Note: This episode contains content about sex and is NSFW. Listener discretion is advised.

‼️SPECIAL FOR COMING OUT & BEYOND LISTENERS! This episode's guest, Maxine Kroll, founder/owner of Provincetown's renowned sex shop & museum, Toys of Eros, is offering 10% off purchases for our listeners! Just use the coupon code COB when completing your order to receive your discount. Shop everything Toys of Eros has to offer at https://toysoferos.com/

Wing Women Weekend | Annual Conference in Provincetown, MA, during Women's Week | https://wingwomenweekend.com/

"Strengthening Love: Building Secure Bonds for Lesbian Couples" https://healthylesbianrelationships.com/

✊🏼Values in Action: Maxine Kroll's Life of Acceptance, Sex-Positivity & Activism

This week on the podcast, host Anne-Marie Zanzal has a conversation with Maxine Kroll, a lesbian and activist who has spent her life creating sanctuary for queer women and fostering acceptance for the LGBTQ+ community. Maxine shares her journey of coming out, stories of activism, and reflects on the critical importance of LGBTQ spaces. From her early experiences in high school to founding Provincetown's sex-positive boutique, Toys of Eros, Maxine discusses the evolution of queer identity and the significance of education to create safety and acceptance for the LGBTQ community. She reflects on the changes in sexual exploration across generations and offers advice for those navigating their first experiences. Anne-Marie and Maxine's conversation highlights the need for continued activism and support for LGBTQ rights in today's political climate.

🔥 What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

🕰️Reflections on the evolution of Provincetown as an LGBTQ+ sanctuary.
💋Discussion on the relationship between communication and pleasure.
🐘A walk down memory lane to early days of Provincetown's annual Women's Week.
👩🏽‍❤️‍💋‍👩🏽Sex-positive conversation about toys, sexual health, and empowering women through education.
🏳️‍🌈 Thoughts about the future of LGBTQ+ rights

💬 Join the Conversation!
💬Have you experienced Provincetown during Women's Week and/or been to Toys of Eros? Do you have thoughts about activism, sex-positive education, or the current state of LGBTQ+ rights? Talk about in the comments!

❤️Join Authentically Us! A supportive community for those coming out later in life to the LGBTQIA+ community. Connect, share, and find guidance on your journey through mutual support groups, workshops, and live Zoom meetups. 💜Sign up today at www.annemariezanzal.com

💠 Visit our website: : [ www.annemariezanzal.com]
💠 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/amzanzal
💠 Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/annemariezanzalcoaching/
💠LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/annemariezanzalpurposefulempowerment/

👍 Like, subscribe, and hit the bell to stay updated on powerful stories from Coming Out & Beyond!

Wing Women Weekend | Annual Conference in Provincetown, MA, during Women's Week | https://wingwomenweekend.com/

"Strengthening Love: Building Secure Bonds for Lesbian Couples"  https://healthylesbianrelationships.com/

📣Dakarai Larriett's Fight for Fairness in Alabama!

This week on the podcast, host Anne-Marie Zanzal sits down with Alabama Senate candidate Dakarai Larriett. Dakarai Larriett is the son of a U.S. Army veteran, a successful entrepreneur, longtime community volunteer, and — above all — a proud Alabama native, deeply committed to serving the citizens of his home state. Dakarai’s passion for public service was ignited during his junior year as an exchange student at Howard University in Washington, DC. His career took him from New York to Texas and Michigan before his heart drew him back to Alabama. Dakarai has dedicated his time and resources to serving the community. In addition to his volunteer work with United Way, Meals On Wheels and the Humane Society, Dakarai leads the board representing the 60 families and businesses located in the Mercantile on Morris, a mixed-use development in downtown Birmingham. Dakarai's story is inspiring and his experiences inform his sense of fairness and justice. After having been falsely arrested, Dakarai has made it his mission to fight against corruption and has set his sights on the U.S. Senate, running as the Democratic candidate in 2026. Dakarai and Anne-Marie talk about his coming out story, his philosophy on servant leadership, his first-hand experience with institutional corruption, and the significance of his faith and personal experiences in shaping his world view.

You can find Dakarai Larriett's website here: https://dakarailarriett.com/

🔥 What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

🚨How Dakarai's false arrest in 2024 ignited a passion for justice and change.

🏳️‍🌈 Understand how Dakarai's coming out was influenced his upbringing in a strict religious environment.

🌎How travelling to over 55 countries has broadened his perspective on global issues.

🌟How Dakarai aims to bridge divides in a polarized political landscape.

✝️The evolution of Dakarai's faith journey, ultimately leading to the United Methodist Church.

💬 Join the Conversation!

💬What are your biggest perceived challenges in coming out? Let's talk about it in the comments!

❤️Join Authentically Us! A supportive community for those coming out later in life to the LGBTQIA+ community. Connect, share, and find guidance on your journey through mutual support groups, workshops, and live Zoom meetups. 💜Sign up today at www.annemariezanzal.com

💠 Visit our website: : [ www.annemariezanzal.com]

💠 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/amzanzal

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

💠LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/annemariezanzalpurposefulempowerment/

👍 Like, subscribe, and hit the bell to stay updated on powerful stories from Coming Out & Beyond!

Wing Women Weekend, October 15-18, 2025, Provincetown, MA - a conference for women/non-binary persons who are new to the LGBTQIA+ community! This conference is all about connection, finding queer community, and having a whole lot of FUN! For the full conference schedule and to sign up, visit https://wingwomenweekend.com/ and use the coupon code PRIDE in June to receive 10% off.

"Maybe I'm Not Straight" and "When the Catalyst Relationship Ends" are do-at-your-own-pace courses for women who are reconsidering their sexual orientation and overcoming the end of their first lesbian relationship. Accessible, information-packed, and easy to do, these courses represent many years worth of experience working with women who come out later in life. Purchase your course and receive your first month subscription to Authentically Us, a safe online space for women who are coming out and beyond, for free! Learn more at https://annemariezanzal.com/courses-from-anne-marie-zanzal/

This week on Coming Out & Beyond: LGBTQIA+ Stories, host Anne-Marie Zanzal interviews Lonay Halloum, a queer relationship coaching and Rapid Transformational Therapy practitioner. Lonay shares his coming out story, the challenges he faced with family acceptance, and the importance of self-acceptance and support systems. he discusses his journey through relationships, hitting rock bottom, and discovering transformative therapy methods that helped him rebuild his self-worth. The conversation emphasizes the significance of understanding both conscious and subconscious mind work in personal growth and healing.

You can find Lonay's website here: https://rainbowjourney.co/

Follow Lonay on Instagram, radiantheartsjourney

❓ What to Expect in This Episode:

🏳️‍🌈An emphasis on the need for a strong support system during the coming out process.

🏳️‍🌈Conversation about changing limiting beliefs and understanding the unconscious mind.

🏳️‍🌈Education on how Rapid Transformational Therapy can address deep-rooted beliefs about self-worth.

🏳️‍🌈Reflections on the ongoing struggle with internalized homophobia in the LGBTQIA community.

✨ Why This Matters:

Self-kindness, self-acceptance, and a strong sense of self-worth are crucial for LGBTQIA individuals, especially through the coming out process. Spending some time to uncover subconscious limiting beliefs and how they impact our emotions and behaviors is part of the process when working on personal growth and healing.

💬 Join the Conversation:

Are you caught up in negative patterns and are on a path to discovering why? Has self-acceptance been a struggle for you? Let's talk about it in the comments.

🔗 Visit our website:

Anne-Marie's : [ annemariezanzal.com]

🔗 Follow us on social media:

💠 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/amzanzal

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

💠 Twitter: twitter.com/annemariezanzal

💠LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/annemariezanzalpurposefulempowerment/

👉 Don’t forget to like, share, and subscribe for more inspiring stories and advice on navigating life, love, and everything in between!

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

Rev. Leela Sinha is a genderqueer, Queer-as-fuck entrepreneur. Ze is intense, spiritually grounded, real, funny, compassionate, and mostly interested in creating a better world with more pleasure and less pain. To that end, Leela coaches and consults to uplift intense people (if you're told you're "too much" that means you!) and creates leadership, companies, and systems where the bottom line is robust and everyone's needs get met.

In this special 2-part episode, Anne-Marie and Leela take a fascinating meander through subjects such as the profound impact of Leela's upbringing in the Unitarian church, the contrasting messages they received surrounding sexuality during their formative years (Anne-Marie was raised Catholic, while Leela learned about sexuality through the Unitarian "About Your Sexuality" (AYS) program), the early 2000's reclamation of the word "Queer" and the shifting climate surrounding that word today, how language around gender has changed the coming out trans experience over time, how the experience of coming out and living as a member of the LGBTQIA+ community differs regionally in the United States, how Leela both lost and gained a community after cutting hir hair and much, much more. Their deep dive into topics surrounding Queer, trans and lesbian experiences as they relate to history, culture and religion continues in a part 2 episode, to be released on July 7th, 2023.

Leela's coming out song is In or Out by Ani DiFranco. You can listen to it here: https://open.spotify.com/track/57RddpbPMFxeR20eonC0gH?si=98cbf96c72db48d4

Leela hosts PowerPivot, a business podcast showcasing the best ideas out there for changing the way we work (and live) for the better.  https://open.spotify.com/show/6Q1oG5PtdIOWdW2HswVK4l

The PowerPivot podcast is an extension of Leela's coaching/consulting business, The Intensives Institute. The Intensives Institute exists to encourage and develop intensives – that's people are strong-minded, innovative thinkers – to develop in leadership and executive roles. You can learn more about The Intensives Institute here: https://intensivesinstitute.com/

Some of Leela's reading recommendations are:

Stone Butch Blues by Leslie Feinberg

Exhibitionism for the Shy by Carol Queen

The Merry Adventures of Robin Hood by Howard Pyle

Pippi Longstocking by Astrid Lindgren

Womanspirit Rising: A Feminist Reader in Religion by Carol P. Christ and Judith Plaskow

Saving Paradise: How Christianity Traded Love of This World for Crucifixion and Empire by Rebecca Ann Parker and Rita Nakashima

This week on Coming Out & Beyond: LGBTQIA+ Stories, host Anne-Marie Zanzal welcomes certified parent and life coach Dr. Lulu

Dr. Lulu is Queer, Nigerian-born, a pediatrician, mom of a transgender daughter, and TEDx speaker. Her work centers on coaching parents of Queer children, helping families overcome the shame and fear that often comes with learning a child is Queer. Dr. Lulu's mission is youth suicide prevention particularly amongst LGBTQIA+ youth. She is a bestselling author of 7 books, including "How to Teach Your Children About Racism” and other books in the nonfiction genre. Her next book: “Invited In, How to Become the Parent Your LGBTQ+ Child Needs”, is due out summer 2023.

In this episode, Dr. Lulu shares with Anne-Marie her coming out (or "letting in") story, the common concerns of parents who learn that their child is Queer, underscores the unique perils that threaten black transgender women, discusses the roots of and harm caused by internalized homophobia, and talks about how she helps clients change their mindset, moving from a place of fear to acceptance.

A song that resonates with Dr. Lulu today is Who's That Girl by Eve: https://youtu.be/8N9PL3Iz3xc

Some books that Dr. Lulu recommends are:

Beyond the Gender Binary by Alok Vaid Menon https://www.amazon.ca/Beyond-Gender-Binary-Alok-Vaid-Menon/dp/0593094654

Think and Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill https://www.amazon.ca/Think-Grow-Rich-1937/dp/B07Q5B3FVF/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=Think+and+Grow+Rich+by+...

Healing Back Pain by John E. Sarno, MD https://www.amazon.ca/Healing-Back-Pain/dp/B071L5C7S5/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1PRNGHPEC89MO&keywords=Healing...

You can find Dr. Lulu on Instagram, YouTube and Twitter as @drlulutalkradio, on Facebook as Moma Trician, and on LinkedIn as Uchenna "Dr. Lulu" Umeh.

