Happy National Coming Out Day, 2024! In this episode, host Anne-Marie Zanzal chats with two of her favorite lesbians: her wife, Tonda, and fellow coach, Barb. Anne-Marie, Tonda, and Barb share their thoughts on signs that you might not be as straight as you originally thought. A little cheeky and with a lot of laughs, these three touch on stereotypes in the lesbian community and throw a little sage advice into the mix. It's a fun episode you won't want to miss!

This week on CO&B and in honor of LGBTQ+ History Month, we are revisiting an episode from season 1 featuring Judy Wilson. Judy grew up in Nashville, Tennessee in a Roman Catholic family. She came out in the early 1970’s and live in San Francisco during the AIDS crisis. Her story is a testament to the courageousness underground culture of those who came out out in the South and an important reminder of the challenges faced by our queer elders.

Judy is a website designer and writer/mentor. You can find her at site-shack.com or www.judyannewilson.com.

In this very special Part 1 episode of Coming Out & Beyond: LGBTQIA+ Stories, host Anne-Marie Zanzal speaks with identical twins Ronda Landers and Jonda Valentine, both later-in-life lesbians and founders of Nashville's iconic bar, The Lipstick Lounge. Ronda and Jonda's stories reflect their remarkable journeys, beginning with growing up with their dad, a closeted preacher, moving to Nashville, realizing they were lesbians later in life, having children taken away by an ex-husband and mother for being a lesbian, and more. This is an episode that truly gives you a snapshot of what it was like to be out and lesbian 35 years ago and the social, familial, and legal struggles that queer people faced. Ronda and Jonda will be back in a future episode to continue telling their story about how they built a queer community hub in Nashville, TN, when they started The Lipstick Lounge, voted one of the best bars in America by USA Today.

New to queer community and want to expand your circle of queer women friends? Join Anne-Marie, Barb and many other amazing guest speakers at Wing Women Weekend, Oct 16-20, 2024, in Provincetown, MA during their annual Women's Week. Learn more about this great getaway at www.wingwomenweekend.com.

Therapist Dr. Andreya Jones and sex and relationship coach Angie Zimmerman are kink-aware practitioners whose work is centered on helping individuals have more rewarding relationships and fulfilling sex lives. Deconstructing from conservative religion, overcoming history of sexual abuse, finding acceptance in community, exploring polyamory, and finding purpose are themes throughout Andreya and Angie's stories. In this episode, host Anne-Marie Zanzal chats with Andreya and Angie about their coming out stories, their experiences in polyamory, the impact of purity culture on sexual function and much, much more!

You can learn more about Andreya and Angie's work at www.andreyajonescounseling.com

New to queer community and want to expand your circle of queer women friends? Join Anne-Marie, Barb and many other amazing guest speakers at Wing Women Weekend, Oct 16-20, 2024, in Provincetown, MA during their annual Women's Week. Learn more about this great getaway at www.wingwomenweekend.com.

This week on CO&B, host Anne-Marie Zanzal welcomes somatic embodiment and sex coach, Ayce Kypton. Ayce's story relates a journey of coming into his authentic gender, embracing transmasculine identity, emerging from conservative faith tradition, and stepping into his sexuality after decades of celibacy. His story is also one of perseverance, as Ayce experienced profound losses of family, faith, community and employment during his transition. Today, Ayce thrives as a coach for other transgender individuals who seek to become more connected to their bodies and to sexual pleasure.

You can find out more about Ayce and his services at aycekyptyn.com

Ayce's coming out song was You're Gonna Love It by Sun Heat https://youtu.be/RSx23VgRXVI?si=Q5qQYaNMIrGjNKwy

A program that had a profound impact on Ayce was Sex, Love & goop, on Netflix.

New to queer community and want to expand your circle of queer women friends? Join Anne-Marie, Barb and many other amazing guest speakers at Wing Women Weekend, Oct 16-20, 2024, in Provincetown, MA during their annual Women's Week. Learn more about this great getaway at www.wingwomenweekend.com.

Ann Russo is a licensed clinical social worker, sex-positive therapist and founder of AMR Therapy. A therapist with over 20 years of experienced, she specializes in servicing marginalized communities, particularly in areas of sex positivity, queer issues, and religious trauma. Ann is a dedicated advocate for modern women's sexuality and is the author of the upcoming book, 'Her Own Terms: Navigating the Landscape of Modern Female Sexuality.' In this episode, host Anne-Marie Zanzal speaks with Ann about her unconventional upbringing and coming out, and the two take a deep dive into a wide range of topics, including queer theology, helpful and unhelpful messages about womanhood, the intersection of queerness, religion, and sex positivity, and much more.

You can find Ann Russo online at www.annrusso.org

Ann's coming out song is Sunday Morning by No Doubt: https://youtu.be/PiBX-ESFDF0?si=LArxJXJObkvnen5L

A book that has inspired Ann is 'Conversations With God' by Neale Donald Walsch: Conversations with God: An Uncommon Dialogue, Book 1 by Neale Donald Walsch | Goodreads

New to queer community and want to expand your circle of queer women friends? Join Anne-Marie, Barb and many other amazing guest speakers at Wing Women Weekend, Oct 16-20, 2024, in Provincetown, MA during their annual Women's Week. Learn more about this great getaway at www.wingwomenweekend.com.

Struggling with the decision of whether to leave your marriage? This week on the Coming Out & Beyond podcast, host Anne-Marie Zanzal welcomes back producer Barb Rowlandson to talk about divorce as you're coming out. Many of the clients Anne-Marie and Barb work with have the challenge of untangling long-term marriages, and the process can be fraught with difficulties. Anne-Marie and Barb address some of the most common questions and concerns women have as they consider and proceed with divorce, including how do you know if it's time to end your marriage, should you open your marriage, silent signs that you should leave, and much more!

If you are going through a later in life coming out journey and are in the process of divorce, and you feel that you need support, come to the Life Reimagined workshop, offered free and on Zoom, July 8-10th, 7 p.m. CST. Sign up at www.comingoutsupport.net. 

New to queer community and want to expand your circle of queer women friends? Join Anne-Marie, Barb and many other amazing guest speakers at Wing Women Weekend, Oct 16-20, 2024, in Provincetown, MA during their annual Women's Week. Learn more about this great getaway at www.wingwomenweekend.com. 

