This episode is part of Podcasthon Week, where podcasts around the world are using their platforms to highlight incredible nonprofits making a real impact.

In this episode of Out and About AF, I sit down with Tres Brown, an Engagement Specialist at Resource Center right here in Dallas. We dive into the powerful work they’ve been doing since 1983 to support the LGBTQIA+ community through advocacy, education, and essential services.

We talk about what community really looks like, why engagement matters more than ever, and how programs have evolved to support overall wellness. Tres also breaks down HIV education, including the importance of “Undetectable = Untransmittable (U=U),” and how conversations like these help reduce stigma and save lives.

We also get real about the challenges nonprofits face, especially when it comes to funding, and why community support and volunteerism are so important to keeping these resources available.

This conversation is a reminder that we’re here to see each other through—and that support, education, and showing up for one another can truly change lives.

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🌟 Retreat Alert: Only 16 days left until our Out and About AF Retreat! Don’t miss this opportunity to reset, connect, and recharge in a supportive, alcohol-free environment. SIGN UP HERE

In this episode, Gabe sits down with Heather Hester to explore the journey of allyship, the role of religion in LGBTQIA+ acceptance, and the challenges families face during the coming out process. Heather shares heartfelt insights from her experience as a mother of a gay child, including the importance of mental health support, navigating sobriety in an alcohol-centric culture, and the grieving process parents may experience when expectations shift.

Together, Gabe and Heather discuss:

• How open communication and love foster understanding in families

• The importance of education in creating acceptance

• Personal stories that highlight resilience, growth, and the complexity of family dynamics

💬 Connect with Us & Join the Community:

• Out and About AF Facebook Group

• Instagram: @OutAndAboutAF

• Email & Info: [email protected]

🎙 Follow Heather Hester

Whether you’re LGBTQIA+, an ally, or a parent navigating your own journey, this episode offers insight, compassion, and real-world strategies for connection and understanding.

📢 New Retreat Pricing: $95 per person for a transformational experience—space is limited! Click here to learn more.

In this episode, Gabe sits down with Phil Reese to talk about his personal journey through sobriety, especially while navigating the nightlife scene. Phil opens up about the challenges, the turning points, and the ways he found connection, community, and joy without alcohol. They also discuss how his DJing career has evolved post-recovery and the power of support systems in creating meaningful change.

✨ Connect with Phil: HERE
🌈 Join the Out and About AF Community: HERE

Don't forget about the Retreat Info Session happening on February 28, 2026 at 1:00 PM CST - Sign Up Here

In this episode of Out & About AF, Gabe sits down with Cory Lee Burns for an honest and powerful conversation about addiction, identity, and finding your own path in recovery.

Cory shares what it was like growing up in a small town, coming out, and navigating the pressure of trying to belong. What began as experimentation escalated into substance use that ultimately led to a suicide attempt and a breaking point.

We talk about his experience in 12-step programs, the role of community in recovery, and the importance of building authentic relationships in sobriety. Cory reflects on the journey of self-discovery and what it means to create a life worth living without substances.

This episode is a reminder that there is no single formula for recovery. Different paths can lead to the same result. What matters most is finding the approach that aligns with who you are and building a life that feels honest, connected, and sustainable.

If you’ve ever questioned whether you’re “doing recovery right,” this conversation is for you.

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Want to know what’s in store for the Out and About AF Retreat?
Join our upcoming Retreat Info Session on Zoom to get all the details, ask questions, and receive an exclusive discount for attending.

🔗 Sign up for the Zoom Info Session HERE
🔗 Sign up for the Retreat HERE

Spots are limited and this retreat is designed for LGBTQIA+ individuals who are navigating life alcohol free and craving real connection, community, and growth.

In this episode of Out and About AF, I sit down with Jordan Hurt, real estate professional and founder of the upcoming sober dating app Queeredy, to talk about what it really looks like to build connection without alcohol in the LGBTQIA+ community.

Jordan shares his story growing up in Ohio in a conservative religious household where alcohol was normalized but his identity was not. From grabbing beers for his grandfather at three years old to drinking under the bleachers as a teenager, he walks us through how substance use became tied to belonging, confidence, and survival.

We talk about:

• Family rejection after coming out
• Being sent to live in a highly conservative environment
• Moving to New York City for freedom and self-discovery
• Getting a DUI and still believing drinking was not a problem
• The reality of dating sober
• Why he created Queerity

Queerity officially launches February 19th and is designed to help LGBTQIA+ individuals build meaningful sober connections without the pressure of alcohol culture.

This episode is honest, layered, and deeply relatable for anyone navigating sobriety, identity, and dating.

