You Must Be Some Kind of Therapist

• 163. The Hidden Costs of Reproductive Technology: Samantha DeLoach on Egg Donation, Surrogacy & IVF

  Writer, activist, and mother of two, Samantha DeLoach, joins me to delve into the complex and often troubling world of reproductive technologies, including egg harvesting and IVF. We explore the emotional and medical consequences that women face when they engage with these procedures, particularly the risks that are often downplayed or ignored by the industry. Samantha shares her personal journey, reflecting on her own experiences as a college student tempted by the allure of quick cash for egg donation, and how her perspective has evolved over the years.We discuss the predatory nature of the reproductive industry, which targets vulnerable young women, and the societal pressures that lead them to make decisions that could have lifelong repercussions. Samantha highlights the stark reality that many women are sold a dream of balancing career and motherhood, only to find that the success rates of using frozen eggs are alarmingly low.Additionally, we touch on the philosophical implications of separating motherhood into distinct roles—biological, gestational, and social—and the potential identity issues that children conceived through these means may face. This conversation aims to challenge listeners to think critically about the ethics of reproductive technologies and the importance of prioritizing the well-being of children over adult desires. Join us as we navigate these pressing issues in bioethics and family planning.Growing up in a small town in the heart of Florida, Samantha DeLoach developed a deep appreciation for truth, beauty, and conviction. Now a social media consultant for Live Action and Them Before Us, she is a bold advocate for the pro-life cause and children’s rights. Known as @Prolife_Sam on X, Samantha takes on pro-choice arguments with razor-sharp clarity, sharing the beauty of motherhood, and connecting women in crisis with life-affirming resources. A devoted Christian, wife of nearly 12 years, and mother of two boys, she believes the culture is starving for truth and she’s committed to shining light into a morally declining culture by emphasizing that the rights and well-being of children must come before the desires of adults.Samantha's article in Evie Magazine: They Told Us Motherhood Could Wait, Then Sold it Back to Us at $12,000 a Round 00:00 Start[00:02:29] Egg harvesting consequences in college.[00:05:20] Consequences of egg donation.[00:08:11] Predatory egg donation practices.[00:11:12] Egg freezing and career choices.[00:15:24] Identity issues in reproductive technology.[00:19:21] Adoption vs. Surrogacy Perspectives.[00:25:00] Surrogacy and maternal roles.[00:27:24] The importance of childhood attachment.[00:32:36] Reproductive technologies and attachment wounds.[00:35:19] Rights and protection of children.[00:39:24] IVF and abortion in media.[00:44:54] Maternal attachment and pregnancy.[00:48:08] Mother-child emotional bond.[00:51:39] Birth control's long-term impact.[00:55:28] IVF and egg retrieval process.[01:02:00] IVF risks and complications.[01:02:43] IVF emotional decisions and regrets.[01:06:24] IVF and ethical dilemmas.[01:12:27] Child memory and psychological effects.[01:14:38] Genetically engineering children today.[01:20:18] Human connection and artificial wombs.[01:22:05] Children's rights and responsibilities.[01:25:42] Responsibility to future children.[01:29:40] Family origin stories and intentions.[01:32:57] Identity formation through stories.ROGD REPAIR Course + Community gives concerned parents instant access to over 120 lessons providing the psychological insights and communication tools you need to get through to your kid. Use code SOMETHERAPIST2025 to take 50% off your first month.PODCOURSES: use code SOMETHERAPIST at LisaMustard.com/PodCoursesTALK TO ME: book a meeting.PRODUCTION: Looking for your own podcast producer? Visit PodsByNick.com and mention my podcast for 20% off your initial services.SUPPORT THE SHOW: subscribe, like, comment, & share or donate.ORGANIFI: Take 20% off Organifi with code SOMETHERAPIST.Watch NO WAY BACK: The Reality of Gender-Affirming Care. Use code SOMETHERAPIST to take 20% off your order.SHOW NOTES & transcript with help from SwellAI.MUSIC: Thanks to Joey Pecoraro for our song, “Half Awake,” used with gratitude & permission. ALL OTHER LINKS HERE. To support this show, please leave a rating & review on Apple, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe, like, comment & share via my YouTube channel. Or recommend this to a friend!Learn more about Do No Harm.Take $200 off your EightSleep Pod Pro Cover with code SOMETHERAPIST at EightSleep.com.Take 20% off all superfood beverages with code SOMETHERAPIST at Organifi.Check out my shop for book recommendations + wellness products.Show notes & transcript provided with the help of SwellAI.Special thanks to Joey Pecoraro for our theme song, “Half Awake,” used with gratitude and permission.Watch NO WAY BACK: The Reality of Gender-Affirming Care (our medical ethics documentary, formerly known as Affirmation Generation). Stream the film or purchase a DVD. Use code SOMETHERAPIST to take 20% off your order. Follow us on X @2022affirmation or Instagram at @affirmationgeneration.Have a question for me? Looking to go deeper and discuss these ideas with other listeners? Join my Locals community! Members get to ask questions I will respond to in exclusive, members-only livestreams, post questions for upcoming...

