The Trans Narrative Podcast · Trans Narrative Pod

Ashley Wiggs: Thrills of Transition | Lessons in Learning & Liberation from the Classroom and Beyond

·1 hr 10 min·1 clip

She came out at 19 but stayed closeted for 20 years, then went full transition in 9 weeks—the cost of pretending was too high.

This episode features Ashley Wiggs, a transgender science educator and former food scientist, in conversation with host Caroline and guest co-host Rosie. Ashley shares her journey from childhood self-awareness to transitioning in her forties, while navigating teaching in Florida's restrictive political climate. She recalls knowing her identity since age four, despite lacking the vocabulary in the 1980s, and being bullied as a child for being perceived as gay. Ashley came out initially at 19 in 1996 but felt societal pressures made transition impossible, leading her to live a "normal" front-facing life for years. She describes a rapid, full-tilt transition in 2015, starting hormones within three weeks and living full-time within six, driven by an urgent need to stop pretending. Ashley discusses her current role teaching middle school science at a for-profit charter school, which operates under different rules than public schools regarding titles and pronouns. She reveals a student recently attempted suicide after their parents rejected their transgender identity, highlighting the emotional toll on Ashley as an educator. Florida's law requires classroom books to be approved by a state-vetted expert and listed with the state, leading many teachers to simply remove books. Ashley believes she is blacklisted from her county's public school system due to the "Don't Say Gay" law's provisions on pronouns and titles. Her passion for teaching is sustained by moments when students dive deep into scientific rabbit holes, asking endless questions with genuine curiosity. Ashley holds a unique belief in a non-interventionist God, a conclusion she reached through studying science's complexity, particularly evolution and genetics. She failed out of college twice and earned her bachelor's degree in chemistry at nearly 28, valuing the life experience gained in her twenties. An avid gamer, she recently began streaming on Twitch, playing Hearthstone and Magic: The Gathering, and has already earned affiliate status. Ashley also plays flat-track roller derby under the pun-based name "Resident Eva," with the number 46 representing human chromosomes. She is a roller coaster enthusiast who rode 42 new coasters last summer, bringing her lifetime count to 105, with favorites like Millennium Force and Top Thrill 2 at Cedar Point. Ashley moved to Florida primarily for the warm climate and proximity to theme parks, which serve as a joyful escape from stress. She advises others to live where they want, arguing that day-to-day life is less impacted by state politics than often feared, though one must remain prepared. Ashley views being transgender as simply one descriptive facet of her identity, not a central obsession, advocating for living authentically without letting it define one's entire life. The tone is conversational, personal, and reflective, blending life story with practical insights on education and identity. This episode would resonate with educators, transgender individuals navigating self-acceptance, and anyone interested in the intersection of science, faith, and personal authenticity. Listeners seeking a highly political debate or a critique focused solely on systemic oppression might find its balanced, personal perspective less engaging.

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