Brianna Wu, the ‘Gamergate’ survivor and Democratic operative brought me onto her podcast, Dollcast, to have a wide-ranging conversation about my coverage of pediatric gender medicine; how difficult it is to thread the needle on this topic as a circumspect science reporter; and surviving the onslaught of anger and attacks over my work on social media.
In particular, Brianna asked me about what it was like when Media Matters’ Ari Drennen dragged me on X this past spring with a wildly dishonest post about me, and what it is about my personality that permits me to withstand that level of scrutiny.
Also featured in the conversation are Taftaj, Schyler Bogert and Kelly Cadigan. I was particularly glad to meet Kelly, because I had been quite shocked by a video she made that went viral this summer in which she said that all gay men would be better off transitioning. During our conversation, she explained what that video was about, and I saw how I had misjudged her.
You can also access this discussion via various podcast apps.
Here are some articles I reference during the conversation:
The Guardian, Nov. 21, 2024: "Revealed: trans rights case at US supreme court features doctors previously discredited by judges," by Sam Levin
My Substack, Nov. 19, 2024: "Leaked Audio of WPATH Conference Session: “Understanding the Nuances Within the Rainbow"
The New York Times, Nov. 22, 2024:"What Democrats Are Getting Wrong About Transgender Rights," by M. Gessen
New York Magazine, Feb. 7, 2016: "How the Fight Over Transgender Kids Got a Leading Sex Researcher [Ken Zucker] Fired," by
.The New York Post, Oct. 19, 2024: "Pain, confusion and compassion: How the US has reached a trans ‘tipping point’," by Benjamin Ryan
My Substack, Dec. 6, 2024: "Detransitioner Sues Johanna Olson-Kennedy, a Top Pediatric Gender Medicine Doctor, For Medical Negligence"
The New York Times Magazine, June 15, 2022: "The Battle Over Gender Therapy," by Emily Bazelon
Here’s a previous interview I did with Brianna:
Which also comes in a podcast version:
I am an independent journalist, specializing in science and health care coverage. I contribute to The New York Times, The Guardian, NBC Newsand The New York Sun. I have also written for the Washington Post, The Atlantic and The Nation. Follow me on Twitter: @benryanwriter and Bluesky: @benryanwriter.bsky.social. Visit my website: benryan.net
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