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In the Den this week is the incredible Brian Selznick—yep, the genius behind The Invention of Hugo Cabret, which became the beloved movie Hugo, directed by Martin Scorsese. He also wrote Wonderstruck, The Marvels, and so many other beautiful, genre-blending books that mix stunning illustrations with powerful storytelling. Brian isn’t just a wildly talented author and artist—he’s also part of the LGBTQ+ community, and he brings that perspective into his work in such thoughtful and creative ways. His stories often center around characters who are finding their place in the world, discovering who they are, and learning how to be fully themselves—all themes that really resonate with our mission here at Mama Dragons.

Special Guest: Brian Selznick

Brian Selznick is an award-winning author and illustrator, whose groundbreaking books have sold millions of copies and been translated into over 35 languages. He revolutionized storytelling with The Invention of Hugo Cabret, a #1 New York Times bestseller, which won the Caldecott Medal and was adapted into Martin Scorsese’s Oscar-winning film Hugo. His bestsellers Wonderstruck and The Marvels further cemented his reputation as one of publishing’s most imaginative storytellers. Selznick also illustrated the 20th anniversary covers of the Harry Potter series and collaborated with Steven Spielberg and Chris Meledandri on Big Tree. He lives in Brooklyn and La Jolla with his husband, Dr. David Serlin.

Links from the Show:

• Brian’s website: https://brianselznick.com/ 
• Find Brian’s book here: https://bookshop.org/beta-search?keywords=brian+selznick 
• Join Mama Dragons here: www.mamadragons.org

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In our Mama Dragons community, we know how transformative it is to witness the joy and authenticity of LGBTQ+ young people, and today In the Den we get to introduce you to two people who are helping make that visibility possible on a national scale. Sara visits with Jen Grosshandler, founder of the groundbreaking organization GenderCool, and her incredible daughter Chazzie. GenderCool is a youth-led movement replacing misinformed opinions with powerful, positive experiences by elevating the voices of transgender and nonbinary young people who are thriving, talented, and simply being themselves.

Special Guest: Jen Grosshandler 

Jen and her husband John are the parents of four kids: three sons and their youngest transgender daughter Chazzie, who is 19 and thriving. Born and raised in Georgia, Jen’s focused the last decade on having reasonable, calm conversations with friends and family who may not understand what it means to raise a transgender daughter. This work led Jen to help create The GenderCool Project, a national nonprofit helping folks evolve their opinions by simply meeting transgender kids and their

families. Jen has been featured in national media, including TODAY, Good Morning America, USA Today, Associated Press, New York Times and Forbes.

Special Guest: Chazzie Grosshandler 

Chazzie Grosshandler is a 19 year old young woman singularly focused on living her life with purpose. She is the inspiration behind a global movement called The Gendercool Project, a non-profit organization helping to replace misinformed opinions with positive experiences meeting transgender & nonbinary young people who are thriving. Chazzie realizes that by telling her powerful, positive story, she helps people understand that transgender and nonbinary kids are just like all other kids.

At 11 years old, she shared her story nationally on TODAY and helped launch GenderCool to a global audience. She has spoken at corporations, conferences, black-tie galas, houses of worship and schools across the country and has been featured in national media including The New York Times, USA Today, ABC News, Hulu, NBC News, Adweek, and Teen Vogue among other outlets.  She is a GLAAD 20 under 20, and has had the great honor of speaking at the White House and collaborating with the Biden administration around progressing equality for transgender and nonbinary young people. 

Links from the Show: 

• Find the GenderCool website here: https://gendercool.org/ 
• Join Mama Dragons here: www.mamadragons.org 

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As a lesbian, raised by a lesbian, and now the mother of a lesbian daughter, Angela Harvey brings a unique and deeply personal multigenerational perspective to the journey of LGBTQ+ identity and parenting. Her lived experience of navigating queerness within three generations of women has brought both the wisdom and compassion to speak to the challenges and joys of raising—and being—an LGBTQ+ child. Today In the Den, Sara talks with Angela about creating transformative spaces centered on healing, identity, and empowerment

Special Guest: Angela Harvey

Angela Harvey is a multifaceted speaker, author, poet, filmmaker, and advocate whose work centers on the intersections of personal growth, mental health, and LGBTQ+ empowerment. With over 25 years of experience, Angela's background as a social worker and facilitator informs her impactful approach to storytelling, which she weaves into everything from her debut poetry self-help book Poetic Alchemy to her award-winning documentary Black Rainbow Love. As the Director of Black Rainbow Love and the founder of Let’s TALK University, Angela is deeply committed to creating spaces that elevate the voices and experiences of marginalized communities, particularly the Black LGBTQ+ population. Through her writing, films, and workshops, Angela Harvey continues to transform narratives, empower others, and advocate for emotional healing, resilience, and authentic self-expression.

