Reaching Out with Michael Constable

This week's guest? Max Jenkins, y'all @maxjenkinsyall! In addition to being just an overall delightful person, Max is a New York-raised and based actor and he talks to us about some of the roles he's played -- all of which, so far, have been queer characters. I share with him the lasting impact that two of his roles (Netflix's 'Special' and '30 Rock') have had on me -- albeit each for very different reasons. (He even gives us a little BTS scoop on his brief yet absolutely iconic part in '30 Rock' which made my year.) In addition to Max's coming out journey, this episode is just oozing with 90s nostalgia, butt humor (which, in a way, is also 90s nostalgia), a debate about whether or not Taylor Swift is a '30 Rock' stan, and more! Enjoy! Episode Links: Follow Max on Instagram: @maxjenkinsyall Max on 30 Rock Gay Favs Of The Week: Good Children "I Wish Josh Peck Was Gay" episode (Spotify / Apple Podcasts) and Ride the podcast (Spotify / Apple Podcasts) Follow along with Reaching Out: Podcast's Instagram: @reachingoutpod Podcast's TikTok: @reachingoutpod Michael's Instagram: @michaelwingsit

This week we have Kane C. Andrade (he/him) with us on RO! We talk about his creative journey as a photographer (including being featured in @outmagazine Pride issue this year!), life in the military during “don't ask don't tell”, the ups and downs of coming out to family twice, and much more. So grateful to have had Kane share his story. Episode Links: Follow Kane on TikTok and Instagram Follow along with Reaching Out: Podcast's Instagram: @reachingoutpod Podcast's TikTok: @reachingoutpod Michael's Instagram: @michaelwingsit

Last week I celebrated my five year outiversary! In this week's solo episode I take a moment to reflect on the highs and lows of each year as well as what I hope year six has in store. Don't forget to rate Reaching Out on Spotify or Apple Podcasts and check us out on IG and TikTok! Follow along with Reaching Out: Podcast's Instagram: @reachingoutpod Podcast's TikTok: @reachingoutpod Michael's Instagram: @michaelwingsit

In this week's episode we chat with both halves of music group Boy2K!  To add to the fun of having two guests, we're also trying out a new topic-based episode format instead of our usual coming out story centric episodes. Mark Cramer and Grant Genske help me usher in this new era of Reaching Out and chat with me about today's topic... dating!  Well, it was supposed to be about dating, but it ended up being about dating, relationships, breakups, and much more. I really love this episode because all three of us bring a different perspective based on our dating histories and are all currently at very different places in our dating journeys.  Mark tells us about what it's been like getting back into today's dating scene after only recently uncoupling from his former husband a little over a year ago Grant shares dating stories of his past that ultimately lead him to the healthiest relationship he has ever been in I share what dating for me has been like only having started in the past few years and what I've learned from my relatively brief dating experience We talk about our first dating experiences, our interpretations of what "dating" even means, open relationships, breakups, the lessons learned from our dating experiences, and much more! Episode Links: Check out BOY2K on Spotify Follow BOY2K on TikTok and Instagram Follow Mark on TikTok and Instagram Follow Grant on TikTok and Instagram Follow along with Reaching Out: Podcast's Instagram: @reachingoutpod Podcast's TikTok: @reachingoutpod Michael's Instagram: @michaelwingsit

This we talk with Maxwell Poth, author of the absolutely incredible new book Young Queer America. In this episode Maxwell tells us about how he faked it 'til he made it as a queer portrait photographer and photojournalist in LA working with some insanely talented an famous people (his work is unreal -- run don't walk to his portfolio linked here to see what I'm talking about). Speaking of his impressive work, he tells us about the inspiration for his new book, Young Queer America, a book showcasing "real stories and faces of LGBTQ+ youth." Maxwell also shares his personal queer journey, which despite having a loving and accepting family (including a queer twin!) had its fair share of bumps in the road due to some pretty harsh bullying in his high school years and growing up around the Mormon church in Utah. Max's story is one of resilience and a refusal to be anything less than authentic. We also chat about our shared love of the MCU, our first gay bar experiences, whether or not I should move to LA, and much more! Episode Links: Follow Maxwell on social media: Instagram @maxwellpoth, @projectcontrast TikTok @maxwellpoth Buy Young Queer America Photography www.maxwellpoth.com Follow along with Reaching Out: Podcast's Instagram: @reachingoutpod Podcast's TikTok: @reachingoutpod Michael's Instagram: @michaelwingsit

In this week's episode I chat with the hilarious and sweet, Victor Carlesi! Victor and I talk about his rise into the comedy scene (including guest appearances on some of my favorite podcasts, Seek Treatment and That's A Gay Ass Podcast), our favorite Taylor Swift songs, and, of course, his coming out story. One of my favorite conversations I've had on this podcast takes place during Victor's coming out story as he shares how he worked through feelings of imposter syndrome and unworthiness when it came to sex and intimacy -- a feeling that I personally resonated with...dare I say it... all too well (10 minute version). Enjoy! Share your story: Fill out this form Episode Links: Follow Victor on social media: Instagram @victor_car_bakes TikTok @victorcarlesi Follow along with Reaching Out: Podcast's Instagram: @reachingoutpod Podcast's TikTok: @reachingoutpod Michael's Instagram: @michaelwingsit

This week we sit down with UK-based Award-Winning Asexual Activist, model, and fellow X-Men lover, Yasmin Benoit!Yasmin tells us her story about how she got into asexual and aromantic activism accidentally through posting on Twitter and what it was like transitioning into life as a public figure in this space.She also touches on the "believability hurdle" that many asexual people face when telling others that they are asexual, especially when they do not fit the stereotypes for what people believe asexual or aromantic people to be or look like.  Yasmin also gives her thoughts on racism within the asexual community itself and the importance of diversifying the narrative of Ace and Aro stories being told.In addition to all of that, we chat about Yasmin's IRL encounter with queer icon, Sir Ian McKellen; we talk about dealing with internet trolls; and I explain why the game Never Have I Ever still triggers my fight or flight response to this day. Enjoy! Share your story:Fill out this formEpisode Links:Follow Yasmin on social media:Instagram: @theyasminbenoitArticles and Features: LinktreeFollow along with Reaching Out:Podcast's Instagram: @reachingoutpodPodcast's TikTok: @reachingoutpodMichael's Instagram: @michaelwingsit

