On this episode, Caroline and Athena sit down with Mateo Briscoe, aka Local Slothboi, a Sacramento-based musician whose songs explore self-discovery, transition, and lived experience. Mateo takes listeners through his journey from early music experiences to finding his voice as a trans artist, and how creativity became a lifeline for self-expression.

Together, they dive into the role of music in fostering connection, understanding, and empowerment. Mateo shares the inspiration behind his acoustic EP, personal songs like “Little Guy” and “Insane,” and the ways performance and community help him navigate identity, anxiety, and self-love.

This conversation is about courage, authenticity, and the power of art to create community. Mateo highlights the importance of supporting trans artists, maintaining vulnerability in content creation, and showing up as oneself, on stage, online, and in life.

⸻

Mateo Briscoe Bio

Inspired by Amy Winehouse and Tracy Chapman, Mateo Briscoe, aka Local Slothboi, is a trans musician and songwriter from Sacramento, California. Beginning with open mic nights and expanding to performances at venues such as Ace of Spades, Holy Diver, and The Boardwalk, Mateo’s music channels vulnerability, resilience, and unapologetic self-expression. Through songs like “Talk My Ear Off,” “Little Guy,” and “Insane,” Mateo explores themes of identity, self-discovery, transition, and the challenges of navigating life with ADHD and anxiety. His work emphasizes community, connection, and using music as a platform to uplift trans voices and create spaces for understanding and authenticity.

https://www.tiktok.com/@local_slothboi?_t=ZP-8zXmE0XyLPC&_r=1

⸻

About the Podcast

The Trans Narrative Podcast is a storytelling platform centering trans voices through authentic dialogue and lived experiences. With over 130 episodes across four seasons and listeners in 69 countries, the show creates space for guests to share their journeys, insights, and work—on their own terms.

“Make it real to me” written by Athena Promachus, covered by Boy Bowser

The Trans Narrative was created and produced by Caroline Penny, powered by Spotify for Podcasters.

📧 transnarrativepodcast@gmail.com

💵 Support via CashApp: $gottabesomthinmore

Find us on Facebook, TikTok, Apple, Spotify, iHeartRadio, or wherever you listen to podcasts.

⸻

Resources

Suicide Hotline 1-800-SUICIDE (784-2433)

S.A.F.E. (Self Abuse Finally Ends) 1-800-DONT-CUT

American Foundation for Low Vision 212-502-7633

Trevor Project (Suicide) 1-866-4-U-TREVOR

Family Violence Prevention Center 1-800-313-1310

National Domestic Violence Hotline 1-800-799-SAFE

Drug Abuse National Helpline 1-800-662-4357

National Human Service Call Center 2-1-1

On this episode, Caroline, Cynthia, and Jordan sit down with Nia Chiaramonte, author of I Hardly Knew Me, co-founder of Love in the Face, and featured voice in the Hulu documentary We Live Here. Nia takes us through her profound journey, from growing up in an evangelical Christian family in Iowa, to embracing her truth as a transgender woman, wife, mother of five, and advocate for queer families.

Together, we explore the intersections of faith, family, and identity along with what it means to deconstruct deeply rooted religious beliefs while building a life grounded in authenticity, love, and resilience. Nia shares the power of writing as both survival and testimony, and how she and her wife Katie have transformed personal struggle into a model of community care and advocacy.

This conversation is about courage, truth-telling, and the necessity of unlearning shame in order to build futures of belonging. Nia reminds us that unconditional love is not a theory, it’s a daily practice of survival, joy, and resistance in a world that often denies all three.

⸻

Nia Chiaramonte (kara-MONtae), with her wife Katie J. Chiaramonte, is the co-founder of Love in the Face and co-author of Embracing Queer Family. Together, they work to support transgender and LGBTQIA+ individuals and their families on their journeys of self-discovery. She and Katie were featured in the Hulu documentary We Live Here.

Nia is also the author of I Hardly Knew Me: Following Love, Faith, and Skittles to a Transgender Awakening, a memoir written not in hindsight but in real-time moments of transition, faith deconstruction, and self-acceptance. With humor and vulnerability, she shares the lived realities of trans experience—from family conversations and faith community fallout, to resilience, love, and the radical act of becoming visible.

