Coming Out + Beyond | LGBTQIA+ Stories

Anne-Marie Zanzal 1ac1f670-c17c-11f0-806a-ef1502adef07
  • 4.3 (24)
  • MENTAL HEALTH
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

Anne-Marie Zanzal, M.Div is the creator and host of Coming Out & Beyond | LGBTQIA+ Stories. She deeply believes that in the hearing of another's story we can often here our own. Her podcast focuses on sharing the coming out stories of the Queer community. . Coming out stories is what connect everyone in the LGBTQIA+ community. These stories are compelling, heartbreaking and inspirational. But this podcast does not stop there. Straight media focuses so much on the coming out part, they often miss the "Beyond." Anne-Marie's guests have created lives of creativity, joy, authenticity and services to their fellow humans. She started this podcast because she felt the need to normalize exploration of questioning sexuality/gender at all ages, plus visibility is vital to the LGBTQIA+ community. It is never too late to be who we were created to be. Her guests prove that. Anne-Marie is a graduate of Yale Divinity School, an ordained minister in the progressive United Church of Christ, bereavement counselor, a coming out and divorce coach, conversationalist, spiritual wanderer, later-in-life lesbian, change maker, blogger, author, a northerner living in the south and trying to figure it all out. Anne-Marie has been featured in print and digital publications including Oprah Magazine, New York Times, BBC, CBC and iNews. She has appeared on numerous podcasts including Two Bottles Deep, Life (Un) Closeted, The Love Fix, Virgin Beauty Bitch, The Late Life Lesbian (YouTube), and many more. You can learn more about Anne-Marie at www.annemariezanzal.com.

  1. 21H AGO

    What Heated Rivalry Gets Right About Coming Out

    What Heated Rivalry Gets Right About Coming Out You wouldn't expect a steamy male hockey romance to hit so close to home for later-in-life lesbians — but Heated Rivalry on HBO Max did exactly that. In this episode, Anne-Marie and returning co-conspirator Barb Rowlandson break down why this show has gone viral across the LGBTQ+ community and beyond. From the real cost of staying closeted as strategy (not confusion), to the exhaustion of loving privately versus living openly, to why straight women are weeping at a gay hockey player kissing his boyfriend on the ice — the themes run deep. They explore how the show mirrors what so many women in midlife experience: the layered process of coming out, the fear of losing everything you've built, and the moment when hiding yourself becomes more painful than the risk of being seen. Plus, a honest conversation about gender roles, emotional labor, and why queer relationships often feel like a breath of fresh air after years of carrying the mental load. ⚠️ SPOILER ALERT: This episode discusses major plot points from all episodes of Heated Rivalry. Watch the show first, then come back — we'll be here! 🎧 Listen & watch now: 📺 YouTube: https://youtu.be/7ws7-FvaW38 🎧 Spotify & Apple Podcasts: Search "Coming Out and Beyond LGBTQ Stories" 💬 Want to keep the conversation going? Join our Authentically Us community on Mighty Networks for a live group discussion of Heated Rivalry on Monday, February 23rd! Join Authentically Us – a Community for LGBTQIA+ Adults to participate at https://annemariezanzal.com/ . 💬 JOIN THE AUTHENTICALLY US COMMUNITY Authentically Us is a support community for later-in-life LGBTQ women at all stages of the coming out and beyond process. Whether you're deconstructing messages from a conservative faith tradition, experiencing divorce-related guilt, or struggling with feelings of shame around your coming out or sexual identity, Authentically Us has the right kind of support for you. Monthly subscription: $39/month 👉 Join Authentically Us 🔗 CONNECT WITH US Website: annemariezanzal.com Facebook: facebook.com/amzanzal Instagram: @annemariezanzalcoaching Twitter: twitter.com/annemariezanzal LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/annemariezanzalpurposefulempowerment

    44 min
  2. You Might Also Like: Las Culturistas with Matt Rogers and Bowen Yang

    21H AGO · BONUS

    You Might Also Like: Las Culturistas with Matt Rogers and Bowen Yang

    Introducing "ChuckleHut 3000 On The Corner Of Butt And Ass" (w/ Sarah Sherman) from Las Culturistas with Matt Rogers and Bowen Yang. Follow the show: Las Culturistas with Matt Rogers and Bowen Yang There's a tonnage of laughter on this one as Sarah Sherman is back! Her special, Live + In The Flesh is streaming on HBO Max, so the child has popped by a get blackout drunk on about four sips of Martini and get through almost a whole a hand of topics. You will have several Big Osaka Laughs and be Sent Boots as a result of your listening experience.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. DISCLAIMER: Please note, this is an independent podcast episode not affiliated with, endorsed by, or produced in conjunction with the host podcast feed or any of its media entities. The views and opinions expressed in this episode are solely those of the creators and guests. For any concerns, please reach out to team@podroll.fm.

