Transgender actress Nicole Maines plays a superhero on her hit TV show “Supergirl,” but she’s also a superhero in her everyday life. As young as 3 years of age, Nicole knew that the biological sex she was assigned at birth was not right, and struggled with anger, anxiety, and sadness. With the support of her parents, Nicole started transitioning genders in the 1st grade, and the thoughtful and gradual changes were generally accepted by her peers. However, in middle school, after a run-in with a boy who took issue with her use of the female bathroom, the school staff barred her from using the female bathroom, and increasingly isolated her from normal experiences on- and off-campus.  Nicole and her family sued the school district for discrimination and after a five-year court battle she was victorious when the Maine Supreme Judicial Court ruled that the school violated the Human Rights Act. Her landmark win prohibited barring transgender students access to bathrooms, paving the way for transgender justice and inclusivity. Her activism continues to this day and people regularly call on Nicole to guide them on how they can promote equality and inclusivity in their own communities.  Nicole’s stories are so incredible relatable, no matter how you identify yourself on the gender and sexual preferences spectrums. As a young woman, Nicole is wise beyond her years and the lessons she has learned are ones all human beings can benefit from, as we ponder what it truly means to be authentic, joyful, and purposeful in our lives. Nicole reminds us to self-reflect in a way that is constructive rather than destructive and how to embrace each other’s differences. She calls on each person to dig deeply and determine what fears are holding us back, and why gossip holds such allure and offers temporary satisfaction, but ultimately steals a piece of our individual integrity. Dr. Judy reveals five actionable tips to be your own superhero which include letting moments of adversity be catalysts for personal growth, stopping blame, and gaining strength by avoiding your personal kryptonite. This lit conversation is going to help you to accomplish the extraordinary every day and to uncover incredible moments in the ordinary.  In this episode, we discuss: 1. Setting the bar at superhero level (2:05) 2. Being the first transgender superhero on TV (2:50) 3. Exploring power and control in Nicole’s film bit (5:30) 4. The common misconceptions about transgender individuals (14:20) 5. The state of the science about the gender spectrum (19:45) 6. Nicole’s struggles as a child and how her parents and peers responded (22:15) 7. Nicole’s dating life and getting back into the game (27:35) 8. How Nicole’s landmark legal case started in the bathroom (29:20) 9. What Nicole wants to say to people who don’t understand the trans community (41:40) 10. Supercharged Tip of the Day (46:20) Drjudyho.comInstagram.com/drjudyhoTwitter.com/drjudyho            Facebook.com/doctorjudyhoInstagram.com/stage29podcastsTwitter.com/stage29podcastsFacebook.com/Stage29PodcastsInstagram.com/nicoleamainesTwitter.com/nicoleamaines Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices