Together Moving Forward Podcast

The journey continues! New voices. Raw truths. Real connection.

In Season 02, join host Stef Vachon, your French-Canadian host based in Montréal, as we continue building a brave, loving and inclusive space for the 2SLGBTQIA+ community and its allies. This season, we go even deeper, exploring powerful personal stories, unspoken truths and moments of transformation.

From coming out to coming home to ourselve...

In the heartfelt season finale of Together Moving Forward, Stef Vachon welcomes Gary, a powerful voice of resilience and advocacy. Coming out in the 1980s, Gary once believed that parenthood was beyond reach for someone like him. But times changed, and so did he. Now a proud gay father and passionate advocate for minority rights, Gary shares his personal story of navigating identity, embracing fatherhood, and standing up for w...

Versión en español abajo.

In this inspiring bilingual episode, Stef Vachon sits down with Vanesa López, founder of Salimos Jugando, an Argentinian organization that uses football as a tool to empower women, girls, and gender-diverse people. Broadcasting from Buenos Aires to the world, this conversation dives into how sports can challenge inequality, create safe and inclusive spaces, and become a powerful vehicle for educa...

In this episode of Together Moving Forward, I have the pleasure of speaking with Alan Lessik, novelist, Zen practitioner, figure skater, and passionate queer activist. From Berlin, Alan shares his unique journey, blending storytelling, history, and mindfulness to inspire and uplift.

We dive into the power of community, the role of resilience in overcoming life’s biggest challenges, and how the loss of his partner shaped his...

In this episode of Together Moving Forward, I welcome Maria Roman, a dedicated advocate, activist, and leader in social services for the transgender community. Maria’s journey is one of resilience, strength, and unwavering commitment. Arriving in the United States at just 16 years old, she faced numerous challenges but turned them into opportunities to uplift and empower others. Today, she plays a vital role in the TransLatin@...

In this episode of Together Moving Forward, I welcome Ari Issac from Toronto, Canada, a passionate advocate for self-discovery, the power of community, and someone profoundly shaped by the loss of her father.

Beyond her personal journey, Ari is also a driven entrepreneur who took the bold step of starting her own company. She opens up about the lessons learned while building her business, the misconceptions people may have ...

In this episode of Together Moving Forward, host Stef Vachon takes us on a heartfelt journey through the Gay Games, sharing his personal experiences from New York 1994 and Amsterdam 1998. He reflects on how these games reignited his passion for figure skating and gave him a profound sense of belonging within the LGBTQ+ community.

Stef reunites with Charles Sinek, a former Olympic ice dancer who stepped in as his partner at the l...

In this inspiring episode of Together Moving Forward, I sit down with Olympic medalist and world champion figure skater Eric Radford. Beyond his incredible achievements on the ice, Eric is also a talented musician and composer.

We dive into his journey from childhood challenges to coming out at the peak of his career and explore themes of self-love, resilience, and staying grounded despite success.

Join us as Eric shares...

In this episode, I have the pleasure of speaking with Violet, a trans woman, skater, and community leader who is deeply involved in creating safe and inclusive spaces for LGBTQ+ individuals in skateboarding. She opens up about her journey, her transition, the challenges she has faced, and the incredible support she found within the queer community.

Violet shares how she went from struggling with housing insecurity to becoming a ...

In this episode, I sit down with Messy Margaret, a Toronto-based drag artist, performer, and producer. From discovering drag in 2020 to building her own production company, Messy shares her journey of self-acceptance, resilience, and creating a platform for queer representation.

We dive into childhood struggles, the power of community, and what it truly means to embrace yourself. Messy gets real about finding purpose, challengin...

In this powerful episode of Together Moving Forward, I sit down with Laura Moore, a trailblazer whose journey is a testament to resilience, authenticity, and the importance of living life on your own terms. From discovering her identity as a lesbian in a time when acceptance was scarce to pioneering queer representation in figure skating, Laura opens up about the pivotal moments that shaped her path.

She shares the story of her ...

In this episode, MinJun shares his journey of embracing his uniqueness, discussing the challenges he faced while coming out, particularly in a traditional Asian household.

MinJun opens up about the struggle of balancing his identity with societal expectations, emphasizing the importance of self-love and acceptance.

He reflects on his childhood, how figure skating helped shape his resilience, and the impact of his supportive c...

In this very first episode of the Together Moving Forward Podcast, meet your host Stef Vachon, a French-Canadian living in Montreal, a former professional figure skater, creative soul, proud gay dad, and resilient survivor. Stef opens up about the life experiences that shaped him: growing up queer in a world surviving bullying and trauma, and how his return to the ice and the arrival of his child became pivotal moments in his life,...

Launching soon! April 09-2025.

Welcome to the Together Moving Forward Podcast!

Finally loving and respecting ourselves.

Join host Stef Vachon, a French-Canadian living in Montreal, as we create a safe space for the 2SLGBTQIA+ community and our allies.

This podcast is dedicated to sharing stories of resilience, love, and self-acceptance, empowering each listener to embrace their true selves.

Together, we will foster under...