Gender Queries

Ep 11: Chest Surgery

What does accessing gender-affirming chest surgery look like in Atlantic Canada? Is coverage the same for chest feminization and chest masculinization? What barriers do patients face when policies don’t reflect real clinical needs? And beyond the risks, recovery, and logistics, what does it actually feel like to finally see yourself reflected in your body? Featuring:  * Gabriel Enxuga (he/they) - PrideHealth Navigator * Nikki Valentine (she/her) - @nikkimvee * Aspen (she/her) * Dr. Nadim Joukhadar (he/him) * Pascale Joëlle (any pronouns) - @Hellogender_ * Amy Prescott (she/xe) - @affirmpt * Gabriel Dit L’individu (he/they) - @youngqueersick [https://www.instagram.com/youngqueersick?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet&igsh=ZDNlZDc0MzIxNw==] Time stamps: * 01:05 - What is top surgery * 01:40 - Chest feminization (CF) * 02:20 - Newfoundland (NL) CF coverage * 03:00 - Nova Scotia (NS) CF coverage * 06:05 - New Brunswick (NB) CF coverage * 06:44 - Prince Edward Island (PEI) CF coverage * 07:25 - Access barriers to CF * 08:20 - BMI barriers * 09:14 - Chest masculinization (CM) * 09:20 - Eligibility factors & considerations * 12:25 - Lived experience: discovering top surgery * 14:10 - NL CM coverage * 14:30 - NS CM coverage * 14:50 - NB CM coverage * 15:20 - PEI CM coverage * 15:45 - Risks * 19:05 - Post-op follow-up * 20:16 - The role of physiotherapy * 22:08 - Rewarding work * 23:25 - Trans joy! Resources: * CQMSA Provincial GAC Guides [https://www.cqmsa.org/guides] * Trans Care BC [https://www.transcarebc.ca/] * prideHealth NS [https://www.nshealth.ca/clinics-programs-and-services/pridehealth] * Gender Affirming Care PEI [https://www.gacpei.ca/] * Find Nikki on Twitch (nikki_mv) * Gabriel Dit L’individu’s LinkTree: linktr.ee/youngqueersick [http://linktr.ee/youngqueersick]  Transcripts at linktr.ee/genderqueriespod [http://linktr.ee/genderqueriespod]  Instagram: @genderqueriespod [https://www.instagram.com/genderqueriespod?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet&igsh=ZDNlZDc0MzIxNw==] Recording dates: Apr 2025 (Aspen), June 2025 (Amy), July 2025 (Nikki, Pascale), Sept 2025 (Gabriel, Dr. Joukhadar), Dec 2025 (Gabriel)

Ep 10: Rural Health

Can trans people access gender-affirming care in rural settings? What happens if they can’t? Do the attitudes of rural providers play a role in the protection of trans rights? The lack of urban anonymity might push a trans person to pack their bags and head for the city. Is there anything we can do to make them feel heard and safe in their small towns? Featuring:  * Cyrus Campbell (he/they/she) * Pascale Joëlle Fortin-Daigle (any pronouns) - @Hellogender_ * Dr. Bast (they/them) * Kaiden Dalley (he/him) * Jocelyn Adams (she/her) -  @gacpei * Stevi Gerrior (they/them) - @demandingwedobetter * Nikki Valentine (she/her) - @nikkimvee * Fawn (she/her) Time stamps: * 01:32 - Exposure to the TGD world * 04:45 - Lack of rural providers * 07:04 - Travel * 09:16 - Referral culture * 12:23 - Dr. Bast: protection of trans rights * 14:34 - Mental health * 16:13 - Privacy * 19:41 - Supports * 21:54 - Advice to providers * 24:50 - Relief Resources: * Stevi’s website: www.dobetterconsulting.ca [http://www.dobetterconsulting.ca]  * Find Nikki on Twitch (nikki_mv) Transcripts at linktr.ee/genderqueriespod [http://linktr.ee/genderqueriespod]  Instagram: @genderqueriespod [https://www.instagram.com/genderqueriespod?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet&igsh=ZDNlZDc0MzIxNw==] Recording dates: Apr 2025 (Fawn), May 2025 (Kaiden), July 2025 (Cyrus, Nikki, Pascale), Aug 2025 (Jocelyn), Dec 2025 (Stevi), Apr 2026 (Dr. Bast)

