My story as a someone who has come out later in life, and navigating my way to finding love, not only with another but also finding it for myself and accepting my whole self. A place to share stories to show those on the path that it can be a happy journey and worth the first steps.
Welcome back to The Big Gay Overalls Podcast â itâs been a minute. Like⊠since June. Lifeâs been lifing: caregiving for my mum, navigating grief and growth, chasing a dream to become a teaching pro golfer, and trying to figure out what to say when youâve already told your big coming out story.
This episode isnât polished. Itâs not a highlight reel. Itâs the real, raw middle â the âafterâ part of coming out that no one really talks about.
Because hereâs what I think:
Coming out isnât one big event â itâs a million tiny moments where you keep meeting yourself again and again.
In this episode, I talk about:
Why I hit pause on the podcast (and what pulled me back)
The quiet, everyday work of becoming after youâve already been brave
The waves of identity, belonging, and self-reintroduction that keep coming
Life updates: caregiving, golf dreams, book talks, and chasing overdue pay
How to build a life that fits after decades of ticking boxes that didnât
If youâre somewhere in that in-between â living out, but still figuring out whatâs next â this oneâs for you. Youâre not alone in the messy middle.
Letâs stay connected:
Website: www.biggayoverallspodcast.com
Email: lisa@biggayoverallspodcast.com
Instagram/TikTok: @biggayoverallspodcast
Join the community: Embracing My Big Gay Overalls(Facebook Group)
Trigger warning: This episode includes mention of suicidal ideation and mental health struggles. Please listen with care.
What does it take to finally choose yourself after a lifetime of silence? In this unmissable episode of the Big Gay Overalls podcast, I sit down with the fierce, wise, and wonderfully honest Wendy Coleâtransgender advocate, speaker, and transition mentorâwho came out at 67 years old and completely rebuilt her life from scratch.
From facing down psychiatric cruelty in the 1970s, to surviving suicidal ideation, to walking proudly into the world as her full self, Wendyâs story is not just one of gender identityâitâs a masterclass in courage, self-reinvention, and saying, âNo more. I get to be me now.â
We dive deep into the emotional, psychological, and social layers of transitioning later in life, why self-awareness and self-acceptance matter more than hormones or presentation, and how she finally found joy, connection, and love on the other side of pain.
This isnât just a conversation about being trans. Itâs a conversation about being human. And if youâve ever felt like youâve lived your life at armâs lengthâlike youâve been performing someone else's version of youâthis one will hit you right in the gut (and then light a fire under it).
Follow Wendy at:MeetWendyCole.com Wendyâs Podcast:Demystifying the Transgender Journey (co-hosted with Lynn Murphy)
đ§ Grab your headphones. Your inner rebelâs gonna love this one.
đČ Follow on socials @biggayoverallspodcast for more stories, insights, and conversations.
BGO E35 - Before & After: When Youâve Built a Life Around Being Who Youâre Not
This episode is a bit of a deep dive, and a long overdue one. Iâve been sitting in a space of reflection lately, trying to make sense of the before and after of my life. Not the shiny, curated âbefore and afterâ you see in gym photos⊠but the emotional, soul-level shift of what happens when you stop living a life that looks good on the outside and start living one that feels right on the inside.
In this episode, Iâm sharing what it was really like to come out late in life, not just as a lesbian, but as me. What it felt like to live a life that ticked all the boxes but left me feeling empty, bone-tired, and disconnected from my own skin. I talk about the anger I carried, the shame I buried, and the constant push to be someone I wasnât⊠all in the hope of being accepted.
But I also talk about the shift. The grief and fear that came with unraveling that life. The slow, quiet moments of stepping into my truth. And the lightnessâoh my god, the reliefâthat followed.
This is for you if youâve ever found yourself wondering, âWhat if I built my whole life being someone Iâm not?â If youâre in that before stage, where something doesnât quite fit and you canât unsee it anymore. Or if youâve already started that journey and youâre navigating the messy middle. Youâre not too late. Youâre not broken. And youâre not selfish for wanting more.
I hope this episode reminds you that youâre allowed to change. Youâre allowed to grow. And you are 100% allowed to be youâeven if youâre still figuring out who that is.
đ§ Listen now, subscribe, and donât forget to share with someone who needs to hear this!
đČ Follow on socials @biggayoverallspodcast for more stories, insights, and conversations.
