Out Is Through: Living a meaningful life in difficult times with Larry D. Lariosa

David Olem is a psychotherapist and researcher dedicated to helping people build resilience and reduce stress. For 26 years at the University of California San Francisco (UCSF), he developed and delivered brief therapies that improved emotional and physical health in underserved communities. He now maintains a therapy practice in San Francisco, specializing in anxiety and stress management. David's work blends deep clinical experience with a commitment to practical, accessible tools that support everyday wellbeing.

DAVID'S LINKS:

Book: https://thewholemoon.com/Practice Website: https://davidolem.com/

EPISODE LINKS:

https://www.apa.org/ptsd-guideline/patients-and-families/cognitive-behavioral

Felicia De La Garza Mercer, Ph.D. is a second-generation Tejana, clinical psychologist, and practitioner of Mesoamerican-based healing traditions. She lives on the native lands of the Tonkawa, Comanche, Lipan Apache, and Coahuiltecan (currently known as Austin, TX). She received her B.A. in Psychology from Brown University, her Ph.D. from UCLA, and her post-doc from UC Berkeley. Her work brings together 20 years of psychological practice and training with ancestral, intuitive, and earth-centered approaches to support deep emotional and spiritual connection. Her private practice, De La Garza Psychological Services, focuses on helping culturally-diverse and neurodiverse high-achievers develop trust and connection. Her practice is informed by a decolonizing approach to psychology that honors cultural-identity and ancestral knowledge. Felicia also offers curanderismo services at Xochimetzli Healing Arts, a separate, non-psychological spiritual practice.

DR. FELICIA'S LINKS:

https://feliciadmercerphd.com

https://www.xochimetzlihealingarts.com

Instagram: @drfeliciadm

EPISODE LINKS:

https://www.emdr.com/what-is-emdr

http://www.searchingforkapwa.com

This interview is Part 2 of 2. Stuart Gaffney is a lifelong artist and social justice activist. Stuart and his husband John Lewis were one of the plaintiff couples in the historic California case for marriage equality that won at the California Supreme Court in 2008. Stuart and John have been prominent voices speaking out for marriage equality and LGBTQ+ rights in the local, national and international media since 2004. Together for 39 years, they legally married in 2008. Stuart is an award-winning filmmaker, and appears in the groundbreaking books "Part Asian, 100% Hapa" and "hapa.me: 15 years of the hapa project" about mixed race identity. A graduate of Yale University, Stuart has worked for 25 years at the University of California, San Francisco, in his "day job" as the Center for AIDS Prevention Studies (CAPS) Center Coordinator.STUART'S LINKS:https://marriageequality.me/EPISODE REFERENCES:https://obamawhitehouse.archives.gov/photos-and-video/video/2015/06/26/president-speaks-supreme-court-s-decision-marriage-equality

This interview is Part 1 of 2.

Episode 2 will be released on April 1st, 2026.

Stuart Gaffney is a lifelong artist and social justice activist. Stuart and his husband John Lewis were one of the plaintiff couples in the historic California case for marriage equality that won at the California Supreme Court in 2008. Stuart and John have been prominent voices speaking out for marriage equality and LGBTQ+ rights in the local, national and international media since 2004. Together for 39 years, they legally married in 2008. Stuart is an award-winning filmmaker, and appears in the groundbreaking books "Part Asian, 100% Hapa" and "hapa.me: 15 years of the hapa project" about mixed race identity. A graduate of Yale University, Stuart has worked for 25 years at the University of California, San Francisco, in his "day job" as the Center for AIDS Prevention Studies (CAPS) Center Coordinator.

STUART'S LINKS:

https://marriageequality.me/

EPISODE REFERENCES:

https://obamawhitehouse.archives.gov/...

Dr. Natalye Pearson, Psy.D, is a licensed clinical psychologist with over 20 years of experience serving diverse communities in the San Francisco Bay Area. She specializes in treating racial trauma, internalized oppression, and identity development through culturally responsive individual and group therapy. Dr. Pearson is also a sought-after speaker and trainer, having led workshops for major tech companies including Apple and PlayStation. Her work is rooted in the belief that healing begins with reconnecting people to the truth of who they are.

