Gender Matters: Insights from a Physician

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Gender Matters: Insights from a Physician

Dr Shannon

76 episodes

3 months ago

On July 9th, the Department of Justice issued subpoenas to clinics, doctors, and even drug manufacturers connected to gender-affirming care. These subpoenas appear to include private patient information. In this episode of Gender Matters: Insights from a Physician, I explain why this affects far more than transgender patients. From patient trust to access to standard treatments like puberty blockers or hormones for non-trans conditions, this action has ripple effects across healthcare. What h...

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Society & Culture

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On July 9th, the Department of Justice issued subpoenas to clinics, doctors, and even drug manufacturers connected to gender-affirming care. These subpoenas appear to include private patient information. In this episode of Gender Matters: Insights from a Physician, I explain why this affects far more than transgender patients. From patient trust to access to standard treatments like puberty blockers or hormones for non-trans conditions, this action has ripple effects across healthcare. What h...

Show more...

Society & Culture

Episodes (20/76)

Gender Matters: Insights from a Physician

DOJ Subpoenas Private Patient Info: Why It Matters Beyond Transgender Care (76)

On July 9th, the Department of Justice issued subpoenas to clinics, doctors, and even drug manufacturers connected to gender-affirming care. These subpoenas appear to include private patient information. In this episode of Gender Matters: Insights from a Physician, I explain why this affects far more than transgender patients. From patient trust to access to standard treatments like puberty blockers or hormones for non-trans conditions, this action has ripple effects across healthcare. What h...

3 months ago

19 minutes

Gender Matters: Insights from a Physician

A Physician’s Response to U.S. v. Skrmetti (75)

What happens when legal decisions about healthcare don’t align with medical reasoning? In this episode, A Physician’s Response to U.S. v. Skrmetti, I invite you to consider the recent court ruling through a medical lens. I walk through why some of the legal distinctions made in the case do not reflect how medicine works and how the decision departs from the way we provide care in similar situations. If you believe these laws are about protecting kids, I hope you’ll listen with curiosity. At t...

4 months ago

22 minutes

Gender Matters: Insights from a Physician

Gender Matters Takes on The Protocol: Episode 1 Discussion

In this episode of Gender Matters: Insights from a Physician, Dr. Shannon and Bandit kick off a new series in response to "The Protocol," The New York Times' limited podcast on gender-affirming care. This first conversation centers on Episode 1, which explores the origin of youth medical transition. As a physician and longtime gender educator, Dr. Shannon dissects subtle moments of bias that might go unnoticed to most, but matter deeply in how the public understands transgender healthcare. Ba...

4 months ago

23 minutes

Gender Matters: Insights from a Physician

How Many Trans* Youth Retransition? Far Fewer Than You Think (73)

If you’ve ever wondered, “What if they change their mind?”—you’re not alone. This episode breaks down the newest data on how often trans youth stop hormone therapy and retransition to a cisgender identity. We walk through a 2025 study of over 1,000 adolescents and explore what it really tells us—about numbers, nuance, and how we think about gender-affirming care. 📚 Citation: Boskey ER, Scheffey KL, Pilcher S, et al. A Retrospective Cohort Study of Transgender Adolescents' Gender-Affirmi...

5 months ago

26 minutes

Gender Matters: Insights from a Physician

Utah’s Gender-Affirming Care Findings: One Doctor, One Outsider, One Honest Conversation (72)

Bandit is back! This time to talk through Utah’s newly released findings on gender-affirming care for youth. In this episode, we break down what the report actually says, why it matters, and why it’s being ignored. One of us is a physician. The other? A thoughtful outsider with no personal stake in the issue—just honest questions shaped by headlines and algorithms. Together, we explore what gender-affirming care really includes, how misinformation spreads, and what it means when good science ...

