PODCAST · health
Coming Out Stories
by What Goes On Media
Real people. Unique Stories.Coming Out Stories will take you to one the most important moments in many people’s lives. It will perch you on sofas in suburban sitting rooms, stand you in front of officials' desks, put you at the centre of a crowd in a noisy classroom, everywhere where these conversations have happened. It doesn’t even matter if you haven’t had a conversation like this yourself, or indeed ever plan to. Everyone can recognise the innate human desire to love and be loved, and that’s what these stories are about.
Episodes
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Dying Out Loud: From Kansas To Coming Out With Courage
You can grow up surrounded by farmland and still feel like you’re living on another planet. Kris Saim joins us from Kansas City to talk about what it means to carry secrets for decades. Kris shares a raw coming out story shaped by childhood sexual abuse, the fear-driven silence it creates, and…
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Finding Her Voice: A Lesbian Poet’s Journey
We talk with Manchester-based poet Amy about growing up without queer role models, first love with a best friend, and learning to claim “lesbian” with joy. The chat ends with her live poem about a double coming out in Wetherspoons. • childhood in Grimsby with little queer visibility • legacy of...
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From West Virginia Secrets To Self-Love: Bobby Jean’s Journey
A goodbye note found on a computer. A father who says, “I don’t understand, but I love you.” A marriage that proves joy can grow in places once ruled by fear. From rural West Virginia to an online audience that shows up for humour, makeup, and honesty, we sit with Bobby Jean Spears as he traces a...
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"The girl in the mirror was finally looking back at me" One trans woman's journey.
The moment Christina saw a woman looking back at her in the mirror changed everything. "I can't really describe the euphoria," she reveals. "It was like finding something I didn't know was missing." Christina's journey began with childhood signs that went unrecognised. Growing up in the 1990s…
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Finding Pride in Barbados: Patrick's Journey Through Sexuality, Gender, and Dementia
When Patrick Kitana Ettenes bluntly told his father "I suck dick, daddy" at 15 years old, it marked just one turning point in a life brimming with extraordinary challenges and triumphs. Born in Barbados in 1983 to a Dutch father and Trinidadian mother, Patrick's childhood was a paradox of…
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Born This Way: A Life Reclaimed After 60 Years of Silence
What happens when you've spent nearly seven decades hiding your true self? Wendy Cole's story is a testament to courage, resilience, and the transformative power of authenticity. Born in the late 1940s, Wendy knew from age three that she was a girl, despite being assigned male at birth. At ten...
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We're back! Season six is on the way!
Welcome back to Coming Out Stories after our six-month hiatus! As our seventh year begins, there have been moments when giving up seemed tempting. But looking at the increasingly hostile world around us, it's clear that now is precisely the time these stories need to be heard. Season Six arrives...
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Staying True: Kuchenga Shenjé's Journey of Identity, Resilience, and Creative Expression
How do you stay true to yourself when both society and your own family won't accept you? Kuchenga Shenje is a remarkable trans woman, writer, and journalist, who first understood her true gender identity at just three years old. Kuchenga's story is one of resilience and spiritual strength. Her...
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How to *not* come out (and still live authentically!) Meet the YA author who has had his books banned
In this episode, meet the hugely successful author Simon James Green. Simon writes books for a YA audience that include vital representation for LGBTQ+ teens. This has led to his books being vilified and even banned. Simon talks about growing up gay in the UK in the shadow of Clause 28, a time…
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Dean Atta: The Challenges of Growing Up Queer
Imagine growing up wanting a Barbie doll but feeling afraid to ask for it. In this episode, award-winning author Dean Atta, shares his poignant journey of self-discovery and the courageous story of coming out at 15. Dean reveals the trials and triumphs of navigating childhood and adolescence as a...
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Jordan Gonsalves: Growing Up LGBTQ+ in Conservative Texas
What does it mean to grow up LGBTQ+ in a conservative environment? Jordan Gonsalves is a podcaster and journalist from New York, who shares his deeply personal journey of understanding his sexuality in the conservative suburbs of Houston, Texas. Jordan's reflections on childhood bullying…
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Kevin: The Transformative Power of Coming Out Later in Life
What does it take to come out after 55 years of hiding your true self? Kevin O'Connor, an author and a gay man found the courage to embrace his identity after decades of living a different life. In this episode, you’ll hear Kevin's reflections on his early inklings of being gay in the 1960s, his...
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Love, Literature, and Living Authentically with Robert Tregoning
Happy Pride Month! Today's episode comes from brilliant children's author Robert Tregoning Robert shares his journey from a rural village in County Durham, through the turbulence of the '80s and '90s, to becoming an advocate for authenticity and self-expression. From childhood memories of defying...
