Firestarters with Shannon Watts

Please check out the replay of my conversation with Rebecca Minor, LICSW [https://substack.com/profile/119591311-rebecca-minor-licsw] about her new book Raising Trans Kids [http://www.genderspecialist.com/raising-trans-kids], the essential guide for parents, families, and educators committed to creating a world where transgender and nonbinary youth can thrive. With compassionate insights, evidence-based research, and practical advice, this groundbreaking book provides the clarity and reassurance needed to navigate the complex journey of raising trans and gender-expansive children. Rebecca and I discuss why it’s so important for parents and caregivers (including educators!) to read her book, the encouragement she would give to the parents who are scared for their children, and the myths and misperceptions surrounding transgender children. At a time when trans youth face unprecedented legislative attacks and alarming mental health challenges, Raising Trans Kids is more than a guide—it’s a lifeline. By addressing fears and misconceptions, it helps families move past uncertainty and fear into pride, joy, and unconditional love for their child’s authentic self. I encourage you to buy extra copies of Raising Trans Kid [http://www.genderspecialist.com/raising-trans-kids]s to share in your communities or donate to help get the book into the hands of those who need it most. Teachers, school social workers, and librarians can email programs@littlereadersbigchange.org [programs@littlereadersbigchange.org] for copies while supplies last. And, be sure you’re following Rebecca Minor, LICSW [https://substack.com/profile/119591311-rebecca-minor-licsw]: Newsletter [http://www.genderspecialist.com/subscribe] | Website [http://www.genderspecialist.com] | Instagram [http://instagram.com/gender.specialist] For women ready to stop living on autopilot and playing it small, Fired Up will show you how to shatter your self imposed limitations and unleash your potential so you can finally start living the life you’ve always wanted. Click to order. [https://www.firedupbook.com/] This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit shannonwatts.substack.com/subscribe [https://shannonwatts.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_2]

(I write at length about many of these ideas in my new book, “Fired Up: How to Turn Your Spark into a Flame and Come Alive at Any Age,” out now. Order this week and get enrolled for free in Firestarter University [http://firedupbook.com/], a year-long, online course starting in the Fall.) Check out my conversation with Stacy London [https://substack.com/profile/2655464-stacy-london], host of Prime Video show Wear Whatever the F You Want and mid-life advocate. Our conversation ranged from the importance of empowering women as they experience menopause and aging, concerns around hormone regulations, how to figure out what comes after 50 and beyond, and the concept of joy porn. Be sure you’re following Stacy on Substack [https://stacylondon.substack.com/] and hit play to watch our conversation above. For women ready to stop living on autopilot and playing it small, Fired Up will show you how to shatter your self imposed limitations and unleash your potential so you can finally start living the life you’ve always wanted. Click to order. [https://www.firedupbook.com/] This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit shannonwatts.substack.com/subscribe [https://shannonwatts.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_2]

(I write at length about many of the ideas below in my new book, “Fired Up: How to Turn Your Spark into a Flame and Come Alive at Any Age,” out now. Order this week get enrolled for free in Firestarter University [http://firedupbook.com/], a year-long, online course starting in the Fall.) Check out my conversation with Dr. Jessica Shepherd, a board-certified OBGYN and menopause expert. Our conversation ranged from the importance of understanding your health, the flawed study that lead a generation of women to believe HRT was dangerous, the prescription of HRT and the recent hearing on the black box warning labels [https://shannonwatts.substack.com/p/what-happened-at-the-recent-fda-menopause], as well as the legacy we hope to leave in the world. Please enjoy this conversation and be sure you’re following Dr. Shepherd on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/jessicashepherdmd/]. Join me on my book tour! Get more information and tickets at firedupbook.com [http://firedupbook.com/] For women ready to stop living on autopilot and playing it small, Fired Up will show you how to shatter your self imposed limitations and unleash your potential so you can finally start living the life you’ve always wanted. Click to order. [https://www.firedupbook.com/] This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit shannonwatts.substack.com/subscribe [https://shannonwatts.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_2]

“You can’t burn what is already on fire.” Meggan Watterson [https://www.megganwatterson.com/], a feminist theologian with master's degrees from Harvard Divinity School and Columbia University’s Union Theological Seminary, is a bestselling author and founder of the REDLADIES, a spiritual community focused on studying ancient Christian texts that were excluded from the New Testament. Her new book, The Girl Who Baptized Herself, explores a nearly lost first-century scripture about Saint Thecla, a young woman who survived multiple execution attempts and became a reigious teacher, using her story as a roadmap for readers to understand their spiritual worth and reclaim their power. In our conversation, Meggan and I explore how religious institutions have systematically excluded women from spiritual narratives for millennia, how connecting with the feminine divine helped her reclaim her sense of self-worth following sexual assault, and how embracing women's righteous anger can inspire us all to take action in protecting ourselves and others. Meggan invites us to align with our divine purpose, embrace vulnerability as strength, and honor our unique spiritual callings. To read more about inspiring stories about Firestarters like Meggan, grab a copy of my new book Fired Up: How to Turn Your Spark Into a Flame and Come Alive at Any Age at firedupbook.com [http://firedupbook.com/]. Join me on my book tour! Get more information and tickets at firedupbook.com [http://firedupbook.com/] For women ready to stop living on autopilot and playing it small, Fired Up will show you how to shatter your self imposed limitations and unleash your potential so you can finally start living the life you’ve always wanted. Click to order. [https://www.firedupbook.com/] This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit shannonwatts.substack.com/subscribe [https://shannonwatts.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_2]

“One of the metaphors that I use is imagining guilt is a faulty check engine light on your car dashboard.  Your car has just been serviced, the oil is changed, everything's fine, but the stupid light just keeps going off. It doesn't actually give you any meaningful information, so you can ignore it. You can just say it's broken. Guilt is not a moral compass.” Pooja Lakshmin MD [https://substack.com/profile/108798026-pooja-lakshmin-md] is a clinical psychiatrist in Austin, Texas, specializing in women's health. She's also an assistant professor of psychiatry. During our discussion, we talked about how she differentiates between faux self-care and real self-care, including the obstacles women face internally and externally, and to overcome them. We also discuss how real self-care can help women live lives that are more authentic and more audacious. And Pooja shares her insights about how self-care can help women find their spark and protect it throughout their lives. To read more about inspiring stories about Firestarters like Pooja, grab a copy of my book Fired Up: How to Turn Your Spark Into a Flame and Come Alive at Any Age at firedupbook.com [http://firedupbook.com/]. Join me on my book tour! Get more information and tickets at firedupbook.com [http://firedupbook.com/] For women ready to stop living on autopilot and playing it small, Fired Up will show you how to shatter your self imposed limitations and unleash your potential so you can finally start living the life you’ve always wanted. Click to order. [https://www.firedupbook.com/] This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit shannonwatts.substack.com/subscribe [https://shannonwatts.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_2]