Who were you before the world told you who you should be?

What if the person you’re looking for isn’t someone you need to become, but someone you need to remember?

For many LGBTQ people, shame, fear, rejection, bullying, and the pressure to fit in can teach us to hide parts of ourselves just to survive. Over time, survival can become an identity, and we can lose connection with the person we were before we learned to hide.

In this episode, we begin Step 1 of the Path From Survival to Self-Love: Reclaim Who You Are. We explore what happens when you reconnect with your childhood passions, dreams, creativity, personality, and the parts of your LGBTQ Identity you may have abandoned along the way.

You’ll discover:

1. How to reconnect with who you were before shame and fear, and uncover clues about your authentic self.
2. How reclaiming forgotten passions, dreams, and qualities can help you rebuild self-love.
3. How bringing your authentic self forward can help you live with Pride.

Ready to stop abandoning yourself and begin embracing your LGBTQ Identity with Pride through Self-Love? This episode is your first honest step forward.

New episodes every Monday.

More from Together Moving Forward:

Click here to contact me through the website to become a featured guest on the podcast or to get more information.

Or visit: https://togethermovingforwardpodcast.com

Now booking keynote speaking engagements:

From Survival to Self-Love

How I Finally Learned to Embrace My LGBTQ Identity With Pride — And How You Can Too

Click here for more information

Or click here: https://togethermovingforwardpodcast.com/speaking/

Click here to follow us on Instagram.

Or click here: https://www.instagram.com/togethermovingforwardpodcast/

This podcast celebrates LGBTQ, LGBTQ+ and 2SLGBTQIA+ identity and Pride, sharing stories of Two-Spirit, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex, asexual, pansexual, and nonbinary people who are healing, building resilience, and embracing self-love, self-respect, and community.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What if the person standing in the way of truly loving yourself isn’t society, your family, or anyone else, but the version of yourself you were taught to be?

For many LGBTQ people, embracing your identity means unlearning who others expected you to be. But what if discovering who you truly are starts with learning to accept and love who you are right now?

In this powerful conversation, Stef and Androgeny Angel explore LGBTQ identity, self-love, and radical self-acceptance, and how asking yourself the right questions can help you let go of other people’s expectations, choose yourself, and move forward with pride.

In this episode, you’ll discover:

1. How asking yourself “why, when, where, and how?” can uncover the conditioning influencing your identity and choices.
2. Why learning who you are, and accepting that you will continue to evolve, can become a powerful path toward deeper self-love.
3. How reconnecting with your younger self can help you heal, accept yourself, and give yourself the love and encouragement you may have needed all along.

You don’t have to have yourself completely figured out to love yourself.

Press play and discover how learning to understand, accept, and love who you are today can help you move forward with greater confidence, authenticity, and pride.

Everything about Androgeny Angel: https://www.instagram.com/simplyselfluv25/

New episodes every Monday.

More from Together Moving Forward:

Click here to contact me through the website to become a featured guest on the podcast or to get more information.

Or visit: https://togethermovingforwardpodcast.com

Now booking keynote speaking engagements:

From Survival to Self-Love

How I Finally Learned to Embrace My LGBTQ Identity With Pride — And How You Can Too

Click here for more information

Or click here: https://togethermovingforwardpodcast.com/speaking/

Click here to follow us on Instagram.

Or click here: https://www.instagram.com/togethermovingforwardpodcast/

This podcast celebrates LGBTQ, LGBTQ+ and 2SLGBTQIA+ identity and Pride, sharing stories of Two-Spirit, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex, asexual, pansexual, and nonbinary people who are healing, building resilience, and embracing self-love, self-respect, and community.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What if the thing you’ve been trying to change about your body isn’t actually the thing keeping you from feeling good about yourself?

For many LGBTQ people, it’s easy to believe that looking better will finally make us feel better. But what happens when the attention, likes, or compliments disappear, and we still don’t feel good enough?

In this episode of Together Moving Forward, Stef welcomes back Derick Hachey, a coach who helps men build a healthier relationship with themselves and their self-worth, to explore the connection between appearance, self-love, self-trust, and LGBTQ identity.

Together, they uncover why lasting change doesn’t come from fixing the outside, but from learning to value and trust yourself on the inside.

In this episode, you’ll discover:

1. Why changing your appearance won’t change how you feel about yourself.
2. How to stop relying on external validation for your sense of worth.
3. How self-trust can help you challenge old beliefs and embrace who you truly are.

Press play and discover how self-love can help you let go of external validation and start trusting, accepting, and celebrating who you are.

