Beyond Queer Stories

This week we talk with THE Lily Be! Lily Be is the longtime host and producer of The Stoop, a live off-book storytelling show on Chicago's West Side. She strives to bring storytelling to those who may not have access to help them discover their voice and standing in their truths. Anna and Dawn talk with her about the importance of representation and inclusivity in storytelling spaces and how Lily Be discovered her asexual identity when practicing for a rap battle. Check out her website at https://www.lilybe.com/Follow us on Facebook and Instagram @beyondqueerstories and on Twitter @beyondqueerpod. Also check out the links on our profiles to submit to be featured on Beyond Queer Stories, or email us at beyondqueerstories@gmail.com. Podcast music created by queer artist Be Steadwell. Check out her music at www.besteadwell.com Beyond Queer Stories is produced and edited by Dawn Brown and is recorded in the Cards Against Humanity podcast studio in Chicago, IL. Check out their products at https://cardsagainsthumanity.com/ Finally, tune in to https://www.e3radio.org/  the only station playing queer & independent music in high rotation. E3 Radio is Queer Radio Done Right!

This week Dawn and Anna talk with Jana, a Moth StorySLAM winner who is figuring out the meaning of life over and over again. She talks about her journey from small town Evangelical to big city bisexual, honoring our queer ancestors, and what it's like to continuously prove her bisexuality.Follow us on Facebook and Instagram @beyondqueerstories and on Twitter @beyondqueerpod. Also check out the links on our profiles to submit to be featured on Beyond Queer Stories, or email us at beyondqueerstories@gmail.com. Podcast music created by queer artist Be Steadwell. Check out her music at www.besteadwell.com Beyond Queer Stories is produced and edited by Dawn Brown and is recorded in the Cards Against Humanity podcast studio in Chicago, IL. Check out their products at https://cardsagainsthumanity.com/ Finally, tune in to https://www.e3radio.org/  the only station playing queer & independent music in high rotation. E3 Radio is Queer Radio Done Right!

This week Anna and Dawn talk with Dr. S Simmons, a Black, trans, queer, educator, and advocate. S is the co-founder/owner of Simmons Counseling and Consulting Services where he provides workshops, trainings, and presentations for organizations across the world on issues related to diversity, inclusion, and equity. We get together and talk about his experience of coming out as queer and trans to his family, navigating psychological and physical safety as a trans person, and how he and his wife grew together through his transgender journey. Check out his website at http://www.sccs-therapy.com/ and his YouTube channel. Episode shout outs to: https://chicagotherapycollective.org/  https://www.bravespacealliance.org/  & http://www.sobonfu.com/Follow us on Facebook and Instagram @beyondqueerstories and on Twitter @beyondqueerpod. Also check out the links on our profiles to submit to be featured on Beyond Queer Stories, or email us at beyondqueerstories@gmail.com. Podcast music created by queer artist Be Steadwell. Check out her music at www.besteadwell.com Beyond Queer Stories is produced and edited by Dawn Brown and is recorded in the Cards Against Humanity podcast studio in Chicago, IL. Check out their products at https://cardsagainsthumanity.com/ Finally, tune in to https://www.e3radio.org/  the only station playing queer & independent music in high rotation. E3 Radio is Queer Radio Done Right!

We have a very special episode this week featuring Shawn Coleman of https://www.ourtouchpoints.com/  Anna and Dawn talk with Shawn about how to cope with physical distancing and still maintain strong connection with others. We also discuss how one's love languages are impacted as we navigate new ways to connect. Check out https://www.5lovelanguages.com/  to learn more. Additionally, we reflect on how this pandemic may positively change the way we interact with others and increase the ways we consent to touch. Finally THANK YOU to all of those working in public spaces during this time: nurses, doctors, restaurant staff, grocery staff, administrative staff, EMTs, and everyone else putting themselves on the front lines to keep us safe! We appreciate you all!Follow us on Facebook and Instagram @beyondqueerstories and on Twitter @beyondqueerpod. Also check out the links on our profiles to submit to be featured on Beyond Queer Stories, or email us at beyondqueerstories@gmail.com. Podcast music created by queer artist Be Steadwell. Check out her music at www.besteadwell.com Beyond Queer Stories is produced and edited by Dawn Brown and is recorded in the Cards Against Humanity podcast studio in Chicago, IL. Check out their products at https://cardsagainsthumanity.com/    Finally, tune in to https://www.e3radio.org/  the only station playing queer & independent music in high rotation. E3 Radio is Queer Radio Done Right!

