This week we talk with THE Lily Be! Lily Be is the longtime host and producer of The Stoop, a live off-book storytelling show on Chicago's West Side. She strives to bring storytelling to those who may not have access to help them discover their voice and standing in their truths. Anna and Dawn talk with her about the importance of representation and inclusivity in storytelling spaces and how Lily Be discovered her asexual identity when practicing for a rap battle. Check out her website at https://www.lilybe.com/ Follow us on Facebook and Instagram @beyondqueerstories and on Twitter @beyondqueerpod. Also check out the links on our profiles to submit to be featured on Beyond Queer Stories, or email us at [email protected]. Podcast music created by queer artist Be Steadwell. Check out her music at www.besteadwell.com Beyond Queer Stories is produced and edited by Dawn Brown and is recorded in the Cards Against Humanity podcast studio in Chicago, IL. Check out their products at https://cardsagainsthumanity.com/ Finally, tune in to https://www.e3radio.org/  the only station playing queer & independent music in high rotation. E3 Radio is Queer Radio Done Right!

This week Dawn and Anna talk with Jana, a Moth StorySLAM winner who is figuring out the meaning of life over and over again. She talks about her journey from small town Evangelical to big city bisexual, honoring our queer ancestors, and what it's like to continuously prove her bisexuality.Follow us on Facebook and Instagram @beyondqueerstories and on Twitter @beyondqueerpod. Also check out the links on our profiles to submit to be featured on Beyond Queer Stories, or email us at [email protected]. Podcast music created by queer artist Be Steadwell. Check out her music at www.besteadwell.com Beyond Queer Stories is produced and edited by Dawn Brown and is recorded in the Cards Against Humanity podcast studio in Chicago, IL. Check out their products at https://cardsagainsthumanity.com/ Finally, tune in to https://www.e3radio.org/  the only station playing queer & independent music in high rotation. E3 Radio is Queer Radio Done Right!

This week Anna and Dawn talk with Dr. S Simmons, a Black, trans, queer, educator, and advocate. S is the co-founder/owner of Simmons Counseling and Consulting Services where he provides workshops, trainings, and presentations for organizations across the world on issues related to diversity, inclusion, and equity.  We get together and talk about his experience of coming out as queer and trans to his family, navigating psychological and physical safety as a trans person, and how he and his wife grew together through his transgender journey. Check out his website at http://www.sccs-therapy.com/ and his YouTube channel. Episode shout outs to: https://chicagotherapycollective.org/ https://www.bravespacealliance.org/ & http://www.sobonfu.com/ Follow us on Facebook and Instagram @beyondqueerstories and on Twitter @beyondqueerpod. Also check out the links on our profiles to submit to be featured on Beyond Queer Stories, or email us at [email protected]. Podcast music created by queer artist Be Steadwell. Check out her music at www.besteadwell.com Beyond Queer Stories is produced and edited by Dawn Brown and is recorded in the Cards Against Humanity podcast studio in Chicago, IL. Check out their products at https://cardsagainsthumanity.com/ Finally, tune in to https://www.e3radio.org/ the only station playing queer & independent music in high rotation. E3 Radio is Queer Radio Done Right!

We have a very special episode this week featuring Shawn Coleman of https://www.ourtouchpoints.com/  Anna and Dawn talk with Shawn about how to cope with physical distancing and still maintain strong connection with others. We also discuss how one's love languages are impacted as we navigate new ways to connect. Check out https://www.5lovelanguages.com/  to learn more. Additionally, we reflect on how this pandemic may positively change the way we interact with others and increase the ways we consent to touch. Finally THANK YOU to all of those working in public spaces during this time: nurses, doctors, restaurant staff, grocery staff, administrative staff, EMTs, and everyone else putting themselves on the front lines to keep us safe! We appreciate you all!Follow us on Facebook and Instagram @beyondqueerstories and on Twitter @beyondqueerpod. Also check out the links on our profiles to submit to be featured on Beyond Queer Stories, or email us at [email protected]. Podcast music created by queer artist Be Steadwell. Check out her music at www.besteadwell.com Beyond Queer Stories is produced and edited by Dawn Brown and is recorded in the Cards Against Humanity podcast studio in Chicago, IL. Check out their products at https://cardsagainsthumanity.com/    Finally, tune in to https://www.e3radio.org/  the only station playing queer & independent music in high rotation. E3 Radio is Queer Radio Done Right!

