In The Den with Mama Dragons

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In the Den this week, Sara and special guest Garrett Garland talk about what it means to create in queer joy and not just survival. They discuss the importance of visibility, the responsibility of queer creatives in shaping culture, and how parents, allies, and communities can better support LGBTQ+ youth in finding their voice and claiming space. This isn’t just a conversation about art — it’s a conversation about power, authenticity, and what happens when we give queer kids the permission and the tools to imagine big.

Special Guest: Garrett Garland

Garrett Garland is a California Bay Area resident who studied at the University of Santa Cruz and Sciences Po. in Paris. Drawing from his extensive travels abroad this is his first novel. He currently resides with his husband Sam next to the sea in Half Moon Bay. Their long walks on the beach and their love of the ocean are where he draws most of his inspiration. The ocean is home but Paris is Garrett’s home town.

Links from the Show: 

• Garrett’s website: https://www.garrettgarland.com/ 
• To Never See Heaven audiobook: https://www.garrettgarland.com/audiobooks 
• To Never See Heaven in print: https://www.garrettgarland.com/store 
• Join Mama Dragons today: www.mamadragons.org 

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As parents of queer kids, we want our children to live boldly and truthfully, to become their most authentic selves, not just accepted, but celebrated, for who they are. We want that same freedom and fullness of self-expression for every member of our families. So often trans and nonbinary people’s stories are told only through the lens of their struggles and challenges, including their political battles for legal rights, but trans and nonbinary people live rich and fulfilling lives full of joy and community too. Today In the Den, Sara sits down with special guest Joey Morelli, contributing author to Authentic Selves: Celebrating Trans and Nonbinary People, to offer a window into the real lives, joys, and resilience of trans and nonbinary people—and the families who stand proudly beside them.

Special Guest: Jozeppi A. Morelli 

Jozeppi A. Morelli is an Indigenous transgender queer man who is a retired law enforcement officer/911 World Trade Center First Responder from New York City. He has been initiated into the Hopi Sand Clan since 2021. In his retirement, he has found a second career being a gender educator. Author and public speaker, Jozeppi is one of the authors in the new book and exhibit: Authentic Selves: Celebrating Trans and Nonbinary People created by Peggy Gillespie of Family Diversity Projects and published by Skinner House Books. He has been promoting the Authentic Selves photo exhibit and book across the country on radio shows, podcasts, and at in-person events.

Links from the Show:

• Authentic Selves: https://bookshop.org/p/books/authentic-selves-celebrating-trans-and-nonbinary-people-and-their-families/18955703?ean=9781558968967&next=t
• Dance to Heal interview with Jozeppi: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CMr8F6HIK8E 
• Article about Authentic Selves: https://www.uua.org/pressroom/press-releases/authentic-selves-highlights-joy 
• Join Mama Dragons today 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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Today we are tackling a topic that has consumed the country, the news, and social media, and has sparked a political firestorm in recent years—transgender athletes in sports. To date, 26 states have enacted laws banning transgender youth from participating in sports teams consistent with their gender identity. There is so much fear and misinformation around this topic, and today In the Den Sara sits down with the incredible Chris Mosier, the first openly transgender man to earn a spot on a U.S. Men’s National Team. Chris and Sara talk about the reality of trans people in sports and what we can do to better understand and support the trans athletes in our lives and in the country.

Special Guest: Chris Mosier

Chris Mosier is a trailblazing athlete, coach, and founder of TransAthlete.com, the leading resource for transgender inclusion in sport. In 2015, he made history as the first openly transgender man to earn a spot on a U.S. Men’s National Team, a milestone that helped catalyze policy change by the International Olympic Committee on trans athlete inclusion and earned him the title of "the man who changed the Olympics." A decorated multisport athlete, Chris is an eight-time Team USA member, five-time Men’s National Champion, and Men’s All-American. Chris’s advocacy extends far beyond competition. Through his writing, speaking, and policy work, he has influenced trans-inclusive practices at every level of sport—from high school athletics to professional leagues. As one of the most visible voices opposing anti-trans legislation in the U.S., Chris is a driving force in the fight for trans rights and equity. Chris is a Nike-sponsored athlete featured in multiple global campaigns. He also mentors transgender and nonbinary athletes around the world, living by his powerful motto: “Be who you needed when you were younger.”