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From Silence to Advocacy A Trans Story of Resilience and Change
Ben Green grew up trans in a small Connecticut town. Now an activist and author of "My Child is Trans: Now What?" Ben reflects on just how different his childhood was to his sister's as he tried to navigate the complexities of gender identity without any trans role models. This story explores the...
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Jenny's Voyage of Authenticity: From Woking to Manchester via the Comedy Stage
Imagine embarking on a voyage of self-discovery that doesn't truly begin until the age of 40. That's the reality for Jenny, a trans woman with a tale that unfolds with laughter, adversity, and, above all, authenticity. As she reminisces about her childhood in Woking and the challenges of…
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Fostering Belonging: Anna DeShawn’s Journey Through Queer Identity and Media
Imagine the courage it takes to forge a path as a black queer woman in a world where your identity intersects with a rich tapestry of culture, tradition, and belief systems. This is the life of Anna DeShawn, a social entrepreneur from Chicago. who came out in a religious household and went on to...
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Michael: From Summer Camp to Corporate Change, a journey of self-acceptance in the Big Apple.
From his first inklings of being different at a summer camp, to the seismic shift that occurred when he saw real gay representation in corporate America, Michael's journey is one of struggle, resilience, and triumph in the face of adversity. Michael's story not only peels back the layers of his…
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Kirsty: Embracing Queerness on a Manchester Council Estate
Remember that gut-punch moment when everything you thought you knew about yourself was turned on its head? That's where Kirsty Loehr found herself at 16, blindsided by the realisation that her sexuality wasn't what she'd always assumed... In this episode, meet Kirsty, author of "A Short History…
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Moe: Finding love, acceptance and dating as a trans, non-binary bisexual!
Moe Ari Brown, was born into a working-class, religious family and raised on the South side of Chicago amid the Black church's rich traditions. Moe felt invisible during their youth but at college, they had an epiphany – that gender identity and sexuality are not fixed points but vibrant…
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Blazing Trails: Arthur's Journey and the Formation of the World's First All-Trans Masculine Football Team
Growing up in Peterborough, in the centre of England, Arthur's story tells of the intimate struggles of growing up with a gender identity that defies societal norms. With insights into the complexity of coming out to loved ones when you're trans, the battles fought within gender clinics, and the...
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Living Out Loud: Annie Wallace on Pioneering Trans Visibility in Television
Imagine discovering your true self at a time where even the word "transgender" was seldom whispered, then fast-forward to seeing that reality reflected on national TV! Annie Wallace, a pioneering trans soap actress, takes us through her life, from her earliest memories of gender identity…
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Gary: I felt jealous when my son came out to me. It took me 40 years to have the courage to do the same.
Gary's story is proof that life does indeed begin at 40! Gary's journey through marriage, heartbreaks, and eventual joy in finding deep love will bring a real smile to your face. Presented by Emma Goswell Produced by Sam Walker We'd love to hear YOUR story. Please get in touch...
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Braving the Past, Embracing the Future: Ann's Journey of Identity, Activism and Advocacy for other lesbian mothers.
As the curtain closes on our 2023 series, we bring you the incredible story of Ann! Beginning in Liverpool in the late 50s and early 60s – a time when innocence mingled with confusion in the absence of visible LGBTQ+ role models, Ann's tale then takes us through the swinging 60s of London, the...
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Verity: I knew I was a boy but didn't know how to say that! The struggles and triumphs of a transgender athlete.
Verity Smith is a trans gay man who is passionate about playing wheelchair rugby. After first coming out as a lesbian in the 90s, Verity played women's rugby and was too afraid to come out as trans, as there were no policies in place for trans players in the game and he would have had to give up...
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The Power of Acceptance: Luma Mufleh's Struggle and Triumph
Born into strict Muslim traditions in Syria and raised in Jordan, Luma is a beacon of hope and courage for all of us in the LGBTQ+ community. Her personal coming out story is complex; spanning cultures, religions, and generations. As a young adult in a country where being gay was considered a...
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The Journey of a Happy, Holy Homosexual: Reverend Jide's Story
From Nigeria to the UK, Reverend Jide's Macaulay, otherwise known as the 'happy, holy homosexual,' reveals his life's story. From braving patriarchy and toxic masculinity in Nigeria to enduring conversion therapy in London, Jide's testimony is nothing short of inspiring. His deep-seated faith in...
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The Undying Spirit of Juno Roche: Conquering Adversity in the Trans World
What does it take to live authentically in the face of adversity and societal norms? Juno Roche is an iconic figure in the transgender community and a notable author. With a life composed of resilience, identity, and transformation, Juno has a wealth of experiences - from growing up in a tough...
