Gender: A Wider Lens

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

Alex Capo, LMHC, is the Executive Director at The Charlton School (TCS) in Burnt Hills, NY. Alex has over 25 years of clinical experience in working with children, adolescents and families in various clinical/therapeutic settings as well as schools. He has facilitated trainings for administrators, mental health professionals, teachers and students for over 10 years. He has been with TCS in various clinical and administrative positions for the past 20 years. In this episode, Alex describes his experience and observations of gender identity trending in his student population at the Charlton School. Between 2016 and 2020, the all-girls school experienced a dramatic increase in students questioning their gender identity. Following the advice of experts, the school implemented an affirmation policy, leaving parents feeling pressured and triggering an obvious social contagion amongst the student population. Alex noticed that the focus on gender issues was overshadowing the real problems these students faced, and it was not benefiting them. He shares his reflections on the school getting caught up in gender-related matters, while the root issues of students' mental health were being overlooked. This led him to team up with Genspect for a different approach, of which he reflects with Sasha & Stella, ultimately resulted in a “culture of desistance” unfolding. His exploration for an alternate approach was not widely embraced by all of his professional colleagues and respected clinical peers, despite his extensive qualifications and proven commitment to supporting wholeness and wellness for his students. We hope this episode offers other professionals and leaders out there, struggling to speak up about their concerns about the negative implications of the affirmative approach, an empowered sense of confidence and comfort in setting the tone for a more flexible, less rigid approach to identity exploration.The Charlton School is a nonprofit therapeutic learning community providing 24/7 evidence-based clinical support and an onsite New York State Education Department approved high school for young women. Charlton serves young women and families experiencing mental health challenges including depression, anxiety, low self esteem, self-injurious behavior, among others.Founded in 1895, Charlton serves a 100% voluntary enrolled individualized approach in a non-traditional environment. Charlton provides students with smaller class sizes to support their academic progress, as well as multiple forms of therapy to aid with the improvement of their mental health. Their residential and day students are supported with collaborative treatment plans that include Equine Therapy, Social Emotional Learning, Art Therapy, Psychiatric Nursing Services, Family Therapy, and more on a scenic 275 acre campus located in southern Saratoga County. The entire treatment and educational teams remain committed to the integrity of their 360 degree approach to students and their families and its proven success. The school believes in honoring evidence based outcomes as means for measuring the success of its program. And while their numbers are small due to the limited nature of their capacity, their model is designed and proven to thrive on the intimate nature of their individualized, family-focused approach.Links:Learn more about The Charlton Schoolwww.thecharltonschool.orghttps://linktr.ee/charltonschoolA Clinical Guide for Therapists Working with Gender-Questioning Youth This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.widerlenspod.com

Sasha and Stella continue the conversation with Calvin Lunt by asking him “how do you talk about gender issues in real life?” Calvin shares how far he’s come in his ability to speak fearlessly about this issue, based on his own experience. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.widerlenspod.com

In this episode, Sasha and Stella welcome Calvin Lunt, whose life journey encompasses a remarkable exploration of identity, the challenges of addiction and recovery, and a commitment to personal growth and spiritual wellness.Growing up, Calvin was essentially a feminine gay boy, but never particularly gender dysphoric as a child. He became a dancer and later a drag queen. You’ll hear him share about the impact of his experiences as a mixed-raced kid from a working class family with a very chaotic upbringing. From experiencing shame-inducing events to undergoing a pendulum swing between extreme identities, Calvin digs deep into his complex relationship with his sexuality and his body. He also discusses how his role as a social media influencer with a significant following and exposure to the camera spotlight also impacted his sense of self. Additionally, his involvement in the gay party scene led him down a path of heavy drinking and drug use, further impacting his search for identity. At the age of 25, Calvin took a surprising turn in his journey by embracing gender transition. Two years later, influenced by his pursuit of sobriety and a realization that certain aspects of his identity were founded on falsehoods, he chose to detransition. Presently, Calvin works as a wellness coach, drawing from his encounters with spiritual practitioners across different parts of the world and his personal journey of recovery and healing. His training encompasses a diverse range of experiences and perspectives. And his story illuminates the profound journey of self-discovery, transformation, and healing.Links:Find Calvin on Instagram @calvinluntBecoming A Woman to Become A Man (Calvin’s Podcast)https://open.spotify.com/show/5SYWRgcEvFnO0IHw5PBLFW?si=ed7578460935453d Beauty School Cop Outs (MTV Show)https://www.imdb.com/title/tt3364728/ Pete Burns’ Life in Pictureshttps://www.adelaidenow.com.au/entertainment/celebrity/pete-burns-life-in-pictures/image-gallery/36584e9eb07297799204e00637e87a11If you liked this episode, more episodes you might find interesting:Episode 3 - Feminine Boy to Gay Man: A conversation with Arty Mortyhttps://gender-a-wider-lens.captivate.fm/episode/feminine-boy-to-gay-man-a-conversation-with-arty-morty Episode 8 - TransGenerational Wisdom: a Conversation with Buck Angelhttps://gender-a-wider-lens.captivate.fm/episode/8-transgenerational-wisdom-a-conversation-with-buck-angel Episode 12 - Identity vs. Role Confusion in Adolescencehttps://gender-a-wider-lens.captivate.fm/episode/12-identity-vs-role-confusion-in-adolescence Episode 73 - Shame Narcissism and the Transition Fantasy w Joe Burgo This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.widerlenspod.com

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

There are so many books available for parents who want to help their kids transition, right? Of course there's no shortage of affirmative guidebooks for parents. But there are very few books written for parents about how to actually encourage critical thinking, how to slow down, exercise caution about the medical interventions and focus on developmental health first. Family dynamics and attachment are each key variables that are important not to neglect. Sasha and Stella joined forces with Lisa Marchiano to write "When Kids Say They're Trans: A Guide for Thoughtful Parents" because they wanted to give parents a different type of guidebook and resource.In this episode, Sasha and Stella share a little bit about the book and the robust and comprehensive insights it yields. They discuss how it’s meant to be a practical guide, offering strategies to help parents reconnect with their instincts, orienting them towards reconnecting with their child in effective ways. They touch on the cultural influences on the perceptions of what “trans” is and what it means and how it can impact children differently in different stages of life, so no matter what your situation (young children, teens, young adults), there will be something that resonates for you. ROGD and social contagion, sexuality, queer theory, pornography, social transition, medical transition, real life stories from parents, informative side bars from field experts and researchers, sample dialogue for communicating with school professionals, family dynamics, managing conflict, self-care for parents, desistance and detransition, growth & development…they briefly touch on each chapter, covering so many important concepts. And they even suggest the value this book has to offer to the different kinds of professionals encountering gender expansive kids. So while it was written specifically for parents, therapists, teachers, school counselors, and the many other kinds of professionals impacted by gender are encouraged to consider reading it too.LINKS:When Kids Say They're Trans: A Guide for Parentswww.whenkidssaythyretrans.comGETA Directoryhttps://www.genderexploratory.com/find/ Beyond Trans Directoryhttps://beyondtrans.org/therapists/ Open Therapy Institutehttps://www.opentherapyinstitute.org What Could a Name Change Represent for Your Gender-Questioning Teen?https://youtu.be/pgVL7ENmwFEInfo about Sasha’s Parent Coaching Membership Group:https://youtu.be/hVyPCXk-uEwStella on YouTubewww.youtube.com/@stellaomalleypsychotherapist Info about Stella’s Parent Coaching Membership Group:http://www.stellaomalley.com/parent-coaching Wider Lens ConsultingDetails coming soon about plans for the 2023 Parent Renewal Retreat This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.widerlenspod.com

