What's in a Name Change? — How I became Avery Arden and made it through the legal process

Avery brings their wife on to reminisce about Avery's name journey — from picking out Avery several years ago, to choosing new middle & last names in time for the legal name change process. Why is that process so dang complicated and expensive? Why was "Banana" ever on the table for surname options? How does Avery honor their family & faith roots with their new name? And what do Avery, Cher, & Sasquatch all have in common??  Listen — or read along with the episode transcript — to find out! Talking points: (0:00 - 7:11) Introducing Leah, Avery's new full name; discussing Avery's nicknames growing up (7:12 - 10:20) When a family member chooses a new name; advice for any parents about their kids' names (10:21 - 20:27) Picking the name Avery, process of telling it to Leah, family, church, teachers (20:28 - 24:45) Picking a new last name (Banana??!) (24:46 - 30:16) Why Raphael for a middle name — archangel, name of Avery's church growing up (30:17 - 37:16) A little rant about deadnames getting shared on school rosters, doctors' offices — a deadname is like a haunting (37:17 - 45:37) The legal process! Announcing your petition for name change in the paper like it's the Old West; waiting on clerks and judges — who can choose to make it even harder on you if they want to be jerks (45:38 - 49:15) More on the name Arden — from Shakespeare's play As You Like It, where the Forest Arden is a place for gender hijinks and freedom from social norms (49:16 - end) Wrapping up — Leah's incredible sign-off ——— Blessed  Are the Binary Breakers is part of the Rock Candy Podcast  Network. Find more shows, such as Bible Bash, at www.rockcandyrecordings.com. This show's theme song is "Aetherium" by Leah Horn.