Have you ever felt like something was wrong, but you weren't quite sure how to name it?
Tyler Wilde is a teacher and bodysurfer from southern California. In 2017, Tyler won the prestigious International Surf Festival bodysurfing contest and was later voted into the Gillis Beach Bodysurfing Association as one of their youngest members.
As a physical education teacher, his goal is to help his students "feel more embodied."
Tyler went through a lengthy bout with depression and anxiety, and like many of us, he struggled to pinpoint the underlying causes. Getting back to the ocean helped - he says that "bodysurfing saved his life."
But it was supporting one of his students through their own reckoning with embodiment, and their gender transition, that helped Tyler to understand that he, too, was a trans person. He learned a new language that helped to unlock some of what he was feeling and helped him to finally envisage a healthy future for himself, as his true self.
Tyler's story is documented in the film Gender Outlaw (watch it here), which chronicles the role bodysurfing played in his gender transition.
He talked us through bodysurfing binaries, finding his community in an unexpected place, the joy of love, and bringing kindness and compassion to complex conversations.
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Tyler's recommended resources for gender inclusionary insights, support and education:
@translifeline is a peer support and crisis hotline for the trans community
@trevorproject is a suicide prevention hotline for the LGBTQ+ community
@pinkmantaray Schuyler is a wonderful resource for people who are trying to learn more about trans people and specifically trans athletes
@alokvmenon – love their educational work
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Listen with Lauren L. Hill & Dave Rastovich
Sound Engineer: Ben Alexander
Theme song: Shannon Sol Carroll
Additional music by Dave & Ben
Join the conversation: @Waterpeoplepodcast
