In The Den with Mama Dragons

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Uncomfortable as it may feel, sex education, and specifically education tailored for LGBTQ+ kids, is crucial for the overall health and wellbeing of our queer kids! Today Sara talks with special guest Emmalinda MacLean about how we provide LGBTQ+ young people with the tools they need to understand themselves, build healthy relationships, and thrive in a world that often overlooks their unique experiences. 

Special Guest: Emmalinda MacLean

Emmalinda MacLean is the Director of Curriculum & Instruction and Co-Founder of More Than Sex-Ed, whose mission is to nourish healthy development through honest conversation about sex and sexuality. She leads Our Whole Lives trainings around the country, coaching new sex educators on our inclusive, values-centered approach. Emmalinda is especially proud of her work on consent education, from the creation of the bubble-wrap game to the publication of her children’s book, Everybody, Every Body! California born and raised; UCLA graduate; horror movie fan; plant nerd. Pronouns: she/her

Links from the Show:

• Circles of Sexuality: https://www.researchgate.net/figure/Circles-of-Sexuality-Image-provided-by-the-Unitarian-Universalist-Association-and-the_fig2_340493152 
• Our Whole Lives curriculum: https://www.uua.org/re/owl 
• More than Sex-Ed resources and booklist: https://www.morethansex-ed.org/resources-for-adults
• Sex is a Funny Word: https://www.corysilverberg.com/sex-is-a-funny-word 
• What Makes a Baby: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/15701778-what-makes-a-baby 
• Transgender School: https://transgenderschool.org/ 
• Okay So: https://okayso.org/about-us 
• Sex, etc.: https://sexetc.org/ 
• Scarleteen https://www.scarleteen.com/
• Sex ed chat: https://www.plannedparenthood.org/learn/roo-sexual-health-chatbot
• Sex ed delays sexual debut: https://www.jahonline.org/article/S1054-139X(20)30456-0/fulltext 
• GSAs in schools reduce suicidality: https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/simply-having-gay-straight-alliance-reduces-suicide-risk-all-students-180949462/   

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Anyone who has ever experienced bullying or teasing of any kind has probably heard the saying, “Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me.” Really though, words can hurt, and the words we use matter. They can heal, connect, and empower, or they can harm and exclude. Words have power, and in today’s episode of In the Den, Sara talks with special guest Alex Kapitan to unpack what inclusive language really means, why it’s more than just "political correctness," and how we can all take steps to communicate more authentically and inclusively in our everyday lives.

Special Guest: Alex Kapitan

Alex is the founder of Radical Copyeditor, a transformative resource for using language in ways that align with our deepest values of equity and justice. Alex is a queer and trans activist, writer, speaker, and editor who’s dedicated to helping people use language as a tool for liberation, rather than oppression. 

Links From the Show: 

• Radical Copyeditor website: https://radicalcopyeditor.com/
• More about Alex here: https://radicalcopyeditor.com/author/alexkapitan/
• Join Mama Dragons today: www.mamadragons.com 

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Activism takes many forms, from frontline advocacy and protests to behind the scenes legal work and policy-making to creative visioning and artistic expression. Today’s guest In the Den is an amazing human who weaves all of these forms of justice work into her life. Sara talks with activist, civil rights attorney, and poet Sunu Chandy about her life, her poetry, and how art acts as an integral piece of her activism.

Special Guest: Sunu P. Chandy

Sunu Chandy (she/her) is a social justice activist through her work as a poet and a civil rights attorney.  She’s a queer woman of color, and the daughter of immigrants from India. Sunu lives in D.C. with her family. Her award-winning collection of poems My Dear Comrades was published by Regal House in 2023. Sunu’s work can also be found in Asian American Literary Review, Beltway Poetry Quarterly, Poets on Adoption, The Quarry, and in anthologies includingThe Penguin Book of Indian PoetsandThe Long Devotion: Poets Writing Motherhood. Sunu is currently a Senior Advisor with Democracy Forward, and working with colleagues on Democracy 2025. She is also on the board of the Transgender Law Center and was included as one the Washington Blade’s Queer Women of Washington..  Sunu is delighted to celebrate My Dear Comrades alongside the book's cover artist, Ragni Agarwal.

