In this episode, we are joined by Lauren, an English Education volunteer whose service in Georgia was anything but "by the book."

After a snap decision on a train and a quick "Hey Siri" to find her destination on a map, Lauren arrived as a seasoned LGBTQIA+ advocate—only to find herself back in the closet in a country where the lines of safety were shifting daily.

When a landmark police raid on a queer-safe nightclub sparked nationwide protests, Lauren had to navigate a delicate dance: fielding blunt questions from her community while orchestrating a first-of-its-kind task force in Georgia to protect her fellow volunteers.

Tune in to hear how she helped turn a summer camp into a thriving international NGO and why Lauren believes the Peace Corps must evolve to protect its queer voices.

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If you enjoy this LGBTQI+ RPCV content please consider joining our growing community at www.lgbtqirpcv.org. If you have questions about our community please contact us at [email protected] or [email protected]

All opinions presented in this podcast are those of the individual and do not represent official positions or statements by the US Peace Corps, the National Peace Corps Association, or any other affiliated organizations.

In this episode, we are joined by Syd Merz, a double-tour RPCV who served in both Armenia and the Philippines.

Syd’s journey began with a thick envelope and a country she couldn’t place on a map, landing in a Soviet-era airport that felt more like a scene from Star Trek than a welcome gate. But one service wasn’t enough. With only a whirlwind 11-day break, Syd swapped the snowy mountains of Armenia for the tropical heat of the Philippines, facing a whole new spectrum of challenges!

Tune in to hear how Syd managed two full tours back-to-back and why their advice on bringing your "Best Self" instead of your "Authentic Self" might completely change how you view advocacy abroad.

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A recording with a transcript of this episode is available via Apple Podcasts and Spotify. You can also download a written transcript from ⁠⁠https://lgbtqirpcv.org/stories/⁠⁠.

If you enjoy this LGBTQI+ RPCV content please consider joining our growing community at⁠⁠ ⁠⁠www.lgbtqirpcv.org⁠⁠⁠⁠. If you have questions about our community please contact us at ⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠.

All opinions presented in this podcast are those of the individual and do not represent official positions or statements by the US Peace Corps, the National Peace Corps Association, or any other affiliated organizations.

In this episode, we are joined by Bea, who served as a Youth and Families Development Volunteer in Ecuador.

Bea had her bags packed for the remote island nation of Timor-Leste, but a sudden notification in her Peace Corps portal rerouted her. She faced a new set of hurdles: navigating "machismo" culture as a queer woman, fielding blunt questions from students about her gender, and balancing a new romance in uncharted territory.

Tune in to hear how she navigated the local chisme (gossip) and why a simple question from a 10-year-old became her most profound moment of advocacy.

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A recording with a transcript of this episode is available via Apple Podcasts and Spotify. You can also download a written transcript from ⁠⁠https://lgbtqirpcv.org/stories/⁠⁠.

If you enjoy this LGBTQI+ RPCV content please consider joining our growing community at⁠⁠ ⁠⁠www.lgbtqirpcv.org⁠⁠⁠⁠. If you have questions about our community please contact us at ⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠.

All opinions presented in this podcast are those of the individual and do not represent official positions or statements by the US Peace Corps, the National Peace Corps Association, or any other affiliated organizations.

In this episode, we are joined by Edward van Luinen, who served as a TEFL Volunteer in the Republic of Guinea.

Edward had his life meticulously mapped out: he was going to finish his Master's in French and become a diplomat. But a chance encounter with a recruiter in a dark college library late one night derailed everything.

He found himself in West Africa instead, navigating two intense journeys simultaneously: one as a terrified teacher finding his professional voice, and the other as a closeted man silently finding his truth. Tune in to hear how those "parallel tracks" finally converged to shape a 35-year career in leadership...

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A recording with transcript of this episode is available via Apple Podcasts. You can also download a written transcript from ⁠⁠https://lgbtqirpcv.org/stories/⁠⁠.

If you enjoy this LGBTQI+ RPCV content please consider joining our growing community at⁠⁠ ⁠⁠www.lgbtqirpcv.org⁠⁠⁠⁠. If you have questions about our community please contact us at ⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠.

All opinions presented in this podcast are those of the individual and do not represent official positions or statements by the US Peace Corps, the National Peace Corps Association, or any other affiliated organizations.

In this update:

• Life Update: Why I’ve been away (Med school is no joke!)

• The New Schedule: We are locking in consistency. New episodes will drop on the 1st of every month, starting December 1st.

• Call for Guests: We need your stories. Whether you are ready to be public or want to remain anonymous (Jane Doe/John Doe/Doe), your safety is our priority, but your experience is invaluable.

📅 Mark Your Calendars:

• Dec 1: Edward’s story from Guinea

• Jan 1: New Year, New Episode

• Feb 1: Continuing the momentum

🎙 Want to be on the show?We’ve made it super easy.

1. Visit lgbtqirpcv.org

2. Scroll down to "LGBTQI+ Service Stories"

3. Click the red bubble: "Be a podcast guest"

Or just email me directly at: [email protected] (Subject line: Podcast - [Your Name])

Let’s turn this new leaf together. See you on December 1st!

In this episode, we are joined by RPCV Michael Del Rio, who served as an Agriculture Volunteer in Ethiopia.

Michael set out to Ethiopia with a passion for the land—but he didn’t know that the soil there would plant the seeds of his life’s work.

