Living OUT Podcast

Here's an alternative to reading the news, getting upset, and wondering how we can stop anti-2SLGBTQ prejudice and hate-fuelled movements: Study and understand history.What's happening in the world today, is not just about 2SLGBTQ rights and freedoms, it's about our common humanity and the ethical belief that no one person is superior to another. Links mentioned in the episode can be found on my website. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Here's an alternative to reading the news, getting upset, and wondering how we can stop anti-2SLGBTQ prejudice and hate-fuelled movements: study and understand history. What's happening today, is not just about 2SLGBTQ rights and freedoms, it's about our common humanity and the ethical belief that no one person is superior to another. Resources: Think Queerly Interview: Tim McCaskell, Author of “Queer Progress: From Homophobia to Homonationalism.” Resurrection Podcast Season 2: Heroes of the Early Years LGBTQ&A Podcast interview with Mark Segal The Village Podcast (all 3 seasons) Making Gay History Podcast The movie, Paragraph 175 and the theatrical Trailer Egale Rainbow Action Hub to combat the rise of anti-2SLGBTQI hate in Canada

With so many extreme challenges and divisive political polarization in the world, we need to think logically and broadly to understand the complexities of the challenge and find an ethical and humane path forward to solve these problems while respecting human dignity.

Recently, I made a significant change in my life — not quite a new direction, but a new path that's in alignment with what I stand for, my skills, my interests, and what brings meaning to my life. I came to a point in my career where I needed greater financial stability.  I started looking into impact-driven community organizations that are working to make a meaningful difference — preferably for LGBTQ+ individuals.---Discover how we can work together if you're an LGBTQ+ creator or change-maker.Learn more about Titanology's, "Out & Proud Business Lounge for LGBTQ+ Entrepreneurs”

Jade Pichette (they/them) is an inclusion, diversity, equity, and accessibility professional based in Tkarón:to/Toronto. Currently Jade serves as the Director of Programs at Pride at Work Canada where they work with over 250 large employers across Canada around gender expression, gender identity, and sexual orientation inclusion. Previously Jade served as the Volunteer and Community Outreach Coordinator at The ArQuives, the Education Programs Coordinator at Kind Space, and they continue to run an independent inclusion and diversity consulting business as well as serving as an Ásatrú Gythia (priestess) of Vindisir Kindred. They were one of the authors of the Transitioning Employers: A survey of policies and practices for trans inclusive workplaces and the cohost of the Uncovering Belonging Podcast. In their spare time they can be found geeking out over queer, trans, and Norse histories, fire-keeping, and spending time with their chosen family.You can watch the video here: https://darrenstehle.substack.com/p/pride-at-work-canada-jade-pichette

In this episode, we talk about Mark recently turning 60, the fallacy of multi-passionate creatives, and what success really means. But our primary focus is Mark's signature approach to productivity, his Only 10s framework. He jokes that if you were to show him your to-do list, it would be like reading tarot cards. He would be able to tell you in an instant what you value, what you like and dislike, and what you're afraid of doing.Show notes, links, and watch the interview on video at Queering Self-Mastery with Darren Stehle.------If you're a creative change-maker who is struggling to make an impact and create a successful business that you love, let's meet for a free a discovery coaching session. I'll help you get the clarity you need to determine your next most productive steps and to get back on track.

Many people think that you need to come out to be your "authentic self."What does "being authentic" really mean?How is that advice helpful if you're in the closet and have been struggling to come out for years?What if you've been married for decades and are afraid about who you might hurt and what you might lose?If you're in the closet and thinking about coming out, or if you know of someone who's struggling, this episode is about getting clear about your emotional reasons for coming out, and how you can prepare to be as ready — for when it feels "right" for you to come out and freely create a life you love.As mentioned in the episode, if you want to talk with someone about how to come out, or if you're dealing with shame around your gender or sexual identity, let's meet for a private conversation. 

If you were more efficient in your daily work routine, what would that look like?How would you feel?How much more energy would you have?Where would you feel most creative, productive, and efficient?Most importantly, how would you enjoy and celebrate your time off, knowing that you did your best?If you're not sure how to answer any of the above questions or would like to increase your efficiency to enjoy more of LIFE, please join me for my next, free webinar:The 3 Es of Efficient Productivity for Creators and Change-Makers to Enjoy Greater Happiness and SuccessAre you a creator or a change-maker who is overworked, overtired, and stressed about how to be more productive to create success in your business but also enjoy your time off?You may have tried various productivity systems and morning routines, bought apps and programs or even hired a coach — but you still didn't solve your problem.Each of those things can help, but what's missing is a simple framework to manage your energy, emotions, and enthusiasm that leads to efficiency in your work and productivity, and the freedom to enjoy your time off and feel like you've succeeded.Discover how the 3 Es affect everything you do in life, and how they affect your ability to produce and relax.This will be an interactive webinar in which I will teach you how to put the 3 Es into practice as both a tool of observation and transformation.You will also receive a free Self-Mastery Practice download to use over the coming weeks to develop this new habit.When you change the way you look at things and use a framework to create new habits and responses, not only will you will optimize your production and efficiency, but most importantly, you'll enjoy greater happiness, peace of mind, freedom, and success.WEBINAR — The 3 Es of Efficient Productivity for Creators & Change-Makers to Enjoy Greater Happiness & Success.DATE — Thursday, September 15, 2022, 11:00 EST (US & Canada)☞ Reserve Your Seat for the 3 Es Webinar

