Queer Magic Podcast

First off, I want to thank ALL of you for supporting the Queer Magic Podcast. You have inspired me, motivated me, and empowered me to share my story.

I am getting ready to plan out the 2nd season of the podcast and one of the questions that has been coming up for me is "What is the purpose of the podcast?" In this special message, I share some thoughts and hopes for the upcoming season.

I would also love to hear from all of you and your thoughts on the podcast and any ideas you have for season 2!

Welcome magical listeners to the final episode of Season 1 of the Queer Magic Podcast! I'm your host, Luis Cornejo, and today's episode is all about the art of creating and nurturing relationships by genuinely engaging in self-growth and understanding.

Our special guest for this episode is Cynthia Flores!

About Cynthia:

Cynthia Flores is a Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist, an Entrepreneur, Coach & Speaker.

She is a First Gen Mexican-American, proud daughter immigrants.

She helps other First Gen Cycle Breakers REMEMBER who they are outside of their traumas and the oppressive systems we live in, so they can HEAL & MANIFEST a more authentic, fulfilling life and loving relationships.

Dive in as Cynthia shares her insights on:

- The intricate dynamics of relationships.

- Recognizing and breaking generational patterns.

- Embracing our true selves to build stronger bonds.

- And the transformative power of doing the work to create fulfilling, loving relationships.

Before we wrap up this season, I want to give a huge shoutout to our sponsors, Chismosa Cafe and Proud Chicana, for their unwavering support. Their belief in the magic of this platform has allowed us to bring forward some of the most heartwarming, empowering, and enlightening conversations.

I also want to extend my heartfelt gratitude to all our guests this season. Your stories, insights, and passion have truly brought Queer Magic to life in every episode.

To our dedicated listeners, thank you for your continued support. Your messages, shares, and feedback have been the guiding light of this journey.

As we close this chapter, we're excited to announce that we'll be returning with Season 2 in early 2024. Stay magical, keep spreading love, and always remember the power of queer magic in creating genuine connections.

Until next time, be kind to yourselves and let love guide the way. ✨🌈💖🦄

Sex Education with Cindy Luquin! Tune in for an empowering and enlightening episode of the Queer Magic Podcast, as host Luis invites trailblazing sexual health educator and advocate, Cindy Luquin, to delve deep into the world of queer sex education and its paramount importance.

Sharing their personal stories, Cindy and Luis reveal the profound impact and glaring lack of queer sex education on their own lives, as well as its broader implications for the LGBTQ+ community.

Recognized as a thought leader in her field, Cindy's passionate advocacy for reproductive rights, LGBTQ+ equality, and equity deeply resonates, inspiring confidence to embrace one's sexuality and catalyzing positive change for a more inclusive and fulfilling future.

Don't miss this eye-opening conversation that challenges societal norms, fosters personal growth and well-being, and paves the way for a healthier, more equitable world.

#QueerMagic #SexEdRevolution #InclusivityMatters

About My Guest:

Meet Cindy Luquin, a trailblazer in sexual health education and advocacy. With over a decade of experience, Cindy's electrifying talks empower diverse audiences to explore consent, boundaries, STI prevention, and abortion access. As a certified educator, their unique blend of knowledge and healing modalities like Reiki and curanderismo foster personal growth and wellbeing, revolutionizing healthy sexual practices.
Recognized as a thought leader, Cindy's expertise has earned prestigious collaborations, while their passionate advocacy for reproductive rights, LGBTQ+ equality, and equity resonates deeply. Join Cindy as they break down barriers, inspiring confidence in embracing sexuality and paving the way for a more inclusive and fulfilling future.
SOCIAL LINKS

Website: https://www.pleasuretopeople.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cindyluquin
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pleasuretopeople/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/pleasure2ppl
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@pleasuretopeople
Cindy Luquin (she/they)
Sex & Relationship Expert
Website: pleasuretopeople.com
Email: [email protected]

I had the incredible opportunity to interview the brilliant Rae McDaniel (They/Them), author of the groundbreaking book, "Gender Magic." 🎉

In this eye-opening conversation, we delved deep into the importance of joy and pleasure in gender exploration and transition. Here are my top three takeaways:

1️⃣ Joy and Pleasure in Gender: The author emphasized the need to celebrate the joy and pleasure that can be found in gender exploration and transition. By incorporating positive psychology and recognizing the power of joy and pleasure in connecting with our authentic selves, we can redefine the narrative of gender as not solely revolving on suffering but also triumphs.

