Willow errs on the side of grace - a podcast by Avery Smith

Join me and Willow Hovingh as she shares her experiences as a trans woman transitioning in her fifties. Coming out has brought Willow an abundance of blessings in her personal well-being, her work life and church life, and in her relationships with friends and family, including her trans son.

Talking points:

- Willow introduces herself -- a "late bloomer" who came out at 52 (0:00 - 3:20)

- Growing up unchurched (3:21 - 4:10)

- Joining a church, "searching for something" (4:11 - 4:59)

- The "lowest difficulty settings" in the game of life, but still different, "the weird kid" (5:00 - 9:30)

- Enrolling at Louisville Seminary, first inklings of being trans put on the shelf for 20 years (9:31 - 16:15)

- Willow's "sandpaper suit;" everything uncomfortable (16:16 - 17:20)

- "God bless estrogen" -- starting her transition and discovering gender euphoria! (17:21 - 18:49)

- Supported by her long-time church, rich in LGBT ministers (18:50 - 23:17)

- The power of a recognition of name-change rite (23:18 - 25:27)

- Erring on the side of grace (25:28 - 26:44)

- Gender and calling: what are the things that you can't not do? (26:45 - 28:45)

- Ready to come out: "I don't give a hoot"; medical experiences; coming out at work (28:46 - 32:36)

- "If you had told me then" - a happy woman (32:37 - 35:55)

- Justin Tanis' book and the idea of gender as calling; "I can't go back" (35:56 - 37:26)

- Coming out to her kid and her parents; enriched relationships (37:27 - 40:57)

- Willow's message for pastors: "Are you ready?" (40:58 - 42:31)

- Resistance through being visible (42:32 - 43:41)

- Parenting a trans person (43:42 - 44:37)

- It's okay to make mistakes (44:38 - 45:55)

- Focusing on blessings and gratitude (45:56 - 47:27)

- Willow and her son support each other (47:28 - 49:42)

- Free from that sandpaper suit (49:43 - 50:42)

- A message for the muggles (cis straight folks) (50:43 - 52:08)

Further episodes of Blessed Are the Binary Breakers

Further podcasts by Avery Smith

Website of Avery Smith