Empowered & Out

What does it really take to lead authentically — especially when you’re the only out LGBTQ+ voice in the room?

This week, I sit down with Craig Hanlon-Smith — lifelong activist, educator, theatre artist, and soon-to-be Principal of the London South Bank Technical College — to unpack his incredible journey from the stage to the classroom to shaping cultures of belonging for the next generation.

We talk about:

🎭 How Craig’s theatre roots shaped his leadership style

🌈 The realities of being an openly gay leader in education

📣 Why visibility matters more than ever

💡 Practical lessons on inclusion, resilience, and unapologetic authenticity

This one’s for every LGBTQ+ professional who’s ever questioned whether they belong — or wondered if their voice could change the room.

🎧 Listen now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you stream!

Want early access to episodes, bonus content I don’t share anywhere else, and a supportive community of LGBTQ+ professionals just like you?

Come join us on Patreon and be part of our chosen family.

Join here: https://www.patreon.com/EmpoweredAndOutPodcast

🌐 Website: https://www.jmbcoachingllc.com/home

📸 Instagram/TikTok/Facebook: @jmbcoachingllc

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

Hey there, Empowered & Out Listeners! 

What if your most hidden self… was actually sacred?

In this powerful episode of Empowered & Out, I’m joined by the radiant Maria Elena Pamies Lafuente—a transformational life coach and energy healer helping crossdressers, especially cis-het men, heal shame and step into self-love through feminine expression 💖

We’re talking about:

🔮 What it really means to feel safe—emotionally, not just visibly

👠 Why confidence isn’t enough, and how wholeness changes everything

🔥 The surprising root of shame in crossdressing—and how to release it

🪞 How Maria’s viral video reshaped her mission (and reached millions)

🏫 A peek into Girl School—a sacred space for the hidden masculine

💬 And the unforgettable moment a client said, “I don’t feel broken anymore…”

This one is healing, raw, and GORGEOUS.

✨ Ready to come home to yourself?

Find Maria Elena Pamis:

• YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@mariaelenapamies
• A sanctuary for emotional healing, identity work, and self-love—especially for crossdressers and gender-nonconforming individuals
• Signature Experience: Girl School – A Sacred Feminine Academy for the Hidden Masculine
• Monthly stories, live group support, guest mentors, and deep identity healing
• Free Offering: Join my FREE online Community https://madammariasspace.com/

All Maria Elena’s links HERE: https://linktr.ee/mariaelenaonline

Support this podcast here: https://www.patreon.com/c/empoweredandoutpodcast

Jonathan Barbe is a Certified LGBTQ+ Life Coach, Empowering LGBTQ+ Professionals and Allies to Find their Purpose, Rediscover True Happiness, and Build Unshakeable Confidence and to Land Careers where they finally feel free to be their Authentic Self!

Empowered & Out is more than just a podcast about career advice—it’s a movement. A celebration of LGBTQ+ professionals stepping into their power, owning their worth, and showing the world exactly what we bring to the table. 

Empowered & Out Coaching is here to help LGBTQ+ professionals like you get clear on your purpose, rebuild your confidence, and finally land in careers where you can show up fully—without apology or compromise.

If you’re ready for that kind of shift, I’d love to support you. 

Go to https://calendly.com/jmbcoachingllc/discovery-call to apply.

Let’s build the career—and life—you actually want.

Find me on LinkedIn : https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonathanmbarbe 

TikTok : @jmbcoachingllc

Instagram : @jmbcoachingllc

Facebook: @JMBCoachingLLC

YouTube: COMING SOON

This week on Empowered & Out, executive transformation coach and psychedelic guide Garet Free shares how one life-changing psilocybin journey helped him break free from self-doubt and finally feel worthy without performing. We dive into redefining imposter syndrome, getting unstuck from survival mode, and finding real confidence that lasts.

Listeners: Book today with Garet and mention this episode for a free 30 minute call where He will guide you to uncover the number one thing that is holding you back from your next level of greatness. 

