In this deeply vulnerable episode of The Get Naked Podcast, I sit down with my best friend of over ten years, Michael Matthew, for one of the most honest conversations we have ever had.Michael opens up about growing up gay and flamboyant in the Bahamas, a country where queerness is not accepted and often met with violence. He talks candidly about navigating an extremely homophobic family, including his mother and grandmother, and the complicated and painful relationship he has had with his heterosexual brother. As a child, Michael learned early that survival sometimes meant physically fighting other boys at school just to protect himself, all while holding onto his love for makeup, long hair, and self expression in a world that tried to shame it out of him.We dive into the internal battles that followed him into adulthood. Michael shares how issues with colorism and Black identity led him to bleach his skin, believing that being dark skinned meant being dirty or less worthy. He speaks openly about struggling with suicidal thoughts as a young teenager, and how depression later showed up for the first time in his life during his marriage. That period led to heavy drinking and a version of himself he barely recognized.For the first time publicly, Michael talks about his marriage coming to an end and the reality of divorce. He reflects on opening his home and heart to so many people, only to realize that many of them did not have his best interests at heart. In a short span of time, he lost his marriage, his home, and the people he thought were family.And yet, this is also a story of rebirth.Today, Michael is rebuilding his life. He is back in college. He is moving into a new home. He is divorcing his husband. He is smiling and laughing again. He is choosing himself.Michael shared that his name means God’s gift, and in this episode, you will understand why. Not because his life has been easy, but because his honesty, resilience, and growth are exactly that.This episode is about survival, identity, grief, and what it looks like to bloom after losing everything.Get naked with us.

In this episode of the Get Naked Podcast, I sit down with Quentin - my cousin, my family, and one of the most unapologetically authentic people I know.Quentin grew up in the Bahamas and had a radically different experience than many queer people. He was never forced to hide who he was. Instead, he was encouraged to be himself; even when that honesty created tension within family dynamics and relationships. From a young age, Quentin made a decision: he would never pretend to be someone else to make others comfortable.Now in his late 40s, Quentin is still that same person. He tells it like it is. If you ask him a question, expect an honest answer; and if you don’t want honesty, as he says, you might want to ask someone else. He values loyalty, friendship, and relationships deeply. Everything he does is intentional, right down to what he wears. He doesn’t seek outside validation. He moves to the beat of his own drum and lives by one rule: I’m going to be me, regardless of who is around. In this emotionally naked conversation, Quentin also opens up about the quieter struggles: the moments where he didn’t want to harm himself, but questioned whether life would be easier if he didn’t exist at all. He shares how he navigated those thoughts, the emotional roller coaster of life, and how he ultimately found his way to peace, stability, and joy.Today, Quentin is thriving in his marriage, his finances, his career, and most importantly, within himself. This episode is about belonging, truth-telling, chosen authenticity, and what it looks like to live fully as yourself, no matter the cost.If you’re craving a conversation about self-acceptance, emotional honesty, queer identity, and living life on your own terms, then this one is for you.

“I Put a Price Tag on Me” is a deeply personal, honest conversation between cousins…rooted in love, reflection, and growth.In this episode, I sit down with my cousin Shaquille for a raw and intimate dialogue that spans our childhoods, the loss of his mother, and the ways grief has shaped how he loves, heals, and shows up in the world. Shaquille opens up about his marriage, the challenges they faced, and the intentional work it took to overcome them. We talk openly about his struggles with suicidal thoughts, the journey toward choosing life, and the process of discovering who he truly is beneath expectations and performance.Together, we unpack what it means to live in authenticity, and how valuing quality over quantity in relationships changed his life, how recognizing performative behavior (in himself and others) became a turning point, and how loss taught him not only how to grieve, but how to love more deeply. This conversation holds space for pain and healing at the same time, exploring how gratitude can exist alongside grief.This episode is full of love, reflection, and lessons learned the hard way. An offering for anyone navigating loss, identity, relationships, or the courage it takes to choose yourself.We also shine a light on Black Pride YYC, a Black queer-led community organization here in Calgary that continues to create space, connection, and support for Black queer folks. @BlackPrideYYC 🤍