Gender: A Wider Lens

Sasha Ayad and Stella O'Malley
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  • SOCIETY & CULTURE
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Gender: A Wider Lens Podcast

In this podcast, now in its fourth year, therapists Stella O'Malley and Sasha Ayad take a deep dive into the psychological and cultural forces impacting the social changes around "gender." Through interviews with researchers, doctors, therapists, parents, detransitioners, and others, Sasha and Stella's podcast is a "must listen" for anyone trying to navigate the current gender landscape. With their sharp analytical minds and deep compassionate hearts, Stella and Sasha have also become known throughout many parent networks as lighthouses in the midst of some very stormy seas. Previous guests include Helen Joyce, Jesse Singal, Leor Sapir, Kathleen Stock, Jamie Reed, Peter Boghossian and more. www.widerlenspod.com

  1. 5 DAYS AGO

    185 - Tales From Genderland with Julie Bindel

    Sasha & Stella invite renowned feminist and author Julie Bindel to reflect on her decades-long advocacy for women and girls, in-particular her recent work investigating gender ideology. Julie shares her motivation behind her new podcast series, Julie in Genderland, which amplifies the voices of parents grappling with their children being caught in the gender identity craze. In this episode, Julie discusses her undercover work exposing gay conversion therapy, drawing parallels to what she calls modern "gay conversion therapy" through transgender ideology impacting gender-nonconforming youth. She explores evolving narratives around sexuality, the weaponization of female empathy in trans activism, and the systemic failures in supporting marginalized groups, particularly vulnerable girls, as seen in the Rochdale child abuse scandal. Julie also examines the trust placed in medical professionals and the societal influences shaping parents' decisions, spotlighting her podcast series, Julie in Genderland, and its focus on the impact of gender ideology on families and the challenges they encounter. With insights into radical gender politics, parental trauma, and the complexities of lesbian identity, this episode offers listeners an enlightening exploration of gender issues, feminism, child safeguarding, and activism. It sheds light on the intricate intersections of identity, politics, and personal experiences in today's sociopolitical climate. For links and resources relevant to this episode, access the full show notes at https://www.widerlenspod.com/p/episode-185  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

    1h 18m

  2. 14 SEPT

    Premium: When Did Everything Become A Matter of Life or Death?

    This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.widerlenspod.com In today’s discourse, many issues are approached with a moral absolutist perspective. Positions are often viewed as either entirely right or wrong, with little room for nuanced understanding or compromise. This binary thinking leads to more extreme reactions and a diminished tolerance for opposing viewpoints. “If you had facts and reason on your side, you could tolerate a conversation.” The tendency to frame disagreements as crises or moral emergencies heightens the stakes of discussions. Issues like gender identity in sports or public health measures become not just political or social questions but moral imperatives. This ‘crisis mode’ escalates emotional responses, reduces the likelihood of constructive dialogue, and discourages open debate and the exchange of ideas - ultimately undermining the possibility of finding common ground or reaching compromises. There is no denying the significant role that media, especially social media, plays in amplifying and reinforcing polarized views. Algorithms and content curation contribute to the formation of echo chambers, exposing individuals primarily to information that aligns with their pre-existing beliefs. This feedback loop exacerbates polarization, perpetuating the framework for debates in terms of moral battles. In this bonus episode for premium subscribers, Maud Maron reflects on the phenomenon of contemporary disagreements intensifying into a stark dichotomy of ‘good versus evil’, rather than being viewed as areas for legitimate debate - examining how this cultural and social trend (heavily fostered by the influence of social media) is creating a landscape where differing opinions are not just seen as alternative perspectives but as existential threats. Watch our full length episode with Maud Maron: https://www.widerlenspod.com/p/episode-184  For instructions on setting up a private feed to listen to our premium content in your favorite podcast app, visit https://www.widerlenspod.com/p/how-to-listen-to-our-full-premium.

