Every now & again an episode comes along that feels a bit like a "coming out." This episode is certainly one of those episodes. For the first time ever, I'll be talking about my experience with anxiety. It's something that I've dealt with for nearly as long as I've been gay, but it never quite made it out of the closet when I did. I'm joined by Caroline Foran, my rock throughout this interview, & together we tell our stories, while also examining the universally shared experience of anxiety & the many common stigmas & misconceptions around it. I think our chat is a good starting point for anyone who might be dealing with anxiety in secrecy & shame like I was. If you feel compelled to learn more afterward, I highly recommend checking out Caroline's body of work - it is a treasure trove of information on the topic. If you're anything like me, sometimes just a little information can make a big thing feel not so big anymore. Or as Carrie Underwood says, "Sometimes that mountain you've been climbing is just a grain of sand."

Hosted by Brian Falduto (he/they), Featuring Caroline Foran (she/her), Music by Conor Keelan (he/him), Produced by Tyler Martin (he/him). You can also hear the audio from this interview on Caroline's podcast, "Owning It."

Money makes the world go round! Or so they say. Regardless, it's what this episode is all about - the fragile topic of money - & just in time for all that holiday spending! I'm privileged to be joined by power couple John & David, also known as The Debt Free Guys. Together, we take a look at something that impacts all of us .. & perhaps more important than the thing, we talk about our relationship to the thing; that thing being money. David & John share with us their inspiring story as well as some budgeting & spending tips. And because it’s me, we also spend some time examining the intersection of money & mindfulness, among many other things discussed. It’s a dense one, in the jam-packed definition of the word. Enjoy! Onward, with wellness.

Hosted by Brian Falduto (he/they), Featuring John & David Auten-Schneider (he/him x2), Music by Conor Keelan (he/him), Produced by Tyler Martin (he/him).

If you've been tuning into the show as of late, you'll know that I've been attempting to tackle a wide range of topics from a wellness-centered, queer-focused lens. Though it remains a controversial topic, cannabis *is* an emerging wellness resource. So we're going to talk about it! As objectively as possible. And who better to talk about it with than a weed historian (basically). Please welcome author & podcast host David Bienenstock to the show. He's an ally of our community & a dedicated advocate for the potential behind the plant known by many names. It's an illuminating conversation meant to unpack some of the stigma behind cannabis while also drawing your attention to the many points in our nation's history in which the cannabis movement & the LGBTQ+ rights movements have intersected. A whole lot of information coming your way with this one. Enjoy!

Hosted by Brian Falduto (he/they), Featuring David Bienenstock (he/him), Music by Conor Keelan (he/him), Produced by Tyler Martin (he/him). Join us in The Collective, a social wellness network for the queer community. And check out David's podcast, Great Moments in Weed History.

What if I told you that there was a man out there who is making erotic content that will not only arouse you but that will also teach you something about yourself? And that that same man is responsible for an entire world of video content that addresses misconceptions, stigmas, & stereotypes within the queer community? And what if I added to the mix that this man is charmingly intelligent & wise? Or that he's using his voice & his platform to offer a refreshing spin on the wellness conversation? Well, it would probably all seem a bit too good to be true, no? And yet, it is all true, all real. Davey Wavey is indeed the real deal, y'all - & he's my guest for this episode! You are welcome.

Hosted by Brian Falduto (he/they), Featuring Davey Wavey (he/him), Music by Conor Keelan (he/him), Produced by Tyler Martin (he/him). Join us in The Collective, a social wellness network for the queer community. And check out Davey's erotic video platform, Himeros.TV.

https://the-collective-queer-community.mn.co/

https://www.himeros.tv/tour/

I can't believe it's August already! I hope everyone is staying cool out there. Speaking of cool, I've got a pretty cool guest for this episode: my coaching sister Nathan Serrato. Nathan is a fellow life coach & the creator of Queer Conscious. We use our time together to discuss our complex healing journeys & the elements of wellness that we've incorporated along the way, both in our work with ourselves & our work with our clients. Plus, Nathan demonstrates exactly why they are a one-stop-shop for anything & everything you could need in a queer coach. It's a real grab-bag of a conversation. We talk nature, science, spirituality, timeline therapy, Fire Island - you name it. A great episode for those seeking some inspiration in the face of limiting beliefs. Enjoy! Onward with wellness!

