Big Mood, Little Mood with Daniel M. Lavery – Details, episodes & analysis

This week Jules sits down with Raquel Willis, an award-winning activist and journalist whose work is dedicated Black trans liberation. Raquel’s new memoir, The Risk It Takes to Bloom chronicles her political and personal awakenings as a Black trans woman growing up in the south. Jules and Raquel talk grief, gender, and collective liberation. 

Podcast production by Palace Shaw.

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On the final episode of Big Mood, Little Mood, Daniel M. Lavery reflects on more than eight years of offering advice on both this show, and Dear Prudence. As a parting gift, Lavery shares a piece that was influenced by many of the recurring conversations over his tenure titled: “Let Me Save You Some Time: A Field Guide To Avoiding Transition By Family Committee”

Although this show is ending, Lavery will still be a featured guest on Slate's Outward podcast, so please do like and subscribe right here.

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Danny Lavery welcomes back Carmen Rita Wong, the author of Why Didn't You Tell Me?: A Memoir. Wong has also written Never Too Real and Never Too Late, and she heads up Malecon Productions, a company focusing on women-led content. 

Lavery and Wong give advice to someone who wonders if there is hope to deradicalize their cousin who is sliding far-right. Another letter writer is considering not taking a job, as they are questioning her about wearing a mask.

Need advice? Send Danny a question here.

Email: mood@slate.com

If you enjoy this show, please consider signing up for Slate Plus. Slate Plus members get an ad-free experience across the network and exclusive content on many shows—you’ll also be supporting the work we do here on Big Mood, Little Mood. Sign up now at Slate.com/MoodPlus to help support our work

Production by Phil Surkis

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Danny Lavery welcomes Rabbi Danya Ruttenberg, author of the forthcoming book: On Repentance and Repair: Making Amends In An Unapologetic World.

Lavery and Ruttenberg tackle two letters. First, from someone wondering if she should let her fiancée know that she doesn’t like her friends. Another letter is contemplating returning to a religious cult after experiencing the outside world. Plus, a behind the scenes preview of Rabbi Ruttenberg’s forthcoming book, On Repentance and Repair: Making Amends In An Unapologetic World.

Slate Plus members get another episode of Big Mood, Little Mood every Friday: sign up now!

Need advice? Send Danny a question here.

Email: mood@slate.com

Production by Phil Surkis

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Danny Lavery welcomes Michael Gerber, the editor and publisher of The American Bystander, an all-star print humor quarterly. 

Lavery and Gerber take on two letters. First, from someone trying to stop her girlfriend’s mom from insulting her daughter as being “too butch”. Another letter writer is concerned about a one caring neighbor who has now turned creepy. Plus, Lavery asks Gerber about his favorite zines. 

Slate Plus members get another episode of Big Mood, Little Mood every Friday: sign up now!

Need advice? Send Danny a question here.

Email: mood@slate.com

Production by Phil Surkis

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Hey listeners! Here's another podcast from Slate you might like.

For three years, Stoya and Rich Juzwiak have been giving advice to Slate readers on all things sex—mismatched libidos, secret desires, (bad) sexting, surprising fetishes, and assorted other wild things. Now they're joining forces to answer their most jaw-dropping questions yet, sometimes with the help of special guests. Whatever you want to know about sex—truly, whatever—they'll tell you how to do it.

If you like this episode, subscribe to How To Do It wherever you listen to podcasts.

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Danny Lavery welcomes Kyle Lukoff, a pre-tipping point transsexual who used to be a school librarian but now writes children's books full-time.

Lavery and Lukoff tackle two two letters. First, from someone who’s close friend is shaming them for having a long distance relationship. Another letter writer is overwhelmed with the choices at a sperm bank. Plus, Lukoff talks about publishing his first board book. 

Slate Plus members get another episode of Big Mood, Little Mood every Friday: sign up now!

Need advice? Send Danny a question here.

Email: mood@slate.com

Production by Phil Surkis

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Danny Lavery welcomes Colette Arrand, a transsexual poet from Athens, Georgia. She is the author of the poetry collection Hold Me Gorilla Monsoon, and is the editor of FanFyte, the wrestling section of Fanbyte Media.

Lavery and Arrand take on two letters. First, from someone who can’t stop thinking about their partner’s dating history. Another letter writer identifies as a lesbian, but is getting push-back from her friends. Plus, Lavery asks Arrand about her lifelong passion for poetry and wrestling.

Slate Plus members get another episode of Big Mood, Little Mood every Friday: sign up now!

Need advice? Send Danny a question here.

Email: mood@slate.com

Production by Phil Surkis

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Danny Lavery welcomes Wendy Lee, an associate professor in the English Department at New York University. She studies and writes about the history of the novel and philosophies of emotions and is currently working on a new book called Jane Austen & the End of Life.

Lavery and Lee tackle two letters. First, from someone who wants to have a third child, despite her husband’s concern about passing along a rare genetic condition. Another letter writer is depressed about getting cut off by her close friend, and is wondering how much she can push for answers. Plus Lavery and Lee discuss Jane Austen and her devoted fans, or “Janeites”.

Slate Plus members get another episode of Big Mood, Little Mood every Friday: sign up now!

Need advice? Send Danny a question here.

Email: mood@slate.com

Production by Phil Surkis

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Danny Lavery welcomes Ali Vingiano is a filmmaker and actor, whose work includes writing and producing for the Emmy-winning series The Morning Show, and starring in her first feature film, The End Of Us.

Lavery and Vingiano take on two letters. First, from someone who is exhausted by people trying to guess why she is ill. Another letter writer is mortified that a neighbor has started angrily knocking on their door while they’re having sex. Plus, a deep dive into Vingiano’s first feature film, The End Of Us.

Slate Plus members get another episode of Big Mood, Little Mood every Friday: sign up now!

Give the gift of Plus to a fellow Slate fan and they’ll receive all the benefits of membership: unlimited reading, ad-free listening, bonus content, and so much more. Learn more here.

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Email: mood@slate.com

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