Discover Derick Hachey: https://www.derickhcoaching.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/derickhcoaching/

New episodes every Monday.

More from Together Moving Forward:

Click here to contact me through the website to become a featured guest on the podcast or to get more information.

Or visit: https://togethermovingforwardpodcast.com

Now booking keynote speaking engagements:

From Survival to Self-Love

How I Finally Learned to Embrace My LGBTQ Identity With Pride — And How You Can Too

Click here for more information

Or click here: https://togethermovingforwardpodcast.com/speaking/

Click here to follow us on Instagram.

Or click here: https://www.instagram.com/togethermovingforwardpodcast/

This podcast celebrates LGBTQ, LGBTQ+ and 2SLGBTQIA+ identity and Pride, sharing stories of Two-Spirit, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex, asexual, pansexual, and nonbinary people who are healing, building resilience, and embracing self-love, self-respect, and community.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What if the biggest obstacle to embracing your LGBTQ identity and living with Pride isn't coming out, but learning to truly love yourself?

Growing up in a strict religious household, surviving an abusive marriage, and hiding her authentic self for years left Sam Gutierrez disconnected from her LGBTQ identity. In this powerful episode, she shares how choosing self-love, prioritizing her mental health, and letting go of shame helped her embrace her authentic identity and celebrate who she is with Pride. Her journey is a reminder that healing begins when you stop surviving and start living as your true self.

In this episode:

1. Learn how embracing your LGBTQ identity starts with practicing self-love every day.
2. Discover how releasing shame can help you build confidence and live with Pride.
3. Find inspiration to create a life rooted in authenticity, self-acceptance, and a stronger sense of identity

Press play now to discover how embracing your LGBTQ identity through self-love can help you live with confidence, authenticity, and Pride.

Everything about Sam: https://www.instagram.com/picklesbodega/

New episodes every Monday.

More from Together Moving Forward:

Click here to contact me through the website to become a featured guest on the podcast or to get more information.

Or visit: https://togethermovingforwardpodcast.com

Now booking keynote speaking engagements:

From Survival to Self-Love

How I Finally Learned to Embrace My LGBTQ Identity With Pride — And How You Can Too

Click here for more information

Or click here: https://togethermovingforwardpodcast.com/speaking/

Click here to follow us on Instagram.

Or click here: https://www.instagram.com/togethermovingforwardpodcast/

This podcast celebrates LGBTQ, LGBTQ+ and 2SLGBTQIA+ identity and Pride, sharing stories of Two-Spirit, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex, asexual, pansexual, and nonbinary people who are healing, building resilience, and embracing self-love, self-respect, and community.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What happens when hate starts feeling normal, and how do you protect your LGBTQ identity and Pride without losing yourself?

As headlines continue to highlight rising hostility toward the LGBTQ community, many people are quietly asking themselves whether it's still safe to live openly and authentically. In this heartfelt episode, I explore why self-love isn't just personal growth, it's an act of courage. Rather than allowing hate to define who we are, we can choose Pride, embrace our identity, and build lives rooted in authenticity and resilience. This episode reflects on recent events while encouraging listeners to focus on what they can control: how they show up for themselves and for others.

In this episode, you'll discover:

1. Why self-love is one of the most powerful ways to protect your LGBTQ identity and live with Pride, even when hate grows louder.
2. How choosing authenticity over fear strengthens not only your own life but also inspires others to embrace who they truly are.
3. Practical ways to stand against hate through courage, compassion, and everyday actions that help create safer, more inclusive communities.

Ready to strengthen your LGBTQ identity, embrace Pride with confidence, and discover why self-love is your greatest source of resilience? Press play now and join the conversation.

New episodes every Monday.

More from Together Moving Forward:

Click here to contact me through the website to become a featured guest on the podcast or to get more information.

Or visit: https://togethermovingforwardpodcast.com

Now booking keynote speaking engagements:

From Survival to Self-Love

How I Finally Learned to Embrace My LGBTQ Identity With Pride — And How You Can Too

Click here for more information

Or click here: https://togethermovingforwardpodcast.com/speaking/

Click here to follow us on Instagram.

Or click here: https://www.instagram.com/togethermovingforwardpodcast/

This podcast celebrates LGBTQ, LGBTQ+ and 2SLGBTQIA+ identity and Pride, sharing stories of Two-Spirit, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex, asexual, pansexual, and nonbinary people who are healing, building resilience, and embracing self-love, self-respect, and community.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What If the Life You Built Isn’t the Life You’re Meant to Live?

