In this engaging conversation, Tom Bruett (he/him) interviews Dr. Ty (he/him), a sex therapist and advocate for the kink and leather communities. They discuss the integration of personal and professional experiences in therapy, the importance of consent in relationships, and the need for mentorship within the kink community. Dr. Ty shares insights on navigating stigma surrounding polyamory and kink, and emphasizes the significance of self-acceptance and empowerment in sexual exploration. The conversation highlights the evolving perceptions of kink in therapy and the importance of finding supportive professionals in the field.

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About Dr. Ty:
Dr. Ty (he/him) is a clinical sexologist, certified sex therapist, and owner of Southwest Psychotherapy Associates in Houston. He specializes in working with the Gender, Sexual, and Romantic Diverse (GSRD) communities, including altsex practices. As Mr. Texas Leather 2024, he founded the 1,900-member international K!nky Book Club, and co-founded the Texas Leather Generations Project. His work bridges clinical care and kink community leadership, with features on TV, in The New York Times, Cosmopolitan, and more. He’s active in national leather organizations and is building an international kinky mentorship program to expand access to networking, education, and belonging for the entire community.

Connect with Dr. Ty:
Website: www.tdlcounseling.com
Instagram: @tdlcounseling @drtyleatherman

Connect with Tom:
website: www.queerrelationshipinstitute.com
Instagram: @queerrelationshipinstitute
Get his book: https://a.co/d/0gtUEAC5

In this interview, Tom Bruett, sex and relationship therapist, interviews Cator Sparks, a life coach for gay men. They explore topics like loneliness, connection, intergenerational friendships and relationships.

About Cator Sparks:
Cator Sparks is a life coach for men based in Atlanta, Georgia, and a Certified Professional Co-Active Coach (CPCC) through the Co-Active Training Institute. He came out at 18 and has been living openly and proud ever since—though the journey hasn't always been easy. For years, he used drinking, drugs, and sex to fill the holes that bullying and shame had carved out. Working with his own life coach changed everything. He began to heal and discovered the transformative power of this work. Today, Cator runs a private practice, coaches for Boon Health, and founded GBTQ Retreats—a long weekend for queer men to connect more deeply with themselves and their community, free from alcohol, drugs, and the pressure of hookup culture. He also hosts a weekly Zoom call for the GBTQ+ community to go beyond small talk and really connect.

Ways to Connect with Cator:
His Website: https://www.catorsparkscoaching.com/
GBTQ Retreats: https://www.gbtqretreats.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/catorsparks/
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@UC_Sntx--6SalbrACo2tguJw

In this conversation, Tom Bruett (he/him) interviews Nick Wolny (he/him), an author and columnist for Out Magazine, about his new book, Money Proud: The Queer Guide to Generate Wealth, Slay Debt, and Build Good Habits to Secure Your Future. They discuss the unique financial challenges faced by the queer community, the emotional connections to money, and the importance of financial literacy. Nick shares insights from his research and personal experiences, emphasizing the need for a more inclusive approach to personal finance that resonates with queer individuals. The conversation covers topics such as inherited beliefs about money, the impact of debt, budgeting strategies, and the significance of estate planning for queer people.

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About Nick:
Nick Wolny is an author, host, and finance columnist for Out magazine. He writes Financialicious, a personal finance newsletter tailored toward queer readers, and his new book Money Proud: The Queer Guide to Generate Wealth, Slay Debt, and Build Good Habits to Secure Your Future was recently recommended by The New York Times.

Connect with Nick:
Get his book: https://a.co/d/0eAqJq0C
Financialicious newsletter: https://nickwolny.com/newsletter
Instagram: @nickwolny
Youtube:  ⁨@Nick-Wolny⁩ 

Connect with Tom:
website: www.queerrelationshipinstitute.com
Instagram: @queerrelationshipinstitute
Get his book: https://a.co/d/0gtUEAC5

In this interview with Tom Bruett, LMFT, CST, interviews Dallas Bragg, a Chemsex Recovery Coach. The interview talks about some of the devastating ways that chemsex is ravaging the gay community. More importantly, there are tips for what to do if you or someone you love is struggling with sex and meth addiction.

