Empowered & Out

What does it really cost to keep editing yourself at work? In this episode of Empowered & Out , host Jonathan Barbe sits down with Dr. Ty McKinney (Calgary, Alberta) to talk about the brain-and-body toll of staying “less than fully you” on the job — especially for LGBTQ+ professionals. Dr. Ty lives at the intersection of neuroscience, psychology, leadership, and queer entrepreneurship, and he...

Queer Time, Becoming, and the Courage to Stay Visible — with Colin Belcourt What does it mean to live in the in-between? In this expansive and deeply honest episode of Empowered & Out , Jonathan sits down with writer and former HR/DEI leader Colin Belcourt , author of the forthcoming memoir The Blue Hour Gospel —a lyrical, fragmented exploration of queer time, self-erasure, survival, and the s...

What happens when you reach midlife and realize there’s more inside you waiting to be expressed? In this episode of Empowered & Out , Jonathan sits down with Emmanuel Denizot — a longtime film and television subtitler who spent over 25 years translating stories across cultures before choosing to rewrite his own. After turning 50, Emmanuel stepped into a bold pivot, launching Partant , a series...

What happens when a Gen Zer walks into a workplace that wasn’t built for them… and decides to remix the whole thing? 👀 In this episode, Jonathan sits down with Zach Conklin — a 3+1 business student at Elon University earning three degrees in four years (casual flex), juggling multiple jobs, entrepreneurial projects, and a front-row seat to how Gen Z is changing the future of work. They get into:...

What happens when authenticity isn’t just a buzzword — but a way of leading, parenting, and living? In this powerful episode of Empowered & Out , Jonathan Barbe sits down with Susan Cameron-Jung — a queer leader, foster parent, yogi, and Business Development & Inclusion Manager at Auscare Support in Sydney — for a deeply honest conversation about what it truly means to lead with heart. Sus...

2026 is the year you stop shrinking. The year you step into rooms you once felt unqualified for. The year you finally claim that you are visible, valuable, and chosen. In this season kickoff episode of Empowered & Out , host Jonathan sets the tone for a powerful year centered on visibility, authenticity, and what prosperity truly means for LGBTQ+ professionals and leaders. Prosperity isn’t jus...

Today’s guest is an artist who has lived, created, and survived in ways that crack open your heart. From poetry and music heard around the world to a deeply human mission to keep LGBTQ+ youth alive and hopeful — Laurier Tiernan is here to talk art, survival, identity, and their brand-new book Fifty-Five Ways to Survive. Trust me… this conversation is going to stay with you. In this powerful episod...

Mystic Marketing & Messy Action: Authentic Branding for Queer Creatives with Joseph Federico What if your marketing felt more like magic than a chore? In this episode of Empowered and Out , I’m joined by Joseph Federico (he/they) — a seasoned marketing maven with 20+ years of experience, founder of J Federico Marketing and Anchors to Dusk Publishing , spooky season enthusiast, and creator of t...

Francisco Rodriguez: Resilience, Identity & Leading With Passion + Gratitude From being born premature with an uncertain future to breaking barriers as a first-generation queer Latino in HR and beyond — Francisco’s story is one of resilience, triumph, and authenticity. Today, we’re diving into how passion, gratitude, and living boldly can reshape not only a career but an entire community. In t...

🔥 Walking Away Without a Plan B — Career Courage, Burnout Recovery & Portfolio Paths with Charlotte Snowden In this episode of Empowered & Out , Jonathan sits down with Charlotte Snowden — Career & Leadership Coach, NLP Practitioner, and founder of Step Up for Success . With over 20 years in organizational leadership, Charlotte has walked away from toxic workplaces not once, but twice...

Navigating Multicultural Workplaces Without Losing Yourself — with Daniele Brunetto What happens when your “dream job” starts draining your soul — and you can’t tell if it’s the culture, the pace, or just… not you? In this episode of Empowered & Out , career coach Jonathan Barbe sits down with Daniele Brunetto , a multilingual career coach based in Brussels, who specializes in helping professi...

Design With All in Mind — Tas on Surviving, Thriving, and Creating Inclusive Spaces What does it mean to rebuild your identity after growing up in control, trauma, and silence—and then use that resilience to create a more inclusive world? In this powerful episode, host Jonathan Barbe sits down with Tas (they/he) — a deaf, disabled, queer, trans, biracial, and autistic artist, author, and accessibi...

The Business of Kindness: Why Empathy at Work Isn’t Soft — It’s Smart (with Jamie Graceffa, Founder of Kind Cards) Episode Description What if kindness wasn’t just a “nice to have,” but a game-changer for performance, retention, and workplace culture? In this powerful episode of Empowered & Out , host Jonathan Barbe sits down with Jamie Graceffa — founder of Kind Cards , author of Career Contr...