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Coming Out Stories: A New Season of Resilience, Hope, and Love from the LGBTQ+ Community
Get ready for a heart-stirring journey as we welcome you back to a brand-new season of Coming Out Stories. After a (rather long) pause, we're returning with a line-up of extraordinary stories that transcend across the LGBTQ+ spectrum, painting a picture of resilience, hope, and love. Be…
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Kit: I never understood why all my friends were obsessed with boys! Then I came out, fell in love with women and lost my mind!
Kit: I never understood why all my friends were obsessed with boys. Then I came out, fell in love with women and lost my mind! In this, the final episode of season four, meet Kit from London. It took Kit a little while to realise she was a lesbian and she didn't come out until she was 30. Follow...
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Valentino: My family simply didn't know how to raise a gay child
Valentino: My family simply didn't know how to raise a gay child Valentino grew up as a gay man and now identifies as being gender fluid, and whilst they are currently living in Manchester, England they were born and raised in Bermuda. They have quite the life story and this episode only really...
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Dharma: The teacher told me to play with the other boys, but I knew I wasn't a boy. It was a secret I kept for a long time.
Dharma: The teacher told me to play with the other boys, but I knew I wasn't a boy. It was a secret I kept for a long time. Dharma Kelleher is a pansexual crime writer, based in Phoneix, Arizona who puts lesbians and trans women at the heart of her novels. She grew up in a small town just outside...
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Clifford: My dad suggested conversion therapy and I let him sit with that idea, I was literally the first gay person he knew.
Clifford: My dad suggested conversion therapy and I let him sit with that idea, I was literally the first gay person he knew. Clifford is our first sapio sexual storyteller. A real world citizen, he is of Indian heritage, had a Catholic upbringing in Dubai in now lives in Australia. He speaks…
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Special Episode: Queer We Are with Coming Out Stories' Emma Goswell and Sam Walker
In this very special eisode, we're sharing an intervew we did with Brad Shreve on his excellent podcast Queer We Are, a show where Brad talks to entertainers, activists, politicians, artists, athletes, and more of the most interesting LGBTQ people from diverse backgrounds. We hope you enjoy it!...
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Brad: For more than 30 years I convinced myself "I can't be gay. I will change someday"
Brad: For more than 30 years I convinced myself "I can't be gay. I will change someday" In this episode, we're back in the United States, to the Californian desert to meet Brad. Brad didn’t come out until his 30s, by which stage he had married a woman and had had a child. Brad also came out in a...
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EJ: I’ve had quite the internal war about how I identify. I don’t want to use the labels that society gives us!
EJ: I’ve had quite the internal war about how I identify. I don’t want to use the labels that society gives us! EJ is a young person who lives in a small town in Ohio, USA. They identify as a gender queer masc lesbian. Presented by Emma Goswell Produced by Sam Walker We'd love to hear YOUR story....
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Andrew: I told myself that being bisexual was just a phase. It was not!
Andrew: I told myself that being bisexual was just a phase. It was not! Andrew identifies as bisexual. He hails from Scotland and is behind the LGBTQ+ sports website Pride of the Terraces. Although he is now very open about his sexuality, it was a big decision for him to come out in a newspaper....
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Grady: For forty years, I prayed for God to "fix me" Then I realised there was nothing to fix.
Grady Grady Throneberry is the first openly gay police chief in Kentucky. He didn't come out until his sixties and what a story he has to tell! Married to a woman, with grown up daughters, he lived in his words as a "straight, conservative man" until 2018. Until he was outed, very publicly, which...
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Lucy Lou: The moment I put that dress on, I thought "I'm here!"
Lucy Lou The moment I put that dress on, I thought "I'm here!" Lucy Lou is a trans woman who waited nearly 40 years to become the person she always was. Presented by Emma Goswell Produced by Sam Walker We'd love to hear YOUR story. Please get in touch www.comingoutstoriespodcast.com or find us on...
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Day: It took me all night to garner the courage but at sunrise, I came out to her
Day It took me all night to garner the courage but at sunrise, I came out to her Day is an artist and writer from California. He identifies as a gay man and is passionate about the power of rituals. You can find out more about Day here and more about his book Hello, goodbye. 75 rituals for times…
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Mark: I was so nervous, I had to leave the room, and came out to my mom from the kitchen.
Mark Because I only heard the term in the playground, I used to think "gay" meant someone who was bad at sports. Mark Chesnut is an award-winning travel writer based in New York City. He is also the author of the memoir Prepare for Departure: Notes on a Single Mother, a Misfit Son, Inevitable...