Tune in to hear how those roots grew into an unexpected mission back home in Massachusetts…

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A recording with transcript of this episode is available via Apple Podcasts. You can also download a written transcript from ⁠⁠https://lgbtqirpcv.org/stories/⁠⁠.

If you enjoy this LGBTQI+ RPCV content please consider joining our growing community at⁠ ⁠⁠www.lgbtqirpcv.org⁠⁠⁠. If you have questions about our community please contact us at ⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠.

All opinions presented in this podcast are those of the individual and do not represent official positions or statements by the US Peace Corps, the National Peace Corps Association, or any other affiliated organizations.

In this episode, we are joined by RPCV Jeremiah Johnson, who served as an Education Volunteer in Ukraine from 2006-2008.

Jeremiah joined the Peace Corps to serve in Ukraine—then a routine check derailed everything. Tune in to hear how what happened next reshaped his life—and the program itself…

Some fun news clips of Jeremiah becoming an advocate for the next generation. 

https://www.aclu.org/cases/hiv-advocacy-behalf-peace-corps-volunteer

https://www.cuimc.columbia.edu/news/peace-corps-public-health-school-continuing-aids-conversation

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lEaaWagTuUQ

https://abcnews.go.com/Health/story?id=6320808&page=1

https://www.poz.com/article/Service-interruption-14814-5468

Recommended Documentary: How to Survive a Plague - 1h 49 min

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A recording with transcript of this episode is available via Apple Podcasts. You can also download a written transcript from ⁠⁠https://lgbtqirpcv.org/stories/⁠⁠.

If you enjoy this LGBTQI+ RPCV content please consider joining our growing community at ⁠⁠www.lgbtqirpcv.org⁠⁠. If you have questions about our community please contact us at ⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠.

All opinions presented in this podcast are those of the individual and do not represent official positions or statements by the US Peace Corps, the National Peace Corps Association, or any other affiliated organizations.

In this episode, we are joined by RPCV Ralph Cherry, who served as an Education Volunteer in Ghana in the early 1970s.

Ralph shares his compelling journey to the Peace Corps—initially driven by a desire to avoid the Vietnam War draft—and how it evolved into a life-changing experience marked by both profound love and personal struggle.

As a gay man serving during a time when his identity had to remain hidden, Ralph opens up about falling in love with one of his students, the emotional toll it took, and the moment he nearly chose to early terminate.

What changed everything? Listen to find out!

An image of Ralph from his service in Ghana is available in the show notes.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1LB7e7chUglJVdOSZvVIg7FNQ4--IkhFG/view?usp=sharing

https://drive.google.com/file/d/13cvfRORuRXi-6Py99P0Bigvo5zZYG823/view?usp=sharing

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A recording with transcript of this episode is available via Apple Podcasts. You can also download a written transcript from ⁠https://lgbtqirpcv.org/stories/⁠.

If you enjoy this LGBTQI+ RPCV content please consider joining our growing community at ⁠www.lgbtqirpcv.org⁠. If you have questions about our community please contact us at ⁠[email protected]⁠.

All opinions presented in this podcast are those of the individual and do not represent official positions or statements by the US Peace Corps, the National Peace Corps Association, or any other affiliated organizations.

In this episode we are joined by RPCV Charly Stoever, who served as an Education Volunteer in Nicaragua from 2014–2016—but like many Peace Corps Volunteers, wore many hats along the way.

Charly (they/he/papi) is a nonbinary Latinx money coach, speaker, and host of the Unicorn Millionaire Podcast. They're helping LGBTQ+/BIPOC/first gens make $30k+ in passive income a year so they can twerk their way to early retirement.

A formerly undocumented Mexican American and ex-stock broker, Charly has traveled solo to 38 countries and is now a full-time international pet sitter. During their Peace Corps service, they taught English and helped lead LGBT Safe Zone trainings for Peace Corps staff in Spanish, following the legalization of same-sex marriage in 2015.

Follow Charly on Instagram @travelercharly, check out their Roth Freak Fridays email series, and explore more at www.unicornmillionaire.com.

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A recording with transcript of this episode is available via Apple Podcasts. You can also download a written transcript from https://lgbtqirpcv.org/stories/.

If you enjoy this LGBTQI+ RPCV content please consider joining our growing community at www.lgbtqirpcv.org. If you have questions about our community please contact us at [email protected].

All opinions presented in this podcast are those of the individual and do not represent official positions or statements by the US Peace Corps, the National Peace Corps Association, or any other affiliated organizations.

It's Justin's last episode, but the pod lives on!

In this special episode we are joined by Nicky and Danny who served as a couple in Ecuador as Education volunteers. During the recording they were technically still PCVs, but by the time you hear this they are back in the states and part of our RPCV community.

They share stories from Peace Corps' post-pandemic serice as some of the first people back in Ecuador. We talk negotiating Peace Corps service with a partner, host families and PST drama, and of course cooercing barbers to be your friends.

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A recording with a transcript of this episode is available via Apple Podcasts. You can also download a written transcript from https://lgbtqirpcv.org/stories/. Many thanks to our volunteers who make this possible!

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If you enjoy this LGBTQI+ RPCV content please consider joining our growing community at www.lgbtqirpcv.org. If you have questions about our group please contact us at [email protected].

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All opinions presented in this podcast are those of the individual and do not represent official positions or statements by the US Peace Corps, the National Peace Corps Association, or any other affiliated groups.