Links from the Show: 

• Sunu’s website: https://www.sunuchandy.net/ 
• Find My Dear Comrades here:  https://bookshop.org/p/books/my-dear-comrades-sunu-p-chandy/18579401?ean=9781646033195&next=t
• Democracy 2025: https://www.democracy2025.org/ 
• Democracy Forward: https://democracyforward.org/
• Join Mama Dragons today: www.mamadragons.org 

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So many of us lead overly busy lives and often find ourselves consumed with caring for others, including our children. Self-care is often the last thing on our priority list. Perhaps the whole concept of self-care feels frivolous or trendy. In today’s episode of In the Den, Sara sits down with Reverend Florence Caplow, a Zen priest and teacher, to discuss the reality of self-care and some very practical suggestions for prioritizing personal well-being so that we’re better equipped to care for ourselves and those around us. 

Special Guest: Rev. Florence Caplow 

Rev. Florence Caplow is a queer UU minister and an ordained Soto Zen priest and teacher, as well as a climate change and social justice activist, writer, and change coach. She regularly leads classes at Zen Centers around the country, and she offers one-on-one coaching for big life changes/transitions. To learn more about her you can visit her website, www.cloudway.live.

Links From the Show: 

• The Greater Good Science Center https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/ 
• Rest Is Resistance Tricia Hersey: https://www.hachettebookgroup.com/titles/tricia-hersey/rest-is-resistance/9780316365536/ 
• The Nap Ministry Rest Deck: https://rep.club/products/nap-ministry-rest-deck?srsltid=AfmBOooY7EHhGScb4MXTpWDzEnCUr0CzyqMPb-QjbzOc6VR4q2kZ-DW4 
• The Contemplative Pastor: https://www.eerdmans.com/9781467418874/the-contemplative-pastor/ 
• Rev. Caplow’s website: www.cloudway.live 
• Rev. Caplow offers coaching here: https://www.cloudway.live/change-coaching 
• Real Self-Care by Pooja Lakshmin: https://www.poojalakshmin.com/realselfcare 
• Join Mama Dragons today: www.mamadragons.org 

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

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It isn’t unusual for LGBTQ+ people to decide to come out to their families during the holidays, and we want to help it go as smoothly as possible for everyone.This week In the Den, we’re throwing it back to replay an important past episode, where Jen spoke with Neca Allgood about what to do when your child first comes out to you. They discuss common mistakes and how to avoid them. They also cover what to do when you don’t get things right the first time.  It’s an important conversation for parents with LGBTQ+ children of any age. 

Special Guest: Neca Allgood

Neca Allgood is the mother of a transgender son. She is a former president of Mama Dragons, a current Mama Dragons board member, and a former board member of Affirmation: LGBTQ Mormons, families, and friends. Neca and her husband own a small engineering consulting company. She has a PhD in Molecular Biology. 

Links From the Show:

• Comprehensive, inclusive, shame-free sex ed can be found at Planned Parenthood https://www.plannedparenthood.org/learn/for-educators 
• Join Mama Dragons here: www.mamadragons.org

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

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Content Warning: This episode discusses suicide. 

According to the CDC, suicide is the second-leading cause of death for teens and young adults, and LGBTQ+ youth are more than four times as likely to attempt suicide than their peers. Additionally, there’s often an increase in suicidality and mental health crises around the holiday season, especially in the days that directly follow the holiday itself. This week’s In the Den episode is a conversation between Sara and special guests Beth Markley and Elizabeth Kingsley about suicide prevention strategies. They discuss practical suggestions of how to help suicidal loved ones and provide tools for talking about mental health and suicide more openly and directly.