This week we talk with Nchedo, a Nigerian-born creative healer and visionary leader with a deep focus on health and well-being, community, and art. Nchedo talks about their nonbinary and queer identity and how family dynamics and their Nigerian roots impacted their understanding of them self and their queerness.Shoutout to the Youth Empowerment Performance Project. Check them out and support their work to "create a safe environment for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer youth experiencing homelessness to explore their history, investigate new ways to address their struggles and to celebrate their strengths through the process of developing a theatrical performance piece."Follow us on Facebook and Instagram @beyondqueerstories and on Twitter @beyondqueerpod. Also check out the links on our profiles to submit to be featured on Beyond Queer Stories, or email us at beyondqueerstories@gmail.com. Podcast music created by queer artist Be Steadwell. Check out her music at www.besteadwell.com Beyond Queer Stories is produced and edited by Dawn Brown and is recorded in the Cards Against Humanity podcast studio in Chicago, IL. Check out their products at https://cardsagainsthumanity.com/

Introducing our new guest co-host Anna DeShawn! Check out her previous episode this week and stay tuned for all new episodes next week with Dawn and Anna!Anna DeShawn is the founder of  E3 radio, an online radio station playing queer & independent music in high rotation. On this episode, we talk about Anna's upcoming app, the Qube, which will provide a platform for podcasts that are queer and POC. Also listen as we discuss Anna's journey through breast reduction surgery and how this decision has impacted her life. Check out Anna at https://annadeshawn.com/ where you can also listen to her podcast Anna's Got a Word and tune in to E3 radio at https://www.e3radio.org/ for the latest queer and independent music! Also keep updated on her podcast app at theqube.appFollow us on Facebook and Instagram @beyondqueerstories and on Twitter @beyondqueerpod. Also check out the links on our profiles to submit to be featured on Beyond Queer Stories, or email us at beyondqueerstories@gmail.com. Podcast music created by queer artist Be Steadwell. Check out her music at www.besteadwell.com Beyond Queer Stories is produced and edited by Dawn Brown and is recorded in the Cards Against Humanity podcast studio in Chicago, IL. Check out their products at https://cardsagainsthumanity.com/

This week Dawn talks with  Roland Wise, a writer, artist, and storyteller. Roland grew up in the south in a tumultuous household and often describes his childhood as being raised in a bag full of rattlesnakes. He shares his story of  chasing down a gunman who set out to kill gay people in Denver and how this led him to  find connection and community. Check out Roland’s children's book, Farmer Dreams, here: http://farmerdreams.blogspot.com/   It is about the safety of a seed who opens to water then faces drought. Follow us on Facebook and Instagram @beyondqueerstories and on Twitter @beyondqueerpod. Also check out the links on our profiles to submit to be featured on Beyond Queer Stories, or email us at beyondqueerstories@gmail.com. Podcast music created by queer artist Be Steadwell. Check out her music at www.besteadwell.com Beyond Queer Stories is produced and edited by Dawn Brown and is recorded in the Cards Against Humanity podcast studio in Chicago, IL. Check out their products at https://cardsagainsthumanity.com/

This week we talk with Patti, a queer trans woman endurance athlete, parent, and late transitioner. She discusses her passion for endurance athletics and what it was like being on the cover of Crain's Chicago Business shortly after transitioning. We also hear about her work at the Chicago Reader and the importance of preserving queer history. Check out the organizations she love at https://legacyprojectchicago.org/ , http://frontrunnerschicago.com/proud-to-run-chicago/, and https://edgeathletelounge.com/Follow us on Facebook and Instagram @beyondqueerstories and on Twitter @beyondqueerpod. Also check out the links on our profiles to submit to be featured on Beyond Queer Stories, or email us at beyondqueerstories@gmail.com. Podcast music created by queer artist Be Steadwell. Check out her music at www.besteadwell.com Beyond Queer Stories is produced and edited by Dawn Brown and is recorded in the Cards Against Humanity podcast studio in Chicago, IL. Check out their products at https://cardsagainsthumanity.com/

This week we hear from Jay. He talks with Dawn about his asexual identity and his recent venture into speaking around the South Suburbs advocating for greater dialogue for LGBTQ behavioral health needs. We also discuss how he navigates telling others that he's ace and where and how he finds community as a queer ace Muslim.Follow us on Facebook and Instagram @beyondqueerstories and on Twitter @beyondqueerpod. Also check out the links on our profiles to submit to be featured on Beyond Queer Stories, or email us at beyondqueerstories@gmail.com. Podcast music created by queer artist Be Steadwell. Check out her music at www.besteadwell.com Beyond Queer Stories is produced and edited by Dawn Brown and is recorded in the Cards Against Humanity podcast studio in Chicago, IL. Check out their products at https://cardsagainsthumanity.com/

