Taboo Science

Good intentions, it turns out, are not the same thing as good allyship — and sometimes they can actually make things worse. In this season finale, diversity consultant Davey Shlasko breaks down the unconscious assumptions that make pronouns harder than they should be, why trying harder often backfires, and what being a genuine ally actually looks like in practice. Woven through his advice, you'll hear from the community voices you've met all season talking about what it feels like to be on the receiving end. We cover the science of why you "miscategorize" trans people, how to recover from misgendering without making it about yourself, and how to show up for trans people even when there are no trans people in the room. Plus: a pronoun exercise that is genuinely kind of fun. If you've listened to this whole season, this episode is where it all lands. Resources from Davey Shlasko: https://bookshop.org/p/books/trans-allyship-workbook-building-skills-to-support-trans-people-in-our-lives-davey-shlasko/3f4e67304056522ahttps://www.thinkagaintraining.com/Citations & transcript: https://www.tabooscience.show/trans-101-how-to-be-an-ally-without-making-it-weird/ Connect with the show: https://patreon.com/taboosciencehttps://podline.fm/taboosciencehttps://www.instagram.com/taboosciencehttps://www.youtube.com/@taboosciencehttps://www.tabooscience.show/Loved this episode? Leave a review and rating here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/taboo-science/id1533606473

(00:00:00) Trans 101: What Detransitioners Want You to Know (00:03:44) What Is Detransition? (00:08:52) Maddie's Story (00:13:40) Eri's Story (00:21:00) The Healthcare Dilemma (00:27:14) Who Detransitions? (00:32:27) Moving Forward If you support trans people, you probably believe that detransition almost never happens and when it does, it's only due to discrimination. But new research shows that's not the full picture—and avoiding the conversation isn't protecting anyone. This episode explores the largest study ever designed to understand detransition, featuring two people with completely opposite experiences. One transitioned in her twenties and later regretted it, losing her entire friend group not when she detransitioned but when she admitted the regret. The other was blocked from hormones by a gatekeeping therapist and spent 13 years forced to live as the wrong gender before finally retransitioning. One needed more scrutiny before accessing care, the other needed fewer barriers—yet both were failed by the system. Researcher Kinnon MacKinnon breaks down what the data actually shows and why preventing detransition might be the wrong goal entirely. This isn't ammunition for either side of the political battle. It's about what happens when we're too afraid to acknowledge complexity. More from Kinnon MacKinnon: https://theonepercentdetrans.substack.com/https://www.kinnonmackinnon.com/Citations and transcript: https://www.tabooscience.show/trans-101-what-detransitioners-want-you-to-know/ Connect with the show: https://patreon.com/taboosciencehttps://podline.fm/taboosciencehttps://www.instagram.com/taboosciencehttps://www.youtube.com/@taboosciencehttps://www.tabooscience.show/Loved this episode? Leave a review and rating here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/taboo-science/id1533606473

How many studies does it take for something to be "settled science"? For trans athletes—who face state bans across the country, which recently reached the Supreme Court—there's hardly any research at all. In this episode, we're digging into what that research actually found, and it's way more complicated than the “fairness” advocates would have you believe. Dr. Blair Hamilton walks us through findings showing that trans people gain some advantages and lose others after transitioning. Champion triathlete Chris Mosier talks about what trans kids actually lose when they're banned from sports—and why the real threats to women's athletics have nothing to do with trans people. Whether you’re against trans athletes competing or you’re just trying to understand why politicians are obsessed with a few dozen athletes, this episode will uncover the nuance in the noise. 00:00:00 - Introduction: Where Support Falls Apart 00:01:20 - How Sports Became the Wedge Issue 00:04:08 - The "Settled Science" 00:10:24 - How Many Trans Athletes Actually Exist 00:13:23 - Can't Win by Losing, Can't Win by Winning 00:15:11 - Why Ban Chess and Darts? 00:16:35 - The Playbook of Using Women's Safety 00:18:00 - Genital Inspections and Racial Targeting 00:19:35 - What's Lost: Community, Belonging, and Identity 00:25:17 - Solutions: Sport-Specific Analysis and Evidence-Based Policy 00:27:06 - Why We Celebrate Some Advantages But Not Others 00:29:11 - Conclusion More from Blair Hamilton: https://www.instagram.com/blair90x/?hl=enhttps://x.com/BlairH_PhDMore from Chris Mosier: https://www.thechrismosier.com/https://www.instagram.com/thechrismosier/https://thenewpress.org/books/fair-game/Citations and transcript: https://www.tabooscience.show/trans-101-trans-athletes-what-the-science-actually-says/ Connect with the show: https://patreon.com/taboosciencehttps://podline.fm/taboosciencehttps://www.instagram.com/taboosciencehttps://www.youtube.com/@taboosciencehttps://www.tabooscience.show/Loved this episode? Leave a review and rating here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/taboo-science/id1533606473

