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Today’s episode will tackle the topic of hopelessness, which might seem like a strange thing to spend an hour talking about, especially for those of us who are doing justice work, who care deeply about our communities and about creating a different kind of world. We’re often told that hope is what keeps us going–hope for the future, hope for the next generation, hope that we’ve been here before and somehow we’ll find our way through this, too. When people talk about having hope for the future or trusting that things will eventually get better, sometimes that can fall flat for many of us. It might even feel like it lets us off the hook, because if we know everything will be okay, what exactly is being asked of us right now? Maybe letting go of the need to believe in a particular outcome, of embracing hopelessness, can actually free us to focus on what we can do, who we love, and what matters to us right now. Today’s In the Den discussion explores a different angle than some of us may have considered before, but hopefully this candid talk about hopelessness can give many of us a meaningful way forward when hope is hard to find.

Special Guest: The Reverend Darcy Baxter

Rev. Darcy Baxter is long-time reproductive justice activist, who currently serves as the parish minister at the Unitarian Universalist congregation in Modesto, CA. She is a member of the Center for American Progress' Faith and Reproductive Justice Leadership Institute and has just finished serving on the Leadership Board for the Abortion Conversation Project.

Special Guest: The Reverend Lucas Hergert

The Reverend Lucas Hergert became the Minister of North Shore Unitarian Church in 2017. He has been one of the organizers for the demonstrations around the Broadview detention facilities in Chicago, and also advocates for trans rights. In addition to serving as a minister, he teaches preaching at Meadville Lombard Theological School and is the author of Impassioned: A Guide to Progressive Preaching. His interests include yoga, Shakespeare plays, biking, liberation theologies, fantasy novels, interfaith work, and humor.

Links from the Show:

• Join Mama Dragons today
• Review paper on hope fatigue
• I Eat the Stars by Sarah Wilson
• Feeling Backward by Heather Love
• The Promise of Happiness by Sara Ahmed

Go deeper with Empowered Parent Learning - Mama Dragons’ on-demand library of video courses and webinars for parents of LGBTQ+ kids. Two tracks: Parenting Essentials and Parent Advocacy. Free for Mama Dragons members, a small one-time fee for everyone else. Includes Suicide Prevention Training and Parachute eLearning.

In the Den is made possible by generous donors like you. Help us continue to deliver quality content by becoming a donor today at www.mamadragons.org.

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Two of our podcast episodes have been named finalists for the 2026 Signal Awards, and today we’re re-airing one of those episodes. You can vote through October 15th here. We hope you’ll listen to this episode again, and consider sending it to a friend or two who would benefit from it. Sara is joined In the Den by two other moms of trans kids, Melissa and Sarah, and together the three moms will share with you what’s on their hearts–the fears, the doubts, the anger and the joys–in hopes to offer you all some solidarity and connection. Because we know that being the mom of trans or queer kids right now can be really hard, but none of us are alone in the journey.

Special Guest: Melissa

Melissa is the mother of two wonderfully brilliant teen daughters. A 16 yo cisgender and 14 yo trans kiddo, currently living in a red state where gender affirming care is banned. Melissa works in healthcare which can be both a blessing and a curse when navigating the systems needed to keep her kids thriving. When not navigating the healthcare system, you can find her roaming the hills behind her home with her two fur babies and finding joy within nature (preferably with a backpack on her back).

Special Guest: Sarah

Rev. Sarah (she/they) lives with her family in the Southwest where she enjoys hiking and sunsets when she’s not working. They live in a multi generational household with her mom and 16 old, her spouse and their dog and cat. Sarah has worked as an organizer, an educator and now as a minister where she does all three!

Links from the Show:

• Join Mama Dragons today

In the Den is made possible by generous donors like you. Help us continue to deliver quality content by becoming a donor today at www.mamadragons.org.

Support the show

Connect with Mama Dragons:
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Coming out can be scary and full of unknowns, but it can also be a time of celebration and curiosity. Today’s guest In the Den, PJ Brescia, created the nonprofit Baby Gay and has made it their mission to create a welcoming and warm environment for those who are just coming out of the closet and learning to embrace who they truly are. Mama Dragons is excited to be joining Baby Gay to help create welcome packages for newly out LGBTQ+ individuals. New In the Den co-host Shannon talks with PJ about their coming out story, the creation of Baby Gay, and the work that Mama Dragons will be doing with Baby Gay in the future.

Special Guest: PJ Brescia

PJ Brescia (they/them) is the founder & CEO of BabyGay™, a nonprofit and media platform dedicated to supporting LGBTQ+ individuals through the coming out journey via storytelling, advocacy, and togetherness. In partnership with The Black Cat, and the Los Angeles City Council, PJ helped champion the successful 2024 initiative establishing National Coming Out Day as an official day of recognition in the City of Los Angeles. PJ hosts The BabyGay™ Podcast, a 2026 Webby Awards Honoree for “Best New Podcast,” and was named to the 2025 Out100 for their work advancing queer visibility and community. PJ also serves as President of the LA Queer Coalition and as a board member of the LA chapter of NLGJA: The Association of LGBTQ+ Journalists.

Links from the Show:

• PJ on IG
• Baby Gay on IG
• Baby Gay Website
• Baby Gay on FB
• Baby Gay Podcast on Spotify
• Baby Gay on Youtube
• Get Involved with Baby Gay
• Join Mama Dragons today

Go deeper with Empowered Parent Learning - Mama Dragons’ on-demand library of video courses and webinars for parents of LGBTQ+ kids. Two tracks: Parenting Essentials and Parent Advocacy. Free for Mama Dragons members, a small one-time fee for everyone else. Includes Suicide Prevention Training and Parachute eLearning.

In the Den is made possible by generous donors like you. Help us continue to deliver quality content by becoming a donor today at www.mamadragons.org.

Support the show

Connect with Mama Dragons:
Website
Instagram
Facebook

Donate to this podcast