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PODCAST

In The Den with Mama Dragons

You"re navigating parenting an LGBTQ+ child without a manual and knowing what to do and what to say isn"t always easy. Each week we’ll visit with other parents of queer kids, talk with members of the LGBTQ+ community, learn from experts, and together explore ways to better parent our LGBTQ+ children. Join with us as we walk and talk with you through this journey of raising healthy, happy, and productive LGBTQ+ humans.

kids & family parenting

All Episodes

64:41

Preemptive Radical Inclusion

In The Den with Mama Dragons ·

2025/03/03

Send us a text Creating spaces where everyone feels safe, valued, and seen is a critical task in today’s world, but inclusion has become a political battleground. Policies are being written to erase identities, restrict access, and make belonging conditional. Instead of celebrating diversity, some lawmakers and leaders seem afraid of it. The very idea of making space for all people—especially LGBTQ+ individuals—has been weaponized, leaving many wondering: How do we push forward when inclusion...

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50:00

Hope, Activism, and The Power of Authentic Living

In The Den with Mama Dragons ·

2025/02/24

Send us a text Content Warning: This episode contains brief mentions of rape and talks about addiction. Special Guest: Rikki West Rikki West is a former spiritual seeker and UC Berkeley–trained scientist who spent decades trying to reconcile scientific explanations of existence with her ordinary, real-life awareness. One adventure at a time, she found her way to a peace and beauty that changed all the questions. Her book Rootlines, a memoir of family healing, was published by She Wr...

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62:42

Lambda Legal and the Fight for Trans Rights

In The Den with Mama Dragons ·

2025/02/17

Send us a text In today’s episode of In the Den, we confront a reality that far too many of our trans children are facing–relentless attacks from state legislatures and federal policies, bans on gender affirming care, restrictions targeting identity and expression, bathrooms, and pronouns. Trans people are under siege like never before, but there are also amazing champions for trans rights, including today’s special guest Carl Charles, senior attorney for Lambda Legal. Special Guest: ...

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66:19

My Child is Trans, Now What?

In The Den with Mama Dragons ·

2025/02/10

Send us a text Supporting our queer kids and learning together about all the ways we can show up for them and ourselves is central to our Mama Dragons community. This week’s episode of In The Den dives deep into how we can support and show up for our transgender children from a place of self-reflection and joy! Special Guest: Ben Greene Ben Greene is a transgender advocate and educator who has spoken internationally on topics surrounding transgender inclusion. After coming out at 15 in a sm...

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58:22

Drag Story Hour

In The Den with Mama Dragons ·

2025/02/03

Send us a text Drag Story Hour is a global movement that brings the magic of storytelling, the art of drag, and the power of inclusion to libraries, schools, and community spaces, creating environments where kids can celebrate diversity, explore their imaginations, and embrace the beauty of self-expression. This week In the Den, Sara and Drag Story Hour’s Jonathon Hamilt discuss everything from the joy drag story hour brings to children and families to addressing the challenges it faces...

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56:28

Queer Sex Ed

In The Den with Mama Dragons ·

2025/01/27

Send us a textUncomfortable as it may feel, sex education, and specifically education tailored for LGBTQ+ kids, is crucial for the overall health and wellbeing of our queer kids! Today Sara talks with special guest Emmalinda MacLean about how we provide LGBTQ+ young people with the tools they need to understand themselves, build healthy relationships, and thrive in a world that often overlooks their unique experiences. Special Guest: Emmalinda MacLeanEmmalinda MacLean is the Director of ...

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72:04

The Power of Inclusive Language

In The Den with Mama Dragons ·

2025/01/20

Send us a textAnyone who has ever experienced bullying or teasing of any kind has probably heard the saying, “Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me.” Really though, words can hurt, and the words we use matter. They can heal, connect, and empower, or they can harm and exclude. Words have power, and in today’s episode of In the Den, Sara talks with special guest Alex Kapitan to unpack what inclusive language really means, why it’s more than just "political correctne...

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52:41

Activism Through Poetry

In The Den with Mama Dragons ·

2025/01/13

Send us a textActivism takes many forms, from frontline advocacy and protests to behind the scenes legal work and policy-making to creative visioning and artistic expression. Today’s guest In the Den is an amazing human who weaves all of these forms of justice work into her life. Sara talks with activist, civil rights attorney, and poet Sunu Chandy about her life, her poetry, and how art acts as an integral piece of her activism.Special Guest: Sunu P. ChandySunu Chandy (she/her) is a social j...

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60:11

Redefining Self-Care

In The Den with Mama Dragons ·

2025/01/06

Send us a textSo many of us lead overly busy lives and often find ourselves consumed with caring for others, including our children. Self-care is often the last thing on our priority list. Perhaps the whole concept of self-care feels frivolous or trendy. In today’s episode of In the Den, Sara sits down with Reverend Florence Caplow, a Zen priest and teacher, to discuss the reality of self-care and some very practical suggestions for prioritizing personal well-being so that we’re better equipp...

