Dear Schuyler

In this bonus episode, Schuyler speaks with Dr. Karen Tang, gynecologist, viral TikToker, and author of the new book, It's Not Hysteria: Everything You Need to Know About Your Reproductive Health (But Were Never Told) out May 7th. Schuyler and Dr. Tang discuss the ins-and-outs of reproductive healthcare, with particular focus on gender affirmation and the effects systemic oppression on effective, compassionate care. Dr. Tang also explains common reproductive health conditions including endometriosis, PCOS, and fibroids and Schuyler discloses a bit about his own journey with gynecological care.

In the last episode of season one of Dear Schuyler, Leo Sheng chats with Schuyler about why representation matters and why good representation is trickier than some might think.

Isolation often allows hate to endure, making it crucial to break through such barriers. However, for trans people, recounting one's journey can be a complex experience. That is why Schuyler invited Ryan Cassata on to the show. Together, they explore Ryan's discussions about his gender journey on shows like Larry King Live and The Tyra Banks Show, and his approach to sharing his life story through music.

The gender binary, or the idea that there are only two genders, is at the core of so many issues facing transgender people today. However, Schuyler speaks with the host of PBS' Brave Spaces and trans advocate Devin-Norelle about how this false assumption impacts those who may not believe gender plays a significant role in their life, and how radical self-reflection can help dismantle this societal norm. 

In many ways, the existence of police and prisons may feel natural to many people. However, Schuyler sits down with Professor and Scholar Jaden Janak to discuss how the Prison Industrial Complex we know today is actually a recent invention, and how this system serves those in power. Together they gather insight before Schuyler answers today's main question: How do prisons shape society and gender? This episode was recorded in April 2023 Black and Pink PenPal program A guide to the Prison Industrial Complex by Critical Resistance

Navigating the journey of caring for and supporting a transgender child can be overwhelming, especially for parents unfamiliar with the transgender experience. In this episode, Schuyler invites Nai and Leo, the first parent and child who reached out to him after his 60 Minutes feature aired. They delve into the discussion on how Nai affirmed Leo's identity, coped with less supportive relatives, and navigated the process of obtaining gender-affirming care. This interview was recorded in March 2023.

Today, there are over 500 anti-trans bills that have either been passed or introduced throughout the United States. Though transphobia is not new, it is natural to wonder: why now? To address this question, Schuyler speaks with ACLU lawyer and activist Chase Strangio. He discusses why so many states are pushing for these laws, what their real intent is, and what we can do about them. 

It can be tricky for all of us to maintain a healthy relationship with our parents. But for trans people, this relationship can be even more complicated. To help navigate this complicated connection, Schuyler sits down with author and activist Raquel Willis. She discusses how the dynamic between her and her religious parents morphed over time. Raquel also discusses her new book, The Risk it Takes to Bloom, out November 14th. 

Schuyler sits down with friend, nonbinary advocate, educator, and influencer, Addison Rose Vincent. In this conversation Schuyler and Addison discuss surviving as a trans person in this world, how many feel that gender nonconformity or trans-expression is a joke and the ongoing narrative of how people are supposed to respond to gender nonconformity and transness. ✶ If you have a question for Schuyler, send him a voice memo on Instagram @pinkmantaray

Schuyler sits down with American swimmer, Erica Sullivan.  Sullivan, who won a silver medalist in the 1500-meter freestyle at the 2020 Summer Olympics, opens up about being gay, the loss of her father and how she was able to bring her authentic self to the sport she loves. ✶ If you have a question for Schuyler, send him a voice memo on Instagram @pinkmantaray

Schuyler sits down with Angel Joy Flores, the deadlift Queen, for an in depth conversation about trans athletes and whether or not trans athletes must choose between their sport and their identities. ✶ If you have a question for Schuyler, send him a voice memo on Instagram @pinkmantaray

Schuyler is joined by musician, actor, model and barber, Ezra Michel.  In this conversation the two discuss what growing up was like and what their feelings are now when they look back on their early life. ✶ If you have a question for Schuyler, send him a voice memo on Instagram @pinkmantaray

Schuyler sits down with actor and advocate, Elle Deran.  In this conversation they discuss getting closer to our truth and using discomfort as an invitation to learn about ourselves. ✶ If you have a question for Schuyler, send him a voice memo on Instagram @pinkmantaray

Schuyler sits down with author, poet and essayist, KB Brookins.  In this conversation Brookins reflects on the choices that were made for us before we came into this world, how a forced resilience was created from that and how trying to normalize things that are not normal is a problem. You can check out KB Brookins books and website here. ✶ If you have a question for Schuyler, send him a voice memo on Instagram @pinkmantaray