This week on the CO&B podcast, host Anne-Marie Zanzal welcomes later-in-life lesbian and adventurer, Jill Holiday. Jill's story is one of remarkable perseverance and personal discovery. After becoming a teen mom, years of home schooling and a heteronormative life, Jill took a bold step out of her comfort zone and spent months hiking the Appalachian Trail. Despite adversities she met along the way, her hike result in a personal revelation that led to her coming out later in life. Now a dedicated adventurer, Jill has embraced the world of van life, seeking new horizons and experiences. In this episode, you'll hear Jill's story of emergence from a conservative faith tradition, what happened on her hike on the Appalachian Trail, her coming out, and, most importantly, her 'beyond.'

You can hear Jill speak at the upcoming Wing Women Weekend event, Oct. 16-20, in Provincetown, MA (during Provincetown's annual Women's Week). To learn more about Wing Women Weekend, visit: www.wingwomenweekend.com. 

"The Messy Middle" is the term coming out coaches use to describe the process of transformation from a straight life to life as an LGBTQIA+ person. In this episode Anne-Marie Zanzal invites her producer and fellow coming out coach, Barbara Rowlandson, do discuss the ins and outs and best practices for navigating this challenging time. Tune in for some great advice and a few laughs!

This week on Coming Out & Beyond: LGBTQIA+ Stories, host Anne-Marie Zanzal interviews queer author, playwright, abuse survivor, and former pastor, Trent Clifford. Trent's debut book, Reclaiming Faith, is a tender yet practical approach to uniting the spirituality you love with the religion you've lost. After surviving marital abuse and religious discrimination, Trent reconciled his sexual and spiritual identities and, through his work, invites others to learn from his journey. In this episode, Anne-Marie and Trent talk about religious deconstruction and reclaiming faith on your own terms.

Learn more about Trent Clifford's new book, 'Reclaiming Faith' here: Writing | Reclaiming Faith

Learn more about Trent's work in theater here: HOME | Trent Clifford

Trent's coming out song is Reflection from the film Mulan: https://youtu.be/lGGXsm0a5s0?si=_2IryrNh7gMT8sPw 

In this episode, host Anne-Marie Zanzal welcomes back psychotherapist and later-in-life lesbian Miriam Grace to talk about parenting and relationships with young adult children. With the strong trend of 'grey' divorces (divorces after age 50), many people find their grown children have a difficult time with changes to their parents' relationship. Anne-Marie and Miriam chat about a number of things, including a follow up on their conversation from Season 5 Episode 17 on parent/child estrangement (https://youtu.be/eTIjiQ5EZRQ), setting boundaries and learning to say 'no,' the ebbs and flows of maturing young adult behavior, unlearning heteronormative roles and expectations after a parent comes out, and much more. Episodes with Miriam are always a fantastic listen, don't miss this one, especially if you're a parent of older kids!

You can find Miriam Grace online at https://blue-skies.org.uk/

Dubbed "the Godfather of Gay Diversity Training" by the New York Times, Brian McNaught is considered on of the world's leading corporate diversity consultants dealing with lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer issues in the workplace. In this lively discussion, host Anne-Marie Zanzal and Brian McNaught talk about his coming out story, how he approaches LGBTQIA+ topics when speaking with groups, issues surrounding spirituality, faith and queer identity, activism, and much, much more! 

Learn more about Brian on his website: Brian McNaught : Biography (brian-mcnaught.com)

Brian's coming out song is I Am, I Said, by Neil Diamond:  https://youtu.be/8TYesac3Hmw?si=HUUTnWesM5XevnjS

This episode of Coming Out and Beyond: LGBTQIA+ Stories featuring a conversation with lesbian couple's expert, Dr. Robin Sesan originally aired in December 2023. Today, we reshare this episode with you and invite you to join us at Dr. Sesan's upcoming workshop, Strengthening Love: Building Secure Bonds for Lesbian Couples, on Oct 17th in Provincetown MA during Women's Week. Tickets are available on Eventbrite, spaces are limited.

Link to the event information and to purchase tickets: Strengthening Love: Building Secure Bonds for Lesbian Couples Tickets, Thu, Oct 17, 2024 at 1:30 PM | Eventbrite

Dr. Robin Sesan is a Licensed Psychologist and Certified Emotionally Focused Couples Therapist specializing in working with lesbian/queer couples. She has recently developed an online coaching program for lesbian couples. Listen as host Anne-Marie Zanzal chats with Robin about her coming out later-in-life experience, challenges that are unique to the later-in-life experience, lesbian couple dynamics, and how to make your relationship go the distance.

Visit Robin's websites for her therapy practice: www.securelesbiancouples.com and www.thebrandywinecenter.com

Follow Robin on Instagram @securelesbiancouples 

Robin's coming out songs are Defying Gravity from the musical "Wicked" https://youtu.be/MslDnwerQRA?si=AL_c2AD4287DAdsf and The Power of Two by Indigo Girls https://youtu.be/hj0yVN8pFNw?si=I4uiTd7GH2YrJhZJ

A book that validated Robin's perspective on life was The Secret Life of Bees by Sue Monk Kidd.

Nancy Shadlock is a missionary-kid-turned-youth-pastor-turned-spiritual-director-turned-coming out coach. When Nancy discovered that she didn't have to divorce her spirituality to embrace her sexuality, she started creating the life she always dreamed of but feared would never be possible. Now, as the founder of Centered Counseling and Coaching and host of the Coming Out Chronicles podcast, she devotes her time to helping individuals and organizations break free of their metaphorical closets to bravely live the truth of how beautiful and whole they are. In this episode, Anne-Marie speaks with Nancy about her experiences as a missionary kid, in conversion therapy, the intersection of spirituality and sexuality, and much more.

Learn more about Nancy's coaching work at https://www.centered.ca/about

Nancy's coming out song is Brave by Sara Bareilles: https://youtu.be/QUQsqBqxoR4?si=MBLOlIHQ-a2MVvMS

Erika and Layla Quinones are an married couple who started an annual Pride celebration in their small town of Pulaski, TN. What began as a plan to welcome about 40 people to a potluck with a few vendors turned out to be an event that drew over 1300 visitors to the community. Pulaski has the dubious distinction of being the community where the KKK, a far-right terrorist organization, was formed in 1865. Erika and Layla, an inter-racial couple, quickly found themselves in the spotlight, garnering praise and support, but also hatred from the community. Tune in and listen to their story, as host Anne-Marie Zanzal asks about their coming out experiences, what it's like being a queer, racialized couple in small-town Tennessee, and their successes and challenges in starting Pulaski Pride.