From navigating her marriage and parenting five children, to building resources for queer families, Nia’s work embodies the belief that true liberation begins with telling our stories and creating spaces where love is stronger than shame.

📖 Learn more:

• ​ I Hardly Knew Me — [https://www.lakedrivebooks.com/books/i-hardly-knew-me/]
• ​ Love in the Face — https://loveintheface.com

⸻

About the Podcast

The Trans Narrative Podcast is a storytelling platform centering trans voices through authentic dialogue and lived experiences. With over 130 episodes across four seasons and listeners in 69 countries, the show creates space for guests to share their journeys, insights, and work—on their own terms.

“Make it real to me” written by Athena Promachus, covered by Boy Bowser

The Trans Narrative was created, and produced by Caroline Penny, powered by Spotify for Podcasters.

If you’d like to reach out or be part of the show:

📧 transnarrativepodcast@gmail.com

💵 Support via CashApp: $gottabesomthinmore

Find us on Facebook, TikTok, Apple, Spotify, iHeartRadio, or wherever you listen to podcasts.

⸻

Resources

Suicide Hotline 1-800-SUICIDE (784-2433)

S.A.F.E. (Self Abuse Finally Ends) 1-800-DONT-CUT

American Foundation for Low Vision 212-502-7633

Trevor Project (Suicide) 1-866-4-U-TREVOR

Family Violence Prevention Center 1-800-313-1310

National Domestic Violence Hotline 1-800-799-SAFE

Drug Abuse National Helpline 1-800-662-4357

National Human Service Call Center 2-1-1

On this episode, Athena, Caroline, and Foxx Cant sit down with Kit M. Caelsto (they/them), an author, spiritual mentor, and founder of Feathermane Soul. Kit takes us through their journey, from a bullied childhood in Iowa, to becoming a published author of romance and equestrian fiction, to embracing their identities as transgender, neurodivergent, chronically ill, and disabled.

Together, we explore how storytelling serves as a thread connecting Kit’s work as an author, a graduate student in Religious Studies, and a spiritual guide. Kit shares how narrative therapy, yoga, and reiki help trans and disabled people reclaim spirituality outside exclusionary frameworks, and how authentic representation in literature can create new pathways for empowerment and belonging.

This conversation is about authenticity, embodiment, and the liberatory power of reclaiming our own stories. Kit reminds us that healing and transformation are not found in conformity, but in weaving personal truth, spirituality, and creativity into fully lived, embodied lives.

“Kit M. Caelsto is an author of over two decades, publishing across multiple genres, and the creative mind behind Feathermane Soul, where they guide others in reclaiming story and spirit. Their work bridges equestrian literature, queer and disabled representation, and spiritual practices rooted in yoga, meditation, and reiki. As the Author Yogi, Kit mentors writers, while their ongoing graduate work in Religious Studies informs a deep exploration of spirituality, embodiment, and narrative. Their journey reflects resilience, self-discovery, and a dedication to helping others find authenticity and joy through storytelling.”

To learn more about Kit’s work, visit feathermanesoul.com or follow them on Instagram @feathermanesoul.

**

About the Podcast

The Trans Narrative Podcast is a storytelling platform centering trans voices through authentic dialogue and lived experiences. With over 130 episodes across four seasons and listeners in 69 countries, the show creates space for guests to share their journeys, insights, and work—on their own terms.

“Make it real to me” written by Athena Promachus, covered by Boy Bowser

The Trans Narrative was created and produced by Caroline Penny, powered by Spotify for Podcasters.

If you’d like to reach out, or be part of the show, contact us at transnarrativepodcast@gmail.com

Support and donations can be made to Cash App tag $gottabesomthinmore

Find us on Facebook, TikTok, and on Apple, Spotify, and iHeartRadio, or anywhere you listen to podcasts.

Thank you for your support.

