This is a slightly different episode than usual. It’s Transgender Awareness Week this week, and Esther has a conversation with two cisgender LGBTIQA+ people; Tiga-Rose, an intimacy coach and sex therapist in training, and Ophelia, an historian, archivist and conservator, under the watchful eye (or ear) of project co-creator Katy Jon Went, who is transgender and non-binary, about how to be a better gender-diverse ally. We also talk about how to introduce pronouns into conversations and what to do...
Nov 19, 2020•53 min•Ep. 19
Sophie is a forty-something married parent of three kids and somewhere on the trans spectrum. Sophie's pronouns are she/her . She uses the words transsexual and transvestite of herself, but considers herself to be a work in progress and very much Sophie. Find out what that means to her in this episode. We also talk about finding the balance in family dynamics, having two different personas, and being yourself no matter what labels you use. More on www.fiftyshadesofgender.com/sophie...
Nov 05, 2020•23 min•Ep. 18
Sam Bettens is a musician and lead vocalist of the Belgian band K's Choice (founded in 1992) and also of new Belgian electropop band Rex Rebel. Sam's pronouns are he/him , and he identifies as a transgender man . Find out what that means to Sam in this episode. We also talk about music and creative expression, self-identifying, the benefits of ageing, family and relationships, hormone therapy, body image, self-acceptance and being proud of who you are, and finding your voice in a whole new way. ...
Oct 29, 2020•44 min•Ep. 17
Katy Jon Went is a public speaker and educator on gender, identity, sexuality, mental health, human rights, diversity and inclusion. Katy's pronouns are they/them or she/her . They are transgender and identify as non-binary and asexual . Find out what that means to Katy in this episode. We also talk about adolescence and development, religion, conversion therapy, crossdressing, being outed, depression, aesthetics, sex workshops, hormone therapy, being a reluctant transsexual, gender reassignment...
Oct 22, 2020•1 hr 12 min•Ep. 16
Kyl Myers is a sociologist, educator, and globally recognized advocate of gender creative parenting. Kyl's pronouns are they/them or she/her . They identify as a genderqueer woman and are a gender-creative parent . Find out what that means to Kyl in this episode. We also talk about being raised with conventional gender roles, trying on different gender labels and pronouns, how names fit or not, what it’s like to bring up a child without gender expectations, and the start of a gender revolution. ...
Oct 15, 2020•37 min•Ep. 15
Allan came out in 1980 as an identity he distilled on his own, as nothing of the sort was being discussed anywhere that he could find. As for pronouns, Allan says "they are all wrong and I'm not picky”. He now identifies as genderqueer and gender invert . Find out what that means to Allan in this episode. We also talk about sexual orientation versus gender identity, feminism, double standards, gender expectations, finding people like yourself, and listening better to stories that are not like ou...
Oct 08, 2020•39 min•Ep. 14
Theo is an aspiring queer writer and lover of memes and video games. Theo's pronouns are they/them (or fae/faer online) and they identify as genderfluid , non-binary , asexual , and a grayromantic lesbian . Find out what that means to Theo in this episode. We also talk about pronouns and neopronouns, the asexuality scale, the difference between sexual attraction and romantic attraction, platonic crushes, queerplatonic relationships (QPRs) and boundaries. More on www.fiftyshadesofgender.com/theo...
Oct 01, 2020•44 min•Ep. 13
Kit is an ex-high school teacher and a passionate educator, blogger, author and performer – focusing on environmental and LGBT+ issues. Kit’s pronouns are they/them , and they identify as non-binary , trans-feminine , demigirl and genderfluid . Find out what that means to Kit in this episode. We also talk about football, privilege, teaching, altruism, politics, the NHS, finding common ground in unexpected places, and what it’s been like being publicly and visibly trans. More on www.fiftyshadesof...
Sep 24, 2020•52 min•Ep. 12
Charlie Caine is a theatre composer, lyricist and LGBT+ and political activist. Charlie's pronouns are he/him and he identifies as a gay trans man . Find out what that means to Charlie in this episode. We also talk about gender identity & expression vs sexual orientation, gender roles, transitioning, dysphoria, gender identity clinic (GIC) waiting lists, trans visibility and activism, and how there is no such thing as a universal trans experience. More on www.fiftyshadesofgender.com/charlie...
Sep 17, 2020•34 min•Ep. 11
Bonnie is a multimedia artist working with themes of gender, body horror, psychosexuality and trauma. Bonnie's pronouns are he/him or they/them and he identifies as trans-masculine , non-binary and graysexual . Find out what that means to Bonnie in this episode. We also talk about Dissociative Identity Disorder or DID (previously called Multiple Personality Disorder or MPD), gender dysphoria, body dysmorphia, drag, self-expression, body autonomy, radical tenderness and vulnerability, choosing ki...
