Show Notes
Natasha is joined by Dr. Lisa Diamond and Dr. Scout on this episode of the Natasha Helfer Podcast. This is a powerful episode as, in Lisa's words: "Scout and I have witnessed the entire birth and now destruction of the field of queer and trans mental and physical health (Scout is 60, I'm 54), so we have lived through this whole weird arc of seeing lgbtq health become a legitimate profession, and now it's being threatened—it's both personally and professionally devastating for both of us to witness this happening. "It is astounding that at a time when we recently survived a global pandemic that left so many people feeling isolated in ways that has profoundly affected our mental and physical health… and at a time when we have very clear data on the risk of suicide and lessened wellbeing for the LGBTQI+ community due to societal discrimination… that the government is choosing to dismantle and destroy so many departments/entities meant to support the health, science and data collection of ALL Americans." Dr. Diamond and Dr. Scout have created a survey for anyone affected by the current administration. Please consider filling it out. "We launched the study with zero funding, it's driven by pure love and panic, and it's affecting EVERYONE who loves or works with queer or trans people, including family members, friends, social workers, physicians, school, teachers, therapist, educators, EVERYONE. All of us are going through something, and we are going through this at the same time that the federal government has CEASED all data collection on our health. So Scout and I figured "OK, you don't wanna do this? We're just gonna have to do it ourselves." Go here to fill out the survey: https://csbsutah.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_9WyKRPONJuL67Yy?fbclid=IwY2xjawOEdthleHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETFoOW43aDJMdnNGb1kwSThZc3J0YwZhcHBfaWQQMjIyMDM5MTc4ODIwMDg5MgABHkWvMqhUx7OYFY_0kbvt2yVu911j1Ch5DAnsBloLDDgUw1CHSZ3BRNwBhq3A_aem_2e27bX8Xk_kP7utbPv482g Also, if you're an organization that would like to partner with this project reach out to: [email protected] From Natasha: I loved Lisa's reminder that we survive oppression and destruction through connection. This is a small thing we can do to make a difference and that in of itself is healing and empowering. Please take the 20-25 minutes to fill out this survey. And please forward it to anyone you know who is impacted. Scout, PhD (they/he) is the Executive Director of the National LGBTQI+ Cancer Network and the principal investigator of both the CDC-funded LGBTQI+ tobacco-related cancer disparity network and Out: The National Cancer Survey. They spend much of their time providing technical assistance for tobacco and cancer focusing agencies expanding their reach and engagement with LGBTQI+ populations. Scout has a long history in health policy analysis and a particular interest in ensuring research and surveillance activities include LGBTQI+ people. They have faculty appointments at Dartmouth Cancer Center and Boston University's school of public health. They are a member of FDA's Tobacco Products Scientific Advisory Committee, on the Advisory Panel for NIH's All of Us initiative, and a former member of NIH Council of Councils as well as former Co-Chair of the NIH Sexual and Gender Minority Research Office Work Group. Their work has won them recognition from the U.S. House of Representatives, two state governments, and many city governments. Scout is an openly nonbinary and trans father of three, an avid hiker, and is currently training for the aptly named Dopey Challenge races at Disney. Lisa M. Diamond, Ph.D., is a Distinguished Professor of Psychology and Gender Studies at the University of Utah and a past president of the International Academy for Sex Research. For nearly 30 years, she has studied gender and sexuality across the lifespan, with current work centered on social safety and its impact on the health and well-being of LGBTQ+ individuals. Dr. Diamond is internationally rec
More from The Natasha Helfer Podcast
In this episode, Natasha is joined by Dr. Alex Tatum, a psychologist and professor at Illinois State University, to talk about what the research says about polyamory. He studies consensual non-monogamy and the experiences of people in polyamorous relationships. Alex and his colleagues interviewed 63 American adults who have been or currently are in polyamorous relationships. Their first paper looked at what first led people to pursue polyamory and found four common themes: values alignment, relationship factors, external stimuli, and sexuality. Natasha and Alex discuss the difference between choosing polyamory because it fits who you are and trying to open a relationship to fix it. Their newer paper takes a strengths-based approach and asks what helps people navigate the challenges of polyamory. It identified eight themes, including communication skills, managing difficult emotions, compersion and well-managed jealousy, and a willingness to challenge the cultural expectation of monogamy. Read the research: Initial Motivations for Engaging in Polyamorous Relationships (Archives of Sexual Behavior, 2023): https://doi.org/10.1007/s10508-023-02750-z "I Know How to Identify and Communicate My Needs": A Qualitative Study of the Self-Perceived Strengths of People in Polyamorous Relationships (Journal of Marital and Family Therapy, 2026): https://doi.org/10.1111/jmft.70119 Psychology Today write-up of the first study, "Why Some Couples Choose Polyamory": https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/talking-apes/202312/why-some-couples-choose-polyamory
