https://simplecast.com Embracing Elephants Let's hug all those elephants in the room, and actually talk about change, challenges, and all the absurd in between. 2024 en Thu, 18 Sep 2025 10:00:00 +0000 Sat, 2 May 2026 18:26:52 +0000 https://embracing-elephants.simplecast.com Embracing Elephants https://image.simplecastcdn.com/images/484fc099-0b41-4589-b069-494794097532/01df07e2-2ec6-4398-9d43-69b4a725be96/3000x3000/copy-20of-20pink-20neon-20green-20bold-20playful-20minimalist-20talk-20show-20podcast-20cover-20-1.jpg?aid=rss_feed https://embracing-elephants.simplecast.com episodic Let's hug all those elephants in the room, and actually talk about change, challenges, and all the absurd in between. Emme Kay Kennedy true https://feeds.simplecast.com/MQhYBBwJ change management, leadership, work, conversations, death, gender, gender transition, grief, mental health, pregnancy, shame, transitions, unexpected loss, abrupt change, careers Emme Kay Kennedy emme.kay.kennedy@gmail.com 9db5b68c-79f7-4fed-90d3-4b8467bdb437 If Gaining Myself Means Losing Everything Else I Think That's A Good Trade Fig Willow (they/them) of @moonthymearts sits down with Emme as her first transmasc non-binary guest with the experience of being on testosterone and having had top surgery! They talk all about neurodivergence, crip time, transness, the gender void, non-binary-ness, learning how to be okay with you and your body doing and needing the time it needs instead of what others ask of it. It's a sweet sensitive convo between two sweeties. 

To check out their Etsy shop, head over to: moonthymearts.etsy.com

Want to support Emme individually for her transition costs? Head to bit.ly/emmekay

Support the FULL PODCAST at https://www.patreon.com/c/EmmeKay

Special thanks to Timothy Bretschneider for composing and performing the music at the end of the show! check out shabby wings for more :-)

]]> Thu, 18 Sep 2025 10:00:00 +0000 emme.kay.kennedy@gmail.com (Fig Willow, Emme Kay) https://embracing-elephants.simplecast.com/episodes/if-gaining-myself-means-losing-everything-else-i-think-thats-a-good-trade-eEylWQb_ Fig Willow (they/them) of @moonthymearts sits down with Emme as her first transmasc non-binary guest with the experience of being on testosterone and having had top surgery! They talk all about neurodivergence, crip time, transness, the gender void, non-binary-ness, learning how to be okay with you and your body doing and needing the time it needs instead of what others ask of it. It's a sweet sensitive convo between two sweeties. 

To check out their Etsy shop, head over to: moonthymearts.etsy.com

Want to support Emme individually for her transition costs? Head to bit.ly/emmekay

Support the FULL PODCAST at https://www.patreon.com/c/EmmeKay

Special thanks to Timothy Bretschneider for composing and performing the music at the end of the show! check out shabby wings for more :-)

]]> If Gaining Myself Means Losing Everything Else I Think That's A Good Trade Fig Willow, Emme Kay 01:17:35 Fig Willow (they/them) of @moonthymearts sits down with Emme as her first transmasc non-binary guest with the experience of being on testosterone and having had top surgery! They talk all about neurodivergence, crip time, transness, learning how to be okay with you and your body doing and needing the time it needs instead of what others ask of it. It's a sweet sensitive convo between two sweeties. To check out their Etsy shop, head over to: moonthymearts.etsy.com Fig Willow (they/them) of @moonthymearts sits down with Emme as her first transmasc non-binary guest with the experience of being on testosterone and having had top surgery! They talk all about neurodivergence, crip time, transness, learning how to be okay with you and your body doing and needing the time it needs instead of what others ask of it. It's a sweet sensitive convo between two sweeties. To check out their Etsy shop, head over to: moonthymearts.etsy.com adoption, non-binary, trans non-binary, transition, autism, arts, queer, neurodivergence, gender void, testosterone, gender transition, trans masculinity true full 14 6ce099ac-e3af-4042-97b0-de208023c1c9 Holding Masculinity Accountable Means Holding Them Emme sits down by a wood stove (installed manly-ily by her guest) with Toby Fraser of the Masculinity Action Project. This anarcho-punk and your hostess with the mostess talk all about FEELINGS, testosterone & estrogen, how transfeminity and masculinity run parallel and then diverge, body dysmorphia vs gender dysphoria, and many other topics. Check out @map_philly to learn about more of the organizing work they do in gender justice, and grab some exclusive bonus comedy content referenced in MAP soon at patreon.com/emmekay!

Want to support Emme individually for her transition costs? Head to bit.ly/emmekay

Support the FULL PODCAST at https://www.patreon.com/c/EmmeKay

Special thanks to Timothy Bretschneider for composing and performing the music at the end of the show! check out shabby wings for more :-)

]]> Wed, 9 Jul 2025 09:00:00 +0000 emme.kay.kennedy@gmail.com (Toby Fraser, Emme Kay) https://embracing-elephants.simplecast.com/episodes/holding-masculinity-accountable-fDR7yt9e Emme sits down by a wood stove (installed manly-ily by her guest) with Toby Fraser of the Masculinity Action Project. This anarcho-punk and your hostess with the mostess talk all about FEELINGS, testosterone & estrogen, how transfeminity and masculinity run parallel and then diverge, body dysmorphia vs gender dysphoria, and many other topics. Check out @map_philly to learn about more of the organizing work they do in gender justice, and grab some exclusive bonus comedy content referenced in MAP soon at patreon.com/emmekay!