This week Dawn takes time to thank our first guest cohost, Johndalyn, and lets you know who the next guest cohost will be. She also shares a story about what home was like growing up for her and how the concept of home changes as we age.  She reflects on what it is like to realize that home isn't always where you sleep, but home can be felt in a moment of connection.Follow us on Facebook and Instagram @beyondqueerstories and on Twitter @beyondqueerpod. Also check out the links on our profiles to submit to be featured on Beyond Queer Stories, or email us at beyondqueerstories@gmail.com. Podcast music created by queer artist Be Steadwell. Check out her music at www.besteadwell.com Beyond Queer Stories is produced and edited by Dawn Brown and is recorded in the Cards Against Humanity podcast studio in Chicago, IL. Check out their products at https://cardsagainsthumanity.com/

This week we talk with lore, a counseling psychologist and trans man with a lesbian history. lore was tired of hearing the horror stories of how trans patients were treated by their mental health providers and decided that the best way to make change is to do it from within the profession. lore is an avid writer and speaker who has over 55 publications and presented 170 times throughout the world. We talk with him about the feminist values he learned while in the Girl Scouts, his privilege in passing as a trans man, and the importance of talking about depression and suicidal thoughts in the queer community. Check out his website https://mybandanaproject.org/ which serves as a way to provide hope for transgender and gender diverse people who are considering ending their life. This simple project endeavors to provide any trans* person who has been thinking about ending their life with means of hope for tomorrow. Follow us on Facebook and Instagram @beyondqueerstories and on Twitter @beyondqueerpod. Also check out the links on our profiles to submit to be featured on Beyond Queer Stories, or email us at beyondqueerstories@gmail.com. Podcast music created by queer artist Be Steadwell. Check out her music at www.besteadwell.com Beyond Queer Stories is produced and edited by Dawn Brown and is recorded in the Cards Against Humanity podcast studio in Chicago, IL. Check out their products at https://cardsagainsthumanity.com/ 

This week we talk with Devin West, a genderfluid, queer, settler artist-scholar from north-central Canada. Take a listen as we talk about the ability of art to hold space for us and its role in Devin's gender journey. We also discuss their appreciation of our queer ancestor, Audre Lorde, and the underground queer community in Canada during the 90s. Check out Devin's art at devinwest.com.Follow us on Facebook and Instagram @beyondqueerstories and on Twitter @beyondqueerpod. Also check out the links on our profiles to submit to be featured on Beyond Queer Stories, or also email us at beyondqueerstories@gmail.com. Podcast music created by queer artist Be Steadwell. Check out her music at www.besteadwell.com Beyond Queer Stories is produced and edited by Dawn Brown and is recorded in the Cards Against Humanity podcast studio in Chicago, IL. Check out their products at https://cardsagainsthumanity.com/

This week we talk with Cait DiCicco and dive into conversation about her previous life in Australia and how she got banned from the continent! We also discuss her experience of discrimination months after she came out and the environment of toxic masculinity that permeated the girls' camp where she worked at the time.Follow us on Facebook and Instagram @beyondqueerstories and on Twitter @beyondqueerpod. Look for links on our profiles to submit to be featured on Beyond Queer Stories. You can also email us at beyondqueerstories@gmail.com. Podcast music by DC queer artist Be Steadwell. Check out her music at www.besteadwell.com Beyond Queer Stories is produced and edited by Dawn Brown and is recorded in the Cards Against Humanity podcast studio in Chicago, IL. Check out their products at https://cardsagainsthumanity.com/

This week we have the pleasure of talking with Ada Cheng. Ada is a professor-turned-storyteller, solo performer, and storytelling show producer.  She is the producer and the host of four storytelling shows in Chicago, including Pour One Out, Am I Man Enough?, Talk Stories: An Asian American/Asian Diaspora Storytelling Show, and Speaking Truths Series. Listen in as we talk with Ada about the challenges in finding queer space where others share the same intersecting identities. We also discuss the challenges in creating institutional change and the differences between diversity and equity and inclusion.  Check out Ada's work and upcoming shows at her website http://www.renegadeadacheng.com/Follow us on Facebook and Instagram @beyondqueerstories and on Twitter @beyondqueerpod. Look for links on our profiles to submit to be featured on Beyond Queer Stories. You can also email us at beyondqueerstories@gmail.com. Podcast music by DC queer artist Be Steadwell. Check out her music at www.besteadwell.com Beyond Queer Stories is produced and edited by Dawn Brown and is recorded in the Cards Against Humanity podcast studio in Chicago, IL. Check out their products at https://cardsagainsthumanity.com/

This week Dawn and Johndalyn sit down with Pekky Divya, a Latina Social Worker, music junkie, activist and aspiring writer on the autistic spectrum.  Listen in as we discuss the different ways people use the term bisexual and bisexual invisibility. We also hear about Pekky's journey navigating her Venezuelan and bisexual identities and how this has impacted her relationship with her mother.Follow us on Facebook and Instagram @beyondqueerstories and on Twitter @beyondqueerpod. Look for links on our profiles to submit to be featured on Beyond Queer Stories. You can also email us at beyondqueerstories@gmail.com. Podcast music by DC queer artist Be Steadwell. Check out her music at www.besteadwell.com . Beyond Queer Stories is produced and edited by Dawn Brown and is recorded in the Cards Against Humanity podcast studio in Chicago, IL. Check out their products at https://cardsagainsthumanity.com/

