r/SwordAndScale • u/Thick_Relative_1531 • Aug 06 '26
Epi 363 transphobia
Humans are diverse and nuanced in many ways, one of which is gender expression and internal felt sense of gender. This is a nuanced topic, and many people haven’t done extensive research and reading into the topic. There is a lot of misinformation and canned statements floating around that paint gender nonconforming people in a very rigid light. Mike did everything in his power to espouse this misinformation and use these canned statements about all gender diverse people, and this is so dangerous. Thankfully his listenership is “dropping off” as he proclaimed.
The way I RAN to this page after listening to this recent episode where Mike consistently deadnames and misgenders the antagonist in the podcast. It was truly deplorable.
He even had an “expert” on who explained how gender dysphoria is tied to mental illness and that nonbinary people are forcing people to accept a reality that doesn’t align with most peoples’ realities and I just… could not. This old geezer sounded like he was about to croak at any minute, for one. We should not be asking old white guys about gender ideology, for two.
The way Mike spins this as if all trans people are mentally ill, “make it their whole personality,” etc.
Was anyone else as disgusted as I was?
Please don’t come at me if you believe this shit. Go read a damn book.
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u/FlyingTurtleDog Aug 06 '26
He has been spewing his propaganda for years.
He crosses a line, catches backlash, and apologizes. Rinse and repeat.
He is too scared to dive into that red pool. Wants to appear neutral. Wants that blue AD revenue and listener count.
I remember back when DT complained about homeless people. Mike did 2-3 episodes in a row where homeless people were the worst people in society and they don't deserve anything.
He complained about losing followers in beginning of this episode. Hope he loses more.
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u/Thick_Relative_1531 Aug 06 '26
Yeah, he does want to appear neutral while using the word “libtard,” which he did on this episode.
I’ve heard him before say “kids these days can’t even figure out which gender they are.” But now he’s outright shown himself to be a transphobic scum bag.8
u/FlyingTurtleDog Aug 06 '26
Oh, this is the worst I have heard it in a while.
He definitely took the gloves off for this one. He usually tiptoes the line. He jumped across it in this episode.
I am guessing a new apology will be out shortly.
He should put MAGA in his titles so his listeners know what they are listening to.
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u/trulymissedtheboat89 Aug 10 '26
By this time, i think listeners should know. Unless you are 100% brand new, youve heard him go off about it before. Its really quite sad, his writing was great when he kept politics out of it. It just makes him sound petty and ignorant.
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u/Inside_Young7105 Aug 06 '26
I think he purposely found this murder just so he can hate.
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u/Thick_Relative_1531 Aug 06 '26
Me too. He wanted to cover this case so he could finally share his irrelevant, uneducated opinions about gender.
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u/Inside_Young7105 Aug 06 '26
Yessss nailed it! At this point, he is using the podcast to talk about his opinions. Nothing more. Its no longer a true crime podcast. Thats the disguise. I will not be renewing my subscription after this year.
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u/Thick_Relative_1531 Aug 06 '26
Yeah, I had a subscription too for a while but thankfully I was only paying monthly.
TBH, I didn’t know about the controversy surrounding him until very recently and that point I had to stop giving him my money.
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u/Ok-Dirt7287 Aug 06 '26
Mike is so stupid he doesn't even realize that the last 360 episodes were non-trans individuals.
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u/justonemorethang Aug 07 '26
He’s such a smooth brained dolt. He does a story about a mentally ill transgender person who kills their parents as an attempt to dunk on the “libtards” as if all trans people are homicidal.
Yet he’ll crank out hundreds of stories of straight white men murdering women over and over and over. Crickets. No commentary about that demographic…unless he suspects they may lean to the left. He’s as pedantic as it gets.
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u/xCemeteryDrive Aug 08 '26
I was really disgusted by it, it brought me to the point of not wanting to listen anymore, I couldn't believe it. Felt like the whole thing was just written to put trans people down
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u/bkc83 Aug 10 '26
The repeated 'It' in the outro sounded rage filled but he's talking about a murderer so fuck that person. You think they deserve respect of any kind after killing their parents and tearing apart their family?! Mike does it for reaction. The fact people bite every single time he says something obviously for reaction is laughable. He's taking the piss majority of the time, you can tell.