Links from the Show:

• Black Rainbow Love: https://filmfreeway.com/BlackRainbowLove500 
• Find Angela’s books here: https://sites.google.com/view/poeticalchemy/home/?trk=public_post-text 
• An article about Angela: https://www.voyageraleigh.com/interview/conversations-with-angela-harvey/ 
• Join Mama Dragons today: www.mamadragons.org 

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Mama Dragons is a global community with members and groups in many countries around the world. We're proud to have a dedicated Puerto Rico regional group where their Mama Dragons are making meaningful connections and amplifying voices across the island. Today In the Den, Sara talks with Miguel Vasquez, executive director of The True Self Foundation, an LGBTQ+ organization that is a beacon of hope and authenticity for queer folks in Puerto Rico. In this episode, Miguel shares the origins of True Self Foundation, how it grew into what it is today, and the ways they’re shaping a more inclusive and affirming society—from grassroots support to island-wide outreach. 

Special Guest: Miguel Vasquez

Dr. Miguel Vázquez-Rivera holds a Master's Degree in Research in Clinical Psychology (Autonomous University of Barcelona) and a Master's and a Doctorate Degree in Clinical Psychology (Carlos Albizu University). He has researched topics such as sexual and gender diversity and problematic substance use. He has presented his research in Puerto Rico, the United States, Mexico, Spain, The Bahamas, Colombia, South Africa and Peru. He has published social responsibility articles on various topics in psychology and is editor of Problematic Drug Use: Foundations, Intervention, Diversity, is the lead editor of the book Trans, Queer and Non-Binary Communities: Presence and Resistance, a textbook co-written with the community, and lead editor in LGBT 101: An introductory look at the community, first textbook for LGBT communities in Puerto Rico.  Also, he is the author of the therapeutic manual Salud LGBT+: A therapeutic manual for working with communities. He is the co-founder of Psicoalternativas, is co-founder and Executive Director of True Self Foundation and co-founder of Mente Serena, a digital platform to make mental health services more accessible. Throughout his career he has received awards such as: Graduate of the Year 2015 from Carlos Albizu University and Psychologist of the Year 2015 and Outstanding Professional in Public Policy and Public Service 2020, from the Puerto Rico Association of Psychology.

Links from the Show:

• Find the True Self Foundation’s website here: https://www.trueselffoundation.org/ 
• Shop for True Self Foundation gear: https://true-self-foundation-store.printify.me/ 
• Donate to the True Self Foundation here: https://www.trueselffoundation.org/donar/ 
• Join Mama Dragons today: www.mamadragons.org

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In a time when stories are under siege, especially those that center queer characters and themes, we’re seeing a rise in book bans and legislative efforts aimed at erasing LGBTQ+ experiences from classrooms and libraries. Just last month, The U.S. Supreme Court handed a victory to Montgomery County parents who object, for religious reasons, to the school system’s use of LGBTQ+ themed books in classrooms, saying parents should be allowed to opt their children out of such classes. Today In the Den, Sara is joined by Lee Wind, advocate, educator, and author whose work helps fill the shelves with stories LGBTQ+ youth so deeply need. 

Special Guest: Lee Wind

Lee Wind’s superpower is stories – true and fictional – that center marginalized kids and teens and celebrate their power to change the world. Closeted until his 20s, Lee writes the books that would have changed his life as a young gay kid. His Masters Degree from Harvard didn’t include blueprints for a time machine to go back and tell these stories to himself, so Lee pays it forward with a popular blog with over 3 million page views (I’m Here. I’m Queer. What The Hell Do I Read?) and books for kids and teens.

His latest book is Red and Green and Blue and White, a picture book illustrated by Caldecott-winning illustrator Paul O. Zelinsky (Levine Querido.) It has received five starred trade reviews and the New York Times called it “beautiful.” Lee’s middle grade nonfiction No Way, They Were Gay? Hidden Lives and Secret Loves (Lerner Publishing Group/Zest Books), was honored as a Junior Library Guild Gold Standard selection and was selected for the Chicago Public Library’s 2021 Best of the Best Books list. He is also the author of the crowd-funded YA novel Queer as a Five-Dollar Bill, featured as a Publishers Weekly Indie Success Story, and one of Publishers Weekly’s Top Five Independently Published Middle Grade and Young Adult Books of 2018. 

With day jobs for the Independent Book Publishers Association (as their director of education and programs) and the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators (as their official blogger), Lee’s superhero job is storytelling to empower readers to shine with their own light. 