This week we talk with the co-hosts of the Forbidden Apple Podcast, Pelayo and Melissa. Pelayo is originally from Spain and was raised Catholic. During the past 4 years he has been working training developing countries in the field of international relations and global affairs. Melissa is a native New Yorker; however, she grew up Hasidic. Melissa is an actor, producer, and writer and is passionate about fighting for human rights and equality while looking for projects that give a voice to marginalized people and communities.  Listen in as we talk with them about what it has been like navigating religion and sexuality. Get more info at their website, https://www.theforbiddenapplepodcast.com/Follow us on Facebook and Instagram @beyondqueerstories and on Twitter @beyondqueerpod. Look for links on our profiles to submit to be featured on Beyond Queer Stories. You can also email us at beyondqueerstories@gmail.com. Podcast music by DC queer artist Be Steadwell. Check out her music at www.besteadwell.com Beyond Queer Stories is recorded in the Cards Against Humanity studio in Chicago, IL. Check out their products at https://cardsagainsthumanity.com/

This week we welcome Be Steadwell, queer singer and songwriter from DC who blends soul, acapella, and folk to produce what she calls queer pop. Dawn and Johndalyn talk with her about the vulnerability of her lyrics and the ways in which they create community and healing. She also shares her journey to sobriety and how living a sober life has impacted her creativity and self love. Check out Be's short film,  Vow of Silence , which was featured on Issa Rae's Short Film Sunday and visit her website at www.besteadwell.com to get info about her music including her newest album "Queer Love Songs" as well as her musical "A Letter to My Ex," narrating one character’s journey through the year following a breakup.Follow us on Facebook and Instagram @beyondqueerstories and on Twitter @beyondqueerpod. and look for links on our profiles to submit to be featured on Beyond Queer Stories. You can also email us at beyondqueerstories@gmail.com. Podcast music created by Be Steadwell. Check out her music at www.besteadwell.com   Beyond Queer Stories is recorded at the Cards Against Humanities Studio. Visit them at https://cardsagainsthumanity.com/

Welcome to season 3 and welcome to our first guest co-host Johndalyn! You met her as Jae on season 2 and we're excited to have her on board! This week Dawn and Johndalyn talk about the importance of being your authentic self and being intentional in relationships with others. These things are not always easy but they're so important! Also, Johndalyn tells us her story of beginning an inter-racial relationship and how they support and learn from one another.Follow us on Facebook and Instagram @beyondqueerstories and on Twitter @beyondqueerpod. Look for links on our profiles to submit to be featured on Beyond Queer Stories. You can also email us at beyondqueerstories@gmail.com. Podcast music by DC queer artist Be Steadwell. Check out her music at www.besteadwell.com

Happy New Year and welcome to 2020! We're kicking off season 3. Listen in to hear the creator of Beyond Queer Stories, Dawn, about what's new this year and the vision for the podcast. The first full episode of season 3 is coming to you on  Monday the 6th. Stay tuned!Follow us on Facebook and Instagram @beyondqueerstories and on Twitter @beyondqueerpod. Look for links on our profiles to submit to be featured on Beyond Queer Stories. You can also email us at beyondqueerstories@gmail.com. Podcast music by DC queer artist Be Steadwell. Check out her music at www.besteadwell.com

This week we take it back to episode 1 where it all began. In this episode we met Noam and talked about what it's like to work as a mitigation specialist working to humanize people on death row. Noam also shared their story about their journey through religion as a queer trans person and where it's brought them today. Noam is also a trans yoga instructor and you can check them out on instagram @wholesome_yoga_chicagoFollow us on Facebook and Instagram @beyondqueerstories. Look for links on our profiles to submit to be featured on Beyond Queer Stories. You can also email us at beyondqueerstories@gmail.com. Podcast music by DC queer artist Be Steadwell. Check out her music at www.besteadwell.com

This week we revisit our discussion with Kevin Whiteneir Jr., an interdisciplinary artist and art historian whose work discusses the relationships between gender and queer experiences as they relate to race, the effects of (neo)colonialism, and its parallels with magic, religion, and witchcraft. Listen in as we discuss his art background as well as his witchy history, and love for music including Britney Spears, Prince, and FKA Twigs. Check out his work and dance classes at https://www.queerheresies.com/Follow us on Facebook and Instagram @beyondqueerstories and on Twitter @beyondqueerpod. Look for links on our profiles to submit to be featured on Beyond Queer Stories. You can also email us at beyondqueerstories@gmail.com. Podcast music by DC queer artist Be Steadwell. Check out her music at www.besteadwell.com

