She Comes With Baggage
By: Kirstie Pike
Language: en-us
Categories: Society, Culture, Health, Fitness, Mental, Sexuality
Kirstie Pike is your host of the LGBTQ+ podcast She Comes With Baggage! She’s opening the mic to incredible LGBTQ+ creators, artists, and advocates, and allies. Guests share their journeys, identity struggles, and how they’ve turned challenges into success.Tune in for candid conversations about love, queer friendships, chosen family, self-discovery, and the real, messy, beautiful parts of life. Each episode celebrates LGBTQ+ voices, builds community, and empowers listeners to embrace their authentic selves.Subscribe to She Comes With Baggage anywhere you listen or watch podcasts. New episodes every Thursday."We’re more alike than we might realize. So get...
Episodes
CeCé Telfer: Breaking Barriers as a Trans Athlete & Olympic Hopeful
Jan 08, 2026Today’s guest is CeCé Telfer, the first out trans woman to win an NCAA title, an author, model, and advocate, and a proud member of the Unique Woman’s Coalition, a Black trans-led organization supporting transgender lives. CeCé lives by the principle of being the change she wishes to see in the world and is currently training as an Olympic hopeful for the LA 2028 U.S. Track & Field Open Trials.
In this episode, we talk about:
Her journey as a trans athlete breaking barriers in sportsThe realities and challenges of being a transgender woman in athlet... Duration: 00:55:55Robbie Simpson: LGBTQ+ Representation on Hallmark's Finding Mr. Christmas
Dec 18, 2025Today’s guest is Robbie Simpson — an actor, director, producer, and educator based in New York City. Robbie serves as the Director of Creative Development at Midnight Theatricals and the Director of Musical Theater at the Stella Adler Studio of Acting. You may recognize him from his role as Chad on General Hospital or as one of the first LGBTQ+ contestants on Hallmark’s Finding Mr. Christmas.
In this episode, we talk about:
Continuing LGBTQ+ history on Hallmark and why representation mattersNavigating the entertainment industry as a queer performerHis journey from s... Duration: 01:06:39Tony Morrison: Using Storytelling to Spark Change
Dec 04, 2025Today’s guest is Tony Morrison — a three-time Emmy Award-winning journalist, media strategist, and founder of Morrison Media Group, a venture helping brands and changemakers activate through storytelling and cultural influence. Tony has spent over a decade at the intersection of media and social change, leading campaigns that shape public perception and move culture forward. From producing live at Good Morning America to serving as Senior Director of Communications at GLAAD, his work has earned recognition from Out100 and Logo30 for advancing LGBTQ visibility and inclusive media.
In this episode, Tony opens up abou...
Duration: 01:03:00Kinley Clark: Teaching in the South & Fighting Homophobia
Nov 20, 2025Today’s guest is Kinley Clark — a proud queer creative who once taught in the South, where she faced more homophobia than anyone should have to. After leaving the classroom, she turned her energy toward her passion project, her podcast Lez Be Honest, a space where she shares authentic queer stories, mixes in humor, and builds community through representation. Now she’s fully committed to creating the unapologetically queer content she wished she had growing up.
In this episode, Kinley opens up about:
✅ Her journey from teaching to podcasting
✅ Navigating b...
Duration: 01:00:33Manda Malina: The Dark Side of the Music Industry & Reclaiming Her Power
Nov 13, 2025Today’s guest is Manda Malina—a Swedish singer, songwriter, and queer artist based in Los Angeles. Her hit song Her Ocean took off on TikTok in 2023, leading to headlining solo shows including EDC Las Vegas and performances at the 80s Live residency in Lake Tahoe. Through her artistry, Manda explores what it means to show up authentically as a femme lesbian while navigating the darker realities of the entertainment industry.
In this episode, Manda opens up about:
Navigating comphet and embracing her queer identityThe dark side of the music industry Recognizing and healing from... Duration: 01:09:15Victor Ramos: The Power of Living Boldly & Unapologetically
Nov 06, 2025Today’s guest is Victor Ramos — a vibrant creator whose mix of beauty, pop culture, and comedy has earned him a loyal following on Instagram and TikTok. Beyond his viral makeup tutorials and hilarious skits, he’s also a host on The Q Agenda, where he brings visibility and representation to the queer Latinx community.
In this episode, Victor opens up about:
✅ Breaking down societal norms and expectations
✅ The journey to living authentically and unapologetically
✅ Using humor, beauty, and storytelling to empower others
✅ Deconstructing organized religion and finding spiritual...
Duration: 01:04:13Kelly Hrebenar: Breaking Lesbian Stereotypes
Oct 30, 2025Today’s guest is Kelly Hrebenar — a femme lesbian content creator based in Los Angeles. Kelly shares stories about life after coming out, mental health, and the ups and downs of figuring it all out—while breaking down lesbian stereotypes and opening conversations around femininity through community building. Her work is rooted in making sure others feel seen, celebrated, and never alone.
In this episode, Kelly opens up about:
✅ Redefining femininity and breaking lesbian stereotypes
✅ Finding identity and confidence after coming out
✅ Representation and visibility for queer women
✅ How commun...
