Connect With Donny
Donny is involved in many different projects from music to personal training. Links to all of his projects are listed below.
His personal instagram, @donny_levi_donovan, can be found here.
His current band, “LEVI” can be found on instagram here.
His fitness studio and personal training business website can be found here, and also on instagram here.
His instagram account that features gender-inclusive bathrooms in Pgh can be found here.
Pittsburgh Magazine and PUMP Class of 2024 “40 Under 40”
Donny was recently selected by Pittsburgh Magazine and PUMP as one of their 2024 “40 Under 40” honorees. Every year, “PUMP” teams up with Pittsburgh Magazine to honor 40 outstanding people under the age of 40 whose creativity, vision, and passion enrich our region. They celebrated the winners at a reception presented by Dollar Bank in the Rivers Casino Event Center on Friday, November 15th, 2024. More info about the honorees can be found on the Pittsburgh Magazine’s website here.
Sources: PUMP and Pittsburgh Magazine
His Band LEVI
Donny’s current music project is a band called, “LEVI” where he performs alongside his partner Gina, as well as Aiden Angle and Evan Leet. Their discography currently includes one EP, titled “It is What it Is” that can be found on Spotify here. They were also featured as WYEP’s “Pittsburgh Artist of the Week” back in April 2024, which can be found here if you want to read the article.
Donny’s Partner Gina’s Episode
Donny’s partner, Gina Winstead, is Vice President of Inclusion, Diversity, Equity and Accessibility (IDEA) at Carnegie Museums of Pittsburgh and was one of our guests last year. In her episode, we talked about everything from diamonds and cockroaches to submarines and taxidermy, and overall had a great time talking with her! If you haven’t heard her episode yet and are interested in giving it a listen, it can be found on our website here or on your favorite streaming platform.
How often do people run the entire time for a marathon?
While some runners aim to complete a marathon without stopping, it's not uncommon for participants to walk during the race. This practice, often referred to as the "run-walk method," offers several benefits, including injury prevention, improved pacing, enhanced mental focus, and even potential time improvements. Studies have shown that incorporating walking intervals can even improve overall marathon time for some runners. The frequency and duration of walking breaks vary depending on individual fitness levels, training plans, and race strategies. Some runners may choose to walk for a specific number of minutes each mile, while others may walk as needed based on how they feel. Ultimately, the decision of how often to walk during a marathon is a personal one, and what works best for one runner may not be ideal for another.
Sources: MOTTIV and Total Health Systems.
Does insurance cover gender-affirming care/surgery?
Virtually all major insurance companies(including Medicare/Medicaid) now recognize that gender-affirming medical care for transgender patients is medically necessary. However, the specifics of what procedures or treatments are covered will depend on each insurance plan. Planned Parenthood also offers several gender-affirming services, including estrogen or testosterone hormone therapy, puberty blockers, surgical referrals, and other transition support.
Sources: Trans Health Project and Planned Parenthood
YMCA under the U.S. Steel Building – is it still there?
Unfortunately, there is no longer a YMCA location under the U.S. Steel Tower in downtown Pittsburgh. The organization closed this location in October 2020 due to financial issues stemming from the Covid-19 pandemic. The organization still has several other locations in the Pittsburgh area, which can be found on their website here if you are interested in a membership.
Source: Pittsburgh YMCA
“Albert Nobbs” Film
During this episode, Bethany mentions a movie where actor Glen Close plays a transgender person. That movie is the 2011 flick “Albert Nobbs”. Set in 19th-century Ireland, a time where it was very difficult for women to be independent, the film follows Albert, a woman who has posed as a man for several years in order to work as a butler so she can earn enough money to open her own business. During the film, Albert meets a woman in a similar situation to her, and this sparks a friendship.
If you are interested in watching the film, it can be purchased on streaming sites Apple TV, Youtube, and Amazon Prime Video.
