Tech leader, author, and trans advocate Erica Vogel joins Forged in Fire to talk about authenticity, vulnerability, and how a lifetime of solving problems shaped her leadership. From growing up without the language to describe her identity to leading global change initiatives at a Fortune 25 company, Erica’s journey shows that self-acceptance is both personal work and professional superpower. She shares lessons on storytelling, self-awareness, and the balance between openness and self-protection and reminds us that the key to leading well is to protect your peace.

Former Palm Springs mayor Lisa Middleton has spent her life breaking barriers—from working-class roots to the halls of California politics. In this episode, she joins Bree, Liz, and Eduardo to talk about courage, self-acceptance, and the art of listening as a tool for leadership. Lisa shares what it means to stand firm against hate, to build coalitions across difference, and to leave the next generation with a brighter, braver torch to carry forward.

“Our uniqueness isn’t a problem to solve—it’s what makes the world interesting.”

-Lisa Middleton

Bria Brown-King’s story is one of courage, authenticity, and calling. As a Black, queer, intersex, and nonbinary leader, Bria turned private pain into public purpose—first by finding language for their identity, and then by finding power in it. From a BuzzFeed video that changed everything to speaking on the steps of the Supreme Court, Bria shares how embracing visibility became both healing and revolutionary. With honesty and humor, they discuss humility vs. over-humility, the importance of building your own table, and what authentic leadership looks like for the next generation.

This episode includes co-host Bethany Grace Howe.

JD Schramm’s journey, from a Kansas childhood steeped in faith, through addiction and despair, to becoming one of the country’s foremost voices on authentic communication, is proof that the darkest nights can forge the brightest leaders.

JD reveals the personal crucible that shaped his philosophy: surviving a suicide attempt, reclaiming authenticity, and helping others find their voice. JD breaks down his audience-intent-message model, his “four C’s” of competence, confidence, clarity, and connection, and how queer leaders can balance empathy with impact. His call to action is simple but profound—be the torchbearer when the world feels dark.

In this episode, Bree, Liz, and guest host Blake Dremann are joined by Eduardo Placer, who brings a lifetime of performance—from musicals to keynote stages—into a fearless conversation about leadership, discomfort, and storytelling. Eduardo reflects on his family’s refugee history, the lessons of bilingual identity, and the role of discomfort as a crucible for resilience.

With humor and candor, Eduardo outlines five pillars of powerful speaking, shares why naps and kindness are part of his resilience practice, and invites us to lean into the messy, beautiful work of leading as an embodied practice: not bad acting or “toxic alpha drag,” but presence, curiosity, and connection.

For anyone struggling with nerves, perfectionism, or shame, this conversation is a reminder that discomfort is not the enemy—it’s the fire that forges us.

If you're a speaker, visit Eduardo's website for this five-minute, pre-stage power-up.

From Eduardo: As someone who’s walked through uncertainty and emerged stronger, I’m excited to share a FREE, quick, five-minute pre-stage power-up that helps transform nerves into embodied presence—because queer leadership is about stepping onto any stage with clarity, connection, and confidence.

In a candid conversation that swings from folk music to family, Kai Hong names the hard parts—culture clash at home, years of silence after coming out, and the slow repair that followed—and the habits that keep her grounded: walks, journaling, Disney days, and deep time with her partner and siblings. She refuses the “therapist behind the chair” label, choosing instead to be a great listener and a better friend, the kind who cheers your weird haircut idea and your bigger life. Her leadership lesson is deceptively simple: curate a space where people don’t have to hide, keep the standards high and the humanity higher, and let inclusive design (right down to the service menu) do quiet, daily work for dignity.

With humor and candor (yes, including gardening victories and “how the meat is made”), Ray reflects on identity—nonbinary pronouns, breaking gender norms—and on the power of digital spaces where people “just get you.” They share hard-won lessons from building Queerty Gamers through COVID, boosting talent like Twitch partners from 17 followers to thousands, and holding the line as censorship pressures rise. The leadership takeaway is simple and tough: protect your energy, invest in people, and build communities resilient enough to outlast the backlash.

Licensed professional counselor Blakely Hunze-Austin joins to explore why purposeful discomfort can be a path to authenticity—and better leadership. Blakely traces a journey from tamped-down identity in the Tennessee church pews to building affirming community in Colorado Springs—and what those different contexts teach about safety, vulnerability, and leadership. We discuss tools for lowering defenses and integrating hard truths, plus the power of consultation among leaders to fight isolation. Blakely’s charge: find your huddle, have the uncomfortable conversations, and “get up and feel brave.” Leadership, she reminds us, is just advanced relationship work.

Guest Biography

Blakely Hunze-Austin is a licensed professional counselor in the state of Colorado and Tennessee who specializes in sex therapy, eating disorders, OCD, and trauma. She enjoys working with LGBTQIA, kink, and polyamorous or ethically non-monogamous clients. She is a trained psychedelic assisted therapist. She now owns her own private practice and is a clinical director for a treatment center. Blakely volunteers for the Academy for Eating Disorders and is currently pursuing her certified sex therapist designation. 

To paraphrase Lynn: Leadership isn’t a role—it’s a thing you do when the challenge is too big to face alone.

What happens when a former ballet dancer, West Point professor, and nonbinary academic challenges the way we think about leadership? In this episode, Lynn Vidler discusses the failures of higher education’s leadership pipeline, the transformative power of authenticity, and what it means to lead with empathy in a world shaped by systemic expectations. With humor and insight, Lynn reflects on the harm of abusive leadership, the healing found in self-awareness, and their mission to reshape leadership culture in academia.

Notes:

Photography website is https://lynnvidler.photography/

Lynn is on Instagram handle at @profefotog

They can be reached at  [email protected] for executive leadership/performance coaching.To schedule a 30-min exploratory coaching session with them: https://scheduler.zoom.us/lynn-vidler/hello-i-am-an-event-card-ifkpb2he

Chris Douglas has worn many labels—veteran, businessman, activist—but the throughline of his story is moral seriousness. Seriously. Listen to find out what that means!

In this episode, Chris unpacks what it means to live with integrity in business and life, to come out publicly when silence would be safer, and to keep working toward justice even when the tide turns. His philosophy of "we do what we can" is both a call to arms and a balm for those feeling overwhelmed by today's politics. You’ll walk away challenged, heartened, and renewed.