What an absolute treat you are in for today with our guest, Jaycee Queen (he/him).  He is one of the funniest, quirkiest, silliest, and lovable people I have met in recent memory and I'm so happy that I stumbled upon his podcast, The Holesome Podcast, so that our paths got to cross.Before we get into Jaycee's powerful journey of self-acceptance and self-love, Jaycee and I discuss something that has not been discussed very much on Reaching Out -- astrology!  We talk about our placements for Venus (how you express love in relationships of all kinds) and Mars (sex and aggression).Jaycee then tells us his powerful, inspirational, and, at times, heavy story about coming out at 14 years old in San Antonio.  **TRIGGER WARNING**I want to give all listeners a heads up that Jaycee's story deals with some potentially triggering topics like being forced into Christian Church counseling, being kicked out home, physical abuse, and suicidal thoughts. Despite the heavy topics, Jaycee's story is ultimately one of finding self-love and love for the queer community.  It's a story about, in Jaycee's words, seeing both the ugly and beautiful in life.  And ultimately, it's about about trusting your intuition, living authentically, and becoming a beacon of permission to help others to live authentically as well.Jaycee is the ultimate sweetie and I'm so, so excited for you to meet him.Enjoy.Share your story:Fill out this formEpisode Links:Follow Jaycee on social media:Instagram: @jayceequeenCheck out The Holesome PodcastInstagram: @theholesomepodcastSpotify: LinkApple Podcasts: LinkAstrology GuyYouTube: LinkFollow along with Reaching Out:Podcast's Instagram: @reachingoutpodPodcast's TikTok: @reachingoutpodMichael's Instagram: @michaelwingsit

Have you ever met someone while traveling that makes you think "damn, this is why I travel!"?  That's exactly who today's guest is for me.I'm so happy to bring you my chat with the incredibly talented and wonderful, Ilkin Zeybek (he/him)!  He and I met this summer in Istanbul while I was on a one-month Remote Year program and Ilkin was a guide for several events for the group throughout the month.  Not only is Ilkin extremely knowledgable about all things Istanbul, he's also a ridiculously talented photographer (links below).Ilkin's story is such a welcomed one to Reaching Out as it truly gives a different, more global perspective to coming out that we haven't had much of on here yet.  Ilkin tells us about the challenges and even depression that he faced as he navigated coming out during high school in conservative-leaning Turkey and amongst conservative peers.  We also discuss some of the familial struggles Ilkin went through in the early years of his journey.  Ilkin also shares with us what it's like being queer in Turkey today with the current conservative government in office -- including a story of him being detained, along with other queer people, at last year's Pride in Istanbul for simply showing up.Despite the challenges he has faced, he also shares how the very art he is creating now was born out of a need to resist the queer suppression he and his queer community have experienced by the Turkish government, and damn, his art f*cking great.In addition to his incredible story, we chat our favorite Lady Gaga songs, how music hits soooo different during a breakup or when you have a crush, not clearing your search history as a kid (we've all been there), and the new loves of my life thanks to my time in Istanbul... CATS! Share your story:Fill out this formEpisode Links:Follow Ilkin on social media:Ilkin: @ilkinzeybek_ Zed's Fanzine: @zedsfanzineBook an Airbnb Experience in Istanbul with Ilkin!History and Culture of Coffee: LinkPlay Games Like a Local: LinkPhotoshoot Around Istanbul: LinkFollow along with Reaching Out:Podcast's Instagram: @reachingoutpodPodcast's TikTok: @reachingoutpodMichael's Instagram: @michaelwingsit

Today we have Grace Perry, the author of the incredibly entertaining book "The 2000s Made Me Gay: Essays on Pop Culture", on the show with us.  This book is a special one to me as it was given to me as a congratulations gift by my friend, Jack, for starting this very podcast.Chatting with Grace was so much fun and between giggling about her dripping in clothes from the Old Navy Boys section, we talk about coming out themes like:internalized homophobiacompartmentalization and rationalizationhow formative millennial pop culture shaped both our queer-but-closeted teen years..and more!To no one's surprise we also reminisce about some niche millennial hot topics like Juicy Campus, The Real World seasons from the aughts, and how shows like The OC and Dawson's Creek made initial queer sexual experiences very confusing!Enjoy.Share your story:Fill out this formEpisode Links:Follow Grace on social media:Instagram: @muppet__babyThe 2000s Made Me Gay: Essays on Pop CultureFollow along with Reaching Out:Podcast's Instagram: @reachingoutpodPodcast's TikTok: @reachingoutpodMichael's Instagram: @michaelwingsit

This week we chat with life coach, yogi, and all around delightful human being, Jimmy Adams (he/him)!Jimmy shares with us the stories and lessons learned from his three comings out -- first as gay, then as an alcoholic, then as a person living with HIV. Each of which, according to himself, got progressively easier yet required an increasing amount of vulnerability.Through his coming out stories, Jimmy shares what it was like growing up as gay in a rural and conservative town in Michigan, he shares the benefits and clarity around life he has received since becoming sober six years ago, and he shares some advice on how to better educate yourself about HIV in 2022 (U=U) and tips on the best language to use when speaking about HIV. We also talk about Titanic (1997), Survivor's Richard Hatch,  and our shared trauma from Sports Illustrated swimsuit magazines.Crack open an ice cold pop and enjoy!Share your story:Fill out this formEpisode Links:Follow Jimmy on social media:Instagram: @__jimmyadams Follow along with Reaching Out:Podcast's Instagram: @reachingoutpodPodcast's TikTok: @reachingoutpodMichael's Instagram: @michaelwingsit

Sweeties... this is one for the Reaching Out history books.  Today we chat with co-host of the incredible podcast, Like a Virgin, and AMC Stubs rewards member, Fran Tirado (she/they)!This episode is so incredible due to Fran's uncanny way to mix humor, heart, and knowledge into her stories and advice.  Today Fran chats with us about:How boxing yourself into having specific "types" of physical attraction could be preventing you from better sexThe limiting stories and narratives we create in our heads that prevent us from sexual experiences that you might end up lovingHow Fran was a gatekeeper to her own transness until her community helped her realize the validity in her experienceAdvice for people who are curious and want to explore their gender identityFinding and making queer community -- regardless of where you liveWe also gossip about Twitter porn, breakup movies, Fran being turned on by her own drawings of Greek warriors' "huge tits and chiseled abs", Marcel the Shell, and so much more!Enjoy!Share your story:Fill out this formEpisode Links:Follow Fran on social media:Instagram: @fransquishcoLike A Virgin Instagram: @likeavirgin420Like A Virgin PodcastFollow along with Reaching Out:Podcast's Instagram: @reachingoutpodPodcast's TikTok: @reachingoutpodMichael's Instagram: @michaelwingsit