BONUS EPISODE coming in hot! We’re changing things up a bit this time around, in a few ways actually. Consider this some special mid-week bonus content for our dedicated listeners and the many, many professionals following the gender paper trails. And not only is it a surprise extra conversation for the week, you’ll notice that our dear Stella O’Malley is flying solo without her charismatic co-host Sasha Ayad. Not to fear, Sasha will return for our regularly scheduled programming!Today, we’re bringing you an update to one of our previous episodes…In the wake of recent developments around Dr. Mike Bailey and Suzanna Diaz’s paper, which has now been referenced in several of our recent episodes, Dr. Bailey graciously agreed to sit down with us for a follow-up conversation to explore a little bit more in depth about the recent official retraction announcement. He speaks about never having been retracted before and his very reasonable appeals to the publisher in an effort to defend the integrity of the research. He also shares about his plans for future research, as well fundamental question key for continued pursuit of knowledge and understanding of this complex phenomenon.The article remains accessible for review and we highly encourage our listeners to check it out!Rapid Onset Gender Dysphoria: Parent Reports on 1655 Possible Cases, Diaz, S., Bailey, J.M. RETRACTED ARTICLE: Rapid Onset Gender Dysphoria: Parent Reports on 1655 Possible Cases. Arch Sex Behav 52, 1031–1043 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10508-023-02576-9 My Research on Gender Dysphoria Was Censored. But I Won’t Be.Trans activists forced the retraction of my paper. Their efforts have redoubled my commitment to the truth. By Michael Baileyhttps://www.thefp.com/p/trans-activists-killed-my-scientific-paper https://openinquirybehavio.wixsite.com/oibs/joibs http://www.parentsofrogdkids.com If you liked this episode, more episodes you might find interesting:“Episode 2 - Rapid Onset Gender Dysphoria”https://gender-a-wider-lens.captivate.fm/episode/rapid-onset-gender-dysphoria “Episode 52 - Gender Dysphoria & Detransition Research: A Conversation W/ Dr. Lisa Littman”https://gender-a-wider-lens.captivate.fm/episode/52-gender-dysphoria-detransition-research-a-conversation-w-dr-lisa-littman “Episode 59 - Pioneers Series: 46 Years of Treating GD in Kids with Kenneth Zucker”https://gender-a-wider-lens.captivate.fm/episode/59-pioneers-series-48-years-of-treating-gd-in-kids-with-kenneth-zucker “Episode 65 - Pioneers Series: Gender - The Big Picture with Susan Bradley” This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.widerlenspod.com

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

Episode 121 - Practical Advice for Managing Gender Identity in Schools with Dr. Kate GoonanIn this episode, Sasha & Stella spend time with Dr. Kate Goonan, an advisory and advocacy specialist with Genspect. Together they discuss the importance of building a strong support system for young individuals experiencing gender dysphoria. Kate shares about her approach for navigating gender dysphoria compassionately, grounded in realism, and offers clear, practical advice to parents.Dr. Kate Goonan is board certified physician who graduated from University of California at Davis School of Medicine and completed her residency at Massachusetts General Hospital in Primary Care Internal Medicine. After several years of practicing primary care and women’s health, her career focus moved to evidence-based medicine and quality improvement. Two years ago, she started studying the evidence base around gender dysphoria. She took a role in Genspect advising parents on how to manage their specialists, psychologists, and schools. Now fully retired, Kate continues to advise families on their strategies with schools and caregivers. She leads Genspect’s team developing model school policies and educational resources for school personnel and parents. Her goal is to apply her skills and expertise to ensuring parents and schools approach gender non-conforming children with a fully informed and open-minded approach. Her extensive background serves her work with Genspect well, as Dr. Goonan spent time serving as medical director overseeing medical policy and quality for Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts. She has also authored two books on quality in health care and was appointed as a judge for the U.S. presidential award for performance excellence in business, health care, and education (Baldrige Performance Excellence Award 1999-2002). Kate grew up in the San Francisco Bay Area in a family affected by another dysphoria: anorexia.Links:Comprehensive Gender Identity School Policy - USA https://genspect.org/comprehensive-gender-identity-school-policy-usa/ Transparency in Education Newsletterhttps://transparencyineducation.net/Dr. Goonan’s Advocacy Work w/ Genspecthttps://genspect.org/advocacy [email protected] [email protected] Onset Gender Dysphoria: Parent Reports on 1655 Possible Cases, Diaz, S., Bailey, J.M. RETRACTED ARTICLE: Rapid Onset Gender Dysphoria: Parent Reports on 1655 Possible Cases. Arch Sex Behav 52, 1031–1043 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10508-023-02576-9 Please note: this episode was recorded prior to the June 2023 retraction of the above cited paper (referenced in the discussion). We discuss this paper and the context of threats for its potential retraction with one of the paper’s authors, Mike Bailey, directly in Episode 116. And we have him back again to follow up in response to the retraction announcement in a future episode (scheduled to be released mid July 2023).If you liked this episode, more episodes you might find interesting:Episode 80... This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.widerlenspod.com

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

This is a unique episode in that it features a conversation that was originally recorded back in 2022 with Dr. James Cantor. We intentionally decided not to release the episode at that time. You’ll hear Sasha and Stella introduce the conversation by sharing more about why they chose to withhold the episode for all this time and why they have opted to release it now, over a year after recording.Dr. Cantor is a clinical psychologist and sexual behaviour scientist. For the past 20 years, he has been studying the nature and causes of sexual interests from relatively familiar ones — such as heterosexuality and homosexuality, transsexuality, and asexuality — to rare and exotic phenomena, including vorarephilia (sexual fantasies of being swallowed) and furries (people who have sex while dressed or cross-dressed as animals). The most widely discussed of his findings has been his research using neuroimaging and other techniques to isolate the causes of pedophilia and hebephilia (the sexual preferences for prepubescent and pubescent children). His team’s results have been published in the highest-impact journals of psychology, including Psychological Bulletin, the Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, and the Journal of Abnormal Psychology. Dr. Cantor regularly appears in the media internationally to discuss how society can better apply science to prevent sexual abuse and provide more ethical and more effective treatment for people with atypical sexual interests. Interviews with him have appeared on CNN, NPR, The New York Times, and on Dan Savage’s Savage Love. Dr. Cantor is currently the Director of the Toronto Sexuality Centre and is the past Editor of the Sexual Abuse, the top research journal in this field and the official journal for the Association for the Treatment of Sexual Abusers.James Cantor is considered controversial in some circles and yet he is a well-respected researcher who sits on the editorial boards of two peer-reviewed journals (the Journal of Sexual Aggression and Archives of Sexual Behavior). Cantor’s position is similar to that of the Prevention Project Dunkelfeld in Germany: “You are not guilty because of your sexual desire, but you are responsible for your sexual behavior. There is help! Don't become an offender!”Sasha and Stella speak with Dr. Cantor in the spirit of genuine inquiry, fierce debate, and the desire to wrap their minds around difficult and complex topics which society needs to address. As psychotherapists, the Gender: A Wider Lens hosts, believe in the importance of dialogue and bringing the issues explored in this conversation out from the shadows in an effort to understand how to encourage better outcomes.Links:For updates and downloads, visit his website www.jamescantor.org.Follow him on Twitter @JamesCantorPhDM. Beier†, Janina Neutze, Ingrid A. Mundt, Christoph J. Ahlers, David Goecker, Anna Konrad, Gerard A. Schaefer, (2009). “Encouraging self-identified pedophiles and hebephiles to seek professional help: First results of the Prevention Project Dunkelfeld (PPD)*” https://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/viewdoc/download?doi=10.1.1.1047.5602&rep=rep1&type=pdf “Exploring the Implications of Child Sex Dolls” This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.widerlenspod.com