This week we talk with Nchedo, a Nigerian-born creative healer and visionary leader with a deep focus on health and well-being, community, and art. Nchedo talks about their nonbinary and queer identity and how family dynamics and their Nigerian roots impacted their understanding of them self and their queerness.Shoutout to the Youth Empowerment Performance Project. Check them out and support their work to "create a safe environment for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer youth experiencing homelessness to explore their history, investigate new ways to address their struggles and to celebrate their strengths through the process of developing a theatrical performance piece."Follow us on Facebook and Instagram @beyondqueerstories and on Twitter @beyondqueerpod. Also check out the links on our profiles to submit to be featured on Beyond Queer Stories, or email us at [email protected]. Podcast music created by queer artist Be Steadwell. Check out her music at www.besteadwell.com Beyond Queer Stories is produced and edited by Dawn Brown and is recorded in the Cards Against Humanity podcast studio in Chicago, IL. Check out their products at https://cardsagainsthumanity.com/

Introducing our new guest co-host Anna DeShawn! Check out her previous episode this week and stay tuned for all new episodes next week with Dawn and Anna! Anna DeShawn is the founder of E3 radio, an online radio station playing queer & independent music in high rotation. On this episode, we talk about Anna's upcoming app, the Qube, which will provide a platform for podcasts that are queer and POC. Also listen as we discuss Anna's journey through breast reduction surgery and how this decision has impacted her life. Check out Anna at https://annadeshawn.com/ where you can also listen to her podcast Anna's Got a Word and tune in to E3 radio at https://www.e3radio.org/ for the latest queer and independent music! Also keep updated on her podcast app at theqube.app Follow us on Facebook and Instagram @beyondqueerstories and on Twitter @beyondqueerpod. Also check out the links on our profiles to submit to be featured on Beyond Queer Stories, or email us at [email protected]. Podcast music created by queer artist Be Steadwell. Check out her music at www.besteadwell.com Beyond Queer Stories is produced and edited by Dawn Brown and is recorded in the Cards Against Humanity podcast studio in Chicago, IL. Check out their products at https://cardsagainsthumanity.com/

This week Dawn talks with Roland Wise, a writer, artist, and storyteller. Roland grew up in the south in a tumultuous household and often describes his childhood as being raised in a bag full of rattlesnakes. He shares his story of chasing down a gunman who set out to kill gay people in Denver and how this led him to find connection and community. Check out Roland’s children's book, Farmer Dreams, here: http://farmerdreams.blogspot.com/ It is about the safety of a seed who opens to water then faces drought. Follow us on Facebook and Instagram @beyondqueerstories and on Twitter @beyondqueerpod. Also check out the links on our profiles to submit to be featured on Beyond Queer Stories, or email us at [email protected]. Podcast music created by queer artist Be Steadwell. Check out her music at www.besteadwell.com Beyond Queer Stories is produced and edited by Dawn Brown and is recorded in the Cards Against Humanity podcast studio in Chicago, IL. Check out their products at https://cardsagainsthumanity.com/

This week we talk with Patti, a queer trans woman endurance athlete, parent, and late transitioner. She discusses her passion for endurance athletics and what it was like being on the cover of Crain's Chicago Business shortly after transitioning. We also hear about her work at the Chicago Reader and the importance of preserving queer history. Check out the organizations she love at https://legacyprojectchicago.org/ , http://frontrunnerschicago.com/proud-to-run-chicago/, and https://edgeathletelounge.com/ Follow us on Facebook and Instagram @beyondqueerstories and on Twitter @beyondqueerpod. Also check out the links on our profiles to submit to be featured on Beyond Queer Stories, or email us at [email protected]. Podcast music created by queer artist Be Steadwell. Check out her music at www.besteadwell.com Beyond Queer Stories is produced and edited by Dawn Brown and is recorded in the Cards Against Humanity podcast studio in Chicago, IL. Check out their products at https://cardsagainsthumanity.com/

This week we hear from Jay. He talks with Dawn about his asexual identity and his recent venture into speaking around the South Suburbs advocating for greater dialogue for LGBTQ behavioral health needs. We also discuss how he navigates telling others that he's ace and where and how he finds community as a queer ace Muslim. Follow us on Facebook and Instagram @beyondqueerstories and on Twitter @beyondqueerpod. Also check out the links on our profiles to submit to be featured on Beyond Queer Stories, or email us at [email protected]. Podcast music created by queer artist Be Steadwell. Check out her music at www.besteadwell.com Beyond Queer Stories is produced and edited by Dawn Brown and is recorded in the Cards Against Humanity podcast studio in Chicago, IL. Check out their products at https://cardsagainsthumanity.com/

This week Dawn takes time to thank our first guest cohost, Johndalyn, and lets you know who the next guest cohost will be. She also shares a story about what home was like growing up for her and how the concept of home changes as we age. She reflects on what it is like to realize that home isn't always where you sleep, but home can be felt in a moment of connection. Follow us on Facebook and Instagram @beyondqueerstories and on Twitter @beyondqueerpod. Also check out the links on our profiles to submit to be featured on Beyond Queer Stories, or email us at [email protected]. Podcast music created by queer artist Be Steadwell. Check out her music at www.besteadwell.com Beyond Queer Stories is produced and edited by Dawn Brown and is recorded in the Cards Against Humanity podcast studio in Chicago, IL. Check out their products at https://cardsagainsthumanity.com/