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In the Den this week is the incredible Brian Selznick—yep, the genius behind The Invention of Hugo Cabret, which became the beloved movie Hugo, directed by Martin Scorsese. He also wrote Wonderstruck, The Marvels, and so many other beautiful, genre-blending books that mix stunning illustrations with powerful storytelling. Brian isn’t just a wildly talented author and artist—he’s also part of the LGBTQ+ community, and he brings that perspective into his work in such thoughtful and creative ways. His stories often center around characters who are finding their place in the world, discovering who they are, and learning how to be fully themselves—all themes that really resonate with our mission here at Mama Dragons.

Special Guest: Brian Selznick

Brian Selznick is an award-winning author and illustrator, whose groundbreaking books have sold millions of copies and been translated into over 35 languages. He revolutionized storytelling with The Invention of Hugo Cabret, a #1 New York Times bestseller, which won the Caldecott Medal and was adapted into Martin Scorsese’s Oscar-winning film Hugo. His bestsellers Wonderstruck and The Marvels further cemented his reputation as one of publishing’s most imaginative storytellers. Selznick also illustrated the 20th anniversary covers of the Harry Potter series and collaborated with Steven Spielberg and Chris Meledandri on Big Tree. He lives in Brooklyn and La Jolla with his husband, Dr. David Serlin.

Links from the Show:

• Brian’s website: https://brianselznick.com/
• Find Brian’s book here: https://bookshop.org/beta-search?keywords=brian+selznick
• Join Mama Dragons here: www.mamadragons.org

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In our Mama Dragons community, we know how transformative it is to witness the joy and authenticity of LGBTQ+ young people, and today In the Den we get to introduce you to two people who are helping make that visibility possible on a national scale. Sara visits with Jen Grosshandler, founder of the groundbreaking organization GenderCool, and her incredible daughter Chazzie. GenderCool is a youth-led movement replacing misinformed opinions with powerful, positive experiences by elevating the voices of transgender and nonbinary young people who are thriving, talented, and simply being themselves.

Special Guest: Jen Grosshandler

Jen and her husband John are the parents of four kids: three sons and their youngest transgender daughter Chazzie, who is 19 and thriving. Born and raised in Georgia, Jen’s focused the last decade on having reasonable, calm conversations with friends and family who may not understand what it means to raise a transgender daughter. This work led Jen to help create The GenderCool Project, a national nonprofit helping folks evolve their opinions by simply meeting transgender kids and their

families. Jen has been featured in national media, including TODAY, Good Morning America, USA Today, Associated Press, New York Times and Forbes.

Special Guest: Chazzie Grosshandler

Chazzie Grosshandler is a 19 year old young woman singularly focused on living her life with purpose. She is the inspiration behind a global movement called The Gendercool Project, a non-profit organization helping to replace misinformed opinions with positive experiences meeting transgender & nonbinary young people who are thriving. Chazzie realizes that by telling her powerful, positive story, she helps people understand that transgender and nonbinary kids are just like all other kids.

At 11 years old, she shared her story nationally on TODAY and helped launch GenderCool to a global audience. She has spoken at corporations, conferences, black-tie galas, houses of worship and schools across the country and has been featured in national media including The New York Times, USA Today, ABC News, Hulu, NBC News, Adweek, and Teen Vogue among other outlets. She is a GLAAD 20 under 20, and has had the great honor of speaking at the White House and collaborating with the Biden administration around progressing equality for transgender and nonbinary young people.

Links from the Show:

• Find the GenderCool website here: https://gendercool.org/
• Join Mama Dragons here: www.mamadragons.org

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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As a lesbian, raised by a lesbian, and now the mother of a lesbian daughter, Angela Harvey brings a unique and deeply personal multigenerational perspective to the journey of LGBTQ+ identity and parenting. Her lived experience of navigating queerness within three generations of women has brought both the wisdom and compassion to speak to the challenges and joys of raising—and being—an LGBTQ+ child. Today In the Den, Sara talks with Angela about creating transformative spaces centered on healing, identity, and empowerment

Special Guest: Angela Harvey

Angela Harvey is a multifaceted speaker, author, poet, filmmaker, and advocate whose work centers on the intersections of personal growth, mental health, and LGBTQ+ empowerment. With over 25 years of experience, Angela's background as a social worker and facilitator informs her impactful approach to storytelling, which she weaves into everything from her debut poetry self-help book Poetic Alchemy to her award-winning documentary Black Rainbow Love. As the Director of Black Rainbow Love and the founder of Let’s TALK University, Angela is deeply committed to creating spaces that elevate the voices and experiences of marginalized communities, particularly the Black LGBTQ+ population. Through her writing, films, and workshops, Angela Harvey continues to transform narratives, empower others, and advocate for emotional healing, resilience, and authentic self-expression.

Links from the Show:

• Black Rainbow Love: https://filmfreeway.com/BlackRainbowLove500
• Find Angela’s books here: https://sites.google.com/view/poeticalchemy/home/?trk=public_post-text
• An article about Angela: https://www.voyageraleigh.com/interview/conversations-with-angela-harvey/
• Join Mama Dragons today: www.mamadragons.org

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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Donate to this podcast