Filmmaker Brooke Sebold's "I Changed My Mind" Series Amplifies Stories of Transformation and Queer Acceptance

In an era of increasing polarization, filmmaker Brooke Sebold has launched a groundbreaking video series that dares to explore one of humanity's most challenging capacities: the ability to change one's mind. "I Changed My Mind" represents a bold new approach to storytelling, focusing on individuals who have undergone profound personal transformations that challenge viewers to examine their own beliefs and biases.

Sebold, an accomplished editor and director known for her work on Emmy-nominated series and award-winning documentaries, conceived "I Changed My Mind" as a response to today's divisive social climate. The series aims to normalize what changing one's mind looks like through conversations with individuals who have experienced significant paradigm shifts in their lives .

The concept emerged from Sebold's work editing the PBS series "Brief But Spectacular," where she pitched her idea to the production company behind that series. Her excitement and deep curiosity around the subject matter resonated with the team, who suggested she host the new series . The project gained momentum when it received funding through a grant from the Greater Good Science Center at UC Berkeley, allowing the production of three initial episodes .

The pilot episode features Janna, a formerly transphobic mother whose story exemplifies the series' mission to showcase the transformative power of love and understanding. Initially rejecting her transgender son Cody, Janna's journey from rejection to acceptance serves as a powerful testament to the possibility of personal growth and change .

The episode chronicles Janna's initial reaction to her son's transition, her period of rejection and grief, and the consequences of her conditional love tied to religious faith. The narrative arc follows her path through repair and healing, ultimately reaching a place of peace and acceptance . Today, Janna dedicates her life to supporting and educating parents who are still struggling to accept their transgender children .

The emotional weight of Janna's story is underscored by the mention of her son's suicide attempt, a tragic consequence of parental rejection that ultimately became the catalyst for her transformation. This sobering reality highlights the life-and-death stakes often present in stories of queer acceptance within families.

The series launched its pilot episode during Pride Month in partnership with PFLAG, the nation's largest organization dedicated to supporting, educating, and advocating for LGBTQ+ people and those who love them . This strategic partnership amplified the series' reach and connected it with a community of parents and families navigating similar challenges.

The response exceeded all expectations. Within an hour of release, posts about the episode had gone viral, eventually collecting over 550,000 views on TikTok and another 150,000 on Instagram . Remarkably, while the creators had prepared themselves for potential transphobic backlash, the comments were instead filled with love and support for Janna, reflecting a genuine need and desire for content that explores the changing mind.

"I Changed My Mind" extends beyond LGBTQ+ issues to explore transformation across various aspects of human experience. The series has featured diverse guests, including legendary activist Dolores Huerta, who changed her mind about abortion rights through her friendship with Gloria Steinem . This breadth demonstrates the universal nature of personal growth and the courage required to reconsider fundamental beliefs.

The production team, led by Sebold in collaboration with Second Peninsula (the company behind "Brief But Spectacular"), has created a format that encourages viewers to consider the value of changing their minds . Each episode serves as both entertainment and education, modeling flexibility of thought in an increasingly rigid world.

Sebold brings significant expertise to the project, having worked as an editor on major series including Joey Soloway's "Transparent" and Ronald D. Moore's "Outlander" . Her documentary editing credits include the trans-themed "Framing Agnes," which premiered at Sundance in 2022 and won both the NEXT Audience Award and the Special Jury Innovator Award .

This technical proficiency is evident in the series' production values and storytelling approach. The episodes are structured to maximize emotional impact while maintaining journalistic integrity, allowing guests to share their stories authentically without exploitation or sensationalism.

The success of "I Changed My Mind" also represents a victory for independent content creators willing to bypass traditional media gatekeepers. By releasing the pilot episode directly to social media platforms, Sebold and her team connected with audiences in ways that conventional distribution might not have allowed . This approach demonstrates the power of authentic storytelling to find its audience, regardless of institutional support.

Within the context of queer media representation, "I Changed My Mind" fills a crucial gap by focusing on the allies and family members who undergo their own journeys of acceptance. While much queer content centers on the experiences of queer and transgender individuals themselves, this series illuminates the parallel transformations occurring within their support networks.

Janna's story is particularly significant given the ongoing challenges facing transgender youth and their families. Research consistently shows that family acceptance dramatically improves outcomes for queer young people, making stories like Janna's not just inspiring but potentially life-saving for other families facing similar situations.