em dash podcast

Meet Amy Berman, a nurse living with Stage IV breast cancer. Amy describes the moment she went from being a nurse to being someone with a terminal illness, and she talks about living – really living – for the six and a half years since her diagnosis thanks to the care she’s received from palliative care professionals. You can follow Amy on Twitter at @NotesOnNursing.

Meet Laura Antoniou and Karen Taylor, together for 19 years. Laura is a novelist, pornographer, and self-described "pervert." Karen is a social service professional and kink aficionado. Laura, Karen, and I talk about sadomasochism, consent, and what healthcare professionals need to know in order to meet the needs of patients who practice BDSM. Also in this episode: the literary dumpster fire that is "Fifty Shades of Grey" and why you shouldn't get your sex advice from Cosmo. (If you're a healthcare professional and you're freaked out a little by the previous 4 sentences, you definitely need to listen to this episode. Seriously). You can follow Laura on Twitter at @LAntoniou.

Meet Dr. Peggy Chinn, Professor Emerita of Nursing at the University of Connecticut. Peggy and I talk about her experiences in the 1970's as a feminist lesbian nurse educator and how perceptions of lesbian nurses have changed since then. Peggy also describes the 1982 birth of "Cassandra: The Radical Feminist Nurses Network." You can follow Peggy on Twitter at @PeggyChinn

Meet Dr. Rachel Levine, Physician General for the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and Professor of Pediatrics and Psychiatry at the Penn State College of Medicine. Rachel and I talk about her experiences as a physician who is transgender, about privilege, and about the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania's commitment to transgender youth.

Meet Dr. Mitchell Tepper, a Sexuality Counselor whose focus is educating people about sexuality and disability. Mitch is a person with a spinal cord injury who has a master’s degree in public health from Yale University, a PhD in Human Sexuality Education from the University of Pennsylvania, a 30-year marriage, and a 20-year old son. He's also an AASECT-Certified Sexuality Educator, Educator Supervisor, and Sexuality Counselor. Mitch and I talk about sex, disability, and what healthcare professionals can do to be more supportive of patients with spinal cord injuries and other disabilities when it comes to sex. *Note to listeners: This episode contains content about sex. Mention is made of vibrators, cock rings, ejaculation, and erections.

Meet Charlie Blotner, a senior at Arizona State University who identifies as trans-masculine and non-binary. Charlie and I met at the Social Work Hospice and Palliative Care Network Conference in Scottsdale, Arizona after we connected via Twitter. On a sunny patio at the Scottsdale Resort at McCormick Ranch, we talk about gender, identity, body image, and healthcare.