We love a good ‘both and’: both cake and ice cream, both dogs and cats -- Meg-John Barker, who is both extremely clever and very warm and kind! Meg-John is an activist, writer, scholar, therapist, and expert on everything beyond the binary. In this episode, as well as in their multiple graphic guides, MJ explains how rigid binaries harm our bodies, limit our minds and how many benefits life beyond the binary has to offer, not just for genderqueer people but for everyone.

Do you need more mental health input and genderqueer content? Let’s face it; we all do, and here is where you can get some: @megjohnbarker and @Lena_Mattheis on Twitter, @queerlitpodcast on Instagram.

Books and other awesome stuff by Meg-John Barker:

https://www.rewriting-the-rules.com/
Life Isn’t Binary (with Alex Iantaffi)
Gender: A Graphic Guide (with Jules Scheele)
Queer: A Graphic History (with Jules Scheele)
Mad: A Graphic Guide
The Meg-John & Justin Podcast
https://www.patreon.com/MegJohnBarker

People, places and texts mentioned:

Lynda Barry
Justin Hancock
Jack Halberstam
Open Barbers (London)
99% Invisible: On Average
https://99percentinvisible.org/episode/on-average/
Beth Berila’s Contemplative Practices for Ant-Oppression Pedagogy
bell hooks
Torrey Peters
Juno Roche
Crossing Waves Podcast
Alison Bechdel’s Fun Home
Ellen Forney’s Marbels
Nicole Georges‘ Calling Dr. Laura
Maia Kobabe’s Gender Queer: A Memoir
Becky Chambers

Questions you might want to reflect on after listening:

1.What does ‘non-binary’ mean?
2.How does binary thinking affect our everyday lives? Can you think of one example from the podcast and one from your own experience?
3.How does the (constructed) emotional/rational binary affect learning, teaching and mental health?
4.What are your thoughts about the sex/gender divide?
5.Which book do you read when you need to feel warm and positive?