Gender Stories

In this opening episode for season 2, our host, Alex Iantaffi gets vulnerable talking about the pressures they feel around holidays and especially times that mark a new year. They share how some of these pressures are gendered for them and also for other people. Alex talks about the pressures we might experience during these times when we might be expected to come together to celebrate cultural, religious or family holidays. They invite the listeners to consider an approach that privileges intentions over resolutions, kindness over obligation and compassion over trying to do it all. If you have ever felt pressured around the holidays, and especially marking new cycles, such as a new calendar year, this episode is for you. And, if you never have, maybe this episode might help you understand people around you who might feel this way. Support the showInstagram: GenderStoriesHosted by Alex IantaffiMusic by Maxwell von RavenGender Stories logo by Lior Effinger-Weintraub

In this episode, the amazing Naomi Ortiz discusses her contribution to the new anthology "Resistance and Hope: Essays by Disabled People", edited by Alice Wong.  This anthology includes 16 essays by 17 disabled writers, activists, & artists. As Alice twitted "This is crip wisdom for the people"! Naomi Ortiz is a facilitator, writer, poet, and visual artist who cracks apart common beliefs and spills out beauty. Naomi is a nationally known writer, speaker and trainer on self-care, disability justice, and living in multiple worlds (intersectionality). She is a Disabled, Mestiza (Latina/Indigenous/White), raised in Latinx culture, living in the U.S./Mexico borderlands. Naomi’s book, Sustaining Spirit: Self Care for Social Justice invites readers to delve into what self-care means in their lives by exploring the relationships between body, mind, spirit, heart, and place to integrate self-care to survive and thrive. Caring about the world should not burn us out. Sustaining Spirit: Self-Care

Justin Hancock, a fantastic, experienced and qualified UK-based sex and relationships educator chats with Alex Iantaffi about the role of gender in sex education, consent, power and privilege and so much more! Justin is also the co-host of the fabulous Meg-John & Justin podcast, as well as co-author (with Meg-John Barker) of Enjoy Sex (How, when and IF you want to). You can find his podcast and educational zines co-created with Meg-John Barker at https://megjohnandjustin.com/ Find out about their training courses and resources at https://bishtraining.com/ and find their sex education website for everyone over 14 at https://www.bishuk.com/Support the showInstagram: GenderStoriesHosted by Alex IantaffiMusic by Maxwell von RavenGender Stories logo by Lior Effinger-Weintraub

Dr. Meg-John Barker, amazing UK-based scholar, therapist, author, sex and relationship expert and Alex's friend for the past 15 years, as well as co-author of "How To Understand You Gender", shares vulnerable insights on writing, vulnerability and, of course, gender, as well as so much more! Join us at the kitchen table for a warm and vulnerable conversation on so many topics close to our hearts.Support the showInstagram: GenderStoriesHosted by Alex IantaffiMusic by Maxwell von RavenGender Stories logo by Lior Effinger-Weintraub

An interview with Dave Pickering, an award-winning storyteller, podcaster and creator from the UK. Dave has written and performed for BBC Radio 4 and in 2017 his podcast Getting Better Acquainted won a British Podcast Award. Dave talks vulnerably about storytelling, masculinity, including his own, and his upcoming book "Mansplaining Masculinity". CW: in this episode, we talk about bullying, street harassment and sexual violence.You can find out more about Dave's work at: http://dave-pickering.squarespace.com or follow him and his projects on Twitter at: @goosefat101 @standup4tragedy @GBApodcast @sparkLDNand you can find the book at: https://unbound.com/books/mansplaining-masculinity/Support the showInstagram: GenderStoriesHosted by Alex IantaffiMusic by Maxwell von RavenGender Stories logo by Lior Effinger-Weintraub

Alex Iantaffi interviews the wonderful author and 2015 winner of the Tiptree Literary Award Pat Schmatz. They talk about language, writing non-binary characters and so much more. You can find out more about Pat's wonderful books at http://www.patschmatz.comSupport the showInstagram: GenderStoriesHosted by Alex IantaffiMusic by Maxwell von RavenGender Stories logo by Lior Effinger-Weintraub

Content warning: in this episode we talk about body image issues and sexual assault. In this episode, Alex Iantaffi interviews the formidable Erica Hanna, a speaker, video maker, activist and consultant, six time Emmy Award winner, Nobel Peace Prize Forum Social Media Ambassador, and Twitter personality for Minneapolis. Erica is the owner of Puke Rainbow, a business focusing on content strategy, video production, and education in these areas. She also raises funds for nonprofit @charitywater through social media and she has worked with Ellen Degeneres and Prince. We discuss topics such as being a video maker, running your own business, body image, visual diet, and sexual violence. You can find out more about Erica's work at http://www.pukerainbows.com/ or follow her on Twitter @meetericaSupport the showInstagram: GenderStoriesHosted by Alex IantaffiMusic by Maxwell von RavenGender Stories logo by Lior Effinger-Weintraub

In this episode, Alex Iantaffi interviews the incomparable Arique Aguilar, lead organizer at TakeAction Minnesota, about what it means to be a political healer, how she came up with this concept and why this work is so relevant at the intersection of race and gender. They had so much fun in this conversation that they talked for longer than one episode so please check out episode 4 for the second part of the conversation! You can follow Arique on Twitter at @arique777Support the showInstagram: GenderStoriesHosted by Alex IantaffiMusic by Maxwell von RavenGender Stories logo by Lior Effinger-Weintraub

In this episode, Alex Iantaffi continues the interview with the incomparable Arique Aguilar, lead organizer at TakeAction Minnesota, about what it means to be a political healer, how she came up with this concept and why this work is so relevant at the intersection of race and gender. They had so much fun in this conversation that they talked for longer than one episode so please check out episode 3 for the first part of the conversation, if you haven't already! You can follow Arique on Twitter at @arique777Support the showInstagram: GenderStoriesHosted by Alex IantaffiMusic by Maxwell von RavenGender Stories logo by Lior Effinger-Weintraub

In episode 2 of Gender Stories, Alex Iantaffi interviews the wonderful conductor Erik Peregrine (https://www.erikperegrine.com/), artistic director of Ensemble Companio, music director of the Woodbury Chorus & Orchestra, assistant conductor for One Voice Mixed Chorus, and artistic consultant for Caritas Vocal Ensemble. They talk about the upcoming Transgender Voices Festival in the Twin Cities on April 13 and 14 2018 (http://www.onevoicemn.org/performances/season-calendar/events/transgender-voices-festival/) and why and how to include voices of all genders! Support the showInstagram: GenderStoriesHosted by Alex IantaffiMusic by Maxwell von RavenGender Stories logo by Lior Effinger-Weintraub

In this episode you can learn more about the podcast. Alex Iantaffi, the host, talks about why they decided to launch this podcast, what you can expect and how often podcast episodes will be released.Support the showInstagram: GenderStoriesHosted by Alex IantaffiMusic by Maxwell von RavenGender Stories logo by Lior Effinger-Weintraub