Becoming Visible: Trans Stories

Jack Fonder & Susan Williams
  • 5.0 (9)
  • PERSONAL JOURNALS
  • WEEKLY SERIES

Through heartfelt and entertaining interviews with gender-diverse individuals, we hope to leave you feeling enlightened and empowered. By listening,  you will gain a deeper understanding of gender identity-related terminologies and the diverse lived experiences of those we have interviewed.  Becoming Visible: Trans Stories is hosted by Jack Fonder, a transgender man and Susan Williams, mom of a transgender teen in Sioux Falls, South Dakota.

  1. EPISODE 1

    Jack

    In the premier episode of Becoming Visible: Trans Stories, your hosts Susan and Jack jump right into sharing about themselves, and do a deep-dive into Jack's journey as a transgender man who came out in his 30's with a wife and three kids in the small town of Hartford, South Dakota.  Jack began working  as the Community Health Worker/Community Outreach Manager for The Transformation Project in 2022 after leaving his career of 12 years at Citibank. Resources: www.transformationprojectsd.org There are so many great resources available if you happen to be struggling with suicidal thoughts. You can head to the Trevor project.org Or you can call and text 988 and you will be connected to trained counselors that will listen understand how your problems are affecting you provide support and connect you to the resources needed if necessary. Hosts: Jack Fonder & Susan Williams Producer: Susan Williams Audio Engineer: Cheese Graphic Design: Carly Schultz Music: Niklas Peters Niklas is a musician, artist, and organizer based in occupied Očhéthi Šakówiŋ land. They are a founding member of the South Dakota Women and Trans Musicians Network. When they are not creating music or art, Niklas can be found hiking or camping, walking their dog, or enjoying a meal with friends. They work as a Campaign Coordinator for Clean, Renewable Energy for the Western Organization of Resource Councils. (Website - Instagram)

    52 min

  2. EPISODE 2

    Grace

    In the 2nd episode of Becoming Visible: Trans Stories, Susan and Jack learn all about Grace Hansen,  who besides working as a Database Administrator,  a gymnastics coach, and is the only remaining founding member of The Rude Band.  Grace is a transgender woman who shares her story with us about how she came out at age 53 with a wife and four grown kids in Sioux Falls, South Dakota.  Stay tuned after the episode to hear one of Grace's faves from the Rude Band! TW: Suicide Check out The Rude Band at: https://rudeband.ws/ Grace's Articles on Medium: My Coming Out Letter                                                   https://medium.com/empowered-trans-woman/my-coming-out-letter-6c0c0dc8c7c9?sk=2f94d7b7fd7900527386c6ed0613b1f0How The Pyramid of Hate Applies to The Transgender Community https://medium.com/empowered-trans-woman/how-the-pyramid-of-hate-applies-to-the-transgender-community-3fd21baa7afa?sk=d82136d29fd52b0cd81811e9e21c0a92How I started transitioning before I came out as transgender https://medium.com/empowered-trans-woman/how-i-started-transitioning-before-i-came-out-as-transgender-b05c645c66ce?sk=40b636f9c11a4ad6ab4fc727a192e323Resources: https://www.transformationprojectsd.org/ There are so many great resources available if you happen to be struggling with suicidal thoughts. You can head to the Trevor project.org Or you can call and text 988 and you will be connected to trained counselors that will listen understand how your problems are affecting you provide support and connect you to the resources needed if necessary. Hosts: Jack Fonder & Susan Williams Producer: Susan Williams Audio Engineer: Cheese Graphic Design: Carly Schultz Music: Niklas Peters Niklas is a musician, artist, and organizer based in occupied Očhéthi Šakówiŋ land. They are a founding member of the South Dakota Women and Trans Musicians Network. When they are not creating music or art, Niklas can be found hiking or camping, walking their dog, or enjoying a meal with friends. They work as a Campaign Coordinator for Clean, Renewable Energy for the Western Organization of Resource Councils. (Website - Instagram)

