SummaryIn this conversation, Brian Banks and Taylor Bird discuss Taylor's upbringing in a small town, their experiences growing up in the Church of God, and their journey to self-acceptance as queer individuals. They reflect on the challenges of being authentic and the process of shedding the personas they created to fit societal expectations. They also touch on the impact of religion on their lives and the importance of being open to learning and growth. The conversation highlights the complexities of family dynamics and the struggle to find acceptance. In this conversation, Brian Banks discusses his experiences with religion, specifically the negative treatment he faced within the church. He challenges the hypocrisy of churches that claim to preach love but only accept certain behaviors. Brian also shares his journey of self-acceptance and finding happiness in his own life. He talks about the importance of staying true to oneself and not worrying about what others think. The conversation touches on topics such as homosexuality, church teachings, and the influence of social media.

Keywords

upbringing, small town, Church of God, self-acceptance, authenticity, religion, family dynamics, religion, church, hypocrisy, self-acceptance, happiness, homosexuality, social media

Takeaways

• Growing up in a small town can shape one's perspective and limit their growth
• The process of shedding personas and being authentic is challenging but necessary for personal growth
• Religion can have a profound impact on one's self-acceptance and understanding of their identity
• Family dynamics can be complex, and acceptance may vary among family members Churches often preach love but only accept certain behaviors, leading to hypocrisy.
• Self-acceptance and staying true to oneself are key to finding happiness.
• It is important to challenge societal norms and question the teachings of the church.
• Social media can create a distorted perception of reality and put pressure on individuals to conform.
• Judging others based on their appearance or lifestyle choices is unfair and unkind.

Sound Bites

"You need to get a couple of bars that you can smoke inside of, do a drag in."

"They're still going to be a part of me that's just scared of the smite."

"I was always well behaved. I always wanted to do right. But I just have a little, I have bones inside of me that just require a little picking every now and again."

"What is everybody else's excuse?"

"God is love for sure when it looks good, when you're dressed right, when you talk right, when you sing right, when you preach right."

"Homosexuality is the only abomination they focus on."

Summary

In this conversation, Brian Banks and Dr. Paul Hardin discuss the importance of finding LGBTQ+ affirming therapists and the challenges faced by the community in seeking therapy. They also touch on the progress made in LGBTQ+ rights and the need for continued advocacy and support. Dr. Hardin shares his personal journey of coming out and the loss of his husband, highlighting the importance of living authentically and celebrating wins along the way.Keywords

LGBTQ+, therapy, affirming therapists, progress, advocacy, support, coming out, loss, living authentically

Takeaways

Finding an LGBTQ+ affirming therapist is crucial for the community's mental health and well-being.

The LGBTQ+ community has made significant progress in terms of rights and acceptance, but there is still work to be done.

Coming out is a personal journey that requires self-acceptance and the support of loved ones.

Loss and grief are experienced by the LGBTQ+ community, and it is important to honor and remember those who have been lost.

Living authentically and celebrating wins along the way is essential for personal growth and happiness.

Sound Bites

"Finding an LGBTQ+ affirming therapist is crucial"

"Progress has been made, but advocacy and support are still needed"

"Coming out is a personal journey of self-acceptance"

Robyn shares her journey of therapy and healing, which was prompted by a major life change and the surfacing of past trauma. She discusses her experience of coming out as a lesbian and how TikTok played a role in her self-discovery. Robyn also opens up about her struggles with anger, disordered eating, and control issues, which were symptoms of her PTSD. She emphasizes the importance of therapy and finding support in group therapy sessions. Robyn's story highlights the need for understanding and compassion when dealing with trauma and mental health issues. In this part of the conversation, Brian Banks discusses the importance of having a good relationship with your doctor and being able to have open conversations. He shares his experience with pharmaceuticals and how they keep him alive. Brian also talks about the role of therapy in his journey and the importance of finding a therapist that is a good match. He mentions the practice of EMDR and how it has helped him process trauma. Brian emphasizes the importance of self-love and gratitude in maintaining a positive mindset.

Keywords

therapy, healing, trauma, coming out, TikTok, anger, disordered eating, control issues, PTSD, group therapy, support, doctor-patient relationship, pharmaceuticals, therapy, EMDR, trauma, self-love, gratitude

Takeaways

Major life changes can trigger the surfacing of past trauma and the need for therapy and healing.

TikTok can play a role in self-discovery and coming to terms with one's identity.

Symptoms of PTSD can include anger, disordered eating, and control issues.

Group therapy sessions can provide valuable support and understanding.

Understanding and compassion are crucial when dealing with trauma and mental health issues. Having a good relationship with your doctor and being able to have open conversations is crucial for managing your health.

Pharmaceuticals can play a vital role in keeping individuals alive, but it is important to work with a doctor to find the right medications and dosage.

Finding a therapist that is a good match is essential for effective therapy.

EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) can be a helpful therapy technique for processing trauma.

Practicing self-love and gratitude can help maintain a positive mindset and improve overall well-being.

Sound Bites

"We're here to get raw and real and talk about our fucking feelings."

"When I changed my routine, when I changed my life so drastically, I think being rocked"

"I had had a couple of experiences with women back in my early twenties, but I cannot tell you. I just knew I liked it."

"My pharmaceuticals keep me alive."

"A lot of people don't trust their doctors."

"Finding a therapist can be tricky, especially for those in the queer community."