Want to support Emme individually for her transition costs? Head to bit.ly/emmekay

Support the FULL PODCAST at https://www.patreon.com/c/EmmeKay

Special thanks to Timothy Bretschneider for composing and performing the music at the end of the show! check out shabby wings for more :-)

]]> Holding Masculinity Accountable Means Holding Them Toby Fraser, Emme Kay 01:19:22 Emme sits down by a wood stove (installed manly-ily by her guest) with Toby Fraser of the Masculinity Action Project. This anarcho-punk and your hostess with the mostess talk all about FEELINGS, testosterone & estrogen, how transfeminity and masculinity run parallel and then diverge, body dysmorphia vs gender dysphoria, and many other topics. We may come up with a new word for transition. We talk about cis-ness and we talk about vulnerability. We talk about my comedy sets, which I sent him before we spoke. Check out @map_philly to learn about more of the organizing work they do in gender justice, and grab some exclusive bonus comedy content referenced in MAP soon at patreon.com/emmekay! Emme sits down by a wood stove (installed manly-ily by her guest) with Toby Fraser of the Masculinity Action Project. This anarcho-punk and your hostess with the mostess talk all about FEELINGS, testosterone & estrogen, how transfeminity and masculinity run parallel and then diverge, body dysmorphia vs gender dysphoria, and many other topics. We may come up with a new word for transition. We talk about cis-ness and we talk about vulnerability. We talk about my comedy sets, which I sent him before we spoke. Check out @map_philly to learn about more of the organizing work they do in gender justice, and grab some exclusive bonus comedy content referenced in MAP soon at patreon.com/emmekay! emotional intelligence, femininity, transition, transness, expression, gender, feelings, masculinity true full 13 669efa82-7f11-4e80-8de6-68bbdee0e9ec Why I Left the United States An Ask Me Anything for Emme after her move to Canada from the United States. She's a citizen of both, and sourced questions from her past guests (thanks Kate, Jes, and others!) and does her best to answer them! Questions like: What was your biggest fear about staying in the US, and what is your biggest hope about moving to Canada? Is there anything that might have made you want to stay in the US? Now that you’ve gone and you are “looking in” at the US’s actions (specifically Iran) - are you relieved that you left?

MORE questions & answers are available on the Patreon as our first exclusive pod -- check that out at Patreon.com/EmmeKay. She also posts written content, which ranges from poetry to essays about transness and paperwork. Still growing and changing, but new exclusive pod eps featuring groups of guests are in the works!

Want to support Emme individually for her transition costs? Head to bit.ly/emmekay

Support the FULL PODCAST at https://www.patreon.com/c/EmmeKay

Special thanks to Timothy Bretschneider for composing and performing the music at the end of the show! check out shabby wings for more :-)

]]> Mon, 30 Jun 2025 09:00:00 +0000 emme.kay.kennedy@gmail.com (Emme Kay) https://embracing-elephants.simplecast.com/episodes/why-i-left-the-united-states-OwPE5BUK An Ask Me Anything for Emme after her move to Canada from the United States. She's a citizen of both, and sourced questions from her past guests (thanks Kate, Jes, and others!) and does her best to answer them! Questions like: What was your biggest fear about staying in the US, and what is your biggest hope about moving to Canada? Is there anything that might have made you want to stay in the US? Now that you’ve gone and you are “looking in” at the US’s actions (specifically Iran) - are you relieved that you left?

MORE questions & answers are available on the Patreon as our first exclusive pod -- check that out at Patreon.com/EmmeKay. She also posts written content, which ranges from poetry to essays about transness and paperwork. Still growing and changing, but new exclusive pod eps featuring groups of guests are in the works!

Want to support Emme individually for her transition costs? Head to bit.ly/emmekay

Support the FULL PODCAST at https://www.patreon.com/c/EmmeKay

Special thanks to Timothy Bretschneider for composing and performing the music at the end of the show! check out shabby wings for more :-)

]]> Why I Left the United States Emme Kay 00:57:23 An Ask Me Anything for Emme after her move to Canada from the United States. She's a citizen of both, and sourced questions from her past guests (thanks Kate, Jes, and others!) and does her best to answer them! Questions like: What was your biggest fear about staying in the US, and what is your biggest hope about moving to Canada? Is there anything that might have made you want to stay in the US? Now that you’ve gone and you are “looking in” at the US’s actions (specifically Iran) - are you relieved that you left? MORE questions & answers are available on the Patreon as our first exclusive pod -- check that out at Patreon.com/EmmeKay. She also posts written content, which ranges from poetry to essays about transness and paperwork. Still growing and changing, but new exclusive pod eps featuring groups of guests are in the works! An Ask Me Anything for Emme after her move to Canada from the United States. She's a citizen of both, and sourced questions from her past guests (thanks Kate, Jes, and others!) and does her best to answer them! Questions like: What was your biggest fear about staying in the US, and what is your biggest hope about moving to Canada? Is there anything that might have made you want to stay in the US? Now that you’ve gone and you are “looking in” at the US’s actions (specifically Iran) - are you relieved that you left? MORE questions & answers are available on the Patreon as our first exclusive pod -- check that out at Patreon.com/EmmeKay. She also posts written content, which ranges from poetry to essays about transness and paperwork. Still growing and changing, but new exclusive pod eps featuring groups of guests are in the works! immigration, moving, canada, comedy, transition, immigrants, gender, us, usa true full 12 ebe0c80c-e47b-48b8-a206-91b5ca29aaa1 Swimming in Dick Pics And Then Everyone's Out of the Pool Emme sits down with Adrienne Gomez, 4th generation Latina and bisexual comedian who runs Sizzling Singles, a queer dating show running monthly right now at the famous Stonewall Inn! She chats with Emme about swimming in dick pics when she didn't love herself, but now that she does, it's like "everyone -- out of the pool!!" (her joke, fantastic). We talk all about being single, being unemployed/looking for work, and being queer -- and of course Emme goes on a few trans-related rants too. Come for the jokes to entertain you, stay for the jokes we use to cope! For tickets to Sizzling Singles, head here: https://partiful.com/e/ZapxANIIQdORD6zSraYJ

You can see Emme's stand-up on:

-- Monday, March 17th at Alix's partner's co-produced event Going Acoustic at Quig's, the bar above Plays & Players at 17th & Delancey in Philadelphia.

-- Wednesday, March 19th for Sizzling Singles at Stonewall Inn (yes, that Stonewall) on Christopher St in NYC

-- Saturday, March 22nd for Night of the Living DEI at Studio 34 in West Philly, benefitting the Masculinity Action Project

and finally back at Quig's on Sunday, March 23rd for Your Sunday's Best

Times are all roughly 7pm, but look it up to be sure!