    45 min

  3. EPISODE 3

    Rachel

    In this episode, we speak with Rachel about being nonbinary, they/them pronouns, and how family and friends have reacted to their gender identity.  Rachel lives in Sioux Falls, SD, and works full-time as a Communications Coordinator, volunteers her time with Sioux Falls Pride as their Marketing Director, and is in school full-time getting a degree in Coding.  TW: Suicide Resources: www.transformationprojectsd.org There are so many great resources available if you happen to be struggling with suicidal thoughts. You can head to the Trevor project.org Or you can call and text 988 and you will be connected to trained counselors that will listen understand how your problems are affecting you provide support and connect you to the resources needed if necessary. Hosts: Jack Fonder & Susan Williams Producer: Susan Williams Audio Engineer: Cheese Graphic Design: Carly Schultz Music: Niklas Peters Niklas is a musician, artist, and organizer based in occupied Očhéthi Šakówiŋ land. They are a founding member of the South Dakota Women and Trans Musicians Network. When they are not creating music or art, Niklas can be found hiking or camping, walking their dog, or enjoying a meal with friends. They work as a Campaign Coordinator for Clean, Renewable Energy for the Western Organization of Resource Councils. (Website - Instagram)

    26 min

  4. EPISODE 4

    Jane

    In our fourth episode, we speak with Jane about being genderqueer and how family, friends and her workplace dealt with her coming out as transgender.  Jane  lives in Sioux Falls, SD, and works full-time an Engineer and is the parent to two children.   TW: Suicide Resources: www.transformationprojectsd.org https://www.disclosurethemovie.com/about There are so many great resources available if you happen to be struggling with suicidal thoughts. You can head to the Trevor project.org Or you can call and text 988 and you will be connected to trained counselors that will listen understand how your problems are affecting you provide support and connect you to the resources needed if necessary. Hosts: Jack Fonder & Susan Williams Producer: Susan Williams Audio Engineer: Cheese Graphic Design: Carly Schultz Music: Niklas Peters Niklas is a musician, artist, and organizer based in occupied Očhéthi Šakówiŋ land. They are a founding member of the South Dakota Women and Trans Musicians Network. When they are not creating music or art, Niklas can be found hiking or camping, walking their dog, or enjoying a meal with friends. They work as a Campaign Coordinator for Clean, Renewable Energy for the Western Organization of Resource Councils. (Website - Instagram)

    52 min

  5. EPISODE 6

    Libby: Anti-Trans Legislation in SD & its Origin

    In the 6th episode of Becoming Visible: Trans Stories, Susan and Jack speak with Libby Skarin, Campaigns Director with the ACLU of SD.  Libby has worked against anti-trans legislation longer than anyone else we know in the state, and walks us through the last decade of damaging bills coming from SD Legislators and who is behind all of these proposed laws.  TW: Suicide Visit the ACLU of SD: https://www.aclusd.org/ Articles: Sioux Falls Argus Leader reporter Morgan Matzen has written a series entitled “Decade of Hate:  South Dakota’s History of anti-LGBTQ+ Policies”. Parts 1 & 2 of the series covered the entire front page of Sunday’s paper (July 09, 2023). How South Dakota's anti-LGBTQ+ bills have grown in the last 10 years (argusleader.com) https://argusleader-sd.newsmemory.com/?publink=19e967674_134ac59Susan Williams wrote this press release on HB1080 becoming law, and  was picked up by South Dakota Standardhttps://www.sdstandardnow.com/home/its-executive-director-writes-that-the-transformation-project-offers-support-to-transgender-youth-in-south-dakota-with-new-law-now-in-effect Resources: https://www.transformationprojectsd.org/ There are so many great resources available if you happen to be struggling with suicidal thoughts. You can head to the Trevor project.org Or you can call and text 988 and you will be connected to trained counselors that will listen understand how your problems are affecting you provide support and connect you to the resources needed if necessary. Hosts: Jack Fonder & Susan Williams Producer: Susan Williams Audio Engineer: Cheese Graphic Design: Carly Schultz Music: Niklas Peters Niklas is a musician, artist, and organizer based in occupied Očhéthi Šakówiŋ land. They are a founding member of the South Dakota Women and Trans Musicians Network. When they are not creating music or art, Niklas can be found hiking or camping, walking their dog, or enjoying a meal with friends. They work as a Campaign Coordinator for Clean, Renewable Energy for the Western Organization of Resource Councils. (Website - Instagram)

