In this episode, Justin Ayars (he/him), shares his journey to starting equalityMD, an LGBTQ+ telehealth platform that enables marginalized patients to enjoy affordable, affirming care in safe digital spaces - and become the superheroes of their own healthcare stories. Justin - a white, cisgender, gay man - has a story that starts in a showbiz family as the godson of Liberace...and gets more interesting from there. His eclectic professional journey brings him to an intersection of LGBTQ+ circles, where he consistently hears the question: “Where can I find a doctor who makes me feel safe?” Justin goes on to share a deeply-personal and shocking experience of discrimination he encountered in a medical setting - as well as statistics about the healthcare disparities that lead many people in the LGBTQ+ community to avoid health care altogether. Justin’s knowledge and experiences inspire him to mission-driven action, powerfully illustrating the impact of living deliberately and authentically.
Justin Ayars is a former healthcare trial lawyer turned healthtech entrepreneur. As the Founder of equalityMD, he is working to transform how the LGBTQ+ community perceives and receives healthcare - offering a telehealth platform that affordably connects them with culturally competent providers for all of their mental, physical and prescription healthcare needs.
Shanti Joy Gold is a professional coach, 30-year corporate warrior and member of the LGBTQIA+ community. She understands the unique challenges faced by those who feel like outsiders and, as an executive coach, helps underrepresented people confidently thrive in their careers by being fully themselves.
TO LEARN MORE ABOUT 1:1 CAREER COACHING WITH SHANTI JOY GOLD, BOOK A COMPLIMENTARY DISCOVERY CALL HERE
Justin and I also discuss:
- Examining our own intersectionality of identities - and how these different parts of ourselves can complement each other and lead to our fullest potential
- Demonstrating why “your network is really your net worth” and the importance of building trust and social capital over time
- Choosing to embrace the uncomfortable as an avenue to achieving transformative growth and impact
- Looking at an example of how being a white, cisgender male can open doors professionally - but may not prevent LGBTQ+ bias
- Exploring how music can “...uplift the soul and speak to the height of what the human condition can attain - if only we stay curious and look up”
Thank you for listening! Be sure to tune in to all the episodes to receive insights about how to navigate your career as an outsider - and learn more about the impact of allyship. Don’t forget to follow, rate, and review the podcast and find me below to share your key takeaways!
Learn more about Stories We Haven’t shared at https://storieswehaventshared.com
CONNECT WITH JUSTIN AYARS
equalityMD Website
equalityMD Product Demo
Justin on LinkedIn
equalityMD on LinkedIn
CONNECT WITH SHANTI JOY GOLD
LinkedIn
Instagram
Spotify playlist
Take the Free Thriving Assessment
Book a Free Discovery Call Here
Work with Shanti!
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