This week we chat with movie buff and comedian, Stephen Kropa (he/him)!In this week's feature presentation, Stephen tells us about his journey going from what he refers to as having negative dating experience growing up to his snowy and cinematic first kiss with a man that unlocked his mind to the truth that he had been avoiding about his bisexuality.Stephen and I also chit chat about:the hardest person to come out to: yourselfhow having unequal attraction to men and women made him reticent to admitting his bisexualityhow watching Call Me By Your Name and The Last Jedi in less than a week helped things click for himWe also chat about our favorites movies, the MCU, bi musicians, and more.Enjoy the show!Share your story:Fill out this formEpisode Links:Follow Stephen on social media:Instagram: @kropacabanaFollow along with Reaching Out:Podcast's Instagram: @reachingoutpodPodcast's TikTok: @reachingoutpodMichael's Instagram: @michaelwingsit

This week we are chatting with my former roommate and real life Gen Z'er, Jack McDermott (he/him)!Jack came into my life as my (at the time) 20-year old roommate when I first moved to San Francisco and we shared a special bond.  "Special" as in he would give me shit 24/7 and I adored him for it.This story is one about Panera Girls (aka the world's greatest allies), the massive impact that growing up in an environment that is pro-LGBTQ+ can have on a young queer child growing up (listen up, straight allies having kids!!), and sticking up for yourself and others when harmful anti-homosexuality speech is being used -- especially when it doesn't start with the letter "F" and is instead disguised as religious teachings and is being taught to young, impressionable minds... I digress... I learned so much about my little Jacky Boy in this convo, I'm excited for you to hear it!Share your story:Fill out this formEpisode Links:Follow Jack on social media:Instagram: @thejackmonty  Follow along with Reaching Out:Podcast's Instagram: @reachingoutpodPodcast's TikTok: @reachingoutpodMichael's Instagram: @michaelwingsit

This week's guest is one of my all-time favorite girlies, the walking ray of sunshine that is Aarthy Lakshmanan (she/her)!Skip ahead to 10:27 if you want to dive right into our conversation!In today's intro I give you a quick little update on what I've been up to during our season break, including a very recent lesson learned about building queer community! I'm back in Mexico City and on a mission to build a queer community for myself, something I've lacked here despite all of the time I've spent here recently. I share a very recent story about how I started to do that recently, hoping it might help any listeners who also find making community in a new place difficult.Aarthy and I then dive into so many great topics!Finding and building queer community (a lovely coincidence given the intro)Pressures of being a queer woman growing up in an Indian familyDifficulties of coming out to immigrant parents and managing expectations of their reactionsThe absolute power of finally being able to speak with another queer person about your experiences and them just getting it...and much more! Share your story:Fill out this formEpisode Links:Follow Aarthy on social media:Instagram: @aarthymusicFollow along with Reaching Out:Podcast's Instagram: @reachingoutpodPodcast's TikTok: @reachingoutpodMichael's Instagram: @michaelwingsit

What a big week this is for the podcast.  Not only was Tuesday National Coming Out Day, but the podcast turned one year old on said holiday AND season two kicks off with this very episode!In today's intro I take some time to reflect on the last year in honor of the pod's birthday.  I share the pod's origins, some lessons learned,  and some pod numbers one year in.You can skip ahead to 10:56 if you'd like to dive into Jeff's storyToday's guest, Jeff Holoman (he/him), and I become fast friends on this pod as we relate to everything from silly little narratives we would tell ourselves ("that can't be ME") to us both guzzling the liquid poison that is Burnett's vodka in college in an attempt to deal with our sinful gay tendencies #healthy to us both finding the space and clarity we needed to fully come out to ourselves while traveling in Europe.Jeff also shares with us stories about:- handling his first experiences with men in college- growing and learning from his failed first relationship- finding the clarity he needed to truly accept himself while on a trip to Prague (traveling = coming out, you cannot tell me otherwise !!)Welcome back, girlies! Share your story:Fill out this formEpisode Links:Follow Jeff on social media:Instagram: @jsholomanFollow along with Reaching Out:Podcast's Instagram: @reachingoutpodPodcast's TikTok: @reachingoutpodMichael's Instagram: @michaelwingsit

We've got a BIG episode for you this week --  it's episode 30, it's our first ever three person episode, and it's our season one finale!(Note: If you want to jump right to the Heartstopper discussion, it begins at 13:48)Before we dive into this incredibly fun discussion around Heartstopper, I catch you up on what I've been up to the past two weeks.  I give a recap about the madness that was Madrid Pride and I also give a quick personal update that explains why we've chosen to use episode 30 as our season finale.I've been so excited for this episode to launch because we bring back two fan favorite guests, Aisha Khan (eps 24, 25) and Brad Evans (ep 27) , to chat about the hit Netflix show, Heartstopper.  (We only lament a teensy bit that we didn't have this show as we were growing up.)The idea for this episode came from the unplanned (but personal favorite) episode Aisha and I did about Sex Education on episode 24.  This time around we wanted to be more intentional about it so we came up with some topics that the three of us share our opinions on:Favorite charactersMost powerful sceneMoments that resonated most strongly with our queer experienceWhich character we would have had a crush on if we went to Heartstopper HighThis was such a fun episode to record and I think you're going to enjoy it, too.  Enjoy!Share your story!Fill out this formEpisode Links:Brad's Instagram: bradleyy_yBrad's YouTube Channel:ChannelHeartstopper Live Reaction SeriesAisha's Instagram: @lavidaooshaFollow along with Reaching Out:Podcast's Instagram: @reachingoutpodPodcast's Twitter: @reachingoutpodMichael's Instagram: @michaelwingsit

This week we have on the supremely clever and funny, Rose Dommu (she/her)!Rose is an incredibly talented writer and co-host of the addicting pop culture podcast, Like a Virgin.  I've been following Rose on Twitter for years and have always been a huge fan of her wit and sense of humor, so getting to meet her and have her share her story on the podcast was such an honor.After Rose and I gab about Ewan McGregor, Wanda Maximoff, and Like a Virgin, Rose tells us about her two coming-outs -- first as gay at 14 years old and then as trans years later as an adult.  She talks about how moving to NYC and becoming involved in the underground art scene opened her mind to the different possibilities of queer life as she was finally exposed to a diverse queer scene that was not solely cisgendered gay men.  That expanded queer community she found coupled with an increase in trans public figures in the past decade or so helped Rose in exploring and challenging her true feelings about her gender identity -- ultimately confirming what she knew ever since she was a child. Rose's cover photo credit: @djdumplingShare your story!Fill out this formEpisode Links:Follow Rose on social media:Instagram @rosedommuTwitter @rosedommuTikTok @rosedommuLike A Virgin Podcast:SpotifyApple PodcastsFollow along with Reaching Out:Podcast's Instagram: @reachingoutpodPodcast's Twitter: @reachingoutpodMichael's Instagram: @michaelwingsit

