This Is It, I’m Just Me

Lana Poulson

This Is It, I’m Just Me This isn’t just a podcast. It’s a living memoir. Most memoirs tell a story up until a certain point in someone’s life. This one doesn’t have an ending — because I’m still living it. I’m Lana, a trans woman navigating life one chapter at a time, sharing the experiences that shape us through personal stories, honest reflections, and real research. From love and dating to family, identity, friendship, boundaries, heartbreak, resilience, self-discovery, and everything in between, I explore both the deeply personal moments of my life and the bigger conversations happening around them. Some chapters are funny. Some are uncomfortable. Some are difficult. And some simply ask questions we should be talking about. I don’t claim to have all the answers — I’m sharing what I’ve lived, what I’ve learned, what I’ve questioned, and sometimes what the research has to say. There’s no polished version of me here, just my life, my perspective, my mistakes, my growth, my curiosity, and the stories still unfolding. Because this isn’t a story that has already been written. It’s a life still being lived. My views. My thoughts. My life.

  1. 6d ago

    Grindr: The Good, The Bad & The Ugly

    Grindr is one of the easiest dating apps to actually connect on—no endless swiping, no waiting for a match, just people nearby and the ability to start a conversation. But that accessibility comes with another side. In this episode of This Is It, I’m Just Me, I take an honest look at Grindr from the good, the bad and the downright ugly: hookups, dating, friendship, love, catfishing, stolen photos, harassment, transphobia, obsession, rejection and unwanted contact. As a trans woman, I also explore why Grindr can sometimes make it easier to find men attracted to trans women, while also creating its own complications. I look at Canadian research into queer adults and dating apps, and most importantly, the role boundaries play in online dating. Because attraction doesn’t give anyone ownership of another person. “No” is an answer. “Don’t call me” is a boundary. And when someone repeatedly crosses that line, it’s time to pay attention. Grindr isn’t automatically good or bad. Some people find hookups. Some find friendships. Some find love. But whatever you’re looking for, you deserve to feel safe, respected and heard. Extra reading:
• Grindr Safety & Privacy Resources
• Pew Research Center: Online Dating & LGBTQ+ Experiences
• Canadian research on queer adults and dating apps
• Australian Institute of Criminology: Dating-App-Facilitated Sexual Violence
• Research on trans women’s experiences of Grindr Content note: This episode discusses harassment, stalking, transphobia, sexual violence, threats and unwanted contact.

  2. Aug 15

    Being Single Is a Flex, Not a Curse

    We’ve been taught that being single means something is missing — but does it? In this chapter of This Is It, I’m Just Me, I explore singlehood, relationships, loneliness, and the changing ways people around the world seek connection. From changing attitudes toward marriage and living alone to Japan’s companion robots and the growing role of AI, we look at what happens when people want connection but can’t always find it through another human being. Because your relationship status does not determine your worth. Sometimes the greatest flex is knowing you can stand on your own — while still leaving room for someone who deserves a place beside you. ⸻ Sources & Further Reading This chapter draws on research about loneliness, living arrangements, relationships, mental-health access, social robots, and AI companionship. • World Health Organization — Social Connection, Social Isolation and Loneliness • Statistics Canada — One-person households and Canadian household trends • Statistics Finland — People living alone and household statistics • Pew Research Center — Loneliness and social connections in the United States • OECD Family Database — Marriage, divorce, cohabitation and changing family structures Additional research was also consulted on Japan’s aging population, social robots, AI companionship, and artificial forms of intimacy. The research in these areas is continually evolving. Some AI-companionship research is still emerging and should be viewed as early evidence rather than settled conclusions. For anyone interested in exploring the statistics further, the organizations above are a great place to start — and, of course, you can always Google the topics and explore the research for yourself.

Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
3 Ratings

About

This Is It, I’m Just Me This isn’t just a podcast. It’s a living memoir. Most memoirs tell a story up until a certain point in someone’s life. This one doesn’t have an ending — because I’m still living it. I’m Lana, a trans woman navigating life one chapter at a time, sharing the experiences that shape us through personal stories, honest reflections, and real research. From love and dating to family, identity, friendship, boundaries, heartbreak, resilience, self-discovery, and everything in between, I explore both the deeply personal moments of my life and the bigger conversations happening around them. Some chapters are funny. Some are uncomfortable. Some are difficult. And some simply ask questions we should be talking about. I don’t claim to have all the answers — I’m sharing what I’ve lived, what I’ve learned, what I’ve questioned, and sometimes what the research has to say. There’s no polished version of me here, just my life, my perspective, my mistakes, my growth, my curiosity, and the stories still unfolding. Because this isn’t a story that has already been written. It’s a life still being lived. My views. My thoughts. My life.