Gender Identity Weekly Amethysta Herrick

In today's episode, I speak with Sara Webb, a Resilience Coach who specializes in breakup and meditation therapy.  Sara and I talk about topics as off-the-wall as how trauma can be seen as valuable to growth, Western medicine's focus on symptoms instead of health, and the billions of bits of data that hit you every second.
REFERENCES:Sara Webb’s website:  https://www.sarawebbsays.com/
Follow Sara on Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/sarawebbsays/
Follow Sara on Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/SaraWebbSays
Follow Sara on LinkedIn:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/SaraWebbSays/"Breath" by James Nestor:  https://www.amazon.com/Breath-New-Science-Lost-Art/dp/0735213615The Buteyko mthod:  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buteyko_method"Autobiography of a Yogi" by Paramahamsa Yogananda:  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Autobiography_of_a_Yogi

(00:00) - Opening credits

(00:37) - Show opening

(01:32) - Introducing Sara Webb

(02:27) - Trauma is a gift

(06:41) - The value of denial, distraction, and dissociation

(11:05) - Heartbreak is not genderered

(15:46) - Billions of bits of data

(21:07) - A mental fast from billions of bits of data

(24:06) - The role of breath in therapy

(31:16) - Be wary of a Master with One True Way

(33:23) - We only have normal people here

(37:13) - Attachment traits, not attachment states

(41:05) - Becoming aware of our body

(46:51) - Journaling as therapy

(52:58) - Challenging your body to do the uncomfortable

(57:17) - It can't always be Summer

(01:01:51) - How to find Sara Webb

(01:03:57) - Show closing

(01:04:25) - Closing credits

In this episode, I speak with Andrea Leigh about saying "yes" to experiences.  Andrea is a high-impact coach, fashionista, and Co-Host on Thriving Women Network TV.  Topics include finding comfort in discomfort, living life to the fullest, and parents who accept gender transition as long as football isn't impacted.
REFERENCES:
Andrea Leigh’s website:  https://www.andrealeigh.com/
Follow Andrea on LinkedIn:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrea-leigh-borth-b72159b/
Follow Andrea on Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/therealandrealeigh/

(00:00) - Opening credits

(00:37) - Show opening

(01:27) - Introducing Andrea Leigh

(02:16) - Love and purpose shape a childhood

(09:06) - Parents can accept their transgender daughter!

(12:38) - Saying yes to experiences

(17:08) - Finding comfort in discomfort

(20:11) - Conquering the fashion industry

(25:58) - Authenticity and success

(30:42) - Putting yourself into uncomfortable places in order to grow

(34:31) - Our adversity is our own perception

(39:08) - Is there room for femininity in corporate America?

(49:41) - There is no normal

(54:37) - What truly divides us as a society

(59:10) - How to find Andrea Leigh

(01:00:04) - You are not a constituency

(01:04:39) - Show closing

(01:05:04) - Closing credits

Today's episode features Jake Didinsky, a pansexual, nonbinary DJ and Producer.  Jake is also co-founder of the inclusive night club event "Lights Out, Barks Out."  In our discussion, we cover topics as far afield as the power of inclusivity, helping cis / het people understand the queer experience, and the Right Old White Guy.
REFERENCES:Jake Didinsky’s website:  https://jakemaxwellproductions.com/
Follow Jake on MixCloud:  https://www.mixcloud.com/live/jakeMaxwell/
Follow Jake on Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/LightsOutBarksOut
Follow Jake on Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/lightsoutbarksoutdc/Gender Identity Today:  https://genderidentitytoday.com

