Season 3 of Intersectional Psychology focuses on trans and gender-diverse healthcare, rights, and resistance, with a particular emphasis on South Africa and the African continent. This episode challenges myths and centres lived experience, offering evidence-based insight and a clear-eyed look at the political realities shaping care and access today.

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00:00:00 Land acknowledgement 00:00:28 Title credits 00:01:09 Introduction to transgender health and rights 00:02:02 The actual access to gender-affirming health care (GAHC) 00:04:49 Affirmation is the first step 00:06:41 Non-medical gender-affirming practices 00:11:19 It goes all the way to the top! 00:14:40 What is hormone therapy in GAHC actually? 00:20:26 What is gender-affirming surgery actually? 00:22:31 Exporting "Eden": God, guns, and glossy pamphlets in Africa 00:30:11 Platforms of harm, laws of hope 00:33:12 The Gospel according to gaslight 00:41:01 Receipts, resistance, and raising hell 00:51:43 Don't feed the trolls, but don't starve yourself either 00:56:54 Love, families, and finding your people 01:00:11 End credits

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This Best Of Season 2 episode of Intersectional Psychology brings together key moments from a season focused on decolonising mental health practice.

Host Aurora Brown, Registered Counsellor, is joined by Shaheeda Sadeck and Neesha Chhiba, two Registered Counsellors working at the intersections of psychology, culture, spirituality, community care, and social justice. Together, they explore how colonial histories, apartheid, religion, racism, Islamophobia, homophobia, and global political violence continue to shape mental health — particularly in South Africa.

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00:00:00 Land acknowledgement 00:00:28 Title credits 00:01:23 Introduction to decolonising mental health 00:10:04 Decolonial practice with children 00:18:34 How social practice and multiculturalism enhance psychology 00:24:39 Trauma-informed child mental health care 00:30:38 Impact of Islamophobia on the mental health of Muslims in SA 00:35:58 Mental health of Queer Muslims in Cape Town 00:41:15 How parents can support their children's mental health 00:45:36 From SA to Palestine: Ongoing decolonial work 00:48:24 Power, freedom, and difference in mental health care 00:53:13 Trauma-informed self care 00:56:30 End credits

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What is intersectional psychology — and why does it matter so much for mental health today?

In this Best of Season 1 episode, Aurora Brown brings together key moments from all four episodes of Dissecting Intersectional Psychology, offering a rich and accessible introduction to intersectionality, social justice, and their ethical relevance to psychology and counselling practice.

This episode also grapples honestly with psychology’s history — including its complicity in systems like apartheid and eugenics — and asks what accountability, repair, and ethical practice require of us today. Along the way, Aurora reflects on coalition-building, civil disobedience, and how mental health professionals can engage in advocacy without abandoning care, nuance, or humility.

Whether you’re a psychology professional, student, activist, or someone navigating the mental health system yourself, this episode offers language, frameworks, and courage for thinking differently about care.

Aurora will be taking a short recording break over the festive season, but episodes will continue to drop — starting with this Season 1 retrospective.

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00:00:00 Land acknowledgement 00:00:28 Title credits 00:01:23 Welcome and introduction 00:03:33 Intersectionality in practice 00:12:47 Practical social justice advocacy in psychology 00:22:10 Psychology's historical missteps 00:34:24 Civil disobedience and systemic change 00:43:21 The empathetic, ethical, and empowered counsellor 00:53:12 End credits

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In this episode of Intersectional Psychology, we dive head-first into the colourful chaos of Disney Pixar’s Inside Out — a film that looks deceptively simple, but opens the door to some beautifully complex conversations about emotions, memory, identity development, neurodiversity, and what it means to be human.

I’m joined by two brilliant guests:

Marlize Labuschagne, Educational Psychologist, whose work is grounded in neurodiversity-affirming practice, brain-based models, and Internal Family Systems. | Website: ndhive.co.za | Facebook Page: Marlize Labuschagne, Educational Psychologist

Altay Turan, Clinical Neuropsychologist, who brings a sharp, playful, neuroscience-informed perspective to how the film represents emotions, memory, and the mind. | Website: maiapsychology.com | TikTok: @brainbownation

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00:00:00 Land acknowledgement 00:00:28 Title credits 00:01:13 Welcome 00:03:04 Introduction to Inside Out (2015): "What is going on inside their head?" 00:08:08 Recap of Inside Out (plus many, many tangents): "Take her to the moon for me." 00:35:25 Discussing Inside Out: "These Facts and Opinions look so similar." 00:42:59 Child development in Inside Out: "I like Tragic Vampire Romance Island." 00:54:40 Does Inside Out pass the Fanon Test? 01:20:27 Checking Out: "What's 'pub-er-ty'?" 01:21:50 End credits

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Benarous, X. & Munch, G. (2016). Inside children's emotions: commentary, on the last Pixar movie, Journal of Developmental & Behavioral Pediatrics, 37(6), 522 [online]. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1097/DBP.0000000000000312 Feldman Barrett, L. (2017). How Emotions Are Made. New York: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing. Panksepp, J. & Biven, L. (2010). The Archaeology of Mind. New York: W. W. Norton & Company. Schwartz, R.C. (1995). Internal Family Systems Therapy. New York: The Guilford Press. Schwartz, R.C. (2021). No Bad Parts. Boulder: Sounds True. Siegel, D.J. (2020). The Developing Mind. New York: The Guilford Press. Siegel, D.J. & Payne Bryson, T. (2011). The Whole-Brain Child. New York: Delacorte Press. Son, E. (2022). Visual, auditory, and psychological elements of the characters and images in the scenes of the animated gilm, Inside Out, Quarterly Review of Film and Video, 39(1), 225-240 [oline]. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1080/10509208.2021.1959815

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A 40-minute guided body scan to reduce stress, support emotional regulation, and support better sleep.

