Empowered & Out

What happens when you reach midlife and realize there’s more inside you waiting to be expressed?

In this episode of Empowered & Out, Jonathan sits down with Emmanuel Denizot — a longtime film and television subtitler who spent over 25 years translating stories across cultures before choosing to rewrite his own. After turning 50, Emmanuel stepped into a bold pivot, launching Partant, a series of intimate, culture-centered weekend experiences designed to foster authentic connection, curiosity, and slow living in European cities.

Together, they explore what it truly means to align your work with your values, why beauty and creativity are powerful tools for healing and connection, and how taking imperfect action builds confidence — especially later in life. Emmanuel opens up about navigating fear, perfectionism, introversion, and the courage it takes to put yourself back out there after decades in one career.

This conversation is a reminder that reinvention doesn’t have an expiration date — and that authenticity, presence, and curiosity can reshape how we work, travel, and connect with each other.

If you’ve ever felt called to slow down, reconnect with your purpose, or trust yourself enough to try something new, this episode will resonate deeply.

Chapters 

00:00 Welcome to Empowered & Out + Season Theme: Visibility & Authenticity
01:30 Meeting Emmanuel + Energy Check-In
03:10 Turning 50 and Questioning What’s Next
06:45 Coaching, Reflection & The Power of Slowing Down
10:40 Digital Detox, Travel & Reconnecting with Presence
13:05 Introducing Partant: Intimate Cultural Weekends
17:20 Curiosity, Introversion & Designing Authentic Connection
22:05 The “Accidental but Intentional” Experience
27:15 Slow Travel, Hidden Cities & Deeper Cultural Access
34:10 Beauty, Cinema & Why Atmosphere Matters
36:10 Art as Healing and Transformation
39:15 Starting Over at 50: Fear, Confidence & Imperfect Action
43:00 Introversion, Visibility & Owning Your Voice
47:50 Perfectionism, Mindset Shifts & Growth
52:00 Final Reflections on Courage, Alignment & Living Authentically

What happens when a Gen Zer walks into a workplace that wasn’t built for them… and decides to remix the whole thing? 👀

In this episode, Jonathan sits down with Zach Conklin — a 3+1 business student at Elon University earning three degrees in four years (casual flex), juggling multiple jobs, entrepreneurial projects, and a front-row seat to how Gen Z is changing the future of work.

They get into:
✨ Why Gen Z brings an entrepreneurial mindset into every role (not just startups)
✨ Redefining success without the comparison spiral
✨ Why doing one thing really well beats doing everything halfway
✨ Being underestimated for looking young — and how to own your seat at the table
✨ AI, adaptability, and why future leaders need to evolve (or get left behind)
✨ How to stay authentic while learning how to navigate different spaces

It’s honest, funny, thoughtful — and a reminder that you don’t have to follow outdated rules to build a career that actually fits your life.

If you’re a Gen Zer figuring it out, a leader trying to understand the next generation, or someone ready to stop shrinking and start building on your own terms — this one’s for you.

🎙️ Until next time — stay empowered, stay out, and keep building your future on your own terms.

What happens when authenticity isn’t just a buzzword — but a way of leading, parenting, and living?

In this powerful episode of Empowered & Out, Jonathan Barbe sits down with Susan Cameron-Jung — a queer leader, foster parent, yogi, and Business Development & Inclusion Manager at Auscare Support in Sydney — for a deeply honest conversation about what it truly means to lead with heart.

Susan shares her journey of coming out at 19 in London and building a career across disability, LGBTQIA+, and culturally diverse communities. Together, they explore how intersectionality shapes leadership, why emotional intelligence is a leadership tool (not just a skill), and how inclusion must move beyond policies into everyday practice.

They also dive into the realities of queer visibility at work and at home, raising children in a same-sex family, navigating challenging environments with integrity, and using humor, compassion, and self-awareness to build trust across differences.

This episode is a reminder that authentic leadership isn’t about perfection — it’s about courage, connection, and choosing to show up fully, even when it’s uncomfortable.

