Redefining Family
36 episodes - English - Latest episode: almost 2 years ago - ★★★★★ - 7 ratingsDoes your family say “I Love You” yet it feels empty? You are not alone. Many in the LGBTQ+ community have faced this reality. Host Jonathan Wilson explores how and why we must overcome this obstacle in his podcast Redefining Family. His show spotlights stories of resilience as his guests share how they have redefined their definition of who they consider to be their real family. Heartfelt, honest, and vulnerable, these stories of overcoming shed light on what family actually means.
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Episodes
Jonathan & Madi Goldstein - Demonstrating Parental Love
July 18, 2022 19:00 - 37 minutes - 25.7 MBOn this week's episode of Redefining Family, Jonathan has the pleasure of speaking with his old friend Jonathan Goldstein and his daughter Madi Goldstein. At seventeen, Madi came out to Jonathan and his wife as transgender. Since then, they have not only supported her, but have become advocates for her and the trans and queer communities. Jonathan discusses the realization him and his wife had that Madi was struggling with her gender identity. Madi explains that she felt a disconnect wi...
Blake Allen - Coming Out To Mormon Parents
July 11, 2022 22:00 - 39 minutes - 27.4 MBThis week on "Redefining Family," Jonathan interviews internationally recognized and award-winning musician and composer Blake Allen. Blake was raised Mormon and came out to his blood related family at 18 years old, which at the time, did not go over very well. However Blake explains that since then, him and his parents have learned to love each other in the way that they know how, even after he stepped away from the Mormon church. Blake also opens up about how in college, the suicide o...
Robert Oliver - Esteemable Acts
July 07, 2022 17:00 - 37 minutes - 25.6 MBThis week on Redefining Family Jonathan opens the episode talking about the very scary state of our country and worries for our future. Jonathan then interviews Robert Oliver, LGBTQ advocate, political organizer, and is also running for the West Hollywood City Council. Robert opens up about always knowing he was gay but also feeling like an outcast. Robert was raised in a reform, Jewish family, that was very accepting, and he explains the amazing values that were bestowed upon him, lik...
Laura-Rose Thorogood - LGBT Mummies
June 27, 2022 19:00 - 36 minutes - 25.4 MBThis week on "Redefining Family" Jonathan opens the episode by discussing the devastating overturn of Roe Vs. Wade and where we go from here. He is then joined by Laura-Rose Thorogood. Laura-Rose Thorogood, the founder of the LGBT Mummies , which is an organization based in the UK but provides support worldwide for LGBTQ women wanting to start a family. Laura-Rose did not officially come out until she was 29 years old due to a lot of self-loathing and trying to understand her identity. ...
Arsham Parsi - Consequences Of Being Gay In Iran
June 22, 2022 20:00 - 34 minutes - 24.1 MBThis week Jonathan speaks with Arsham Parsi, an Iranian LGBT human rights activist living in exile in Canada. Arsham discusses when he first realized he was gay and what it was like growing up in Iran knowing he was different. Arsham discusses the consequences of being gay in Iran, fleeing the country and how his family had to flee soon after. He also discusses his relationship with his family, what his life has looked like since he had to flee Iran, and all of the work he does to hel...
Arsham Parsi - Consequences Of Being Gay In Iran
June 22, 2022 20:00 - 34 minutes - 24.1 MBThis week Jonathan speaks with Arsham Parsi, an Iranian LGBT human rights activist living in exile in Canada. Arsham discusses when he first realized he was gay and what it was like growing up in Iran knowing he was different. Arsham discusses the consequences of being gay in Iran, fleeing the country and how his family had to flee soon after. He also discusses his relationship with his family, what his life has looked like since he had to flee Iran, and all of the work he does to hel...
Jonathan Alexander - Learning To Accept Yourself
June 14, 2022 19:00 - 54 minutes - 37.4 MBThis week on Redefining Family Jonathan interviews author Jonathan Alexander. Jonathan first talks about his struggles growing up in the deep south, especially once he decided he wanted to come out. He turned 18 at the beginning of the AIDS epidemic and he tried to come out in college, however there was no real support or community for LGBTQ+ individuals. Jonathan then discusses how he ended up marrying a woman and the realizations they both came to about their relationship before the ...
Kalob Gossett - Spreading HIV Awareness
June 06, 2022 19:00 - 42 minutes - 29.3 MBIn this week's episode of "Redefining Family" Jonathan opens the show by talking about his amazing weekend at PRIDE in West Hollywood. He then talks about his cousin that got HIV and how the mental effects of what was happening to him turned out to, sadly, be his demise. Jonathan then interviews HIV educator and advocate Kalob Gossett. Kalob first opens up about coming out to his family and their initial reactions and how he was the first gay president of his fraternity in college. He t...
