In this installment of Transgender Woman Talking, Elle hosts a conversation with Mary Almy and Cheryl Shaver about a documentary they created together. Cheryl is a filmmaker and director who spent time with Mary and her loved ones to explore and present an intimate portrait of her world. In the episode, Elle talks with the two of the importance of story-telling, the poignancy and power of Mary's experiences, and what we expect yet ahead.

The film "Mary: Her Journey from Pain to Purpose" is currently in the film-festival pre-release phase and so has limited availability publicly. However, interested folks can reach out through instagram or Cheryl's website (below) to potentially host a screening or talk more about how to share the project. In some ways, the film resonates with Will Ferrell's work on "Will and Harper" a Netflix documentary about the celebrity's relationship with an old friend and colleague who transitioned later in life.

• Watch a Trailer for Mary's film here.
• Cheryl Shaver's website SLA Video can be found here; her company's facebook page is here.

• Mary and Cheryl's Instagram for the project.
• Film Will and Harper
• ⁠⁠Elle's BlueSky Account⁠⁠

As always, to learn more about Elle and her work, or to explore the possibility of accessing psychotherapy with her, please visit her website at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.estherloewen.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

For constructive feedback on the show, to ask questions, or to get access to the Fierce Femmes or Sacred Wounds support group, please email ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠twatpodcasting@gmail.com⁠⁠.

Elle checks back in with her thoughts about the current political discourse regarding trans people, including the many cruel and stigmatizing executive orders the new president of the United States signed during the first few weeks in office. Elle discusses some of the practical things she's doing to take care of herself, and how she believes we will all survive these times. Included in the episode are references to the following links and resources:

• Elle's BlueSky Account
• The Parable of the Sower &The Parable of the Talents by Octavia Butler
• Balatro Game (*caution* you may not be able to stop)
• Amy Beaver'sTik-Tok Encouragement
• Pride Plans Estate Planning
• The LGBTQ Center of the Desert in Palm Springs -Scott Hines Behavioral Health Clinic
• Sacred Wounds Support Group (Zoom) for LGBTQ People who have experienced religious hurt. Every Wednesday morning at 10am PST.Email for access.

As always, to learn more about Elle and her work, or to explore the possibility of accessing psychotherapy from her, please visit her website at⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.estherloewen.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

For constructive feedback on the show, to ask questions, or to get access to the Fierce Femmes support group, please email⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠twatpodcasting@gmail.com⁠. The group meets ever 2nd and 4th Tuesday evening of the month on Zoom at 6:30pm PST.

I am still here. And so are you.

This episode is the first following the American election of 2024, which was upsetting and disappointing for many of us. In it, Elle talks about Transgender Day of Remembrance, and provides a recording of a speech she gave at a in person gathering in her area. In it, she also reflects on surviving, thriving, and still showing up even during difficult times.

• Blessed are the Trans Kids, Esther's poem based on The Beatitudes
• Therapy, a poem by Nayyira Waheed
• A brief history of Transgender Day of Remembrance

As always, to learn more about Elle and her work, or to explore the possibility of accessing psychotherapy from her, please visit her website at ⁠⁠⁠⁠www.estherloewen.com⁠⁠⁠⁠.

For constructive feedback on the show, to ask questions, or to get access to the Fierce Femmes support group, please email ⁠⁠⁠⁠twatpodcasting@gmail.com⁠

In this belated episode, Elle talks about a book published just this past summer on the history of women's running. Better Faster Farther, by Maggie Mertens, explores the myths that have restricted women athletes access to competitive sports (namely running) and that continue to threaten them to this day. Read or learn more about it here and here. Included in this conversation are reflections on trans athletes competing with women, as well as intersex athletes who sometimes do not discovery they are intersex until being tested as part of Olympic protocols.

Some of the resources referenced in the show include:

• Erin in the Morning's reporting on Blaire Fleming, the volleyball player from San Jose State University who became the center of a hate campaign in October 2024.
• Bobbi Gibb, Marathoner
• Fierce Femmes Support Group

As always, to learn more about Elle and her work, or to explore the possibility of accessing psychotherapy from her, please visit her website at ⁠⁠⁠www.estherloewen.com⁠⁠⁠.

For constructive feedback on the show, to ask questions, or to get access to the Fierce Femmes support group, please email ⁠⁠⁠twatpodcasting@gmail.com⁠

This week's episode is a recording of a sermon/lecture that Elle gave back in May at Paradox Church in Redlands (see their website here). In the speech, Elle reflects on some of the unique ways that queer people are often harmed by especially high control religions. As a spiritual person and one who practiced rigid religion for many years, Elle has experiences with both being negatively impacted by religious trauma and also being a perpetrator as a Christian leader.

• Watch a video version of the sermon with Elle's visuals here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gZpnn09daAY&t=14s
• Learn more about Kevin Garcia's work on religious harm, including his book "Bad Theology Kills" here: https://www.thekevingarcia.com/
• To learn more about inviting Elle to come speak for your event or organization, please visit her website: https://estherloewen.com/speaking

As always, to learn more about Elle and her work, or to explore the possibility of accessing psychotherapy from her, please visit her website at ⁠⁠www.estherloewen.com⁠⁠.

For constructive feedback on the show, to ask questions, or to get access to the Fierce Femmes support group, please email ⁠⁠twatpodcasting@gmail.com⁠

In this edition of the show, Elle talks about the idea of the 24/7 news cycle, and how it creates predictable waves of outrage throughout our culture, and into our lives. She reflects on the common denominators of the cycle as described by author Mark Manson (from the Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck) in a ⁠block post⁠, and explores how these dynamics are uniquely experienced by trans and gender expansive people. Elle talks about her experiences of feeling pressure to "have a take" when the news cycle hits, and anxiety about how that take or lack of a take may be received.

Some of the resources discussed in the show include:

• ⁠Better, Faster, Farther,⁠ by Maggie Mertens
• The work of ⁠Erin in the Morning⁠
• ⁠Church Redwood Trees Scandal⁠

As always, to learn more about Elle and her work, or to explore the possibility of accessing psychotherapy from her, please visit her website at ⁠www.estherloewen.com⁠.

For constructive feedback on the show, to ask questions, or to get access to the Fierce Femmes support group, please email ⁠twatpodcasting@gmail.com⁠

Dr. Jill Hingston, LMFT is a psychotherapist, fierce ally of the trans community, and brilliant queer cisgender woman who currently serves as the Director of Behavioral Health Services at the LGBTQ Center of the Desert in Palm Springs. During this episode, Elle talks with Jill about her extensive experience working especially with transgender youth. Reach out to Jill via contact info on The Center website.

Contact Elle via email at twatpodcasting@gmail.com to learn more about the support group Fierce Femmes, and to get involved.

If you are in need of psychotherapy services and would like to talk with Elle about what therapy would look like with her, learn more and contact her on her website: (www.estherloewen.com).

In this episode, Elle addresses the elephant in the room and plans for the show going forward. She furthermore reflects on the many kinds of breaks we all take through our lives and transitions. This latest installment touches on themes of anxiety, trust, mindfulness practices, vacations, privilege and class, and of course transgender identities.

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To join the Fierce Femmes support group on the 2nd & 4th Tuesdays of every month at 6:30pm PST, please email Elle at twatpodcasting@gmail.com.

To offer questions, constructive feedback, and other connections to the show, use the same email :)