WEBVTT 00:00:00.059 --> 00:00:09.630 So I identify as a human being first, to be honest and all of and then she her we have to, you know, go into those details. 00:00:10.019 --> 00:00:17.129 Um, and I'm a lesbian and proud of saying that now took a long time to get there, but, um, that's where I am today. 00:00:17.196 --> 00:00:28.678 Hello everyone, and welcome for good is a bi weekly podcast that showcases personal and powerful conversations with prominent LGBTQ+ executives who are out in the workplace. 00:00:28.745 --> 00:00:38.939 The conversations are meant to create a supportive community and inspire LGBTQ+ people, their employers, and allies to build equity and inclusion in the workplace. 00:00:39.118 --> 00:00:42.179 Today, I'm honored to welcome Valerie Madden. 00:00:42.246 --> 00:00:46.530 Valerie is a seasoned creative director and community activist. 00:00:46.595 --> 00:00:55.710 She's worked with brands such as NBC, Amazon, MGM Studios, Amazon Prime, and several other agencies and companies that you'll hear about today. 00:00:56.009 --> 00:01:05.340 She's contributed to the marketing of over 300 TV series and films, with titles including Fleabag, transparent, and Good Omens, just to name a few. 00:01:05.519 --> 00:01:16.200 Valerie served on the board of directors for Outfest, the Los Angeles LGBTQ Film festival, and has volunteered with countless other LGBTQ organizations. 00:01:16.266 --> 00:01:26.430 Professionally, she's held DNI leadership roles with out at NBCu and Glamazon, which is the LGBTQ employee resource group at Amazon. 00:01:26.495 --> 00:01:28.438 Val, thanks so much for joining me today. 00:01:28.709 --> 00:01:30.390 Oh, it's such a pleasure to be here. 00:01:30.456 --> 00:01:33.450 I've been enjoying your podcast, so I've been listening to it. 00:01:33.516 --> 00:01:34.500 Thank you so much. 00:01:34.566 --> 00:01:35.400 Well, I'm so glad. 00:01:35.465 --> 00:01:43.858 I'm so glad you're here I can't wait I, I having known you for a while, I know you have a really interesting and robust background, so I know you've got a lot of things to share. 00:01:43.926 --> 00:01:45.299 So let's let's jump in. 00:01:45.365 --> 00:01:51.180 So the first thing I always ask guests is to tell us just a little bit about how do you identify. 00:01:51.245 --> 00:01:59.459 And I know this is a loaded and can be a complicated question, but maybe tell us a little bit about coming out professionally. 00:01:59.525 --> 00:02:03.599 And I certainly know that's not always a one and done situation. 00:02:03.665 --> 00:02:04.230 So. 00:02:05.078 --> 00:02:09.908 Let us know a little bit about how you identify and how you have come out over the years. 00:02:09.975 --> 00:02:10.658 Sure. 00:02:10.725 --> 00:02:14.590 So I identify as a human being first, to be honest. 00:02:15.310 --> 00:02:20.530 And all of and then she her we have to, you know, go into those details. 00:02:20.919 --> 00:02:25.628 Um, and I'm a lesbian and proud of saying that now took a long time to get there. 00:02:25.695 --> 00:02:28.060 But, um, that's where I am today. 00:02:28.126 --> 00:02:31.030 And and then for coming out. 00:02:31.628 --> 00:02:40.240 That is a wonderful story, and probably I'm going to try to hone it in and keep it focused more on the professional side for this one, but that could be a whole nother. 00:02:40.306 --> 00:02:45.400 But people have told me I can make a movie out of my story, so let's see how far we get into it today. 00:02:45.466 --> 00:02:46.120 But great. 00:02:46.186 --> 00:02:55.840 Basically, I came out in my mid 20s, so that was like in the 1995 area er of time, and this was before the internet. 00:02:55.906 --> 00:02:57.968 So I'm going to put that context out. 00:02:58.036 --> 00:03:01.150 It was just starting to come out, but we didn't have access to it. 00:03:01.658 --> 00:03:06.938 Um, and I was born and raised first in Chicago, first 12 years of my life. 00:03:07.006 --> 00:03:16.060 And then we moved to North Carolina, which is the Bible Belt, and was there till my early 20s and loved being in North Carolina. 00:03:16.126 --> 00:03:27.669 And but my circle groups were all around church, uh, FCA, Fellowship of Christian Athletes, um, Bible studies, uh, that type of thing. 00:03:27.735 --> 00:03:31.240 That was my life, my world outside of my friends and my neighborhood, though. 00:03:31.306 --> 00:03:33.128 That's what I did all the time. 00:03:33.195 --> 00:03:34.628 So that's all I knew. 00:03:34.695 --> 00:03:37.840 And my parents weren't necessarily churchgoers. 00:03:37.906 --> 00:03:43.658 As a matter of fact, when I turned 16, my parents told me, hey, if you want to go to church, you have your license, you can go. 00:03:43.725 --> 00:03:45.310 We're not going to go as often. 00:03:45.376 --> 00:03:53.408 And meaning my mom was had some crazy allergies, so she couldn't go because there's so much perfume in the churches, she couldn't do it. 00:03:53.620 --> 00:03:57.550 So I still chose I loved it, I loved every bit of it. 00:03:57.616 --> 00:04:01.120 But we were taught not to. 00:04:01.186 --> 00:04:02.258 Well, I shouldn't say not. 00:04:02.325 --> 00:04:08.710 We were taught that homosexuality was wrong from a very young age and and or it wasn't even discussed. 00:04:08.776 --> 00:04:10.750 I didn't even know it was an option. 00:04:10.816 --> 00:04:19.000 And throughout high school and junior high, I mean mostly high school, I dated a little bit, but there wasn't a longing for me to to date. 00:04:19.065 --> 00:04:20.680 I wasn't that wasn't one of my focus. 00:04:20.745 --> 00:04:22.060 But it was challenging. 00:04:22.125 --> 00:04:27.399 And I and I look back, yes, I had crushes on girls, but I didn't know what that meant. 00:04:27.466 --> 00:04:31.269 I just thought it was friendship and went through that whole journey. 00:04:31.336 --> 00:04:40.028 Went to college, I went to art school and I went to East Carolina University, which is was known at the time as the Party School of North Carolina. 