To volunteer or donate and support Pulaski Pride, visit pulaskipride.online

A song that is special to Erika and Layla is She Keeps Me Warm by Mary Lambert. Listen on YouTube: https://youtu.be/NhqH-r7Xj0E?si=HKhMftGvDwXG5HOp

A movie that was impactful to Layla in her youth was Bound, starring Jennifer Tilly and Gina Gershon. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0115736/

Resiliency is the theme of this week's episode as host Anne-Marie Zanzal welcomes speaker and author, Marcie Macari. Marcie's life story has been a master class in resiliency, as she has faced numerous extraordinary challenges, which includes being abandoned and stranded in South Africa with her infant daughter after being shunned by her ex-husband and Christian ministry. Marcie's coming out and acceptance journey spans decades, culminating to her present-day reality of living a joyful and fulfilled life as an out and proud lesbian. Marcie uses her skills and experience to train others to build their resilience and lives by the motto that has become integral to her personal brand: "Bounce, Don't Break."

Find Marcie on TikTok, Instagram, and LinkedIn as @ Marcie Macari.

Over a quarter of adults are estranged from their parents. One of the greatest concerns that people face when coming out later in life is estrangement from their children. In this week's episode of Coming Out & Beyond: LGBTQIA+ Stories, host Anne-Marie Zanzal welcomes back guest Miriam Grace for a vulnerable discussion on parent/child estrangement - an often untalked about subject. This is a must-listen episode for anyone who is experiencing estrangement from their children and especially for mothers who, as a consequence of societal expectations of what makes a good mother, are guaranteed at some point to disappoint their children. In this illuminating episode, Anne-Marie and Miriam unpack what those societal expectations are, why estrangement is so painful for later-in-life LGBTQIA+ parents, how mothers bear the load of emotional caretaking for their families, how estrangement impacts surrounding family members, the grief process and getting the help you need to find strength and move forward with your life.

You can find Miriam Grace online at https://blue-skies.org.uk/

For further reading on this topic, check out this NY Times article and and this blog piece on The Hill.

Krista Oakes is a certified yoga and meditation teacher specializing in working with beginners and seniors. She teaches gentle and chair yoga classes in Daytona Beach, Florida and nationally, online.  Krista leads group wellness retreats and teaches yoga and meditations to corporations. Her classes focus on safety, proper body alignment, mindfulness, and trusting oneself. Krista's approach to teaching integrates the mindfulness of meditation, lifestyle coaching, and the compassionate approach of Kripalu yoga rooted in faith and spirituality, with humor sprinkled throughout. Krista received her BA from Muhlenberg College where she first discovered the thrill of expressing herself through writing. As a yoga teacher, she enjoys reconnecting with that joy through blogging and communicating with her students. In January 2024, Krista published her first book, Shedding Shame: Finding Freedom to Live an Authentic Life, where she takes the reader on a journey through her life's challenges. She shares about being a child growing up with gay parents, losing her dad to AIDS, and the shame of her marriage full of dysfunction and mental illness which ended in divorce. Krista shares her path to unravel the shame that held her back, where's she's been, and how she's gotten to where she is today, living her best, authentic life. 

Learn more about Krista's gentle yoga programs here: https://www.daytonayogawithkrista.com/

You can find Krista's book, Shedding Shame: Finding Freedom to Live an Authentic Life here: https://www.daytonayogawithkrista.com/sheddingshame

Krista's "coming out" song is Defying Gravity from the musical Wicked: https://youtu.be/MslDnwerQRA?si=ip60m30HHGF0d02N

Two books that have influenced Krista are Daring Greatly by Brené Brown https://brenebrown.com/book/daring-greatly/

and Big Little Lies by Liane Moriarty https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/33516773-big-little-lies

Fellow later-in-lifer and Philadelphia-based therapist Mallory Hanfling is our special guest on this episode of CO&B. Her practice, Courage to Grow Counseling, caters to the Queer community, working with individuals and couples, specializing in identity development, coming out, communication skills, and connecting with one's most authentic self. Mallory is a doctoral student at the California Institute for Integral Studies (CIIS) working towards a PhD in Human Sexuality, working on a dissertation about how community mitgates the impact of compulsory heterosexuality on those who come out later-in-life. Mallory coined the inclusive term "Fireflies" for women/ non-binary/trans people to encapsulate a spectrum of identities and experiences reflected in the later-in-life community. Mallory offers a weekly Firefly peer support group where Fireflies at various stages of their journeys can come together to support and empower one another through the highs and lows of their experiences. 

You can learn more about Mallory and her work on her website, https://www.couragetogrowcounseling.org/about

Books that resonated with Mallory are Untamed by Glennon Doyle https://www.goodreads.com/en/book/show/52129515 and Bossy Pants by Tina Fey https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/167987272-bossy-pants?from_search=true&from_srp=true&qid=zHsUsI2...

Mallory's coming out song is Drive by Incubus. https://youtu.be/fgT9zGkiLig?si=g98J8LJ24IjUvXBm

Lesbian dating – specifically when a long-time out lesbian dates a newly out lesbian – is the topic of this week's episode, featuring guest conversationalist, Tonda McKay. In addition to being an award-winning photographer and community advocate, Tonda holds a very special role of distinction: she is wife to podcast host, Anne-Marie Zanzal! Tonda and Anne-Marie met just as Anne-Marie was beginning her coming out/divorce journey. In this engaging episode, Tonda and Anne-Marie talk about the benefits and challenges of the long-out/newly out dating dynamic, the hurdles they have overcome, and the rewards of perservering through what can sometimes be characterized as a difficult pairing of long-out/newly out lesbians. This is an episode that will be of great interest to anyone who is embarking on a dating journey later in life!

Tonda McKay earned her bachelor's degree in photography at Middle Tennessee State University and has been a professional corporate photographer for over 35 years. She has worked for several Fortune 500 companies, including Philips/Magnavox and DESU, LLC. While working at Philips she received two ADDY awards, which recognizes and rewards the creative spirit of excellence in the art of advertising. In 2001, her coffee table book, A City In Harmony, on Nashville was published. This was a two year collaborative project with the Nashville Chamber of Commerce. Tonda also won several national magazine awards (Best Cover - National Magazine Association) for her editorial work on Business Nashville and Nashville LifeStyle. While architectural photography (including Matterport 3D Imaging) and drone photography is her niche now, Tonda has worked in every imaginable area of photography, from jewelry, furniture, editorial & photojournalism. Tonda likes to say there isn’t anything she hasn’t done in photography and she still enjoys learning new processes and information. She has gone from shooting on an 8x10 view camera to HDR digital photography. She believes photography is ever changing and it is always a journey of learning and growth. When not photographing Tonda enjoys kayaking, travel, and of course scenic photography.

