In this episode of Love Unbxd, Manny sits with Joshua Cruz for a candid conversation about sexual liberation, body positivity, respectability politics, and turning 35 as a queer man.

They discuss nude yoga for Black and Brown queer men, mental health, desirability standards, and what it means to be fully seen without shrinking.

From Bad Bunny’s Super Bowl moment to masculinity and self-worth, this episode explores liberation, identity, and living un-contained.

What We’re Unboxing in This Episode

Sexual liberation and why nudity can be healing, not provocative

Launching Nude Yoga for Black and Brown queer men

Respectability politics in the Black queer community

Desirability, visibility, and body politics

Mental health and loving yourself beyond aesthetics

Being Boricua and queer in today’s cultural landscape

Bad Bunny at the Super Bowl and cultural representation

Masculinity, shame, and reclaiming your body

What it means to live un-contained

New episodes of Love Unbxd drop weekly.

Follow the show and stay connected: @loveunbxd on TikTok and Instagram

Follow Joshua Cruz: @joshuamichaelcruzon Instagram, TikTok and YouTube

Follow Manny: @iammannymade on Instagram and @iam.mannymade on TikTok

Produced by Shaté Hayes (@iamshate on Instagram and YouTube)

This episode feels like friends catching up about dating, astrology, and the people we had to learn from.

J’Lamar and I talk patterns, compatibility, emotional lessons, and the moments where you realize a connection felt good, but still wasn’t aligned. There’s laughter, truth telling, accountability, and a lot of reflection about what it means to recognize when you’re simply unmatched.

Produced by Shaté Hayes.

In this episode of Love Unbxd, Manny sits with Hope Giselle for a grounded, intimate conversation about visibility, love, and choosing not to hide.

Hope reflects on her relationship with her husband Xander, what it means to be fully seen in partnership, and how love shifts when you stop performing and start showing up honestly. Together, they explore identity, emotional safety, joy, and the freedom that comes with living un-hidden.

This episode is for anyone learning how to be seen, without explanation, without apology, and without fear.

Produced by Shaté Hayes.

Monny and Chann join Love Unbxd to talk about building a relationship rooted in safety, empathy, and intention. From falling in love quietly to becoming husbands and community builders, they share what it takes to create home, honor individuality, and grow together.

This episode explores love languages, breaking family patterns, building business with purpose, and why not everything needs to be shared online. A conversation about Black queer love that is practiced, not performed.

Produced by Shaté Hayes.

What We’re Unboxing in This Episode

• How Monny and Chann met and who they were when love found them

• Why their relationship started privately and what that taught them

• Building safety, trust, and emotional home together

• How love languages and polarity shaped their partnership

• Creating “home” through food, hosting, and intention

• Sharing their life online without sacrificing what’s sacred

• The origin story of House Sanguine and what “sanguine” really means

• Breaking family patterns and creating new traditions

• Why individualism is essential inside long-term partnership

• The unseen work behind their marriage and business

• What empathy, communication, and grace look like in real time

• What they’re each unboxing in this current season of life

New episodes of Love Unbxd drop weekly.

Follow the show and stay connected: @loveunbxd on TikTok and Instagram

Follow Monny and Chann: @M_wazhisname, @M_littletinkitchen | @channdaily | @howsanguine on Instagram and Chann: @channdaily on TikTokFollow Manny: @iammannymade on Instagram and @iam.mannymade on TikTok

Produced by Shaté Hayes (@iamshate on Instagram and YouTube)

Filmmaker and storyteller Ashton Legado joins me for a layered conversation about love, truth, art, and becoming. We talk about the origins of Nana’s Boys, what it means to tell a story you can’t look away from, and the parts of yourself you meet when you stop performing and start telling the truth.

Ashton opens up about growing up fast, navigating HIV disclosure with honesty and courage, reconnecting with the love of his life, and creating art rooted in vulnerability and Black queer joy. This episode is about identity, healing, and the freedom that comes from choosing yourself first.

What We’re Unboxing in This Episode

• The origin story behind Nana’s Boys and why Ashton had to tell that truth

• Growing up fast and becoming a caregiver before he became himself

• How art became a mirror he could no longer avoid

• The reality of navigating HIV disclosure with honesty and courage

• The unexpected reconnection with Fern

• The eight-hour phone call that turned into a love story

• How partnership stretched him, softened him, and held him accountable

• The responsibility of portraying Black queer love on screen

• Why Ashton stopped performing the version of himself people expected

• What vulnerability has cost him and what it’s returned

• The fears he carries, the truths he’s ready to name, and the freedom he’s stepping into

New episodes of Love Unbxd drop weekly.

