S3.E34: From Fan Fiction to Frontlines: Bi+ Identity and Activism in Italy with Aurelio Castro

S3.E41: Dr. Zori Paul on Bi+ People of Color, Mental Health, Media Representation, and Microaffirmations

This week, host Ross speaks with Dr. Zori Paul, a licensed professional counselor, counselor educator, researcher, and board member of the Bisexual Resource Center. As a Black bi+ woman, Dr. Zori brings personal insight and professional rigor to a conversation about the mental wellbeing of Bi+, queer, pansexual, fluid, and questioning people of color, and the conditions that allow communities to move beyond inclusion toward recognition and care. We get into: * From Brandy’s Cinderella to counseling: Dr. Zori reflects on wanting to be a fairy godmother as a child and how that desire to help others eventually became a career in mental healthcare, teaching, and research. * Why Bisexual women of color need research that sees them: After encountering studies that claimed to represent women while barely including women of color, Dr. Zori followed her own questions into scholarship centered on bisexual women of color. * Mental health, stigma, and shrinking support systems: Ross and Dr. Zori discuss how anxiety, depression, intimate partner violence, and internalized bi-negativity can affect relationships, boundaries, disclosure, and willingness to seek support. * Bi-negativity versus biphobia: Dr. Zori explains why bi-negativity can help name the systemic discrimination people experience, rather than framing the problem as something located within their identities. * Microaffirmations and conditional acceptance: Small gestures of recognition can help counter the accumulation of erasure and rejection, especially when they come from LGBTQ+ peers. But affirmation loses its power when followed by conditions such as, “You’re valid, but don’t date a man.” * Blackness, queerness, and the harm of false choices: The conversation challenges the demand that Black queer and Bi+ people choose whether they are “Black first” or “queer first,” while examining how colonization, white supremacy, and religious stigma have shaped attitudes toward sexuality in communities of color. * Representation, advocacy, and building what is missing: From Glee, Heartstopper, and Insecure to the Bisexual Resource Center and LA Bi+ Task Force, they consider the impact of seeing bisexual people represented with cultural context, complexity, and humanity. Dr. Zori also shares her interest in future research on bisexuality and neurodiversity, including autism and ADHD, and encourages listeners to follow their curiosity, create community, and understand that meaningful advocacy does not require a PhD. This episode is an invitation to imagine Bi+ belonging beyond visibility in a world welcomed without qualification. About Dr. Zori Paul: Dr. Zori Paul is a licensed professional counselor, counselor educator, researcher, and board member of the Bisexual Resource Center. Her work centers the mental wellbeing and affirmation of Bi+ people of color, including research on microaffirmations and emerging work at the intersection of bisexuality and neurodiversity. Connect with Dr. Zori Paul: Instagram: @amberinsights [https://instagram.com/amberinsights] https://www.zoriapaul.com/ [https://www.zoriapaul.com/] Learn More: Embracing All of Me is a storytelling and advocacy platform for the multi, complex, and in-between, uplifting the voices of Bi+ people of color, our kin and friends. Website: https://embracingallofme.org [https://embracingallofme.org] Email: stories@embracingallofme.org Instagram: @embracingallofmee [https://instagram.com/embracingallofmee] Topics: Dr. Zori Paul, Ross Victory, BIPOC, Bi+ people of color, bisexual women of color, Black bisexual women, bisexual mental health, microaffirmations, bi-negativity, biphobia, Bisexual Resource Center, embracing queer identity, Black LGBTQ stories, bisexual representation, neurodiversity and bisexuality, Bi+ advocacy, intersectionality, cultural belonging.

S3.E40: Sam Kim on Why He Doesn't Date Transphobic People, the Asian Diaspora, and Music as a Lifeline

