Gender Matters: Insights from a Physician

This episode explores the ethical failure behind the closure of gender affirming care clinics and what happens when patients are left without continuity of care. Through a medical ethics lens, it explains why abruptly discontinuing treatment places transgender and gender diverse youth at risk regardless of personal or political beliefs. Enjoyed this episode? Share it on social media or send the li...

Why do some people share their pronouns while others hesitate? And how do you know what’s right for you? In this episode, I break down why pronoun sharing should never be mandatory, and why it still carries real meaning. We’ll look at how sharing pronouns can signal safety, why it can put some people in difficult positions, and what it communicates when you choose to include them. If you're a...

Language shifts long before most people notice it, and when one word keeps resurfacing, it’s worth asking why.  In this episode, I walk through a single term that’s showing up more often in conversations about gender and what its resurgence might be telling us about the moment we’re living in. Enjoyed this episode? Share it on social media or send the link to a colleague or a friend who’s curious...

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 block...

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 situatio...

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 o...

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...

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...

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 you...

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 wh...

"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...

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...

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, in...

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...

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,...

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 wh...

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,...

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 pub...

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...

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 als...

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 assum...

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 chal...

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 naviga...

As federal websites erase mentions of “transgender,” how can medical professionals ensure all patients remain visible ? In this episode, Dr. Shannon breaks down the critical role providers play in upholding medical accuracy —not just for ethical care, but for scientific integrity. She explains why distinguishing between sex and gender isn’t just inclusive—it’s essential for accurate medical practi...

Creating a more welcoming environment for transgender and nonbinary patients doesn’t have to be complicated—or require board approval. In this episode, I share five small but meaningful changes any physician can make to signal awareness and reduce assumptions. While these steps don’t create true safety, they can help patients feel a bit more at ease and consider building trust with their provider....