Schuyler is joined by 2018 Olympic silver medalist, bobsledder Lauren Gibbs.  In this conversation Gibbs talks about the scrutiny women's sports receives, how everyone should have their "Olympic" moment, and much more. ✶ If you have a question for Schuyler, send him a voice memo on Instagram @pinkmantaray

Schuyler sits down with former Harvard swimming teammate, Jack Manchester.  In this conversation the two touch on Schuyler's introduction to the team. how he was received by teammates as a freshman swimmer and what it takes to be an ally. ✶ If you have a question for Schuyler, send him a voice memo on Instagram @pinkmantaray

Schuyler is joined by author, historian, and activist, Blair Imani.   In this episode the two discuss a variety of topics including what "tone tags" are and how can we get people to take action instead of just being an ally. ✶ If you have a question for Schuyler, send him a voice memo on Instagram @pinkmantaray

Schuyler sits down with his swimming coaches from Harvard, Steph Morawski and Kevin Tyrrell. In this discussion you will hear how Schuyler was recruited to the swim team, how he was embraced by his coaches and teammates and we answer the question, what can coaches do to support trans athletes. ✶ If you have a question for Schuyler, send him a voice memo on Instagram @pinkmantaray

Schuyler is joined by retired Austrian swimmer, who won two silver medals at the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens, Dr. Markus Rogan.  Dr. Rogan, who is now a psychologist working with athletes, gives an in depth discussion about how we can help people who hurt themselves and others, what he thought be a man was all about and 4 tasks that men have to accomplish. ✶ If you have a question for Schuyler, send him a voice memo on Instagram @pinkmantaray

✶ To purchase Alicia's book "Inverse Cowgirl: A Memoir" click ⁠here⁠: https://www.amazon.com/Inverse-Cowgirl-Alicia-Roth-Weigel/dp/0063295288 Schuyler is joined by activist, author and the Human Rights Commissioner for the City of Austin, Alicia Roth Weigel.  In this deep discussion, Roth Weigel, explains why people aren't familiar with the word intersex, how 2% of the world’s population is born intersex and how intersex individuals are born with both male and female reproductive organs. Roth Weigel also discusses how many intersex individuals are given the label of male or female at birth, stripping them of their identity. ✶ If you have a question for Schuyler, send him a voice memo on Instagram @pinkmantaray

Dating is something Schuyler is asked about frequently. For trans people, it can be tricky -- and dangerous -- to be open about one's identity. It can also be hard for well-meaning cisgender people to know what to do if their date happens to be transgender. To dive into the dating discussion, Schuyler speaks with singer, songwriter, dancer, actress and "artivist" Mila Jam on to the podcast. During their discussion, Mila gets candid about her experience dating as a black trans woman and dispels the myth that cis people are not attracted to trans folks. ✶ If you have a question for Schuyler, send him a voice memo on Instagram @pinkmantaray

We all identify ourselves as part of a community, but what exactly does it mean to "find your community"? And how can being part of a community help individuals uncover more about themselves? To dive into the purpose and importance of community, Schuyler speaks with actor Rafael De La Fuente (Dynasty). In their discussion, Rafael, reveals how finding a community online enabled him to accept parts of himself that he did not realize he was suppressing. ✶ If you have a question for Schuyler, send him a voice memo on Instagram @pinkmantaray

To kick off Pride month, Schuyler highlights an emotion that is often felt but rarely acknowledged: grief. It means more than just feeling bad after someone passes away. But why is it so important to experience it fully, particularly for queer and minority groups? And how does one even begin the grieving process? To answer these questions and more, Schuyler is joined by the renowned advocate and media personality, Ashlee Marie Preston. She reveals how grieving is an essential step towards liberation, why systems of oppression encourage us to resist grief, and how we can all learn to find happiness on the other side. ✶ If you have a question for Schuyler, send him a voice memo on Instagram @pinkmantaray

To kick off Pride month, Schuyler highlights an emotion that is often felt but rarely acknowledged: grief. It means more than just feeling bad after someone passes away. But why is it so important to experience it fully, particularly for queer and minority groups? And how does one even begin the grieving process? To answer these questions and more, Schuyler is joined by the renowned advocate and media personality, Ashlee Marie Preston. She reveals how grieving is an essential step towards liberation, why systems of oppression encourage us to resist grief, and how we can all learn to find happiness on the other side. ✶ If you have a question for Schuyler, send him a voice memo on Instagram @pinkmantaray