This week revisit our talk with Nicklin whose personal mission is to foster a world of unconditional love, acceptance, and empathy by sharing his story, building connections with like-minded others, and living a life of service. He talks with us about his experiences of faith, transition, the impact of toxic masculinity, and challenges accessing health care.Follow us on Facebook and Instagram @beyondqueerstories and on Twitter @beyondqueerpod. Look for links on our profiles to submit to be featured on Beyond Queer Stories. You can also email us at beyondqueerstories@gmail.com. Podcast music by DC queer artist Be Steadwell. Check out her music at www.besteadwell.com

This week we revisit our talk with Dr. Joel Filmore who talked to us about his journey from sexual abuse through drug addiction to sex work, and how he rose to become a successful researcher and owner of a private practice. We also discussed what is deemed "professionalism" in academia and the importance of being your authentic self. Be sure to check out his podcast Mental Health is a Drag.Follow us on Facebook and Instagram @beyondqueerstories and on Twitter @beyondqueerpod. Look for links on our profiles to submit to be featured on Beyond Queer Stories. You can also email us at beyondqueerstories@gmail.com. Podcast music by DC queer artist Be Steadwell. Check out her music at www.besteadwell.com

This week we revisit our episode with creator and co-host, Dawn, where she shares her vision for the podcast as well as her research on gender expression and how it relates to minority stress. Listen in as she tells a story of her child's perspective growing up watching her mom endure domestic violence and how talking about this story helped them both heal.Follow us on Facebook and Instagram @beyondqueerstories and on Twitter @beyondqueerpod. Look for links on our profiles to submit to be featured on Beyond Queer Stories. You can also email us at beyondqueerstories@gmail.com. Podcast music by DC queer artist Be Steadwell. Check out her music at www.besteadwell.com

On this week's episode we revisit our talk with Pooya, an Iranian trans woman who shares her story of growing up trans in Iran, immigrating to the US, and her journey of self-love. She's also an actor, writer, filmmaker, and activist. You can follow her on all social media @pooyaland and look out for her upcoming film Transit: A New York City Fairy Tale; a short film about two kindred souls, a man and a trans woman, who fall in love amongst the magic of NYC.Follow us on Facebook and Instagram @beyondqueerstories and on Twitter @beyondqueerpod. Look for links on our profiles to submit to be featured on Beyond Queer Stories. You can also email us at beyondqueerstories@gmail.com. Podcast music by DC queer artist Be Steadwell. Check out her music at www.besteadwell.com 

This week join us as we revisit our talk with Finn, a gay trans man in the UK who shares his story of overcoming addiction and transitioning into his authentic self.  He tells us about his journey of succeeding in sobriety, managing mental health challenges, navigating relationships, and finding love. You can find Finn on Facebook and Twitter @FinlayGames and on Instagram @finntheinfinncible He also has a website at https://finlaygames.com/ where he writes about his transition and recovery emphasizing his message to 'recover your life and rewrite your story.' Also keep an eye out for his TEDx talk to be released soon on YouTube!Follow us on Facebook and Instagram @beyondqueerstories and on Twitter @beyondqueerpod. Look for links on our profiles to submit to be featured on Beyond Queer Stories. You can also email us at beyondqueerstories@gmail.com. Podcast music by DC queer artist Be Steadwell. Check out her music at www.besteadwell.com.

This week we revisit our episode with Dr. Nathaniel Brown, an Assistant Professor of Professional Mental Health Counseling at Lewis and Clark College. He discusses what it is like being a black gay male educator in a field where white women are the majority. He also shares his experience of growing up in the foster care system and navigating college after foster care. You can read more about his story in the book Faces of Foster Care: Messages of Hope, Hurt and Truth by Lisa Aguirre.Follow us on Facebook and Instagram @beyondqueerstories and on Twitter @beyondqueerpod. Look for links on our profiles to submit to be featured on Beyond Queer Stories. You can also email us at beyondqueerstories@gmail.com.Podcast music by DC queer artist Be Steadwell. Check out her music at www.besteadwell.com 

This week we reconnect with past guest Riley and hear about what it's like to be newly married, get some updates on life on the homestead, and hear about his fossil and crystal hunting adventures. Riley also shares his story of being accused of a bomb threat in grade school and what it was like being interrogated by the principal. He also shares his personal mental health journey and his decision to try electro convulsive therapy to treat his depression.Followwww.besteadwell.com us on Facebook and Instagram @beyondqueerstories and on Twitter @beyondqueerpod. Look for links on our profiles to submit to be featured on Beyond Queer Stories. You can also email us at beyondqueerstories@gmail.com. Podcast music by DC queer artist Be Steadwell. Check out her music at www.besteadwell.com

