42. Cancelled: Life After Social Death, with Sasha White
01/30/23 • 75 min
Many listeners in their 30’s and beyond fear losing their well-established careers, reputations, or livelihoods should they risk speaking out over controversial issues. But what’s it like for the odd 20-something heretic who dares to dissent from their peers straight out of college?
If anyone has “lived experience” of this, it’s Sasha. In 2020, she was fired from her first full time job. Her reputation in the publishing industry was instantly destroyed, stopped before it could start. This wasn’t for lack of talent or dedication, but because she tweeted her opinion that men cannot be women.
Sasha didn’t let that crumble her. Instead, she took it as an opportunity to recognize a missing need in society, and got to work creating the Plebity Free Speech Fund, a sort of “cancellation insurance” offering security to those who fear threats to their livelihoods.
In this conversation, Sasha and I explore what she’s learned over the past three years and why she still finds it worthwhile to take such risks. We demystify common projections we’ve both faced as public figures who’ve survived in a post-cancellation world. Plus, we examine: who gets to determine what constitutes “hate speech?” Is “free speech” really nothing more than a conservative dog-whistle? Why does censorship backfire? And what can we learn from the cautionary tales of tyrannies past?
In this episode, we mentioned Abigail Shrier’s book, Irreversible Damage. You can get that and support the show through this Amazon affiliate link or from my bookshop.
We also mentioned episode 13 with Jessie Mannisto, Brains & Bravery: Turning Breakdowns into Breakthroughs. You can watch that on YouTube here or find it on any audio platform of your choice here.
And we discussed Sasha’s investigations into the famous TikTok surgeon who “yeets the teets,” Dr. Gallagher. Read Sasha’s article on Gallagher here.
In our conversation, I also mentioned I was thinking of writing a book. This episode was recorded back in August 2022, before I decided to write the Dear Detransitioners series. Since then, I did begin writing that book, but then I got busy with Affirmation Generation, so the book is on hold. I do intend to return to it when things settle down.
Sasha White co-founded the Plebity Free Speech Fund after getting fired for her tweets in 2020. The Fund awards grants to those who have been severely/materially punished for their speech. She is a columnist at Tablet Magazine and writes on Substack at Notes from the Underground and at Sasha White. Her interviews on gender identity, free speech, and censorship can be found on her YouTube channel. You can follow her on Twitter @iamGrushenka.
To support this show, please leave a rating & review on Apple, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe, like, comment & share via my YouTube channel. Or recommend this to a friend!
Take $200 off your EightSleep Pod Pro Cover with code SOMETHERAPIST at EightSleep.com.
Take 20% off all superfood beverages with code SOMETHERAPIST at Organifi.
Check out my shop for book recommendations + wellness products.
Show notes & transcript provided with the help of SwellAI.
Special thanks to Joey Pecoraro for our theme song, “Half Awake,” used with gratitude and permission.
Watch NO WAY BACK: The Reality of Gender-Affirming Care (our medical ethics documentary, formerly known as Affirmation Generation). Stream the film...
Many listeners in their 30’s and beyond fear losing their well-established careers, reputations, or livelihoods should they risk speaking out over controversial issues. But what’s it like for the odd 20-something heretic who dares to dissent from their peers straight out of college?
If anyone has “lived experience” of this, it’s Sasha. In 2020, she was fired from her first full time job. Her reputation in the publishing industry was instantly destroyed, stopped before it could start. This wasn’t for lack of talent or dedication, but because she tweeted her opinion that men cannot be women.
Sasha didn’t let that crumble her. Instead, she took it as an opportunity to recognize a missing need in society, and got to work creating the Plebity Free Speech Fund, a sort of “cancellation insurance” offering security to those who fear threats to their livelihoods.
In this conversation, Sasha and I explore what she’s learned over the past three years and why she still finds it worthwhile to take such risks. We demystify common projections we’ve both faced as public figures who’ve survived in a post-cancellation world. Plus, we examine: who gets to determine what constitutes “hate speech?” Is “free speech” really nothing more than a conservative dog-whistle? Why does censorship backfire? And what can we learn from the cautionary tales of tyrannies past?
In this episode, we mentioned Abigail Shrier’s book, Irreversible Damage. You can get that and support the show through this Amazon affiliate link or from my bookshop.
We also mentioned episode 13 with Jessie Mannisto, Brains & Bravery: Turning Breakdowns into Breakthroughs. You can watch that on YouTube here or find it on any audio platform of your choice here.
And we discussed Sasha’s investigations into the famous TikTok surgeon who “yeets the teets,” Dr. Gallagher. Read Sasha’s article on Gallagher here.
In our conversation, I also mentioned I was thinking of writing a book. This episode was recorded back in August 2022, before I decided to write the Dear Detransitioners series. Since then, I did begin writing that book, but then I got busy with Affirmation Generation, so the book is on hold. I do intend to return to it when things settle down.
Sasha White co-founded the Plebity Free Speech Fund after getting fired for her tweets in 2020. The Fund awards grants to those who have been severely/materially punished for their speech. She is a columnist at Tablet Magazine and writes on Substack at Notes from the Underground and at Sasha White. Her interviews on gender identity, free speech, and censorship can be found on her YouTube channel. You can follow her on Twitter @iamGrushenka.
To support this show, please leave a rating & review on Apple, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe, like, comment & share via my YouTube channel. Or recommend this to a friend!