00:04:40.120 --> 00:04:42.490 But it was also art school, too. 00:04:42.555 --> 00:04:45.250 So a little bit of both, and it was a full education. 00:04:45.315 --> 00:04:55.660 And while being there, I actually did not drink, I didn't smoke, I didn't do anything that was a part of the party aspect in that, as a matter of fact, I would. 00:04:55.725 --> 00:05:04.600 I was so involved in the church that I joined InterVarsity Christian Fellowship navigators, any type of prayer church organizations as a part of ECU. 00:05:04.665 --> 00:05:07.600 And that, again, is where I built my friend groups. 00:05:07.665 --> 00:05:11.110 And that combined with where I was in art school. 00:05:11.528 --> 00:05:15.759 So again, no understanding that I could be out. 00:05:15.826 --> 00:05:21.220 And this was in the late 80s and, and had no idea the whole Aids crisis was happening. 00:05:21.286 --> 00:05:23.199 Not clueless of any of that stuff. 00:05:23.266 --> 00:05:25.569 I didn't learn about that so many, many years ago. 00:05:25.636 --> 00:05:29.079 Which, uh, shows you how protected I was in that space. 00:05:29.146 --> 00:05:29.646 Mhm. 00:05:29.713 --> 00:05:36.278 So in the midst of all that, I, I, uh, the four years of art school were wonderful. 00:05:36.346 --> 00:05:45.100 And I actually had my first fell in love with a woman toward the latter half, I think my junior year. 00:05:45.165 --> 00:05:46.870 And it blew my mind. 00:05:46.935 --> 00:05:48.610 I'm like, what am I going to do with this? 00:05:48.675 --> 00:05:52.180 You know, you we had these incredible feelings and experiences. 00:05:52.870 --> 00:05:56.470 But I was in leadership for InterVarsity Christian Fellowship. 00:05:56.536 --> 00:06:02.110 I was, uh, leading Bible studies was in all it was. 00:06:02.175 --> 00:06:04.449 And I didn't know what to do with all of that. 00:06:04.516 --> 00:06:07.028 So it was intense. 00:06:07.096 --> 00:06:12.970 It was both beautiful and challenging and, um, difficult. 00:06:13.036 --> 00:06:15.790 And the two of us explored one another. 00:06:15.855 --> 00:06:18.879 But at the same time, we're very much in the closet. 00:06:18.946 --> 00:06:22.209 And because we didn't know how to, to manage that. 00:06:22.276 --> 00:06:29.019 So the leadership at the time, we told a few folks and they pretty much counseled us to not be together, the counselors. 00:06:29.086 --> 00:06:31.360 And they took me out of my leadership roles. 00:06:31.425 --> 00:06:37.120 And so slowly that was trying to be, uh, working through and counseling through the whole process. 00:06:37.209 --> 00:06:54.338 And after that, uh, two years, I think we dated each other or were around each other, but we also dated guys because but the luckily when we were dating guys, we didn't have to worry about it because we don't have sex before marriage, so I didn't have to worry about that side of it. 00:06:54.406 --> 00:06:56.050 It was more innocent type of. 00:06:56.115 --> 00:06:57.100 Yeah, yeah. 00:06:57.165 --> 00:06:59.920 Yeah, um, and met so many beautiful people. 00:06:59.985 --> 00:07:01.300 But it was really hard. 00:07:01.365 --> 00:07:08.528 And so after graduating, um, she went and got married to a man, had kids, family. 00:07:08.596 --> 00:07:09.730 She's very happy. 00:07:09.795 --> 00:07:14.290 And we broke up and I left and I joined. 00:07:14.355 --> 00:07:17.110 I don't know if y'all know this, but it's Exodus International. 00:07:17.588 --> 00:07:23.259 So because I was like, I don't want to be gay if this is my struggle, I was taught that it's wrong. 00:07:23.326 --> 00:07:24.819 I can't be a part of this. 00:07:24.886 --> 00:07:27.879 So I did whatever I could to not be in that space. 00:07:27.946 --> 00:07:30.220 And I went right to it. 00:07:30.459 --> 00:07:30.959 And. 00:07:31.026 --> 00:07:34.920 And that in itself was eye opening. 00:07:34.985 --> 00:07:37.439 And I was dating a beautiful man at the time. 00:07:37.505 --> 00:07:38.670 We were having a great relationship. 00:07:38.735 --> 00:07:43.290 He was everything you could ever want in a relationship, and he was supportive. 00:07:43.355 --> 00:07:46.410 He knew what I was struggling with, so it was very open and honest. 00:07:46.475 --> 00:07:50.970 And we, uh, were talking through it. 00:07:51.036 --> 00:07:57.360 And when I was in Exodus, I actually met the second girl who I got a crush on, and I started having feelings for her. 00:07:57.540 --> 00:08:03.240 So in that I'm like, I can't be with anybody until I figure this stuff out because it's not fair to them. 00:08:03.305 --> 00:08:04.410 It's not fair to myself. 00:08:04.475 --> 00:08:11.009 And so I felt like I had to be fully on my own and, um, meet with people, date with people a little bit. 00:08:11.076 --> 00:08:16.199 And then when I'm in the workplace, obviously there's nothing to come out to because I didn't know who I was. 00:08:16.266 --> 00:08:21.990 So it wasn't like, you know, on the weekends if I was doing anything, you know, I didn't have to worry about talking about it. 00:08:22.055 --> 00:08:23.009 And I was working. 00:08:23.189 --> 00:08:37.710 I started working at a printer right out of school and did a little bit of that, but I ended up getting an offer to go and work at Liberty University and Liberty Broadcast Network. 00:08:37.775 --> 00:08:52.200 And I don't know how many of your audience currently know who is at the helm of all that, but it's Jerry Falwell and a friend of mine who I went to art school with was the creative director, and he knew also what I was struggling with, and he was such a beautiful soul. 00:08:52.265 --> 00:08:53.190 He still is. 00:08:53.255 --> 00:08:55.139 And he said, well, come and work here. 00:08:55.206 --> 00:08:56.370 We don't have to tell Jerry. 00:08:56.436 --> 00:08:58.048 We don't have to tell anybody. 