Finding Your Authentic Voice with Sam Malone What if the very sound of your voice could transform how the world sees you? In this episode of Empowered & Out , host Jonathan Barbe welcomes Sam Malone , lead spoken voice lecturer in Musical Theatre at the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama and a teacher at RADA. Sam’s students now lead West End productions like Hadestown , Mean Girls , and...

Guest: Sharee Salles — lesbian mom, special education teacher, temple religious-school educator, and personal trainer specializing in clients of all sizes, including those navigating eating disorders. Sharee shares how ASL became a bridge for connection in her classroom, what changed when she chose to be out at work, and why form, safety, and inclusivity matter just as much in the gym as they do i...

Lead & Belong — Showing Up Fully at Work (with Mary Ellen Murrah) Guest: Mary Ellen Murrah — Chief Strategy & Marketing Officer, Vista Consulting; co-owner, Groundwater Creative; proud Baltimorean; mom of two; fierce alto. What we cover Coming out later in life while already in senior leadership Speaking up in male-dominated, “stiff” industries The power of queer spaces (chorus!) to build...

Loving Yourself Through the Mess: Trauma, Somatics & Community with Joe “The Soul Coach” Coleman Episode Summary Today’s guest radiates warmth, wisdom, and unapologetic authenticity. Joseph “Joe The Soul Coach” Coleman is a creative force, deeply intuitive coach, and community-builder who turns vulnerability into connection. We dig into how trauma shows up in the body, why presence and gratitu...

Leading Without a Blueprint — Visibility, Resilience & Authenticity with Dr. Jess Spohn (they/them) What does it mean to lead when there’s no roadmap for someone like you? In this powerful episode of Empowered & Out , host Jonathan Barbe sits down with Dr. Jess Spohn (they/them) — a nonbinary, queer, and neurosparkly public health social worker redefining leadership and visibility in socia...

Gender Isn’t Binary, Inclusion Isn’t Optional — with Amelia J. Michael Guest: Amelia J. Michael (they/them) — Gender inclusion speaker, trainer, and author of Gender Inclusion at Work . In this episode of Empowered & Out , we dive into the hard, human, and sometimes hilarious truths about making the workplace safer for transgender and nonbinary employees. Amelia shares: What “silos and silence...

Authenticity, Mentorship & Belonging in the South — with Holly Allen & Victoria Sexton Guests: Holly Allen (she/her) — Career Services Professional & former Casting Director/Acting Coach with 20+ years in film and theatre. MFA in Theatre. Advocate for authentic leadership and mentorship in higher education. Victoria Sexton (she/her) — Career Advisor and advocate for access to higher ed...

Rest, Belonging & Food Justice with Passion Rutledge Guest: Passion Rutledge — Finance & Operations Director, National Farm to School Network; writer exploring healing, identity, and collective liberation. In this conversation: Sabbaticals as transformation—rest as a leadership tool Raising a queer family in the South with joy and intention Unmasking as a Black, queer, neurodivergent leade...

Leadership, Kindness & Psychological Safety (ft. Sarah A. Scala, PCC) Kindness isn’t soft—it’s strategic. Consultant, coach, and educator Sarah A. Scala (she/her) joins Empowered & Out to unpack how empathy and accountability can—and should—coexist, why psychological safety fuels performance, and what LGBTQ+ leaders need to sustain success with resilience, optimism, and grit. What we cover...

Authenticity in Automotive with Ben Crawford (Carwow) Summary: From “accidental” student advocate to leading media & brand partnerships at Carwow, Ben Crawford shares what visibility looks like inside UK automotive — and how mentorship, community, and a few brave choices can shift careers (and companies). We unpack the energy tax of hiding, building role models when you can’t see them, and one...

“You Don’t Have to Break Before You Begin” with Scott Kratchmer Content Note: This episode includes mention of a past suicide attempt (approx. 36:20–39:30). Please take care while listening. Episode in a Sentence Older queer men are still navigating workplaces—and identities—built on other people’s comfort. Coach and advocate Scott Kratchmer shares why unmasking is a practice, what he calls the tr...

🎙️ Behind the Mic: Jerry Ryba on Voiceover Careers, Coaching Confidence & Showing Up Proud If you’ve ever wondered what it takes to become a working voice actor — or thought “Hey, I’ve got a great voice, maybe I could do that…” — this episode is for you. This week on Empowered & Out , I sit down with the legendary Jerry Ryba (aka Rybawitz, aka Jelly) — a talent agent with 35 years in the b...