Want to support Emme individually for her transition costs? Head to bit.ly/emmekay

Support the FULL PODCAST at https://www.patreon.com/c/EmmeKay

Special thanks to Timothy Bretschneider for composing and performing the music at the end of the show! check out shabby wings for more :-)

]]> Mon, 17 Mar 2025 09:00:00 +0000 emme.kay.kennedy@gmail.com (Adrienne Gomez, Emme Kay) https://embracing-elephants.simplecast.com/episodes/swimming-in-dick-pics-and-then-everyones-out-of-the-pool-_dn6obps Emme sits down with Adrienne Gomez, 4th generation Latina and bisexual comedian who runs Sizzling Singles, a queer dating show running monthly right now at the famous Stonewall Inn! She chats with Emme about swimming in dick pics when she didn't love herself, but now that she does, it's like "everyone -- out of the pool!!" (her joke, fantastic). We talk all about being single, being unemployed/looking for work, and being queer -- and of course Emme goes on a few trans-related rants too. Come for the jokes to entertain you, stay for the jokes we use to cope! For tickets to Sizzling Singles, head here: https://partiful.com/e/ZapxANIIQdORD6zSraYJ

You can see Emme's stand-up on:

-- Monday, March 17th at Alix's partner's co-produced event Going Acoustic at Quig's, the bar above Plays & Players at 17th & Delancey in Philadelphia.

-- Wednesday, March 19th for Sizzling Singles at Stonewall Inn (yes, that Stonewall) on Christopher St in NYC

-- Saturday, March 22nd for Night of the Living DEI at Studio 34 in West Philly, benefitting the Masculinity Action Project

and finally back at Quig's on Sunday, March 23rd for Your Sunday's Best

Times are all roughly 7pm, but look it up to be sure!

Want to support Emme individually for her transition costs? Head to bit.ly/emmekay

Support the FULL PODCAST at https://www.patreon.com/c/EmmeKay

Special thanks to Timothy Bretschneider for composing and performing the music at the end of the show! check out shabby wings for more :-)

]]> Swimming in Dick Pics And Then Everyone's Out of the Pool Adrienne Gomez, Emme Kay 01:26:38 Emme sits down with Adrienne Gomez, 4th generation Latina and bisexual comedian who runs Sizzling Singles, a queer dating show running monthly right now at the famous Stonewall Inn! She chats with Emme about swimming in dick pics when she didn't love herself, but now that she does, it's like "everyone -- out of the pool!!" (her joke, fantastic). We talk all about being single, being unemployed/looking for work, and being queer -- and of course Emme goes on a few trans-related rants too. Come for the jokes to entertain you, stay for the jokes we use to cope! For tickets to Sizzling Singles, head here: https://partiful.com/e/ZapxANIIQdORD6zSraYJ You can see Emme's stand-up on: -- Monday, March 17th at Alix's partner's co-produced event Going Acoustic at Quig's, the bar above Plays & Players at 17th & Delancey in Philadelphia. -- Wednesday, March 19th for Sizzling Singles at Stonewall Inn (yes, that Stonewall) on Christopher St in NYC -- Saturday, March 22nd for Night of the Living DEI at Studio 34 in West Philly, benefitting the Masculinity Action Project and finally back at Quig's on Sunday, March 23rd for Your Sunday's Best Times are all roughly 7pm, but look it up to be sure! Emme sits down with Adrienne Gomez, 4th generation Latina and bisexual comedian who runs Sizzling Singles, a queer dating show running monthly right now at the famous Stonewall Inn! She chats with Emme about swimming in dick pics when she didn't love herself, but now that she does, it's like "everyone -- out of the pool!!" (her joke, fantastic). We talk all about being single, being unemployed/looking for work, and being queer -- and of course Emme goes on a few trans-related rants too. Come for the jokes to entertain you, stay for the jokes we use to cope! For tickets to Sizzling Singles, head here: https://partiful.com/e/ZapxANIIQdORD6zSraYJ You can see Emme's stand-up on: -- Monday, March 17th at Alix's partner's co-produced event Going Acoustic at Quig's, the bar above Plays & Players at 17th & Delancey in Philadelphia. -- Wednesday, March 19th for Sizzling Singles at Stonewall Inn (yes, that Stonewall) on Christopher St in NYC -- Saturday, March 22nd for Night of the Living DEI at Studio 34 in West Philly, benefitting the Masculinity Action Project and finally back at Quig's on Sunday, March 23rd for Your Sunday's Best Times are all roughly 7pm, but look it up to be sure! bisexual, stand up, jokes, comedy, unemployed, love, single, selflove, lesbian, comedian, queerness, self, theatre, gay true full 11 e7f8b664-8413-44bf-bde9-97e84d9fd78e Manic Pixie Fat Jew Emme welcomes her artistic inspiration to start doing stand-up: the amazing dramaturgical, writerly, and loud annoying Jew Alix Rosenfeld (written incredibly tongue in cheek). She talks with Emme all about medical challenges, fat (GASP) and weight gain and food and culture, and losing friends over this moment in world history. Check out the Third Narrative podcast she mentions in the conversation at https://thirdnarrative.org/.

You can see Emme's stand-up on:

-- Monday, March 17th at Alix's partner's co-produced event Going Acoustic at Quig's, the bar above Plays & Players at 17th & Delancey in Philadelphia.

-- Wednesday, March 19th for Sizzling Singles at Stonewall Inn (yes, that Stonewall) on Christopher St in NYC

-- Saturday, March 22nd for Night of the Living DEI at Studio 34 in West Philly, benefitting the Masculinity Action Project

and finally back at Quig's on Sunday, March 23rd for Your Sunday's Best

Times are all roughly 7pm, but look it up to be sure!

Want to support Emme individually for her transition costs? Head to bit.ly/emmekay

Support the FULL PODCAST at https://www.patreon.com/c/EmmeKay

Special thanks to Timothy Bretschneider for composing and performing the music at the end of the show! check out shabby wings for more :-)

]]> Fri, 14 Mar 2025 13:21:55 +0000 emme.kay.kennedy@gmail.com (Alix Rosenfeld, Emme Kay) https://embracing-elephants.simplecast.com/episodes/manic-pixie-fat-jew-0xSmnUVf Emme welcomes her artistic inspiration to start doing stand-up: the amazing dramaturgical, writerly, and loud annoying Jew Alix Rosenfeld (written incredibly tongue in cheek). She talks with Emme all about medical challenges, fat (GASP) and weight gain and food and culture, and losing friends over this moment in world history. Check out the Third Narrative podcast she mentions in the conversation at https://thirdnarrative.org/.

You can see Emme's stand-up on:

-- Monday, March 17th at Alix's partner's co-produced event Going Acoustic at Quig's, the bar above Plays & Players at 17th & Delancey in Philadelphia.