Have you ever done everything you thought you were supposed to do, yet still felt like a part of your identity was missing?

For many people in the LGBTQ community, embracing who you truly are can mean questioning expectations you’ve carried for years. And when fear, shame, or concern about what other people will think gets in the way, choosing yourself can feel overwhelming.

In this episode, Stef sits down with Anne-Marie Zanzal for an honest conversation about coming out later in life, moving beyond the expectations of others, and discovering the self-love that can come from living in alignment with who you really are.

Anne-Marie shares her own journey from a life that looked successful on the outside but left her feeling restless, to accepting her queer identity and building a life where she feels genuinely happy and content.

In this episode, you’ll discover:

1. How practicing self-compassion can help you quiet your inner critic and begin accepting and loving yourself for who you are.
2. Why fear can keep you trapped in what feels familiar, and how moving through that fear can bring you closer to an authentic life.
3. How letting go of other people’s expectations can help you embrace your LGBTQ identity with greater confidence, freedom, and Pride.

Ready to stop living according to someone else’s expectations and start building the self-love you need to embrace your identity with Pride?

Play this episode and discover what can become possible when you choose to live as your authentic self.

Everything about Anne-Marie: https://annemariezanzal.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/annemariezanzalcoaching/

New episodes every Monday.

More from Together Moving Forward:

Click here to contact me through the website to become a featured guest on the podcast or to get more information.

Or visit: https://togethermovingforwardpodcast.com

Now booking keynote speaking engagements:

From Survival to Self-Love

How I Finally Learned to Embrace My LGBTQ Identity With Pride — And How You Can Too

Click here for more information

Or click here: https://togethermovingforwardpodcast.com/speaking/

Click here to follow us on Instagram.

Or click here: https://www.instagram.com/togethermovingforwardpodcast/

This podcast celebrates LGBTQ, LGBTQ+ and 2SLGBTQIA+ identity and Pride, sharing stories of Two-Spirit, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex, asexual, pansexual, and nonbinary people who are healing, building resilience, and embracing self-love, self-respect, and community.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Can becoming a parent help you embrace your LGBTQ identity with more pride and self-respect?

For many LGBTQ+ people, parenthood is about much more than raising children, it's about discovering who you are, embracing your identity, and living with pride. In this inspiring conversation, Stef welcomes Jameel Mayers, host of Fathernetics, to discuss how fatherhood strengthened his self-respect, deepened his sense of identity, and reinforced the importance of LGBTQ representation for future generations.

In this episode, you'll discover:

1. How embracing your LGBTQ identity can help you become a more confident and authentic parent.
2. Why self-respect and healthy boundaries are essential for building a strong, loving family.
3. How Pride, representation, and community empower LGBTQ families to thrive and inspire the next generation.

Press play now to discover how embracing your LGBTQ identity with pride and self-respect can transform your family, your relationships, and your life.

Everything about Jameel: https://www.jameelmayers.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fathernetics/

New episodes every Monday.

More from Together Moving Forward:

Click here to contact me through the website to become a featured guest on the podcast or to get more information.

Or visit: https://togethermovingforwardpodcast.com

Now booking keynote speaking engagements:

From Survival to Self-Love

How I Finally Learned to Embrace My LGBTQ Identity With Pride — And How You Can Too

Click here for more information

Or click here: https://togethermovingforwardpodcast.com/speaking/

Click here to follow us on Instagram.

Or click here: https://www.instagram.com/togethermovingforwardpodcast/

This podcast celebrates LGBTQ, LGBTQ+ and 2SLGBTQIA+ identity and Pride, sharing stories of Two-Spirit, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex, asexual, pansexual, and nonbinary people who are healing, building resilience, and embracing self-love, self-respect, and community.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Have you ever wondered why LGBTQ visibility and Pride still matter in today’s world?

After returning to the ice at the Gay Games in Valencia, Stef discovered that the biggest victory was not about medals or competition. It was about showing up fully as himself, a proud queer man, husband, and father. In this episode, Stef reflects on belonging, representation, and why simply living openly can give someone else hope for their own future.

In this episode, you’ll discover:

1. Why LGBTQ visibility is still important and how authentic representation can change lives
2. How self-love helped Stef move from hiding his identity to celebrating who he is with Pride
3. Why sharing your journey can create belonging and inspire others to embrace their own story

Listen now to discover how embracing your LGBTQ identity and showing up as yourself can become a powerful message of hope for others.

New episodes every Monday.

More from Together Moving Forward:

Click here to contact me through the website to become a featured guest on the podcast or to get more information.