In this episode, I speak with Leadership and Organizational Development Coach, Jeremy Long about the power of self-mastery for queer people.Jeremy Long is a Queer man, Coach, and founder of the Conscious Queer Community. He also is the owner of Enhance Leadership as a Leadership and Organizational Development Coach.Click here for the show notes, video, and links mentioned in the episode: ☞ https://darrenstehle.substack.com/p/coach-jeremy-long

"Until I was 19 (in 1984), and for almost 15 years, I felt a combination of fear, guilt, shame, unrequited desire, silence, isolation, and otherness."Self-examination and knowing the events, the people, the environments, and the conditions that shaped your past are useful information. This is your personal narrative — and you can do with it what you please. In my case, I was determined to live better in the now than I had been living in my past.The complete show notes are published on Queering Self-Mastery. Sign up for practical tips and strategies for queer-thinking creators and change-makers to create a joyful life, accomplish your goals, and make a difference.---------------If you're a creator or change-maker who is struggling to make a difference and create a thriving business that you love, let's meet for a free 90-minute discovery coaching session. I'd like to find out what motivates you and how you want to make a difference in the world.

In this re-cast of the inaugural episode of the Queering Self-Mastery Podcast, I explain,The difference between the Think Queerly Podcast and Queerly Self-MasteryMy reasons for creating a new Substack newsletter.What I mean by 'queering self-mastery.'Why you should subscribe and how Queering Self-Mastery will make a transformational difference in your life.☞ Subscribe to Queering Self-Mastery. 

Read the post and watch the in-depth video for, "How to Use the 3 Es of Self-Mastery Framework to Create Greater Efficiency, Happiness, and Success in Your Life.☞ Follow the instructions at the end of the post to register for the webinar and to enter the draw to win 3-months of coaching with me!

We start at the very beginning: why she decided to join the Canadian Military. Douglas shares her story of what that was like, falling in love with another woman in her unit for the first time, being honourably discharged, and what happened after. Ironically, Douglas worked for the Canadian Department of Justice for many years, while working in advocacy to keep the government accountable. Douglas explains how in 2016, survivors of the LGBT Purge launched a nationwide class action lawsuit against the Canadian government. She was approached to manage the resulting settlement fund reached in 2018, and the rest is history. Read the complete show notes ☞ https://darrenstehle.com/michelle-douglas-lgbt-purge-fund/==========Darren Stehle is a Mind-Mastery Coach who works with LGBTQ+ creators, change-makers, and thought leaders to efficiently accomplish their goals, create a life they love, and make a difference in the process.If you're a creator or change-maker who wants to enjoy life and create a thriving business that makes a difference, you'll want to subscribe to my Substack where I publish weekly in-depth self-mastery practices and efficient productivity frameworks.

For once, I'm the one being asked the questions! Enjoy this re-cast of the podcast, 40 Plus: Gay Men. Gay Talk, hosted by Rick Clemons."Ever feel challenged to live an inspired queer life? Feeling aimless and not sure what is next? Fellow Queer coach Darren Stehle challenges us to take a deeper step into self-mastery, ideation, and the journey of inspired action to live our most powerful lives as gay men over 40. You'll learn useful techniques for bringing your ideal life to life."Rick Clemons is a well-known culture disruptor (in a good way), “closet buster (coming out coach),” and bold move strategist – inspiring people to live life with no excuses, no fears, no apologies. Tapping into his 25+ years of experience in personal development, and leveraging being a late bloomer, coming out of the closet at 36, he's created a no B.S. approach for thriving as a gay man and father – personally and professionally. Rick loves writing (Frankly My Dear I'm Gay), podcasting (Life (UN)Closeted and 40 Plus: Gay Men. Gay Talk), facilitating out-of-the-ordinary personal development experiences and speaking to audiences across the globe on living life without apologies. He loves wine, his two grown daughters, and his husband, in that order (but don't tell the hubby where he fits in the pecking order). Visit his website at RickClemons.com.  