5 months ago

34 minutes

Gender Matters: Insights from a Physician

Fertility and Youth Gender-Affirming Care: Facts, Assumptions, and Unknowns (71)

What if the thing you’ve been told is a fact… is actually just an assumption? In this episode of Gender Matters: Insights from a Physician, we take a closer look at fertility and gender-affirming care for youth. From social and medical transition to puberty blockers and hormones, we break down what we know, what we don’t, and what we’re still trying to learn. If fertility concerns are shaping your views on gender-affirming care, this episode offers a clear, data-informed foundation—free from ...

5 months ago

21 minutes

Gender Matters: Insights from a Physician

Part 2: Gender Q&A Without Judgment—A Conversation You Might Need Too (70)

In this follow-up episode, I answer honest gender questions from a friend in a space grounded in curiosity, not debate. We talk about student names, parental rights, and how to handle pronoun mistakes with care. A practical, thoughtful conversation for anyone still learning and wanting to understand more. Enjoyed this episode? Share it on social media or send the link to a colleague or a friend who’s curious about learning more about gender. For more insights, visit engenderlove.com and join ...

5 months ago

37 minutes

Gender Matters: Insights from a Physician

Rapid Onset Gender Dysphoria: Fictional Truth or Truly Fictional (69)

"Rapid onset gender dysphoria" sounds urgent, but is it even real? In this episode of Gender Matters: Insights from a Physician, I trace the origins of the term, explore why it resonates with some parents, and explain why the science does not support it. We look at how the idea caught on, what is missing from the research, and what is actually happening when teens come out. Spoiler: it is not rapid, and it is definitely not simple. Whether you are a provider, a parent, or just curious, this e...

5 months ago

20 minutes

Gender Matters: Insights from a Physician

Gender Q&A with a Curious and Unfamiliar Friend (68)

This week’s episode is a little different. I invited a friend I’ve known since high school onto the podcast to ask me anything about gender. He describes himself as curious but unfamiliar with the topic, and while he’s never felt personally connected to the conversation, he’s been wondering why so many others care deeply. He didn’t tell me his questions ahead of time. This is an unscripted, honest exchange between two friends. One is trying to understand what all the noise is about, and the o...

6 months ago

26 minutes

Gender Matters: Insights from a Physician

Transgender Rights Aren't 'Far-Left.' They're Human Rights. (67)

Transgender rights are often mislabeled as a "far-left" issue, but that framing erases the humanity at the center of the conversation. In this episode, I call out the confusion between political strategies and basic human rights, and why it's crucial to remember we're talking about people, not politics. I also share a list of memoirs and stories to deepen your understanding, including: Sissy by Jacob TobiaPageboy by Elliot PageRedefining Realness by Janet MockTomorrow Will Be Different by Sar...

6 months ago

12 minutes

Gender Matters: Insights from a Physician

Who’s Protecting Kids? Supporters or Deniers of Gender-Affirming Care? The Elephant Test (66)

Everyone says they’re protecting kids. But what does real protection look like? Inspired by elephants during a San Diego earthquake, this episode offers a five-part “elephant test” for adults on all sides of the gender-affirming care debate. Whether you're supporting or opposing care, are you truly protecting the children you claim to defend? Enjoyed this episode? Share it on social media or send the link to a colleague or a friend who’s curious about learning more about gender. For more insi...

6 months ago

17 minutes

Gender Matters: Insights from a Physician

Perfect or Banned? The Double Standard in Gender-Affirming Care (65)

Why is gender-affirming care expected to be flawless when no other area of medicine is? In this episode, we unpack what “perfection” really means in this context—the idea that even one bad outcome is treated not as an individual case to learn from, but as evidence that the entire system is broken. In most areas of medicine, unusual outcomes are examined as outliers. But with gender-affirming care, those rare exceptions often overshadow the thousands of positive, life-saving experiences. We ex...

