In this deeply moving episode, Michele sits down with author Jackie L. Disch for a heartfelt conversation about love, loss, and what it truly means to live with grief rather than “move on” from it.

Through the lens of her powerful memoir, Losing Katy: A Memoir of Love, Loss, and Living Grief, Jackie shares the story of her beloved wife Katy, the journey through illness and loss, and the evolving relationship she now holds with memory, love, and presence.

Together, they explore how grief is not something to solve, but something to carry. How love does not end. And how storytelling can become both survival and connection.

This conversation is tender, honest, and ultimately hopeful. It invites us to rethink what it means to heal, to remember, and to continue living while holding the people we love.

A beautiful reminder that grief is not the opposite of love. It is love that continues.

#loveislove

#grief

#podcast

#author

#livingoutloud

In this heartfelt episode, Michelle and Dani explore identity, emotional safety, and the courage it takes to create spaces where people can fully be themselves. The conversation delves into Dani's coming out story, her journey from marketing to therapy, and the creation of safe spaces for the queer and trans community. They also discuss the concepts of belonging, inclusion, and the changing landscape of therapy in the modern world. The conversation delves into the world of therapy, exploring topics such as therapeutic empathy, supervision, cultural competence, healthy love, relationship dynamics, the U-Haul effect, building foundations in relationships, therapeutic success, creating inclusive therapy spaces, and cross-border collaboration. It emphasizes the importance of boundaries and the impact of therapy on individuals' lives.

Takeaways

• Belonging and Inclusion
• Identity and Emotional Safety Therapeutic empathy
• Importance of boundaries

Chapters

• 00:00 Exploring Identity and Belonging
• 06:06 Becoming a Therapist
• 13:19 Internal Family Systems
• 19:03 Dealing with Shame and Anxiety
• 27:05 Therapeutic Empathy and Understanding Trauma
• 32:11 Healthy Love and Relationship Dynamics
• 40:04 Therapeutic Success and Overcoming Fear of Therapy

The conversation with Paul Conroy delves into his personal journey, the founding of Outfront Theater Company, and the LGBTQ+ community center feasibility study. It highlights the role of queer theater as a space for celebration and escapism, as well as the importance of community-driven spaces for the LGBTQ+ community. The discussion also emphasizes the evolving nature of community spaces and the significance of belonging within these spaces. The conversation delves into the empowerment of the queer community and the importance of creating joy and connectivity. It also explores the impact of cultural institutions and the role of storytelling in shaping the future of Atlanta.

Takeaways

• Queer theater offers a space for celebration and escapism.
• The LGBTQ+ community center feasibility study aims to create a sustainable and community-driven space. Queer community empowerment
• The importance of creating joy and connectivity

Chapters

• 00:00 Introduction and Outfront Theater Company
• 07:59 From Artist to Founder
• 17:01 The LGBTQ+ Community Center Feasibility Study
• 23:52 Belonging and Evolution of Community Spaces
• 31:01 Empowerment of the Queer Community

The conversation delves into Em's journey of self-discovery, coming out, and embracing their gender identity and expression. Em shares experiences of navigating gender identity in middle school, struggles with bullying, discovering sexuality, finding validation through media, family reactions, online support, coming out to family, taking care of siblings, and the challenges of growing up. Em also discusses the support from siblings, education on trans and non-binary identities, exploring gender expression, dysphoria, performing gender, breast cancer, top surgery, and living authentically. The conversation explores the experience of transitioning from living as a Midwestern queer in Cincinnati to embracing the anonymity of queer identity in New York City, highlighting the normalization of queer identity in the city.

Takeaways

• Gender Identity and Expression
• Coming Out Journey Living as a Midwestern queer vs. a big city anonymity queer
• The normalization of queer identity in New York City

Chapters

• 00:00 Living Authentically and Spreading Joy

What does fairness look like when it’s lived, not just legislated? I’m joined by Chris Hartman, CEO of the Fairness Campaign, for a deeply human conversation about building bridges, leading with empathy, and advancing LGBTQ equality across Kentucky, from small Appalachian towns to the state capital.

The conversation with Chris Hartman covers the journey of self-discovery, coming out, building community, the impact of LGBTQ protections, career trajectory, and the importance of human stories in advocacy. Key takeaways include the importance of family support and the resilience of the LGBTQ community. The conversation covers a range of topics, including advocacy for inclusive opportunities, the impact of fairness and backlash, the future of fairness and progress, changing hearts and minds, personal growth and advocacy, the proliferation of pride festivals, balancing work and personal life, the North Star of trans rights and intersectionality, Kentucky's LGBTQ community and culture, personal insights and preferences, the influence of fairness and intersectionality, personal struggles and triumphs, and the significance of music and authentic living.

#podcast #livingOUTloud

Takeaways

• Family support
• Community resilience Supporting trans rights is a key focus
• The importance of living authentically

Chapters

• 00:00 The Journey to Self-Discovery
• 08:15 Building Community and Advocacy
• 17:03 Career Trajectory and Nonprofit Work
• 22:35 Human Stories and Advocacy
• 43:25 Music and Authentic Living

The conversation explores personal connections, positive youth development, and the power of peer support in the LGBTQ+ community. It delves into coming-out experiences, family support, career journeys, and the impact of online spaces on identity and belonging. The discussion also highlights The Trevor Project's mission and the importance of creating safe, affirming spaces for LGBTQ+ youth. The conversation covers topics such as creating safe spaces for LGBTQ youth, positive youth development, international access, personal growth, living authentically, career development, embracing possibilities, and reflection. The discussion emphasizes the importance of supporting LGBTQ youth, providing mentorship, and embracing hope and possibilities for the future.