  3. 6D AGO

    U-Haul University: Stood Up, Stressed Out & Still Looking for Love!

    🔥 Ever get all dressed up for a date... and they never show? Ever wonder if you're too old for love at 43? Ever think maybe lesbian dating culture is just... toxic? Girl, pull up a chair. We're talking about ALL of it in this episode — and trust us, you're not alone. 📞 FEELING STUCK IN YOUR DATING LIFE? Dating is hard enough without doing it alone. If you're a sapphic woman feeling stuck, frustrated, or just plain lost when it comes to dating — whether you're freshly out, freshly heartbroken, or somewhere in between — let's chat. Book a FREE connection call with Barbara — no pressure, no judgment, just a lesbian therapist/coach/guide who has been there and can help you have a successful dating life. 👉 Book Your Free Call Here What We're Covering This Week: This week, Anne-Marie and Barbara Rowlandson are back with another round of Reddit questions from sapphic women navigating the beautiful, messy, maddening world of queer dating. These posts hit close to home: 🌈 Is lesbian dating culture actually toxic? Spoiler: No. We're talking about why what feels uniquely lesbian is really just uniquely human — and why pathologizing our community doesn't help anyone. ❤️ What to do when your girlfriend brushes off arguments that leave you spinning. Hint: It's about attachment styles and communication, not your queerness. (And "we never fight" isn't the flex you think it is.) 💔 The woman who got stood up on date three. Dressed up, dinner reservation made, Sephora closed for emotional shopping — the whole bit. We're sending her all the love. 🌸 A tough-love conversation with a 43-year-old who thinks she's too old for love. We're unpacking the stories we inherit and how beliefs like "there aren't enough good people out there" can quietly run your whole dating life. 💕 The sweetest question about first-time intimacy. Why excitement, not nervousness, is way more common than you'd think — and how to make your partner feel safe and comfortable. If you've ever wondered whether the intensity of your feelings means something's wrong, or if your dating struggles are a "lesbian thing" or a "human thing," this one's for you. 💬 JOIN THE AUTHENTICALLY US COMMUNITY Authentically Us is a support community for later-in-life LGBTQ women at all stages of the coming out and beyond process. Whether you're deconstructing messages from a conservative faith tradition, experiencing divorce-related guilt, or struggling with feelings of shame around your coming out or sexual identity, Authentically Us has the right kind of support for you. Monthly subscription: $39/month 👉 Join Authentically Us 💬 GOT YOUR OWN SAPPHIC DATING DILEMMA? We want to hear from you! Share your dating question or story, and we might feature it on our next episode of U-Haul University. 🔗 CONNECT WITH US Website: annemariezanzal.com Facebook: facebook.com/amzanzal Instagram: @annemariezanzalcoaching Twitter: a href="https://twitter.com/annemariezanzal" rel="noopener noreferrer"...

    47 min

  4. FEB 6

    When the Shelf Breaks: Reflections on Breaking With Faith Tradition and What Lies Beyond