Links from the Show:

• The TransAthlete website: https://www.transathlete.com/ 
• Chris’s website: https://www.thechrismosier.com/ 
• ESPN’s Body Issue 2016 photos: https://www.espn.com/espn/photos/gallery/_/id/16797886/image/1/bodies-want-2016-bodies-want-2016 
• Changing the Game documentary: https://www.hulu.com/movie/changing-the-game-71bcd7f5-63b4-485c-b4ee-ed41517484d1 

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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There is power in preserving the rich, diverse history and culture of LGBTQIA+ people, across generations and backgrounds, promoting creativity, collaboration, and community among queer people, organizations, and allies. Especially in this particular cultural moment, when the lives and stories of our queer community are being targeted and silenced more than ever before, we need to lift up and celebrate the institutions whose mission it is to collect, preserve, and share those stories and histories widely and proudly. 

Special Guest: Robert Kesten

Robert Kesten, Human Rights Advocate, is Executive Director of Stonewall National Museum Archives & Library, one of the world’s largest and most significant institutions of its kind, celebrating 50+ years of preserving history and culture in the face of prejudice and hate. Kesten’s human rights advocacy has taken many forms, including writing and producing an award winning documentary on the Holocaust at Concentration Camps in Poland, working on the Ghanaian Constitution, coordinating and producing events leading to Ukrainian independence, producing events for the first AIDS day treatment center in the nation, pushing for the decriminalization of homosexuality in Ukraine, challenging book banning, LGBTQIA+ inclusion in schools and navigating anti-LGBTQ sentiments. Kesten also worked on the West Bank during the Intifada and was brought into Egypt and Tunisia during the Arab Spring to try and establish human rights cities. 

Links from the Show:

• https://stonewall-museum.org/ 
• https://www.inquirer.com/news/philadelphia/stonewall-queer-history-exhibit-drexel-20240407.html 
• https://www.miamiherald.com/opinion/op-ed/article296353869.html 
• https://washingtonpress.com/author/robertkesten/
• https://sfbwmag.com/human-rights-leaders-honored-during-international-human-rights-symposium-at-florida-atlantic-university/ 
• https://www.heraldtribune.com/story/opinion/columns/your-voice/2023/04/14/lets-act-to-ensure-lgbtqia-are-safe-and-valued-in-florida-schools/70110517007/ 
• 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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We have all been watching the unprecedented attacks on trans healthcare for youth and adults by anti-trans extremists from the local to the federal levels. The trans legislation tracker reports an alarming 857 anti-trans bills under consideration in 2025 alone. Many of us, our kids, and our families find ourselves caught in the eye of this storm. Today In the Den, Sara sits down with special guest Alexis Stratton of The Campaign for Southern Equality to discuss the book that Stratton co-authored called Trans Kids, Our Kids: Stories and Resources from the Frontlines of the Movement for Transgender Youth. They explore the importance of supporting and loving and affirming the trans community, and they talk about what we can do to help. 

Special Guest: Alexis Stratton

Alexis Stratton has an MFA in Creative Writing from the University of South Carolina, and their stories and essays have appeared in Hayden’s Ferry Review, Matador Review, and Oyez Review, among other publications. In 2024, they co authored Trans Kids, Our Kids: Stories and Resources from the Frontlines of the Movement for Transgender Youth with Adam Polaski and Jasmine Beach-Ferrara (Ig Publishing), and in 2025, their book of travel essays, Eating Turtle, was published with Small Harbor Publishing. Alexis has also written for the Rebel Girls book series and podcast and provides grant writing support to several LGBTQ+ nonprofits. Before transitioning to writing full-time, Alexis educated organizations in South Carolina on LGBTQ+ rights, violence prevention, and serving marginalized populations. They live in Richmond, VA.

Links from the Show:

• Kin*dom Camp Community: https://kindomcommunity.org/home 
• Kin*dom Campfire Chats:  https://kindomcommunity.org/podcast
• Find Trans Kids, Our Kids in the Mama Dragons Bookshop: https://bookshop.org/p/books/trans-kids-our-kids-stories-and-resources-from-the-frontlines-of-the-movement-for-transgender-youth-jasmine-beach-ferrara/21195291?ean=9781632461674&next=t&aid=108866&listref=parenting-an-lgbtq-child&next=t 
• Trans Youth Emergency Project: https://southernequality.org/tyep/ 
• QMed Website: https://queermed.com/ 
• 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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Today In the Den, we’re thrilled to welcome a guest whose story is as rich and layered as the music and words he creates. Bill Robertson is a Hollywood writer, having written for National Lampoon, and one of the creators of Paradise: A Town of Sinners & Saints (both a stage musical and a 2023 film available on Prime). Bill’s journey spans decades. At 63, he’s a proud gay man who lived through, and survived, the deeply painful years of the AIDS crisis, which led him to become a bit of an amateur gay historian. Bill’s story is one of resilience, reinvention, and the surprising roads that lead us home.