This week on Coming Out & Beyond: LGBTQIA+ Stories, host Anne-Marie Zanzal chats with Lynda Spann and Lisa Yaeger about the nuances of lesbian relationships.

As therapists and creator/facilitators of the Lesbian Couples Institute, Lynda and Lisa have tapped into the lesbian couples counseling niche after recognizing there was a need for lesbian-specific therapy services. As lesbians and a couple of 18 years, Lynda and Lisa blend their professional experiences as therapists and life experiences as members of the LGBTQIA+ community to serve lesbian couples in a way that few therapists can. In this episode, Anne-Marie, Lynda, and Lisa explore some common themes that arise in lesbian relationships and address common challenges lesbian couples experience.

You can find The Lesbian Couples Institute online here: https://lesbiancouplesinstitute.com/

on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WomenCouplesInstitute/

This week on Coming Out & Beyond: LGBTQIA+ Stories, host Anne-Marie Zanzal digs deep into the topic of co-dependency with special guests Carla Romo and Sherry Gaba.

Carla, a certified Life and Dating & Relationship Coach, and Sherry, LCSW & coach, are experts in the area of relationships and co-dependency. As hosts of The Love Fix, a podcast dedicated to dating, healing from codependency, and toxic relationships, Carla and Sherry bring a wealth of insight and wisdom to this week's episode. Anne-Marie, Carla, and Sherry explore themes surrounding codependency, including why people fall into co-dependent relationships, how to recognize codependency in yourself and others, challenge old tropes about lesbian relationships and codependency, and how to start on a journey of recovery from codependency. Carla and Sherry's 30 year age difference brings an array of perspectives to the conversation.

You can find Carla and Sherry's podcast, The Love Fix, at www.thelovefix.com, or wherever you normally tune in to your favorite podcasts. You can also find the relationship quiz Carla and Sherry refer to at thelovefix.com.

You can find Carla Romo's book, "Contagious Love" and Sherry Gaba's book "Love Smacked" on Amazon.

For the first time on the Coming Out & Beyond Podcast, we welcome...a Straight Ally!

Host Anne-Marie Zanzal and her guest, Kwavi, have a great deal of sympatico in their work lives. Both work to help women overcome ageism, the constructs of heteronormativity, build courage and blow past their comfort zones. Where they diverge is in the populations they serve – Anne-Marie works with women in their 30s, 40s, 50s, 60s and beyond to come out later in life, and Kwavi works with women from all walks of life who are 50+.

Kwavi is a certified life coach, speaker, author of the book "50 Questions to Answer When You Reach 50," and a life-long member of "Team Have Fun!" Her mission is to help empower women to take control of their lives on their own terms, and embrace their next chapter as a fascinating and exciting journey. She is a wife, a mother of 2 teenage boys and has been featured on CBS, NBC, ABC, Best Self Magazine and the Atlanta Journal Constitution.

As you watch/listen along to this episode, you'll feel the positivity and confidence that radiates from Kwavi. Kwavi's message is an important one: she reminds us that no one is guaranteed a tomorrow, our time on Earth is short, and that we have a duty to live as our authentic selves – for our sakes, the sake of the people we love and for the world.

The book that most inspires Kwavi is "The Four Agreements: A Practical Guide to Personal Freedom" by Don Miguel Ruiz.

You can purchase Kwavi's book, "50 Questions to Answer When You Turn 50" on Amazon.

You can connect with Kwavi via her website, www.kwavi.com

Watch Kwavi on her YouTube channel, www.youtube.com/kwavitv

Follow Kwavi on social media:

Instagram: @ kwavi_tv

TikTok: @ kwavi_tv

This week on the Coming Out & Beyond: LGBTQIA+ Stories podcast, you'll meet Hannah Jones. Hannah is a self described 35 year old "gaybaby!" She came to the realization she is gay during a stay in drug rehab 3 years ago - and has remained sober ever since! - and describes the process as a "slow awakening to always knowing."

Hannah and Anne-Marie dive deep into topics of how the architecture of fundamentalist religion is built on misogyny, shame, and internalized homophobia. Hannah speaks candidly about her experience being immersed in a restrictive faith community, and how leaving the church and embracing sobriety brought her to a place of happiness, liberty and self-acceptance.

Hannah is a licensed professional counselor at a community mental health center service people who do not typically have access to quality mental healthcare. She is mom to her awesome 4 year old son, Truett, and dog mom to 2 Rhodesian Ridgebacks who think they are lapdogs. In her spare time, you're likely to find Hannah immersed in nature, camping, backpacking, bikepacking, marathon running, nature photography, kayacking - anything that gets her outdoors! Other hobbies include reading non-fiction, drumming, roller derby, and daydreaming about one day having girlfriend - all of which are pursuits she wouldn't enjoy today if she hadn't embraced her authentic self! Hannah's story is an inspiration for anyone who feels held back by their religion, demonstrating to all of us that a life of vibrancy and fulfillment awaits us when we start living as the people we were made to be.

Hannah's coming out songs are:

"Waking Up" by MJ Cole

"I am" by Satsang

and "Fidelity" by Regina Spektor

The books that have had the greatest impact on her life are

Braving the Wilderness by Brene Brown

Thy Queendom Come: Breaking Free from the Patriarchy to Save Your Soul by Kyndall Rae Rothaus

Affirming: A Memoir of Faith, Sexuality and Staying in the Church by Sally Gary

and Outlove: A Queer Christian Survival Story by Julie Rodgers.

In the podcast, Hannah and Anne-Marie talk about the 2010 film 'Elena Undone.' You can find the trailer for this film on YouTube.

In this episode of the Coming Out & Beyond: LGBTQIA+ Stories podcast, Anne-Marie Zanzal speaks with trans activists Pastor Lazarus Jameson and Nick Mundwiller. Laz and Nick share their personal coming out stories, they're calling to work in ministry serving the Queer community, talk about the work they are doing to protect and re-home trans people in the state of Missouri who are at risk of persecution from trans-erasing laws, and emphasize the urgency required to keep trans people safe in a political and social climate of anti-trans sentiment.

Pastor Lazarus Jameson (they/them) is a queer and non-binary chaplain out of St. Louis Missouri serving trans people and other underserved lgbtq folks in St. Louis, Missouri through their org Lot’s Wife Trans and Queer Chaplaincy. They have a masters of divinity degree from Andover Newton Theological School and an undergraduate degree in teaching woodshop from North Carolina State University. They live with two large elderly orange cats with anxiety and are currently learning to make stained glass art as a hobby. Nick Mundwiller (they/them) is a queer activist, educator, and organizer who recently left Missouri in search of safer pastures and more opportunities in Fresno. Nick has a Masters in Theological Studies from Harvard Divinity School where they studied the intersection of religion, ethics, and politics and has been involved in activism through education and change work across the country. Nick is a gamer, comic-nerd, and historical cooking fanatic!

To support Laz and Nick's work to protect trans people in Missouri, visit https://www.patreon.com/lotswife.

Wing Women Weekend, October 15-18, 2025, Provincetown, MA - a conference for women/non-binary persons who are new to the LGBTQIA+ community! This conference is all about connection, finding queer community, and having a whole lot of FUN! For the full conference schedule and to sign up, visit https://wingwomenweekend.com/ and use the coupon code PRIDE in June to receive 10% off.

"Maybe I'm Not Straight" and "When the Catalyst Relationship Ends" are do-at-your-own-pace courses for women who are reconsidering their sexual orientation and overcoming the end of their first lesbian relationship. Accessible, information-packed, and easy to do, these courses represent many years worth of experience working with women who come out later in life. Purchase your course and receive your first month subscription to Authentically Us, a safe online space for women who are coming out and beyond, for free! Learn more at https://annemariezanzal.com/courses-from-anne-marie-zanzal/

This week on Coming Out & Beyond: LGBTQIA+ Stories, host Anne-Marie Zanzal chats with author Scott Stirrett. Author of 'The Uncertainty Advantage' and founder of Venture for Canada, Scott shares his personal journey of coming out, the impact it had on his career choices, and how he founded a nonprofit to help young people navigate uncertainty in their careers. Scott shares a personal account of how he manages his OCD, his processes for managing feelings around uncertainty, talks about challenges faced by marginalized groups, and reflects on the importance of values in personal growth. This is a fantastic episode for anyone at any age who is seeking to build their resilience and flexibility in the face of adversity.

You can purchase Scott Stirrett's book, The Uncertainty Advantage, here: https://www.amazon.ca/Uncertainty-Advantage-Launching-Career-Change/dp/1459753224

Learn more about Venture for Canada here: https://ventureforcanada.ca/

Books that influenced Scott are Virtually Normal by Andrew Sullivan: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1717573 and Man's Search for Meaning by Viktor E. Frankl https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/4069.Man_s_Search_for_Meaning

❓ What to Expect in This Episode:

🏳️‍🌈Scott shares his coming out story and underscores that the coming out process is never quite done.

🏳️‍🌈Scott talks candidly about his experiences wrestling with OCD and the processes for becoming okay with uncertainty.

🏳️‍🌈Anne-Marie and Scott talk about his six pillars for embracing uncertainty.

🏳️‍🌈Thoughts on the learning that comes with reflection.

✨ Why This Matters:

We're living through turbulent times. The world has become more unpredictable than ever, and learning how to become more comfortable with uncertainty gives us the mental flexibility to endure and succeed.

💬 Join the Conversation:

Is psychological or emotional flexibility something you've had to cultivate? Tell us about it in the comments!

🔗 Visit our website:

Anne-Marie's : [ annemariezanzal.com]

🔗 Follow us on social media:

💠 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/amzanzal

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

💠 Twitter: twitter.com/annemariezanzal

💠LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/annemariezanzalpurposefulempowerment/

Watch the video of the episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/AyzDFRwurJc

👉 Don’t forget to like, share, and subscribe for more inspiring stories and advice on navigating life, love, and everything in between!

Amy is an expert in facing fears and overcoming insurmountable obstacles. Through what she thought was the darkest time in her life, she began to wake up to aspects of her life she didn’t know existed. These realizations sparked an utter dismantling of her life, but was also what she needed to begin to rebuild.    Her Coming-out story is intertwined with her "coming out" of a toxic and abusive church and "coming out" of a 30 year relationship with her childhood sweetheart. For a time, she was consumed with grief, guilt and shame, while also grappling with her belief system and her very identity.   Now, Amy is a Transformational Life Coach, helping others to face the adversities in their lives and thrive despite them.

Connect with Amy:

www.amykvaughn.com  

Facebook

Instagram

TikTok

Listen to Amy's coming out songs, Right to Be Wrong and Free Me by Joss Stone on YouTube.

Find more information and the link to sign up for our Catalyst Relationship Recovery Workshop here.

Download our free guide "5 Places to Start When Coming Out" here.

Schedule a free Connection Call with Anne-Marie.

We're sharing the love in February with podcast listeners! This episode is dedicated with love to all of you in the late-in-life community who are struggling with grief surrounding your coming out experience.

Every Friday in the month of February, host Anne-Marie Zanzal and podcast producer Barb Rowlandson will be sharing lots of loving advice and encouragement with the late-in-life community. This week, Anne-Marie and Barb tackle the topic of grief, including:

-Why it's normal to grieve your old, married/hetero life,

-How, sometimes, we can find ourselves grieving a life we didn't live,

-Finding someone to talk to about your grief other than your partner,

-The truth about how long it takes to grieve,

-Feeling joy and grief simultaneously,

-Why the grief journey never travels in a straight line

and more!

Share the Love February continues with more loving advice and encouragement for the late-in-life community:

February 17th - Anne-Marie and Barb talk about the joy that comes with coming out later in life

February 24th - We unpack the complexities of catalyst relationships, with lots of loving advice about overcoming heartbreak and stepping into self-love.