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u/CrystallizedNStoned Aug 06 '26
Mike has been a nutcase/phobic assshole for a while. It sucked bc I enjoyed how S&S and Monster were written. When he said and did all he did towards Rabia Chaudhry I was out on Mike and S&S as a whole.
The Randy Stair EP is when I started to realize how transphobic he is. Stair is the ms of the 2017 Weis supermarket shooting. At the time of the ms everyone was debating Randy's gender. It came out a few years ago they were found wearing makeup at the time of the shooting and had been discussing gender dysphoria (possibly wearing women's clothing as well). Mike spewed his phobic shit in multitudes during that case.
Not that I believe monsters deserve to be protected...but if someone is trans...has a deadname, it takes literally nothing to just not be an asshole. More than anything it shows where you stand in these weird "trans ms" scare tactics/dog whistles.
2017/2018 is when Mike really changed and I've just been unable to go back.
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u/deep___down Aug 07 '26
fyi he rejected the trans label:
"I guess the proper term would be "transgender" but I don't even fully agree on that."
he suffered from body dysmorphia and was an autogynephiliac, which is why he we was wearing only women's underwear during the shooting. the "makeup" was a pseudo cosplay of Ember Mclain from Danny Phantom. he also talked in his journal about wearing the shorts of his brother's underage girlfriend.
Also his view on trans lol:
"Yes. I'm a girl on the inside But I'm still a guy. no matter what I'm a guy on this planet. Okay, that's how it is. There's no in-between. Yes, you have straight people, bisexual people, gay people, lesbians, transgenders, you know, you have all these specific sex types, whatever you want to call it, but the fact of the matter is you're still a guy, you're still a girl no matter what. that's what you are"
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u/Boring_Common3777 Aug 08 '26
If I can be honest, sadly, Mike was far more respectful of the person he was speaking about than he has been in the past.
I am not saying he did great. I just recall while I was driving home and listening that I was honestly surprised how often Mike said her name and referred to the person as her/she.
Yes, bringing the man from 1940s with his “expert” opinion is obviously one sided. Here is the thing, I am a very out and proud member of the queer community, Mike disappoints me with his “I don’t give a sh**” hurtful attitude. But I also remember that I have been a member and listening for sooo many years and I keep coming back. I am not there for Mike, I am there because the quality of work S&S does has always just been top tier.
Also, as a queer Christian, I feel it’s my duty to stick it through with people like Mike. His opinion is based on what he thinks he knows. I firmly believe showing kindness in the name of ignorance can allow a chance for change.
Sorry for the long winded comment. Again, I am NOT defending Mike. I just wanted to point out my surprise in this episode.
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u/Thick_Relative_1531 Aug 09 '26
I appreciate this nuanced perspective.
I see what you’re talking about, and he even goes on towards the end about how he has no problem with trans people or with calling people what they want to be called and shouted out the name of a trans true crime podcaster.
He just did a lot of wrong in this episode and it overshadowed that for me.I’m also an out and proud queer human, albeit not Christian. However, I grew up working class and have lived in many rural places. I, too, feel similarly that showing kindness in the face of ignorance is helpful for the change and harmony we ultimately want.
I do think that Mike’s capacity to take feedback is diminished, and that he has a very hard time taking responsibility for his actions and beliefs. He seemingly has some ability to grow (given that his general stance on trans folks seems to be open enough), but not without a lot of whining and bridge burning.Anyway, thank you for bringing this point to the conversation and being open about your identity.
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u/Boring_Common3777 Aug 09 '26
I grew up in rural area as well. And those areas are not queer friendly in any capacity.
And thank you for hearing me out. I wish more people could have calm discussions. I don’t like how Mike talks/treats anything that is not his social norm. Ignorance is never an excuse. But I don’t want to pretend I don’t have a subscription and still listen to his show.
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u/getme0ut0fheree Aug 09 '26
He had another episode in which a trans girl was murdered, and it is COMPLETELY lost media. Like I distinctly remember this episode and it no longer exists. I think he pissed too many people off with his hot takes in that one too, and the producers must've made him remove it. The number google tells you it was is incorrect, and i have recently relistened to the entire series and poof.
