Many eloquent voices on this confusing topic

I admire the courage of everyone involved in this project. If we could all have challenging conversations with this level of dignity and respect the world would be a better place.

The most honest podcast I’ve heard addressing this complicated situation. Hope there are many more seasons presenting more topics and debates. I also hope there are periodic updates to this particular topic.

Espouses the importance of questioning, listening, reflecting, information seeking, critical thinking, and sitting with diversity of opinion respectfully. Deeply affecting.

A beautiful, deep conversation about a very controversial subject. Thank you for doing the right thing on a path of exploring, understanding & accepting. Loved this series.

This podcast goes to show how wrong these groups(far right groups) were about the books of J.K. Rowling. The sad and true thing is; most of the people against the books had NEVER read the books! An excellent podcast to listen to.

I appreciate you doing this series to help those who seek to understand this issue, understand it better.

Rogers & team did an outstanding job w this series. Her interview style gave people room to explain and explore. It washed out some really good moments.

Megan Phelps Roper (host) is the perfect person to tackle this controversial story. I learned a lot and came away with respect and empathy for all sides. A great listen!

amazing powered thru in 24 hrs

This podcast was recommended to me from my daughter. It really opened my mind to different viewpoints. I found it very valuable for understanding the world we live in.

Wow!!!! Such an interesting podcast.

I enjoyed listening to it. The creator is very smart, asks important questions, makes interesting connections. Not one sided at all. You don’t leave thinking - she’s right or wrong.. it’s more complex and nuanced. It made me want to understand the issues better. 🙏🏽

Literally just say you think jk Rowling is the victim of a unjustified witch hunt if that’s what you think instead of lying that you are neutral lol

I THOUGHT this was going to be one-sided. The name of the podcast suggests that is will be. But at the end, I did not feel the same way I did at the beginning in my beliefs, and I did feel like I had a completely new understanding of how to view the discussion. “Listen to me” is not the same as “agree with me”- on either side of any discussion. But this podcast isn’t as much about the issue at hand as it is about HOW to talk about any given issue- and the true teacher here is Megan.

I liked a lot of things about this podcast. I liked that it demonstrated what a healthy discussion about a complicated topic can look like. The host gave the interviewees space to really unpack their ideas. The host herself also has an incredibly interesting sounding background that I wish I could hear more about. However, the series featured Rowling WAY too much and did not adequately challenge her. The trans voices featured made some exceptionally good points and were the strongest part of the podcast for me, but they never got to interact directly with Rowling. It made me think that Rowling was only willing to be featured in a favorable way, though that’s just a guess. I found myself rolling my eyes at her tired old points about trans women making the world more dangerous for cis women (they do not). But this show is worth a listen for the parts of it that are not the Rowling interview.

Incredibly hateful and really irresponsible “journalism.” I was hopeful that there would be some legitimate debate. It didn’t occur to me that Rowling wouldn’t even be held accountable for the horrible things she’s said about the trans community, but this is like…a truly embarrassing defense of what boils down to plain ol bigotry. If you are looking for a podcast that casts one of the wealthiest and most privileged people in the world as a victim simply because she’s experiencing the consequences of her own actions, you have found it! I’ve never left a negative review before, but this is truly damaging and disappointing. Trans lives matter, and rhetoric like this only serves to further marginalize an already vulnerable sector of the population.

The creators will be criticized, no doubt — this subject is hard and nuanced and likely those who feel whichever “side” they are on wasn’t leaned toward and be upset. And they made it anyway. I wish the conversation would continue and we could have other podcasters and potential critics (willing to come from an attempt to be balanced) carry this on and add their voices. It is so crucial we continue to hear each other out. If nothing else (though there are many other things), this is a beautiful call to listen to one another, and I am grateful to the creators for making it.

I don’t understand this 100% for us or against us attitude the transgender community has people shouldn’t be pressured to show 100% support for one side versus the other in a diplomatic situation this is by far the best podcast I’ve ever found.

I loved hearing directly from Jo Rowling and also really appreciated the nuance and research shown throughout this series. I have always been an HP fan and became an even bigger one after watching Jo bravely live out her literary theme of asking questions and standing up for what is right even if it costs us our reputation or social status. I also found myself so moved during the episode 6 interviews with Natalie and Noah. The host does such a beautiful job at wording her questions with care and respect and I think that if every person in the press were to interview like her—seeking to understand and to let people speak even if we don’t necessarily agree—we would live in a much more peaceful society. To Noah: You are wise beyond your years and I appreciate your willingness to think critically understand other viewpoints. I am truly sorry for your struggles and wish you all the best in your life!

manipulative and one-sided

I was skeptical about this podcast. I’ve always been a huge HP fan but honestly never really thought about Rowling herself until all this controversy happened. I don’t agree with Rowling’s views, but this podcast gave me deeper insight into why she thinks the way she thinks. One of the most compelling parts of the podcast for me was how it illustrated the horseshoe theory in effect. Extremism is equally dangerous whether it’s coming from the right or left, and I think part of combatting extremism is not by attacking WHAT people think, but understanding WHY they think that way.

