Podcast episodes

Fifty Shades of Gender podcast graphic for Reflections (part 3) with Katy Jon Went & Esther Lemmens

75. Reflections (part 3) – discoveries so far

In this third Reflections episode, Katy interviews Esther as she reflects on further conversations she’s had with gender-diverse folks, what she’s learned about gender, as well as her own journey and how she and the podcast have evolved. We also talk about imposter syndrome, intuition and following the flow, prioritising self-care, expanding on pronouns, improvising and thinking on the spot, reclaiming labels, coming out of the spiritual closet, how the lines between being on the outside and being on the inside are blurring, and that being an ally benefits us all; not just those we are being allies for. [Transcript coming soon.]

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Fifty Shades of Gender podcast graphic with Medha Murtagh for A Clear Perspective on Gender – a channeled message by Oron and Medha

74. A Clear Perspective on Gender – a channeled message from Oron and Medha

Medha is a direct voice channel for Oron. Oron start by talking about what it takes for Medha to allow this energy to come through, and then about expansion and going beyond right and wrong, external and internal division, how truth lies on a spectrum, reclaiming your sense of self-worth, power versus force, coming into inner harmony, what self-love really is, and returning to wholeness. [Transcript coming soon.]

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Fifty Shades of Gender podcast graphic with Paige Loewen

73. PAIGE LOEWEN – partner of a transgender woman

Paige is married to a transgender woman, who came out to her in October 2020. They’ve been married for 16 years and have two children. We also talk about being married to a troubled person, becoming more bold and growing into your skin, learning to communicate our needs, the freedom in speaking your truth, going through your own journeys together, that it’s ok to not put a label on yourself, and how we may find ourselves in one closet or another. [Transcript coming soon.]

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Fifty Shades of Gender podcast graphic with Talea Boelsems

72. TALEA BOELSEMS – agender, metagender

Talea is agender and metagender. We get philosophical and dig deeper into gender identity, and we talk about the challenges with finding language for something just beyond our grasp, nature vs nurture and what is innate in our identity, and peeling away layers and finding nothing. [Transcript coming soon.]

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Fifty Shades of Gender podcast graphic with Renée Yoxon

71. RENÉE YOXON – trans, non-binary, genderqueer, maverique

Renée is non-binary trans. They also identify as maverique and back in the day, genderqueer. We also talk about being who you are right now, bridging the trans and cis experience, how ‘passing’ is morally neutral, internal vs societal perception of gender, simultaneously upholding and tearing down gender binaries, and how the voice is more nurture than nature. [Transcript coming soon.]

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Fifty Shades of Gender podcast graphic with Rev Rowan Bombadil

70. REV ROWAN BOMBADIL – genderqueer shapeshifter & sex witch

Rowan is a genderqueer shapeshifter and sex witch. We also talk about deconstructing boxes and binaries, the link between gender, sex and magic, reclaiming the body and revealing more of ourselves, roleplay vs shapeshifting, multiplicity and spanning the gender spectrum, transformation through intention, and celebrating the sacred in ourselves. This episode finishes with a special solstice meditation. [Transcript coming soon.]

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Fifty Shades of Gender podcast graphic with Zelda

69. ZELDA – intersex, trans-adjacent, disabled

Zelda is intersex and disabled, and refers to herself as trans-adjacent. We also talk about using fun vs boring as decision-making criteria as opposed to male vs female, having a gender identity as fluid as a body identity, knowing the science versus living the science, giving hope by being yourself, being a bridge between dualities, lucky genetic quirks, and being a special case. [Transcript coming soon.]

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Fifty Shades of Gender podcast graphic with Esther Loewen

68. ESTHER LOEWEN – transgender woman

Esther is a transgender woman. We also talk about how coming out is an ongoing process, questions to ask yourself on the gender journey, finding hope in spirituality after trauma, grieving the loss of vocation, taking a leap of faith, embracing how god made us, integrating and honouring the old self, and entering the next chapter in life with dignity and grace. [Transcript coming soon.]

