I Am Speaking

Dave Is Speaking

Dave is a teacher, a friend, a husband, a director. He loves bridges. He also happens to be polyamorous and demisexual. 

Polyamory is such a misunderstood part of the sexuality spectrum that it often gets represented poorly, fetishized or just completely neglected. Our conversation with Dave was beautiful. In this episode he shares how he and his wife came to be polyamorous, why his wife would rather his girlfriend see bridges with him, and what some of difficulties have been since coming out. 

DISCLAIMER: Dave has not shared his last name in this episode. He is not out at work and therefore doesn’t feel comfortable sharing enough to get him identified. His story is beautiful and the love he shares in his polycule is evident. No one should be afraid to live their truth out loud. 

Michelle L‘amour Is Speaking

Michelle L’amour’s Instagram bio reads: “Erotic Artist. Empowerment Advocate” and we cannot agree more with those descriptions. And if you don’t know what those are, you definitely need to listen to this episode, we promise you’ll get it after to listening to this powerhouse of a woman.

Michelle L’amour is known as The Most Naked Woman and she has traveled all over the globe performing her unique brand of burlesque. She has been featured on many TV shows and documentaries including, “America’s Got Talent” (season 1), MTVs “Amazingness”, France’s “Incroyable Talent”, and Epix Network’s “Sex Life.”

Her story is moving and poignant, and you will want to know more about Michelle after the episode is over. And when that happens, head over to www.michellelamour.com and www.studiolamour.com .

We loved having Michelle on our podcast. We learned so much and just fell in love with her. You’ll do the same. 

Karen Rothstein Pineda Is Speaking (Season 2)

Our resident therapist is back, and she has more insight and words of wisdom to share. We are so lucky to have her. Karen talks to us about how her life experience informed her path as a therapist, how the pandemic has shifted how people can find mental health help and she shares what advice she would now give her younger self.

Karen is now accepting patients onto her waitlist, so if you live in Illinois, you can contact Karen's practice at:

Multicultural Counseling Associates, PC
137 N Oak Park Avenue Suite 402
Oak Park, IL 60301
708-689-9814
www.oakpark-counseling.com

 

DISCLAIMER: I Am Speaking is for information, education and entertainment purposes only. In no way is I Am Speaking intended to provide medical advice or substitute for mental health advice, diagnosis or treatment. If you are feeling suicidal, thinking about hurting yourself or concerned that someone you know may be in danger of hurting themselves, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255) or the Suicide Hotline at 1-800-SUICIDE (1-800-784-2433) or call 911.

Mama Tits Is Speaking

Mama Tits, some may know her as Brian Peters, is a force to be reckoned with. His journey of self-discovery, love and joy has taken him from California to Idaho to New York to Seattle and now he and his husband live in Puerto Vallarta where Mama Tits has a residence at Act 2 Stages. 

“This is what I was born to do. Realizing my calling as an entertainer and taking the leap to do it professionally has been the best thing that has happened to me. I love being able to share my talents with people far and wide. Making people laugh for a living is truly fulfilling, I get to take them away from the mundane and transport them to a different place. We all get to have fun, isn't that what life is all about?!” - Mama Tits, the one and only. 

Elisa Woodruff (she/her/hers) Is Speaking

Dr Elisa Woodruff is a counselor and an educator of future counselors. Her clinical and research interests include sexual and gender diversity, wellness and the mind/body connection, systemic and generational trauma, religion and values in counseling, the needs of older adults, and medical issues and disability. And she identifies as asexual, gray aromantic. 

We learned so much during our conversation with Kosha's HS friend. Asexuality is an orientation that is relatively "new" to the lexicon, and many of the asexual community find each other on the internet, in forums and support groups. Elisa speaks on the idea of sexual normativity, how her friendships have grown and what we can do to better understand and support those in our lives who identify as asexual.

DISCLAIMER: I Am Speaking is for information, education and entertainment purposes only. In no way is I Am Speaking intended to provide medical advice or substitute for mental health advice, diagnosis or treatment. If you are feeling suicidal, thinking about hurting yourself or concerned that someone you know may be in danger of hurting themselves, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255) or the Suicide Hotline at 1-800-SUICIDE (1-800-784-2433) or call 911.

Alicia Elkins Is Speaking

We love this lady. Kosha met Alicia long ago and she clung to her because she knew she was special. And damn was Kosha right.

Alicia Elkins is a gay woman who came out in her early 20s. Her coming out story is unique, but it reminds us that every coming out story is unique. As Shailushi reminds us, if you have heard one person's coming out story, that means you have heard one person's coming out story.

Listen to Alicia. We all can benefit to hear her speaking.

Haaz Sleiman Is Speaking

Haaz Sleiman is a velvet-voiced actor and activist. He has been in shows like ER and Veronica Mars. He played the beloved Mo-Mo in Nurse Jackie, Rafiq in the critically-acclaimed Little America, and will be in the new Marvel movie Eternals. But to introduce Haaz as a filmography would be doing him, and us, a disservice. This man is a storyteller. He is larger than life.

Haaz sees the world in how it CAN be, not just how it is. He does what is NEEDED, not just what is expected. His story, which he shares so eloquently with us, is full of high highs and low lows. He unabashedly shares those highs and lows, from living as a bullied kid in Lebanon, to now living his best life as an out gay Muslim Arab actor in Hollywood. 

Haaz’s star is rising, and we could not be happier for him. He has heart and love. He has passion and integrity. More actors (and more people in general) should be like Haaz and live to their truth. Listen to Haaz. He is speaking. 

Seth Turner Is Speaking

"...take that idea [of what you thought being a parent would be] and blow it the hell up." - Seth Turner

Listen to this episode. You will learn something about yourself, how to be an ally, and why transgender people seeking top surgery in the Kaiser System should know the name "Seth Turner" moving forward.

When we spoke with Violet Turner last week, it was clear that she is an amazing and special person. Amazing and special people shine most when they are surrounded by love, support, encouragement and safety. Violet's parents, Melissa and Seth Turner, make sure that the love, support, encouragement and safety start in their own home. 

Seth provides his side of the story, his process and journey of raising a transgender teenager and his philosophy in parenting. He speaks about coming to terms with JK Rowlings TERFdom and offers his experience and advice to other parents out there helping a child through transitions. 

The Baxi Four Is Speaking

**BONUS EPISODE**

 

To finish off I Am Speaking's first season of conversations with first generation Americans, we present a bonus episode with two people who know your beloved co-hosts better than almost anyone...their siblings!

Spruha Thompson and Dr. Chirayu Baxi join Shailushi and Kosha for a conversation on who they are, our origin stories, how we have grown together and how we remember our childhoods. 

Ann Chen Is Speaking

Excuse me, Mr. [Former VIce President]...

When Ann Chen is speaking, it benefits everyone around her to listen up. Ann is brilliant, she is honest, she is passionate, and she is a lawyer so I am sure she can argue circles around most of us.

As a Taiwanese-American, Ann has heard all of the anti-Asian, anti-immigrant rhetoric. And yet, here she stands and here she speaks, pushing back against white supremacy and white silence, and speaking up for all othered communities. It was truly a joy to speak with her.

(Also, we will let you in on a secret: Ann will be joining us in future seasons as our resident DEI resource and speaker. So, that is something to look forward to since we know you will love her in this deeply personal and profoundly moving conversation.)