🎧 If you’re an LGBTQ+ professional, leader, or ally looking to lead with empathy, build inclusive cultures, and live more authentically — this conversation is for you.

2026 is the year you stop shrinking.

The year you step into rooms you once felt unqualified for.

The year you finally claim that you are visible, valuable, and chosen.

In this season kickoff episode of Empowered & Out, host Jonathan sets the tone for a powerful year centered on visibility, authenticity, and what prosperity truly means for LGBTQ+ professionals and leaders.

Prosperity isn’t just about money — it’s about identity, belonging, confidence, and making aligned decisions that honor who you really are. Jonathan unpacks why visibility is strategy (not vanity), how to stop minimizing your value, and what it means to choose yourself before waiting for validation.

You’ll also hear a practical “Coach’s Corner” exercise to help you anchor your year with intention and clarity:

“In 2026, I prosper because I choose ______.”

Whether you’re navigating career growth, rebuilding confidence, or learning how to show up more authentically at work, this episode will leave you feeling seen, grounded, and empowered to take up space.

✨ If you’re ready to prosper — not just financially, but personally and professionally — this season is for you.

Today’s guest is an artist who has lived, created, and survived in ways that crack open your heart. From poetry and music heard around the world to a deeply human mission to keep LGBTQ+ youth alive and hopeful — Laurier Tiernan is here to talk art, survival, identity, and their brand-new book Fifty-Five Ways to Survive. Trust me… this conversation is going to stay with you.

In this powerful episode of Empowered & Out, Jonathan sits down with interdisciplinary queer artist Laurier Tiernan, whose life and work span Japan, Canada, poetry, music, radio, chronic illness, and a fierce commitment to survival.

Laurier opens up about 55 Ways to Survive, their first full book of bilingual poetry, and shares deeply personal stories about creativity, chronic illness, suicidal ideation, resilience, psychic intuition, queer identity, and what it means to keep choosing this planet.

This conversation is raw, human, spiritually grounded, and full of the kind of honesty queer creatives crave. If you’ve ever felt misunderstood, burnt out, or on the edge of giving up on your dreams — this episode will meet you where you are.

TIMELINE BREAKDOWN

00:01 – Welcome & Introduction

Jonathan introduces Laurier, their international creative journey, and the intention behind today’s conversation.

01:45 – The Birth of 55 Ways to Survive

Laurier explains how the book came to be, why it matters now, and the bilingual + illustrated format.

03:30 – Growing Up, Poverty, and Persistence

How Marfan syndrome, scarcity, and a childhood belief that “everything is too expensive” shaped Laurier’s artistic path.

04:50 – High School, Rejection & the First Spark of Belonging

Being expelled from class for writing too much poetry — and how a queer art exhibit reignited the dream.

07:30 – The Role of Timing, Luck & Universal Alignment

Laurier reflects on the moment a publisher finally said “yes.”

08:50 – A Content Warning + Suicide Survival Story

Laurier shares openly about surviving multiple suicide attempts and how speaking publicly changed their own healing.

10:15 – What Queer Youth Need to Hear

A spiritual, grounding reminder about listening to your higher self and staying present.

14:30 – “It Gets Better” vs. “It Can Get Better”

A reframing for anyone struggling to imagine a future.

17:50 – Language, Identity & Artistry

How growing up bilingual shaped Laurier’s worldview — and how French vs. English affects their creative voice.

21:45 – Chronic Illness & Resilience

How facing mortality early made Laurier fearless in their creative pursuits.

23:50 – Boundaries, Touring, Energy Management

Why hydration, rest, and inner listening matter more than anything.

29:30 – The Realities of DIY Book Touring

Unexpected challenges, small-town ego, and the kindness of strangers.

32:00 – Why LinkedIn is a Safe Place to Be Fully Queer

Visibility, stereotypes, and creating space for others to be themselves.

40:10 – Authenticity, Bullying, and Generational Change

A conversation on showing up honestly in a noisy, critical world.

