Loved connecting with Stacey and Christin. Beautiful humans, co-owners and life partners!

The conversation delves into the celebration of queer representation, the experiences of late-life lesbians, the creation of Tello Films and Tello Books, the curation of LGBTQ+ content, balancing work and relationships, and the concept of manifesting soulmates.

The conversation explores the themes of embracing divine timing and surrender, creating space for vulnerability and representation, and navigating challenges while fostering community. The guests share their experiences and insights, highlighting the importance of living out loud and fostering inclusivity within the queer community.

Takeaways

• Authentic LGBTQ+ storytelling
• Navigating late-life lesbian experiences Divine timing
• Building community

Chapters

• 00:00 Celebrating Queer Representation
• 06:59 Building Tello Films and Tello Books
• 19:06 Curating LGBTQ+ Content
• 25:48 Balancing Work and Relationship
• 33:03 Manifesting Soulmates
• 40:10 Navigating Challenges and Building Community

Loved meeting Lori Gatto via TikTok, and her messaging is raw and honest.

The conversation covers a range of themes, including acceptance, authenticity, family dynamics, professional journey, child advocacy, consulting role at the Obama Foundation, supporting a transgender child, personal evolution, advocacy, legacy, and living out loud. Each chapter delves into the guest's experiences, insights, and perspectives, providing a comprehensive exploration of the themes.

Takeaways

• Acceptance
• Authenticity

Chapters

• 00:00 Introduction and Guest Announcement
• 05:02 Family Acceptance and Relationship Dynamics
• 11:40 Lessons from Childcare Experience and Parent-Teacher Partnership
• 19:14 Consulting Role at the Obama Foundation and Advocacy Work
• 27:13 Advocacy and Legacy
• 34:57 Living Out Loud and Rapid Fire Questions

Franco Stevens, the visionary founder of Curve magazine, shares her coming out story, the challenges she faced, the origin story of Curve magazine, the risks and visibility associated with queer media, the behind-the-scenes of Curve magazine, the preservation of queer women's history, and the creation of positive change through the Curve Foundation. The conversation covers the evolution of queer terminology, the power of unity in the LGBTQ+ community, the importance of standing together, and the significance of identity and respect. It also delves into community needs, magazine nostalgia, and the concept of living out loud.

Takeaways

• Pioneering queer media
• Preserving queer women's stories Unity in the LGBTQ+ community
• The evolution of queer terminology

Curve Foundation website - donate or sponsor with Curve for Lesbian Visibility week.

Amazing Lesbian Magazine - Curve Mag

Chapters

• 00:00 The Visionary Founder
• 05:07 Family Support and First Relationship
• 11:35 Visibility and Risk
• 19:09 Preserving Queer Women's History
• 27:27 Lessons from the Past
• 33:03 Franco's Journey
• 38:53 Identity and Respect
• 47:58 Living Out Loud

Welcome back to Living OUT Loud. This conversation delves into the courageous coming-out stories of Karla Eduvia and Sandra Tomasovic, highlighting their journey of self-acceptance and love. It also explores the building of a strong and resilient relationship, emphasizing the qualities and practices that have contributed to its stability and depth. The conversation delves into the challenges and triumphs of navigating the modeling industry, highlighting the resilience and empowerment experienced by the speakers.

Connect with them to join Club Solaris.

Find them both on Instagram: Karla + Sandra

Takeaways

• Courageous Coming Out
• Self-Acceptance and Love
• Building a Strong Relationship Resilience in the face of adversity
• Empowerment through self-expression

Chapters

• 00:00 Courage and Self-Acceptance
• 30:04 Navigating the Modeling Industry

The conversation with Rick McCartney covers his personal journey, community involvement, childhood experiences, coming out journey, parental influence, youth mentorship, and his decision to run for Congress. Rick's commitment to community empowerment and his personal experiences shape his vision for leadership and advocacy. The conversation with Rick McCartney covers a wide range of topics, including building policies for Americans, engaging with potential congressmen, addressing affordability issues, empowering districts through redistricting, engaging with members of Congress, and addressing immigration and healthcare concerns. The campaign's focus on youth engagement and empowerment, as well as the involvement of marginalized communities, is evident throughout the discussion.

Website to keep up to date with his campaign.

