Navigating a child's gender dysphoria brings profound emotional challenges for parents. Feelings of helplessness and confusion often arise amidst rapid medical changes. Self-care is highlighted as essential for maintaining clarity while supporting children. The importance of building a supportive community is emphasized, providing necessary emotional sustenance. Finally, balancing compassion with boundaries is key, as parents must listen to their child's experiences while staying true to their guiding role.

Sasha and Stella welcome mother and advocate, Lydia, to the show for an insightful discussion about the emotional and relational dynamics impacting boys experiencing gender dysphoria. They reflect on the critical work of ROGDBoys.org, a website dedicated to raising awareness and providing vital information about the impact of medical interventions on boys and men with gender identity confusion.Many families face distinct challenges rooted in the intersection of social expectations, emotional needs, and emerging gender identity beliefs. Boys, unlike their female counterparts, often struggle with expressing vulnerability or gentleness, leading some to seek alternative paths to connection, such as through gender identity beliefs. For many deeply sensitive boys, adopting a female identity offers them access to intimacy and belonging, particularly within female friend groups, where tenderness and acceptance are more easily found.In this episode, Lydia reflects on her family’s experiences around her son’s ROGD and how her own upbringing in a high-control religious environment shaped her understanding of the complex control tactics at play. She shares insights into the profile of boys drawn to gender identity beliefs, often marked by intelligence, black-and-white thinking, and an affinity for structured systems. Lydia emphasizes the dissonance between scientific reasoning and oversimplified views of gender transformation, revealing how cultural narratives amplify this confusion. She also highlights the nuanced complexities of sexuality and identity, and cautions against reducing AGP to a simplistic conclusion, framing it instead as a complex experience rooted in integration and shame. Finally, she stresses the importance of recognizing the diversity of families affected by gender dysphoria and challenges the misconception that parenting style alone dictates a child’s experiences and outcomes.For links and resources relevant to this episode, access the full show notes at https://www.widerlenspod.com/p/episode-200 Buy Our Book – When Kids Say They’re Trans: A Guide for Thoughtful Parents at https://whenkidssaytheyretrans.com/   Join Our Listener Community to Access Exclusive Content at https://www.widerlenspod.com/   Support the Show at https://www.widerlenspod.com/p/support-the-show   Join the conversation on YouTube at www.youtube.com/@widerlenspod  For more information about Sasha’s & Stella’s parent coaching membership groups, visit:Sasha Ayad: https://sashaayad.com/parenting-coaching   Stella O’Malley: http://www.stellaomalley.com/parent-coaching  To learn more about our sponsors, visit:Therapy First at https://www.therapyfirst.org/  Genspect at https://genspect.org/  This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.widerlenspod.com/subscribe   This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.widerlenspod.com/subscribe

Explore how the rise of secularism has left a spiritual vacuum, leading to the emergence of new ideologies like trans activism. Discover the idea that trans ideology may serve as a modern surrogate for religion, filling gaps left by diminishing faith in traditional systems. Delve into the tension between immediate material pursuits and deeper human needs for meaning and purpose. The discussion addresses the complexities of spiritual fulfillment in an individualistic society and considers how faith-based practices could offer necessary guidance.

Winston Marshall, the former banjoist of Mumford & Sons, opens up about his contentious exit from the band following a controversial tweet about Andy Ngo's book. He discusses the overwhelming pressure artists face between personal beliefs and the industry's expectations, emphasizing the challenges of authenticity in a cancel culture world. Winston also reflects on the emotional toll of public scrutiny and the importance of standing true to oneself amidst societal pressures, offering a candid perspective on navigating artistic integrity.

In this discussion, Helen Joyce, a journalist and feminist campaigner, interviews Marian Tompson, co-founder of La Leche League, who resigned over the organization's shifting focus. They explore breastfeeding's physiological aspects and the historical struggles women faced. The conversation delves into the challenges of incorporating transgender individuals into female-centered spaces, raising crucial questions about safety, societal perceptions, and the emotional toll of these changes on traditional motherhood and community dynamics.

Stella and Sasha celebrate a four-year milestone, reflecting on their journey and the podcast's evolution. They discuss a new initiative to help adolescents navigate gender identity. Anticipation builds as they hint at an upcoming shift in focus to broader societal issues. The hosts reveal plans for live events and an interactive format called 'Live and Unfiltered.' Emphasizing community engagement, they express gratitude to their listeners while teasing exciting future developments set for 2025.