    47 min

  6. EPISODE 7

    Everett

    In the 7th episode of Becoming Visible: Trans Stories, Susan and Jack learn all about Everett,  a transgender man who recently graduated from college at the University of Sioux Falls and now works full-time as a photographer. TW: Suicide Check out Everett's Photography at: https://www.everettpalmer.media/about Resources: https://www.transformationprojectsd.org/ There are so many great resources available if you happen to be struggling with suicidal thoughts. You can head to the Trevor project.org Or you can call and text 988 and you will be connected to trained counselors that will listen understand how your problems are affecting you provide support and connect you to the resources needed if necessary. Hosts: Jack Fonder & Susan Williams Producer: Susan Williams Audio Engineer: Cheese Graphic Design: Carly Schultz Music: Niklas Peters Niklas is a musician, artist, and organizer based in occupied Očhéthi Šakówiŋ land. They are a founding member of the South Dakota Women and Trans Musicians Network. When they are not creating music or art, Niklas can be found hiking or camping, walking their dog, or enjoying a meal with friends. They work as a Campaign Coordinator for Clean, Renewable Energy for the Western Organization of Resource Councils. (Website - Instagram)

    29 min

  7. EPISODE 8

    April

    In the 8th episode of Becoming Visible: Trans Stories, Susan and Jack learn all about April,  a Two-Spirit individual who works for SD Urban Indian Health, is the Executive Director of Rock the Rez, and parent of two children.   Check out Rock the Rez at: https:///www.rocktherez.com Resources: https://www.transformationprojectsd.org/ There are so many great resources available if you happen to be struggling with suicidal thoughts. You can head to the Trevor project.org Or you can call and text 988 and you will be connected to trained counselors that will listen understand how your problems are affecting you provide support and connect you to the resources needed if necessary. Hosts: Jack Fonder & Susan Williams Producer: Susan Williams Audio Engineer: Cheese Graphic Design: Carly Schultz Music: Niklas Peters Niklas is a musician, artist, and organizer based in occupied Očhéthi Šakówiŋ land. They are a founding member of the South Dakota Women and Trans Musicians Network. When they are not creating music or art, Niklas can be found hiking or camping, walking their dog, or enjoying a meal with friends. They work as a Campaign Coordinator for Clean, Renewable Energy for the Western Organization of Resource Councils. (Website - Instagram)

    34 min

  8. EPISODE 9

    August & Micah

    In the 9th episode of Becoming Visible: Trans Stories, Susan and Jack learn all about August (they/she) who is nonbinary trans masc, and their partner Micah (he/him), who is a transgender man.  Resources: https://www.transformationprojectsd.org/ There are so many great resources available if you happen to be struggling with suicidal thoughts. You can head to the Trevor project.org Or you can call and text 988 and you will be connected to trained counselors that will listen understand how your problems are affecting you provide support and connect you to the resources needed if necessary. Hosts: Jack Fonder & Susan Williams Producer: Susan Williams Audio Engineer: Cheese Graphic Design: Carly Schultz Music: Niklas Peters Niklas is a musician, artist, and organizer based in occupied Očhéthi Šakówiŋ land. They are a founding member of the South Dakota Women and Trans Musicians Network. When they are not creating music or art, Niklas can be found hiking or camping, walking their dog, or enjoying a meal with friends. They work as a Campaign Coordinator for Clean, Renewable Energy for the Western Organization of Resource Councils. (Website - Instagram

    37 min
See All Season 1 (18)

5
out of 5
9 Ratings

About

Through heartfelt and entertaining interviews with gender-diverse individuals, we hope to leave you feeling enlightened and empowered. By listening,  you will gain a deeper understanding of gender identity-related terminologies and the diverse lived experiences of those we have interviewed.  Becoming Visible: Trans Stories is hosted by Jack Fonder, a transgender man and Susan Williams, mom of a transgender teen in Sioux Falls, South Dakota.

Information

  • Creator
    Jack Fonder & Susan Williams
  • Episodes
    24
  • Seasons
    1
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Becoming Visible: Trans Stories
  • Show Website
    Becoming Visible: Trans Stories