Calvin Cato - Learning To Love Yourself
May 23, 2022 20:00 - 44 minutes - 30.5 MBOn this episode of Redefining Family, Jonathan first opens up about the boundaries he has had to create with his family to protect himself, which included a recent interaction with a close friend of his father's. Jonathan then gets the chance to speak with standup comedian and LGBTQ+ activist Calvin Cato. Calvin first talks about his upbringing, not being exposed to the gay community as a kid and the homophobia that existed in his family of immigrant parents. He talks about how he fina...
Calvin Cato - Learning To Love Yourself
May 23, 2022 20:00 - 44 minutes - 30.5 MBOn this episode of Redefining Family, Jonathan first opens up about the boundaries he has had to create with his family to protect himself, which included a recent interaction with a close friend of his father's. Jonathan then gets the chance to speak with standup comedian and LGBTQ+ activist Calvin Cato. Calvin first talks about his upbringing, not being exposed to the gay community as a kid and the homophobia that existed in his family of immigrant parents. He talks about how he fina...
Erick Matos - Showing Up For The Ones You Love
May 16, 2022 16:00 - 43 minutes - 29.9 MBOn this week's episode of Redefining Family, Jonathan starts the show by opening up about his time at The Men Having Babies Conference in San Fransisco. Jonathan then has a wonderful conversation with Erick Matos, an advocate for the LGBTQ+ community and a public policy specialist with nearly a decade of experience in state and local government. Erick opens up about what it was like growing up in a religious family in a small town, and when it was that he first realized that he was gay. ...
Kathy Kiger - Coming Out Later In Life
May 10, 2022 14:00 - 44 minutes - 30.8 MBOn this week's episode of "Redefining Family" Jonathan starts off the show by talking about how he felt like he came out later in life when he was in his 20's. However, after talking to this week's guest Kathy Kiger, he realized that there are people that come out even later than he did, and wow, does Kathy have a story to tell. Kathy grew up in Texas to a very religious family, and she felt as though religion was forced on her. She felt like her whole life she was "pushing the gay down",...
Kathy Kiger - Coming Out Later In Life
May 10, 2022 14:00 - 44 minutes - 30.8 MBOn this week's episode of "Redefining Family" Jonathan starts off the show by talking about how he felt like he came out later in life when he was in his 20's. However, after talking to this week's guest Kathy Kiger, he realized that there are people that come out even later than he did, and wow, does Kathy have a story to tell. Kathy grew up in Texas to a very religious family, and she felt as though religion was forced on her. She felt like her whole life she was "pushing the gay down",...
Rev. Naomi Washington-Leapheart - Sisterly Love
May 03, 2022 00:00 - 36 minutes - 24.8 MBOn this week's Redefining Family, Jonathan opens the episode with an update on his life, talking about finding a surrogate and unexpected twists and turns along the way. Jonathan then brings on his amazing guest, Rev. Naomi Washington-Leapheart. Naomi's list of accolades and accomplishments is long and ever so impressive. However what's more impressive are Naomi's powerful messages , the way she came into her work and the beautiful life she lives today. We also discuss what it was lik...
Dr. Jamie M Grant - It Takes A Village
April 27, 2022 16:00 - 49 minutes - 34 MBThis week Jonathan opens the episode by talking about how he has always felt supported by his ancestors, but some people have showed up negatively in his past, so he has had to make some tough decisions. That being said, he has no regrets. ç Having survived sexist violence and anti-lesbian disownment as a youth, Dr. Grant became a go-to resource on gender and sex among her peers and colleagues as a matter of survival. Jamie is now a mom in a biracial parenting partnership, raising a whi...
Zak Krevitt - Queer Expression
April 19, 2022 17:00 - 32 minutes - 22.4 MBOn this week's episode of Redefining Family Jonathan had the pleasure of speaking with photographer, activist and artist Zak Krevitt. Zak opens up about his teen years, what it was like coming out to his family and his introduction to West Hollywood nightlife when he was just a teen. He then talks about the underground scenes he has been a part of within the LGBTQ+ community and his current work with the Web3 space where he works with Queer Artists as they try to build a digital museum d...
Stan Zimmerman - Our Golden Girls
April 11, 2022 18:00 - 41 minutes - 28.6 MBOn this very special episode of Redefining Family, Jonathan starts by talking about his dear friend Julie, who sadly passed away. last year of cancer. Julie was in love with EVERYTHING Golden Girls. She went on a Golden Girls cruise and could reference countless episodes. Jonathan then goes on to interview Stan Zimmerman, one of the original writers of Golden Girls and countless other hit shows and films like Roseanne, The Gilmore Girls and A Very Brady Sequel (to name a few). Stan o...