This week we talk with the king of pop culture, Ira Madison III!Ira humors me as I fangirl over some of the insanely cool projects he works on, including his hit podcast, Keep It; his first ever Marvel comic that he wrote; and his time working on one of my all-time favorite tv shows, Q-Force (RIP).Ira tells us about some of the his formative coming-of-age queer pop culture, his thoughts between queer life in LA vs NYC, and how his coming out was not necessarily on his own terms.  Ira and I also bond over one of my favorite midwestern past times, which is, of course, not sharing complex feelings with family members!I loved getting to catch up with Ira and I think you'll enjoy this chat, too. Enjoy!Share your story!Fill out this formEpisode Links:Ira's Instagram: @irathethirdKeep It Podcast:SpotifyApple PodcastsFollow along with Reaching Out:Podcast's Instagram: @reachingoutpodPodcast's Twitter: @reachingoutpodMichael's Instagram: @michaelwingsit

This week we talk to budding YouTube star and Reaching Out's first European guest, Brad Evans!First off, I can't believe I get to have Brad on not one, but TWO episodes of Reaching Out in the next couple of weeks.  We explain how this all came to be in the first few minutes... a story I truly cherish.Brad's story brings up so many interesting topics.  He discusses the dichotomy between his experience with coming to terms with his sexuality amongst different family members: some choosing to take the piss out of him while others made it known that he had the freedom to come out.  Brad also makes some really great points about setting boundaries with people as you begin to come out and express your true self for the first time -- despite others might not understanding.I feel so lucky to have Brad on Reaching Out because he is truly heading towards some amazing things with his YouTube channel, you've got to check him out.  Getting the chance to hang out with him twice this week (via video chat) was the biggest treat for me.Check out his episode and then go check out his YouTube channel!Share your story!Fill out this formEpisode Links:Brad's Instagram: bradleyy_yBrad's YouTube Channel:ChannelHeartstopper Live Reaction SeriesFollow along with Reaching Out:Podcast's Instagram: @reachingoutpodPodcast's Twitter: @reachingoutpodMichael's Instagram: @michaelwingsit

I'm beyond excited about this week's episode featuring Eric Williams, who also happens to be the host of one of my new favorite podcasts, That's A Gay  Ass Podcast!We chat about so much on this episode, it's ridic.  He and I bond over our shared love for choreographed danced routines, daddies, and Jeff Probst's iconic nudes.Eric then tells us about his coming out experience which includes saur many good topics:Well-intentioned-but-damaging subtext from the responses of friends and family when you come out to themThe connection that gay men might have between danger and desire from growing up keeping a secret that feels, well, dangerousHis act of gay rebellion that is refusing to withhold feelings or secrets as an out adult after holding the physically and mentally heavy secret of being queer during closeted his yearsWe also debut a new segment asking our guests about their Rainbow Flags -- or the endearing signs they should have known they were queer before they came out.  Rainbow Flags are not new to Reaching Out, in fact, they come up so often that we decided to dedicate a whole segment to them! Eric graciously and bravely agrees to be our guinea pig for the new segment.Eric was such an absolute joy to talk to, I could not be more excited for you to hear his story. Enjoy!Share your story!Fill out this formEpisode Links:Eric's Instagram/TikTok:@ericwillz@gayasspodcast@erikwillzttThat's A Gay Ass Podcast:SpotifyApple PodcastsFollow along with Reaching Out:Podcast's Instagram: @reachingoutpodPodcast's Twitter: @reachingoutpodMichael's Instagram: @michaelwingsit

Today we finally allow the lovely Aisha Khan to introduce herself after doing the entire prior episode reviewing Sex Education without having her do so!In this episode Aisha and I cover it all!  She tells us about some of her first crushes in school (both male and female, student and teacher.... relatable vibes), how growing up with fellow misfits made her transition into queerness a natural one, and the impact of growing up in a multicultural family situation since Aisha is part Mexican, Pakistani, and Saudi.  She also talks about the stigma that the bisexual community has experienced historically, not only from the heterosexual community but from within the queer community as well.Aisha and I also dive into some other interesting queer topics like different types of relationships, thoughts and experiences with open relationships, and wanting to peacock your queerness -- well, at all times -- but especially while in a straight presenting relationship.Listening to Aisha tell her story is like letting your brain be hugged by the coziest wool blanket, you will j'adore it.Share your story:Fill out this formEpisode Links:Aisha's Instagram: @lavidaooshaQueer Content Review: Sex EducationSpotifyApple PodcastsFollow along with Reaching Out:Podcast's Instagram: @reachingoutpodPodcast's Twitter: @reachingoutpodMichael's Instagram: @michaelwingsit

We start the episode with a little 1:1 catch up between you and I -- some podcast updates, sneak peak at some exciting things in the works, travel updates, Pride plans, and more!We've got a very special episode for you this week featuring a dear friend of mine, Aisha Khan (she/her)!When Aisha and I started talking about queer life and coming out, we talked about queer content and how much better and more available it is now -- highlighted, in Aisha's opinion, by Sex Education on Netflix. I had only seen season one a few years back and so she issued an ultimatum of sorts -- in order for her to be a guest on my podcast, I had to finish season two and three.It took a while for me to get the momentum to start such a daunting undertaking, but almost immediately after I did, I was OBSESSED.  Obsessed enough that we decided to do a new type of episode format -- a Queer Content Review!We knew that we were going to talk about Sex Education in her episode, but we didn't know that (1) we would accidentally dive into talking about Sex Education in thorough detail right away and (2) that it would warrant its own separate episode, and that's what this episode is.We got so excited after all the build up that I even forgot to have Aisha introduce herself (whoopsies).  This episode is us discussing the importance and brilliance of Sex Education and how amazing it is that educational queer content like this exists (and only lament a teensy bit that it was not available to us growing up).Next week we will properly let Aisha introduce herself and share her story.If you enjoyed the Queer Content Review style format, please let me know so that we can do more episodes like this in the future. Aimee, Maeve, Ola, Eric: https://sexeducation.fandom.com/wiki/Sex_Education_Wiki> Adam: https://www.diezminutos.es/teleprograma/series-tv/a37802426/sex-education-temporada-4-reparto-adam/

