Jim Obergefell, the named plaintiff from the landmark US Supreme Court marriage equality case Obergefell v. Hodges, is a speaker on LGBTQ+ equality and civil rights represented by Keppler Speakers. 

He co-founded Equality Vines, the first cause-based wine label, to support equality organizations with premium wines. Jim is also a Producer on the JustMarried Project, consisting of an eight-episode documentary series, podcast series, and coffee table book.

Jim is a board member of Family Equality and Equality Sandusky, and he sits on advisory boards for the GLBT Historical Society and Mattachine Society of Washington, DC. He is a past SAGE board member and former Family Equality staff member. 

Jim co-authored the book Love Wins, published by William Morrow, and he has written essays, Op-Eds, and book forewords, chapters, and afterwords. Jim enjoys choral singing, reading, travel, painting, and photography. 

Cherie Cooper-Darragh has a love of the arts that led her to a lifelong love of theatre. She has directed high school, college, and community theatre in southwest Ohio for twenty years. Her work as as a director and performer has won DayTony and Orchid awards. She enjoys acting, singing, watercolor painting, jewelry making, and writing. Her latest endeavor was as playwright and performer in the Bare Boards Theatre production of The Reindeer Games. 

In this episode, the tables are turned as Dale is interviewed by John-Michael Lander about his experiences in the United Methodist Church.

Visit Dale's website at ⁠DaleLykins.com⁠ and subscribe to his blog, ⁠The Unlearning Blog⁠.

In this episode, the tables are turned as Dale is interviewed by John-Michael Lander about his childhood experiences surrounding abuse.

Visit Dale's website at DaleLykins.com and subscribe to his blog, The Unlearning Blog.

In this episode, the tables are turned as Dale is interviewed by John-Michael Lander about his Mixed Orientation Marriage.

Visit Dale's website at ⁠DaleLykins.com⁠ and subscribe to his blog, ⁠The Unlearning Blog⁠.

Gigi earned her BS in Early Childhood Education, MS in Exceptional Persons, and Special Education Supervisory Certification from Bloomsburg University. She retired from a career of 32 years in the field of special education: the first 9 years as a special education teacher, and the remaining as a special education supervisor with BLaST Intermediate Unit 17. Working with students with special needs was her passion.

Once a victim who has emerged a strong survivor, now Gigi’s passion is to share her journey of healing and, more importantly, her message of hope, to survivors of all ages.

Gigi has been a speaker for Resilient Voices out of the Office of Victim Advocate, and a member of the Speakers Bureau for RAINN (Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network) since 2018. Whether she is speaking to high school students, college students, those in residential treatment facilities, or inmates during an Impact of Crime Class, she is committed to sharing her journey as an example to those who need to know; no matter what you have endured, you deserve to heal and take your power back.

Her book, “From Within, My Path of Hope and Healing from Sexual Abuse” was released in January 2022. She has spoken in person to over 1,200 people across the state, and her podcasts on YouTube have reached just under 23,000 views. The most important message she has for survivors is this, “NO ONE has the right to extinguish the light that shines within you. Hope, Healing and Empowerment are possible at any age.”

You can visit Gigi's website at www.gigikilroe.com

John Callas is a veteran filmmaker with over 40 years of experience. He's worked on everything from feature films like "No Solicitors" to trailers for blockbusters like "Spaceballs" and "Glengarry Glen Ross." He's also directed commercials for major brands like Kellogg's and McDonalds, and even worked on the title sequence for "A Few Good Men."

John has also been recognized for his work with awards like an Emmy nomination for his television series "Bobby's World" and an MTV Award for Best Concept for a Glenn Frey music video. He's a member of the Directors Guild of America and holds a Master's Degree from Occidental College.

John's extensive experience covers all aspects of filmmaking, from directing to writing and producing. He's a true multi-talent who has worked with some of the biggest names in the industry.

John-Michael Lander is a former Olympic diving contender and sexual abuse survivor.

As a 14-year-old Olympic-bound athlete, the adults entrusted in John-Michael’s training groomed and trafficked him into silence. Through writing, speaking, and consulting, he helps individuals and organizations identify the Predatory Grooming Trifecta©.

John-Michael is a certified Trainer and Life Coach for the Self-Talk Institute and helps people realize that by “Changing their Self-Talk, they can change their programming. Changing their programming, they can change their lives.”  How our choices affect, direct, program us, and influence everything we say and do.

He is the founder of An Athlete's Silence. He has previously been featured in Time Magazine, USA Today, on CBC Canada Tonight with Ginella Massa, CityNews Winnipeg with Mark Neufeld, Safe Sports International, and The National Coalition to End Sexual Exploitation Global Summit. He worked on the Athlete's Bill of Rights, and was a discussion panelist for Netflix film, Athlete A. He recently was interviewed for the George Clooney Production company for a documentary regarding the sex scandal of a doctor and a university. 

SOCIAL MEDIA and LINKS

Email: [email protected]

TedTalk: An Athlete's Silence | John-Michael Lander | TEDxDayton - YouTube

An Athlete’s Silence Website: anathletessilence.com

John-Michael's personal website: https://johnmichaellander.com/

Instragram: @johnmichaellander

Facebook: John-Michael Lander