Plus, BONUS -- Thoughtful, non-radicalized pushback around books in the U.S.? Curiosity reflecting on Stephanie Davies-Arai's remarks at the recent Genspect: The Bigger Picture Conference in Killarney, Ireland. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.widerlenspod.com

In this episode, Stella & Sasha explore the different kinds of ways people engage in the gender debates. You will hear them touch on the various kinds of characters and/or archetypes of people who imbed themselves deeply into the “gender world.” And you may also notice that there are many varieties of voices not referenced as well. Today’s episode takes shape a little differently than a typical Gender: A Wider Lens conversation in that they cover so many categories all at once, but at a very light level, and don’t have the opportunity to go too far in-depth into any of the concepts touched on. This discussion barely begins to scratch the surface of all there is to talk about here.Upon reflection after recording, Sasha shares her sense of apprehension in releasing the episode at all, only to come to the conclusion that in fact, these ideas require much more expansive exploration, after all. Stella acknowledges that there’s no denying the vastly compelling nature of the subject of gender and digs into the tendency for some individuals to become overly fixated on gender-related topics.This episode emphasizes that while engaging in gender debates can be important, it’s essential to assess one’s level of involvement with its alignment to service to oneself, one’s community, and one’s family in productive and healthy ways. Excessive preoccupation with gender can be distressing for some individuals who never intended to be consumed by it, so it’s important to seek balance, remain mindful, and sustain intellectual curiosity without neglecting emotional well-being.In this episode, you will hear Sasha & Stella speak about “Killarney,” in reference to Genspect’s: The Bigger Picture conference. Please note this episode was recorded before the conference and was released after the events referenced in the episode took place. Please visit https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLmsMIEB9bK5xhD6nXaseiC2qe-bm7go0q to view recordings from the conference.Links:Episode mentioned about the affirming parent:Episode 109 — What If We Are All Wrong: A Mother’s Regret with Rosehttps://gender-a-wider-lens.captivate.fm/episode/109-what-if-we-are-all-wrong-a-mothers-regret-with-rose A Catholic Response to Gender Identity Theoryhttps://files.ecatholic.com/12494/documents/2023/1/EN_A%20Catholic%20Response%20to%20Gender%20Identity%20Theory_FINAL2023.pdf?t=1674605305000 If you liked this episode, more episodes you might find interesting:Episode 9 — The Politicization of Genderhttps://gender-a-wider-lens.captivate.fm/episode/9-the-politicization-of-gender Episode 10 — Queer Theory: Subverting Life's Categorieshttps://gender-a-wider-lens.captivate.fm/episode/10-queer-theory Episode 31 — Silencing Thought: A Conversation with Heather Brunskell-Evans This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.widerlenspod.com

In this bonus conversation, Zhenya sheds some new light on the Christine Jorgensen story along with some eye-opening research and data from a man named Hamburger. Hamburger's paper can be accessed here: https://academic.oup.com/ejendo/artic... This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.widerlenspod.com

In this episode, Sasha and Stella sit down with Zhenya Abbruzzese, a healthcare researcher, analyst, and the author of several widely read peer-reviewed publications about pediatric gender medicine. Zhenya Abbruzzese papers include “The Myth of Reliable Research in Pediatric Gender Medicine,” “Reconsidering Informed Consent for Children, Adolescents, and Young Adults,” and most recently, “Current Concerns About Gender-Affirming Therapy in Adolescents.” She works with several healthcare organizations, including the Society for Evidence-Based Gender Medicine (SEGM), an international non-profit organization that aims to raise the bar of the quality of evidence in gender medicine, with a specific focus on children and young people. Previously, Zhenya led analytics efforts for a major insurer to identify low-value care and overuse of invasive and non-beneficial interventions. She also developed and led a venture-backed healthcare startup to help patients with medically-unexplained symptoms and health anxiety. A lifelong Democrat and supporter of progressive causes, Zhenya became alarmed when she saw the civil rights argument misused to justify the rapid proliferation and administration of highly invasive “gender-affirming” interventions to children and adolescents despite quality evidence supporting their use. During their conversation, Zhenya, Stella, and Sasha explore the origins of the Dutch Protocol and dive deep into Zhenya’s insights into pediatric gender medicine, as well as her experience working with insurance companies. Zhenya takes great care to point out that in addition to considering the cultural components impacting the current gender discourse, it’s necessary to explore the psychological piece as well. But in addition to that, the involvement of medical organizations like the APA and the American healthcare establishment as a whole all play key roles not only in what is happening in gender medicine but how it’s happening to such extremes.Links:SEGM:https://segm.org/ Papers by Zhenya AbbruzzeseThe Myth of Reliable Research in Pediatric Gender MedicineReconsidering Informed Consent for Children, Adolescents, and Young AdultsCurrent Concerns About Gender-Affirming Therapy in AdolescentsMethodological Bias (funny meme):https://www.reddit.com/r/mathmemes/comments/uoc3zq/interesting_survey/ If you liked this episode, more episodes you might find interesting:The Dutch Studies PlaylistWe have done a number of episodes about the "Dutch Protocol" which precipitated the surge in youth gender transition. There are many things about the Dutch research that have been misinterpreted and misapplied in various medical settings. Here are all the episodes we've done so far where we dig deeper into the studies that started it all. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.widerlenspod.com

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

This episode is the first of several episodes dedicated to exploring what is happening with gender in schools and education systems. Schools are becoming more and more of a focus for parents and citizens who pay close attention to identity politics.In this episode, Stella and Sasha chat with Kate Parker, a high school educator and library director at a private school with over 16 years of service as an elected trustee to K-12 and community college boards of education. Kate recently stepped down from her position as the President of the Santa Barbara City College Board of Education in California and is the parent of an adult trans-identified child.In their conversation, you’ll hear Stella, Sasha, and Kate discuss how and when Kate noticed things changing and her observations of gender coming into the school system. They explore the triangulation that happens in families when schools keep secrets from parents and how destructive that can be. Kate offers advice to parents feeling too afraid or too confused to speak out. She also shares how school systems and school boards operate, insights into the responsibilities of schools and how that impacts their response to curriculum changes and reactions to it, and about how there is a chain of trust in the perceived “experts” advising on curriculum themes and trends.Links:Kohlberg Demonstrations:https://youtu.be/luqSuuPSEOMGenspect Resources for Schools:Brief Guidance For Schoolshttps://genspect.org/guidance-for-schools Brief Guidance For Colleges And Universitieshttps://genspect.org/guidance-for-colleges-and-universities Brief Guidance On Social Transitionhttps://genspect.org/guidance-on-social-transition School Policy: Gender Identity (USA)https://genspect.org/comprehensive-gender-identity-school-policy-usa School Policy: Sexual Orientation And Gender Identity (Ireland)https://genspect.org/school-policy-sexual-orientation-and-gender-identity-ireland If you liked this episode, more episodes you might find interesting:Gender & Schools | GWL Episode Playlisthttps://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLngVCeAoK6vs-KvDiVE7QjpBphOg1Ckoi This episode is the first episode being added to this playlist, so if you’re tuning in soon after the release of this episode, this playlist will seem sparse - we encourage you to bookmark the playlist for future reference as more episodes are added throughout the remainder of Season 3.Episode 93 - A Takedown of Gender Politics: Wesley Yang This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.widerlenspod.com