00:08:58.115 --> 00:09:00.210 Just you have a great job. 00:09:00.275 --> 00:09:03.120 You'll be out of everything else that you're familiar with. 00:09:03.186 --> 00:09:06.298 But you can come here and, um, do what you do. 00:09:06.365 --> 00:09:06.865 Great. 00:09:06.932 --> 00:09:12.600 Which is an art director and, um, and figure out who you want to be and what you want to do. 00:09:12.666 --> 00:09:13.528 So that's what I did. 00:09:13.596 --> 00:09:26.970 I went and worked for him for nine months, and I had just started dating another girl before that, but it was I again, I didn't want to dive into that relationship, be the U-Haul lesbian and just go into it. 00:09:27.035 --> 00:09:32.850 Plus, I still wasn't sure who I was and went and went into the fire. 00:09:32.916 --> 00:09:36.210 And if anyone who doesn't know, definitely Google him. 00:09:36.275 --> 00:09:40.889 But at the time, he was very much against all homosexuality. 00:09:40.956 --> 00:09:47.009 He was out on pretty much all the broadcast networks telling, you know, saying it's a sin, it's wrong. 00:09:47.076 --> 00:09:56.879 And he was doing everything he could politically as well as from his pulpit to, um, to keep the family intact, which is a man and a woman and kids, that type of thing. 00:09:57.418 --> 00:10:00.028 So that's during all of that. 00:10:00.240 --> 00:10:02.850 I know this is a long story, but I think it's. 00:10:02.916 --> 00:10:03.629 Fascinating. 00:10:03.696 --> 00:10:05.820 Informative, and for a lot of people. 00:10:05.885 --> 00:10:09.750 And to understand that when I went there the most, it was the most. 00:10:10.509 --> 00:10:14.950 Beautiful time in a sense that all I had was my job. 00:10:15.015 --> 00:10:22.720 And then I would go home and I would pray, meditate, journal again, pre-internet, pre phones. 00:10:22.785 --> 00:10:26.230 And I didn't talk to the girl that I was dating. 00:10:26.296 --> 00:10:48.278 So I ran in complete alone time, spent a lot of time just me and God and me and my spirituality and then my job and my office happened to be right next to the warehouse and everything pro and con was coming in for about homosexuality, because people were sending stuff around the world to Jerry to either influence or to that he could use and leverage. 00:10:48.346 --> 00:10:50.440 So I would take all of that out the books. 00:10:50.505 --> 00:10:57.879 I would read it over the weekends and at night, and I would just absorb all of it to figure out what, what is, what's happening within my being. 00:10:57.946 --> 00:11:06.850 And during that time, I think one of my prayers, it was happening over a span of time, but it was Easter, um, when I was there. 00:11:06.916 --> 00:11:07.750 And. 00:11:09.370 --> 00:11:09.870 I. 00:11:09.936 --> 00:11:14.168 It was like a voice came down and said, wow, I am going to love you. 00:11:14.235 --> 00:11:17.980 Whoever you love, whoever you choose to be with. 00:11:18.046 --> 00:11:23.918 You are a light in this world and you just need to be you and be who you are. 00:11:23.985 --> 00:11:25.120 I am not going to judge you. 00:11:25.186 --> 00:11:27.399 And he was like, and it was a he. 00:11:27.466 --> 00:11:37.028 And he's like, I'm you have the opportunity to to be authentic in this world and I and I want you to be that person. 00:11:37.096 --> 00:11:41.769 And it's not going to be easy at first, but know that you are going to be loved. 00:11:41.836 --> 00:11:46.899 And to even hear that, to know that, to know that I wasn't going to be judged, it was that truth. 00:11:46.966 --> 00:11:51.278 And to be able to sift through all the learnings and teachings and everything. 00:11:51.346 --> 00:11:55.750 The fact that that was before me specifically, I knew that I could come out. 00:11:56.200 --> 00:11:59.019 So that was the moment that it happened. 00:11:59.086 --> 00:12:03.220 In the midst of working for Jerry Falwell at Liberty University. 00:12:03.285 --> 00:12:04.210 Wow. 00:12:04.275 --> 00:12:05.649 That is profound. 00:12:05.716 --> 00:12:07.899 And and thank you for sharing. 00:12:07.966 --> 00:12:20.259 I think one of the things about cloud for good, when I hear from listeners is, as you said, the stories that my guests share are often, you know, as you said, you may need to you may need to Google him. 00:12:20.326 --> 00:12:23.168 Um, but there are things that folks are really interested in learning. 00:12:23.235 --> 00:12:27.399 So I really appreciate you sharing all the the personal sort of nature of all of that. 00:12:27.466 --> 00:12:29.168 And so much to unpack. 00:12:29.235 --> 00:12:32.830 First of all, I'm a practicing Unitarian Universalist. 00:12:32.895 --> 00:12:43.240 I was very lucky to grow up in a very liberal religion is still my religion today, and there is an entire half of the of the parish that's marked off for no fragrance zone. 00:12:43.306 --> 00:12:47.408 And I love, I love that you brought that up because I'm always like, I'm not sure. 00:12:47.475 --> 00:12:49.000 Do people really have an issue with this? 00:12:49.066 --> 00:13:03.129 And now I know your mother did, but but in all seriousness, um, you know, some of the things I heard you say, you know, you were very quickly one looking for community and really looking to belong and looking for acceptance. 00:13:03.196 --> 00:13:04.450 That was very clear. 00:13:04.515 --> 00:13:18.428 And seeking these, you know, religion and these groups that were associated, but also it really struck me you very early were being told, don't be yourself. 00:13:18.495 --> 00:13:27.700 And by the way, we're actually going to almost this might be too severe of a word, but we're going to punish you for that because we're going to take this leadership role away. 00:13:27.765 --> 00:13:29.798 We we don't want you to be you. 00:13:29.865 --> 00:13:32.590 And tell me a little bit about that. 00:13:32.655 --> 00:13:37.778 How what did that you know, because clearly you continued on and said, I'm going to stick this out. 00:13:37.846 --> 00:13:40.120 I'm going to I'm going to continue to practice my faith. 