Every notification is a gamble: Is this a genuine connection or another person who swiped right just to tell you you're disgusting? Welcome to dating while trans. In this episode, we're exploring the disclosure dilemmas, infrastructure failures, and stigma that make dating "super hell" for trans people—featuring author and theorist Julia Serano (Whipping Girl). You'll hear why the design of dating apps fails trans people, how anti-trans stigma poisons relationships even when the attraction is real, what "chasers" are and why the fetish mindset is so harmful, and why trans women face wildly different (and more dangerous) dating experiences than trans men. Not attracted to trans people? Nobody’s gonna force you to change that—but we are going to help you examine whether your feelings come from you, or from the stigma society planted in your head. Plus, stick around until the end of the episode for a bonus clip all about trans sex from Sex Ed with DB. You can listen to that full episode here. More from Julia Serano: https://juliaserano.com/https://www.hachettebookgroup.com/titles/julia-serano/whipping-girl/9781541604520/https://www.youtube.com/user/juliaseranoMore from Oliver Haimson: https://oliverhaimson.com/https://mitpress.mit.edu/9780262551861/trans-technologies/ https://www.instagram.com/transtechnologies/ Citations and further reading: https://www.tabooscience.show/trans-101-dating-while-trans-with-julia-serano/ Connect with the show: https://patreon.com/taboosciencehttps://podline.fm/taboosciencehttps://www.instagram.com/taboosciencehttps://www.youtube.com/@taboosciencehttps://www.tabooscience.show/Loved this episode? Leave a review and rating here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/taboo-science/id1533606473

When someone in your family comes out as trans, what do you actually do? Turns out "I love you, I believe you" goes a long way—but it's also way more complicated than that. In this episode, we're exploring why parents have the hardest time with transition, why aunts and grandmothers often step up when parents can't, and whether families who reject ever come back around (most do!). We'll hear from parents about those pivotal coming-out moments and the fears that kept them up at night, break down why rejection usually isn't sudden and why extended family tends to be more accepting than you'd expect, and talk to trans people about what it's like when your family doesn't accept you—and how some are thriving anyway. This episode won't sugarcoat how hard the current moment is, but it will show you that family acceptance isn't the only path to a good life. Listen to the Transparently Speaking podcast: https://transparentlyspeakingpodcast.buzzsprout.com/ See citations and a transcript here: https://www.tabooscience.show/trans-101-when-a-loved-one-comes-out-what-should-you-do/ Connect with the show: https://patreon.com/taboosciencehttps://podline.fm/taboosciencehttps://www.instagram.com/taboosciencehttps://www.youtube.com/@taboosciencehttps://www.tabooscience.show/Loved this episode? Leave a review and rating here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/taboo-science/id1533606473

In this bonus episode, Ashley sits down with Oliver Haimson, associate professor at the University of Michigan's School of Information and author of Trans Technologies. They explore how mainstream technology often excludes trans people—from face filter apps designed for cisgender amusement to healthcare systems that force patients to become DIY experts. Haimson reveals why trans people are simultaneously more tech-savvy and more skeptical of AI than the general population, and discusses how online communities provide lifelines for isolated trans people in rural areas. The conversation tackles the tension between scrappy, community-built solutions and the burden of maintaining them, while highlighting tools that help allies learn without putting emotional labor on trans people. It's a fascinating look at how technology both fails and serves transgender communities—and what it would take to do better. Resources mentioned: https://mitpress.mit.edu/9780262551861/trans-technologies/https://www.instagram.com/transtechnologies/https://translanguageprimer.com/https://arxiv.org/pdf/2303.12913 Connect with the show: https://patreon.com/taboosciencehttps://podline.fm/taboosciencehttps://www.instagram.com/taboosciencehttps://www.youtube.com/@taboosciencehttps://www.tabooscience.show/Loved this episode? Leave a review and rating here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/taboo-science/id1533606473