Takeaways

• Community Empowerment
• Personal Journey Affordability issues are a chief concern for many Americans
• Youth engagement and empowerment are key focuses for the campaign

Chapters

• 00:00 Introduction to Rick McCartney
• 06:48 Coming Out Journey
• 13:00 Youth Mentorship and Advocacy
• 18:04 Decision to Run for Congress
• 25:26 Building Policies for Americans
• 30:51 Immigration and Cruelty
• 36:09 Youth Engagement and Affordability
• 42:08 Building a System for the People
• 47:47 Reading and Personal Interests

This week, Michele sits down with actress and real-life ray of sunshine Brianna Oppenheimer — a woman whose journey is as bold, unpredictable, and joy-filled as her signature on-screen laugh.

Brianna’s story begins at the legendary New Orleans Center for Creative Arts, the same training ground that shaped icons like Harry Connick Jr. and Anthony Mackie. From there, she explored the worlds of musical theater, Stella Adler technique, and improv comedy at The Groundlings before landing in Los Angeles where in true Brianna fashion, she once showed up to an audition on the wrong day... and still booked the role.

She’s starred in films like Midnite Cabby and 20 Pounds to Happiness, earned a Best Supporting Actress award for Honey Pot, and continues to bring heart, humor, and flamboyant laughter to every project she touches.

But Brianna isn’t just an actress, she’s also a passionate protector of our planet. Brianna brings the same level of intention and love to the Earth that she brings to her craft and her marriage with her wife, Jess.

In this conversation, Michele and Brianna explore art, love, environmental stewardship, queer joy, and the courage it takes to keep becoming.

In this episode of Living OUT Loud, Michele sits down with Audrey Corley, one of the most influential voices shaping queer culture and women’s sports in Phoenix. Audrey is the owner of Boycott Bar, the city’s last remaining lesbian bar, and the co founder of Title 9 Sports Bar, the Valley’s first women focused sports bar, and Dahlia restaurant in Central Phoenix. Her work is rooted in community, courage, and a deep belief that everyone deserves a place to belong.

Together, Michele and Audrey explore the journey from opening a single neighborhood bar to building multiple spaces that celebrate identity, connection, and the power of women’s athletics. Audrey shares what inspired her to create these safe havens, the challenges she has faced as a queer business owner, and the moments that continue to remind her why this work matters.

This conversation is thoughtful, honest, and filled with the kind of heart that defines Living OUT Loud. It honors a woman who is changing the game, both literally and figuratively, while staying grounded in purpose and generosity.

Tune in for a celebration of resilience, leadership, community, and the unstoppable spirit of women who build with intention and love.

Thanks for listening and please share to a friend.

Stay Loud + Stay Proud!

Michele

On this week’s episode of Living OUT Loud, Michele sits down with her longtime friend and radiant storyteller, Jimmy Belasco is a man whose humor runs deep, whose heart runs deeper, and whose new memoir, I Was Born “Pretty,”reminds us that healing often arrives wrapped in laughter.

Jimmy invites us into the Belasco Bunch: a preacher dad, a hilariously inappropriate mom, five kids, and a dog named Spot who “went to live on a farm” long before any of them realized what that really meant. It was a home soaked in faith, contradiction, chaos, and unconditional love. But sometimes that means that it shapes you in ways you only understand years later. (Anyone else relate?)

Through stories of growing up queer in an ultra-conservative family, navigating love and loss, and finding his truest self later in life, Jimmy shows us how humor becomes a lifeline, how grief can carve you open in strangely beautiful ways, and how a mother’s pearls of wisdom can lead you back to your own heart.

This conversation is tender, honest, and laugh-out-loud funny. The kind that feels like sitting at the kitchen table with someone who tells the truth without flinching.

Together, Michele and Jimmy explore what it really means to live with courage, to love with your whole chest, and to step fully into your own light.

Most of all, Jimmy reminds us that living OUT loud is not about perfection; it’s about presence, truth, and choosing love over fear every single time.

This is an episode for anyone who’s ever lost someone, loved someone, or tried to figure out who they are in a world determined to tell them otherwise.

Tune in… and bring a tissue. And maybe a giggle.

Thank you again for listening... and share with one friend who could use some of this in their life.

Stay Loud + Stay Proud!

Michele