Gender: A Wider Lens (podcast)
Gender: A Wider Lens is an English-language podcast by therapists Sasha Ayad and Stella O'Malley. The first episode was released in December 2020. The creators describe the program as an exploration of the psychological and cultural forces that shape how gender is thought about and discussed. Another podcast on this subject, with a more informal tone, is Heterodorx by Nina Paley and Corinna Cohn.
The main article on this subject is Gender: A Wider Lens — international podcast about gender and transition.
What you can find
In the episodes, the hosts speak with researchers, doctors, therapists, parents and people who have stopped their transition. Recurring themes include gender dysphoria in young people, the role of psychotherapy and detransition. The podcast and accompanying newsletter are now hosted on their own Substack page. O'Malley also publishes her own newsletter on Substack.
Background
Both hosts are outspoken critics of rapid medical treatment for young people with gender dysphoria; O'Malley is also the founder of the organization Genspect. The podcast is therefore a voice within the gender-critical camp and not a neutral source. Advocates of gender-affirming care reject the exploratory therapy promoted there.
Format and business model
The Substack page reports more than 5,000 subscribers. The subtitle promises an informed perspective on the changing gender landscape and its consequences for children, families and society. The weekly episodes and transcripts are free. A paid subscription costs 8 dollars per month or 79 dollars per year and provides access to the archive, comments and weekly discussions. For 225 dollars per year, subscribers receive advance notice of guests and can submit questions. The podcast is also available on YouTube and the major podcast platforms. genspect.nl also has a page about the podcast. More than two hundred episodes were released in four years. One of the guests was Jamie Reed, who came forward as a whistleblower about a gender clinic.
The creators
The hosts say they take a critical view of gender ideology and are concerned about the speed with which young people experiencing gender distress are treated medically. Stella O'Malley founded the Gender Dysphoria Support Network in March 2020, Genspect in June 2021 and Beyond Trans in June 2022. Together with Ayad and therapist Lisa Marchiano, she wrote When Kids Say They're Trans: A Guide for Thoughtful Parents, which was published by Pitchstone Publishing on October 31, 2023.
How to assess this source
The podcast is funded by listeners and appears on the reading lists of parent groups such as Aotearoa Support and Cardinal Support Network. The choice of guests reflects the creators' convictions. Those who listen to the episodes hear experts and personal experiences from one side of the debate. The creators are themselves involved with organizations that promote a particular position, and this should be taken into account when considering what they say about research.