Send us a text As a lesbian, raised by a lesbian, and now the mother of a lesbian daughter, Angela Harvey brings a unique and deeply personal multigenerational perspective to the journey of LGBTQ+ identity and parenting. Her lived experience of navigating queerness within three generations of women has brought both the wisdom and compassion to speak to the challenges and joys of raising—and being—an LGBTQ+ child. Today In the Den , Sara talks with Angela about creating transformative spaces cent...
Aug 18, 2025•1 hr•Ep. 135
Send us a text Mama Dragons is a global community with members and groups in many countries around the world. We're proud to have a dedicated Puerto Rico regional group where their Mama Dragons are making meaningful connections and amplifying voices across the island. Today In the Den , Sara talks with Miguel Vasquez, executive director of The True Self Foundation, an LGBTQ+ organization that is a beacon of hope and authenticity for queer folks in Puerto Rico. In this episode, Miguel shares the ...
Aug 11, 2025•50 min•Ep. 134
Send us a text In a time when stories are under siege, especially those that center queer characters and themes, we’re seeing a rise in book bans and legislative efforts aimed at erasing LGBTQ+ experiences from classrooms and libraries. Just last month, The U.S. Supreme Court handed a victory to Montgomery County parents who object, for religious reasons, to the school system’s use of LGBTQ+ themed books in classrooms, saying parents should be allowed to opt their children out of such classes. T...
Aug 04, 2025•54 min•Ep. 133
Send us a text For queer youth, belonging isn’t a luxury, it’s a lifeline. In a world that too often tells them they don’t fit, affirming spaces can be the difference between surviving and thriving. The power of belonging becomes both healing and revolutionary. Today In the Den ,we’re diving into this topic, exploring the life-saving power of queer-led youth spaces that help foster that sense of belonging. Sara talks with two incredible guests who are working to create just such a space, the Rev...
Jul 28, 2025•1 hr 1 min•Ep. 131
Send us a text Since last fall, when the United States v. Skrmetti arguments first landed in the Supreme Court, Mama Dragons has been at the forefront—supporting families at rallies, hosting virtual listening circles, and amplifying the voices of trans youth and their parents. We’ve stood shoulder to shoulder with them through every legal hearing and public moment. Today In the Den , Sara joins political strategist Sam Ames to unpack what the Court’s decision allowing states to enforce bans on g...
Jul 21, 2025•1 hr•Ep. 131
Send us a text There is currently a lot of public discourse around what an LGBTQ+ ally is and isn’t. We know that our listening audience wants to be allying well and often, and as the political climate in the country continues to put our LGBTQ+ loved ones in the crosshairs, it has become increasingly important that we get our allyship right. This week In the Den , we’re re-airing this important episode from 2024, in which Jen sits down with Sara Burlingame, Executive Director of Wyoming Equality...
Jul 14, 2025•1 hr 2 min•Ep. 130
Send us a text Content Warning: Talk of Suicide If you are having thoughts of suicide or self harm, please call or text 988, or chat 988lifeline.org This week, we’re rereleasing an important episode that first aired in 2023. The information contained in this interview is critical for parents of LGBTQ+ children to understand, so we’re sharing it again and hope you’ll listen (or re-listen). Misconceptions and stigma can make suicide hard to understand, but talking about it can make a huge differen...
Jul 07, 2025•48 min•Ep. 129
Send us a text We first aired this episode in 2023, but with all of the firestorm around transgender people and their place in society, we wanted to share this interview with our listeners again. American actor and musician Emmett Preciado visits with In the Den ’s original host Jen about his experience growing up as a transgender boy in a conservative religion. He candidly talks about a range of topics from transition to his experiences with dating to experiencing Hollywood as a trans man. You ...
Jun 30, 2025•1 hr 6 min•Ep. 128
Send us a text We often hear the phrase, “Love makes a family,” and while it's true that love is the most important ingredient in creating family, for many of our LGBTQ+ kids and beloveds, love also needs to be accompanied by access to reproductive medical support. So today, we’re diving into what it really means to create family—from science to love to justice. Sara sits down with reproductive endocrinologist Dr. Jacqueline Gutmann to discuss the avenues available for creating family in queer p...
Jun 23, 2025•1 hr 4 min•Ep. 127
Send us a text In the Den this week, Sara and special guest Garrett Garland talk about what it means to create in queer joy and not just survival. They discuss the importance of visibility, the responsibility of queer creatives in shaping culture, and how parents, allies, and communities can better support LGBTQ+ youth in finding their voice and claiming space. This isn’t just a conversation about art — it’s a conversation about power, authenticity, and what happens when we give queer kids the p...
