The Trump White House needed me—until the fact that I am trans became public.
By Julia Curlee
From the ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠<a href="https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/toc/2026/10/">October 2026 issue</a>⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. 
Get more from your favorite Atlantic voices when you <a href="http://theatlantic.com/listen">⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠subscribe⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠</a>. You’ll enjoy unlimited access to Pulitzer-winning journalism, from clear-eyed analysis and insight on breaking news: <a href="http://theatlantic.com/listen">⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠http://theatlantic.com/listen</a> Learn more about your ad choices. Visit <a href="https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices">podcastchoices.com/adchoices</a>

The Trump White House needed me—until the fact that I am trans became public. By Julia Curlee From the ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠October 2026 issue⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Get more from your favorite Atlantic voices when you ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠subscribe⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. You’ll enjoy unlimited access to Pulitzer-winning journalism, from clear-eyed analysis and insight on breaking news: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠http://theatlantic.com/listen Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Trump White House needed me—until the fact that I am trans became public.
By&nbsp;Julia Curlee
From the ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠<a href="https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/toc/2026/10/" rel="noopener noreferrer">October 2026 issue</a>⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. 
Get more from your favorite Atlantic voices when you <a href="http://theatlantic.com/listen" rel="noopener noreferrer">⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠subscribe⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠</a>. You’ll enjoy unlimited access to Pulitzer-winning journalism, from clear-eyed analysis and insight on breaking news: <a href="http://theatlantic.com/listen" rel="noopener noreferrer">⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠http://theatlantic.com/listen</a> Learn more about your ad choices. Visit <a href="https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices" rel="noopener noreferrer">podcastchoices.com/adchoices</a>

The Wrong Kind of American

A neuroscientist dares to argue that old-fashioned psychoanalysis holds the key to curing mental illness.
By Scott Stossel
From the ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠<a href="https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/toc/2026/09/">⁠September 2026 issue⁠</a>⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. 
Get more from your favorite Atlantic voices when you <a href="http://theatlantic.com/listen">⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠subscribe⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠</a>. You’ll enjoy unlimited access to Pulitzer-winning journalism, from clear-eyed analysis and insight on breaking news: <a href="http://theatlantic.com/listen">⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠http://theatlantic.com/listen</a> Learn more about your ad choices. Visit <a href="https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices">podcastchoices.com/adchoices</a>

A neuroscientist dares to argue that old-fashioned psychoanalysis holds the key to curing mental illness. By Scott Stossel From the ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠September 2026 issue⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Get more from your favorite Atlantic voices when you ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠subscribe⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. You’ll enjoy unlimited access to Pulitzer-winning journalism, from clear-eyed analysis and insight on breaking news: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠http://theatlantic.com/listen Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

A neuroscientist dares to argue that old-fashioned psychoanalysis holds the key to curing mental illness.
By&nbsp;Scott Stossel
From the ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠<a href="https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/toc/2026/09/" rel="noopener noreferrer">⁠September 2026 issue⁠</a>⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. 
Get more from your favorite Atlantic voices when you <a href="http://theatlantic.com/listen" rel="noopener noreferrer">⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠subscribe⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠</a>. You’ll enjoy unlimited access to Pulitzer-winning journalism, from clear-eyed analysis and insight on breaking news: <a href="http://theatlantic.com/listen" rel="noopener noreferrer">⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠http://theatlantic.com/listen</a> Learn more about your ad choices. Visit <a href="https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices" rel="noopener noreferrer">podcastchoices.com/adchoices</a>

What If Freud Was Right?

An inside look at music’s widely misunderstood profession
By Matthew Aucoin
From the ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠<a href="https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/toc/2026/09/">⁠September 2026 issue⁠</a>⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. 
Get more from your favorite Atlantic voices when you <a href="http://theatlantic.com/listen">⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠subscribe⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠</a>. You’ll enjoy unlimited access to Pulitzer-winning journalism, from clear-eyed analysis and insight on breaking news: <a href="http://theatlantic.com/listen">⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠http://theatlantic.com/listen</a> Learn more about your ad choices. Visit <a href="https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices">podcastchoices.com/adchoices</a>

An inside look at music’s widely misunderstood profession By Matthew Aucoin From the ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠September 2026 issue⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Get more from your favorite Atlantic voices when you ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠subscribe⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. You’ll enjoy unlimited access to Pulitzer-winning journalism, from clear-eyed analysis and insight on breaking news: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠http://theatlantic.com/listen Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

