Out and About AF

I sat down with Chef Nick Peters Bond, former Hell’s Kitchen contestant, to talk about his journey from relying on alcohol to realizing it was holding everything back. Now sober, Nick’s life has completely transformed. His catering business is thriving, he’s raising two amazing kids, he opened his own café, and he even launched his own chimichurri line. None of this would have been possible if he...

In this episode, I sit down with queer leadership coach Peter Godard to talk about his journey from data analyst to someone helping LGBTQIA+ folks move through big life transitions with clarity and compassion. We dive into the importance of finding community, choosing joy on purpose, and practicing real self-love—especially in recovery and alcohol-free living. Peter shares some powerful mindfulnes...

In this episode of  Out and About AF , Gabe sits down with Manny to explore his powerful journey through sobriety and self-discovery. Growing up gay in West Texas, Manny opens up about how family, culture, and religion shaped his early relationship with alcohol—and how breaking free from those patterns transformed his life. He shares the pivotal role of community, the support he found in AA, and h...

In this episode, I sit down with Melissa McGovern, host of  The Sober New Yorker , for an honest and inspiring chat about her alcohol-free journey. We talk about hitting rock bottom, what life looked like before and after quitting, and how she’s found freedom and confidence in living sober. Melissa opens up about the ups and downs of traveling alcohol-free, the importance of finding your community...

At 16, Jonathan Gildart had his first drink — a moment that felt freeing but came with lasting consequences. What started at a summer camp led to years of substance use, jail time, and eventually, a life-changing decision to get sober. In this episode of  Out and About AF , Jonathan opens up about his journey from that first drink to finding community and purpose through  recovery ,  GSM , and  Ox...

In this week’s episode of  Out and About AF , Gabe sits down with David from  Art in the Raw  and guest Charlie — a Dallas native, artist, and 13 years sober. Charlie opens up about his early experiences in the circuit party scene, his turning point toward recovery, and how painting became a vital outlet in his sobriety journey. He also shares the inspiration behind his book  Fool’s Journey Throug...

This week on  Out and About AF , I sit down with the amazing Dr. Ana M. Salazar, Ph. D., LPC-S — and we laughed, went on a few tangents, and had some powerful conversations about healing and connection. We talked about her work supporting marginalized communities, how a simple deep breath can ground you, Latin culture and mental health, K-pop demon hunters, and how music can hold deep meaning. Mos...

In this episode, James shares his powerful sobriety story — one that includes relapse, struggles with alcohol and drugs, and multiple trips to the ER before finding the courage to make a change. After joining AA and committing to recovery, James went on to create real impact in his hometown of Amarillo by founding the city’s  first  Secular AA program, which is now celebrating its one-year anniver...

ADHD, addiction, and a longing for affirmation shaped much of Philip’s journey. What began with drinking spiraled into cocaine use and escorting, as he searched for approval and connection in all the wrong places. After hitting rock bottom with DUIs and wake-up calls, Philip chose change. Today, he’s thriving as Conference Co-Chair for GSM and living proof that fun, community, and authenticity don...

In this episode of  Out and About AF , Toni opens up about his journey through sobriety—from running away from his problems to finally facing them head on. He shares the lessons he’s learned through slips along the way, and how AA and community support have been vital in keeping him grounded. Toni’s story is an honest reminder that recovery isn’t about perfection—it’s about progress, connection, a...

In this episode of  Out and About AF , Jonathan shares his powerful journey from battling meth addiction to living a life filled with sobriety, love, and gratitude. He opens up about the strategies he uses to handle triggers, how finding community gave him strength, and why helping others has been such an important part of his recovery. Today, Jonathan and his husband are thriving—proof that heali...

In this episode, I sit down with Christina and Branwen to talk about how loss, perspective, and choosing an alcohol-free life have transformed our journeys. We dive into how alcohol was holding us back from becoming our best selves, and how sobriety has given us the freedom to create the lives we truly want to live. From stepping into authenticity, to trying new things, to getting certified as alc...

Alcohol was always part of Tomás’ world—until one moment made him realize something had to change. In this episode, Tomás opens up about the turning point that led him to let go of alcohol, the challenges of finding himself again, and how he’s rewriting generational patterns. Now, nearly a year into his alcohol-free journey, he’s discovering freedom, identity, and a new way forward.

In this episode, we sit down with McKenzie, who shares her journey of sobriety in the LGBTQIA+ community. For years, alcohol influenced nearly every part of her life—even where she chose to live. When it started affecting her job and relationships, she hit a breaking point and decided to get sober. McKenzie talks about how she found community and acceptance through softball, and how music became a...

Thomas, COO of GSM+, opens up about his transformative journey from alcohol struggles to a life of purpose and fulfillment. After near-hospitalization and countless challenges, a timely letter about mental health inspired him to enter an Intensive Outpatient Program, setting him on a path toward lasting sobriety. Along the way, Thomas found his passion as a chef in the yachting industry, embraced...

In this episode of Out and About AF, Des reflects on her religious upbringing and how it shaped her early life, alongside the role alcohol and drugs played in her story. She shares the pivotal connection that inspired her to get sober, the tools that helped her stay the course, and how embracing her authentic self led to coming out, getting engaged, thriving in her career and showing up for her ki...

When Scot Maitland turned 40, he was hit with a cancer diagnosis and the reality of a hereditary condition known as Lynch syndrome. 13 years later and cancer-free, Scot shares his journey of letting go of alcohol, navigating "soberish" spaces, and discovering that what he truly loves isn't just crafting beautiful drinks—it’s crafting community. From starting The Elevated Bear to crea...

In today’s episode, David shares how his relationship with alcohol began at just 16 or 17 years old, using it to cope with the pressure of perfection in ballet and the everyday stressors of life. Later, drinking became a way to fit in when he entered the gay community—it was just what everyone did. Eventually, David reached a turning point, and after a friend introduced him to an online alcohol-fr...

In our very first episode, I sit down with Scot, the inspiring founder of The Elevated Bear. We dive into his alcohol-free journey and how it led him to create a brand that’s all about bold flavor and meaningful community. Scot shares the creative process behind his unique flavor profiles and his viral 5 dive bar recipes. We also open up about the parallels between coming out as gay and sharing so...

🎙️ Episode 1: Welcome to Out & About AF! In this kickoff episode, host Gabe introduces Out & About AF — a podcast for LGBTQIA+ folks who are living, or curious about living, alcohol-free. You’ll hear what inspired the creation of this space, the kinds of real conversations to expect, and how this podcast will explore life without a drink in hand — from community to travel and everything in...