Coming Out Pod

Latest Episodes:

Episode 186: Silencing Our Teachers Feb 16, 2022

Show notes

As you're no doubt aware, there is some *truly* awful legislation making headlines lately. These bills and laws not only severely impede teachers' ability to, well, teach, but also make educators vulnerable to lawsuits for simply talking about race and gender issues in the classroom. It's real Handmaid's Tale stuff. To better examine how dire the situation is, we brought on two *tremendous* queer teachers, B (they/she) and Andie (they/them), who hail from Pennsylvania and Ohio respectively. They candidly discuss what the passage of legislation like Florida's "Don't Say Gay" bill would mean for them as educators and individuals. We dive into Critical Race Theory, get real about teacher burnout, and say the word "nefarious" A LOT. Most importantly, we learn how we can support America's teachers at this critical time.
Follow (and support by re-posting!) our two amazing guests:
B is on Instagram at @betweenunreadlines
Andie is on both Twitter and Instagram at @andie_the_enby
And keep track of the proposed legislation in your state and across America with tools like:
https://freedomforallamericans.org/legislative-tracker/ (@freedom4allusa everywhere)
https://www.equalityfederation.org/ (@EqualityFed everywhere)

Episode 185: Mariko Tamaki Feb 09, 2022

Show notes

We've got award-winning author Mariko Tamaki (DC's "Crush & Lobo"), whose queer YA novel "Cold" just came out this week! Mariko came of age at an all-girls private school in Toronto, and thought her disinterest in boys was just because she was a late bloomer...until she got to university, and discovered Montreal's '90s queer scene. Mariko's story includes being schooled by lesbian elders about the complicated dynamics within the queer community, a moment of desperation when she ABSOLUTELY NEEDED a magazine with Jodie Foster, and a lesbian bar called "Sisters" that hits every trope in the book.
Follow Mariko at @marikotamaki on Instagram and Twitter, and look for "Cold" at bookstores everywhere!

Episode 184: Jenn McCalley Feb 02, 2022

Show notes

In a real lovefest of an episode, we're joined by Nicole's former youth group advisor, Jenn McCalley, who Nicole came out to twenty years ago as a wee baby queer! But that's not all: in true "circle of life" fashion, Jenn is now recently out as a baby queer HERSELF!!! Now a social worker and married mother of two, Jenn realized early in the pandemic that not living her full truth was affecting both her marriage and her mental health. Jenn talks about what it was like to come out as bi at fifty-three, and how - contrary to her fears - doing so has actually helped her to feel even *closer* to her husband. (We highly recommend this episode for anyone coming out while in a relationship!) All this, plus Nicole finally learns the meaning of the term "pillow princess!"

Episode 183: Mike Mizwicki Jan 26, 2022

Show notes

We sit down with Nicole's dear friend and concert-going buddy, Mike Mizwicki! Mike grew up in an Irish Catholic family in Chicago, so suffice to say he was surrounded by an ever-present machismo factor. But even as a child, he could tell from other people's reactions to his behaviors and interests that there was something about him that was "wrong or different." Mike pays homage to Billy's Hollywood Screen Kiss (the guiding gay light of his youth), and we talk for the first time about the differences between public vs. private first queer kisses! Also, we get real about what it means to even passively ask your parents for "permission" to come out to extended family.
Follow Mike on Instagram at @miz.interpretations!

Episode 182: Regan Aliyah Jan 19, 2022

Show notes

In a mere twenty-two years on this planet, Regan Aliyah (Club Mickey Mouse) has already forged a career as an actor, rapper, spoken word artist, choreographer, and more! Regan started working professionally at the age of twelve; as a result, she never really focused on herself or her personal life because she felt she had to prioritize her outward-facing persona. She teaches us all about The Lesbian Masterdoc (TM), reveals her cartoon crushes, and tells the *adorable* story of how she met her MMA fighter girlfriend! Also, how she and her mom got to the beautiful place in their relationship that they're at now, despite getting off on the wrong foot when Regan first came out.
Check out all things Regan at https://www.reganaliyah.com/, and follow her everywhere at @reganaliyah!

