Reviews
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“So few people could cover this issue with the kind of sensitivity this journalist has!! I feel so lucky to have come across this!”
StewStuStew via Apple Podcasts ·
United States of America ·
10/29/24
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“Usually Tortoise is balanced. This show is drivel. Polly has an agenda the whole way through. It’s actually quite unbearable to listen to.”
Radiojunkie lk via Apple Podcasts ·
Australia ·
09/08/24
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“As a podcast this is well researched, carefully crafted , and delicately and empathetically presented. Excellent classic reporting: Informative and thought provoking. Sadly , given the subject matter and the very issues raised in the reporting , I don’t doubt this thoughtful piece will get...”Read full review »
Mag 101 via Apple Podcasts ·
Canada ·
08/27/24
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“Very balanced view. She asks all the right questions, even though she doesn’t always get answers. The fact that the clinic was shuttered proves those questions needed to be asked”
NoPain NoGain via Apple Podcasts ·
United States of America ·
08/15/24
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“I gave this 3 stars because there were some very interesting and moving commentary from young people affected by the clinic services and closure. The journalist seems biased from the start and overall it just isn’t reported very well and is a bit…dull.”
Jen24105 via Apple Podcasts ·
Great Britain ·
08/11/24
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“Tortoise should be ashamed of themselves for helping fuel hatred against trans people. I usually love their content, but this is making me wonder what their true morals are. How can you support bigotry like this but try and call out other forms…”
dusty oldbones via Apple Podcasts ·
United States of America ·
06/27/24
“Started at an interesting tone but went downhill, reaching disturbing levels of transphobia. The trans boy’s mother gave me the creeps. Also, what can I say about Freedman, comparing trans to anorexic, emos and goths. The presenter’s bias becomes prevalent despite her efforts to conceal it.”
Vasilis.Moschas via Apple Podcasts ·
Great Britain ·
04/12/24
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“A worthwhile listen which only the most rabid and disingenuous listener from either side of this complex topic could object to.”
Nicola Cherry via Apple Podcasts ·
Great Britain ·
02/02/24
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“I could sense where this journalist was going from the beginning. Her views were obvious. An honest look at trans youth/trans people and their services (or lack there of) should not been done by someone who has clear opinions for one side themselves. Terrible narrative by Polly.”
Emilybobs1 via Apple Podcasts ·
Great Britain ·
01/24/24
“I really loved Hoaxed and Dr. Anti-vax in their ability to look sympathetically at all parties involved while still resolutely committing to telling the facts and negative impacts of conspiracies targeting children and their caregivers. That rigor seems to be gone from this series, instead...”Read full review »
1.6180339887 via Apple Podcasts ·
United States of America ·
11/17/23
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“I give the host credit for attempting to be impartial. I agree that this topic needs to be discussed openly and I hate the culture wars surrounding this. However, despite what other reviewers here have said, I felt her bias definitely weighed heavily throughout the series. For instance, she says...”Read full review »
bored housekeeper via Apple Podcasts ·
United States of America ·
10/24/23
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“Balanced and compassionate”
Alice Roth via Apple Podcasts ·
Great Britain ·
10/21/23
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“A very well executed podcast on a very contentious topic. You can tell the host took a lot of time and effort to understand each perspective. Great journalism all around.”
lalalalalladybird via Apple Podcasts ·
Canada ·
10/17/23
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“Felt like the host spent a lot of time badgering doctors about how the science wasn’t there yet and zero time pushing back on the parents who had estranged their children by insisting that they were just going through a phase. The doctors obviously have far more experience than she does, and she...”Read full review »
Xbound24 via Apple Podcasts ·
United States of America ·
10/02/23
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“As a family doctor in Australia I really appreciated the research and amazing depth of this series.
I learned lots and think this is a well balanced account of a very difficult subject for doctors and all people involved in this area.”
NellyBlinky via Apple Podcasts ·
Australia ·
09/29/23
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“A balanced account that allows for wiggle room. Allows for nuance and imperfection, and notes that nothing is. Well researched and presented. Neutral but not non-emotional. If something is not the best thing, but better than the current thing, what is most ethical? Where does desire and...”Read full review »
Geumpyhistory via Apple Podcasts ·
United States of America ·
09/25/23
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“If only all podcasts treated their subject/s with this much respect & neutrality. This was educational & thought provoking. Thank you.”
