In this episode, I am joined by my friend, TEDx speaker and healer, Manav Khanna and his 15 year old daughter who is the creator of the youth-led platform DETOXIMIND - which provides a safe-space for teens and young adults struggling with mental well-being. This is an emotional and tender segment, where we speak to Krishnni about her darkest moments of suicidal ideation and how she has been inspired to turn her experience into a project that not only provides support for herself, but others like her.  Please visit their website to learn more and to become involved.  https://www.detoximind.com/  https://www.instagram.com/detoximind/

This months Behind the Lens podcast episode is LIVE - and we welcome Tracy & Maggie - mother and daughter with 3 family suicides between them.  Tracy and Maggie join us to share their story of grief, loss and resilience - we discuss how the losses affected the trajectory of their lives, and how having a similar narrative helped bring them closer in their grief.

This month I am so happy to welcome Megan - who sat for her portraits a few years ago in Los Angeles. Megan and her siblings lost their father, a single dad - to suicide. Megan bravely unpacks more of her story in today's episode and shares the heartwarming story of how their community really came together to make her and her siblings feel loved and not alone in the wake of their horrible loss.

In this episode we are happy to welcome Sarah Climaco, to share more of here story since doing here portrait session. In this episode we discuss her mother and here history with mental illness, how she survived such a scary time - and then ultimately how she has and is processing the suicide of here mother.

This months episode of Behind the Lens our guest is mother of two and suicide loss survivor, Annu Sangha. We met Annu first in August when she became our newest Face in the project, having her photo shoot. Now Annu is back to share more of her story. She wanted to share the difficult moments and her trajectory, in the hopes that it could possibly help someone else going through something similar.  Thank you Annu for sharing and thank you everyone who has listened.  Annu IG: @anew_puma

Pennie had her first Faces of Fortitude session in 2018. She returns to the podcast to share more of her story of suicidal ideation and incest survival. Pennie is a TEDx speaker, author or Brave and Unbroken and Founder of the Soul Fire Weekends.  https://penniesaum.com/

Todays episode we go BEHIND the Lens of the Faces of Fortitude shoot with Isabel Aceves, who became a Face of Fortitude in 2019 during a shoot in San Diego. Izzy is the owner of Wellness Bae Radio - and umbrella company for The Wellness Latina and Healing with Izzy. She is a Staff Sgt in the US Air Force and is a suicide attempt and rape survivor.  In this episode she talks about her trauma, how it has affected her life, and how she is doing now. https://linktr.ee/wellnessbaeradio

Welcome Back! After a 6 month hiatus for some self reflection and personal growth, I'm back. Its time for a much needed REFOCUS on how I extend my energy and engage with the world. This is a transitional episode. Short and sweeet - I explain where I have been, whats been happening, where I am NOW and wheree we are going as a community going forward.  Thank you for listening and Happy Spring!

Rosie O'Donnell is a comedian, producer, actress, author and television personality. She can currently be seen on Season 2 of Showtime's The L Word: Generation Q In this episode Rosie & I talk about her re-emergence on Tiktok where we met, her history with the media, the REALLY exciting projects she has coming up, I even find out a few of her favorite snacks. As a bonus, in true Rosie fashion, she even had a few questions for me. I am so grateful to Rosie for taking the time to be on my little queer podcast. She is a great reminder that vulnerability and authenticity are superpowers to be celebrated. Cover photo of Rosie by Eric McNatt

As some of you may know I came out as Transgender in April of 2020 and then June of 2021 I started taking Testosterone. In many ways this past year+ has been an evolution of sorts. Its been easily one of the most difficult times in my life but also the most rewarding and liberating. I would not have been able to weather any of this without a close circle of loved ones. In this episode I interview August & MB, Nina, Marlow and my partners Chey and Ryan, and we talk about how and why they showed up for me in the ways they did, and what advice they would have for anyone who has someone close to them going through the same thing.

In this episode we welcome my friends August & MB Hackett and their dear friends Matt & Elliot Dürt. We are so honored they have come to share their story of chosen family in the queer & transgender community, and how their friendship since childhood grew into helping build their own families. The trajectory of this episode does require a trigger warning, because as many people know, miscarraige a reality and often unspoke about part of the journey to having children. MB & August were kind enough to share their update to both heal and let others know they are not alone. Thank you for holding a space for them today. https://thedurtfamily.com/

I am so honored to introduce you to a warrior human. This is Audri - she is the only parent of two amazing kids, a photographer and the reason we connected because she is a suicide widow. Today Audri officially becomes the next Face in the Faces of Fortitude project. In this episode Audri bravely shares her painful story of struggle, loss and how she found hope again. Thank you for helping me hold a space for her today. https://www.audrilynn.com/