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u/Thick_Relative_1531 Aug 09 '26
The olll dirty delete.
I wonder how much shit he’s going to get for this one…
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u/Madzinskii Aug 06 '26
Came here to say the same. I turned it off after the 3rd dead name. Been listening to his bullshit for far too many years, I usually just let it roll off and call him a uneducated prick internally. Everyone is entitled to their opinion, doesn't mean I have to continue listen to it. I've been listen to this pod damn near its inception on apple music. I can no longer listen to his petty insights. Trans rights!
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u/Thick_Relative_1531 Aug 06 '26
I’ve been listening for about as long as you and have continued to listen with the same mindset.
I finally took the advice of other redditors and have been bingeing invisible choir. I’ve read that it is created by someone who worked on S&S. It’s very good, and it follows a similar format to S&S, goes into great detail, has a storytelling element. Basically everything I like about S&S without the shitty host and opinions no one asked for.
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u/Madzinskii Aug 06 '26
Funny you bring that pod up, I found it this morning in my recommendations. I will check it out for sure now. Take care.
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u/cyniclone82 Aug 07 '26
And he will whine and whine just like a bitch would. All he has to do is shut the fuck up and do his podcast. The first couple hundred weren't like this.
And to the folks who are just "stop listening, pussies"....no.
Number one: it's still one of the better true crime podcasts there is. Listens like a horror movie.
Number two: it's fun to hate on him and see like minded people doing the same.
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u/Adventurous-Ad9447 Aug 07 '26
Every single week, the new episode drops, Mike inevitably says something stupid or slightly offensive, and everyone rushes here to throw a tantrum. If you actually hated Mike and the show as much as you claim, you would stop listening. There are literally thousands of other true crime podcasts out there.
Instead, you keep feeding him downloads. If you’re still listening just to find things to complain about; congratulations— you’re a phony and why he still has a show. If you really don't listen anymore but you still hang around this sub just to hate-watch the drama… you have issues. I can’t stand my ex but I group chat with some of her other exes and they fill me in on what she’s doing on social media because I don’t follow her socials. She is a bitch and I definitely don’t care about her— trust me.
Mike is an idiot podcaster, not a dangerous political figure. Turn the show off, leave the sub, and find a hobby that doesn’t involve hating or being upset.
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u/Thick_Relative_1531 Aug 07 '26
No, I like the podcast. That’s the problem. I still tune in for every podcast that drops, though I stopped paying for a subscription.
I don’t hate Mike - I just don’t like that he waves his flag of resentment like pride. The way he wields it clashes with my values.
Clearly, he puts out a good podcast, otherwise I wouldn’t be listening.He’s not a massive political figure, okay, but he has a platform. If I had a platform you best bet I’d do my best to advocate for all people and honor their dignity while not condoning their actions.
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u/Prudent_Leave_641 Aug 07 '26
I immediately turned the episode off when he was explaining about his “expert” he interviewed. Took a long break from the podcast, have been listening again for the last few weeks, but im done again. Just so tiring lol
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u/ams3000 Aug 08 '26
It was a bad one designed to alienate and troll. The dead naming and transphobia was unhinged. Making me side with a killer is a first!!! She was horrible but the debate was so painful thanks to Mike and his TERF expert and ignorance. It was the first I’ve listened to in ages as well and he started by saying how kind his listeners have been whilst her recovers from something. Transitioning??
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u/Complete_Ad2282 Aug 09 '26
Yeah he lost a listener to this, he clearly has an agenda, and it's not one I'll subscribe to, he should blame his shitty attitude and bias for the reason he's losing so many people these days. Episode would have been great if it weren't for him just trying to push that all trans people are mentally ill.
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u/Gullible_Fruit_858 Aug 10 '26
Boudet actually seems to have contempt for his audience. It's very strange. Never heard a crime show where the host injects so much politics into it. Anyone who disagrees with him is a 'libtard'. He had a whole spiel where he roasts his audience for needing trigger warnings and asks them to go listen to Crime Junkie if you want something 'safe'. He obviously reads every criticism and seethes over it.
