Digest

This episode of "This Is Actually Happening" is a live recording of an event featuring conversations with storytellers from the 82% series and members of the Modern Family Institute. The episode delves into the complexities of family structures, challenging traditional definitions and advocating for inclusivity. The episode begins with introductions from Lily Lamboy and Heath Shackinger, co-directors of the Modern Family Institute, who emphasize the organization's mission to redefine family based on function rather than form. They highlight the power of storytelling in advocating for policy changes and celebrating diverse family structures. Marlon Williams, a board member of the Modern Family Institute, shares his personal experience with family and the importance of community support, particularly for marginalized groups. He emphasizes the need for policy changes to recognize diverse family structures. Whitt Missaldine, the host of "This Is Actually Happening," invites the audience to reflect on their conditioning and expectations around love, relationships, and family, encouraging them to consider how they have broken free from those molds. The episode then features stories from David Jay, founder of asexuality.org, and Co-Creation, a sex educator and advocate for non-monogamous families. David Jay shares his personal experience of coming to terms with his asexuality and the challenges of navigating a society that prioritizes sexuality and romance. Co-Creation shares their experience growing up in a multi-generational polyamorous family and the challenges of navigating societal expectations and assumptions about non-monogamy. David and Co-Creation discuss the challenges they have faced in building their families, including navigating legal and societal barriers, and the importance of creating spaces for community and support. They also discuss the practicalities of co-parenting with more than two people, including the challenges and rewards, and the importance of creating spaces for conflict resolution. Heath Shackinger shares his personal journey of reconciling his faith with his sexuality and how his experiences led him to advocate for diverse family structures. Lily Lamboy shares her personal story of intergenerational trauma and the importance of breaking free from societal expectations and embracing the power of choice in building family. The episode concludes with a call to action, encouraging listeners to support Mofai, an organization working to combat discrimination based on family and relationship structure in the workplace. The speakers emphasize the transformative power of stories and the need for new narratives that celebrate diverse family structures and promote inclusivity.

Outlines

00:00:00

Introduction and Welcome

This episode is a live recording of "This Is Actually Happening" event, featuring conversations with storytellers from the 82% series and members of the Modern Family Institute. The episode delves into the complexities of family structures, challenging traditional definitions and advocating for inclusivity.

00:02:12

The Modern Family Institute: Redefining Family

Lily Lamboy, co-director of the Modern Family Institute, welcomes the audience to the event and introduces the organization's mission to redefine family based on function rather than form. Heath Shackinger, co-director of the Modern Family Institute, emphasizes the power of storytelling in advocating for policy changes and celebrating diverse family structures.

00:07:51

Personal Experiences and the Importance of Community

Marlon Williams, board member of the Modern Family Institute, shares his personal experience with family and the importance of community support, particularly for marginalized groups. He emphasizes the need for policy changes to recognize diverse family structures.

00:11:14

Challenging Conditioning and Expectations

Whitt Missaldine, host of "This Is Actually Happening," invites the audience to reflect on their conditioning and expectations around love, relationships, and family, encouraging them to consider how they have broken free from those molds.

00:16:58

Introducing David Jay and Co-Creation

Whitt introduces David Jay, founder of asexuality.org, and Co-Creation, a sex educator and advocate for non-monogamous families, who will share their stories and insights.

00:19:50

David Jay's Journey of Awakening

David Jay shares his personal experience of coming to terms with his asexuality and the challenges of navigating a society that prioritizes sexuality and romance.

00:35:08

Co-Creation's Multi-Generational Polyamorous Family

Co-Creation shares their experience growing up in a multi-generational polyamorous family and the challenges of navigating societal expectations and assumptions about non-monogamy.

00:50:26

Building Diverse Families: Challenges and Wins

David and Co-Creation discuss the challenges they have faced in building their families, including navigating legal and societal barriers, and the importance of creating spaces for community and support.