(00:00) - Opening credits

(00:37) - Show opening

(01:25) - Introducing Jake Didinsky

(02:30) - A quick biology lesson about mitochondria

(07:44) - Adversity as an instruction manual

(15:25) - Inclusivity is giving people the benefit of human decency

(20:05) - Kink can bring us all together if we let it

(25:31) - Cis / het people CAN understand

(30:15) - What makes us unique is allows us to grow

(37:29) - From crummy DJ to kicking in doors

(43:59) - LOBO grows out of the need to make the world better

(48:23) - White straight men with money ruin everything

(53:10) - How to find Jake Didinsky

(55:15) - An unrelated story about every day in the ICU

(58:22) - We need to use the system to change the system

(01:09:04) - A quick plug for Gender Identity Today

(01:10:20) - Show closing

(01:11:04) - Closing credits

In today's episode, I speak with Karen Anne Coccioli.  Karen is a queer author and public speaker whose queer memoir "Paradise" is available on Amazon.  We cover topics as disparate as fleeing fascism, madness as a source of gender, and the purple light within.
REFERENCES:
Karen Anne Coccioli’s website:  https://www.karenannecoccioli.com/
Annie Moon’s website:  https://www.authoranniemoon.com/
Follow Karen Anne on Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/karenannecoccioli/
Follow Karen Anne on Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/karenanne.coccioli/Gender Identity Today:  https://genderidentitytoday.com

(00:00) - Opening credits

(00:37) - Show opening

(01:29) - Introducing Karen Anne Coccioli

(02:02) - The origin of an author

(09:07) - Family flight from fascism

(16:01) - Writing through conversion therapy

(22:27) - The gendered body and madness

(27:12) - Is madness pathological or powerful?

(34:35) - Madness as a source of gender

(40:32) - Living as you are glows you up

(44:45) - Using what we have to work with

(50:25) - You can't be told who you are

(55:09) - Would you change it if you could?

(59:00) - Don't stamp your children's sparks

(01:03:05) - How to find Karen

(01:03:53) - Show closing

(01:05:29) - Closing credits

Today's episode features the effervescent Cherish Amber!  Cherish is a queer sex, love, and relationship coach who teaches we must know ourselves in order to have good sex and solid relationships.  We talk about topics as diverse as prerequisites to good sex, stigmatizing sex to maintain control, and Virgin Condoms.
REFERENCES:
Cherish Amber’s website:  https://www.cherishamber.com/
Follow Cherish on Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/cherishambercoaching
Follow Cherish on Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/thecherishamber/
Follow Cherish on TikTok:  https://www.tiktok.com/@cherishambercoachingGender Identity Today:  https://genderidentitytoday.com

(00:00) - Opening credits

(00:37) - Show opening

(01:27) - Introducing Cherish Amber

(02:43) - Learning from every person

(07:16) - Know your own pleasure

(09:49) - Being gentle with yourself

(14:01) - Good sex means meeting yourself where you are

(16:24) - Can we meet ourselves and not have it relate to sex?

(21:42) - The stigma of sex is all for control

(27:42) - Masculinization of sex, love, and relationships

(34:07) - Rejecting social expectations means being more aware of trauma

(39:38) - Tools to address trauma

(46:00) - No such thing as little bits of trauma

(51:32) - Language as a contributor to misunderstanding

(01:01:01) - How to find Cherish Amber

(01:02:43) - Show closing

(01:03:01) - Closing credits

In today's episode, I speak with the incredible Jasmine Vine!  If you've been living under a rock for the past decade, Jasmine is a trans empowerment specialist with training in several modalities of mental health treatment.  Jasmine and I discuss the urgency of gender transition, being able to identify with your therapist, and West Coast Privilege.
REFERENCES:
Javine Coaching:  https://www.javinecoaching.com
Follow Jasmine on Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/jasminevinee
Follow Jasmine on Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/jasmine.vinee
Follow Jasmine on TikTok:  https://www.tiktok.com/@jasminevineeGender Identity Today:  https://genderidentitytoday.com

(00:00) - Opening credits

(00:37) - Show opening

(01:24) - Introducing Jasmine Vine

(02:11) - Jasmine's public gender transition

(06:06) - Not initially a transgender story

(10:18) - We do what it takes because we must

(13:31) - Was transition a part of the mental health struggle?

(18:09) - Breaking out of the hater cycle

(23:48) - Find the root cause

(27:39) - Risk involved in becoming who we are

(32:07) - Young transition doesn't mean less shame to process

(35:24) - Experience makes a better teacher

(40:10) - How does a mentor process another person's shame?

(44:33) - Vocal feminization and West Coast Privilege

(51:25) - You must believe for it to be true

(57:16) - How to find Jasmine Vine

(58:41) - Show closing