DR. NATALYE'S LINKS:

https://drnatalyepearson.com

EPISODE REFERENCES:

Out is Through Episode 2:

"Healing From Racial Trauma" with Dr. Natalye Pearson

https://youtu.be/nqKaf5J2Mcs

Remembering Alberto Rangel, LCSW

https://chancellor.ucsf.edu/news/remembering-alberto-rangel-lmft

Christie George is a writer, curator, and producer who has been working at the intersection of media, technology and social change for more than 20 years. She started her career at Women Make Movies and is the former president of New Media Ventures. She currently advises foundations and family offices on impact investing and narrative change. Her creative work has been included in Southern Exposure's Annual Juried Show "This Will Never Work" and the "This Is What I Want" festival; and she produced the award-winning documentary feature "Hunting in Wartime" (PBS). Christie has a particular interest in collaborative art, especially work that explores and expands the idea of collective authorship. She recently produced "The Emergency Was Curiosity," a book report, exhibition and event series about cultivating creative attention. She holds a BA from Yale University and an MBA with distinction from the University of Oxford where she was a Skoll Scholar and was awarded the Said Prize.

CHRISTIE'S LINKS:

Book: The Emergency Was Curiosity

https://lostseason.metalabel.com/emergency?variantId=2&retryCount=1

Website: https://www.christiemgeorge.com/

Blog: https://thepracticepractice.substack.com/

EPISODE REFERENCES:

Jenny Odell, Author of "How To Do Nothing": https://www.jennyodell.com/index.html

"Out is Through" Podcast Episode 17 with Misty Loetterle: https://youtu.be/3Zh2fjjkR2E

"Out is Through" Podcast Episode 12 with Caitlin Gatlin: https://youtu.be/oGuLxvq0wPM

"Out is Through" Podcast Episode 11 with Steve Adams: https://youtu.be/gyTc3Dr6wYc

T.G. Ramsey is a clinical psychologist by day and a writer by night. His big gay agenda is to write MM novels that celebrate romance, friendship, and sexuality. And to normalize queer people being happy and accepted everywhere. He lives in the San Francisco Bay Area with his two furry freeloaders, Biscuit and Beignet. T.G. plans to resume world travels and local adventures in between novels, because what is life without stories to tell.

TG's Links:

https://bsky.app/profile/tgramseyauthor.bsky.social

https://www.instagram.com/t.g.ramsey/

https://www.threads.net/@t.g.ramsey

https://www.facebook.com/t.g.ramsey.writer

Email: [email protected]

Misty Loetterle is a Certified Coach and Certified Organizational Ombuds and Mediator. She also holds a Master’s in Psychology and a Bachelor’s in Theater Arts Performance. With over 15 years of coaching experience, she partners with leaders and professionals to navigate complex organizational challenges, interpersonal dynamics, and mid-career transitions - empowering them to build confidence and resilience to transform the way they work and lead. She brings a strengths-based intuitive approach, connecting with clients across cultures, backgrounds, and styles.

MISTY'S LINKS:

Website: https://www.intrinsight.com/

Email: [email protected]

EPISODE REFERENCES:

"Transitions: Making Sense of Life's Changes" (2004) by William Bridges, Ph.D

On Sunday, September 14, 2025, our family lost a mother, wife, grandmother, great-grandmother, friend, and my mother-in-law. This episode is honors the memory of Millie Marcotte, her amazing spirit, and part of her story of living a life filled with meaning and purpose. Together with her husband Pat (my father-in-law), we recorded them for a short film “Keep Moving”. about their volunteer work with Meals on Wheels in Kitsap County. To see the film, click the links below. (If you are watching this podcast on YouTube, the film will appear at the end of this podcast.)

"Keep Moving" (Short Film), 2023 by Terrence Marcotte & Larry D. Lariosa

Vimeo: https://vimeo.com/880733690

YouTube: https://youtu.be/D6uZglvtcWQ

James Guay, LMFT, is a psychotherapist in private practice since 1999, helping clients throughout California live more authentic and fulfilling lives. Alongside his therapy work, James is a passionate advocate for integrating mindfulness and nature as powerful tools for emotional resilience. An avid hiker and backpacker, he shares lessons from the trail — from the patience of switchbacks to the perspective of summit views — as metaphors for navigating life’s challenges with presence and compassion. On his YouTube channel, Living More Fully, James creates guided meditation videos filmed on location during his hikes, offering viewers a chance to slow down, reset, and reconnect with the beauty that still exists in the world.

JAMES'S LINKS:

YouTube: Living More Fully

Website: www.LivingMoreFully.com

Instagram: @jamesguaylmft