Takeaways

• Youth support is crucial for positive development
• Family support and acceptance are vital for LGBTQ+ individuals Creating safe spaces for LGBTQ youth is crucial for their well-being and development.
• Embracing possibilities and hope allows for curiosity and a sense of optimism.

#TREVORPROJECT

Our Values:  Heart  |  Integrity  |  Community  |  Belonging  |  Progress

The Trevor Project is the leading suicide prevention and crisis intervention organization for LGBTQ young people.

Chapters

• 00:00 Personal Connection and Youth Support
• 10:15 Career Journey and LGBTQ+ Advocacy
• 21:02 Positive Youth Development and Peer Support
• 27:11 International Access and Expansion
• 32:47 Living Authentically and Supporting LGBTQ Youth
• 41:53 Embracing Possibilities and Hope

Anna Goodman, a visionary community builder, shares her journey of coming out, forming her identity, and creating inclusive spaces for the LGBTQ+ community. She discusses her passion for community building, the challenges and lessons learned, and the expansion of her events across different cities. Anna's commitment to creating safe and welcoming spaces is evident in her approach to event planning and her personal life. Anna Goodman shares her journey of creating inclusive spaces, exploring drag king performance, event planning and expansion, personal growth and impact, navigating the political climate, connecting with the community, and engaging in a rapid-fire Q&A about her favorite queer anthem, karaoke song, pickleball vs. piano bar, best advice from a queer woman, and living out loud.

Takeaways

• Passion for community building
• Challenges and lessons learned Creating inclusive spaces for solo attendees
• Personal growth and impact on the community

Chapters

• 00:00 The Visionary Community Builder
• 06:07 Jewish LGBTQ+ Community and Identity
• 13:40 Event Creation and Expansion
• 20:55 Personal Life and Unwinding
• 27:31 Creating Inclusive Spaces
• 33:16 Event Planning and Expansion
• 39:58 Navigating Political Climate
• 45:28 Rapid Fire Q&A

The conversation with Becca Eppley delves into the themes of authenticity over expectation and the journey of self-discovery and acceptance. Becca's story is one of unlearning old narratives, choosing authenticity over expectation, and finding community in places she once thought she didn't fit. The discussion explores Becca's journey of self-discovery, acceptance, and the transformative power of embracing one's true identity. The conversation delves into the journey of self-discovery and the embrace of authenticity, compassion, and self-discovery. It explores the deconstruction of faith and identity, the healing journey, writing as a form of self-expression, living out loud, belief and self-discovery, and a rapid-fire Q&A session.

Takeaways

• Authenticity over expectation
• The journey of self-discovery and acceptance Journey of self-discovery
• Embracing authenticity

Chapters

• 00:00 The Journey of Self-Discovery and Acceptance
• 29:49 Embracing the Journey
• 35:07 Deconstructing Faith and Identity
• 40:20 Writing and Self-Expression
• 45:31 Living Out Loud
• 53:17 Belief and Self-Discovery

The conversation with Juan Rodriguez covers a range of topics, including his vision for 'Thinking A New Thought,' his personal interests, the impact of his conversations, the journey of coming out, the power of empathy and compassion, and the need for connection and support. Throughout the discussion, the themes of compassion and curiosity are evident, highlighting the importance of understanding, empathy, and human connection. The conversation delves into the themes of empathy and kindness, consistency and implementation, and self-discovery and authenticity.

Juan shares insights on the importance of empathy and kindness, the value of consistency and implementation, and the significance of self-discovery and authenticity in personal growth and interaction with others.

Takeaways

• Compassion
• Curiosity Empathy and kindness
• Consistency and implementation
• Self-discovery and authenticity

Chapters

• 00:00 Introduction to Juan Rodriguez
• 15:12 The Journey of Coming Out
• 23:29 The Power of Empathy and Compassion
• 36:20 Self-Discovery and Authenticity

Loved connecting with Stacey and Christin. Beautiful humans, co-owners and life partners!

The conversation delves into the celebration of queer representation, the experiences of late-life lesbians, the creation of Tello Films and Tello Books, the curation of LGBTQ+ content, balancing work and relationships, and the concept of manifesting soulmates.

The conversation explores the themes of embracing divine timing and surrender, creating space for vulnerability and representation, and navigating challenges while fostering community. The guests share their experiences and insights, highlighting the importance of living out loud and fostering inclusivity within the queer community.

Takeaways

• Authentic LGBTQ+ storytelling
• Navigating late-life lesbian experiences Divine timing
• Building community

Chapters

• 00:00 Celebrating Queer Representation
• 06:59 Building Tello Films and Tello Books
• 19:06 Curating LGBTQ+ Content
• 25:48 Balancing Work and Relationship
• 33:03 Manifesting Soulmates
• 40:10 Navigating Challenges and Building Community