She Comes With Baggage

Today, I’m sitting down with my friend Noa Taieb - a lifestyle creator, entrepreneur, and storyteller. Originally from Paris and now based in LA, Noa has built a platform sharing his journey through content, creativity, and self-discovery. He recently launched Sunny Days, a men’s swimwear and lifestyle brand created by and for the LGBTQ+ community, with a portion of all sales supporting It Gets Better to uplift and empower LGBTQ+ youth around the world. In this episode, we’re diving into the power of storytelling, building a brand with purpose, and how embracing authenticity has shaped his career. So, get comfy, stay open, and let’s get into it! Follow Noa Taeib: * Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/noataieb/ [https://www.instagram.com/noataieb/] * Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@noataieb  [https://www.tiktok.com/@noataieb] * Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@noataieb [https://www.youtube.com/@noataieb] Follow She Comes With Baggage Podcast:  * Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shecomeswithbaggage__ [https://www.instagram.com/shecomeswithbaggage__] * Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@shecomeswithbaggage__ [https://www.tiktok.com/@shecomeswithbaggage__] * Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@KirstiePike [https://www.youtube.com/@KirstiePike]

Today’s guest is Melanie Posner - an LGBTQ+ muralist, portrait artist, and creative force based in Los Angeles whose bold, unapologetic work centers around empowerment, identity, and mental health. Through large-scale murals and intimate portraits, Melanie transforms public spaces into canvases of self-expression and healing. In this episode, we go beyond the canvas to talk about her personal journey—moving to LA, navigating self-discovery, building queer community, and how art became both her purpose and her path to personal growth. So get comfy, stay open, and let’s get into it. Follow Melanie Posner: * Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/therealmelpoz/ [https://www.instagram.com/therealmelpoz/] * Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@therealmelpoz  [https://www.tiktok.com/@therealmelpoz] Follow She Comes With Baggage Podcast:  * Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shecomeswithbaggage__ [https://www.instagram.com/shecomeswithbaggage__] * Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@shecomeswithbaggage__ [https://www.tiktok.com/@shecomeswithbaggage__] * Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@KirstiePike [https://www.youtube.com/@KirstiePike]

Today’s guest is Carolina Gutierrez—an award-winning Colombian actress, advocate, and proud Latina trans woman who is making waves both on screen and off. From her breakout roles to her most recent short Buscando Alma—which just qualified for the Oscars—Carolina’s work is as powerful as her presence. You’ve seen her in NCIS: LA, The L Word: Generation Q, and national commercials, but behind every role is a story of resilience, representation, and using her voice to uplift her community. In this episode, we talk about her journey from Colombia to Hollywood, the evolution of trans visibility in media, and how she continues to lead with both heart and purpose. So get cozy, stay curious, and let’s get into it. Follow Carolina Gutierrez: * Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thecarolinagutierrez/ [https://www.instagram.com/thecarolinagutierrez/] Follow She Comes With Baggage Podcast:  * Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shecomeswithbaggage__ [https://www.instagram.com/shecomeswithbaggage__] * Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@shecomeswithbaggage__ [https://www.tiktok.com/@shecomeswithbaggage__] * Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@KirstiePike [https://www.youtube.com/@KirstiePike]

Today’s guest is Dexter Mayfield—a dancer, actor, plus-size model, and fierce force of queer joy and self-expression. From his early roots in Dallas to performing with icons like Jennifer Lopez, Taylor Swift, and Katy Perry, Dexter has built a career that celebrates visibility, movement, and radical self-love. Whether he's lighting up the stage with Savage x Fenty or judging on Paramount+’s Come Dance With Me, Dexter is rewriting the rules of representation—on his own terms. In this episode, we talk about it all: breaking into the beauty industry as a plus-size, queer performer, navigating a religious upbringing, challenging outdated beauty standards, and what it takes to build a thriving career while staying true to yourself. So get cozy, stay open, and let’s get into it. Follow Dexter Mayfield: * Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dexrated/  [https://www.instagram.com/dexrated/] * Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@dexrated [https://www.tiktok.com/@dexrated] * Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@DexterMayfield  [https://www.youtube.com/@DexterMayfield] Follow She Comes With Baggage Podcast:  * Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shecomeswithbaggage__ [https://www.instagram.com/shecomeswithbaggage__] * Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@shecomeswithbaggage__ [https://www.tiktok.com/@shecomeswithbaggage__] * Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@KirstiePike [https://www.youtube.com/@KirstiePike]

Today’s guest is Lauren Abedini—aka KITTENS. She’s a powerhouse DJ, music producer, podcast host, creative strategist, and an unapologetic voice for intersectional feminism. With Iranian-American roots and a deep connection to her identity, Lauren has spent the last decade carving out space not just in music, but across fashion, beauty, and advocacy. Her influence is bold, intentional, and always evolving. In this episode, we get into all of it—her rise in the industry, what it means to take up space authentically, and how to empowering untraditional healthy relationships. So get cozy, stay open, and let’s get into it. Follow KITTENS, Lauren Abedini: * Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/iamkittens/ [https://www.instagram.com/iamkittens/] * Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@iamkittens [https://www.tiktok.com/@iamkittens] * Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@iamKITTENS [https://www.youtube.com/@iamKITTENS] Follow She Comes With Baggage Podcast:  * Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shecomeswithbaggage__ [https://www.instagram.com/shecomeswithbaggage__] * Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@shecomeswithbaggage__ [https://www.tiktok.com/@shecomeswithbaggage__] * Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@KirstiePike [https://www.youtube.com/@KirstiePike]