Hosted by Brian Falduto (he/they), Featuring Nathan Serrato (he/they), Music by Conor Keelan (he/him), Produced by Tyler Martin (he/him). Join us in The Collective, a social wellness network for the queer community.

https://the-collective-queer-community.mn.co/

Please welcome my dear friend of nearly 18 years, Z Infante, to the show. Z shares their story with us, which lucky for me has been interwoven with mine over the years beginning all the way back when we costarred in School of Rock. We share precious moments from our past with you all & we also discuss some current topics relevant to Z's journey: non-binary name changes, open relationships, community involvement, & resilience as a storyteller. I'm sure I say this all the time but this may be one of my favorite episodes yet!

Hosted by Brian Falduto (he/they), Featuring Z Infante (they/them), Music by Conor Keelan (he/him), Produced by Tyler Martin (he/him). Join us in The Collective, a social wellness network for the queer community.

https://the-collective-queer-community.mn.co/

For our 2nd & final Pride month release we have my new friend Daniel Franzese on the cast .. although he feels like an old pal of mine! Danny is a fellow podcaster, advocate, & storyteller within the community; but that's not all we have in common. In 2003, I played "Billy" in the cult classic film School of Rock & in 2004, Daniel played "Damian" in the mega-hit film Mean Girls. We're all grown up now but back then, we were both young & closeted, naive yet talented, & we both portrayed queer characters on screen in the early 2000s, a time when that was fairly unheard of. So, of course, we talk about THAT .. plus a slew of important topics that are prominent in the queer community including sex, body positivity, & faith/spirituality. It's a full-on merging of worlds in this one y'all - join us! And Happy Pride, once again. Stay safe out there!

Hosted by Brian Falduto (he/they), Featuring Daniel Franzese (he/him), Music by Conor Keelan (he/him), Produced by Tyler Martin (he/him). Join us in The Collective, a social wellness network for the queer community.

https://the-collective-queer-community.mn.co

Happy Pride! In honor of the celebratory occasion, I will be releasing two episodes this month. This first one features the ground-breaking drag queen, actress, & artist: Miss Peppermint. This may surprise you but she's honestly a bit of a sister from another mister for me. We got on so well & the conversation reflects it in how much we covered: music, Broadway, drag, Black Lives Matter, anti-trans legislation, bagel sandwiches .. & lots of here's & there's in between all that. Throughout the interview, Peppermint is nothing short of what she's always been: an inspirational storyteller with a mission - my favorite kind! Loads to love & learn about in this special Pride month release. Enjoy!

Hosted by Brian Falduto (he/they), Featuring Peppermint (she/her), Theme Music by Conor Keelan (he/him), Produced by Tyler Martin (he/him). Join us in The Collective, a social wellness network for the queer community.

https://the-collective-queer-community.mn.co

Brooklyn in the house! After Samy Nemir Olivares made global news with his incredible work as a district leader in the neighborhood next to mine right here in NYC, I knew I had to explore more about him & if possible, elevate his story further. I'm so glad I did because in addition to being a motivated voice & activist for those who most need a voice & activist, I discovered he's also just a bundle of joy & a really wise person - especially when it comes to the difficult process of being & creating the change you want to see in the world. We somehow squeeze in talk of dating, self-care, & "active love" too; among other things. It's a bulky one, y'all! Enjoy!

Hosted by Brian Falduto (he/they), Featuring Samy Nemir Olivares (he/they), Theme Music by Conor Keelan (he/him), Produced by Tyler Martin (he/him). Join us in The Collective, a social wellness network for the queer community.

https://the-collective-queer-community.mn.co/

My dear friend River Gallo has graced us with their presence for today's episode. River is a Salvadoran-American filmmaker, actor, model, & intersex rights activist. I'll never forget my 1st time meeting River at Outfest in LA - I was so impressed having just seen the debut of their incredible short film "Ponyboi." When we locked eyes across the crowded room of folks networking with one another, they walked right over to me & said, "I know who you are!" A mutual moment of *fangirling* over one another & the rest is history! In our chat, we have a long overdue catch-up combined with an important & illuminating conversation about intersex identity. I highly recommend tuning in for a sampling of their talent, a taste of their charisma, & a full mental download of information on the intersex experience. River is a true embodiment of my coaching mantra, "love yourself, share your story." Listen in & you'll see why.