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49:53

What to Do When Your Child Comes Out

In The Den with Mama Dragons ·

2024/12/30

Send us a textIt isn’t unusual for LGBTQ+ people to decide to come out to their families during the holidays, and we want to help it go as smoothly as possible for everyone.This week In the Den, we’re throwing it back to replay an important past episode, where Jen spoke with Neca Allgood about what to do when your child first comes out to you. They discuss common mistakes and how to avoid them. They also cover what to do when you don’t get things right the first time. It’s an important ...

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86:15

Speaking of Suicide

In The Den with Mama Dragons ·

2024/12/23

Send us a textContent Warning: This episode discusses suicide. According to the CDC, suicide is the second-leading cause of death for teens and young adults, and LGBTQ+ youth are more than four times as likely to attempt suicide than their peers. Additionally, there’s often an increase in suicidality and mental health crises around the holiday season, especially in the days that directly follow the holiday itself. This week’s In the Den episode is a conversation between Sara and special ...

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72:20

Reframing the Holidays Beyond Religion

In The Den with Mama Dragons ·

2024/12/16

Send us a textWhen you and your family have spent your lives rooted in a particular religious tradition only to realize that your tradition does not openly welcome, support, and affirm your LGBTQ+ child or family member, it can be devastating. As a result, many parents end up leaving church. Some leave because of a lack of support, some because the church leaders and community shunned them or turned against them, some because they have a complete crisis of faith, unable to reconcile their lov...

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75:51

Navigating Family Gatherings During the Holidays

In The Den with Mama Dragons ·

2024/12/09

Send us a textWith the holiday season in full swing, many of us are finding ourselves navigating sometimes tricky and challenging family gatherings, especially with our queer kids. This time of year often comes with particular, sometimes unspoken, expectations about our participation in family events. Supporting our queer kids also occasionally means having to respond to inappropriate questions, uncomfortable interactions, and hurtful situations. This week In the Den, Sara sits down with ther...

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54:33

Transanta

In The Den with Mama Dragons ·

2024/12/02

Send us a textCurrently, young trans people are under attack across the country and around the world. Many of them continue to face rejection, persecution, and lack of support. Transanta is an amazing organization that is showing up to help meet the needs of the young trans community in the United States. Today In the Den, Sara talks with Transanta Elf Claudia Roley to discuss the needs of trans youth and explore how you can join Transanta in meeting those needs this holiday season. &nb...

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56:47

Queerness, Theology, and Therapy

In The Den with Mama Dragons ·

2024/11/25

Send us a textWe've had quite a few therapists on this podcast, and they have all shared so much wisdom and compassionate advice for us and our families. This week In the Den, our host Sara sits down with therapist Ann Russo, who specializes in the intersection of religion and LGBTQ+ issues. They discuss a range of topics surrounding mental health, spirituality, and queerness. Special Guest: Ann RussoAnn Russo is a mental health professional, author, and advocate specializing in sex posi...

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72:03

The Election Is Over–Now What?

In The Den with Mama Dragons ·

2024/11/18

Send us a textThe outcome of the recent presidential election has left many of us reeling and feeling concern for our LGBTQ+ community, especially for our queer children. Many of us in the Mama Dragons community are already feeling the impact as our children share with us their fears and real-life interactions at school, work, and in the community. So, what can we do? This week In the Den, Sara meets with Allen Morris from The National LGBTQ Task Force to talk about actions we can take right ...

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64:41

In the Den is Getting a New Host!

In The Den with Mama Dragons ·

2024/11/11

Send us a textIn the Den with Mama Dragons is entering a new era! After almost two years, our original host Jen is passing the hosting microphone on to another amazing Mama Dragon who will take the lead. Our new host is Sara LaWall. Sara has guest-hosted several episodes in the past and should be familiar to regular listeners. Today, Jen sits down with Sara to visit, so that we can all get to know our new host just a little bit better. Special Guest: Sara LaWallSara serves as the Ministe...

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4:50

Words With Friends 15

In The Den with Mama Dragons ·

2024/11/08

Send us a textWords with Friends episodes are bonus episodes where different members of Mama Dragons provide definitions for LGBTQ related topics. This episode includes the following definitions:Gender Binary shared by Jess in North CarolinaGender Expansive shared by Julie in Snohomish, WashingtonGender Expression shared by Marie, formerly in TexasGender Queer shared by Kate in Melbourne, Australia In the Den is made possible by generous donors like you.Help us continue to deliver ...

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58:56

Dealing with Microagressions

In The Den with Mama Dragons ·

2024/11/04

Send us a textNote: This episode is a replay of a past episode (E44) that felt timely as the holidays approach again. We asked members of our group to share some of the most hurtful things that had been said to them or their LGBTQ children, even if the speaker’s intentions were good. The response was absolutely overwhelming. Some of the reported comments would be considered microaggressions and some were intentionally cruel. Just in time for all of the upcoming holiday gatherings, ...

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71:20

Transcend: Portraying Trans & Non-Binary people in...

In The Den with Mama Dragons ·

2024/10/28

Send us a textArt has such power to transform the way we see the world and to show us new perspectives, ideas, and values. Art can also be an invitation to beauty and joy, which is something we all need more of in our lives and the world, especially in these times. This week In the Den, guest host Sara LaWall talks with special guest Rae Senarighi, also known as the Transpainter, about his experiences as a non-binary artist. They discuss his drive to create art that highlights and celeb...

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188 results

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