Find Garet:

LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/garetfree/

Medium - @garetfree

Instagram - @theresilienceedit

Website - www.theresilienceedit.com

Newsletter - Link on website!

Scheduling link: https://savvycal.com/garetfree/greatness

Support Empowered & Out on Patreon!

Get early access to episodes, exclusive content, and a behind-the-scenes look at the podcast! 

Your support helps amplify LGBTQ+ voices and grow our community.

Become a patron today and be part of the Empowered & Out family! 

https://www.patreon.com/c/empoweredandoutpodcast

Jonathan Barbe is a Certified LGBTQ+ Life Coach, Empowering LGBTQ+ Professionals and Allies to Find their Purpose, Rediscover True Happiness, and Build Unshakeable Confidence and to Land Careers where they finally feel free to be their Authentic Self!

Empowered & Out is more than just a podcast about career advice—it’s a movement. A celebration of LGBTQ+ professionals stepping into their power, owning their worth, and showing the world exactly what we bring to the table. 

Empowered & Out Coaching is here to help LGBTQ+ professionals like you get clear on your purpose, rebuild your confidence, and finally land in careers where you can show up fully—without apology or compromise.

If you’re ready for that kind of shift, I’d love to support you. 

Go to https://calendly.com/jmbcoachingllc/discovery-call to apply.

Let’s build the career—and life—you actually want.

Find me on LinkedIn : https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonathanmbarbe 

TikTok : @jmbcoachingllc

Instagram : @jmbcoachingllc

Facebook: @JMBCoachingLLC

Left a toxic job but still feel stuck?

Questioning your worth after workplace discrimination?

You’re not alone—and you’re definitely not broken.

In this week’s episode of Empowered & Out, we’re getting real about the silent damage toxic workplaces leave behind and what it actually takes to rebuild your confidence as an LGBTQ+ professional.

Here’s what we’re diving into:

• The lasting impact toxic environments have on your mindset and self-worth
• How exclusion, microaggressions, and gaslighting can make you doubt your own value
• Why reclaiming your confidence is the most powerful move you can make after a toxic experience
• How to unlearn the lies you were told, find real support, and start showing up as your authentic self again

This conversation is raw, honest, and everything you needed to hear but never got in that last job.

And keep your ears open—something big is here for Empowered & Out supporters!

https://patreon.com/empoweredandoutpodcast

This week on Empowered & Out, we’re talking about masking — the daily ways LGBTQ+ professionals shape-shift in order to stay safe, be accepted, or just get through the day. Maybe you’ve done it for years without even realizing. Or maybe you feel the tension every time you log into Zoom, walk into a team meeting, or chat by the coffee machine.

If you’ve ever walked into work and thought — “How much of me is safe to bring into this room?” — this episode is for you. Let’s take that first step together.

Jonathan Barbe is a Certified LGBTQ+ Life Coach, Empowering LGBTQ+ Professionals and Allies to Find their Purpose, Rediscover True Happiness, and Build Unshakeable Confidence and to Land Careers where they finally feel free to be their Authentic Self!

Empowered & Out is more than just a podcast about career advice—it’s a movement. A celebration of LGBTQ+ professionals stepping into their power, owning their worth, and showing the world exactly what we bring to the table. 

If you’re ready to level up your career, build confidence, and navigate the workplace with Pride, You’re in the right place!

Now enrolling: The Empowered & Out Coaching Program, by JMB Coaching LLC.

This program is for LGBTQ+ professionals who are ready to stop shrinking and start thriving. 

You’ll get support with career clarity, confidence-building, job search strategy, and living your truth—without compromise.

If you're feeling stuck or ready for a shift, let’s talk.

Message me directly at [email protected] and say Empowered to start our conversation.

Your next bold step starts here.

Find me on LinkedIn : https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonathanmbarbe 

TikTok : @jmbcoachingllc

Instagram : @jmbcoachingllc

Facebook: @JMBCoachingLLC

This week on Empowered & Out, Coming out holds the potential for deeper connection. When we choose to share our truth, we often invite others to do the same. We show them it’s okay to be real. We can build trust, empathy, and community in ways we can’t if we’re constantly editing ourselves. It’s messy and layered. It’s okay to want safety and authenticity at the same time. It’s okay to feel fear and hope. You don’t have to pick one. Both can coexist. And let’s name that these fears don’t exist in a vacuum.

