Chit Chat with the Queer and Creative

Sasza Lohery is the creator of her own program BBXX. Sasza and I discuss her program and how to create a positive space and change in intimate relationships. Sasza shares her journey to creating this program and why she feels that it is important and what exactly BBXX does. We also discuss how important it is to have confidence and trust in yourself. We also discuss how Sasza came to terms with creating this program and what it means to her.

Be sure to follow BBXX @bbxx.world

Don’t forget to subscribe to this podcast for weekly episodes, and follow me on Instagram @realmelissadasilva and check out my website melissadasilva.com

Come retreat with me in Puerto Rico!

https://www.melissadasilva.com/groupretreat/?fbclid=IwAR2vpFkVIIJokyBNDfC3S5KuG4pZ4mhHGfBkoKYDfl2GFW3c3f8-PckAeVU (https://www.melissadasilva.com/groupretreat/?fbclid=IwAR2vpFkVIIJokyBNDfC3S5KuG4pZ4mhHGfBkoKYDfl2GFW3c3f8-PckAeVU)

Chit Chat with the queer and Creative is a weekly podcast where host Melissa DaSilva interviews individuals who are changing their lives and the world through their creativity.

Melissa introduces herself and the show in this episode.

It was so lovely to have the opportunity to speak with Erika Owens, one half of the first same-sexed couple to be featured on TLC’s 90 Day Fiancé: Before the 90 Days. She captured the world’s heart with her colorful outfits, hair and especially her sweet personality.

Erika and I discuss what it was like to come out as bi-sexual to her parents in front of the entire world (3:40). We also discuss the aftermath and what it is like dealing with people on social media and whether she will be ever able to date a man now that she identified as bi-sexual.

You can follow Erika on her Instagram @glitterbuggin

Don’t forget to subscribe to this podcast for weekly episodes, and follow me on Instagram @realmelissadasilva

Nancy Willard’s vision is that young people will provide leadership throughout the world to embrace civility and foster positive relations!Nancy entered the field of “bullying prevention” by writing the first book ever published on cyberbullying. She approaches issues of youth risk based on a digital age perspective. Key insight related to this perspective is that the “authoritarian mindset,” which assumes that adults are in control, is not well founded. Nancy and I discuss how she got to this point and her approaches.

Her approach to youth risk prevention recognizes that in the digital age it is necessary for adults to empower young people with the values and skills to embrace civility. To help young people foster positive relationships requires a focus on the quality of the school climate, empowering young people with the values and skills necessary to foster positive relationships, and ensuring that when adults intervene in hurtful situations this results in an effective resolution that fully supports all involved students.

Nancy has degrees in special education and law, taught “at risk” children, practiced computer law, and was an educational technology and digital safety consultant. She also experienced intense bullying as a teen.

She is the author of: Cyberbullying and Cyberthreats: Responding to the Challenge of Online Social Cruelty, Threats, and Distress (2007, Research Press) and Cyber-Safe Kids, Cyber-Savvy Teens, Helping Young People Use the Internet Safety and Responsibly (2007, Jossey Bass). Cyber Savvy: Embracing Digital Safety and Civility (2011, Corwin Press).

Be sure to check out Nancy’s work!

If you are interested in having an inspirational and transformational experience yourself be sure to check out my website now to sign up for my retreat this July!

https://www.melissadasilva.com/groupretreat/ (https://www.melissadasilva.com/groupretreat/)

Be sure to follow me on Instagram @realmelissadasilva

This week, I had the magical opportunity to speak with Maggie Sharar. Maggie identifies as “energetic and visual healer”. She has had a passion for art since she was a child and has turned her passion into a full time job. She is committed to healing and connecting and thrives when doing so. Maggie uses her experience as a birth doula for inspiration and she uses the energy from those experiences to this day. She uses her energy to create art for herself, and more recently during COVID, she creates for clients as well. She specializes in water colors and sharing her process of creating with her Facebook followers. Maggie has turned the loss of her job into a positive choice of making her art her full time job.

Be sure to follow Maggie on Instagram: @infinite_rebirth

Follow her patreon: https://www.patreon.com/maggiesharar?fbclid=IwAR1Ro5_ZUGxczs177fYkP1fqkQIgtsZ4XbbrhzIt7CHO9EglPHVbEhOk7Us (https://www.patreon.com/maggiesharar?fbclid=IwAR1Ro5_ZUGxczs177fYkP1fqkQIgtsZ4XbbrhzIt7CHO9EglPHVbEhOk7Us)

Check out her artwork:

https://www.etsy.com/shop/shararmaggie?fbclid=IwAR1rYlx21bovyFgcEIb5rnoLFCz1xjFOixxd8B5tHI_uUv02gJzA6ejRDtQ (https://www.etsy.com/shop/shararmaggie?fbclid=IwAR1rYlx21bovyFgcEIb5rnoLFCz1xjFOixxd8B5tHI_uUv02gJzA6ejRDtQ)

Don’t forget to subscribe to this podcast for weekly episodes, and follow me on Instagram @realmelissadasilva

Gina Pecoraro created the LGBTQ company, Seven Even Clothing after being married to a man. When she came out back in 2008, she noticed that there wasn’t many clothing options to represent who she was. Years prior to getting married, a good friend of Gina’s would always call me her seven. Seven standing for the seven letters in the word lesbian. He would call Gina out on being gay way before she was ready to accept it. So after coming out, she put that nickname to good use! Gina and I discuss her journey with her clothing brand and how it came to be what it is now. We also discuss her creativity with the process and what inspires Gina when it comes to creating her clothing. Seven Even actually has a new athletic line that Gina discusses creating with her business partner, Cody. Gina and I discuss her coming out journey and what she feels is the importance of everyone’s story.

