She/her, he/him, and they/them are all examples of pronouns that express gender identity, but what do they all mean? 

As more and more individuals step into their true identities, it’s important to educate ourselves, so we can be allies and global citizens in general. Learn about the meaning of gender identity, how we can do our part to affirm all genders on the spectrum, and get a glimpse into the experiences of those outside of the gender binary on today’s episode. Six questions, six answers, all in six minutes. Welcome to the #SophieSix. 

As always, this is a conversation, so if you have an opinion or a perspective to add to the mix, send us a DM on Instagram @theconversationalist. Make sure you follow along with us on social media to participate in all of the action and reach out to us if you want to get more involved by applying to become a Brand Ambassador or joining our Online Community!

Want to be featured on an upcoming episode of The Conversationalist podcast? Here’s what to do: Follow us on Instagram @theconversationalist, rate our podcast, and leave us a review on iTunes or on the Apple Podcasts app! DM us on Instagram to tell us when you've completed these steps and what username you used to subscribe and leave the review, and we'll give you the insider access on how to get featured! Thanks for joining the conversation with us and we’ll see you next week!  

Episode Resources: Click here to learn more about gender identity and the terms surrounding gender identity. Click here to learn with the Genderbread Person. Click here for an LGBTQ+ perspective on pronouns. Click here to learn more about suicide prevention, resources, and suicide warning signs. 

Please Note: If you are in a life-threatening situation, please do not use this site. Call the 24-hour National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1 (800) 273-8255. If your issue is an emergency, call 911 or go to your nearest emergency room. 

Support the show: https://www.linkedin.com/company/theconversationalist/ 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Sexual Assault is a difficult topic to talk about and one that I’m definitely still learning about. What I’ve learned is that sexual violence is a public health problem and recovering from sexual assault is a process that looks different for everyone, but all of us have the ability to look out for each other’s safety to prevent sexual violence from happening. Whether it’s giving someone a safe ride home from a party, advocating for consent among your friends, or directly confronting a person who is engaging in threatening behavior, anyone can help, and one of the best places to start is by getting involved with two incredible movements started by today’s guests, Deun Ivory and Maya Siegel. Deun is the founder of The Body: A Home for Love, a nonprofit organization shifting the culture around how black women heal from trauma, and Maya is the founder of Space to Speak, an organization dedicated to giving youth a leading voice in the sexual violence prevention movement. Follow our guests on social media to continue the conversation: 

Deun Ivory is a creative visionary, art director, photographer, multi-disciplinary artist and the founder of The Body: A Home For Love, a 501 (c) 3 non-profit organization shifting culture around how black women heal from sexual trauma. 

Maya Siegel is a passionate young woman with a relentless work ethic. Originally from Colorado, Maya is an advocate and is the Founder of Space to Speak, an organization dedicated to giving youth a leading voice in the sexual violence prevention movement while also working to reduce sexual violence through education, service, and advocacy. 

Interested in joining Sophie on her mission to unify the world? Follow @theconversationalist on Instagram and Twitter, like us on Facebook, and subscribe to us on YouTube to give your perspectives on the topics we covered this season! You can also apply to become a Brand Ambassador or join our Online Community to connect with other passionate Conversationalists around the world. Thanks for joining the conversation with us and we’ll see you next week!  

Episode Resources: The CDC Sexual Violence Resources Download the SoSecure app / Read How Covid-19 Impacts Survivors / Read The CDC’s Guide To Stop Sexual Violence / Read About Sexual Violence Myths and Facts 

Please Note: If you are in a life-threatening situation, please do not use this site. Call the 24-hour National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1 (800) 273-8255. If your issue is an emergency, call 911 or go to your nearest emergency room. 