Natasha sits down with Natasha Ruby, an artist and memoirist from Fort Collins, Colorado, whose work grows out of her lived experience with religion, recovery, and rebuilding. Natasha Ruby is the author of "Latter-day Psychosis," a raw and honest look at leaving religion and rebuilding identity, addiction and sobriety, mental health and psychosis, and the messy, nonlinear process of healing. Together they talk about what it means to break, heal, and become again, and how to begin authoring your own life after questioning everything you were raised to believe. You can find Natasha Ruby and her book here: Website: https://www.natasharubyart.com Latter-day Psychosis: https://www.natasharubyart.com/general-7 Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook: @natasharubyart
Dr. Julie de Azevedo joins Natasha on this episode of the Natasha Helfer Podcast to discuss some of the clinical red flags and ethical failures of the Jodi Hildebrandt case. Both Julie and Natasha have been featured in documentaries about the case, and they bring their perspectives as licensed therapists to a story that has shaken so many families and faith communities. You can find out more about Dr. de Azevedo on her website: https://www.drjuliehanks.com/about Follow Julie on social media: Instagram: @drjuliehanks Facebook: @DrJulieHanks X/Twitter: @drjuliehanks LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/drjuliehanks Listen to Julie's interview with Kevin Franke on the Ask Dr. Julie Hanks Podcast: YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jo-WwPm54Cg Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/3qS1ViMT8Uo29gtuET2GB8 Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/kevin-franke-on-healing-self-trust-and-life-after/id1550864262?i=1000741340854 Watch the documentaries: Ruby & Jodi: A Cult of Sin and Influence (HBO Max): https://www.hbomax.com/show/45ecb4cd-3f29-47b0-9557-b88be510e30c Evil Influencer: The Jodi Hildebrandt Story (Netflix): https://www.netflix.com/title/81925846
On this episode of the Natasha Helfer Podcast, Ingrid Chapman joins to discuss her book, "Coming Back Whole: A Memoir of Secrets, Survival, and Self-Reclamation." At fifty, after thirty-two years of marriage, Ingrid Chapman served her husband divorce papers at the airport—directly in front of the woman he was having an affair with. It was the moment she stopped disappearing.
Natasha sits down with Melissa Duge Spiers, author of "Holy Disobedience: Sex, Sin, and Secrets in the Biggest Church No One Knows," for a wide-ranging conversation before diving into her story. They talk about growing up inside a strict, fundamentalist Seventh-day Adventist Church, and how Melissa's life changed when she learned her father, a respected pastor, was a serial child predator shielded for years by the church. Melissa shares how she rebuilt her sense of self after escaping high control religion, including an unexpected friendship with her father's first victim that helped her reclaim her voice. Her memoir is being called a story of fierce honesty and radical freedom for anyone breaking out of controlling systems. You can find Melissa and her book here: Order "Holy Disobedience": https://www.lakedrivebooks.com/books/holy-disobedience/ Substack: https://melissadugespiers.substack.com/ TikTok: @theglorywhole Instagram: @the.glory.whole To help keep this podcast going, please consider donating at natashahelfer.com and share this episode. To watch the video of this podcast, you can subscribe to Natasha's channel on Youtube and follow her professional Facebook page at natashahelfer LCMFT, CST-S. You can find all her cool resources at natashahelfer.com. The information shared on this program is informational and should not be considered therapy. This podcast addresses many topics around mental health and sexuality and may not be suitable for minors. Some topics may elicit a trigger or emotional response so please care for yourself accordingly. The views, thoughts and opinions expressed by our guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect the views or feelings of Natasha Helfer or the Natasha Helfer Podcast. We provide a platform for open and diverse discussions, and it is important to recognize that different perspectives may be shared. We encourage our listeners to engage in critical thinking and form their own opinions. The intro and outro music for these episodes is by Otter Creek. Thank you for listening. And remember: Symmetry is now offering Ketamine services. To find out more, go to symcounseling.com/ketamine-services. There are also several upcoming workshops. Visit natashahelfer.com or symcounseling.com to find out more.