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103 | A Mom’s Lesson in Moving Forward with Love Instead of Fear with Lisa Brennan

  • Emily Reuschel
  • Jul 3, 2024
  • 5 min read

Gather in Growth Podcast episode #001

LISTEN TO A MOM’S LESSON IN MOVING FORWARD WITH LOVE INSTEAD OF FEAR WITH LISA BRENNAN ON: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Your player of choicePodcast


I am joined by Lisa Brennan, an incredible person who I’ve known for a very long time, and I’ve been eager to have her on the podcast for a while now!


Lisa and I go way back – I actually went to school with her kids and built a friendship with her oldest son. Lisa is a wife, mom of two, and now a published author. In January 2018, Lisa and her family started a new chapter in life, after her youngest child shared she was a transgender woman. While this was unexpected and definitely came with adjustments, the Brennan family found that treasuring someone for who they truly are is magical and sacred – it doesn’t have to be scary, or something to hide. Lisa even wrote a beginner’s guidebook for friends and family, and after immense support and positive feedback, she wrote a book about her journey. Her book has shown how incredibly powerful love and acceptance can be, and her family has felt very blessed and encouraged throughout this process.


In today’s episode, Lisa and I discuss a mom’s lesson in moving forward with love instead of hate. When you experience moments of isolation, or situations that are very unfamiliar, it’s natural to think that no one else ‘gets’ it, or is going through the same thing. This is when the power of community and support from others really comes into play though – you have to find your people! Feeling seen and deeply understood during vulnerable times shows us that we’re never alone, and most of the time, the scenarios we’re playing out in our heads are very disjointed from what actually happens. When we choose to live authentically and not be afraid to challenge societal ‘norms’, it allows others to do the same, and proudly embrace who God created them to be (transgender or not).


The longer I live, the more I realize we are all people simply trying to ‘exist’ together on this planet, and it’s okay to have different points of view. It’s important to be open-minded, and not be afraid to look within ourselves when issues arise that we don’t fully understand; everything DOES affect all of us. This was a beautiful conversation, and I hope Lisa’s story encourages you to lead with love, curiosity, and openness, because doing so will only change things for the better!


In January of 2018, Lisa started a new chapter of life, as her youngest child shared with the family that she is a transgender woman. After some adjustment, the Brennan family has found that when you treasure someone for who they are, it is magical and sacred. Lisa wrote a beginner’s guidebook for friends and family and to her surprise, it was widely shared, with churches, hospitals, and schools asking her to share her family’s story of love and acceptance. This prompted Lisa to write a book about her journey. She is thrilled that the book has brought some love and education into the world.


Lisa Brennan is the proud daughter of a United Church of Christ minister. She and her husband Mike have been married for 36 years and have two grown children. They reside in a small community outside of St. Louis, Missouri. Lisa attended college at the University of Evansville, Indiana and spent some time working in England before she settled down with her husband. She runs the national support email for Transparent USA, a 501c3 not for profit. Transparentusa.org provides support and resources for raising gender independent children.


In this episode about a mom’s lesson in moving forward with love instead of fear, we cover:

  • Lisa’s story of navigating a new journey with her transgender daughter + how this eventually led to her writing a book about everything she learned and experienced

  • How Lisa’s transgender daughter came out to her and her family + the research and resources Lisa started diving into in order to better understand everything

  • The power of time and community that’s incredibly vital when you’re experiencing moments of isolation, and/or stepping into unfamiliar territory

  • The overwhelming love and support Lisa and her family received when her daughter came out, instead of the ‘worst case scenarios’ she expected

  • The beauty that comes from living authentically and doing what’s placed on your heart, and how this gives others permission to do the same

  • Not being afraid to challenge religious and societal ‘norms’ and proudly embrace who God created you to be

  • Lisa’s oldest son’s experience with being a contestant on The Bachelorette and Bachelor in Paradise + the support he showed for his trans sister, and what that led to

  • Understanding that gender identity is already hardwired in your brain when you’re born + simply choosing to show kindness to trans people

  • Taking time to look within yourself and being open to important issues around you, even if you don’t think you’re affected by them

  • Continually learning and evolving, no matter your age or what you *think* you know


Connect with Lisa:


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More about the Gather in Growth podcast: 

Gather in Growth is more than a podcast—it’s a sanctuary for women coming home to themselves and each other. A sacred space to expand horizons, reignite our power, and live unapologetically as our fullest, most authentic selves.


Hosted by Emily Reuschel, this is a gathering place for the doers, dreamers, and seekers who crave connection, purpose, and meaningful impact. Through raw conversations and soul-deep reflections, we’ll embrace curiosity, step to the edges of our comfort zones, and defy expectations.


Picture this: women gathered around a fire, sharing stories with open hearts—connecting, healing, and evolving together. That’s the spirit of Gather in Growth. This is our space to awaken and embody the lives we’ve been yearning for—lives rooted in alignment, guided by intuition, and built with intention.


If you’re ready to move beyond limits and labels, cultivate deep inner trust, and courageously embrace the magic of who you are, then welcome home. Together, let’s Gather in Growth.


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