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

In this episode, Sasha and Stella welcome guest, Dr. Mike Bailey, who recently published a paper with co-author, Suzanna Diaz about reports of ROGD kids. Their paper is important because it essentially corroborates Dr. Lisa Littman’s study from 2018. During the conversation, Dr. Bailey shares about the possibility that the paper could be retracted due to activist backlash. He also explores the findings of the paper with Sasha and Stella, as well as the complaints brought against it. They even dissect the context of why a paper would even be retracted in the first place.Michael Bailey is an American psychologist, behavioral geneticist, and professor at Northwestern University best known for his work on the etiology, or origins, of sexual orientation. He maintains that sexual orientation is heavily influenced by biology and male homosexuality is most likely inborn. Dr. Bailey’s 2003 book, The Man Who Would Be Queen, gave an accessible, intimate, and compassionate account of male sexuality, with a focus on gender nonconforming boys, gay men, and male-to-female transsexuals.The discussion also touches on the controversial topic of autogynephilia, a very heated issue within the gender debates.Links:http://www.parentsofrogdkids.com How porn has changed: https://fightthenewdrug.org/how-has-porn-changed-in-the-last-10-years/ Mike’s Tweethttps://twitter.com/profjmb/status/1661022522446610434?s=20Dr. David Leyhttps://www.davidleyphd.com/Louise Perry’s Book:https://www.amazon.com/Case-Against-Sexual-Revolution/dp/1509549994 Review of Louise Perry’s Book:https://betonit.substack.com/p/marry-the-market-reflections-on-theDownload The Man Who Would Be Queen: Researchgate.net/publication/281747420_The_Man_Who_Would_Be_QueenAlice Dreger (June 2008). “The controversy surrounding The Man Who Would Be Queen: a case history of the politics of science, identity, and sex in the Internet age”. Archives of Sexual Behavior. 37 (3): 366–421. doi:10.1007/s10508-007-9301-1.If you liked this episode, more episodes you might find interesting:“Episode 2 - Rapid Onset Gender Dysphoria”https://gender-a-wider-lens.captivate.fm/episode/rapid-onset-gender-dysphoria “Episode 20 - Gender Dysphoria in Boys: Part 1” This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.widerlenspod.com

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

In this episode, Sasha & Stella chat with graduate student and Substack author Eliza Mondegreen, who is dedicated to the study of online trans and detrans communities. She also studies the knowledge, attitudes, and beliefs underpinning affirmative care.The conversation with Eliza begins with a deep dive into what led to her intimate exploration of gender. She shares how her history with eating disorders, an early interest in the study of totalitarianism, advocacy work around women’s reproductive health, and her relationship with a close friend during their transition experience all helped pave the way for her intense interest and curiosity about gender, specifically the psychological experience as it relates to projecting distress and the medical interventions for managing the distress. Eliza shares how she explores these concepts in depth through her engagement with online communities (like Reddit) where she observes and reflects on the stories, ideas, and reactions shared by other members inside the internet-based groups.Eliza also speaks about her attendance at both the EPATH conference recently in Ireland, and the WAPTH conference last year in Canada for a fully immersive experience and a first-hand account of the affirmative approach to trans healthcare and medicalization. Eliza writes extensively on her Substack about her encounters and observations, and her first-hand exposure from inside the online and medical communities indulging the identity that is “trans.”Links:gender: hacked by Eliza MondegreenGraduate student researching and writing about all things gender identityhttps://elizamondegreen.substack.comFTM Over 30 | FTM Over 30A place for FTM/FTN/FTX folk over 30 to come together for support and discussion. If your life experiences better align with those who are usually over 30, you're welcome here. https://www.reddit.com/r/FTMOver30/FTM Men | FTM MenA support and community-oriented space for binary FTM men.https://www.reddit.com/r/FTMMen/r/detrans | Detransition SubredditWelcome all detransitioners/desisters and self-questioners.https://www.reddit.com/r/detrans/r/actual detrans | detrans_supportAn alternative to r/detrans that provides support to detransitioners, reidentifiers, retransitioners, and questioners in an environment free from gender-critical ideology and rhetoric.https://www.reddit.com/r/actual_detrans/r/ftm | A place for the guysSupport-based discussion place focused on trans men, trans-masc individuals, and other people assigned female at birth who are trans.https://www.reddit.com/r/ftm/Egg IRL Communityhttps://www.reddit.com/r/egg_irl/EPATHhttps://epath.eu/If you liked this episode, more episodes you might find... This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.widerlenspod.com

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

In the wake of such comprehensive exploration and analysis around the foundational medical research cited time and time again regarding child and adolescent gender transition, the Dutch Protocol, we extended an invitation to Dr. Stephen Levine and Dr. Julia Mason to join us in a discussion about their most recent paper, co-authored together with Zhenya Abbruzzese in a thorough critique of the Dutch Protocol.Dr. Stephen B. Levine is Clinical Professor of Psychiatry at Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine. He is the solo author of five books, all of which are concerned with love and sexuality. He has been teaching, providing clinical care, and writing since 1973 and has generated over 180 publications, 35 of which have been related to gender dysphoria. He and two colleagues received a lifetime achievement Masters and Johnson’s Award from the Society for Sex Therapy and Research in March 2005. His recent publications on gender dysphoria have been read by thousands of people.Dr. Julia Mason is a pediatrician who started medical school in the Medical Scientist Training Program but emerged with a Master's degree in Nutritional Science rather than the planned PhD. This extended her medical education and kept her grounded in the scientific basis of medical care, which may have made her more likely to be skeptical of pediatric “affirmative gender care” when she saw it taking root in her hometown of Portland, Oregon. Julia is a founder and board member of SEGM, the Society for Evidence-based Gender Medicine. She is a full-time practicing pediatrician in Gresham Oregon, her gender work is extracurricular and entirely voluntary.Our conversation with Drs. Levine and Mason evolved into a pretty intense exploration of sexuality and the consequences that blocking an adolescent’s puberty has on their developing sexuality. We explore why so many adolescents are consciously or subconsciously seeking to block their sexuality and seek, sometimes desperately, to avoid opportunities for experiencing natural sexual development. And what about the impact and consequences of easy access to extreme varieties of pornography? But most importantly, why are we robbing young people of the opportunity to develop their sexuality? This is the key question. The discovery and exploration of sexual desire are critically important for the adolescent experience. Puberty blockers and cross-sex hormones not only disrupt but eradicate the normative and positive experience of coming to grips with one’s desires and sexual self.Please note that this conversation includes many topics explicit in nature, listener discretion is advised.Links:Co-Authored article with E. AbbruzzeseThe Myth of "Reliable Research" in Pediatric Gender Medicine: A critical evaluation of the Dutch Studies-and research that has followedhttps://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/0092623X.2022.2150346Stephen Levin, MD’s most recent published article with E. Abbruzzese:Current Concerns about Gender-Affirming Therapy in Adolescents https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11930-023-00358-xSelections of Julia Mason, MD’s Published Workhttps://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/0092623X.2022.2046221 This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.widerlenspod.com

Please note that GETA is now Therapy First. You can learn more here: https://www.therapyfirst.org/ This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.widerlenspod.com

