Life Out Loud with LZ Granderson

Secretary Pete Buttigieg and his husband, Chasten, have had to overcome many obstacles while on the journey to grow their family. From false starts in the adoption process to medical scares before their twins could even leave the hospital. And like so many parents, Pete and Chasten have faced a whole host of challenges in a very short period of time. Add to that, the reality of being public figures, which brings its own set of unique challenges, including criticism from former Vice President Mike Pence. In this special edition of Life Out Loud, LZ asks Secretary Buttigieg what he’s learned from fatherhood thus far and how he deals with the attacks and insults that continue to come his way.

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For our last episode of season 3 of Life Out Loud, we chat with legendary sports broadcaster and acclaimed documentarian Hannah Storm and her daughter, Hannah Hicks. The younger Hannah represents the fourth generation to carry the name in her family. She is also the first one to come out as queer, introducing nuanced conversation into the extended family. We talk about what Hannah IV has learned from watching her mom break glass ceilings in the sports world, and how she’s using those lessons in the music industry to carve out space for LGBTQ+ artists. We also meet LZ’s adopted Uncle Mike, a member of The Silent Generation who has never been afraid to speak out. LZ and Mike discuss some generational differences within the LGBTQ+ community. Uncle Mike reminds us that there are no guarantees when it comes to our rights. We dedicate this episode to our elders. Their resilience makes our current reality possible, and it nourishes us as the fight for equality continues.

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Raising a child and parenting aren’t necessarily one and the same. The expectations we might have going into the process of parenting aren’t always what the actual experience bears out. Former tennis pro, Brian Vahaly has a long list of the things he wished LZ - his chosen older brother - had coached him on before he and his husband became fathers to twin boys. Brian shares the big lessons he is learning through fatherhood and just how far off his expectations really were. Then, LZ turns to his sister-of-choice, Roxanne, to talk about what they’ve discovered during their 20+ years as a family raising their sons. 

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The media that surrounds us is a reflection of who we are. When those reflections look like fun-house mirrors, it can impact the way we interact with society. As the SVP of Brand Strategy & Marketing for BET, Tiyale Hayes is working to help the Black network meet its business objectives while staying true to itself. For him, that means pushing for representation beyond stock characters and using storytelling to advance important cultural conversations. He talks to LZ about the longstanding trope about homophobia in the Black community, and how that impacts his life and family. He gets real about growing his family through adoption, and all the tears that were shed along the way. Afterwards, LZ talks to Stacey Stevenson, the CEO of Family Equality. They put Tiyale's personal adoption struggles in a wider political context and share the big change they just made to protect their family.

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Bravery comes in many forms. It can mean carving your career in spaces where you are the "only one." It can mean maintaining your faith as you struggle to survive. It can also be raising your voice, and facing the consequences for it. Like LZ, Jemele Hill is from Detroit, Detroit. That means she sees the world a little differently than most, and she's not afraid to share that perspective. She's a writer, broadcaster and podcaster with a deep knowledge of popular culture and sports. Her memoir, "Uphill," includes stories she's never shared before, including her formative relationship with her stepfather, who separated from her mother after coming out as bisexual and later died of complications associated with AIDS. That love—and that loss—has rippled throughout Jemele's life. Yes, she's "Unbothered," but she's also funny and passionate. Jemele Hill embodies what it means to thrive. Plus, an epilogue from Keith Boykin, a former Special Assistant to President Clinton who wrote the book "Beyond the Down Low." We hope this conversation inspires you to reflect on how you show up, intersection-Ally. We see you!

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This week on Life Out Loud, we talk to famed interior designer and Trading Spaces star Vern Yip about this journey as the son of Chinese immigrants with very high expectations. Growing up, his parents gave him two choices: you can be a doctor, or you can be a doctor. He tried that path, but his passion kept getting in the way. Vern reveals how he had to come out to his family twice, once to tell them he was going to pursue design, and another time to tell them he was gay. He talks about meeting his husband for the first time, a meet-cute for the ages that includes a pack of pups. After growing their family with the help of a surrogate, Vern wants to encourage his children to pursue their own path with pride without burdening them with his expectations. That's meant learning how to quiet an inherited voice while passing on his love for his culture. And speaking of expectations, listeners, we hope you will help us get the word out by sharing this season of Life Out Loud with your family and friends.

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We’re back! This season of Life Out Loud is all about family and LZ begins by talking about his own—messy parts and all—with his son, LZed. They get real about painful moments in their relationship and how they have healed from them. LZ talks about the sacrifices he made to be a provider after his divorce, and LZed shares how some of those choices led him to feel abandoned. LZed also shares what it was like growing up with a queer dad, and LZ discusses what home means to him. It’s an honest conversation with a lot of heart. Family is where love abides. Sometimes you’re born into a loving family. Sometimes you grow into one. And if you’re really lucky, you have both. Consider this season to be a showcase for the various ways families come together and how love shows up. We’re grateful to have you in our family. All our love.

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It’s the resilience and love that keeps this community marching to the beat of its own drum; each generation redefining what it means to be queer and to be seen. That’s why we’re closing out Pride Month with some moving and inspiring stories featured in the ABC special, PRIDE: To Be Seen.

Soul of a Nation presents PRIDE: To Be Seen is available now on Hulu and Disney+

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You may know the story of Emmett Till. But you might’ve never heard his story if it weren't for one woman: Mamie Till-Mobley. In a new three-part season of ABC News' "Reclaimed" podcast, host Leah Wright Rigueur explores who Mamie Till-Mobley was before she lost her son: a young girl growing up in Illinois. Rigueur traces Mamie's journey after Emmett’s death, and how she turned her grief into a movement that changed the course of American history.

The first two episodes of "Reclaimed" are available now. To listen, follow the show on Apple Podcasts (https://apple.co/3zofsOC), Spotify (https://spoti.fi/3PSLBDU), Amazon Music (https://amzn.to/3tgHfNf), or wherever you like to listen.

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Pride Month is a great time to recharge our batteries and lift one another up. Despite the recent tragedies and legislative challenges, our community is stronger and bolder than ever. As we celebrate the first anniversary of Life Out Loud with LZ Granderson, we want to highlight some queer content the LGBTQ+ community can look forward to together. Summer is the season for long nights out with friends, live music and summer blockbusters. That's why we wanted to talk two filmmakers. First, LZ sits down with Andrew Ahn, the director of Fire Island, about making queer rom-coms for the big screen. Then LZ chats with former pro-soccer star turned TV and film producer Robbie Rogers. He’s working on the upcoming period drama My Policeman, which stars Harry Styles as a closeted police officer caught in a love triangle. Joyful representation can show people who are struggling with their identity that a life out loud is worth living. Party safely, love greatly!

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