Jun 16, 2025•52 min•Ep. 126
Send us a text As parents of queer kids, we want our children to live boldly and truthfully, to become their most authentic selves, not just accepted, but celebrated , for who they are. We want that same freedom and fullness of self-expression for every member of our families. So often trans and nonbinary people’s stories are told only through the lens of their struggles and challenges, including their political battles for legal rights, but trans and nonbinary people live rich and fulfilling li...
Jun 09, 2025•55 min•Ep. 125
Send us a text Today we are tackling a topic that has consumed the country, the news, and social media, and has sparked a political firestorm in recent years—transgender athletes in sports. To date, 26 states have enacted laws banning transgender youth from participating in sports teams consistent with their gender identity. There is so much fear and misinformation around this topic, and today In the Den Sara sits down with the incredible Chris Mosier, the first openly transgender man to earn a ...
Jun 02, 2025•1 hr 15 min•Ep. 124
Send us a text There is power in preserving the rich, diverse history and culture of LGBTQIA+ people, across generations and backgrounds, promoting creativity, collaboration, and community among queer people, organizations, and allies. Especially in this particular cultural moment, when the lives and stories of our queer community are being targeted and silenced more than ever before, we need to lift up and celebrate the institutions whose mission it is to collect, preserve, and share those stor...
May 26, 2025•1 hr 3 min•Ep. 123
Send us a text We have all been watching the unprecedented attacks on trans healthcare for youth and adults by anti-trans extremists from the local to the federal levels. The trans legislation tracker reports an alarming 857 anti-trans bills under consideration in 2025 alone. Many of us, our kids, and our families find ourselves caught in the eye of this storm. Today In the Den , Sara sits down with special guest Alexis Stratton of The Campaign for Southern Equality to discuss the book that Stra...
May 19, 2025•1 hr 1 min•Ep. 122
Send us a text Today In the Den , we’re thrilled to welcome a guest whose story is as rich and layered as the music and words he creates. Bill Robertson is a Hollywood writer, having written for National Lampoon , and one of the creators of Paradise: A Town of Sinners & Saints (both a stage musical and a 2023 film available on Prime). Bill’s journey spans decades. At 63, he’s a proud gay man who lived through, and survived, the deeply painful years of the AIDS crisis, which led him to become...
May 12, 2025•1 hr 3 min•Ep. 121
Send us a text Today’s In the Den episode is one that cuts right to the heart of our Mama Dragons mission — we’re diving into the truth that parenting is political. Whether we like it or not, the choices we make as parents, how we show up for our kids, what we teach them, how we advocate for them, all ripple out into the world around us. When you’re parenting queer kids, those ripples can have a far reach and significant impact. Sara talks with special guest Jasmine Banks about the importance of...
May 05, 2025•1 hr 12 min•Ep. 120
Send us a text We all have an inherent capacity for creativity, but queerness and creativity have a special connection. This week In the Den , Sara sits down with creativity coach Liz Heichelbech to discuss how to explore, claim, and live our own authentic lives. Navigating true self-expression in the often challenging waters of cultural and societal norms and expectations can be a powerful catalyst for creativity. Sara and Liz dive into how creativity shapes our stories, what power art holds in...
Apr 28, 2025•58 min•Ep. 119
Send us a text As we navigate these challenging times, we’ve watched as the state of Florida has become ground zero for some of the most contentious battles over equality, producing some of the harshest anti-LGBTQ+ bills in the country. This week In the Den , Sara visits with special guest Nadine Smith, who is on the frontlines of that fight. Nadine Smith, the executive director of Equality Florida and has been a relentless advocate for LGBTQ+ rights. She has played a pivotal role in mobilizing ...
Apr 21, 2025•1 hr 5 min•Ep. 118
Send us a text Today In the Den , we’re tackling a topic that’s both unsettling and urgent: the rise of extremism, and how it’s targeting our young people across the spectrum of identity. We’ll also talk about solutions; exploring how we can recognize the signs of radicalization along with tools and strategies we can use to counteract these harmful messages and foster empathy, critical thinking, and inclusivity in the next generation. Special Guest: Lydia Bates Lydia Bates (she/her) is the Senio...
Apr 14, 2025•1 hr 19 min•Ep. 117
Send us a text What if faith and queerness weren’t at odds? What if a vibrant, affirming Christian life was not only possible for queer folks and their families, but deeply sacred? This week, In the Den , Sara continues a conversation with special guest Reverend Brandan Robertson, a dynamic pastor, author, and thought leader at the forefront of LGBTQ+ inclusion in Christian spaces. Special Guest: Reverend Brandan Robertson Rev. Brandan Robertson is a noted author, activist, and public theologian...
