Today we talk to Chris Paul Rainbows, a storyteller, strategist and queer educator on a mission to make everyone feel like they belong.
Chris talks about growing up queer in a small border town, struggling with OCD and anxiety, building a successful company only to have a breakdown, and tearing it all apart to start over. We touch on PRIDE as a mix of celebration and rebellion, what it means to be an ally and how this is not the oppression olympics - we all have hard stories that make us who we are. And we need to embrace them to find our people.
But the best part is the stories - every one of them full of joy and hope. We’ve got a pumpkin empire, gay cakes, and a tortoise with a prolapsed butthole named Rock Hudson. If you’re ever struggled to find your voice, or need inspiration to chase a bigger life, Chris will make you believe anything is possible. Or maybe you just need some 100% joy in your life today.
Please enjoy, Chris Paul Rainbows.
Every other week, join your host Bob Mathers, keynote speaker for conversations designed to push you out of your comfort zone. Each episode delivers boundless insights and ideas that matter by inspiring you to get off autopilot and keep chasing curiosity.
Takeaways
- Pride has evolved for Chris from partying in their 20s to giving talks, reading books to kids, and spreading queer joy by simply living openly and authentically.
- Growing up queer in a small rural town with no representation on TV felt isolating and led Chris to leave home at 18 to find community.
- Chris’s mental health struggles with OCD reached a breaking point while running a stressful business, but therapy, medication, and support from their husband helped them rebuild their life around what truly made them happy.
- Chris launched The Unicorn Rebellion to do the creative work they love on their own terms—without the stress of a big agency—and created a life with chickens, parrots, bunnies, and a tortoise named Rock Hudson.
- His viral “Pumpkin Empire” taught them the power of storytelling on social media and how curiosity, kindness, and including your community can make even the strangest moments into something beautiful.
- Chris’s story of the world’s gayest cake, or “gayke,” shows how small, joyful acts of visibility can ripple out to inspire and empower others in ways you can’t predict.
- Allyship isn’t something you call yourself; it’s something you earn by consistently showing up, learning, and using your privilege to open doors for others.
- Finding your voice means discovering what you’re passionate about changing in the world—and knowing that everyone’s story, no matter how big or small, has the power to help someone else.
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