Itâs been a minute, but Iâm backâand todayâs episode is the realest Iâve ever recorded. Itâs our wedding anniversary, and while Iâm swimming in love and gratitude, Iâm also wading through grief, family dysfunction, and the kind of emotional complexity Hallmark doesnât make cards for.
I talk candidly about what it feels like to be fully loved for the first time, the ache of navigating a difficult relationship with my mother (especially through her Alzheimerâs), and how this life Iâm living nowâauthentic, chosen, intentionalâwasnât even on my radar 15 years ago.
If youâve ever felt stuck between joy and loss, if youâre still trying to come home to yourself, or if you're wondering if true acceptance is even realâthis oneâs for you.
No script. No filter. Just real talk from your Big Gay Overalls podcast host.
đ§ Listen now, subscribe, and donât forget to share with someone who needs to hear this!
đČ Follow on socials @biggayoverallspodcast for more stories, insights, and conversations.
If youâd like to connect with me, collaborate, or explore ways we can work togetherâwhether itâs for coaching, storytelling projects, or speaking engagementsâIâd love to hear from you!Â
Visit or email me directly Letâs create something meaningful together!
This week, I'm diving into something thatâs been sitting heavy and beautiful in my heart: what it really means to learn to relationship, not just romantically, but with myself and the people around me, now that Iâm living as my full, true self.
After a weekend away with Sharonâs incredible aunties (yes, the ones whoâve redefined family and unconditional love for me), I found myself reflecting on the difference between performing love and actually receiving it. And let me tell you, itâs a whole journey.
I talk about how we often grieve the life we never wanted but still tried so hard to make work. I share what itâs like to experience love that isnât transactional, to learn how to speak up for what I need, and to let people in, without flinching. Because for so many of us who came out later in life, weâre not just learning how to be loved... weâre learning how to love ourselves first.
This episode is for you if:
Youâve ever felt awkward or overwhelmed when someone genuinely loves you
Youâre still figuring out how to show up in relationships without editing yourself
Youâre wondering if itâs normal to grieve the old you (spoiler: it is)
Or you just want a reminder that youâre not too late, not too broken, and not alone
I also chat about the release of my book, Burn the Script, which is now out in the wild and available on Amazon! Links in the show notes, or hit me up if you're in Australia and want a signed copy.
Iâd love to hear from you, whatâs been the hardest or most healing part of learning to relationship for you? DM me, email me, or even better, come be a guest on the pod. Weâre just having real chats here.
Thanks for being here. Thanks for being brave. And remember, you are worthy of the good stuff.
đ§ Listen now, subscribe, and donât forget to share with someone who needs to hear this! đČ Follow on socials @biggayoverallspodcast for more stories, insights, and conversations.
In this episode, I dive into the messy, confusing, and sometimes hilarious reality of figuring out what it even means to be queer when you come out later in life. From questioning if thereâs a ârightâ way to be gay to navigating queer spaces like a deer in rainbow headlights, I share my own journey of feeling like an imposter in my own community.
If youâve ever wondered, Do I fit in? Am I doing this right?, youâre not alone. Spoiler: Thereâs no queer checklist, no standardized test, and no oneâs handing out âofficial gayâ badges. You belong simply because you are.
Join me for this deep-dive into identity, self-acceptance, and burning the script on what queer is âsupposedâ to look like. Whether you came out last week or last decade, this episode is for you.
đ§ Listen now, subscribe, and donât forget to share with someone who needs to hear this!
đČ Follow on socials @biggayoverallspodcast for more stories, insights, and conversations.
If youâd like to connect with me, collaborate, or explore ways we can work togetherâwhether itâs for coaching, storytelling projects, or speaking engagementsâIâd love to hear from you!Â
Cyclone Alfred may have brought wind and rain, but it also delivered a powerful moment of reflection. In this episode, I share what it was like staying in my ex-home, where my mum still lives with my ex-husband, during the storm.Â
Returning to that house wasnât just about keeping my mum safe; it was a stark reminder of how far Iâve come.
From walking through the same doors as a completely different person to realizing the weight of the past I once carried, this experience was an unexpected checkpoint in my journey of growth. I dive into navigating complex family dynamics, maintaining an amicable relationship with an ex, and why people can be so damn judgy about how we handle our own lives.