-- Wednesday, March 19th for Sizzling Singles at Stonewall Inn (yes, that Stonewall) on Christopher St in NYC

-- Saturday, March 22nd for Night of the Living DEI at Studio 34 in West Philly, benefitting the Masculinity Action Project

and finally back at Quig's on Sunday, March 23rd for Your Sunday's Best

Times are all roughly 7pm, but look it up to be sure!

Want to support Emme individually for her transition costs? Head to bit.ly/emmekay

Support the FULL PODCAST at https://www.patreon.com/c/EmmeKay

Special thanks to Timothy Bretschneider for composing and performing the music at the end of the show! check out shabby wings for more :-)

]]> Manic Pixie Fat Jew Alix Rosenfeld, Emme Kay 01:28:29 Emme welcomes her artistic inspiration to start doing stand-up: the amazing dramaturgical, writerly, and loud annoying Jew Alix Rosenfeld (written incredibly tongue in cheek). She talks with Emme all about medical challenges, fat (GASP) and weight gain and food and culture, and losing friends over this moment in world history. Check out the Third Narrative podcast she mentions in the conversation at https://thirdnarrative.org/. You can see Emme's stand-up on: -- Monday, March 17th at Alix's partner's co-produced event Going Acoustic at Quig's, the bar above Plays & Players at 17th & Delancey in Philadelphia. -- Wednesday, March 19th for Sizzling Singles at Stonewall Inn (yes, that Stonewall) on Christopher St in NYC -- Saturday, March 22nd for Night of the Living DEI at Studio 34 in West Philly, benefitting the Masculinity Action Project and finally back at Quig's on Sunday, March 23rd for Your Sunday's Best Times are all roughly 7pm, but look it up to be sure! Emme welcomes her artistic inspiration to start doing stand-up: the amazing dramaturgical, writerly, and loud annoying Jew Alix Rosenfeld (written incredibly tongue in cheek). She talks with Emme all about medical challenges, fat (GASP) and weight gain and food and culture, and losing friends over this moment in world history. Check out the Third Narrative podcast she mentions in the conversation at https://thirdnarrative.org/. You can see Emme's stand-up on: -- Monday, March 17th at Alix's partner's co-produced event Going Acoustic at Quig's, the bar above Plays & Players at 17th & Delancey in Philadelphia. -- Wednesday, March 19th for Sizzling Singles at Stonewall Inn (yes, that Stonewall) on Christopher St in NYC -- Saturday, March 22nd for Night of the Living DEI at Studio 34 in West Philly, benefitting the Masculinity Action Project and finally back at Quig's on Sunday, March 23rd for Your Sunday's Best Times are all roughly 7pm, but look it up to be sure! marriage, weight, weight gain, body weight, lipidema, arts, wedding, judaism, fat, israel, palestine true full 10 b08f2c8d-e6c6-4690-9adb-902131e59d20 What Even Is Masculinity? Emme sits down with her first CISGENDERED MALE guest, Eric Wunsch, a stand-up guy who's dabbled in stand-up, had a career in theatre he left it for the physical world of farming -- which we get into the muddy transitional feelings of it all. Eric brings sensitivity, depth, curiosity, and enthusiasm to the question of "what even is masculinity?" and we sort of solve it. You know, by accepting it's the endlessly complex and uncertain thing all of this gender stuff is. Listen in.

Want to support Emme individually for her transition costs? Head to bit.ly/emmekay

Support the FULL PODCAST at https://www.patreon.com/c/EmmeKay

Special thanks to Timothy Bretschneider for composing and performing the music at the end of the show! check out shabby wings for more :-)

]]> Mon, 24 Feb 2025 01:11:01 +0000 emme.kay.kennedy@gmail.com (Eric Wunsch, Emme Kay) https://embracing-elephants.simplecast.com/episodes/what-even-is-masculinity-_EpzxTcr Emme sits down with her first CISGENDERED MALE guest, Eric Wunsch, a stand-up guy who's dabbled in stand-up, had a career in theatre he left it for the physical world of farming -- which we get into the muddy transitional feelings of it all. Eric brings sensitivity, depth, curiosity, and enthusiasm to the question of "what even is masculinity?" and we sort of solve it. You know, by accepting it's the endlessly complex and uncertain thing all of this gender stuff is. Listen in.

Want to support Emme individually for her transition costs? Head to bit.ly/emmekay

Support the FULL PODCAST at https://www.patreon.com/c/EmmeKay

Special thanks to Timothy Bretschneider for composing and performing the music at the end of the show! check out shabby wings for more :-)

]]> What Even Is Masculinity? Eric Wunsch, Emme Kay 01:43:40 Emme sits down with her first CISGENDERED MALE guest, Eric Wunsch, a stand-up guy who's dabbled in stand-up, had a career in theatre, and left it for the physical world of farming. Eric brings sensitivity, depth, curiosity, and enthusiasm to the question of "what even is masculinity?" and we sort of solve it. You know, by accepting it's the endlessly complex and uncertain thing all of this gender stuff is. Listen in. Emme sits down with her first CISGENDERED MALE guest, Eric Wunsch, a stand-up guy who's dabbled in stand-up, had a career in theatre, and left it for the physical world of farming. Eric brings sensitivity, depth, curiosity, and enthusiasm to the question of "what even is masculinity?" and we sort of solve it. You know, by accepting it's the endlessly complex and uncertain thing all of this gender stuff is. Listen in. work, male, farming, directing, transition, gender, theatre, acting, masculinity, gender transition, organic, manual labor, man true full 9 93aee2cf-51f8-403c-b1be-2371ed784804 Death Cramps: Cuz We've Never Really Studied the Female Body On Inauguration Day 2025, Emme sits down with old Museum Hack/Caveat/NYC theare compatriot, magnificent podcast producer, and dear friend Kate Helen Downey as Los Angeles continued to be on fire to talk about a DIFFERENT kind of pain and confusion, that of DEATH CRAMPS. Yes, an elephant in the room for MOST people with uteruses (and even some without) -- not only menstruation, but especially dysmenorrhea,  excruciating period cramps, and what causes it and where it comes from. Kate's new podcast CRAMPED is a limited series deep dive into researching and communicating about not only her mystery condition, but women's health and the medical system and why we can't figure out what's going on with SO MANY PEOPLE's experiences of intense pain. Find CRAMPED wherever you get your podcasts, it is well worth the listen and quite an inspiration for me too.

