Life Uncloseted With Rick Clemons

Love happens. Or maybe we should say, attraction happens, even if it isn’t deep love. For some, that means the come out of the closet, then go back in. I know, I was one of those. For others, they believe they are gay, but based on family and societal pressure, religious beliefs, a distrust of oneself, or just downright confusion, some people give the heterosexual life a shot, only to find that, “Yep, this isn’t for me, and I am truly gay!” Such is the story of today’s guest. Alex Petrarca. She came out, went back in, then came out again. It’s much more common than you think and it is multi-generational, even in today’s more accepting society! This is her coming out story. About Alex Alex Petrarca is a filmmaker, podcast booking agent, and owner of After School Productions LLC. She has a BA in Film Studies from Rhode Island College and uses her video production savvy and compulsion to document everything in order to create episodes of Alex’s Vlog, a weekly Youtube se

Music lifts us, binds us together, and when it’s really done right, it makes us think, even if that thinking is about dark subjects that no one really wants to talk about. But if we don’t talk about things, those things win. So what happens when you take a stand and say, “They Won’t Win!” You get a talented, gay music duo (no they aren’t a couple) who is tackling some dark parts of life, in the hopes of giving others hope so they can see that they are not alone. Danny M. Cohen and Great Lanier of https://www.theywontwin.com/ (“They Won’t Win,”) met through an organic circumstance at a dinner. It all started with noticing a guitar in the room and from there the relationship blossomed into the two becoming music husbands, producing folk-rock songs that take on dark subjects like partner abuse, the LGBTQ struggle, and loss. Their debut album Lost at Sea, is out and making a splash and having immediate impact with people from all walks of life. Touching, ende

You’re moving along in life. Doing the thing that you do. Then suddenly, that life plan is no longer going the direction that you thought it would. Happens to all of us and it’s how we respond, not react that can make all the difference to moving ahead towards the life that you truly desire. Even if that means being a reluctant entrepreneur. Stephen Warley, a reluctant entrepreneur, has seen his own share of ups and downs as he went from being employed to self-employed. As a podcaster, coach, minimalist and vagabond traveler, he’s discovered that living (un)closeted means doing work that matters using the life skills that matter to help him get there. His belief is that self-employment and becoming a reluctant entrepreneur is sneaking up on more of and more us as jobs are automated or outsourced, and that it’s time for everyone to come out of the closet and learn about self-employment and embrace it. About Stephen Stephen has been happily unemployable for 15+ years now. But it hasn’t

No one with a logical head ever said, “I’m going to make a ton of money, then blow it all, just because I’m not happy to see if that brings me happiness!” Just doesn’t makes sense. Yet to be great, sometimes you have to literally make a ton of money to realize that many the…

Bullied in school. At 17 left at the crossroads of pursuing a career as a DJ or becoming a police officer, he chose, the badge. Even with the badge, the bullying continued, but he survived for 26 years in the line of duty working his way up the ladder, leading the status quo life, becoming…

Whether you’re exploring your sexuality, considering coming out, or recently out, one of the most often overlooked challenges in owning your truth. Yes, we own it to come out, but the own it I’m talking about is owning it consistently and with commitment. Doing your best to not falter. Standing in your values your way.…

You’ve come out, or maybe you’re only out to a few people in your life. You know the ones you can trust with your truth. Or maybe the ones you can’t trust but you don’t care because you are going to live your life. Cool. Now it’s time to start dating and mating. Maybe you’ve…

You’ve explored how you feel. You know who you are. You’ve worried, had sleepless nights, maybe even considered that it’s not worth it to come out of the closet, but in your heart and soul, you know this is who you are. Now you’re considering having that big talk – with family, a spouse, your kids, friends, co-workers. But the thought of that scares the crap out of you. Here’s some tips to help you as you prepare for the big talk, that will change everything, and make you more of who you are…the person you’ve always been. About Rick Rick’s a culture disruptor (shakes up the status quo), closet buster (shatters silly beliefs), and a bold move expert (like Superman without the muscles and cape). His superpower is guiding closet dwellers – which is every human – to break free of fear, make bold moves, and live life without apology. Everything Rick’s discovered about living life his way, he learned from coming out of the closet at 36, getting laid off from two sweet corporate jobs, and making the crazy decision

