Coming Out Pod

Latest Episodes:

Episode 234: Samee Junio Feb 01, 2023

Show notes

There are two people without whom the podcast would literally not exist: one is Episode 87 guest Susan Miller, who introduced Lauren and Nicole to each other, and the other is today's guest, the unparalleled Samee Junio, who recorded OUR VERY FIRST EPISODE and heard ALL OF OUR SECRETS! Currently the Senior Audio Producer for Entertainment Weekly, Samee (they/them) grew up the youngest of five children in white, conservative, megachurch-heavy Colorado Springs, and used to change out of the dresses their parents made them wear as soon as they got to school. Today, their identifiers include non-binary, certified Good Boy (TM), horse girl, and of course, "human bowl of noodles." Samee shares the hilarious significance (and non-significance!) behind some of their many tattoos, and tells us the most emotionally-crushing, gay teenage angst story we have EVER heard. Plus, we stop being polite and start getting real about L.A.'s too-cool-for-school queer scene!
Follow Samee on Twitter at @it_your_sam for tattoos, pizza, and pups! Also, the L.A. LGBT Center's safe 'n cozy social groups that we talk about at the end of this episode can all be found online at https://socialnet.lalgbtcenter.org/social-networking-groups/.

Episode 233: Amir Yass Jan 25, 2023

Show notes

We chat with the FABULOUSLY queer Amir Yass, a content creator and TikTokker whose self-described job is "to make straight white men uncomfortable!" Amir grew up the child of immigrant parents in a conservative Muslim household in Orange County. How conservative? Let's just say his parents not only pulled him out of sex ed in middle school, they also moved houses because their neighbor was an out gay man. Amir shares how both therapy and comedy have helped him to destigmatize the shame he felt for so much of his life, and discusses how "coming in" is not just an affirming practice in general; it can also be a real lifesaver for those in situations where it simply isn't safe to come out. All this, plus that full-circle Hallmark moment when Grindr reconnects you with someone from your distant past!
Follow Amir on Instagram and TikTok at @amiryassofficial, and feel free to DM him!

Episode 232: Avi Roque Jan 18, 2023

Show notes

We cover some entirely new territory in a candid and vitally important conversation with Avi Roque, who voices Raine Whispers on The Owl House. Like many of us, Avi (they/them) had the ubiquitous "tomboy" label imposed upon them in childhood, and suffice to say it was a long and arduous road from there to their current trans/transmasculine identity. A consummate storyteller, Avi walks us through their entire journey, which includes leaning all the way into ultra-feminine stereotypes during high school, and hitting a scary rock bottom in adulthood that finally prompted them to begin the process of medically transitioning. Avi's story involves reckoning with their demons in a difficult, vulnerable, and honest way, and we hope this episode encourages nuanced dialogue about the human capacity for growth, change, and healing.
(TW: mentions of assault and suicidal ideation, but nothing descriptive)
Follow Avi on Instagram and TikTok at @avi_roque, and on Twitter at @ok_roque.

Episode 231: Kai Katschthaler Jan 11, 2023

Show notes

In July of last year, Nicole made an Instagram post announcing the adoption of her new puppy, Lily, named for Harry's mother in the Harry Potter series. Kai Katschthaler (they/them), a longtime fan of Nicole's who identifies as trans non-binary, was surprised that Nicole would pick this name due to the J. K. Rowling of it all, and commented something to this effect. Since this was all happening on social media...you can probably guess what ensued. The twist, though, is that Nicole and Kai decided to take things offline and actually talk face-to-face over Zoom, which ultimately led to Nicole inviting Kai onto the podcast! Kai starts by sharing their coming out story, and from there we tackle the *incredibly* sticky and nuanced topic of how (or even if) we can still incorporate the art we love into our lives when the people behind that art...suck. We talk TRAUMA! We talk INTENT! But above all, we talk compassion and empathy. We're so grateful to Kai for having this conversation with us, and we can't wait to hear what you all think!
Follow Kai on Twitter and drop them a request on Instagram at @thegrumpyenby! Also, check out their Linktree at https://linktr.ee/thegrumpyenby, and explore Taboola Rasa at https://taboolarasa.org/ and @taboolarasaproj everywhere.

Episode 230: Pooh Jan 04, 2023

Show notes

We're starting the new year with a longtime friend of the pod whose *very* distinctive name can be heard each and every week on our list of patrons: that's right, it's Pooh! Pooh hails from Alaska, and is NOT kidding when she says that the story of her life is basically "many, many Lifetime movies." From getting married off at seventeen to a "family friend" who was four decades her senior, to being personally responsible for helping to get domestic violence laws passed in Texas, Pooh has navigated some unfathomably difficult circumstances (abuse, life-threatening illness, etc.) with an INCREDIBLE amount of grace and humor. She shares some of the most impactful stories from her life, including how her platonic poly family has rallied around her in the wake of a recent health diagnosis. All this, plus the kiss heard 'round the world at FaberryCon!
Follow Pooh on Twitter at @rqficrecs and on Instagram at @poohtine7.

