In The Den with Mama Dragons

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During many of our episodes, we drop the name of our organization–Mama Dragons. We answer questions that are asked in our groups, and we discuss the themes that most often show up by those who seek support. However, some people might get connected to the podcast but not understand who the Mama Dragons are. This week, we’re going to talk about where Mama Dragons came from, where we are now, and allow listeners to better understand who we are as an organization and why we do what we do. 

Special Guests: Yvette Barrus Zobell, Neca Allgood, Julie Turnbull, Wendy VonSosen, Celeste Carolin, and Cameo Sherman.

Links from the show: 

History of Mama Dragons: https://www.mamadragons.org/history-of-mama-dragons

About Mama Dragons: https://www.mamadragons.org/about 

Mama Dragons Programs: https://www.mamadragons.org/programs 

Shop Mama Dragons: https://www.mamadragons.org/shop-2 

Mama Dragons fundraising: https://www.mamadragons.org/s-projects-basic 

In the Den is made possible by generous donors like you.

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Jen sits down with a panel of parents of young transgender children to discuss the realities of raising young trans kids in the world today. From real talk about the fears they have for their children’s safety to the surprising and unique joys of raising transgender children to everything in between, this episode provides a behind the scenes glimpse into the lives of young transgender children and the parents who affirm, love, and raise them.

Links from the show: 

Some articles about Dempsey and the Jara Family: 

• https://www.lovewhatmatters.com/she-said-i-am-a-girl-in-my-heart-and-brain-she-had-to-be-physically-restrained-for-haircuts-i-felt-guilty-mom-advocates-for-transgender-daughter-she-blossomed-before-our-eyes/ 
• https://www.them.us/story/mother-trans-daughter-florida-bill-op-ed 
• https://www.mamadragons.org/post/our-trans-parent-journey 
• https://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-7673229/Mother-accused-CHILD-ABUSE-raising-daughter-transgender.html 

Transcripts for show episodes can be found here: https://inthedenwithmamadragons.buzzsprout.com/ 

Join Mama Dragons today at 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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What makes a person a woman? What makes someone a man? What is the difference between sex and gender? Is gender a social construct or a biological reality? In this week’s episode of In the Den, Jen sits down with philosopher Zane Thomas as they delve into these questions and more.  Philosophical gender studies seek to identify truths in regards to gender, including the history and evolution of gender roles, our perceptions around gender, linguistic nuances surrounding gender, and our growing understanding of what gender means and how it influences our lives. 

Special Guest: Zane Thomas

Zane first fell in love with the practice of Philosophy at BYU and graduated with their Bachelor's in Philosophy from Southern Virginia University in 2021. They are currently applying to a number of Master's programs with the hopes of teaching Philosophy with an emphasis in political philosophy, and the philosophy of science. Zane is 27 years old, non-binary, and lives in Seattle with their fiance and two dogs (a border-Aussie, and a blind Aussie-Catahoula mix). They enjoy reading, playing video games, and baking gluten-free pastries. Zane first started researching the philosophy of gender in college with a reading group started by one of their peers. This group, and later study, helped them to see the continuum of gender and sex, and recognize that they did not fit into either of the traditional gender binaries. They are truly a philosopher at heart, and their attempts to label and define their own experience with gender continues to motivate their studies in the realm of gender and social roles.

Links from the show: 

Join Mama Dragons today at 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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Transgender people have been forced into the national spotlight in recent years, as everyone from state legislatures to random strangers on the internet debate their identities, their access to medications, their health, their rights, their bodies, and more. There is a staggering amount of misinformation and disinformation being circulated about what it means to be transgender and to transition. Jen joins Dr. Rixt Luikenaar, a board certified OB/GYN who specializes in transgender hormone therapy and LGBTQ health care, including pregnancy and preventive care, and they get into the details around transitioning and trans health. This information-dense episode shares the truth about what it means to transition as a transgender person. 

Special Guest: Dr. Rixt Luikenaar (they/them)

Dr. Rixt A. Luikenaar is a board-certified OB/GYN at Rebirth Health Center in Salt Lake City, Utah. They have a special interest in transgender hormone therapy and LGBTQ health care, including pregnancy and preventive care. Dr. Luikenaar received their medical degree from the University of Groningen Medical Sciences in Groningen, The Netherlands, graduating cum laude. They have a diverse background and have completed medical missions to Tanzania and Colombia and worked as a senior medical officer in OB/GYN in Cairns, Australia, during a sabbatical, taking care of indigenous Australians. Some fun facts about Dr. Luikenaar: they are from the Netherlands, they’re married with two children, and they love Sphynx cats, electronic dance music, and raves. 

Links from the show: 

Rebirth Health Center:  https://www.rebirthhealthcenter.com 

Dr. Luikenaar’s awards and certifications: https://www.rebirthhealthcenter.com/contents/about-practice/awards 

WPATH website: https://www.wpath.org/

WPATH Standards of Care: https://www.wpath.org/publications/soc 

Join MamaDragons today at www.mamadragons.org

Access transcripts here:  https://inthedenwithmamadragons.buzzsprout.com/2082774/13035017-the-truth-about-transitioning

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 includes talk of suicide, self harm, and suicidal ideation.

It’s a very special Just the FAQs episode at In the Den, because we have a panel made up entirely of licensed therapists to answer some of our most frequently asked questions regarding parenting an LGBTQ child. Jen brings back past podcast guests Dianne Piggott, Cole Brennan, and Laura Skaggs, and asks them to share their wisdom from working as therapists for LGBTQ clients, as well as being members of the queer community themselves. 

