Nonbinary 101: Beyond the Binary

Nonbinary 101: Beyond the Binary

From Taboo Science by Ashley Hamer Pritchard

November 13, 2025 · 35 min · Season 5 · Episode 4

About this episode

This episode explores the complexities of nonbinary identity and the societal challenges faced by nonbinary individuals.

What if the government declared you don't exist? In 2025, that's exactly what happened to nonbinary people—but they're not going anywhere. This episode breaks down what nonbinary actually means (hint: it's not "between man and woman"), why they/them pronouns are harder for our brains to process, and how some nonbinary people use hormones to craft their perfect gender recipe. With help from psychologist Dr. Em Matsuno and our sensitivity reader Newt Schottelkotte, we're exploring everything from microdosing testosterone to why misgendering is the default for nonbinary folks—along with the benefits to the journey of gender discovery. Whether you're nonbinary yourself, know someone who is, or are just trying to figure out how to not mess up someone's pronouns, this episode will help you understand what it means to make your own gender from scratch. More from Em Matsuno: Empowerment Lab website: https://empowermentlab.wordpress.com/ Empowerment Lab on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/empowerment_lab_asu More from Newt Schottelkotte: Website: https://newtschottelkotte.com/ See citations and a transcript here: https://www.tabooscience.show/nonbinary-101-beyond-the-binary/ Connect…

People in this episode

Host: Ashley Hamer Pritchard

Guests: Dr. Em Matsuno, Newt Schottelkotte

Topics covered

  • nonbinary identity
  • gender pronouns
  • gender discovery
  • hormone therapy
  • misgendering
  • social issues

Keywords

  • nonbinary
  • they/them pronouns
  • gender identity
  • hormones
  • misgendering
  • gender discovery
  • testosterone
  • gender recipe

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