Forged in Fire: LGBTQ+ Leadership

Licensed professional counselor Blakely Hunze-Austin joins to explore why purposeful discomfort can be a path to authenticity—and better leadership. Blakely traces a journey from tamped-down identity in the Tennessee church pews to building affirming community in Colorado Springs—and what those different contexts teach about safety, vulnerability, and leadership. We discuss tools for lowering defenses and integrating hard truths, p...

To paraphrase Lynn: Leadership isn’t a role—it’s a thing you do when the challenge is too big to face alone.

What happens when a former ballet dancer, West Point professor, and nonbinary academic challenges the way we think about leadership? In this episode, Lynn Vidler discusses the failures of higher education’s leadership pipeline, the transformative power of authenticity, and what it means to lead with empathy in a world shaped ...

Chris Douglas has worn many labels—veteran, businessman, activist—but the throughline of his story is moral seriousness. Seriously. Listen to find out what that means!

In this episode, Chris unpacks what it means to live with integrity in business and life, to come out publicly when silence would be safer, and to keep working toward justice even when the tide turns. His philosophy of "we do what we can" is both a call ...

What does it mean to lead with love on horseback, in life, and through decades of change? Robert Dover’s life is a testament to what happens when queer leadership meets purpose. In this episode, Robert recounts his trailblazing role in Olympic history, the mentors who shaped him, and the community he continues to build through advocacy, storytelling, and care. As he navigates love, sport, and identity, Dover reminds us that the gre...

Talk about an unexpected journey! We run quite a bit longer than usual in this one because there was just so much ground to cover. Mercury Stardust's recent fame as the Trans Handy Ma'am, with a unique brand of compassionate education in the Home Repair world, is only the tip of the iceberg. From a career in burlesque through several encounters that radically changed her views of the world, listen in to find out how she dev...

We're joined by Mason Funk, founder of The Outwords Archive, whose mission captures the wisdom and struggles of LGBTQ+ elders before their stories are lost to time. Mason shares his own path through silence, faith, family, and identity to becoming a documentarian of queer history, preserving voices that have shaped the fight for equality. As the conversation unfolds, Mason offers powerful reflections on resilience, joy, and the...

Todd Ross shares his journey from growing up as a closeted queer youth in rural New Brunswick to becoming a leading voice for 2SLGBTQIA+ veterans in Canada. After being forced out of the Canadian Navy during the discriminatory LGBT purge, Todd transformed his trauma into activism—becoming a lead plaintiff in a class-action lawsuit that resulted in a national apology and the establishment of the LGBT Purge Fund. The conversation exp...

In this powerful episode, activist and author Raquel Willis shares an intimate and wide-ranging conversation on fear, identity, and the transformative power of storytelling. Raquel reflects on her childhood fears, the complexities of coming out in a traditional Southern Black family, and how her father's expectations shaped—and ultimately catalyzed—her path toward liberation. From founding the Gender Liberation Movement to crea...

In this episode, we talk with Dr. Steve Yacovelli—author, educator, and founder of Top Dog Learning Group—about what it takes to lead with authenticity and courage, especially as a queer professional navigating today's shifting cultural and political climate. Steve shares stories from his leadership journey, from being “the invisible other” to proudly claiming his space as the “Gay Leadership Dude.” We dig into how identity sha...

In this episode, Day Al-Mohamed, an accomplished disability policy expert, filmmaker, and advocate, joins hosts to explore the intersections of cultural identity, leadership development, and LGBTQ+ experiences. Day provides unique insights into how cultural backgrounds—from Bahrain to the Midwestern United States—influence personal growth and leadership styles. She emphasizes the importance of storytelling, visibility, and authenti...

Dr. Mitchell Lunn, a physician-scientist and co-director of the PRIDE Study, discusses the challenges of gathering meaningful data on LGBTQ health and leadership, the systemic barriers to visibility, and the importance of research-driven advocacy all in the context of how he developed his leadership capacities. Dr. Lunn shares his personal journey of resilience, his passion for research, and the necessity of ensuring that LGBTQ ind...

Technology strategist E.C. Pizarro III explores how his intersecting identities as a Black trans man and corporate professional shaped his leadership style and commitment to community. E.C. revisits pivotal mentorship moments—like encouraging a young trans student in his earliest days of transition—and explains how visibility can spark a ripple effect for others looking to enter tech. He also delves into the power of strategic pivo...

Nashville Council Member Olivia Hill—a U.S. Navy veteran and the first openly transgender person elected in Tennessee—discusses her lifelong journey of hiding, self-discovery, and ultimately embracing her true identity. She recounts brutal “blanket parties” in the military while overcompensating with a hyper-masculine persona, only to break free decades later and run for public office. Drawing on 40 years of utilities experience, s...

Game designer and USC professor Gordon Bellamy shares how embracing his intersecting identities—from queer mathlete to Madden NFL innovator—shaped his leadership philosophy. He describes trusting his team enough to take a bold risk (shipping the game with unconfirmed NFL player rights) and highlights how champion mindsets spark breakthroughs in creativity. Throughout, Gordon underscores the importance of communal care, empathy, and...

Brian Sims—civil rights advocate, former Pennsylvania state legislator, and current CEO of Agenda PAC—to discuss how adversity shapes extraordinary leadership. Brian traces his roots as the son of two Army Officers, recalling a childhood shaped by frequent moves and a powerful mother figure who taught him the value of service, resilience, and challenging inequity. As he shares his coming-out journey, Brian highlights how his closet...

As transgender military service is likely to take center stage in early 2025, we wrap up Season 2 with Captain Trey Wirth of the U.S. Coast Guard. Trey takes us on an extraordinary journey of leadership forged through adversity. From responding to major disasters to breaking barriers as an openly transgender officer, Captain Wirth reveals the strength and determination it takes to thrive in high-stakes environments while staying tr...

​Anthony Shop and Thomas Sanchez are the dynamic couple behind Social Driver, a trailblazing digital agency. Anthony, Chair of the National Digital Roundtable and an acclaimed strategist, and Thomas, a celebrated CEO and advocate for inclusion, share their journey from humble beginnings to leading change in technology, diversity, and LGBTQ advocacy. They reveal how their people-centered approach has driven success for top brands a...

This is a special "almost live" episode, recorded on the Sunday before the 2024 election in the United States. Joining Bree for the conversation are Zane Alvarez and Paulo Batista, transgender service members, and Emily Starbuck Gerson, a writer and communications specialist who is also the spouse of a transgender service member. This community has been demonized in the runup to the election and the stakes are incredibly high.

In ...