Forged in Fire: LGBTQ+ Leadership

Tech leader, author, and trans advocate Erica Vogel joins Forged in Fire to talk about authenticity, vulnerability, and how a lifetime of solving problems shaped her leadership. From growing up without the language to describe her identity to leading global change initiatives at a Fortune 25 company, Erica’s journey shows that self-acceptance is both personal work and professional superpower. She shares lessons on storytelling, sel...

Former Palm Springs mayor Lisa Middleton has spent her life breaking barriers—from working-class roots to the halls of California politics. In this episode, she joins Bree, Liz, and Eduardo to talk about courage, self-acceptance, and the art of listening as a tool for leadership. Lisa shares what it means to stand firm against hate, to build coalitions across difference, and to leave the next generation with a brighter, braver torc...

Bria Brown-King’s story is one of courage, authenticity, and calling. As a Black, queer, intersex, and nonbinary leader, Bria turned private pain into public purpose—first by finding language for their identity, and then by finding power in it. From a BuzzFeed video that changed everything to speaking on the steps of the Supreme Court, Bria shares how embracing visibility became both healing and revolutionary. With honesty and humo...

JD Schramm’s journey, from a Kansas childhood steeped in faith, through addiction and despair, to becoming one of the country’s foremost voices on authentic communication, is proof that the darkest nights can forge the brightest leaders.

JD reveals the personal crucible that shaped his philosophy: surviving a suicide attempt, reclaiming authenticity, and helping others find their voice. JD breaks down his audience-intent-message mo...

In this episode, Bree, Liz, and guest host Blake Dremann are joined by Eduardo Placer, who brings a lifetime of performance—from musicals to keynote stages—into a fearless conversation about leadership, discomfort, and storytelling. Eduardo reflects on his family’s refugee history, the lessons of bilingual identity, and the role of discomfort as a crucible for resilience.

With humor and candor, Eduardo outlines five pillars of powe...

In a candid conversation that swings from folk music to family, Kai Hong names the hard parts—culture clash at home, years of silence after coming out, and the slow repair that followed—and the habits that keep her grounded: walks, journaling, Disney days, and deep time with her partner and siblings. She refuses the “therapist behind the chair” label, choosing instead to be a great listener and a better friend, the kind who cheers ...

With humor and candor (yes, including gardening victories and “how the meat is made”), Ray reflects on identity—nonbinary pronouns, breaking gender norms—and on the power of digital spaces where people “just get you.” They share hard-won lessons from building Queerty Gamers through COVID, boosting talent like Twitch partners from 17 followers to thousands, and holding the line as censorship pressures rise. The leadership takeaway i...

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...