    It's the first Friday of the month, and that means we welcome back Anna Empey to the show! In this episode, Anne-Marie and Anna delve deep into their personal journeys of deconstructing their Catholic and Mormon faith, particularly in the context of their LGBTQIA+ identities. Each paints a vivid picture of what it was like to grow up in a home with conservative faith traditions, noting the moments when their "shelf broke" (a metaphor for losing faith), the emotional toll of leaving behind their faith communities and ingrained beliefs, and the impacts it had on their interpersonal relationships. Anne-Marie and Anna also share which pieces of their beliefs they retained, noting how they found freedom and peace as they moved forward in life guided by their values. ❓ What to Expect in This Episode: ✨Exploration of how church policies can be devastating for LGBTQIA+ individuals. ✨Thoughts on how personal relationships with a higher power can evolve over time. ✨Why anger is a valid part of the deconstruction process. ✨Encouragement to ask questions and seek your own beliefs. Authentically Us is a support community for later-in-life LGBTQ women at all stages of the coming out and beyond process. Coming out later in life is often accompanied by suffering. Whether you're looking to deconstruct messages from a conservative faith tradition, experience divorce-related guilt, or struggle with feelings of shame around your coming out or sexual identity, Authentically Us has the right kind of support for you. Monthly subscription to Authentically Us on Mighty Networks is $35/month, but you can try your first week for free. Find Authentically Us at https://bit.ly/Authentically-Us 💬 Join the Conversation: Are you someone who is deconstructing the lessons of your life prior to coming out? What are your takeaways from this episode? Let's talk about it in the comments! 🔗 Visit our website: Anne-Marie's : [ annemariezanzal.com] 🔗 Follow us on social media: 💠 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/amzanzal 💠 Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/annemariezanzalcoaching/ 💠 Twitter: twitter.com/annemariezanzal 💠LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/annemariezanzalpurposefulempowerment/ You can also tune into this episode of Coming Out & Beyond: LGBTQIA+ Stories on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. Apple Podcasts: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/coming-out-beyond-lgbtqia-stories/id1569859569 Spotify: open.spotify.com/show/27kocr4llm6syHKaeX1x9e 👉 Don’t forget to like, share, and subscribe for more inspiring stories and advice on navigating life, love, and everything in between! #LGBTQIA #LGBTQ #Queer #lesbian #sexuality #identity #selfdiscovery #lesbiancommunity #sexualexploration #queerculture #growth #comingout #podcast #lgbtqpodcast ##religiousdeconstruction #faith #lifeaftercomingout #resilience #exmormon #excatholic

    46 min

  5. JAN 30

    📷”I Want To See These Women’s Faces”

    This week, we're revisiting an episode from Season 6 featuring GLAAD Media Award nominee, documentary photographer Morgan Lieberman. Morgan's project, "Hidden Once, Hidden Twice," published with NPR last June was recently nominated in the category of Outstanding Online Journalism – Video or Multimedia Morgan's work has been featured in publications such as The New York Times, Bloomberg, National Geographic, The Wall Street Journal, The Los Angles Times, among others. Morgan's current documentary project titled 'Hidden Once, Hidden Twice' focuses on documenting the lives of older lesbian partnerships. This project was borne out of a desire for lesbian community and out of recognition that the voices of the older lesbian generation have been suppressed and lost over time. In this episode, Anne-Marie and Morgan's conversation delves into the lessons learned from older generations, the significance of community, and the complexities of lesbian relationships. Morgan emphasizes the need for visibility and understanding of the unique experiences of older lesbians, while also discussing her aspirations for her documentary work. 🔥 What You’ll Learn in This Episode: 🏳️‍🌈The significance of representation in media for the LGBTQ+ community. 🏳️‍🌈How lesbian relationships are often misunderstood and oversimplified by society. 🏳️‍🌈Reflections on the emotional depth and intensity of lesbian friendships and relationships. 🏳️‍🌈What younger generations of lesbians can learn from the older generation about resilience and love. 🏳️‍🌈 and much more! You can follow Morgan Lieberman on Instagram, who goes by @thechromaticsheep. You can also donate to the "Hidden Once, Hidden Twice" GoFundMe here: https://www.gofundme.com/f/photo-book-on-senior-lesbian-partnerships 💬 Join the Conversation! 💬Are you a member of the older lesbian generation? What comes up for you when you listen to this episode? If you're of a younger generation, what surprised you about the episode? Leave your thoughts in the comments and let's talk about it! ❤️Join Authentically Us! A supportive community for those coming out later in life to the LGBTQIA+ community. Connect, share, and find guidance on your journey through mutual support groups, workshops, and live Zoom meetups. 💜Sign up today at www.annemariezanzal.com 💠 Visit our website: : [ www.annemariezanzal.com] 💠 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/amzanzal 💠 Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/annemariezanzalcoaching/ 💠LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/annemariezanzalpurposefulempowerment/ 👍 Like, subscribe, and hit the bell to stay updated on powerful stories from Coming Out & Beyond!