46:45 – Why Being Visible Matters for Queer Professionals

Representation, trust, and showing the world “there’s nothing to fear here.”

52:00 – Being Misunderstood & Being Seen

Psychic intuition, honesty, and being a source of healing for others.

58:00 – Confidence: Then vs. Now

The biggest difference...

Mystic Marketing & Messy Action: Authentic Branding for Queer Creatives with Joseph Federico

What if your marketing felt more like magic than a chore?

In this episode of Empowered and Out, I’m joined by Joseph Federico (he/they) — a seasoned marketing maven with 20+ years of experience, founder of J Federico Marketing and Anchors to Dusk Publishing, spooky season enthusiast, and creator of the new witchy workbook Mystic Marketing: Queer Magic and Modern Brandcraft.

Joseph has done it all — from MSNBC to Verizon — and now devotes his work to queer creatives, authors, and small business owners who are done shrinking, diluting themselves online, or begging algorithms for permission to exist. We talk about what authentic branding actually looks like in practice, how to sell without feeling salesy, and why “messy action” on camera often converts better than polished perfection.

We also dive into using AI as a creative co-pilot (not a replacement), protecting your voice and ethics, and building resilience in a job market that can feel hostile, discriminatory, and downright discouraging — especially for LGBTQ+ professionals.

If you’ve ever wondered:

• “How do I show up online without hiding who I am?”
• “How do I sell my work without feeling gross?”
• “Where do I even start if I want to build thought leadership as a queer professional?”

…this conversation is for you.

🎧 In this episode, we cover:

• Authentic branding that centers your humanity, not just your highlight reel
• “Selling without selling” and using breadcrumbs instead of pushy tactics
• Why messy, imperfect video is more powerful than waiting to feel “ready”
• Using AI without losing your voice, ethics, or integrity
• What queer professionals can do when algorithms and bias feel stacked against them
• Starting a business in a brutal job market — and thinking bigger than what recruiters offer
• The story behind Joseph’s witchy workbook Mystic Marketing: Queer Magic and Modern Brandcraft

If you’re craving deeper alignment and want to infuse a little queer magic into your brand, this episode will give you both mindset and practical next steps.

Show Notes

• 00:00–01:30 – Welcome to Empowered & Out + intro to Joseph
• 01:30–04:10 – What authentic branding actually looks like in practice + client story
• 04:10–07:30 – “Selling without selling”
• 07:30–10:30 – Messy action on camera
• 10:30–13:30 – Behind-the-scenes content, walking to client sessions, low-fi check-ins, and how a local business became “the hi there guy.”
• 13:30–17:00 – AI as a creative partner (not a crutch), calling out “everyone uses it,” and how to keep humanity at the center of your content.
• 17:00–20:30 – Queer content vs algorithms
• 20:30–24:30 – Thought leadership for “small” creators
• 24:30–26:30 – Mindset after discrimination and toxic workplaces
• 26:30–29:30 – The leap into full-time business: job market fatigue, recruiter reality checks, and being “given no other choice” but to build your own thing.
• 29:30–33:30 – Niching into serving the queer community, tying purpose + confidence together, and naming hiring practices and ghosting as harmful.
• 33:30–37:45 – The birth of Mystic Marketing
• 37:45–40:20 – Rapid-fire...

Francisco Rodriguez: Resilience, Identity & Leading With Passion + Gratitude

From being born premature with an uncertain future to breaking barriers as a first-generation queer Latino in HR and beyond — Francisco’s story is one of resilience, triumph, and authenticity. Today, we’re diving into how passion, gratitude, and living boldly can reshape not only a career but an entire community.

In this powerful episode of Empowered & Out, Jonathan sits down with Francisco Rodriguez — a first-generation queer Latino, HR professional, community builder, and LGBTQ+ athlete whose story is rooted in resilience, authenticity, and purpose.