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  1:35:16
• 162. Compassion and Consequences: Dr. Christian Conte on Parenting, Masculinity, & Emotional Mastery

  I speak with Dr. Christian Conte, mental health specialist, author, and creator of Yield Theory—an approach to communication focused on reducing defensiveness. Dr. Conte has worked with people ranging from inmates in solitary confinement to elite athletes.What happens when we try to communicate with someone who's defensive? Dr. Conte's Yield Theory offers insights for navigating difficult conversations, especially with adolescents and young adults.Dr. Conte explains that meeting people where they are isn't just a nice sentiment—it's the only effective way to communicate. Using the metaphor of a "fool on the mountain" who yells down instructions that can't be heard, he illustrates why we must first join others where they stand.We explore key elements of Yield Theory: humility, curiosity, and non-attachment to beliefs. Dr. Conte describes his three-step approach—listen, validate, explore options—and why it works even in challenging settings.We delve into parenting applications, including how to set firm boundaries while maintaining compassion, why timing matters with teens, and the importance of natural consequences. Dr. Conte shares examples from raising his own daughter, demonstrating how sitting with uncomfortable emotions builds resilience.Our conversation also examines masculinity and what therapy gets wrong about men. How has "toxic masculinity" become problematic? Why do many men feel they cannot express themselves? What does healthy self-control really mean?What happens when we get trapped in what Dr. Conte calls our "cartoon world" of expectations versus reality? Can we learn to align our expectations with how people actually think, feel, and behave?Dr. Christian Conte is a nationally recognized mental health specialist, speaker, and creator of Yield Theory, a powerful approach to communication and emotional management that has transformed lives around the world. With a Ph.D. in Counselor Education and Supervision and over 25 years of experience, he has worked with thousands of people - from the depths of solitary confinement in maximum security prisons to elite athletes, military personnel, police and corrections officers, first responders, and high-level professionals. He is known for his direct, compassionate, and no nonsense style, blending ancient wisdom with modern psychology, to teach self-mastery, emotional strength, and inner peace. Dr. Conte's work has been featured on television, in universities, and inside some of the most intense environments on earth. Above all, he is devoted to helping people become the strongest, clearest, and most authentic versions of themselves.Books by Dr. Conte can be found on Amazon. 00:00 Start[00:02:34] Yield Theory and communication.[00:05:40] Yield theory: empathy and humility.[00:08:23] Compassion and firm boundaries.[00:10:47] Compassion in parenting.[00:14:58] Cartoon world versus real world.[00:20:06] Emotional certainty in beliefs.[00:21:35] Changing beliefs and humility.[00:25:18] Modeling intellectual humility and non-attachment.[00:28:40] Meeting people where they are.[00:34:52] Hunger and emotional regulation.[00:38:30] Therapy misconceptions about men.[00:40:28] Controlling your inner world.[00:45:02] Men's emotional expression challenges.[00:48:34] Prison system and men's struggles.[00:52:36] Manipulation in the prison system.[00:54:40] Gameable heuristics and manipulation.[00:59:28] Tough love in masculine relationships.[01:02:00] Teaching children emotional resilience.[01:05:18] Natural consequences in parenting.[01:09:02] Ego states in emotional regulation.[01:12:35] Teaching psychology to everyone.[01:16:03] Differentiation and family enmeshment.[01:19:20] Adolescent parenting and boundaries.[01:22:59] Teaching Life Skills in Therapy.[01:26:25] Knowledge is for everyone.[01:29:45] Teaching beginners and mastery.ROGD REPAIR Course + Community gives concerned parents instant access to over 120 lessons providing the psychological insights and communication tools you need to get through to your kid. Use code SOMETHERAPIST2025 to take 50% off your first month.TALK TO ME: book a meeting.PRODUCTION: Looking for your own podcast producer? Visit PodsByNick.com and mention my podcast for 20% off your initial services.SUPPORT THE SHOW: subscribe, like, comment, & share or donate.ORGANIFI: Take 20% off Organifi with code SOMETHERAPIST.Watch NO WAY BACK: The Reality of Gender-Affirming Care. Use code SOMETHERAPIST to take 20% off your order.SHOW NOTES & transcript with help from SwellAI.MUSIC: Thanks to Joey Pecoraro for our song, “Half Awake,” used with gratitude & permission. ALL OTHER LINKS HERE. To support this show, please leave a rating & review on Apple, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe, like, comment & share via my YouTube channel. Or recommend this to a friend!Learn more about Do No Harm.Take $200 off your EightSleep Pod Pro Cover with code SOMETHERAPIST at EightSleep.com.Take 20% off all superfood beverages with code SOMETHERAPIST at Organifi.Check out my shop for book recommendations + wellness products.Show notes & transcript provided with the help of SwellAI.Special thanks to Joey Pecoraro for our theme song, “Half Awake,” used with gratitude and permission.Watch NO WAY BACK: The Reality of Gender-Affirming Care (our medical ethics documentary, formerly known as Affirmation Generation). Stream the film or purchase a DVD. Use code SOMETHERAPIST to take 20% off your order. Follow us on X @2022affirmation or Instagram at @affirmationgeneration.Have a question for me? Looking to go deeper and discuss these ideas with other listeners? Join my