Duration: 01:04:07Rose Montoya: Reclaiming Her Story & Building a Life of Trans Joy
Oct 23, 2025Today’s guest is Rose Montoya — a trans Latina creator, model, actor, and advocate for LGBTQ+ rights. Known for her captivating presence and her fearless advocacy, Rose uses her platform to champion equity, mental health, and bodily autonomy. Through fashion, beauty, and storytelling, she celebrates self-expression as a tool for empowerment and lasting change.
In this episode, Rose opens up about reclaiming her childhood, mending family relationships, and rediscovering joy through authenticity. She shares how her foundation for activism was born from her lived experience — and how embracing trans joy has become an act of resistance and self-l...
Maartje Hensen: Exploring Queer Fluidity, Self-Expression & Destigmatizing Kink Culture
Oct 16, 2025Today’s guest is Maartje Hensen (they/she) — an Amsterdam-based queer traveler, photographer, and author of The Pride Atlas. Soon-to-be coach and full-time storyteller, Maartje is known for their vibrant, fairytale-like imagery that captures the magic of queer joy and exploration. They’re embracing a new era, retiring the “girl boss” and leaning into “girl moss” — because, at the end of the day, we’re BEings, not doings.
In this episode, Maartje opens up about:
✅ Nonbinary identity and queerness beyond the binary
✅ Queer fluidity and resisting societal constructs
✅ Exploring kink culture and destigm...
Duration: 01:16:58Madison Werner: Breaking Barriers in Beauty & Redefining Trans Visibility
Oct 09, 2025Today’s guest is Madison Werner — a self-proclaimed “trans glam girl,” beauty content creator, and human rights activist. She made history as the first transgender face of a Covergirl campaign, and as a born-and-raised Jewish valley girl, she brings both sparkle and substance to everything she does.
In this episode, Madison opens up about:
✅ Living out loud in a world that hasn’t always made space for trans joy
✅ Becoming the first transgender face of a Covergirl campaign
✅ Navigating visibility, activism, and beauty
✅ Finding empowerment through self-expression and community
Follow Madison Wer...
Duration: 01:10:55Brooke Ventre - Pursuing Creativity and Community
Oct 03, 2025Today’s guest is Brooke Ventre — a multifaceted creator with a deep passion for animals and the ocean. Beyond her creative pursuits, Brooke has acting credits in productions like “Girl Lost” (2016) and “Drib” (2017). On TikTok, she’s built a following of over 128,000 and 1.5 million likes, sharing content that reflects her authentic, fun-loving personality.
In this episode, Brooke opens up about:
Growing up and coming outLiving vegan and aligning lifestyle with valuesThe harmful effects of animal tourismBuilding community through creativity and authenticityFollow Brooke Ventre
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/veganbeautyguru/Tiktok: https... Duration: 00:45:44Scott Frenzel: Redefining Pop, Mental Health & Breaking Gender Norms
Sep 18, 2025Today’s guest is Scott Frenzel - a rising pop artist who first gained traction on TikTok and YouTube Shorts with his debut single “Sugar High”, which went viral as the number one song on YouTube Shorts with over a million fan-created videos. Since then, Scott has continued to captivate audiences with tracks like “Key Lime Pie” and “Streetlights”, blending catchy hooks, witty lyrics, and heartfelt storytelling. With a background in comedy and a passion for connection, he’s carving out a lane in pop that’s unapologetically inclusive, bold, and real.
In this episode, Scott opens up about:
Blair Imani: Intersectionality of Bisexuality, Islam & Fearlessly Herself
Sep 11, 2025Today’s guest is Blair Imani - a historian, educator, and the brilliant mind behind the viral web series Smarter In Seconds. She’s also an LA Times bestselling author of Read This to Get Smarter, and if you’ve ever seen her content, you know she has a one-of-a-kind way of breaking down big, complex ideas with clarity, color, and compassion. The New York Times called her delivery “perky” and “quirky,” but her scholarship runs deep, covering everything from race and gender studies to intersectionality and U.S. history.
In this episode, Blair opens up about:
Embracing he... Duration: 01:16:57Mariah Counts: Music, Healing & the Journey to Self-Power
Sep 04, 2025Today’s guest is Mariah Counts, a genre-blending artist whose dynamic sexuality and musical versatility mirror her personal journey. From her early days as an athlete to her fearless rise in the music industry, Mariah has always led with grit and creativity. Music started as a coping tool through family struggles, grief, and coming out, but has grown into a powerful outlet for connection, performance, and purpose.
In this episode, Mariah opens up about:
Navigating loss, resilience, and the challenges that shaped herHow sports built her relentless work ethic and driveComing out and embracing her sexuality wi... Duration: 01:11:07Ashamad Heard - Chasing Dreams & Creating Without Limits
Aug 28, 2025Today, we’re sitting down with the insanely talented ally Ashamad Heard, a DIY fashion creator, musician, and streamer who’s making waves in the creative world. You might have seen him on Buy It Now or Beast Games on Amazon Prime, but today, he’s here to share his journey - the hustle, the creativity, and any baggage he’s carried along the way.