I am so thrilled to have my friend and former coworker, Nicole Sgarlato (she/her), on the podcast today!I met Nicole in 2019 when I first moved to San Francisco because she was a coworker of mine at Lyft. My first memory of her was watching her give a company-wide Pride presentation during my first week on the job during Pride Month.  The following Pride month is when I first got to interact with her and as I explain to her in the beginning of the episode, she was the key to me sharing my coming out story for the first time and, in turn, I give some credit for this very podcast.Nicole tells us about her journey coming out as a trans woman -- a process that she didn't really start exploring as a possibility until her early thirties.  She tells us about the major life changes that she had to take on in order for her to get to a place where she allowed herself to explore that feeling of difference that she had felt for most of her life -- this includes both leaving the church and not going through with an engagement. Nicole reminds us that it's never too late to make a change in your life -- a sentiment that I personally love as somewhat of a late bloomer, myself.We talk about so many interesting topics on this episode, including: exploring your true self-identity later in life, coming out in the workplace, the importance of safe spaces and the impact that they can have on those exploring their identity, navigating imposter syndrome, and even the whirlwind period that had Nicole modeling for ad campaigns in NYC and at the Pride Parade with Sasha Velour.  It's just too good! Share your story:Fill out this formEpisode Links:Nicole's Instagram: @nicolesgarlato Follow along with Reaching Out:Podcast's Instagram: @reachingoutpodPodcast's Twitter: @reachingoutpodMichael's Instagram: @michaelwingsit

I could not be more excited to have Adam James Cohen from Second Adolescence Podcast on Reaching Out today!Adam is both a psychotherapist and the San Francisco-based podcast host of the incredible Second Adolescent Podcast -- a podcast on which I had the pleasure of being a guest a few weeks back!  I'm so thrilled to be able to return the favor and have Adam share his story with us on Reaching Out.Adam touches on so many great, resonate-y coming out topics.  He talks about his survival tactics in the closet -- including how he basically taught himself to code-switch to sound more masculine as a young boy, he talks about the absolute euphoric feeling of having someone really see you for the very first time after you come out to them, and how to embrace the cringey but "messessary" (messy + necessary) moments that take place after you come out as you go through your Second Adolescence. Adam takes us through the concept of Second Adolescence and how it originally came to him and eventually turned into his incredible podcast and more!Also, if you've been following Reaching Out for a few episodes, you've probably heard guests and myself bring up how important and helpful therapy is in the coming out process and beyond.  Adam, being an actual trained professional, gives us great advice on how we can view the concept of therapy a little bit differently than just going and talking to a trained professional -- and in doing so, he makes "therapy" seem much more accessible for everyone, especially if seeing a trained professional is not possible for you for whatever reason.Adam and his podcast are both such a fucking treasures -- I cannot wait for you to meet him through this episode and then hop on over to Second Adolescence Podcast to give that a listen.  Maybe even start with episode 10?  I don't know, just an idea. ;)Enjoy!Share your story:Fill out this formEpisode Links:Adam's Instagram: @secondadolescencepodSecond Adolescence PodcastSpotifyApple PodcastsWebsiteMy episode on Adam's podcastSpotifyApple PodcastsFollow along with Reaching Out:Podcast's Instagram: @reachingoutpodPodcast's Twitter: @reachingoutpodMichael's Instagram: @michaelwingsit

On this week's episode we chat with Justin Landsman!I've been looking forward to talking to him on the podcast for a while – not only because of his coming out story, but also because he's a super talented film photographer!We actually spend the first chunk of the show talking about photography where we discuss our creative processes, the differences between our shooting styles (he shoots film while I shoot digital), and battling imposter syndrome.  If you want to skip ahead to his coming out story, you can bop right over to about the 25:00 mark.Once we finally do get to Justin's coming out story, things get spicy.Justin talks about feeling different his whole life – even to the point where his mom asked him at a young age if he wanted to be a girl.  His answer might surprise you.We also talk about his fraternity experience in college, which he claims was low-key "pretty gay." I even say the phrases “pull chicks” and “chill-to-pull ratio" which makes me want to physically crawl out of my skin this very moment!!Justin also tells us about a trip to Copenhagen that resulted in a 36 hour romance with a boy that not only led him to finally being able to picture himself living a gay life, but also brought him to come out to his family.  This leads to a very fun convo about what I refer to as “microships” – brief but powerful romances that can happen while you're traveling.  I actually learned how to date and how to do… other things… through microchips, so I really loved this part.Finally, we talk about how Justin initially struggled to find his place in the gay community when he first moved to San Francisco because it took him a while to find his “people”.Justin is such a nice, talented guy.  I'm excited for you to meet him.Enjoy!Share your story:Fill out this formEpisode Links:Justin's Instagram: @landsmanfilmJustin's photography websiteFollow along with Reaching Out:Podcast's Instagram: @reachingoutpodPodcast's Twitter: @reachingoutpodMichael's Instagram: @michaelwingsit

What a special episode we have this week, featuring an old friend of mine from college, Emily Sklar (she/her)!Okay, Emily and I go all the way back to freshman year of college when we met in the greek system at Michigan State.  I was her sorority's bus boy all throughout college and we both think this is the first time we've caught up “in person” since.In most of the stories we've had on the show thus far, our guests have shared their journey towards coming out or towards the realization of what their particular self-identity is.  Emily's story is so beautiful and relatable because she is still in the process of figuring things out – which, how relatable is that in regards to the queer experience? We've all been there, just in our own ways.Emily tells us how she currently identifies with being on the ace, or asexuality, spectrum and that she, as of right now, doesn't have the desire to have sexual relationships or date anyone regardless of their gender. She also talks candidly and authentically about how the thought of committing to one identity today is intimidating because what if that changes or evolves over time? She shares experiences in the past, beginning as a freshman in college – in the very sorority in which I cleaned her dishes for years – where she realized that she was on a different path than other girls her age.This story is perfect for anyone who is on that never-ending quest towards evolving into their most authentic self or has felt that perpetual feeling that they're different but aren't really sure where they fit in. It also serves as a great reminder that your current experience right now is a valid one, and just because you identify as one way now does not mean you can't evolve in the future – besides, shouldn't we all be actively trying to do that anyways? I'm so grateful to Emily for sharing her vulnerability and story with us.  Take a listen.Share your story:Fill out this formEpisode Links:Emily's Instagram: @itsemilyonairEmily's Twitter: @itsemilyonairEmily's TikTok: @itsemilyonair"My Story of Pride" article that Emily mentioned in the interviewFollow along with Reaching Out:Podcast's Instagram: @reachingoutpodPodcast's Twitter: @reachingoutpodMichael's Instagram: @michaelwingsit