Sasha and Stella are together in the same place! Joined by Lisa Marchiano, this live episode was recorded in Killarney, Ireland, and the Genspect Bigger Picture Conference on April 28, 2023.[22:20] Question from Helen Joyce[32:13] Question from Colin Wright[47:35] Question from Maya Forstater[51:50] Question Jessie Mannisto from Third Factor Magazine[57:00] Question from Lisa Selin Davis[1:00:10] Question from Malcolm Clark[1:01:30] Question from Laura Becker / Funk God Artist[1:05:38] Question Adrian from LGB Alliance USA[1:09:51] Question from Wesley YangLinks:Helen Joyce’s Website:https://thehelenjoyce.com/Helen on Twitter: https://twitter.com/HJoyceGenderReality's Last Stand: a publication by biologist Colin Wright dedicated to providing weekly news, articles, and other content about the biology of sex and sex differences, gender ideology, Critical Social Justice, free speech, and related topics.https://www.realityslaststand.com/Colin on Twitter: https://twitter.com/SwipeWrightMaya Forstater’s Website:https://www.forstater.com/Maya on Twitter: https://twitter.com/MForstaterSex Matters: a UK-based not-for-profit organization whose mission is to re-establish that sex matters in rules, laws, policies, language, and culture.https://sex-matters.org/Third Factor Magazine: a magazine, community, and resource hub for navigating positive disintegration and reintegration — all about questioning, creativity, character, and courage.https://www.thirdfactor.org/Twitter: https://twitter.com/ThirdFactorMagJessie Mannisto on Twitter: https://twitter.com/jlmannistoBROADview by Lisa Selin Davis: A newsletter about the gender culture wars, & the history, science, psychology & politics of gender nonconformity — misunderstood by the Right and Left. Where do our ideas of normal for boys and girls come from? Speaking the unspeakable. Pro-complexity.https://lisaselindavis.substack.com/ Lisa Selin Davis’s Website: http://www.lisaselindavis.com/Lisa on Twitter: https://twitter.com/LisaSelinDavis Malcolm Clark on Substack: Making science and history documentaries for global broadcasters. Campaigning against gender ideology and puberty blockers.https://substack.com/@malcolmrichardclarkMalcolm on Twitter: This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.widerlenspod.com

Don't miss the attached resource sheet too! This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.widerlenspod.com

In this episode, hear a personal first-hand whistleblower account of the harmful practices taking place inside an American gender clinic. Jamie Reed, a former Case Manager at the Washington University School of Medicine Pediatric Transgender Center at St Louis Children’s Hospital reflects on her experiences inside the clinic that ultimately lead to her profound decision to file for whistleblower protection from the Missouri Attorney General’s office to publicly express her concerns with the judgment and care provided for the patients at the gender clinic.Jamie, who herself identifies in the LGBTQIA community and is also a proud parent of five children, has a Bachelor’s Degree in Cultural Anthropology and a Master’s of Science in Clinical Research Management. In her conversation with Sasha & Stella, along with her attorney, Vernadette Broyles, not only does Jamie describe the experiences that led to the ultimate formal filing of her concerns, but both Jamie and Vernadette speak to the protections available to other clinicians and workers in this field that feel too intimidated to speak out about their observations and concerns.Vernadette Ramirez Broyles is the President and General Counsel of Child Parental Rights Campaign, Inc., a not-for-profit public interest law firm that engages in litigation and advocacy across the country to protect children’s health and defend parental rights from the impacts of gender identity ideology. Ms. Broyles received her law degree from Harvard Law School and received her undergraduate degree in Biology from Yale University.Links:Affidavit of Jamie Reedhttps://ago.mo.gov/docs/default-source/press-releases/2-07-2023-reed-affidavit---signed.pdf Child & Parental Rights Campaign, Inc.https://childparentrights.org/Other Recent Features of Jamie Reed’s Story:Appearance on the Transparency Podcasthttps://youtu.be/N7BkuJBwbUUAppearance on the Triggernometry Podcasthttps://youtu.be/gbuGMbqjsSwInterview with The Free Presshttps://youtu.be/_6sPG7gleOsFree Press Article: https://www.thefp.com/p/i-thought-i-was-saving-trans-kidsArticle by Jesse Singal https://jessesingal.substack.com/p/gender-clinic-whistleblower-jamieWPATH SOC8: https://www.wpath.org/soc8Please visit www.widerlenspod.com to explore more content, access additional resources, or join our listener community.For more information about Sasha’s & Stella’s private membership groups:Sasha Ayad: https://inspiredteentherapy.com/parent-coachingStella O’Malley: This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.widerlenspod.com

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

In honor of Helen Joyce’s keynote appearance at the 2023 Genspect Conference: The Bigger Picture, we wanted to revisit our conversation with her from 2021 shortly after the release of her book, Trans: When Ideology Meets Reality. So this episode is a replay of her prior appearance on our show. And now we find ourselves almost two years later from this recording and she continues her work around sex and gender. She recently announced her decision to leave her senior editorial role at the Economist and is devoting her efforts full-time as the Director of Advocacy at Sex Matters. She has since worked tirelessly to defend women’s rights to single-sex spaces against the encroachment of gender self-ID and trans rights activism.Joyce’s address at the 2023 conference presents the cultural and sociological impact of gender identity beliefs as well as the disastrous effects of gender identity ideology on the health care of those suffering from gender distress. She then teams up with colleague Maya Forstater, Executive Director of Sex Matters, for a panel discussion on the topic of gender-critical beliefs and their protection under the UK Equality Act. Visit Genspect.org for more about Joyce’s appearance at the April 2023 conference.Links:Tune in to https://www.youtube.com/@widerlenspod Friday, Apr 28, 2023 @ 7pm (IST)Gender: A Wider Lens will be streaming live from Killarney, Ireland at the 2023 Genspect Conference: The Bigger Picture.Sex Matters: a UK-based not-for-profit organisation whose mission is to re-establish that sex matters in rules, laws, policies, language, and culture.https://sex-matters.org/ Genspect Speakers PlaylistMany of the esteemed speakers participating in The Bigger Picture have previously been guests on our show. Click the link below to access a playlist composed of GWL episodes involving speakers from the 2023 Genspect Conference.https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLngVCeAoK6vuWE4sNG_fi5nnz-d1xQEBiHelen Joyce’s Website: Thehelenjoyce.comHelen on Twitter: Twitter.com/HJoyceGenderBook Review by Jesse Singal Nytimes.com/2021/09/07/books/review/trans-helen-joyce.htmlHelen’s interview with Andrew Doyle:Youtube.com/watch?v=KAYR8GUJsqoStella’s Book Review in The Evening Standard: Standard.co.uk/culture/books/trans-when-ideology-meets-reality-helen-joyce-review-b944183.htmlBecoming Julia (Gender Transition Documentary): YouTube.com/watch?v=kNjV37vp5qkThe End of the World is Flat by Simon Edge: This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.widerlenspod.com

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

Until recently in many parts of Europe, and currently in the United States and Canada, the affirmative model of care is the primary practice in place for working with gender-nonconforming and gender-diverse youth and children. In this episode, Stella and Sasha put some intention into a deeper exploration of what affirmation therapy is exactly. They take time flushing out not just what it is but also facilitate consideration of what it means and what it achieves. Together they reflect on where the concept of affirming therapy came from, how it evolved into its current practice, when a clinician follows the affirmation model, how does that look in practice, and what are the implications?Sasha and Stella also explore varying types of therapy, both similar to and in contrast to the fundamental premise of the affirmative approach, what they think about it, and does it actually offer any context for a comprehensive therapeutic process in the name of care?Links:Gender: A Wider Lens (YouTube Channel)Live Stream Event from the Genspect Conference: The Bigger PictureFriday, April 28, 2023 at 11am(PT) / 2pm(ET) / 7pm(IT)https://www.youtube.com/@widerlenspod*NEW* Sponsor – GETAGender Exploratory Therapy Associationhttps://www.genderexploratory.com/GETA Workshop: Gender Trouble, Authoritarianism, and the Flight from WomanhoodSaturday, April 22, 2023 — 6 pm‒7:30 pm(ET)https://www.genderexploratory.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/GETA-Ilene-Philipson-Flyer-April-2023-3-2.pdfSasha’s YouTubehttps://www.youtube.com/@SashaLPCGenspect Conference: The Bigger Picturehttps://genspect1.telltix.com/events/genspect1/845845/r/genspect-bannerStella’s Book: What Your Teen is Trying to Tell Youhttp://www.stellaomalley.com/whatyourteenistryingtotellyouStella on Benjamin Boyce w/ Eliza MondegreenThe Dangerous Radicalization of Gender Rhetoric | with Stella O’Malley & Eliza Mondegreenhttps://youtu.be/63-bfpx2yy0Critical Therapy Antidote (CTA) book, Sasha & Stella contributing authorsCynical Therapies: Perspectives on the Antitherapeutic Nature of Critical Social Justicehttps://www.amazon.com/Cynical-Therapies-Perspectives-Antitherapeutic-CriticalCarl Rogers: Founder Of The Humanistic Approach To Psychologyhttps://www.simplypsychology.org/carl-rogers.html APA Guidelines for Psychological Practice With Transgender and Gender Nonconforming People This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.widerlenspod.com

