Dare to be YOU!

Joanne Lockwood speaks with performance coach, psychotherapist, and workshop facilitator Shelley Bridgeman about what it really takes to “dare to be you” — not as a slogan, but as a practice of peeling back protection, facing fear, and choosing a more truthful way of living.

They explore how fear often shows up as fear of failure or rejection, and how people learn to numb pain or avoid being seen. Shelley shares her approach to supporting people in deep distress: listening without rushing to fix, helping someone find a first step, and building strategies to move forward.

The conversation also covers trans lived experience across different decades, from early visibility and hostile media narratives to today’s sustained public debates. Joanne and Shelley discuss coming out, relationships that change, and the possibility of reconnection — including Joanne’s evolving relationship with his father.

Shelley reflects on her experience challenging legal inequity for trans people, including a lengthy court journey that culminated in a landmark ruling, and what it taught her about persistence, community support, and the importance of standing up for equal rights. They close by touching on current tensions in public discourse, including women’s safety and fairness in sport, and the need for more workable, humane conversations.