Special Guest: Bill Robertson

Bill Robertson is an author, playwright, and screenwriter.  His book Uncle Bill's Animal Tales - Life Lessons for Adults is about his experiences with animals, and how he believes they are his greatest teachers and healers.  His latest feature film Paradise a Town of Sinners & Saints, a musical comedy, based on a stage production that had two long runs in LA and at the Austin Playhouse in Texas is being distributed by Artist View Entertainment and is streaming on Amazon, Youtube Movies, GooglePlay, Tubi & Xumo.

Bill worked two careers for many years, as a corporate recruiter and writer. He sold two scripts to Lifetime, and one, aired in 2018-2019.  He wrote for a kids show on PBS, National Lampoon Magazine, and ran sketch shows in Boston, New York, and Los Angeles for several years. He has a passion for animals, politics, sports, and gay rights. He's 27 years clean and sober and is a proud gay man, who is here on the planet to love more, not less, and to be of service to others. He prides himself on giving a damn. 

Links from the Show:

• The Times of Harvey Milk: https://www.amazon.com/Times-Harvey-Milk/dp/B00A5IXPJA 
• Paradise, A Town of Sinners & Saints Musical: https://www.paradisebluegrassmusical.com/  
• Find your local PFLAG chapter: https://pflag.org/findachapter/ 
• Join Mama Dragons: 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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Today’s In the Den episode is one that cuts right to the heart of our Mama Dragons mission — we’re diving into the truth that parenting is political. Whether we like it or not, the choices we make as parents, how we show up for our kids, what we teach them, how we advocate for them, all ripple out into the world around us. When you’re parenting queer kids, those ripples can have a far reach and significant impact. Sara talks with special guest Jasmine Banks about the importance of nurturing a community committed to collective growth and support, because raising children is to actively participate in societal change, and the way we parent today directly influences the world our children will inherit tomorrow. 

Special Guest: Jasmine Banks

Jasmine Banks (she/her) has more than 10 years of progressive advocacy, movement building, and organizing experience. She spent the last five years dedicated to leading an intervention campaign, UnKoch My Campus, addressing the impact of far-right billionaires leveraging their philanthropic donations in higher education to erode democracy. During the campaigns she organized multiple campuses, coalitions, and provided movement support to hundreds of students, educators, and community activists. Jasmine has traveled to a number of higher ed institutions to speak with students and faculty about donor transparency and academic freedom. She was most recently honored to give a keynote for the Higher Education division of the American Federation of Teachers. Jasmine is also a former licensed therapist, Chief Marketing Officer, and small business owner.

Links from the Show:

• Generation Common Good: https://generationcommongood.org/ 
• Parenting Is Political podcast: https://www.parentingispolitical.org/episodes 
• 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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We all have an inherent capacity for creativity, but queerness and creativity have a special connection. This week In the Den, Sara sits down with creativity coach Liz Heichelbech to discuss how to explore, claim, and live our own authentic lives.  Navigating true self-expression in the often challenging waters of cultural and societal norms and expectations can be a powerful catalyst for creativity. Sara and Liz dive into how creativity shapes our stories, what power art holds in the coming out process, and why queerness and imagination are so deeply connected.

Special Guest: Liz Heichelbech

Liz Heichelbech is a creativity coach, educator, author, and artist. Originally a professional contemporary and classical dancer, she earned her BFA in Fine Arts Studies from the University of Arizona, and a Masters in Education from Lesley University. She holds Massachusetts state teaching certifications in Dance, Theatre, and English, and taught in the Weston Public School district for over 20 years. She was a creative collaborator in her role as Instructional Coach for five years at Weston Middle School, and was the facilitator for Weston Secondary New Teacher Mentor Program for ten years. Liz was the former artistic director of Women’s Improv Group Boston. She has taught creative workshops at Tucson Medical Center, Rainbow Lifelong Learning, Weston Arts and Innovation Center, Waldron Center for the Performing Arts, Bloomington Council on Aging, and with Joy Point Solutions. She is a recent graduate of the Martha Beck Wayfinder Life Coaching Program, and is a member of the Creativity Coaching Association.

