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/