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

The great gonzo journalist understood America’s fractured politics long before the rest of us did. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit <a href="https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices">podcastchoices.com/adchoices</a>

The great gonzo journalist understood America’s fractured politics long before the rest of us did. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The great gonzo journalist understood America’s fractured politics long before the rest of us did. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit <a href="https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices" rel="noopener noreferrer">podcastchoices.com/adchoices</a>

Ode to the Letters of Hunter S. Thompson - James Parker - December 2019

The commander in chief is impulsive, disdains expertise, and gets his intelligence briefings from Fox News. What does this mean for those on the front lines? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit <a href="https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices">podcastchoices.com/adchoices</a>

The commander in chief is impulsive, disdains expertise, and gets his intelligence briefings from Fox News. What does this mean for those on the front lines? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The commander in chief is impulsive, disdains expertise, and gets his intelligence briefings from Fox News. What does this mean for those on the front lines? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit <a href="https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices" rel="noopener noreferrer">podcastchoices.com/adchoices</a>

General Chaos - Mark Bowden - November 2019

The tech industry is producing a rising din. Our bodies can’t adapt. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit <a href="https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices">podcastchoices.com/adchoices</a>

The tech industry is producing a rising din. Our bodies can’t adapt. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The tech industry is producing a rising din. Our bodies can’t adapt. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit <a href="https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices" rel="noopener noreferrer">podcastchoices.com/adchoices</a>

The End of Silence - Bianca Bosker - November 2019

What the Amazon founder and CEO wants for his empire and himself, and what that means for the rest of us. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit <a href="https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices">podcastchoices.com/adchoices</a>

What the Amazon founder and CEO wants for his empire and himself, and what that means for the rest of us. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

What the Amazon founder and CEO wants for his empire and himself, and what that means for the rest of us. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit <a href="https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices" rel="noopener noreferrer">podcastchoices.com/adchoices</a>

Jeff Bezos's Master Plan - Frank Foer - November 2019

The largest crowdfunding site in the world puts up a mirror to who we are and what matters most to us. Try not to look away. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit <a href="https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices">podcastchoices.com/adchoices</a>

The largest crowdfunding site in the world puts up a mirror to who we are and what matters most to us. Try not to look away. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The largest crowdfunding site in the world puts up a mirror to who we are and what matters most to us. Try not to look away. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit <a href="https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices" rel="noopener noreferrer">podcastchoices.com/adchoices</a>

GoFundMe Nation - Rachel Monroe - November 2019

The whole truth took me decades to learn. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit <a href="https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices">podcastchoices.com/adchoices</a>

The whole truth took me decades to learn. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The whole truth took me decades to learn. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit <a href="https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices" rel="noopener noreferrer">podcastchoices.com/adchoices</a>

Jimmy Hoffa, My Stepfather, and Me - Jack Goldsmith - November 2019

Our unpredictable and overburdened schedules are taking a dire toll on American society. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit <a href="https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices">podcastchoices.com/adchoices</a>

Our unpredictable and overburdened schedules are taking a dire toll on American society. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Our unpredictable and overburdened schedules are taking a dire toll on American society. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit <a href="https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices" rel="noopener noreferrer">podcastchoices.com/adchoices</a>

Why Don't I See You Anymore? -Judith Shulevitz - November 2019

Endings can be healthy, even when we fear them. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit <a href="https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices">podcastchoices.com/adchoices</a>

Endings can be healthy, even when we fear them. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Endings can be healthy, even when we fear them. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit <a href="https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices" rel="noopener noreferrer">podcastchoices.com/adchoices</a>

In Praise of Endings - Ben Healy - November 2019

Her picture books have sold 75 million copies in the past four decades. What’s the secret to her far-reaching appeal? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit <a href="https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices">podcastchoices.com/adchoices</a>

Her picture books have sold 75 million copies in the past four decades. What’s the secret to her far-reaching appeal? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Her picture books have sold 75 million copies in the past four decades. What’s the secret to her far-reaching appeal? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit <a href="https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices" rel="noopener noreferrer">podcastchoices.com/adchoices</a>

The Bard of Bedtime - Ian Bogost - November 2019

A very analog hobby finds a way to thrive in the digital age. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit <a href="https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices">podcastchoices.com/adchoices</a>

A very analog hobby finds a way to thrive in the digital age. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

A very analog hobby finds a way to thrive in the digital age. 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