You can also catch these episodes of the Coming Out & Beyond: LGBTQIA+ Stories podcast on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, and at www.annemariezanzal.com

Want to book a Discovery Call with Anne-Marie? You can select a time for a call here: https://calendly.com/annemariezanzalcoachingllc/discovery-call?month=2023-01

Learn more about Lotus Group Coaching here: https://annemariezanzal.com/lotus-group-coaching/

We're sharing the love in February with podcast listeners! If you're someone in the late-in-life community who needs some loving encouragement about getting a divorce, this is a must-listen episode!

Every Friday in the month of February, host Anne-Marie Zanzal and podcast producer Barb Rowlandson will be sharing lots of loving advice and encouragement with the late-in-life community. This week, Anne-Marie and Barb cover a multitude of topics surrounding divorce, including:

-Whether or not to disclose your newly (re)discovered sexual identity to your husband,

-When to see a lawyer,

-Whether or not mediation is right for you,

-Flipping your mindset from 'I am destroying my family' to 'I am changing my family,'

-Why divorce can ultimately be very good for kids.

-Pushing past fear and getting out of your comfort zone.

Share the Love February continues with more loving advice and encouragement for the late-in-life community:

February 10th - This episode focuses on navigating grief when coming out and/or divorcing

February 17th - Anne-Marie and Barb talk about the joy that comes with coming out later in life

February 24th - We unpack the complexities of catalyst relationships, with lots of loving advice about overcoming heartbreak and stepping into self-love.

You can also catch these episodes of the Coming Out & Beyond: LGBTQIA+ Stories podcast on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, and at www.annemariezanzal.com

Want to book a Discovery Call with Anne-Marie? You can select a time for a call here: https://calendly.com/annemariezanzalcoachingllc/discovery-call?month=2023-01

Learn more about Lotus Group Coaching here: https://annemariezanzal.com/lotus-group-coaching/

Stephannie Weikert is a Certified Yoga Therapist and creator of the Make Peace with Stress method. She wants to live in a world where all women flourish because she knows that when women thrive everyone benefits.   She mentors women who feel stuck and struggle with overwhelm and self-doubt to incorporate the time-tested wisdom of yoga into their daily lives so that they can be balanced, calm, and confident.  When she's not teaching women to use life’s challenges as catalysts for growth, she can usually be found hiking or planning to hike all the trails, reading, practicing ukulele, or working on her first book about how to make peace with stress.   Discover more about Stephannie and Make Peace with Stress at makepeacewithstress.com.

Follow Stephannie on Instagram 

Follow Stephannie on Facebook 

Book a Discovery Call with Anne-Marie 

Download the free Coming Out Guide 

Christine Gardner Terpening is an artist, an entrepreneur, a mother and also a late in life lesbian. Christine was born and raised in the rural community of Vermontville, Michigan. Raised in a time where she knew something was “shamefully” different about her, but didn’t quite understand that she may be gay. She spent her youth in rodeo and reigned as Miss Rodeo Michigan 1992. She later married her wonderful high school sweetheart and Naval Veteran husband and had three beautiful kids with horses and a hobby farm. Despite having the “perfect” life, Christine fell out of the closet less than gracefully at 44. Lost, scared, and lonely, she could no longer deny her truth. Thanks to her loving kids, family and a few solid friends, she weathered the storm, gathered her feet underneath her, and swore she would help others to not go through what she went through (or at least not do it alone). She started a business called Happy Suz & Co selling her designs of positive LGBTQ+ merchandise with “Something for everyone under the rainbow.” Most importantly, Christine started I’ll Be Your Rock, a rural LGBTQ+ youth support. Meant to be local, this support group has drawn youth from many communities even as far as an hour away. Christine’s dream is to have a chapter of I’ll Be Your Rock in every rural community where queer resources are limited to non-existent. Thanks to “Rocks” that have joined in her queer crusade, Vermontville Michigan is hosting their very first Pride geared solely towards teens and younger. Vermontville Youth Pride will be August 20 and hopes to raise rural awareness and funds for the kids in this community and beyond.

From Christine:

Christine Gardner Terpening

christineterpening01@gmail.com

I can be followed or friended on FB

I can be reached on messenger.

Any child or a parent struggling to find support for their child can contact me any way they feel comfortable. We have a private FB group that is for youth, but parents may also join if their kids don’t have FB. You can also follow me at Vermontville Youth Pride, Moonshine Fine Art Studio, or Happy Suz & Co on FB. This started in Vermontville but we don’t turn any kid away. Our FB group is available to anyone, near or far and it’s private and discreet.

Ash France (she/her) is a somatic practitioner who works one on one with queer women who are coming out later in life and are longing to create secure relationships as they identify & heal unhealthy relationship patterns.
Ash is originally from Oklahoma, and recently got engaged to Dawna Noble after moving to Oregon last year. She’s the host of the podcast, Queer Couples Conversations, where she & her fiancé, Dawna, talk all things queer relationships & how to build one that can last. Queer Couples Conversations dropped TODAY, so please listen, follow, rate & review!

You can connect with Ash on Instagram @ashfrancecoaching

Dawna Noble is a lgbtq+ relationship specialist that is trained in a psychobiological biological approach to couples therapy and currently works with Queer couples showing them how to build secure and lasting relationship in her Queer Couples Mastery program.She is also the co-host Queer Couples Conversations with her soon to be wife Ash France. You can find Dawna at Lgbtq+ Couples Specialist on Instagram.

Listen to Rebecca's inspiring story, coming out while practicing Judaism.

Are you considering or in the process of divorce? Lawyer Shanon Oury gives some tips and advice on how to navigate through this time of your life.

    Shannon Oury (she/her) – practiced law for 20 years before changing careers to follow her passion to provide affordable housing to low income families. She was appointed as the Executive Director of the Lawrence Housing Authority in January of 2011. She is a member of the Affordable Housing Advisory Board for Lawrence, Kansas, served on the Board for the Lawrence-Douglas County Public Health and is the convener for the Community Health Plan for the Safe and Affordable Housing initiative. She is involved in several nationwide organizations that promote affordable housing. She is an adventurer, avid kayaker, and hiker. She has two adult daughters that share her quest for adventure.

Anne-Marie Zanzal and Tonda McKay share their heartfelt love story, highlighting the unique journey of coming out later in life as a lesbian couple. With Anne-Marie's transition from identifying as a married mother to embracing her true self, the couple discusses the complexities and joys of their relationship. They explore the challenges they faced, including navigating past traumas and societal expectations, while emphasizing the importance of being open to love and connection. Their candid conversation delves into the emotional labor involved in their relationship, showcasing how they support each other through difficult times. Ultimately, Anne-Marie and Tonda's story is a testament to the power of love, resilience, and the beauty of discovering one's identity at any age.

Andrea Hewitt who came out at the age of 44 after having two children and being married to two different men. Finding very few resources for people coming out later on in life she created the website a late life lesbian story in 2015 and created a facebook support group in 2016 that grew over 2,000 folks worldwide. She lives in Nashville Tennesee with her wife Rachel and owns a dual agency.

Wing Women Weekend, October 15-18, 2025, Provincetown, MA - a conference for women/non-binary persons who are new to the LGBTQIA+ community! This conference is all about connection, finding queer community, and having a whole lot of FUN! For the full conference schedule and to sign up, visit https://wingwomenweekend.com/ and use the coupon code PRIDE in June to receive 10% off.

"Maybe I'm Not Straight" and "When the Catalyst Relationship Ends" are do-at-your-own-pace courses for women who are reconsidering their sexual orientation and overcoming the end of their first lesbian relationship. Accessible, information-packed, and easy to do, these courses represent many years worth of experience working with women who come out later in life. Purchase your course and receive your first month subscription to Authentically Us, a safe online space for women who are coming out and beyond, for free! Learn more at https://annemariezanzal.com/courses-from-anne-marie-zanzal/

This week on Coming Out & Beyond: LGBTQIA+ Stories, we revisit an episode from season 3 where Anne-Marie Zanzal and Tonda McKay revisit the story of their journey in love and marriage. With the conversation facilitated by Anne-Marie's collaborator, Anna Empey, Anne-Marie and Tonda retell the story of how they first met, explain the nuances of a newbie and long-out lesbian courtship and relationship, and reflect on what they've learned along the way. As you listen, you'll discover how theirs is a partnership based on equity within the relationship, how they navigated complicated feelings as Anne-Marie went through the coming out and divorce process, how they resolve conflict, and what it means to them both to find love later in life.

The songs Anne-Marie and Tonda mention in this episode are "She Keeps Me Warm" by Mary Lambert https://youtu.be/NhqH-r7Xj0E?si=3dz8Uc6b7tNhXmOS and "This is Me" from the film "The Greatest Showman" https://youtu.be/CjxugyZCfuw?si=YiMI9dHJUUgADcIO.

❓ What to Expect in This Episode:

🏳️‍🌈A vulnerable and engaging story of how two people overcame past hurts to find connection.

🏳️‍🌈Thoughtful reflections on the later-in-life experience.

🏳️‍🌈A real life-account of why some women put their sexuality on the back burner until later in life.

🏳️‍🌈Inspiration that you, too, can find love at any age! And laughs, lots of laughs!

✨ Why This Matters:

In a world where there is so much negative media about the LGBTQ experience, it is heartwarming to hear positive stories that reflect real life queer happiness and love.

💬 Join the Conversation:

Did you find love later in life? How did it happen for you? Tell us in the comments!

🔗 Visit our website:

Anne-Marie's : [ annemariezanzal.com]

🔗 Follow us on social media:

💠 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/amzanzal

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

💠 Twitter: twitter.com/annemariezanzal

💠LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/annemariezanzalpurposefulempowerment/

You can also tune into this episode of Coming Out & Beyond: LGBTQIA+ Stories on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.

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

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

👉 Don’t forget to like, share, and subscribe for more inspiring stories and advice on navigating life, love, and everything in between!

April grew up Independent Fundamentalist Baptist. Our discussion focuses on coming out from a conservative religious background. We reflect on faith, God, and finding community.

Samantha Fox is a late bloomer, a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist in private practice in New York City and a guide/coach for women coming-out later in life in her newly launched program Curious, Questioning and Coming Out. Mother of three humans and 2 fur babes. Samantha came out after marriage with three kids under 5 years of age almost twenty years ago, in 2002, when there was little support for women going through this awakening.

Samantha has created a program called Curious, Questioning and Coming out. Samantha is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist in NYC specializing in women’s sexuality and has been helping women explore this area of their lives for over ten years. This program creates a safe space for women to find community, adopt a curious-mindset, thrive and connect, while supporting one another through the process of questioning their sexuality and coming out later in life. Self-understanding, belonging and acceptance are a few of the invaluable takeaways from this small group and 1:1 coaching program.

Marissa Mitchell is a high school English teacher who came out at the age of 39. She resides in Indiana with her daughter and two cats and enjoys reading, roller skating, and writing poetry in her spare time.

Wing Women Weekend, October 15-18, 2025, Provincetown, MA - a conference for women/non-binary persons who are new to the LGBTQIA+ community! This conference is all about connection, finding queer community, and having a whole lot of FUN! For the full conference schedule and to sign up, visit https://wingwomenweekend.com/ and use the coupon code PRIDE in June to receive 10% off.

"Maybe I'm Not Straight" and "When the Catalyst Relationship Ends" are do-at-your-own-pace courses for women who are reconsidering their sexual orientation and overcoming the end of their first lesbian relationship. Accessible, information-packed, and easy to do, these courses represent many years worth of experience working with women who come out later in life. Purchase your course and receive your first month subscription to Authentically Us, a safe online space for women who are coming out and beyond, for free! Learn more at https://annemariezanzal.com/courses-from-anne-marie-zanzal/

Welcome back to part 2 of Anne-Marie Zanzal's conversation with celebrated author and illustrator, Brian Selznick. Brian is the author of the popular young adult novels, The Invention of Hugo Cabret, Wonderstruck, The Marvels, Run Away With Me, and Kaleidoscope, among others. Brian inspires young readers with his creative approach to storytelling that combines writing and illustration, telling stories that resonate with young queer audiences. In 2011, The Invention of Hugo Cabret was adapted as a film my legendary director Martin Scorsese.

