We talk with Sruti Swaminathan, a staff attorney at the ACLU, about what it means to live with truth and fullness as a trans and non-binary person. Sruti shares the personal and political journey of becoming, from reclaiming their name and navigating top surgery to fighting for gender-affirming care in court. We explore what it’s like to litigate your own identity, how joy becomes a form of resistance, and the clarity that comes from swimming laps (a.k.a. meeting “Pool Sruti”).

Please consider donating to support trans rights through the ACLU.

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PS: Each episode of Giving In is a personal interview; the opinions or perspectives shared in this episode are solely those of the guest and do not necessarily reflect the views, policies, or positions of any organization, employer, or affiliated group.

Episode credits:

• Original music by Leslie Allison
• Sound editing by Erin Ozmat
• Logo and cover art by Kira Weiss, photography by Kendall Tichner
• Produced by Patty Carnevale and Erin Ozmat
• All rights reserved in podcast content and the Giving In™ trademark

We delve into the mysterious world of dreams with Kristen Oberly, an artist and dream analyst inspired by over a decade of studying Jungian psychology and the Enneagram. Kristen guides us through the creative power of dreams, exploring how they invite us to uncover hidden realms within ourselves and see past the limitations of our personalities. We discuss themes like working with dreams as a creative practice, instinctual anger, and the archetypes that emerge from the subconscious. Erin and Patty also share their recent dreams with Kristen, and she helps them unpack their hidden meanings and reach deeper insights.

Some linkable treats from the episode:

• The Big Hormone Enneagram Podcast which was started Kristen on her enneagram journey
• Women Who Run with the Wolves by Clarissa Pinkola Estés, a classic.
• Kristen’s website where you can contact her to learn more about her courses and work 1:1, and her podcast Sinsomnia

Subscribe to our newsletter with episode highlights and more at givingin.substack.com.

Have feedback? Leave us a rating or review on your podcast platform of choice, or email us at givingin@substack.com.

Episode credits:

• Original music by Leslie Allison
• Sound editing by Erin Ozmat
• Logo and cover art by Kira Weiss, photography by Kendall Tichner
• Produced by Patty Carnevale and Erin Ozmat
• All rights reserved in podcast content and the Giving In™ trademark

In this episode, we sit down with Lauren Ducrey, a French-American poet, speaker, and mindfulness facilitator, to explore her journey of leaving behind a full-time career in tech to devote her life to poetry and art. Lauren shares insights on belonging across cultures, the power of poetic leadership, and how listening is central to both art and life. We also enjoy an exclusive reading of her poem "When They Say Be Like Water" and discuss the simple invitations that come from trusting intuition.

Links and extras from this episode:

1. Lauren’s book Tongues Tied! Also, check out her website for her fantastic workshops, to reach out for speaking opportunities, and more.
2. Lauren’s French spoken poetry album Cordes Sensibles, with her soothing riffs and Hadrien Remy’s guitar accompaniment. It’s about finding freedom in adulthood, befriending the mind, coming back to the body’s intelligence, and being so completely curious about another human that you want to get under their skin.
3. Brooklyn Poets offers excellent and beginner-accessible in-person and online workshops and was an important playground and community for Lauren to begin her poetry journey in/with, and, funnily enough, for me too!
4. Erin and I learned about maladaptive vs. adaptive perfectionism for the first time from Lauren’s experience with Katherine Morgan Schafler’s book, The Perfectionist's Guide to Losing Control: A Path to Peace and Power.
5. Lauren’s favorite place to find new poems is the bite-sized podcast Poetry Unbound, an “immersive exploration of a single poem, hosted by Pádraig Ó Tuama.” Each episode is only 10 minutes long, and Lauren calls them a “shot of presence” that makes her cry 9/10 times.

Subscribe to our newsletter with episode highlights and more at givingin.substack.com.

Have feedback? Leave us a rating or review on your podcast platform of choice, or email us at givingin@substack.com.

Episode credits:

• Original music by Leslie Allison
• Sound editing by Erin Ozmat
• Logo and cover art by Kira Weiss, photography by Kendall Tichner
• Produced by Patty Carnevale and Erin Ozmat
• All rights reserved in podcast content and the Giving In™ trademark