This Faces of Fortitude session has been in the works for almost 3 years. Sashii (she/her) is a mother, singer, producer, director and amateur chef - who has struggled with mental illness her entire life. Almost 3 years ago at one of her major low points, she contacted me to be a Face in my project. The universe has yet to align for us to connect for photos in order for Sashii to be able to share her story. However the podcast has made it possible for us to connect our hearts and bond over our stories. Thank you for holding a space for her today. @everythingsashii on fb and IG https://open.spotify.com/artist/5dkIOwvHpCtD4rn8VRqkiJ $Everythingsashii

This weeks guest is the incredible Porscha Maxine (she/they). She is a Politcal & Inclusivity Speaker and Moderator, a Life Coach, A certified teacher and the co-founder of Conscious Roots - a non-profit that provides development experiences and personized plans for professionals, teams and large coporations around unlearning oppressive, harmful and toxic behaviors from a lack of inclusion, diversity, equity and social justice. We have a great convo around the current social justice "trends" and how we all can do a better job at doing better. https://www.consciousrootsllc.com/

In this episode I welcome entrepreneur/sound healer/holistic wellness coach CRYSTAL MCKINNEY(she/her.) We have such a great discussion about holistic healing, chakra balancing and how she found her way to this path of healing and began creating her YUMMY all natural, sustainable and organic self care product company Bitchy Bath & Body. Crystal's websites & social media: https://bzglxxmv7d1.typeform.com/to/X2O485xt https://www.instagram.com/crystalmckinneycoaches/ https://www.instagram.com/bitchybathandbody/ http://Www.treschicmarketing.com

This Episode I welcome back my friend EVA ECHO (she/her). She is a transgender activist, mental health and suicide prevention advocate, Ambassador for the London Transgender Clinic, Spokesperson for Gendered Intelligence and recently founded the Pass It On Campaign - a project creating & sharing conversations around the trans and non-binary experience. Please join as we continue the important conversation around inclusion and education as they relate to our own communities and across the world. Eva Ech0 (she/her): IG - https://www.instagram.com/evaech0/TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@evaech0https://linktr.ee/evaecho

This Episode I am SO THRILLED to have four friends help me kick off a new reoccurring series: MYTHS & MISCONCEPTIONS of being TRANSGENDER. We had SO many laughs during this episode and shared a lot of things that people often either misunderstand or assume about being transgender. This episode provides TONS of information, clarity and thoughtfulness around a community that is both marginalized and misunderstood. My Guests and their websites: René Amador (she/they):D1abla's D1ary Podcast - IG - https://instagram.com/d1abla.l0caTikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@d1abla.l0ca Marlow Phillips (he/him):Top Surgery Go Fund Me -https://gofund.me/287b9fafVenmo- blackeyenoroom  IG - https://www.instagram.com/blackeyenoroom/TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@blackeyenoroom Lyan Betz (he/they):IG - https://www.instagram.com/lyan_finally/TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@lyan_happy Eva Ech0 (she/her): IG - https://www.instagram.com/evaech0/TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@evaech0https://linktr.ee/evaecho

My guest for this episode is Alana Higginbotham (she/her). She is a Certified Life Coach, Published Author & Public Speaker. In this segment we discuss how she found her grove in the Coaching space and how her now VIRAL bite-sized videos entitled by her fans "Drive By Therapy" have now caught fire and why people are SO attracted to them. https://alanahigginbotham.com/ https://www.instagram.com/alanahigginbotham/

I am SO thrilled to have my friend and Astrologer Xavier as my guest to open Season 2! In this episode he tells us WHAT the FUCK happened with the planets in 2020 and why so many of us (especially Cardinal signs) were affected, And he tells us what's in store for 2021. Take notes folx because there's some SUPER gems in here to help you prepare for the year. To book a Natal Chart Reading, Tarot or other service with Xavier you can contact him at the websites below. He is running a special for the Full Moon! Tell him you heard about him on Face to Faces for the discount!  booking: https://sleepymoonastrology.as.meInstagram.com/sleepymoonastroTwitter.com/sleepymoonstro

In this episode my guest is Shanik, a behavioral therapist for children on the spectrum, and she is also a suicide survivor. Please join us as we have an amazing discussion about childhood trauma and growing up from a young ageas someone who has to surviveBut also how that comes back up later in our lives as adults in our over -achieving, over-thinking and in relationship triggers. Shanik shares her story around bullying, cultural adjustments in highschool leading to depression and suicidal ideation. Thank you in advance for holding a space for her today.