To learn more about Tonda and her work as a photographer, visit https://tondamckay.com/

A song that has special meaning to Tonda are 'She Keeps Me Warm' by Mary Lambert. https://youtu.be/NhqH-r7Xj0E?si=1c3fLiKIE5Rogo0T

A book that has impacted Tonda and she recommends to others is 'Another Mother Tongue' by Judy Grahn. https://www.goodreads.com/en/book/show/64767

Nita Agustin is a Queer and gender affirming clinical counselor based in Burnaby, B.C., Canada. Their jam is helping Queer youth and young adults find alignment within themselves so they can feel confident showing up in their own skin. This is accomplished by finding words to name their experiences and discover ways to live on their own terms. In this episode, Nita describes coming out in the pressure-cooker scenario of the pandemic, being Queer in Southeast Asian Indonesian culture, emerging and moving on from Catholocism, what it's like working with Queer youth, and much more!

You can find Nita online and learn more about her work at nitaagustincounselling.com

Nita's coming out songs are You Need to Calm Down by Taylor Swift, and Born This Way by Lady Gaga.

A book that inspired Nita is Me, Myself and They by Luna Ferguson. A show that has inspired Nita is I am Jazz.

This week on Coming Out & Beyond: LGBTQIA+ Stories, we introduce you to media PR expert, April Mason.

April is the President of Violet PR, a busy agency that utilizes new and traditional media tools to craft powerful stories for their clients that shine a spotlight, attract new business, and enhance their public identity. April is also a later-in-life lesbian who learned to embrace all facets since the end of her marriage. Tune in and learn April's coming out story, how she stepped into her power after divorce, and her journey as a leader and business owner.

Learn more about April and Violet PR at https://www.violetpr.com/

In this episode of Coming Out & Beyond: LGBTQIA+ Stories, host Anne-Marie Zanzal speaks with transgender advocate and educator, Ben Greene.

Ben is a sought after speaker who has spoken at international events and conferences about topics surrounding transgender inclusion. After coming out in 2015 living in a small town in Connecticut and givng a popular TEDx talk at Brandeis University, Ben has dedicated his career to spreading empathy, education, and storytelling around the trans experience. He has spoken to groups at companies, hospitals, schools, religious organizations and government entities sharing what it means to be transgender and how to show up as an ally. He is a fierce advocate for transgender youth, regularly speaking up for them at the Missouri state capital. When he is not speaking during working hours he is delivering free presentations to parent support groups around the country and spending hours speaking one-on-one with families with newly-out transgender loved ones. He is passionate about educating others from a place of compassion, no matter where they are starting from.

In this episode, Anne-Marie and Ben talk about Ben's coming out experience, what it's like to be queer in New England, the importance of sharing positive and 'normal' transgender narratives and much more.

Ben's coming out song is 'Riptide' by Vance Joy: https://youtu.be/lYoWuaw5nSk?si=BHa6bqGR1y_K1M01

A book that resonates with Ben is Psalm for the Wild-Built by Becky Chambers.

Ben's book is called 'My Child is Trans, Now What?' You can pre-order it on his website here: https://www.bgtranstalks.com/preorder

You can find Ben online at bgtranstalks.com

Coming out is often an ongoing process, and sometimes people come out selectively to the people around them. It is not unusual for our family members to be the last to know this important piece about our identity. Podcaster Sarah St. John understands this truth. While Sarah has a happy life with her partner, she has yet to come out to her family of origin and has lost members of her support system in the coming out process. In this episode of Coming Out & Beyond: LGBTQIA+ Stories, host Anne-Marie Zanzal talks to Sarah about her coming out experience, the impacts of a conservative faith tradition, why the "right time" to come out does not exist, loss of friends and support systems, and much more.

This week, we welcome back psychotherapist Miriam Grace to the podcast! Miriam first joined us in Season 2 to discuss catalyst lesbian relationships and recovering from the end of a first lesbian relationship. Miriam has over 30 years of experience as a humanistic therapist and primarily works with women to tackle life problems associated with sexuality, the end of relationships, empty nest, loss of a parent, and other challenges associated with midlife. Miriam's work focuses on promoting diversity and inclusivity, challenging others to throw out old paradigms, and allow lesbian voices to come through to disrupt profoundly corrupt definitions of "healthy relationships"

In this episode, host Anne-Marie Zanzal and Miriam Grace explore themes surrounding the experiences of women in mid-life and coming out later in life. They underscore the biases in psychotherapy that cause queer and middle age women to fall through the cracks and subjugate their voices, lesbiphobia in psychotherapy, the vitality and gifts associated with mid-life, Miriam's research and scholarly publications on the later-in-life experience, challenge destructive lesbian tropes like 'U-Hauling" and "lesbian bed death" and much, much more!

Listen to Miriam's first appearance on Coming Out & Beyond: LGBTQIA+ Stories podcast (Season 2) here: https://annemariezanzal.com/coming-out-beyond-lgbtqia-stories-support-season-2-episode-6-miriums-sto...

Miriam contributed a fantastic piece to Anne-Marie's blog in 2020 about overcoming your first lesbian relationship: https://annemariezanzal.com/getting-over-your-first-lesbian-relationship/

You can learn more about Miriam, her psychotherapy services and her scholarship on her website: https://blue-skies.org.uk/

Miriam recently contributed a chapter to a collection of scholarly articles, "Queering Gestalt Therapy: An Anthology on Gender, Sex & Relationship Diversity in Psychotherapy." You can purchase this book on Amazon: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Queering-Gestalt-Therapy-Relationship-Psychotherapy/dp/1032371099/ref=sr_1_...

CiCi Reagan is a published author and copywriter who found her calling in message strategy and alignment for all types of businesses, from entrepreneurs to billion dollar corporations. She's also an international advocate for addiction and domestic abuse survivors, covered in Newsweek, Metro, and several award-winning podcasts. CiCi uses their vast life experience, cultivated writing talent, and innate intuition for people to channel her clients words into mind-blowing marketing copy. CiCi teaches and coaches those who want to learn the mechanics of messaging in a simple, straightforward way. Her goal is to help others find clarity in their messages so that they can do what they love and find fun and freedom in business.

Tune in as host Anne-Marie Zanzal talks with CiCi Reagan about their early years of addiction, finding sobriety, surviving domestic violence, and finding joy when under adversity.

Listen on

Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/coming-out-beyond-lgbtqia-stories/id1569859569

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/27kocr4llm6syHKaeX1x9e

Google Podcasts: https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9mZWVkcy5jYXB0aXZhdGUuZm0vY29taW5nb3V0YW5kYmV5b25kLw?sa=X...