Self-Mastery is choosing to know who you are and managing how you are being and showing up in the world.WHEN: Thursday, July 21, 2022 — 1 PM EST (13:00 H) WHAT: How do you get to know who you 'really' are and manage your behaviours on the path towards self-mastery? Join me for a discussion about the benefits of self-mastery on the happiness and well-being of LGBTQ+ creators, change-makers, and thought leaders. This event is entirely free to attend.REGISTRATION: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZUsceysrz4pHdcJujX2kYy7AeImQmFS75Uh

Without values, it's challenging to create a long-term life plan. If you don't know what's most important to you, you can't make choices based on integrity. Values are the compass that keeps you on the path to accomplishing your most meaningful goals and dreams. When you know what's essential and meaningful, you can skillfully respond with choices and actions that are in alignment with whom you want to be.What you can control are your choices. If you make decisions in accordance with your values, you're creating a form of prediction that increases certainty and manages your stress response to difficult situations or environments. This acts as a reminder of whom you want to be at the moment.==========If you're an LGBTQ+ creator, change-maker, or thought leader who is struggling with direction, priorities, and productivity, let's meet for a conversation to discuss how you can accomplish your goals, create a life you love — and make a difference in the process.

Self-talk that creates self-judgement, comparison, and shame is not self-empowering.It's downright unhealthy and damaging to your self-esteem!If you've truly done something wrong you feel guilt about, own up to it. However, if you're struggling with something not going to plan — for example, how to make more money, get a better job, or why your business isn't growing — consider if you're missing skills or knowledge.Ask yourself, “Am I ignorant or incompetent?”Ignorant = you don't know somethingIncompetent = you're lacking a skillThe difference between staying stuck where you are or overcoming adversity is whether you're willfully ignorant and incompetent or consciously aware of what you don't know and the skills you're lacking.Admitting what you don't know is the first step toward transformation and creating a better future.If you're struggling, doubting yourself, or wondering “What's wrong with me?”, let's have a conversation.

Ever since I was a little boy, I've dreamt small.I was a sickly child with severe ADHD. I had a learning disability that made it hard for me to read letters. And I was gay without knowing what that meant.Other kids and a few teachers made me feel like an outsider and not good enough.My health issues, which attracted unwanted attention, and being in the closet kept me fearful of freely expressing my truth. I was too scared to talk about it with my parents because the root of my fear was the thing I knew about myself but didn't understand. My thoughts were, I'm no good, I'm not well, I'm not smart enough, I'll never amount to anything.I allowed those perceptions to limit my life into my early 40s...**********If you're an LGBTQ+ change-maker who's ready to transform into an impactful leader and make a difference, let's have a conversation.

In this week's episode, I speak with Omid Razavi, the Executive Director, and Ethan Berkeley-Garcia, Youth Ambassador of It Gets Better Canada.I had such a great time hosting this interview. It's clear to me how committed both Omid and Ethan are to this important organization and the impact it's had on their own lives.Complete show notes, bios, and links ☞ https://darrenstehle.com/it-gets-better-canada/

In neuroscience, the ACC is an acronym for the anterior cingulate cortex, the part of the brain commonly called the animal or mammalian brain.Most animals have basic needs like food, shelter, safety, and procreation. If those needs are met, the animal feels safe. If not, they feel higher levels of stress and threat. Humans have the same needs.The ACC has a second meaning from a personal leadership and behavioural viewpoint.In this context, the ACC stands for Acceptance, Connection, and Care (credit to my coach, Dax Moy). These are core human emotions which collectively and independently demonstrate love in the largest sense of the word. When any one of those emotional needs is not met, we do not feel safe.☞ Read the complete article here.**********As a queer thought leader, neuro-coach, writer, and podcaster, Darren Stehle helps LGBTQ+ creators and change-makers develop their self-mastery and go from confusion to making an impactful difference in the world.

In this episode, I speak with the Co-Director, Producer, and Editor of the film, Chelle Turingan.Organizing in church basements, classrooms and around kitchen tables, they take on a conservative town council that won't fly a rainbow flag and bend some rules to create a safe space for youth to come out. Despite experiences of isolation and discrimination, they love their communities and strive to make them places where everyone, no matter who and how they love, can live and thrive. ☞ Complete Show Notes, Links and Trailers 

You have the power to demand inclusion, dignity, and respect 365 days a year because you can take your purchasing power elsewhere.But don't sit in silence with your decision to support LGBTQ+ businesses or allies.☞ Read the full article here.**********As a queer thought leader, neuro-coach, writer, and podcaster, Darren Stehle helps LGBTQ+ creators and change-makers develop their self-mastery and go from confusion to making an impactful difference in the world. 