In part 2 of this engaging conversation, Anne-Marie and Brian dive into themes of queer love, queer history, discuss why representation matters for young LGBTQ people, explore the concepts of inner and outer safe spaces, and discuss how Brian's storytelling has evolved over time.

Discover Brian Selznick's body of work at https://brianselznick.com/

The song Brian mentions in this episode as being so impactful to him at a young age is 'Total Eclipse of the Heart' by Bonnie Tyler: https://youtu.be/lcOxhH8N3Bo?si=Tldbu0sIp-a66NoU

A book that influenced Brian is "Weetzie Bat" by Francesca Lia Block: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/44353.Weetzie_Bat

A film that impacted Brian is Poison, directed by Todd Haynes: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0102687/

❓ What to Expect in This Episode:

🏳️‍🌈Knowing our history matters. Brian and Anne-Marie discuss how history is lost or filtered over time, removing access to queer stories and impacting queer culture.

🏳️‍🌈Brian discusses how themes and characters have matured in his work over time, and how this presents a creative challenge.

🏳️‍🌈Anne-Marie and Brian talk about the importance of safe spaces and how they are cultivated by queer individuals.

🏳️‍🌈Brian gives us a peek into his inner world, discussing how his characters represent conversations between different versions of himself.

✨ Why This Matters:

Preserving queer stories and queer history matters. When we can see ourselves, our experiences, and our stories reflected in the stories of others, we feel validated, less alone, and connected to our community. Storytelling is a powerful healing modality we can all participate in, as creators or as listeners and readers.

💬 Join the Conversation:

Are you a fan of Brian Selznick's work? Tell us which of his stories resonates with you the most and why in the comments!

🔗 Visit our website:

Anne-Marie's : [ annemariezanzal.com]

🔗 Follow us on social media:

💠 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/amzanzal

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

💠 Twitter: twitter.com/annemariezanzal

💠LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/annemariezanzalpurposefulempowerment/

👉 Don’t forget to like, share, and subscribe for more inspiring stories and advice on navigating life, love, and everything in between!

Wing Women Weekend, October 15-18, 2025, Provincetown, MA - a conference for women/non-binary persons who are new to the LGBTQIA+ community! This conference is all about connection, finding queer community, and having a whole lot of FUN! For the full conference schedule and to sign up, visit https://wingwomenweekend.com/ and use the coupon code PRIDE in June to receive 10% off.

"Maybe I'm Not Straight" and "When the Catalyst Relationship Ends" are do-at-your-own-pace courses for women who are reconsidering their sexual orientation and overcoming the end of their first lesbian relationship. Accessible, information-packed, and easy to do, these courses represent many years worth of experience working with women who come out later in life. Purchase your course and receive your first month subscription to Authentically Us, a safe online space for women who are coming out and beyond, for free! Learn more at https://annemariezanzal.com/courses-from-anne-marie-zanzal/

Celebrated author and illustrator Brian Selznick is known for his impactful storytelling. Author of The Invention of Hugo Cabret, Wonderstruck, The Marvels, Run Away With Me, and Kaleidoscope, among others has inspired young readers for decades with his creative approach to storytelling that combines writing and illustration. In 2011, The Invention of Hugo Cabret was adapted as a film my legendary director Martin Scorsese. In this engaging conversation, Brian shares with listeners how his personal experiences have influenced his writing, particularly in his latest young adult novel, Run Away With Me. Anne-Marie and Brian explore themes of grief, loss, and the role of family in storytelling. Brian shares his coming out story, representing a journey of acceptance for himself and his family. Stay tuned for part 2 of this engaging conversation, when Anne-Marie and Brian dive into themes of queer love, queer history, and how personal experiences shape storytelling.

Discover Brian Selznick's body of work at https://brianselznick.com/

❓ What to Expect in This Episode:

🏳️‍🌈Representation matters! Brian's work reflects stories of young love that are relevant to the LGBTQIA+ community.

🏳️‍🌈In exploring historical themes, Brian addresses the persistent challenge of erasure of queer historical figures.

🏳️‍🌈Brian's work demonstrates how art can confront and counteract societal ugliness. 

🏳️‍🌈Brian's work connects us with reoccurring themes in queer stories.

✨ Why This Matters:

Preserving queer stories and queer history matters. When we can see ourselves, our experiences, and our stories reflected in the stories of others, we feel validated, less alone, and connected to our community. Storytelling is a powerful healing modality we can all participate in, as creators or as listeners and readers.

💬 Join the Conversation:

Are you a fan of Brian Selznick's work? Tell us which of his stories resonates with you the most and why in the comments!

🔗 Visit our website:

Anne-Marie's : [ annemariezanzal.com]

🔗 Follow us on social media:

💠 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/amzanzal

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

💠 Twitter: twitter.com/annemariezanzal

💠LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/annemariezanzalpurposefulempowerment/

"Maybe I'm Not Straight" and "When the Catalyst Relationship Ends" are do-at-your-own-pace courses for women who are reconsidering their sexual orientation and overcoming the end of their first lesbian relationship. Accessible, information-packed, and easy to do, these courses represent many years worth of experience working with women who come out later in life. Purchase your course and receive your first month subscription to Authentically Us, a safe online space for women who are coming out and beyond, for free! Learn more at https://annemariezanzal.com/courses-from-anne-marie-zanzal/

Dating got you down? Does the idea of dating scare you? Or maybe you've been dating all the wrong people? Lavender Dating offers coaching for women dating women, helping you overcome mental blocks surrounding the dating experience. Book a free connection call with dating coach Barbara Rowlandson and let's talk about how to get you to a place of authentic connection in love and relationship! https://calendly.com/lavender-dating-team/connection-call-with-barb

TW: Religious trauma

Queer author, poet, and storyteller Rebecca Wilson is this week's guest, and hers is a story of rejection, rising up, and finding belonging. Rebecca, an ex-minister in the Methodist church, found herself in the center of a storm when the New York Times posted her photo, her expression belying the heartbreak she felt when the United Methodist Church (UMC) voted at a special session of the general council to strengthen a ban of LGBTQ clergy and same-sex weddings. Consequently, the UMC have lost 5,800 churches through disaffiliation. After the photo was published Rebecca found herself in a position as a lightning rod for hate and ultimately left the UMC ministry. In this impactful conversation with host Anne-Marie Zanzal, Rebecca shares her story of courage, transformation, and the quest for self-acceptance in the face of adversity. Her journey of healing through her writing project, 10 Camels, is a reminder of the power of storytelling.

❓ What to Expect in This Episode:

🏳️‍🌈Rebecca shares the story of her journey in seminary and her struggles with mental health.

🏳️‍🌈After leaving the UMC, Rebecca finds the gift of queer community.

🏳️‍🌈Rebecca shares the how her project, 10 Camels, helped her navigate the wilderness of healing.

🏳️‍🌈Rebecca's story exemplifies the importance of prioritizing authenticity over institutional acceptance.

✨ Why This Matters:

In a society where active suppression of LGBTQ rights emboldens homophobic actions (e.g. the Pulse nightclub shooting), finding healing and a sense of home in queer community is fundamental to the health and well-being of queer individuals. The power of storytelling, of being seen and heard, is a powerful catalyst for healing trauma associated with oppression. 

You can connect with Rebecca Wilson and learn more about her project, 10 Camels, here: https://10camels.com/

Rebecca's first book of poetry, "Unraveling", is available now on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Unraveling-Rebecca-Wilson/dp/1960326708

Rebecca's coming out song is "It's a Miracle" by Culture Club: https://youtu.be/YewVugPHon4?si=qsji3zYCRoNuoz-i

A film that resonates with Rebecca is 1985's "The Goonies": https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0089218/

Authentically Us is a support community for later-in-life LGBTQ women at all stages of the coming out and beyond process. Coming out later in life is often accompanied by suffering. Whether you're looking to deconstruct messages from a conservative faith tradition, experience divorce-related guilt, or struggle with feelings of shame around your coming out or sexual identity, Authentically Us has the right kind of support for you. Monthly subscription to Authentically Us on Mighty Networks is $35/month, but you can try your first week for free. Find Authentically Us at https://bit.ly/Authentically-Us

💬 Join the Conversation:

Are you now or have you been a member of the UMC? How did their decision to ban LGBTQ clergy and same-sex marriage impact you? Are you someone who uses their creativity for healing? Let's talk about it in the comments!

🔗 Visit our website:

Anne-Marie's : [ annemariezanzal.com]

🔗 Follow us on social media:

💠 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/amzanzal

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

💠 Twitter: twitter.com/annemariezanzal

💠LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/annemariezanzalpurposefulempowerment/

👉 Don’t forget to like, share, and subscribe for more inspiring stories and advice on navigating life, love, and everything in between!

Join Authentically Us, a community and support space for late blooming lesbians! Find us at https://www.annemariezanzal.com

Lotus Community Coaching is a 6-month program for women who are reevaluating their sexual identity, coming out as LGBTQIA+, and transitioning from a straight, married life to an independent life. If you're struggling and need help during this challenging time, learn what Lotus Community Coaching can offer you: https://annemariezanzal.com/lotus-community-coaching/

TW: Religious trauma

Mike Maeshiro (he/him) is the founder of Numa, and organization that supports people recovering from religious toxicity. Mike is gay, and advocate for the LGBTQ+ community, and a queer theology enthusiast. He is an ex-pastor who now works with gay men recovering from evangelicalism. Mike's story reflects his journey from being a deeply involved evangelical pastor to embracing his identity as a gay man. In this conversation, Mike reflects on his spiritual experiences that affirmed his identity, the cultural conditioning that led to his initial homophobia, and the eventual decision to live authentically. He emphasizes the importance of finding community and support, exploring inclusive theology, and the challenges of coming out publicly. Mike shares his journey of coming out as a gay man and the subsequent challenges he faced, including public backlash, mental health struggles, and family dynamics. He discusses the importance of self-acceptance and the process of deconstructing his evangelical faith, highlighting key issues that many face in similar situations. Mike also reflects on his professional shift towards supporting the queer community and the impact of media on societal perceptions. Ultimately, he emphasizes the significance of finding safety and authenticity in one's life.

❓ What to Expect in This Episode:

🏳️‍🌈A story of facing fear of losing community and identity when coming out.

🤗Emphasis for the need for compassion in discussions about sexuality.

💞Acknowledgment that self-acceptance is a journey that takes time.

💬Discussion about key issues in evangelicalism that include views on hell and the Bible.

✨ Why This Matters:

Cultural conditioning is a strong contributor toward internalized homophobia. This is a must-listen episode for any person who is recovering from evangelical faith traditions. Reaching a place of self-acceptance and authenticity is a vital aspect of personal identity.

Authentically Us is a support community for later-in-life LGBTQ women at all stages of the coming out and beyond process. Coming out later in life is often accompanied by suffering. Whether you're looking to deconstruct messages from a conservative faith tradition, experience divorce-related guilt, or struggle with feelings of shame around your coming out or sexual identity, Authentically Us has the right kind of support for you. Monthly subscription to Authentically Us on Mighty Networks is $35/month, but you can try your first week for free. Find Authentically Us at https://bit.ly/Authentically-Us

💬 Join the Conversation:

Are you someone who has been negatively impacted by conservative faith traditions? Let's talk about it in the comments!

Connect with Mike....

https://www.mikemaeshiro.com/

Mike's Substack: https://mikemaeshiro.substack.com/

Mike's YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCH5vGo6yRl6Gay-wbJ7F6og/featured

Mike on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mikemaeshiro/

Mike on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mikemaeshiro

Books Mike recommends is Adult Children of Emotionally Immature Parents: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/23129659-adult-children-of-emotionally-immature-parents

and The Bible Tells Me So: Why Defending Scripture Has Made Us unable to Read It by Peter Enns: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/20262405-the-bible-tells-me-so?from_search=true&from_srp=true&qi...

