Welcome to the Fifty Shades of Gender podcast!

You can listen below or in your favourite podcast app – links to the apps below the player.

Find out more about the people and read the transcripts on each episode page – scroll down for a blog list ? or check out the episode gallery.

You can also search for specific gender labels in the episode list (table format) or on the episode categories page.

Please note: these conversations represent experiences, viewpoints and opinions of the guests, and not necessarily those of the host or project. The content is not intended to be taken as personal or medical advice. We have no control over external sources mentioned in the episodes and/or the episode pages, which are shared for reference purposes only.

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Unfortunately the podcast is not (yet) available on Pandora (US only) or Audacy (was Radio.com) (not in EU).

If you feel your story would be a good fit for the podcast, get in touch.

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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Fifty Shades of Gender podcast graphic for Reflections (part 2) with Katy Jon Went & Esther Lemmens

50. Reflections (part 2) – discoveries so far

In this second 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 almost a year since the podcast started. We also talk about expectations, finding the essence of each conversation, the subtleties of language, intuition and setting intentions, awareness and facets of identity, assigned titles, smart business decisions, the discomfort of learning, and discovering ourselves as we go. [Transcript coming soon.]

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Fifty Shades of Gender podcast image about Higher Education with Kit Rackley, Barney, Charlie, Jacob & Ro

49. Being LGBTQIA+ in Higher Education (HE)

This episode was created in collaboration with NEACO (Network for East Anglian Collaborative Outreach) and the UEA (University of East Anglia) for the Pride in Higher Aspirations project in Pride Month (June) 2021, aimed at young people who are LGBTQIA+ (out or questioning) and are thinking of going into Higher Education or Further Education. [Transcript available.]

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Fifty Shades of Gender podcast graphic with Cara Wilde

48. CARA WILDE – parent of a transgender teen

Cara has two children, one of whom is transgender. We also talk about questioning your gender and looking beyond body parts as a cis person, assumptions and misinformation about hormone/puberty blockers, supporting and empowering your child and watching them thrive, what it would be like if we were all free to explore gender, and why we should all question what’s considered normal. [Transcript coming soon.]

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Fifty Shades of Gender podcast graphic with Helen Belcher

47. HELEN BELCHER – woman with a trans history

Helen is a woman with a trans history. We talk about the different faces of conversion therapy, losing your religion, being publicly trans in politics, systemic transphobia and holding the media accountable, how the bathroom argument is really about gender apartheid, voting for what we want rather than against what we don’t want, and how knowing the direction is more important than knowing the destination on the journey towards being more of yourself. [Transcript coming soon.]

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Fifty Shades of Gender podcast graphic with Charlize Jamieson

46. CHARLIZE JAMIESON – transgender woman

Charlize is a transgender woman. We talk about the importance of community and local connections, owning who you are, society’s obsession with looks, that it’s never too late to be brave, how your path is unique rather than right or wrong, and that people don’t need to change their minds to have a change of heart. [Transcript coming soon.]

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Fifty Shades of Gender podcast graphic with Tara Dax

44. TARA DAX – non-binary

Tara identifies as non-binary. As well as geeking out on Star Trek and conlangs (constructed languages), we dive deeper into masculine and feminine. We also talk about finding resonance in pronouns, meaning in a name and connection in a character, and debunking certain gender arguments people assume are rooted in biology. [Transcript coming soon.]

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Fifty Shades of Gender podcast graphic with Sally Goldner

43. SALLY GOLDNER – bi/pan trans introvert HSP woman

Sally identifies as a bi/pan introvert & Highly Sensitive Person (HSP) trans woman. We also talk about how our unique personality labels interact with each other, unlearning and unblocking ourselves, balancing the masculine and feminine in leadership by becoming better at receiving and listening, and breaking the binary by queering Tantra. [Transcript coming soon.]

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Fifty Shades of Gender podcast graphic with Evey Winters

42. EVEY WINTERS – transgender, transsexual woman

Evey uses the labels transgender and transsexual woman, and also educates about both of these labels. We also talk about identity and how it forms, manhood and womanhood vs masculinity and femininity, metagender (which is what’s between cisgender and transgender), learning vs education, how to have conversations about gender, and exploring the uniqueness of womanhood. [Transcript coming soon.]

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Fifty Shades of Gender podcast graphic with Bella Cascarini

40. BELLA CASCARINI – trans woman

Bella is a trans woman – with more emphasis on the woman part than the trans part. We also talk about what effects how we’re perceived, how noticing small moments of genuine happiness can help us embrace our identity, finding a name that feels right, what settling into femininity can look like, how films and tv are problematic in hindsight, hurdles on the coming out journey, working through shame, trusting your gut, and accepting your light and your dark, to your bones. [Transcript coming soon.]

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Fifty Shades of Gender podcast graphic with Genevieve

39. GENEVIEVE – trans non-binary, genderqueer

Genevieve says the easiest terms are non-binary and queer, and they definitely identify as trans as well. We also talk about being born into activism, performing womanhood, reframing feminism, women’s spaces vs LGBTQ spaces, how what’s ‘normal’ is rigid and idealised when it comes to sex and relationships, teaching consent from a young age, and why we should all consider therapy. [Transcript coming soon.]

