Gender: A Wider Lens Sasha Ayad and Stella O'Malley

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.widerlenspod.com

In today's internet age, so many are encountering the complex effects of cancel culture affording its victims a wide spectrum of implications, from severe career-ending scenarios to minor social ostracism and even family tensions and divisions.
The digital revolution is not only exacerbating the dynamics between parents and their activist-minded children, but is also dramatically shifting generational dynamics as well. This is further complicated by societal reverence for youth and intellect, often overshadowing the value of life experience and the idea that “with age comes wisdom”.
The profound influence of the internet becomes evident as we witness the ever-evolving impact of digital tech, transforming the way people engage with each other and the world around them, reshaping not only societal norms but also personal relationships, and fundamentally altering how individuals interact and connect.
In this bonus episode for premium subscribers, Meghan Daum reflects with a nostalgia for the freedom and authenticity of past decades. The discussion explores the profound changes shaping our social landscape in contrast with historical contexts of youth culture, the erosion of respect for older generations' experiences, and the adverse effects of prioritizing youthful perspectives over seasoned wisdom.
Watch our full length episode with Meghan Daum: https://www.widerlenspod.com/p/episode-165 
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Sasha and Stella sit down with the multifaceted Meghan Daum, distinguished author, cultural commentator, and fellow podcast host, for a compelling exploration of societal change, the complexities of modern life, and coping through humor. Known for her incisive commentary and fearless exploration of complex topics, Meghan shares her personal reflections on identity and the central and contentious nature of gender in modern culture.
For links and resources relevant to this episode, access the full show notes at https://www.widerlenspod.com/p/episode-165 
Buy Our Book – When Kids Say They’re Trans: A Guide for Thoughtful Parents at https://whenkidssaytheyretrans.com/  
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For more information about Sasha’s & Stella’s parent coaching membership groups, visit:
Sasha Ayad: https://sashaayad.com/parenting-coaching   
Stella O’Malley: http://www.stellaomalley.com/parent-coaching 

To learn more about our sponsors, visit:
Therapy First at https://www.therapyfirst.org/ 
Genspect at https://genspect.org/ 

This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.widerlenspod.com/subscribe 


This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.widerlenspod.com/subscribe

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.widerlenspod.com

In this bonus episode for premium subscribers, Freya India highlights the complex interplay between mental health treatment, marketing psychology, medication side effects, and sexual identity.
"If you strip back some of this, marketing and look at actually what it is…what they're saying is women can't handle life without constant intervention and solutions and medication and products. And it's so patronizing."
SSRIs, or Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors, are a class of antidepressant medications commonly used to treat depression, anxiety disorders, and certain other mental health conditions. Reported side-effects of many SSRI’s and antidepressants include decreased libido and difficulty achieving orgasm. As western cultures observe a trending rise in asexuality among young women as well as a rapid increase in the widespread use SSRIs and other antidepressants for depression and anxiety, could there be link between post-SSRI sexual dysfunction (PSSD) and the identification of some individuals as asexual? As these kinds of drugs are being so regularly prescribed, are patients being adequately warned about the potential for long-term sexual side-effects?
Freya India wrote about this in her article, Are You Asexual Or On Antidepressants?: You deserve to know if your sexual identity is a side-effect.
And are the mental health companies targeting women with patronizing marketing tactics implying that women need pharmaceutically induced wellness?

Stella and Sasha welcome writer and columnist Freya India to the show this week, offering deep insights about the impact of screens and technology on young people and practical advice for balanced living in the digital age. They explore Gen Z's relationship with Instagram and dating apps, the fixation on mental illness and identity, and the misleading notion that you can buy your authentic self.
For links and resources relevant to this episode, access the full show notes at https://www.widerlenspod.com/p/episode-164  
Buy Our Book – When Kids Say They’re Trans: A Guide for Thoughtful Parents at https://whenkidssaytheyretrans.com/  
Join Our Listener Community to Access Exclusive Content at https://www.widerlenspod.com/  
Support the Show at https://www.widerlenspod.com/p/support-the-show  
Join the conversation on YouTube at www.youtube.com/@widerlenspod 
For more information about Sasha’s & Stella’s parent coaching membership groups, visit:
Sasha Ayad: https://sashaayad.com/parenting-coaching   
Stella O’Malley: http://www.stellaomalley.com/parent-coaching 
To learn more about our sponsors, visit:
Therapy First at https://www.therapyfirst.org/ 
Genspect at https://genspect.org/ 

This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.widerlenspod.com/subscribe 



This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.widerlenspod.com/subscribe

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.widerlenspod.com

“Chestfeeding”. A controversial term recently adopted from inside the critical social justice movement as inclusive language for discussing breastfeeding. But is it biologically plausible for men to induce lactation? Is it even milk? Is it safe? Natural mammalian lactation possesses evolutionary significance beyond basic sustenance and often provides broader biological functions in human development.
In this bonus episode for premium subscribers, Heather Heying offers up an evolutionary perspective on breastfeeding and the value of breast milk, discussing the broader implications and functions of breast milk beyond just nutrition. The conversation also explores the parenting practices observed in hunter-gatherer cultures in comparison to the trend of over-parenting in more modern American households.

Evolutionary biology, gender dynamics, societal norms, chemicals, technology…there is no denying the intricate interplay between biological, psychological, technological and cultural factors in shaping human behavior and identity. Sasha and Stella welcome guest, Heather Heying to the show for a grounding conversation exploring the complexity of human behavior, the inevitability of making mistakes, the anxieties and fears prevalent among the younger generation, and the importance of understanding risk thresholds in navigating life's uncertainties.
For links and resources relevant to this episode, access the full show notes at https://www.widerlenspod.com/p/episode-163
Buy Our Book – When Kids Say They’re Trans: A Guide for Thoughtful Parents at https://whenkidssaytheyretrans.com/ 
Join Our Listener Community to Access Exclusive Content at https://www.widerlenspod.com/ 
Support the Show at https://www.widerlenspod.com/p/support-the-show 
Join the conversation on YouTube at www.youtube.com/@widerlenspod
For more information about Sasha’s & Stella’s parent coaching membership groups, visit:
Sasha Ayad: https://sashaayad.com/parenting-coaching  
Stella O’Malley: http://www.stellaomalley.com/parent-coaching
To learn more about our sponsors, visit:
Therapy First at https://www.therapyfirst.org/ (formerly GETA)
Genspect at https://genspect.org/


This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.widerlenspod.com/subscribe