In today's episode, we're going to discuss what it takes to share our difficult journeys with the world. Although it is usually uncomfortable to get started, the reward is immense. Not only is there healing and catharsis in purging your long-held secrets, but in doing so you shine a light for others. You let them know they're not alone. You let them know there's more to everyone's story than meets the eye.

If you're ready to begin sharing your story, consider joining our Facebook group! A private Facebook group for podcast listeners, you can comment on episodes, suggest topics I could cover, or add your own stories and discuss. I didn't start a podcast to speak into the void; I began this entire project to create a community.

www.facebook.com/groups/268440279538198/

For more information, you can always check out my website at www.melissacorrigan.com, and send me a message there to get connected.

Music cred for opening theme: Music by Vitaliy Levkin from Pixabay

This is a very important episode to me.

First of all, apologies for our bye week last week. Technical difficulties erased three (3!) episodes. But we're back, with fresh intro music and an AMAZING interview for you.

With news of Nex Benedict's death in all the national outlets, I asked my son, who is trans, if the time was right for him to share his story. He agreed to be interviewed about his experiences of being bullied and assaulted on campus at our local public high school.

It's important that we hear from these kids, and that we listen to their stories in their own words so that we can better practice empathy when discussing these issues. My son is hardly alone. Another trans teen just in our school district was violently assaulted and sustained a head injury.

Violence is becoming endemic in our public middle and high schools, but LGBT youth are frequently the prime target for assaults, including sexual assault.

Join us and hear for yourself what our nation's LGBT youth are experiencing. A more informed citizenry can draft and implement solutions for a more peaceful and equitable future.

This is a bit of a throwback.... I recall the hubbub around Jason Aldean's "Try That In a Small Town" and go into my experience growing up in an...actual... SMALL town. The silly, shallow tropes in the song do not adequately leave space for the very real, and very amazing, humans who live in America's small towns. Let's talk about it!

On this episode, we'll explore the concept of joy, how we may have been restricted from simply experiencing simple joys, and how we have reclaimed this experience. Joy can be such a simple and pure part of life and should be celebrated!

You know how a movie or TV show will just put you right in the action and then give you opening credits a few minutes in? That's what this is. I jumped right into just telling you stories without a proper introduction! This is me, introducing myself and this project, and hoping you'll subscribe, follow, and participate! I want you to be involved! Please listen in and I'll explain my vision and how you can be a part of it.

I am reading two of my pieces, 'Anger' and 'I'd Rather Not Be A SJW, Actually' and providing further context for my experiences that evoke anger.

Trigger warning: brief reference to suicide and violence.

I am reading my piece, 'I Am Not Ruby Bridges' Mother' and providing further context for my experiences parenting a trans teenager in a semi-conservative state when his very existence is being discussed and legislated in the halls of our state government.

Trigger warning: brief reference to sexual assault.

Intro for The Light at the Other Side, a podcast to hear stories of resilience, healing, and growth from those who have experienced, or are experiencing, trauma.