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.widerlenspod.comThe relationship between homophobia and gender medicine is deeply intertwined, with historical and contemporary practices shedding light on troubling patterns. Historically, gender-nonconforming individuals were often pathologized and subjected to medical interventions under the guise of correcting deviance. Today, these practices persist, albeit under new narratives that often frame gender nonconformity as a medical issue requiring intervention, such as transitioning.Emerging trends reveal the influence of social contagion, with cultural narratives and social media amplifying gender identity struggles among vulnerable populations, particularly youth. This surge raises critical questions about the lack of scientific rigor in therapeutic practices, the ethics of irreversible medical procedures, and the neglect of alternative psychological or social supports. These patterns reflect a broader societal discomfort with nonconformity and a tendency to medicalize identities rather than embrace diversity.In this bonus episode for premium subscribers, Glenna Goldis argues that modern gender medicine perpetuates homophobia by medicalizing gender nonconformity, effectively pathologizing same-sex attraction in a way that parallels past efforts to suppress homosexuality. She references the 2015 APA guidelines, which shifted the framework for addressing gender dysphoria, emphasizing affirmation and, often, medical intervention, suggesting that these guidelines reframe homosexuality as something to be corrected if it appears intertwined with gender nonconformity. She advocates for a more critical examination of these practices, urging evidence-based approaches that prioritize genuine understanding and acceptance over medicalization.To deepen your understanding of Glenna's perspective, we encourage you to explore her Substack, particularly the two pieces linked below (referenced during the conversation). Both provide valuable insight into her critique of current gender medicine practices and their broader social implications.Why Therapists Trans Away the GayThe Assessment ShamWatch our full length episode with Glenna Goldis: https://www.widerlenspod.com/p/episode-196For instructions on setting up a private feed to listen to our premium content in your favorite podcast app, visit https://www.widerlenspod.com/p/how-to-listen-to-our-full-premium.

Glenna Goldis, a seasoned attorney with extensive knowledge in gender medicine and consumer fraud, joins the conversation to unpack the legal complexities surrounding gender-affirming care. She highlights alarming concerns regarding puberty blockers and accountability in healthcare. Glenna also discusses high-profile lawsuits against the American Academy of Pediatrics, the intersection of politics and gender identity, and sheds light on the evolving legal landscape, all while emphasizing the need for clear terminology and diverse perspectives in legal discourse.

Stella and Sasha welcome author and podcaster, Phil Illy, to the show for a thought-provoking conversation on sexuality, identity, and self-understanding. They engage with Phil’s concept of auto-heterosexuality, explore his interpretation of "erotic target identity inversion," and examine how these theories relate to broader discussions around sexuality and identity. As the discussion evolves, Stella and Sasha offer their critiques and challenge Phil's framework, pushing for a deeper understanding of these complex concepts.Phil Illy is the author of Autoheterosexual: Attracted to Being the Other Sex, a provocative exploration of sexuality, identity, and gender. In his book, Phil introduces the concept of auto-heterosexuality, describing an attraction to oneself as the opposite sex, and expands upon theories such as "erotic target identity inversion," originally coined by Dr. Ray Blanchard. With a focus on unconventional sexual interests and their psychological underpinnings, Phil's work challenges conventional frameworks and evokes critical examination into the complexities of desire, identity, and human behavior. In addition to his book, Phil is also the host of the Autohetero Files podcast, where he platforms personal stories and discussions that resonate with the ideas and concepts explored in his work.In this episode, listeners can expect to hear a dynamic and often intense conversation, with Stella and Sasha asking difficult questions and exploring the psychological and relational implications of the ideas Phil presents. They dig into both the intellectual and emotional dimensions of the topics at hand. Whether you agree or disagree with the perspectives shared, this episode will leave you with plenty to consider, exploring the deeper questions surrounding identity, desire, and the psychological aspects of sexual behavior.For links and resources relevant to this episode, access the full show notes at https://www.widerlenspod.com/p/episode-195 Buy Our Book – When Kids Say They’re Trans: A Guide for Thoughtful Parents at https://whenkidssaytheyretrans.com/ Join Our Listener Community to Access Exclusive Content at https://www.widerlenspod.com/   Support the Show at https://www.widerlenspod.com/p/support-the-show   Join the conversation on YouTube at www.youtube.com/@widerlenspod  For more information about Sasha’s & Stella’s parent coaching membership groups, visit:Sasha Ayad: https://sashaayad.com/parenting-coaching   Stella O’Malley: http://www.stellaomalley.com/parent-coaching  To learn more about our sponsors, visit:Therapy First at https://www.therapyfirst.org/  Genspect at https://genspect.org/  This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.widerlenspod.com/subscribe   This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.widerlenspod.com/subscribe

The discussion dives into the delicate balance between parental rights and the influence of educational institutions. Emphasis is placed on the need for transparency and parental involvement, particularly in homeschooling. Eldur Smári Kristinsson highlights the urgency of political discourse for individuals with diverse viewpoints. He notes how collective engagement could inspire societal change and empower citizens to assert their freedoms. The focus shifts to fostering cooperation within communities while ensuring families have the autonomy to guide their children's education.