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In our most recent episode, hosts Jor-El and Rachel talk about some of the most meaningful media they’ve experienced in their lives (+ some listener submissions!).  We hope that you enjoy this fun episode as we share some of our favorites and explore the utility of media in our lives, especially when times are tough.

Would you like to be a part of our podcast? If so, please feel free to reach out to us on Instagram and Twitter @vivawellnessnyc to submit your questions or topics you think we should cover. We greatly appreciate all your feedback.  Also, help others find us better and leave a rating and review on iTunes. Thanks for listening!

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This latest playlist will help you feel a bit more grounded and settled, which so many of us need these days! Between panic shopping, intense handwashing and social distancing, it’s been a LOT. I figured we could all use a bit of a break.

This playlist features binaural centered music so pop in your earbuds and allow yourself to drift away into deep relaxation. If you’d like to learn more about the science behind binaural beats check out this helpful post.

Enjoy the latest playlist below!

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• First trans man to make a men’s US national team
• 6 time team member of Team USA in triathlon and duathlon
• Has won two national championships in race walking
• First trans athlete to compete in the Olympic trials in the gender in which they identify

Rachel and Jor-El talk to Chris about living his personal motto “be who you needed when you were younger”, advocating for youth athletes and leaving a legacy as a trans athlete. This episode is definitely not one to be missed!  

We also learn more about Chris’ background in sports and who his favorite Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle is. This is a good one filled with heart, humor and purpose.

To learn more about Chris’ advocacy work you can keep up with him on Instagram @TheChrisMosier and transathlete.If you enjoy our podcast please send feedback to us @vivawellnessnyc, @rachelgersten and @jorelcaraballo on Twitter and Instagram. And please leave a rating and review on iTunes so that we can grow our podcast even further. Thanks for listening!

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While no one is meant to be happy 24/7 sometimes we do need a little bit of a boost. For me, personally, music has given that boost throughout my life. Instead of sharing another relaxation playlist with you I wanted to share a new ‘feeling good’ playlist with you.

This playlist offers up some songs with lyrics, moods or tones about just feeling good! It ranges decades and styles and is pretty much guaranteed to get you moving and feeling a bit better. I hope you enjoy it!

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But, why?

In recent years, the singular ‘they’ has re-emerged in everyday conversation. This is, in large part, due to its use among gender non-binary, gender non-conforming and trans people as personal gender pronouns (PGP).

If you’re not familiar, gender non-binary folks (also affectionately known as enbys) have started to use the singular they as it captures the fluidity of gender without leaving folks feeling locked in or trapped by (only) using inherently masculine or feminine pronouns. That being said, people conceptualize they differently and some folks use more than one set of personal pronouns (she and/or they for example).

The Backstory of ‘They’

There has, unfortunately, been some serious backlash against the singular use of they. Most of the time this stems the discomfort of using they in a “new” way. . If you’re not used to using they to refer to a single person then it can be uncomfortable. But, it’s actually more common than you think!

Up until recently, it seems, most people used the singular they to refer to someone of a unknown gender…someone who is unspecified or unknown to them. For example, and this happens a fair amount this time of year, if there is a misplaced set of gloves in a subway car most would say “Someone lost their gloves!” if they felt unsure of the person’s gender. In a office environment someone might yell, “Hey, someone left their leftovers rotting in the fridge. That’s gross!”

See, it’s not as weird as you might have initially thought.

Additionally, the use of the singular they is not new at all! It is thought that the term was used as far back as the 14th century. We also have published evidence of it dating back to the works of Shakespeare and Dickinson.

So, no. It’s not some new-fangled thing that people have made up as transgender and gender non-binary folks have become more ‘mainstream’. It’s been around for a minute. And even if it were made up and/or new, language changes all that time so what’s wrong with that?

But remember this is about PERSONAL pronouns

Ultimately, it’s important to honor people by using what pronouns they choose to use and identify with. Making assumptions is normal, but it’s always helpful to ask people for their personal pronouns. It’s one simple way to be inclusive and show kindness to everyone around you no matter how they look and what you assume about them (see what I did there?).

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We’re thankful for all of you who read the blog and support Viva Wellness.

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