    43 min

  6. JAN 23

    Vulnerable Bodies, Heavy Hearts: Sexual Minority Stress & Homophobic Hate in the Wake of ICE Violence

    Authentically Us is a support community for later-in-life LGBTQ women at all stages of the coming out and beyond process. Coming out later in life is often accompanied by suffering. Whether you're looking to deconstruct messages from a conservative faith tradition, experience divorce-related guilt, or struggle with feelings of shame around your coming out or sexual identity, Authentically Us has the right kind of support for you. Monthly subscription to Authentically Us on Mighty Networks is $35/month, but you can try your first week for free. Find Authentically Us at https://bit.ly/Authentically-Us Trigger Warning: This episode discusses violence against women and Queer people, ICE violence, the Pulse nightclub tragedy, gun violence, and the murder of Renee Nicole Good. In this episode of "Coming Out and Beyond," host Anne-Marie Zanzal welcomes back psychotherapist Miriam Grace to discuss the profound impact of recent tragic events on the LGBTQIA+ community, particularly focusing on the murder of Renee Nicole Good. The conversation delves into the emotional responses elicited by such violence, the intersection of privilege and identity, and the unique challenges faced by later-in-life lesbians. Miriam shares her insights on the psychological implications of these events, emphasizing the importance of community support and the need for deeper understanding of women's experiences in the queer community. Together, they reflect on their personal journeys of coming out and the ongoing struggles for safety and acceptance in society. Read Anne-Marie's article 'Renee Good Will Not Be Erased' on Substack: https://annemariezanzal1.substack.com/p/renee-good-will-not-be-erased-on Read Miriam's article about Renee Good, 'The Thing Later-in-Life Lesbians Don't Get' here: The thing Later-in-Life Lesbians don’t get - blue skies ❓ What to Expect in This Episode: ✨Discussion about sexual minority stress that arises from violence against Queer bodies. ✨Real talk about white privilege and how that factors into vulnerability of LGBTQ individuals. ✨A declaration from Miriam to no longer smile and placate men, and why. ✨A spectrum of emotions in the wake of the killing of Renee Nicole Good, from anger to sadness and all of the grief in between. You can find Miriam Grace online at https://blue-skies.org.uk/ 💬 Join the Conversation: What is sitting with you since the murder of Renee Nicole Good? How are you coping in the wake of recent ICE related tragedies? Let's talk about it in the comments. 🔗 Visit our website: Anne-Marie's : [ annemariezanzal.com] 🔗 Follow us on social media: 💠 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/amzanzal 💠 Instagram:a href="https://www.instagram.com/annemariezanzalcoaching/" rel="noopener noreferrer"...

    50 min

  7. JAN 16

    The Road That Led to Me: Becka Eppley's Story

    Authentically Us is a support community for later-in-life LGBTQ women at all stages of the coming out and beyond process. Coming out later in life is often accompanied by suffering. Whether you're looking to deconstruct messages from a conservative faith tradition, experience divorce-related guilt, or struggle with feelings of shame around your coming out or sexual identity, Authentically Us has the right kind of support for you. Monthly subscription to Authentically Us on Mighty Networks is $35/month, but you can try your first week for free. Find Authentically Us at https://bit.ly/Authentically-Us Becka Eppley is an author, storyteller, communications director and later-in-life lesbian who works with authors, coaches and community builders to help share their truth. In this episode, Becka shares her (fairly recent) experience of stepping into her authentic sexuality – a journey that entailed deconstruction from a conservative faith tradition, divorce, challenging notions of personal value, womanhood, and landing on the letter of the LGBTQIA acronym that felt right for her. This is a wonderful episode for anyone who is early in their coming out journey, as it addresses many of the challenges and concerns that women who come out later in life routinely face. ❓ What to Expect in This Episode: ✨Lots of discussion around faith deconstruction and sexual identity. ✨Practical talk about boundary setting with family. ✨An exploration of societal norms and how they impact the coming out process. ✨The joys that new lesbians experience when they step outside of heteronormativity and the male gaze. You can read Becka's recently published essay, "Permission to Be," in the anthology "Avoided No More: On Writing Through Struggle, Shame, and Self-Doubt," which has a majority 5 star rating on Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/243627560-avoided-no-more Becka Eppley's LinkTree: Becka Eppley (she/her) | Instagram, Facebook, TikTok | Linktree Becka's coming out/divorce music was Kelly Clarkson's album, Chemistry: https://youtu.be/NNcT6ycswHQ?si=WYmQ1LW0P1HVbsio 💬 Join the Conversation: Are you a later in life lesbian who has deconstructed from conservative faith, gone through a messy divorce, or who has found empowerment through storytelling? Which part of this episode resonates most with you? Let's talk about it in the comments! 🔗 Visit our website: Anne-Marie's : [ annemariezanzal.com] 🔗 Follow us on social media: 💠 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/amzanzal 💠 Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/annemariezanzalcoaching/ 💠 Twitter: twitter.com/annemariezanzal 💠LinkedIn:a...

    49 min

  8. JAN 9

    U-Haul University: Sapphic Dating Advice!

