Hey, Cis!

Who has four paws, almost 200k followers on twitter and approximately 10 years of vaccine research experience? Todays special guest, Chise!

On previous episodes, Isaac and Cyn have had the honour to chat with members of our local community who are HIV positive and with the development of COVID-19 vaccines- the possibility of an HIV vaccine has emerged and became more of a reality.

In this episode of Hey, Cis! we have the great pleasure to chat with Chise, an American Senior Scientist in Vaccine Research and Development who is not only supporting the efforts to develop the HIV vaccine, but also to debunk myths and advocate for accurate, up to date science communication.

Chise (She/They) lives on the East Coast, USA and has been a Senior Scientist in Vaccine Research and Development for approximately 10 years. Her research focuses on uncovering mechanisms of viral pathogenesis and host immunity then applying that knowledge toward development of safer and more effective vaccines. Currently, her research efforts have been dedicated to SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) as she helped develop and provide research for Moderna’s vaccine that was co-developed with NIAID.

Outside of the pandemic, her research efforts have been dedicated to studying MERS-CoV, SARS-CoV, Zika, Ebola, DENV, HIV, RSV, Influenza, and other emerging pathogens.When she is not at work or conducting research, she utilizes her ‘fursonas’ and social media platforms to provide science communication on Twitter under @sailorrooscout to help aid people’s understanding of COVID-19 and the COVID vaccines. She also is a strong activist and member of the BIPOC and 2SLGBTQ+ community.

Hey, Cis! is a beyond binary conversation in being a better human.

We are about current affairs and gender-based issues affecting trans and non-binary youth, students and adults within our Maritime community.

We take on difficult topics; (and this week it is a difficult topic), breaking us out of the binary, smashing stigma and fostering greater connection between our cisgender community and trans, gender creative and non-binary community.

Produced and edited in-house.

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/simply-good-form/

Linktree: https://linktr.ee/SimplyGoodForm

Credits

Hey, Cis! thanks musical artist Craymo for our intro/extro song: Be Myself

Written by: Craig Stephen Raymo/Brandon Jarrett/Joshua Daniel Hershfield (c) (p) 2015 Craymo Music, BMI/Moho Music, ASCAP Website: http://www.Craymo.com

“I thought I'm pretty good at what I do. Am I prepared to sacrifice all of that? And why should I have to?“

In this episode, Terri McDowell (She/Her), a Saskatchewan-born, C-Suite business leader gets vulnerable about what is was like transitioning in and on the job, in a profession that's male, cisgender dominant; and she shows us how she is inspiring transgender people professionally, through ‘the art of the possible.’

A Partner & Principal at financial advisory firm Ernst and Young (EY), Terri vulnerably shares, as a transgender woman, challenges and triumphs of her own personal gender transition on the job in a male and cisgender dominated profession, and provides tips on being allies on-the-job and how to avoid corporate pink-washing in an historically challenging period for transgender human rights worldwide.

Show links:

Hey, Cis! TD Connected Community Moment: https://www.menti.com/alkb4uo5chb8 to participate. Then click here for results.

Terri’s CGLCC Business Leader of the Year award:

https://www.simplygoodform.ca/blog/peak-inside-the-Black-and-White-Gala

https://www.cglcc.ca/2022/11/16/business-leadership-award-winners-2022/

Vulnerability of transgender human rights and anti-trans legislation:

• https://19thnews.org/2023/01/trans-health-care-bills-2023-legislative-session-lgbtq/
• https://www.aclu.org/legislative-attacks-on-lgbtq-rights

Produced and edited in-house.

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/simply-good-form/

Linktree: https://linktr.ee/SimplyGoodForm

Hey, Cis! Season 3 is proudly partnered with TD Bank Group.

MUSIC:

Hey, Cis! thanks musical artist Craymo for our intro/extro song: Be Myself

Written by: Craig Stephen Raymo/Brandon Jarrett/Joshua Daniel Hershfield (c) (p) 2015 Craymo Music, BMI/Moho Music, ASCAP

Website: http://www.Craymo.com

For more beyond binary conversations on being better humans, tips for being an inclusive leader in your field and connecting with trans folks from coast-to-coast, subscribe to Hey, Cis! on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts.

Hey, Cis; Hey, who?

Cis = latin preface for 'on the same side as.

Cisgender is someone whose gender identity aligns with their sex as assigned at birth.

Cisgender is someone who has the ability to make the world safer, brighter and more inclusive for trans people young and old. Cisgender is someone who needs to be an intentional part of the conversation -- so let's talk.

"Human rights don't start at 18. They start at birth."

Barry Bedford, former school principal, parent, Pflag educator and fierce ally.

"Policies on paper aren't actually worth the paper they're being printed on, if they're not being enforced."

Barry Bedford says the school board and teachers have a primary role in educating and creating safe inclusive spaces. Schools have children more than their families do. He says it's not ok to lump LGBTQ+ education into bullying and anti-bullying.

Call it what it is - it is transphobia; it is homophobia. Barry says, if we don't call it what it is, it's hypocritical at best.

"We have the trans flag up 12 months of the year at my school. We have the PRIDE flag up 12 months of the year at my school," says Barry, school Principal and Pflag Canada educator and volunteer.