OofiOofster via Apple Podcasts ·
United States of America ·
08/30/23
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“Loving tortoise media podcasts, this is up there as a favourite.”
Ameliapwc via Apple Podcasts ·
Australia ·
08/29/23
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“This podcast at best gives misinformation about transition for people u see the age of 18.
After learning that Julie Bindel works for Tortoise. Well I think I can what their motives are !!”
Navy_Girl69 via Apple Podcasts ·
Australia ·
08/05/23
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“So you now created a system where you legally give drugs on the topic you have spent debating about Trans Private Health Care disgusting Morally and ethically disgusting I don’t know how gender GP can sleep at night Other than Helen getting rich from this
The research into this is excellent
But...”Read full review »
lovealways# via Apple Podcasts ·
Great Britain ·
08/01/23
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“Engaging and assembled with a degree of competence however the casual transphobia of straight people is a bit horrifying. I'm not sure a straight cis woman is the appropriate person to be speculating on trans people in a media product like this because it is an existential matter for the...”Read full review »
Luc Devine via Apple Podcasts ·
Australia ·
07/21/23
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“The presenter’s own bias is prevalent throughout. Also offers a platform for some troubling views without much balance. Found it very uncomfortable and frustrating at times. Wanted more from this.”
Bethlx via Apple Podcasts ·
Great Britain ·
06/29/23
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“Typically there is a backlash to anyone who asks questions regarding the trans movement. Questions do need to be asked and voices given to the parents and those who have genuine concerns. Mermaids do not come across well at all. Social media has taken this issue to the heights of hatred on both...”Read full review »
law261 via Apple Podcasts ·
Great Britain ·
06/28/23
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“Some aspects of this podcast are very reported and balanced such as the judicial review into the Tavistock and the background and history. However, often we hear more from parents who clearly don’t believe their child is trans and give emotive arguments rather than arguments based in science or...”Read full review »
RonRonzo via Apple Podcasts ·
Ireland ·
06/21/23
“Addendum to my original review is that Helen Webberley (episode 7) is a fully manifested Quack. She describes prescribing hormones for her first patient as “something so small” having made a difference to this patient. Prescribing hormones is not small and that has led to her treating pre...”Read full review »
NatsPoddie via Apple Podcasts ·
Great Britain ·
06/20/23
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“I really valued this careful and in-depth podcast which tries to present the facts of what happened at the Tavistock, as well as giving space to a range of voices. There are some opinions that grated with me, but that suggests that this pod was indeed “balanced”. I felt the presenter allowed the...”Read full review »
PhilippaEast via Apple Podcasts ·
Great Britain ·
06/06/23
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“Blown away by the sensitivity and understanding around a very contentious subject. Don’t believe the reviews that say it’s bigoted or transphobic. Bravo Polly 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻”
jim1877£££ via Apple Podcasts ·
Great Britain ·
06/05/23
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“This podcast was very well done. I learned a lot and I liked the style of including all of the different sides. I have a lot of compassion for the youth that is impacted by the political S show that is infringing upon the human right to consent to treatment that is valid for them. I believe that...”Read full review »
storiented via Apple Podcasts ·
United States of America ·
05/27/23
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“Very interesting. There was maybe a bit of smugness behind pretending that there is a middle ground when it comes to transitioning children using medical interventions based on dodgy research.”
Cass21324 via Apple Podcasts ·
Australia ·
05/15/23
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“I had been hoping for a podcast with balance on this subject, but it’s mainly airspace for managers at the Tavistock to justify themselves in the face of service closure. The key figures who challenged the Tavistock are not interviewed, not is anyone who regrets transitioning. I’d have liked to...”Read full review »
Sadie Greg via Apple Podcasts ·
Great Britain ·
04/25/23
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“A sensitive and balanced pod, I don’t agree at all with the reviews it’s transphobic. But those reviews show the huge disparity of opinion in this highly sensitive matter. Anyway, a nice break from the echo chamber and good to hear a spectrum of experiences of the Tavistock”
farmercully via Apple Podcasts ·
Great Britain ·
04/18/23
“I admit that I only listened to the first 5 episodes and could not be bothered to listen to the final one, but I’m pretty sure I got the gist. Polly Curtis repeatedly presents conservative anti-trans talking points as a way to cover ‘both sides’ of this debate, when in fact there are not two...”Read full review »
em201255 via Apple Podcasts ·
Canada ·
04/12/23
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“I enjoyed this immensely.