00:13:40.186 --> 00:13:41.830 I'm going to continue to serve. 00:13:41.895 --> 00:13:44.320 But I think it's really powerful. 00:13:44.385 --> 00:13:46.240 You also, in your mind, had the strength. 00:13:46.306 --> 00:13:47.980 You said, I'm going to continue to explore. 00:13:48.046 --> 00:13:55.120 I'm going to continue to figure it out, how that that moment when you said that about being removed from the roles really struck me. 00:13:55.186 --> 00:13:59.470 How how did that impact your next steps? 00:14:00.278 --> 00:14:03.519 Say, there's been a through line in my life even to this day. 00:14:03.586 --> 00:14:09.820 There's been a lot of severed belongings, and I put a lot of energy and time within whatever. 00:14:09.885 --> 00:14:15.100 It's my friend group, my job, my world, wherever I end up being. 00:14:15.166 --> 00:14:18.100 And then it gets disrupted. 00:14:18.166 --> 00:14:24.038 It ends in a way that most sometimes because I choose to move on because I like. 00:14:24.105 --> 00:14:26.379 I recognize that this isn't a good place for me to be. 00:14:26.446 --> 00:14:30.129 Like, I knew, like, I have to say one, one little thing about Jerry Falwell. 00:14:30.196 --> 00:14:39.788 He was a wonderful man, and I saw the good side of him the way that he loved, the way that he led when he was just in the business side, was actually quite wonderful. 00:14:39.855 --> 00:14:47.379 And he would go through the hall and he would bear hug men from behind, like, lift them up and put him down. 00:14:47.446 --> 00:14:56.470 And he was just a fun guy and very much in, in interactive, very different than where how he was even at the pulpit or on, on camera. 00:14:56.535 --> 00:14:58.360 So I saw that side of him. 00:14:58.426 --> 00:15:00.700 So I respected him greatly for that. 00:15:00.765 --> 00:15:08.889 And, and I think I found community in every one of these places and when in the midst of it. 00:15:08.956 --> 00:15:24.580 But I also knew that I, I and I think my biggest lesson from all of this over these years is that I absorb bits and pieces from all my experiences, and then I can become who I am through that versus having. 00:15:24.645 --> 00:15:29.350 I'm like, I refuse to be a sheep and I refuse to be a sheep at a very early age. 00:15:29.416 --> 00:15:30.788 And I think that's the biggest lesson. 00:15:30.855 --> 00:15:33.070 I think a lot of people end up doing that. 00:15:33.135 --> 00:15:42.370 They either want to get complacent, they just want to follow a leader or whatever is being taught to them and think that that's the only way, the truth and the life, or that that's the truth in the world. 00:15:42.436 --> 00:15:44.168 And this goes the same for politics. 00:15:44.235 --> 00:15:46.480 They have to either choose one side or the other. 00:15:46.546 --> 00:16:08.798 And I've always tried to be in the middle, and mainly because I think I've been in the middle, you know, for most of my life and always figure out ways to find diminishes the divides is, I think, one of the things that I think of diminishing the divide and anything to figure out, a way to connect, to relate and to find unity is super. 00:16:08.970 --> 00:16:10.918 Important to me, and I think it's because I've. 00:16:11.250 --> 00:16:13.259 I've experienced such extreme. 00:16:13.620 --> 00:16:14.970 Several belongings. 00:16:15.269 --> 00:16:15.928 Yeah. 00:16:15.995 --> 00:16:21.298 Well, and I think, you know, Exodus, Liberty, internet. 00:16:21.365 --> 00:16:30.240 I mean, these are such as you think of our LGBTQ history and you think of moments and you think of players. 00:16:30.306 --> 00:16:37.590 Those are some that come to mind that are, you know, sort of top of list of anti-LGBTQ. 00:16:37.655 --> 00:16:42.269 But yet I, I'm so impressed just hearing you right now talk about it. 00:16:42.336 --> 00:16:44.850 But there was something about that that I could take away. 00:16:44.916 --> 00:16:46.230 There was something that I could learn. 00:16:46.296 --> 00:16:59.158 And and clearly from a professional perspective, it seems as if maybe Liberty was a starting off point because it was an entertainment, you know, business by, by some stretch. 00:16:59.225 --> 00:17:11.548 And, you know, then you've now become an executive across multiple different entertainment companies and agencies and how do you think Liberty set you up for that? 00:17:13.098 --> 00:17:27.558 I think in a big way, because I saw the power and the impact of what video because Jerry was on, um, recording and was on live broadcast as well as, uh, both of those. 00:17:27.625 --> 00:17:50.598 And I also know that one of the ways that I was able to this was while I was part of Outfest as being on the board and why I chose to be in entertainment, because the the you're able to reach more hearts and minds in a way through entertainment than you can through, I believe anything else, because there's safety in watching or listening to content in the comfort of your own home. 00:17:50.665 --> 00:17:51.440 Especially now. 00:17:51.506 --> 00:17:53.328 Back then it was in the theaters and all that. 00:17:53.395 --> 00:18:06.618 But I would go to independent film theaters to see lesbian and gay films because I didn't see it anywhere else, because I was like, I was just curious about I don't know how I'd learn about it, but I did. 00:18:06.685 --> 00:18:16.130 I figured out where it was, and I would go and watch it, and if I hadn't seen those things, I wouldn't have even known it would have been an option, because that's all that you're exposed to. 00:18:16.195 --> 00:18:29.450 So I one of my dreams, even in art school when I created my first movie poster, which I did a one of my was a recreation of giant with James Dean, and I love James Dean. 00:18:29.750 --> 00:18:35.328 And so I recreated that movie poster and cut paper, and I was like, this is what I want to do. 00:18:35.395 --> 00:18:38.269 I want to create movie posters. 