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Fifty Shades of Gender podcast graphic with Devi Irony

38. DEVI IRONY – non-binary, dominant

Devi is a non-binary person. We also talk about the freedom that can come from embracing a label, how certain body parts are not necessarily gender markers, societal conditioning and standards and playing with gender presentation, how gender fits into BDSM and kink, what ‘sex work’ can include, kink trends in times of a pandemic, and the importance of touch and human contact. [Transcript coming soon.]

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Fifty Shades of Gender podcast graphic with Charlie Orriss

37. CHARLIE ORRISS – transgender FTM

Charlie identifies as a FTM (Female To Male) trans man. We also talk about labels as a protection as well as a hindrance, how gender and mental health go hand in hand, the therapeutic benefits of cosplay, and what Dissociative Identity Disorder can be like. [Transcript coming soon.]

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Fifty Shades of Gender podcast graphic with Yas Necati

36. YAS NECATI – non-binary

Yas identifies as non-binary. We also talk about detaching activities from gender, pre-colonial gender identities, the importance of writing a will and letter of wishes, why it is essential for public health policy to accurately record trans and non-binary gender identities on death certificates (which is currently not possible), and what we CAN do to respect and honour a person’s gender identity after they have passed away. [Transcript coming soon.]

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Fifty Shades of Gender podcast graphic with Jareth Nebula

35. JARETH NEBULA – transgender, agenderflux, demiboy, alien

Jareth is transgender and also likes to use the labels agenderflux, demiboy and alien. We talk about the nuances of gender labels, the difference between gender identity and gender expression, modelling before and after coming out as transgender, what we’ve made masculine and feminine mean, and turning yourself into a walking piece of art. [Transcript available.]

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Fifty Shades of Gender podcast graphic with Cassian Lodge

34. CASSIAN LODGE – non-binary, agender

Cassian identifies as non-binary and agender. They started the Gender Census in 2011 and talk about their main learnings and insights in the nine years of running it. We also talk about finding gender inside (or not), navigating public toilets, passion and experience versus education, the overlap between gender identity and sexual orientation, finding common ground where there appears to only be contradiction and conflict, and microactivism; how small actions can have a big impact. [Transcript coming soon.]

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Fifty Shades of Gender podcast graphic with Rachel Lange

33. RACHEL LANGE – non-binary, queer, autistic

Rachel is a non-binary queer autistic person. We talk about questioning everything and looking at things differently, being gender non-conforming in different cultures, freeing yourself from gender roles, being a non-binary parent, and giving yourself permission to do things the way you want. [Transcript available.]

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Fifty Shades of Gender podcast graphic with Cameron

32. CAMERON – female but trans, trans-feminine

Cameron is a newly discovered woman. She refers to herself as female but trans. We also talk about gender roles in society and relationships, how life has changed after coming out only a month before this conversation took place, and the role of loss in embracing your true self. [Transcript coming soon.]

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Fifty Shades of Gender podcast graphic with CN Lester (photo credit: Raphael Neal)

31. CN LESTER – trans

CN is a trans person. We talk about the importance of strategy when it comes to gender education, effects of testosterone on the singing voice, books, and the queer history of opera. [Transcript coming soon.]

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Fifty Shades of Gender podcast graphic with Cassie Brighter

30. CASSIE BRIGHTER – Latina woman of trans experience

Cassie is a Latina woman of trans experience. We talk about the subtleties and challenges of inclusive language, internalised transphobia, being the best of both worlds, toxic masculinity as a cult, sex positivity and freeing ourselves from shame, female anatomy, consent, and leaving a legacy. [Transcript coming soon.]

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Fifty Shades of Gender podcast graphic with Joe

29. JOE – femme boy, non-binary, trans

Joe identifies as a femme boy, non-binary and trans. We also talk about socialisation and reinforcing gender stereotypes, performing gender versus living gender, medical versus social transitioning, mental health struggles, how being willing to get it wrong is better than staying silent when it comes to supporting people, and the benefits of simplifying life. [Transcript coming soon.]

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Fifty Shades of Gender podcast graphic with Rachel Lawson

28. RACHEL LAWSON – no gender labels, thank you very much

Rachel is not fond of using gender labels for herself. In her words, she is a woman and identifies as a motorcyclist, a technologist, and many other things. We also talk about being something versus identifying as something, coming out at work, riding a motorbike, travelling solo, and how safety is a relative thing. [Transcript coming soon.]

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Fifty Shades of Gender podcast graphic with Ray

27. RAY – binary transgender man, FTM, gay

Ray identifies as a binary transgender man, who also happens to be gay. We talk about how feminism includes everyone, why some men need reproductive health care, the difference between male and female banter, approaching the gender journey from a neurodivergent perspective, and the distinction between using labels as part of your identity versus part of your journey or experience. [Transcript available.]

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