Richard M Hunter - Bernie Wagenblast's Transformative...

2024, Bernie Wagenblast, English, Interview, Richard M Hunter,

Full title: "Bernie Wagenblast's Transformative Expedition: Resonances Below Ground: A Voice Discovering Its Harmony" by Richard M Hunter.

"Descend inside the subway system at the center of New York City, where the sounds of millions of stories are mixed with the roar of trains. We meet Bernie Wagenblast here, in the midst of the busy platforms and flickering fluorescent lights—the voice that leads travelers through the underground veins of the city. 

However, "Bernie" is only a whisper, hiding the lady who is desperate to be free: Beatrice. A moving and engrossing journey through Bernie's metamorphosis, Echoes in the Underground is a symphony of emotions set against the backdrop of a world in upheaval. See his inner battles as he juggles his own need for authenticity with society's expectations. Sensitize to the quiver in his voice as he leaves the mask of "Bernie" and enters the platform as Beatrice, her voice now free to soar instead of being limited to announcements. This is a tapestry made of the threads of innumerable people impacted by Bernie's courage, not just her narrative. Watch how her transition encourages a young trans woman to speak up, deepens the relationship between a father and daughter, and challenges the city's systemic racism."

Bernie Wagenblast is a transportation journalist, radio personality and voice-over artist. She is the founder and editor of the Transportation Communications Newsletter and the voice of various transportation facilities in New York City, such as AirTrain Newark, AirTrain JFK, and New York City Subway. She is also a transgender woman who came out publicly in 2023.

She has been the voice for various transportation facilities in New York City, such as AirTrain Newark, AirTrain JFK, New York City Subway, and the travelers' information station system at Newark Liberty International Airport and John F. Kennedy International Airport. She also hosts podcasts about transportation topics, such as Ohio's bridges and wildlife crossings in Oregon. She can do both the lower register "guy voice" and the higher register "woman voice", depending on the project. She has been doing voice-over work since 1979, when she started as a traffic reporter for Shadow Traffic. She has also been the announcer for some special events, such as the laying of the cornerstone of One World Trade Center in 2004. She is one of the most recognizable voices in New York's transportation system.

In 2024, I interviewed Bernadette and asked about her transition: "For me what’s helped is just appreciating how far I’ve come. I think, in many cases, once we resolve to socially transition we’ve accepted that there are going to be challenges, including how others see us. What’s helped is seeing all those who support me. Few aspects of life are always on a consistently upward trend. There are problems and disappointments along the way, but those problems give me something to work on to improve. I try to focus on what I can improve and how to go about that rather than being upset with those things that haven’t gone as well as I’d like. To date, I haven’t had any cosmetic surgeries outside of laser hair removal on my face and neck. All of us have positive and negative physical features, including cis folks. Try to take advantage of those things that work for you by emphasizing them."

Available via Amazon

and Heroines of My Life

Photo via transportationradio.wordpress