00:57:51

Heath Shackinger's Journey with Faith and Sexuality

Heath Shackinger shares his personal journey of reconciling his faith with his sexuality and how his experiences led him to advocate for diverse family structures.

01:03:32

The Power of Belonging and Intergenerational Trauma

Marlon Williams shares his experience with belonging and the importance of community support, particularly for marginalized groups. Lily Lamboy shares her personal story of intergenerational trauma and the importance of breaking free from societal expectations and embracing the power of choice in building family.

01:22:13

Improving Puberty Education for Diverse Families

David Jay, Co-Creation, and Marlon Williams discuss the need for more inclusive and comprehensive puberty education that acknowledges the diversity of sexual orientations, gender identities, and family structures.

01:27:38

The Reality of Multi-Parent Families

David Jay and Co-Creation discuss the practicalities of co-parenting with more than two people, including the challenges and rewards, and the importance of creating spaces for conflict resolution.

01:33:53

The Risks of Not Adapting to Evolving Family Structures

Heath Shackinger and Lily Lamboy discuss the potential risks of society failing to adapt to the evolving landscape of family and relationship structures, including increased loneliness, isolation, and social and political instability.

01:42:29

The Work of Woke People and the Power of Stories

The speaker defines the work of "woke" people as bridging the gap between the current world and the world they dream of. This involves acknowledging the pain and isolation of the current system while simultaneously creating and promoting alternative narratives that reflect a more inclusive and equitable reality. They emphasize the transformative power of stories, highlighting how they have shaped human history and continue to influence our understanding of the world. They advocate for creating new narratives that celebrate diverse family structures and promote inclusivity.

01:45:44

Call to Action: Supporting Mofai

The speaker encourages listeners to support Mofai, an organization working to combat discrimination based on family and relationship structure in the workplace. They highlight Mofai's initiatives, including legislative advocacy and toolkit development, and encourage listeners to get involved.

01:50:30

This is Actually Happening: Show Information

This is an advertisement for the podcast "This is Actually Happening." It provides information about the show, including how to subscribe, support the show, and connect with the community.

Keywords

Q&A

• What are some of the deepest challenges you have faced in having a non-traditional family structure?

  David Jay and Co-Creation discuss the challenges of navigating societal expectations and legal barriers, as well as the emotional toll of feeling marginalized and misunderstood.

• What are some practical examples of how multi-parent families function?

  David Jay and Co-Creation share their experiences with co-parenting, including the importance of clear communication, shared decision-making, and creating spaces for conflict resolution.

• What are the potential risks if society fails to adapt to the evolving landscape of family structures?

  Heath Shackinger and Lily Lamboy discuss the potential for increased loneliness, isolation, and social and political instability, as well as the erosion of individual rights and freedoms.

• What are some policy wins that have been achieved in supporting diverse family structures?

  Lily Lamboy and Heath Shackinger discuss the progress made in recognizing grandparents as caregivers in schools and the ongoing efforts to advocate for non-discrimination based on relationship structure.

• What can educators do to make puberty education more inclusive and supportive of diverse families?

  David Jay, Co-Creation, and Marlon Williams discuss the need for more comprehensive and accurate sex education that acknowledges the diversity of sexual orientations, gender identities, and family structures.

• What is the main goal of "woke" people according to the speaker?

  The speaker defines the work of "woke" people as bridging the gap between the current world and the world they dream of. This involves creating and promoting alternative narratives that reflect a more inclusive and equitable reality.

• How does Mofai work to combat discrimination in the workplace?

  Mofai advocates for inclusive policies, develops toolkits to help organizations create inclusive workplaces, and works with legislators to pass laws that protect individuals from discrimination based on family and relationship structure.

• Why are stories so important in creating change?

  Stories have the power to shape our understanding of the world and influence our beliefs and actions. By creating new narratives that celebrate diversity and challenge existing inequalities, we can work towards a more just and equitable society.

Show Notes