Ep 09: Long-Term Health Outcomes

Does gender-affirming hormone therapy affect the heart? How does a binder change breathing patterns? How do we risk-stratify trans patients? Join us as we take a closer look at how multiple organ systems are influenced by gender-affirming care and the broader health considerations for gender-diverse communities. Just a heads up, we get pretty deep into the medical weeds in this one. Featuring:  * Dr. Heather Cockwell (she/her) * Meaghan Ray Peters (they/them) - @Chest_binding_support * Dr. Arati Mokashi (she/her) * Ken Mullock (he/him) - @ken.dietitian * Jocelyn Adams (she/her) -  @gacpei Time stamps: * 01:25 - MI risk * 03:21 - Estrogen & VTE * 04:58 - Testosterone & inflammation * 05:38 - Risk calculation * 07:19 - EKG changes * 08:17 - Smoking * 09:08 - Binding & lung function * 13:52 - Osteoporosis & fracture risk * 16:55 - Bone mineral accrual * 18:55 - Vitamin D * 19:30 - Diabetes risk & management * 21:00 - CBC interpretation * 21:40 - Prolactin levels * 22:02 - Chronic health & looking forward Resources:  * Acronyms used in this episode [https://docs.google.com/document/d/1R2vQyl5qhNtZ-5JgjbCNso6KXpTbVVe9453S4CymB5U/edit?usp=sharing] * Meaghan Ray’s LinkTree: linktr.ee/chest_binding_support [https://linktr.ee/chest_binding_support?utm_source=linktree_profile_share<sid=a4e57d87-ec5c-4fb5-80a5-eee95195b81d]  * Ken’s nutrition guide for gender-affirming surgery - https://tr.ee/lsreGuebBV [https://tr.ee/lsreGuebBV]  * Gender-Affirming Care PEI - gacpei.ca [https://www.gacpei.ca/] * The Queer & Trans Health Collective - Health & Nutrition [https://www.ourhealthyeg.ca/get-information/resources/trans-health-and-nutrition]  Transcripts at linktr.ee/genderqueriespod [http://linktr.ee/genderqueriespod]  Instagram: @genderqueriespod [https://www.instagram.com/genderqueriespod?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet&igsh=ZDNlZDc0MzIxNw==] Recording dates: Aug 2024 (Dr. Mokashi), Oct 2024 (Dr. Cockwell), Aug 2025 (Meaghan Ray), July 2025 (Ken), Aug 2025 (Jocelyn)