Suicide Hotline 1-800-SUICIDE (784-2433)

S.A.F.E. (Self Abuse Finally Ends) 1-800-DONT-CUT

American Foundation for Low Vision 212-502-7633

Trevor Hotline (Suicide) 1-866-4-U-TREVOR

Family Violence Prevention Center 1-800-313-1310

National Domestic Violence Hotline 1-800-799-SAFE

Drug Abuse National Helpline 1-800-662-4357

National Human Service Call Center 2-1-1

On this episode, Caroline, Kristen, and debuting as an official co-host, Dylan Dickerson, are joined by Naaz Joshi—India’s first transgender international beauty queen and three-time Miss World Diversity winner. From navigating childhood in Delhi to gracing global runways, Naaz brings a deeply personal account of how resilience, visibility, and courage can reshape not only a life but an entire cultural narrative.

The episode traces Naaz’s journey from early struggles—including societal stigma and personal loss—to becoming a fearless advocate who uses the power of pageantry and public presence to challenge patriarchy and demand recognition for trans voices. As the Director of Miss Universe Queen and Mister Universe Trans, Naaz delivers an impeccable narrative focused on how fashion has become both a livelihood and a platform, guiding us through the story of how she has embraced every chapter of her past to fuel her activism today.

Together, Naaz and the Trans Narrative team explore what it means to stand tall as a trans person in industries steeped in patriarchy, the urgent need for representation in countries with limited visibility, and the transformative potential of owning one’s story. This episode underscores the necessity of creating spaces where trans leadership flourishes, beauty is reclaimed as power, and true inclusion moves from aspiration to reality.

“Naaz Joshi is India’s first transgender international beauty queen, a trailblazing model, activist, and fearless advocate for trans rights. She made history as the first trans woman globally to win an international beauty pageant against cisgender contestants, securing the Miss World Diversity crown three years in a row (2017, 2018, 2019) the only woman in the world to achieve this. Her remarkable achievements also include Miss Transqueen India (2018), Miss Universe Diversity (2020), and the Empress Earth crown (2021), making her India’s first trans queen with multiple international titles.

From overcoming adversity in her early life to gracing magazine covers and runways, Naaz has turned personal struggle into public power. A graduate of the National Institute of Fashion Technology with an MBA in marketing, her journey, from working in dance bars, to becoming an international figure, highlights both her resilience and her determination to redefine beauty, inclusion, and representation. Today, Naaz uses her platform to challenge patriarchy, champion visibility, and inspire a new generation to live boldly and unapologetically.”

To learn more about the international competition, the Foundation whose work it supports, and how to get involved as a competitor or supporter before the deadline, please reach out to misterusa@universetrans.org or @msuniversequeen on IG!

**

About the Podcast

The Trans Narrative Podcast is a storytelling platform centering trans voices through authentic dialogue and lived experiences. With over 130 episodes across four seasons and listeners in 69 countries, the show creates space for guests to share their journeys, insights, and work—on their own terms.

“Make it real to me” written by Athena Promachus, covered by Boy Bowser

The Trans Narrative was created, and produced by Caroline Penny, powered by Spotify for podcasters

If you’d like to reach out, or be apart of the show contact us at

“transnarrativepodcast@gmail.com”

Support and donations can be made to cash app tag $gottabesomthinmore

Find us Facebook, TikTok, and on Apple, Spotify, and iHeartRadio, or anywhere you listen to podcasts

Thank you for your support

Suicide Hotline 1-800-SUICIDE (784-2433)

S.A.F.E. (Self Abuse Finally Ends) 1-800-DONT-CUT

American Foundation for low vision 212-502-7633.

Trevor Hotline (Suicide) 1-866-4-U-TREVOR

Family Violence Prevention Center 1-800-313-1310

National Domestic Violence Hotline 1-800-799-SAFE

Drug Abuse National Helpline 1-800-662-4357

National Human Service Call Center 2-1-1

On this episode, Caroline and Dr. Avgi Saketopoulou are joined by clinical psychologist Laura Scarrone Bonhomme as they meet at the intersection of psychoanalysis, gender, and liberation. This episode Dr. Laura Scarrone Bonhomme brings her perspective as a clinician working in the UK, sharing how both personal and professional experiences have shaped her approach to affirming care amidst rising political backlash.