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Yo Yo: I grew up where it was illegal to be gay. I had to write love letters to my girlfriend in code
Yo Yo I grew up where it was illegal to be gay. I had to write love letters to my girlfriend in code Meet Yo Yo, a lesbian from Malaysia, where it's illegal to be gay. She nearly got caught when a love letter she wrote to her girlfriend was opened. Presented by Emma Goswell Produced by Sam Walker...
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Andrew: I don't want to be hemmed into a box. I've done that for so many years.
Andrew I don't want to be hemmed into a box. I've done that for so many years. Meet Andrew from Brighton, who once considered himself a "gay man" and now identifies as a "queer person". Presented by Emma Goswell Produced by Sam Walker We'd love to hear YOUR story. Please get in touch...
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Jennie: "So many people knew they were gay from a young age, but that's just not my story""
Jennie "So many people knew they were gay from a young age, but that's just not my story"" Jennie Guay is an author who had only ever dated men when she moved from Canada to England in her late 20s. After deciding to explore her sexuality, she set her dating profile to "seeking women" and changed...
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Jaxon: Walking back into work as a trans man was the most frightening thing I've ever done, but I've seen so many people change their mindset."
Jaxon My Dad joked "What's wrong? Are you pregnant? Are you getting a puppy? You're not trans are you...?" Happy Trans Awareness Week! To celebrate, we'd love you to meet Prison Officer Jaxon, a trans man from Wigan in the north of England, and hear his uplifting story. Please note: Jaxon is very...
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Rob: “I tried so hard to change who I was. I changed the way I dressed, the way I spoke and even the way I walked. I didn’t feel safe being myself.”
Rob “I tried so hard to change who I was. I changed the way I dressed, the way I spoke and even the way I walked. I didn’t feel safe being myself.” Rob is a travel expert, who you may well have seen on TV in the UK, on shows like Rip Off Britain and Morning Live. He identifies as gay and despite...
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Serena: When I came out to my 9 year old son, he said “Mammy, that’s very brave of you!"
Serena When I came out to my 9 year old son, he said “Mammy, that’s very brave of you” Meet Serena, from Ireland, who came out as a lesbian later in life, just before she was due to marry the father of her two children. Serena’s story comes with a pretty big twist at the end… Presented by Emma...
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A National Coming Out Day special!
Happy National Coming Out Day! October 11 is National Coming Out Day in the UK and to celebrate, we've put together a very special episode just for you! In this instalment hear from three of our previous guests talk about how their lives have changed and moved on since we last spoke and we also...
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Paris: From the time I was a young kid, I always felt really connected to being both male and female
“From the time I was a young kid, I always felt really connected to being both male and female” The first episode of our brand-new season belongs to a non-binary icon! Broadcaster Paris Munro actually has a couple of coming out stories, firstly as a lesbian, then as non-binary. Presented by Emma...
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Oh! Hello season four!
It's been a long busy summer, but we're back with a brand new season of Coming Out Stories! We can't wait to share new stories with you, from fabulous folk from all over the world. We've spoken to people from England, Ireland, Malaysia, India, Australia, America and more! Do follow now, to make...
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Oskar: “Identity is an internal thing, not how you look to other people”
Ahead of a brand new season, we’re celebrating some of our favourite episodes! Oskar “I take the view with my trans identity, that unless you’re going to get into my pants, I’m not really interested in coming out to you” Oskar grew up in Trinidad and identifies as trans masculine, but non binary....
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ABOUT THIS SHOW
Real people. Unique Stories.Coming Out Stories will take you to one the most important moments in many people’s lives. It will perch you on sofas in suburban sitting rooms, stand you in front of officials' desks, put you at the centre of a crowd in a noisy classroom, everywhere where these conversations have happened. It doesn’t even matter if you haven’t had a conversation like this yourself, or indeed ever plan to. Everyone can recognise the innate human desire to love and be loved, and that’s what these stories are about.
HOSTED BY
What Goes On Media
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many episodes does Coming Out Stories have?
Coming Out Stories currently has 161 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.
What is Coming Out Stories about?
Real people. Unique Stories.Coming Out Stories will take you to one the most important moments in many people’s lives. It will perch you on sofas in suburban sitting rooms, stand you in front of officials' desks, put you at the centre of a crowd in a noisy classroom, everywhere where these...
How often does Coming Out Stories release new episodes?
Coming Out Stories publishes regularly with 161 episodes available. Check the episode list for the typical release schedule.
Where can I listen to Coming Out Stories?
You can listen to Coming Out Stories on PodParley by clicking any episode. We provide an embedded audio player for direct listening, and you can also subscribe via your preferred podcast app using the RSS feed.
Who hosts Coming Out Stories?
Coming Out Stories is created and hosted by What Goes On Media.
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