    This Authentic Life is a transformative course designed specifically for late-blooming LGBTQIA+ women (and non-binary people comfortable in women's spaces) who are navigating the complexities of identity, relationships, and future steps. If you're in the process of changing your life to align with your LGBTQIA+ identity and are having challenges reconciling pieces of your old 'straight' life with your new life, this course can help you find clarity and confidence. Visit https://bit.ly/thisauthenticlife for more information and to sign up. NEW COHORT STARTS JAN 15th 2026, next cohort begins late spring, 2026. This is our final week of accepting new participants; sign up today to start in January! It's a new year and we have a new monthly segment for you all: U-Haul University! On the second Friday of the month, school is in session, and your dating professor Barbara Rowlandson will be here with host Anne-Marie Zanzal to talk about sapphic dating conundrums. In this episode, Anne-Marie and Barbara have plucked posts from Reddit boards by lesbians who are looking for a little clarity in their search for love. In this episode, they explore the challenges faced by plus-sized women in the lesbian dating scene, the dynamics of intense attraction, and the complexities of exploring one's sexuality later in life. It's a lively episode that offers thoughtful advice sprinkled with personal insights, encouraging listeners to embrace their true selves and navigate the world of dating with confidence. ❓ What to Expect in This Episode: ✨Real-life dating questions from the internet, answered with warmth and honesty. ✨Explanations of why lesbian relationships can be so INTENSE. ✨Encouragement to explore biases about dating and curiosity about where they come from. ✨Tips for building strong, meaningful connections in the LGBTQIA+ community. Need dating/new relationship support? Barbara Rowlandson offers coaching for women and non-binary people who are looking to level up their love life! Book a free 30 minute consultation with Barbara here: https://calendly.com/barbararowlandson/30-minute-workshop-call-barb Authentically Us is a support community for later-in-life LGBTQ women at all stages of the coming out and beyond process. Coming out later in life is often accompanied by suffering. Whether you're looking to deconstruct messages from a conservative faith tradition, experience divorce-related guilt, or struggle with feelings of shame around your coming out or sexual identity, Authentically Us has the right kind of support for you. Monthly subscription to Authentically Us on Mighty Networks is $35/month, but you can try your first week for free. Find Authentically Us at https://bit.ly/Authentically-Us 💬 Join the Conversation: Are you a sapphic who is struggling to find success in dating? Tell us about it! Drop your conundrum in the comments and we may feature your question on an upcoming episode! 🔗 Visit our website: Anne-Marie's : [ annemariezanzal.com] 🔗 Follow us on social media: 💠 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/amzanzal 💠 Instagram:a href="https://www.instagram.com/annemariezanzalcoaching/" rel="noopener noreferrer"...

    47 min
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4.3
out of 5
24 Ratings

About

Anne-Marie Zanzal, M.Div is the creator and host of Coming Out & Beyond | LGBTQIA+ Stories. She deeply believes that in the hearing of another's story we can often here our own. Her podcast focuses on sharing the coming out stories of the Queer community. . Coming out stories is what connect everyone in the LGBTQIA+ community. These stories are compelling, heartbreaking and inspirational. But this podcast does not stop there. Straight media focuses so much on the coming out part, they often miss the "Beyond." Anne-Marie's guests have created lives of creativity, joy, authenticity and services to their fellow humans. She started this podcast because she felt the need to normalize exploration of questioning sexuality/gender at all ages, plus visibility is vital to the LGBTQIA+ community. It is never too late to be who we were created to be. Her guests prove that. Anne-Marie is a graduate of Yale Divinity School, an ordained minister in the progressive United Church of Christ, bereavement counselor, a coming out and divorce coach, conversationalist, spiritual wanderer, later-in-life lesbian, change maker, blogger, author, a northerner living in the south and trying to figure it all out. Anne-Marie has been featured in print and digital publications including Oprah Magazine, New York Times, BBC, CBC and iNews. She has appeared on numerous podcasts including Two Bottles Deep, Life (Un) Closeted, The Love Fix, Virgin Beauty Bitch, The Late Life Lesbian (YouTube), and many more. You can learn more about Anne-Marie at www.annemariezanzal.com.

Information

  • Creator
    Anne-Marie Zanzal 1ac1f670-c17c-11f0-806a-ef1502adef07
  • Years Active
    2021 - 2026
  • Episodes
    168
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Anne-Marie Zanzal
  • Show Website
    Coming Out + Beyond | LGBTQIA+ Stories

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