    3 min

  3. 13 SEPT

    184 - Chanting, Humming, and Silencing–The Attack on Free Speech in NYC Schools with Maud Maron

    Stella & Sasha welcome former public defender and education advocate, Maud Maron to the show for a fascinating conversation examining the intersection of education and politics. Maud reflects on the troubling shifts within schools, where merit and academic standards are being overshadowed by ideological pressures. In this episode, Maud discusses the evolving landscape of education, where traditional academic standards are increasingly being influenced or overshadowed by ideological pressures from social and political agendas. She highlights the impact of identity politics, gender ideology, and equity measures on core educational values. Drawing from her personal experiences from pushing for enhanced math standards, to becoming embroiled in a heated debate over gender guidelines in New York City's public schools, Maud recounts the tactics used to silence her dissent. Despite her efforts to initiate a respectful dialogue on the impact of gender policies on female athletes, Maud faced significant backlash, raising broader concerns about free speech and the pressures of ideological conformity within educational and public forums. This episode offers invaluable insights for parents, educators, political followers, free speech advocates, and those curious about how the politicization of education and ideological pressures are diluting the emphasis on academic performance, sparking concerns about the long-term impact on students' education and society at large. For links and resources relevant to this episode, access the full show notes at  https://www.widerlenspod.com/p/episode-184  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

    1h 10m

  4. 11 SEPT

    Premium: "It Took War for Me to Contend With My Own Reality"

    This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.widerlenspod.com Exposing children to gender identity concepts at an early age can lead them to firmly latch onto these ideas, making it challenging to reconsider their beliefs, despite the broader context of the underlying causes of their distress. Gender identity often serves as a metaphor for broader developmental processes, such as individuation, which are typical in adolescence. However, the expansive and all-encompassing nature of gender identity frameworks can oversimplify and misrepresent a child's intricate emotions and experiences. Much like interpreting one's life through a horoscope, these broad frameworks can obscure the true nature of adolescent distress. This issue is compounded by the capture of legal, educational, and medical institutions, which can entrench ephemeral adolescent pain into irreversible bodily modifications. In this bonus episode for premium subscribers, Maia: -Highlights the potential difficulties children and adolescents face when grappling with natural gender nonconformity. -Critiques the process of informed consent for medical transitions as being particularly complex, involving the lack of emphasis on concerns about long-term health consequences and the potential for exacerbated psychological distress. -Reflects on her experience of war being an extreme stressor that profoundly impacted her perception of her own gender identity. -Offers insights from her analytical paper exploring the phenomenon of transgender identification among young people, comparing trends in the United States with those in Israel, highlighting the differences in how these trends manifest in secular versus religious environments. Watch our full length episode with Maia Poet: https://www.widerlenspod.com/p/episode-183 For instructions on setting up a private feed to listen to our premium content in your favorite podcast app, visit https://www.widerlenspod.com/p/how-to-listen-to-our-full-premium.

    5 min

  5. 10 SEPT

    183 - Running From Rockets and Walking Toward Womanhood, with Maia Poet

    Another special mid-week episode release! Sasha will be back for our next episode, but don’t miss this deeply moving conversation between Stella and guest, Maia Poet, who shares her powerful story of self-discovery through the lenses of gender identity, conflict, and societal expectations. Maia recounts the emotional and psychological conflict she faced living as a trans man in a religious society, and how war—especially the harrowing events of October 7th—shifted her entire perspective on her body and identity. In this conversation, Maia opens up about the transformative power of community, particularly her encounters with detransitioners, and the critical role they played in her journey toward desistance. Maia also delves into the complex moral dilemmas of discussing gender identity with children, and how surviving war solidified her understanding of the strength and resilience of her natural female body. Listeners will gain unique insight into the profound complexities of gender nonconformity in a society that, under the false pretense of “authenticity,” is failing to accommodate such experiences. The lack of space for nonconformity is paving a destructive path towards body dysmorphia, crisis of self-identity, and harmful medical transition — a broken and twisted journey towards self-love and acceptance. For links and resources relevant to this episode, access the full show notes at  https://www.widerlenspod.com/p/episode-183  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

    1h 6m

  6. 7 SEPT

    Why Aren't More Philosophers Delving Into Gender-Affirming Care?

