How do our own childhood experiences shape the way we think about gender? In this episode of UNLEARN, I sit down with Slay Way, team leader at Rainbow Hub Waikato, to explore how language, culture, and lived experiences influence how we understand gender—and what that means for educators.

Together, we discuss:

• How childhood experiences shape our understanding of gender
• The power of language—when it liberates and when it limits
• Why silence on gender diversity is not neutral but upholds the status quo
• Takatāpui and Indigenous perspectives on gender—what educators can learn
• The emotional toll of advocacy and why rest is part of resistance

Slay shares powerful insights into their journey growing up in rural Aotearoa, the challenges of breaking free from rigid gender norms, and what it truly means to show up for gender-diverse students.

This episode is for educators like you - who are ready to unlearn, reflect, and take meaningful steps toward inclusion.

Find links to all mentioned resources and some helpful reflective prompts at: unlearnpod.blogspot.com