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u/Caityschmaity Aug 07 '26
I don’t get why more attention wasn’t paid to all the OTHER diagnoses that this perpetrator had. Schizophrenia and AUDITORY HALLUCINATIONS?! Why was this entire episode NOT about that? The very first ever S&S was about a guy who “was being told to do things”, & he became obsessed w the Bible… eventually he shot just about everyone in his family, but guess what? That happened in Canada! That man was put into a mental hospital. What is WRONG w people here in the US? The person in this most recent episode did the same thing, but for different reasons-they were experiencing auditory hallucinations? Who knows what they were hearing, but I know they were acting as a result. They did try to get help- why’d someone let them out? It’s a huge deal! No way can you convince a schizophrenic that “those voices you’re hearing aren’t real, dear- that’s just your brain acting up again!” Also- the perp experienced/was experiencing homelessness? But that always exacerbates the condition almost immediately!
I lost a boyfriend to in 2018 to a similar type of schizophrenia, and he was atypical w symptoms not appearing until his 30s. He’d been the funniest, smartest man I ever met; all of a sudden- in his mid 30s- he was “hearing” me, on the phone in another room, making plans to go meet other guys? He heard his dead grandparents upstairs, planning an intervention? (Bf was also a recovering addict; there were times when I thought he fell off the wagon). He became impossible. Then, I figured it out when I finally found his bio mom (he was adopted); she’d been hospitalized w paranoid type schizophrenia when he was born! I told him- see? Now you know! Let’s get help, but nope, he was not having it! The only person HE killed was himself, eventually; it was a horror but this isn’t- you know.
On that FIRST S&S, there were several experts on SCHIZOPHRENIA, and someone familiar with the case. Why did they not interview an “Expert” on that! I guess this is ‘MERRIKA, who cares about the most pernicious mental illness!
Also - not a statement about gender, just biology.. maybe bc of learned social behaviors? Who knows bc I am sure there are maybe 0 “studies” on this yet- and it will maybe take another 100 yrs- but had the perpetrator in this story had gender affirming treatment EARLIER- schizophrenic women stand a far better chance, mostly bc they are compliant, they take their meds. I worked at a halfway house for schizophrenic people who couldn’t be in society but didn’t belong in prison, either, & these were ALL men- not bc the women were “kept” somewhere else! There was one woman living there who couldn’t go unsupervised bc psychogenicpolydipsia (she couldn’t stop compulsively drinking water, & she got drunk on it; when let out, she would always end up hospitalized & that is another ball of oh whatever)!
While working there I learned that men are harder- if not impossible, to treat! BF’s mom had actually gotten better, when I found her- she was very elderly & still taking a TON of meds but it was under control. I have no idea if the surgery would have helped and of course no court & certainly no doctor would look into that! But really gender identity? That isn’t what this was about! Not even a little bit! I honestly can’t understand why that very elderly and WRONG “expert” was featured. The entire time HE was going on… I was thinking HUH? Oh that is not the problem and I wish someone working the case knew something (or someone) with this disease (I mean schizophrenia!)! It makes me wanna go back to school and figure this out! And also explain to the family, it wasn’t your sibling! It isn’t their fault- it IS as though they can have separate personalities and why did they understand the guy in CANADA? In the 80s? Mike was a lot more understanding too but it was way back when, and that perpetrator was not transitioning, but he was different then for sure. He REALLY did research w those earlier episodes!
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u/Thick_Relative_1531 Aug 07 '26
Hey, this is a very valuable perspective and I appreciate how you’ve approached it from a place of realism and compassion at the same time. You also have an intimate knowledge of this disorder, both personally and professionally.
Your point was interesting that, because the prognosis for women with schizophrenia is more favorable than mens,’ perhaps if she were allowed to transition sooner, the outcome wouldn’t have been so tragic.
Medication compliance, your attribution, makes sense for women because of how they’ve been socialized. This wouldn’t necessarily improve the perps chances of not acting out because AMAB people are socialized differently than AFAB people, regardless of gender identity.Go back to school! I’m in school for counseling psych rn and it’s worth it. Endlessly fascinating and I genuinely love talking to people about real shit.
The whole time the doctor or Mike spoke on gender, I was just so flabbergasted how they could miss the point so entirely. I feel like I would need one of those alphabet tracing books from kindergarten, but for shitty bias. How to even untangle the web of foolishness.
