The Skin Deep presents {THE AND}

Aleya (she/her) and Gabrielle (she/her) play {THE AND} Couples Edition just weeks before their wedding and open up about what it really means to love someone out loud. They talk about choosing each other in a world that doesn't always make that easy, healing through abandonment wounds, and the quiet courage it takes to be a same-sex couple saying "I do" in public. In this poetic and tender conversation, they explore love languages, vulnerability, PDA, and queer joy. Together, they remind us that real love isn't just a feeling. It's a choice you make every single day. 🤍 Try the game they’re playing: https://shop.theskindeep.com/collections/couples-collection-1/products/the-and-couples-edition ________________________________________________________________________ Sign up for our Made Human newsletter for stories of love, connection, and humanity: http://www.theskindeep.com/community Instagram | http://instagram.com/the_skindeep TikTok | https://www.tiktok.com/@theskindeep LinkedIn | https://www.linkedin.com/company/theskindeep/ Facebook | https://www.facebook.com/TheSkinDeep BlueSky | https://bsky.app/profile/theskindeep.bsky.social Threads | https://www.threads.net/@the_skindeep EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR | Topaz Adizes LINE PRODUCER | Nicolás Lejtreger PRODUCTION ASSISTANT | Augustin Hardy DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY | Taylor Camarot CAMERA ASSISTANT | Jess Averbeck SOUND OPERATOR | Carla Geronimi BTS PHOTOGRAPHER | Nacho Rodríguez EDITOR | Danielle Montezon WITH THE PARTICIPATION OF | Aleya & Gabrielle

Brandy (she/her) and Dupree (he/him) play {THE AND} Couples Edition and reflect on what it means to choose each other through the hard stuff. In this honest and tender conversation, they talk about growing up in survival mode, healing old wounds, breaking generational cycles, and learning to love without armor. Together, they explore trust, vulnerability, transparency, and how their greatest lessons have come from each other.🤍 Try the game they’re playing:https://shop.theskindeep.com/collections/couples-collection-1/products/the-and-couples-edition________________________________________________________________________Sign up for our Made Human newsletter for stories of love, connection, and humanity: http://www.theskindeep.com/communityInstagram | http://instagram.com/the_skindeepTikTok | https://www.tiktok.com/@theskindeepLinkedIn | https://www.linkedin.com/company/theskindeep/Facebook | https://www.facebook.com/TheSkinDeepBlueSky | https://bsky.app/profile/theskindeep.bsky.socialThreads | https://www.threads.net/@the_skindeepEXECUTIVE DIRECTOR | Topaz AdizesLINE PRODUCER | Nicolás LejtregerPRODUCTION ASSISTANT | Augustin HardyDIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY | Taylor CamarotCAMERA ASSISTANT | Jess AverbeckSOUND OPERATOR | Carla GeronimiBTS PHOTOGRAPHER | Nacho RodríguezEDITOR | Danielle MontezonWITH THE PARTICIPATION OF | Brandy & Dupree

Jewells (she/her) and Alie (she/her) have been friends for 13 years, but their relationship didn’t start easy. In this episode, they play {THE AND} Friends Edition and sit down for an honest conversation about friendship, communication, trust, and emotional growth, revisiting the tension and conflict that shaped their connection over time. What unfolds is raw, real, and deeply human. The kind of long-term friendship conversation that shows what it really takes to stay connected.🤍 Shop the {THE AND} Friends Edition: https://shop.theskindeep.com/collections/friends-collection/products/the-and-card-game-for-friends