Korean-American Artist Sam Kim "Babo," now "Samathan" on Diaspora, Hip-Hop, Bisexual Identity & Creative Survival What does it mean to be seen, fully, when you exist in fragments, when every room you enter asks you to choose which part of yourself to bring? In this episode of Embracing All of Me, Ross sits down with Sam Kim known as Babo and Samathan, Korean-American artist and creator, for a layered conversation on identity, the Asian diaspora, and creative expression as survival. From growing up between cultures in New Jersey and Queens to navigating hip-hop as a non-Black Asian artist, Sam reflects on the influences that shaped his sound, and the responsibility that comes with borrowing from Black art forms while holding space for his own Korean-American experience. We get into: * What it means to grow up between cultures, Korean, American, neither, both, and how diaspora fragments identity before you even have language for it * Navigating hip-hop as a non-Black artist, the influences, the debts and the tensions * Asian diaspora tensions, model minority myths and the shared work of decentering whiteness * Sam's track "i wannabeprolific" — unpacking its visual symbolism (fragmented mirrors, subtle identity cues) and the deeper frustration behind the music: the pull between creative purpose and survival * Relationships, boundaries, and one of Sam's dating non-negotiables. "I don't date transphobes." and how "Are you transphobic?," a simple question that reveals everything * Why embracing the "cringe" is part of the work, and learning to see yourself as enough before the world tells you otherwise This episode is about more than music. It's about self-worth, creative survival, and what it takes to hold all of yourself when the world keeps asking you to fragment. About Sam Kim (Samathan): Sam Kim (Samathan) is a Korean-American artist and creator whose work explores identity, diaspora, and the intersection of hip-hop, visual art, and cultural responsibility. Connect with Sam Kim: Sam's Website [https://www.babobars.com/] Watch "I Wannabeprolific" [https://youtu.be/XXPcmZVAB3Q?si=7Z9glzypsAmoF_ff] Samathan on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/babobars?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet&igsh=ZDNlZDc0MzIxNw==] Samathan on Spotify [https://open.spotify.com/artist/5ZN1fZrLuobbJG6QHUXPC8?si=Q44BktIpQUS7jBe9a91d7A] Learn More: Embracing All of Me is a storytelling and advocacy platform for the multi, complex, and in-between, uplifting the voices of Bi+ people of color, our kin and friends. Website: https://embracingallofme.org [https://embracingallofme.org] Email: stories@embracingallofme.org [stories@embracingallofme.org] Instagram: @embracingallofmee [https://instagram.com/embracingallofmee] Take Action: * Contribute [https://embracingallofme.org/contribute] a written piece to Embracing All of Me * Book a Creative Consult with Ross Victory [https://embracingallofme.org/creativeconsult] Topics: Sam Kim, Babo, Samathan, Korean-American artist, Asian diaspora, hip-hop and race, non-Black artist in hip-hop, bisexual identity, queer Asian artist, bisexual asians, Korean-American identity, cultural appropriation vs appreciation, anti-Blackness in Asian communities, model minority myth, creative survival, i wannabeprolific, trans allyship, dating and boundaries, self-worth and identity, diaspora and belonging, BIPOC creatives

S3.E39: The Children We Imagine Vs. The Children We Meet: Kristina Campos on Supporting Teens, Navigating Fear, and Growing Alongside Your Children

What does it mean to love your child without asking them to become smaller, safer, or more familiar for your comfort? In this episode of Embracing All of Me, host Ross Victory speaks with Kristina Campos, educator, parenting advocate, mother of four, and founder of The Impactful Parent, about raising teenagers with connection, compassion, and the freedom to become themselves. Drawing from more than 20 years in education, her Hispanic cultural upbringing, the experience of parenting a trans son, and the personal reinvention that followed divorce and motherhood, Kristina explores what genuine support looks like when identity, fear, depression, self-harm, and family expectations all land in the same room at once. Ross and Kristina examine the difference between protecting children and controlling their lives, especially for LGBTQ+ youth navigating a world that may already feel unsafe. Kristina shares what parents can say when a child comes out, why parental discomfort cannot become the child's burden, and how adults can educate themselves rather than expecting queer and trans youth to explain their own humanity. Ross also reflects on growing up as a Black bisexual man and the acceptance many queer adults needed far earlier in life. In this conversation: * Parenting beyond expectation — Traditional Hispanic family roles and the realization that parents may give a child life, but it is not their life to live. * Protection vs. control — Why hovering and parenting from fear limits teenagers rather than preparing them. * Supporting LGBTQ+ and trans youth — Kristina speaks honestly about fear, safety, and the importance of responding: "Thank you for telling me. I love you." * The emotional stakes of coming out — How silence, shock, religious conditioning, or rejection can make love feel conditional at the most vulnerable moment. * Teen mental health and self-harm — Framing self-harm as serious emotional distress that calls for care, not shame. * Learning without burdening your child — From pronouns to school advocacy, support means taking initiative and asking: "How can I show you that I support you?" * Building The Impactful Parent — How divorce, teaching, and her own healing led Kristina to create a podcast, coaching practice, YouTube channel, and parenting app. This conversation is for LGBTQ+ teens, trans youth, parents learning in real time, and adults still healing from the acceptance they never got. About Kristina Campos Kristina Campos is an educator and parenting advocate with more than 20 years working with students from preschool through high school. She is the founder of The Impactful Parent, a platform supporting families navigating adolescence, LGBTQ+ identity, mental health, communication, neurodivergence, and belonging.🌐 theimpactfulparent.com [https://theimpactfulparent.com/] About Embracing All of Me Embracing All of Me is a storytelling and advocacy platform uplifting the voices of Bi+ people of color, our kin, and friends.🌐 embracingallofme.org [https://embracingallofme.org] | 📧 stories@embracingallofme.org [stories@embracingallofme.org] Contribute a written piece or book a Creative Consult with Ross Victory to develop your story, platform, or creative project. Visit our website for more! Topics: Kristina Campos, The Impactful Parent, Ross Victory, Embracing All of Me, supporting LGBTQ+ teens, parenting trans youth, bisexual teens coming out, queer youth mental health, teen self-harm, supportive parenting, embracing queer identity, family acceptance, Hispanic motherhood, parenting teenagers, gender identity, pronoun support, Black bisexual identity, Bi+ people of color, inclusive parenting resources