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Fifty Shades of Gender podcast graphic with Leonie Dawson

67. LEONIE DAWSON – non-binary

Leonie is non-binary. We also talk about honouring the land we inhabit, the freedom that came from adding a ‘they’ pronoun while having a ‘she’ experience, being non-conforming in business, the importance of having open and honest money conversations, knowing who you are inside and standing for what you believe in, kicking the social media habit, and smashing the patriarchy by being more of yourself. [Transcript coming soon.]

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Fifty Shades of Gender podcast graphic with Anna Sansom

66. ANNA SANSOM – genderqueer, gender-responsive, woman, queer dyke

Anna’s pronouns are she/her. She experiences herself as genderqueer and feels herself to be gender-responsive. We also talk about the energetic space between people, being responsive vs being reactive, how boxes can be constricting as well as expansive, playing with gender and sexuality, reclaiming the word ‘dyke’, self-healing through sexual experiences, liberating ourselves and writing our own story, pursuing desire, and why it’s more than ok to want more out of life. [Transcript coming soon.]

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Fifty Shades of Gender podcast graphic for Listener Questions episode (1)

65. Listener Questions (1) – terminology explained

This episode is a slightly different one again; the first of a Listener Questions series. I’m answering a question (or rather, responding to a request) from one of our listeners, Connie, who said “I would love to hear a podcast on the definition of terms used on the podcasts.” So here it is! [Transcript coming soon.]

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Fifty Shades of Gender podcast graphic with Brian Belovitch

64. BRIAN BELOVITCH – cis-gay male of trans experience

Brian identifies as a cis-gay male of trans experience. We talk about being different and growing up in the 60s and 70s, looking for validation, living a fantasy life, performing the role of perfect woman, dealing with judgement, how everyone’s journey is unique, finding a different way to be comfortable, and going full circle and reaching a new destination. [Transcript coming soon.]

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Fifty Shades of Gender podcast graphic with Jen Hartmann

63. JEN HARTMANN – non-binary, bigender

Jen is non-binary and also identifies as bigender. We also talk about growing up with a very gendered language, being expected to fit into cultural and gendered stereotypes, disrupting the fashion industry and the future of innovation, how clothes are an integral part of gender expression, navigating entrepreneurship and the challenges that come with doing your own thing, surrendering to divine timing, and that one size does not fit all. [Transcript coming soon.]

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Fifty Shades of Gender podcast graphic with Jacob Profitt

62. JACOB PROFITT – non-binary, gay, drag queen

Jacob identifies as a gay non-binary person. We also talk about the freedom that comes with going to university, societal conditioning around masculine and feminine binaries, exploring gender identity through drag, being non-binary in education, feeling attracted to male presenting people as opposed to masculinity, and being inspired by a younger generation. [Transcript available.]

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Fifty Shades of Gender podcast graphic with Dorothy 'Thyo' Pierre-Louis

61. DOROTHY ‘THYO’ PIERRE-LOUIS – non-binary, trans-masculine, bigender, toric, graysexual

Dorothy Pierre-Louis – nickname Thyo (pronounced like Theo) – is non-binary and also uses the labels bigender and trans-masculine, as well as toric and graysexual. We also talk about discovering identities beyond the binary, having the language to describe how you feel, experiencing attraction to attributes like softer and firmer rather than gender, being on the asexual spectrum as a raunchy person, aesthetic stereotypes and how they can vary by culture or country, and the challenges that arise when trying to communicate who you are to the outside world. [Transcript coming soon.]

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Fifty Shades of Gender podcast graphic with Emme Porter DeWitt

60. EMME PORTER DeWITT – agender [transgender, nonbinary], queer [demisexual+]

Emme is agender and also identifies as transgender, non-binary, queer and demisexual. We also talk about how we all have our own unique flavour of humanity, making sense of attractions, the importance of emotional connection, building your own blueprint for relationships, the possibilities in the term queer, being a solo advocate, how parents can build a healthy relationship with their gender-expansive kids, and getting rid of the boxes altogether. [Transcript coming soon.]