00:18:38.336 --> 00:18:41.568 And I didn't know what that was going to grow into. 00:18:41.635 --> 00:18:47.509 And luckily when I was, you know, working at Liberty University, it was one step in that. 00:18:47.576 --> 00:18:59.118 But I understand a lot of the marketing because I was working on everything that, um, promoted all of the, the, the university as well as the network and his nonprofit organizations and all that. 00:18:59.185 --> 00:19:00.950 So I understood that part of it, too. 00:19:01.016 --> 00:19:16.308 So when I committed to my partner of 18 years that I moved to Philly to be with her, she was offered a job out in California, and that allowed us to move to California, which is where we both really wanted to be. 00:19:16.375 --> 00:19:31.970 And when I was there, I just freelanced for many years on the studio side that catered to all of the studios around town until I figured out really where I wanted to go, and I had my eyes and I was like, how awesome would it be to be at NBC? 00:19:32.036 --> 00:19:40.635 And the reason why I wanted to be there is because Will and Grace was on the air, and I knew that if that was on the air, then, then they're going to accept me and I want to go. 00:19:40.702 --> 00:19:44.328 And they're also not afraid to put that content out into the world. 00:19:44.395 --> 00:19:56.058 So I want to go and be there so that I can be a part of more content, so that I can support it from a marketing side and create their art, create their marketing content, whatever it might be. 00:19:56.125 --> 00:19:57.318 And so that's why. 00:19:57.385 --> 00:20:12.230 I, I love it and I just as recently as last week, Valerie had, I was at a, at a marketing event for one of my clients, and, and someone had asked me about my coming out and, you know, made a comment of boy back then. 00:20:12.348 --> 00:20:24.380 I also came out in the early 90s and back then it must have just been very difficult without, as you have mentioned, social media and, and, and one of the things I had said was, yeah, and just no representation. 00:20:24.445 --> 00:20:24.945 None. 00:20:25.012 --> 00:20:41.960 I come from rural Michigan and hadn't met a quote unquote gay person until I moved to Atlanta for my first job and was in Piedmont Park and saw a gay couple holding hands and thought, wow, I guess there's there's an opportunity here. 00:20:42.026 --> 00:20:42.950 There's a possibility. 00:20:43.016 --> 00:20:50.868 And I think now today, with so much more, your your will and grace example, certainly one of the shows that made an impact on me and so many others. 00:20:50.935 --> 00:20:56.150 And now a long way to go, but still so much more representation, so much better. 00:20:56.420 --> 00:21:01.068 I think, for younger folks today to see and to to be able to understand. 00:21:01.135 --> 00:21:03.440 And when I think about Hollywood. 00:21:04.269 --> 00:21:11.618 And when I think about the entertainment business, one stereotype that comes to mind, you know, is the the gays run Hollywood. 00:21:11.685 --> 00:21:13.808 So what's your experience? 00:21:13.875 --> 00:21:24.009 You know, you went you then did go to, you know, NBC you've been with with Amazon Prime and, and other studios and agency work with lots of other studios. 00:21:24.076 --> 00:21:30.880 What is the environment like from your experience for an LGBT employee within that space ? 00:21:30.945 --> 00:21:32.348 What what is it like? 00:21:33.220 --> 00:21:47.170 In the beginning, I still wasn't sure because even though I went to I got the job at NBC as a creative director, and Jeff Greenblatt was the chairman of NBC at the time, and I knew I learned later. 00:21:47.236 --> 00:21:55.298 I didn't know at that particular moment that he was a gay man leading an NBC, but that gave me confidence. 00:21:55.365 --> 00:22:02.710 But I have to say, the first couple of years, just because of my background and and my coming out to my friends and my family had mixed results. 00:22:02.776 --> 00:22:04.930 I lost a lot of friends. 00:22:05.380 --> 00:22:08.710 Um, there's a core of them that I'm still close to to this day. 00:22:08.776 --> 00:22:12.818 Many of my high school friends, there's a core group of us that are that are still close. 00:22:13.390 --> 00:22:23.380 Um, and my family was amazing, but because I experienced many losses in the midst of that too, I was still not sure. 00:22:23.445 --> 00:22:25.568 And even though I'm here, I am working at NBC. 00:22:25.635 --> 00:22:26.440 There was more. 00:22:26.528 --> 00:22:28.598 I was one of very few women. 00:22:28.665 --> 00:22:31.509 Luckily there was a VP that hired me. 00:22:31.576 --> 00:22:36.308 That was the lead of the marketing team at the time, and I think that's how I was able to get in. 00:22:36.375 --> 00:22:40.028 But I wasn't because I was gay, it was because I think I was a woman. 00:22:40.096 --> 00:22:44.980 And that's how I got that role, because I needed more women, because the rest were all, unfortunately, white men. 00:22:45.046 --> 00:22:48.098 I mean, I'd say unfortunately, because there was no city there. 00:22:48.165 --> 00:22:48.665 Yeah. 00:22:48.732 --> 00:22:50.650 And so it was a boys club for sure. 00:22:50.715 --> 00:22:55.538 And I think that there were a few, as you start to know, there's a few gay men for sure. 00:22:55.605 --> 00:23:03.460 There's a there were a lot more gay men than there were lesbians or trans or any, any other type of mix of people. 00:23:03.526 --> 00:23:09.788 And so even when my partner and I had our commitment ceremony, we didn't tell anybody. 00:23:09.880 --> 00:23:15.278 And and this was like pre when the marriage equality and all that started happening. 00:23:15.346 --> 00:23:15.846 Yeah. 00:23:15.913 --> 00:23:19.750 And so we went and got married, had a big ceremony. 