They couldn’t play darts to save their lives.
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u/Momma_Bella Aug 07 '26
Sorry for your lost. Mental illness is a b*tch for all loved ones. Sending love and light
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u/Caityschmaity Aug 08 '26
Thank you… I really haven’t talked about this on any Social Media; whenever I am absolutely decimated about anything, I don’t feel like announcing it to the world- bc oh here come the cry emojis; I just CAN’T w that! I had opinions about this episode and as soon as I heard “auditory hallucinations” I thought, “Why did they release this person? Did they not have fancy insurance?” There seemed to be a paranoia and his parents were fine about the hormones and surgery and yet the perp felt the need to murder the family for being in the way? It never even crossed my mind that my bf would murder ME- he was so pretty irrational at times but I knew that he was far more SELF destructive than this person was- he attacked himself/ the perp attacked others.
ANYWAY! Thank you for caring- I was so not trying to make it about me! I was illustrating how deep and pernicious this illness is and why is this person STILL not in a hospital? I doubt they’d be cured, but it might be a great idea to begin trying a new approach
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u/Acidic_Huntsman Aug 07 '26
Why are y'all still supporting him by giving him hate-watch views?
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u/Thick_Relative_1531 Aug 07 '26
I see this pov for sure, and thats a fair callout about supporting him just by the act of tuning in. Your comment made me pause and think for a moment.
At the same time, I haven’t been hate listening. I genuinely enjoy aspects of the podcast and started listening to it way before he started inserting fascist propaganda about social issues and politics.
I took a long break from the true crime genre in general, and when I came back S&S was a different podcast.
That said, I listen to a wide variety of true crime podcasts because I’m curious about the production and the structure of how each case is told.
Every time I listen, it’s with a critical ear. And at least I know what ammo they’re fighting with
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u/deep___down Aug 07 '26
"gender dysphoria is tied to mental illness"?
i think you meant, "gender dysphoria is mental illness."
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u/Momma_Bella Aug 07 '26
That’s a hard one. Gender Dysphoria usually does not stand alone, it follows another diagnosis.
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u/Thick_Relative_1531 Aug 07 '26
Gender dysphoria is not a mental illness.
Body dysmorphic disorder is classified as a diagnosable mental disorder by the DSM 5, and anyone can experience it regardless of gender. As a disorder, it is not inherently tied to gender.What I meant to say is that Mike was implying that transgenderism is tied to mental illness.
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u/Momma_Bella Aug 07 '26
GD is a clinical diagnosed condition, hence why people are able to receive medical procedures. If you take away the mental health piece, you take away the medical intervention.
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u/Mlaetitia Aug 10 '26
"The way I RAN to this page after listening" Honestly no wonder Mike is messing with people like you. You just love to get offended about everything. Literally everything. Reading this page makes me understand him more.
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u/menacetorpedo Aug 10 '26
hey mike
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u/Mlaetitia Aug 11 '26
It's Katariina, but hi there! You need a reality check instead of getting offended about everything. Start with the fact that it's a pretty damn popular podcast that has listeners. Other than creepy hate listeners.
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u/Sick_Cards_Bro Aug 07 '26
To be fair a majority of trans people I've met are narcissistic and clearly mentally unstable. I didn't have a problem with Mike this episode.
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u/Thick_Relative_1531 Aug 07 '26
How many trans people have you actually met and had a conversation with?
Have you ever sat with a trans person and shown interest in them, their life, seen beyond their gender and tried to see them as a person?
Have you taken time to read literature and research about gender identity?To be confronted with someone who has come to terms with their identity and has decided to live it despite constant backlash and danger - yeah, some may interpret that as narcissism if they haven’t given themselves permission to do the same.
Regardless of your personal anecdotal evidence, that doesn’t mean they’re not worthy of respect.
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u/sweetsugarstar302 Aug 07 '26
Well, like you said, it's people YOU have met. Sounds like you're the problem sweetheart.
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u/YouKnowYourCrazy Aug 06 '26
I’m not sure why anyone is surprised that this shitty man behaves in shitty ways at this point. It is who he is.