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PODCAST

Forged in Fire: LGBTQ+ Leadership

Meet LGBTQ+ superheroes! Explore the nexus of LGBTQ+ identity and leadership development through interviews with leaders in business, government, academia, advocacy, entertainment and more! We"ll dive into crucible moments in LGBTQ+ lives, such as stigmatization, coming out, or transition. Understand how leaders transformed what we often view as negative experiences into moments that accelerated their growth into leadership superheroes.

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All Episodes

00:47:03

Protect Your Peace with Erica Vogel

Forged in Fire: LGBTQ+ Leadership ·

2025/11/18

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, self-awareness, and the balance between openness and self-protection and

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00:40:51

This Is My Watch with Lisa Middleton

Forged in Fire: LGBTQ+ Leadership ·

2025/11/04

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 torch to carry forward. “Our uniqueness isn’t a problem to solve—it’s

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00:45:06

From Hidden to Heard with Bria Brown-King

Forged in Fire: LGBTQ+ Leadership ·

2025/10/21

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 humor, they discuss humility vs. over-humility, the importance of

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00:37:58

Bonus Round of Life with JD Schramm

Forged in Fire: LGBTQ+ Leadership ·

2025/10/07

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 model, his “four C’s” of competence, confidence, clarity, and

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01:00:21

Hunted by Story with Eduardo Placer

Forged in Fire: LGBTQ+ Leadership ·

2025/09/23

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 powerful speaking, shares why naps and kindness are part of his

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00:51:15

From Hair to Eternity with Kai Hong

Forged in Fire: LGBTQ+ Leadership ·

2025/09/09

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 your weird haircut idea and your bigger life. Her leadership lesson

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00:54:13

Representation Quest with Ray Lancione

Forged in Fire: LGBTQ+ Leadership ·

2025/08/26

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 is simple and tough: protect your energy, invest in people, and build

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00:48:56

Uncomfortable on Purpose with Blakely Hunze-Austin

Forged in Fire: LGBTQ+ Leadership ·

2025/08/12

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, plus the power of consultation among leaders to fight isolation

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01:00:51

Leadership Isn’t a Role with Lynn Vidler

Forged in Fire: LGBTQ+ Leadership ·

2025/07/29

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 by systemic expectations. With humor and insight, Lynn reflects on

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00:54:37

A Boy's Life with Chris Douglas

Forged in Fire: LGBTQ+ Leadership ·

2025/07/15

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 to arms and a balm for those feeling overwhelmed by today's politics

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00:50:45

Mastering the Movements with Robert Dover

Forged in Fire: LGBTQ+ Leadership ·

2025/07/01

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 greatest legacies are built with compassion."You just have to go in

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01:16:06

Everything and the Kitchen Sink with Mercury Stardust

Forged in Fire: LGBTQ+ Leadership ·

2025/06/17

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 developed her unique style.

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00:58:50

Stories That Must Be Told with Mason Funk

Forged in Fire: LGBTQ+ Leadership ·

2025/06/03

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 vital importance of bridge-building across divides in a time of

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00:52:26

Reclaiming Place and History with Todd Ross

Forged in Fire: LGBTQ+ Leadership ·

2025/05/20

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 explores his intersecting identities as a Two-Spirit Métis person, the

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00:54:07

Boss Battles with Raquel Willis

Forged in Fire: LGBTQ+ Leadership ·

2025/05/06

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 creating humanizing media like Afterlives and Queer Chronicles, Raquel

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00:55:15

Choreographing Authentic Leadership with Fuchsia

Forged in Fire: LGBTQ+ Leadership ·

2025/04/21

In this episode, we talk with Fuchsia—choreographer, drag artist, and founder of Una Productions—as they share deeply personal reflections on identity, leadership, and creative expression. From the dual worlds of Michigan farmland and San Francisco’s queer community to navigating authenticity, safety, and self-discovery, Fuchsia provides a moving exploration of what it means to lead with openness and heart.

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00:52:31

Everything is Intentional with Steve Yacovelli

Forged in Fire: LGBTQ+ Leadership ·

2025/04/08

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 shapes leadership, how resilience is built through hard-earned

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00:46:30

Bring Your Curiosity with Day Al-Mohamed

Forged in Fire: LGBTQ+ Leadership ·

2025/03/26

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 authenticity in leadership, advocating for creating inclusive spaces that

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01:02:07

Show Me The Data with Mitchell Lunn

Forged in Fire: LGBTQ+ Leadership ·

2025/03/11

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 individuals are seen, heard, and supported. Learn how data can drive

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00:50:19

The Ripple Effect with E.C. Pizarro

Forged in Fire: LGBTQ+ Leadership ·

2025/02/25

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 pivots, the importance of self-belief, and how harnessing transferrable

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71 results

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