This week we talked with Anna DeShawn of E3 radio, an online radio station playing queer & independent music in high rotation. We also talk about Anna's upcoming app, the Qube, which will provide a platform for podcasts that are queer and POC. Also listen as we discuss Anna's journey through breast reduction and how this decision has impacted her life.Check out Anna at https://annadeshawn.com where you can also listen to her podcast Anna's Got a Word and tune in to E3 radio at https://www.e3radio.org/ for the latest queer and independent music! Also keep updated on her podcast app at theqube.appFollow us on Facebook and Instagram @beyondqueerstories and on Twitter @beyondqueerpod. Look for links on our profiles to submit to be featured on Beyond Queer Stories. You can also email us at beyondqueerstories@gmail.com. Podcast music by DC queer artist Be Steadwell. Check out her music at besteadwell.com

This week we talk with Shawn, a professional cuddler and facilitator of Chicago Cuddle Up events. We all talk about the importance of including black, brown, and queer people in the cuddle scene, the importance of having boundaries, and what Shawn did when two white guys showed up at a POC cuddle event.Shawn's website is https://www.ourtouchpoints.com/ and YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCWKiEpWst_r7JGme3BZxNHQAlso support Shawn's work on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/ShawncolemanCheck out Shawn's upcoming events: Every 4th Friday,Queer Women/ Trans/ NB Cuddle Up Event. Next event: 10/25. https://queerwomencuddle43.eventbrite.comFor folx considering becoming a professional cuddler, Shawn has an event coming up on 11/3 called So You Want To Be A Professional Cuddler. https://beaprofessionalcuddler2.eventbrite.comFollow us on Facebook and Instagram @beyondqueerstories and on Twitter @beyondqueerpod. Look for links on our profiles to submit to be featured on Beyond Queer Stories. You can also email us at beyondqueerstories@gmail.com. Podcast music by DC queer artist Be Steadwell. Check out her music at www.besteadwell.com

This week we talk with Jae, a mental health provider and unapologetic queer human! We talk about how the caretaking of black women impacts their role in mental health treatment, what it is like thriving after losing her family unit, and changing paths after being in ministry. She also tells us about the impacts that mental health stigma in church had on her connection with her sexual orientation.Follow us on and Instagram @beyondqueerstories and on Twitter @beyondqueerpod. Look for links on our profiles to submit to be featured on Beyond Queer Stories. You can also email us at beyondqueerstories@gmail.com. Podcast music by DC queer artist Be Steadwell. Check out her music at www.besteadwell.com

This week we talk with Jas  is a genderqueer advice columnist, influencer and activist. They are also a parent and self-proclaimed BLERD, or Black Nerd. Jas has a bachelor’s degree in Human Services and is working toward a master’s in Social Work from the University of New Hampshire. This week we talk with them about connecting brown queer femmes, creating a support group for queer youth, and what it's like being queer and raising a queer kid. We also hear about the children's book they wrote and their love for D&D and LARPing! Also be sure to check them out on Facebook and Instagram at ask a brown feminem.Follow us on Facebook and Instagram @beyondqueerstories and on Twitter @beyondqueerpod. Look for links on our profiles to submit to be featured on Beyond Queer Stories. You can also email us at beyondqueerstories@gmail.com. Podcast music by DC queer artist Be Steadwell. Check out her music at www.besteadwell.com

This wee we talk with Morgan, a musician in the band Sparkletears, law student, and Marvel enthusiast! They also happen to have went to high school with Ashabi! We talk with them about what Ashabi was really like in high school, the culture of touch, and queer representation (or lack thereof) in Marvel movies. *WARNING: THIS EPISODE CONTAINS END GAME SPOILERS*Follow us on Facebook and Instagram @beyondqueerstories and on Twitter @beyondqueerpod. Look for links on our profiles to submit to be featured on Beyond Queer Stories. You can also email us at beyondqueerstories@gmail.com. Podcast music by DC queer artist Be Steadwell. Check out her music at www.besteadwell.com

This week we talk to Patrick who grew up identifying as straight but always felt different from the other boys. He liked Project Runway, secretly dancing in his basement to So You Think You Can Dance, painting his toenails so no one would see, and looking at pictures of dudes in tuxedos. We talk with him about what it was like working in the hyper-masculine environment at an oil field and what it is like teaching during the day and performing as a drag queen at night.Follow us on Facebook and Instagram @beyondqueerstories and on Twitter @beyondqueerpod. Look for links on our profiles to submit to be featured on Beyond Queer Stories. You can also email us at beyondqueerstories@gmail.com. Podcast music by DC queer artist Be Steadwell. Check out her music at www.besteadwell.com 

