Trans 101: Trans Athletes & What the Science Actually Says

Trans 101: Trans Athletes & What the Science Actually Says

From Taboo Science by Ashley Hamer Pritchard

February 5, 2026 · 32 min · Season 5 · Episode 8

About this episode

This episode explores the complexities of research on trans athletes and the implications of state bans on their participation in sports.

How many studies does it take for something to be "settled science"? For trans athletes—who face state bans across the country, which recently reached the Supreme Court—there's hardly any research at all. In this episode, we're digging into what that research actually found, and it's way more complicated than the “fairness” advocates would have you believe. Dr. Blair Hamilton walks us through findings showing that trans people gain some advantages and lose others after transitioning. Champion triathlete Chris Mosier talks about what trans kids actually lose when they're banned from sports—and why the real threats to women's athletics have nothing to do with trans people. Whether you’re against trans athletes competing or you’re just trying to understand why politicians are obsessed with a few dozen athletes, this episode will uncover the nuance in the noise. 00:00:00 - Introduction: Where Support Falls Apart 00:01:20 - How Sports Became the Wedge Issue 00:04:08 - The "Settled Science" 00:10:24 - How Many Trans Athletes Actually Exist 00:13:23 - Can't Win by Losing, Can't Win by Winning 00:15:11 - Why Ban Chess and Darts? 00:16:35 - The Playbook of Using Women's Safety 00:18:00…

People in this episode

Host: Ashley Hamer Pritchard

Guests: Dr. Blair Hamilton, Chris Mosier

Topics covered

  • trans athletes
  • settled science
  • sports bans
  • fairness in athletics
  • trans rights
  • research on trans athletes

Keywords

  • trans athletes
  • settled science
  • sports bans
  • fairness
  • research
  • trans rights
  • athletics
  • Chris Mosier
  • Blair Hamilton

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Supreme Court

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