Pride, Power & Presence: The Garland Gravely Story

Pride, Power & Presence: The Garland Gravely Story

In this special Pride Month episode of Unmuted with Z & Ross Da Boss, we sit down with Garland Gravely, a respected LGBTQ+ historian, advocate, mentor, House Father, and community leader whose impact has been felt across generations.Garland’s story is one of resilience, authenticity, and service. Through decades of advocacy, historical preservation, and community building, he has helped create spaces where people feel seen, valued, and empowered to live openly as themselves. As the Father of the House of Expression, the first Ballroom House established in Southwest Virginia, Garland helped build more than a community, he helped create family.This conversation explores the importance of preserving LGBTQ+ history, the power of chosen family, and what it means to leave a legacy rooted in love, courage, and visibility. Garland shares lessons learned throughout his journey, reflects on the progress made by the LGBTQ+ community, and offers wisdom for future generations navigating their own paths toward authenticity.For Ross Da Boss, this episode is especially personal, as a former member of the House of Expression whose life was touched by Garland’s leadership and mentorship.This is more than a conversation about Pride.It's about honoring those who paved the way, celebrating the communities that hold us up, and recognizing the power of living unapologetically.🌈 Because every story matters.🌈 Every voice deserves to be heard.🌈 And every legacy begins with someone brave enough to be themselves.Welcome to the first episode of our Pride Month special series, Unmuted & Unapologetic. ✨#UnmutedWithZAndRossDaBoss [https://www.youtube.com/hashtag/unmutedwithzandrossdaboss] #UnmutedAndUnapologetic [https://www.youtube.com/hashtag/unmutedandunapologetic] #PrideMonth [https://www.youtube.com/hashtag/pridemonth] #LGBTQHistory [https://www.youtube.com/hashtag/lgbtqhistory] #ChosenFamily [https://www.youtube.com/hashtag/chosenfamily] #Community [https://www.youtube.com/hashtag/community] #Authenticity [https://www.youtube.com/hashtag/authenticity] #PridePowerPresence [https://www.youtube.com/hashtag/pridepowerpresence] #LGBTQVoices [https://www.youtube.com/hashtag/lgbtqvoices] #LegacyAndLeadership [https://www.youtube.com/hashtag/legacyandleadership]

Access Is My First Language with Lakeisha Moore "LK"

In this episode of Unmuted, Z and Ross Da Boss sit down with LaKeisha “LK” Moore: community advocate, volunteer, and a powerful voice for intentional impact, cultural awareness, and authentic access.“Access Is My First Language” is a conversation rooted in identity, belonging, and perspective. LK opens up about navigating Hispanic and Latin spaces as a Black woman, and how language became more than communication, it became a bridge, a responsibility, and at times, a challenge to perceptions of belonging. Through honesty and lived experience, she shares what it means to honor culture without losing yourself within it.Together, the conversation explores the intersection of identity, community work, travel, and advocacy. LK reflects on how international experiences reshaped her worldview, challenged assumptions about access in the United States, and deepened her understanding of service, humility, and responsibility. From conversations about cultural appreciation versus co-opting, to showing up consistently without needing recognition, this episode reminds us that real impact is built through presence, not performance.We also talk about Rise and Reign, how LK became part of the network, the story of how we met, and the connections that continue to grow through shared purpose and community.This episode is filled with wisdom, honesty, and unforgettable reminders that your voice, identity, and presence matter.Inspirational Words from LK:“Don’t wait for someone’s permission to feel that it’s okay to take up space, to sit at the table, or to belong in the room. Know that who you are and what you bring to the table is valuable and you belong in the room just by being you.”“When someone says, ‘You have big shoes to fill,’ tell them you brought your own.”If you’ve ever questioned whether you belong, struggled with finding your voice in unfamiliar spaces, or wondered how to move through different cultures while staying grounded in yourself, this conversation is for you.Watch now, follow, share, subscribe, stream now, and join the conversation with Unmuted with Z and Ross Da Boss.#podcast [https://www.youtube.com/hashtag/podcast] #stayunmuted [https://www.youtube.com/hashtag/stayunmuted] #language [https://www.youtube.com/hashtag/language] #riseandreignnetwork [https://www.youtube.com/hashtag/riseandreignnetwork] #unmutedwithzandrossdaboss [https://www.youtube.com/hashtag/unmutedwithzandrossdaboss]

The Graduation Nobody Prepares You For

Graduation is more than a cap and gown.It’s fear. Growth. Pressure. Pride. Endings and beginnings happening at the same time.Today on Unmuted with Z & Ross Da Boss, we’re talking about what comes AFTER the applause for graduates, parents, and anyone stepping into a new season of life.Because sometimes the scariest words are:‘Now what?’ ”Episode of unmuted that can focus on graduating and going to the next step for parents for graduates etc new beginnings • Nobody talks about how scary graduating actually is. • Your life is not over because you don’t have it figured out at 22. • Parents are grieving a version of their child while celebrating who they’re becoming. • Some people graduate from school. Some people graduate from survival mode.#Graduation [https://www.youtube.com/hashtag/graduation] #Podcast [https://www.youtube.com/hashtag/podcast] #LifeAfterCollege [https://www.youtube.com/hashtag/lifeaftercollege] #NewBeginnings [https://www.youtube.com/hashtag/newbeginnings] #MentalHealth [https://www.youtube.com/hashtag/mentalhealth]

The Voice They Tried to Quiet — Finding Your Voice with Nestor “The Boss” Gomez

In this powerful episode of Unmuted with Z & Ross Da Boss, we sit down with Nestor “The Boss” Gomez — storyteller, immigrant advocate, and creator of 80 Minutes Around the World.Born in Guatemala and arriving in Chicago undocumented in the mid-80s, Nestor grew up navigating a world where speaking up didn’t always feel possible. Living with a stutter and learning English while trying to find his place, he once struggled to use his voice. Today, he’s a celebrated storyteller, Moth Slam champion, and someone who has dedicated his platform to uplifting immigrant, refugee, and ally voices.This conversation is about resilience, identity, healing, and what it truly means to reclaim your voice in spaces that once tried to silence you.If you’ve ever felt unheard, unseen, or unsure of where you belong — this episode is for you. Come get unmuted.#UnmutedPodcast #Storytelling #MentalHealthAwareness #ImmigrantStories #HealingThroughConversation #PodcastCommunity #TheMoth #FindYourVoice

For the Moms: Love, Loss & Gratitude

This one’s for the moms. Z opens the episode with a deeply personal letter — a thank you, a reflection, and a piece of her story. Ross Da Boss shares the grief of losing his mother at a young age and how that journey has shaped her over time. Together they hold space for every emotion Mother’s Day can bring: love, grief, gratitude, confusion, and hope. Whether you’re celebrating, remembering, or navigating motherhood in your own way, this episode honors every version of mom. We’re sending love, strength, and room for whatever you feel. 🤍#mothersday [https://www.youtube.com/hashtag/mothersday] #thankyoumom [https://www.youtube.com/hashtag/thankyoumom] #honoringmom [https://www.youtube.com/hashtag/honoringmom] #motherhood [https://www.youtube.com/hashtag/motherhood] #grief [https://www.youtube.com/hashtag/grief] #healing [https://www.youtube.com/hashtag/healing] #podcast [https://www.youtube.com/hashtag/podcast] #withlove [https://www.youtube.com/hashtag/withlove]