Gonzalo (he/him) & Berlin (she/her) play {THE AND} Family Edition and reflect on what it means to grow up together as father and daughter. In this heartfelt conversation, they talk about becoming a parent, learning through mistakes, letting go of control, and finding balance between protection and independence. Together, they explore identity, trust, vulnerability, and how their biggest lessons came from each other.🤍 Try the game they’re playing:https://shop.theskindeep.com/collections/family-collection/products/the-and-family-edition________________________________________________________________________Sign up for our Made Human newsletter for stories of love, connection, and humanity: http://www.theskindeep.com/communityInstagram | http://instagram.com/the_skindeepTikTok | https://www.tiktok.com/@theskindeepLinkedIn | https://www.linkedin.com/company/theskindeep/Facebook | https://www.facebook.com/TheSkinDeepBlueSky | https://bsky.app/profile/theskindeep.bsky.socialThreads | https://www.threads.net/@the_skindeepEXECUTIVE DIRECTOR | Topaz AdizesLINE PRODUCER | Nicolás LejtregerPRODUCTION ASSISTANT | Augustin HardyDIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY | Taylor CamarotCAMERA ASSISTANT | Jess AverbeckSOUND OPERATOR | Carla GeronimiBTS PHOTOGRAPHER | Nacho RodríguezEDITOR | Sam BarbosaWITH THE PARTICIPATION OF | Gonzalo & BerlinChapters:00:00 - Introduction Gonzalo & Berlin00:58 - The first time we met02:08 - Three favorite memories05:00 - When do you worry about me?06:33 - The greatest lesson from our biggest fight08:58 - What do you feel is unique about our connection?10:00 - What does my love feel like?12:33 - Behind the scenes13:10 - Shop The Skin Deep!#theskindeep #fatherdaughter #fatherdaughterrelationship #dadanddaughter #parentingjourney #learningtobeadad #familyconversations #emotionalconversation #fatherhood #parentchildbond

Keisha (she/her) & Andrew (he/him) return for their 8th {THE AND} conversation, playing the Couples Edition once again. As longtime community favorites, we’ve followed their relationship across more than a decade of conversations, witnessing how their partnership continues to evolve through love, loss, creativity, and now parenthood.In this episode, they reflect on navigating conflict without disconnection, balancing time and emotional energy as parents of two, and how humor helps them stay close when things feel heavy. Together, they share what it means to grow side by side, honor their different upbringings, and keep choosing each other through a season that asks more from both of them.

Dawn (she/her) & Adrianna (she/her) play the {THE AND} Family Edition card game in this episode. Their conversation moves through sisterhood, childhood wounds, and the push and pull between protection, boundaries, and being truly heard.They reflect on growing up in the same family with different experiences, and how that shaped trust, communication, and the way they show up for each other now.

Alyson (they/them) & Annie (she/her) play the {THE AND} Friends Edition card game in this episode. They have been childhood friends for over 20 years and grew up together in Hollywood.They talk about how early fame shaped their sense of self, creativity, survival, and identity. Annie moved through acting, music, and personal growth with vulnerability and humor. Alyson brings reflection, curiosity, and a deep commitment to healing. Together they explore what it means to stay connected through change, distance, and long-lasting friendship.

Adnan (he/them), a Palestinian peacebuilder, and Michal (she/her), a Jewish artist, play the {THE AND} Couples Edition in this episode. Married for two years and together for five, they’ve navigated cultural differences, personal growth, and the challenges of building a life as equals and partners.They talk openly about communication, vulnerability, intimacy, and how they support and challenge each other. This conversation shows the real work, love, and connection behind their relationship.🤍 Try the game they’re playing: https://shop.theskindeep.com/collections/couples-collection-1/products/the-and-couples-edition

Sabrina (she/her) and Ryan (he/him) play the {THE AND} Couples Edition in this episode. They’ve been together for two and a half years. When they first met, both had recently lost people who mattered to them, and that shared moment shaped the way they connected. In this conversation, they talk about what helps them feel safe, how they support each other, and the moments that guide their connection. They share how they open up, stay present, and grow as a couple.