Born premature at six months, Francisco has been defying the odds since day one. His journey takes us from navigating first-gen identity and imposter syndrome, to championing inclusion in corporate HR, to founding Riverside Pride, organizing TEDx events, and building queer spaces where community thrives.

Francisco opens up about:

🌈 Growing up first-gen and navigating bicultural identity

⚡ The imposter syndrome many first-gen professionals face

💜 How surviving early medical challenges shaped his resilience

💼 Breaking into HR as a queer Latino professional

🤝 The importance of community, sports, and chosen family

🧠 Healing from past trauma & embracing therapy

✨ His personal motto: “Do everything with passion and gratitude” — and how it guides his life daily

Whether you’re first-gen, LGBTQ+, rebuilding confidence, or redefining your place in the world — this episode will speak to your heart.

🔥 Walking Away Without a Plan B — Career Courage, Burnout Recovery & Portfolio Paths with Charlotte Snowden

In this episode of Empowered & Out, Jonathan sits down with Charlotte Snowden — Career & Leadership Coach, NLP Practitioner, and founder of Step Up for Success. With over 20 years in organizational leadership, Charlotte has walked away from toxic workplaces not once, but twice — both without a Plan B — and rebuilt a career that actually fits her life and values.

Together we dig into:

✨ Leaving burnout and misaligned leadership with no safety net

✨ Rebuilding confidence after toxic work cultures

✨ Spotting the red flags that tell you it’s time to go

✨ Portfolio careers & why the traditional 9-5 is no longer the only path

✨ NLP tools to rewire fear, self-doubt & interview anxiety

✨ Confidence, clarity & control — the real foundations of a healthy career

✨ Leading authentically as LGBTQ+ professionals without masking

If you’ve ever felt stuck in a job that drains you, overthought every email, dreaded Mondays, or wondered “Is this all there is?” — this episode is a permission slip to choose yourself.

Explore Charlotte’s work or book a clarity call:

stepupforsuccess.co.uk

Rate, review & share if this conversation resonates.

Stay Empowered, Stay Out — and Build a career that fitsYou, Not the other way around. 🌈

Navigating Multicultural Workplaces Without Losing Yourself — with Daniele Brunetto

What happens when your “dream job” starts draining your soul — and you can’t tell if it’s the culture, the pace, or just… not you?

In this episode of Empowered & Out, career coach Jonathan Barbe sits down with Daniele Brunetto, a multilingual career coach based in Brussels, who specializes in helping professionals leave prestige-driven toxic jobs and step into roles where they can actually thrive — culturally, emotionally, and professionally.

Together, they unpack:

• How multicultural workplaces quietly shape our behavior and stress levels
• Erin Meyer’s 8 dimensions of intercultural communication — and why they matter at work
• The extra emotional labor LGBTQ+ professionals face when decoding what's "safe" to share
• Real-life stories of identity misfires, hilarious misunderstandings, and cultural insights
• Actionable ways to vet a company for inclusivity before you say yes

If you’ve ever felt like you were too much for one culture and not enough for another — this episode will help you feel seen, supported, and strategic.

🔗 Connect with Daniele on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/daniele-brunetto/

Design With All in Mind — Tas on Surviving, Thriving, and Creating Inclusive Spaces

What does it mean to rebuild your identity after growing up in control, trauma, and silence—and then use that resilience to create a more inclusive world?

In this powerful episode, host Jonathan Barbe sits down with Tas (they/he) — a deaf, disabled, queer, trans, biracial, and autistic artist, author, and accessibility consultant whose story will move and inspire you.

Tas opens up about:

• Growing up in a Christian fundamentalist cult and surviving abuse
• Discovering their autism diagnosis at 24 after a childhood of denial
• Facing racism, ableism, and discrimination in college and the workplace
• Coming out as trans after marriage and finding authentic love
• Transforming pain into purpose through art, advocacy, and accessibility

💬 This episode isn’t just about survival — it’s about the power of designing with all in mind and finding freedom in living as your whole self.

🎧 Listen wherever you get your podcasts, and learn more about Tas at tastheartist.com.