We are overwhelmed by the untenable problems in the world and have little capacity left to feel like we have the agency to make a difference.Even for those of us with practiced emotional resilience, we face moments when we can't take it anymore. When that happens, you need to take care of yourself, calm your reactive emotions and mind, and find ways to reconnect with other people who embody understanding, connection, and empathy. Otherwise, you'll shut down completely, or veer in the opposite direction of outrage, disgust, and argument.Here are 6 easy skills to practice protecting your peace of mind, to lead with integrity at work, at home, and for the people you care about.

These tests can be a leaping-off-point, but not a justification for who you are, perhaps for the simple reason that they are not factual. Find out why I don't use these kinds of tests with my clients and why I think they can be used as an excuse or a crutch.Read the article☞ Are Personality Assessments Like Myers-Briggs and Enneagrams Useful When You're Working with a Coach?Discover my IDEA(tion) approach to personal transformation.Designed to help you gain Insight, Direction, and Emotional Alignment so you can efficiently accomplish your goals and enjoy more happiness, freedom, and peace of mind. Contact me for a free session.

Sincerely held religious beliefs lack critical thought. They're unreasonable towards people who don't believe or disagree. Pre-judgement of non-believers is what makes them hypocritical.☞ Read the original postArticles mentioned in the episode:The Threat of Religious Extremism and Radicalized Individuals to the Common Good“Sincerely Held Religious Beliefs” – A Specious Defence of Prejudice

In every aspect of how Dax Moy shows up in the world is his desire to help people experience themselves as the version of themselves that they most want to meet.Dax is a coach, educator, mentor, author, public speaker, and strength trainer. He was my coach for a year and a half while I was part of his MindMap Mastery Coach training program.Click here to read the show notes or watch the video. -----Every Thursday at 1 PM (EST), I offer a free 1:1 coaching session with an individual queer creator.Get clarity about your ideas and create effective strategies to make immediate progress on your most meaningful project or goal. This is a first-come-first-served weekly session and it's completely free. ☞ Register here: https://darrenstehle.com/events

"Just think positive," they say. "It will all work out for the best," said someone who wants to be helpful but doesn't know what to do.If you want to experience more peace of mind, calm, and happiness, you don't want to think positively. Listen in to find out can do instead. Read the post: "Why Positive Thinking Is a Waste of Your Time."Every Thursday at 1 PM (EST), I offer a free 1:1 coaching session with an individual queer creator.Get clarity about your ideas and create effective strategies to make immediate progress on your most meaningful project or goal. This is a first-come-first-served weekly session and it's completely free. ☞ Register here

We are a species connected by our shared humanity but we act ever-more separate due to the liberalism myth of individuality.We live in a paradoxical duality: Our humanity connects us, but it doesn't necessarily protect us.This is especially true for LGBTQ+ people in Poland, Chechnya, and Russia. Dominant religious myths and political parties have deemed our lives a threat to societal mores and values — or that we are non-existent entities, i.e., we simply do not exist in their country.It's unlikely that we can all just get along. It's not pragmatic, realistic, or even human nature. However, we can build bridges that connect more of us, bridges that people feel safe crossing — regardless of individual values or beliefs — to start a meaningful, humane dialogue.Whenever you're ready, here are three ways we can work together:Book a Deep-Dive Session with me to unlock creative strategies and make more progress than you would on your own.The 30-Day IDEA(tion) Jump-Start will help you go from creative ideation to implementation and maintain your momentum.The Queer Creative IDEA(tion) Mastermind Group offers the support of working with other LGBTQ+ creators and thought leaders, as well as guidance in the form of MindMap Mastery Neuro-Coaching.

Tim McCaskell's book, "Queer Progress: From Homophobia to Homonationalism," is a memoir and analysis of early Toronto gay and lesbian liberation politics, HIV/AIDS activism, queer social justice, and the rise of neoliberalism from 1974 to 2014.In this episode, we talk about the book as a way of understanding where we are now in 2022, and where things are headed socially and politically from an intersectional viewpoint. ☞ Read the complete show notes.========Queer IDEA(tion) Thought Leadership NewsletterQueer Thought Leaders & Creatives understand how a single idea has the power to change everything. Want to learn the skills to make a meaningful difference that's aligned with your purpose? ☞ Start reading Queer IDEA(tion)

If you're a Queer creator, change-maker, or thought leader on a mission to make a difference, you know a single great idea has the power to change everything — your success, a creative project, or the world.☞ Apply here: https://darrenstehle.com/jumpstart

Joy can be found in the most mundane things and moments in life, so the more mindful we are of what makes us feel joy, the happier we will be. Nathan Serrato of Queer Conscious and I take a deep dive into what joy means and how to experience more of it every day — especially as LGBTQ2+ people. Click here for show notes, links, and the full video of the episode.***********If you're an LGBTQ creator or change-maker who is working to make a difference in the lives of other queer people, I invite you to join me for a free 30-Day IDEAtion Coaching Jump-Start.      