For folks who are BIPOC, disabled, immigrants, or navigating other marginalized identities, coming out at work intersects with all of those layers. It can amplify risk and complicate choices even further. So if you’ve felt this weight, you’re not weak. You’re real. And you’re not alone.

Jonathan Barbe is a Certified LGBTQ+ Life Coach, Empowering LGBTQ+ Professionals and Allies to Find their Purpose, Rediscover True Happiness, and Build Unshakeable Confidence and to Land Careers where they finally feel free to be their Authentic Self!

Empowered & Out is more than just a podcast about career advice—it’s a movement. A celebration of LGBTQ+ professionals stepping into their power, owning their worth, and showing the world exactly what we bring to the table. 

If you’re ready to level up your career, build confidence, and navigate the workplace with Pride, You’re in the right place!

Now enrolling: The Empowered & Out Coaching Program, by JMB Coaching LLC.

This program is for LGBTQ+ professionals who are ready to stop shrinking and start thriving. 

You’ll get support with career clarity, confidence-building, job search strategy, and living your truth—without compromise.

If you're feeling stuck or ready for a shift, let’s talk.

Message me directly at [email protected] and say Empowered to start our conversation.

Your next bold step starts here.

Find me on LinkedIn : https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonathanmbarbe 

TikTok : @jmbcoachingllc

Instagram : @jmbcoachingllc

Facebook: @JMBCoachingLLC

This week on Empowered & Out, we’re joined by the incredible Jane Klein, an internship coach and dear friend. As a former corporate leader with over 30 years of experience in IT management, digital transformation, and business strategy. Jane has taken all of her insider knowledge and turned it into actionable coaching for college students — teaching them how to land competitive internships and step into the workforce with confidence and clarity.

In this episode, we’re breaking down what employers really want, how students can build professional networks that open doors, and why standing out is about much more than just having a strong GPA. Get ready — Jane is bringing the kind of advice every early career professional needs but rarely gets.

Connect with Jane:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/janeaklein/

https://www.facebook.com/conklein/

https://www.facebook.com/groups/internships101

Jonathan Barbe is a Certified LGBTQ+ Life Coach, Empowering LGBTQ+ Professionals and Allies to Find their Purpose, Rediscover True Happiness, and Build Unshakeable Confidence and to Land Careers where they finally feel free to be their Authentic Self!

Empowered & Out is more than just a podcast about career advice—it’s a movement. A celebration of LGBTQ+ professionals stepping into their power, owning their worth, and showing the world exactly what we bring to the table. 

If you’re ready to level up your career, build confidence, and navigate the workplace with Pride, You’re in the right place!

Now enrolling: The Empowered & Out Coaching Program, by JMB Coaching LLC.

This program is for LGBTQ+ professionals who are ready to stop shrinking and start thriving. 

You’ll get support with career clarity, confidence-building, job search strategy, and living your truth—without compromise.

If you're feeling stuck or ready for a shift, let’s talk.

Message me directly at [email protected] and say Empowered to start our conversation.

Your next bold step starts here.

Find me on LinkedIn : https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonathanmbarbe 

TikTok : @jmbcoachingllc

Instagram : @jmbcoachingllc

Facebook: @JMBCoachingLLC

Hey there, Empowered & Out listeners! 

This week on Empowered & Out, What happens when you finally land the job you worked so hard for — the one that was supposed to be the “dream” — and it doesn’t feel right? Maybe it feels disappointing. Or confusing. Or even soul-crushing. That’s what we’re diving into today. Because when the dream job doesn’t feel so dreamy, there’s more going on beneath the surface — and you’re not wrong for feeling that way.

Jonathan Barbe is a Certified LGBTQ+ Life Coach, Empowering LGBTQ+ Professionals and Allies to Find their Purpose, Rediscover True Happiness, and Build Unshakeable Confidence and to Land Careers where they finally feel free to be their Authentic Self!