CRAMPED Spotify Link:  https://open.spotify.com/show/7qJQfpGTdzc25jiV4pi7ed?si=6de90c9139ba4d2f

Kate's website & link to Substack: https://www.katehelendowney.com/

 

Want to support Emme individually for her transition costs? Head to bit.ly/emmekay

Support the FULL PODCAST at https://www.patreon.com/c/EmmeKay

Special thanks to Timothy Bretschneider for composing and performing the music at the end of the show! check out shabby wings for more :-)

]]> Fri, 14 Feb 2025 18:43:57 +0000 emme.kay.kennedy@gmail.com (Kate Helen Downey, Emme Kay) https://embracing-elephants.simplecast.com/episodes/death-cramps-cuz-weve-never-really-studied-the-female-body-TKlAdHEI On Inauguration Day 2025, Emme sits down with old Museum Hack/Caveat/NYC theare compatriot, magnificent podcast producer, and dear friend Kate Helen Downey as Los Angeles continued to be on fire to talk about a DIFFERENT kind of pain and confusion, that of DEATH CRAMPS. Yes, an elephant in the room for MOST people with uteruses (and even some without) -- not only menstruation, but especially dysmenorrhea,  excruciating period cramps, and what causes it and where it comes from. Kate's new podcast CRAMPED is a limited series deep dive into researching and communicating about not only her mystery condition, but women's health and the medical system and why we can't figure out what's going on with SO MANY PEOPLE's experiences of intense pain. Find CRAMPED wherever you get your podcasts, it is well worth the listen and quite an inspiration for me too.

CRAMPED Spotify Link:  https://open.spotify.com/show/7qJQfpGTdzc25jiV4pi7ed?si=6de90c9139ba4d2f

Kate's website & link to Substack: https://www.katehelendowney.com/

 

Want to support Emme individually for her transition costs? Head to bit.ly/emmekay

Support the FULL PODCAST at https://www.patreon.com/c/EmmeKay

Special thanks to Timothy Bretschneider for composing and performing the music at the end of the show! check out shabby wings for more :-)

]]> Death Cramps: Cuz We've Never Really Studied the Female Body Kate Helen Downey, Emme Kay 01:18:09 On Inauguration Day 2025, Emme sat down with old Museum Hack/Caveat/NYC theatre compatriot, magnificent podcast producer, and dear friend Kate Helen Downey as Los Angeles continued to be on fire to talk about a DIFFERENT kind of pain and confusion, that of death cramps. Yes, an elephant in the room for MOST people with uteruses -- menstruation, and especially dysmenorrhea and what causes it and where it comes from. Kate's new podcast CRAMPED is a limited series deep dive into researching and communicating about not only her mystery condition, but women's health and the medical system and why we can't figure out what's going on with SO MANY PEOPLE's experiences of intense pain. Find CRAMPED wherever you get your podcasts, it is well worth the listen and quite an inspiration for me too. On Inauguration Day 2025, Emme sat down with old Museum Hack/Caveat/NYC theatre compatriot, magnificent podcast producer, and dear friend Kate Helen Downey as Los Angeles continued to be on fire to talk about a DIFFERENT kind of pain and confusion, that of death cramps. Yes, an elephant in the room for MOST people with uteruses -- menstruation, and especially dysmenorrhea and what causes it and where it comes from. Kate's new podcast CRAMPED is a limited series deep dive into researching and communicating about not only her mystery condition, but women's health and the medical system and why we can't figure out what's going on with SO MANY PEOPLE's experiences of intense pain. Find CRAMPED wherever you get your podcasts, it is well worth the listen and quite an inspiration for me too. pain, transition, menstruation, periods, pmdd, gender, cramps, hormones, doctors, health, women's health, medical system, endometriosis true full 8 2dc58152-8c06-4109-ac28-2ac96e4a5a2a A Romanian and Canadian Walk Into an American Clown School Right after the 2024 US Presidential Election, Emme chats with Raluca Urea, a dear clowning, acting, and directing friend of hers from their grad school days at the University of the Arts with Pig Iron School's MFA in Devised Performance. Emme and Raluca were perfect misfits and worked together a bunch, and felt isolated in various ways by their differences -- so they talk about working in the US under unique circumstances, the challenge of managing your emotions without grace or understanding, various comparisons between the US in 2002 and 2017 and Germany and Romania, what it's like to be an immigrant. We also discuss black forest cake which we really should've touched on more, tbh. Head to Stuttgart to see theatre and look Raluca up -- ralucaurea.com.

Want to support Emme individually for her transition costs? Head to bit.ly/emmekay

Support the FULL PODCAST at https://www.patreon.com/c/EmmeKay

Special thanks to Timothy Bretschneider for composing and performing the music at the end of the show! check out shabby wings for more :-)

]]> Fri, 7 Feb 2025 15:14:21 +0000 emme.kay.kennedy@gmail.com (Raluca Urea, Emme Kay) https://embracing-elephants.simplecast.com/episodes/a-romanian-and-a-canadian-walk-into-an-american-clown-school-BetwPJB6 Right after the 2024 US Presidential Election, Emme chats with Raluca Urea, a dear clowning, acting, and directing friend of hers from their grad school days at the University of the Arts with Pig Iron School's MFA in Devised Performance. Emme and Raluca were perfect misfits and worked together a bunch, and felt isolated in various ways by their differences -- so they talk about working in the US under unique circumstances, the challenge of managing your emotions without grace or understanding, various comparisons between the US in 2002 and 2017 and Germany and Romania, what it's like to be an immigrant. We also discuss black forest cake which we really should've touched on more, tbh. Head to Stuttgart to see theatre and look Raluca up -- ralucaurea.com.