This isnât just a story about weathering a literal storm, but about revisiting old spaces without getting stuck in them. Because sometimes, you donât realize how much you've changed until you're back where you started, but this time, as your authentic self.
Listen in for reflections, real talk, and maybe a few laughs about surviving both cyclones and complicated family dynamics
Fear kept me stuck for years. Love pushed me forward.Â
In this episode of Big Gay Overalls Podcast, Iâm talking about something thatâs been rolling around in my brain lately, the way real, unconditional love makes us braver than we ever thought we could be. Not just romantic love, but the kind that comes from friends, family, and most importantly, from within ourselves.
I spent a decade knowing I was gay but feeling completely lost on how to actually live as my true self. The fear of what Iâd lose kept me paralysed, until love gave me the courage to take the first step. Iâve felt that same fear in other parts of my life too, starting this podcast, writing my book (Burn the Script, coming soonâŠ), if I can stop overthinking it), and building a business around authenticity.Â
But every time Iâve taken a leap, love, whether from my wife, my friends, or this amazing Big Gay Overalls community, has caught me.
If you're standing on the edge of something scary, whether it's coming out, starting over, or just admitting to yourself that you want more, this episode is for you.Â
You donât have to be fearless. You just need enough love to take the next step. And if you donât feel like you have it? Borrow some of mine.
Before podcasts were even a thing, Denise Warner was out here making waves in LGBTQ+ media. From the legendary Lesbian Lounge to The Rainbow Remix, Denise has been creating space for queer stories and voices for decades.Â
In this episode, we go deep into her own journey, her late-life coming out, the evolution of LGBTQ+ media, the community she helped build, and the unexpected love story that took her from the U.S. to London and finding her incredible wife.
Join us for laughs, nostalgia, and a whole lot of wisdom as we talk about the power of authentic storytelling, surviving the early internet days, and why representation still matters. Whether you're a long-time fan or just discovering her work, you wonât want to miss this one!
What happens when life, love, and music collide in the most unexpected ways?Â
In this episode ofBig Gay Overalls, I sit down with J.D. Danner, musician, storyteller, and co-host of theRainbow Remix Podcast, to unpack her journey from living a traditional, closeted life to stepping into her full, unapologetic self.
From playing in lesbian bars while still married, to a jaw-dropping betrayal that ultimately set her free, JD shares how she found herself through songwriting, heartbreak, and a whole lot of self-discovery.Â
We talk about the power of community, the signs the universe gives us (even when we donât want to see them), and what it really means to embrace authenticity, no matter how messy the road to get there.
If youâve ever felt stuck between the life youâve built and the life youknow you need to live, this oneâs for you. đłïžâđđ¶
If youâd like to connect with me, collaborate, or explore ways we can work togetherâwhether itâs for coaching, storytelling projects, or speaking engagementsâIâd love to hear from you!Â
If youâd like to connect with me, collaborate, or explore ways we can work togetherâwhether itâs for coaching, storytelling projects, or speaking engagementsâIâd love to hear from you!Â
If youâd like to connect with me, collaborate, or explore ways we can work togetherâwhether itâs for coaching, storytelling projects, or speaking engagementsâIâd love to hear from you!Â
đČ Follow on socials @biggayoverallspodcast for more stories, insights, and conversations.
If youâd like to connect with me, collaborate, or explore ways we can work togetherâwhether itâs for coaching, storytelling projects, or speaking engagementsâIâd love to hear from you!Â
đČ Follow on socials @biggayoverallspodcast for more stories, insights, and conversations.
If youâd like to connect with me, collaborate, or explore ways we can work togetherâwhether itâs for coaching, storytelling projects, or speaking engagementsâIâd love to hear from you!Â
đČ Follow on socials @biggayoverallspodcast for more stories, insights, and conversations. If youâd like to connect with me, collaborate, or explore ways we can work togetherâwhether itâs for coaching, storytelling projects, or speaking engagementsâIâd love to hear from you!Â
Visit www.biggayoverallspodcast.com or email me directly Letâs create something meaningful together! Join our supportive community: Embracing My Big Gay Overalls SkoolÂ
đČ Follow on socials @biggayoverallspodcast for more stories, insights, and conversations.
If youâd like to connect with me, collaborate, or explore ways we can work togetherâwhether itâs for coaching, storytelling projects, or speaking engagementsâIâd love to hear from you!Â
