Estradiol Illusions

We are delighted to welcome Bradford Thomason and Brett Wittcomb, directors of the new documentary Jasper Mall, to the show. One of Ian's favorites at the Slamdance Film Festival, Jasper Mall charts a year in the life of the eponymous shopping center, struggling to keep up with a changing American retail landscape. Bradford & Brett share many insights from making the film, and the state of brick-and-mortar commerce. Jasper Mall is a must-watch for anyone feeling nostalgic for a time when we weren't all cooped up with nowhere to go.

The trailer for the film: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-LWYYcg0nuA&t=9s

To learn more about the film and how to watch, please visit https://www.window-pictures.com/jasper-mall

Ian's pre-Slamdance review of the film: https://ianthomasmalone.com/2020/01/slamdance-review-jasper-mall/

Film poster courtesy of Jasper Mall. 

We are delighted to welcome author & LGBTQ activist Amanda Jetté Knox to the show for a wide ranging discussion. Amanda shares her thoughts on absurd gender critical talking points such as "lesbian erasure" and "transing children," while providing plenty of insight into the care and concerns that go into raising trans youth alongside a trans partner. Fully embodying the mantra put forth in her appropriately titled book Love Lives Live, Amanda's family is a shining example of how trans people can thrive in loving environments.

You can purchase Love Lives Here (highly recommended) wherever books are sold.

Be sure to follow Amanda on Facebook and Twitter, https://www.facebook.com/mavenofmayhem/ & @Mavenofmayhem

Photo courtesy of Amanda Jetté Knox

Ya boo snubs! Join Ian & Tarabelle for another edition of everyone's favorite Thomas the Tank Engine VHS recap show. James Goes Buzz Buzz introduces the first hand-drawn animation into the show, perhaps opening the doors for its later reliance on CGI. BoCo features prominently, coparenting Bill & Ben with his husband Edward. Gordon spends the night at the harbor, potentially stranding all the passengers from the main line with him. Did the Lady with the Green hat get home safe? Tune in to find out.

This collection includes the following episodes:

1. James Goes Buzz Buzz

VHS cover photo courtesy of the Britt Allcroft Company

Grab your Switch and your Nook Miles Tickets because we are going island hopping! Join ITM & special guest Natty Strange, comedian, organizer and coauthor of Pokey the Penguin, for a wide-ranging discussion on life in everyone's favorite quasi-capitalistic utopia.

Ian & Nat tackle the broader philosophical questions that ACNH. Are Tom Nook & Redd former lovers? Is Isabelle a neoliberal? Why doesn't Dodo Airlines chart mystery islands for return visits? What is Gulliver(varrr)'s deal? All of that and more! 

You can follow Nat on Twitter @nuns_on_film

Be sure to check out Pokey the Penguin's latest adventures by checking out Pokey's website https://www.yellow5.com/pokey/ & @pokeythepenguin

Cover image courtesy of Nintendo

Today we are joined by Heather Reid, cofounder of the iconic 90s duo The Murmurs. Heather talks about her impressive career and life as a lesbian in an era far less receptive to LGBTQ rights. Heather also talks about her recent projects, including a new single "Right Here Right Now," and the musical she's currently working on. A must-listen for 90s rock fans. 

Be sure to check out Heather's new video for "Right Here Right Now" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BY6nVP6KZIE

To keep up with Heather, be sure to follow her website http://heatherreidmusic.com/ & on Twitter @Heathmusic

Photo courtesy of Heather Reid

Today we are joined by Lendale Johnson, the first openly gay male professional tennis player & star of the upcoming series "Deuces & Love." Lendale talks about his experiences supporting the Black Lives Matter movement and participating in the recent protests. Lendale also shares his experiences acting in the pilot for Fox's Empire and how the intersection of tennis and acting inspired his new show. Join us for a wide-ranging discussion on LGBTQ representation in sports & show business.

To learn more about Lendale's career, please check out his website www.lendalejohnson.com

You can also follow Lendale on Twitter & Instagram @LendaleJohnson

"Deuces & Love" will premiere on Amazon Video later in 2020. Stay tuned for updates on Lendale's website & social media.

Photo credit: Robbin Phillips.

Today we are joined by Carl Charles, staff attorney at Lambda Legal, to discuss the ongoing case Whitman-Walker Clinic v. HHS, which centers around a recent rollback of LGBTQ healthcare protections within the Affordable Care Act by the Trump administration. Carl eloquently explains the case for a general audience and the dangers that this HHS rule presents to the LGBTQ community, particularly transgender individuals. This episode is a must-listen for people confused as to how such a rollback would be allowed after June's historic Supreme Court ruling.

To learn more about the case or to support Lambda Legal's great work on behalf of the LGBTQ community, please visit www.lambdalegal.org

Lambda Legal also posts great analysis on Twitter @lambdalegal

You can follow Carl on Twitter @oh_rarl

Photos courtesy of Lambda Legal

Woo-woo! Grab your milk van and be sure to follow fitter’s orders, because it’s time for another episode of Thomas the Tank Engine & Chill. Daisy doesn’t get many speaking roles in TTTE, but everyone’s favorite female diesel rail car made quite the first impression. This collection also includes the infamous “Whistles and Sneezes” saga, where Henry fends off some evil boys using only his stuffed up smoke box. Trevor also makes his debut, dreaming of uncomfortable subjects…

This collection includes the following episodes:

1. Daisy

Photo courtesy of the Britt Allcroft Company

Join ITM for a solo episode on the 2016 Richard Linklater film, Everybody Wants Some!! Ian talks about the college coming-of-age comedy and the ways it reminded her of her own college experience. Nostalgia is a powerful, often toxic force that suffocates people in the past. Nostalgia can be a particularly perplexing force for transgender folk, parsing the good from the bad with the understanding that longing for ones memory is a dangerous proposition. 

Ian's review of the film: https://ianthomasmalone.com/2020/07/everybody-wants-some-presents-a-subtle-indictment-of-nostalgia/

Film poster courtesy of Paramount Pictures

***Note this episode is probably not for everyone.***

There are many in the gender critical movement who think transgender people are sexless blobs, incapable of any pleasure whatsoever. Ian debunks the nonsense, explaining how her wand vibrator helped her rediscover her sexuality after bottom surgery. This subject is certainly an awkward one for many, Ian included, but there's a lot of misinformation out there. The "othering" of trans people is based on a lot of myths and false theories.