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

It seems like, in Western culture at least, we went from a place where, years ago, mental health issues were never talked about and often dismissed or hushed, to a place today, where it’s so ubiquitous to talk about mental health. And while it’s important that mental health is de-stigmatized, and a good thing that it’s been relatively de-pathologized, in many ways, it has shifted into some kind of identity marker, almost like a sense of identity for people. Mental health categories are becoming a way for people to seek and find meaning about who they are as a person. But this can be dangerous in that people are so much more than just the labels affiliated with their mental health.With the growing absence of religious and national identities, other identities have come into place in extraordinary ways. In this episode, Sasha and Stella explore society’s evolving tendency to rush to medicalize for quick and radical fixes for generally normal experiences. They discuss obsession with identity labels, the desperate pathologizing of normal distress, medication seeking, and relentless pursuit of the external solution for an internal problem.Please note this episode was recorded before the release of Stella’s book (which she speaks about being released “soon”). The link for where you can find her book is included below. This episode was also recorded before Detrans Awareness Day 2023 took place, but was released after the events referenced in the episode. Please visit https://youtu.be/my5o0B9H4Tw to watch the replay of the entire 2023 Detrans Awareness Day webinar event.Links:Genspect’s School Policy Guide: Establishing expectations for how schools can best support students with gender dysphoria, who are gender-questioning, who are gender non-conforming or identify as transgenderhttps://genspect.org/comprehensive-gender-identity-school-policy-usa/ The Five Ecological Systemshttps://www.simplypsychology.org/Bronfenbrenner.htmlInterview with Allen Frances, MD: https://www.madinamerica.com/2019/05/conversations-critical-psychiatry-allen-frances-md/Stella’s Latest Book — What Your Teen Is Trying To Tell Youhttps://geni.us/whatyourteenDetrans Awareness Day Websitewww.detransawareness.org2023 Detrans Awareness Day Webinar Recordinghttps://youtu.be/my5o0B9H4Tw This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.widerlenspod.com

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

This episode is a powerful and important conversation exposing the increasingly devastating impact of the conflation between gender identity theory and the experience of living with gender dysphoria.In this episode, Sasha & Stella speak with Rose who wishes to remain anonymous. Rose is the mother of two young sons and lives in the United States. In August of 2022, she published the piece “True Believer” on the Parents with Inconvenient Truths around Trans (PITT) Substack. She wrote “True Believer” to share her story and help other parents and concerned adults who are struggling to understand the dynamics underneath the current phenomenon of transgender children. Rose’s first-hand perspective is unique in that she and her partner were "affirming parents" — they thought their four-year-old son could be transgender and chose to socially transition him, only to realize they were wrong.Rose’s story is incredibly important because, at its core, it’s a simple case of the best of intentions garnering devastating impact. This is a humanized account of the pain, distress, confusion, fear, and regret that so many families are facing in the wake of doing what (“experts” told them) was best for their child.Links:Rose’s original piece published on Parents with Inconvenient Truths around Trans (PITT) Substack:“True Believer” — https://pitt.substack.com/p/true-believerRose’s appearance episode of Triggernometry podcast — https://pdst.fm/e/audioboom.com/posts/8242143.mp3?modified=1675602742&source=rss&stitched=1Rose’s follow-up piece on PITT provides further reflections on the Triggernometry interview:“A Return to Reality” — https://pitt.substack.com/p/a-return-to-realityHold On to Your Kids: Why Parents Need to Matter More Than Peersby Gordon Neufeld and Gabor Maté, MD https://www.amazon.com/Hold-Your-Kids-Parents-Matter/dp/0375760288/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1680628544&sr=8-1Eliza Mondagreen: https://twitter.com/elizamondegreen/status/1625925867053383700Neufeld Institute — https://neufeldinstitute.org/resources/free/Dr. Gordon Neufeld — “Becoming the Answer a Child Needs”A Map of Detransition Island — https://genspect.org/infographics/#island“Dear Theodosia”, from Hamilton (the Musical by Lin-Manuel Miranda)https://music.youtube.com/watch?v=TKpJjdKcjeo“The Way Forward Is with a Broken Heart” — Quote/Book by Alice WalkerIf you liked this episode, more episodes you might find interesting:“1 — Trans: Identity vs Dysphoria” This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.widerlenspod.com

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

In this episode, Stella & Sasha talk with Joe Burgo and Alasdair Gunn about the Genspect’s new direction and the upcoming first-ever live event. As you will hear them discuss, the Genspect Conference, themed “The Bigger Picture,” will bring together experts from many fields holding a myriad of perspectives: eminent scientists, researchers, lawyers, doctors, psychologists, psychiatrists, psychotherapists, sociologists, educators, feminists, and some well-known detransitioners.Guest Joe Burgo is a clinical psychologist and psychoanalyst who’s been in practice for almost 40 years. He’s particularly interested in the concept of narcissism and shame. He’s also a really big part of the BeyondTrans project through Genspect, and the author of several books, including The Narcissist You Know: Defending Yourself Against Extreme Narcissists in an All-About-Me Age.Guest Alasdair Gunn was working in academia when he became interested in gender issues. After coming into contact with a group of parents of trans-identified boys, he wrote a series of Quillette articles on the topic under the pseudonym Angus Fox. As a gay man who tackled body dysmorphia in adolescence, Alasdair brings a unique understanding of issues related to teenage male development. His work in gender has focused mostly on design, marketing, research, and communications in support of Genspect. Recently diagnosed with a terminal illness, Alasdair has stepped back from day-to-day work and is keen to highlight the ways in which gender healthcare falls short of the normal standards of excellence we’ve come to expect from the medical industry.Stella, Sasha, Joe, and Alasdair explain how the Genspect conference is intentionally being conducted during the same week, and just down the street from the WPATH/EPATH conference. The goal is to provide attendees to both conferences exposure to human stories beyond the medical context of transition and challenge the evidence base for gender medicine.There’s so much enthusiasm about the speakers lined up to contribute to the event’s agenda. Together, Joe, Alasdair, Sasha & Stella explore the roster of presenters and reflect that many of them are previous guests of Gender: A Wider Lens Podcast. They also announce plans for the first-ever Wider Lens live-stream event scheduled to take place from inside the conference.With so much important and valuable information relevant to so many aspects of gender transition (not just the medical component), the Genspect Conference is setting the stage for a really pivotal moment in time in pursuit of capturing gender from a wider lens, aka “The Bigger Picture.” This conversation is a charming preview of what attendees can expect from The Bigger Picture event, scheduled for late April.Links:More about Joe Burgo:http://www.josephburgo.com/Alasdair’s Substack:https://angusfox.substack.com/Attend/Stream Genspect Conference: The Bigger Picturehttps://genspect.org/events/Beyond WPATH Document (add your signature)https://beyondwpath.org/Eliza Mondegreen on WPATH:https://elizamondegreen.substack.com/p/so-i-went-to-wpathCynical Therapies: This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.widerlenspod.com