2️⃣ Trusting and Honoring Experiences: While research is crucial in validating transgender and nonbinary individuals, it's equally important to trust and honor their lived experiences. By embracing a supportive and inclusive mindset, society can create a safe space that allows for self-discovery and the expression of diverse gender identities.

3️⃣ The book, "Gender Magic," invites readers to embark on a journey of self-discovery, play, pleasure, and limitless possibilities. If you're interested in learning more about the transformative power of joy in gender exploration and transition, I highly recommend diving into "Gender Magic." Let's celebrate the magic within ourselves and uplift others by embracing our authentic selves.

About the Author:

Rae McDaniel (they/them) is a non-binary Speaker, Author, Therapist, Certified Sex Therapist, Coach, and Transgender Diversity and Inclusion Educator. 

Rae helps audiences gain the sheer audacity to be themselves in the world through play, pleasure, and possibility. 

Their book Gender Magic is a first-of-its-kind practical guide to achieving gender freedom with joy, curiosity, and pleasure for transgender and non-binary individuals, gender explorers, and those who love them (May 2023.) They have been featured in high-profile media such as The New York Times, The Chicago Tribune, Time, and Women’s Health. As a sought-after professional speaker, Rae has spoken at Rutgers University, University of Chicago, University of Illinois Chicago, Soho House, The Wing, and Rachel’s Rodgers’ ROI: The Millionaires Summit. 

Rae is also the founder and CEO of Practical Audacity, a Gender & Sex Therapy practice in Chicago, serving over 400 clients yearly. 

When Rae isn’t educating audiences and bettering the world, they can be found drinking too much coffee, snuggling with their dog Gizmo (who might actually be a gremlin), or sipping whiskey with a good book. 

www.rae-mcdaniel.com

www.gendermagic.com

www.practicalaudacity.com

Purchase “Gender Magic”

IG & TikTok @theraemcdaniel 

Facebook @raemcdanielgendermagic 

🌟#GenderMagic #JoyInGender #QueerMagic #AuthenticSelf #GenderExploration #TransRights #Nonbinary #InclusiveMindset #LGBTQ+ #Podcast #BookRecommendation

Hello and welcome to another episode of the Queer Magic Podcast!

Our special guest for this episode is Angel Casas, a no-diet personal trainer based in Chicago, Illinois, who will be sharing their experience with religious trauma.

Religious trauma is a complex and often overlooked aspect of many people's lives, especially within the LGBTQ+ community. It can stem from the conflict between one's religious upbringing and their identity, causing emotional distress, shame, and even long-lasting psychological effects. Angel Casas shares his personal story and perspective on this matter. Our goal is to create dialogue and support individuals in their journey toward healing and self-acceptance when experiencing religious trauma.

Throughout the episode, we'll provide our listeners with valuable insights and practical tips for healing and growth. So, let's dive into this important conversation about religious trauma with Angel Casas.

About my guest:

Ángel is a Weight Inclusive, Certified Personal Trainer & DEI activist in the Health and Fitness industry.
Àngel is an immigrant to this country. Born in Mexico and raised in Chicago, he was brought up in a strict Jehovah’s Witness household alongside traditional Mexican values. However, later in life, he left the church after coming out as a gay queer man.
His professional background is in the Real Estate and Insurance Industry but when Covid hit and shut everything down, he decided to make a career change and became a Certified Personal Trainer. He decided to start a fitness business dedicated to helping people lose weight since he himself had lost over 100 pounds.
However, helping people lose weight, brought to light his own disordered relationship with food and fitness. He admitted himself into an Eating Disorder treatment center which was where he learned about Diet Culture, fat phobia, White Supremacy, Religious trauma, and many other systems of oppression.
This eye-opening experience made him realize how harmful and racist Diet Culture is, particularly for Brown, Black, Indigenous, and People of Color. He also noticed the lack of diverse representation in the Eating Disorder space, with thin cis white women predominantly leading it. This realization fueled his mission to dismantle Diet Culture and decolonize fitness, empowering others to break free from oppressive chains and reclaim their bodies, especially queer and BIPOC folx.
This gave birth to his now Non-Diet Personal Training business. No more diets, no more counting calories, no more meal plans. No more scales, no more weigh-ins. No more before and after pics. Instead, he teaches his clients about intuitive eating and joyful movement, reclaiming the power that was originally taken from them.