You can learn more about CiCI Reagan's work and coaching services at www.reaganeyes.com

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This week, host Anne-Marie Zanzal welcomes Dr. Roxy Manning and Sarah Peyton to the show. 

Dr. Manning is a clinical psychologist and a certified Centre for Nonviolent Communication trainer. She brings decades of experience to her work, interruping explicitly and implicitly oppressive attitudes and culture norms. Dr. Manning has provided consultation and training across the U.S. and internationally to businesses, non-profits, and government organizations wanting to move towards equitable and diverse workplace cultures. She also works as a psychologist in San Francisco serving the homeless and disenfranchised mentally ill populations. She is the author of "How to Have Anti-Racist Conversations: Embracing Our Full Humanity to Challenge White Supremacy," and co-author of the companion text written with Sarah Peyton "The Anti-Racist Heart: A Self-Compassion and Activism Handbook."

Sarah Peyton is a certified trainer in non-violent communication and neuroscience educator who integrates brain science and resonant language to awaken and sustain self-compassion, particularly in the face of difficult issues like self-condemnation, self-disgust, and self-sabotage. She teaches and lectures internationally and is the author of the "Your Resonant Self" book series. She is Dr. Manning's co-author, as mentioned above.

Tune in as Anne-Marie, Roxy and Sarah about anti-oppression, and anti-racism, compassion, connecting with others in a broken world, how to have hard conversations, and how to have non-violent communication.

Find out more about Dr. Roxy Manning and her work on her website: https://roxannemanning.com/

Learn more about Sarah Peyton and her work on her website: https://sarahpeyton.com/

Dr. Manning's coming out song is " I Sing the Body Electric" from Fame. https://youtu.be/tG-wl2qqD7Y?si=xco-qyfPemNJQA_D

Sarah Peyton's 'power song' is Purple Rain by Prince. https://youtu.be/TvnYmWpD_T8?si=Y-n30GrnARjH13C2

Books that have inspired Dr. Manning are the fantasy series by Mercedes Lackey: https://www.goodreads.com/series/list?id=8685.Mercedes_Lackey

A book that has inspired Sarah Peyton is The Drama of the Gifted Child by Alice Miller.  https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/4887.The_Drama_of_the_Gifted_Child

For years Michael "Tate" Barkley lived his life in shame—of living in poverty, of alcoholism and addiction, of being a closeted gay man. His story may sound familiar to anyone who struggles with feeling “less than.” Now sober through Alcoholics Anonymous, he wants to share his story in the hopes that it will help others to leave their shame behind and discover the peace that they deserve.

His memoir, Sunday Dinners, Moonshine and Men, recounts Tate’s troubled relationship with his father and his journey to overcome shame and the scarcity mindset that blocked his ability to find peace in his life. Tate offers readers a deeply personal account of his dysfunctional childhood, from the backwoods of North Carolina, to his family’s struggles with poverty in Central Florida, and their ultimate move to the boomtown of 1970s Houston, Texas. He details his attempts to repress his sexuality and control his escalating drinking as he became a successful attorney, only to hit rock bottom and lose it all. Tate’s story will resonate with readers as they follow his quest to accept himself and find peace.

Learn more about and follow Tate Barkley at https://tatebarkley.com/

Tate's coming out song is 'Man in the Mirror' by Michael Jackson: https://youtu.be/PivWY9wn5ps?si=goz_6apWwWpdDtY6

Author Melissa Giberson was a suburban housewife and mother of two who always felt something was missing in her life but couldn't define what that missing piece was. Her catalyst relationship experience caused her to stop and have a head-spinning revelation that she never expected – that she was, in fact, a lesbian. Melissa's incredible journey forced her to consider how much she was willing to risk for authenticity. 

On this episode of Coming Out & Beyond: LGBTQIA+ Stories, Melissa talks with host Anne-Marie Zanzal about the revelation that dramatically changed her life, her journey of coming out to herself and others, her relationship with faith, and where's she's at today.

You can learn more about Melissa and her work on her website, www.melissagiberson.com

You can find Melissa's book, "Late Bloomer: Finding My Authentic Self in Mid-Life" on Amazon: https://www.amazon.ca/Late-Bloomer-Finding-Authentic-Midlife/dp/1647425190

A book that that influenced Melissa is Sing YouHome by Jodi Picoult: https://www.jodipicoult.com/sing-you-home.html

A movie that inspired Melissa was City of Angels: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0120632/

Lisa N Alexander is CEO of the award-winning creative agency, PrettyWork Creative. Lisa and her team work with clients to help tell their amazing stories through video, strategic marketing communications, and PR. She has directed and produced three documentaries for non-profit agencies and has written her first feature film, "My Father, the Queen." The film is in pre-production, has already won Best LGBT Screenplay from the Best Script Awards London, Best Script from Cannes International Shorts, was a semi-finalist in the Paris Women Festival, and was a BLK Screenplay Semi-Finalist in 2023.

In this episode, host Anne-Marie Zanzal has a conversation with Lisa about what it was like growing up with a closeted father. Lisa shares how her real-life experiences were the jumping off platform for writing her screenplay and talks about identifying and healing generational trauma.

You can learn more about The film My Father the Queen here: https://myfatherthequeen.com/

Learn more about Lisa and her work here: https://lisanalexander.com/

A book that has inspired Lisa is the Four Agreements: A Practical Guide to Personal Freedom by Miguel Ruiz: https://www.miguelruiz.com/the-four-agreements

Laurie DeJong Zuverink (they/them) is a 53-year-old gender-non-conforming later-in-life lesbian who crashed into the full acceptance of their identity five years ago. Laurie is the descendant of Dutch settlers, and until 2020 engaged in the conservative Protestant Christian community of West Michigan where they lived in the assumption of heteronormative culture while at the same time pressed against them. 

Tune in as host Anne-Marie Zanzal speaks with Laurie about their powerful coming out journey, overcoming the constraints of conservative culture and heteronormativity, their gender and sexual journey from struggle to self-acceptance, their experience of ordination into ministry, the spiritual abuse they experienced upon coming out, and eventual path back to an affirming faith community.