Be sure to check out Seven Even Clothing:

SevenEvenClothing.com

Don’t forget to subscribe to this podcast for weekly episodes, and follow me on Instagram @realmelissadasilva and check out my website melissadasilva.com

Nancy Shadlock is the CEO and founder of Centered life coaching and the host ofhttp://www.centered.ca/podcast ( The Coming Out Chronicles podcast). When Nancy finally discovered that she didn’t have to divorce her spirituality to embrace her sexuality she started creating the life she’s always dreamed of. She’s now married to an amazing woman named Alaina, they have two sweet babies and a beautiful life together in Calgary, Alberta. Now she spends her days helping others break out of closets of all kinds, embrace who they are and stand in their truth. Nancy and I discuss her journey of coming out in a conservative family and what it was like to go through conversion therapy. We discuss how her process inspired her to work with others and help individuals with their journey. We also chat about her inspiration for her podcast, and what it is like to “take a walk in someone else's shoes”.

Be sure to checkout Nancy’s platforms:

https://www.facebook.com/CenteredLifeCoaching (https://www.facebook.com/CenteredLifeCoaching)

https://www.linkedin.com/in/nancyshadlock/ (https://www.linkedin.com/in/nancyshadlock/)

https://www.instagram.com/nancyshadlock/ (https://www.instagram.com/nancyshadlock/)

and Nancy’s retreat info:

https://www.centered.ca/retreats (centered.ca/retreats)

Don’t forget to subscribe to this podcast for weekly episodes, and follow me on Instagram @realmelissadasilva and check out my website melissadasilva.com

Jamie Hazelton is the founder of Whole You Health and a proud trans lesbian. Jamie works with LGBTQIA* individuals and allies who are experiencing highly stressful lives and partners with each person to help them feel recharged and rejuvenated. This week, Jamie and I discuss what inspired her to become a health and wellness coach and what that means to her. Jamie uses her personal experiences to help reach people in the LGBTQIA* community. We also discuss the importance of therapy and coaching and what it means to us. Jamie and I talk about the journey of coming out, especially around the holiday season (10:10). Jamie has recently created a YouTube channel that she uses to connect and inspire others in the community. We discuss the importance of connecting with others in your community and ways to do so during these times. Jamie truly believes in creating a space where people can feel open and accepted!

Be sure to stay updated with Jamie:

Instagram: @wholeyouhealth

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/wholeuhealth (https://www.facebook.com/wholeuhealth)

Website: http://wholeuhealth.com/ (http://wholeuhealth.com/)

Don’t forget to subscribe to this podcast for weekly episodes, and follow me on Instagram @realmelissadasilva

Dr. Steve Yacovelli has been in the leadership, learning and development, change management, and diversity and inclusion consulting space pretty much his whole career (about twenty-five years). In his consulting experience he’s seen some leaders completely excel in their effectiveness, and some completely crash and burn due to their lack of competence in leadership skills. Steve’s desire was to help both types of leaders be more effective, through coaching, formal and informal training, and just generally being there to support their leadershippiness.

A few years ago, Steve realized that the focus on specifically developing LGBTQ+ Leaders wasn’t really top of mind for many organizations. Sure, there were a few conference sessions, some random webinars, or even university-sponsored certificate programs, but nothing in a programmatic, cross-association, and at all levels within the leadership savviness scale. In short, a patchwork of effort and not necessarily a cohesive focus or movement.

So, “The Gay Leadership Dude” was born. It’s Steve’s brand to “come out” and acknowledge the role he wants to take to give back to the LGBTQ+ Community: to serve as a “lightening rod” of sorts to start a movement to grow LGBTQ+ Leaders to be even more effective, in a consistent, thoughtful, and mindful manner, especially those up-and-coming Leaders within the broader movement for equality and fairness for all LGBTQ+ people and well beyond.

Connect with Steve:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/steveyacovelli

Don’t forget to subscribe to this podcast for weekly episodes, and follow me on Instagram @realmelissadasilva

Ever since beginning his gender transition journey in 2012, Jack A. Ori has been empowering young adults through stories to live life on their own terms more quickly and easily than he did.

Jack was a regular contributor to Autism Empowerment in 2009. and recently appeared on Chat and Spin Radio in the UK,. He writes both fiction and non-fiction to encourage and empower young people; his latest novel, Reinventing Hannah, was named a semi-finalist in the 2020 Kindle Book Awards. Jack and I discuss his gender journey and what that was like for him.

Be sure to check out Jack:

https://www.jackaori.com/ (https://www.jackaori.com/)

Don’t forget to subscribe to this podcast for weekly episodes, and follow me on Instagram @realmelissadasilva and check out my website melissadasilva.com

Come retreat with me in Puerto Rico!

https://www.melissadasilva.com/groupretreat/?fbclid=IwAR2vpFkVIIJokyBNDfC3S5KuG4pZ4mhHGfBkoKYDfl2GFW3c3f8-PckAeVU (https://www.melissadasilva.com/groupretreat/?fbclid=IwAR2vpFkVIIJokyBNDfC3S5KuG4pZ4mhHGfBkoKYDfl2GFW3c3f8-PckAeVU)