Mike regards Taylor Swift's story as instrumental to his coming out process. Find the Taylor Swift documentary, Miss Americana, on Netflix.

🔗 Visit our website:

Anne-Marie's : [ annemariezanzal.com]

🔗 Follow us on social media:

💠 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/amzanzal

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

💠 Twitter: twitter.com/annemariezanzal

💠LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/annemariezanzalpurposefulempowerment/

Join Authentically Us, a community and support space for late blooming lesbians! Find us at https://www.annemariezanzal.com

Lotus Community Coaching is a 6-month program for women who are reevaluating their sexual identity, coming out as LGBTQIA+, and transitioning from a straight, married life to an independent life. If you're struggling and need help during this challenging time, learn what Lotus Community Coaching can offer you: https://annemariezanzal.com/lotus-community-coaching/

People new to the LGBTQIA+ community: ever feel like you don't belong? Worried that, after a 'straight' life, others (straight or gay) won't accept you as being queer? Imposter syndrome (yes, we know it's not a real syndrome, but you know what we mean!) can do a number on our heads, and Anne-Marie and Barb are here to talk about it! This week on the podcast, your two trusty later-in-life coaches talk about the importance of self-identification, the societal pressures surrounding visibility and authenticity, and the impact of internalized homophobia. Anne-Marie and Barb also touch on the significance of media representation and the importance of leaning into community when you're trying to figure out how 'queer' for you manifests as you walk through the world.

❓ What to Expect in This Episode:

🏳️‍🌈Explanations of why being LGBTQIA+ is about so much more than just sex.

💬Discussion on why there is a greater need for open conversation and greater understanding about the later in life experience.

🔍Examination of societal pressures to appear 'gay.'

💞An emphasis on doing what is right for you when you are ready.

✨ Why This Matters:

Self-identification is a journey that needs affirmation and acceptance. We want you to know that if you're struggling with what queer looks like for you, that you're not alone, and that you are not 'less-than' just because you've come out later than some.

Authentically Us is a support community for later-in-life LGBTQ women at all stages of the coming out and beyond process. Coming out later in life is often accompanied by suffering. Whether you're looking to deconstruct messages from a conservative faith tradition, experience divorce-related guilt, or struggle with feelings of shame around your coming out or sexual identity, Authentically Us has the right kind of support for you. Monthly subscription to Authentically Us on Mighty Networks is $35/month, but you can try your first week for free. Find Authentically Us at https://bit.ly/Authentically-Us

💬 Join the Conversation:

What does being gay/queer/lesbian/bisexual look like for you? How have you evolved your outer self to align with your inner self? And how to you handle correcting assumptions about your sexuality? Let's talk about it in the comments!

🔗 Visit our website:

Anne-Marie's : [ annemariezanzal.com]

🔗 Follow us on social media:

💠 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/amzanzal

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

💠 Twitter: twitter.com/annemariezanzal

💠LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/annemariezanzalpurposefulempowerment/

Join Authentically Us, a community and support space for late blooming lesbians! Find us at https://www.annemariezanzal.com

Lotus Community Coaching is a 6-month program for women who are reevaluating their sexual identity, coming out as LGBTQIA+, and transitioning from a straight, married life to an independent life. If you're struggling and need help during this challenging time, learn what Lotus Community Coaching can offer you: https://annemariezanzal.com/lotus-community-coaching/

This week on the podcast, Anne-Marie Zanzal and Barbara Rowlandson talk about one of the biggest concerns women have when coming out later in life: telling their kids that they aren't straight. We know this topic carries a lot of emotional weight and worry, and we encourage listeners to ground themselves and listen through to the end, as Anne-Marie and Barb cover a wide range of nuanced topics related to coming out to kids. You'll hear their personal experiences of coming out to their own children and conversation about the complexities of navigating queerness and family dynamics.

❓ What to Expect in This Episode:

👶🏼Advice on coming out to kids of all ages, from youngsters to grown adults.

⚠️Reflections on pressures women face to disclose their sexuality to kids before they're ready.

🗮How to cope with angry or estrangement after coming out.

💞Vital considerations for helping your child process the news.

✨ Why This Matters:

For moms, this piece of the coming out process can be the most fraught, especially if their children are teens or adults. Anne-Marie and Barb in their years of working with women who come out later in life have observed this process in their clients' experiences and have informed reflections on what helps this process go smoothly, pitfalls to avoid, and what women need to meet this challenge in their coming out journey.

Authentically Us is a support community for later-in-life LGBTQ women at all stages of the coming out and beyond process. Coming out later in life is often accompanied by suffering. Whether you're looking to deconstruct messages from a conservative faith tradition, experience divorce-related guilt, or struggle with feelings of shame around your coming out or sexual identity, Authentically Us has the right kind of support for you. Monthly subscription to Authentically Us on Mighty Networks is $35/month, but you can try your first week for free. Find Authentically Us at https://bit.ly/Authentically-Us

💬 Join the Conversation:

If you haven't come out to your kids yet, we invite you to share your thoughts and concerns here. If you've already come out to your kids and have advice for others, share in the comments!

🔗 Visit our website:

Anne-Marie's : [ annemariezanzal.com]

🔗 Follow us on social media:

💠 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/amzanzal

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

💠 Twitter: twitter.com/annemariezanzal

💠LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/annemariezanzalpurposefulempowerment/

👉 Don’t forget to like, share, and subscribe for more inspiring stories and advice on navigating life, love, and everything in between!

Join Authentically Us, a community and support space for late blooming lesbians! Find us at https://www.annemariezanzal.com

Lotus Community Coaching is a 6-month program for women who are reevaluating their sexual identity, coming out as LGBTQIA+, and transitioning from a straight, married life to an independent life. If you're struggling and need help during this challenging time, learn what Lotus Community Coaching can offer you: https://annemariezanzal.com/lotus-community-coaching/

This week on the podcast host Anne-Marie Zanzal chats with Sue Willoughby, a "No BS" life coach and Equus coach, who shares her journey of self-discovery, coming out, and the transformative power of equine-assisted coaching. Sue discusses her unique approach to helping women reconnect with themselves through the wisdom of horses, while also reflecting on her own experiences with family dynamics, relationships, and identity. Anne-Marie and Sue delve into the therapeutic benefits of horses and how they can facilitate personal growth and healing. Sue shares how horses can serve as mirrors to our emotions and personal challenges

❓ What to Expect in This Episode:

🐎Sue shares her coming out story and formative experiences as a young, queer person.

🐎Exploration of how working with horses in a coaching setting can reveal our 'blind spots.'

🐎Emphasis on the importance of mindfulness and being in the here and now.

🐎Explanation of how the horse can become a metaphor for our personal issues.

✨ Why This Matters:

For anyone who is feeling stuck, mindfulness work and somatic experiences can lead to emotional release. This episode builds awareness on how Equus coaching can help us become more attuned with ourselves, and how the horse serves as both a mirror and a model for behavior.

You can find out more about Willoughby Coaching online at https://www.willoughbycoaching.com/

Sue is also the host of the A Life Worth Being podcast. You can tune in right here, on YouTube! ⁨@SueWilloughby⁩ 

One of Sue's coming out songs is I'm Coming Out by Diana Ross: https://youtu.be/3pmt-wWzC1E?si=CHq_f9TBqgDSl9aH

A book that influenced Sue is Rubyfruit Jungle by Rita Mae Brown: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/165395.Rubyfruit_Jungle

The lesbian movie that Anne-Marie and Sue talked about is Desert Hearts: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0089015/

Authentically Us is a support community for later-in-life LGBTQ women at all stages of the coming out and beyond process. Coming out later in life is often accompanied by suffering. Whether you're looking to deconstruct messages from a conservative faith tradition, experience divorce-related guilt, or struggle with feelings of shame around your coming out or sexual identity, Authentically Us has the right kind of support for you. Monthly subscription to Authentically Us on Mighty Networks is $35/month, but you can try your first week for free. Find Authentically Us at https://bit.ly/Authentically-Us

💬 Join the Conversation:

Have you participated in coaching or therapeutic work with horses? What was it like? How did it help you? Share in the comments your experiences!

🔗 Visit our website:

Anne-Marie's : [ annemariezanzal.com]

🔗 Follow us on social media:

💠 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/amzanzal

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

💠 Twitter: twitter.com/annemariezanzal

💠LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/annemariezanzalpurposefulempowerment/

👉 Don’t forget to like, share, and subscribe for more inspiring stories and advice on navigating life, love, and everything in between!

Reclaiming Your Sexual Self Workshop | with Mallory Hanfling, LCSW | Friday, Oct. 17th, 2025 | The Provincetown Inn, Provincetown, Massachusetts during Women's Week | 9:30 a.m.- 12:30 p.m. | Reclaiming Your Sexual Self Tickets, Fri, Oct 17, 2025 at 9:30 AM | Eventbrite Mallory Hanfling, a late-in-life lesbian/firefly, queer therapist, and sexuality educator provides attendees with the SexEd that you wish you got in high school. Covering everything from anatomy and the mechanics of all different types of queer sex, to toy maintenance, and to sexual communication and consent, Mal will help you reconnect with your sexual self, learn how to listen to and trust your body, and answer the questions you were too shy to ask out loud.

"Strengthening Love: Building Secure Bonds for Lesbian Couples" is a comprehensive course for lesbian couples who are seeking to build a better relationship. Designed by lesbian psychologist and couples therapist, Dr. Robin Sesan, this course is ideal for any lesbian couple who finds themselves stuck in a rut, desires connection, and wants to build emotional safety in the relationship. This do at your own pace course includes video instruction, worksheets, and offers an online community in Authentically Us, where couples can discuss the outcomes of their assignments for each course unit. Yes, you can learn how to create positive interaction and build intimacy that lasts! Learn more and register at https://healthylesbianrelationships.com/

🫣OK, I'm Gay, Now What?

Download the free Self-Care and Boundary-Setting Scripts guide that accompanies this episode! http://bit.ly/3V0qlQs

Calling all later-in-life newbies! If you're a woman who is just starting the process of coming out, this episode is for you. Host Anne-Marie Zanzal and her fellow coach, Barbara Rowlandson, unpack the complexities of coming out later in life, discussing themes such as compulsory heterosexuality, internalized homophobia, cognitive dissonance, and the importance of community support. Anne-Marie and Barb provide insights on navigating early feelings, setting boundaries, and the significance of self-acceptance in the journey of identity exploration. Don't forget to download the free 1 pg pdf with the 3-circle map for clarity and scripts for boundary setting, starting challenging conversations, and journal prompts.

🔥 What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

💡 Ideas for boundary setting when having challenging conversations.

🏳️‍🌈 The external forces that keep us from identifying our authentic sexuality until later in life.

🧠 Understanding how our brains keep us safe and the concept of cognitive dissonance.

🌟Why "LGBTQ affirming" support may not be enough and what to look for in a therapist or coach.

📢 Practical advice and achievable steps for change.

💬 Join the Conversation!

💬What are your biggest perceived challenges in coming out? Let's talk about it in the comments!