Very well reported.”
TheRealMadfish via Apple Podcasts ·
Great Britain ·
03/30/23
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“I’m confused by the reviews that say this is biased and promoting transphobic views. The journalist gave lots of time and compassion to people who were pro transitioning/Tavistock - we have to hear from the other side too otherwise we discourage nuance and critical thinking. Like most people who...”Read full review »
PhotoNH via Apple Podcasts ·
Great Britain ·
03/27/23
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“Listened to this almost in one go. Gives you a balanced pictures of all sides. I don’t have an answere on what to do, and so does the podcast”
carlo___ via Apple Podcasts ·
Germany ·
03/26/23
“I just found this podcast, and after listening to the series am so impressed at how thoughtful and fair they are in tackling this notoriously difficult subject. The lead journalist deserves an award for striving so hard for impartiality. Episodes 5 and 6 in particular are very good. The podcast...”Read full review »
Santiago Ramon y Cajal via Apple Podcasts ·
Great Britain ·
03/23/23
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“Like a lot of the other reviews, I agree that the start point seems positive. A journalist seeking to educate herself on the subject, with a seemingly open mind. Overall, the perspective doesn’t seem to lean in any particular direction but is more about fact finding and pretty simplistic...”Read full review »
Bbycli via Apple Podcasts ·
Great Britain ·
03/22/23
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“Found this to be a really interesting topic - well presented and honest”
es.84 via Apple Podcasts ·
Australia ·
03/20/23
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“I listened to the entire podcast. I thought the host showed compassion and questioned in equal measure. If you’re particularly sided in this then maybe the podcast is not for you. However as someone wanting more information I got what I wanted. In fact at the end I haven’t found myself veering to...”Read full review »
Hampshire Harry via Apple Podcasts ·
Great Britain ·
03/16/23
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“There are some interesting moments, but Polly Curtis avoids a lot of important questions, such as why clinical experience is not considered to be evidence.
The podcast is also far from impartial, and that is particularly clear in the questions and space given to Hadley Freeman, and that while...”Read full review »
jfsbr79 via Apple Podcasts ·
Great Britain ·
03/15/23
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“Found this podcast very bias. Worse yet, in came in the guise of being impartial. And then went on to give more, and more of its airtime to bigoted people. That one mother of a trans son - holy crap! Really, really upsetting listening to the way she spoke about her child. I found it rather...”Read full review »
coral.nx via Apple Podcasts ·
Great Britain ·
03/12/23
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“Can’t believe I hadn’t heard of this podcast. I listened twice in 48 hours. Rich and balanced, delicately done, with excellent access. I’m a med student, once based at the Tavistock - this set the scene excellently! Very insightful .”
Hs17839 via Apple Podcasts ·
Great Britain ·
02/26/23
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“This podcast started off well until we get about half way and people who are clearly transphobic are interviewed with absolutely no questioning or challenging. The worst interview comes from a mother of a trans kid who essentially scoffs at the issue of suicide - appalling and I can not...”Read full review »
jsbdkfnd via Apple Podcasts ·
Great Britain ·
02/22/23
“I entered this podcast with all good intentions and an open mind about this being a balanced journalistic podcast on the issues presented. Unfortunately the journalist did not even bother to interview people who have immensely benefited by the Tavistock’s and Mermaids’ work however she had plenty...”Read full review »
Vasouli via Apple Podcasts ·
Great Britain ·
02/20/23
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“This podcast repeatedly decries the lack of data on the safety of gender affirming health care, whilst ignoring the abundant data around the rate of suicide amongst trans people. Parents interviewed repeatedly scoff at the idea that their child could die by suicide, and the podcast does nothing...”Read full review »
adam___rojo via Apple Podcasts ·
Great Britain ·
02/19/23
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“I loved hearing different people stories and experiences with the clinic but found the host seemed more critical of the people defending the clinic. Like she was trying to find “what is wrong “ with transgender people. The people she interviewed that had negative things to say about trans people...”Read full review »
janarosem via Apple Podcasts ·
Australia ·
02/09/23
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“When was it decided that we all had to buy into the narrative that we are assigned gender at birth? I am sick of this absolute madness- this is not anything other than a load of crap pushing this agenda.”
bezerus via Apple Podcasts ·
Great Britain ·
02/05/23
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