Gender IQ

Jess Romeo, PMHNP | The Gender Mentor
  • 5.0 (7)
  • Mental Health
  • Updated Weekly

A thoughtful exploration of gender, identity, and the systems that shape our lives. Hosted by trans-identified Psych NP, therapist, and gender mentor Jess Romeo, this podcast invites you into deep, unfiltered conversations on gender, health, history, and justice—where curiosity is welcome, nuance matters, and no question is too big. Each episode brings together medical professionals, community leaders, activists, and creatives to explore how power, policy, and culture intersect with identity and well-being. With honesty, warmth, and the ease of a heart-to-heart chat on a stormy night, The Gender IQ Podcast is here to help you unlearn, relearn, and find solid ground in a shifting world. 🎧 New episodes every week, published on Sundays.

  1. 09/09/2025

    On Raising Trans Kids with Rebecca Minor

    There's no set map for raising a trans child - but sometimes a guide would be helpful. In this conversation, Jess and Rebecca explore the complicated terrain any parent has to navigate after their child comes out as trans—and how to hold their own emotions without placing any weight on the child. It’s a tender, unflinching look at the “both/and” of love, fear, and becoming.  In part one of this conversation, Jess and Rebecca Minor discuss Rebecca's new book, ⁠Raising Trans Kids: What to Expect When You Weren't Expecting This.⁠ Together, they explore the range of emotions that can creep up when your child comes out as trans, and how these emotions often hint at something about the parent, not the child themselves. ⁠Rebecca Minor, LICSW⁠, is a queer clinician, consultant, and educator specializing in the intersection of trauma, gender, and sexuality. As a gender specialist, Rebecca partners with trans and gender nonconforming youth through their journey of becoming and serves as a guide to their parents in affirming it. Her internationally recognized consulting and parent coaching work supports organizations, schools, and businesses in building cultural responsiveness and inclusivity. Rebecca is an adjunct faculty member and lecturer at Boston University School of Social Work, and the author of the forthcoming book ⁠Raising Trans Kids: What To Expect When You Weren’t Expecting This⁠ (Row House, 2025). Links: ⁠Buy Raising Trans Kids at the Gender IQ Bookshop⁠ Follow Rebecca on Instagram: @gender.specialist Rebecca's website: https://www.genderspecialist.com/

    On Raising Trans Kids with Rebecca Minor

  2. 06/11/2025

    Your Trans Cousin on Meeting Misinformation with Clarity

    In part two, Jess and Will continue their conversation on the complexities of language, identity, and connection. This episode dives into the emotional and political labor of being understood—and what it costs to constantly translate yourself for others. With humor, honesty, and deep care, Will reflects on what it means to be unapologetically legible, or deliberately not. Dr. Will Cole (he/they) is a transgender health expert, owner of Queery Research Consulting, LGBTQ health professor, a queer, transgender man, husband, and seahorse dad. As Your Trans Cousin, he combines personal stories with trans health science in everyday language to spread positive, joyful information about being trans. He is pursuing a master’s in writing creative nonfiction; his work has been published in Another Jane Pratt Thing, Welter Online, and Baltimore Fishbowl. Where to find Will online: ⁠https://substack.com/@swcole/posts⁠ http://www.queeryresearch.org/ ⁠https://www.instagram.com/s.will.cole/⁠

    Your Trans Cousin on Meeting Misinformation with Clarity

  3. 06/08/2025

    Not Just A Phase: with Dr. Will Cole

    In part one of a conversation with the brilliant Dr. Will Cole, Jess and Will dive into his story of coming into himself as a queer trans man from a Mormon upbringing, a straight-passing marriage, motherhood, and building his career as a scientist. Will discusses how all of these pieces inform the way he moves through the world, and how they've impacted his career trajectory. This episode invites listeners to sit with nuance, contradiction, and the possibility of finding truth after years of feeling like you have to hide to survive. Dr. Will Cole (he/they) is a transgender health expert, owner of Queery Research Consulting, LGBTQ health professor, a queer, transgender man, husband, and seahorse dad. As Your Trans Cousin, he combines personal stories with trans health science in everyday language to spread positive, joyful information about being trans. He is pursuing a master’s in writing creative nonfiction; his work has been published in Another Jane Pratt Thing, Welter Online, and Baltimore Fishbowl. Where to find Will online: ⁠https://substack.com/@swcole/posts⁠ ⁠http://www.queeryresearch.org/⁠ ⁠https://www.instagram.com/s.will.cole/⁠

    Not Just A Phase: with Dr. Will Cole

  4. 05/26/2025

    Love Over Shame: Religious Trauma Recovery and Queer-Celebratory Care with SC Nealy

    In this episode, Jess talks with SC Nealy - a psychotherapist, practice owner, entrepreneur, romance novelist, and specialist in queer-celebratory mental health care. We explore what it takes to move from religious trauma to radical self-acceptance. SC shares their journey of navigating queer identity in the context of faith and how their experiences shape their therapeutic practice today. It’s a conversation about community, healing, and finding the freedom to live authentically. Find more information on SC Nealy here: https://lgbtcounselingdmv.com/ https://www.instagram.com/lgbtcounselingdmv/ https://booksbysarahrobinson.com/ https://www.tiktok.com/@mentallymama

