Born This Way

Spanning Generations | Ft. Mardi Pieronek

The episode features a conversation between the host NV Gay and Mardi Pieronek, a 63-year-old trans woman who has been living authentically since age 15. Mardi shares her experiences as a trans woman who has survived decades of discrimination, the AIDS epidemic, and societal challenges. She discusses how she started her social media presence in 2014 at the encouragement of prominent trans figures like Laverne Cox to share her story and provide representation for younger trans people. The conversation covers the evolution of trans rights, the importance of visibility and community, and how both NV and Mardi navigate current anti-trans political climates. Mardi shares personal stories about her transition journey, her experiences with hormone therapy, and her advocacy work. Both NV and Mardi emphasize the importance of humanizing trans people through everyday interactions rather than just online activism. The episode concludes with advice for allies on how to support the trans community and for trans individuals to remember that being transgender is just one aspect of their multifaceted identities. • Source materials for this episode cannot be listed here due to character limitations. For a full list of sources, please visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.bornthiswaypodcast.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [http://www.bornthiswaypodcast.com/] Born this Way is hosted by Vincent-Natasha "NV" Gay • Instagram: ⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@nv.gay⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.instagram.com/nv.gay/] ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [%20https:/shorturl.at/mxyBQ]• TikTok: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@nv.gay⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.tiktok.com/@nv.gay] • Facebook: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Mx. NV Gay⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100089545815222] ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://shorturl.at/jFIN2%20]Born this Way is an ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Inquisitor Media⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [www.inquisitormedia.net] Original Produce by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The Mx. Gay Creative Direction⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.mxgay.org/] • Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@InquisitorMedia⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.instagram.com/inquisitormedia] ⁠• Twitter:⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@Inquisitor_med⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://x.com/Inquisitor_med] ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://x.com/Inquisitor_med]• Facebook: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The Inquisitor Media⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61565095685688]

Yourself | Ft. Ryan Cassata

The episode features Ryan Cassata, an award-winning transgender singer-songwriter, actor, writer, and LGBTQ+ activist. The host introduces Ryan's impressive accomplishments, including eight critically acclaimed albums, over 650 performances nationwide and internationally, and recognition from publications like Billboard and The Advocate. Ryan discusses his latest album "Greetings from Echo Park," released in June at the beginning of Pride month, which explores his experiences with Lyme disease and chronic illness, his transgender journey, and themes of isolation, disability, addiction, mental health, and queer love. Throughout the conversation, Ryan emphasizes the importance of authenticity, community, and being true to oneself despite societal pressures. He explains his decision not to take testosterone to preserve his singing voice, discusses the meaning behind his protest songs, and shares insights about the intersection of his music with activism. Ryan also talks about his punk ethos, which he defines as being authentic, supporting community, and standing against oppression. The interview concludes with Ryan encouraging listeners to be themselves, surround themselves with supportive people, and for allies to actively support trans people through listening to diverse trans experiences, attending protests, and supporting trans artists.  • Source materials for this episode cannot be listed here due to character limitations. For a full list of sources, please visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.bornthiswaypodcast.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [http://www.bornthiswaypodcast.com/] Born this Way is hosted by Vincent-Natasha "NV" Gay • Instagram: ⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@nv.gay⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.instagram.com/nv.gay/] ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [%20https:/shorturl.at/mxyBQ]• TikTok: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@nv.gay⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.tiktok.com/@nv.gay] • Facebook: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Mx. NV Gay⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100089545815222] ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://shorturl.at/jFIN2%20]Born this Way is an ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Inquisitor Media⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [www.inquisitormedia.net] Original Produce by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The Mx. Gay Creative Direction⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.mxgay.org/] • Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@InquisitorMedia⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.instagram.com/inquisitormedia] ⁠• Twitter:⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@Inquisitor_med⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://x.com/Inquisitor_med] ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://x.com/Inquisitor_med]• Facebook: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The Inquisitor Media⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61565095685688]