Here's a wild statistic: nearly a quarter of trans people in the U.S. avoid going to the doctor specifically because they expect to be disrespected. And honestly? They're probably right. In this episode of Taboo Science, we're pulling back the curtain on a healthcare system that requires trans patients to prove they're "really trans," charges thousands of dollars for basic care, and somehow graduates doctors who've never learned how to treat trans bodies. You'll hear from sociologist stef shuster about the folklore of trans medicine that doctors still believe, psychologist Stephanie Budge about the critical difference between over-emphasizing and under-emphasizing gender in treatment, and comedian Max Gross about what it's like to be your own medical educator at every single appointment. This episode is not gonna make you like your insurance company, but I promise there's hope at the end. More from stef shuster: http://stefshuster.com/https://nyupress.org/9781479899371/trans-medicine/More from Max Gross: https://www.instagram.com/maxgotjokes/See citations and a transcript here: https://www.tabooscience.show/trans-101-finding-healthcare-that-wont-kill-you/ Connect with the show: https://patreon.com/taboosciencehttps://podline.fm/taboosciencehttps://www.instagram.com/taboosciencehttps://www.youtube.com/@taboosciencehttps://www.tabooscience.show/Loved this episode? Leave a review and rating here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/taboo-science/id1533606473

It's Thanksgiving here in the US, so we're re-running one of the most popular Taboo Science episodes of all time. We'll be back in two weeks with an episode about trans healthcare access! In this episode, we challenge the common perceptions of attraction and explore the complexities of asexuality. Sociology PhD candidate Canton Weiner shares invaluable insights from his research while Sarah Costello, co-host of the podcast "Sounds Fake, But Okay," opens up about her personal experience being aro-ace, or aromantic asexual. We examine the split attraction model and shed light on various types of attraction, delve into the history of asexuality with pioneers like Magnus Hirschfeld and Alfred Kinsey, and discover how the rise of the internet has shaped the asexual community. This episode challenges misconceptions, explores the intersection of asexuality and other identities like race and gender, and highlights the need for increased understanding and acceptance within the LGBTQIA community. Check out Canton Winer's University of Irvine bio and his research. Listen to Sarah Costello's podcast Sounds Fake But Okay and pick up her new book, Sounds Fake but Okay: An Asexual and Aromantic Perspective on Love, Relationships, Sex, and Pretty Much Anything Else. See citations and a transcript here: https://www.tabooscience.show/s3-e2-asexuality/ Need music for a project? Use my Epidemic Sound referral link: https://share.epidemicsound.com/kbva2h Connect with the show: https://patreon.com/taboosciencehttps://podline.fm/taboosciencehttps://www.instagram.com/taboosciencehttps://www.youtube.com/@taboosciencehttps://www.tabooscience.show/Loved this episode? Leave a review and rating here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/taboo-science/id1533606473

What if the government declared you don't exist? In 2025, that's exactly what happened to nonbinary people—but they're not going anywhere. This episode breaks down what nonbinary actually means (hint: it's not "between man and woman"), why they/them pronouns are harder for our brains to process, and how some nonbinary people use hormones to craft their perfect gender recipe. With help from psychologist Dr. Em Matsuno and our sensitivity reader Newt Schottelkotte, we're exploring everything from microdosing testosterone to why misgendering is the default for nonbinary folks—along with the benefits to the journey of gender discovery. Whether you're nonbinary yourself, know someone who is, or are just trying to figure out how to not mess up someone's pronouns, this episode will help you understand what it means to make your own gender from scratch. More from Em Matsuno: https://empowermentlab.wordpress.com/https://www.instagram.com/empowerment_lab_asuMore from Newt Schottelkotte: https://newtschottelkotte.com/See citations and a transcript here: https://www.tabooscience.show/nonbinary-101-beyond-the-binary/ Need music for a project? Use my Epidemic Sound referral link: https://share.epidemicsound.com/kbva2h Connect with the show: https://patreon.com/taboosciencehttps://podline.fm/taboosciencehttps://www.instagram.com/taboosciencehttps://www.youtube.com/@taboosciencehttps://www.tabooscience.show/Loved this episode? Leave a review and rating here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/taboo-science/id1533606473