❤️Join Authentically Us! A supportive community for those coming out later in life to the LGBTQIA+ community. Connect, share, and find guidance on your journey through mutual support groups, workshops, and live Zoom meetups. 💜Sign up today at www.annemariezanzal.com

💠 Visit our website: : [ www.annemariezanzal.com]

💠 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/amzanzal

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

💠LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/annemariezanzalpurposefulempowerment/

Join Authentically Us, a community and support space for late blooming lesbians! Find us at https://www.annemariezanzal.com

Download '3 Questions to Ask Yourself When Coming Out Later in Life' Guide: https://annemariezanzal.com/3-questions-ask-coming-out/

Download "Embracing the In-Between: Messy Middle Guide and Checklist" https://annemariezanzal.com/free-guide-messy-middle-embracing-the-in-between/

Download "5 Places to Start When Coming Out Later in Life" Guide" https://annemariezanzal.com/free-guide-where-to-start-your-coming-out-journey/

Lotus Community Coaching is a 6-month program for women who are reevaluating their sexual identity, coming out as LGBTQIA+, and transitioning from a straight, married life to an independent life. If you're struggling and need help during this challenging time, learn what Lotus Community Coaching can offer you: https://annemariezanzal.com/lotus-community-coaching/

Exploring sexuality – what does that even mean? And how do you do it, especially after having been in a long term relationship? In this episode, Anne-Marie Zanzal and Barbara Rowlandson discuss the complexities of exploring one's sexuality, particularly for those who may be coming out later in life or questioning their identity. Anne-Marie and Barbara emphasize the importance of curiosity, courage, and self-reflection in this journey, while also addressing societal expectations and the concept of compulsory heterosexuality.

❓ What to Expect in This Episode:

🔍How compulsory heteronormativity affects many people's perceptions of their identity.

🪞Why self-reflection is crucial in understanding one's sexual orientation.

🗺️How personal experiences can serve as catalysts for exploration.

👥 Understanding one's feelings and sensations is key to exploration.

✨ Why This Matters:

It's important when exploring your sexuality to investigate the impact of patriarchal norms on women's identities and relationships, the importance of exploring one's sexuality, and the role of media in shaping perceptions of queerness. This episode underscores the need for self-discovery, curiosity, and community support in navigating the complexities of sexual identity, particularly for those coming out later in life.

Authentically Us is a support community for later-in-life LGBTQ women at all stages of the coming out and beyond process. Coming out later in life is often accompanied by suffering. Whether you're looking to deconstruct messages from a conservative faith tradition, experience divorce-related guilt, or struggle with feelings of shame around your coming out or sexual identity, Authentically Us has the right kind of support for you. Monthly subscription to Authentically Us on Mighty Networks is $35/month, but you can try your first week for free. Find Authentically Us at https://bit.ly/Authentically-Us

💬 Join the Conversation:

Can we have a conversation about exploring sexuality? If you've done this already, how did you go about it? What came up for you? What did you have to unlearn?

🔗 Visit our website:

Anne-Marie's : [ annemariezanzal.com]

🔗 Follow us on social media:

💠 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/amzanzal

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

💠 Twitter: twitter.com/annemariezanzal

💠LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/annemariezanzalpurposefulempowerment/

👉 Don’t forget to like, share, and subscribe for more inspiring stories and advice on navigating life, love, and everything in between!

Oh, and if you want to check out that lovely woman who chops wood, her handle is @NicoleCoenen - you're welcome! ;)

Join Authentically Us, a community and support space for late blooming lesbians! Find us at https://www.annemariezanzal.com

Lotus Community Coaching is a 6-month program for women who are reevaluating their sexual identity, coming out as LGBTQIA+, and transitioning from a straight, married life to an independent life. If you're struggling and need help during this challenging time, learn what Lotus Community Coaching can offer you: https://annemariezanzal.com/lotus-community-coaching/

This week on the podcast, host Anne-Marie Zanzal speaks with feminist, transformational coach, and publisher of positivenewsus.org, Ilu Wloch. Ilu shares her story of growing up in communist Poland in a deeply Catholic culture, and discusses the impacts it had on her path of self-discovery. Tune in for an in-depth conversation about cultural gender expectations, Ilu's path to embracing her authentic sexuality, understanding the powerful pull towards the divine feminine, and her work as a healer.

❓ What to Expect in This Episode:

🗣️Conversation about cultural contexts of communism and Catholicism and their impacts on queer individuals.

🕯️An in-depth exploration of the divine feminine in religion.

♀️Understanding feminism and its misconceptions

👥The gifts of cultivating positivity and community.

✨ Why This Matters:

Understanding the role of the patriarchy and the counterbalance of feminist resistance helps us all to understand the true significance - and fear of - female power. Challenging conventional gender roles, leaning into community of women, understanding the past and acknowledging our power to shape the future is both empowering and healing.

Authentically Us is a support community for later-in-life LGBTQ women at all stages of the coming out and beyond process. Coming out later in life is often accompanied by suffering. Whether you're looking to deconstruct messages from a conservative faith tradition, experience divorce-related guilt, or struggle with feelings of shame around your coming out or sexual identity, Authentically Us has the right kind of support for you. Monthly subscription to Authentically Us on Mighty Networks is $35/month, but you can try your first week for free. Find Authentically Us at https://bit.ly/Authentically-Us

You can learn more about Ilu's coaching practice at https://www.readmylips.fm/

Ilu is also a founder of https://www.positivenewsus.org/ a site dedicated to lifting the best of humanity to the surface for all to see.

💬 Join the Conversation:

What does feminism mean to you? Let's talk about it in the comments!

🔗 Visit our website:

Anne-Marie's : [ annemariezanzal.com]

🔗 Follow us on social media:

💠 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/amzanzal

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

💠 Twitter: twitter.com/annemariezanzal

💠LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/annemariezanzalpurposefulempowerment/

👉 Don’t forget to like, share, and subscribe for more inspiring stories and advice on navigating life, love, and everything in between!

Join Authentically Us, a community and support space for late blooming lesbians! Find us at https://www.annemariezanzal.com

Lotus Community Coaching is a 6-month program for women who are reevaluating their sexual identity, coming out as LGBTQIA+, and transitioning from a straight, married life to an independent life. If you're struggling and need help during this challenging time, learn what Lotus Community Coaching can offer you: https://annemariezanzal.com/lotus-community-coaching/

Questioning is a fundamental aspect of Jewish tradition and learning. In this spirituality-focused episode, host Anne-Marie Zanzal and LGBTQIA+ activist, Rebecca Stapel-Wax, explore the intersections of queer, family, and faith identities in the context of Jewish community. Rebecca is the director of the Southern Jewish Resource Network for Gender and Sexual Diversity (SOJOURN) in Atlanta. Rebecca shares her personal experiences of coming out and her journey to find a welcoming Jewish community. Historical awareness is a running theme in this episode as Anne-Marie and Rebecca delve into Jewish history, particularly focusing on Ashkenazi traditions, and the importance of questioning within the faith. They discuss the evolution of LGBTQIA+ representation in Jewish communities and the significance of understanding diverse identities in contemporary society. There is an emphasis on the need for open conversations about faith, history, and identity, highlighting the role of community in supporting individuals navigating their spiritual and personal journeys.

❓ What to Expect in This Episode:

🎓An emphasis on the importance of inclusive education for youth and families.

✡️Reconstructing Judaism, offering a more inclusive approach to faith.

🏳️‍🌈Examining historical narratives that overlook significant figures and events, especially in LGBTQIA+ history.

👥An emphasis on community support, vital for navigating life's challenges.

Real Stories, Real Advice: Anne-Marie and Barbara share personal stories about times when negativity impacted their lives, the stories they told themselves that perpetuated their negative thought cycles, and how they put an end to negative thinking.

✨ Why This Matters:

It is important to recognize diverse identities within religious communities. And, community support is crucial for individuals exploring their identities within Judaism. Understanding the evolution of LGBTQIA+ rights is essential for intergenerational dialogue. Inclusivity in religious spaces can enhance community bonds and support.

Authentically Us is a support community for later-in-life LGBTQ women at all stages of the coming out and beyond process. Coming out later in life is often accompanied by suffering. Whether you're looking to deconstruct messages from a conservative faith tradition, experience divorce-related guilt, or struggle with feelings of shame around your coming out or sexual identity, Authentically Us has the right kind of support for you. Monthly subscription to Authentically Us on Mighty Networks is $35/month, but you can try your first week for free. Find Authentically Us at https://bit.ly/Authentically-Us

Learn more about Rebecca's work and SOJOURN at https://sojourngsd.org/

💬 Join the Conversation:

Have you had to reconcile your faith with your sexuality? Let's talk about it! Comment and let us know your thoughts.

🔗 Visit our website:

Anne-Marie's : [ annemariezanzal.com]

🔗 Follow us on social media:

💠 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/amzanzal

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

💠 Twitter: twitter.com/annemariezanzal

💠LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/annemariezanzalpurposefulempowerment/

Join Authentically Us, a community and support space for late blooming lesbians! Find us at https://www.annemariezanzal.com

Lotus Community Coaching is a 6-month program for women who are reevaluating their sexual identity, coming out as LGBTQIA+, and transitioning from a straight, married life to an independent life. If you're struggling and need help during this challenging time, learn what Lotus Community Coaching can offer you: https://annemariezanzal.com/lotus-community-coaching/

Ever get stuck in a cycle of negative thinking? It happens to all of us! During periods of challenge, grief, or adversity, our normal coping skills may be stretched and we can easily find ourselves spiraling into a cyclone of negative thoughts. So, what can we do about it?

In this candid episode, Anne-Marie Zanzal and Barbara Rowlandson share personal insights on overcoming negativity's grip – from its impact on how we see ourselves to navigating difficult relationship dynamics. Explore the power of community, the peace found in mindfulness, and the clarity gained through rituals and journaling. If you're seeking strategies to reframe negative thinking and embrace self-love, this conversation offers valuable perspectives and highlights affirmations as key tools for personal growth and acceptance.

❓ What to Expect in This Episode:

⛓️Anne-Marie and Barbara talk about how negativity impacts our personal growth and relationships.

🦉Discussion on how reframing thoughts can improve your mental health.

🧘Making distinctions between what is true and negative self talk that stems from core beliefs about self.

👥Exploration of rituals that dispel negativity

Real Stories, Real Advice: Anne-Marie and Barbara share personal stories about times when negativity impacted their lives, the stories they told themselves that perpetuated their negative thought cycles, and how they put an end to negative thinking.

✨ Why This Matters:

Negative thinking arises from feelings of shame and guilt, emotions experienced by many women who come out later in life. The shame and guilt is often rooted in deeply ingrained, gendered expectations for women. As we step away from heteronormativity and into our authentic selves and sexual identity, it is the perfect time to end negative internal narratives about what it means to be a good woman and change our inner-script to be more affirming.

Authentically Us is a support community for later-in-life LGBTQ women at all stages of the coming out and beyond process. Coming out later in life is often accompanied by suffering. Whether you're looking to deconstruct messages from a conservative faith tradition, experience divorce-related guilt, or struggle with feelings of shame around your coming out or sexual identity, Authentically Us has the right kind of support for you. Monthly subscription to Authentically Us on Mighty Networks is $35/month, but you can try your first week for free. Find Authentically Us at https://bit.ly/Authentically-Us

💬 Join the Conversation:

Do you struggle with negative thinking and rumination? How did it impact you during your coming out process? Is it something you still deal with? Let's talk about it in the comments!

🔗 Visit our website:

Anne-Marie's : [ annemariezanzal.com]

🔗 Follow us on social media:

💠 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/amzanzal

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

💠 Twitter: twitter.com/annemariezanzal

💠LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/annemariezanzalpurposefulempowerment/

Authentically Us: A space for women who are coming out later in life. Join us for support groups, education, and community for just $34.99/month - your first week is free! https://bit.ly/Authentically-Us

Need a deeper level of support for coming out and getting through "The Messy Middle?" Lotus Community Coaching is a 6-month program for women coming out later in life. Learn more at https://comingoutsupport.net/coaching-program

This week, please enjoy this revisited episode from season five, featuring Dr. Tina Schermer-Sellers. 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.

This episode is of particular interest to anyone who has endured purity culture. Purity culture in America (and other countries) has truly made sex and sexuality points of angst and shame for so many people, straight and gay. If you've been impacted by the vice of purity culture, we encourage you to listen to this episode as a step towards healing.