The episode explores the limitations of diagnostic systems like the DSM and the impact of social norms on therapeutic models. Dr. Laura highlights how transnormativity, fertility access, and systemic bias affect both patients and practitioners, while Dr. Avgi stresses the importance of not collapsing gender exploration into pathology. Her book been awarded the 2025 Distinguished Book Award by The American Psychological Association’s Division 44 .

The episode emphasizes the value of radical listening, community care, and the courage to question entrenched narratives, whether in psychology, media, or public policy. Dr. Laura and Dr. Avgi underscore the urgency of creating spaces where trans and non-binary lives are affirmed, not analyzed out of existence.

“Dr. Laura Scarrone Bonhomme is a Consultant Clinical Psychologist and global leader in gender-affirming mental health care. With over a decade of experience across the UK, Spain, and Chile, she’s supported hundreds of trans, non-binary, and LGBTQ+ clients through therapy, research, and clinical supervision. A chartered member of the British Psychological Society, she’s also the co-founder of Affirm, a global training platform equipping clinicians to provide inclusive, trauma-informed care. Dr. Scarrone Bonhomme is the author of Gender Affirming Therapy: A Guide to What Trans and Non-Binary Clients Can Teach Us and a regular voice in international media and conferences, challenging bias in mental health systems and advancing care rooted in dignity, self-determination, and liberation.”

**

About the Podcast

The Trans Narrative Podcast is a storytelling platform centering trans voices through authentic dialogue and lived experiences. With over 130 episodes across four seasons and listeners in 69 countries, the show creates space for guests to share their journeys, insights, and work—on their own terms.

“Make it real to me” written by Athena Promachus, covered by Boy Bowser

The Trans Narrative was created, and produced by Caroline Penny, powered by Spotify for podcasters

If you’d like to reach out, or be apart of the show contact us at

“transnarrativepodcast@gmail.com”

Support and donations can be made to cash app tag $gottabesomthinmore

Find us Facebook, TikTok, and on Apple, Spotify, and iHeartRadio, or anywhere you listen to podcasts

Thank you for your support

Crisis Text Line: Text START to 741-741

Suicide Hotline 1-800-SUICIDE (784-2433) 988

The Trevor Project: (866) 488-7386

Family Violence Prevention

Call 800-799-7233

Text BEGIN to 88788

National Domestic Violence Hotline 1-800-799-7233

988 Lifeline - If you need emotional support, reach out to the national mental health hotline: 988. 1-800-662-4357

Contact - Trans Lifeline U.S. (877) 565-8860 or Canada (877) 330-6366.

National Human Service Call Center 2-1-1

On this episode, Caroline is joined by trans artists and creatives Marla Alpert, Freja Ki Gray, and Foxx Cant for an expansive, spirited discussion on storytelling, media, and trans identity. The episode opens with a discussion on trans representation in theater, where Marla critiques the persistent casting of non-binary actors in roles that align with binary expectations. Foxx shares their experience managing a queer production company and developing stories centered on housing crises, while Freja dives into her literary worldbuilding and her trans horror fiction.

As the conversation deepens, the group unpacks the complexities of gender, monogamy, and self-expression. They reflect on the societal pressures imposed by capitalism and cisnormativity, especially within queer communities. Freja and Foxx weigh in on gender abolition, questioning whether dissolving binary structures leads to freedom or invisibility.

The episode concludes with reflections on liberation, planned obsolescence, and trans representation across industries. Each guest underscores the urgent need for professional opportunities, fair pay, and broader cultural understanding of trans experiences.

Marla Alpert (she/they) is a seasoned actor and singer with national tour credits in Jekyll and Hyde and Ragtime, and performances with the Yiddish Theater Folksbiene. She starred in A Leg Up, the first LGBTQIA+ farce, and Miss Step at Playwrights Horizons. Marla is co-host of Flop of the Heap, a podcast about Broadway flops, and a vocal TikTok advocate for trans media representation.