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  1:32:28
• 161. The HHS Review: Gender Medicine Under Scrutiny | Legal Expert Glenna Goldis Explains

  In this episode, I welcome back Glenna Goldis, a lawyer with extensive experience in government and advocacy, to discuss a recent Health and Human Services review on gender medicine. We dive into the report's findings, which critically assess the evidence for both the alleged psychological benefits and the physical harms associated with gender-affirming treatments, particularly for minors. Glenna highlights that the evidence supporting psychological benefits is shaky at best, while the report emphasizes the significant physical risks involved, including the lack of prior animal studies.We also explore the ethical implications of pediatric gender medicine. The report categorically states that it is unethical to subject adolescents to hormonal and surgical interventions, arguing that the risk-benefit profile is unfavorable. Glenna and I discuss the concept of medical consumerism and how it relates to patient autonomy, questioning whether giving patients what they want is always ethical.Additionally, we touch on the historical context of gender medicine and its ties to homophobia, emphasizing how this practice has disproportionately targeted gender-nonconforming individuals. Throughout our conversation, we aim to unpack the complexities surrounding gender identity, the responsibilities of medical professionals, and the societal implications of these treatments. Join us as we navigate this critical and timely discussion.Glenna Goldis is a lawyer in New York with experience in government, fraud investigations, and domestic violence advocacy. She publishes Bad Facts, a newsletter about the movement for trans rights. She first appeared on this podcast in episode 148. Executive Orders Decoded: Attorney Glenna Goldis Explains Impacts on American Families. 00:00 Start[00:02:51] Gender medicine review implications.[00:05:35] Evidence of psychological benefits.[00:09:06] Gender euphoria debate.[00:10:44] Gender euphoria scale discussion.[00:14:03] Physical harm from hormones.[00:17:44] Pediatric gender medicine ethics.[00:22:17] Ethics of social transition.[00:24:40] Ethical dilemmas in psychotherapy.[00:27:22] Therapist's role in gender identity.[00:31:29] Medical consumerism in healthcare.[00:37:20] Authority of medical professionals.[00:40:53] Sexual trauma and trans identity.[00:44:11] Homophobia in medical practices.[00:47:11] Gay patients and trans representation.[00:50:10] Young lesbians and identity confusion.[00:52:56] Lesbian identity and challenges.[00:58:43] Compassion for confused individuals.[01:00:55] Therapy and gender dysphoria.[01:02:29] Internalized homophobia in therapy.[01:05:40] Therapy and LGBTQ+ considerations.[01:10:48] Ethics of gender affirming care.[01:13:06] Cultural climate in psychotherapy.[01:18:20] Cultural change and gender dysphoria.[01:21:11] Black market for hormones concerns.[01:25:18] Education and litigation in government.[01:28:12] Legal challenges in gender medicine.[01:31:38] Opening up the discourse.[01:36:05] Navigating gender impact on families.ROGD REPAIR Course + Community gives concerned parents instant access to over 120 lessons providing the psychological insights and communication tools you need to get through to your kid. Use code SOMETHERAPIST2025 to take 50% off your first month.TALK TO ME: book a meeting.PRODUCTION: Looking for your own podcast producer? Visit PodsByNick.com and mention my podcast for 20% off your initial services.SUPPORT THE SHOW: subscribe, like, comment, & share or donate.ORGANIFI: Take 20% off Organifi with code SOMETHERAPIST.Watch NO WAY BACK: The Reality of Gender-Affirming Care. Use code SOMETHERAPIST to take 20% off your order.SHOW NOTES & transcript with help from SwellAI.MUSIC: Thanks to Joey Pecoraro for our song, “Half Awake,” used with gratitude & permission. ALL OTHER LINKS HERE. To support this show, please leave a rating & review on Apple, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe, like, comment & share via my YouTube channel. Or recommend this to a friend!Learn more about Do No Harm.Take $200 off your EightSleep Pod Pro Cover with code SOMETHERAPIST at EightSleep.com.Take 20% off all superfood beverages with code SOMETHERAPIST at Organifi.Check out my shop for book recommendations + wellness products.Show notes & transcript provided with the help of SwellAI.Special thanks to Joey Pecoraro for our theme song, “Half Awake,” used with gratitude and permission.Watch NO WAY BACK: The Reality of Gender-Affirming Care (our medical ethics documentary, formerly known as Affirmation Generation). Stream the film or purchase a DVD. Use code SOMETHERAPIST to take 20% off your order. Follow us on X @2022affirmation or Instagram at @affirmationgeneration.Have a question for me? Looking to go deeper and discuss these ideas with other listeners? Join my Locals community! Members get to ask questions I will respond to in exclusive, members-only livestreams, post questions for upcoming guests to answer, plus other perks TBD. ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

