Queer Therapists Talk Wayward
Fabulous and nerdy queer/trans psychotherapists Avery (they/them) and Em (they/them), team up to deep dive into the psychology of Netflix's Limited Series Wayward starring Mae Martin.
They discuss major themes in the show like the mother wound, queer/trans representation, filming production elements, and seek to answer big questions like "what's really going on with all that brie?"
Each episode invites a guest for even more nerdy cuteness.
ABOUT AVERY AND EM
Avery Phipps (they/them) is a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist serving a diverse group of clients in the San Francisco Bay. Avery graduated from The California Institute of Integral Studies (CIIS) Bachelor of Arts and Integral Counseling Psychology (M.A.) programs. Both programs placed an emphasis on cultural humility, holistic healing and the responsibility we have to each other as citizens of this globe. They teach full time and act as co-chair currently in the Integral Counseling Psychology program at CIIS.
Avery’s training as a psychotherapist began at The Integral Counseling Center in San Francisco, a low fee clinic where they served socially and psychologically diverse individuals, couples, and families. They have since built a private practice which serves adults, teens, and families. Their work is founded in relational psychodynamics, informed by strong social justice, feminist values, and often incorporates Astrology and other symbolic ways of knowing. They are also a huge media nerd and Trekkie for life.
Emily (Em) Marinelli (they/them) is a genderqueer, queer femme, Virgo psychotherapist, professor and author. Em teaches at the California Institute of Integral Studies and City College of San Francisco. In their private therapy practice, Em offers warm and supportive guidance to individuals and couples, using a humanistic, trauma-informed, feminist, social justice, and strengths-based approach.
Their essays have appeared in Alan Squire Publishing Literary Journal, The Blue Rose magazine, Film Obsessive, and TV Obsessive and they were accepted into the 2025 Summer Tin House Workshop. They host the Twin Peaks Tattoo Podcast, where they chat with fans about their Twin Peaks tattoos and what their ink means to them.
Em's debut memoir, Comfort Sequels: The Psychology of Movie Sequels from the 80s and 90s won First Place in the Entertainment and LGBTQ+ categories at the 2024 Bookfest Awards and the International Impact Book Award in LGBTQ+ Nonfiction. Em is proud to be a member of the Marble Valley Dance Collective where they tap dance with amazing artists, and they love cuddling with their rescue pups Radish and Rusty.
Follow Em online @emsmarinelli
Theme music performed by Jeremy Rourke; recorded and produced by Dr Animal Prufrock
Cover Design by Morgan Kerchner
Listen on:
Episodes
Sunday Feb 22, 2026
Sunday Feb 22, 2026
Episode 4 -"Mud”
Fabulous and nerdy queer/trans psychotherapists Avery (they/them) and Em (they/them), team up to deep dive into the psychology of Netflix's Limited Series Wayward starring Mae Martin.
They discuss major themes in the show like the mother wound, queer/trans representation, filming production elements, and seek to answer big questions like "what's really going on with all that brie?"
Each episode invites a guest for even more nerdy cuteness.
Queer psychotherapist, consultant, and Twin Peaks fan Danika Grundemann joins them to discuss Episode 4- "Mud.”
Danika Grundemann is a queer, White, millennial psychotherapist/consultant working primarily with LGBTQIA+ clients who are navigating kink and/or consensual non-monogamy in an ever-more oppressive nation. She can otherwise be found making art (collage and clay of late), singing in an 80-person community choir, hanging with her cats, witching, cooking, and communing with nature. If you or someone you know is in need of CNM-, queer-, and/or kink-competent care please reach out via www.DiversePathsPsychotherapy.com.
Sunday Feb 08, 2026
Sunday Feb 08, 2026
Episode 3 -"Break”
Fabulous and nerdy queer/trans psychotherapists Avery (they/them) and Em (they/them), team up to deep dive into the psychology of Netflix's Limited Series Wayward starring Mae Martin.
They discuss major themes in the show like the mother wound, queer/trans representation, filming production elements, and seek to answer big questions like "what's really going on with all that brie?"
Each episode invites a guest for even more nerdy cuteness.
Fabulous child expert and registered non-licensed psychotherapist in Vermont Natana Gill joins them to discuss Episode 3 "Break.”
Natana Gill (She/Her) is a cis, queer, registered non-licensed psychotherapist in Vermont focusing on children, adolescents and parenting adults. She has a masters in education and Rehabilitation Counseling. With 20+ years working with children (as a special educator, puppeteer, theater teacher, daycare worker and nanny), she finally feels at home working in behavior health with young people. Natana is currently working on hours towards licensure. She does not have much of an online presence and prefers real life engagement with 1-3 people max. More than that sends her running to the nearest craft store or library.
natanagillcounseling@gmail.com
Sunday Jan 18, 2026
Sunday Jan 18, 2026
Episode 2 -"Burrow"
Fabulous and nerdy queer/trans psychotherapists Avery (they/them) and Em (they/them), team up to deep dive into the psychology of Netflix's Limited Series Wayward starring Mae Martin.
They discuss major themes in the show like the mother wound, queer/trans representation, filming production elements, and seek to answer big questions like "what's really going on with all that brie?"
Each episode invites a guest for even more nerdy cuteness.
Psychotherapist Emma Moonier joins them to discuss Episode 2 "Burrow."
Emma Moonier is a kick-ass therapist who specializes in attachment injury and repair, especially in communities affected by foster and adoption systems and queer communities affected by family alienation. She loves to teach at the California Institute for Integral Studies, and tries to inspire her students to engage in liberatory thinking and practice at every opportunity.
Sunday Jan 04, 2026
Sunday Jan 04, 2026
Episode 1 -"Tall Pines"
Fabulous and nerdy queer/trans psychotherapists Avery (they/them) and Em (they/them), team up to deep dive into the psychology of Netflix's Limited Series Wayward starring Mae Martin.
They discuss major themes in the show like the mother wound, queer/trans representation, filming production elements, and seek to answer big questions like "what's really going on with all that brie?"
Each episode invites a guest for even more nerdy cuteness.
Clinical psychologist Zoe Barnow joins them to discuss Episode 1 "Tall Pines."
Zoe Barnow, PsyD (she/her) is a clinical psychologist with a private practice in Northern California. She primarily works with the LGBTQ+ perinatal and family populations, as well as a focus on complex early childhood trauma, and couples. Prior to private practice, she worked in various settings with adolescents, including a middle school in East Oakland, a juvenile hall for adolescent girls, and at The Infant-Parent Program where she worked with many teen mothers. Aside from her professional endeavors, she loves to walk amongst the redwoods, swim in the Yuba and Russian Rivers, cook and bake yummy things, and play games with friends.