A parent writes in seeking helping with figuring out where their son’s gender confusion originated. Sasha and Stella dig into the reality that often there is not “one big reason” or a single “smoking gun.” This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.widerlenspod.com

In this episode, the Wider Lens duo takes a slight detour from gender to explore teenage years from a developmental approach and how parents can better connect with and support their teen children through a challenging but powerful season of life — adolescence.Sasha interviews Stella about her latest book, What Your Teen is Trying to Tell You. The book empowers parents to distinguish between opportunities in which intervention makes sense or moments that are best left for the teens to work out for themselves. Reviewed as somewhat of a deep dive into the teenage brain, the book provides practical advice for each of the key milestones teenagers need to tackle during adolescence to become happy, healthy adults.Covering topics from anxiety to body confidence and technology obsession to the sexual self, this book is sure to give parents — always desperate to “fix” situations for their kids — the confidence to optimize on a teaching moment, or the patience to respect the power of simply letting the lessons be learned. The ultimate goal of the book is to enable parents with a better understanding of their teens and improved discernment, resulting in a rekindled joy and connection shared within parent-teen relationship dynamics.Links:Stella’s Websitehttp://www.stellaomalley.com/Stella’s Substackhttps://stellaomalley.substack.com/Full Collection of Stella’s books:What Your Teen is Trying to Tell You, 2023https://geni.us/whatyourteenBully-Proof Kids, 2022https://www.amazon.co.uk/Bully-Proof-Kids-Practical-Confident-Resilient/dp/1800750617/ref=asc_df_1800750617/?hvadid=570407791907&hvdev=m&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=20490&hvnetw=g&hvpone=&hvpos=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvrand=5576590265895704336&hvtargid=pla-1691140391727&linkCode=df0&psc=1&psc=1&tag=googshopuk-21&th=1Fragile, 2019https://www.amazon.co.uk/Fragile-feeling-stressed-anxious-overwhelmed-ebook/dp/B07QFCB52S/ref=sr_1_fkmrnull_1?crid=1DECU62BRFP0U&keywords=fragile+stella+omalley&qid=1555341552&s=gateway&sprefix=fragile+stella+o%2Caps%2C183&sr=8-1-fkmrnullCotton Wool Kids, 2015https://www.amazon.co.uk/d/Books/Cotton-Wool-Whats-Making-Irish-Parents-Paranoid/1781173206/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1498684238&sr=8-1&keywords=stella+o+malleyPlease visit This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.widerlenspod.com

Sasha and Stella try to give a worried mom advice on how to speak to her teenage daughter who is displaying negative health complications that could be a result of chest binding. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.widerlenspod.com

This episode is dedicated to spreading awareness about the existence and experience of detransitioners — those who pursued a medicalized gender transition and later came to feel it wasn’t the right path for them. The detransitioner community is growing faster than ever as more young people realize they received inadequate and inappropriate healthcare.The complex experience of detransition is not at all captured by the political identity being defined in the public discourse on the topic, and the real hardships involved seem to be entirely lost as an openly acknowledged possible outcome of the medical transition pathway, a primary outcome of the gender affirming model of care.You will hear Sasha and Stella talk about how the detransition process is often a reckoning with reality. They speak about their experience working with detrans individuals and how it’s not as simple as “landing on detransition marks the end of a medical process or experience.” It is more of the beginning of a massive psychological process. It is not always a straight line with a clear destination. And it certainly involves a complicated and unique experience for each person. There are so many unknowns, particularly about the long-term medical implications in the aftermath of transition, so we’re learning as we go, seeking to better understand, empower and support the experience for detransitioners as well as others experiencing distress beyond transition.In this conversation, you will also hear Stella and Sasha share about the launch of BeyondTrans.org. A new project of Genspect’s dedicated to meeting the specific needs of detransitioners, as well as those who are in a more uncertain space. Some people feel distressed about their transition. Many others feel more ambivalent. Some detransition. Others may not physically detransition, but their minds have detransitioned: they’ve moved on from an ideology that led them to believe they could become another person, and they’ve come to realize that this ideology can cause harm. Beyond Transition was established to offer comprehensive help for the varying needs of different groups impacted by medicalized gender transition.Links:You don’t have to be Irish to be Irish — https://youtu.be/jAQl64syDTgBeyond Transition Website — https://beyondtrans.org/Book Cynical Therapies — https://criticaltherapyantidote.org/new-book-2/Breastfeeding Regret Paper — https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fgwh.2023.1073053/fullPinned tweet — https://twitter.com/redrobin9000/status/1603678082426195969?s=20Reddit detrans — https://www.reddit.com/r/detrans/Autobiography in Five Short Chapters (an excerpt from There’s a Hole in My Sidewalk: The Romance of Self-Discovery; © 1977 Portia Nelson)https://palousemindfulness.com/docs/autobio_5chapters.pdfIf you liked this episode, more episodes you might find interesting:“15 — One Detrans Voice: a Conversation with Carol” — This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.widerlenspod.com

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

Victoria Smith is a regular contributor to The Critic, writing on women’s issues, parenting, and mental health. Her work has also appeared in The New Statesman, The Independent, and UnHerd. Her book Hags looks at the demonisation of middle-aged women in politics and popular culture.In this episode, Stella and Sasha chat with Victoria about the depths of body hatred and body loathing. Victoria shares her perceptions about experiences described in the context of gender dysphoria, seeming incredibly relatable to her experience of anorexia and disordered eating when she was younger. The conversation exposes the distress of the burden of acclimating to the maturing female form at a young age manifesting as dysphoric perceptions of reality — a coping mechanism for discomfort.Another fascinating concept explored in the conversation is how with age, females continue to experience confusion and discomfort with their changing bodies and find themselves in a constant state of reconciling not just their own experiences in relation to their bodies, but society’s reactions to the changes in both their physical presentation as well as their attitudes, expressions, and contributions to society.Victoria speaks charmingly about the sentiments behind her recently published book, Hags: The Demonisation of Middle-Aged Women; and how society has always fostered a certain lack of respect for the wisdom and discernment women of a certain age contribute to culture and the symbolism behind it. There’s a sort of generational war between young women and older women that has always seemingly existed and yet the journey of experiencing womanhood has a way of bridging the gap between the two.Links:Follow Victoria Smith on Twitter — @glosswitchBook by Victoria Smith: Hags: The Demonisation of Middle-Aged Women -- https://geni.us/HagsBook by Jane Shilling: The Stranger in the Mirror: A Memoir of Middle Age -- https://www.amazon.com/Stranger-Mirror-Memoir-Middle-Shilling/dp/0701181001Book by Rachel Hewitt: In Her Nature: How Women Break Boundaries in the Great Outdoors -- https://www.penguin.co.uk/books/439400/in-her-nature-by-hewitt-rachel/9781784742898If you liked this episode, more episodes you might find interesting:Episode 2 — Rapid Onset Gender Dysphoria -- https://gender-a-wider-lens.captivate.fm/episode/rapid-onset-gender-dysphoriaEpisode 4 — Why Do People Seek A New Identity? -- https://gender-a-wider-lens.captivate.fm/episode/why-do-people-seek-a-new-identityEpisode 12 — Identity vs. Role Confusion in Adolescence -- https://gender-a-wider-lens.captivate.fm/episode/12-identity-vs-role-confusion-in-adolescencePlease visit http://www.widerlenspod.com to explore more content, access additional resources, or join our listener community.To learn more about our sponsors, visit: This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.widerlenspod.com

Sasha and Stella respond to a parent’s question by exploring how some kids are socially vulnerable and can get swept up in all kinds of “make overs.” This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.widerlenspod.com