Source: IMDb
Natalie Portman’s Advocacy for Women’s Sports
Natalie Portman is a vocal advocate for women's sports, including women's basketball. As a co-owner of Angel City FC, a women's professional soccer team, she has been instrumental in elevating women's sports and fostering a more equitable environment for female athletes. While she hasn't directly commented on women's basketball as extensively as soccer, her overall support for women's sports highlights the growing recognition and appreciation for female athletes' talent and dedication. Natalie's involvement in women's sports contributes to a broader cultural shift towards greater gender equality and empowers young girls to pursue their athletic dreams.
Sources: People, Angel City FC, and YouTube
Popularity of Women’s Sports Recently and in the Past
Recent years have witnessed a surge in the popularity of women's sports, with viewership and engagement reaching unprecedented levels. This growth is evident across various sports, including basketball, soccer, and tennis. For instance, the 2023 Women's World Cup drew record-breaking viewership, while the WNBA has seen significant increases in attendance and television ratings. This trend is not solely a recent phenomenon; women's sports have a long history, with pioneers like Billie Jean King and Martina Navratilova paving the way for future generations. However, the current wave of popularity is fueled by factors such as increased media coverage, social media platforms amplifying athletes' voices, and a growing awareness of gender equality in sports.
Sources: Central Michigan University, Nielsen, WNBA, National Women's Hall of Fame, and Deloitte Insights
Apps That Show You Where There Are Free Restrooms
There are several different apps that will show you where the closest public restrooms are near you. Some of these include:
Lulu: This app shows detailed profiles of public toilets, including images, hours, and amenities. It also has filters for gender-neutral restrooms, wheelchair accessible toilets, and more. Unfortunately, this app only seems to be available for Apple devices and only shows restrooms in the New York City area, but if you are ever in NYC and want to try out this app, it can be found on the Apple App Store here.
Refuge Restrooms: This app aims to provide safe restroom access for transgender, intersex, and gender nonconforming individuals by providing a database of gender-neutral restrooms that users can search to find restrooms in their area. The app also allows users to add new restroom listings, as well as comment and rate existing listings. This app can be downloaded on the Apple App Store here or the Google Play Store here.
SitOrSquat: Created by the toilet paper brand “Charmin” the "SitOrSquat" app can be used to find nearby public restrooms and even helps users navigate to them through Google Maps. Users can filter restrooms by features like handicap accessibility, baby changing tables, or if they're free for public use, and even rate the cleanliness of restrooms as "Sit" (clean) or "Squat" (less clean).(Hence the name) Unfortunately, this app doesn’t seem to be on either app store anymore.
How IVF works: How Eggs and Sperm Are Chosen & How Many Embryos Are Transferred At A Time
In vitro fertilization (IVF) is a type of assisted reproductive technology (ART) where an egg is fertilized with sperm outside of the body, and then later transferred into the body in the hopes of leading to pregnancy. IVF is used by couples with different health or infertility issues that make it hard to conceive a child naturally.
One round, or cycle, of IVF takes several weeks and involves a multi-step process that begins with egg retrieval. During egg retrieval, the ovaries are stimulated with hormones to start maturing as many eggs as possible. During a natural menstrual cycle, a group of eggs will start this process, but only one egg will typically mature enough to be ovulated. The hormones given during this stimulation process help ensure that all, not just one, of these eggs mature, in order to optimize the number of embryos that can be made. Ultrasounds and blood tests are used to monitor this stimulation process, and once it is determined that the eggs are properly matured, egg retrieval can occur.
An ultrasound is used to guide a needle and suction that pull the eggs out of the ovary. Typically, eggs are fertilized the same day they are retrieved, however if a large number of eggs are collected, some can be frozen before this fertilization process for future use.
Fertilization is typically done through a process called intracytoplasmic sperm injection, or ICSI. This is when an embryologist uses a needle to inject the sperm directly into the egg. The embryologist aims to select sperm that are the most mature, as this is most likely to result in a successful fertilization. They do this by examining the sperm cells for shape and motility. The selected sperm are injected into each of the mature eggs and left to develop into blastocysts, which is the best stage for transfer. Any immature eggs are placed into a dish with sperm in the hopes that if it does eventually mature, the sperm will then fertilize the egg naturally.