Links from the Show: 

• Lee’s website: https://www.leewind.org/ 
• Lee’s books: https://bookshop.org/beta-search?keywords=lee+wind  
• Subscribe to Lee’s newsletter here: https://mailchi.mp/fc7b55fc0636/leewindsignup 
• Join Mama Dragons today: www.mamadragons.org 

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For queer youth, belonging isn’t a luxury, it’s a lifeline. In a world that too often tells them they don’t fit, affirming spaces can be the difference between surviving and thriving. The power of belonging becomes both healing and revolutionary. Today In the Den,we’re diving into this topic, exploring the life-saving power of queer-led youth spaces that help foster that sense of belonging. Sara talks with two incredible guests who are working to create just such a space, the Rev. Dr. John Leedy, the Executive Director of Kindom Community, and Andy Hackett, Program Director. 

Special Guest: Rev. Dr. John Leedy

John Leedy (he/him) is a Presbyterian pastor and has a bi-vocational calling, serving as both the Executive Director of kin•dom community and the Associate Pastor of Hope Church in Austin, TX. He holds a B.A. in Youth & Family Ministry from Abilene Christian University, an MDiv. from Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary, and a Doctor of Ministry degree in Christian Formation and Liturgical Theology also from APTS. He is a Benedictine Oblate of St. Meinrad Archabbey, has a long history of camp & conference work, and lives in Austin with his wife and pastoral colleague, Rev. Dr. Krystal Leedy, along with their two daughters. John came on staff as a camp counselor at the first ever kin•dom camp in Texas and knew immediately that this work would not only change his life, but would change the lives of countless other LGBTQIA+ young people who are in need of brave spaces marked by love, inclusion, care, and celebration. 

Special Guest: Andy Hackett

Andy Hackett (he/him) holds a BS in Child Development with a minor in Political Science from Texas Woman’s University. He is also certified Lifeguard/First Aid/CPR instructor and Level 1 challenge course practitioner. He lives and works full time at a Camp and Conference Center in East Texas with his dog, Baxter. Andy grew up attending a specialty camp for children with celiac disease, and after coming out as transgender, he thought "We need a camp like this for LGBTQ+ kids"- and kin•dom camp was born! He develops programs and activities that happen at camp, helps us find and train the amazing individuals that join our summer staff, and is the face behind emails reminding you to register for camp! 

Links from the Show: 

• Kindom Camp: https://kindomcommunity.org/camp
• Queer Camp Directory: https://directory.queercampfair.com/
• Gluten-Free Cookbook: https://theloopywhisk.com/ 
• Join Mama Dragons today: www.mamadragons.com

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Since last fall, when the United States v. Skrmetti arguments first landed in the Supreme Court, Mama Dragons has been at the forefront—supporting families at rallies, hosting virtual listening circles, and amplifying the voices of trans youth and their parents. We’ve stood shoulder to shoulder with them through every legal hearing and public moment. Today In the Den, Sara joins political strategist Sam Ames to unpack what the Court’s decision allowing states to enforce bans on gender-affirming care for minors–and other recent rulings–mean for our families, our communities, and our collective future.

Special Guest: Sam Ames

Sam Ames (they/he) is a legal and policy strategist with 15 years of leadership experience in the LGBTQI+ movement. Sam served in the Biden-Harris Administration as Chief of Staff in the Department of Education Office for Civil Rights and Senior Advisor in the Department of Health and Human Services Substance Abuse & Mental Health Services Administration. Sam began their legal career as a staff attorney at the National Center for Lesbian Rights, working on impact litigation cases involving marriage equality, employment discrimination, and family law, and in 2013 founded the Born Perfect Campaign, a national effort to end anti-LGBTQI+ conversion therapy.

Sam has spent their advocacy career working on behalf of a broad range of organizations focused on the intersections between mental health and civil rights. In 2016, Sam took a brief hiatus from law and policy to earn a graduate degree in religion, ethics, and politics with a focus on religious trauma, and spent a year in a hospital chaplain residency at UCSF Medical Center and Langley Porter Psychiatric Hospital. Sam received their B.A. from the University of California Santa Cruz; their J.D. from George Washington University Law School; and their Master of Theological Studies from Harvard University. They are a member of the U.S. Supreme Court Bar and the State Bar of California. 

In their abundant spare time, Sam is a theatre lover, a shark enthusiast, and a five-time AIDS LifeCycle rider (You can even donate to their 2025 ride). They have also authored several children’s books on the places where science, history, and social justice intersect.

Links from the Show: 

• More about Sam: https://thresholdstrategies.org/about 
• Sam’s post, written after Skrmetti: https://samamesesq.medium.com/what-u-s-v-skrmetti-did-and-what-it-can-never-do-72465ad39a70 
• Join Mama Dragons today: www.mamadragons.org

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There is currently a lot of public discourse around what an LGBTQ+ ally is and isn’t.  We know that our listening audience wants to be allying well and often, and as the political climate in the country continues to put our LGBTQ+ loved ones in the crosshairs, it has become increasingly important that we get our allyship right. This week In the Den, we’re re-airing this important episode from 2024, in which Jen sits down with Sara Burlingame, Executive Director of Wyoming Equality, to talk about ways that we can improve our efforts at being good allies to the LGBTQ+ community. 

