Welcome to The Purplepaw Blog, where we unpack the complexities of gender, identity, and what it truly means to be human—without the academic jargon (okay, maybe just a little, but only the fun kind).
Curated by Amethysta Herrick. Ph.D., this space is where science, philosophy, and lived experience collide to challenge assumptions and spark new perspectives. Whether you’re here to explore your own identity, stay informed on the latest research, or just enjoy a deep dive into the human experience, we deliver thoughtful, engaging, and refreshingly honest discussions. No fluff. No gatekeeping. Just real conversations about who we are and how we navigate the world. Dive in, stay curious, and let’s rethink identity together.
Attract Your Tribe by Being You with Leah Spasova
Gender Identity Today - now in convenient podcast form!
My guest this week is Leah Spasova, a psychologist, sex and relationships expert, and Founder of the website lifesexplicit.com, which provides resources for exploring
Body Modification and the Queer Community
Identify Yourself - a live stream you can live with
I recently got another nose piercing, which inspired me to talk about how body modification played a role in my Queer journey. But when I
Sex, Gender, and Magic
Our greatest change is born from the spaces between
Last week, I attended Paganicon 2025. As a gathering for Pagan practitioners and those seeking to explore their spiritual practice, Paganicon drew magical practitioners from
Love Your Life in Mind Maps with John Diggs
Gender Identity Today - now in convenient podcast form!
In today's episode, we hear John Diggs's story of distilling wisdom and personal insight using Mind Maps. John is a Mappineering Mentor, retired NFL and
Misgendering: Why Names and Pronouns Are Important
Identify Yourself - a live stream you can live with
Recent political attacks on personal pronouns and identity don't show a shift in United States ideology. They show only a lack of respect and understanding
Returning to Our Tribe After Gender Transition
I thought I finished transition, but my work has only begun
Previously, I discussed the dramatic psychological growth I experienced during gender transition, especially after gender-affirming surgery. All it took was acknowledging I am transgender and
Mermaids, Witches, and Fairies with Mhara Starling
Gender Identity Today - now in convenient podcast form!
In this episode is Mhara Starling's truly amazing magical journey of gender and self-acceptance. Mhara is a Welsh witch, spiritual leader, and author of the
Growing Up Transgender: Pain in Childhood Should Not Be Normal
Identify Yourself - a live stream you can live with
Growing up transgender means facing pain - possibly on a daily basis. Today, that's normal, but it should not be. Children must be encouraged to
Discovering Our Princess of Light through Hypnosis with Deane Benninghoven
Gender Identity Today - now in convenient podcast form!
Today's episode features Deane Benninghoven's stories of subconscious symbolism. Deane is a certified hypnotherapist and hypnosis instructor who helps everyday people overcome everyday problems. Deane
Sex, Gender, and Sexuality: The Ultimate Guide
Identify Yourself - a live stream you can live with
Conservative anti-LGBTQ rhetoric demands sex assigned at birth dictate gender and sexuality, but human behavior is more complicated. Our internal and external sense of Beauty
Distinguishing Gender by Utility to Humans
Moments to allow "cis" and "trans" into my vocabulary
Long before I posted video content on YouTube or TikTok, I wrote an article explaining my distaste for the words "trans" and "transgender." The former
When someone’s feminism doesn’t speak for you
A new book about anti-trans feminism
After reading (and writing about) Sophie Lewis’s article in the Fall 2024 issue of Lux Magazine, I got a hold, via NetGalley, of an
Escaping Tribal Outrage with David Beckemeyer
Gender Identity Today - now in convenient podcast form!
Today's episode features David Beckemeyer discussing tribal identity and the outrage it brings. David is a bridge-builder and host of the "Outrage Overload" podcast. David
Damming the River of Wisdom
The current of the Universe: swim or go extinct
Survival.
Since the first spark of life flickered tentatively on planet Earth, its history has been utterly of survival.
Some species adapted to changing conditions,
The Real Story of Hate Speech and the First Amendment
Identify Yourself - a live stream you can live with
Hate speech flows freely as the new administration settles into Washington, DC. But the claim that hate speech is necessarily protected by the First Amendment
Capturing Our Inner Story with Elizabeth Snyder
Gender Identity Today - now in convenient podcast form!
Today's episode features Elizabeth Snyder's honest humor. Liz is an author, women's portraiture artist, and confidence expert whose work focuses (little photography pun there) on
If Someone Says Your Identity Is False, Does That Change Your Identity?
Okay, the answer is clearly a resounding, "NO!" Even so, I will delve into this to see if we can elicit some useful observations about and responses to the attacks the Transgender community, and in fact everyone that doesn't fit the MAGA ideal of biologically real
Okay, the answer is clearly a resounding, "NO!" Even so, I will delve into this to see if we can elicit some useful observations about
Scientist Responds to Trump's "Gender Ideology" Executive Order
Identify Yourself - a live stream you can live with
Trump signed an Executive Order attempting to redefine both "sex" and "gender" - words owned by and defined by science. The result is a mess
Morons Playing at Monarchy
Donald Trump's lasting legacy of hate
This week, the United States watched the first convicted felon inaugurated as President of the United States. Every American should be in a fit of
Language, Our Story, and Identity
How the words we use change our lives
I love language, the way it evolves, the way it changes. I used to, and still do occasionally, peruse the dictionary, looking up the roots