Your Dating Life Is Not Someone Else's Entertainment | Living OUT Loud

When did trying to find love become something people should be embarrassed about?

We've gotten pretty comfortable sharing screenshots of dating profiles, awkward introductions, and private messages in Facebook groups and online communities. Sometimes it's about protecting one another. But other times? It's simply entertainment at someone else's expense.

And I think we need to talk about that.

In this week's Living OUT Loud solocast, I'm exploring something that's been weighing on my heart, especially within our lesbian and LGBTQ+ dating communities.

Behind every dating profile is a real person. Someone who may be coming out later in life, dating after heartbreak, or finding the courage to put themselves out there again.

There's a difference between accountability and cruelty. And kindness doesn't mean lowering your standards.

We can recognize red flags, protect ourselves, establish healthy boundaries, and still treat people with dignity.

So here's my question: Are we creating dating spaces where vulnerability feels safe, or are we making people afraid to show up as themselves?

Because finding love is hard enough without becoming someone else's punchline.

Let's have this conversation. I'd genuinely love to hear where you believe the line should be drawn.

🎙️ Living OUT Loud with Michele Flamer

#LivingOUTLoud #LesbianDating #QueerDating #LGBTQCommunity #DatingWithIntention #KindnessMatters

What do meeting a serial killer and befriending Rosa Parks have in common?

For Scott Wells, they’re both chapters in one extraordinary life.

On this episode of Living OUT Loud, I sit down with author Scott Wells for a conversation that went places I never expected.

Scott takes us back to a chilling encounter with a man he would later believe was serial killer Robert Durst, an experience that ultimately helped inspire his novel Phantom Ranch.

But then there’s another remarkable chapter of Scott’s life.

Years earlier, while serving his mission, Scott met and befriended the legendary Rosa Parks. Yes, that Rosa Parks. And hearing him talk about the woman behind the history books, and the impact she had on him personally, is something I won't soon forget.

But this conversation is about more than the famous people Scott has crossed paths with.

We talk about being gay, faith and identity, family, belonging, the stories we carry, the wild places that call us back to ourselves, and why certain encounters can change the trajectory of our lives forever.

Some people have a story.

Scott Wells seems to have lived several of them.

This is one of those Living OUT Loud conversations that reminds us that we never really know which person, moment, or unexpected turn will become part of the story of who we eventually become.

🎙️ Living OUT Loud with Michele Flamer-Powell
Guest: Scott Wells, author of Phantom Ranch

Takeaways

• Embracing personal truth
• The impact of formative experiences. Coming out is a lifelong journey
• Writing can facilitate self-expression

https://www.scottwellsauthor.com/

Chapters

• 00:00 Introduction to Scott Wells
• 02:53 Scott's Early Life and Mission
• 05:49 Life-Changing Encounters
• 12:30 Reflections on Rosa Parks
• 17:50 Coming to Terms with Identity
• 24:36 Navigating Relationships and Regrets
• 32:17 The Journey of Coming Out
• 35:44 The Experience of Writing a Book
• 46:08 The Grand Canyon: A Magical Place
• 51:50 Living Out Loud: Embracing Authenticity

In this important Solocast, Michele Flamer emphasizes the critical importance of voting and political engagement, particularly for the LGBTQ community. She discusses the upcoming elections, the impact of local and state decisions, and encourages listeners to be informed and active participants in democracy.

Here’s your homework. And I promise it’s not complicated.

1. Check your voter registration.

2. Find your ballot.

3. Research the candidates and ballot measures.

4. Make a voting plan.

Check here to see if you are registered.

Another place to check: https://www.usa.gov/confirm-voter-registration

Takeaways

• Importance of voting
• Engagement in democracy

Chapters

• 00:00 The Importance of Showing Up
• 05:09 Understanding the Ballot
• 11:01 Engaging with Politics
• 16:07 The Power of Participation
• 21:03 Visibility at the Ballot Box