Laurie's coming out album is the sountrack to The Greatest Showman, in particularly the song Tightrope: https://youtu.be/He5NctQPXK8?si=lD04DkzXSn-r-pDN

Laurie's coming out book is Richard Rohr's Falling Upward: A Spirituality for the Two Halves of Life.: https://www.amazon.ca/Falling-Upward-Spirituality-Halves-Life/dp/0470907754

Amy Nielsen is a divorce attorney and coach with a decade of experience as a family law attorney. Amy is an expert in navigating the emotional, logistical and legal aspects of restructuring families. She is a licensed attorney in the state of California but serves people all over the country as a certified divorce coach. Amy is also a later-in-lifer who came out in her late 30s after 10 years of marriage to a man. She now co-parents her two kids and rescue dog, Pepperoni, with her ex-husband who lives 5 houses away. Tune in as host Anne-Marie Zanzal talks with Amy about her later-in-life journey, the challenges and considerations that come with divorce, collaborative divorce, mediation and much more.

Amy's coming out 'song' is actually the entire Frozen 2 soundtrack, which you can listen to here: https://youtu.be/dpza2z4jmDk?si=KEnQEC6pNqvB2-64

Amy's coming out book was Untamed by Glennon Doyle: https://www.goodreads.com/en/book/show/52129515

You can find out more about Amy's services at https://www.bloomlegalcoach.com/

Mallory Kiersten is a self-love and 'unstuck yourself' coach, Akashic Records reader, joy seeker, and Erotic Blueprint coach in training. Mallory helps her clients connect with their guides, divinity and their higher selves. Tune in as host Anne-Marie Zanzal speaks with Mallory about her coming out experience, emerging from conservative Catholicism, internalized homophobia, shedding gender norms and expectations, and embracing sexuality and sexual pleasure.

Mallory's coming out song is 'Closer to Fine' by Indigo Girls: https://loom.ly/T89tbGQ

A movie that changed Mallory's life is Imagine Me and You: https://loom.ly/YS2LsbI

You can connect with Mallory on her website: https://loom.ly/ivGR-2Q

Dr. Tina Schermer Sellers is a therapist, sex educator with a Ph.D. in clinical sexology, author, and Medical Director for the Northwest Institute on Intimacy. Tune in as host Anne-Marie Zanzal has a wide-ranging conversation with Dr. Schermer Sellers about sexuality, gender identity, the harmful repercussions of purity culture on sexuality and relationships, and society's shift towards acceptance of diverse identities. 

A film that has inspired Dr. Schermer Sellers is Fantastic Fungi, which can be found on Netflix and YouTube. You can view the trailer here: https://youtu.be/bxABOiay6oA?si=PuezRCCTuuygLoCp

Connect with Dr. Tina Schermer Sellers at www.tinaschermersellers.com

In her book, "Perfectly Queer," author Jillian Abby recounts her journey of coming out later in life and overcoming chronic perfectionism. Jillian began her metamorphosis as a wife in a heterosexual marriage, home-schooling mom, and CPA. Sensing a change was needed, Jillian transitioned her job to Licensed Massage Therapist, and as she engaged in physical healing modalities she became more in touch with her authentic self, realizing she was queer. A recovering perfectionist, Jillian has learned to release unrealistic expectations, turn to self for validation, and be a peace with imperfection. In this lively discussion, host Anne-Marie Zanzal and Jillian talk about a wide range of topics, including overcoming pernicious perfectionism, the 'superpower' associated with coming out later in life, good and not so good therapists, internalized homophobia, and so much more.

In this special New Year's Day episode of the Coming Out & Beyond: LGBTQIA+ Stories, host Anne-Marie Zanzal and guest Barbara Rowlandson share details on their upcoming free workshop about coming out later in life. Anne-Marie and Barb talk about the grief and joy, the questions and the experiences that lead people to question whether or not they are straight.

To sign up for the free coming out later in life workshop, visit www.comingoutsupport.net

Well, that's a wrap on Season 4! And what a remarkable year it has been.

In the final episode of the year, host Anne-Marie Zanzal and podcast producer Barb Rowlandson talk about the podcast episodes whose stories impacted them the most. Listen and we guaranteed to be inspired by the incredible journeys of some truly remarkable LGBTQIA+ people! They also talk about Anne-Marie's second podcast Queer Business Success, that launched earlier this year, and a free educational series for women (cis or trans) and non-binary people who are at the beginning of their coming out later-in-life journey.

Wishing you all a wonderful holiday and new year! Thank you for being a listener; if you'd like to give us a small, meaningful gift, please consider leaving a review on Apple Podcasts. Thank you!

Dr. Robin Sesan is a Licensed Psychologist and Certified Emotionally Focused Couples Therapist specializing in working with lesbian/queer couples. She has recently developed an online coaching program for lesbian couples. Listen as host Anne-Marie Zanzal chats with Robin about her coming out later-in-life experience, challenges that are unique to the later-in-life experience, lesbian couple dynamics, and how to make your relationship go the distance.

Visit Robin's websites for her therapy practice: www.securelesbiancouples.com and www.thebrandywinecenter.com

Follow Robin on Instagram @securelesbiancouples 

Robin's coming out songs are Defying Gravity from the musical "Wicked" https://youtu.be/MslDnwerQRA?si=AL_c2AD4287DAdsf and The Power of Two by Indigo Girls https://youtu.be/hj0yVN8pFNw?si=I4uiTd7GH2YrJhZJ

A book that validated Robin's perspective on life was The Secret Life of Bees by Sue Monk Kidd.

We're back for Part 2 of Anne-Marie Zanzal's conversation with Casandra Jones, a.k.a. Mistress Cas, interSEXtional educator, therapist and scientist from San Antonio, Texas. For those of you who missed Part 1 where Anne-Marie and Cas talk about polyamory, you can catch that episode here: https://youtu.be/Fl9zLT_cQeA?si=eQaWVRu731I1FnsO

Casandra Jones is a queer, polyamorous slut who aims to advocate for sex-positive cultural practices in all settings. She works as a therapist for Respark Therapy/Foundation and provides education/trainings on various mental health, relationship health, and sexual health topics to diverse individuals and healthcare professionals. Tune in as Anne-Marie and Cas shift the conversation from polyamory to kink and kink culture, where to start when exploring the world of kink, kink and consent and much more!

Cas's coming out song is Strut by Emeline: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5IDTWfLNnJE

A book that changed Cas's perspective on life is Siddhartha by Hermann Hesse: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Siddhartha_(novel)

Find Cas on Instagram: @ mistress.cas

YouTube: @IntersectionalMistressCas

and for more ways to connect, visit her Linktree: https://linktr.ee/boldlycasandra

Casandra Jones, a.k.a. Mistress Cas, is an interSEXtional educator, therapist and scientist from San Antonio, Texas. She is a queer, polyamorous slut who aims to advocate for sex-positive cultural practices in all settings. She works as a therapist for Respark Therapy/Foundation and provides education/trainings on various mental health, relationship health, and sexual health topics to diverse individuals and healthcare professionals. Tune in as Anne-Marie talks with Cas about her journey in discovering her Queer and polyamorous identities. This is a fantastic episode for anyone interested in learning more about polyamory! Anne-Marie continues her conversation with Cas in a follow-up part 2 episode (drops Nov 24, 2023), where she and Cas dive into the topic of Kink.

