The Queer Shelf Book Club E2 | “A Dash of Salt & Pepper” – Pride, Love & Vulnerability 📚

The Queer Shelf Book Club E2 | “A Dash of Salt & Pepper” – Pride, Love & Vulnerability 📚

In this episode of The Queer Shelf Book Club, we’re diving into A Dash of Salt & Pepper by Kosoko Jackson. This story goes beyond romance and into something more layered—exploring identity, pride, vulnerability, and what it means to be truly seen.  Through Xavier and Logan, we unpack the tension between who we present ourselves to be and who we actually are… and how love has a way of challenging both. This conversation touches on emotional honesty, ego, connection, and the work it takes to choose someone—not just when it’s easy, but when it requires growth. And yes… I had a few very strong reactions along the way. Cheers!  Support the show [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2539688/support]

E6 | A Bad Bitch with Principles 🌻 (with Matt Gagnon)

In this episode of What Helps You?, I sit down with my personal trainer turned close friend, Matt Gagnon, for a conversation that’s equal parts chaotic, philosophical, and unexpectedly profound. From wild Cinco de Mayo stories to reflections on resilience and losing the only dream you ever had, this episode moves seamlessly between laughter and life lessons. Matt opens up about growing up as the minority in his school, losing his hockey career to injury, navigating reckless seasons of life, and the mindset shift that ultimately grounded him: appreciation. Together, we unpack what it means to make instantaneous versus situational choices, how character is built through discomfort, and why sometimes getting “punched in the face” is part of the shift that shapes us into who we’re meant to become.  Buckle Up & Welcome to the Fray! Support the show [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2539688/support]

E5: 🌻 "The Day Trip - An Hour and a Half from Living" 🎙️

An hour and a half. A change of scenery. A reminder that my life isn’t on pause. In this episode, I talk about falling in love with day trips — the kind that don’t require plane tickets, packed itineraries, or big plans. I share how small adventures, good friends, and a little novelty helped me step out of routine and back into living. If life has been feeling a little stuck, this might be your sign to pick a direction, call a friend, and go touch grass — literally. Support the show [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2539688/support]

The Queer Shelf Book Club E1 | "Blessings" - A Novel 📚

In this Queer Shelf Book Club episode, we discuss Blessings by Chukwuebuka Ibeh — a tender, heartbreaking novel about queer love, survival, and longing in a world that makes softness dangerous. Through excerpts and reflection, we explore Obiefuna’s journey from boyhood to adulthood, first love and chosen family, and what it means to love openly when safety is never guaranteed. Blessings asks a simple, devastating question: Is it better to have loved and lost — or never have loved at all? Support the show [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2539688/support]

E4: 🌻 The Cabin Trip — "A Love Letter to Friendship" 🎙️

In this episode, I’m taking you back to the cabin — the spontaneous trip that turned four friends into a family. This is a love letter to the people who steady us, lift us, and make adulthood feel a little less lonely. A story about laughter, belonging, and the kind of friendship that becomes part of your mental health scaffolding. Settle in. This one’s for the people who help you feel like home 🌻. Support the show [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2539688/support]