Sandy Allen, a white trans man in a gray flannel, standing in front of a green bush

Hello! I’m Sandy Ernest Allen.

I’m a queer and trans journalist and author, based in The Catskills.

My work tends to focus on gender and on mental health.

You may want check out these Starter Packs of my work, curated by topic.

Here is more about me. Here’s how to contact me. See this announcements page for my latest.

Essays
& Features

I’ve written reported and personal pieces for numerous publications, including Esquire, Eater, Cosmopolitan, The Believer, and The Cut. See my full clips.

Audio

I’ve been a guest on many podcasts and radio shows, and have contributed my own reported audio stories to the likes of This American Life and 99% Invisible. I also co-created and hosted my own critically acclaimed independent podcast about mental health and pop culture called Mad Chat.

Paperback cover for A Kind of Mirraculas Paradise, featuring a painting of a family having a picnic on a green lawn, at a sideways angle

Book

My debut book is a radical and innovative work of nonfiction called A Kind of Mirraculas Paradise: A True Story about Schizophrenia (Scribner). It examines our mental health care system and its history — by telling the story of the life of my late Uncle Bob. Here’s the AKOMP website for much more.

Sandy Allen speaking at Powell's in Portland in 2018 before a packed house. He's behind a podium and there's someone barefoot in the first row.

Consulting, Speaking, etc.

I’m available for hire as a speaker. I’m also now offering consulting for fellow professionals whose work relates to mental health, both clinicians and others working in media. Learn more here.