This week we have the absolute pleasure to hear from Michael Lee (he/him)!Michael grew up in a military family, which meant that he was bopping around the literal globe every few years.  He describes what that meant for him in terms of his coming out journey -- including certain advantageous cultural norms that may have helped confirm he was not destined to be with a woman.One of the most fascinating themes of Michael's story that popped up more than once was the innate need to observe how people in his life reacted towards people or characters that were perceived to be gay from a very young age.  This was done, as he describes, as a way to measure the safety of certain situations because he knew deep down that those reactions would eventually be directed at him.  This part of the discussion was so, so good and I think that it will resonate with lots of queer people -- regardless of where they reside under the LGBTQ+  umbrella.Michael also touches on many other topics including how the movie RENT changed his perspective of what being gay and being queer could mean, how not resembling the masculine and superhero-like stereotype of what a black man "should" be impacted him, what his favorite dating app is, and much more.He  wraps all of this up beautifully at the end by talking about how important showing up authentically at all times in his life is to him.  It was a wonderful reminder to live authentically and also a nice little motivational kick in the ass for myself to be honest.I'm so excited to share his story with you!Links:Michael's Instagram: @michaelmanxxFollow along with Reaching Out!Podcast's Instagram: @reachingoutpodPodcast's Twitter: @reachingoutpodMichael's Instagram: @michaelwingsitShare your story!

On this week's episode we chat with David Lopez!David shares what it was like for him growing up as LatinX in rural Texas as a devout member of the Catholic church – and we're talking some significant involvement at a very young age.He tells us about the internal conflict that was brewing inside of him as a high schooler where he basically felt like he had to choose between being true to himself or being a good Catholic because those two, as he was taught, could not coexist. Luckily, thanks to the example set by some extremely bad ass women in his family, he chose himself .  One of the more fascinating and heartbreaking parts of his story has to do with essentially what were ultimatums that David's mom and then David himself were given by his church once he finally did come out.I do want to give a trigger warning for folks that part of David's ultimatum from the church included the option of going to church-funded conversion therapy, this part of the conversation happens roughly around the 46:00 minute mark.David also has a book blog which you can find on Instagram where he reviews more books than I've read in my entire life. Bonus -- he gives us his reccos for some of his favorite queer lit.I'm so honored to share David's story with you -- it's a powerful one. Enjoy!Links:David's Instagram: @hisreadingnookFollow along with Reaching Out!Podcast's Instagram: @reachingoutpodPodcast's Twitter: @reachingoutpodMichael's Instagram: @michaelwingsitShare your story!

We've got such a special episode for you this week as it features our first returning guest, Blake Mitchell! In Episode 2, we were told all about what were essentially Blake's two coming outs: first coming out as gay as a teenager, and then coming out as a drag queen years later as an adult -- both to mixed reviews.  Blake also touched on the concept of non-static identity and how we as queer people get to continuously grow into the most authentic versions of ourselves.Well, since our last conversation, Blake has been doing exactly that (and for much earlier than our conversation, certainly) and has recently come out as non-binary.In this episode, Blake tells us about the experiences throughout their life that, when looking back, make so much more sense now that they have this clarity on their gender identity.  They talk about all of those moments leading up to this point that they attributed to being gay and how, when looking back now, were clearly more of an expression of gender than anything else.  They also talk about their recent third coming out to family and what that was like for them.Per usual, Blake has such amazing advice and hits on topics like how to be a good ally to gender non-conforming people, why they choose to put in the effort to help guide and educate loved ones through their coming out (despite how emotionally taxing it can be), and why ever-evolving identity is so important.I am so grateful to Blake for sharing their personal story with us and I can't wait for you to hear it, too.Enjoy!Links:Blake's Instagram: @blakelmitchell"Putting My Southern Dad Into Drag" -- Must Watch!Reaching Out Episode 2: Finding Freedom Through Self-ExpressionCamp Brave Trails Instagram: @bravetrailsGender Non-Conforming CreatorsJeffrey MarshAlokTy DeranGetting Curious with Jonathan Van Ness"Can We Say Bye-Bye To The Binary?" TrailerFollow along with Reaching Out!Podcast's Instagram: @reachingoutpodPodcast's Twitter: @reachingoutpodMichael's Instagram: @michaelwingsitShare your story!

In this week's episode we chat with a new friend of mine and first fellow Michigander on the podcast, Ames Ghani!Ames and I met a few months ago when we were both traveling through Mexico City and shortly after meeting, we found ourselves deep in a conversation about our coming out stories (classic me). Ames tells us what it was like growing up as an Arab-American in a predominantly Arab-American community and how cultural norms influenced the course of his coming out.  We also chat about his strategy for coming out to those people that you feel might not handle the news so well, how he had the self-awareness to get into therapy before he came out in order to help him sort through the complex feelings and emotions from being in the closet, and even highlights some of the benefits – yes benefits – of coming out later in life.  (As someone who came out at 28, I appreciated his perspective on this so much.)We also chit chat about the weather because what kind of Midwesterners would we be if we didn't talk about the cold? Ames is such a lovely and kind person, I'm excited for you to hear his story. Links:Instagram @amesghaniFollow along with Reaching Out!Instagram @reachingoutpodTwitter @reachingoutpodHost @michaelwingsitShare your story!

We're back with Part 2 of Andrew Coconato's coming out journey!As a refresher, you can think about Part 1 as Andrew's journey to finally coming out to himself (which finally happened after a close encounter with a wild bear while on a hike with his brother and friend), while Part 2 is his journey to finally "tapping into his colors" as he finally says bye to Florida and moves to LA to begin his life as an openly gay man.Andrew's story tackles so many fascinating topics like healing trauma through his creativity and his art, coming out to family using words and language that they will be able to best understand, and leveraging your uniqueness to impact and influence others in your work (or anywhere, really) regardless of your background or professional experience.We also talk a lot about the concept of finding community on Reaching Out -- often when discussing the concept of "chosen family" -- but that can be hard to find or build depending on your circumstances.  Andrew shares with us his approach to building a community from scratch that blew my mind.Lastly, I also think that this episode is going to resonate with anyone who has ever had an idea or passion that they wanted to pursue but has put it off due to not feeling qualified or feeling too much like an imposter.  Andrew's story about how he found inspiration, motivation, and support (thanks to the aforementioned community) to start his businesses at a time when he did not have much and was hitchhiking could be just the kick in the motivational tush that you've need to start making moves.Links:Instagram @vincecoconatoInstagram @bobsdanceshopTikTok @bobsdanceshopYoutube Bob's Dance ShopInstagram @twistedoakcreativeFollow along with Reaching Out!Instagram @reachingoutpodTwitter @reachingoutpodHost @michaelwingsit