Website: nomorefearcoaching.com

https://www.instagram.com/theantidiettrainer/

Welcome to a brand-new episode of the Queer Magic Podcast, where we delve deep into the world of untold stories, powerful narratives, and the magic that lies within our Queer community. In today's episode, titled "Undocumented Tales" we explore the gripping and heartfelt stories that unfold in this captivating final season of the groundbreaking show, "Undocumented Tales." My special guest Armando Ibañez, the shows director, writer, and star talks about the show, his life, and themes that will be presented in the final season of the show.  

We also have exciting news about the premiere of the final season of "Undocumented Tales" which will be a free event at USC! We'll share all the details about this highly anticipated event, including how you can attend and engage in conversation with the cast and crew.

So, get ready to immerse yourself in the magic of untold stories and join us for this enlightening and empowering episode of the Queer Magic Podcast. 

About my guest:

Armando Ibañez is a Latinx immigrant queer filmmaker and activist from Acapulco, Guerrero, Mexico. He has been living in the United States for 20 years and lives in Los Angeles, California. His passion for film began at the age of 7 years old while watching Mexican cinema from the 1950s. Currently, Armando is the director and writer of the youtube series “Undocumented Tales,” a story that follows the journey of a Mexican undocumented and queer server living in Los Angeles. In 2020, Armando funded Ibanez Productions, a production company that focuses on creating projects that represent untold stories with different perspectives. Armando is committed to portraying authentic Latinx characters and addressing real issues impacting immigrant communities in the United States.

www.armandoibanez.com

www.undocumentedtales.com

Tickets to the Premiere

About this Episode

Welcome back to another episode of the Queer Magic podcast! In today's episode, titled "Breaking the People Pleasing Cycle," we're diving deep into the complex world of people-pleasing with our guest Martin Diaz, a self-love and mindset coach.

Join us as we hear a powerful personal reflection from Martin, who takes us on a journey through their childhood, sharing how societal expectations and limitations imposed by others caused them to ignore their true interests and conform to the norm.

Throughout this episode, Martin emphasizes the importance of self-permission and re-parenting oneself to release the shame, guilt, and other negative behaviors learned from early sources (parents, school, society, etc).

Get ready for an introspective and transformative episode as we explore the impact of people-pleasing on our mental health and the importance of prioritizing our own happiness and self-discovery. So, grab your journal, tune in, and get ready to break free from the people-pleasing cycle on this episode of Queer Magic.

About My Guest

Martín is a Self-Love & Mindset Coach that helps the queer community overcome people-pleasing in order to love themselves and create the life of their wildest dreams. Martín was born in Mexico, and immigrated to the US where from a very young age he started to feel different. Growing up gay in a conservative latino home shattered his self-worth and self-esteem and so he turned to people pleasing, perfectionism, numbing through alcohol, and seeking external validation as a way to cope with his shame. He wanted so badly to feel accepted and normal that he did everything in his power to please others and live my life according to their rules and expectations. 

Martín’s life made a complete 180 when he moved to NYC - the first decision he ever made for himself without thinking of anyone else’s validation or expectations! Living in NYC was an initiation of sorts and after having a spiritual awakening, realized he was lost, unhappy, and depleted because up to this point he had been living a life prioritizing other's opinions of him and rejecting his own. After trial and error, soul searching, and embarking on a healing journey himself Martin changed the trajectory of his life to help the queer community and in turn also heal himself. Today, Martin is a new man and he has committed his life to helping the queer community free themselves from the shackles of their past and relearn how to love themselves.
You can find him on social media where he regularly posts queer mental health content and pics of his puppy Selena.

Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@iammartindiaz
Instagram: https://www.tiktok.com/@iammartindiaz

About this Episode

Welcome to another episode of the Queer Magic Podcast, where we dive into the powerful and transformative stories of Queer magical individuals. In today's episode, entitled "All Boys Aren't Blue," we explore the journey of an incredible author, George M. Johnson, who has dared to challenge the status quo through their thought-provoking book.