Sep 10, 2020•46 min•Ep. 10
Alys Wilfred (or Fred, for short) is a writer, storyteller and folklorist. This is our second conversation, just over 20 months after our first conversation in December 2018, which was episode two of the podcast. Fred's pronouns are still they/them or xie/xir (or he/him if you insist), and they identify as trans-masculine , non-binary and genderfluid . We talk about the minor and major effects of testosterone (or T) injections including voice changes and mental health, body dysmorphia versus gen...
Sep 03, 2020•32 min•Ep. 9
For personal reasons, Mel asked us to take her episode down until further notice. We have honoured her request, and may do a follow-up episode some time. If so, we will update the episode page with the details and add the details here as well. Although Mel's story is unique and there is of course no replacement, you can listen to other episodes from non-binary, asexual and aromantic folks on fiftyshadesofgender.com/podcast . You can also search by label on fiftyshadesofgender.com/episode-list ....
Aug 27, 2020•57 sec•Ep. 8
For personal reasons, Ange asked us to take her episode down, so we have honoured her request. Although Ange's story is unique and there is of course no replacement, you can listen to other episodes from parents of transgender and non-binary children and adults on fiftyshadesofgender.com/podcast , and you can find an article on the blog called 'Is your partner, child, parent or friend transitioning, or questioning their gender?' with all of these episodes to listen to. You can also search by lab...
Aug 20, 2020•1 min•Ep. 7
Sophia is a speaker, singer, mentor, transformational storyteller, visionary, and prayer of prayers. She is also the host of several podcasts, including “Vagina Talks with Sophia Wise One”, “Medicine Caller”, and “Temple Erotica: Stories of Sacred Sexuality”. Sophia identifies as gender-transcendent and welcomes all pronouns . Find out what that means to Sophia in this episode. We also talk about the physical experience, spirituality, vibration and energy, the divine feminine, the female body, m...
Aug 13, 2020•47 min•Ep. 6
Sarah's pronouns are she/her or they/them . She found out she was intersex at 19 and subsequently got involved with local charity Evolve, which supports transgender, genderqueer, gender-questioning and intersex kids and young adults. Sarah also identifies as non-binary . Find out what that means to her in this episode. We also talk about Androgen Insensitivity Syndrome (AIS), Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT), gonadectomy surgery, Queer Britain, being different and getting attention, being queer...
Aug 06, 2020•27 min•Ep. 5
Edalia Day is a spoken word artist, video designer and theatre maker. Edalia's pronouns are they/them . They are transgender and identifiy as non-binary . Find out what that means to Edalia in this episode. We also talk about acting, clothes, the tv show The Good Place, the gender binary, support groups, visibility and the term ‘passing’, gender options on forms, Hamlet, free speech, representation of trans people in the media and in comedy, and films like Silence of the Lambs and Ace Ventura. M...
Jul 30, 2020•49 min•Ep. 4
Harri Elouise was a couple of years into their gender journey when we recorded this conversation in January 2019. Harri’s pronouns are they/them , and they identify as trans-feminine and non-binary . Find out what that means to Harri in this episode. We also talk about the difference between gender identity/expression and sex, gender clinics and the medical transition process, use of singular ’they’ and getting pronouns right, coming out to family, friendships, being a shy kid, and fitting in ve...
Jul 23, 2020•57 min•Ep. 3
Alys Wilfred (or Fred, for short) is a writer, storyteller and folklorist who specialises in orality, and medieval and early modern textual cultures. Fred's pronouns are they/them or xe/xir and they identify as trans-masculine , non-binary and genderfluid . Find out what that means to them in this episode. We also talk about parenting, transitioning, top surgery, hormone therapy (Testosterone or T for short) and the effects on the body, adolescence, binding, bisexuality, relationship, fertility,...
Jul 16, 2020•37 min•Ep. 2
Kit Rackley is an ex-Geography high school teacher, now working as an education and program officer for a non-profit that promotes and facilitates collaboration between the climate and energy sectors. Kit’s pronouns are they/them , and they identify as genderfluid , trans-feminine , non-binary and demigirl. Find out what that means to Kit in this episode. We also talk about labels, gender presentation, parenting roles, the journey of gender discovery, USA thrift stores, San Francisco, Harry Pott...
Jun 29, 2020•46 min•Ep. 1
