TPT#161 - I Gotta Have Faith

"What should we talk about?"

"I don't know, what haven't we talked about in a while?"

"Religion?"

"Okay."

We are here to share our entire intersectional experience with anyone who finds it beneficial, but we want to know what you connect with the most. You can let us know by clicking to a one-question anonymous survey at vote.pollcode.com/32371374. If you have a request/suggestion that isn't listed, comment!

TPT#160 - Q and A #5

You sent in questions, we answered to the microphone. The pitch of our voices, romantic relationships, social interactions, healthcare and insurance, and feminism, all found their way to our brains and your ears this week!

Links from our healthcare/insurance question:
http://www.healthcare.gov/transgender-health-care
http://www.transequality.org/know-your-rights/healthcare

We are here to share our entire intersectional experience with anyone who finds it beneficial, but we want to know what you connect with the most. You can let us know by clicking to a one-question anonymous survey at vote.pollcode.com/32371374. If you have a request/suggestion that isn't listed, comment!

TPT#159 - A Murder of Crows

We have pictures and documents throughout our house that point to George's transition, if you know what you're looking at. Child#2's new babysitter hasn't said anything yet, so we don't know if she's noticed. Unfortunately, though, the kid's behaviour and emotions have become more of a struggle for him, for his teachers, and for us as parents.

We are here to share our entire intersectional experience with anyone who finds it beneficial, but we want to know what you connect with the most. You can let us know by clicking to a one-question anonymous survey at vote.pollcode.com/32371374. If you have a request/suggestion that isn't listed, comment!

TPT#158 - I'm Not Going To The Store

Male privilege often makes the things George needs to accomplish easier than they were prior to transition, but sometimes the voice of a child or a little old lady will garner more support and sympathy when trying to get them the services they need.

We are here to share our entire intersectional experience with anyone who finds it beneficial, but we want to know what you connect with the most. You can let us know by clicking to a one-question anonymous survey at vote.pollcode.com/32371374. If you have a request/suggestion that isn't listed, comment!

TPT#157 - Wibbly Wobbly Gendery Cultury

"We should record about that." This phrase happens in our conversations at least once a week, often more. By the time we find a free hour to sit down with a microphone, the topic has completely escaped our memory... So this time George made a list! From Canadian masculinity compared to American masculinity, to the perpetual "bathroom dilemma" and losing STP enthusiasm, to Jess' "man tact", to dealing with deaths and other awkward social events, gender is inescapable.

We are here to share our entire intersectional experience with anyone who finds it beneficial, but we want to know what you connect with the most. You can let us know by clicking to a one-question anonymous survey at vote.pollcode.com/32371374. If you have a request/suggestion that isn't listed, comment!

TPT#156 - Gallifrey One

Going to a large-scale social event such as a convention can be a bit apprehension-inducing for queers. But the environment at Gallifrey One was supportive and encouraging, and we had an amazing time. From the pre-con setup time volunteering with a bunch of staff and other volunteers, through meeting other podcasters and tons of other queers, it was an absolutely phenomenal experience.

We referenced the following podcasts:

• Web of Queer (amazing queer panel discussions)
• Verity! (Women hosts, ran the "In Defense Of" panel we discussed)
• Radio Free Skaro (Jess has been listening to these guys for-freaking-ever)
• Laughing At Archaeologists (Co-host Riley Silverman moderated that queer panel)

While we don't attempt to be "stealth" about our queerness, we do often avoid connecting this podcast with our personal identities so as to avoid any potential risk to our families or jobs... So if we mentioned you, or if you think you met us, feel free to email or message us, and let us know!

We are here to share our entire intersectional experience with anyone who finds it beneficial, but we want to know what you connect with the most. You can let us know by clicking to a one-question anonymous survey at vote.pollcode.com/32371374. If you have a request/suggestion that isn't listed, comment!

TPT#155 - #QueerInCLASS

We had the amazing opportunity to attend the Doctor Who convention Gallifrey One. Whether you're a fan or not, the information that the casting director is committed to diversity in casting is a great thing to hear. (See more about a diversity-in-entertainment organization he works with at act-for-change.com.) We discussed our thoughts on media representation, and want to hear your input. Was there a character you identified with when you were discovering yourself? If there was, what did seeing someone "like me" mean to you? If there weren't any, what would it have meant? What effect might it have in your world to see more diversity of gender and orientation in an upcoming Doctor Who spin-off show for young adults, titled "Class"? Tell us with the hashtag #QueerInCLASS and let's have a conversation about diversity in entertainment, Whovian or otherwise.

Details about our actual experiences at the convention coming next week!