Want to support Emme individually for her transition costs? Head to bit.ly/emmekay

Support the FULL PODCAST at https://www.patreon.com/c/EmmeKay

Special thanks to Timothy Bretschneider for composing and performing the music at the end of the show! check out shabby wings for more :-)

]]> A Romanian and Canadian Walk Into an American Clown School Raluca Urea, Emme Kay 01:44:26 Right after the 2024 US Presidential Election, Emme chats with Raluca Urea, a dear clowning, acting, and directing friend of hers from their grad school days at the University of the Arts with Pig Iron School's MFA in Devised Performance. Emme and Raluca were perfect misfits and worked together a bunch, and felt isolated in various ways by their differences -- so they talk about working in the US under unique circumstances, the challenge of managing your emotions without grace or understanding, various comparisons between the US in 2002 and 2017 and Germany and Romania, what it's like to be an immigrant. We also discuss black forest cake which we really should've touched on more, tbh. Head to Stuttgart to see theatre and look Raluca up -- ralucaurea.com. Right after the 2024 US Presidential Election, Emme chats with Raluca Urea, a dear clowning, acting, and directing friend of hers from their grad school days at the University of the Arts with Pig Iron School's MFA in Devised Performance. Emme and Raluca were perfect misfits and worked together a bunch, and felt isolated in various ways by their differences -- so they talk about working in the US under unique circumstances, the challenge of managing your emotions without grace or understanding, various comparisons between the US in 2002 and 2017 and Germany and Romania, what it's like to be an immigrant. We also discuss black forest cake which we really should've touched on more, tbh. Head to Stuttgart to see theatre and look Raluca up -- ralucaurea.com. clowning, art, work, romania, canada, germany, transition, visa, immigrants, gender, grad school, us, life changes, theatre, emotions true full 7 6d598543-a560-4bdb-ba14-51578c54f952 Sex, Death, and Rock Climbing - A Belaytionship This week's conversation partner is Chelsea from @explore.embody, an embodied intimacy coach and avid rock climber who helps people pleasers lean into selfishness as self love to free their mind and body. We also DO IT LIVE, for the first time, in the Embracing Elephants "studio," which is not a studio but it feels so right to fully embody speaking in the same space as we talk about vulnerable things, from sex and desire and hormones to celebrating our own birthdays with funerals to the potent metaphor rock climbing brings to living a truly embodied life. To follow and learn more about Chelsea's offerings, go to @explore.embody on Instagram, or check out her linktree: https://linktr.ee/nnettikk

Chelsea's Linktree for her services and workshops: https://linktr.ee/nnettikk

Performance Coaching for Shy People from me: https://www.echolocatedconsulting.com/

Want to support Emme individually for her transition costs? Head to bit.ly/emmekay

Support the FULL PODCAST at https://www.patreon.com/c/EmmeKay

Special thanks to Timothy Bretschneider for composing and performing the music at the end of the show! check out shabby wings for more :-)

]]> Fri, 24 Jan 2025 17:13:00 +0000 emme.kay.kennedy@gmail.com (Emme Kay, Chelsea Explore Embody) https://embracing-elephants.simplecast.com/episodes/sex-death-and-rock-climbing-a-belaytionship-lFdElU_n This week's conversation partner is Chelsea from @explore.embody, an embodied intimacy coach and avid rock climber who helps people pleasers lean into selfishness as self love to free their mind and body. We also DO IT LIVE, for the first time, in the Embracing Elephants "studio," which is not a studio but it feels so right to fully embody speaking in the same space as we talk about vulnerable things, from sex and desire and hormones to celebrating our own birthdays with funerals to the potent metaphor rock climbing brings to living a truly embodied life. To follow and learn more about Chelsea's offerings, go to @explore.embody on Instagram, or check out her linktree: https://linktr.ee/nnettikk

Chelsea's Linktree for her services and workshops: https://linktr.ee/nnettikk

Performance Coaching for Shy People from me: https://www.echolocatedconsulting.com/

Want to support Emme individually for her transition costs? Head to bit.ly/emmekay

Support the FULL PODCAST at https://www.patreon.com/c/EmmeKay

Special thanks to Timothy Bretschneider for composing and performing the music at the end of the show! check out shabby wings for more :-)

]]> Sex, Death, and Rock Climbing - A Belaytionship Emme Kay, Chelsea Explore Embody 01:47:48 This week's conversation partner is Chelsea from @explore.embody, an embodied intimacy coach and avid rock climber who helps people pleasers lean into selfishness as self love to free their mind and body. We also DO IT LIVE, for the first time, in the Embracing Elephants "studio," which is not a studio but it feels so right to fully embody speaking in the same space as we talk about vulnerable things, from sex and desire and hormones to celebrating our own birthdays with funerals to the potent metaphor rock climbing brings to living a truly embodied life. To follow and learn more about Chelsea's offerings, go to @explore.embody on Instagram, or check out her linktree: https://linktr.ee/nnettikk This week's conversation partner is Chelsea from @explore.embody, an embodied intimacy coach and avid rock climber who helps people pleasers lean into selfishness as self love to free their mind and body. We also DO IT LIVE, for the first time, in the Embracing Elephants "studio," which is not a studio but it feels so right to fully embody speaking in the same space as we talk about vulnerable things, from sex and desire and hormones to celebrating our own birthdays with funerals to the potent metaphor rock climbing brings to living a truly embodied life. To follow and learn more about Chelsea's offerings, go to @explore.embody on Instagram, or check out her linktree: https://linktr.ee/nnettikk rock climbing, embodiment, death, manifestation, wealth, love, transition, speaking up, desire, athleticism, sex, gender, money, intimacy, shame, embodied, coaching, shyness true full 6 72dac54f-5a91-4f65-8cd9-13ab68caef21 The Right People Can't Be Disappointed By You Being Yourself This week Emme has a beautifully wide-ranging and emotional conversation with Dia Lupo, writer of Broke But Moisturized, about all kinds of transitions, involving hitting milestones of loss, pregnancy, marriage, loneliness in grief, hormones, gender, and transition. She writes with a wry, deep voice on Substack about all things beauty, inner and out. Her writing about grief and loss struck up a follower to friendship, and Dia's story is fascinating as she also pulls out more of Emme's. Want to follow her and sign up for her Substack? Head to https://brokebutmoisturized.substack.com/.

Want to be coached by Emme on storytelling, presenting, leadership skills, collaboration & communication? Website under construction but it's here! https://echolocatedconsulting.com

Want to support Emme individually for her transition costs? Head to bit.ly/emmekay

Support the FULL PODCAST at https://www.patreon.com/c/EmmeKay

Special thanks to Timothy Bretschneider for composing and performing the music at the end of the show! check out shabby wings for more :-)

]]> Fri, 17 Jan 2025 10:00:00 +0000 emme.kay.kennedy@gmail.com (Dia Lupo, Emme Kay) https://embracing-elephants.simplecast.com/episodes/the-right-people-cant-be-disappointed-by-you-being-yourself-5MoeG3za This week Emme has a beautifully wide-ranging and emotional conversation with Dia Lupo, writer of Broke But Moisturized, about all kinds of transitions, involving hitting milestones of loss, pregnancy, marriage, loneliness in grief, hormones, gender, and transition. She writes with a wry, deep voice on Substack about all things beauty, inner and out. Her writing about grief and loss struck up a follower to friendship, and Dia's story is fascinating as she also pulls out more of Emme's. Want to follow her and sign up for her Substack? Head to https://brokebutmoisturized.substack.com/.