This week we talk with Season 1 returning guest Rory! Yes they had a name change. Check back on S1 E18 for their premiere episode. This time we talked with them about their name change, trying to navigate non-sexual connections and relationships, and platonic cuddling. We also all chime in about trash things cis men do. Don't be that guy! And of course we wrap up with part 2 of our universe creation.Follow us on Facebook and Instagram @beyondqueerstories and on Twitter @beyondqueerpod. Look for links on our profiles to submit to be featured on Beyond Queer Stories. You can also email us at beyondqueerstories@gmail.com. Podcast music by DC queer artist Be Steadwell. Check out her music at www.besteadwell.com

This week we talk with Cari, a college student studying elementary and special education. Cari talks with us about how Criminal Minds helped her come to terms with her sexuality and her love of the show The OA. We also discuss her journey of falling for one of her friends and finding her queer identity and community. She also talks about her hope to be able to promote diversity and acceptance among her future students. Follow us on Facebook and Instagram @beyondqueerstories and on Twitter @beyondqueerpod. Look for links on our profiles to submit to be featured on Beyond Queer Stories. You can also email us at beyondqueerstories@gmail.com. Podcast music by DC queer artist Be Steadwell. Check out her music at www.besteadwell.com

This week we talk with Riley, a gay transgender man who is a chemistry major at UW-Platteville. Join us as we talk with him about being trans and in the STEM field, connecting with LGBTQ scientists, and his talents as a percussionist. He also tells us about his experiences with "achievement addiction" and impostor syndrome. Follow us on Facebook and Instagram @beyondqueerstories and on Twitter @beyondqueerpod. Look for links on our profiles to submit to be featured on Beyond Queer Stories. You can also email us at beyondqueerstories@gmail.com. Podcast music by DC queer artist Be Steadwell. Check out her music at www.besteadwell.com

This week we have our first returning guest, Kay! We catch up with them about their new job and what it is like to have a positive and affirming workspace. We also discuss how life challenges can lead to positivity and we hear more about their podcast, The Baldwin Kids. Follow us on Facebook and Instagram @beyondqueerstories and on Twitter @beyondqueerpod. Look for links on our profiles to submit to be featured on Beyond Queer Stories. You can also email us at beyondqueerstories@gmail.com. Podcast music by DC queer artist Be Steadwell. Check out her music at www.besteadwell.com

This week we talk with Sé Sullivan, an adjunct professor at UC Berkeley and Mills College and a child participant of the UCLA gender identity research clinic from 1963-1994 who discovered their personal file and turned it into a fascinating dissertation. Sé discusses with us the history of the word queer, living in the AIDS era, being a part of the pro-sex movement, and the importance of decentering whiteness in the queer community and queer dialogue. Follow us on Facebook and Instagram @beyondqueerstories and on Twitter @beyondqueerpod. Look for links on our profiles to submit to be featured on Beyond Queer Stories. You can also email us at beyondqueerstories@gmail.com. Podcast music by DC queer artist Be Steadwell. Check out her music at www.besteadwell.com

This week we're joined by Riley, a non-binary trans guy who aspires to work in organ donation or trans healthcare and vulnerably shares with us his journey of ups and downs with mental health. We also get to hear about his homestead and methods of sustainable living and what it's like having a nosey turkey! Follow us on Facebook and Instagram @beyondqueerstories and on Twitter @beyondqueerpod. Look for links on our profiles to submit to be featured on Beyond Queer Stories. You can also email us at beyondqueerstories@gmail.com. Podcast music by DC queer artist Be Steadwell. Check out her music at www.besteadwell.com

This week we talk with Jessie, a self-proclaimed bisexual disabled badass! Jessie tells us about her work in advocating for the rights of disabled people in a former workplace, founding the LGBTQ guard in Minneapolis, as well as navigating her own disabilities including sensory processing disorder and vaginismus. Also check out her group, Bisexual Queer Alliance Chicago. Follow us on Facebook and Instagram @beyondqueerstories and on Twitter @beyondqueerpod. Look for links on our profiles to submit to be featured on Beyond Queer Stories. You can also email us at beyondqueerstories@gmail.com. Podcast music by DC queer artist Be Steadwell. Check out her music at www.besteadwell.com

Join us as we discuss Season 2 of Beyond Queer Stories. Ashabi and Dawn will tell you a bit about upcoming episodes and collabs. Follow us on Facebook and Instagram @beyondqueerstories and on Twitter @beyondqueerpod. Look for links on our profiles to submit to be featured on Beyond Queer Stories. You can also email us at beyondqueerstories@gmail.com. Podcast music by DC queer artist Be Steadwell. Check out her music at www.besteadwell.com

Join us as we reflect on Season 1 and discuss some of our favorite moments with our incredible guests. We also talk about our vision for Season 2 and make a call for voices we haven't yet had on the podcast (e.g., poly, kink, intersex, and more POC voices to the front!). You also won't want to miss Ashabi's Baby Shark solo performance first heard here! We'll be back with new episodes Monday, August 5th. In the meantime stay connected on our social media accounts. We hope you all have a wonderful Pride season full of love, community, and acceptance!

