254 episodes
Gender: A Wider Lens Sasha Ayad and Stella O'Malley
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- Society & Culture
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4.4 • 667 Ratings
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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
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175 - What Really Happens to a Female Body on Testosterone? with Elaine Miller
SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT FROM OUR SPONSOR: Therapy First is hosting a webinar July 29th at 12pm EDT. “The Comprehensive Psychiatric Evaluation of Minors with Gender Dysphoria: Key Concepts” with Dr. Stephen B. Levine. CLICK HERE TO REGISTER. *Therapy First has been approved by NBCC as an Approved Continuing Education Provider,ACEP No. 7505. This webinar provides 1.5 hours of CE credits.
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In this episode, Sasha & Stella welcome Elaine Miller, a physiotherapist specializing in pelvic health and award-winning comedian to join them for a riveting conversation unpacking the cascading effects of testosterone on the female body, with particular attention to the pelvic area. This conversation uncovers shocking insights about incontinence and other physiological changes as the result of putting a female system on disproportionately high levels of testosterone. A must-listen for therapists, parents, individuals considering testosterone therapy, and healthcare professionals who want to understand the real, often overlooked, consequences of cross-sex hormones on female bodies.
For links and resources relevant to this episode, access the full show notes at https://www.widerlenspod.com/p/episode-175
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 -
174 - The Porn to Trans Pipeline with Forrest
Sasha and Stella sit down with Forrest, a young man whose journey through gender identity, pornography, and societal expectations lends a profound and complex quest for self-acceptance. A compelling conversation about Forrest's journey through transition and detransition, revealing how an innocent curiosity for cartoons spiraled into a full-scale porn addiction, leading to unhealthy behaviors and regrettable surgeries. Explore Forrest’s experiences with intense shame, his complicated relationship with sexual drives, and his time living with the ‘radical fairies’ in a trans commune.
For links and resources relevant to this episode, access the full show notes at https://www.widerlenspod.com/p/episode-174
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SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT FROM OUR SPONSOR: Therapy First is hosting a webinar July 29th at 12pm EDT. “The Comprehensive Psychiatric Evaluation of Minors with Gender Dysphoria: Key Concepts” with Dr. Stephen B. Levine. CLICK HERE TO REGISTER. *Therapy First has been approved by NBCC as an Approved Continuing Education Provider,ACEP No. 7505. This webinar provides 1.5 hours of CE credits.
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A few programming notes: As the result of some unexpected technical issues, Stella’s audio quality is poor and her video feed is limited, despite our best efforts in post production to rectify the issue.
In an effort to honor and respect Forrest’s story, we opted not to interrupt or steer the conversation into another direction for the sake of capturing premium content. We are releasing the full conversation as a special extended episode in lie of offering a bonus episode this week.
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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 -
Premium: How Gender Ideology Has Infiltrated Art and Culture | with N3VLYNNN
This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.widerlenspod.com
The promotion of practices like breast binding as empowering or liberating is problematic, as it glosses over the underlying issues of body image and the societal pressure that drive individuals to modify their bodies. These practices, intended to manipulate the physical form to achieve a desired aesthetic (or an “authentic-self”), often lead to both physical and psychological harm. Although marketed as self-love and self-care within queer circles, the desire for body modification frequently reflects feelings rooted in self-hatred or societal expectations (“norms”) dictating how bodies “should” appear and/or align with a particular “gendered-expression”, rather than genuine self-acceptance.
In this bonus episode for premium subscribers, N3VLYNN critiques the representation of gender ideology in high profile artists and cultural influences, highlighting its contradictions to advocacy for self-love and self-care. The conversation emphasizes how across all cultures, there needs to be space for masculine-presenting women to exist comfortably as themselves, without the pressure or implication that their presentation means they are anything other than the woman that they are.
Referenced in this conversation:
Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
Janelle Monae's "Nonbinary Freedom" & Self-Love Journey
Watch our full length episode with N3VLYNN: https://www.widerlenspod.com/p/episode-173
For instructions on setting up a private feed to listen to our premium content in your favorite podcast app, visit https://support.substack.com/hc/en-us/articles/4519588148244-How-do-I-listen-to-episodes-on-my-podcast-app -
173 - Why Are Trans Activists Rewriting History? with N3VLYNNN
SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT FROM OUR SPONSOR: Therapy First is hosting a webinar July 29th at 12pm EDT. “The Comprehensive Psychiatric Evaluation of Minors with Gender Dysphoria: Key Concepts” with Dr. Stephen B. Levine. CLICK HERE TO REGISTER. *Therapy First has been approved by NBCC as an Approved Continuing Education Provider,ACEP No. 7505. This webinar provides 1.5 hours of CE credits.
