Breaking Barriers: Trans Inclusion, Global Trans Charter & Advocacy in Music with Saskhia Menendez

What does it take to walk into an industry that wasn't built for you and then turn around and rebuild it so others don't have to fight the same battles?In this episode of the Pink Nest Podcast, Nika sits down with Saskhia Menendez, internationally recognised music industry leader, Brit Awards voting member, and one of the most powerful advocates for trans inclusion in the creative industries today.Saskhia's journey began with a teacher who recognised her singing talent, a small moment that opened a door into a world she would go on to transform. As a multiracial trans woman navigating the music industry, she faced the kind of intersecting challenges that don't come with a roadmap. Rather than stepping back, she stepped forward, building initiatives, creating frameworks, and refusing to let the absence of representation become the end of the story.At the heart of this conversation is the Global Trans Charter, a landmark initiative Saskhia created to protect trans and non-binary individuals working in and around the music industry. She talks about how it was born, how success in inclusion work is measured through data and accountability, and what it really means to hold a seat at the table as a Brit Awards voting member with the responsibility to advocate for better representation every time that vote is cast.This is also an honest conversation about the harder parts of advocacy, the backlash, the resilience it demands, the exhaustion that can come with fighting for change in systems designed to resist it. Saskhia speaks with clarity and grace about intersectionality, the persistent problem of misogyny in music, and why mentorship for emerging artists in marginalised communities is not optional, it is essential.And through it all, her message remains: stay authentic, ask for help, and don't stop. Because a truly inclusive music industry, one where all voices are heard and all people can flourish, is not a dream. It is a direction.IN THIS EPISODE* How a teacher's recognition sparked Saskhia's journey into music* Her experience navigating the industry as a multiracial trans woman* The creation and impact of the Global Trans Charter* How to measure success and accountability in inclusion initiatives* What it means to be a Brit Awards voting member and advocate for representation* Backlash in advocacy, how to face it and keep going* The importance of mentorship for emerging artists in marginalised communities* Intersectionality and why it is central to meaningful advocacy* Misogyny in the music industry, naming it, addressing it, dismantling it* What a truly inclusive music industry looks like and how we get there* Messages of hope for everyone striving for change.LinksListen to Saskhia's podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/5kMWsoBQPh7Y5qgM5hgZJhGlobal Trans Charter (sign up & info): https://linktr.ee/theglobaltranscharterInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/mizsaskia/☕ This podcast runs on coffee and quiet confidence that different minds build better worlds. Buy me a coffee : https://buymeacoffee.com/nikabrunet.📌 Don’t forget to subscribe to our podcast for more impactful conversations like this one!ℹ️ DISCLAIMER: This podcast is for informational purposes only. The views expressed are those of the guests and do not necessarily reflect those of the host or Pink Nest.