    Love Over Shame: Religious Trauma Recovery and Queer-Celebratory Care with SC Nealy

  5. 05/04/2025

    We Are the Lilac People

    In the second half of this powerful two-part conversation, Jess and author Milo Todd move beyond the craft of The Lilac People to explore its deeper questions: What can forgotten queer and trans histories teach us about the present? And how do we stay grounded when the political landscape feels increasingly hostile? Together, they trace the afterlives of trauma, draw parallels between Nazi Germany and contemporary America, and reflect on the urgency of preserving stories that were nearly erased. A timely, sobering, and ultimately galvanizing discussion about memory, resistance, and the power of historical truth. mygenderiq.com/bookshop⁠ Audiobook narrator: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/reel/DGgkQNih9hq/⁠ Other References and Media https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/books/story/2025-04-29/lilac-people-book-review-milo-todd ⁠Milo's article on trans erasure and its effect on today: https://lithub.com/uncovering-the-forgotten-the-struggle-for-trans-history-from-nazi-germany-to-today/ https://people.com/lilac-people-milo-todd-excerpt-exclusive-11727183 ⁠https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Das_lila_Lied

    We Are the Lilac People

  6. 04/27/2025

    Queer Joy > Fascism: A Literary Reckoning with Milo Todd's The Lilac People

    In the first installment of this special two-part episode, Jess interviews author Milo Todd about his debut novel, The Lilac People. This story chronicles the journey of queer & trans people before and after the Holocaust in Germany. Milo & Jess explore the links between queer history, rising fascism, and the stories we’re taught to trust. Drawing parallels between Weimar Germany and today’s political moment, Milo explains how misinformation and erasure shape public memory—and why understanding the past is key to resisting in the present. With sharp intellect and a storyteller’s precision, Milo unearths the truths history wants us to forget—and shows us why knowing them is a form of survival. About the Author: ⁠https://www.milotodd.com/the-lilac-people/⁠ Resources: Pre-order or purchase the book: ⁠https://bookshop.org/p/books/the-lilac-people-milo-todd/21693343ean=9781640097032&next=t&affiliate=39⁠⁠https://www.mygenderiq.com/bookshop⁠ Audiobook narrator: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/reel/DGgkQNih9hq/⁠ Other References: ⁠https://encyclopedia.ushmm.org/content/en/article/classification-system-in-nazi-concentration-camps#:~:text=Criminals%20were%20marked%20with%20green,in%20some%20camps%E2%80%94brown%20triangles⁠ ⁠https://perspectives.ushmm.org/item/photo-of-the-eldorado-club⁠ ⁠https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Das_lila_Lied⁠

    Queer Joy > Fascism: A Literary Reckoning with Milo Todd's The Lilac People

  7. 04/13/2025

    "Not Trans Enough:" The Story We Inherited - And How to Unwrite It

    In Episode 5 of The Gender IQ Podcast, host Jess Romeo engages in a profound conversation with Eli Lawliet, Ph.D. (he/him), the visionary behind The Gender Doula. Eli is a trans educator, former academic, and full-spectrum doula whose life journey encompasses faith, chronic illness, identity exploration, and personal liberation.​ We discuss: - Growing up in a conservative Christian environment without language for trans identities, and discovering gender theory in his 20s.​ - Navigating through various identities on the path to self-understanding.​ - Challenging the myth of being "not trans enough" and its impact on self-acceptance.​ - Using academic overachievement as a coping mechanism for trauma.​ - Experiencing burnout that led to a deeper introspection and alignment with his true desires.​ Eli's diverse background includes extensive research in trans healthcare, law, policy, and history, as well as training in breathwork facilitation and tarot reading. Currently residing in Los Angeles (Gabrieliño-Tongva, Chumash, & Kizh land), he lives with his partner, three cats, a dog, and four snakes.​ Website: ⁠https://www.thegenderdoula.com⁠ Instagram: ⁠@thegenderdoula⁠ This episode is a testament to the power of self-discovery and the courage to embrace one's truth.

