Estradiol Illusions

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

Game of Thrones Season 8 Review

And now our watch has ended. Join host Ian Thomas Malone and Clint of Laws of Ice and Fire for a wrap up of Game of Thrones’ final season. We discuss our MVPs for the season, reflect on the journey that the series has taken us on, and surprisingly make no jokes about Ser Jorah. Thank you so much for following along with us this season. It’s been a blast.
You can find Clint at @clintw, @WesterosLaw & Laws of Ice & Fire
 
 

Game of Thrones Season 8 Recap (Episode 6)

The game might be over, but our analysis is just getting started. Join host Ian Thomas Malone and special guests Alexandra August, Michelle Jaworski, and Clint of Laws of Ice and Fire as we break down the very last episode of Game of Thrones. Sweetrobin is back and it looks like all of Lysa's overparenting has paid off. Will Sam face retribution for breaking his vows to the Night's Watch? Is there still a Night's Watch? All of that and more in our final Game of Thrones recap discussion.
 
You can find our guests at: 
Michelle - @michejaw & The Daily Dot
Alexandra - @alxaugust, Screen Rant & CBR
Clint - @clintw, @WesterosLaw & Laws of Ice & Fire

Game of Thrones Season 8 Recap (Episode 5)

The bells are ringing on a toasty day in King's Landing! Join host Ian Thomas Malone and special guests Sam Adolfo, Thomas Hankins, and Clint of Laws of Ice and Fire as we break down all the special (and sad) moments of episode five. Varys learns a powerful lesson about passing notes in class and Daenerys brings the heat in a delightful episode full of beautiful cinematography and a smiling Euron. All of that and a whole lot of laughter as we celebrate the penultimate episode of the series.
 
You can find our guests at:
Sam - @kinda_cool (Twitter) & @kindacoolsometimes (Instagram)
Thomas  - @thankin41 (Twitter) & @thankins41 (Instagram)
Clint - @clintw, @WesterosLaw & Laws of Ice & Fire

The State of Transgender Rights in the U.K.

Join host Ian Thomas Malone and special guest Dr. Adrian Harrop for a fascinating discussion on the state of transgender rights in the U.K. In this conversation covering a wide range of issues, Dr. Harrop shares his perspectives both as a medical doctor and as an ally to the transgender community. Topics in this discussion include the roadblocks presented to transgender people in access to health care, such as wait times and other institutional obstacles along the journey, the media’s approach to discussing transgender issues, and ways to advance transgender equality in the years to come.
You can find Dr. Harrop on Twitter @adrianharrop

The Panasonic 3DO

Join host Ian Thomas Malone and special guest Rachel Presser as we do a deep dive into one of the more obscure entries in the world of retro gaming consoles, The Panasonic 3DO. Hailed at the time for its state of the art graphics, even earning Time Magazine's "Product of the Year" award in 1993, the system struggled to compete in the crowded gaming market at the time. A hefty $700 price tag, along with technological advances made by Sony, Nintendo, and Sega quickly doomed the 3DO by 1996, leaving behind a complicated legacy
 
You can find Rachel on Twitter @nyhcmaven84 and at her website, sonictoad.com

Game of Thrones Season 8 Recap (Episode 4)

Dracarys! Join host Ian Thomas Malone and special guests Alexandra August, Thomas Hankins, and Clint of Laws of Ice and Fire as we break down all the events of episode four. With only two episodes left of Game of Thrones, will Jon have time to travel north to give Ghost his well-deserved pat? Will Bran forgive Daenerys for ordering Starbucks instead of supporting a local Winterfell coffee shop? All of that and more ahead in our exciting coverage.
 
You can find our guests at:
 
Alexandra - @alxaugust, Screen Rant & CBR
Thomas  - @thankin41 (Twitter) & @thankins41 (Instagram)
Clint - @clintw, @WesterosLaw & Laws of Ice & Fire