An inside look at music’s widely misunderstood profession
By&nbsp;Matthew Aucoin
From the ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠<a href="https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/toc/2026/09/" rel="noopener noreferrer">⁠September 2026 issue⁠</a>⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. 
Get more from your favorite Atlantic voices when you <a href="http://theatlantic.com/listen" rel="noopener noreferrer">⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠subscribe⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠</a>. You’ll enjoy unlimited access to Pulitzer-winning journalism, from clear-eyed analysis and insight on breaking news: <a href="http://theatlantic.com/listen" rel="noopener noreferrer">⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠http://theatlantic.com/listen</a> Learn more about your ad choices. Visit <a href="https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices" rel="noopener noreferrer">podcastchoices.com/adchoices</a>

Music's Most Mysterious Profession

In Richard Russo’s novels, the American dream feels like a cruel joke.
By Mark Oppenheimer
From the ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠<a href="https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/toc/2026/09/">⁠September 2026 issue⁠</a>⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. 
Get more from your favorite Atlantic voices when you <a href="http://theatlantic.com/listen">⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠subscribe⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠</a>. You’ll enjoy unlimited access to Pulitzer-winning journalism, from clear-eyed analysis and insight on breaking news: <a href="http://theatlantic.com/listen">⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠http://theatlantic.com/listen</a> Learn more about your ad choices. Visit <a href="https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices">podcastchoices.com/adchoices</a>

In Richard Russo’s novels, the American dream feels like a cruel joke. By Mark Oppenheimer From the ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠September 2026 issue⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Get more from your favorite Atlantic voices when you ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠subscribe⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. You’ll enjoy unlimited access to Pulitzer-winning journalism, from clear-eyed analysis and insight on breaking news: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠http://theatlantic.com/listen Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In Richard Russo’s novels, the American dream feels like a cruel joke.
By&nbsp;Mark Oppenheimer
From the ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠<a href="https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/toc/2026/09/" rel="noopener noreferrer">⁠September 2026 issue⁠</a>⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. 
Get more from your favorite Atlantic voices when you <a href="http://theatlantic.com/listen" rel="noopener noreferrer">⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠subscribe⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠</a>. You’ll enjoy unlimited access to Pulitzer-winning journalism, from clear-eyed analysis and insight on breaking news: <a href="http://theatlantic.com/listen" rel="noopener noreferrer">⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠http://theatlantic.com/listen</a> Learn more about your ad choices. Visit <a href="https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices" rel="noopener noreferrer">podcastchoices.com/adchoices</a>

Bad Luck, Bad Choices

Emily St. John Mandel’s latest work of science fiction considers the tenuousness of any possible future.
By Adam Begley
From the ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠<a href="https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/toc/2026/10/">⁠October 2026 issue⁠</a>⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. 
Get more from your favorite Atlantic voices when you <a href="http://theatlantic.com/listen">⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠subscribe⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠</a>. You’ll enjoy unlimited access to Pulitzer-winning journalism, from clear-eyed analysis and insight on breaking news: <a href="http://theatlantic.com/listen">⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠http://theatlantic.com/listen</a> Learn more about your ad choices. Visit <a href="https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices">podcastchoices.com/adchoices</a>

Emily St. John Mandel’s latest work of science fiction considers the tenuousness of any possible future. By Adam Begley From the ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠October 2026 issue⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Get more from your favorite Atlantic voices when you ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠subscribe⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. You’ll enjoy unlimited access to Pulitzer-winning journalism, from clear-eyed analysis and insight on breaking news: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠http://theatlantic.com/listen Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Emily St. John Mandel’s latest work of science fiction considers the tenuousness of any possible future.
By Adam Begley
From the ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠<a href="https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/toc/2026/10/" rel="noopener noreferrer">⁠October 2026 issue⁠</a>⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. 
Get more from your favorite Atlantic voices when you <a href="http://theatlantic.com/listen" rel="noopener noreferrer">⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠subscribe⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠</a>. You’ll enjoy unlimited access to Pulitzer-winning journalism, from clear-eyed analysis and insight on breaking news: <a href="http://theatlantic.com/listen" rel="noopener noreferrer">⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠http://theatlantic.com/listen</a> Learn more about your ad choices. Visit <a href="https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices" rel="noopener noreferrer">podcastchoices.com/adchoices</a>

What Comes After America

I can’t wait to get back to normal, but I know what I’ll be missing. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit <a href="https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices">podcastchoices.com/adchoices</a>