Stan Zimmerman - Our Golden Girls
April 11, 2022 18:00 - 41 minutes - 28.6 MBOn this very special episode of Redefining Family, Jonathan starts by talking about his dear friend Julie, who sadly passed away. last year of cancer. Julie was in love with EVERYTHING Golden Girls. She went on a Golden Girls cruise and could reference countless episodes. Jonathan then goes on to interview Stan Zimmerman, one of the original writers of Golden Girls and countless other hit shows and films like Roseanne, The Gilmore Girls and A Very Brady Sequel (to name a few). Stan o...
Tyler Sit - Oz
April 04, 2022 15:00 - 44 minutes - 30.3 MBIn this episode Jonathan gives us a peek into his life outside of "Redefining Family" and his recent travels for work. He then discusses his love for an old HBO show called "Oz," which was a fictional series that took place in a male prison. This then leads into a wonderful conversation with Rev. Tyler Sit, who has worked as a prison chaplain, among many other things. Tyler is the son of a Chinese immigrant, and he discusses what it was like coming out to his family and how he became a ...
Tyler Sit - Oz
April 04, 2022 15:00 - 44 minutes - 30.3 MBIn this episode Jonathan gives us a peek into his life outside of "Redefining Family" and his recent travels for work. He then discusses his love for an old HBO show called "Oz," which was a fictional series that took place in a male prison. This then leads into a wonderful conversation with Rev. Tyler Sit, who has worked as a prison chaplain, among many other things. Tyler is the son of a Chinese immigrant, and he discusses what it was like coming out to his family and how he became a ...
Sean Szeps - Growing Up Catholic
February 28, 2022 23:00 - 43 minutes - 30 MBIn this episode Jonathan talks about the role that religion and going to church played in his life growing up. For the most part, going to church was a positive experience because it brought him closer to his grandmother. However that is not that case for everyone, as some may say, religion is complicated. Jonathan then speaks with podcaster, presenter and content creator Sean Szeps and they discuss what it was like for him to grow up in the Roman Catholic Church and the effect it had o...
Elena Joy Thurston - Conversion Therapy
February 21, 2022 17:00 - 44 minutes - 30.5 MBIn this episode Jonathan talks about the shame and guilt he first felt when he realized he was gay. However he explains that now he feels pride and joy with who he is and he explains how he does not let just one part of him define who he is. He then speaks with Elena Joy Thurston, LGBTQ+ speaker, trainer, author and founder of the nonprofit Pride and Joy Foundation. She talks about surviving conversion therapy and what it was like to come out as a lesbian being a part of the Mormon chur...
Raga D'Silva - No More Lies, No More Fear
February 15, 2022 01:00 - 45 minutes - 31.3 MBIn this episode, Jonathan talks about his own experiences with his family. He then has on Raga D'Silva, Raga is an author, LGBTQ+ advocate and host. Raga talks about growing up in India, her family's reaction to her coming out, living your truth and being the love you want to see in the world. ******* About Raga Raga is a successful entrepreneur and Director of Speaking Minds (www.speakingminds.com) – India’s largest international speaker-marketing agency. With over 25 years of exp...
Raga D'Silva - No More Lies, No More Fear
February 15, 2022 01:00 - 45 minutes - 31.3 MBIn this episode, Jonathan talks about his own experiences with his family. He then has on Raga D'Silva, Raga is an author, LGBTQ+ advocate and host. Raga talks about growing up in India, her family's reaction to her coming out, living your truth and being the love you want to see in the world. ******* About Raga Raga is a successful entrepreneur and Director of Speaking Minds (www.speakingminds.com) – India’s largest international speaker-marketing agency. With over 25 years of exp...
Blair Bryant Nichols - Spirituality
February 07, 2022 16:00 - 50 minutes - 34.9 MBIn this episode, Jonathan starts by opening up about his own spiritual practices and a little bit about his past experiences with religion. Jonathan then speaks with Blair Bryant Nichols (literary talent manager, coach and consultant) about his experiences with spirituality and what it was like growing up in the Catholic Church. ******* About Blair After beginning his career representing hundreds of authors from Top 6 publishers, Blair Bryant Nichols moved into the management of founders...
Andrea Breanna - Unconditional Love
January 31, 2022 15:00 - 55 minutes - 38.2 MBIn this episode, Jonathan reveals some sad news about a member of his family and explores the the process of losing a loving and loyal pet. Jonathan then speaks with Andrea Breanna, who is proudly and openly Transbian (Transgender Lesbian). Andrea speaks on her coming out story and the way in which her family handled it as well as what it has been like working in corporate America being Transgender. Andrea then talks about creating her own loving family, which includes her wife and 4 kid...
Collin Magness - Seeking to Understand
January 11, 2022 15:00 - 39 minutes - 27 MBWelcome back to the second season! This is the first episode in Season 2, where we focus on learning about what love and support looks like for a young, 23yo man, Collin Magness diagnosed with HIV in April of 2020. In addition, we also learn about the importance of asking questions rather than making assumptions.