Affirmations | Ft. Tourmaline

The episode features a conversation between host NV Gay and best selling author Tourmaline. The main focus is on Tourmaline's national bestselling book "Marsha," which chronicles the life of LGBTQ+ activist Marsha P. Johnson. Tourmaline shares insights from her nearly 20 years of research on Marsha's life, highlighting Marsha's artistic pursuits, spirituality, and activism. The conversation reveals how Marsha maintained her Christian faith despite adversity and used it to fuel her community work. They discuss how Marsha's example of daily acts of care and community support remains relevant today. The latter part of the conversation shifts to discussing affirmations and self-care practices for the trans community during difficult times. Tourmaline emphasizes the importance of acknowledging problems while also freedom dreaming and taking both large and small actions to create change. The conversation concludes with advice for allies on how to support trans organizers and community members through care packages and affirming words. • Source materials for this episode cannot be listed here due to character limitations. For a full list of sources, please visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.bornthiswaypodcast.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [http://www.bornthiswaypodcast.com/] Born this Way is hosted by Vincent-Natasha "NV" Gay • Instagram: ⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@nv.gay⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.instagram.com/nv.gay/] ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [%20https:/shorturl.at/mxyBQ]• TikTok: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@nv.gay⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.tiktok.com/@nv.gay] • Facebook: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Mx. NV Gay⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100089545815222] ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://shorturl.at/jFIN2%20]Born this Way is an ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Inquisitor Media⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [www.inquisitormedia.org] Original Produce by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The Mx. Gay Creative Direction⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.mxgay.org/] • Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@InquisitorMedia⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.instagram.com/inquisitormedia] ⁠• Twitter:⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@Inquisitor_med⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://x.com/Inquisitor_med] ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://x.com/Inquisitor_med]• Facebook: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The Inquisitor Media⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61565095685688]

Warrior | Ft. Té D. DeMornay

The episode features Té D. DeMornay, a two-spirit non-binary individual from the White Mountain and San Carlos Apache tribes who has been doing drag in Phoenix since 2017. Té discusses their experience as Mix Trans California 2025 and their previous pageant titles. They share insights about their two-spirit identity, explaining how it has always been part of their tribal culture which recognized at least five genders. Té describes how their grandfather recognized their two-spirit nature from childhood and guided them into traditional roles. The conversation explores the historical importance of two-spirit people in Native American cultures as matchmakers, caregivers, and cultural preservers, and how colonization and Christianity disrupted these traditions. Té also discusses their drag career, how they've incorporated their indigenous heritage into their performances, and their powerful message: "We are the new ancestors, so act accordingly." They emphasize the importance of reconnecting with one's cultural heritage and encourage listeners to embrace their power to create change. • Source materials for this episode cannot be listed here due to character limitations. For a full list of sources, please visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.bornthiswaypodcast.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [http://www.bornthiswaypodcast.com/] Born this Way is hosted by Vincent-Natasha "NV" Gay • Instagram: ⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@nv.gay⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.instagram.com/nv.gay/] ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [%20https:/shorturl.at/mxyBQ]• TikTok: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@nv.gay⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.tiktok.com/@nv.gay] • Facebook: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Mx. NV Gay⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100089545815222] ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://shorturl.at/jFIN2%20]Born this Way is an ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Inquisitor Media⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [www.inquisitormedia.org] Original Produce by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The Mx. Gay Creative Direction⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.mxgay.org/] • Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@InquisitorMedia⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.instagram.com/inquisitormedia] ⁠• Twitter:⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@Inquisitor_med⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://x.com/Inquisitor_med] ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://x.com/Inquisitor_med]• Facebook: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The Inquisitor Media⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61565095685688]

Success | Ft. Plastic Martyr

The episode features a conversation between NV Gay and Plastic Martyr, a transgender actress, recording artist, and activist. They discuss the challenges faced by transgender individuals in today's political climate, focusing on themes of safety, success, and community support. Plastic shares her experiences transitioning from a young age, facing discrimination in Hollywood, and her recent decision to prioritize safety by stepping back from public life. They explore how transgender people can achieve success by strategically engaging allies, avoiding internal community conflicts, and humanizing trans experiences. The conversation highlights the importance of educating allies compassionately rather than alienating them, the need to include trans men in transgender narratives, and the challenges of navigating increasing hostility toward trans people. Throughout the discussion, both speakers emphasize the value of unity within the trans community and the critical role allies play in advancing transgender rights and acceptance. • Source materials for this episode cannot be listed here due to character limitations. For a full list of sources, please visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.bornthiswaypodcast.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [http://www.bornthiswaypodcast.com/] Born this Way is hosted by Vincent-Natasha "NV" Gay • Instagram: ⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@nv.gay⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.instagram.com/nv.gay/] ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [%20https:/shorturl.at/mxyBQ]• TikTok: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@nv.gay⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.tiktok.com/@nv.gay] • Facebook: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Mx. NV Gay⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100089545815222] ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://shorturl.at/jFIN2%20]Born this Way is an ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Inquisitor Media⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [www.inquisitormedia.org] Original Produce by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The Mx. Gay Creative Direction⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.mxgay.org/] • Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@InquisitorMedia⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.instagram.com/inquisitormedia] ⁠• Twitter:⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@Inquisitor_med⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://x.com/Inquisitor_med] ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://x.com/Inquisitor_med]• Facebook: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The Inquisitor Media⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61565095685688]