From forms that don't work, to safe spaces that really aren't so safe, this week's podcast breaks down what it means to be an ally. And what it means to NOT be one. We talk about COVID and the effects of online schooling in Ontario for youth who are forced back into the closet while on lockdown.

The marginalization is real. And time is up for educators wanting to bury their heads in the sand, while putting a pride flag on their desk but refusing to be a safe space for their gender diverse or sexually diverse students.

On Barry's watch, he's got your back and takes allyship to a real level and offers up some great advice to Hey, Cis! on how you can be a better human.

If you listen to any episode this season --

This. Is. The. Episode.

Ally is a verb - not a noun.

Produced and edited in-house.

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/simply-good-form/

Linktree: https://linktr.ee/SimplyGoodForm

Just in time for the Trans Day of Visibility, Isaac (They/He) sits down with Simply Good Form Director of Program Development Emma Stanley (She/Her), to talk about the challenges surrounding and importance of living visibly. Given the recent rise of anti-Trans legislation and sentiment, Isaac and Emma discuss the increased importance of this year's TDoV.

The two discuss the barriers people face when trying to live visibly and the reasons why it is so important to see members of the Trans community succeeding in the more mundane aspects of life, drawing from their own lived experiences for context.

Also in this episode, Emma shares an upcoming skills program called Thrive, which aims to help Trans and gender-diverse community members find careers that will encourage and support them to live authentically. This program includes resume building, a mock interview, and tips on how to determine if a prospective employer is serious about inclusion.

Show links:

Hey, Cis! TD Connected Community Moment: Simply Good Form's Name and Gender Marker Change Pathway & Clinics
- Check out THRIVE: Careers and Resiliency for registration and more info.

Da'Shaun (They/Them) on Twitter: "To be visibly Queer is to choose your happiness over your safety."

Music:

Hey, Cis! thanks musical artist Craymo for our intro/extro song: Be Myself

Written by: Craig Stephen Raymo/Brandon Jarrett/Joshua Daniel Hershfield (c) (p) 2015 Craymo Music, BMI/Moho Music, ASCAP

Website: http://www.Craymo.com

This podcast is created by Simply Good Form, with production assistance and editing from Podstarter.

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/simply-good-form/

Linktree: https://linktr.ee/SimplyGoodForm

Hey, Cis! Season 3 is proudly partnered with TD Bank Group.

Hosts: Cyn Sweeney (She/Her) and Isaac Cook (They/He)
Producer: Connor Sampson (He/Him) podstarter.io

For more beyond binary conversations on being better humans, tips for being an inclusive leader in your field and connecting with trans folks from coast-to-coast, subscribe to Hey, Cis! on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts.

Kwe’! It is Mi'kmaq History Month throughout the province of Nova Scotia and Hey, Cis! is celebrating... and learning... together with our special guest, Kassidy Bernard (they/them/Nekem). Kassidy Bernard is an L’nu and Scottish Two-Spirit youth from We’koqma’q. Kassidy grew up in Unama’ki, one of the seven ancestral districts of Mi’kma’ki.

'In my twenty-five years of life, I’ve grown and made connections within my L’nu, Two-Spirit, and creative communities. I continue to unlearn colonial standards to make room for my L’nu worldview which prioritizes humor, rest, and community care. This is reflected in my relationships; creations in design, illustration, and podcasting; and in my continued learning in body literacy, birthwork, foraging, and whatever else my neurodivergent mind desires!'

In addition to being a co-owner of Patuo’kn Illustration and Design with their older sister Kaylyn, Kassidy holds an elected role as Indigenous Rep for CFS-NS.

After six years living in Kjipuktuk, and attending NSCAD University, they moved back home. It was in Kjipuktuk that they say they blossomed, and are thankful to the supportive community of friends that formed around them. Kassidy now lives happily at the foot of Apitusa’, the mountain that looks over the lake in We’koqma’q.

To learn more about Kassidy's favourite music, film recommendations and more, head over to our blog The Bridge on Saturday!

Credits

You can connect with Kassidy:

• Instagram: @kassidyraine
• Facebook: @kassidy.bernard.7

This episode is hosted by Cyn Sweeney (She/Her) and Isaac Cook (He/They).

Cyn is a cis, straight beyond binary educator and author focusing on 'beyond binary' inclusion and breaking heteronormative and cisnormative practices. As a storyteller and community writer Cynthia is inspired by peoples stories - and listening fully. In her late 20s she felt insulted to be described as a 'bull in china shop,' when it came to pushing barriers and cutting through red tape. More than two decades on, she realizes it's served as one of her best assets in role-modelling for her 3 children and family.

Born and raised in Nova Scotia, Isaac Cook is a transgender, non-binary, queer person with a passion for making change. With a degree in Linguistics and Criminology, Isaac has more than six years of communications, marketing and web development experience with a particular passion for STEM- focused and non-profit organizations. Outside of his work with Cyn at Simply Good Form Inc., Isaac enjoys cooking, travelling, astrology and hanging out with his dogs Aspen and Timber.

Produced and edited in-house.

Proudly sponsored by TD Bank Group.

MUSIC:

Hey, Cis! thanks musical artist Craymo for our intro/extro song: Be Myself

Written by: Craig Stephen Raymo/Brandon Jarrett/Joshua Daniel Hershfield (c) (p) 2015 Craymo Music, BMI/Moho Music, ASCAP

Website: http://www.Craymo.com