(00:00:00) Trans 101: Trans Kids & the Reality of Youth Transition (00:03:52) Meet Maya (00:08:39) Understanding Puberty Blockers (00:12:20) Are Kids Too Young to Know? (00:16:07) Do Trans Kids Change Their Minds? (00:20:24) Risks to Puberty Blockers (00:21:54) Maya's Journey (00:27:59) What Happens Without Care (00:31:17) Advice for Parents (00:33:41) Conclusion The right says doctors are mutilating children. The left says nothing permanent is happening. They're both oversimplifying, but they're not equally wrong. Meet Maya, who started transitioning at 13 with puberty blockers, then hormones, then surgery at 16. Now 25 and thriving, she walks us through what actually happened—and why she says it saved her life. We also talk to pediatrician Dr. Michelle Forcier, who breaks down the real medical process. We're busting the "most trans kids change their minds" myth with actual research, covering what puberty blockers really do, why some trans kids hate being on them, and the question nobody wants to ask: what happens to kids who don't get care? Turns out inaction is also a decision, and it comes with permanent consequences too. This episode won't give you easy answers, but it will show you what the science actually says and why everyone who knows trans youth best says the same thing: listen to them. Content note: This episode includes discussion of self-harm and suicidality. More from Michelle Forcier: Brown UniversityLinkedInSee citations and a transcript here: https://www.tabooscience.show/trans-101-trans-kids-the-reality-of-youth-transition/ Need music for a project? Use my Epidemic Sound referral link: https://share.epidemicsound.com/kbva2h Connect with the show: https://patreon.com/taboosciencehttps://podline.fm/taboosciencehttps://www.instagram.com/taboosciencehttps://www.youtube.com/@taboosciencehttps://www.tabooscience.show/Loved this episode? Leave a review and rating here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/taboo-science/id1533606473

Another podcast Taboo Science listeners may enjoy: Sing For Science! Sing for Science is a science-and-music podcast where musicians sit down with scientists to explore the scientific ideas hidden in their most iconic songs. Listen to JD from Korn talk about “Dead Bodies Everywhere” with a mortuary-science expert, Sia explore one of her breakup ballads with an attachment-theory psychologist, and many, many more. Created and hosted by New York musician Matt Whyte, the show seeks to uncover connections wherever they may exist and build bridges between seemingly disparate voices, styles, and walks of life. Sing For Science is made possible in part by a grant from the Simons Foundation. New episodes release every two weeks—subscribe now. Want to catch a live Sing For Science taping in your city? Sign up for our newsletter at SingForScience.org to be the first to know. WARNING: This episode contains content related to mortuary science that some listeners may find disturbing. Korn frontman Jonathan Davis delves into his past as a mortician with popular science bestselling author, Mary Roach. Mary wrote the hit book Stiff: The Curious Lives of Human Cadavers and the two have no shortage of gory details to discuss. We talk about the biology of human corpse decomposition and preservation, embalming techniques (including but not limited to anal suturing), Elvis’s autopsy, and more! Need music for a project? Use my Epidemic Sound referral link: https://share.epidemicsound.com/kbva2h Connect with the show: https://patreon.com/taboosciencehttps://podline.fm/taboosciencehttps://www.instagram.com/taboosciencehttps://www.youtube.com/@taboosciencehttps://www.tabooscience.show/Loved this episode? Leave a review and rating here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/taboo-science/id1533606473