    This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.widerlenspod.com Masculinity and femininity are not purely socially constructed concepts but are grounded in evolutionary origins. Key distinctions between males and females from an evolutionary psychology perspective emphasize behavioral differences, including males' propensity for risk-taking, socio-sexuality, and aggression. These traits are deeply rooted in the evolutionary pressures faced by our ancestors. Second-wave feminism questioned traditional gender roles, yet debates persist about inherent biological differences between men and women. The competitive and hierarchical behaviors observed among men contrast with the social dynamics and cooperative tendencies often found among women, a distinction frequently explored within feminist philosophy. As discussions around gender identity, ‘trans rights’, and the medicalization of minors intensify, scrutiny of academic philosophy and bioethics is becoming more important regarding gender-affirming care and trans-related issues, particularly due to the frequent sidelining of alternative perspectives in these debates. In this bonus episode for premium subscribers, Alex reflects on the fundamental distinctions between masculinity and femininity, emphasizing the role of evolutionary psychology in shaping gendered behaviors. He critiques the challenges within feminist philosophy, particularly its resistance to critical perspectives, and expresses concern over the lack of philosophical inquiry into gender-affirming care, highlighting an absence of diverse viewpoints in the field. Watch our full length episode with Alex Byrne: https://www.widerlenspod.com/p/episode-182 For instructions on setting up a private feed to listen to our premium content in your favorite podcast app, visit https://www.widerlenspod.com/p/how-to-listen-to-our-full-premium.

    4 min

  7. 6 SEPT

    182 - What Exactly is a "Transcendent Sense of Gender"? with Alex Byrne

    In this episode, Sasha and Stella welcome Alex Byrne, philosopher and author of Trouble with Gender, to explore the evolving concept of gender, its historical roots, and the myths that shape modern discourse. Byrne offers an erudite yet accessible analysis of the term "gender," reflections about how much the term has changed and the far-reaching implications of those changes, and insights on influential figures like Jack Turbin and John Money. Expect a thought-provoking conversation exploring; the complexities and confusion surrounding the different meanings and uses of the terms 'sex' and 'gender', the concept of gender identity and its relationship to sex and gender dysphoria, the work of Jack Turban and his book 'Free to Be', and the misunderstood and misrepresented nature of DSDs and the need for more attention and understanding. For links and resources relevant to this episode, access the full show notes at  https://www.widerlenspod.com/p/episode-182  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

    1h 11m

  8. 31 AUG

    Premium: When the Ideology Wanes, But the Dysphoria Remains

    This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.widerlenspod.com Some individuals experience gender dysphoria as a deep-seated issue that predates any ideological framework, profoundly affecting their self-perception, sexuality, and overall satisfaction in life. Contrary to the more superficial aspects of the popular gender-affirming model of care, it is crucial to reconcile the persistent and often distressing nature of gender dysphoria with a more holistic, self-accepting approach—one that avoids the trap of over-identifying with the problem. Healing should be approached with a focus on self-understanding and acceptance rather than rumination. However, can acceptance mask repression? There is value in moving beyond merely “normalizing” (or accepting) the discomfort to actively pursuing healing and repair from the distress caused by the body dysmorphia. This must be done with caution to avoid hyper-fixation. Navigating these feelings presents delicate challenges, as overemphasis can lead to further psychological distress. A balanced approach is needed to address the underlying discomforts effectively. In this bonus episode for premium subscribers, Tali emphasizes the complexities surrounding gender dysphoria, particularly in the context of someone who has disengaged from a trans identity but continues to struggle with gender-related discomfort. She highlights the potential danger of repressing feelings related to gender dysphoria. And argues that while it's crucial not to over-identify with these feelings, simply repressing them can lead to deeper psychological issues. The underlying discomfort needs to be acknowledged and understood rather than dismissed or pushed aside, as repression could exacerbate the emotional and psychological distress associated with gender dysphoria. The Navel Gays Watch our full length episode with Tali at https://www.widerlenspod.com/p/episode-181 For instructions on setting up a private feed to listen to our premium content in your favorite podcast app, visit https://www.widerlenspod.com/p/how-to-listen-to-our-full-premium.

    3 min
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About

In this podcast, now in its fourth year, therapists Stella O'Malley and Sasha Ayad take a deep dive into the psychological and cultural forces impacting the social changes around "gender." Through interviews with researchers, doctors, therapists, parents, detransitioners, and others, Sasha and Stella's podcast is a "must listen" for anyone trying to navigate the current gender landscape. With their sharp analytical minds and deep compassionate hearts, Stella and Sasha have also become known throughout many parent networks as lighthouses in the midst of some very stormy seas. Previous guests include Helen Joyce, Jesse Singal, Leor Sapir, Kathleen Stock, Jamie Reed, Peter Boghossian and more. www.widerlenspod.com

Information

  • Creator
    Sasha Ayad and Stella O'Malley
  • Years Active
    2020 - 2024
  • Episodes
    274
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Stella O'Malley & Sasha Ayad
  • Show Website
    Gender: A Wider Lens

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