Grab your newspaper and your leather bootlace! Estradiol Illusions returns to the Island of Sodor, covering the seminal VHS collection James Learns a Lesson. Everyone’s favorite red engine duels the selfish yet smartly dressed man, fending off threats of dysphoric blue paint from Sir Topham Hatt. As the title suggests, we learn a lot of lessons along the way, such as the value of not getting steam all over your boss, or filling up your boiler with fish from a bucket with five holes. Put on your snowplow, it’s time for a race.

This collection includes the following episodes:

1. James Learns a Lesson

For more of Ian, you can find her on Twitter @ianthomasmalone and at her website ianthomasmalone.com

Photo credit: The Britt Allcroft Company

An episode all about butts! Join host Ian Thomas Malone for a solo episode about her growing sense of body positivity, best represented through her tush, one of the many beneficiaries of HRT. Getting dressed in the morning used to be a struggle, but it’s been great to be able to look in the mirror and be relatively pleased with the butt starring back. Ian dives into a broader discussion of happiness, trying her best to not to be too pseudo-philosophical. This episode is (mostly) about butts.

Avengers assemble! Join host Ian Thomas Malone and special guest Manu of A Scene of Ice and Fire for an in-depth look at all the exciting stuff planned for the MCU. Starting with the reception to Endgame, Ian & Manu discuss all the upcoming projects planned across film & television. With so many team-ups in the works, there's a lot to look forward to in the post-Tony Stark world. Grab your fishbowl helmet and your drones and join us for a delightful conversation covering the wide scope of the superhero cosmos.

You can find Manu on Twitter @ManuclearBomb and be sure to check out his podcast A Scene of Ice and Fire 

For more of Ian, you can find her on Twitter @ianthomasmalone and at her website ianthomasmalone.com

Stannis returns! Join host Ian Thomas Malone and special guest Rohanne for an in-depth look at the colorful characters of Team Dragonstone. From Mel to Davos to Duram Bar Emmon, the Dragonstone chapters in A Clash of Kings and A Storm of Swords provided so many memorable moments. Stannis may not have found his purpose until he reached the Wall, but everyone’s favorite cuddly curmudgeon is a lot of fun in his natural habitat, even if he never asked for it.

This episode is part two of our ten-part coverage of the One True King. 

You can follow Rohanne on Twitter @girl_hag & @bestofcarice (Carice van Houten fan account)

Another politics episode! Join host Ian Thomas Malone and special guest Natalie Holme Elsberg for a wide-ranging discussion on progressive politics in the age of Trump. Natalie is a progressive grassroots activist who was an early supporter of Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and a volunteer for Bernie Sanders’ 2016 and 2020 campaigns. Natalie shares some insight into the rise of AOC and the need for progressive voices in D.C. at a time when little seems to be getting done on Capitol Hill. Ian & Natalie also discuss the current state of the 2020 race and the way the primary has been shaping up thus far.

You can follow Natalie on Twitter @NatalieElsberg

Grab your gamepad and join host Ian Thomas Malone and special guest Spencer Scott Holmes for a retrospective on the Wii U. Nintendo’s rather unloved child possesses a wonderfully deep roster of games, many of which have since been ported to the Switch. Ian & Spencer talk about the highlights of the system and its library, as well as the reasons why the Wii U never seemed to get the love it deserved.

If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to check out Spencer’s previous EI appearance on the two-part  “The Fall of Sega”

For more of Spencer, you can follow him on Twitter @SpencerSHolmes and be sure to check out the Old Man Orange Podcast & Pizza Boys Comic Series 

New recap series here at Estradiol Illusions! Welcome to TTTE & Chill, where we’ll be taking a train ride to the Island of Sodor to cover Thomas the Tank Engine, one VHS tape at a time. Ian & Tara take on the very first release, Thomas Gets Tricked, breaking down each episode faster than the breakdown train! Get down with the chug life and have some fun with us in Henry’s Tunnel!

The episodes covered in this tape are:

1. Thomas Gets Tricked

Note: These recaps will feature the American dub narrated by Ringo Starr. If your VCR is a little dusty, fear not. The episodes can be found on many streaming platforms.

Photo credit: The Britt Allcroft Company

Ever wonder why a person decides to become gender critical? The logic behind TERF ideology often boggles the mind, but host Ian Thomas Malone sat down with Mumsnet poster Cosy Snarker for a look at what drives her hate. Ms. Snarker explains how she became involved with the movement to impede LGBTQ rights, putting aside her afternoon television schedule to spend some time swatting away efforts to reach across the aisle. Cosy may shock and horrify, but she provides plenty of insight into the anti-transgender movement.

Cosy refused to share any of her social media or contact information, but she did supply a photograph with the final of three bottles of Campari she required to conduct this interview. 

No more wars! Join host Ian Thomas Malone and Adriel Hampton, senior advisor to the Mike Gravel 2020 campaign for a fascinating discussion of the state of the 2020 race. Senator Gravel's campaign has been lead by teenagers David Oks and Henry Williams, who recently pulled off the very impressive feat of amassing over 65,000 individual donors, one of two thresholds for qualification for the upcoming Democratic primary debates on July 30th & 31st. Ian and Adriel discuss the polling challenges which leave Senator Gravel's place on the stage up in the air, as well as the Senator's policy positions. Senator Gravel has been an iconic voice in progressive politics for decades and we look forward to following his exciting campaign.

You can learn more about Senator Gravel on his campaign website and on Twitter @MikeGravel

You can follow Adriel on Twitter @adrielhampton and on his website.

To support Adriel's political action committee advancing progressive values, check out The Lefty League and follow them on Twitter @theleftyleague

To find more of Ian, follow her on twitter @ianthomasmalone and check out her website ianthomasmalone.com

Estradiol Illusions goes international again! Join host Ian Thomas Malone and special guest Caitlin Spice for a discussion on the evolution of transgender rights in New Zealand. Caitlin shares her insight as a trans woman, explaining the history of the fight for LGBTQ equality in her country. Topics include healthcare, the legislative process, and the role of "debate" in modern discourse. Caitlin brings a fascinating perspective to complex issues, shedding light on why New Zealand's political climate is far less toxic than the United States.

You can find Caitlin on Twitter at @CateSpice, as well as on the No Sleep Podcast, and on the Hallowdine Library subreddit.