114. Breast-Binding in a Bomb Shelter? Maia Poet on Surviving War in the Middle East and Within

I sit down with Maia Poet, a 24-year-old Israeli-American writer, researcher, and public speaker with an extraordinary story. Maia began identifying as transgender at the tender age of 12 and recently desisted from this identity after living as a man in the Middle East for several years. What led her to this profound change? How did her experiences in Israel and Palestine shape her understanding of gender and identity?

Maia shares her harrowing escape from the October 7th attacks, narrowly avoiding the chaos due to a last-minute change in plans. What was it like to be on the brink of such a life-altering event? How did her involvement in peace activism between Jewish and Arab children influence her worldview? Maia paints a vivid picture of the optimism and innocence that existed just before the world around her was shattered.

We delve into Maia's unique cultural background, exploring how her Russian Jewish roots and her deep connection to Arab culture influenced her journey. How did studying Arabic and immersing herself in Middle Eastern culture help her reconnect with her Jewish identity? And what role did her trans identification play in her integration into both religious Muslim-Palestinian and Orthodox-Jewish communities?

Join us as we navigate through Maia's compelling narrative, from her early intellectual obsessions to her life-changing experiences in Israel. How did a chance encounter in a West Bank coffee shop and an unexpected Bar Mitzvah at the Western Wall cement her male identity? And what ultimately led her to desist from her trans identity? Tune in to hear Maia's fascinating story and gain insights into the complex interplay of culture, identity, and survival.

Maia Poet is a 24 year old Israeli-American writer, researcher and public speaker. She began identifying as transgender at the age of 12, and has recently desisted from a trans identity which has lasted for half of her life. Maia is reflecting on her experiences of desistance, in hopes of providing insight for young people struggling with gender distress and, for their parents.  

Twitter/X: @thepeacepoet99

Maia's YouTube channel

Speech for Detrans Awareness Day

Book co-authored with Israeli social worker, Tal Croitoru, based on Maia’s life and journey of desistance, Lia's Journey

 00:00 Start

[00:00:21] Challenging beliefs about body image.

[00:03:50] Peaceful coexistence among Israeli kids.

[00:10:25] Youthful optimism in challenging times.

[00:15:32] Building bridges between communities.

[00:18:53] Interconnectedness of Jewish and Arab cultures.

[00:21:52] An intergenerational longing for connection.

[00:24:18] A rare pituitary tumor.

[00:29:10] Discovering newfound physical sensations.

[00:33:14] Cultural and social influences.

[00:37:16] Identity and political alignment.

[00:41:09] Gender identity realization.

[00:43:49] Bar Mitzvah surprise.

[00:49:29] Maia is looking to mingle.

[00:51:50] LARPing as an Orthodox Jewish man.

[00:55:39] Pro-Palestinian views and differences.

[00:57:54] Paradigm-shifting realization about anti-Zionism.

[01:03:34] Regrets of transition journey.

[01:06:14] Detransitioning experiences.

[01:09:14] Gender identity realization.

[01:13:18] Re-envisioning identity post-transition.

[01:19:34] Gender ideology and children's books.

[01:20:16] Gender identity exploration journey.

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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.

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