6 months ago

13 minutes

Gender Matters: Insights from a Physician

Even If You Don't Believe It, Sex and Gender Are Not the Same (64)

The common misuse of the term “Spanish” to describe any Spanish-speaking patient stuck with me—and years later, it became the perfect analogy for a much deeper misunderstanding: the difference between sex and gender. In this episode, I explore why definitions matter and how neither public opinion nor executive orders change the biological and social realities these terms represent. What happens when the facts stay the same, but the language—and the laws—don’t? Enjoyed this episode? Share it o...

7 months ago

11 minutes

Gender Matters: Insights from a Physician

Transgender Visibility: A Computer, a Loved One, History, and Hope (63)

In this special episode, I step away from my usual format to share a personal story that lives at the intersection of visibility, history, and love. What does it mean for a young transgender person to see themselves reflected in the world? And how can families, even those who don’t share the same identity, offer connection through shared learning? Join me at my computer—literally—where years ago, I sat with someone I love and explored the lives of transgender pioneers. This quiet act became a...

7 months ago

11 minutes

Gender Matters: Insights from a Physician

From Headlines to Half-Truths: The Stories Shaping Transgender Rights (62)

We all know numbers can be misleading—but what happens when distorted facts are used to justify taking away people’s rights? In this episode, I break down some of the most common narratives used to stir fear and confusion about transgender people—from bathrooms to sports to military service. Many of these stories aren’t just misleading—they’re factually incorrect. Still, they continue to shape public opinion and policy. Rather than offer quick answers, this episode invites you to look more cr...

7 months ago

16 minutes

Gender Matters: Insights from a Physician

How Homeland Security’s Policy Change Affects Transgender Patients

A recent change to Homeland Security policy has raised serious concerns for transgender individuals and their families. In this episode, we explore how the removal of gender identity from protected categories could impact privacy, safety, and trust—both in society and within medical spaces. For healthcare providers, this shift isn’t just political—it directly affects patient relationships and the information patients feel safe disclosing. We’ll discuss what physicians need to know, how past p...

7 months ago

17 minutes

Gender Matters: Insights from a Physician

Scientific Integrity in the Transgender Sports Debate (60)

When discussing transgender girls in sports, accuracy matters. No matter your stance, one correction is essential: transgender girls are not "boys playing girls’ sports." This distinction isn't just about respect—it’s about scientific accuracy. In this episode, I break down why this mislabeling is biologically incorrect and how it has fueled broad bans on transgender athletes. I also discuss recent research on physical differences among transgender and cisgender athletes and why precise langu...

8 months ago

8 minutes

Gender Matters: Insights from a Physician

Everywhere but Unnecessary: Rethinking Sex Markers in Healthcare

Does Your Hospital System Need to Reassess? Sex markers are everywhere in healthcare—from ID bracelets to patient boards—but does their constant presence actually help deliver better care? Or does it do more harm than good? In this episode, I challenge the assumption that displaying sex everywhere improves patient care. You’ll learn how this overlooked detail leads to misgendering, incorrect assumptions about anatomy, and discomfort for many patients—cis and trans alike. It’s time for a reass...

8 months ago

14 minutes

Gender Matters: Insights from a Physician

Think You're Gender Competent? A Reality Check (58)

Think your department has gender competency covered? What if the very confidence that you're "good" is the biggest red flag? In this episode, I break down the common pitfalls of assuming gender competency is a one-and-done achievement. How do you measure real progress? What’s missing when your efforts aren’t reflected in patient experiences—or even on your website? Listen in to challenge assumptions, adopt a growth mindset, and discover how improving gender competency benefits all patients. B...

8 months ago

9 minutes

Gender Matters: Insights from a Physician

The Executive Order That Divides: Staying Focused on Patients, Not Politics (57)

When an executive order threatens gender-affirming care, emotions run high—for patients, families, and providers alike. It’s easy to feel frustrated, villainized, or even ready to walk away. But how do you stay committed to your values when the system makes it harder to do so? Whether you directly provide gender-affirming care or simply support those who do, this episode offers insight into navigating frustration, staying grounded, and continuing to advocate for transgender and nonbinary pati...

8 months ago

22 minutes