Transvox

Gillian welcomes Debbie Cannon to the Transvox podcast, discussing her background as a Geordie who moved around the UK, served in the Army, worked 21 years in insurance, won “Insurance Leader of the Year” in 2017, and later moved into community and charity work. Debbie leads Trans Without Abuse, a by-and-for domestic abuse support service for trans and non-binary adults across Cheshire under Cheshire Without Abuse, launched in 2023 after research found marginalised groups didn’t engage because services didn’t feel “for them.” She explains domestic abuse beyond physical violence, including coercive control and identity-based abuse such as deadnaming, restricting gender expression, isolating from affirming spaces, and threats of outing. Debbie outlines how the service provides safety planning, holistic support, and options including family-wide interventions, and she created “Live Free,” a free online recovery program through a trans and non-binary lens, accessible via transwithoutabuse.org.uk.00:00 Welcome and Introductions01:36 Ukulele Club Festival02:47 Life Story and Transition05:48 Trans Inclusion Across Regions10:09 Breaking the Trans Bubble13:01 Trans Without Abuse Origins15:03 What Domestic Abuse Is16:18 Identity Based Abuse26:31 Support and Safety Planning30:30 Stats and Live Free Program32:48 How to Get Help33:27 Closing ThanksYou can contact us at [email protected] and find out more at transvox.co.uk

In this Transvox episode - it’s listeners’ questions, Gillian and Jenny discuss a question from (another) Jenny in Manchester about whether musical tastes change during transition and whether music helps with anxiety and the transition process. Jenny says her tastes are eclectic and not fundamentally changed, but certain songs resonated differently during transition and she has become more interested in supporting trans and non-binary artists, noting connections in electronic music and film scores. They mention music that felt meaningful, including the Forrest Gump piano theme and Peter Gabriel’s “Solsbury Hill,” and reflect on how personal interpretation matters even when songs aren’t explicitly trans-themed. They also discuss LGBT figures in music, including Wendy Carlos, Lou Reed references, classical composers Samuel Barber, Gian Carlo Menotti, Tchaikovsky, and Dame Ethel Smyth, plus Labi Siffre, Sylvester, Boy George, Freddie Mercury, and Jimmy Somerville, and conclude that the arts can provide a welcoming, therapeutic space for identity expression.00:00 Is a ‘mo’ an outfit choice worth discussion?01:03 Listener Questions Setup02:47 Music and Transition05:15 Film Scores and Feelings09:29 Queer Classical Composers13:20 Pop Icons and Representation15:25 Arts as Safe Expression20:28 Wrap Up and GoodbyeYou can contact us at [email protected] and find out more at transvox.co.uk

On Transvox, Gillian interviews CJ Webb, a neurodivergent, disabled, non-binary person (sometimes describing their gender as gender fluid) and an NHS talking-therapy therapist who is also building a private practice called Quiet Reflections. CJ explains that their drive to become a therapist came from wanting to understand people and their own place in the world, a perspective shaped by later receiving an autism diagnosis and recognising past masking. They discuss early experiences of not fitting into “boys” or “girls” lines at school, the distress of early puberty and being perceived, and family expectations such as wearing dresses as a bridesmaid. CJ describes the importance of language and discovering terms like gender fluid and non-binary, clarifies umbrella relationships including agender, and shares how using they/them pronouns can mean constant coming out and varies by context. They note UK debates and a Supreme Court ruling leaving non-binary people effectively unrecognised, and they outline their person-centered, emotion-focused therapy approach offering counselling, EMDR, and psychosexual therapy via quietreflections.co.uk.00:00 Welcome to CJ00:58 Who CJ Is01:42 Therapist Journey03:48 Autism And Masking06:00 Not Belonging08:28 Puberty And Dysphoria10:21 Family Expectations14:16 Finding The Words17:06 Nonbinary Explained19:15 Names And Pronouns23:52 Sexuality And Pressure28:16 Therapy Style30:49 Rights And FarewellYou can contact us at [email protected] and find out more at transvox.co.uk

In an ‘emergency’ solo Transvox episode, Gillian explains the uncertainty created by the UK Supreme Court ruling that “sex” in the Equality Act 2010 means biological sex and by the EHRC statutory Code of Practice laid in Parliament on 21 May 2026 and effective 5 August 2026, noting it is guidance (not primary legislation or criminal law) and may be reshaped through case law and future revisions. The code affects services, public functions, and associations, especially single-sex spaces and services, while employer guidance has not yet been updated; the host also cites a February 2026 High Court decision requiring workplace facilities to operate on a biological sex basis under health and safety regulations, with lockable rooms as an option. They stress gender reassignment remains a protected characteristic and outline practical steps for trans people (knowing rights, documenting incidents, challenging blanket exclusions, using complaints routes) and for employers/service providers (avoiding haste, seeking legal advice, conducting impact assessments, applying proportionality, avoiding appearance-policing, communicating transparently, and using case-by-case decisions).This is not legal advice - but we can support all parties with advice, templates and training to help manage practical solutions to the challenges this poor guidance will raise.00:00 Emergency Episode Intro00:38 What Changed Legally04:34 What It Means for Trans People10:44 Practical Steps and Self Advocacy14:15 Collective Action and Wellbeing16:18 Guidance for Employers21:13 Advice for Service Providers26:08 Final Thoughts You can contact us at [email protected] and find out more at transvox.co.uk

In this episode, Gillian interviews London-based electronic musician and recording artist Dyvr, who uses dance floors as spaces for processing grief, shame, and abandonment, with a focus on making trans+ people feel seen and accepted.Dyvr discusses growing up in a multicultural part of London as mixed race (Pakistani mother, Scottish-Irish/Midlands father), the complexities of belonging, racism as erasure, and how queer and trans+ identity intersects with diaspora experience, including not learning their mother’s language.They describe music as a lifelong emotional conduit, beginning to make music in their early 20s after living independently from 16, and explain their album “Rebuild,” made over three and a half years while learning production and documenting liberation, grief, anger, and family abandonment; it was released July 25 to align with Trans Pride, alongside a Tottenham after-party. Dyvr mentions performances at Glastonbury, Boomtown, multiple Pride events, upcoming Galway shows (Aug 6 and 8), Boomtown’s Naflika space, and developing co-production work; they can be followed on Instagram as deepseaDyver (deepsea D-Y-V-R).00:00 Curtains and Studio Vibes00:39 Meet Dyvr01:15 Music as Activism03:00 London Roots and Heritage04:04 Mixed Race Identity07:02 Racism and Erasure08:59 Language and Diaspora11:34 Migration and Culture Shift13:41 Transness and Intersectionality15:46 Turning to Music15:57 Music as Emotional Language17:15 Finding Songwriting Later17:40 Survival and Mental Health20:05 Authenticity on Stage24:27 Rebuild Album Journey28:23 Release and Trans Pride29:26 Festivals and Pride Shows31:48 Producing for Community33:38 Where to Follow Next34:17 Wrap Up and GoodbyesYou can contact us at [email protected] and find out more at transvox.co.uk