Dr. Lynda Spann - The Final Straw & Lesbian Couple Advice
August 24, 2021 05:00 - 27 minutes - 19.3 MBIn this episode, Jonathan closes the loop on the few stories that he shared, revealing the final straw that led to his decision of demoting 18 relatives from family status to blood relative status. In addition, we meet Dr. Lynda Spann, a Lesbian Couple's Therapist. Dr. Lynda tells us about her own coming out journey while also providing words of wisdom about coming out to "baby lesbians", other young lesbians, and their partners. ******* About Dr. Lynda Spann To learn more about Dr. Lyn...
Eloise Morrison - Love For Her Gay Father
August 17, 2021 03:00 - 42 minutes - 29.3 MBIn this episode, Jonathan speaks further to his experience may not necessarily have been strictly due to his LGBTQ+ status. In addition, we meet Eloise Morrison, who has recently come out about being the daughter of a gay man. She tells us about the conflict between her love for gay family members and what she learned from the Catholic church. In addition, she decides to reveal who she is to a few other precious people. ******* About Eloise To learn more about Eloise's story, please rea...
Hannah Dhue - Conflicts Between Evangelical Ideals & LGBTQ Community
July 28, 2021 23:00 - 42 minutes - 29.5 MBIn this episode, Jonathan speaks to the mental and verbal abuse that he endured from a former family member. We meet another LGBTQ "Family"-abuse survivor, Hannah Dhue. Hannah was raised in an Evangelical household in the midwest and just recently came out to her family after finally getting tired of covering her relationship of nine years. ******* About Hannah Hannah Dhue (she/her/hers) is an entertainment media professional with six years of experience in the business. After graduatin...
Sarah X - Family Love & Hate & Love
July 21, 2021 02:00 - 35 minutes - 24.2 MBIn this episode, Jonathan speaks to being physically and verbally attacked by one of his siblings with only one of the 18 former family members coming to his defense. We then meet "Sarah" and her struggles with coming out at 13 and her journey over the course of the 15 years that followed.
Grant Keller - A Father’s Love For His Gay Son
July 13, 2021 01:00 - 37 minutes - 25.8 MBIn this episode, Jonathan speaks to his journey coming out to his father after getting his car stolen from a boy he met outside of a club. We then meet Grant Keller, a Vietnam vet with a traumatic childhood, who shares about his journey to acceptance for his late gay son, who died in a car accident. About Grant Keller Grant was born in downtown Los Angeles in 1948 and grew up in Mar Vista and Venice. "My childhood was filled with the trauma of physical abuse and neglect. My dad was an al...
Rudy Scott - Another Side of A Financial Services Black Executive
July 06, 2021 00:00 - 35 minutes - 24.6 MBIn our second episode, we talk to another Black Executive who also identifies as gay, Rudy Scott. We learn about an intersectional perspective from Rudy as an immigrant, Black, and gay male. Born Rudolph Scott, Rudy immigrated from Jamaica as a small kid and grew up in Brooklyn, NY. Rudy talks about his strict upbringing and some of the challenges with acceptance from his blood relatives, his experience as a gay, Black executive, and how he defines family.
Andy Sanchez - Earning A Seat At The Table
June 28, 2021 23:00 - 38 minutes - 26.4 MBIn our first episode, we meet Andy Sanchez, a Mexican immigrant and author, who shares about his journey and how he had to redefine his definition of family as an LGBTQ individual. About Andy Sanchez Andres, they/he is a Mexican poet, author of, This Body. He migrated to the U.S. at the age of 5 and grew up in Southern California and Las Vegas, NV. Andrés moved to Los Angeles, California 7 years ago. It was here that he began to get involved with the poetry community. In October 2018, Andr...
Andy Sanchez - Earning A Seat At The Table
June 28, 2021 23:00 - 38 minutes - 26.4 MBIn our first episode, we meet Andy Sanchez, a Mexican immigrant and author, who shares about his journey and how he had to redefine his definition of family as an LGBTQ individual. About Andy Sanchez Andres, they/he is a Mexican poet, author of, This Body. He migrated to the U.S. at the age of 5 and grew up in Southern California and Las Vegas, NV. Andrés moved to Los Angeles, California 7 years ago. It was here that he began to get involved with the poetry community. In October 2018, Andr...
Redefining Family - Trailer
June 24, 2021 22:00 - 1 minute - 868 KBFinally, a podcast focused on blood relatives vs true family for LGBTQ individuals! Does your family say “I Love You” yet it feels empty? You’re not alone. I and many others in the LGBTQ+ community have faced this reality. I’m Jonathan Wilson, and I’m excited to explore how and why we must overcome this obstacle in my new podcast Redefining Family. On the show, I spotlight stories of resilience as guests share how they’ve redefined what family really means. Each week I meet with inspiratio...