Empowered & Out

The Business of Kindness: Why Empathy at Work Isn’t Soft — It’s Smart (with Jamie Graceffa, Founder of Kind Cards)

What if kindness wasn’t just a “nice to have,” but a game-changer for performance, retention, and workplace culture? In this powerful episode of Empowered & Out, host Jonathan Barbe sits down with Jamie Graceffa — founder of Kind Cards, author of Career Control, and thought leader in HR, learning, and inclusion — to explore what kindness really means at work and how it can transform the way we lead, communicate, and connect.

Together, they unpack:

• Why kindness looks different at work versus in our personal lives
• The difference between being nice and being kind
• How kindness directly impacts engagement, retention, and business results
• Simple, actionable ways to bring more kindness into your workplace — starting today
• How being gay became Jamie’s gift for empathy, inclusion, and connection
• The story behind Kind Cards and how they’re helping teams elevate the employee experience

This isn’t a fluffy conversation — it’s a masterclass in how intention, empathy, and action can redefine success.

✨ Connect with Jamie:

Website: getkindcards.com

Follow: @GetKindCards on Instagram, LinkedIn, TikTok, X, and Facebook

💡 Connect with Jonathan & Empowered & Out: https://linktr.ee/empoweredandout

Join the Patreon community for bonus episodes, early access, and coaching tools: patreon.com/empoweredandoutpodcast

🎧 Until next time — Stay Empowered, Stay Out, and keep building the life and career that reflects all of who you are — and lead with kindness every step of the way.

Finding Your Authentic Voice with Sam Malone

What if the very sound of your voice could transform how the world sees you?

In this episode of Empowered & Out, host Jonathan Barbe welcomes Sam Malone, lead spoken voice lecturer in Musical Theatre at the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama and a teacher at RADA. Sam’s students now lead West End productions like Hadestown, Mean Girls, and Les Misérables. 

Beyond the stage, he coaches executives at companies like Wagamama, Accenture, and Skadden — helping leaders speak with presence, authenticity, and calm under pressure.

Together, Jonathan and Sam explore:

• The connection between voice, identity, and authenticity
• How bias affects who gets heard in the workplace
• The nervous system’s role in communication and leadership
• Supporting trans and non-binary voices
• Why your voice — just as it is — is enough
• Sam’s upcoming book Why They Can’t Hear You: A Practical Guide to Taking Up Vocal Space

🎧 Listen now and learn how to take up space, speak with confidence, and be heard — on stage, in the boardroom, and in your everyday life here: https://linktr.ee/empoweredandout 

📚 Learn more about Sam’s book and early access: elevatevoice.co.uk/book

Follow Jonathan & Empowered & Out Coaching, find more details here: https://linktr.ee/empoweredandout

💼 LinkedIn | 📸 Instagram | 🎥 YouTube | 🎧 Spotify

Guest: Sharee Salles — lesbian mom, special education teacher, temple religious-school educator, and personal trainer specializing in clients of all sizes, including those navigating eating disorders.

Sharee shares how ASL became a bridge for connection in her classroom, what changed when she chose to be out at work, and why form, safety, and inclusivity matter just as much in the gym as they do in school.

In this episode, we explore:

• Bringing ASL into special education classrooms—and what it unlocks for minimally verbal students
• The path from not out to visible as an educator, with real-world advice on “reading the room”
• Parenting while teaching: boundaries, advocacy, and the school–home connection
• Building Jewish community and queer visibility in a temple classroom
• Inclusive fitness: form over ego, HAES-aligned training, and supporting clients with ED histories

Key takeaways

• Visibility is leadership—when it’s safe. Know the climate, then model authenticity.
• Communication tools (ASL, devices) reduce stigma and open language pathways.
• The right form makes movement safer and more empowering for every body.
• Community—at school, at temple, at home—turns difference into belonging.

Connect with Jonathan / Empowered & Out

IG/FB/TikTok: @jmbcoachingllc

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

Book a Discovery call: https://calendly.com/jmbcoachingllc/discovery-call

CTA

If this conversation moved you, share it with a friend and leave a rating/review. It helps others find the show.

Lead & Belong — Showing Up Fully at Work (with Mary Ellen Murrah)

Guest: Mary Ellen Murrah — Chief Strategy & Marketing Officer, Vista Consulting; co-owner, Groundwater Creative; proud Baltimorean; mom of two; fierce alto.

What we cover

• Coming out later in life while already in senior leadership
• Speaking up in male-dominated, “stiff” industries
• The power of queer spaces (chorus!) to build resilient leaders
• Holiday boundary-setting with family (the Christmas Eve dinner)
• Empathy at work: modeling grace without losing standards
• Networking authentically—micro-moments that shift culture

Memorable quotes

• “I decided I’m walking in as myself—and the room can take me as I am.”
• “You don’t have to know every answer to be a great leader.”
• “Queer joy is leadership training.”
• “Boundaries are love with clarity.”

Action step

Ask yourself before your next meeting: What’s one small, honest detail I can share that lets me show up fully (and safely) today? Then do it.