Apr 07, 2025•52 min•Ep. 116
Send us a text Parenting a queer kid comes with so many questions. How do we support them? How do we help them find their community? And how do we make sure they know that no matter what, they are loved and they belong? Since 2010, the It Gets Better campaign has been a beacon of hope for LGBTQ+ youth, reminding them that they are not alone and that a brighter future is possible. What started as a viral video campaign has grown into a global movement, funding life-changing projects and empowerin...
Mar 31, 2025•1 hr•Ep. 115
Send us a text Today In the Den , we’re diving into a deeply personal and courageous journey—one that bridges faith, family, and the fight for LGBTQ+ equality. Gary and Millie Watts, parents to six children, were devout members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints when their son Craig came out as gay. They chose to affirm and support their gay son in a time when there was no internet, no church support, and very little understanding. They became forces for change on many fronts, in...
Mar 27, 2025•1 hr 13 min•Ep. 114
Send us a text For many in our Mama Dragons community—and for queer folks in general—it can be hard to imagine a place for themselves within religion, and Christianity specifically, especially for those who have been shunned or hurt by their religious communities. Many have chosen to leave religion behind altogether, because it felt impossible to reconcile the theology you were taught with the deep love and support you feel for your queer kids. This week, In the Den , Sara visits with special gu...
Mar 17, 2025•1 hr 3 min•Ep. 113
Send us a text Coming out as a transgender man in the late 1980s—before the internet, before mainstream conversations about gender identity, and before widespread access to information and affirming healthcare—Jamison Green found himself navigating a world where resources were scarce, and community was hard to find. Instead of being deterred, he became a guiding light and a leader in the fight for trans visibility and rights. Now, with his latest book, A History of Transgender Medicine , he take...
Mar 10, 2025•1 hr 12 min•Ep. 112
Send us a text Creating spaces where everyone feels safe, valued, and seen is a critical task in today’s world, but inclusion has become a political battleground. Policies are being written to erase identities, restrict access, and make belonging conditional. Instead of celebrating diversity, some lawmakers and leaders seem afraid of it. The very idea of making space for all people—especially LGBTQ+ individuals—has been weaponized, leaving many wondering: How do we push forward when inclusion it...
Mar 03, 2025•1 hr 5 min•Ep. 111
Send us a text Content Warning: This episode contains brief mentions of rape and talks about addiction. Special Guest: Rikki West Rikki West is a former spiritual seeker and UC Berkeley–trained scientist who spent decades trying to reconcile scientific explanations of existence with her ordinary, real-life awareness. One adventure at a time, she found her way to a peace and beauty that changed all the questions. Her book Rootlines, a memoir of family healing, was published by She Writes Press in...
Feb 24, 2025•50 min•Ep. 110
Send us a text In today’s episode of In the Den , we confront a reality that far too many of our trans children are facing–relentless attacks from state legislatures and federal policies, bans on gender affirming care, restrictions targeting identity and expression, bathrooms, and pronouns. Trans people are under siege like never before, but there are also amazing champions for trans rights, including today’s special guest Carl Charles, senior attorney for Lambda Legal. Special Guest: Carl Charl...
Feb 17, 2025•1 hr 3 min•Ep. 109
Send us a text Supporting our queer kids and learning together about all the ways we can show up for them and ourselves is central to our Mama Dragons community. This week’s episode of In The Den dives deep into how we can support and show up for our transgender children from a place of self-reflection and joy! Special Guest: Ben Greene Ben Greene is a transgender advocate and educator who has spoken internationally on topics surrounding transgender inclusion. After coming out at 15 in a small t...
Feb 10, 2025•1 hr 6 min•Ep. 108
Send us a text Drag Story Hour is a global movement that brings the magic of storytelling, the art of drag, and the power of inclusion to libraries, schools, and community spaces, creating environments where kids can celebrate diversity, explore their imaginations, and embrace the beauty of self-expression. This week In the Den , Sara and Drag Story Hour’s Jonathon Hamilt discuss everything from the joy drag story hour brings to children and families to addressing the challenges it faces to the ...
Feb 03, 2025•58 min•Ep. 107
Send us a text Uncomfortable as it may feel, sex education, and specifically education tailored for LGBTQ+ kids, is crucial for the overall health and wellbeing of our queer kids! Today Sara talks with special guest Emmalinda MacLean about how we provide LGBTQ+ young people with the tools they need to understand themselves, build healthy relationships, and thrive in a world that often overlooks their unique experiences. Special Guest: Emmalinda MacLean Emmalinda MacLean is the Director of Curric...
Jan 27, 2025•56 min•Ep. 106