Special Guest: Beth Markley

Beth is the Executive Director of NAMI Idaho. NAMI is the National Alliance on Mental Illness. Beth has been in the nonprofit world for more than 25 years. She is a feature article writer and content developer and has been a regular contributor for several local publications. She has served as an adjunct professor at Boise State University for a course on nonprofit management and is active in her community serving on a number of Boards.

Special Guest: Elizabeth Kingsley

Elizabeth has transitioned from being an ultra Trad wife, stay-at-home and scrupulously religious mother to being a happily divorced, self-expressed, open-hearted single mom. She loves life now with her passel of queer children. They have taught her how to fully accept and love herself as she easily accepts her children.

Links from the Show: 

• The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI): https://www.nami.org/ 
• Resources for family members and caregivers: https://www.nami.org/your-journey/family-members-and-caregivers/ 
• NAMI Publications and handbooks: https://24-7.master-print.com/NAMI/UserJCatalog.aspx?category=1 
• The 988 Lifeline website:  https://988lifeline.org/ 
• QPR Suicide Prevention Training: https://www.mamadragons.org/suicide-prevention-training 
• Join Mama Dragons today: www.mamadragons.org 

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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When you and your family have spent your lives rooted in a particular religious tradition only to realize that your tradition does not openly welcome, support, and affirm your LGBTQ+ child or family member, it can be devastating. As a result, many parents end up leaving church. Some leave because of a lack of support, some because the church leaders and community shunned them or turned against them, some because they have a complete crisis of faith, unable to reconcile their love and support of their queer kids with the theological teachings of the church, leaving religion and faith behind altogether. Then the holiday season comes around, with various celebrations and traditions combining family and religion, and it can be overwhelming, confusing, and frustrating to know how to honor these traditions and engage in celebrations with a sense of meaning and authenticity. This week In the Den, Sara talks with Brittney Hartley, author of No Nonsense Spirituality, about possible ways to reframe the holidays beyond religion. 

Special Guest: Brittney Hartley

Brittney Hartley is an Atheist Spiritual Director at No Nonsense Spirituality. She has a Masters Degree in Theology with a focus in the Future of American Religion. She is the author of the book No Nonsense Spirituality: All the Tools No Faith Required. 

Links from the Show:

• Get No Nonsense Spirituality here: https://nononsensespirituality.com/book 
• Find Britt’s resources here: https://stan.store/nononsensespirituality 
• Britt on IG: https://www.instagram.com/nononsensespirituality/ 
• No Nonsense Spirituality on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@nononsensespirituality 
• Join Mama Dragons today: www.mamadragons.org 

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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With the holiday season in full swing, many of us are finding ourselves navigating sometimes tricky and challenging family gatherings, especially with our queer kids. This time of year often comes with particular, sometimes unspoken, expectations about our participation in family events. Supporting our queer kids also occasionally means having to respond to inappropriate questions, uncomfortable interactions, and hurtful situations. This week In the Den, Sara sits down with therapists Laura Skaggs and Lisa Hansen to talk through possible coping strategies and boundaries to help get us through the holidays while protecting and prioritizing the wellbeing of our queer children.

Special Guest: Laura Skaggs

Laura Skaggs is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist who specializes in treating spiritual trauma at the intersection of LGBTQ+ experiences and religion. Laura earned her master’s degree in marriage and family therapy at San Diego State University with an emphasis in LGBTQ+ mental health within conservative religious social contexts. She went on to serve for two years on the board of directors of Affirmation: LGBT+ Mormons, Families, and Friends with a focus on responding to spiritual trauma and suicide prevention. Laura is also the co-creator of CWEERS Empowerment groups: a practice designed to help LGBTQ+ individuals and their supporters confront social discrimination and internalized stigma. Laura is the mother of two daughters and presently sees clients full time in Provo, UT, as part of Flourish Therapy.

