Imagine you’re deeply in love with a person. You’ve purchased a home together; you’ve picked out your furniture but before you even open the first box, the love of your life is taken from you by a stray bullet that ends their life.

In this episode, meet Vincent Perez, who had to find meaning to life after losing his fiancée, Shane Colombo to gun violence. Because despite losing the man he loved in such a tragic way, it’s this same fairytale romance - one that survived distance and unique circumstances - that keeps giving him purpose. Because regardless of how imperfect or difficult the situation may be or who we love - be it he, she, or they - everyone is deserving of being seen, being understood, and being loved.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

You’ve probably heard of Ts Madison through her iconic videos on social media, her TV show The TS Madison Experience, or even through her latest feature on Cozy, a track off the new Beyonce album. But before she became known for her content and out-of-this-world confidence as a trans woman, she was a sex worker that was battling stigmas within the same community that was meant to protect her.

In this episode, listen as Maddie shares her struggles in becoming unapologetically herself. Because although she’s always been very sure of who she is and what she stands for, it was the outside world - filled with transphobia and homophobia – that always made her feel like was inadequately representing womanhood and the trans community. Find out how Maddie overcame these comparisons and societal pressures to make herself happy - becoming the truest version of herself through radical self-love.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Why is it that men, straight Black men, are so afraid of being seen as “soft?” Why is it that so many in this country have learned that the most damaging thing you can be is queer or trans and that to see that in another triggers a wound so deep that it results in violence?

In this episode meet Yolo Akili Robinson, who shares his story of manhood – and the experience of being in relationships that were mentally, sexually and physically abusive. Because despite being raised in a home that taught him how to be a man’s man – repressing his true authentic self – he was able to unlearn the culture of femininity seen as something wrong and overcome the homophobia and self-hatred that runs so deep within his community. Through his work, he’s been able to reach people far beyond his community, proving that the experiences of trauma can be binding across human beings, and that the healing journey can be somewhat universal as well.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.