Want to be coached by Emme on storytelling, presenting, leadership skills, collaboration & communication? Website under construction but it's here! https://echolocatedconsulting.com

Want to support Emme individually for her transition costs? Head to bit.ly/emmekay

Support the FULL PODCAST at https://www.patreon.com/c/EmmeKay

Special thanks to Timothy Bretschneider for composing and performing the music at the end of the show! check out shabby wings for more :-)

]]> The Right People Can't Be Disappointed By You Being Yourself Dia Lupo, Emme Kay 01:39:46 This week Emme has a beautifully wide-ranging and emotional conversation with Dia Lupo, writer of Broke But Moisturized, about all kinds of transitions, involving her upbringing in a bar in a rural Appalachian town, hitting milestones of loss, drug use & sobriety, pregnancy, marriage, loneliness in grief, hormones, gender, and transition. She writes with a wry, deep voice on Substack about all things beauty, inner and out. Her writing about grief and loss struck up a follower to friendship, and Dia's story is fascinating as she also pulls out more of Emme's. Want to follow her and sign up for her Substack? Head to brokebutmoisturized dot substack dot com. Want to be coached by Emme on storytelling, presenting, leadership skills, collaboration & communication? Website under construction but it's here! echolocatedconsulting dot com This week Emme has a beautifully wide-ranging and emotional conversation with Dia Lupo, writer of Broke But Moisturized, about all kinds of transitions, involving her upbringing in a bar in a rural Appalachian town, hitting milestones of loss, drug use & sobriety, pregnancy, marriage, loneliness in grief, hormones, gender, and transition. She writes with a wry, deep voice on Substack about all things beauty, inner and out. Her writing about grief and loss struck up a follower to friendship, and Dia's story is fascinating as she also pulls out more of Emme's. Want to follow her and sign up for her Substack? Head to brokebutmoisturized dot substack dot com. Want to be coached by Emme on storytelling, presenting, leadership skills, collaboration & communication? Website under construction but it's here! echolocatedconsulting dot com marriage, loss, personal stories, pregnancy, moving, growth, grief, weddings, development true full 5 6e38f06a-b7cc-4afa-8f5a-4b58ecac15f6 Tending Your Mind Like a Wild Garden AuDHD coach and baker extraordinaire Jes Diverges chats with Emme about time, neurodivergence, coaching and work and study and capitalism, and then we get into a light convo about remembering we're going to die, and end with a discussion on the relationship with the self. So nbd. Just how we here at Embracing Elephants like it :-).

Jes Diverges' Website: https://jesdiverges.com/

Jes' Podcast: Unshaming AuDHD

Support folks rebuilding after the Los Angeles wild fires in Jan 2025: Cal Fund

 

Want to support Emme individually for her transition costs? Head to bit.ly/emmekay

Support the FULL PODCAST at https://www.patreon.com/c/EmmeKay

Special thanks to Timothy Bretschneider for composing and performing the music at the end of the show! check out shabby wings for more :-)

]]> Fri, 10 Jan 2025 20:52:19 +0000 emme.kay.kennedy@gmail.com (Jes Diverges, Emme Kay) https://embracing-elephants.simplecast.com/episodes/tending-a-mind-like-a-wild-garden-XaV58957 AuDHD coach and baker extraordinaire Jes Diverges chats with Emme about time, neurodivergence, coaching and work and study and capitalism, and then we get into a light convo about remembering we're going to die, and end with a discussion on the relationship with the self. So nbd. Just how we here at Embracing Elephants like it :-).

Jes Diverges' Website: https://jesdiverges.com/

Jes' Podcast: Unshaming AuDHD

Support folks rebuilding after the Los Angeles wild fires in Jan 2025: Cal Fund

 

Want to support Emme individually for her transition costs? Head to bit.ly/emmekay

Support the FULL PODCAST at https://www.patreon.com/c/EmmeKay

Special thanks to Timothy Bretschneider for composing and performing the music at the end of the show! check out shabby wings for more :-)

]]> Tending Your Mind Like a Wild Garden Jes Diverges, Emme Kay 01:15:48 AuDHD coach and baker extraordinaire Jes Diverges chats with Emme about time, neurodivergence, coaching and work and study and capitalism, and then we get into a light convo about remembering we're going to die, and end with a discussion on the relationship with the self. So nbd. Just how we here at Embracing Elephants like it :-). AuDHD coach and baker extraordinaire Jes Diverges chats with Emme about time, neurodivergence, coaching and work and study and capitalism, and then we get into a light convo about remembering we're going to die, and end with a discussion on the relationship with the self. So nbd. Just how we here at Embracing Elephants like it :-). death, career, deep conversations, unshaming, capitalism, autism, adhd, self, time, coaching, audhd true full 4 251f6d21-85e2-4f70-8f24-885d10ec93ea A Living Room Full of Portraits of Dead Cats Fri, 3 Jan 2025 11:00:00 +0000 emme.kay.kennedy@gmail.com (Bryce Weinert, Emme Kay) https://embracing-elephants.simplecast.com/episodes/a-living-room-full-of-portraits-of-dead-cats-19Ay78H2 A Living Room Full of Portraits of Dead Cats Bryce Weinert, Emme Kay 01:02:33 Embracing Elephants co-producer Bryce Weinert chats with Emme about her top 10 horrible things that've happened in her life, tells a story of absurdity in loss about her cats, and we wax poetical on showing up for people in grief. Want more Bryce? Head over to her pop culture podcast You're No Fun Anymore. https://yourenofun.com/ Embracing Elephants co-producer Bryce Weinert chats with Emme about her top 10 horrible things that've happened in her life, tells a story of absurdity in loss about her cats, and we wax poetical on showing up for people in grief. Want more Bryce? Head over to her pop culture podcast You're No Fun Anymore. https://yourenofun.com/ death, unexpected loss, grief, dreams, end of life planning, gender transition, medical trauma, cats, estrangement true full 3 35bd270b-6c7c-47a1-a31e-584de4111de1 Why Don't We Just Tell People What's Going On? Emme welcomes her first guest, Danelle, a long time mentor, friend, and former client, to discuss many elephants in the room from gender transitioning, to change management, to communication at work, to radical shifts (gender, death, war, grief) of all kinds, to NOT managing peoples’ emotions, and the power of transparency in letting people know what’s actually going on.

