Living OUT Loud Podcast

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 embracin...

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,...

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 t...

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 t...

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, includ...

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 m...

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,...

Today on  Living OUT Loud , we’re joined by someone whose work and voice are making powerful waves in both advocacy and authenticity —  Jarred Keller , Senior Press Secretary at the Human Rights Campaign and a passionate mental health advocate. Jarred has built a platform rooted in truth-telling, using his own story to spark conversations about healing, identity, and the importance of showing up a...

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 n...

This week on  Living OUT Loud , Michele sits down with someone who’s not just a guest, she’s chosen family. Jax Diener, the visionary behind  Watch Me Sports Bar  in Long Beach, joins Michele for an honest and heartfelt conversation about courage, community, and creating spaces where everyone feels at home. Birthday twins and friends for over 30 years, Michele and Jax share memories, laughter, and...

Hot theme: Divorce Like a Boss — Finding Wholeness on the Other Side with Diana Romanov 💫 This week on Living OUT Loud, Michele sits down with Diana Romanov, an international family law attorney, author, and heart-forward advocate whose story spans continents and transformations. Born in Kyiv, shaped in Germany, and now guiding families through change in California, Diana brings wisdom that blend...

Finding Hope on the Trail with Hannah Dixon of The Iron Wolf Project When loss cracked her world open, Hannah Petersen laced up her hiking boots and began to heal — one trail, one breath, one wolf-painted rock at a time. What began as a personal journey to honor her brother’s memory has grown into The Iron Wolf Project, a movement that invites others to explore the beauty of Utah and rediscover th...

Coming Home to Herself with Danielle In this week’s bonus episode of Living OUT Loud, Michele sits down with her dear friend Danielle, a proud Arizona Lillie who is courageously navigating what it means to come out later in life. Danielle’s story is one of self-discovery, honesty, and heart. Still married and raising two kids, she opens up about what it feels like to begin exploring her truth afte...

In this episode of Living OUT Loud, Michele sits down with intimacy coach Whitni Miller, founder of BDE Moves, to explore how queer couples can reconnect, communicate, and rediscover pleasure in deeper, more embodied ways. Whitni opens up about her journey from corporate life to coaching, what true self-acceptance looks like inside relationships, and why safety and communication are the real found...

In this deeply personal and vulnerable episode, Michele shares her coming out story not as a single defining moment, but as a gentle return to her truest self. From college tennis courts and unexpected “girls’ nights” to family conversations filled with grace and redemption, this story explores what it means to belong to yourself after years of trying to keep the peace. Through memories of love, l...

In this first solo episode, Michele opens a brand-new chapter of the podcast and one that is filled with gratitude, reflection, and excitement for what’s ahead. After 106 co-hosting episodes with River and creating meaningful conversations, Michele shares what Living OUT Loud will look like moving forward. This new season is about evolving, staying true to what lights us up, and exploring stories...

What happens when you start to evolve — and realize you don’t quite fit into your old life anymore? In this solo episode, Michele explores the tender process of outgrowing the person you once were. She unpacks the quiet grief that comes with change, the in-between space where everything feels uncertain, and the beauty of creating room for your next chapter to unfold. This episode is an invitation...

In this week’s episode of Live OUT Loud, Michele and River dive into the power of non-negotiables — those deeply personal standards that define how we live, love, and show up for ourselves every day. Together, they explore what it really means to know your non-negotiables — not as rigid rules, but as sacred promises to yourself. From emotional integrity and kindness to protecting your peace and ho...

In this episode of Live OUT Loud, Michele + River explore the power of solo dates, and why taking yourself out, treating yourself, and enjoying your own company is just as important when you’re single as it is when you’re in a relationship. We’ll talk about how carving out intentional time for yourself can spark creativity, deepen self-love, and actually strengthen your relationships with others....

What happens when life doesn’t go according to plan? In this episode of Live OUT Loud, Michele + River dive deep into the art of letting go — of relationships, jobs, timelines, and the stories we’ve been telling ourselves about how life “should” look. Together we explore why releasing control feels scary, how to reframe missed milestones, and the freedom that comes when we stop clinging to outdate...

TRIGGER WARNING. Loss of a child.  In this deeply moving episode of Live OUT Loud, Michele sits down with Quincy to share the story of her son, Josh, and the journey of navigating life after unimaginable loss. Together, they explore the raw reality of losing a child — the grief, the resilience, and the ways Quincy keeps Josh’s memory alive. This conversation is an invitation to witness love, pain,...

This week on Live OUT Loud, Michele and River dive into the magic of transition—shifting from the warmth of summer into the crisp embrace of fall. 🍂 From cozy rituals and seasonal resets to the deeper reflection this time of year naturally brings, we explore how to ground ourselves in the changing season. And because we’re stepping into eclipse season, we’ll also uncover what these cosmic shake-u...

Dating is data collection. Every conversation, every red flag, every moment of joy—it’s all information that helps you understand what you want, what you need, and who you’re becoming in the process. In this episode, Michele + River unpack how to shift from high-stakes pressure to curiosity, explore the four types of “dating data,” and reframe rejection as just one more piece of the puzzle. Tune i...

🪐 What really happens when Saturn comes back around? Whether it’s your first return in your late 20s or your second in your late 50s, Saturn has a way of shaking the foundation and asking: Are you living true to yourself? In this episode, Michele + River get personal about the power of Saturn returns. Michele shares what it feels like to approach her second Saturn return, with Saturn sitting in h...

In this episode of Live OUT Loud, Michele sits down with her friend, Renee Sutton for a heartfelt conversation about big life changes, conquering fear, and learning to trust yourself enough to leap. Renee shares her powerful story of dropping everything to move to Mexico — what it took to leave behind the familiar, the fears that surfaced, and the unexpected ways her life transformed on the other...