Covering chapters such as Breaking Down the Alphabet and The Importance of Safe Space, Michael shows the importance of allyship in the workplace and engaging with employees, to interactions with volunteers, students, parishioners, or just everyday people on the street."Alphabet Soup: The Essential Guide to LGBTQ2+ Inclusion at Work" is now available for pre-order.Read the complete show notes: Michael Bach's “Alphabet Soup: The Essential Guide to LGBTQ2+ Inclusion” 

Critical thinking is not about being judgemental of other people for their ideas or beliefs. Instead, critical thinking is the practice of impartiality — attempting to suspend opinion, subjectivity, or outrage — while practicing logical, open-ended questioning and sometimes dialectical reasoning.In this episode, I discuss,The willingness and openness to understand another person - without prejudice - is a form of humility.The most significant challenge with critical thinking is the intersection and potential conflict of one's beliefs.Why “sincerely held religious beliefs” are nothing more than a form of self-defence for prejudicial beliefs and choices that fly in the face of universal human dignity.Read the article on Think Queerly.==========Darren is a certified MindMap Mastery Coach, specializing in the areas of behavioural and change science relating to lifestyle and transformational coaching. Darren empowers LGBTQ+ creatives and thought leaders to become more skillful at making a difference in the world. Every week, I hold a live Community Forum on Zoom where you can ask me anything.

In this session, I ask Lachlan how I can help. What he needs is clarity and direction for how to maintain and cultivate an open and welcoming space for all voices to be heard at the Birmingham Unicorns Cricket club meetings. The challenge he has is that committee meetings are open to all who wish to attend. It's easy to get overwhelmed by all the individual voices, but the club wants to remain open and inclusive, especially for the upcoming Annual General Meeting. Added to this is the challenge of meeting virtually due to COVID-19 and how Zoom meetings affect the flow of group communication.Read the complete show notes here: https://thinkqueerly.com/fostering-an-lgbtq-cricket-clubs-ethos-and-culture-of-inclusion-acceptance-and-individual-value-bdee2737ddecJoin me live, for one of my weekly Think Queerly LGBTQ+ Creator's Forums. And if you're a queer creator who's struggling with any part of your business or creative project, let's meet for an IDEA(tion) Discovery Session to help you get clarity, focus, and direction.

In the book, “When Things Fall Apart: Heart Advice for Difficult Times,” Pema Chödrön expresses the idea of not causing harm to yourself or others. Of course, she means causing no physical harm, but just as important, not causing harm to ourselves by the ways in which we think about ourselves. For example, not being self-deprecating when we don't believe in ourselves and not being overly self-critical.If we don't love ourselves, it may be that we haven't questioned the beliefs we hold about certain things in our lives. We may go about our lives based on these uncritically held beliefs — also not knowing what we value. When something happens that's perceived as a negative, we blame ourselves. For example, a gay man dealing with gay shame or anyone who identifies as queer dealing with the shame of being othered — having felt like they never fit in growing up as a child and adolescent. Not having seen yourself properly represented in a meaningful, thoughtful, loving, and self-accepting way while growing up during your formative years can play havoc with your self-love.Read the complete post at Think Queerly on Medium.If you would like to have a more in-depth discussion about how you can become more mindful — and how that can have an impact on your skillfulness as a queer creative or thought leader — let's meet for a conversation.

Ken Popert's name kept showing up in the historical research Jeff has been doing at the Human Sexuality Archive at Cornell, and for one of his courses, “Making Public Queer History.” Jeff recognized Ken's name because I used to work at Pink Triangle Press (PTP) in Toronto, Canada where Ken was my direct report. I had also talked about PTP, and its founding publication, The Body Politic, in an interview (with Jeff as co-host) with the authors of “Out North: An Archive of Queer Activism and Kinship in Canada” about a year ago.The notes for today's show are extensive. For guest bios, episode notes, and a "Historical Background of Gay Activism at Cornell" prepared by Jeffry J. Iovannone, please see the supporting article here:https://thinkqueerly.com/an-intergenerational-conversation-with-gay-activist-ken-popert-58296cdfa17c 