    "Not Trans Enough:" The Story We Inherited - And How to Unwrite It

  8. 04/06/2025

    The Revolution Must Be Fed, Part 2 - with Brett Ford, RDN, MPH

    In Part 2 of our conversation with registered dietitian Brett Ford, we continue unpacking the deeply personal, political, and liberatory dimensions of food and body work for trans and gender-diverse folks. This episode explores how disordered eating often emerges not from individual pathology, but from a culture that systematically denies gender-affirming care and authentic self-expression. We examine how the pursuit of gender euphoria can take many forms—sometimes as radical as hormone therapy, and sometimes as tender as a smoothie packed with protein powder. Brett shares insights from their work and lived experience, offering a powerful lens on the roles that queerness, creativity, and resistance play in our relationships with nourishment. We also dive into the gaps in eating disorder research, why the standard nutrition care model often falls short for our communities, and how queer folks are forging new paths to embodiment when existing frameworks fail. If you've ever wondered how nutrition can be both clinical practice and cultural intervention, this one’s for you. CW: Transphobia, disordered eating, systemic discrimination in healthcare Resources: Books: Fearing the Black Body: The Racial Origins of Fat Phobia by Dr. Sabrina Strings Belly of the Beast by Da'Shaun L. Harrison How to Tell When We Will Die: On Pain, Disability, and Doom by Johanna Hedva Healing Justice Lineages by Cara Page and Erica Woodland Health Communism by Beatrice Adler-Bolton and Artie Vierkant Information on Disordered Eating, Neurodivergence, and Harm Reduction: - [RDs for Neurodiversity](https://www.rdsforneurodiversity.com/meet-the-founder) - [Nalgona Positivity Pride](https://www.nalgonapositivitypride.com/) - [The #1 Problem With Nutrition Experts, According to a Dietitian](https://anjaliruth.substack.com/p/the-1-problem-with-nutrition-experts) - [The Ellyn Sätter Institute](https://www.ellynsatterinstitute.org/how-to-eat/becoming-eating-competent/) - [A Foundation for Food Politics](https://www.aliciakennedy.news/p/a-foundation-for-considering-food) Queer researchers: - [Scout Silverstein](https://www.scoutgives.space/)

    The Revolution Must Be Fed, Part 2 - with Brett Ford, RDN, MPH

  9. 03/30/2025

    The Revolution Must Be Fed, Part 1 - with Brett Ford, RDN, MPH

    ​In this episode of The Gender IQ Podcast, host Jess Romeo engages in a profound conversation with Brett Ford, a registered dietitian and nutrition therapist. Together, they explore the intricate relationship between nourishment, identity, and liberation. Brett emphasizes that "the revolution must be fed," highlighting how food serves not just as sustenance but as a medium for agency, pleasure, and survival. The discussion delves into the political nature of hunger, the intersections of anti-fat and anti-trans biases, and the transformative power of embracing our bodies' needs. With poetic clarity and radical tenderness, this episode invites listeners to reconsider nourishment as a pathway to personal and collective freedom.​ Resources: Books: Fearing the Black Body: The Racial Origins of Fat Phobia by Dr. Sabrina Strings Belly of the Beast by Da'Shaun L. Harrison How to Tell When We Will Die: On Pain, Disability, and Doom by Johanna Hedva Healing Justice Lineages by Cara Page and Erica Woodland Health Communism by Beatrice Adler-Bolton and Artie Vierkant Information on Disordered Eating, Neurodivergence, and Harm Reduction: - [RDs for Neurodiversity](https://www.rdsforneurodiversity.com/meet-the-founder) - [Nalgona Positivity Pride](https://www.nalgonapositivitypride.com/) - [The #1 Problem With Nutrition Experts, According to a Dietitian](https://anjaliruth.substack.com/p/the-1-problem-with-nutrition-experts) - [The Ellyn Sätter Institute](https://www.ellynsatterinstitute.org/how-to-eat/becoming-eating-competent/) - [A Foundation for Food Politics](https://www.aliciakennedy.news/p/a-foundation-for-considering-food) Queer researchers: - [Scout Silverstein](https://www.scoutgives.space/)

    The Revolution Must Be Fed, Part 1 - with Brett Ford, RDN, MPH

  10. 03/23/2025

    Just Ask SK - Part 2

    In this second episode of the Gender IQ Podcast, host Jess Romeo (he/they) welcomes back SK Smigiel (she/they) for Part 2 of their rich, honest, and beautifully human conversation. This time, SK opens up about what it really means to keep showing up—on and offline—when the world feels especially heavy. From navigating online hate to reclaiming joy in community spaces, this episode is a deep dive into queerness, burnout, legacy, and the freedom of becoming. Together, Jess & SK unpack: 🌀 Why certainty is seductive—and what happens when we let it go 🧠 How neurodivergence and performance shaped SK’s early gender play 🪩 The dance between visibility, safety, and authenticity 🌱 The quiet revolution of living with integrity, even when it’s hard This isn’t a how-to. It’s a reminder that you’re not behind, not broken, and not alone. 🔗 Listen now and remember: there’s no seat assigned. You belong here. SK's info: https://www.instagram.com/justsaysk Show notes + transcript: https://www.mygenderiq.com/podcast

    Just Ask SK - Part 2
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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
7 Ratings

About

A thoughtful exploration of gender, identity, and the systems that shape our lives. Hosted by trans-identified Psych NP, therapist, and gender mentor Jess Romeo, this podcast invites you into deep, unfiltered conversations on gender, health, history, and justice—where curiosity is welcome, nuance matters, and no question is too big. Each episode brings together medical professionals, community leaders, activists, and creatives to explore how power, policy, and culture intersect with identity and well-being. With honesty, warmth, and the ease of a heart-to-heart chat on a stormy night, The Gender IQ Podcast is here to help you unlearn, relearn, and find solid ground in a shifting world. 🎧 New episodes every week, published on Sundays.

Information

  • Creator
    Jess Romeo, PMHNP | The Gender Mentor
  • Years Active
    2025
  • Episodes
    13
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Copyrighted
  • Show Website
    Gender IQ