Episode 46, featuring Lisa Selin Davis

About this episode

Lisa Selin Davis discusses her work and insights on gender ideology and the complexities of identity.

Lisa Selin Davis is a woman who will need no introduction to most of you, but did you know she’s published two novels in addition to her two non-fiction books, Tomboy and Housewife ? Now you do! She’s also a critically-acclaimed essayist and journalist whose work has appeared in the New York Times, the Wall Street Journal, the Washington Post, Time, The Free Press, and many others. Lisa’s research and reporting on gender ideology have demonstrated what objective journalism looks like — or at least that’s my opinion; hers is that she’s “never been objective!” We discuss the weirdness of watching the simplest, most obvious facts be tortured into a bizarre and incoherent litmus test for belonging. Also, the surprising clarity and doggedness that might be the upside of social isolation. Lisa is a talented and driven chronicler of this fraught human drama we’re all struggling to bring to a close; and I’m delighted to have her here. Links: Lisa’s Substack, BROADview, and the post we discuss: A few of the many LSD essays that I wish were mine: What the Gender Issue Needs in 2026 (BROADview, 12/31/25) A Chance to Depoliticize Gender-Affirming Care (Washington Post OpEd 12/8/25)…

People in this episode

Host: Jenny Poyer Ackerman

Guest: Lisa Selin Davis

Topics covered

• gender ideology
• journalism
• social isolation
• identity
• human drama

Keywords

• gender
• journalism
• identity
• social isolation
• essays
• novels
• gender-affirming care

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Washington Post, Time, The Free Press

Books & works: Tomboy, Housewife, A few of the many LSD essays that I wish were mine: What the Gender Issue Needs in 2026, A Chance to Depoliticize Gender-Affirming Care, Gender-Affirming Care Is to Democrats as Gun Control Is to Republicans, Women Ruined Everything. Now It’s Men’s Turn to Ruin Everything.

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• Episode 48, featuring Amy Sousa · February 15, 2026 · 1h 36m
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• Episode 45, featuring Dr. Andrew Hartz · November 22, 2025 · 1h 4m
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