It can be scary saying I’m LGBTQ. Why? For many reasons, but one of the biggest is because everyone, including yourself, might just think you’re that way because it is all about SEX. Well, we’re talking about SEX and why it’s not just about SEX, and how to handle those thoughts, and accusations to be a solid, healthy individual as you begin to explore the sex of your sexuality and gender identity. The more you know the better you will be in navigating the interesting twists and turn of discovering you and your desires in your sexuality, and don’t you let anyone tell you what you should or shouldn’t like about sex in your AWESOME self. About Rick Rick’s a culture disruptor (shakes up the status quo), closet buster (shatters silly beliefs), and a bold move expert (like Superman without the muscles and cape). His superpower is guiding closet dwellers – which is every human – to break free of fear, make bold moves, and live life without apology. Everything Rick’s discovered about living life his way, he learne

One of the greatest weapons against the LGBTQ community is the weapon of faith and God. Combine that with the threat of going to hell and you have a mind blowing experience that has been used for years in the realms of conversation therapy. For others it’s a conflict, of “Do I love God or…

One of the hardest parts of coming out is the fear of being loved, accepted for who you are. Yet, when you step into who you are and accept yourself first, you can find the strength to do what you need to do. During this episode we explore four ways to overcome the fears of…

It is estimated that over 20,000 LGBTQ minors will be subjected to conversion therapy (reparative therapy) treatments in states where protections do not exist to prevent this cruel and ineffective treatment (Williams Institute at UCLA School of Law). For those who have endured these practices, an overwhelming majority of them have faced this treatment due to erratic religious beliefs and practices. Fortunately for the music world and the rest of us, Justin Utley, OUTMusic Award winning singer/songwriter, he survived and is thriving beyond the reparative therapy abuse he received. As we approach National Coming Out Day 2019, I felt it was important to focus on the power of coming out and being yourself, and the negative impact that these practices have on individuals and the world at large. Justin, candidly shares his story and how it has influenced his music and the songs that he has manifested – Survivors and Scars – that shine a bright light on the emotional trauma of conversion/reparative therapy. Ab

Money, money, money, money. We all want it, love it, hate it when we don’t have it and we sure have our own wicked versions of our money story – good or bad. For some it can be a frightening nightmare what money does to their person. For others it is just a fun little…

I woke up to a bunch of closets, as will be discussed in this episode, and then began to panic! How am I going to get all this crap done? What should I do first? Will I die before this stuff is completed? Ok that last question was a little over dramatic, but it got…

Imagine depression and suicide running in your family. Then imaging contemplating suicide as regularly as you change your underwear. Now imagine using humor to inspire hope, and laughter to save lives. Frank King, Suicide Prevention speaker and Trainer was a writer for The Tonight Show for 20 years. He’s fought a lifetime battle with Major…

Today is the 18th anniversary of 9/11. As we honor those whose lives were lost and impacted by this tragic event let’s not forget that we are all impacted. Each and every time a world event happens, involving terrorists or not, even if we aren’t directly involved, we are impacted. I’m not simply talking about…

He and I met on the set of a Creative Live shoot for my buddy Mike Michalowicz who was shooting his Profit First course. Little did I know that this young guy would have the impact he did, and that he would help me see that to live a life (un)closeted meant finding the means…

We all assume and too often that makes an ass of ourselves. When we assume to know why someone does what they do, it creates a false sense of security, of superiority, and sometimes it at least seems to heal the wounds. This is short episode that brings something very close to my heart to…

Every day is a good day. Nothing is ever bad. Life is wonderful. I don’t what you’re smoking, but I’m not buying all that. Until I realized bad days only exist if we make them exist. I learned part of that lesson when I realized I could focus on the shit storm of my life,…

“I hate my job. I’m just here for the paycheck. What difference does it make what I do, no one cares as long as I do what they tell me!” Any of this sound familiar? At times we all have the mindset, “Just show up and do the job!” That can lead to a very…