If These Ovaries Could Talk

Queer therapist and “kid of queer parents” Ann Russo joins Jaimie to show what ordinary, extraordinary queer family looks like. Raised in the ’80s by a mom, dad, and dad’s partner under one roof—publicly “the roommate” for safety—Ann shares how chosen family (yes, Deadhead potlucks) and three parents taught compassion, and why bio vs. non-bio bonds never mattered. We get religious trauma 101: Ann’s fly-on-the-wall years inside a fundamentalist church as an out teen, what religious trauma is (and isn’t), and practical tools clients can use today—nervous-system grounding, boundary-setting, and how to vet an affirming therapist without having to educate them first. We also process headline grief (recorded right after a church shooting), talk about resisting bad-faith narratives, and lean into queer joy as a form of resilience. Ann’s forthcoming clinician guide on treating religious trauma (2026) ties it all together with steps for centering kids, community, and love when the world feels loud.