We are here to share our entire intersectional experience with anyone who finds it beneficial, but we want to know what you connect with the most. You can let us know by clicking to a one-question anonymous survey at vote.pollcode.com/32371374. If you have a request/suggestion that isn't listed, comment!

TPT#154 - Pull Yourself Together

Children with developmental challenges aren't the only ones challenged by their unique ways of human-ing. Our Child#2 has had more difficulty controlling his behavior, as we started to discuss last week. However, it didn't end there, and now that his temper has caused other children injury, we start to look for more supportive environment for his after-school care. Which will likely mean hiring a sitter. Which means bringing strange people into our home. Additionally, while all the other stressors are starting to wind down, we are (at recording time) preparing for a temporary escape.

At the time of publishing, we've recorded one of two episodes about our experiences at Gallifrey One, which you may have seen referenced on our social media. Whether you're a whovian or are just curious about the experience of being queer at a convention or other large non-queer-centric social gathering, that will be coming over the next two weeks.

We are here to share our entire intersectional experience with anyone who finds it beneficial, but we want to know what you connect with the most. You can let us know by clicking to a one-question anonymous survey at vote.pollcode.com/32371374. If you have a request/suggestion that isn't listed, comment!

TPT#153 - "... And One More Thing"

When George's slightly senile aunt drives across country, when his mother needs her dentures repaired, her welfare application completed, and her health insurance reviewed, when Child#2 gets suspended from the kids' club one day and his school the next, when a family friend dies, and when the dog wakes us up at ungodly hours because he's also slightly senile, there's no shortage of stress to be had. Problems have solutions, and no situation is ever hopeless, but does all this stress really have to happen in just one week?

We are here to share our entire intersectional experience with anyone who finds it beneficial, but we want to know what you connect with the most. You can let us know by clicking to a one-question anonymous survey at vote.pollcode.com/32371374. If you have a request/suggestion that isn't listed, comment!

TPT#152x - Masculinity and Privilege (Parts 1-2-3)

Our entire discussion on male privilege, as originally published in three parts.

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0:00:23 - 0:32:35
TPT#150 - Small Dick Jokes (Masculinity and Privilege, Part 1)

We got guests again! Our Jesus Friend from Ep#111-112 and our Lawyer Friend from Ep#128-129 sat down with us to discuss male privilege. In the first of three episodes, we start with some definitions and a little intersectionality, how male privilege is enhanced by being tall or straight or white or masculine, and how privilege can be used to benefit others who lack the benefits that three of us have as perceived "straight white guys". Men aren't as heavily policed with regards to their appearance or social habits, and are given the benefit of the doubt much more often than women with regards to professional competency.

We referenced a couple articles by author James St. James: The first is at everydayfeminism.com/2015/05/male-privilege-trans-men/ and a follow-up is at everydayfeminism.com/2015/06/more-male-privilege-trans-man/.


0:32:30 - 1:03:45
TPT#151 - Shaping Undergarments (Masculinity and Privilege, Part 2)

Western culture has certain expectations of individuals based on their gender. These can cause benefit to those who naturally fit them, and detriment to those who naturally eschew them, but how do these expectations shape our overall experience in binary society? A woman's face and body are subconsciously considered by many to be "public property" to be commented upon or directed to behave in "ladylike" ways, even by complete strangers. Men are naturally assumed to have competence in their chosen endeavours, and when they prove themselves incapable of achieving their goal then other men will often "coach" them to succeed. The cumulative effect of these and many other similar differences are what we mean when we say "Male Privilege".


1:03:40 - 1:36:33
TPT#152 - Just Because I Had A Dick (Masculinity and Privilege, Part 3)

Men are often allowed more assertiveness in social interactions, expected to behave more aggressively in competitive situations, and allowed more ownership of their self-presentation. These longstanding holdovers from centuries of patriarchy continue to affect our lives today, as exhibited in the experiences of individuals who transition. When one transitions, however, is it possible to forget what one used to have, what life had previously been like, and what privilege one has gained or lost? Does privilege become assimilated as one becomes more accustomed to one's new place in society? And why the hell do guys tell guys stuff they wouldn't tell girls, even when the information is inherently ungendered?

The episodes we referenced regarding George's transition at work and the difficulties his bosses had with it are #28 "Work Woes", #29 "Work Fix?", and #30 "Back to Work".

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We are here to share our entire intersectional experience with anyone who finds it beneficial, but we want to know what you connect with the most. You can let us know by clicking to a one-question anonymous survey at vote.pollcode.com/32371374. If you have a request/suggestion that isn't listed, comment!