✶ If you or a loved one is struggling with an eating disorder, visit https://www.pinkmantaray.com/resources/ed for resources and research. A big part of Schuyler's journey was grappling with his eating disorder. And he is not alone; LGBTQ+ youth are affected by eating disorders more than any other demographic. But why do people develop eating disorders, and what can be done about them? To gain more insight into today's topic, Schuyler speaks with friend and actress Cree (Mr. Iglesias, Game Shakers). During their discussion, Schuyler and Cree touch on everything from racial injustice to Cree's own experience with an eating disorder. But as you will hear at the end of today's episode, both of those topics are more intertwined than you may think. ✶ If you have a question for Schuyler, send him a voice memo on Instagram @pinkmantaray

Most everyone can relate to not liking some aspect of their bodies. But for many transgender people, they often experience something that is more nuanced and devastating than that: gender dysphoria. It can be hard for cisgender people to understand what gender dysphoria is like. That's why Schuyler invited someone who could speak to the topic with intelligence and sincerity: Chella Man. Chella is an artist and activist, among other things. In this discussion Chella opens up about leaning into those feelings of discomfort in his art and fashion, and tells a story about how he helped his mom better understand what it feels like to be transgender. ✶ If you have a question for Schuyler, send him a voice memo on Instagram @pinkmantaray

Super Bowl champion Brendon Ayanbadejo began publicly advocating for gay rights before any other NFL football player. In 2009 he wrote an op-ed about his support for marriage equality (five years before Michael Sam came out as the first openly gay NFL player). Schuyler finds out how Brendon's background compelled him to become a vocal advocate for marriage equality and invites Brendon to ask questions about aspects of being trans that are confusing to him (like they might be confusing to you). In Schuyler's experience as an educator, the questions people have sometimes hold them back. They can feel because they don't understand every part of everyone's experience, they're unsure how to be supportive. That's why on today's episode Schuyler tackles a question many allies grapple with: Can I be an ally and still have questions? ✶ If you have a question for Schuyler, send him a voice memo on Instagram @pinkmantaray

Schuyler sits down with actress/comedian Dylan Mulvaney in her home to hear what it's like to be in the public eye at the same time as learning how to be her whole self. Dylan Mulvaney got her start on Broadway as part of the cast of the musical Book of Mormon, but her public profile rose in 2022 when she began documenting her transition on TikTok as part of her "Days of Girlhood." Since then, she's appeared on numerous talk shows like The Drew Barrymore Show, and even had the chance to speak with President Biden at the White House about trans rights. Mulvaney shares her experiences of coming out, navigating the entertainment industry, and dealing with the media attention that comes with being a visible trans person. We explore the challenges she has faced, as well as the opportunities that have arisen from being a trailblazer in the industry. They discuss how to find joy in the midst of hate, the importance of representation and visibility for the transgender community, how to survive and thrive, and the work she's doing to help create a more inclusive and accepting world. ✶ If you have a question for Schuyler, send him a voice memo on Instagram @pinkmantaray

On the previous episode, swimmer Lia Thomas shared her experience and opinions on being a transgender woman in women's sports. The interview made national news from Fox News to TMZ, and everyone from former tennis star Martina Navratilova to average folks all over our YouTube comments had something to say about Lia's stance on the topic of trans inclusion. As a result, Schuyler decides to delve into the topic of trans women in women's sports even more -- this time, focusing on the science and research. This week, he invites researcher Joanna Harper on to the podcast. Joanna began researching the topic of athletic performance of transgender people when she noticed that after she transitioned herself and began hormone suppression, her running performance deteriorated significantly. Since then, she published the first peer-reviewed study on the performance of transgender athletes as well as the book Sporting Gender: The History, Science, and Stories of Transgender and Intersex Athletes. Harper has also advised the International Olympics Committee and World Athletics on policies involving transgender athletes. Joanna's email: [email protected]

The inclusion of transgender women in women's sports is one of the most contentious topics of our time. Many of us want to be inclusive but can't wrap our heads around the perceived "advantage" trans women may have in sports. Meanwhile, trans folks want to have access to sports in the same way cis men and women do, without having to jump through hoops or feel like a pariah amongst teammates. One person has bore the brunt of this debate in recent years: Lia Thomas. When she became the first openly transgender athlete to win an NCAA Division 1 national championship as a member of UPenn's women's swim team, it became a national debate. That's why Schuyler invited Lia herself on Dear Schuyler. Lia discusses how it felt to become a national headline and what her true motivations were behind her transition. ✶ If you have a question for Schuyler, send him a voice memo on Instagram @pinkmantaray

Many parents are caught off-guard when their child reveals they are trans. That's why Schuyler is kicking off the series by answering a question that is near and dear to his heart: "My kid told me they're trans. Now what?" To gain some insight, Schuyler invites someone on to the show who did a pretty great job handling the news: his father, Gregor Bailar. Gregor discusses what was going through his mind during different points of Schuyler's gender journey, and explains how he was able to accept Schuyler for who he is.