Suggested by: Sayftee Clinician
Haeden Peaslee, LMHC (They/Them)

I have spent quite some time browsing the art and poetry archives that have come from the Trans Day of Resilience art project for inspiration and images to share as part of the art based workshop for trans folks I ran over the summer. This project shares an amazing variety of art styles and emotions within the messages of trans strength and fighting for trans BIPOC liberation.

Founded with the Audre Lorde Project in 2014, the Trans Day of Resilience art project is an annual love offering to trans people of color everywhere. Led by Forward Together, its current name and spirit emerged from a 2015 call from New Orleans trans justice organization BreakOUT! to celebrate the resilience of our trans family.

Target audiences: The first 2 stories are appropriate for all ages, the third story is best for people 10+. This episode is great for parents, adults, young adults, and clinicians.
Content Warnings: brief mention of suicide during the third story

Reccomended by: Sayftee Clinician Michele Kaufman, LCSW (She/They)

This episode of This American Life explores how people relate to themselves and their sense of identity when major changes happen in their life that lead to a shifting sense of self. One of the stories in this episode follows a trans-masc singer and his journey of his singing voice changing as he takes testosterone. Another story in this episode explores one queer person’s journey with mental health, medications, and navigating her relationship.

Suggested by Helen Staab, LICSW (She/Her)

Sayftee clinician Helen Staab shares that singer song-writer Joy Oladokun’s music is tagged under a number of genres - pop, R&B, folk, rock… Her 2021 album In Defense of My Own Happiness is a reflection on joy and grief, written while in isolation in the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Recomended by: Sayftee Co-Director Nic Wildes, LMHC (they/them)

Listening to this conversation reminded me of the magic inherent in trans and nonbinary people, and the power of connecting in community.

Content Warning: Use of T and F slur

Suggested by: Sayftee Clinician Haeden Peaslee, LMHC (They/Them)

Sunny recently released the full version of Queer Enough, her debut stand up comedy special. Through her stand up comedy Sunny shares parts of her growing up, coming out, and transition. I appreciate the interwoven storyline of ways we might be “queer” without knowing as we grow up and the ways we surprise ourself as we figure out who we are.

Recommended by clinician Helen Staab, LICSW (she/hers)

Helen shares that "Molly Costello does amazing “cut paper illustrations” that touch upon themes of liberation, environmental justice, and community. I always find their work uplifting and inspiring as well as skillful and gorgeous - and prints and cards of their work are one of my go-to gifts for friends and families."

Check them out on instagram @mollyccostello and at https://www.mollycostello.com/

Reviewer: Helen Staab (she/her), LICSW at SAYFTEE

The Penumbra Podcast is hard to describe. Created by Boston locals, it stands out to me for having characters with an amazing breadth of gender presentations who are allowed to have stories that aren’t about their gender identity. Noir in space, forbidden romance between knights and monsters, there’s a lot here to love.

Reviewer: Helen Staab (she/her), LICSW at SAYFTEE

I learned about Lex Barberio’s work through their “Ambisextrous” exhibition, a project celebrating the fluidity of gender through different portraits of the same models with different gender presentations. Check out their work on their IG @lexbarerio and their website, lexbarberio.com.

Content Warning: Depending on the episode, folks do talk about suicide attempts, drug abuse, trauma, and other experiences.

Reviewer: Haeden Peaslee (they/them), LMHC at SAYFTEE

This is a podcast for those who like to hear other folks talking about their experiences with mental illness with a comedic undercurrent. Each episode of the podcast follows John Moe interviewing a comedian or entertainer about their experiences with mental health, often depression but expanding to other diagnoses.