Ro Rose is currently a student at the Somatic Sex Education Institute. They have been working with me for the last four months. I coach Ro around IDEA(tion) — to help them gain Insight, establish consistent Direction, and take efficient steps that are in Emotional Alignment to maintain momentum while making progress on what they want to accomplish.In this Think Queerly IDEA(tion) Coaching episode, I ask Ro what question or struggle they want to work through in our session. Ro has noticed in their study of Somatic sex education and movement that practitioners are taught to “down-regulate” during treatment to calm down — which is the opposite of what they want to do.Ro wants to know how to marry their own excitation (which they love about themselves and tend towards, mostly as a form of trauma response relating to their ADHD and neuroscience-diversity) with the pairing of creative art therapies and somatic therapies. They also want to find more ways to offer invitations to people to engage in play and excitation within the lens of mindfulness and somatics.Read the complete show notes at Think Queerly on Medium.Is It 2022 Already?If you're wondering how to make a difference in your life for 2022, consider these questions:What are you most passionate about? What excites you, brings you joy, and motivates you? Are you spending as much time and energy on your passion as you'd like?What are you struggling with at the moment? What do you think is causing that and what's stopping you from solving this problem?What's your number one goal? Or, what's the most impactful goal you want to accomplish over the next 90-days? What would achieving that goal make of you?If you'd like to dive deeper into these questions with me, let's have a conversation so that I can help you get clarity, focus, and direction to one or more of your answers to the questions above. Click here to watch a short video and request a discovery call with me. 

Over the past year or more in publishing my ideas, I have noticed that my messaging might appear scattered, if not confusing. That's on me, and I have taken to rectify that. If you only want to hear about Queer topics, Think Queerly is what you want in your ears.The Think Queerly Podcast explores the mutually arising relationship between the status quo and all things queer. A queer perspective is the counter-balance that supports a healthy, loving, and equitable society. On the show, I explore queer history, social and political issues, and I have discussions with queer leaders and creators who are making a positive difference in the world. You can follow Think Queerly on Medium where I publish full episode notes and articles.If you're interested in personal evolution, humane leadership, and a virtue philosophy for the common good, The Way of Human(e) Heartedness is the community you want to be a part of.The Way of Human(e) Heartedness is a non-dogmatic approach to lead with personal responsibility for equity and the common good. Influenced by the wisdom of the Tao Te Ching, Human(e) Heartedness is a conscious practice that cultivates the values of non-contention, humility, compassion, impartiality, yielding flexibility, and oneness. Practiced together, these values foster inclusion, equity, understanding, and respect for humanity. To nurture these values, I share my Personal Evolution Processes (P.E.P.) based on the neuroscience of transformational coaching to become more skillful in life and to enjoy more happiness, contentment, and freedom.If these ideas and ideals appeal to you, I invite you to subscribe.I have created a new home on Substack where you can subscribe to The Way of Human(e) Heartedness — and enjoy the new podcast as well.

“RED X,” David Demchuk's second novel, is about a series of disappearances from Toronto's gay community over a 40-year period (actually over 200 years), and the efforts of surviving friends and family to find out who or what is responsible. Interwoven is David Demchuk's own story as a horror writer, as a gay man, and as someone whose novel is breaching the boundaries of fiction and entering his life.Read the full show notes here: https://thinkqueerly.com/queerness-horror-memoir-and-toronto-lgbtq-history-in-red-x-a-new-novel-by-david-demchuk-f0874651dfa7About David DemchukAward-winning author David Demchuk has been writing for print, stage, digital and other media for more than 40 years. His debut horror novel The Bone Mother, published in 2017, was nominated for the Scotiabank Giller Prize, the Amazon First Novel Award, the Toronto Book Award, the Kobzar Book Award and a Shirley Jackson Award in the Best Novel category. It won the 2018 Sunburst Award for Excellence in Canadian Literature of the Fantastic in the Adult Fiction category. It was listed in the Globe and Mail's 100 best books of 2017, came in at #22 in the National Post's top 99 books of the year and became a #1 bestseller on Amazon.ca. His troubling new novel RED X was published by Strange Light in August 2021. He is represented by Barbara Berson of the Helen Heller Literary Agency. He currently lives in Toronto.Follow David on Instagram, Twitter, or visit his website to purchase his books.

Underlying my work is my philosophy of human-heartedness. This is a non-dogmatic approach to lead with personal responsibility for equity and the common good — a way of being that improves open-mindedness, reduces contention, and increases kindness, compassion, and understanding for others.Looking back over this past year, I believe that I have created and shared meaningful content that speaks to my philosophy and offers ideas and practices to create more clarity, focus, and direction in your life. My Top 10 ListSome Thoughts on the Issues to Consider for Leaving Facebook.Freddie Lewis On Using Music and Poetry to Share His Journey of Finding Self-Love as a Queer Person.Banned From California — Jim Foshee's Life of Persecution, Redemption, Liberation, and the Gay Civil Rights Movement.Michael Bach — Internationally Recognized Thought Leader in Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Accessibility.What Can You Control in Your Life to Experience More Love, Happiness, and Freedom?How Can You Reduce the Anxiety of Overwhelm?What Should You Do When You Don't Feel Competent Enough?Forget Affirmations, What You Need Are ‘Statements of Self-Truth.'Universal Human Dignity: Human Love and Self-Expression Must be Free.On Staying Insecure and Embracing Imposter Syndrome.Read the full article on my new Substack page — The Way of Human(e) Heartedness: https://darrenstehle.substack.comAre You Ready to Make a Positive Impact in 2022?On Wednesday, December 29 at 1:00 PM (EST), I'm hosting a counter-intuitive approach to the usual end-of-year review in a free, live & interactive coaching webinar. Learn more and reserve your seat for the webinar by clicking here.Where You Stand ProgramA 13-Week Personal Evolution Group Coaching Program Starting Monday, January 17, 2022. Discover how to build a solid, personal foundation supported by the neuroscience of transformational coaching for clarity, focus, direction, and emotional alignment. Details and sign-up for the program here: https://darrenstehle.com/coaching/where-you-stand-program/