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  1:37:08
• 160. A Family Court Nightmare: Jeff Younger’s Harrowing Crusade to Save His Son

  Texas father Jeff Younger joins us to share the gut-wrenching story of his battle to prevent the gender transition of his young son without his consent. Jeff recounts how his ex-wife, a pediatrician, began telling one of their twin boys he was a girl when he was just three years old, eventually socially transitioning him and giving him the name Luna.Jeff takes us through his journey of trying to father his sons in what he describes as a "male-friendly" way through activities like boxing and wrestling, while navigating a divorce and custody battle that ultimately resulted in him losing access to his children. He describes a judicial system that he believes was systematically biased against him as a father, including being placed under a gag order preventing him from speaking about his son's gender identity and eventually being restricted to supervised visitation.Most disturbingly, Jeff reveals how his ex-wife was able to move their sons to California where she obtained court approval to pursue medical interventions including puberty blockers. Jeff hasn't seen his sons in over two years at the time of our interview, and he shares his moral stance against paying child support that he believes would fund medical interventions he opposes for his son.This conversation offers a sobering window into the intersection of parental rights, gender ideology, and the family court system. Jeff closes with a warning to parents about the importance of vigilance regarding outside influences on their children and the need to reform laws to better protect the parent-child relationship.Jeff's story contrasts with that of Harrison Tinsley in episode 143. Harrison was victorious in a similar dispute, but only because of abundant evidence of his son's mother's mental instability unrelated to "gender."Jeff Younger lives in Dallas, Texas. He works as a family rights activist for justice and as an applied mathematician for a living. Donate to his GiveSendGo campaign here. Request to follow Jeff on X @JeffYoungerShow.ROGD REPAIR Course + Community gives concerned parents instant access to over 120 lessons providing the psychological insights and communication tools you need to get through to your kid. Use code SOMETHERAPIST2025 to take 50% off your first month.TALK TO ME: book a meeting.PRODUCTION: Looking for your own podcast producer? Visit PodsByNick.com and mention my podcast for 20% off your initial services.SUPPORT THE SHOW: subscribe, like, comment, & share or donate.ORGANIFI: Take 20% off Organifi with code SOMETHERAPIST.Watch NO WAY BACK: The Reality of Gender-Affirming Care. Use code SOMETHERAPIST to take 20% off your order.SHOW NOTES & transcript with help from SwellAI.MUSIC: Thanks to Joey Pecoraro for our song, “Half Awake,” used with gratitude & permission. ALL OTHER LINKS HERE. To support this show, please leave a rating & review on Apple, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe, like, comment & share via my YouTube channel. Or recommend this to a friend!Learn more about Do No Harm.Take $200 off your EightSleep Pod Pro Cover with code SOMETHERAPIST at EightSleep.com.Take 20% off all superfood beverages with code SOMETHERAPIST at Organifi.Check out my shop for book recommendations + wellness products.Show notes & transcript provided with the help of SwellAI.Special thanks to Joey Pecoraro for our theme song, “Half Awake,” used with gratitude and permission.Watch NO WAY BACK: The Reality of Gender-Affirming Care (our medical ethics documentary, formerly known as Affirmation Generation). Stream the film or purchase a DVD. Use code SOMETHERAPIST to take 20% off your order. Follow us on X @2022affirmation or Instagram at @affirmationgeneration.Have a question for me? Looking to go deeper and discuss these ideas with other listeners? Join my Locals community! Members get to ask questions I will respond to in exclusive, members-only livestreams, post questions for upcoming guests to answer, plus other perks TBD. ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