(00:00:00) Trans 101: How Transgender Hormone Therapy Changes Body and Brain (00:03:26) Why you can't change the mind (00:05:17) Estrogen and what it takes to start it (00:08:58) Testosterone and what it takes to start it (00:11:58) How hormones work (00:15:19) Psychological changes (00:19:48) Physical changes on estrogen (00:21:31) Physical changes on testosterone (00:22:53) Surgical options for trans women (00:26:28) Surgical options for trans men (00:32:01) Conclusion (00:33:17) Outro For decades, doctors tried to psychoanalyze trans people out of being trans. Spoiler: it didn't work. This episode dives into the medical reality of gender transition—from how hormones actually work at the cellular level to the emotional rollercoaster of a second puberty. You'll learn what estrogen and testosterone really do to the body, what bottom growth actually means, and how modern surgery can create everything from boobs to fully functional penises with hydraulic erections. We cover the psychological shifts, the physical changes, the hilarious terminology trans people have coined, and why medical transition isn't about "fixing" anyone—it's about letting people finally be themselves. More from Michelle Forcier: Brown UniversityLinkedInMore from Riley Black: WebsiteThe Last Days of the DinosaursBlueskyMore from Hibby Thach: WebsiteTwitchBlueskyMore from Charlie James: WebsiteI’m Just a Little Guy: How to Escape the Horrors and Get Back to DillydallyingTikTok Citations and transcript: https://www.tabooscience.show/trans-101-how-transgender-hormone-therapy-changes-body-and-brain/ Need music for a project? Use my Epidemic Sound referral link: https://share.epidemicsound.com/kbva2h Connect with the show: https://patreon.com/taboosciencehttps://podline.fm/taboosciencehttps://www.instagram.com/taboosciencehttps://www.youtube.com/@taboosciencehttps://www.tabooscience.show/Loved this episode? Leave a review and rating here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/taboo-science/id1533606473

Got a rainbow sticker? Follow trans creators? Have trans friends? Cool. But if you're like most people—even the well-meaning ones—you probably know just enough about trans people to be dangerous. In this episode, we're dismantling the "born in the wrong body" narrative and exploring what being trans actually means. With help from University of Victoria transgender studies chair Dr. Aaron Devor, paleontologist Riley Black, PhD student Hibby Thach, and comedian Charlie James, we're breaking down sex vs. gender vs. gender expression, debunking the "social contagion" myth, and explaining why asking "but have you had The Surgery?" is never okay. Trans people are rarer than redheads, but somehow they're at the center of a political firestorm—so let's actually understand what we're talking about. More from Aaron Devor: Faculty page at the University of VictoriaPodcast for Inquiry appearanceMore from Riley Black: WebsiteThe Last Days of the DinosaursBlueskyMore from Hibby Thach: WebsiteTwitchBlueskyMore from Charlie James: WebsiteI’m Just a Little Guy: How to Escape the Horrors and Get Back to DillydallyingTikTok See citations and a transcript here: https://www.tabooscience.show/trans-101-everything-you-think-you-know-but-probably-dont/ Need music for a project? Use my Epidemic Sound referral link: https://share.epidemicsound.com/kbva2h Connect with the show: https://patreon.com/taboosciencehttps://podline.fm/taboosciencehttps://www.instagram.com/taboosciencehttps://www.youtube.com/@taboosciencehttps://www.tabooscience.show/Loved this episode? Leave a review and rating here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/taboo-science/id1533606473

When it comes to transgender issues, most of us are working with incomplete information—and that's a problem when real people's rights hang in the balance. This season, we're exploring what it actually means to be trans in America today, from the science of gender identity to the daily realities of healthcare, relationships, and family. With the help of researchers crunching the numbers and trans people sharing their stories, we'll tackle the questions you might be curious about but wouldn't know how to ask, without the political noise—just honest conversations about human experience. The first episode of Trans 101 drops October 2nd. Subscribe/follow so you don't miss it.

Still working on Season 5 (Trans Science!). In the meantime, go to https://patreon.com/tabooscience to support the show—and get updates and behind-the-scenes tidbits as I work.

