When I saw the news about the Supreme Court’s ruling on the definition of ‘sex’, I knew it was a topic I needed to understand better. As a straight cis man, it could be easy for me to ignore these news stories, but as a human, I know it’s a topic I can’t ignore.Bel Priestley is a trans actress, best known for her breakout role in Netflix’s Heartstopper, but her journey to that point is a story filled with pain, bravery and incredible strength. I’ve known Bel a while, and having seen her tearful TikTok after the Supreme Court ruling, wanted to invite her into the studio to chat.At just 21, Bel has lived through extremes - from being bullied at school to rising as one of Gen Z’s most influential LGBTQ+ voices. Through honesty and courage, she’s turned her platform into a beacon for trans visibility. She opens up about what it means to be a trans woman in the UK today, especially in the wake of a Supreme Court ruling that’s shaken her community, and what it’s like to navigate love and hate when the odds feel relentlessly stacked against you.Bel shares, with heartbreaking honesty, the darkest chapters of her life: surviving sexual assault, enduring years of abuse and rejection, and the mental toll of fighting simply to exist. But she also shares what it means to find power through pain, how vital her chosen family has been, and why she’s most worried not for herself, but for the next generation of trans youth.Through it all, Bel radiates warmth, humour and wisdom. This is a conversation about strength, identity, and the fundamental right to be who you are.You can also follow us on Instagram and Tiktok @greatcompanypodcast and if you've got thoughts, questions and comments, you can email us at [email protected] CREDITSExec Producer: Jemima RathboneAssistant Producer: Gurlina Heer & Ceyda UzunVideo: Jake Ji & Ryley KirbySocial Media: Laura CoughlanGreat Company is an original podcast from JamPot Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ask this episode

“What did the council decide on item 42?” — answered with the speaker and the moment.