00:23:19.816 --> 00:23:23.558 And when we came back to the office or when I came back to the office, there was no toast. 00:23:23.625 --> 00:23:25.930 Whereas other colleagues would get a toast. 00:23:25.996 --> 00:23:28.000 And I was feeling really sad. 00:23:28.066 --> 00:23:30.970 So I still wasn't talking about what I was doing on the weekends. 00:23:31.036 --> 00:23:42.308 But then out in NBCu started to get more visibility, and the folks who were guiding that and bringing that to the light, I started being a part of that and that transformed my life. 00:23:42.375 --> 00:23:43.960 I mean, it really did that. 00:23:44.026 --> 00:23:55.118 ERG being a part of that, I think within those first couple of years, which was around 2015, is when I started out in NBCu transformed. 00:23:55.185 --> 00:24:06.910 So I started volunteering for everything, started doing the pride festivals, and if you even go through my Facebook during that time, you see the joy and my face on everybody's face. 00:24:06.976 --> 00:24:13.180 It was just the most wonderful, beautiful time of celebration and being out. 00:24:13.246 --> 00:24:14.650 And I'm like, I can be out. 00:24:14.715 --> 00:24:21.368 I can actually bring my full self to work and this is going to help me do my job better, which it did. 00:24:21.435 --> 00:24:31.808 And the fact that I didn't have to worry about watching my P's and Q's and my, you know, what I did on the weekend or what all the other stuff. 00:24:31.875 --> 00:24:35.288 And I could just flow and be a part of the conversation like everybody else. 00:24:35.355 --> 00:24:53.618 You know, I think being in the closet for so long definitely gave me the gift of being able to read a room and sense when somebody isn't being authentic or lying or being one way versus another, or they're faking it to make it or know all the different other things that a lot of people do to get somewhere. 00:24:53.685 --> 00:25:02.318 But I also have empathy in that, you know, it makes me more curious and get to know them a little bit more versus judging them in that, because there's a reason why they're choosing to be there. 00:25:02.385 --> 00:25:11.410 And so for me, um, being able to have that freedom gave me more of the freedom to be completely out. 00:25:11.476 --> 00:25:28.210 And then when by the time I was there ten years and again, those, those moments and when I co-led out and and BCU was being because there was we're still having challenges getting female, uh, females involved, lesbians or allies or anybody to get involved other than the gay guys. 00:25:28.276 --> 00:25:30.578 And, uh, so that was wonderful. 00:25:30.645 --> 00:25:31.778 And I think it really worked. 00:25:31.846 --> 00:25:33.848 We were able to get a lot more visibility. 00:25:33.915 --> 00:25:34.778 That's amazing. 00:25:34.846 --> 00:25:42.190 Well, and and then I know you continued that work at Amazon as well with their ERG and so many other organizations. 00:25:42.256 --> 00:25:56.558 And so a question I have for you is so thinking about, uh, maybe a new to workforce employee or someone who maybe is even tenured and they're just thinking of, I'd like to show up more authentically. 00:25:56.625 --> 00:25:57.970 I'd like to be myself. 00:25:58.036 --> 00:26:03.368 I may even consider coming out in the workplace, you know, with with your experience. 00:26:03.848 --> 00:26:08.528 Both starting in college and and through all of these organizations. 00:26:08.798 --> 00:26:12.818 What advice might you give to someone as they're thinking about that? 00:26:12.885 --> 00:26:16.240 What what advice would you would you give them to consider? 00:26:16.306 --> 00:26:25.150 I think that seeking a community or a job where you can be your authentic self is very important. 00:26:25.215 --> 00:26:47.200 And if you have the opportunity and I think in this day and age, we do like I know the internet is there's a lot of negativity around it, but oh my gosh, y'all, you have everything at your fingertips to learn and be whomever you want to be, and you don't have to wait for it to come to you because it's there. 00:26:47.266 --> 00:26:59.019 And to leverage that for the good versus for all the negative and just scrolling endlessly on social media and, you know, or create your own content, create your own community. 00:26:59.086 --> 00:27:04.000 If you feel like you can't move somewhere to go, be a part of that, or then create it. 00:27:04.066 --> 00:27:14.470 Because a couple things that I'm seeing right now, which I think is really amazing, um, there's a group called vibrant out here in California. 00:27:14.536 --> 00:27:18.278 It's just started at the end of last year and it's we are vibrant. 00:27:18.548 --> 00:27:19.180 Org. 00:27:19.246 --> 00:27:27.910 They are a creative marketing and entertainment, uh, industry group that is all LGBTQ. 00:27:27.976 --> 00:27:42.640 And what they're doing is they're inviting all the creative agencies, all the studios coming together and one so a lot of agencies, creative agencies don't have an ERG or they don't have that group, or they're so small that these folks don't have a place to connect. 00:27:42.705 --> 00:27:54.818 And because a lot of the power is in the companies right now versus the creatives because of all the AI and everything that's going on, they are now bringing everybody together so they don't care about the competition. 00:27:54.885 --> 00:28:06.730 They're like, let's all come together in unity and in community and support one another with panels and social AI social activities, and we're all creatives in this industry. 00:28:06.796 --> 00:28:09.578 Let's figure out the best way to support one another. 00:28:09.645 --> 00:28:12.818 And the fact they just started that out from scratch is amazing. 00:28:12.885 --> 00:28:16.568 So that's what I would say is like, if you're not finding it, make it. 00:28:16.720 --> 00:28:19.598 And I mean that's the biggest thing. 