Liz’ first novel, Chopin in Kentucky, was published by Bluemoose Books in 2023, and she is currently at work on the sequel, Lost and Found at the Canary Cafe. Her first adult coloring and creativity workbook, Start Where You Art, was published by Literary Kitchen in 2024. Liz believes in the restorative power of creative play in writing and the fine and performing arts. She knows well how to help others access, respond, and transform their ideas, feelings, desires, and dreams. Using a blend of life coaching techniques, personal inquiry, and guided, process-oriented creative structures, Liz is on a mission to inspire others and help them align with their most essential selves.

Links from the Show:

• Liz’s website: https://www.creativeincites.com/  
• 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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As we navigate these challenging times, we’ve watched as the state of Florida has become ground zero for some of the most contentious battles over equality, producing some of the harshest anti-LGBTQ+ bills in the country. This week In the Den, Sara visits with special guest Nadine Smith, who is on the frontlines of that fight. Nadine Smith, the executive director of Equality Florida and has been a relentless advocate for LGBTQ+ rights. She has played a pivotal role in mobilizing communities and standing up to discriminatory legislation.

Special Guest: Nadine Smith

Nadine Smith is the Executive Director of Equality Florida, the state's largest organization dedicated to ending discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity. In 2022, she was named to the Time100, TIME's annual list of the 100 most influential people in the world. An award-winning journalist turned organizer, Nadine was one of four national co-chairs of the 1993 March on Washington. She was part of the historic meeting between then-President Clinton - the first Oval Office meeting between a sitting President and LGBTQ community leaders. She served on the founding board of the International Gay and Lesbian Youth Organization.

She is a Florida Chamber Foundation Trustee and served on President Obama's National Finance Committee. She is one of the 100 Most Influential Floridians by Influence Magazine. She currently serves as chair of the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights Florida Advisory Committee. She lives in St. Petersburg with her wife Andrea and son Logan.

Links from the Show:

• Wide Awake America: https://www.wmnf.org/events/wide-awake-america/# 
• Equality Florida:  https://eqfl.org/
• Nadine as one of the 100 Most Influential People in 2022: https://time.com/collection/100-most-influential-people-2022/6177748/nadine-smith/ 
• 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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Today In the Den, we’re tackling a topic that’s both unsettling and urgent: the rise of extremism, and how it’s targeting our young people across the spectrum of identity. We’ll also talk about solutions; exploring how we can recognize the signs of radicalization along with tools and strategies we can use to counteract these harmful messages and foster empathy, critical thinking, and inclusivity in the next generation.

Special Guest: Lydia Bates 

Lydia Bates (she/her) is the Senior Program Manager of Partnerships at the Southern Poverty Law Center. Her work focuses primarily on equipping communities with the tools and information they need to help young people build resilience against supremacist ideologies. Prior to moving into this role, Ms. Bates was a Senior Research Analyst at SPLC, monitoring several hate groups and ideologies. She has a M.A. in Ethics, Peace, and Global Affairs from American University. 

Special Guest: Cynthia Miller-Idriss

Dr. Cynthia Miller-Idriss is a Professor in the School of Public Affairs and in the School of Education at the American University in Washington, DC, where she is also the founding director and chief vision officer in the Polarization and Extremism Research and Innovation Lab (PERIL). Dr. Miller-Idriss regularly testifies before the U.S. Congress and briefs policy, security, education and intelligence agencies in the U.S., the United Nations, and other countries on trends in domestic violent extremism and strategies for prevention and disengagement. She is the author, co-author, or co-editor of seven books, including her most recent book, Man Up: The New Misogyny and the Rise of Violent Extremism (Princeton University Press, 2025) and Hate in the Homeland: The New Global Far Right (Princeton University Press, 2022).

Links from the Show:

• Link to “Not Just a Joke” report: https://www.splcenter.org/resources/reports/peril-understanding-preventing-gender-sexuality-bigotry/ 
• Report from the Trevor Project: https://www.thetrevorproject.org/resources/guide/how-to-signal-you-are-an-ally-in-hostile-environment/ 
• Find SIECUS here: https://siecus.org/contraceptive-coercion-access-and-sex-education/ 
• Find Safe Bae here: https://safebae.org/ 
• 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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