One of the most thoughtful and well executed podcasts ever made. Thank you.

Very interesting and well done. JK Rowling is brilliant and brave.

Maybe you are reading this review wondering the same thing I did: “is this podcast pro-trans? Will this pod condemn Rowling’s hate speech?” The short answer is no. I am a trans person. I consider myself very open-minded. I listened to the trailer and was intrigued by the concept and I was curious to hear from Rowling herself. Keep your enemies close and what-not. Unfortunately, I found myself listening to transphobic rhetoric with zero pushback from the host. I did not know who Megan Phelps-Roper was before looking deeper into this pod. If you know that name, you are not surprised. I thought maybe this would be a nuanced discussion about trans rights and how someone comes to hate an entire group based on things out of their control. In stead this pod compares crazed religious people burning books to trans activists who criticize Rowling. They cherry pick the absolute worst clips to represent the entire trans rights movement. They paint the movement as a misogynistic and dangerous movement and do not challenge Rowling when she says this. Like any human rights movement, there is a spectrum from the most extreme individual to the most accepting and calm. We do not judge the women’s right movement solely by the words of Valerie Solanas. We should not judge the trans right movement by the most extreme people in it. You can see the bias of this podcast in the first episode. They send quite a long time focusing on Rowling’s frail and helpless past, sympathizing with her. While her story is tragic and I feel for any woman who is or has been in similar circumstances, it feels manipulative to progress from “woe is me” to “I’m being cancelled.” You can also see this bias in the description of the seventh episode: “The two also discuss the difficulty of discernment - why it can be hard to know what’s right.” This is all fine if they were discussing something complex and nuanced. But human rights are not up for debate, and trans rights are human rights. Anyway, I’ve said my piece. I was pointed to a video about this pod by the YouTuber Contrapoints. I highly highly recommend it if you care about women’s right and trans rights. And if you want to learn more about how this pod is very disingenuous. It will show you how the backlash towards the women’s rights movement and the backlash towards the gay rights movement very closely mirror the backlash we see today towards the trans rights movement. Human rights will always triumph!

Everyone should listen to this! I have told so many people about it already and encouraged them to listen to it. But even without listening to it, it’s stimulated great discussion and thought provoking ideas.

Wonderful podcast….Ms. Rowling is the epitome of a strong woman

Nuance is so uncomfortable, but the themes of this show were so deeply resonant with me. It’s easy to ignore cancel culture until it breaks up your friend group, or you are suddenly put in a box on the other side from where you really stand because you weren’t quite loyal enough. I appreciate every person who’s ever welcomed my questions and curiosity with gentleness and empathy because they have allowed me to change my mind and grow more than anything. It’s encouraging to see so many people rating this show highly as that means there might be more of us living in the gray areas of uncertain curiosity than I previously believed.

Actual conversation, everyone was thoughtful especially jk Rowling.

The beauty of this show is that by the end, I found myself agreeing with *all* of the sides of the story. And it’s a rare & precious art to bring people together. This shows does it.

Wow! Such a well crafted deep dive into an extremely nuanced subject. Everyone (especially the 17 year old who transitioned to a male.) was so succinct and open in their discussions . I think there can be a world where both sides can coexist but people will have to crack open their hearts so they can truly listen and make room for everyone, and that includes Ms Rowling.

This is the best conversation I’ve heard since graduating from a liberal arts college. Thank you for giving me hope that the future will be a place where tolerance and freedom of speech thrive.

I was impressed with how Megan looked at both sides and allowed people to actually tell their side without being interrupted or contradicted. It didn’t make me change my mind, but it did give me plenty to think about

This podcast was such a good listen. I respect J.K. and her views and for not backing down or confirming. I respect her for taking care in how she spoke about others. This was not angry. It was beautiful to hear from both sides in a respectful way. Thank you.

I really enjoyed hearing from all of the interviewees who were thoughtfully chosen to participate in as someone recovering from a much less extreme but equally harmful Christian sect, I enjoyed the interviewer’s perspective so much and empathize with her struggle to leave and be on the right side of history. I don’t agree with Rowling’s strong take on the matter but I do have more empathy for her after listening. I’d still really love to hear the epilogue even though it’s been over a year since the last episode! 🤞🏼🤞🏼🤞🏼

Thank you so much for taking the time to talk to so many people. Thank you for researching and reflecting and contextualising the topics, thank you for asking hard questions and giving space for people to express their thoughts and feelings. For giving space for listeners to ask those questions of themselves. It is truly a tragedy that opening up and sharing opinions and thoughts leads some people to stop listening, engaging and seeking to understand when as you say, respectful and kind dialogue is so necessary and effective. Thank you for giving such a safe and respectful space to those who participated. I hope those that listen will feel an enlarged capacity to hear others and question their assumptions. I also hope we will all figuratively step back from our lives and see the bigger picture and be willing to question the new norms as well as accept that mistakes happened in the past and are capable of happening in our time, unless we listen, question and learn.

