Have you ever been stuck in endless relationship-destroying debates with your kids about radical leftist social justice oriented (“woke”) politics, or even about their newfound transgender identities? Have you tried to present them with facts over and over again and instead of listening, they only get angry?
If you’ve answered “yes” to either of these questions, this video is for you.
In this episode, I share how my twelve years of transgender identification unraveled—not through my parents sending me studies and detransitioners’ stories, but through new (earth-shattering) experiences, exposure to compassionate dialogue, and learning how to think. I trace my story from living as a man in Israel (including wartime realities and culture shock) to the moment I began questioning everything.
In this episode, I will unpack the psychology of what makes persuasion difficult to do with facts alone, such as because of; identity protection, confirmation bias, cognitive dissonance— and why blasting teens with studies usually backfires. I explain what actually opens peoples’ minds: safety in the relationship, gradual exposure, shared-values framing, and real-world responsibilities. I also reflect on how Charlie Kirk’s respectful style created the safety I needed to begin to open my mind when the time was right.
In my next video, I will offer one practical debate-style thinking drill parents can use to teach their kids some critical thinking skills without making everything into a power struggle about gender.
To watch the full episode, please become a paid subscriber:
Highlights of the episode:
Why facts alone rarely persuade (and what to do instead)
How crisis and novel experiences can reset rigid beliefs
Using shared values, stories, and patience to lower defenses
Debate-inspired tools to teach teens how to think, not what to think (I’ll insert that video into this post when it’s finished)
Do you have a kid navigating gender confusion and trans identification?
If so, I offer parent coaching sessions to help you figure out how to best navigate your specific child’s situation, in a compassionate, practical and strategic way. If this is of interest, please DM me.
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