Hannah Barnes is Investigations Producer at the BBC’s flagship television news and current affairs program, Newsnight. She has spent the last 15 years at the BBC, specializing in investigative and analytical journalism for both television and radio. Hannah led Newsnight’s coverage of the care available to young people experiencing gender-related distress at the UK’s National Health Service’s (NHS) only youth gender clinic in England and Wales, the Gender Identity Development Services (GIDS) at the Tavistock in London.In this episode, Sasha and Stella speak with Hannah about how, although she continued to report and expose questions, nothing changed and she eventually felt compelled to write a book; as she says herself “I knew too much.” In this probing discussion, issues such as puberty blockers, overwhelming caseloads, and the impact of lobby groups, such as Mermaids, are highlighted and explored.Hannah’s work at Newsnight ultimately helped precipitate an extensive review by the NHS and unearthed evidence that was later used in several sets of legal proceedings. Newsnight’s reporting also led directly to an inspection by England’s healthcare regulator, the Care Quality Commission, which branded the services provided by the GIDS clinic “Inadequate.” The service is scheduled to close in spring 2023 following a series of critical reports.Hannah’s new book, Time To Think: The Inside Story of the Collapse of the Tavistock’s Gender Service for Children, is a meticulously researched account of what went wrong at the Tavistock Clinic, which made headlines around the world on publication. In writing the book, Hannah studied thousands of pages of documents, including internal emails and unpublished reports, and well over a hundred hours of personal testimony from GIDS clinicians, former service users, and senior Tavistock figures, to write a disturbing and gripping parable of our times.Links:Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Time-Think-Collapse-Tavistocks-Children-ebook/dp/B0BCL1T2XNSwift Press: https://swiftpress.com/book/time-to-think/Waterstones: https://www.waterstones.com/book/time-to-think/hannah-barnes//9781800751118Newsnight coverage of GIDS at the Tavistock: https://www.bayswatersupport.org.uk/bbc-newsnight-coverageIf you liked this episode, more episodes you might find interesting:Episode 27 — Behind the Curtain: Psychotherapy for Gender Dysphoria with Sue and Marcus Evanshttps://www.widerlenspod.com/p/27-behind-the-curtain-psychotherapy-316Episode 31 - Silencing Thought: A Conversation with Heather Brunskell-Evans https://www.widerlenspod.com/p/31-silencing-thought-a-conversation-29dEpisode 64 - Pioneers Series: Psychotherapy Pre- and Post-Transition with Az Hakeemhttps://www.widerlenspod.com/p/64-pioneers-series-psychotherapy-5eaEpisode 91 — Uncovering the GIDS Disaster: Dr. Dave Bellhttps://www.widerlenspod.com/p/91-uncovering-the-gids-disaster-dr-3af This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.widerlenspod.com

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

Many young people who first claim to be bisexual will later identify as pansexual and then trans. Sasha and Stella discuss this common but contemporary pathway to trans identification and analyze why this might be happening and what it could mean subconsciously. They offer parents some ideas for how to engage their child during this time of exploration.Sasha and Stella both have parent coaching membership sites that offer an expansive catalog of resources curated to support and empower parents of gender-questioning teens and young adults. Depending on the membership level, you have access to full-length in-depth topic videos, articles, book recommendations, and live Q&A sessions.Links:Sasha Ayad’s Parent Coaching Membership Group (SubscribeStar)https://www.subscribestar.com/sashalpcStella O’Malley’s Parent Coaching Membership Group (Substack)https://stellaomalley.substack.com/Sasha & Stella’s Conversation with Helena:Helena Part I: Social Justice, Fandoms & FTM Gay Boyshttps://gender-a-wider-lens.captivate.fm/episode/45-helena-part-1-social-justice-fandoms-ftm-gay-boysHelena Part II: Advice for Parents from a Former Trans Kidhttps://gender-a-wider-lens.captivate.fm/episode/46-helena-part-ii-advice-for-parents-from-a-former-trans-kidSasha & Stella's Conversation w/ Lisa Duval:https://gender-a-wider-lens.captivate.fm/episode/75-borderline-personality-distorted-attempts-to-integrate-a-conversation-w-lisa-duvalUpcoming GETA Webinars https://genderexploratory.com/events/Albert Ellis’s REPT philosophies, and The Three Basic Mustshttps://www.rebtnetwork.org/whatis.htmlIf you liked this episode, more episodes you might find interesting:Episode 1 — Trans: Identity vs Dysphoria https://gender-a-wider-lens.captivate.fm/episode/trans-identity-vs-dysphoriaEpisode 2 — Rapid Onset Gender Dysphoria. https://gender-a-wider-lens.captivate.fm/episode/rapid-onset-gender-dysphoriaEpisode 32 — Stereotypes https://gender-a-wider-lens.captivate.fm/episode/32-stereotypesEpisode 35 — Communicating About Gender: Translating Between Parent & Child. https://gender-a-wider-lens.captivate.fm/episode/35-translationsEpisode 39 — Nonbinary Identities This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.widerlenspod.com

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

The development of the Dutch protocol, and the research conducted from its practice, has become the basis for gender-related medical intervention in children all over the world; specifically, using drugs to block children's puberty and subsequently using cross-sex hormones and surgery to medicalize their 'transition.' The Dutch model has the reputation of being the “gold standard of care” for youth transgender medicine and is often cited when defending the use of puberty blockers and surgeries in minors and young adults. In many ways, it created the possibility of gender 'transition' in children.On today’s episode, Sasha and Stella welcome Dutch journalist, Jan Kuitenbrouwer and Dutch sociologist, Peter Vasterman. The two collaborated and most recently published an article; (translated title) “Trans Care Too Must Meet Health Science Standards”, weighing caution to the quality of the standard of care for transgender health and medicine, virtually all based on and adapted from the Dutch model of care.Jan Kuitenbrouwer is Dutch writer, journalist, award-winning columnist and bestselling author, who has published extensively on gender and the trans movement since early last year. His 40+ year career yields an extensive body of work centered around themes exploring social and cultural trends, information technology, politics, and language.Dr. Peter Vasterman is a media sociologist and former assistant professor of media sociology at the University of Amsterdam, department of Media Studies, as well as coordinator of the Master in Journalism. He obtained his PhD in 2004 at the University of Amsterdam with a dissertation, titled “Mediahype” on the effect of media hypes on news topics such as senseless violence, His main research areas include: media hypes and the role of the (social) media in the construction of social problems, scandals, crises and disasters.In this conversation, you will hear them both speak about the prideful nature of Dutch culture: the Dutch often hold themselves in high esteem for being a ‘gidsland’, a beacon of progression for the rest of the world. In a culture where conformity is a highly valued way of life, the Dutch may leave little room for debate and contrast. As such, it is to no surprise that the Dutch mainstream media played a substantial role in promoting early medical interventions for youth with gender dysphoria. Peter and Jan discuss the challenges they faced when attempting to publish pieces which objectively review the full context of the medical protocol. Stories which attempt to frame the Dutch Protocol as anything other than a leading medical innovation with impressive aesthetic outcomes seemed to have been hushed and rejected in the news. Media messaging extravagantly lacked attention to the complicated elements of the medical pathway, and silenced the voices who tried to draw attention to the dangerous risks associated with the transgender treatments for youth.Links:Jan Kuitenbrouwer:https://twitter.com/kuitenbrouwerhttps://www.hpdetijd.nl/auteurs/jan-kuitenbrouwer/Links to Articles:https://docs.google.com/document/d/1BramcMXake0JCB454My06ChP9siI8OS94Thv3izp_h0/editPeter Vasterman:https://twitter.com/PeterVasterman http://vasterman.blogspot.com/ This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.widerlenspod.com

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