I would have liked this podcast to provide factual evidence for JK’s claims I wanted to hear explicit evidence of how she came to her conclusions. Percentages. Facts. Rowling is clearly educated and very intelligent but even after this podcast, I still don’t understand how she has come to the conclusions she has (and what even is that conclusion?). What’s a perfect world regarding this issue for her? How would she “fix” this issue? Why do so many people disagree with her? And finally, has anyone benefited from her opinions? Show me someone that agrees with her. Someone that has facts behind them to collaborate her opinions. As far as I can tell, she’s only caused pain and suffering for thousands of people after giving those same people so much hope and joy Please make a Series 2 with simple to understand facts. Thank you

I really appreciate the depth this podcast is able to explore. I’ve known of the controversy, but haven’t had time to dig down to the roots. Being able to hear from both sides —mainly the source, Rowling herself— helps foster a space where the conversation can actually take place.

Expertly crafted podcast! Thoughtfully paced and expansive in too many ways to mention. I’ve deduced that the advent of social media has relegated our society to having collective N. P. D. In addition, it’s a narcotic where, as proven here, 2-dimensional validation will never solve the multi-dimensional complexities of what it is to live the human experience. Hereby relegating Darwin, to that of an optimist. Because the only thing apparently evolving is collective stupidity. Well done!

A calm discussion about a heated topic. I hope to hear more discussions about other issues from this team.

I recommend this podcast as a high-quality search for understanding and truth in all people.

Megan Phelps-Roper does an amazing job presenting the different sides of this cultural hot button topic. She allows room for J.K. Rowling to tell her story and asks questions that solicit deeper reflection. The additional voices included in the series provide a counterbalance to some of Rowling’s positions and are presented in a way that is respectful to all involved. Phelps-Roper weaves her own story into the series in a way that illustrates how good people can do hurtful things and how she broke out of the toxic environment to think on her own.

I listened to all 7 episodes of this podcast. Several of those opposed to Ms. Dowling were fairly articulate, however I detected nothing in any of those interviews that indicated that any of those spewing so much hate had ever read what Ms. Rowling Tweeted or wrote OR had ever listened to any of her audio interviews. I was left with the belief that all of the expressed hate had been generated by those who literally don't know what they're talking about and who had obtained all their opinions from misinformation on social media or from mouth-to-ear gossip. It was sickening whereas Ms. Rowling, herself, is the very model of erudition, logical thinking, and compassion. Never have so many hated so intensely for absolutely no reason.

I have wondered for a long time what JK Rowling could have tweeted or said or done that turned so many people against her. I have always been and will always be a huge fan of her and her work. In my heart she is compassionate, caring and a champion of not only women and girls but of every human. None of us are perfect but we should all be able to speak our minds and voice our opinions in a kind, respectful way without fear of losing our jobs and being trashed on the internet. That’s what this all boils down to for me. Again, amazing podcast and I can’t wait for the epilogue.

I felt this was a fabulous podcast, that treated all partis with respect, and as individuals. Deeply thought provoking, this podcast really makes you examine the issue from all angles.

As a Chinese woman born during Government one child policy, I cannot ever look away from women are oppressed simply because of our sex. Female infants were abandoned or killed because they were born female, they didn’t have the chance to grow up and self identify as male. Their life and death was not based on what assigned at birth. They died simply they were female. Blurring the line of gender and sex may have limited consequences in western society, however for those who are truly oppressed, there is never an option to escaping from being girls/women. I’m angry at western ideology named progressive inclusive, but what they really do is ignoring the real issues women in the rest of the world are facing, healthcare, education, basic freedom from sexual assaults, domestic violence, etc,. Taliban banned women’s voice being heard in the public, and Amnesty reported this news by describing women as “identify as female”. I have no words.

So disappointed. The host is clearly a dishonest person bearing false witness against trans people. This podcast is just proof that Megan only got out of the church because the church turned against her. She didn’t really change. She didn’t stop being a hateful bigot against the LGBTQIA community. There is so much wrong with this podcast. Contrapoints breaks it down and after watching that I realized how completely dishonest this podcast is presented. If you think JK Rowling is honest and not a transphobic hypocrite and lier, just subscribe to her on Twitter and read her tweets, it’s very clear she’s going through a mental breakdown. If every child star from her famous movies have distanced themselves from her, they’ve distanced themselves because she’s a hateful toxic bigot.

This series is wonderful and does a great job covering both sides. The episode with Noah was really great and I have great respect for them. Although I don’t agree with, everything Rowling or the other side says, they do such a great job articulating things that I have felt over the last several years. How we should be able to have respectful discussions and even be able to disagree without being hateful. Definitely need to be more of this in our world.

If you, like me, have been yearning for conversations where you get to hear people on multiple sides of an issue treated with respect and given a chance to be heard and understood, this is the podcast for you. I’m so grateful to the team who created this and the people willing to be interviewed. This kind of conversation gives me hope that we don’t have to devolve further and further in to “us” and “them.”

I don’t know how anyone can listen to the violent sexual threats made against Rowling and countless other women and not be very disturbed by what that ideology supports.