Estradiol Illusions

TTTE & Chill: Thomas Gets Tricked

New recap series here at Estradiol Illusions! Welcome to TTTE & Chill, where we’ll be taking a train ride to the Island of Sodor to cover Thomas the Tank Engine, one VHS tape at a time. Ian & Tara take on the very first release, Thomas Gets Tricked, breaking down each episode faster than the breakdown train! Get down with the chug life and have some fun with us in Henry’s Tunnel!
The episodes covered in this tape are:
Thomas Gets Tricked
Edward Helps Out
Come Out, Henry
Henry To The Rescue
A Big Day For Thomas
Trouble For Thomas
Thomas Saves The Day
 
Note: These recaps will feature the American dub narrated by Ringo Starr. If your VCR is a little dusty, fear not. The episodes can be found on many streaming platforms.
 
Photo credit: The Britt Allcroft Company

Gender Critical Ideology with Cosy Snarker

Ever wonder why a person decides to become gender critical? The logic behind TERF ideology often boggles the mind, but host Ian Thomas Malone sat down with Mumsnet poster Cosy Snarker for a look at what drives her hate. Ms. Snarker explains how she became involved with the movement to impede LGBTQ rights, putting aside her afternoon television schedule to spend some time swatting away efforts to reach across the aisle. Cosy may shock and horrify, but she provides plenty of insight into the anti-transgender movement.
 
Cosy refused to share any of her social media or contact information, but she did supply a photograph with the final of three bottles of Campari she required to conduct this interview. 
 
 
 

Talking Gravel 2020 with Adriel Hampton

No more wars! Join host Ian Thomas Malone and Adriel Hampton, senior advisor to the Mike Gravel 2020 campaign for a fascinating discussion of the state of the 2020 race. Senator Gravel's campaign has been lead by teenagers David Oks and Henry Williams, who recently pulled off the very impressive feat of amassing over 65,000 individual donors, one of two thresholds for qualification for the upcoming Democratic primary debates on July 30th & 31st. Ian and Adriel discuss the polling challenges which leave Senator Gravel's place on the stage up in the air, as well as the Senator's policy positions. Senator Gravel has been an iconic voice in progressive politics for decades and we look forward to following his exciting campaign.
You can learn more about Senator Gravel on his campaign website and on Twitter @MikeGravel
You can follow Adriel on Twitter @adrielhampton and on his website.
To support Adriel's political action committee advancing progressive values, check out The Lefty League and follow them on Twitter @theleftyleague
To find more of Ian, follow her on twitter @ianthomasmalone and check out her website ianthomasmalone.com

The State of Transgender Rights in New Zealand

Estradiol Illusions goes international again! Join host Ian Thomas Malone and special guest Caitlin Spice for a discussion on the evolution of transgender rights in New Zealand. Caitlin shares her insight as a trans woman, explaining the history of the fight for LGBTQ equality in her country. Topics include healthcare, the legislative process, and the role of "debate" in modern discourse. Caitlin brings a fascinating perspective to complex issues, shedding light on why New Zealand's political climate is far less toxic than the United States.
You can find Caitlin on Twitter at @CateSpice, as well as on the No Sleep Podcast, and on the Hallowdine Library subreddit.

Every Ride at Disneyland, Ranked (Part Three)

Disneyland knows how to give people a good time. You don’t earn the moniker, “the happiest place on earth” without doing at least a few things right. From the parades to the costumed characters to the delectable desserts, there’s so much to do in Disneyland, but one element of the park experience reigns supreme above all others: the rides.
There are many great rides at Disneyland. While it’s pretty hard to fit them all in a day, perhaps even harder was the effort to rank them all in a cohesive manner. This series is a companion to our complete ranking of every ride Disneyland has to offer, available on Ian's website. Join Ian & Tara for a full adventure through the happiest place on earth.
Part Three features the top ten! 

Every Ride at Disneyland, Ranked (Part Two)

Disneyland knows how to give people a good time. You don’t earn the moniker, “the happiest place on earth” without doing at least a few things right. From the parades to the costumed characters to the delectable desserts, there’s so much to do in Disneyland, but one element of the park experience reigns supreme above all others: the rides.
There are many great rides at Disneyland. While it’s pretty hard to fit them all in a day, perhaps even harder was the effort to rank them all in a cohesive manner. This series is a companion to our complete ranking of every ride Disneyland has to offer, available on Ian's website. Join Ian & Tara for a full adventure through the happiest place on earth.
Part Two features the rides ranked from twenty to eleven. 

Every Ride at Disneyland, Ranked (Part One)

Disneyland knows how to give people a good time. You don’t earn the moniker, “the happiest place on earth” without doing at least a few things right. From the parades to the costumed characters to the delectable desserts, there’s so much to do in Disneyland, but one element of the park experience reigns supreme above all others: the rides.
There are many great rides at Disneyland. While it’s pretty hard to fit them all in a day, perhaps even harder was the effort to rank them all in a cohesive manner. This series is a companion to our complete ranking of every ride Disneyland has to offer, available on Ian's website. Join Ian & Tara for a full adventure through the happiest place on earth.
Part One features the honorable mentions, dishonorable mentions, and the rides ranked from thirty-one to twenty. 