Freja Ki Gray (she/her) is a Canadian trans writer and performer known for her novels Neon Acid Switchblade and Demon of Want. Her short fiction appears in Rumble and Grow. Freja also works in live performance, creates visual art exploring gender and identity, and performs annually as a monster actor in a Halloween park.

Foxx Cant (she/they) is a non-binary trans femme filmmaker based in Vancouver, on the unceded lands of the Musqueam, Squamish, and Tsleil-Waututh nations. She is the founder of Anomalous Transmissions Media, creator of the YouTube channel Foxxlales, and a manager of two queer small businesses while volunteering for a queer nonprofit.

**

About the Podcast

The Trans Narrative Podcast is a storytelling platform centering trans voices through authentic dialogue and lived experiences. With over 130 episodes across four seasons and listeners in 69 countries, the show creates space for guests to share their journeys, insights, and work—on their own terms.

“Make it real to me” written by Athena Promachus, covered by Boy Bowser

The Trans Narrative was created, and produced by Caroline Penny, powered by Spotify for podcasters

If you’d like to reach out, or be apart of the show contact us at

“transnarrativepodcast@gmail.com”

Support and donations can be made to cash app tag $gottabesomthinmore

Find us Facebook, TikTok, and on Apple, Spotify, and iHeartRadio, or anywhere you listen to podcasts

Thank you for your support

Crisis Text Line: Text START to 741-741

Suicide Hotline 1-800-SUICIDE (784-2433) 988

The Trevor Project: (866) 488-7386

Family Violence Prevention

Call 800-799-7233

Text BEGIN to 88788

National Domestic Violence Hotline 1-800-799-7233

988 Lifeline - If you need emotional support, reach out to the national mental health hotline: 988. 1-800-662-4357

Contact - Trans Lifeline U.S. (877) 565-8860 or Canada (877) 330-6366.

National Human Service Call Center 2-1-1

On this episode, Caroline and Honey sit down with Grace O’Connor, a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, to explore her personal and professional journey as a trans woman navigating healing, identity, and mental health advocacy. Growing up in a working-class, Catholic neighborhood on the South Side of Chicago during the 1960s and 70s, Grace shares the deep sense of isolation and fear she experienced while concealing her identity.

Grace discusses how decades of internalized transphobia, trauma, and addiction eventually led her to seek therapy in 2005, a transformative step that launched both her healing and her career. She opens up about surviving clergy abuse, confronting depression and substance use, and coming out first as gay in 1999 before embracing her trans identity in 2015.

The episode also explores current challenges facing the trans community, including the rollback of healthcare access and the emotional toll of political hostility. (Recorded before SCOTUS decision in Tennessee on trans healthcare ban for youth) Grace emphasizes the importance of community-based mental health, decolonized approaches to care, and sustainable strategies for resilience.

Grace O’Connor (she/her) is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, specializing in working with Trans and Non-binary communities. She is the Vice-President of Gender Wellness of Los Angeles and brings over three decades of experience in 12-step recovery and LGBTQ+ mental health. After struggling with internalized transphobia and growing up without cultural mirrors for her identity, Grace transitioned later in life and has emerged more grounded, joyful, and aligned than ever. Her therapeutic approach integrates somatic work, mindfulness, IFS, and a decolonized, anti-oppressive lens that deeply affirms trans and non-binary experiences. Grace earned her Master’s in Clinical Psychology from Antioch University Los Angeles, trained at the Colors LGBTQ Youth Counseling Center, and is a proud member of CAMFT and WPATH. Today, she uses her lived experience as a trans woman and seasoned clinician to build deep bonds of trust and healing with her clients.

Gender Wellness of Los Angeles | Transgender & Nonbinary Therapy

**

About the Podcast

The Trans Narrative Podcast is a storytelling platform centering trans voices through authentic dialogue and lived experiences. With over 130 episodes across four seasons and listeners in 69 countries, the show creates space for guests to share their journeys, insights, and work—on their own terms.