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Fifty Shades of Gender podcast graphic with Greyson

58. GREYSON – trans man, xenogender (wolfgender), furry

Greyson is a trans man, but identifies with wolfgender, which is a xenogender. We also talk about discovering your identity through playing someone else, separating gender from male/female, man/woman and masculine/feminine, how queer identities are a lot of work, self-medicating with testosterone, respecting artistry and artists by paying them well, and how gender journeys are a great way to get to know yourself deeper. [Transcript coming soon.]

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Fifty Shades of Gender podcast graphic with Jin Wicked

57. JIN WICKED – agender, non-binary, autistic

Jin is agender and non-binary. We also talk about pushing boundaries, questioning what’s normal, seeing the body as a canvas, finding beauty and art in everyday life, discovering being neurodivergent, integrating different identities, being present in the moment, and learning to be human. [Transcript coming soon.]

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Fifty Shades of Gender podcast graphic with Juno Roche

56. JUNO ROCHE – trans & queer

Juno is trans and queer. We talk about being a writer as part of identity, affirming surgeries versus trying to preserve youth, transitioning into transness as opposed to into a woman, being attracted to masculinity rather than men, owning your skin and celebrating yourself, being an intimacy virgin, and getting lost in words.[Transcript coming soon.]

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Fifty Shades of Gender podcast graphic with Beverly Little Thunder

55. BEVERLY LITTLE THUNDER – Two-Spirit Lakota woman

Beverly Little Thunder is a Two-Spirit Lakota woman from the Standing Rock Band in North Dakota. We also talk about what the term Two-Spirit encompasses, how religious indoctrination led to Two-Spirit people being ostracised, the cultural and societal roles we assign masculinity and femininity to, how tradition has evolved with community needs, that you don’t have to give birth to be a role model, and the importance of telling your own story. [Transcript coming soon.]

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Fifty Shades of Gender podcast graphic with Lynn Keiser

54. LYNN KEISER – transgender woman

Lynn identifies as a transgender woman. We also talk about how being trans can offer a unique perspective into human psychology, the evolution of relationships and attraction, facets of identity, leaping into the unknown, and doing as much – or as little – as you need to be happy. [Transcript coming soon.]

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Fifty Shades of Gender podcast graphic with Lor

53. LOR – intersex, non-binary, demiboy, bigender

Lor is non-binary, and intersex – assigned female at birth but genetically male – and she is figuring things out when it comes to gender identities, currently working with the labels demiboy and bigender. We also talk about hormone therapy, the vagueness of consent when it comes to medical procedures and the lack of knowledge about intersex variations in the medical profession, reclaiming body autonomy, the wonder that is foetal development, the difference between sex, gender identity and sexual orientation, and why doing identity work is a good idea. [Transcript coming soon.]

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Fifty Shades of Gender podcast graphic with Dean Rasmussen

52. DEAN RASMUSSEN – transgender, trans man, trans-masculine, genderqueer, non-binary, pansexual

Dean is a trans man, but they also resonate with the labels trans-masculine, genderqueer and non-binary. We also talk about being a non-binary parent, separating the role of nurturer from gender, experiencing dysphoria in pregnancy, gender assumptions and how we are perceived, how testosterone can affect attraction, and the freedom that can come from trying out names and pronouns. [Transcript coming soon.]

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Fifty Shades of Gender podcast graphic with J Laurence Sarno

51. J LAURENCE SARNO – trans man

Laurence generally describes himself as a trans man, but his joke about labels is that he’s everything in LGBTQIA except the ‘L’ and the ‘A’. We also talk about being perceived as you are, a very speedy transition journey, privilege, what we can learn from unconventional relationship styles, embracing who you are, unpacking judgements, and becoming your most authentic self. [Transcript coming soon.]

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