What Are Character Traits?A simple way of framing character traits is to think of an actor playing a character in a movie. The actor needs to embody the character's attitude and personality for the viewer to believe how the actor is behaving. Character traits are what we use to describe who we are and how we act. For example, you can describe someone's character as kind, thoughtful, aggressive, or aloof. Your dominant character traits describe and demonstrate what you most value and believe in. These are the qualities that support your integrity. When you stand your ground in the truth of your authentic nature, you are doing so without the need to be conscious of choosing your actions.Read the full article: https://darrenstehle.com/character-traits-ground-who-you-are/

It's time for something new on the Think Queerly Podcast. I'm excited to bring you what I plan to be a once-a-month feature episode in which I coach one of my clients — raw, unscripted, and unplanned. If you ever wondered how I coach, or what it's like to be coached, I know you will enjoy these episodes.This is what you will hear during this IDEAtion Coaching session with Jon Carl Lewis. In him, you will witness a wonderful example of what Human(e) Thought Leadership looks like. Enjoy!Read the complete show notes here: https://thinkqueerly.com/owning-the-powerful-distinction-its-not-about-me-it-s-about-the-product-b250d0852936You're Ready to Make a Positive Impact in 2022!Discover a counter-intuitive approach to the usual end-of-year review. If you want to make an impact in 2022, discover the core foundations of self-mastery to not only make a difference, but to experience more happiness, contentment, and freedom. Join me on Wednesday, December 29 at 1:00 PM (EST). For details and to reserve your spot, click here: https://pages.darrenstehle.com/end-of-2021-webinar

I Envision a World that Respects All of HumanityTo lead yourself from such a noble place — as if that place already existed — you will need to practice and embody values, principles, and beliefs that support a universal human dignity.However, I'm not suggesting a belief in a spiritual entity, following a religion, or a set of commandments. Instead, this is the personal responsibility of cultivating a loving, equitable, and harmonious humanity that — I believe — is both an individual and collective human responsibility. This is our ultimate, equitable endeavour.Read the article on Medium:https://medium.com/curious/human-e-thought-leadership-how-to-be-the-change-for-the-common-good-through-self-mastery-94afca2461ebReserve your seat for my, "Ready to Make a Positive Impact in 2022 Webinar:"https://pages.darrenstehle.com/end-of-2021-webinar

Recently, I read in the Guardian that "Top Republicans rub shoulders with extremists in secretive rightwing group, leak reveals."The details of the reporting stuck in my head. Then a question came to mind: Why are some rightwing extremist groups so secretive? What have they got to hide? The only reason these kinds of groups are secretive is not because they are ashamed. These organizations are secretive because they know they are morally wrong. They know they are wrong because their beliefs and actions will harm, hurt, subjugate, control, abuse, indoctrinate, manipulate, and kill people. They know they are being inhuman —  they are acting inhumane  — albeit mostly unconsciously, since the majority have been so deeply brainwashed, they don't know how to think critically for themselves. If you can't respect the basic existential dignity of another human being  — which doesn't mean you have to agree with them —  you do not respect yourself. Read the article: "Why Are Rightwing Extremist Groups So Secretive?" https://thinkqueerly.com/why-are-rightwing-extremist-groups-so-secretive-c592d8cd78c6For exclusive content, weekly live office hours, and to join my community, subscribe here: https://darrenstehle.substack.com.

Over the course of a bit more than a year, I've published a number of personal growth exercises. I gave the process the name, Personal Evolution Process (PEP). Each process follows a structure to help you define the problem or challenge at hand. You then further refine the problem by turning your thoughts around or considering influencing factors. Lastly, you create emotional alignment with your chosen strategies that will support your motivation and commitment to resolving the problem.Read the article on my blog for the links to the PEPs:https://thinkqueerly.com/try-these-transformational-strategies-to-create-more-happiness-freedom-and-certainty-in-your-life-fdea58d506cbFor exclusive content, weekly live office hours, and to join my community, subscribe here: https://darrenstehle.substack.com.