In this very special two-part episode we sit down with professional vibe maker, Andrew "Coco" Coconato!Andrew is the visionary behind the impossibly catchy and stellar vibes-inducing dance experience that is Bob's Dance Shop (go check them out on TitTok or IG... I'll wait!). In part one of his story, we focus mainly on Andrew's journey to coming out to himself.  He touches on topics like such as:How his art, which was often in the form of dance, became the most effective way to release the trauma that came from living in what he refers to as his "straight" jacketHow he struggled during his fraternity days to reconcile feeling different than everyone else amongst an environment of toxic masculinityHow finding the "perfect" girl that gave him hope that maybe being straight could finally be an option only to realize that it was not in the cardsHow coming across a bear in the woods was the eye-opening moment he needed to accept himself as being gayLinks:Instagram @vincecoconatoInstagram @bobsdanceshopTikTok @bobsdanceshopYoutube Bob's Dance ShopInstagram @twistedoakcreativeFollow along with Reaching Out!Instagram @reachingoutpodTwitter @reachingoutpodHost @michaelwingsit

Grab your handbells, folks, because on this week's episode we dive into the topic of shame *bell sound* with none other than the shame sommelier himself, A.J. Bond!I am so excited to have A.J. on the podcast because his podcast, Discomfortable, was a huge help for me while coming out (linked my favorite gay-themed episodes below!). Having him on Reaching Out was such a fun full circle moment for me.A.J. goes in-depth on his coming out story and shares a few powerful memories and shame-related experiences that shaped his journey from a very young age.  It's an incredible story (and reminder) of how much shame and coming out -- or not coming out -- can be intertwined.  He is so knowledgable about the subject that it's absolutely fascinating to hear him speak about it.  I really think that some listeners will have a few 'aha!' moments as he explains how it's all connected.Links:Instagram @a_j_bondTwitter @discomfrtbleMichael's Discomfortable Podcast Recommendations:Getting Discomfortable with Being GayGetting Discomfortable with Gay SexGetting Discomfortable with Nail PolishGetting Discomfortable with DancingDiscomfortable Website -- A.J.'s book, coaching, and moreHirsute -- A.J.'s multiverse short filmFollow along with Reaching Out!Instagram @reachingoutpodTwitter @reachingoutpodHost @michaelwingsit

In this week's episode, I chat with one of my very first gay friends, Ryan Krause!Ryan walks us through his quote-unquote “phenomenally messy, not made for a Hulu series” coming out journey.  He talks about how he wrestled with the feeling of needing a boyfriend while coming out in order to validate his new queer identity and then about the freedom queer people have to redefine relationships from the heteronormative standard most of us grew up in thinking was the only way (super interesting and true vibes!).Ryan also shares some powerful thoughts about sexual empowerment stemming from his journey to reconcile his public, heteronormative-leaning gay life with his private promiscuous side.  As someone who grew up with a general “sex is bad” upbringing (and is still working through some of those repercussions today), I loved hearing Ryan's take about how people should feel less shame about their sex lives.  He is one of the most transparent, genuine, and funny people I know and you're about to see what I'm talking about.  I think you're simply going to love it.Links:Instagram @ryankilliankrauseTwitter @ryankkrauseCheck out the podcasts Ryan produces!Shut Up EvanV Wanna KnowFollow along with Reaching Out!Instagram @reachingoutpodTwitter @reachingoutpodHost @michaelwingsit

In this week's episode, we chat with Jessica Bedussi!Jessica shares her coming-out story with us on today's episode, and in doing so, she covers so many interesting themes and topics:How labels or boxes like "gay" or "lesbian" or "bisexual" were able to open up her mind to what was possible at first, but then started to make coming out even more complicated than it already was for herHow growing up in the South influenced how she thought about and dealt with those "inklings" that she might not be straightWhy having a general air of nonchalance when coming out to friends and family suited her bestHow to notice and appreciate the subtle signs that family members are genuinely trying to grow along with you after coming out to them (including the absolute loveliest story about her mom!)How internalized biphobia and bi-erasure can be damaging and confusing to those who don't identify with labels society commonly uses to categorize someone's sexual or romantic identityI genuinely had so, so much fun having this chat with Jessica and I ended up learning so much in the process.  I think that this episode is going to resonate with a lot of people -- especially those who never quite felt like any of the labels or boxes that society commonly uses applied to them.Links:Instagram @jessbedussi Follow along with Reaching Out!Instagram @reachingoutpodTwitter @reachingoutpodHost @michaelwingsit

And just like that, we're back, girlinas!On today's episode, we have the HILARIOUS Ross Matth -- I mean -- Nick Lehmann!I'm so thrilled to have Nick share his story with us in the most Nick way possible: with the perfect blend of humor and heart.

Oh my gosh, what a special guest we have this week with my year-long travel buddy and fellow gayby, Iris Crowe-Lerma!Iris and I met in 2017 when we were on the same year-long remote working travel program, Remote Year.  We bopped around the world for an entire year with a group of 50 other people, but neither of us were out the whole damn time! Iris and I  pour one out for the missed international dating opportunities from that year (and the rest of our lives, really), we talk about the challenges that come along with coming out in your late twenties / early thirties (but prove it's never too late!!), and we discuss how exactly one comes out when you're a bit older -- like, how does that even work??Iris also shares with us her personal challenges with coming out in a conservative and religious family, the frustration that comes with being in your early thirties and feeling like a teenager amongst adults, and that lightbulb moment where it all of a sudden made sense why her relationships with men just never seemed to work out...I'm obsessed with Iris, I'm obsessed with this episode, and I'm obsessed with you.  Let's gooo!Want to reach out to Iris?Instagram @icroweFollow along with Reaching Out!Instagram @reachingoutpodTwitter @reachingoutpodHost @michaelwingsit

In this week's episode, we chat with someone who was a very big part of my coming out process when I moved to SF -- my friend and former coworker, Jimmy Long!In this episode, we cover the topic of being out in the workplace.  Unbeknownst to him until we recorded this podcast, Jimmy was absolutely crucial for my coming out journey as he was the one who helped me navigate being out at work back when we both worked for Lyft.Jimmy also tells us about coming out when he was going to college in the midwest.  He talks about so many good topics, including the confusion that came from having a long term girlfriend in college, coming out at the same time as his best friend and fraternity brother, and how he was able to overcome one of the most challenging hurdles in his coming out process: self-acceptance. Want to reach out to Jimmy?Instagram @jlong324Follow along with Reaching Out!Instagram @reachingoutpodTwitter @reachingoutpodHost @michaelwingsit