In this guided body scan meditation, we slow down, breathe, and explore the body with curiosity rather than criticism. Whether you’re new to mindfulness or a seasoned pro who just needs a reminder to unclench your jaw (again), this relaxation practice invites you to reconnect with your body in a gentle, grounded way.

Use this session to unwind after a long day, to reset between tasks, or to drift more easily into sleep. Consider it a small act of kindness to yourself — one that your future self might even thank you for.

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00:00:00 Land acknowledgement 00:00:28 Welcome 00:01:28 What is a body scan? 00:02:11 What are the benefits of a body scan? 00:03:44 Guided body scan 00:48:00 End credits

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Burnout isn’t a personal failure — it’s a signal. And if your signal is currently flashing, sirening, or doing that chaotic strobe-light thing… you’re in the right place.

In this month’s guided relaxation practice, we slow everything down and offer your nervous system exactly what it’s been begging for: rest, grounding, and a moment of personal care.

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00:00:00 Land acknowledgement 00:00:30 Welcome and intention 00:03:59 Grounding 00:06:32 Gentle body scan 00:18:04 The "shade" visualisation 00:26:53 Circles of influence and focus 00:31:07 Self-compassion 00:35:08 Micro-practice guidance 00:36:50 Silent reflection 00:39:13 Re-orientation and close 00:41:41 End credits

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Can we tell stories of violence without reproducing harm? Aurora sits down with Nicole Engelbrecht of True Crime South Africa to unpack the ethics — and emotional toll — of the true crime genre.

⚠ Content note: This episode includes discussion of violent crime, murder, and hate-motivated violence, including references to the 2003 Sizzlers massacre in Cape Town. While approached with care and respect, some descriptions and themes may be distressing. Please prioritise your wellbeing and listen at your own pace.

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Website: https://truecrimesouthafrica.com/

Socials: @truecrimesouthafrica

Nicole Engelbrecht (she/her) is the creator and host of True Crime South Africa — the country’s most popular true crime podcast — and the author of several books, including Sizzlers and Bare Bones. Her work has redefined the genre locally by placing victims, not perpetrators, at the centre of the story.

I asked Nicole, "If you could design a True Crime Ethics Code, what would be the first four rules?" She referred me to victim advocate Julie Murray's CARE acronym, summarised in this infographic and at the end of this podcast episode.

00:00:00 Land acknowledgement

00:00:25 Title credits

00:01:06 Content note

00:01:48 Announcement

00:02:08 Welcome and introduction

00:05:57 The storyteller behind the mic

00:18:10 Whose stories get told?

00:24:07 Sizzlers and the silencing of queer pain

00:38:58 Walking the ethical tightrope

00:53:31 The human cost on the storyteller

01:14:16 Audiences and responsibility

01:05:39 True crimer self care

01:08:49 A true crime pro reimagines the genre

01:16:42 End credits

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If you’re affected by the topics discussed in this episode, support is available:

• Lifeline South Africa: 0861 322 322
• SADAG (Suicide Crisis Line): 0800 567 567 / SMS 31393
• Triangle Project Helpline (LGBTQIA+): 021 712 6699
• SAPS Victim Support: 08600 10111
• In the UK: Samaritans — 116 123
• International listeners: Visit [findahelpline.com], which lists free and confidential helplines worldwide.

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I'm joined again by autistic, Afrikan, trans liberation scholar siv greyson about what it takes to live and love bravely at the intersections of race, gender, and neurodivergence.

This episode turns from theory to practice: what safety feels like, how chosen families are built, and why real allyship means doing it scared. Together, we unpack the emotional work of reconciliation, the courage of vulnerability, and the quiet revolution of creating safe spaces at home, in community, and within ourselves.

Instagram: @sivgreyson siv (they/them) is an autistic African and transgender liberation scholar, gender diversity and inclusion specialist, and co-researcher on a position paper for Gender DynamiX. They are currently completing a Master’s in Gender Studies at Nelson Mandela University.

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00:00:00 Land acknowledgement 00:00:30 Introduction — rethinking autism and gender diversity 00:02:07 Integrating multiply marginalised and compounded identities 00:07:16 Navigating public healthcare while autistic, Afrikan, queer, and trans+ 00:17:33 Finding social, emotional, and physical safety 00:22:08 Building reciprocal chosen family kinship 00:26:49 "Doing it scared": Practical steps for allies 00:32:48 End credits

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