Dustin (he/him) and Janae (she/her) play the {THE AND} Couples Edition card game in this episode. Together for fifteen years, their story is one of faith, perseverance, and partnership built over time.In this conversation, they open up about the moments that almost broke them and how choosing to keep showing up for each other changed everything. Janae talks about the weight Dustin carried for their family during a time when things weren’t easy financially, and how those challenges shaped their faith and patience. They also reflect on the joy of seeing how far they’ve come, the laughter that keeps them grounded, and the way their friendship remains the foundation of their love.🤍 Try the game they’re playing: https://shop.theskindeep.com/collections/couples-collection-1/products/the-and-couples-edition

Van (he/him) lives with Type 2 diabetes. In this {THE AND} conversation, he sits with his 13-year-old daughter Sofi (she/her) to share the truth about fear, love, and family. Van opens his heart about the future and asks the question that haunts him: “Am I going to be okay long term?” He speaks about the effort it takes each day to live with diabetes and the weight of stigma that follows him. Sofi, just 13, listens with care. She shares what it feels like to watch her dad face this challenge, and how their bond has been shaped by honesty, strength, and love from the very first moment. This series from The Skin Deep is sponsored by Abbott and Libre. To watch the full series, check out the playlist here: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLo7UKMJBgef0M2-jZrEsxh6ggaIIF_WoG  Let’s end diabetes stigma. Find out more at AboveBias.com. #TheSkinDeep #TheAnd  #MadeHuman #ShareHumanity #SponsoredByAbbott #AboveTheBias #Diabetes For U.S. Important Safety Information – Product for prescription only, for Important Safety Information please visit FreeStyleLibre.us

Krystal & Steven are one of our Community Favorites pairs with over 7 million views on YouTube! They sat down for this conversation three years after ending their relationship of two years. Now, after living in different cities and barely speaking, they sit across from each other in a special two-part conversation to vulnerably explore the love they once shared, aftermath of their breakup, and what truly forced the couple apart. Don’t miss the second part of their conversation as they look towards the future, here: http://bit.ly/StevenKrystalP2

Talecia (she/they) and Nedra (she/her) play the {THE AND} Couples Edition card game in this video. Together for two years, they met online and built a connection through humor, travel, fashion, and a shared love for good food.Their conversation is open and full of care. They talk about patience, vulnerability, and how they keep showing up for each other through challenges and change. This episode is an intimate look at Black queer love, real communication, and the strength that comes from choosing softness.Try the game they’re playing: https://shop.theskindeep.com/collections/couples-collection-1/products/the-and-couples-edition

This episode was published in October 2016, and it’s our most-watched conversation of all time on YouTube, with over 5.4 million views. Mia & Khalil, a father and daughter separated for years by the federal prison system, discuss the hardship that has defined their relationship. 9 year old Mia bravely opens up about what it meant that her father was incarcerated, and Khalil, now a criminal justice reform activist at JustLeadershipUSA, can only admire how strong his daughter has become.

Christelle (she/her) & Niamkha (she/her) are lifelong friends from Haiti who sit down for an honest {THE AND} conversation about diabetes stigma and friendship. Christelle opens up about living with Type 2 diabetes, a diagnosis she has kept private from most people, and the fear of being judged. Niamkha reflects on how hard it can be to understand something she hasn’t lived with, while showing support in the quiet, steady ways that come with decades of trust. Together, they explore what it means to face stigma, listen deeply, and show up with compassion. This series from The Skin Deep is sponsored by Abbott and Libre.  To watch the full series, check out the playlist here: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLo7UKMJBgef0M2-jZrEsxh6ggaIIF_WoG  Let’s end diabetes stigma. Find out more at AboveBias.com. #TheSkinDeep #TheAnd #MadeHuman #ShareHumanity #SponsoredByAbbott #AboveTheBias #Diabetes For U.S. Important Safety Information – Product for prescription only, for Important Safety Information please visit FreeStyleLibre.us

