In this episode, Jackie Vega, MS, RDN, LDN, sits down with Grayson for an honest conversation about identity, healing, recovery, body image, and the importance of feeling seen.

Grayson shares pieces of his lived experience, offering space for reflection, connection, and a deeper understanding of what it can mean to move through the world as part of the LGBTQ+ community.

This conversation is for anyone who has ever needed to feel less alone, more understood, or reminded that their story matters.

For more LGBTQ+ affirming nutrition support, recovery resources, body image support, and blog articles, visit jackievega.com.

Resources pertaining to this conversation: Inspire RecoveryQ-SpacePride Detox

In this episode of The Glow Circle, host Jackie Vega sits down with Donna, also known as DW, and Jaki for a meaningful conversation about identity, recovery, healing, and the power of feeling seen.

As part of their work in the drug and alcohol detox and rehab space, Donna and Jaki bring a unique perspective on what it means to support people during some of the most vulnerable moments of their lives. Together, they share personal stories and reflections that create space for connection, compassion, and a deeper understanding of the LGBTQ+ community.

This episode invites listeners to learn through lived experience while honoring the importance of safety, support, and being heard.

The Glow Circle is where nourishment, connection, and real conversations spark your glow.

Content & Care Disclaimer

The Glow Circle includes conversations about wellness, recovery, mental health, nutrition, and lived experiences within the LGBTQ+ community. Some episodes may touch on sensitive topics such as substance use, eating disorders, self-harm, suicide, trauma, or abuse. These discussions are shared with care and intention, without graphic detail, but may still be activating for some listeners.

Please listen in a way that feels supportive for you. Pausing, skipping an episode, or returning at another time is always okay. Your well-being matters.

The information shared on this podcast is for educational and supportive purposes only and is not a substitute for medical, mental health, or individualized professional care.

If you find yourself needing immediate support, please consider reaching out to someone you trust or a local crisis resource. If you are in the United States, you can call or text 988 to reach the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. If you are outside the U.S., local support resources can be found online.

Inspire Recovery Q-Space Detox Pride Detox

In todays episode I am joined by my friend Anthony. He is joining me to share his personal story as a gay black man. His story may seem super happy at first but he too has lived through the bullying of not only being a gay man, but a gay black man in a predominently white community. He shares with us who is personal hero and motivator is as well as his thoughts surrounding the political struggles the LGBTQ community face today.

I hope you'll listen and enjoy our conversation just as much as I did.

Trigger Warning:

Before we begin, please listen with care. This episode includes discussions about violence, domestic and sexual abuse, gun violence, eating disorders, calories, and body weight. If any of these topics are difficult for you, please check the show notes for resources and support.

In today's episode, we're covering so much—how exercise and nutrition go hand in hand, the importance of properly fueling your body, and how nutrition can enhance your ability to protect yourself when needed. We'll also dive into kickboxing, jiu-jitsu, and self-defense, with a special focus on why self-defense is so important within the LGBTQ community.

If you or anyone you know and love is suffering from drug and alcohol addiction, there IS help. You can call or text 988. If you are looking for LGBTQ exclusive help, please call 561-763-9837.

If you or anyone you know and love is suffering from an eating disorder you can call or text 988 but may also call the National Alliance for Eating Disorders at (866)-662-1235 during normal working hours for more specific eating disorder assistance.

If you or someone you know needs emotional support due to distress from gun violence or other crises, the SAMHSA Distress Helpline is available 24/7. Call 1-800-985-5990 for immediate crisis support. You can also text "TalkWithUs" to 66746 to access the Public Distress Helpline.

Please take care of yourself.

Be sure to rate and review this pod because its the best way to make it visible to more and more people. Bye!!

Some resources preovided by todays guests:

LGBTQ+ self defense classes around the US:

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1qj5jiarVAcAI83Q71GBolb6b1Lk5IAoGWrL9DY7a79w/edit?gid=0#gid=0

Underdog Martial Arts Gym, Asheville NC:

https://www.underdogmartialarts.com/

Self Defense for Women and Femmes run by Colleen:

https://guerrera.fit/

Non-profit supporting individuals in combat sports get help with mental health (founded by Alexa Conners, good friend and trainer at Underdog):

https://iycorner.org/

In today's minisode I hope to help you understand a bit more about how drugs and alcohol lead to malnutrition.

If you are a client of mine, you may have been directed to this podcast as a way to reinforce what we discussed in our group today so be sure to let me know what you thought during our next session. For anyone else, I definitely would love to know what you think so be sure to reach out to me either through a DM on instagram or send me an email!

Just some resources I used today:

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK537191/

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6668875/

https://www.jandonline.org/article/S0002-8223(10)00872-2/fulltext

https://nida.nih.gov/publications/research-reports/methamphetamine/what-are-long-term-effects-methamphetamine-misuse

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC2841129/

https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/002149.htm

https://www.harmonyridgerecovery.com/vitamins-supplements-meth-recovery/

Trigger warning: This episode contains discussions about childhood trauma, homophobia, eating disorders and drug addiction. I realize these topics can be triggering for some listeners. Please refrain from listening if these topics are in any way triggering for you.

In todays episode I am joined by my friend Mckayla. She is here to share a bit about her personal story as a transgender woman, her road to recovery and continued sobriety as well as her struggles with her relationship with food. And she also offers heartfelt advice for all of us towards the end.

If you or anyone you know and love is suffering from drug and alcohol addiction, there IS help. You can call or text 988. If you are looking for LGBTQ exclusive help, please call 561-763-9837.

If you or anyone you know and love is suffering from an eating disorder you can call or text 988 but may also call the National Alliance for Eating Disorders at (866)-662-1235 during normal working hours for more specific eating disorder assistance.

Please take care of yourself.

Be sure to rate and review this pod because its the best way to make it visible to more and more people. Bye!!

In todays episode I am joined by one of my dietetic interns and because these podcasts are also for my clinents, Sara is going to offer her expertise on Intuitive Eating. Yes! This girl has given me so much insight into this and no, its not really about chewing 100 times, or sitting in silence, intuitive eating is a whole lot more.

So if youre looking for a way to begin (or enrich) A positive relationship with food, this is for you!

In today's episode I'm hanging out with my friend Sarah and we talked about, neo pronouns, is it ok to use the word queer in conversation, stereotypical girl box and boy box, gender reveals, the Oscars, how Sarah is feeling about today's political shitshow…and so much more. This was truly your typical girl chat where we just don't know how to stop talking. Yessss, I think we attempted to end the conversation more than a few times. But whatever it was funnnn!!

This episode was recorded on March 3rd, 2025, before the Presidents first State of the Union..I say this because I feel that Sarah offered some pretty on point thoughts regarding what came out during and after that address. In case you already forgot, I have started this podcast to yes, educate my clients but, my main goal is to help others gain a better understanding of who the LGBTQ community is…yesterday, today and what the future may hold as well.

Looking forward to seeing you next week for another poolside chat!....I live in FL, it's too hot for a fireside chat.

Be sure to rate and review this pod because its the best way to make it visible to more and more people. Bye!!

This episode is a way to introduce you to this podcast as well as me, your host. I have asked a good friend of mine who is also a podcaster to help me out and interview me!

I hope that you find this helpful and I hope this first episode will be the beginning of your curiosity.