Chit Chat with a Queer Coach

David Whittleton is a Life and Leadership Coach and Leadership Consultant providing insightful and effective coaching and consulting specializing in organization design, culture change, strategic planning, and performance assessment. He works with clients at all levels of an organization; from scoping project requirements with executives to company-wide implementation and sustainment of results. David specializes in Life and Leadership Coaching for LGBTQ Leaders and Professionals. As a fellow LGBTQ leader, he understands being an effective leader in today’s world requires a complex skill set to meet the challenges of a global marketplace. LGBTQ leaders have the additional challenge of navigating systems where they experience exclusion and isolation. Struggling to connect with your authentic self? Looking for a sense of peace or contentment? When you have positive feelings about yourself, you experience daily joy, have better relationships and increased performance. https://whittletonconsulting.com/ Follow on: LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidwhittleton/

 Fey is an attorney, former human rights/disability rights arbitrator and mediator, author, podcaster, Episcopal subdeacon, founder of a socially-conscious media activity for Women (Pink Purse International (PPI), https://www.pinkpurseintl.com), She has written two critically acclaimed books "Wifey"; and "The Specimen". Both can be found on Amazon. During this episode Fey discusses being a bicultural 1st generationer--born in Washington, DC to immigrants, and how caring for her ill mother for two years inspired her writing and podcast career. Among other things, she has a background that includes serving as a human rights investigator/arbitrator/attorney in a jurisdiction that openly upheld gay rights; and is inclusive in her creative works, like her book “Wifey”,  Be sure to follow her on LinkedIn: @FeyUgokweEsq http://linkedin.com/in/whartonking Twitter: @PinkPurseIntl https://www.twitter.com/PinkPurseIntl Instagram: @FeyUgokweEsq https://www.instagram.com/feyugokweesq Podcast: The Women of Power Hours https://anchor.fm/woph

With a background in marketing and sales her entrepreneurial spirit and desire to empower others lead her on a spiritual journey of finding her voice, establishing healthier boundaries and creating a life she doesn't need a vacation from. She was being called as a healer and she answered. On her journey back home she rediscovered her sensuality and her sexuality, more importantly she found herself. Chamica was called to a more indigenous and eastern holistic approach of treating the whole person and the importance of women's health. It was then that Monarch Zen Healing Arts was created and she began sharing her medicine with the world. It is now her passion and purpose to facilitate other women infreeing themselves and reclaiming their body sovereignty. “Guide me and heal me so that I might be of greater service to others" is her life mantra Today she teaches women how to find their voice, releasing shame and guilt, how to show up authentically and reconnect with their bodies through breath, movement and energy healing which allows them to work through anxiety and stress to experience life as they were meant to.. Wild and Free She is also the creator of Sacred Womb Talk and currently teaches workshops throughout the valley, hosts retreats, teaches private yoga, reiki, life and Soul coaching and is a c.h.t Sacred Womb Talk podcast coming soon! Follow her on ig @thebutterflymystic and @venusmooncreations

Audrey Hickey is a bisexual woman who’s spent 5+ years living and traveling abroad and is committed to helping travel businesses empower LGBTQ travelers to step out of their comfort zones, make the community more visible, and creating a more open world for all of us. This episode, we discuss the newest travel trends during the COVID pandemic and why Melissa should never travel without working with a travel agent. You can find more information about Audrey’s services at AudreyHickey.com

This week I had the opportunity to talk with Erika Owens, 1 half of the first same-sexed couple to be featured on TLC’s Before the 90 Days. She captured the world’s heart with her colorful outfit and hair as well as her sweet personality.  Erika and I discuss what it was like to come out as Bi-sexual to her parents in front of the entire world, what it’s like dealing with mean people on social media and will she ever be able to date a man now that she has identified as bi-sexual.  You can follow Erika on her Instagram page @glitterbuggin Watch her on Monday nights on TLC’s Before the 90 Days Strikes back. Don’t forget to subscribe to this podcast and follow me on Instagram @realmelissadasilva.com

Speaker, singer, mentor, trainer, teacher, visionary, and prayer of prayers. Sophia is the host of the global holistic healing podcast: “Medicine Caller”. She trains professional medicine callers to trust and use their medicine through self mastery, soul unification, skills restoration, and ancestral reclamation. Sophia is a child mystic and have been a professional Medicine Caller for over twenty years and is trained in over twenty different modalities. On this episode Melissa and Sophia discuss past lives, other dimension, being a blood witch and spiders webs while swearing and laughing the entire time. Join them in exploring other dimensions. You can find more about Sophia at her website https://www.sophiawiseone.com/ and on all social media platforms at @SophiaWiseOne

Dr. Steve Yacovelli has been in the leadership, learning and development, change management, and diversity and inclusion consulting space pretty much his whole career (about twenty-five years). In his consulting experience he’s seen some leaders completely excel in their effectiveness, and some completely crash and burn due to their lack of competence in leadership skills. Steve’s desire was to help both types of leaders be more effective, through coaching, formal and informal training, and just generally being there to support their leadershippiness. A few years ago, Steve realized that the focus on specifically developing LGBTQ+ Leaders wasn’t really top of mind for many organizations. Sure, there were a few conferences sessions, some random webinars, or even university-sponsored certificate programs, but nothing in a programmatic, cross-association, and at all levels within the leadership savviness scale. In short, a patchwork of effort and not necessarily a cohesive focus or movement. So, “The Gay Leadership Dude” was born. It’s Steve’s brand to “come out” and acknowledge the role he wants to take to give back to the LGBTQ+ Community: to serve as a “lightening rod” of sorts to start a movement to grow LGBTQ+ Leaders to be even more effective, in a consistent, thoughtful, and mindful manner, especially those up-and-coming Leaders within the broader movement for equality and fairness for all LGBTQ+ people and well beyond. Connect with Steve on his Website LinkedIn

Sandra is a mom of a 4 year old and a 7 year old. She is the owner of Family Personalities and the co-host of the Family Personalities Podcast, a fun and sometimes cheesy podcast, that uses personality type to help change the way you see your family. With a background in Mathematics and Big 4 Accounting, Sandra uses her talent for analysis and data, combined with her training and passion for Myers-Briggs personality type, to help families work together more effectively to raise their uniquely wired children to be the best versions of themselves that they can be.    Follow Sandra on Facebook Website Podcast Instagram LinkedIn

Based in Merrimack Valley, Chuck Raffoni ( E-RYT200) offers local yoga classes, events, trainings and retreats. He is is a Reiki Master, Certified Thai Bodyworker and a professionally trained wellness and spirituality coach. In addition to his local work, Chuck serves as a director for YFM.TV and Broga® Yoga an international company that offers programming related to Yoga, Fitness and Mindfulness.  Chuck has been featured on NBC'S THE TODAY SHOW. "Turning Yoga on It's Head" Merrimack Valley Magazine has called his classes "Addicitive...leaving you wanting more" Pride Connections Podcast " A Force for positive change "  Website Facebook Instagram LinkedIn

John Neral is a Self-Help Author, “SHOW UP” Nationally-Recognized Keynote Speaker. Executive & Career Transition Coach. Professional Development Consultant. This episode Melisa and John discuss what it means to "Show up". John shares some of his life story how how he learned the importance of "Showing up" Follow John on Facebook Linkedin Instagram Website Purchase his Book: Show Up