George shares the highs and lows of their experience, discussing how their book has been received by young adults who find solace and inspiration in its pages. However, they also uncover the dark underbelly of book bans and censorship, as certain parents and society attempt to suppress their powerful message.

George is no stranger to standing up against oppressive actions. We learn how they are fighting against book bans in the United States, drawing parallels to the banning of books in Nazi Germany. Their book, which has become the second most banned book in the country, solidifies their title as the most banned black author.

Listen as George delves into their family background and how their family embraced and supported their writing, even through challenging and emotional sections.

We also get a glimpse into the process of writing the book and George shares about their transition from journalism to crafting a deeply personal and revealing memoir. George shares their fears, the uncertainties they faced, and moments of vulnerability they encountered along the way, culminating in an empowering and honest book that has changed lives.

Prepare to be captivated by this extraordinary journey as George touches on themes of resilience, the power of words, and the impact of societal expectations.

About My Guest

George M Johnson is an Award-Winning Black Non-Binary Writer, Author, and Executive Producer located in the LA area. They are the author of the New York Times Bestselling Author of the Young Adult memoir All Boys Aren’t Blue discussing their adolescence growing up as a young Black Queer boy in New Jersey through a series of powerful essays. The book was optioned for Television by Gabrielle Union.

As a former journalist, George has written for major outlets including Teen Vogue, Entertainment Tonight, NBC, Buzzfeed, and in 2019 was awarded the Salute to Excellence Award by the National Association of Black Journalists for their article “When Racism Anchors your Health” in Vice Magazine.

George was listed on The Root 100 Most Influential African Americans in 2020. The Out 100 Most Influential LGBTQ People in 2021. And in 2022 was honored as one of the TIME100 Next Most Influential People in the World.

Their second memoir WE ARE NOT BROKEN was released in September of 2021. It received the Carter G. Woodson Award which recognizes books that “accurately and sensitively depict the experience of one or more historically marginalized racial/ethnic groups in the United States”. The book also received the Nonfiction Honor Book in the YA category from the International Literacy Association.

In 2021 they wrote and Executive Produced the Dramatic Reading of All Boys Aren’t Blue starring Jenifer Lewis and Dyllon Burnside which received a 2022 Special Recognition Award from GLAAD. George is also a proud HBCU alum twice over, and a member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Incorporated.\

Additional Information

Website: https://iamgmjohnson.com/

Instagram: @iamgmjohnson

Amazon: All Boys Aren't Blue

Join me and my guest Wednesdae Reim Ifrach as we talk about disability in the Queer community and the impact of systemic discrimination.

About my Guest:

Wednesdae Reim Ifrach

REAT, ATR-BC, ATCS, LPC, NCC, CLAT, LCMHC, LPCC

(They/Them/Theirs)

Wednesdae is a trans/non-binary art therapist, fat activist and artist whose work focuses on body justice, intersectional social justice and eating disorder treatment equity access. 

They also co-own and operate Rainbow Recovery where they support people through the gender affirmation process, complex trauma recovery, eating disorder recovery and body image issues using art, creative expression, and traditional talk therapy. They also founded the countries first 2sLGBTQIA+ Eating Disorder Program. 

Wednesdae melds the world of art therapy, social justice, trauma recovery and eating disorder recovery into a unique opportunity for people to expand their understanding of the world. To that end Wednesdae had the honor to participate in the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA)’s Artful Practices for Well-being and has had artwork on display at the Baltimore Museum of Art as part of Art as Activism.

They have presented at national and international conferences, are a former adjunct professor and continues to guest lecture. They also serve on the Board of Project HEAL, a non-profit whose mission is to create treatment equity access in the eating disorder field. 

We are all innately creative as human beings. Yet, something happens during our transition from childhood into adulthood. Creativity shifts and changes for many of us. Often times it gets shrouded and shaped by systems of oppression that dictate and capitalize on creativity. Join me and my special guest Chetna Mehta (she/they) as we talk about decolonizing creativity.

About my guest:

Chetna Mehta (she/they) is a granddaughter of Indian and South African diasporas. She works and plays as an educating artist, alchemist, facilitator and founder of Mosaiceye LLC, a therapeutic practice with a mission to steward peace, love and freedom on earth via expressive healing arts and reflective community circles. She collaborates with progressive organizations, coalitions, social movements, women and nonbinary changemakers.