• A lot of LGBTQ people are at high risk of self-harming and other maladaptive behaviors including suicidal ideation. Can you talk a little about this reality and what families can do to help mitigate those risks?
• How can parents get out of their own panic and shame in order to be more effective in helping their kids who are struggling?
• An issue that comes up a lot for our members is the idea that their child is continuously being tossed to and fro in a culture that doesn’t always understand them. Do you have good ideas about helping build resiliency?
• Do you have ideas that you suggest to families of things that can help ease the discomfort or pain of dysphoria?
• How on earth should parents safely navigate the world of sleepovers with their queer kids?
• The rates of autism are really high in the transgender community. I know that nobody really knows why this is, but given your personal experience with this client population, do you have insights that might help parents know if they should be checking for one if the other is present? 

Links from the show:

Mama Dragons website: www.mamadragons.org 

Mama Dragons on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mamadragons 

Mama Dragons on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/themamadragons/ 

The Family Acceptance Project: https://lgbtqfamilyacceptance.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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In this week’s episode of In the Den, Jen talks with Reverend Adam Ericksen as he breaks down some of the most common theology surrounding LGBTQ folks today.  Reconciling theological beliefs with our desires to support our LGBTQ child is often a significant part of the journey for religious parents when their child comes out as LGBTQ. Deconstructing theology can be a big hurdle when it comes to loving and celebrating our kids. We have a large number of listeners who are processing religious trauma, and Pastor Adam offers insight and counsel on ways to engage with theology and religion in affirming and healing ways. Holding on to our faith and supporting our queer kids do not have to be mutually exclusive, and both can be part of our journeys. 

Special Guest: Reverend Adam Ericksen

Rev. Adam Ericksen has served as the Clackamas United Church of Christ’s Pastor since 2018. He is a graduate of Linfield College where he majored in Religious Studies. Adam earned a Masters in Theological Studies from Garrett Evangelical Theological Seminary He enjoys writing for the Raven Foundation website and the Sojourners blog. He also likes coaching his son’s soccer and basketball teams, making breakfast, long walks on the beach, and his favorite dessert is still chocolate chip cookies and milk.

Links from the show:

International Journal of Research in Humanities and Social Studies paper: 

https://www.ijrhss.org/papers/v8-i3/4.pdf 

Find Pastor Adam on Twitter: https://twitter.com/adamericksen?lang=en 

Adam on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@adamericksen1?lang=en 

Adam’s book Unlearn the Bible: https://mailchi.mp/ravenfoundation.org/unlearn-the-bible-ebook 

Clackamas United Church of Christ: https://c-ucc.org/ 

Join Mama Dragons: www.mamadragons.org  

Access transcripts here:  https://inthedenwithmamadragons.buzzsprout.com/2082774/12941646-deconstructing-homophobia

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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Words with Friends episodes are bonus episodes where different members of Mama Dragons provide definitions for LGBTQ related topics. This episode includes the following definitions:

Cisgender shared by Clare McFadden

AFAB shared by Melissa Hardin

AMAB shared by Heather Gooding

Two Spirit  shared by Sheri Proctor

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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Being a teenager can be really hard. Being a transgender teen comes with its own unique set of challenges and obstacles. Following last week’s trans-focused episode of In the Den, Jen is back this week with another group of amazing trans teenagers. They discuss the highs and lows that come with being a transgender teenager in the world today. Listen to this informative conversation to better understand trans youth, their experiences, hopes, and dreams, and how you can love and support them now.

Links from the Show:

Join Mama Dragons today at 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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Most of the anti-LGBTQ legislation happening this year in the United States is focused on one particular group–transgender children and teens. So much misinformation and disinformation are being spread about this specific marginalized demographic of kids. On this week’s episode of In the Den, Jen goes straight to the source. She sits down with several transgender teenagers and asks them questions about their lives, their passions, their fears, their transitions, and their hopes for the future of the world that they inhabit. Don’t miss this important episode!

Links from the Show:

Join Mama Dragons today at 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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In this week’s episode of In the Den, Jen talks with community organizer and political activist Chelsea Gaona-Lincoln about strategies to find balance while advocating for our queer children, particularly during the legislative season where so many bills are being introduced that could harm our kids. They discuss ways to practice self-care and maintain balance between advocacy and home life, along with stressing the importance of modeling resilience and self-care for our children. 

Special Guest: Chelsea Gaona-Lincoln

Chelsea is a queer, Chicana, proud momma and wife, born on the ancestral lands of the Shoshone Bannock and Paiute people, known now as the Treasure Valley. After receiving her BA in psychology and minor in education from the College of Idaho, Chelsea spent 18 years in the mental health field, the majority of it as a behavioral therapist with neurodivergent youth, while building up her political stamina in her spare time. She currently works as a lobbyist and consultant in community centric organizing and political advocacy. She is also a birth doula and reiki practitioner.

Chelsea serves as the Executive Director for the statewide- volunteer run non profit, Add the Words, Idaho. What was initially formed as a PAC with a one piece of legislation focus, (adding “sexual orientation and gender identity,” to the Idaho Human Rights Act), Chelsea flipped into a community centric non profit doing mutual aid work, community education and statewide advocacy; while moving through an intersectional and radically inclusive lens.

Links from the Show:

Chelsea’s website: https://www.liberationinmotion.com/ 

Add the Words, Idaho: https://www.addthewords.org/ 

Join MamaDragons today at 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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