Empowered & Out is more than just a podcast about career advice—it’s a movement. A celebration of LGBTQ+ professionals stepping into their power, owning their worth, and showing the world exactly what we bring to the table. 

If you’re ready to level up your career, build confidence, and navigate the workplace with Pride, You’re in the right place!

Now enrolling: The Empowered & Out Coaching Program, by JMB Coaching LLC.

This program is for LGBTQ+ professionals who are ready to stop shrinking and start thriving. 

You’ll get support with career clarity, confidence-building, job search strategy, and living your truth—without compromise.

If you're feeling stuck or ready for a shift, let’s talk.

Message me directly at [email protected] and say Empowered to start our conversation.

Your next bold step starts here.

Find me on LinkedIn : https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonathanmbarbe 

TikTok : @jmbcoachingllc

Instagram : @jmbcoachingllc

Facebook: @JMBCoachingLLC

This week on Empowered & Out, Feeling stuck in your career — but afraid to make a change? This episode unpacks why so many LGBTQ+ professionals choose survival over alignment — and how to break that cycle. If you’re ready to find work that reflects your truth, this conversation is your starting point.

Jonathan Barbe is a Certified LGBTQ+ Life Coach, Empowering LGBTQ+ Professionals and Allies to Rediscover their Purpose, Discover True Happiness, and Rebuild Confidence and to Land Careers where they finally feel free to be their Authentic Self!

Empowered & Out is more than just a podcast about career advice—it’s a movement. A celebration of LGBTQ+ professionals stepping into their power, owning their worth, and showing the world exactly what we bring to the table. 

If you’re ready to level up your career, build confidence, and navigate the workplace with Pride, You’re in the right place!

Now enrolling: The Empowered & Out Coaching Program, by JMB Coaching LLC.

This program is for LGBTQ+ professionals who are ready to stop shrinking and start thriving. 

You’ll get support with career clarity, confidence-building, job search strategy, and living your truth—without compromise.

If you're feeling stuck or ready for a shift, let’s talk.

Message me directly at [email protected] and say Empowered to start our conversation.

Your next bold step starts here.

Find me on LinkedIn : https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonathanmbarbe 

TikTok : @jmbcoachingllc

Instagram : @jmbcoachingllc

Facebook: @JMBCoachingLLC

Hey there, Empowered & Out listeners! 

This week on Empowered & Out, we’re joined by the incredible Britt Barton (she/they)—a queer wellness coach, TedX speaker, and lifelong advocate for the LGBTQ+ community. From the deep roots of Catholic Louisiana to a journey through depression, healing, and radical self-acceptance, Britt shares how she broke free from shame and now helps others do the same. If you’ve ever felt like you didn’t fit the mold, this conversation is for you.

Connect with Britt:

Instagram: @brittbartoncoaching

Jonathan Barbe is a Certified LGBTQ+ Life Coach, Empowering LGBTQ+ Professionals and Allies to Find their Purpose, Rediscover True Happiness, and Build Unshakeable Confidence and to Land Careers where they finally feel free to be their Authentic Self!

Empowered & Out is more than just a podcast about career advice—it’s a movement. A celebration of LGBTQ+ professionals stepping into their power, owning their worth, and showing the world exactly what we bring to the table. 

If you’re ready to level up your career, build confidence, and navigate the workplace with Pride, You’re in the right place!

Now enrolling: The Empowered & Out Coaching Program, by JMB Coaching LLC.

This program is for LGBTQ+ professionals who are ready to stop shrinking and start thriving. 

You’ll get support with career clarity, confidence-building, job search strategy, and living your truth—without compromise.

If you're feeling stuck or ready for a shift, let’s talk.

Message me directly at [email protected] and say Empowered to start the conversation.

Your next bold step starts here.

Find me on LinkedIn : https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonathanmbarbe 

TikTok : @jmbcoachingllc

Instagram : @jmbcoachingllc

Facebook: @JMBCoachingLLC