S3.E38: Too Much for the Room, Prince Domo on Writing, Self Expression, and Taking Up Space as a Black Bisexual Man in Hip Hop

What happens when the voice you were once told was “too much” becomes the very thing that saves you? In this episode of Embracing All of Me, Ross sits down with Prince Domo, a Black bisexual rapper and multidisciplinary creative whose path into music began with color pencils, cartoons, orchestra, theater, poetry, and a lifelong desire to be seen fully, not flattened, dismissed, or made more palatable. From Kansas City and Texas to his artistic rebirth as Prince Domo, this conversation explores rap as self-expression and self-protection. Together, Ross and Prince Domo unpack what it means to be an open Bi+ Black man in Hip-hop, to write honestly about attraction and relationships, and to keep taking up space in rooms that were not built with you in mind. We get into: * Prince Domo’s early creative world: from coloring, cartoons, viola, and theater to poetry, monologues, and the English teachers who helped him recognize the writer within. * Being underestimated because of personality: how charisma can make people like you socially while still failing to respect your seriousness * Rap as rhythm, poetry, and release: why rap gave Prince Domo a sharper, more aggressive voice than poetry alone, and how college helped him claim it * Becoming Prince Domo: his rebrand, his artistic rebirth, and the meaning behind “Domo” as “dominance over mild obedience.” * Black bisexual visibility in hip-hop: writing about men and women, making “bi rap,” and refusing to shrink inside a genre still shaped by heteronormativity * Fear, courage, and speaking up anyway: why Prince Domo became more afraid of what would happen if he stayed silent than what might happen if he acted. * Love, trauma, DL men, and being deeply seen: a vulnerable conversation about assault, trauma responses, desire, and loving men who may not be quite ready to claim themselves openly. Prince Domo’s story reminds us that representation is not only something we search for outside ourselves. It is also something we can become. About Prince Domo:Prince Domo is a rapper, writer, and creative artist whose work blends confidence, lyrical sharpness, emotional honesty, and unapologetic self-expression. Rooted in poetry, theater, and hip-hop, his music explores identity, desire, ambition, resilience, and taking up space as his full self. Connect with Prince Domo:Instagram: @prince.domoo [https://www.instagram.com/prince.domoo]Threads: @prince.domoo [https://www.threads.com/@prince.domoo]Music: Search “Prince Domo” on Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube, Amazon Music, and other streaming platforms. Learn More:Embracing All of Me is a storytelling and advocacy platform for the multi, complex, and in-between, uplifting the voices of Bi+ people of color, our kin and friends. Website: https://embracingallofme.org [https://embracingallofme.org/] Email: stories@embracingallofme.org Instagram: @embracingallofmee [https://instagram.com/embracingallofmee] Take Action: Stream Prince Domo's music! Like, follow, subscribe, DM! Support Bi+/queer musicians and artists by adding the Pride playlist "Fluid Frequencies [https://open.spotify.com/playlist/2aPigEKnDWf0nKlxVvpFkl]" now! Have a story, essay, reflection, or creative piece about identity, culture, sexuality, belonging, or becoming? Consider contributing to Embracing All of Me [https://embracingallofme.org/contribute]. Topics: Prince Domo, Ross Victory, Embracing All of Me, Black bisexual men, Bi+ men of color, Black queer artists, bisexuality in hip-hop, queer hip-hop, bi rappers, hip hop and identity, Bi+ storytelling, Prince Domo music, dominance over mild obedience, Black male vulnerability, DL men, bisexual men and relationships, trauma and healing, sexual assault recovery, taking up space, self-expression through rap, poetry and hip-hop, Black creatives, queer Black music, identity and artistry, music as survival

I'm Still Embracing This and It's Been 9 Years...

Remembering Claude B. Victory, Jr. & Jason Paul Victory Nine years ago, my dad, Claude Bert Victory Jr., died of prostate cancer. Some days, that feels like a really long time ago. Other days, I can close my eyes and see his face and hear his laugh, or his presence so clearly that it feels like no time has passed at all. When in reality, a lot of him flows through me. In this Monologue solo episode, I’m sitting with the anniversary of my dad’s passing, the loss of my brother from brain cancer, Jason Paul Victory (2014), and the strange way grief keeps changing without fully disappearing. Recently, my nephew asked me for old pictures of him with his dad, my brother, and it brought me back to a day we spent together by the trains in Georgia. Just like that, I was back inside memories, looking at how much has happened and how much life has moved forward. I’ve been thinking again about what embracing all of me really means. It sounds beautiful and aspirational, but a lot of the work is quiet and ongoing. It's letting myself remember. It's sitting with the reality that I still miss them. It's sitting with the reality that I have thrived and progressed in many ways. It's acknowledging that grief does not always feel like fresh acute pain anymore, but it can still stop me in my tracks. This episode is me taking a moment to say their names, to honor what they mean to me, and to reflect on family, legacy, time, and all the parts of ourselves shaped by the people we love and lose.