Transgender Woman Talking

Elle talks about her experiences with Pride and Pride month. Pride has drawbacks and great benefits, effective effects as well as impotent ones. Recently, a Reddit post discussed some of the disappointments we collectively experience when it comes to pride -- Elle adds her own voice to that conversation. She reflects on the political conversations surrounding trans people currently, including laws championed by Ron DeSantis, abusive relationships, shame and self-respect, spiritual rituals, and creating community. Among other themes discussed in the episode, Elle talks about:

Email Elle with questions and feedback at: [email protected]

Watch YouTube videos of many of the show's episodes on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@transgenderwomantalking/videos

Elle discusses her personal reactions to the novel "Mad Honey" written by Jodi Picoult and Jennifer Finney Boyland (click here for Amazon listing). The book was published late in 2022 and has received many positive reviews, as well as some irrational hate by "aNti wOkE" warriors. In the episode, Elle offers her reflections on reading the novel, and ideas that it brought to mind along the way.

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Subjects discussed include:

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As always, your feedback and constructive advice is welcome via email at: [email protected].

Watch the show on YouTube, where many episodes are published in video form: https://www.youtube.com/@transgenderwomantalking/videos

On this week's new episode, Elle reflects on endings, beginnings, graduations, rites of passage, and the nature of change for human beings. This one is out a couple days late due to graduation ceremonies that she participated in over the weekend -- finishing her degree to become a licensed psychotherapist.

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As always, thank you for listening, reviewing, rating, and sending your constructive feedback to: [email protected]

This week's episode is the first re-run of the program's history. This one was originally published back in October of 2022 and is one of the most popular of the 40 or so editions now out in the feed. Elle will be back next week with a fresh one.

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Should I transition? This is a question a lot of trans people ask themselves at one time or another. The answer might seem obvious -- and it is for some people -- but it often is a little more complex. Elle talks about the process she went through to make sense of this choice. She reflects on support she received (like ⁠Dara Hoffman Fox's book on Gender Identity⁠ exploration) along the way, as well as the spirituality of the transgender experience. Other resources important during this time included: ⁠Love Lives Here by⁠ Amanda Jette Knox and ⁠Dazzling Darkness⁠ by Rachel Mann. 

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Please share your feedback and ideas for the program to: [email protected]

Elle discusses the practice (or habit) of avoidance as a coping mechanism for stress. The term, "Ostrich Effect" is sometimes derided in pop-psychology circles as disordered avoidance or dissociation. But she argues that there are times in which it can be effective and even constructive for surviving. In the episode, Elle refers to the current political climate and social conversations around LGBTQ people, and the proposed legislation aimed at our community. She likewise discusses input from listeners from the show, including Quinn!

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This week's episode was videoed and will be available on Elle's YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@transgenderwomantalking/videos

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Please take a minute to rate and review the program, or email Elle directly at: [email protected]

Elle continues the series asking the question, "Am I transgender?", an inquiry that comes to the forefront of trans people's mind at some point in their lives or another (or repeatedly). In this iteration of the series, Elle talks about looking at herself in the mirror, disassociation from thoughts and feelings, grieving the childhood and young adulthood I wish I'd had, my willingness to suffer, and so-called gender euphoria.

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Previous episodes in the series:

Am I Transgender? (Part 1) - https://spotifyanchor-web.app.link/e/bha9xLj2zxb

Am I Transgender? (Part 2) - https://spotifyanchor-web.app.link/e/p4lEXJj2zxb

Am I Transgender? (Part 3) - https://spotifyanchor-web.app.link/e/SfBEQOENszb

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The Cornell meta-analysis study on the benefits of transition: https://whatweknow.inequality.cornell.edu/topics/lgbt-equality/what-does-the-scholarly-research-say-about-the-well-being-of-transgender-people/

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Julia Serano's book Whipping Girl can be purchased anywhere books are sold. Check out the author's blog here: https://www.juliaserano.com/

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Transgender Woman Talking YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@transgenderwomantalking/videos

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Reach out to Elle at the following email address: [email protected]

Elle solves the question of the ages (/s) for TWaT listeners this week on the show as she tackles the conundrum of how people change in their lives. Among her reflections on this enormous topic include mentions of her therapeutic approach as studied in her Masters therapy program from Alliant University, Father Richard Rohr's "Falling Upwards" (click here), Julia Serano's "Sexed Up" (click here), and many other fun little nuggets.

As has become commonplace, this episode will be shared in video form on Elle's YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@transgenderwomantalking

Email Elle at [email protected] with any questions, suggestions, or constructive advice :)

Please take a moment to rate and review the show, it helps folks to find the work that Elle is doing.

Elle brings you along with her on a trip back to her hometown. Some of her friends share their words of wisdom on the program, and Elle squeezes in a bit of sightseeing in between bouts of homework wrestling. A theme that seems to emerge during this Travelogue episode is Elle's feelings about fitting in (or not), and what it means to be home.

Photos of this week's trip: https://www.amazon.com/photos/shared/9VjrRJp6ScSbaN-oA-wrIg.I_X4iBb0CYPN999f4jyxQn

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As always, you can watch most episodes on YouTube (but not this one) - https://www.youtube.com/@transgenderwomantalking/videos

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Elle dips her toes into the conversation about Trans Exclusionary Radical Feminists (TERFs) and JK Rowling and her new podcast, The Witch Trials of JK Rowling. She reflects on her internal impulses to condemn and empathize with folks like Rowling -- as well as the strangely validating experience of not being seen, trusted, or heard. Elle refers to Julia Serano's famous Trans Woman Manifesto from her book Whipping Girl as well as the 2022 novel Lessons In Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus. She also references the concept of cancel culture, as well as some of the brands that LGBTQ people reject like Chick-fil-A.

This episode will be available on YouTube at Elle's channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/transgenderwomantalking

Please email with any constructive feedback, affirmations, or suggestions :) [email protected]

Elle talks about things that scared her before she began transitioning; things that froze her into inaction. She reflects on the ways in which fear holds us back, and also about how it can show us the way to courage. This episode touches on so-called "imposter syndrome", Pandora's Box, the validity of transition as a "treatment" for gender dysphoria, the financial and social impacts of gender transition, passing, internalized transphobia, and the ways in which transgender women are often viewed suspiciously as predators in waiting.

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The song Elle referenced about brave fucking women - "Ice Cream Man" by RAYE - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ywunlu42_ho

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