Links

• Connect with Mary Ellen on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/maryellenmurrah/
• Vista Consulting: https://vistact.com/
• Jonathan: LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonathanmbarbe/
• IG/TikTok/FB @JMBCoachingLLC

Credits

Host: Jonathan Barbe • Empowered & Out Coaching

Subscribe + review to support the show and help others find it. 💜

Loving Yourself Through the Mess: Trauma, Somatics & Community with Joe “The Soul Coach” Coleman

Episode Summary

Today’s guest radiates warmth, wisdom, and unapologetic authenticity. Joseph “Joe The Soul Coach” Coleman is a creative force, deeply intuitive coach, and community-builder who turns vulnerability into connection. We dig into how trauma shows up in the body, why presence and gratitude are powerful starting points, and how real healing happens in community—not isolation. Joe shares candid stories about coming out, people-pleasing and boundaries, leading vs. belonging in community, and the somatic practices that help us regulate and rebuild.

In this conversation:

• Understanding trauma as transformation—and where to begin
• Somatic awareness: how the body “keeps the score” and ways to regulate in the moment
• Loving yourself in the middle of the mess (gratitude, grace, seasons of isolation)
• Coming out, family dynamics, and reclaiming identity
• Being in community vs. leading it: ethics, capacity, and sustainability
• Creativity as a healing catalyst (from ballroom culture to programming and music)
• A practical reset: box breathing to calm your nervous system—anytime, anywhere

Key Takeaways:

• Start with presence: ask “Who am I—right now?” without rushing to a finish line.
• Your body remembers; learn where you feel triggers and build resilience there.
• Gratitude is a daily micro-practice that expands capacity during hard seasons.
• Community care is not optional—healing is interdependent.
• Boundaries + honest expression beat bottling things up every time.

Guest

Joe "The Soul Coach” Coleman – Coach, creative, and community leader.

• Coaching practice: Rejuvenated Lifestyle (1:1, groups, community leadership support)

• Community: Entertainment & Experience Co-Chair, Unity Through Diversity Conference (BIPOC & LGBTQ+ health)

Try This Now: Box breathing (inhale 3, hold 4, exhale 5–7—slowly). Unclench your jaw. Notice where you feel the trigger in your body.

Connect & Support

• Work with Joe: Rejuvenated Lifestyle
• Unity Through Diversity Conference: search “Unity Through Diversity ioov” for details
• Follow the show, rate & review to help others find these conversations

Host

Jonathan Barbe — Founder, JMB Coaching LLC & creator of Empowered & Out Coaching

Support This Podcast @ https://linktr.ee/empoweredandout

Leading Without a Blueprint — Visibility, Resilience & Authenticity with Dr. Jess Spohn (they/them)

What does it mean to lead when there’s no roadmap for someone like you?

In this powerful episode of Empowered & Out, host Jonathan Barbe sits down with Dr. Jess Spohn (they/them) — a nonbinary, queer, and neurosparkly public health social worker redefining leadership and visibility in social work and beyond.

From turning pronoun mistakes into dance breaks 💃 to navigating discrimination with courage and humor, Dr. Jess shares what it’s really like to build a leadership identity without nonbinary role models — and how visibility itself can be a radical act of resistance and hope.

You’ll hear stories about:

🌈 Leading authentically in systems that weren’t built for you

💬 A real-life discrimination experience that reshaped their advocacy

💃 Reclaiming joy and agency through creativity and humor

🧠 The power of lived recovery experience in leadership and supervision

🔥 Why nonbinary & trans visibility in professional spaces matters now more than ever

Whether you’re an LGBTQ+ professional, an ally, or a leader learning how to make your workplace safer and more inclusive, this conversation will leave you inspired to lead with truth, courage, and compassion.

🎧 Tune in now — and if it resonates, don’t forget to follow, rate, and share Empowered & Out to help others lead authentically, too.

🔗 Resources

• Dr. Jess’s publication: Trans and Gender Expansive Invisibility in Social Work Senior Leadership

• Kaleidoscope Wellness Services (OUTLAST Workshop): withkaleidoscope.com

• InsideOut Advocacy: ioadvocacy.org

Gender Isn’t Binary, Inclusion Isn’t Optional — with Amelia J. Michael

Guest: Amelia J. Michael (they/them) — Gender inclusion speaker, trainer, and author of Gender Inclusion at Work.

In this episode of Empowered & Out, we dive into the hard, human, and sometimes hilarious truths about making the workplace safer for transgender and nonbinary employees.

Amelia shares:

• What “silos and silence” have to do with inclusion (hint: it’s not just a tech problem)
• Why their book is a “choose-your-own-adventure” for every department
• What they rewrote in the book after anti-trans laws started passing
• Their journey from a phobia of singing to lead singer of a band (seriously!)
• Practical advice for people who want to be inclusive but are afraid of messing up

Whether you're HR, leadership, or just someone who wants to be a better ally, this episode is for you.