Cas's coming out song is Strut by Emeline: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5IDTWfLNnJE

A book that changed Cas's perspective on life is Siddhartha by Hermann Hesse: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Siddhartha_(novel)

Find Cas on Instagram: @ mistress.cas

YouTube: @ IntersectionalMistressCas

and for more ways to connect, visit her Linktree: https://linktr.ee/boldlycasandra

Lora Brown is a self-proclaimed hippie Jew, the owner of a small business, a wife and mother, dog mom, activist, a corporate dropout, and LGBTQIA+ ally. She is an active supporter of women-owned, LGBTQIA+ owned, and black-owned businesses. Lora is also actively involved in animal rescue and volunteers as a District Captain for the ASPCA. Tune in to hear Lora's journey as she recounts being raised in the 70s and 80s by her hippie, lesbian mother and alongside her lesbian sister, and talks about the intersections of culture, ethnicity and feminism in her life.

Connect with Lora online:

www.odaavirtualassistant.com

Facebook https://loom.ly/Vnq0r-8

Shopify store: proceeds got to help non profits in animal rescue

https://loom.ly/HEsaHnE

LinkedIn https://loom.ly/2s_dBf4

Fempreneur True Confessions Podcast https://loom.ly/6nQC9l8

This week we welcome Amanda Ferrat to the Coming Out & Beyond: LGBTQIA+ Podcast!

Amanda is the founder of Value Yourself Counseling. Amanda is a certified advanced EFT Tapping Practioner, wellness counselor, and international speaker. For two decades, Amanda has supported others with various needs in the field of human development and social services, including those in crisis or healing from trauma. Amanda now helps women and teens that feel lost or out of sync with themselves get back to a place of deep self-knowing, unburdened by guilt or shame. Amanda supports them on their journey to empower their "inner badness" by combining her empathy, knowledge, lived experience, passion, and professional skills to create safer, braver spaces, deeper healing and personal growth. Amanda identifies as a fat, Queer, neurodivergent, disabled woman, and wants to show the world that those with marginalized identities deserve to be seen, heard and safe within their community. 

Amanda's coming out song is Meghan Trainor's "BadAss Woman." 

A movie that has inspired Amanda is Labyrinth , which first intrigued her because of David Bowie's gender non-conformity.

You can find out more about Amanda and her services at https://valueyourselfcounseling.com/

Amanda is on Instagram and TikTok as @valueyourselfcounseling

This week on the Coming Out & Beyond: LGBTQIA+ Stories podcast, we are thrilled to feature film and television producer and storyteller, Frank McGowan.

TW: Frank's story relates anecdotes from his lived experience that describe homophobic-based violence, physical and mental trauma and CSA. Listener discretion is advised. 

Frank McGowan's remarkable life represents a mix of hardships and triumphs. Frank, who was born and raised in North Glasgow, was a sensitive, creative child in a culture that vehemently rejected Queer people. Frank's main childhood ally – his mother, Eileen – instilled in him a sense of pride that sustained him through dark days of violence and rejection. Frank has emerged from adversity to become an award-winning filmmaker. As Executive Producer of Bad Pony Media, Frank and his team produce content across all genres for the likes of Netflix, Amazon Prime and Braw TV in Scotland - which will be available around the world for FREE from late 2023. Frank tells authentic stories across series drama, factual entertainment, comedy, documentary and children’s programming - and aims to engage, entertain and inspire.

To connect with Frank and Bad Pony Media online, visit:

Instagram: @glasgowfranko81 | @badponymedia_

Twitter: @glasgowfranko81 | @badponymedia

Web: www.badponymediagroup.co.uk 

Creative Blog: www.badponymediaproductions.webs.com/apps/blog/

Books that have inspired Frank are: 

Armistead Maupin (prolific LGBT writer) - "Tales of the City" - https://www.penguin.co.uk/series/TALECITY/tales-of-the-city

and

Sheila Lavelle (fellow later in life coming out story) - "Holiday with the Fiend" - https://www.amazon.co.uk/Holiday-Fiend-Lavelle-Sheila/dp/0140385665

Frank's coming out song is "Horny Horny Horny" by Moose T. - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-j6muYHRX90

In addition to being a filmmaker, Frank is also a musician in a band called Eric and the Bunny Boilers. You can catch their music on the following platforms:

YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t_XuThHy-O8

Amazon Music - https://www.amazon.co.uk/15ft/dp/B07DLFM22W

Live @ King Tuts EP - https://soundcloud.com/bunniesontour

Kristin Jones (she/they) is a genderqueer and bi parent of 3, spouse, speech-language pathologist, and small business owner. They are passionate about social justice and human rights. In their 15-year career, Kristin has worked in acute care, inpatient rehabilitation, and outpatient clinics in major medical centers, specializing in neurological distorders that impact speech, language, voice, and cognitive skills. In recent years, Kristin has added a new area of expertise: serving the transgender, gender non-conforming, and non-binary communities through providing accessible Gender-Affirming Voice Training. 

In this episode of Coming Out & Beyond, host Anne-Marie Zanzal asks Kristin to share their coming out story, and Kristin reveals what it was like to come out as bi and genderqueer within a straight-presenting marriage, their journey in overcoming OCD, and speaks to the affirming nature of voice training for the trans community.

Music that Kristin associates with coming out is anything by Brandi Carlile, but especially 'The Story.'

A book that has changed Kristin's perspective on life is Pema Chodran's 'Comfortable with Uncertainty.'

You can find Kristin Jones online at www.vocespeechtherapy.com and on Instagram at www.instagram.com/vocespeechtherapy/

Dr Keith Brown is a speaker, teacher, coach, author, podcaster, and theologian with over 30 years of experience within the LGBTQ+ arena. He is a married, bisexual man who’s mission is to help LGBTQ+ individuals age 45+ turn their hurting into healing and their healing into happiness.

Anne-Marie and Keith – who are both ordained ministers – dive deep into themes and spirituality as related to their religious professions. Keith shares openly about how he feels God called him to support LGBTQ+ people, how difficult it was in his early career to be a Queer person and a minister in the Southern Baptist church , how this difficulty was compounded by negative attitudes towards gay people in the 1990s, and the work he does with Queer clients today.