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  1:25:38
• 159. Detrans Grandma: Identity Crisis and Self Discovery After Postmenopausal Testosterone Use

  In this episode, I sit down with Gina, an older detransitioner with a compelling story that spans decades. We delve into her journey, beginning with her childhood experiences of gender dysphoria in the 1970s, her eventual transition in her 50s, and her decision to detransition in 2023. Gina shares her early crush on a girl and how that shaped her understanding of her identity, leading her to believe she needed to become a boy to express her feelings.We explore the complexities of her transition, including the overwhelming effects of testosterone on her sex drive and how it altered her sexual orientation, making her attracted to men for the first time. Gina reflects on the societal pressures surrounding gender and beauty, and how her past experiences of trauma influenced her decisions. We also discuss the impact of her identity on her relationship with her daughter, highlighting the importance of communication and understanding in parenting. Throughout our conversation, we aim to unpack the nuances of identity, the role of societal expectations, and the emotional turmoil that can accompany such profound life changes.In 1970, at the age of ten, Gina traversed a hill to the neighboring ranch to confess to her friend that she was supposed to be a boy. Forty years later, she “transitioned.” After thirteen years of living as a “trans-man,” she had an awakening that inspired her to begin detransitioning. Now in radical acceptance of her womanhood, she is recovering. Gina's goal is to create a healing space in the country for female detransitioners, crossing a different kind of hill this time, to a new ranch. Gina’s art: @aluminum_couture on InstagramGina’s Substack: @thisbodyofmine 00:00 Start[00:02:17] Childhood crush and gender identity.[00:05:13] Childhood crush and identity.[00:10:08] Secret crushes and shame.[00:16:50] Coming out as a lesbian.[00:19:11] Attraction and identity transformation.[00:23:46] Masculinity as a protective shield.[00:26:05] Grandiosity in young women's identities.[00:30:50] Identity and rejection in relationships.[00:34:50] Gender identity and self-perception.[00:39:34] Hormonal changes and sexual attraction.[00:44:03] The impact of testosterone on behavior.[00:49:19] Dreams and identity exploration.[00:54:56] Fragility of ego in identity.[00:58:21] Identity crisis and personal anchors.[01:01:05] Suicide prevention and parental responsibility.[01:05:07] Nurturing motherhood and identity.[01:10:06] Grandparenthood and identity transformation.[01:14:36] Identity and self-acceptance journey.[01:18:48] Effects of testosterone on motivation.[01:22:50] Identity and motherhood loss.[01:28:17] Identity acceptance and transformation.[01:30:13] Rediscovering identity through transition.[01:34:54] Emotional stability and external connections.ROGD REPAIR Course + Community gives concerned parents instant access to over 120 lessons providing the psychological insights and communication tools you need to get through to your kid. Use code SOMETHERAPIST2025 to take 50% off your first month.TALK TO ME: book a meeting.PRODUCTION: Looking for your own podcast producer? Visit PodsByNick.com and mention my podcast for 20% off your initial services.SUPPORT THE SHOW: subscribe, like, comment, & share or donate.ORGANIFI: Take 20% off Organifi with code SOMETHERAPIST.Watch NO WAY BACK: The Reality of Gender-Affirming Care. Use code SOMETHERAPIST to take 20% off your order.SHOW NOTES & transcript with help from SwellAI.MUSIC: Thanks to Joey Pecoraro for our song, “Half Awake,” used with gratitude & permission. ALL OTHER LINKS HERE. To support this show, please leave a rating & review on Apple, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe, like, comment & share via my YouTube channel. Or recommend this to a friend!Learn more about Do No Harm.Take $200 off your EightSleep Pod Pro Cover with code SOMETHERAPIST at EightSleep.com.Take 20% off all superfood beverages with code SOMETHERAPIST at Organifi.Check out my shop for book recommendations + wellness products.Show notes & transcript provided with the help of SwellAI.Special thanks to Joey Pecoraro for our theme song, “Half Awake,” used with gratitude and permission.Watch NO WAY BACK: The Reality of Gender-Affirming Care (our medical ethics documentary, formerly known as Affirmation Generation). Stream the film or purchase a DVD. Use code SOMETHERAPIST to take 20% off your order. Follow us on X @2022affirmation or Instagram at @affirmationgeneration.Have a question for me? Looking to go deeper and discuss these ideas with other listeners? Join my Locals community! Members get to ask questions I will respond to in exclusive, members-only livestreams, post questions for upcoming guests to answer, plus other perks TBD. ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

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  1:37:31

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