00:28:19.665 --> 00:28:26.410 And then I also seek if you don't feel like you have the confidence yet or the tools or the understanding or you're not really, really sure how to do it. 00:28:26.476 --> 00:28:29.980 I mean, AI is definitely going to be your friend and going and asking. 00:28:30.046 --> 00:28:30.546 That's right. 00:28:30.613 --> 00:28:31.990 But also reaching out to folks. 00:28:32.056 --> 00:28:35.200 There's so many people who would be grateful. 00:28:35.266 --> 00:28:47.078 And I am like anyone who reaches out to me, I'm helpful, uh, excited to talk to them about whatever it is that I could do to help them create something in their space, but to if you need to move. 00:28:47.145 --> 00:28:49.690 You know, Amazon was amazing. 00:28:49.756 --> 00:28:55.720 You know, they were from day one, I was able to be out and there was no question it wasn't even a thought. 00:28:55.786 --> 00:29:05.048 And to be to be honest, it was because of transparent is why I went to Amazon and I was able to work on that series for all the all the seasons, including the movie. 00:29:05.115 --> 00:29:19.390 And then I knew I had my purpose because I was working on content that was, again, sharing more visibility for people around the world so billions of eyeballs can get on it versus it being, um, just being in small. 00:29:19.455 --> 00:29:37.358 But I think starting small and then allowing that to find that community there to get that, um, feeling of, uh, that you feel empowered, then I think you're going to be able to do way more in life and in your job so that you can focus on your job and do the best that you can. 00:29:37.868 --> 00:29:40.240 I it's such great advice, Valerie. 00:29:40.306 --> 00:29:45.068 I think, as you said, um, talking about we are vibrant. 00:29:45.135 --> 00:29:47.259 I what a great example. 00:29:47.326 --> 00:30:00.640 I it even makes me think about a year ago I thought, you know, I'd love to tell stories of LGBT folks in the workplace who have navigated this complicated workplace. 00:30:00.705 --> 00:30:03.970 And I thought, well, someone's telling those stories. 00:30:04.036 --> 00:30:15.700 And in fact, other than maybe some Pride Month activities where companies do do some promotion of their their diverse workforce, there really wasn't a place which that was how Klout for good started. 00:30:15.766 --> 00:30:17.618 And I love sounds like we are vibrant. 00:30:17.685 --> 00:30:21.250 It's this we're we found this gap, we found this opportunity. 00:30:21.316 --> 00:30:24.220 And I think it's a really important. 00:30:24.920 --> 00:30:33.078 Recommendation and then and something to think about is I often sit in a place and go, well, I'm sure there's someone already doing this. 00:30:33.145 --> 00:30:34.519 I'm sure this already exists. 00:30:34.586 --> 00:30:38.480 And I think your your advice of create it, you know, seek it. 00:30:38.546 --> 00:30:40.368 And if it isn't there, create it. 00:30:40.435 --> 00:30:47.568 And I think you are exactly right with also we have the resources where we have tools that we can use. 00:30:47.635 --> 00:30:50.180 We have channels we can leverage. 00:30:50.246 --> 00:31:00.140 And, you know, really consistently across all of my conversations with my guest is, you know, seek your community and seeking your community can take some effort. 00:31:00.205 --> 00:31:02.180 And and I think that's great advice. 00:31:02.246 --> 00:31:13.640 And Valerie, one question for you, with this impressive career and such a it feels like to me as I listen to your your stories. 00:31:14.348 --> 00:31:18.578 And your experiences really navigating. 00:31:19.450 --> 00:31:35.348 Whether you see them as challenges or not, but navigating situations that have been learning moments and being able to move on to the next and being able to grow and thrive and be able to say, I want to work now you're in a position, I want to work this way, and this is what I'd like to do. 00:31:35.710 --> 00:31:38.980 Where have you been most proud? 00:31:39.046 --> 00:31:44.380 You know, clout for good is is when you're out, you have this clout and you can do good. 00:31:44.650 --> 00:31:56.288 Tell us a little bit about maybe a few examples of where you're most proud of the work you've been able to now do after you've been able to come out and and where you've been able to make an impact that, that you're proud of. 00:31:56.355 --> 00:32:07.298 Yeah, I think the AI being at Amazon was wonderful because I was able to work on I mean, luckily, I had the option to be able to choose what I worked on. 00:32:07.365 --> 00:32:14.108 And I would say out of the 80 plus shows and films that I worked on in series and specials and all of them. 00:32:15.250 --> 00:32:16.538 1%. 00:32:17.490 --> 00:32:19.440 Wasn't something I wanted to work on. 00:32:19.506 --> 00:32:21.118 The the rest, the 99. 00:32:21.185 --> 00:32:28.890 The rest of it I there was some sort of purposeful, wonderful story that was being put out into the world. 00:32:28.955 --> 00:32:42.450 A lot of them had some LGBTQ content, but there's other things that I'm fascinated about in the world, and I think anything that creates an aha moment for anybody to think differently is really powerful. 00:32:42.516 --> 00:32:51.838 And anything to be able to dive deeper, to be a better person in this world, anything that's going to bring good into the world is what I like to get behind. 00:32:51.905 --> 00:33:00.808 So working on transparent and with Joey Soloway and their whole team and cast and crew, that was just what a gift that was. 00:33:00.875 --> 00:33:02.848 And that series was phenomenal. 00:33:02.915 --> 00:33:10.680 Fleabag with, you know, Phoebe Waller-Bridge and and that was incredible to to work on. 00:33:10.746 --> 00:33:16.259 And I got to work on A Very English Scandal with Hugh Grant was another one. 00:33:16.326 --> 00:33:18.420 It was great catastrophe was awesome. 