If you'd like to support Emme & the podcast, please go to bit.ly/emmekay to donate!

Note: First episode produced for a course at Thomas Jefferson University on Organizational Innovation, Creativity, and Change taught by Dr. Kathy Milhauser.

Want to support Emme individually for her transition costs? Head to bit.ly/emmekay

Support the FULL PODCAST at https://www.patreon.com/c/EmmeKay

Special thanks to Timothy Bretschneider for composing and performing the music at the end of the show! check out shabby wings for more :-)

]]> Thu, 2 Jan 2025 19:28:16 +0000 emme.kay.kennedy@gmail.com (Danelle DiLibero, Emme Kay) https://embracing-elephants.simplecast.com/episodes/why-dont-we-just-tell-people-whats-going-on-EFzDCuWf Emme welcomes her first guest, Danelle, a long time mentor, friend, and former client, to discuss many elephants in the room from gender transitioning, to change management, to communication at work, to radical shifts (gender, death, war, grief) of all kinds, to NOT managing peoples’ emotions, and the power of transparency in letting people know what’s actually going on.

If you'd like to support Emme & the podcast, please go to bit.ly/emmekay to donate!

Note: First episode produced for a course at Thomas Jefferson University on Organizational Innovation, Creativity, and Change taught by Dr. Kathy Milhauser.

Want to support Emme individually for her transition costs? Head to bit.ly/emmekay

Support the FULL PODCAST at https://www.patreon.com/c/EmmeKay

Special thanks to Timothy Bretschneider for composing and performing the music at the end of the show! check out shabby wings for more :-)

]]> Why Don't We Just Tell People What's Going On? Danelle DiLibero, Emme Kay 01:27:45 Emme welcomes her first guest, Danelle, a long time mentor, friend, and former client, to discuss many elephants in the room from gender transitioning, to change management, to communication at work, to radical shifts (gender, death, war, grief) of all kinds, to NOT managing peoples’ emotions, and the power of transparency in letting people know what’s actually going on. If you'd like to support Emme & the podcast, please go to bit.ly/emmekay to donate! Note: First episode produced for a course at Thomas Jefferson University on Organizational Innovation, Creativity, and Change taught by Dr. Kathy Milhauser. Emme welcomes her first guest, Danelle, a long time mentor, friend, and former client, to discuss many elephants in the room from gender transitioning, to change management, to communication at work, to radical shifts (gender, death, war, grief) of all kinds, to NOT managing peoples’ emotions, and the power of transparency in letting people know what’s actually going on. If you'd like to support Emme & the podcast, please go to bit.ly/emmekay to donate! Note: First episode produced for a course at Thomas Jefferson University on Organizational Innovation, Creativity, and Change taught by Dr. Kathy Milhauser. transitions, hr, communication, change management, gender transition true full 2 b88ec0bc-3971-448f-b7e8-40b2f676c78b Hi, I'm Emme I read a conversation I had with my dad over email, where he wrote me a bunch of questions after I came out as trans and had him read the Gender Dysphoria Bible. I read the answers to his questions and comment on them a bit, too. Support me and this project at bit.ly/emmekay

Gender Dysphoria Bible: https://genderdysphoria.fyi/en

Humble Step: https://open.spotify.com/show/1rqhrS08JW5JedgnybTiuB?si=7fa08ba968ac4a7c

GoFundMe to support Emme: bit.ly/emmekay

Want to support Emme individually for her transition costs? Head to bit.ly/emmekay

Support the FULL PODCAST at https://www.patreon.com/c/EmmeKay

Special thanks to Timothy Bretschneider for composing and performing the music at the end of the show! check out shabby wings for more :-)

]]> Thu, 2 Jan 2025 19:27:05 +0000 emme.kay.kennedy@gmail.com (Emme Kay Kennedy) https://embracing-elephants.simplecast.com/episodes/hi-im-emme-yNVqR7dH I read a conversation I had with my dad over email, where he wrote me a bunch of questions after I came out as trans and had him read the Gender Dysphoria Bible. I read the answers to his questions and comment on them a bit, too. Support me and this project at bit.ly/emmekay

Gender Dysphoria Bible: https://genderdysphoria.fyi/en

Humble Step: https://open.spotify.com/show/1rqhrS08JW5JedgnybTiuB?si=7fa08ba968ac4a7c

GoFundMe to support Emme: bit.ly/emmekay

Want to support Emme individually for her transition costs? Head to bit.ly/emmekay

Support the FULL PODCAST at https://www.patreon.com/c/EmmeKay

Special thanks to Timothy Bretschneider for composing and performing the music at the end of the show! check out shabby wings for more :-)

]]> Hi, I'm Emme Emme Kay Kennedy 00:58:14 Welcome to Embracing Elephants, a podcast all about stories of change and challenge and all the absurd inbetween! I'm your hostess with the mostess, Emme Kay, and I share about my life in this one so you know who the heck is interviewing all these people! I go over some of my top 5 Big Losses of my life, so you have some context, and then I read a conversation I had with my dad over email, where he wrote me a bunch of questions after I came out as trans and had him read the Gender Dysphoria Bible. I read the answers to his questions and comment on them a bit, too. Support me and this project at bit.ly/emmekay My other D&Desque actual play podcast is called Humble Step and you can catch it on Spotify and Apple by searching for the title! Welcome to Embracing Elephants, a podcast all about stories of change and challenge and all the absurd inbetween! I'm your hostess with the mostess, Emme Kay, and I share about my life in this one so you know who the heck is interviewing all these people! I go over some of my top 5 Big Losses of my life, so you have some context, and then I read a conversation I had with my dad over email, where he wrote me a bunch of questions after I came out as trans and had him read the Gender Dysphoria Bible. I read the answers to his questions and comment on them a bit, too. Support me and this project at bit.ly/emmekay My other D&Desque actual play podcast is called Humble Step and you can catch it on Spotify and Apple by searching for the title! true full 1