I can’t wait to get back to normal, but I know what I’ll be missing. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

I can’t wait to get back to normal, but I know what I’ll be missing. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit <a href="https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices" rel="noopener noreferrer">podcastchoices.com/adchoices</a>

A Motherhood Reset - Maggie Bullock - June 2020

How meal delivery became surreal Learn more about your ad choices. Visit <a href="https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices">podcastchoices.com/adchoices</a>

How meal delivery became surreal Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

How meal delivery became surreal Learn more about your ad choices. Visit <a href="https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices" rel="noopener noreferrer">podcastchoices.com/adchoices</a>

How I Became Essential - Darcy Courteau - June 2020

What makes Harrison Ford such a great cinematic sprinter, and why does Tom Cruise always pump his arms like that? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit <a href="https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices">podcastchoices.com/adchoices</a>

What makes Harrison Ford such a great cinematic sprinter, and why does Tom Cruise always pump his arms like that? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

What makes Harrison Ford such a great cinematic sprinter, and why does Tom Cruise always pump his arms like that? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit <a href="https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices" rel="noopener noreferrer">podcastchoices.com/adchoices</a>

Ode to Running in Movies - James Parker - June 2020

Too many kids show worrying signs of fragility from a very young age. Here’s what we can do about it. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit <a href="https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices">podcastchoices.com/adchoices</a>

Too many kids show worrying signs of fragility from a very young age. Here’s what we can do about it. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Too many kids show worrying signs of fragility from a very young age. Here’s what we can do about it. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit <a href="https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices" rel="noopener noreferrer">podcastchoices.com/adchoices</a>

Childhood in an Anxious Age - Kate Julian - May 2020

A well-known attorney helped land a $2 billion settlement for Gulf Coast seafood-industry workers. But who was he really representing? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit <a href="https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices">podcastchoices.com/adchoices</a>

A well-known attorney helped land a $2 billion settlement for Gulf Coast seafood-industry workers. But who was he really representing? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

A well-known attorney helped land a $2 billion settlement for Gulf Coast seafood-industry workers. But who was he really representing? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit <a href="https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices" rel="noopener noreferrer">podcastchoices.com/adchoices</a>

The Shark and the Shrimpers - Francesca Mari - May 2020

A new approach to fighting the opioid crisis as it quietly rages on Learn more about your ad choices. Visit <a href="https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices">podcastchoices.com/adchoices</a>

A new approach to fighting the opioid crisis as it quietly rages on Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

A new approach to fighting the opioid crisis as it quietly rages on Learn more about your ad choices. Visit <a href="https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices" rel="noopener noreferrer">podcastchoices.com/adchoices</a>

“At 14, I Could’ve Pointed Out Everybody Who Would Be Dead” - Beth Macy - May 2020

Can Joey Votto outsmart age? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit <a href="https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices">podcastchoices.com/adchoices</a>

Can Joey Votto outsmart age? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Can Joey Votto outsmart age? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit <a href="https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices" rel="noopener noreferrer">podcastchoices.com/adchoices</a>

The Brainiest Hitter - Sridhar Pappu - May 2020

Are “fancy” sweatpants here for good? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit <a href="https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices">podcastchoices.com/adchoices</a>

Are “fancy” sweatpants here for good? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Are “fancy” sweatpants here for good? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit <a href="https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices" rel="noopener noreferrer">podcastchoices.com/adchoices</a>

Kill the Office Dress Code - Amanda Mull - May 2020

India Is No Longer India Learn more about your ad choices. Visit <a href="https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices">podcastchoices.com/adchoices</a>

India Is No Longer India Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

India Is No Longer India Learn more about your ad choices. Visit <a href="https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices" rel="noopener noreferrer">podcastchoices.com/adchoices</a>

Exile in the Age of Modi - Aatish Taseer - May 2020

Why on earth has the formulaic series, which debuted half a century ago, outlasted just about everything else on television? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit <a href="https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices">podcastchoices.com/adchoices</a>

Why on earth has the formulaic series, which debuted half a century ago, outlasted just about everything else on television? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Why on earth has the formulaic series, which debuted half a century ago, outlasted just about everything else on television? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit <a href="https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices" rel="noopener noreferrer">podcastchoices.com/adchoices</a>

Share The Atlantic Out Loud

Sign up to save your podcasts

The Atlantic Out Loud

The Atlantic Out Loud episodes

About The Atlantic Out Loud

Best of The Atlantic Out Loud