek: https://substack.com/home/post/p-187738078 Jan Morris "Conundrum" (Guardian article) - https://www.theguardian.com/books/2024/sep/29/jan-morris-conundrum-memoir-transgender-son Angela Morley (composer/arranger): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Angela_Morley

Staying centered isn’t about escaping life—it’s about knowing what to do when one of your wheels comes flying off at 60 miles an hour. It’s about meeting life exactly where you are, breath by breath. This short pre-break episode is a grounded, heartfelt exploration of mindfulness and meditation as lived practices. We try to use humor, honesty, and hard-earned insight as trans elders to demonstrate how returning to the breath, the body, and the present moment can be a radical act of self-care in a loud and often unkind world.

Rooted in decades of survival, transition, love, and loss, we hope our conversations -- our testimonies highlight the unique benefits of meditation for trans elders: resilience in the face of change, compassion for aging bodies, and grace for minds that have seen it all. This is a space for slowing down, laughing a little, and remembering that peace isn’t found at the end of the journey—it’s cultivated along the way, one mindful moment at a time. "Our Deepest Fear" - Marianne Williamson poem https://www.appleseeds.org/Deepest-Fear.htm Transparently Speaking podcast https://transparentlyspeakingpodcast.buzzsprout.com/

From 70s transitions to "yoga granny tata’s ," trans elders Mardi P. and Lenny Z. have seen it all—and their eyeballs actually ache from the view. This week, the duo tackles "political pick-me's," the anatomy of Quebec’s prison laws, and why you should never get breast implants. It’s raw, it’s radical, and it’s served with a side of Annie Sprinkle-inspired glitter. If you think the world is going to hell in a handbasket, Mardi and Lenny are here to smoke a cigarette and tell you, "We told you so." This episode covers the terrifying reality of SCOTUS, the beauty of Bowie-inspired labradorite, and Annie Sprinkle's legendary performance art piece involving a speculum. It’s peer-reviewed science meets primal cave-woman energy. This week features fantastic, chaotic energy that is both deeply poignant and hilariously unfiltered. https://sprinklestephens.ucsc.edu/

Join Lenny Z and MahD as they delve into the profound connections between nature, community, and personal healing. In this episode, they discuss the wisdom of indigenous cultures, the sentience of plants, and the transformative power of meditation. Tune in for a journey through the ancient rainforests of Vancouver Island and discover how embracing interconnectedness can lead to resilience and peace in turbulent times.