Behind every diagnosis lives a human story filled with resilience, struggle, and love. In this new collaboration with Abbott and Libre, The Skin Deep created {THE AND} conversations that confront diabetes stigma.  Parents and children, mothers and daughters, and best friends face one another with honest questions often left unspoken. They share fears, moments of care, and the relief of being seen beyond stigma. This series from The Skin Deep is sponsored by Abbott and Libre. To watch the full series, check out the playlist here: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLo7UKMJBgef0M2-jZrEsxh6ggaIIF_WoG⁠ Let’s end diabetes stigma. Find out more at AboveBias.com. #TheSkinDeep #TheAnd #MadeHuman #ShareHumanity #SponsoredByAbbott #AboveTheBias #Diabetes  For U.S. Important Safety Information – Product for prescription only, for Important Safety Information please visit FreeStyleLibre.us

Community Favorites | Keisha (she/her) and Andrew (he/him) have a baby! During their seventh round on {THE AND} the couple talks about their new day to day dynamics with their 4 month baby girl. They discuss the different challenges of parenthood and their wishes for their newly grown family, how love grows in ways you didn’t think were possible, their immense and continuously expanding love for each other and how their baby has changed their relationship for the better.

Sharnika (she/her) and Mahala (she/her) have been married for two years. They share how they married quickly after only three months together when family rejection and homophobia made them choose safety and love over waiting. Their story shows how two women built a queer marriage based on honesty, care, and intention.They talk about faith, culture, and family. One wants children and the other does not. Together they show how love, patience, and empathy help them stay strong through their differences. This is a real queer love story about growth, understanding, and connection. Shop our card games: https://shop.theskindeep.com/collections/couples-collection-1/products/the-and-couples-edition

Community favorites - In their three and a half years together, Taty (she/her) and Dante (he/him) have built an inspiringly safe and unconditional love. Their shared experiences, witnessing each other through highs and lows, have led to a deep understanding of each other's true selves. This conversation beautifully reflects the poetic and loving affirmations of two souls who profoundly appreciate and love one another, having served as each other's constant pillar, unwavering rock, and dearest friend. Try the game they’re playing: https://shop.theskindeep.com/collections/couples-collection-1/products/the-and-couples-edition _______________________________________________________________ Sign up for our Made Human newsletter for stories of love, connection, and humanity: http://www.theskindeep.com/community

Aamir (he/him) & Amir (he/him) play the {THE AND} Couples Edition card game in this video. They have been together for more than 10 years and share how their love continues to grow.They talk about creativity, cultural identity and visibility as queer South Asians. Amir performs as a drag queen and comedian. Aamir brings focus, discipline and spirituality. Together they mix humor and honesty to show how long-term love can be both playful and deeply meaningful. Their story highlights resilience, partnership and the joy of falling in love again and again. It is a conversation about growth, trust and the strength of representation.🤍 Try the game they’re playing: https://shop.theskindeep.com/collections/couples-collection-1/products/the-and-couples-editionSee more of Amir Dean: https://www.instagram.com/lady.bushra/ See more of Aamir: https://www.instagram.com/aamirinflow/ Explore their podcast: https://www.instagram.com/youdontlovemeboys/ _______________________________________________________________Sign up for our Made Human newsletter for stories of love, connection, and humanity: http://www.theskindeep.com/communityInstagram | http://instagram.com/the_skindeepTikTok | https://www.tiktok.com/@theskindeepLinkedIn | https://www.linkedin.com/company/theskindeep/EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR | Topaz AdizesLINE PRODUCER | Nicolás LejtregerPRODUCTION ASSISTANT | Augustin HardyDIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY | Taylor CamarotCAMERA ASSISTANT | Jess AverbeckSOUND OPERATOR | Carla GeronimiBTS PHOTOGRAPHER | Nacho RodríguezEDITOR | Danielle MontezonWITH THE PARTICIPATION OF | Aamir & AmirChapters:0:00 Intro - What is one experience you wish I never had and why?00:00:30 - That's my impression of you00:02:21 - This requires full transparency0:11:52 - You got thrown out for being gay0:18:52 - I can't ever imagine a lifetime without you00:20:07 Outro - Shop The Skin Deep!#theskindeep #theand #madehuman #LGBTQLove #gaycouple #marriagegoals #relationshipstories