🖥️ Download a free chapter from Amelia’s book at ameliajmichael.com

📚 Available at all major booksellers

🔗 Connect on LinkedIn: @AmeliaJMichael

🎧 Don’t forget to subscribe, share, and leave a review if today’s episode inspired you!

Guests:

Holly Allen (she/her) — Career Services Professional & former Casting Director/Acting Coach with 20+ years in film and theatre. MFA in Theatre. Advocate for authentic leadership and mentorship in higher education.

Victoria Sexton (she/her) — Career Advisor and advocate for access to higher education; former case manager on the West Coast; lifelong learner, creative writer, and late-bloomer lesbian building community in the South.

• The interview that changed everything — when honesty became a bridge to belonging
• Moving from California to the South as an openly queer professional
• Mentorship & allyship — why representation in leadership matters
• Authenticity in every role — wearing the “boss,” “friend,” and “mentor” hats without losing yourself
• “Pleasant tolerance” vs. real acceptance — reading the room with grace and boundaries
• Acting skills as career tools — listening deeply, holding presence, and building confidence
• Late-bloomer love stories and finding community later in life
• Creating safer spaces for identity expression at work and on campus

• Authenticity travels — whether you’re a leader, mentor, or colleague, the goal is to stay you in every role.

• Bravery in interviews can be self-protection — ask the questions that clarify fit and safety.

• Allyship is an action — signal safety through language, visuals, and follow-through.

• Acting skills = career skills — presence, eye contact, empathy, and managing nerves.

• Belonging takes boundaries — “pleasant tolerance” can open doors when met with kindness and clarity.

• Connect with Holly Allen on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/hollyallenonline/

• Connect with Victoria Sexton on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/victoria-r-sexton/

• Learn more about Empowered & Out Coaching → linktr.ee/empoweredandout

• Subscribe to Empowered & Out: The LGBTQ+ Career Coaching Podcast wherever you listen

• Rate, review, and share this episode with a friend or mentor who values authentic leadership

• Join the Empowered & Out community for coaching tools, bonus content, and exclusive conversations

Host: Jonathan Barbe | Production: Empowered & Out

Until next time — stay empowered, stay out, surround yourself with allies who see you, and keep building the life and career that reflects all of who you are.

Rest, Belonging & Food Justice with Passion Rutledge

Guest: Passion Rutledge — Finance & Operations Director, National Farm to School Network; writer exploring healing, identity, and collective liberation.

In this conversation:

• Sabbaticals as transformation—rest as a leadership tool
• Raising a queer family in the South with joy and intention
• Unmasking as a Black, queer, neurodivergent leader
• Food & farming as pathways to healing and liberation
• Community power: why conferences and networks matter
• Integrating career, equity, and family values—beyond “balance”
• Writing as mental health, accountability, and self-awareness

Key Takeaways

• Rest is strategic: sabbaticals can reset values and sharpen leadership.

• Belonging is embodied first; structures help, but feelings drive it.

• Food systems are personal—what’s on the plate ties to justice, health, and community.

• Integration beats balance: lead with the same values at home and at work.

• Community accelerates impact—shared learning spaces move policy and practice.

Resources & Links

• 10th National Farm to Cafeteria Conference (Dec 1–4, 2025 • Albuquerque): https://www.farmtoschool.org/conference

Connect with Passion: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/passion-rutledge-1ab02528/

• National Farm to School Network: farmtoschool.org

Connect with Jonathan & Support this podcast

• https://linktr.ee/empoweredandout

• Please rate, review, and share this episode with a friend who needs it

• Subscribe so you never miss a conversation

Credits

Host: Jonathan Barbe | Production: Empowered & Out

Authenticity in Automotive with Ben Crawford (Carwow)

Summary:

From “accidental” student advocate to leading media & brand partnerships at Carwow, Ben Crawford shares what visibility looks like inside UK automotive — and how mentorship, community, and a few brave choices can shift careers (and companies). We unpack the energy tax of hiding, building role models when you can’t see them, and one small thing you can do this week to move the needle.

Guest: Ben Crawford — Media & Brand Partnerships, Carwow.

Connect: Ben Crawford —: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bencrawfordd/

What you’ll learn:

• How to navigate industries that are still catching up on inclusion
• Mentorship vs. “generic advice” — why the queer lens matters
• Reading the room without erasing yourself
• Concrete examples of policy + culture shifts that stick
• Redefining career success beyond titles and salary

Key quotes:

• “You can waste so much energy trying to protect yourself from being yourself.” — Ben
• “If every LGBTQ+ pro did one small thing for the community, we’d move mountains.” — Ben

Links & Resources:

• Empowered & Out Coaching:  https://linktr.ee/empoweredandout
• Join Patreon (early access + bonus): [Patreon.com/EmpoweredAndOutPodcast]

Call to Action:

Loved this episode? Share it with a friend or coworker, rate & review on Apple/Spotify, and follow so you don’t miss next week’s drop.

Credits:

Host: Jonathan Barbe • Produced by Empowered & Out •