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Sasha & Stella sit down with the creatively multifaceted and dynamically articulate artist N3VLYNNN, exploring the intersections of identity, creativity, expression and activism. Nevline's nuanced perspective on the trans movement's impact on black lesbians and the women's movement highlights the often overlooked and broader implications for identity and representation within the movement, and how these dynamics have evolved over time.
For links and resources relevant to this episode, access the full show notes at https://www.widerlenspod.com/p/episode-173
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 -
Premium: "The Lesbian Community Doesn't Feel Like it Exists Anymore"
This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.widerlenspod.com
The trend of transitioning among gender-nonconforming individuals, particularly those who may have previously identified as lesbians, has been detrimental to the cohesion and stability of the lesbian community. Lesbians are faced with pressure to conform to certain expectations and navigate the complexities of identity politics within the LGBTQ+ community. This challenging position requires balancing their own identity, preferences, and sense of camaraderie with the broader push for inclusivity and acceptance of trans individuals.
In this bonus episode for premium subscribers, Arielle Isaac Norman reflects about the evolving dynamics within the lesbian community, especially in relation to the inclusion of trans individuals and the shifting definitions of gender and sexual orientation.
Watch our full length episode with Arielle Isaac Norman: https://www.widerlenspod.com/p/episode-172
For instructions on setting up a private feed to listen to our premium content in your favorite podcast app, visit https://support.substack.com/hc/en-us/articles/4519588148244-How-do-I-listen-to-episodes-on-my-podcast-app -
172 - Arielle Isaac Norman Knows More Than Dave Chappelle
Sasha and Stella welcome comedian Arielle Isaac Norman to the show for a refreshing critique of identity, comedy, and societal norms. They talk pronouns, reality, the impact of Trump's win in 2016, and what it means to be politically non-binary.
The discussion emphasizes Arielle's skill in using humor to address evolving dynamics within the queer community, particularly in response to today's political landscape, delivering profound insights with a comedic twist. Arielle brings an informed critique that resonates across the political spectrum, ensuring that her audience finds both laughter and moments of introspection.
Sasha affectionally describes Arielle as an “equal opportunity offender”, promising that this episode delivers a mix of both humor and discomfort certain to spark both conversation and reflection.
For links and resources relevant to this episode, access the full show notes at https://www.widerlenspod.com/p/episode-172
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
Customer Reviews
Grateful
So grateful to find a place where people are exploring this complicated and sensitive issue in a kind and respectful manner. I’ve learned a lot by listening.
As a therapist I have found it difficult to talk about this topic with colleagues and in other “safe spaces” without the fear of being viewed as unsupportive. So this podcast is refreshing and a wonderful resource. Somehow we have been conditioned to think that by talking about this topic and reflecting on it we are causing harm. Sasha & Stella remind us we can be kind, curious and be critical thinkers.
We’ve got to ask the tough questions of ourselves and society, our children deserve it and depend on us. I am so thankful that Sasha & Stella are here to guide us in the conversations.
Producer has been designated as a anti-trans hate group by the SPLC
Gender: A Wider Lens, is a series by Genspect / SEGM.
Genspect / SEGM are anti-trans advocacy groups that have been designated as anti-LGBTQ+ hate groups by the Southern Poverty Law Center.
In a major move, the Southern Poverty Law Center has formally designated the anti-transgender pseudoscience organizations Genspect and the Society for Evidence-Based Gender Medicine as anti-LGBTQ+ hate groups. This designation is part of the civil rights organization’s latest release of its “Year In Hate & Extremism” report, which tracks hate groups and extremist groups throughout the United States. Members of these and other anti-LGBTQ+ organizations listed have played significant roles in the passage of anti-LGBTQ+ legislation and policy by concealing and underplaying their ties to anti-LGBTQ+ extremism. Most recently, members of the newly designated hate group, Society for Evidence-Based Gender Medicine, helped advise the Cass Review in the United Kingdom, which has led to the criminalization of possession of some forms of transgender care there and is currently being used to argue for heavy restrictions in the United States.
Compelling and Thoughtful
I so appreciate the courage of these two women to tackle this topic with integrity, thoughtfulness and good scholarship.
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