Connect with Jordan

Instagram: @jordvnhurt
Queerity App: @queerityapp (Launching February 19)

Connect with Out and About AF

Instagram: @outandaboutaf
Website: outandabout.com

If this episode resonated with you, please rate, review, and share with someone who needs to hear that connection is possible without alcohol.

In this episode of Out and About AF, I sit down with Megan to talk about the transformative power of sobriety retreats and what really happens when you step away from your daily life to focus on your healing.

We share parts of our sobriety journeys, the anxiety that can surface in recovery, and how powerful it is to be in community with people who truly understand you. Megan talks about founding Sobah Sistahs and leading women through incredible retreats in Bali, and we dive into why investing in yourself is one of the most important decisions you can make in sobriety.

Retreats have a way of collapsing time. A weekend can feel like months of growth. The connections, the identity shifts, the clarity. It can be life changing.

Connect with Out and About AF
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Ready to join me for the One-Day Sober Men's Retreat click HERE

Connect with Sobah Sistahs
Instagram: @sobahsistahs
Interested in joining Megan in Bali click HERE

One-Day Sober Men’s Retreat Learn more about the upcoming one-day sober men’s retreat and how to join HERE

In this episode of Out and About AF, I sit down with Sally Magee, a CliftonStrengths certified coach, to talk about how understanding your strengths can support an alcohol-free life.

Sally shares her journey from heavy drinking to becoming alcohol-free and how discovering her strengths helped her move through sobriety with more clarity, confidence, and self-trust. We talk about how the CliftonStrengths assessment can be a powerful tool for navigating challenges, setting realistic goals, and building a life that actually feels aligned.

We also get into the importance of community, connection, and knowledge in sobriety. If you’re sober curious, newly alcohol-free, or looking for practical tools to support sustainable change, this episode is for you.

Sobriety isn’t just about giving up alcohol — it’s about discovering who you are without it.

Sally Magee
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Out and About AF

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✨ Upcoming Event:I’m hosting a one-day men’s alcohol-free retreat in the DFW area focused on identifying triggers, body awareness, and designing a life without alcohol. The day will also include gentle movement, breathwork, and meditation.

👉 Secure your spot for just $50 by clicking here to secure your spot!

In today’s episode, I sit down with Lauren for one of those conversations that just flows. We talk openly about addiction, personal growth, and what it really looks like to create a fun, meaningful, and purposeful life—without relying on substances. This episode is full of real talk, connection, and the kind of energy that leaves you feeling inspired (and maybe dancing a little afterward).

Lauren shares her journey, insights, and what’s helped her build a life that feels aligned, grounded, and genuinely joyful. If you’re questioning your relationship with alcohol or looking for a new way to live fully, this conversation is for you.

🔗 Connect with Lauren:
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Grab Your Copy Of Blurred Lines - My Reclamation of Power from Alcohol Addiction (P.S. You Are Not Powerless)

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In this episode of Out and About AF, I sit down with therapist and author Chris Tompkins for a really honest conversation about sobriety, spirituality, and what recovery can look like within the LGBTQIA+ community.

Chris shares his personal journey to getting sober and we talk about how shame shows up for so many gay men — and how it can impact our relationship with alcohol and other substances. We also get into the importance of community, the need for truly safe spaces, and the reality that there’s no one “right” way to do sobriety. Chris also shares more about his upcoming book and the work he’s doing to help gay men heal shame and build self-love.

This episode is for anyone who’s sober, sober-curious, or just starting to question their relationship with alcohol and wanting something that feels more intentional — without the pressure of being perfect.

Where to find Chris Tompkins:
👉 Instagram
👉 Website

Connect with me / Out and About AF:
👉 Instagram
👉 Website

Want to work together?

I offer a 12-week alcohol-free coaching program that’s focused on progress, not perfection. We move through four phases — awareness, regulation, identity, and integration — so you can build an alcohol-free life that actually feels good and sustainable.

👉 Apply Here

In this episode, I sit down with Jon aka Coach Cub for an honest and grounded conversation about body positivity, mental health, and the role alcohol often plays in the gay community.

We talk openly about our personal journeys with sobriety, emotional growth, and self-acceptance, and unpack the pressure so many gay men experience around body image. Jon shares a refreshing perspective on body positivity not as something you have to feel perfectly all the time, but as an ongoing relationship built on compassion, patience, and realism.

We also explore how coaching, inclusive spaces, and supportive communities can help foster resilience, connection, and joy, especially for those navigating life without alcohol.

This episode is a reminder that healing doesn’t require perfection, just honesty, support, and the willingness to grow.

Connect with Jon 🐻

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