Once fertilized, embryos are left to develop for the next five to six days. Once they have reached the stage that is most suitable for transfer, they can either be transplanted into the uterus or frozen for future use.
There are two main types of embryo transfer: single and multiple. You can probably figure out the difference between the two from their names alone. Single embryo transfer is when just one embryo is transferred into the uterus, while multiple embryo transfer is when two or more embryos are transferred during a single round of IVF. There are pros and cons to both, so it's important to discuss these with your partner and fertility doctors when deciding on which method is best for you.
Video of ICSI - Egg Being Fertilized With a Sperm Cell
If you are interested in seeing how an egg is fertilized via intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI), there is a cool video linked below of a doctor performing this procedure and explaining the process along the way.
Average Number Of Eggs and Embryos Retrieved During IVF
The number of eggs retrieved during a round of IVF is different for each individual and is dependent on a few different factors. These include your age, the total number of eggs you have, and the amount of medication you are on to stimulate the maturation of these eggs. Having said that, the average number of eggs retrieved during IVF is between 8 and 14.
Source: Reproductive Health & Wellness
Does insurance cover any aspect of IVF?
Unfortunately, there is currently no federal mandate in the U.S. that requires coverage of IVF. However, currently 22 states and the District of Columbia have some form of law related to fertility coverage, and of the 23, nine states have an IVF coverage requirement. That being said, it's important to note that each state has different requirements and eligibility criteria for coverage, so couples could still end up with large out-of-pocket costs.
Sources: IVF Options, OneDigital and Stork Club Blog
What is IUI?
intrauterine insemination (IUI) is a cheaper and less invasive alternative to IVF that involves sperm being placed directly into the uterus using a small catheter. Your cycle is closely monitored, and when it is determined that you are in your fertilization window, IUI treatment is performed. This helps improve the chances of fertilization by increasing the number of healthy sperm that reach the fallopian tubes when you are most fertile.
Source: Johns Hopkins Medicine
What is a PGT test?
Preimplantation genetic testing (PGT) is a procedure that screens embryos created through in vitro fertilization (IVF) for genetic abnormalities. The goal of PGT is to help doctors select embryos that are free of chromosome abnormalities to reduce the chance of genetic disease in the embryo being transferred to the uterus. This can also help reduce the risk of miscarriage or a failed IVF cycle.
“Butterfly” By Hearken
During this episode, Donny talks about a song from a previous band of his called “Hearken” that he used to play at open mics a lot. That song is called “Butterfly”, and if you are interested in listening to it, it can be found on Spotify here.
“Dream Phone” Board Game
Released in 1991, “Dream Phone” was a popular board game that involved players trying to figure out which of the 24 studs has a crush on them by calling up each and every dude for a clue, then using a process of elimination in order to identify their secret admirer. The game has since been discontinued, however there are still a few on eBay that range in price from $127 to $300.
Sources: HelloGiggles
Rainbow Kitten Surprise - Donny’s Favorite Trans Band/Band
During this episode, Bethany asks Donny who his favorite artist is. His answer was “Rainbow Kitten Surprise”. Rainbow Kitten Surprise is an American alternative rock indie band formed in Boone, North Carolina whose sound has been influenced by artists such as Modest Mouse, Kings of Leon, Frank Ocean, and Schoolboy Q. Their website can be found here, where you can find links to their socials as well as where to listen to their music.
Source: Wikipedia
The Cliks Band
During this episode, Bethany mentions the band “The Cliks”. “The Cliks” are a Canadian rock band formed in 2004 by original members Lucas Silveira, bassist Ezri Kaysen and drummer Heidi Chan. Silveira has shared that the band's name derived from the idea of using “Cliks” as a blend of the slang terms “clit” and “dicks”. The group released one debut album before breaking up in 2005. Silveira, being the only remaining original member, released several albums with the group between the years 2007 and 2013, including their breakout album “Snakehouse”, featuring a rotation of members.
Fun fact: The band played at Pittsburgh Pridefest in June 2008.
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