Or visit: https://togethermovingforwardpodcast.com

Now booking keynote speaking engagements:

From Survival to Self-Love

How I Finally Learned to Embrace My LGBTQ Identity With Pride — And How You Can Too

Click here for more information

Or click here: https://togethermovingforwardpodcast.com/speaking/

Click here to follow us on Instagram.

Or click here: https://www.instagram.com/togethermovingforwardpodcast/

This podcast celebrates LGBTQ, LGBTQ+ and 2SLGBTQIA+ identity and Pride, sharing stories of Two-Spirit, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex, asexual, pansexual, and nonbinary people who are healing, building resilience, and embracing self-love, self-respect, and community.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Have you ever felt like you had to hide who you are in order to be accepted?

In this inspiring episode of Together Moving Forward, Stef sits down with Dr. Shannon Whittington, LGBTQ advocate, speaker, consultant, award-winning author, and founder of Whittington Consulting. Shannon shares her deeply personal journey of coming out later in life, overcoming years of shame rooted in religious beliefs, and learning to fully embrace her LGBTQ identity with pride.

Through honest stories and powerful life lessons, Shannon explains how self-love transformed not only her personal life but also led her to become a nationally recognized leader helping organizations create more inclusive spaces for LGBTQ people.

In this episode, you'll learn:

1. How to move from shame and self-doubt to greater self-love and pride
2. Why embracing your authentic LGBTQ identity can open doors to opportunities you never imagined
3. The mindset shifts that can help you find your voice, set healthier boundaries, and live more authentically

Listen now and discover how embracing your LGBTQ identity with pride can help you build greater self-love, confidence, and authenticity in every area of your life.

Everything about Dr. Shannon Whittington: https://www.whittingtonconsulting.com

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shannonwhittington/

New episodes every Monday.

More from Together Moving Forward:

Click here to contact me through the website to become a featured guest on the podcast or to get more information.

Or visit: https://togethermovingforwardpodcast.com

Now booking keynote speaking engagements:

From Survival to Self-Love

How I Finally Learned to Embrace My LGBTQ Identity With Pride — And How You Can Too

Click here for more information

Or click here: https://togethermovingforwardpodcast.com/speaking/

Click here to follow us on Instagram.

Or click here: https://www.instagram.com/togethermovingforwardpodcast/

This podcast celebrates LGBTQ, LGBTQ+ and 2SLGBTQIA+ identity and Pride, sharing stories of Two-Spirit, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex, asexual, pansexual, and nonbinary people who are healing, building resilience, and embracing self-love, self-respect, and community.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What if one simple response could change the life of an LGBTQ person or child forever?

Whether you're a parent, family member, friend, ally, educator, or part of the LGBTQ community yourself, understanding the power of acceptance can transform lives. In this heartfelt conversation, parenting coach and Teen Minds Redefined Podcast host Cheryl Pankhurst shares her experience as both a parent of an LGBTQ child and a passionate advocate, offering practical insights on creating safe spaces where people can embrace their identity, develop self-love, and live with pride.

You’ll discover:

1. How acceptance and understanding can strengthen relationships and build trust.
2. Practical ways to create safe spaces where LGBTQ individuals feel seen, valued, and supported.
3. Why radical acceptance, empathy, and curiosity can help people embrace their identity with greater confidence and self-love.

Listen now to learn how acceptance, understanding, and self-love can help LGBTQ people embrace their identity with confidence and pride.

About Cheryl: https://www.cherylpankhurst.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cheryl.a.pankhurst/

Listen to my episode as a guest on Cheryl’s podcast:

Parenting Teens: Advice Redefined for Today's Complex World

https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/parenting-teens-advice-redefined-for-todays-complex-world/id1720826175?i=1000751299661

New episodes every Monday.

More from Together Moving Forward:

Click here to contact me through the website to become a featured guest on the podcast or to get more information.

Or visit: https://togethermovingforwardpodcast.com

Now booking keynote speaking engagements:

From Survival to Self-Love

How I Finally Learned to Embrace My LGBTQ Identity With Pride — And How You Can Too

Click here for more information

Or click here: https://togethermovingforwardpodcast.com/speaking/

Click here to follow us on Instagram.

Or click here: https://www.instagram.com/togethermovingforwardpodcast/

This podcast celebrates LGBTQ, LGBTQ+ and 2SLGBTQIA+ identity and Pride, sharing stories of Two-Spirit, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex, asexual, pansexual, and nonbinary people who are healing, building resilience, and embracing self-love, self-respect, and community.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.