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

🔗 Visit our website: Anne-Marie's : [ annemariezanzal.com]

🔗 Follow us on social media:

💠 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/amzanzal

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

💠 Twitter: twitter.com/annemariezanzal

💠LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/annemariezanzalpurposefulempowerment/

Want to check out the April 2025 events highlighted at the start of this episode? Visit Authentically Us at https://bit.ly/Authentically-Us

🌈 In this episode, host Anne-Marie Zanzal and coming out coach Barbara Rowlandson explore the complexities of estrangement, grief, and the societal narratives surrounding suffering. They discuss personal experiences with estrangement from children, the impact of diet culture on self-worth, and the cultural messages that equate suffering with love and worthiness, particularly for women. Their dialogue emphasizes the importance of choosing joy over suffering, recognizing the dual realities of grief and happiness, and challenging the comfort found in familiar suffering. Anne-Marie and Barb encourage listeners to rethink their relationship with suffering and embrace a more compassionate view of themselves and their experiences. Themes explored in this episode include struggle, ease, and the inherent worthiness of joy, the importance of self-acceptance, the practice of allowing joy to be a default state, and the necessity of releasing unnecessary suffering. Listeners are encouraged to embrace their worthiness and the joy that comes with it, challenging the narrative that happiness must be earned through hardship.

❓ What to Expect in This Episode:

⛓️Anne-Marie and Barbara talk about harmful messages about self-worth and joy that are directed at women.

🦉Discussion on how opposing feelings like grief and joy can coexist and are not mutually exclusive.

🧘The roles of mindfulness and self-compassion in overcoming suffering.

👥How community support can help individuals thrive, cultivate self-kindness, and embrace their true selves.

Real Stories, Real Advice: Anne-Marie and Barb discuss their personal relationships to suffering and how and when they learned in early life that suffering is a virtue. They share anecdotes about family estrangement, diet culture, religion, and divorce to highlight their relationship to suffering, and then discuss how they deconstructed the belief that suffering is virtuous, learning to live without shame and suffering as a prerequisite to joy.

✨ Why This Matters:

Women are raised with strong messages about what it means to be a good girl or woman, and those lessons become deeply ingrained, lasting well into adulthood. Suffering and self-sacrifice are seen as womanly burdens, and women are groomed to expect that suffering is normal and noble. When women come out later in life and leave their heteronormative lives, there is an opportunity to step away from societal expectations and embrace self-love and joy without conditions that include suffering.

Authentically Us is a support community for later-in-life LGBTQ women at all stages of the coming out and beyond process. Coming out later in life is often accompanied by suffering. Whether you're looking to deconstruct messages from a conservative faith tradition, experience divorce-related guilt, or struggle with feelings of shame around your coming out or sexual identity, Authentically Us has the right kind of support for you. Monthly subscription to Authentically Us on Mighty Networks is $35/month, but you can try your first week for free. Find Authentically Us at https://bit.ly/Authentically-Us

💬 Join the Conversation:

Has this episode made you think about your own relationship to suffering? Drop a comment and let's talk about it!

🔗 Visit our website:

Anne-Marie's : [ annemariezanzal.com]

🔗 Follow us on social media:

💠 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/amzanzal

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

💠 Twitter: twitter.com/annemariezanzal

💠LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/annemariezanzalpurposefulempowerment/

📌🎙️Support The Tennessee Equality Project

Want to help us make positive change for LGBTQ individuals in Tennessee? Visit https://podcasthon.org/podcaster/coming-out-beyond to find the link to make a donation today! You can learn more about The Tennessee Equality Project at https://www.tnep.org/

🌈 It's Podcasthon 2025! What does that mean? This week's show is part of a larger initiative by podcasters everywhere to raise awareness and funds for worthy causes. This week's show is in support of The Tennessee Equality Project, an organization dedicated to legislative advocacy for LGBTQ rights in the Tennessee General Assembly and local governments around the state. The Tennessee Equality Project ensures that LGBTQ voices are heard by federal officials, taking a stand on important issues that impact the lives of LGBTQ Tennessee residents. Our guest this week is Chris Sanders, the Executive Director of the Tennessee Equality Project. Chris and Anne-Marie discuss the importance of LGBTQ advocacy, personal coming out stories, and the intersection of faith and sexuality.

❓ What to Expect in This Episode:

⚖️Chris shares insights on the challenges faced by the LGBTQ community in Tennessee, the role of advocacy in creating change, and the significance of community support

🧠Anne-Marie and Chris touch on the importance of critical thinking and the need for trust in collaborative efforts for advocacy.

👥There is an emphasis on building trust, showing up consistently and leaning into community for effective advocacy.

✨ Why This Matters:

We are more effective in our advocacy when we understand the legislative landscape, build trust in our community of support and show up consistently in advocacy efforts

💬 Join the Conversation:

Are you a member of the LGBTQ community living in Tennessee? Or maybe you're an advocate for LGBTQ rights in another state and have some wisdom to share? Tell us about it in the comments!

🔗 Visit our website:

Anne-Marie's : [ annemariezanzal.com]

🔗 Follow us on social media:

💠 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/amzanzal

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

💠LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/annemariezanzalpurposefulempowerment/

👉 Don’t forget to like, share, and subscribe for more inspiring stories and advice on navigating life, love, and everything in between!

🌈 What exactly is resilience? Why is it so important to the coming out later in life process? How can we push past fear and uncertainty? How can we become more resilient so we don't lose ourselves in grief, rejection, or pain? These are some of the things host Anne-Marie Zanzal and her fellow coach, Barbara Rowlandson, discuss in this podcast episode about resilience.

❓ What to Expect in This Episode:

🌈 Anne-Marie and Barb reflect on the power of self-compassion when coming out later in life.

🧑🏼‍🤝‍🧑🏿Emphasis on the importance of finding a supportive community and dealing with loss of support from family and friends.

❤️‍🩹Holding space for both grief and joy in the coming out process.

🏳️‍🌈Leaning into queer joy and the gifts associated with coming out.

Real Stories, Real Advice: Anne-Marie and Barb explore the concept of resiliency as an ongoing process rather than a one-time achievement. They emphasizes the importance of self-compassion and understanding one's authentic self versus conditioned self. In this episode, you'll hear advice on how to foster resilience, particularly for those navigating life changes within the LGBTQIA+ spectrum. Anne-Marie Zanzal and Barbara Rowlandson explore the themes of fear, resilience, and personal growth, particularly in the context of coming out and embracing one's identity. They discuss the importance of reframing fear, the necessity of grieving past experiences while embracing new possibilities, and the value of self-affirmation. The conversation emphasizes that resilience is a practice that requires mindfulness and community support, and that it is possible to hold space for both loss and joy simultaneously.

✨ Why This Matters:

Coming out later in life is usually associated with a lot of big life changes, losses, accompanied by joys and self-discovery. The process often feels like a rollercoaster ride that includes grief, excitement, anger, sadness, exhilaration, and fulfilment. Building resilience for the wild ride of coming out helps you to keep it together when feelings are all over the place.

📌🎙️About Authentically Us

Later in lifers have unique needs. Authentically Us is a space where women can participate in discussions, attend support groups & find education on exploring sexuality, coming out, queer relationships and more. You can find Authentically Us here: https://community.annemariezanzal.com/landing?space_id=17760704

🏳️‍🌈Maybe I'm Not Straight?

We have a mini course available for those questioning their sexual orientation and feeling unsure about next steps. It is a comprehensive mini course designed to provide you with the tools and support you need to explore your identity and embrace your authentic self. https://annemariezanzal.com/courses-from-anne-marie-zanzal/#notstraight

🏳️‍🌈Embracing the In-Between is our Messy Middle guide that can help you shift from overwhelm to clarity. It's a guide designed to help you reflect, identify growth areas, track progress and cultivate self kindness. https://annemariezanzal.com/free-guide-messy-middle-embracing-the-in-between/

💬 Join the Conversation:

Has coming out later in life made you stronger? How has it changed your life? If you've been through this journey and have thoughts on resilience, tell us about them in the comments!

🔗 Visit our website:

Anne-Marie's : [ annemariezanzal.com]

🔗 Follow us on social media:

💠 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/amzanzal

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

💠 Twitter: twitter.com/annemariezanzal

💠LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/annemariezanzalpurposefulempowerment/

🌈 Meet Kiki Joy Latham: soulful singer, survivor, and later in life lesbian. In this episode, Kiki shares their journey in a conversation with host Anne-Marie Zanzal, and it is a true story of self-discovery, navigating queer identity, and championing challenges faced in relationships and spirituality. From their early life in a diverse community to experiences with love, faith, and the search for belonging, Kiki's story is one of resilience and empowerment. Kiki discusses the impact of toxic relationships and spiritual abuse, and how they ultimately found their voice and community in the LGBTQIA+ space.

❓ What to Expect in This Episode:

🌈 Kiki's experiences of rejection and trauma in early relationships and their path to self-acceptance provides inspiration to those who may be struggling.

📣 Emphasis on the importance of finding a supportive community.

❤️‍🩹Discussion about spiritual abuse and deconstructing religion.

🧑🏼‍🤝‍🧑🏿Inspiration so that you, too, might find hope for greater fulfilment after a period of intense struggle and loneliness. 

Real Stories, Real Advice: Kiki's story reminds us of the powerful forces that can keep women from recognizing their authentic sexuality. Kiki's strict upbringing, experiences with racism and manipulative conversative faith communities diverted her from their inner voice. Ultimately Kiki began to listen to that inner voice telling them something was wrong, leading to a path of self-discovery and greater happiness as they embraced their queer identity.

✨ Why This Matters:

So often, people who come out later in life do not see themselves or their experiences reflected, and therefore experience difficulty locating their identity of the LGBTQIA+ spectrum. Kiki provides us with a model of a strong, talented, Black and queer individual who overcame the odds to become the happy, thriving queer person they are today.

📌🎙️About Authentically Us

Later in lifers have unique needs. Authentically Us is a space where women can participate in discussions, attend support groups & find education on exploring sexuality, coming out, queer relationships and more. You can find Authentically Us here: https://community.annemariezanzal.com/landing?space_id=17760704

💬 Join the Conversation:

Are you struggling with deconstructing religion or have experienced spiritual abuse or racism? How is your story similar to Kiki's? Tell us about it in the comments.

You can find Kiki on Instagram as @lovekikijoy.

🔗 Visit our website:

Anne-Marie's : [ annemariezanzal.com]

🔗 Follow us on social media:

💠 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/amzanzal

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

💠 Twitter: twitter.com/annemariezanzal

💠LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/annemariezanzalpurposefulempowerment/

The Three Big Questions You've GOT to Ask Before Coming Out | Coming Out & Beyond: LGBTQIA+ Stories |Season 6 Episode 9 

🌈 If you're a woman reevaluating your sexuality later in life, this episode is going to change things for you. Why? Because host Anne-Marie Zanzal and fellow coming out coach Barbara Rowlandson talk about the three most important questions you need to ask yourself at the start of your sexual awakening/coming out journey. Anne-Marie and Barb, both later-in-life lesbians who work in this very niche community supporting women who come out in their 30s, 40s, 50s, 60s, and beyond, share some common threads of the coming out experience and wisdom that can help you find the courage to make hard decisions.

Download the free 3 Questions Guide: api.leadconnectorhq.com/widget/form/4qBZycuEelYRSvpLNy1M

In this episode, Anne-Marie and Barb also make reference to the Dealing with Guilt and Shame Guide. If you'd like to check it out, it's free too: api.leadconnectorhq.com/widget/form/QFAgIx30gAptZxdsUNjP

❓ What to Expect in This Episode:

🌈 Anne-Marie and Barb explain why the question of our sexuality often surfaces when things seem to be going great.

📣 Discussion on why the "good girl's prescription for a happy life" doesn't make us fully happy.

❤️‍🩹An explanation of disenfranchised grief: what it is, and why it can make this process so much harder.

🧑🏼‍🤝‍🧑🏿Sharing Authentically Us, a community, support and learning space for women who are going through the sexual reevaluation and coming out process.