When you're faced with the choice between two significant polarities in life and don't know how to decide which one is best, try this Personal Evolution Process.This process will help you to get clarity and certainty about what's most important and meaningful to you about both options, and then choose the one that provides the most emotional alignment. In other words, when you can connect your choice with your emotional intentions, you are most likely to feel best about the choice and remain committed to it.Today's PEP is not meant for the "simple" yes or no choices in life. Instead, the power of this Personal Evolution Process is revealed in breaking down two opposing and challenging choices that you are struggling with and are holding you back.Read the complete article: https://darrenstehle.com/two-difficult-choices-how-do-you-decide/

Last week, a friend of mine wrote a post on Facebook to say that she was strongly considering leaving Facebook forever.While she benefits from some aspects of the platform, she wrote that she feels out of integrity supporting a platform that is detrimental to the current and future society she wants to live in. By remaining on Facebook, she is encouraging their business model and rewarding their decision-making. From a values perspective, she feels like it's time to leave.She concluded by asking people to offer contrarian perspectives. In today's episode, I share my response and further thoughts.Read the post on Think Queerly: "Some Thoughts on the Issues to Consider for Leaving Facebook."https://thinkqueerly.com/some-thoughts-on-the-issues-to-consider-for-leaving-facebook-b97493cc3a8cFor exclusive content, weekly live office hours, and to join my community, subscribe here: https://darrenstehle.substack.com.

Freddie Lewis offers a rarely seen or heard genuineness of character that connects to our deeply humane level of self-acceptance and being seen for one's truest self. Through his poetry or his words put to music, he shares expressions of happiness, joy, playfulness, prettiness, and rhythmic beats that catch your ear, invite you in more deeply, and won't let go.Freddie demonstrates a simple, joyful celebration of self-pride that shows up in his being simply who he is. You don't need to be queer to appreciate his art — you only need to be human.Read the complete show notes and my personal review here: https://darrenstehle.com/freddie-lewis-music-poetry-self-love-as-queer-person Freddie's website: https://www.freddie-lewis.co.uk/ Lilac Underpass Mixtape" is Out Now! https://distrokid.com/hyperfollow/freddielewis/lilac-underpass-mixtape-2

Why are so many people afraid to take personal responsibility for their actions that affect the common good? Note that I did not say negative or damaging actions because I believe we must take personal responsibility for our actions, regardless of their intent. We need to be cognizant of the choices we are making, especially if we intend them to be beneficial. What we think is morally good or right might not be perceived in the same way by others.Here's the link to listen to the updated Think Queerly Podcast Introduction: https://thinkqueerlypodcast.com/episodes/living-out-podcast-intro-episode-lop000Never miss an update to cultivate more freedom, happiness, and peace of mind!Get my personal transformation practices at DarrenStehle.com/downloads

In the 1950s, as 15-year-old Jim Foshee hitchhiked from his tiny Idaho hometown to Los Angeles, he met kind-hearted strangers, kindred souls, and drag queens as well as con artists, liars, and ruthless cops. His vivid memories of McCarthyism, government hunts for homosexuals, and routine firings sit alongside remembrances of the Beats, hippies, and liberation protests fill the pages of Banned From California.Read the complete show notes here:https://darrenstehle.com/banned-from-california-jim-foshees-life-of-persecution-redemption-liberation-and-the-gay-civil-rights-movement/About the AuthorRobert C. Steele served as a reporter and producer at various radio and television stations in Colorado and Arizona. He was a broadcaster at the Italian National Broadcasting Company (RAI Radiotelevisione Italiana) in Naples, Italy; was a reporter for Armed Forces Radio and Television along the coast of Vietnam, the Asian Western Pacific, and Vicenza, Italy; and was a volunteer activist in the early gay liberation movement with two weekly gay radio shows in Colorado. Later, as a federal government public affairs officer, he served as a government spokesperson and managed media relations with reporters who worked for media outlets from across the USA and around the world.Banned From California book Website: https://bannedca.comBuy the book from your local queer bookstore or on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Banned-California-Persecution-Redemption-Liberation/dp/1734010819

Michael Bach is the founder and Chair of the board of directors of the Canadian Centre for Diversity and Inclusion. He is nationally and internationally recognized as a thought leader and subject-matter expert in the fields of inclusion, diversity, equity, and accessibility, bringing a vast knowledge of leading practices in a live setting to his work.Read the complete show notes here: https://darrenstehle.com/michael-bach-internationally-recognized-thought-leader-in-inclusion-diversity-equity-and-accessibility/Are you tired of losing your temper or experiencing unwanted or harmful emotions?Discover an effective strategy based on neuroscience to manage the emotions you want to avoid. In this FREE 90-minute coaching video, you will learn how to create emotional recipes to manage how you want to feel to enjoy more happiness, peace of mind, and freedom. Get immediate access to “How to Stay Calm and in Control” here: https://pages.darrenstehle.com/emotional-recipes-process