Being YOU!

Ten minutes on a magic-infused piano led to Julie Gold's Grammy for "From A Distance". The song became a smash hit when Bette Midler sang it in 1990. It became the anthem for Desert Storm and swept the nation at that time. I got to sit down with Julie and talk about the song, her piano, and how she became a songwriter. She shared stories about her family, coming out to her mother, t...

We may not think much about it, but we make LOTS of choices EVERY day! All of us have likely said "I didn't have a choice!" at some point in our lives. When I hear that phrase, I call bullshit. Because the truth is, in pretty much any situation...we have choices. We may not like the choices. We may not want to choose some/any of the choices. But they are still there. And choosing NO...

Books can be an escape, informative, and in some cases...CHANGE YOUR LIFE! October is National Book Month, so I thought I'd share some of my favorite books. Throughout my life, various books have had an impact on me. My hope is that people are impacted by MY book. It's an interactive, therapeutic workbook filled with in-depth questions about where you came from, who you are today, and wh...

What things from the past still hold space in your thoughts and negatively impact you today? We often suppress, repress, and/or avoid processing certain things. Unfortunately, those actions don't lead to resolution. Instead, we can get stuck or feel unable to "move on" from certain past challenges. Be it trauma, a relationship, or something that didn't go as we'd hoped...w...

What happens when Ryan Duncan steps on stage in a wild curly wig, oversized sunglasses, and a velour track suit? Absolute hilarity ensues! His multiple roles in "Heated Rivalry: The UNAUTHORIZED MUSICAL PARODY" will have you laughing for 90 minutes straight (or gay)!!! The show is fast-paced, witty, and full of laughs...and remains a true musical and comedic fan letter to the recent seri...

What do we do when there is too much information to process? We carry minicomputers around with us all day long, we get constant notification pop-ups, the internet is at our fingertips 24/7, and we are constantly being bombarded with news and media from our devices as well as the people we encounter throughout the day. Is it even reasonable to expect our brains can receive, let alone sort and proc...

Why do we wear masks? What are we hiding? WHY are we hiding? Wearing masks isn't uncommon. And we do it for a variety of reasons. Sometimes it's to protect ourselves. Sometimes it's to be accepted. Sometimes it's because we are scared to be ourselves. And sometimes it's because we don't know who we really are. I urge people to consider WHY they wear masks and how it i...

From Band-Aid commercials to becoming the only woman to win 3 Emmy's from roles on 3 different soap operas...Cady McClain's resume is IMPRESSIVE! In this episode of Being YOU!, I got to sit down with Cady and get to know more about her story and her career. An actor, producer, director, writer, speaker, singer, author, artist, poet, & educator...she's definitely kept herself bus...

October 11th is National Coming Out Day! It started in 1988 and is observed to acknowledge and support anyone coming out of the closet. If you have ever done so, you are likely aware of the challenges that can come with it. My husband and I wanted to share a bit about our own coming out stories, and let anyone who hasn't done so yet, that you deserve to be respected, accepted, loved, and to l...

Gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, and queer people have ALWAYS existed! And many of us have played an integral part in history. October is LGBTQ+ History Month, so I wanted to share a few of the people and events that have shaped history. ALL humans deserve to be seen, heard, and allowed to be their authentic selves. Before judging someone else, try to get to know them. Open yourself up and att...

In her documentary "River of Life: LGBTQ+", Grace Walcott explores tensions amongst different members of the queer community...in an effort to help them unpack their stories, acknowledge and understand their differences, and bring people closer together. Grace is a writer, actor, director, therapist, and author. She identifies as polyamorous, pansexual, and gender expansive. Her book, &q...

Imagine your brain is the air traffic controller for the busiest airport in the world. That's how it feels in my head...ALL THE TIME! October is ADHD Awareness Month. Meant for sharing reliable information, reducing stigma, and celebrating the strengths of individuals with ADHD. Since ADHD can present itself quite differently in each individual, I thought I'd share aspects of my own pers...