Special Guest: Lisa Hansen

Lisa Tensmeyer Hansen (PhD, LMFT, Clinical Director) is the clinical director and founder of Flourish Therapy, Inc., (Flourish), a behavioral health clinic located in Provo, Utah, which she founded in February 2017 to meet the needs of LGBTQ+ and SSA individuals and their families. Lisa received a B.S. from Brigham Young University in 1990 as university valedictorian (Summa Cum Laude with Honors thesis), an M.S. in 2012 and Ph.D. in 2017, both at BYU, focusing on improving the mental health of LGBTQ+ people in conservative families and communities. She lives with her husband in Payson, Utah, where together they made a home for 7 children (and a few extras) and now have 18 grandchildren.

Links from the Show:

• Flourish’s website: https://www.flourishtherapy.org/ 
• Join Mama Dragons today: www.mamadragons.org 

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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Currently, young trans people are under attack across the country and around the world. Many of them continue to face rejection, persecution, and lack of support.  Transanta is an amazing organization that is showing up to help meet the needs of the young trans community in the United States. Today In the Den, Sara talks with Transanta Elf Claudia Roley to discuss the needs of trans youth and explore how you can join Transanta in meeting those needs this holiday season.  

Special Guest: Claudia Roley

Though Claudia has spent most of her life in Central and East Tennessee, she currently resides in Las Vegas with her wife, children, and dogs. Claudia is passionate about gender-affirming care and helping trans folks access gender-affirming care and name change processes. She loves to care for people and provide a safe and comfortable space, free of judgment, for people to exist as themselves and thrive in their environment to the best of their ability.

Links from the Show:

• Transanta’s website: https://www.transanta.com/ 
• Goodbuy: https://www.trygoodbuy.com/ 
• Find Transanta gifts through Goodbuy here: https://app.trygoodbuy.com/shop/collections/doing-good-transanta/?currentPage=1 
• Transanta Resources: https://www.transanta.com/resources
• Find Meredith Russo here: https://www.macmillanspeakers.com/speaker/meredith-russo/
• Join Mama Dragons today: www.mamadragons.org 
• Find Mama Dragons on FB:  https://www.facebook.com/mamadragons 
• Mama Dragons on IG: 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 www.mamadragons.org. 

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We've had quite a few therapists on this podcast, and they have all shared so much wisdom and compassionate advice for us and our families. This week In the Den, our host Sara sits down with therapist Ann Russo, who specializes in the intersection of religion and LGBTQ+ issues. They discuss a range of topics surrounding mental health, spirituality, and queerness. 

Special Guest: Ann Russo

Ann Russo is a mental health professional, author, and advocate specializing in sex positivity, queer issues, and religious trauma. She offers training programs, consulting services, and publications to support mental health providers and improve client care. Ann’s CE courses are in the final approval phase by ASWB/ACE for social workers, MFTs, and APCCs. They cover topics such as ethical non-monogamy, sexual health, sexual assault, sex work, lesbian couples, PTSD healing, and kink. She founded AMR Therapy & Support Services with a vision of inclusive mental health care for all. Certified in domestic violence and sexual assault counseling, she champions survivors of trauma, particularly from marginalized groups. Her therapy approach prioritizes personalized treatment plans, fostering a chill, safe space for clients to explore their thoughts and feelings. With expertise in mental health, queerness, and religion intersections, Ann offers culturally sensitive support. Her mission is to ensure everyone, regardless of background, has access to resources for thriving mental health in an inclusive and supportive environment.

Links from the Show: 

• Ann’s website: https://www.annrusso.org/
• Listen to Ann on other podcasts: https://www.annrusso.org/podcasts/ 
• Join Mama Dragons today: www.mamadragons.org 
• Find Mama Dragons on FB:  https://www.facebook.com/mamadragons 
• Mama Dragons on IG: 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 www.mamadragons.org. 

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