Revisiting Star Trek: Voyager's Threshold

First Star Trek episode of the podcast! Join host Ian Thomas Malone and special guest Alexandra August for an in-depth look at Threshold, one of the most polarizing episodes of Star Trek: Voyager. Does Threshold deserve the hate, or are the salamanders merely a lightning rod for some of the broader criticism levied at Trek's venture into the Delta Quadrant? Ian & Alexandra break down the episode while including plenty of references to broader series' lore. We can guarantee you won't look at the salamanders the same way again. Warp 10, here we come! 
You can follow Alexandra at @alxaugust, Screen Rant & CBR
To find more of Ian, follow her at @ianthomasmalone or check out her website ianthomasmalone.com

Transgender Storytime: Let's Talk About Feelings

Ever wonder what HRT feels like? Join host Ian Thomas Malone for a reflection on feelings, both pre-transition and after the needle full of estrogen went inside her tush. We all have feelings but we're not always so great at figuring them out. Ian does her best to work through the complexities of emotion while talking about the ways that transitioning has helped her gain a greater sense of understanding about herself.

Stannis Baratheon in the North

First Stannis episode of the show! Join host Ian Thomas Malone and special guest Jim McGeehin of Wars and Politics of Ice & Fire for an in-depth discussion on the One True King’s adventures in the North. From the moment he rescued the Night’s Watch from certain doom, Stannis plotted a different course in his campaign for the Throne, winning over supporters to his cause through his charming personality and desire to bring about change to a war-torn region. We take a look at Stannis’ victories at the Wall and Deepwood Motte and preview how the Battle of Ice may turn out in The Winds of Winter
 
You can follow Jim on Twitter @JM_SLAL, on Tumblr, and on his YouTube page

The Nintendo 64

Grab your controller! Join host Ian Thomas Malone and special guest Christian Montalvo for a retrospective on the Nintendo 64. The fifth generation of home consoles revolutionized gaming in so many ways, ushering in the 3D era with colorful graphics and larger than life gameplay. Ian and Christian discuss the ways the system made a lasting impression on them, which continues even to this day. From Moo Moo Farm to the Jolly Roger Bay all the way to the Shadow Temple, the N64 opened up so many doors for us to play in. Make sure Kazooie is all safe and secure in your backpack and come have some fun with us!
 
You can follow Christian on Twitter @ChipperMontalvo

Batman & Robin

Nipple suits forever! Join host Ian Thomas Malone and very special guest Tara Hattendorf for a Pride-themed episode celebrating the first gay superhero movie. Joel Schumacher's Batman & Robin may be regarded as one of the worst movies ever made, but there's so much to love in its absurd narrative. From the codpiece to the terrible Mr. Freeze puns intertwined with constant lovers' quarrels, Batman & Robin remains an endearing classic. 
 
 

A Conversation with Katelyn Burns

Join host Ian Thomas Malone and special guest Katelyn Burns for a wide ranging conversation on LGBTQ issues. Katelyn is the first openly transgender Capitol Hill reporter, covering the extensive scope of federal policy. Topics discussed include transgender representation in the media, the challenges of covering Congress, and the video game that’s currently got Katelyn’s attention. 
You can follow Katelyn on Twitter and on her Facebook page

Remembering Chuck Mosley

Join host Ian Thomas Malone and special guest Doug Esper for a conversation about the iconic Faith No More frontman Chuck Mosley. Doug has been Chuck’s bandmate, manager, and friend for over twenty years, spending much of 2016 & 2017 on the road as part of their “Reintroduce Yourself” tour. Topics include a retrospective of Chuck’s career, highlights from their time on tour, and the projects Doug has in the works to carry on Chuck’s memory.
You can follow all the latest Chuck news on his Facebook page, Doug’s page and his Twitter feed.

Transgender Storytime: Alcohol & Transitioning

First solo show since the beginning! Host Ian Thomas Malone brings her recurring column “Transgender Storytime” to the show, talking about her experiences with alcohol after transitioning. With booze interfering with HRT, the days of Cheers-level familiarity at the local watering holes have come to an end. Join Ian as she processes the ramifications on her social life with only Mary Jane as a consistent source of illicit recreational merriment.  

On the Subject of Gay Dumbledore

The sexuality of Albus Dumbledore has been a subject of great speculation in the Harry Potter fandom since 2007. J.K. Rowling revealed that Hogwarts’ headmaster was gay after the publication of the final book, though the character seems to have been whisked back into the closet in his next canonical appearance in last year’s Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindewald. What to make of this “not explicitly gay” mess? Join host Ian Thomas Malone and special guest Colin George-Babb as they discuss the complicated relationships that gay fans often have with problematic elements of fandoms.
You can follow Colin at gokaiburakku