Confrontation may be uncomfortable...but allowing something that bothers you to fester over time typically leads to a bigger, messier, more frustrating situation. So, I urge you to bring things up as soon as they happen or as soon as you realize it's bothering you. If you don't, you are indicating it's NOT an issue and/or does NOT bother you. So...address things now, don't wait...

Linda Gray's career spans seven decades during which she has graced television, film, and the stage. This iconic actress has tackled several roles and portrayed a variety of interesting, complicated, and powerful women. Her roles have garnered a Golden Globe nomination and two Emmy nominations. In this interview I was fortunate enough to have the opportunity to chat with Linda about her caree...

Have you paused lately and taken a look back at where you've come from? If not, I strongly urge you to do so. Look back at old photos and see what you notice. Think about how you have changed and evolved. Acknowledge the things you have achieved, survived, and overcome. Allow yourself to revel in all that's gotten you to where you are today! #authenticity #itstimetobeyou #sphproductions...

If you've  spent your life toning yourself down to avoid being "too much", minimizing yourself so OTHER people would feel comfortable, or playing the role you thought you were SUPPOSED to play...I know how you feel. Because I've done ALL those things. And through all of it, we are hoping no one will notice that the person we are presenting to the world is not us at all. My own...

Bruce Vilanch is an Emmy-nominated comedic writer and has been doing so for six decades! He wrote for the Academy Awards for 25 years, has worked on several television and film projects, released his memoir "I Thought It Was A Bad Idea At The Time", and has worked with superstars Bette Midler, Robin Williams, Lily Tomlin, Cher, Diana Ross, Richard Pryor, Dolly Parton, and MANY more. In S...

Pumpkin spice here, pumpkin spice there, pumpkin spice EVERYWHERE!! Autumn is a time of transition and change. Some people love the changing leaves, cooler weather, and fall festivities. For others, this time of year can bring about various forms of depression or negative mood shifts. Check in with yourself. How are you doing? And if you need support...please reach out to someone! Take care of you...

Suicide is a pandemic in this country and affects far too many people! September is National Suicide Prevention Awareness Month. Here are some things you can watch for and tips on how to respond if/when someone you know is struggling with suicide. There are also some resources included in this video. Take care of yourselves! #authenticity #itstimetobeyou #sphproductions #shanesshorts #suicidepreve...

Audrey & Daniel Landers are BOTH superstars! So, what do you call it when they decide to do a cabaret show together?? You call it...MOMMY ISSUES! In the Season 5 premier of Being YOU!, I got to speak to the duo about their show, their careers, and their relationship with one another. It was a fun and entertaining time with LOTS of laughs! Thank you Audrey and Daniel! I had a blast! #beingyou #...

Dolly Parton was an AMAZING human being! She spent her life being authentic, kind, generous, open-minded, non-judgmental, and humble. Through her music and her actions, she brought people together from all walks of life. She was an inspiration and a beacon of light even in the darkest of times. She will be greatly missed, but her legacy and love will live on for generations to come. Thank you Doll...

All too often, we compare ourselves to others. But why? We are not those people and they are not us. And are we comparing ourselves to what they present online or in photos? Because that's not the whole picture. Be YOU! Don't let comparing yourself to someone else make you feel like YOU are not enough or that you need to be something else. And if you DO use comparisons, consider focusing...

Queer people and their allies know a lot about being authentic...and the struggles that often come with doing so. In this Words of Wisdom PopUp, my four guests from the Being YOU! Season 3 Roundtable episode share feedback on how to be your most authentic self and the impact it can have on not only yourself, but others as well. #authenticity #itstimetobeyou #sphproductions #wordsofwisdom #selflove...

Often, we choose to stay in a situation despite knowing we are sad, angry, depressed, or dissatisfied. But WHY? It's because we have become comfortable with the uncomfortable. Fear of change can often outweigh the possibility of something better. So we choose to stay and/or continue as we have been! Remind yourselves...NOT changing or doing something different IS a choice! #authenticity #sphp...

All too often, we judge ourselves for not being our "best selves"! But day to day, our best self may look wildly different. There WILL be days where you have little to give...and that's ok! Give yourself a little grace and remember that some days will look better than others. #authenticity #itstimetobeyou #ShanesShorts #sphproductions #bestself