Forged in Fire: LGBTQ+ Leadership

Forged In Fire
  • 4.5 (8)
  • SOCIAL SCIENCES
  • UPDATED BIWEEKLY
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.

  1. A Boy's Life with Chris Douglas

    4D AGO

    A Boy's Life with Chris Douglas

    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. You’ll walk away challenged, heartened, and renewed.

    55 min
  2. Mastering the Movements with Robert Dover

    JUL 1

    Mastering the Movements with Robert Dover

    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 with an open heart, coming from a place of love for the sport, for the people in it, and for the animals above all else. That’s how you lead." -Robert Dover

    51 min
  3. Everything and the Kitchen Sink with Mercury Stardust

    JUN 17

    Everything and the Kitchen Sink with Mercury Stardust

    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.

    1h 16m
  4. Stories That Must Be Told with Mason Funk

    JUN 3

    Stories That Must Be Told with Mason Funk

    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 renewed cultural backlash. This is an episode about memory, courage, and the ongoing work to ensure no voice is left unheard.

    59 min
  5. Reclaiming Place and History with Todd Ross

    MAY 20

    Reclaiming Place and History with Todd Ross

    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 resilience forged through adversity, and the ongoing work of reconciliation, memorialization, and representation. Todd’s story is a testament to healing, leadership, and the quiet strength of returning home.

    52 min
  6. Boss Battles with Raquel Willis

    MAY 6

    Boss Battles with Raquel Willis

    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 speaks candidly about ego, empathy, collective leadership, and the intersectional strategies we need to build a freer world. This episode is a testament to the quiet strength required to live authentically—and the bold voice required to make systemic change... to fight the boss battles ahead.

    54 min
  7. Choreographing Authentic Leadership with Fuchsia

    APR 21

    Choreographing Authentic Leadership with Fuchsia

    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.

    55 min
  8. Everything is Intentional with Steve Yacovelli

    APR 8

    Everything is Intentional with Steve Yacovelli

    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 experience, and why now is the time to lean into inclusion—not away from it.

    53 min
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4.5
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About

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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