Keith didn't have a coming out song per se, but a song that resonates with him and that speaks to his journey is "My Way" (Elvis)

The book that has most influenced Keith is the Bible.

You can find Keith Brown online at www.jkeithbrown.com, Instagram: @thejkeithbrown, TikTok @thejkeithbrown, and on his podcast, Coffee with Keith.

After 10 years of unravelling her sexual identity, later-in-life lesbian Emily Bettdur came out and transformed her life. Now a later-in-life dating coach for women, Emily helps others feel connected to their authentic sexuality, navigate complex emotions, build self-esteem, and foster healthy relationships. In this episode, host Anne-Marie Zanzal and Emily talk about the coming out later in life experience, opening marriages as a bargaining strategy, family responses to coming out and how to handle them, therapy pitfalls, and much more!

Connect with Emily at https://thelatelifelesbian.com/

Emily's coming out song is This is Me from The Greatest Showman https://youtu.be/CjxugyZCfuw?si=Hm1boIfE6VzbCupi

Jennifer Boudrye is the founder of Parent With Care LLC where she helps parents of LGBTQ+ youth, teens, and young adults to understand, connect and celebrate their kids through 1:1 coaching, group coaching, workshops, and presentations. Jennifer is a Safe Zone trained Gender & Sexuality Alliance (GSA) Faculty Advisor, a certified coach through the Jai Institute for Parenting, the Education Director for Equality Loudoun (an LGBTQ+ advocacy nonprofit in Loudoun County, VA), and she facilitates a parent support group for the Ryan Bartel Foundation (a nonprofit working to end teen suicide).

As the founder of Parent With Care LLC, Jennifer is committed to helping parents develop and implement compassion, awareness, respect, and empathy in their parenting. She most enjoys supporting parents through the turbulent teen years because she recognizes that if her parents had the necessary tools she might not have been such a hellion in her teens! She is the parent of 3 adult children, one of whom is bisexual, and the bonus parent to a transgender man who is dad to an adorable 1-year-old. She has unique, personal experience, perspective, and understanding of parents of LGBTQ+ youth and the paths they take alongside their kids' journey.

Jennifer's favorite anthem is "Red Dress" by Maia Sharp: https://youtu.be/f-GDoaa6Csk

Books that have changed Jennifer's life are "The Four Agreements" by Don Miguel Ruiz and "Furiously Happy" by Jenny Lawson.

You can find Jennifer online at:

www.parentwithcare.com

https://www.facebook.com/ParentWithCare

https://www.instagram.com/parentwithcare

John Sovec is a therapist, coach and counselor based in Pasadena, California. He is a nationally recognized expert on creating affirmative support for LGBTQIA+ teens and their families during the coming out process. John is the author of Out: A Parent's Guide to Supporting Your LGBTQIA+ Kid Through Coming Out and Beyond. He is a frequent contributor to numerous publications on providing LGBTQIA+ support, speaks at conferences nationally, and provides training and consultation on LGBTQIA+ competencies for community agencies, schools, and non-profits. He is a nationally recognized expert on creating affirmative support for LGBTQIA+ adolescents with his work featured on The Rikki Lake Show, OWN, FOX, The Advocate, Bravo, LA Talk Radio, The Washington Post, and columns for Huffington Post, Medium, and Good Therapy. John is the host of OutTalk, a monthly web series for OutCare Health.

In this episode of Coming Out & Beyond: LGBTQIA+ Stories, host Anne-Marie Zanzal talks with John Sovec about all of the thoughts, feelings, and considerations families experience when a child comes out as Queer or trans. John helps us understand the sometimes bumpy road to acceptance, gives great advice on how to respond when your kid comes out, and explains the nuanced differences between the experiences of having a child come out as Queer and having a child come out as trans.

You can learn more about John Sovec and the good work that he does at www.JohnSovec.com and www.GayTeenTherapy.com.

You can purchase John's book, Out: A Parent's Guide to Supporting Your LGBTQIA+ Kid Through Coming Out and Beyond, here: https://www.amazon.ca/Out-Parents-Supporting-LGBTQIA-Through/dp/1839974249/ref=sr_1_1?crid=3LA72EGXF...

A coming out song that John loves is Cher's 'Believe.' You can listen to it here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nZXRV4MezEw

You can follow John on Instagram: @JohnSovectherapy or on Twitter, @JohnSovec

This week on Coming Out & Beyond: LGBTQIA+ Stories, we have our first ever man as a guest! Mike Iamele has a remarkable coming out later in life story. Mike thought he was straight his entire life. But a life-changing illness forced him to challenge that notion head-on when he fell in love with his male caretaker. And the two of them went on a years-long journey to explore sexuality and fluidity to figure out if the relationship could work.

When he chose to blog about his relationship, he had no idea that 100,000 people would share the post overnight, and he’d wake up to millions of people talking about his sex life. Or that his story would be made into an off-Broadway musical today.

For most of the past decade, Mike has helped hundreds of people to explore their own sexuality, identity, and purpose by mapping their experiences and understanding who they are inside and outside of labels.

Tune in as host Anne-Marie Zanzal digs into some important topics with Mike Iamele, including internalized homophobia, holding boundaries, being open to big life changes, and, of course, his incredible coming out story.

You tune in to this podcast on YouTube, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, and on Anne-Marie's website, www.annemariezanzal.com. 

Find Mike Iamele online and learn more about his coaching program for Gay, Bi, Trans and Queer men at https://mikeiamele.com/

Follow Mike Iamele on Instagram: www.instagram.com/mikeiamele

To learn more about the musical based on Mike's life, visit www.straightforwardmusical.com

Mike's coming out song is Life by The Avett Brothers, and you can listen to it here: https://youtu.be/ZWgmtmIiomI

A book that has greatly helped Mike is Louise L. Hay's "You Can Heal Your Life": https://www.amazon.ca/You-Can-Heal-Your-Life/dp/0937611018

This week on the Coming Out & Beyond podcast we're back with part 2 of our interview with Rev. Leela Sinha. Leela is a genderqueer, spiritually grounded, Queer-as-fuck entrepreneur and principal at the Intensives Institute, an organization dedicated to executive leadership and development.

In part 2 of this special episode, Anne-Marie and Leela talk about Leela's experience growing up atheist and in the UU, what it was like having a call to ministry, and expand on the language and constructs surrounding gender. It is a fascinating episode, not-to-be-missed for anyone who is interested in gender and trans issues.

Learn more about The Intensives Institute at www.intensivesinstitute.com