Episode 181: Germana Belo Jan 12, 2022

Show notes

We're joined by Germana Belo, co-writer of the award-winning, *very* sexy and sapphic web series RED, as well as a brand new series that she and Nicole wrote TOGETHER! Growing up in Brazil in the 1980s, Germana feared that the feelings she had for women (especially Brooke Shields...) were a sin, or even a curse. She talks about falling in love with her first therapist at the age of eighteen (classic!), and shares how to this day she often feels like she is "too gay to be bi, and not gay enough to be a lesbian" (also classic, sadly). Plus, we do an in-depth examination of queer storytelling, and Nicole and Germana share some *scintillating* details about their upcoming web series, As Love Goes!
Follow Germana on Twitter at @_germana, and on Instagram at @gebelo.
Follow "As Love Goes" at @aslovegoes_ on Instagram, and check out their fundraising campaign at www.indiegogo.com/projects/as-love-goes-season-1!

Episode 180: Nikki Garza Jan 05, 2022

Show notes

We're starting the year off right with actor/content creator/all-around-joyful-and-hilarious-human-being, Nikki Garza! Nikki explains how she's distanced herself from the term "body positivity" as she's watched it come to mean insecurity in general, as opposed to the actual marginalization of othered bodies. Nikki prefers the term "body confidence," and discusses how so many people are attracted to fat folks...but want to "love you in private" (yes; even ultra-accepting queer people). We also dissect the concept of "sexy ugly," and Nikki beautifully illustrates the difference between straight men and queer women by reading us DMs from her thirst traps!
Follow Nikki on TikTok and Instagram at @itsnikki.g, and on Twitter at @itsnikkigarza

Episode 179: Listener Mailbag 2021! Dec 22, 2021

Show notes

You know it, you love it, you can't live without it - it's our third annual LISTENER MAILBAG EPISODE! We had some *great* questions this year, including how to recognize the subtle differences between aesthetic attraction, sexual attraction, and being attracted "to the person," and an epic four-part question about polyamory. Plus, we tackle that tale as old as time itself: why does EVERY queer woman on dating apps want to go on a fu@#ing hike?!? 'Tis the season to hunker down under some blankets and say goodbye to this weird AF year with us, Coming Out Pod style!
Looking for some lighthearted queer content to pump into your eyes and ears during our brief hiatus? Check out our ever-evolving queer media list at comingoutpod.com/media! We'll also be posting outtakes from episodes past on our Patreon at patreon.com/comingoutpod.

Episode 178: Stelle Dec 15, 2021

Show notes

We hear a raw, inspiring story of survival and resilience from our guest, Stelle. One of eight children, Stelle grew up in an extremely isolated religious cult started by her father in rural Oregon. Among other things, cult life entailed corporal punishment, and teachings that women must submit to their husbands unconditionally. Stelle shares how she managed to free herself, and recalls the point at which she was able to start considering her sexuality. It's a story that is truly unlike any we've heard before.
You can follow Stelle on Instagram at @astelleau. If you're interested in the God is Grey interview she discusses in this episode, it can be found on YouTube at https://youtu.be/HTe-El4NjgQ.

Episode 177: Raising A Trans Kid Dec 08, 2021

Show notes

We have a beautiful conversation with Lauren's buddy, “Jay,” who tells us the story of his daughter’s coming out, and shares his own experience as a “cis hetero male dad” raising a trans child. At three years old, Jay’s AMAB (Assigned Male At Birth) daughter began giving “insistent, persistent, and consistent” signals that she felt she was a girl. Jay discusses what he and his wife observed in their daughter’s development, and speaks candidly about the challenges parents of trans kids face, including the "ticking clock behind big, hard decisions.” We’re so grateful to have had this conversation!
Some of the resources Jay mentions in this episode include:
“It Feels Good to Be Yourself: A Book about Gender Identity” by Theresa Thorn
“Sex Is a Funny Word” and “What Makes a Baby” by Cory Silverberg
TransFamilies.org
This episode is sponsored by Lorals, the world’s first oral sex panties! Get 15% off your first purchase today at www.mylorals.com with code COP15!

Our TOPPODCAST Picks

Follow Us

Stay Connected

Related Podcasts

Links

Stay Connected