Dallas Bragg is the Founder of Recovery Alchemy, a 1:1 and Group Coaching Chemsex Recovery program focusing on men who have sex with men who are using crystal methamphetamine and want to quit. He is also the creator of The AfterMeth Podcast, dedicated to supporting gay and bisexual men in recovery from crystal meth. With 7+ years in recovery, Dallas offers a unique blend of lived experience, compassionate guidance, and practical strategies for transformation. Beyond just "quitting," Dallas advocates for a holistic approach to recovery that embraces your authentic self and highest potential. His work focuses on identity transformation rather than mere abstinence, helping men rebuild their lives and discover who they truly are beneath the addiction.

Connect with Dallas:
Learn more: www.drdallasbragg.com
Youtube:  @Drdallasbragg ​

In this conversation, Tom Bruett (he/him) speaks with Zach Taylor (he/him), a fitness coach specializing in helping men over 40. They discuss the changes men experience as they age, the importance of mental health and body image, and the impact of social media on self-perception. Zach shares his journey through various careers, his passion for teaching, and the significance of community in fitness. They also explore the challenges faced by queer men in fitness environments and the importance of addressing mindset and relationship dynamics in coaching.

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About Zach:
Coach Zach helps gay men in mid-life reclaim their potential by building strong, confident, muscular bodies through simple, sustainable training and nutrition. He cuts through the Instagram and AI garbage to teach men how to actually look and feel amazing after 40. Through Zach Taylor Fitness, he’s built a powerful community where guys shed fat, gain strength, and rediscover their confidence, proving that our best bodies aren't behind us - we're just getting started.

Contact Zach:
Website: https://zachtaylorfitness.com/
Instagram: @zachtaylorfitness

Contact Tom:
website: www.queerrelationshipinstitute.com
Instagram: @queerrelationshipinstitute

Youtube: @queerrelationshipinstitute

In this interview we talk with Dr. Luke Wilson about his story surviving conversion therapy and the new book that he has edited which compiles the stories of other survivors out there.

Dr. Lucas Wilson is a SSHRC Postdoctoral Fellow at University of Toronto Mississauga and was formerly the Justice, Equity, and Transformation Postdoctoral Fellow at University of Calgary. He is the editor of Shame-Sex Attraction: Survivors’ Stories of Conversion Therapy and the co-editor of Emerging Trends in Third-Generation Holocaust Literature. He is also the author of At Home with the Holocaust: Postmemory, Domestic Space, and Second-Generation Holocaust Literature, which received the Jordan Schnitzer First Book Publication Award. His public-facing writing has appeared in The Advocate, Queerty, LGBTQ Nation, and Religion Dispatches, among other venues. He is currently working on a new edited collection about queer experiences at Christian colleges, universities, and seminaries (under contract with University of Georgia Press).

Shame-Sex Attraction: Survivors’ Stories of Conversion Therapy: https://a.co/d/aOVFiU6

Stay connected to Dr. Wilson:
TikTok: @lukeslamdunkwilson
Instagram: @lukeslamdunkwilson
Bluesky: @lukeslamdunkwilson.bsky.social
X: @wilson_fw

In this conversation with Andy Scahill, we explore the intersection of queer culture, film, and community building. Andy shares his journey of creating Rainbow Cult, a platform for queer film screenings that fosters a sense of belonging and interaction among audiences. They discuss the importance of in-person experiences in an increasingly digital world, the challenges of archiving queer history, and the evolution of queer media representation. The conversation also touches on modern relationships, the Denver arts scene, and Andy's future creative projects, highlighting the significance of art in navigating identity and community.

About Andy:
Andy Scahill is a queer film professor, author of book on evil kids, and creator of Rainbow Cult, where community, camp, and cinema make out behind the bleachers. A writer-performer and cultural critic, he explores desire, monstrosity, and queer kinship across page, stage, and screen.