Support the show: https://www.linkedin.com/company/theconversationalist/ 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Did you know that every 73 seconds, an American is Sexually Assaulted? Sexual violence is a significant public health problem affecting the lives of millions of people in the United States, which can lead to serious short- and long-term health consequences. Sexual assault can take many different forms and can be defined in different ways, but one thing remains the same: it’s never the victim’s fault. Last month was Sexual Assault Awareness Month, and we saw a lot of organizations doing great things to increase awareness and promote overall solidarity between allies and survivors. But when it comes to topics like these, it’s not enough to limit the conversation to one month out of the year.  

So, to keep the conversation going, we’ll dive into the questions on all of our minds, like, what does being a supportive friend look like? Is the culture around this topic on social media causing more harm than good? And what even is sexual assault in the first place? Here are six burning questions I researched and be sure to listen to the episode for the answers I found: Does sexual assault only happen to women? Is sexual violence connected to other forms of violence? What are the consequences of sexual violence? Are social media movements helping to break down the stigma around sexual assault? Or perpetuating potentially harmful cultures around abuse? What are the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on victims of sexual violence? How can I be the best ally possible?   

As always, this is a conversation, so if you have an opinion or a perspective to add to the mix, send us a DM on Instagram @theconversationalist. Make sure you follow along with us on social media to participate in all of the action and reach out to us if you want to get more involved by applying to become a Brand Ambassador or joining our Online Community!

Want to be featured on an upcoming episode of The Conversationalist podcast? Here’s what to do: Follow us on Instagram @theconversationalist, rate our podcast, and leave us a review on iTunes or on the Apple Podcasts app! DM us on Instagram to tell us when you've completed these steps and what username you used to subscribe and leave the review, and we'll give you the insider access on how to get featured!

Episode Resources: The CDC Sexual Violence Resources Download the SoSecure app / Read How Covid-19 Impacts Survivors / Read The CDC’s Guide to Stop Sexual Violence / Read About Sexual Violence Myths and Facts 

Please Note: If you are in a life-threatening situation, please do not use this site. Call the 24-hour National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1 (800) 273-8255. If your issue is an emergency, call 911 or go to your nearest emergency room. 

Support the show: https://www.linkedin.com/company/theconversationalist/ 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ahmaud Arbery, a black man, was shot dead while jogging just outside Brunswick, Georgia, on February 23. On May 6, 2020, word got to social media about the killing of 21-year-old U.S. Air Force veteran Dreasjon "Sean" Reed in Indianapolis. These incidents are just two of far too many cases of the sad and fatal results of racism in this country and we need to have a conversation about it. So what should we be thinking about when it comes to racism, discrimination, and hate crimes in 2020? 

Here are six burning questions I researched and be sure to listen to the episode for the answers I found. What does it mean to live in a post-racial society? Is eliminating racism attainable in our country? What is a hate crime? Is social media an effective tool when it comes to combating hate crimes? Would justice have been served had we not seen the video? How do we take action against hate in our country? 

As always, this is a conversation, so if you have an opinion or a perspective to add to the mix, send us a DM on Instagram @theconversationalist. Make sure you follow along with us on social media to participate in all of the action and reach out to us if you want to get more involved by applying to become a Brand Ambassador or joining our Online Community!

Want to be featured on an upcoming episode of The Conversationalist podcast? Here’s what to do: Follow us on Instagram @theconversationalist, rate our podcast, and leave us a review on iTunes or on the Apple Podcasts app! DM us on Instagram to tell us when you've completed these steps and what username you used to subscribe and leave the review, and we'll give you the insider access on how to get featured! Thanks for joining the conversation with us and we’ll see you next week!  

Support the show: https://www.linkedin.com/company/theconversationalist/ 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Does bullying have a real connection to mental health? What about suicide? 

It’s time to have a real conversation about the public health problem that is bullying. Recent stats have shown that 15% of students report having experienced cyberbullying and 19% report having been bullied in school, and it’s important to recognize that bullying oftentimes leads to problems much worse, whether it be depression, anxiety, and even suicide. So what should we be thinking about when it comes to these two topics? Here are six burning questions I researched and the answers I found. 

