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.
The Last Self-Help Advice I Ever Needed
What would you pay to have a life with all your dreams unfulfilled?
My psychiatrist shook my hand as I left his office for the last time. Within two years of scoffing "people like [me] don't get off
Will My Magic Change as I Transition Gender? with Josephine McCarthy
Gender Identity Today - now in convenient podcast form!
In this episode, I have an enchanting conversation with Josephine McCarthy. Josephine is an esoteric author and the Director of Quareia, a free, online, magical
The Connection Between Gender and Sexuality: A Personal Journey
Identify Yourself - a live stream you can live with
Far from being two separate causes, marriage equality and access to gender-affirming care must both be protected from conservative rhetoric. But some in the LGBTQ
People have been mad about 'cisgender' since at least 2007
If someone wants a world where no one is marked as cis, they must simultaneously fight for a world where no one is marked as trans.
The word transsexual first appeared in the 1920s in German, then the 1940s in English. It was coined by male sexologists who weren't themselves trans.
Amethysta and the Child of Destiny
When doing the right thing is still wrong
And...there's a penis. I'm a baby boy!
The words rang in my ears. A boy?
That was wrong. Obviously wrong. One hundred percent erroneous,
Trauma is a Gift for Growth
Gender Identity Today - now in convenient podcast form!
In today's episode, I speak with Sara Webb, a Resilience Coach who specializes in breakup and meditation therapy. Sara and I talk about topics as
Trans Exiteration
I hear an -iteration with an ex- on it. I'm bad at moving forward. I'm a hanger-on to the past.
More than once, I've written my way through a narrow, thorny place.
I've narrated a life shift on the printed page. I continue to do
Can We Ever Abolish Gender?
Identify Yourself - a live stream you can live with
Many in the LGBTQ community propose abolishing gender entirely. Is this possible? Would it address the real problem, or is language the servant of society
Will I Lose My Self after Gender-Affirming Surgery?
Identify Yourself - a live stream you can live with
In media today, we hear plenty about gender. Gender is a social construct. Gender is derived from physical organs. Join Ami as she questions the
The Meaning Is in the Experience
Gender Identity Today - now in convenient podcast form!
In this episode, I speak with Andrea Leigh about saying "yes" to experiences. Andrea is a high-impact coach, fashionista, and Co-Host on Thriving Women Network
What Is a Woman?
Identify Yourself - a live stream you can live with
In media today, we hear plenty about gender. Gender is a social construct. Gender is derived from physical organs. Join Ami as she questions the
Finding My Femininity Only to Lose It
Humans must balance the masculine and feminine - or suffer the consequences
Who are we, really?
Is identity based in our job? Our clothes? Our hair? Is identity derived from our family's legacy - noble or otherwise?
How to Be an Ally during Pride Month and HRT before Surgery
Identify Yourself - a live stream you can live with
I asked you for questions, and you had a few! In this live stream...
- During Pride Month, @angelvii wonders how best to be an Ally
When Am I Qualified to Decide Who I Am?
Identify Yourself - a live stream you can live with
In this live stream, I address comments I got about being able to understand myself, my identity, and my gender. I then talk about how
07 June 2024 - Kink Will Bring Us Together
Gender Identity Today - now in convenient podcast form!
Today's episode features Jake Didinsky, a pansexual, nonbinary DJ and Producer. Jake is also co-founder of the inclusive night club event "Lights Out, Barks Out.
Within Madness Lies Power - 31 May 2024
Gender Identity Today - now in convenient podcast form!
In today's episode, I speak with Karen Anne Coccioli. Karen is a queer author and public speaker whose queer memoir "Paradise" is available on Amazon.
My False Step of Transgender Hope
I was never equipped to be an Alpha Male
The terrorist attacks of 11 September 2001 rocked United States society to its core. For the first time in recent US history, citizens felt unsafe
24 May 2024 - Changing the Narrative
Gender Identity Today - now in convenient podcast form!
Today's episode features the effervescent Cherish Amber! Cherish is a queer sex, love, and relationship coach who teaches we must know ourselves in order to
A Transgender Retrospective
A quarter-century of poor choices and exceptional support
I am scheduled to travel to Thailand in July for gender-affirming surgery, as I wrote in a previous post. Because I must wind down my
17 May 2024 - Doing What It Takes Because You Must
Gender Identity Today - now in convenient podcast form!
In today's episode, I speak with the incredible Jasmine Vine! If you've been living under a rock for the past decade, Jasmine is a trans