In this episode of Transvox, host Gillian welcomes Petra Wenham, a prominent figure in the trans community, known for her significant contributions and public presence.
Petra shares her life story, starting from her early realization of being different, through her academic and professional journey in engineering, to her eventual acceptance and embrace of being a transgender woman.
She discusses her experiences with bullying, her marriage of 52 years, and her coming out journey, highlighting the pivotal moment of acceptance inspired by Jenny Boylan’s blog.
Petra also delves into her involvement in trans awareness through numerous talks, notably with the Women's Institute, and shares her optimistic yet cautious views on the future of transgender rights amidst current legal battles.
The episode concludes with Petra’s words of encouragement to both older individuals contemplating their identity and the younger transgender generation.
00:00 Introduction
00:51 Petra's Early Life and Realisation
03:03 Education and Career Journey
06:21 Coming Out and Acceptance
12:29 Public Talks and Advocacy
14:46 Reflections on Trans Rights and Future
19:33 Final Thoughts and Messages
You can contact us at gillian@transvox.co.uk and find out more at transvox.co.uk
Transvox: Understanding the Trans+ Experience through 'The Traitors'
In this episode of Transvox, hosts Gillian and Jenny Harvey discuss how the UK TV show 'The Traitors' provides insightful lessons applicable to trans people and therapy patients. Jenny, donned in her Saturday football-watching attire (a green cloak...!) describes her fascination with the show's dyna...
Transvox: Looking forward to 2026
In this episode of Transvox, hosts Gillian and Jenny discuss a variety of topics ranging from ongoing cultural and political developments to personal anecdotes and hopes for the future. They touch on the symbolic relevance of items like the unicorn and the 'Blojhaj' shark in the trans community. A c...
Transvox: Reflecting on 2025 and the Ongoing Struggle for Trans Rights
Hosts Jenny Harvey and Gillian Russell discuss the key events and themes impacting the trans+ community in 2025. They reflect on the political climate, noting the ongoing challenges despite the change in government. Key topics include the impact of the Supreme Court ruling on trans rights, legal bat...
Transvox - Christmas Ramblings
This week, Gillian and Jenny have decided in the midst of all the gloom of recent news (and the weather) to have a more ‘light-hearted’ episode. Subjects include: A listener question about ‘coming out’ to their family on Xmas Day! Christmas telly How Christmas can be stressful being in the midst of ...
Trans Rights, Legal Battles, and Social Media Policies: Transvox Weekly Roundup
In this week's episode of Transvox, Jenny and Gillian dive deep into recent legal battles impacting the trans community, focusing on two major judgments regarding trans women’s rights to access facilities. They discuss the influence of various funding sources like JK Rowling and Elon Musk on these c...
Transvox - Joseph Harwood on Trans Visibility, Fashion Challenges, and New Ventures
In this engaging conversation, Joseph Harwood discusses his recent experiences and projects in the fashion and beauty industries. He reflects on a project called 'Trans as Human,' which aimed at showcasing the diverse humanity within the trans community. The discussion also delves into the current c...
Transvox - Aging and Healthcare Considerations for Trans People Over 50
In this episode of Transvox, hosts Gillian Russell and Jenny Harvey engage in a critical conversation about aging and healthcare considerations for transgender individuals over the age of 50. The discussion centres around a blog post from the Transvox site titled 'Aging as a Transgender Person: Plan...
Transvox - Supporting Trans Healthcare: Challenges and Initiatives
In this episode of Transvox, Gillian welcomes Suzanne Coleclough and Jace Bulger to discuss their efforts in addressing challenges faced by the trans community in accessing gender-affirming healthcare. Suzanne, a retired barrister, is a parent of an adult trans child, and Jace, a recent university g...
Transvox - The Academic Journey of Dr. Lexi Webster: From Digital Culture to Activism
In this episode of Transvox, the Gillian sits down with Dr. Lexi Webster, Associate Professor of Digital Culture at the University of Southampton. They discuss Lexi's academic journey, including her background in linguistics, her PhD on social reform opportunities via corpus-driven cultural politica...