In this episode, you will find answers to these six burning questions: Are there different types of bullying? Does bullying have a real connection to mental health? Does bullying disproportionately affect different types of people? Do bullies experience any mental health effects as well? Is bullying actually linked to suicide? What are people doing to prevent bullying and how can we help?  

As always, this is a conversation, so if you have an opinion or a perspective to add to the mix, send us a DM on Instagram @theconversationalist. Make sure you follow along with us on social media to participate in all of the action and reach out to us if you want to get more involved by applying to become a Brand Ambassador or joining our Online Community!

Want to be featured on an upcoming episode of The Conversationalist podcast? Here’s what to do: Follow us on Instagram @theconversationalist, rate our podcast, and leave us a review on iTunes or on the Apple Podcasts app! DM us on Instagram to tell us when you've completed these steps and what username you used to subscribe and leave the review, and we'll give you the insider access on how to get featured!

Episode Resources: Click here to learn more about the relationship between bullying and suicide from the CDC. Click here to learn more about suicide prevention, resources, and suicide warning signs. Please Note: If you are in a life-threatening situation, please do not use this site. Call the 24-hour National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1 (800) 273-8255 or use these crisis resources on the My Wellbeing website. If your issue is an emergency, call 911 or go to your nearest emergency room. 

Support the show: https://www.linkedin.com/company/theconversationalist/ 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This is the definition of a difficult conversation. As we continue our mental health series, we wanted to discuss how mental health relates to gun violence in the U.S., and the steps, if any, being taken to prevent it. 

You will hear from Arielle Geismar and Brandon Dasent, two activists working at the forefront of getting young people involved in the discussion of gun violence prevention. We will then speak with Dr. Dan Flannery of the Begun Center for Violence Prevention Research and Education. A large part of the mental health conversation is considering Red Flag Laws and Dr. Flannery will give us insight into what these laws are and if they could be an effective approach to preventing gun violence in the U.S.A. Get connected with our guests from today’s episode to continue the conversation: 

Brandon Dasent is a senior at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, in Parkland, Florida, where a gunman killed 17 people on February 14, 2018.  Brandon, along with as well as Mei-Ling Ho-Shing, Tyah Amoy-Roberts, and Kai Koerber co-founded the student coalition S.T.O.R.M. (Students Tactically Organizing Revolutionary Movements). The activists have taken the nation *by STORM*, starting conversations about the common links between gun violence in urban communities and affluent communities. 

Arielle Geismar is a Jewish youth activist from New York City who advocates for gun reform, mental health awareness and women’s rights, among a host of other issues. She is an associate director of GenZ Girl Gang, national organizing fellow for Team Enough of the Brady Campaign, and the national action chair for Next Gen Politics Women's Caucus. 

Dr. Daniel J. Flannery is the Director of the Begun Center for Violence Prevention Research and Education at Case Western Reserve University in Columbus, Ohio. He’s an expert researcher whose work focuses on youth violence prevention, the link between violence and mental health, and community-based program evaluation. 

Want to keep the convo going? Subscribe to The Conversationalist today and leave us a review so we can continue the conversation with you! 

Want to be featured on an upcoming episode of The Conversationalist podcast? Here’s what to do: Follow us on Instagram @theconversationalist Rate our podcast and leave us a review on iTunes or on the Apple Podcasts app. DM us on Instagram to tell us when you've completed steps one and two and what username you used to subscribe and leave the review, and we'll give you the insider access on how to get featured!

Interested in joining Sophie on her mission to unify the world? Follow @theconversationalist on Instagram and Twitter, like us on Facebook, and subscribe to us on YouTube to give your perspectives on the topics we covered this season! You can also apply to become a Brand Ambassador or join our Online Community to connect with other passionate Conversationalists around the world. Thanks for joining the conversation with us and we’ll see you next week! 

Support the show: https://www.linkedin.com/company/theconversationalist/ 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Did you know that it took a pandemic to stop school shootings? March 2020 was the first March recorded in over 18 years without a single school shooting. As people seek to protect themselves and prepare for the unknown possibilities ahead during COVID-19, guns have been flying off the shelves. If anything, this is a sign of the complex nature of the gun violence issue and it’s time to have a candid conversation to make sense of guns, gun violence, and the laws around this polarizing issue. 