Special Guest: Sara Burlingame

Sara is the Executive Director of Wyoming Equality, a statewide advocacy group who works to build broad and inclusive communities, shift the hearts and minds of our neighbors, and achieve policy victories. Sara was the only non-Mormon blogger at Feminist Mormon Housewives, before working as a faith organizer with the Human Rights Campaign. A longtime Cheyenne, Wyoming, resident, she loves to spend time with her family reading, watching her sons play baseball, and camping in the most beautiful place on Earth.

Links from the Show:

• Equality Wyoming: https://www.wyomingequality.org/ 
• Join Mama Dragons today: www.mamadragons.org 
• Mama Dragons on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mamadragons 
• Mama Dragons on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/themamadragons/ 

In the Den is made possible by generous donors like you. Help us continue to deliver quality content by becoming a donor today at mamadragons.org. 

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Content Warning: Talk of Suicide

If you are having thoughts of suicide or self harm, please call or text 988, or chat 988lifeline.org

This week, we’re rereleasing an important episode that first aired in 2023. The information contained in this interview is critical for parents of LGBTQ+ children to understand, so we’re sharing it again and hope you’ll listen (or re-listen). Misconceptions and stigma can make suicide hard to understand, but talking about it can make a huge difference. Mama Dragons is committed to keeping the conversation at the forefront of our group to help conquer those misconceptions and help lower suicide rates. In this week’s episode of In the Den, our show’s original host Jen talks with special guest Taryn Aiken Hiatt about factors that impact suicide risk, warning signs of suicidality, and what to do when someone you know is having thoughts of suicide. 

Special Guest: Taryn Aiken Hiatt 

Taryn is a dedicated advocate with a passion for changing the culture around mental health, suicide and substance use disorders.  She is a loss survivor, losing her dad in 2002, and an attempt survivor who lives in recovery today. Taryn founded and is the executive director for the Utah Chapter of the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention. She has testified before congress in Washington DC to increase awareness and support for better access to mental health services and to promote healthy discussions about suicide. She is widely respected throughout the nation for her hard work and dedication to saving lives. Taryn is finishing the Master's in Social Work program at UVU and graduates in May 2024. Taryn believes in the power of human connection and is dedicated to preventing suicide.

Links from the Show: 

• Donate to the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention: www.afsp.org 
• Find a local support group through AFSP: https://afsp.org/find-a-local-chapter/ 
• Volunteer with AFSP: https://afsp.org/advocate-for-suicide-prevention/ 
• National Alliance of Mental Illness: https://www.nami.org/Home 
• Join Mama Dragons today: www.mamadragons.org 

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We first aired this episode in 2023, but with all of the firestorm around transgender people and their place in society, we wanted to share this interview with our listeners again. American actor and musician Emmett Preciado visits with In the Den’s original host Jen about his experience growing up as a transgender boy in a conservative religion. He candidly talks about a range of topics from transition to his experiences with dating to experiencing Hollywood as a trans man. You won’t want to miss this thoughtful glimpse into Emmett’s life and the wisdom he’s gained through embracing his transgender identity. 

Special Guest: Emmett Preciado

Emmett Preciado, formerly known as Emmett Claren, is an American transgender actor and singer-songwriter of Spanish, Mexican, and European descent. He was born in Merced, California, but grew up in Chilton, Wisconsin. Emmett grew up in, and served a full-time mission for, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. After briefly attending BYU Idaho, he dropped out to physically transition and to seriously pursue his acting career. Emmett is known for his role as Rowan on Freeform's Good Trouble, Rio Gutierrez on ABC’s The Good Doctor, and has worked with The Trevor Project and The National LGBTQ Task Force.

Links from the Show:

Emmett on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@emmettpreciado

Emmett on IG: https://www.instagram.com/emmettpreciado

Emmett on FB: https://www.facebook.com/emmettpreciado/

Emmett on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCyx59LUSE0uhgqDSF0MzipA

Early documentary with Emmett: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zzyroz1OgSA

New article about Emmett: https://www.emmettpreciado.com/p/news.html

Emmett’s website: https://www.emmettpreciado.com/

Emmett’s top surgery reaction video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hofq-y2WHHo&ab_channel=EmmettPreciado 

Emmett dueting with himself pre-transition: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=72Na68cO3_I&t=9s&ab_channel=EmmettPreciado 

Join Mama Dragons here: www.mamadragons.org 

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