This week we talk with Baphomet, a gay trans man who makes art and is getting ready to study to be a vet tech. We talk with him about the symbolism of tattoos and piercings and his experience of how mushrooms helped him come out and process his trauma that led him to hide his gender identity and sexuality. Follow us on Facebook and Instagram @beyondqueerstories and on Twitter @beyondqueerpod. Look for links on our profiles to submit to be featured on Beyond Queer Stories. You can also email us at beyondqueerstories@gmail.com. Podcast music by DC queer artist Be Steadwell. Check out her music at www.besteadwell.com

This week we talked with Ditto, a 20-something, gender-fluid, pansexual human adult. Ditto has years of comedy training and performs in hyper-femme drag around town. Join us as we talk about her move from Kentucky to Chicago, why she chose Ditto as her name, and how she fell in love with UK comedian Joe Lycett. Follow us on Facebook and Instagram @beyondqueerstories and on Twitter @beyondqueerpod. Look for links on our profiles to submit to be featured on Beyond Queer Stories. You can also email us at beyondqueerstories@gmail.com. Podcast music by DC queer artist Be Steadwell. Check out her music at www.besteadwell.com

This week we talk to Rae, a writer, storyteller, and therapist. We discuss their experiences living in Zimbabwe, their journey into their trans identity, and their work in mental health. Follow us on Facebook and Instagram @beyondqueerstories and on Twitter @beyondqueerpod. Look for links on our profiles to submit to be featured on Beyond Queer Stories. You can also email us at beyondqueerstories@gmail.com. Podcast music by DC queer artist Be Steadwell. Check out her music at www.besteadwell.com

This week we talk with Aurora and hear about their musical activism as a nonbinary cellist. We also discuss the societal gendering of bodies and envision a future world that requires no labels. You can read their blog here Follow us on Facebook and Instagram @beyondqueerstories and on Twitter @beyondqueerpod. Look for links on our profiles to submit to be featured on Beyond Queer Stories. You can also email us at beyondqueerstories@gmail.com. Podcast music by DC queer artist Be Steadwell. Check out her music at www.besteadwell.com

This week we talk with Jess who is bisexual, nonbinary, and a wonderful mother and wife. We discuss her journey raising a child while trying to not impose gendered expectations, what it's like to be shamed for not breastfeeding, and her experience with coming out as nonbinary to her husband. You can read her blog at https://indefinitelyjess.com/ Follow us on Facebook and Instagram @beyondqueerstories and on Twitter @beyondqueerpod. Look for links on our profiles to submit to be featured on Beyond Queer Stories. You can also email us at beyondqueerstories@gmail.com. Podcast music by DC queer artist Be Steadwell. Check out her music at www.besteadwell.com

This week we talk to Dr. Joel Filmore about his journey from sexual abuse through drug addiction to sex work, and how he rose to become a successful researcher and owner of a private practice. We also discuss what is deemed "professionalism" in academia and the importance of being your authentic self. Be sure to check out his podcast Mental Health is a Drag. Follow us on Facebook and Instagram @beyondqueerstories and on Twitter @beyondqueerpod. Look for links on our profiles to submit to be featured on Beyond Queer Stories. You can also email us at beyondqueerstories@gmail.com. Podcast music by DC queer artist Be Steadwell. Check out her music at www.besteadwell.com

This week we talk with Randy whose major defining and life altering event was when the neighbor living below him started a 5 Alarm fire destroying Randy’s apartment. Randy moved back to his hometown for over 3 and a half years to help care for his Mom with Alzheimer's. He served as an Ambassador with the Illinois Alzheimer’s Association, lobbied legislators in Washington, DC for Alzheimer's research funding, and has recently become an Ambassador with Eastern Iowa Alzheimer’s Association. Follow us on Facebook and Instagram @beyondqueerstories and on Twitter @beyondqueerpod. Look for links on our profiles to submit to be featured on Beyond Queer Stories. You can also email us at beyondqueerstories@gmail.com. Podcast music by DC queer artist Be Steadwell. Check out her music at www.besteadwell.com

This week we talk with Kevin Whiteneir Jr., an interdisciplinary artist and art historian whose work discusses the relationships between gender and queer experiences as they relate to race, the effects of (neo)colonialism, and its parallels with magic, religion, and witchcraft. We discuss his art background as well as his witchy history, and love for music including Britney Spears, Prince, and FKA Twigs. Check out his work and dance classes at https://www.queerheresies.com/ Follow us on Facebook and Instagram @beyondqueerstories and on Twitter @beyondqueerpod. Look for links on our profiles to submit to be featured on Beyond Queer Stories. You can also email us at beyondqueerstories@gmail.com. Podcast music by DC queer artist Be Steadwell. Check out her music at www.besteadwell.com