Locker Room for Growth

Jay Claypool: Serving the US Military as a Georgia Drag Queen

He was raised in the conservative south, where being gay would surely be shunned both societally and politically. Yet Jay Claypool found his calling here, twice. Growing up wasn’t easy in Augusta, Georgia but when Claypool discovered drag, it authenticated his identity and led him to find support in the 2SLGBTQIA+ community. As his Dixie Crystal persona rocked the Augusta nightclub scene, 9/11 happened. Like many at that time, Claypool reassessed his life, which led him to an air force recruiter. His active status in the military morphed into a 20+ year career. But there was a catch. It was the “don’t ask, don’t tell” era. Yet, he continued to perform in drag. This has led Claypool into penning, Gay AF: The Military Career of a Georgia Drag Queen. His book takes the reader on a journey of self-discovery and how to reconcile an unwelcoming social climate. CONNECT WITH JAY: https://www.facebook.com/jayclaypool/ https://www.instagram.com/dc_dixie/ https://www.amazon.ca/Gay-AF-Military-Career-Georgia-ebook/dp/B0CV2JC7GH

Revolutionizing the Beauty Industry: Meet Master Hairstylist Rod Sickler

He’s a master hairstylist and stage artist who has raised millions of dollars for charity.  Rod Sickler is known as an innovator in the beauty industry. The owner of Rod Sickler Salon & Spa, Clutch Cuts, and Images by Rod & Co, Sickler has taught some of the best stylists in the industry.   A licensed cosmetologist and barber with an advanced degree from the Vidal Sassoon Institute in London, Sickler trained with Sexy Hair founder, Michael O’Rourke, and has toured the world as a stage artist throughout his career. He’s been featured in InStyle, Elle, Allure, Harper’s Bazaar, and more.   Sickler is the Global Artist Director for IdHAIR Worldwide and the owner of IdHAIR North America. He knows first-hand how a hairstyle can impact a person’s self-esteem and mood. https://rodsicklersalon.com/ [https://rodsicklersalon.com/] https://rodsickler.com/ [https://rodsickler.com/] https://www.idhairnorthamerica.com/education/cosmetology-school-partners/ [https://www.idhairnorthamerica.com/education/cosmetology-school-partners/] https://www.facebook.com/rodsicklersalon/ [https://www.facebook.com/rodsicklersalon/] https://www.instagram.com/rodsicklersalon/ [https://www.instagram.com/rodsicklersalon/]

Chicago White Sox Baseball: A Visual Journey Through Photography and Stories

They may call European football, or soccer, The Beautiful Game, but in America, the sport that owns that title in soul and spirit is baseball. Anyone who has ever attended a game in person, whether it was double A, triple A, or professional – every experience has one thing in common: atmosphere.   Ken Smoller has spent a lifetime capturing the sights and smells of over 2,350 stadiums in 48 states and 24 countries. But it is Chicago and Comiskey Park that holds a special place in his heart. Not just because it’s his home, where he grew up a White Sox fan, but it’s the history, the character, and the romance of a place where baseball has lived its greatest and darkest moments in time.   A photographer, writer, and founder of the sports travel website, Stadium Vagabond, Smoller has a law degree from the University of Pennsylvania and serves as General Counsel for a major real estate developer in New England. While he may live in Massachusetts, the spirit of Chicagoland and Comiskey Park has called upon him to chronicle the imagery for the documentary The Last Comiskey, about the final 1990 season of the original stadium which was written, directed, and produced by Matt Flesch. Smoller has subsequently published a book capturing these iconic images as a love letter to this baseball legacy and the White Sox franchise.   Smoller’s mantra, and through his images, is that the best way to understand the culture and fabric of a place is through its sporting arenas and stadiums.   CONNECT WITH KEN ONLINE: stadiumvagabond.com https://www.linkedin.com/in/kenneth-smoller-2786bb1/ www.lastcomiskeybook.com Book Trailer https://youtu.be/qofWJZxdMQ8 Doc Trailer https://youtu.be/zdlipIWGQr0

Unveiling the World of a Top Gun Pilot and Nuclear Aircraft Carrier with Mike Manazir

He flew over 3,750 fighter hours with 1,240 arrested landings on multiple aircraft carriers. He completed five tours at the Pentagon. Former Top Gun fighter pilot and Retired Two-Star Admiral Mike Manazir spent 36 years in the United States Navy with 15 overseas deployments. His duties included Deputy Chief of Naval Operations, Warfighting Systems. Today, Manazir is Vice President of Navy Systems, Government Operations for The Boeing Company. He’s also a sought-after speaker. His book: Learn How to Lead to Win, is a collection of stories and lessons from his tenure in the U.S. Navy. Communications is a key component when managing high performance teams in chaotic environments and risky operations, such as a nuclear-powered aircraft carrier like the USS Nimitz or commanding an F-14 squadron. Manazir has seen it all and then some. What he does with his books, speaking, and message is teach others how to lead from their heart and not their title. CONNECT WITH MIKE ONLINE: https://mikemanazir.com/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/mikemanazir/ https://www.facebook.com/mikemanazir/ https://www.instagram.com/ mikemanazir.com  What an arrested landing looks like: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=STVAM85y3i0

Savannah Hauk Gender Dual

Transgender and 2SLGBTQIA+ rights have been front and center of political dysfunction for generations. Society’s hypocrisy and hate is blasting in bright pink neon if you look at pop culture and revered characters over the years. Tim Curry in the Rocky Horror Picture Show, Robin Williams in Mrs. Doubtfire, Dustin Hoffman in Tootsie, and several Halloween costumes to name a few. Savannah Hauk is a non-binary TEDx speaker, author, podcast host, and 2SLGBTQIA+ advocate. They know what it is like to live a dual life. Crossdressing is how they manifest their gender identity. Hauk is a previous guest and so much has transpired socially and politically since that interview. While where one lives has always had an impact on how one is treated socially, today there is a disturbing and hateful trend to erase a community’s human rights in a war-like fashion. Understanding, education, and tolerance are needed to combat the misconstrued messaging being spewed by a minority group still trying to hold onto power. We may not solve society’s issues but it’s a discussion we need to keep shining a light on. These are our neighbors, our children, our siblings, and friends. We owe it to everyone to work towards making this world more inclusive. Meanwhile, Hauk’s book, Living with Crossdressing – The New Normal, is available on Amazon and other book platforms. CONNECT WITH SAVANNAH ONLINE https://livingwithcrossdressing.com/ Facebook @livingwithcrossdressing Facebook @savannah.hauk Instagram @savannahhauk https://www.amazon.com/Living-Crossdressing-Defining-New-Normal-ebook/dp/B078K3GCJL/