Follow the show and stay connected: @loveunbxd on TikTok and Instagram

Follow Ashton: @ashtondreams on Instagram

Follow Manny: @iammannymade on Instagram and @iam.mannymade on TikTok

Produced by Shaté Hayes (@iamshate on Instagram and YouTube)

Season 2 opens with me unbxing myself in a way I’ve never done publicly. After taking a year and a half away, I’m talking honestly about what these last 18 months have looked like for me. Losing my job. Leaving my family’s business. Moving to Atlanta. Choosing softness. Rebuilding boundaries. And letting go of the version of myself that other people created in their heads.

This episode is about identity, healing, and reclaiming my narrative on my own terms. If you’re navigating change, growing through transition, or learning to choose yourself again, you’ll feel this one. It’s honest, unfiltered, and grounded in where I am right now.

What We’re Unboxing in This Episode

• Why I took a year and a half away

• The moment I learned my job was ending

• Leaving my mother’s business and breaking patterns

• How I decided Atlanta was the next chapter

• What softness looks like for me now

• Dating in Atlanta + communicating boundaries

• The performance of being “mysterious” on social media

• Family dynamics during the holidays

• “To know me is to know…”, the truths I’m ready to say out loud

• The fear of being loved + sabotaging it

• Why freedom feels close

New episodes of Love Unbxd drop weekly.Follow the show and stay connected: @loveunbxd on TikTok and InstagramFollow Manny: @iammannymade on Instagram and @iam.mannymade on TikTok

Producer, Love Unbxd Season 2:Shaté Hayes

Join us as we unravel the journey of RK and Evin, a Black lesbian couple, in this episode of Love Unbxd. Dive into their story of love and resilience, from navigating family dynamics to the intricacies of living 'out' at varying degrees.

Discover how they've crafted a sanctuary of belonging and security within their bond, celebrating the beauty and strength of Black queer love.

Please remember to subscribe, rate, review, and share "Love Unbxd" to support our mission of amplifying melanated Queer voices and stories.

Learn more about the vision and future episodes: https://linktr.ee/loveunbxd

Socials

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TikTok: @loveunbxd

Instagram: @loveunbxd

Follow Evin: 

Instagram: @evinnicole

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Instagram: @who.is.rk

Follow Manny:

TikTok: @astoldbymanny

Instagram: @astoldbymanny

Get ready for a rollercoaster of emotions! In this episode, join host Manny as he takes you on a ride with Gio and Chris, from the highs of their marriage vows to the twists and turns of realizing that love is an ever-changing adventure.as we navigate the journey of Gio and Chris. They spill the tea on marriage, monogamy, and the journey of building a life post-divorce. Join us and unbox the lessons learned in living authentically beyond the usual love stories.

Please remember to subscribe, rate, review, and share "Love Unbxd" to support our mission of amplifying melanated Queer voices and stories.

Learn more about the vision and future episodes: https://linktr.ee/loveunbxd

Socials

Follow Love Unbxd for the latest updates: 

TikTok: @loveunbxd

Instagram: @loveunbxd

Follow Chris: 

TikTok: @bswithchris

X: @bswithchris

Instagram: @chris.vrgs1

Follow Gio:

TikTok: @Giordanny17

Instagram: @Giordanny17

Follow Manny:

TikTok: @astoldbymanny

Instagram: @astoldbymanny

Preston and Donald, a dynamic Black queer couple navigating love, identity, and growth amidst the complexities of modern life join Love Unbxd for episode three. In this must-listen episode, we delve into their personal narratives to unbx how they balance the impacts of childhood trauma, becoming “Lockdown Lovers” and emotional connection in a “non-traditional” queer relationship.

Preston, is a Midwest-born Black queer attorney, activist, CEO of PDM Consulting LLC, and stars on Bravo TV's 'Summer House: Martha's Vineyard' to the conversation. Donald, is an attorney with roots in North Carolina and over seven years in DC. Both offer a complementary perspective on love, support, and professional endeavors. 

Please remember to subscribe, rate, review, and share "Love Unbxd" to support our mission of amplifying melanated Queer voices and stories.

Learn more about the vision and future episodes: https://linktr.ee/loveunbxd

SocialsFollow Love Unbxd for the latest updates:

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Balancing “me” and “we” with Love Unbxd! This episode features Erin and Amanda, a married Black lesbian couple, as they share their journey of balancing individuality with togetherness. Discover their strategies for maintaining personal identities, fostering open communication, and navigating their relationship as a lesbian couple. 

Join host Manny for a conversation that celebrates the power and beauty of queer love, unbxd.

Please remember to subscribe, rate, review, and share "Love Unbxd" to support our mission of amplifying melanated Queer voices and stories.

Learn more about the vision and future episodes: https://linktr.ee/loveunbxd

Socials

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A Production by: GoBeGolden