“Make it real to me” written by Athena Promachus, covered by Boy Bowser

The Trans Narrative was created, and produced by Caroline Penny, powered by Spotify for podcasters

If you’d like to reach out, or be apart of the show contact us at

“transnarrativepodcast@gmail.com”

Support and donations can be made to cash app tag $gottabesomthinmore

Find us Facebook, TikTok, and on Apple, Spotify, and iHeartRadio, or anywhere you listen to podcasts

Thank you for your support

Crisis Text Line: Text START to 741-741

Suicide Hotline 1-800-SUICIDE (784-2433) 988

The Trevor Project: (866) 488-7386

Family Violence Prevention

Call 800-799-7233

Text BEGIN to 88788

National Domestic Violence Hotline 1-800-799-7233

988 Lifeline - If you need emotional support, reach out to the national mental health hotline: 988. 1-800-662-4357

Contact - Trans Lifeline U.S. (877) 565-8860 or Canada (877) 330-6366.

National Human Service Call Center 2-1-1

On this episode, Caroline, Cherice, and Jordan sit with Indiana drag star Ana Crusis as they explore the powerful intersections of performance, advocacy, and identity. Ana shares her journey from growing up in Indianapolis to discovering drag as a form of joyful self-expression, detailing how influences like Judy Garland, Dennis Rodman, and Diana Ross shaped her early creative imagination. The conversation opens with reflections on her first full drag performance—Glinda the Good Witch—and how it embodied her gender fluidity and artistic vision.

The episode deepens as Ana discusses her work beyond the stage, including her leadership in local pageants and her advocacy against anti-LGBTQ+ legislation in Indiana. She reflects on testifying against House Bill 1608 and how drag has served as a vehicle for civic engagement, representation, and educational outreach.

In the final segment, the conversation shifts to HIV prevention, stigma, and community health. Jordan and Cherice speak candidly about the challenges of healthcare access for Black trans individuals and rural communities, highlighting the urgency of public health equity. Through rapid-fire questions and shared resources, the panel underscores the importance of education, testing, and supporting grassroots efforts.

“In the glittering realm of Indianapolis drag, one name shines brightly—Ana Crusis. A celebrated performer, fierce advocate, and community icon, Ana has graced stages across the Midwest for over a decade with her signature high glamour, sharp wit, and powerful presence. Ana began her drag journey in 2011 in Muncie, Indiana, and quickly made her mark, earning titles such as Miss Gay Muncie (2011), Miss Glamour (2019), and Miss Gay Indiana (2019 & 2020).

Her impact extends beyond performance. In 2021, the City of Indianapolis proclaimed an official “Ana Crusis Day” to honor her contributions to the LGBTQ+ community. A fearless advocate, Ana testified before the Indiana House of Representatives against House Bill 1608 (“Indiana’s Don’t Say Gay Bill”), using her platform to speak truth to power. Ana Crusis stands as a radiant force of resilience, joy, and transformation—reminding us all that true queens don’t just wear crowns; they change the world.”

**

About the Podcast

The Trans Narrative Podcast is a storytelling platform centering trans voices through authentic dialogue and lived experiences. With over 130 episodes across four seasons and listeners in 69 countries, the show creates space for guests to share their journeys, insights, and work—on their own terms.

“Make it real to me” written by Athena Promachus, covered by Boy Bowser

The Trans Narrative was created, and produced by Caroline Penny, powered by Spotify for podcasters

If you’d like to reach out, or be apart of the show contact us at

“transnarrativepodcast@gmail.com”

Support and donations can be made to cash app tag $gottabesomthinmore

Find us Facebook, TikTok, and on Apple, Spotify, and iHeartRadio, or anywhere you listen to podcasts

Thank you for your support

Crisis Text Line: Text START to 741-741

Suicide Hotline 1-800-SUICIDE (784-2433) 988

The Trevor Project: (866) 488-7386

Family Violence Prevention

Call 800-799-7233

Text BEGIN to 88788

National Domestic Violence Hotline 1-800-799-7233

988 Lifeline - If you need emotional support, reach out to the national mental health hotline: 988. 1-800-662-4357

Contact - Trans Lifeline U.S. (877) 565-8860 or Canada (877) 330-6366.

National Human Service Call Center 2-1-1