Listen in on this week’s #SophieSix conversation, as part of our series of conversations focusing on mental health, for six questions, six answers, and six perspectives to consider, all in less than six minutes. You ready? Let’s go. 

In this episode, you will find answers to these six burning questions: Do red flag laws actually work? Is mental health the root cause of gun violence? Is social contagion the cause of gun violence? Is mental health being used as a scapegoat? Does everyone agree that action needs to be taken on gun violence? Is America officially desensitized to gun violence? 

As always, this is a conversation, so if you have an opinion or a perspective to add to the mix, send us a DM on Instagram @theconversationalist.  Make sure you follow along with us on social media to participate in all of the action and reach out to us if you want to get more involved by applying to become a Brand Ambassador or joining our Online Community!

Want to be featured on an upcoming episode of The Conversationalist podcast? Here’s what to do: Follow us on Instagram @theconversationalist, rate our podcast, and leave us a review on iTunes or on the Apple Podcasts app! DM us on Instagram to tell us when you've completed these steps and what username you used to subscribe and leave the review, and we'll give you the insider access on how to get featured! Thanks for joining the conversation with us and we’ll see you next week! 

Support the show: https://www.linkedin.com/company/theconversationalist/ 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

How will we ever escape the vape? What’s the truth behind all of the “smoke and mirrors?” 

Today’s conversation is another part of our mental health series as we tackle the topic of vaping addiction. Ever since Juuling came on the scene around five years ago, it seems like most young adults have either vaped, or know someone who vapes. Today we’re going to get to the bottom of why vaping has become such a problem in our country, why there has been a sudden rising death toll potentially linked to lung disease caused by vaping, and what we can be doing to help those who are now addicted. Get connected with our guests from today’s episode to continue the conversation:  

Meredith Berkman and Dorian Fuhrman are two of the three co-founders of Parents Against Vaping E-Cigarettes. PAVe is a grassroots organization that seeks to educate parents about the dangers of e-cigarettes. They are leading the movement against vaping, which is what they call “the most serious adolescent public-health crisis our country has faced in decades.” Learn more about how you can get involved with Parents Against Vaping by visiting this website. You can follow PAVe on Instagram @Parents_Against_Vaping and on Twitter @ParentsvsVape. 

Dr. Jonathan Avery is the Director of Addiction Psychiatry and Associate Professor of Clinical Psychiatry at Weill Cornell Hospital in New York City. Dr. Avery also serves as on Advisory Board for PAVe: Parents Against Vaping E-Cigarettes. Follow Dr. Avery on Twitter @JonathanAveryMD and watch this video about his journey. Want to read more about stigma and substance use? Check out www.substanceusestigma.com. Know someone who might be struggling with a vaping addiction? Want to learn more about how you can help continue the conversations about vaping? Check out the resources on the PAVe website here, as well as the resources on Dr. Avery’s website.  

Want to keep the convo going? Subscribe to The Conversationalist today and leave us a review so we can continue the conversation with you! 

Want to be featured on an upcoming episode of The Conversationalist podcast? Here’s what to do: Follow us on Instagram @theconversationalist Rate our podcast and leave us a review on iTunes or on the Apple Podcasts app. DM us on Instagram to tell us when you've completed steps one and two and what username you used to subscribe and leave the review, and we'll give you the insider access on how to get featured!

Interested in joining Sophie on her mission to unify the world? Follow @theconversationalist on Instagram and Twitter, like us on Facebook, and subscribe to us on YouTube to give your perspectives on the topics we covered this season! You can also apply to become a Brand Ambassador or join our Online Community to connect with other passionate Conversationalists around the world. Thanks for joining the conversation with us and we’ll see you next week!  

Support the show: https://www.linkedin.com/company/theconversationalist/ 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.