Connect with Andy:
Instagram: @andymight
Andy's Website: www.professorandy.org
Rainbow Cult: www.rainbowcult.org

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Tom Bruett, LMFT, sex and relationship expert for gay men interviews Brian G. Murphy about his new book, Love Beyond Monogamy. This interview explores the intersection between love, polyamory, spirituality and the gay community.

Brian G. Murphy  @thisisbgm  is an author and certified relationship coach who helps you clarify your values and then build right-fit relationships and exciting sex lives in line with those values through Relationshift, his private coaching practice.

Brian is also the co-founder of QueerTheology.com, a resource hub, online community, and the longest-running LGBTQ spirituality podcast, which supports queer people in healing from religious harm, rebuilding community, and reigniting fulfilling spiritual lives.

He is author of Love Beyond Monogamy, which was published this fall, and co-author of Reading The Bible Through Queer Eyes, which will be published in fall 2026 by HarperOne. His work has been featured in Vice, BuzzFeed, The Huffington Post, The Advocate, Upworthy, and NBC News. Brian is based in New York City.

Get a copy of Love Beyond Monogamy here: thisisbgm.com/book
Learn more about Brian's relationship coaching work here: relationshift.us

In this conversation, Keegan Hirst (he/him) shares his journey from being a professional rugby player to becoming a coach for gay men. He discusses the importance of community, the impact of representation in media, and the unique challenges faced by gay men in personal development. Keegan emphasizes the need for a holistic approach to coaching, focusing on mental, emotional, and physical well-being. He also highlights the significance of personal accountability and the importance of feedback in growth. The conversation concludes with insights into the future of gay men's coaching and the ongoing evolution of the community.

About Keegan:
Founder of Gay Man's Coaching the world's premier personal development service for gay, bi and trans men, former professional Rugby League Player.

Connect with Keegan:
Instagram: @keeganhirst @gaymanscoaching
Youtube:  @gaymanscoaching 
Website: https://www.instagram.com/keeganhirst/?hl=en, https://www.instagram.com/gaymanscoaching/?hl=en
Tiktok: @keeganhirst

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In this conversation, Tom Bruett (he/him) and Dr. Matthew Brinkley (he/they) explore the importance of authenticity in therapy, particularly within the queer community. They discuss the challenges faced by queer individuals in navigating their identities and the need for therapists to be open and relatable. The conversation also touches on the diverse approaches to therapy, the significance of community building, and the role of joy and empowerment in the queer experience. Additionally, they address the ongoing issues of racism within the queer community and the necessity for open dialogue about relationships and sex.

About Dr. Brinkley:
Dr. Matthew Brinkley, PsyD, LMFT, (he/they) is a passionate and dedicated genderqueer LMFT, weaving threads of compassion through the fabric of mental health. As a Clinical Assistant Professor of Psychiatry at the University of Southern California (USC) and a licensed psychotherapist in private practice, Dr. Brinkley’s journey is marked by a resolute commitment to fostering understanding and support. Beyond his therapeutic pursuits,
Matthew is an ICF-Accredited Certified Life Coach, Certified Thriving Relationship Coach, and Certified Science-Based Dating Coach. and is the owner of his life, relationship, and dating coaching business, AuthenticiTea Coaching & Consulting LLC.

Connect with Dr. Brinkley:
Website: www.theauthenticitea.com

Chapters:
00:00 Introduction to Authenticity in Therapy
03:01 Navigating Queer Identity and Therapy
05:57 The Role of Coaching in Mental Health
09:03 Creating Community for Queer Individuals
11:56 The Importance of Joy and Authenticity
15:02 Building Connections and Overcoming Loneliness
17:55 The Journey to Becoming a Therapist
22:47 Creating Safe Spaces for Queer Individuals
24:10 The Journey to Becoming a Therapist
25:53 The Need for Queer Representation in Therapy
26:50 Conversations on Relationship Styles
30:28 Navigating Monogamy and Non-Monogamy
35:14 Addressing Racism in the Queer Community
40:05 Connecting with Dr. Brinkley