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Happy Holidays, my LGBTQuties! As the end of the year approached, it’s important to take a retrospective look to appreciate the challenges overcome, goals achieved, and lessons learned. In doing so, we can use the knowledge gained to build a stronger foundation for the year ahead.
In this episode, we're revisiting some of our featured guest episodes, exploring topics such as sobriety, conversion therapy, media representation, and more!
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At the age of 25, Eric looked pretty happy. He had a Master of Arts in Educational Leadership, a full time job as a high school Spanish and Theatre teacher, owned a house in the suburbs of Chicago, and was engaged to a woman he was with for five years. To someone looking in from the outside, he really did look happy, only much of it was a facade.
At this point, he met someone who made him question his whole belief system, and during that struggle, he realized he was living a double life. He realized he had preconceived ideas that being gay was shameful, but in that moment, he realized what was actually wrong was living an inauthentic life. Within 24 hours of meeting this man, he ended the relationship with his fiancée and came out of the closet.
Coming out was the first of many life changes that came to him, much like the ripples in a pond from a pebble. The courage from coming out nudged him to pursue his dream of being an actor, and it sat next to him in his car as he drove to Los Angeles to continue that dream.
Fast forward to today - he's built a life for himself with his dog Cadence, about twenty houseplants, and his own LA chosen family. He is able to pursue his dreams while helping others pursue theirs. Being a Life Coach fulfills and heals him in a way he hasn't felt since he was a teacher. Only now, he gets to do it from a place of pure joy and authenticity.
Jonathan Lee is an indie author, counsellor, trainee life coach, and social care manager of 20 years. He’s also a son, a brother, a friend, and a gay man. His debut novel, 40 Single Gay, a coming of age memoir, comically depicts his 40th year following a break-up one week before his birthday, and comes to terms with this chapter in his life whilst he unpicks his failed relationships, re-enters the world of dating and one night stands before realizing the important things in life. He’s a people watcher, a recovering people pleaser, and believes we all have the ability for change and development to live a rich and fulfilled life.
Michael Kaye is the Director of Brand Marketing & Communications at Archer. In this role, he leads all brand communications overseeing PR, marketing and social media efforts. As a gay man himself, Michael knows first hand the shame and secrecy that can accompany queer dating and is eager to give this community a unique, safe and supportive experience finding connections online.
His industry-leading work has earned him numerous awards, including Business Insider’s Top Public Relations Pros in the Tech Industry, the Innovation SABRE Awards Data Professional of the Year, the PRovoke Media Innovator 25, and the Stevie Awards Communications Professional of the Year. In addition, he has been featured in a variety of media outlets such as The New York Times, Forbes, NBC News and CNN.
Michael holds a Bachelor's Degree in Communication and Sociology from the University at Albany, a Master's Degree in Strategic Communication from American University, and a Certificate in Corporate Communications from Cornell University. With a passion for teaching, Michael also serves as an adjunct instructor at New York University, where he teaches a course on public relations.
Tate Barkley is a speaker, author, educator, a 30-year practicing attorney and a founding partner of Bain & Barkley law firm in Houston, Texas. He is a graduate of the University of Texas and South Texas College of Law. In addition to his active law practice, he spent 20 years as an adjunct professor at the University of Houston, teaching Communications Law and Ethics, where he was awarded the School of Communications 2019 Valenti Award for Outstanding Teaching by a Lecturer.
Tate’s 24 year recovery journey has compelled him to write and speak about personal integrity, ethics, shame, self-acceptance, mental wellness, and resilience. His story demonstrates how shame and addiction can disrupt lives, businesses and institutions. He then shares the tools that have enabled him to embrace self-honesty and service to others as a means to long-term personal growth and resiliency. Tate’s energy, self-deprecation and sincerity provide a thoughtful and uplifting experience for his audiences.
His forthcoming memoir, Sunday Dinners, Moonshine, and Men, to be published in September 2023, recounts Tate’s troubled relationship with his father and his journey to overcome his shame and the scarcity mindset that fueled his addictions and blocked his ability to find peace in his life. Tate offers readers a deeply personal account of his dysfunctional childhood, from the backwoods of North Carolina, to his family’s struggles with poverty in Central Florida, and their ultimate move to the boomtown of 1970s Houston, Texas. He details his attempts to control his escalating … Read More
Ralph Anthony is the host of the Scream Queer Podcast, which covers a wide range of topics including True Crime, horror, LGBTQ+ issues, and encounters with the paranormal. Join him every Tuesday as he leads you on a captivating journey through a world that is both thrilling and unsettling. Prepare yourself for enhanced and bonus segments, including chilling 911 calls, riveting stories of terrifying encounters shared by the listeners, and let's not forget the informative and occasionally provocative Q&A Sessions.
Seth has vast experience tackling issues like sexuality, identity, depression, anxiety, trauma, grief, and relationships. He creates a safe, supportive space where clients can explore self-discovery and acceptance. With a blend of clinical skill and genuine empathy, Seth helps individuals confront past traumas, challenge harmful beliefs, and start their healing journeys.
Adam Fitzgerald is a writer, director, filmmaker, and content creator whose work has been recognized with an Emmy Nomination, "Critic's Picks" from The New York Times, The Chicago Tribune, TimeOut Chicago and TimeOut New York, "Best of the Year" nods in The Advocate Magazine and The Contra Costa Times, a Jeff Award Nomination, and San Francisco Bay Area Critics Award nominations. His writing has been published by the Huffington Post and Thomson Reuters Foundation & Openly and his short film, "Occupy Me" (director/writer) has been viewed more than one million times on YouTube. Adam directed RESISTANCE RADIO for "Man in the High Castle" (Amazon Studios) which was nominated for a Creative Arts Emmy Award and received two Silver and three Bronze Lions at the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity, and the short film "Dividends", which won "Best Director" at the New York Film Awards.