Real Stories, Real Advice: Women who are just starting this journey often don't know where to go next and feel stuck between feelings of not wanting to "ruin" their lives and intense desire for intimate connection with women. This episode addresses that place of being stuck, offering questions that can help lead you to some clarity about what you want and next steps.

✨ Why This Matters:

There is so little awareness and support out there for women who are questioning their sexuality later in life. This episode directly addresses where you can find the support you need, directing you to a place where you can talk about what you're experiencing without fear of judgement, with people who understand this journey.

📌🎙️About Authentically Us 

Later in lifers have unique needs. Authentically Us is a space where women can participate in discussions, attend support groups & find education on exploring sexuality, coming out, queer relationships and more. You can find Authentically Us here: https://community.annemariezanzal.com/landing?space_id=17760704

💬 Join the Conversation:

Are you struggling with feeling like you want to be with a woman? Worried about what this means for you and the people you care about? Share your thoughts, experiences, and questions in the comments below. Let’s foster a supportive community where we can learn from each other.

🔗 Visit our website:

Anne-Marie's : [ annemariezanzal.com]

🔗 Follow us on social media:

💠 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/amzanzal

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

💠 Twitter: twitter.com/annemariezanzal

💠LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/annemariezanzalpurposefulempowerment/

👉 Don’t forget to like, share, and subscribe for more inspiring stories and advice on navigating life, love, and everything in between!

Reclaiming Your Sexual Self Workshop | with Mallory Hanfling, LCSW | Friday, Oct. 17th, 2025 | The Provincetown Inn, Provincetown, Massachusetts during Women's Week | 9:30 a.m.- 12:30 p.m. | Reclaiming Your Sexual Self Tickets, Fri, Oct 17, 2025 at 9:30 AM | Eventbrite Mallory Hanfling, a late-in-life lesbian/firefly, queer therapist, and sexuality educator provides attendees with the SexEd that you wish you got in high school. Covering everything from anatomy and the mechanics of all different types of queer sex, to toy maintenance, and to sexual communication and consent, Mal will help you reconnect with your sexual self, learn how to listen to and trust your body, and answer the questions you were too shy to ask out loud.

"Strengthening Love: Building Secure Bonds for Lesbian Couples" is a comprehensive course for lesbian couples who are seeking to build a better relationship. Designed by lesbian psychologist and couples therapist, Dr. Robin Sesan, this course is ideal for any lesbian couple who finds themselves stuck in a rut, desires connection, and wants to build emotional safety in the relationship. This do at your own pace course includes video instruction, worksheets, and offers an online community in Authentically Us, where couples can discuss the outcomes of their assignments for each course unit. Yes, you can learn how to create positive interaction and build intimacy that lasts! Learn more and register at https://healthylesbianrelationships.com/

In this episode of Coming Out & Beyond: LGBTQIA+ Stories, host Anne-Marie Zanzal welcomes Mallory Hanfling, a Philadelphia-based therapist specializing in identity development, coming out, and connecting with one’s most authentic self. As the founder of Courage to Grow Counseling, Mallory provides a safe and supportive space for LGBTQIA+ individuals and couples, helping them navigate the challenges of later-in-life coming out.

But Mallory’s work doesn’t stop there—she’s currently pursuing a PhD in Human Sexuality at the California Institute for Integral Studies (CIIS). Her research focuses on how community mitigates the impact of compulsory heterosexuality on later-in-life LGBTQIA+ individuals.

As a passionate advocate for community, Mallory coined the term "Fireflies" to represent women, non-binary, and trans people who are exploring their sexual identity later in life. Through her weekly Firefly peer support group, she helps Fireflies at all stages of their journey connect, share, and empower one another.

Whether you're coming out later in life, questioning your identity, or looking for a supportive community, Mallory’s insights and experiences will resonate deeply.

🔥 What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

💡 How Mallory helps later-in-life LGBTQIA+ individuals navigate identity development

🏳️‍🌈 Why community is essential for those coming out later in life

🧠 The role of therapy in healing from compulsory heterosexuality

🌟 What it means to be a "Firefly" and how to join the Firefly peer support group

🎓 How Mallory’s PhD research is changing the conversation around later-in-life queerness

📢 Practical advice for embracing authenticity and self-discovery

🌐 Learn More About Mallory Hanfling

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

💬 Have you experienced a later-in-life coming out journey? Share your thoughts and experiences in the comments!

❤️Join Authentically Us! A supportive community for those coming out later in life to the LGBTQIA+ community. Connect, share, and find guidance on your journey through mutual support groups, workshops, and live Zoom meetups. 💜Sign up today at www.annemariezanzal.com

💠 Visit our website: : [ www.annemariezanzal.com]

💠 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/amzanzal

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

💠LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/annemariezanzalpurposefulempowerment/

👍 Like, subscribe, and hit the bell to stay updated on powerful stories from Coming Out & Beyond!

👣A Path to Spiritual Healing🏳️‍🌈 The Role of Affirming Spiritual Direction for the LGBTQIA+ Community | Season 6 Episode 8

🌈 This week on "Coming Out & Beyond: LGBTQIA+ Stories" host Anne-Marie Zanzal spends some time in conversation with Canadian spiritual director, Joan Alexander. Joan serves on the faculty of several formation programs teaching and supervising students in ministry. She facilitates workshops and webinars on topics such as spiritual accompaniment to the LGBTQIA+ community, spiritual trauma, hurting and healing. Joan currently serves on the board of directors of Spiritual Directors International.

❓ What to Expect in This Episode:

🌈 Understanding the nature of professional spiritual direction.

🪞 Reflecting on the impact of coming out on spirituality.

❤️‍🩹Working with trauma in spiritual direction.

📋Using the Enneagram assessment tool and much more!

Real Stories, Real Advice: This episode is a must listen for anyone is LGBTQIA+ and has spiritual wounds from faith communities. Joan reviews her spiritual direction tools – conversation, prayer, community, Enneagram assessments, dream work and symbolism – and gives us a mini-demonstration of how they are used in spiritual direction.

✨ Why This Matters:

This episode shows us how spiritual direction can help LGBTQIA+ individuals reclaim their spirituality.

📌🎙️About Joan Alexander: You can find Joan online at https://www.joanalexanderspiritualdirector.com/Joan offers spiritual directions sessions on a sliding scale. If you use Joan's Calendly to book a session, please put a note in at the time of booking that you found her through the Coming Out & Beyond: LGBTQIA+ Stories podcast!

💬 Join the Conversation:

Are you a member of the LGBTQIA+ community who has a complicated relationship with spirituality and faith? Share your thoughts, experiences, and questions in the comments below. Let’s foster a supportive community where we can learn from each other.

🔗 Visit our website:

Anne-Marie's : [ annemariezanzal.com]

🌟 Why Watch This Episode? Many in the LGBTQIA+ community experience religious trauma and become disconnected from their spiritual lives. Anne-Marie and Joan, both lesbians in LGBTQIA+ ministries, illuminate a path for wounded individuals to find a way back to their spiritual side, in a way that respects individual dignity and acknowledges trauma.

🔗 Follow us on social media:

💠 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/amzanzal

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

💠 Twitter: twitter.com/annemariezanzal

💠LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/annemariezanzalpurposefulempowerment/

👉 Don’t forget to like, share, and subscribe for more inspiring stories and advice on navigating life, love, and everything in between!

➡️Reframing Guilt & Shame Part 2: A New Perspective | Season 6 Episode 7

🌈 Welcome to another episode of "Coming Out & Beyond: LGBTQIA+ Stories"!

Host Anne-Marie Zanzal and fellow later-in-lifer Barbara Rowlandson are back this week to talk about recognizing and reframing guilt and shame. Guilt and shame are two of the most common feelings that later-in-lifers struggle with. Anne-Marie and Barb keep the conversation going about these very challenging feelings in the context of coming out, deconstruct them, and offer new perspectives.

❓ What to Expect in This Episode:

🌧️ Values, where we learn them, and dealing with guilt and shame as our values change.

⚖️ Being fair to ourselves, allowing grace for life changes.

🧗‍♀️Cultivating psychological flexibility, strategies for addressing shame, temporary fixes and bargaining during the coming out process, and much more!

Real Stories, Real Advice: Anne-Marie and Barbara talk about guilt and shame in the context of their own lives and experiences.

✨ Why This Matters:

It's important to differentiate between feelings and identity. Reflection and perspective can help in understanding guilt and shame. Women are disproportionately impacted by societally driven guilt and shame based on gender role expectations. Self-compassion is a practice that can significantly reduce these difficult feelings.

📌🎙️About Barbara Rowlandson:

With years of experience as a relationship coach, Barbara specializes in helping LGBTQIA+ individuals and couples create fulfilling and authentic relationships. Her compassionate approach empowers individuals to embrace their identity and build strong connections.

💬 Join the Conversation:

What does dating readiness mean to you? Share your thoughts, experiences, and questions in the comments below. Let’s foster a supportive community where we can learn from each other.

🔗 Visit our website:

Barbara Rowlandson’s : [ lavenderdating.com]

Anne-Marie's : [ annemariezanzal.com]

🌟 Why Watch This Episode?

If you're a later in lifer in what we call "The Messy Middle," you might be experiencing a great deal of guilt and shame over your sexual identity, wanting divorce, impacting your children, or going against your faith tradition. In this episode, you'll learn you aren't alone in those feelings, feel understood, and begin to learn ways to navigate the murky waters of guilt and shame.

🔗 Follow us on social media:

💠 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/amzanzal

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

💠 Twitter: twitter.com/annemariezanzal

💠LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/annemariezanzalpurposefulempowerment/

➡️Reframing Guilt & Shame Associated with Coming Out Later in Life : Season 6 Episode 6

🌈 Welcome to another episode of "Coming Out & Beyond: LGBTQIA+ Stories"!

Host Anne-Marie Zanzal invites fellow later-in-lifer Barbara Rowlandson back to the podcast to talk about everyone's favorite topic 🙄, guilt and shame! Guilt and shame are two of the most common feelings that later-in-lifers struggle with. Anne-Marie and Barb have a conversation about these very challenging feelings in the context of coming out, deconstruct them, and offer new perspectives.

❓ What to Expect in This Episode:

🌧️ Definitions guilt and shame and understanding the nuanced differences between them.

⚖️ Review justified vs. unjustified guilt and shame and how societal pressures contribute to unjustified guilt.

🧗‍♀️Recognizing how guilt and shame manifest in our bodies, separating our identity from our feelings and more!

Real Stories, Real Advice: Anne-Marie and Barbara talk about guilt and shame in the context of their own lives and experiences.

✨ Why This Matters:

It's important to differentiate between feelings and identity. Reflection and perspective can help in understanding guilt and shame. Women are disproportionately impacted by societally driven guilt and shame based on gender role expectations. Self-compassion is a practice that can significantly reduce these difficult feelings.

📌🎙️About Barbara Rowlandson:

With years of experience as a relationship coach, Barbara specializes in helping LGBTQIA+ individuals and couples create fulfilling and authentic relationships. Her compassionate approach empowers individuals to embrace their identity and build strong connections.

💬 Join the Conversation:

What does dating readiness mean to you? Share your thoughts, experiences, and questions in the comments below. Let’s foster a supportive community where we can learn from each other.

🔗 Visit our website:

Anne-Marie's : [ www.annemariezanzal.com]

Barbara Rowlandson’s : [ www.lavenderdating.com]

🌟 Why Watch This Episode?

If you're a later in lifer in what we call "The Messy Middle," you might be experiencing a great deal of guilt and shame over your sexual identity, wanting divorce, impacting your children, or going against your faith tradition. In this episode, you'll learn you aren't alone in those feelings, feel understood, and begin to learn ways to navigate the murky waters of guilt and shame.

🔗 Follow us on social media:

💠 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/amzanzal

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

💠 Twitter: twitter.com/annemariezanzal

💠LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/annemariezanzalpurposefulempowerment/

👉 Don’t forget to like, share, and subscribe for more inspiring stories and advice on navigating life, love, and everything in between!

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