CRAMPED is an investigative podcast that answers the question "Why are so many people with uteruses in unexplained & untreated pain?"Listen to the entire season here: https://pod.link/1778101696

You requested and I delivered: I'm answering your Philias questions on the podcast. With the help of interviewer and podcast industry extraordinaire Arielle Nissenblatt, learn about the most controversial episodes, fascinating facts that didn't make it into the show, how I got people to talk about this stuff, and whether my mom listens (she absolutely does). Resources from Arielle:https://earbuds.audio/ https://x.com/arithisandthathttps://www.threads.net/@ariellethisandthat See important links and a transcript here: https://www.tabooscience.show/048-qa/Need music for a project? Use my Epidemic Sound referral link: https://share.epidemicsound.com/kbva2hConnect with the show: Leave me a voice memo: https://podline.fm/tabooscienceNewsletter: https://www.tabooscience.show/newsletter Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tabooscience YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@tabooscience Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/tabooscience Website: https://www.tabooscience.show/ Loved this episode? Leave a review and rating here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/taboo-science/id1533606473

Ever wondered why some people have a thing for feet? In this final Philias episode, we're flying feet first into foot fetishes. Social psychologist Dr. Justin Lehmiller breaks down the origins of fetishes (and the truth to that "crossed wires in the brain" factoid), while writer and "Educatrix" Tina Horn gives us the lowdown on why feet can be such a turn-on. We also step into the cultural aspects of foot fascination and debunk some common misconceptions. Whether you're a foot fanatic yourself or just interested in what makes people tick, this episode will shed light on a often misunderstood aspect of human sexuality. So go ahead, press play and put your feet up—and maybe snap a pic or two while you're at it.Resources from Dr. Justin Lehmiller:https://www.sexandpsychology.com/https://amzn.to/4cCcyqmhttps://www.sexandpsychology.com/podcasts/https://x.com/JustinLehmillerhttps://www.instagram.com/justinjlehmiller/ Resources from Tina Horn: https://tinahorn.net/https://amzn.to/45YPJuwhttps://tinahorn.net/yapithttps://x.com/tinahornsasshttps://www.instagram.com/tinahornsass See citations and a transcript here: https://www.tabooscience.show/047-foot-fetishes/Need music for a project? Use my Epidemic Sound referral link: https://share.epidemicsound.com/kbva2hConnect with the show: Leave me a voice memo: https://podline.fm/tabooscienceNewsletter: https://www.tabooscience.show/newsletter Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tabooscience YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@tabooscience Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/tabooscience Website: https://www.tabooscience.show/ Loved this episode? Leave a review and rating here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/taboo-science/id1533606473Mentioned in this episode:Tailor MushroomsGo to www.tailormushrooms.store and use code...

Spellbound and Gagged is a podcast about all things that fascinate, unsettle, and disgust. It's back from hiatus with an episode all about the sex cult NASA doesn't want you to know about. Subscribe here: https://episodes.fm/1653440593In other news: Ashley is planning a final episode where she's interviewed all about how she makes Taboo Science, the most controversial episodes this season, and other exciting things. Do you have questions you want to hear answered? Email her at ashley@tabooscience.show and you might hear them on the podcast.

Consider today's episode a sampler platter of unconventional kinks. We're talking exhibitionism, financial domination, wet and messy fun, fat fetishes, lactation fascination, golden showers, and even the fantasy world of vore. Don't worry, we're keeping it classy (well, as classy as you can when discussing people who get off on being peed on). Whether you're a seasoned kinkster or vanilla as they come, this episode is guaranteed to teach you something fascinating about human desire. Just don't blame me if you suddenly develop an urge to splosh around in some baked beans.See citations and a transcript here: https://www.tabooscience.show/046-kinksampler/Get 30% off of Tailor Mushrooms with code "taboo" here: https://www.tailor.store/Need music for a project? Use my Epidemic Sound referral link: https://share.epidemicsound.com/kbva2hConnect with the show: Leave me a voice memo: https://podline.fm/tabooscienceNewsletter: https://www.tabooscience.show/newsletter Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tabooscience YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@tabooscience Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/tabooscience Website: https://www.tabooscience.show/ Loved this episode? Leave a review and rating here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/taboo-science/id1533606473