The Bechdel Cast: "Carol" with Lauren Flans and Nicole Pacent Dec 28, 2022

Show notes

We're so excited to be releasing the episode of The Bechdel Cast that we both guested on back in June of 2019! Listen to us discuss allllllll the gay goodness of the *classic* holiday film Carol, and remember: always leave your gloves behind if you want to help a repressed shopgirl have her lesbian awakening.
Follow The Bechdel Cast at @BechdelCast, and follow hosts Caitlin and Jamie at @caitlindurante and @jamieloftusHELP (@jamiechristsuperstar on Insta).

Episode 229: Listener Mailbag 2022! Dec 21, 2022

Show notes

HAPPY HOLIGAYS, Y'ALL!!! It's our annual Listener Mailbag episode, and we got *so* many great questions from you this year! We discuss a wide variety of queer queries, ranging from the serious (what to do about transphobic colleagues and how to check in with a loved one re: their mental health) to the sexy! Listen as we share resources and spicy personal anecdotes; plus, Lauren closes out the year by throwing us a GENUINE CURVEBALL. May your holidays be merry and very, very, gay, and we'll see you all in 2023!
As always, we'll be taking next week off, but check your feed on Wednesday for a special *bonus* episode all about the GREATEST LESBIAN CHRISTMAS MOVIE OF ALL TIME! (No; not Happiest Season.)

Episode 228: Lily Zheng Dec 14, 2022

Show notes

In the past couple of years, the term "DEI" has started popping up *a lot* online, to the point where Googling just those three letters turns up hundreds of hits! However, you would not be alone in admitting that you maybe don't exactly know what DEI...like...is. Fortunately, Lily Zheng (author of the recently-published "DEI Deconstructed: Your No-Nonsense Guide to Doing the Work and Doing It Right") is here to explain everything; not only in layperson's terms, but from a queer perspective! In an incredibly wide-reaching conversation, Lily (they/them) explains how both the acronym "LGBT" and the phrase "people of color" originated as solidarity terms, and demolishes the maddening argument that "it's actually *harder* to be a straight white man right now..." (complete with factual data you can share with all the butthurt people in your life!). Plus, Lauren tells a story that demonstrates why you should NEVER host a tequila drinking contest in your college apartment!
Check out https://lilyzheng.co/home/ for more info on Lily (including links to all of their books!), and connect with them on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/lilyzheng308/.

Episode 227: Iris Liu Dec 07, 2022

Show notes

Throughout her adolescence, Iris Liu ticked off a number of familiar boxes: SUPER good ally; "isn't *everybody* attracted to their friends...?"; all the greatest hits. But it wasn't until she fell in with the rugby team at college that Iris finally had her Aha! moment ("It was like, all of a sudden, all my friends were lesbians"). Today, Iris identifies as both queer and polyamorous, but it's been a hard-won journey that's involved, among other things, "trying to break some generational curses." Iris shares what it was like to unexpectedly meet Her Person (TM) - who just so happened to be a cis man - before she'd had a chance to explore her feelings for women, and how having the terrifying "I think I'm poly" conversation with him ended up bringing them much closer together. Also, we tackle the eternal question: are you the person in the relationship who's afraid of losing your partner, or the person in the relationship who's afraid of losing *yourself*?
Check out Iris' gorgeous website at https://www.irisliuart.com/, and follow her on Instagram at @irisliuofficial!

Episode 226: Melanie Cristol Nov 30, 2022

Show notes

If you've ever wondered what could make a lawyer leave their profession to create the world's first undies for oral sex (and who among us hasn't?), then this is the episode for YOU! Melanie Cristol, Founder & CEO of Lorals, discovered she was queer in college; a realization that so deeply influenced her sense of social justice that she ended up going to law school. As a lawyer, Melanie went to work fighting for people, including on one case with Lambda Legal that brought gay marriage to the Western United States! But then something that happened (or rather, *didn't* happen) on her honeymoon gave her the idea for Lorals, and Melanie found that she just couldn't get it out of her head... We have a fantastic conversation all about the inequity of dental dams, the stigma surrounding STIs, and the WORLD-CHANGING benefits of great oral sex!
Learn about all things Lorals at https://mylorals.com/, and enter the code "comingoutpod" at checkout for 15% off! Also follow Lorals and Melanie on...
TikTok & Insta: @mylorals / @melaniecristol
Twitter: @mylorals / @melcristol

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