I Stand By You with Lizette & Drew

In this episode, Drew and Lizette speak to Roberto L. Abreu (he/him/él) who is an assistant professor of Counseling Psychology and the director of the Collective Healing and Empowering VoicEs through Research and Engagement (¡Chévere!) in the Department of Psychology at the University of Florida (UF). We were so excited to talk about Roberto's research, and how his research explores the ways in which marginalized communities resist systemic oppression and promote bienestar colectivo (collective well-being), with a particular focus on the experiences of trans and queer people and their families and communities. This is an important episode about how research can teach us how to understand resiliency, as well as highlight the ways in which harmful policies actually impact marginalized communities and families.

In this Interview Drew and Lizette talk to New York Times bestseller Ashley Rhodes-Courter about foster care, the foster care system, and what love and support looks like for youth in the system. Ashley reminds us of the powerful impact just one loving person can have on a child, and that prevention is truly the key when helping families. We covered a lot in this episode, and learned a lot too. Enjoy!

In the episode, Drew speaks Lizette, Debi Jackson, and Rachel Gonzalez about the current state of anti-trans legislation that is moving through the country. They also talk about how they are feeling about the attacks on trans youth, and what they hope for the future.

In this episode Drew and Lizette talk about Drew's Big Move to Massachusetts to work for TransHealth Northampton, and Lizette's Allyship Community award (thank you SAAF and SAGA). They also talk about the current legislative attacks on transgender youth. It's a vent session and we hope you enjoy.

In this interview Drew and Lizette speak to Melissa K. Heckman, LICSW, MEd (they/them/theirs & she/her/hers) about the importance of comprehensive sex education in schools, and programs that are currently available to fill the gaps of what isn't currently taught. We also share a few embarrassing stories, which highlight what can happen when youth are not given accurate information about their bodies or how to care for themselves. We also talk about the importance of families having these discussions at home, and the lasting positive impacts that it can have on your children's views on sex, consent, and their overall well-being.

In this episode, Drew and Lizette interviewed Adiba Nelson, who is a writer and mommy advocate for her daughter Emory and disabled youth and their families in our community. Adiba is the author of "Meet ClaraBelle Blue", and her work has been featured in Huff post and various other publications. In this episode we talk about path to advocacy through necessity and love, as well as the intersections of our journeys. We also discuss the importance of continual learning, as we work towards fostering cross-cultural solidarity work. This was an incredibly rich conversation, and hope you enjoy it as much as we did.

In this episode Drew and Lizette interview Dallas Ducar, CEO of Transhealth Northampton and Clinical Lead for Mental Health Services at the MGH Transgender Health Program. They discuss the importance of system shake ups to create more equitable/accessible medical care and resources, as well, the importance of daily self reflection. They also discuss growing up in the southwest, their religious backgrounds, and how all those elements have shaped their advocacy and life today. We hope you enjoy this episode as much as we enjoyed recording it.

In this episode, Drew and Lizette talk to University of Kansas Rowing Coach and Historian, Charley Sullivan about the importance of transgender inclusion in sports. We also discuss the importance of understanding historical context when discussing important issues and policies that impact specific communities.

In this episode Drew and Lizette talk to family law lawyer and advocate, Marissa Sites Esq. She shares with us her passion for helping youth, and why racial/social justice is so important to her. We discuss the current movement of anti-trans bills attacking transgender youth across the country, and it's impacts on trans kids and their families. We also talk about how our backgrounds influenced our advocacy, and our hopes for the future. It was a fun episode to record and we hope you all enjoy it.

In this episode Dr. Drew and Lizette talk to Dr. Jamie Weinand, about transitioning in medical school, expanding transgender medicine, and his joy of publishing his medical research. They also talk about the importance of feeling comfortable with your medical provider, and navigating bias when applying to medical programs/residency.