Four Inane Questions with Jennspire’s Jennifer Marie
Photo Courtesy of Jennifer Marie
Here in KC, Jennifer Marie is the BFF/coach/wisecracking gender guide you never knew you needed. She’s also proof that personal transformation can be both powerful and fabulously unapologetic.
Marie is a proud transgender woman, bestselling author (Ask Me Anything: My Transparent Transition Story), podcast host, and the fierce force behind Jennspire—a coaching and empowerment platform helping people find their Gender Equilibrium and step fully into who they are.
With more than 30,000 followers and a growing global community, Marie is part cheerleader, part truth-teller, and 100% committed to helping others feel seen, supported, and celebrated.
Before she was coaching gender journeys, she was crunching numbers and calling plays—literally. With an MBA and a background in finance and sports, she brings boardroom brains, locker room grit, and a whole lot of heart to the work she does today.
We caught up with the gender advocate between sessions to answer our questionable questionnaire. She didn’t miss a beat.
Photo Courtesy of Jennifer Marie
The Pitch: What’s the one card/board/childhood game no one can beat you at?
Jennifer Marie: Sorry!—The game that pretends to be polite. It lures you in with bright colors and a sweet apology, then sends your piece back to start like a passive-aggressive wrecking ball. And I thrived in it. I’d lock eyes with my opponent, slide my piece forward, and say “Sorry” with the exact same energy as Regina George handing out compliments.
Photo Courtesy of Jennifer Marie
It wasn’t just about winning—it was about the psychological performance, the dramatic flair, the art of pretending to care. I mastered the timing, the smirk, the faux remorse. And let’s be real: I was never actually sorry.
What’s your favorite celeb quote in the history of celeb quotes?
“Courage starts with showing up and letting ourselves be seen.” —Brené Brown.
I’ve loved this quote for years, but it hit differently the morning I gave my coming-out speech in front of 100 business professionals. One of my closest friends handed me a handmade card with that exact quote—not even knowing it was my favorite.
In that moment, I wasn’t just holding a card; I was holding a reminder that being visible, even when it’s terrifying, is an act of bravery.
What SPF do you use? Or what SPF should you use?
I use SPF 30, which basically says, “I tried.” It’s the bottle I toss in my bag, slather on once, and call it good while pretending I’m nailing skincare. But realistically, I should be using SPF 50—reapplying like it’s a sacred ritual, wearing a hat the size of a satellite dish, and avoiding peak sun hours like a vampire with good boundaries.
SPF 30 is who I am. SPF 50 is who I aspire to be.
Photo Courtesy of Jennifer Marie
You get invited to a potluck. Whaddya bringin’ that’s gonna be a crowd favorite?
I’m showing up with something that looks like love and effort, but was actually tossed in a crockpot while I lived my life. One time, it was cheesy corn—just frozen corn, cream cheese, a little sugar, and pepper. That’s it. People were scraping the sides of the dish like it was Michelin-starred. It’s the kind of thing that makes people ask for the recipe and then gasp when they realize it doesn’t even require supervision.
The truth is, you can never go wrong with anything that has cream cheese.
Bonus 5th Question: What’s the best amusement park ride you’ve ever been on?
The Crystal Wing roller coaster at Happy Valley Beijing. And no, I’m not just name-dropping that I lived in China—okay, fine, it was only two months. I was there for an internship that ended up changing my entire life. I didn’t speak the language, didn’t know a soul, and when I heard a coworker needed a roommate, I said yes, bought a blow-up mattress, and crashed on his floor for eight weeks.
And somehow, that same “say yes and figure it out later” energy landed me on the Superman-inspired coaster: my first ever upside-down ride. When they said I had to lay on my stomach like I was flying, I didn’t flinch. I strapped in, threw my arms out like a superhero, and screamed through the sky like a little kid who had no idea what they just agreed to… but was doing it anyway.