Follow Ashamad:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/notxashamad/Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@notxashamadYoutube: https://www.youtube.com/@NotxashamadFollow She Comes With Baggage Podcast:
Instagram... Duration: 00:54:58Lexie Peters: Building Inclusive Community & Embracing Masculinity
Aug 21, 2025Today’s guest is Lexie Peters - a creator and community-builder navigating identity, love, and what it means to show up authentically. From growing up more of a tomboy to finding balance in her masculinity today, Lexie’s story is about embracing all sides of yourself while building meaningful connections.
In this episode, we’re diving into her journey of identity, adjusting to life in a healthy relationship and cohabitating with a partner, and how she approaches building community with mindfulness for diverse people and backgrounds.
Follow Lexie Peters:
Instagram: https://www.instag... Duration: 01:06:02Michael Amanor (Mikestyle): Creativity, Allyship & Building a Brand
Aug 07, 2025This season is full of LGBTQ+ voices and perspectives, but today I wanted to include a conversation with one of my close friends and longtime allies. Michael may not be queer himself, but his story of creativity, identity, and showing up authentically still deeply resonates.
This week on She Comes With Baggage, I’m joined by the brilliant and stylish Michael Amanor—aka Mikestyle—a civil engineer by profession and a travel, fashion, and lifestyle creator by passion. Today’s episode is a reminder that allyship, creativity, and identity come in many forms. Michael’s journey of self-expre...
Noa Taieb: Breaking Gender Norms, Embracing Culture & Building a Purposeful Brand
Jul 31, 2025Today, 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 storyt...
Duration: 01:08:58Melanie Posner: Queer Friendships & Turning Art Into Healing
Jul 24, 2025Today’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.
F...
Duration: 01:00:17Carolina Gutierrez: Trans Visibility, Resilience & Chasing Dreams
Jul 17, 2025Today’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...
Duration: 01:09:55Dexter Mayfield: Plus-Size Representation & Queer Joy
Jul 10, 2025Today’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: bre...
Duration: 01:09:07KITTENS: Iranian-American DJ Spinning Identity & Untraditional Love
Jul 03, 2025Today’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...
Duration: 01:13:55Kelly Balch: Understanding Non-Binary, Two-Spirit & Going Beyond the Norms
Jun 26, 2025Today’s guest is Kelly Balch—a queer, nonbinary artist, filmmaker, and intuitive storyteller whose work feels like both a mirror and a portal. With over 15 years behind the lens as a photographer and director, Kelly’s creates mediums for us to be seen and celebrated. From their mythic fantasy book series Aphrodite’s Sister, to their docuseries Beyond the Norms, Kelly weaves stories that celebrate identity and transformation.
In this episode, we talk about their journey as a creator, how they channel emotion and authenticity into art...
Duration: 01:11:57Matt McKenley: Growing Up In A Religious Household & Finding Your Voice
Jun 19, 2025Matt McKenley is a model, actor, and content creator whose bold blend of fashion, beauty, and lifestyle has made waves across TikTok and Instagram. But beyond the aesthetic, Matt shares something much deeper—his journey of growing up gay in a religious household, the process of unlearning shame, and embracing his full, authentic self in both life and online.
In this episode, we’re talking about what it really means to find your voice, show up for yourself unapologetically, and create content that empowers others. So get comfy, stay open, and let’s get into i...
Duration: 01:07:38Dominic Pérignon & Carter Nelson: Unpacking Trans Joy and Friendship
Jun 12, 2025Hey everyone, welcome back to She Comes With Baggage! Where we unpack the real, unfiltered experiences that shape who we are. My hope is that through these deep conversations and laughs, we realize we’re all more alike than we are different.
Today, I’m joined by two incredible guests, Dominic Pérignon and Carter Nelson—creators, storytellers, and passionate advocates for the trans community. Dominic shares authentic experiences through travel, fashion, and his series T-Time, while Carter, an actor in Grand Army and...
Duration: 01:10:55She Comes With Baggage Trailer
Jun 05, 2025Season 2 of She Comes With Baggage is officially here. The season is going to look a little different as I, Kirstie Pike, am opening up the mic to friends and creatives who inspire me. I truly believe in the power of stories to connect us, heal us, and remind us that we are never alone in the baggage we carry.
In a time when so many stories are being silenced or overlooked, it's up to us to create new spaces that amplify those stories that matter. My hope is that the conversations inspire more compassion for one a...
Duration: 00:01:07Louis Levanti: Bisexuality, Monogamy & Producing Content
Jun 05, 2025Hey everyone, welcome back to She Comes With Baggage! This season is going to look a little different as I am opening the mic up to friends and creatives who inspire me…and where we unpack the real, unfiltered experiences that shape who we are. Whether you’re here for the deep conversations, the laughs, or just to feel a little less alone in the baggage you might be carrying, you’re in the right place.
Today, I’m sitting down with the incredible Louis Levanti producer, host, and content creator...
Duration: 01:02:29