Rainbow flag (n): a sign you should have known you were queer before you actually came out (to yourself or others), often times painfully obvious and frequently hilariousI get some really funny responses from people when I tell them I came out at 28 years old. Usually they want to know how I didn't know or why it took so long, to which I say… uhhh yeah, same lolz.While I now know and believe there's no “right” time to come out and everyone does it when they're ready, I can't help but look back on my life and wonder… were the signs there?? Should I have known? (Spoiler: yes)I've been writing down my rainbow flags in my little notes app for the last three years. I  feel like it's probably a topic other LGBTQ+ people can relate to. I have to imagine I'm not the only one whose mind was hellbent on avoiding the truth for a while, whether that was for 18 years, 28 years, or more.Links:YouTube Iceman Coming Out to his ParentsVulture on Queer Subtext of X-MenYouTube High School Musical 2 Dance AlongYouTube Sailor Moon TransformationsMedium My Rainbow Flags Part 1Medium My Rainbow Flags Part 2Follow along with Reaching Out!Instagram @reachingoutpodTwitter @reachingoutpodHost @michaelwingsit

What do you get when you put two self-described inarticulate clowns together to chat for an hour?You get this week's episode featuring everyone's favourite internet complainer, Matt Bellassai, and moi!Matt tells us all about his coming out story -- including a dramatic reading of the very messages he sent his friend when he came out for the first time, how he used being a nerdy kid as his shield to ward off suspicions of him being gay, and what his experience as a gay comedian has been like.  The girls also chit-chat about how awful high school proms were, how Shea Couleé got robbed in Season 9 of Drag Race, and how all signs point to Dua Lipa trying to be us.  While this episode is definitely one of the silliest to date, Matt also drops some genuine inspo around what surprised him most about being gay once he came out.Enjoy!Want to reach out to Matt?Instagram @mattbellassaiTwitter @mattbellassaiUnhappy Hour Podcast Apple Podcasts or SpotifyFollow along with Reaching Out!Instagram @reachingoutpodTwitter @reachingoutpodHost @michaelwingsit

In this week's episode, we chat with one of my first and best gay friends I made after I moved to San Francisco, Dominic Granato!Dom and I  chat about so many good topics -- like our shared failures in dating girls in college, how the vulnerability of coming out to friends and family can foster an even deeper connection with them, and how Dom was able to find safe spaces to come out while playing collegiate hockey.  We also chat about gay porn on accident, but like, in a cute way. Want to reach out to Dominic?Instagram @domgranatoFollow along with Reaching Out!Instagram @reachingoutpodTwitter @reachingoutpodHost @michaelwingsit

In this week's episode, I chat with one of my favorite people of all time: my friend and former go-to yoga / SoulCycle instructor, Gustavo Padron!  Gustavo is one of the most positive and motivational people I know, so it is a dream to have him on the show to share his coming out story with us. Gustavo talks about how he decided to NOT come out when he went to college and instead just live authentically, the impact that the culture of machismo had on him growing up in Mexico, how important chosen family can be while coming out, and more! I used to say that while I am most definitely not a religious person, I would get all the spiritual fulfillment I needed from Gustavo's inspirational talks at the end of a yoga class while in Shavasana.  This week's episode is basically an hour of that.  Namaste, girlies!Want to reach out to Gustavo?Instagram @gustavopadronFlow with Gustavo online glo.comWebsite www.gustavopadron.comFollow along with Reaching Out!Instagram @reachingoutpodTwitter @reachingoutpodHost @michaelwingsit

Is the title of this episode a quote from our fabulous guest about a pivotal fog-clearing coming out moment or is it my opinion about said fabulous guest after meeting her? Yes.On this week's episode, our guest, Rachel Samples, starts off by telling us about her wild past week that saw her go viral for one of her hysterical and nostalgia inducing TikTok series.  She then explains how getting left out of a school trip "abroad" to LA in college turned out to play a pivotal role in her coming out.  We also talk about the absolute power move she made that lead to her first relationship, the important role of strategic dance floor make outs to closeted people in college, and the pressure of feeling "not gay enough" once you're out.Want to reach out to Rachel?Instagram @heyfreesamplesTiktok @heyfreesamplesSounds Only Millennials Can HearPart 1Part 2Part 3 Follow along with Reaching Out on Instagram:Instagram @reachingoutpodTwitter @reachingoutpodHost @michaelwingsit

Welcome to a very special episode of Reaching Out with Michael Constable!  What's special about it, you ask? Well, it was the very first recorded episode!  It was recorded before the podcast was even named (referred to generically as "the podcast" in the ep).We start out of the gates with an incredible guest -- Blake Mitchell.  Blake is a friend of mine from San Francisco and was one of the very first people I thought of inviting on the show.  Blake's infectious positivity, passion for helping others, and obvious love of being queer made it just feel so right, you know?  Oh, not to mention that Blake is a local SF celebrity -- yep, you can find Blake all around SF thrilling crowds in drag as the GORG, Mary Lou Pearl.Blake shares with us what it was like coming out at as a teenager in a conservative and religious upbringing, what the power of self-expression in recent years has meant to him, and the differences in coming out as gay and coming out as a drag queen.I am so happy to share Blake's powerful story with everyone as the first guest for the podcast!Want to reach out to Blake?Instagram Blake MitchellInstagram Mary Lou PearlYouTube Mary Lou PearlWebsite Camp Brave Trails -- non-profit dedicated to LGBTQ+ youth leadershipYouTube Camp Brave TrailsFollow along with Reaching Out on Instagram:Instagram @reachingoutpodTwitter @reachingoutpodHost @michaelwingsit

In the premiere episode of Reaching Out with Michael Constable, Michael takes you on an epic journey -- his coming out journey, specifically.Michael walks you through his upbringing in the midwest suburbs when his goal was to fit in, his lifelong struggle with trying to date girls,  and how a year-long trip around the world was able to help him flip the switch -- literally and figuratively -- in finally coming out to himself at the age of 28.  He also gives insight into the origin story of this very podcast, which involves...you guessed it... reaching out.Grab yourself an Aperol Spritz and enjoy!Follow along on Instagram:@reachingoutpod@michaelwingsit

Oh, hello there!  Thank you from the bottom of my silly little heart for stopping by Reaching Out with Michael Constable.Reaching Out is a podcast with the mission of making coming out easier through story sharing.  Each week I will be inviting guests from around the LGBTQ+ community on the show to share their coming out experiences in hopes that their stories are exactly what someone who is currently coming out desperately needs to hear.In this trailer episode, you will hear all about why I feel this type of platform is so valuable to me based on my own experience of coming out as gay at the age of 28 and who I think this podcast is for (spoiler alert: it's everyone).  I'm a firm believer that the impact of sharing coming out stories on a more public platform has the power to make a huge difference for those currently coming out and for those who are contemplating taking that first step.Reaching Out with Michael Constable premieres in October 2021!Follow @reachingoutpod Hosted by Michael Constable @michaelwingsit /Episode 00