In this episode, I sit down with my good friend Anita Bartholomew, who is deep into writing her upcoming book, "Sacrificial Lambs," which explores the alarming indoctrination happening in our K-12 education system. Have you ever wondered how children are being taught about gender identity in first grade? What happens when the lines between education and ideology blur?

Anita shares her journey from being a traditional liberal to confronting the radical shifts in educational content, particularly around queer theory and gender ideology. We discuss the troubling rise in young people identifying as transgender and the role schools play in this phenomenon. How are children being primed for these beliefs, and what impact does this have on their mental health?

We dive into shocking examples of curriculum materials that normalize complex and abstract concepts about gender for young children. Are teachers equipped to handle such sensitive topics, or are they overstepping their bounds? As we unravel these issues, we also touch on the implications of comprehensive sexual education and the troubling trend of keeping parents in the dark. What does this mean for the future of our children? Tune in to discover the answers and more as we navigate this critical conversation.

For almost three decades, Anita Bartholomew has been one of Reader’s Digest’s top reporters, and a contributing editor to the magazine for eight of those years. She’s covered a vast range of stories over the course of her career. But what’s always animated her writing, no matter the topic, is her focus on the people involved, how they coped with the extraordinary events affecting their lives. Her current book project, about how the trans cult targets kids, combines in-depth reporting and analysis with vignettes about the real people trying to maintain sanity in what amounts to a mass psychosis afflicting nearly all of the western world. She is the co-author of the award-winning medical memoir SOMETHING TO PROVE, and the author of SIEGE, about the January 6, 2021 US Capitol uprising. Two of her narratives have been adapted as TV movies, one for Netflix and another for Lifetime. AnitaBartholomew.com

Books mentioned in this episode:

• Time to Think by Hannah Barnes
• Irreversible Damage by Abigail Shrier
• Why Gender Matters by Leonard Sax

All books mentioned on this podcast can be found at sometherapist.com/bookshop

 00:00 Start

[00:01:32] Indoctrination of children.

[00:08:25] Queer theory and social justice.

[00:10:07] Queer theory in education.

[00:16:41] Predation in gender identity discourse.

[00:19:16] Gender identity teaching in schools.

[00:25:23] Teacher's role in sexual education.

[00:28:00] Innocence of childhood crushes.

[00:34:45] Pornographic content in education.

[00:36:39] School curriculum and anti-bullying.

[00:44:51] Diagram of a thousand genitals.

[00:46:00] Planned Parenthood and gender clinics.

[00:52:00] Fourth grade girls and furries.

[00:55:04] Intersex and genitalia misconceptions.

[01:01:39] Gender identity and inclusion in education.

[01:06:04] Gender education in schools.

[01:09:14] Puberty blockers and children.

[01:12:42] Sexualization of children in education.

[01:19:19] Furries and sexual role-playing.

[01:21:45] Predators disguising in society.

[01:29:32] Sympathy for monsters and boundaries.

[01:31:26] The battle between good and evil.

[01:36:24] Cultural shifts and individual responsibility.

[01:40:56] Understanding January 6th participants.

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Show notes & transcript provided with the help of SwellAI.

Special thanks to Joey Pecoraro for our theme song, “Half Awake,” used with gratitude and permission.

Watch NO WAY BACK: The Reality of Gender-Affirming Care (our medical ethics documentary, formerly known as Affirmation Generation). Stream the film or purchase a DVD. Use code SOMETHERAPIST to take 20% off your order.