Take $200 off your EightSleep Pod Pro Cover with code SOMETHERAPIST at EightSleep.com.
Take 20% off all superfood beverages with code SOMETHERAPIST at Organifi.
Check out my shop for book recommendations + wellness products.
Show notes & transcript provided with the help of SwellAI.
Special thanks to Joey Pecoraro for our theme song, “Half Awake,” used with gratitude and permission.
Watch NO WAY BACK: The Reality of Gender-Affirming Care (our medical ethics documentary, formerly known as Affirmation Generation). Stream the film...
Previous Episode
41. Parental Rights with Alvin Lui from Courage is a Habit
Parents are the ultimate authority in their child's emotional and mental well-being. Sexuality and identity are delicate, personal matters fraught with social and cultural baggage, best discussed in the home. Yet increasingly, K-12 public schools are taking on the invasive role of indoctrinating children into belief systems that have major consequences for their health, sometimes triangulating children by keeping secrets from their parents and otherwise overstepping psychological boundaries. Alvin Lui helps parents find both the emotional strength, and the logistical strategies, to defend their children from indoctrination. In today’s episode, we discuss how the American School Counselor Association (ASCA) has been working against the public interest, and what concerned citizens can do about it.
Alvin Lui is a “political refugee” from California. He moved his family to the Midwest only to find the same ideologies that ruined his old home are now spreading across the country. He founded Courage is a Habit to create actionable education and strategies for the average parent, school board candidate, and legislator to take action in defending children from indoctrination in K-12.
The twitter account @CourageHabit has been suspended for speaking out about abusive behavior. Please encourage Twitter Support to bring back Courage is a Habit. In the meanwhile, you can find resources courageisahabit.org. You can also follow Courage is a Habit on Facebook and Instagram.
In this conversation, we mentioned Episode 3, How Jennifer Helped Her Daughter Desist, and Episode 8, Helena Kerschner: Peaking Trans.
To support this show, please leave a rating & review on Apple, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe, like, comment & share via my YouTube channel. Or recommend this to a friend!
Take $200 off your EightSleep Pod Pro Cover with code SOMETHERAPIST at EightSleep.com.
Take 20% off all superfood beverages with code SOMETHERAPIST at Organifi.
Check out my shop for book recommendations + wellness products.
Show notes & transcript provided with the help of SwellAI.
Special thanks to Joey Pecoraro for our theme song, “Half Awake,” used with gratitude and permission.
Watch NO WAY BACK: The Reality of Gender-Affirming Care (our medical ethics documentary, formerly known as Affirmation Generation). Stream the film or purchase a DVD. Use code SOMETHERAPIST to take 20% off your order. Follow us on X @2022affirmation or Instagram at @affirmationgeneration.
Have a question for me? Looking to go deeper and discuss these ideas with other listeners? Join my Locals community! Members get to ask questions I will respond to in exclusive, members-only livestreams, post questions for upcoming guests to answer, plus other perks TBD.
★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★Next Episode
43. Why Men Fear Women, with Avrum Weiss, PhD
Conflict in intimate relationships is a problem as old as time. While men are often perceived as the more privileged of the sexes, their lifespans are actually getting shorter. When it comes to intimate relationships, men often feel at a disadvantage. And male behavior that might come across to their female partners as angry, cold, or dismissive, is driven by fear more often than we might guess.
Joining us today is Dr. Avrum Weiss, psychotherapist and author of Hidden in Plain Sight: How Men’s Fears of Women Shape Their Intimate Relationships. Together, we explore: why is it important to understand men? What makes it hard to see male behavior in terms of fear and vulnerability? How do our perceptions and definitions of masculinity contribute to communication breakdowns? Dr. Weiss articulates men’s #1 complaint in relationships, their 7 fears of women, and his most tried-and-true psychotherapy interventions for rekindling intimacy.
Dr. Weiss is a psychotherapist, an award-winning author, and speaker. His decade-long work on understanding the internal lives of men culminated with his recently published bestseller “Hidden in Plain Sight: How Men’s Fears of Women Shape Their Intimate Relationships.” Dr. Weiss is a regular contributor to the Psychology Today website and offers workshops nationally about psychotherapy with men and helping men and women understand each other. He practices psychotherapy online from his home on an island in Midcoast Maine, specializing in psychotherapy groups for men and psychotherapy consultation. For more information, visit AvrumWeissPhD.com.
To support this show, please leave a rating & review on Apple, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe, like, comment & share via my YouTube channel. Or recommend this to a friend!
Take $200 off your EightSleep Pod Pro Cover with code SOMETHERAPIST at EightSleep.com.
Take 20% off all superfood beverages with code SOMETHERAPIST at Organifi.
Check out my shop for book recommendations + wellness products.
Show notes & transcript provided with the help of SwellAI.
Special thanks to Joey Pecoraro for our theme song, “Half Awake,” used with gratitude and permission.
Watch NO WAY BACK: The Reality of Gender-Affirming Care (our medical ethics documentary, formerly known as Affirmation Generation). Stream the film or purchase a DVD. Use code SOMETHERAPIST to take 20% off your order. Follow us on X @2022affirmation or Instagram at @affirmationgeneration.
Have a question for me? Looking to go deeper and discuss these ideas with other listeners? Join my Locals community! Members get to ask questions I will respond to in exclusive, members-only livestreams, post questions for upcoming guests to answer, plus other perks TBD.
★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★If you like this episode you’ll love
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