Ep 08: Exercise & Nutrition

Why doesn’t the average trans or gender-diverse person get enough exercise? Why might gender diversity impact someone’s relationship with food? How do these factors influence health and wellbeing? You’ll hear the challenges and the highlights of trans folks playing sports, the details of nutrition requirements for those taking hormone therapies, and some helpful tips for peri-operative nutrition.  Featuring:  * Cyrus Campbell (he/they/she) * Nikki Valentine (she/her) - @nikkimvee * Pascale Joëlle Fortin-Daigle (any pronouns) - @Hellogender_ * Elanor (she/her) * Maeka Wright (they/them) - @mwrightyoga * Justine Ward (they/them) - @cannonballjustine * Ken Mullock (he/him) - @ken.dietitian Time stamps: * 01:19 - Rates of physical activity * 02:52 - Guests’ experiences with sports & exercise * 13:25 - Mindfulness & wellbeing * 16:51 - Monitoring metabolic parameters * 17:24 - “Our evidence is in our practice” * 18:56 - Disordered eating * 22:31 - Poor-quality diets * 25:15 - Nutrient requirements on GAHT * 27:46 - Metabolic changes on GAHT * 30:03 - Counselling patients on diet * 31:41 - Pre-/post-op nutrition * 34:52 - Impact on health Resources & more:  * Find Nikki on Twitch (nikki_mv) * Justine's LinkTree: linktr.ee/cannonballjustine [https://linktr.ee/cannonballjustine?utm_source=linktree_profile_share<sid=45506754-ebd6-422f-8e47-ef05b214a512]  * Maeka (Manual Osteopath/Yoga Therapist) - maekawright.com [http://maekawright.com]  * Maeka’s book recommendations: The Teacher’s Guide to Accessible Yoga (Jivana Heyman), Skill in Action (Michelle Cassandra Johnson), Yoga (Indu Arora), The New Saints (Lama Rod Owens), The Care We Dream Of (Zena Sharman) * Rainbow Health Ontario’s guide for monitoring feminizing [https://www.rainbowhealthontario.ca/TransHealthGuide/gp-femht.html#sec4] & masculinizing [https://www.rainbowhealthontario.ca/TransHealthGuide/gp-mascht.html#sec4] hormones * Ken’s nutrition guide for gender-affirming surgery - https://tr.ee/lsreGuebBV [https://tr.ee/lsreGuebBV]  Transcripts at linktr.ee/genderqueriespod [http://linktr.ee/genderqueriespod]  Instagram: @genderqueriespod  [https://www.instagram.com/genderqueriespod?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet&igsh=ZDNlZDc0MzIxNw==] Recording dates: July 2025 (Ken, Cyrus, Nikki, Elanor, Pascale), Aug 2025 (Justine, Maeka)

Ep 07: TGD Health in Clinical Education

Provider education plays a critical role in shaping trans and gender-diverse healthcare, but many clinicians receive little to no formal training. In this episode, we explore how gaps in clinical education impact patient care, from unnecessary referrals to patients feeling like they must educate their own providers. We also unpack how trans health is often treated as optional or siloed in curricula, and why integrating it across all areas of practice matters. Finally, we highlight practical, evidence-based steps for creating more inclusive, affirming, and competent healthcare environments. Featuring:  * Victoria Brown (she/her) * RJ (he/him) * Amy Prescott (she/xe)- @affirmpt * Xiaoqi Zhu (he/they)  * Gabriel Enxuga (he/they) * Nikki Valentine (she/her) - @nikkimvee  * Aspen (she/her) * Jocelyn Adams (she/her) -  @gacpei * Dr. Sue Atkinson (she/her) * Fawn (she/her) * Pascale Joëlle (any pronouns) - @Hellogender_ * Mitchell (he/him) Time stamps: * 00:33 - Why provider education matters * 01:14 - Student perspectives  * 04:24 - Confidence and care deferral * 09:24 - Referral culture * 10:42 - Advice to providers * 14:30 - Patients as educators * 16:54 - Healthcare avoidance * 18:48 - Checkbox vs meaningful change * 21:56 - The hidden curriculum * 23:32 - Where trans health “lives” in curriculum * 24:43 - Creating safer clinical spaces * 28:24 - What the evidence shows * 30:16 - Student-led curriculum change Resources: * Sherbourne Guidelines [https://www.rainbowhealthontario.ca/product/4th-edition-sherbournes-guidelines-for-gender-affirming-primary-care-with-trans-and-non-binary-patients/] * Rainbow Health Ontario: Trans Primary Care Guide [https://www.rainbowhealthontario.ca/TransHealthGuide/] * Trans Care BC [https://www.transcarebc.ca/] * prideHealth NS [https://www.nshealth.ca/clinics-programs-and-services/pridehealth] * Gender Affirming Care PEI [https://www.gacpei.ca/] Transcripts at linktr.ee/genderqueriespod [http://linktr.ee/genderqueriespod]  Instagram: @genderqueriespod Recording dates: Apr 2025 (Aspen, Fawn), June 2025 (Amy, Xiaoqi), July 2025 (RJ, Pascale), Aug 2025 (Dr. Atkinson, Jocelyn, Victoria, Mitchell, Nikki), Sept 2025 (Gabriel).