00:33:18.486 --> 00:33:22.230 Good omens if you all haven't watched Good Omens, it is just fabulous. 00:33:22.296 --> 00:33:23.578 It's just so good. 00:33:23.645 --> 00:33:32.490 And I think, you know, maybe there's not like Good Omens isn't full out gay, but it is so diverse the way Neil Gaiman writes those characters. 00:33:32.556 --> 00:33:37.950 And then if you get through season two, you see the full story and there's going to be a season three, it's amazing. 00:33:38.016 --> 00:33:43.140 And then also to support, like uncle Frank and Red, white and Royal Blue and League of Your Own. 00:33:43.205 --> 00:33:47.160 And there's so many others that that were a part of that time there. 00:33:47.226 --> 00:33:48.269 And I'm proud of that. 00:33:48.336 --> 00:33:54.750 I'm proud of being able to, um, I don't have anything to do with the creation of the series or the films. 00:33:54.816 --> 00:33:57.210 I help market them, I help brand them. 00:33:57.276 --> 00:34:08.849 I help figure out what that 360 marketing campaign is going to be, so that eyeballs will find it, that it will pop out and stand out from all of the other stuff that's out there and attract the right audiences. 00:34:08.916 --> 00:34:18.750 And because I love them, I am going to be able to tap into those audience much quicker and be able to to find, to to brand it and get it to that look and feel for them. 00:34:18.815 --> 00:34:20.699 And that is wonderful. 00:34:20.766 --> 00:34:23.340 And I, I truly love it. 00:34:23.405 --> 00:34:24.420 I truly love it. 00:34:24.485 --> 00:34:29.639 And to figure out what I'm going to do next, because I just left Amazon, uh, in March. 00:34:29.706 --> 00:34:32.849 So I have to figure out where I'm going to go and what I'm going to do next. 00:34:32.916 --> 00:34:36.630 And I'm excited about what those opportunities and what it looks like. 00:34:36.695 --> 00:34:41.550 But, um, I hopefully I got to do more of that because I think I'm pretty good at it. 00:34:41.760 --> 00:34:42.780 That's awesome. 00:34:42.846 --> 00:34:44.760 I, I've been impacted by those things. 00:34:44.826 --> 00:34:47.190 You've worked on many of those, those shows and others. 00:34:47.255 --> 00:34:54.570 I know I've, I've been a fan of and have watched transparent and the recently The New League of Their Own, all really amazing shows. 00:34:55.018 --> 00:35:12.809 Um, you mentioned we are vibrant, but one of the other questions that I asked guests and so many great things have come from this question, which is what resources, you know, especially because you've worked with so many organizations and you volunteered so much out in the community. 00:35:13.739 --> 00:35:21.059 Aside from we are vibrant, are there any other organizations or resources that you might recommend to listeners of Klout for good? 00:35:21.126 --> 00:35:22.619 Yeah, I mean, I think. 00:35:23.250 --> 00:35:24.239 One of the. 00:35:24.929 --> 00:35:47.190 I'm one of the best things, I think that helped me find community and also be better in the world and understand things is volunteering and like I at one point or another, or attending the galas, figuring out ways to be a part of the steering committees for the events, like I was a part of the Gay and Lesbian Center and An Evening with women for quite a few years. 00:35:47.255 --> 00:35:51.239 And when we were, we raised quite a lot of money for the community there. 00:35:51.306 --> 00:35:58.500 I've done stuff with Glad and Trevor Project and Lambda Legal and glisten all the pride festivals in Los Angeles. 00:35:58.565 --> 00:35:59.760 There's a bunch of them now. 00:35:59.849 --> 00:36:01.829 There was only one there for a while. 00:36:01.896 --> 00:36:06.510 Pound Point Foundation, Equality California, you know, all of those. 00:36:06.576 --> 00:36:07.800 And I remember doing the no. 00:36:07.865 --> 00:36:11.670 One hate, you know, any time there was an opportunity to be able to show up. 00:36:11.735 --> 00:36:12.929 I think that's the biggest thing. 00:36:12.996 --> 00:36:25.110 Show up, attend, volunteer when you can, get on committee committees or be a part of it in that way, if you can't give the money and if you can give money, please do. 00:36:25.175 --> 00:36:31.829 I mean, I think that they what they're doing, the people who are living and breathe in that and that's their full time job that's really impactful. 00:36:31.896 --> 00:36:41.309 And the years that I was at Outfest to that was magical, was like going to summer camp every summer and being a part of that community for almost 20 something, 25 years. 00:36:41.376 --> 00:36:50.639 That's what I was looking forward to, that in July for the film festival and knowing and supporting all of the filmmakers who were bringing their stories into the world. 00:36:50.706 --> 00:36:55.320 And I think that those, uh, being a part of that is helpful. 00:36:55.385 --> 00:37:16.920 But also, again, the internet, I think that's number one, exploring, being curious, figuring out what is of interest to you and, um, tapping into those places and getting to know folks and that and try not to stay within your own little comfort zone and really break out, because I think that allows you to grow more and also get to know more people. 00:37:17.159 --> 00:37:20.219 I love, you know, great organizations. 00:37:20.286 --> 00:37:30.750 And a takeaway, Valerie, that I just heard from you that I love, many of my guests have given an organization or, you know, talked about some some place that you can get information or insights. 00:37:30.815 --> 00:37:34.199 But I love what you just said, which is just be a part of it. 00:37:34.266 --> 00:37:37.500 Go volunteer, go show up, go be be present. 00:37:37.565 --> 00:37:45.960 And I you know, I did that throughout my, um, early stages, whether it was in LGBT related sports or otherwise. 00:37:46.025 --> 00:37:51.750 And I think it's such good advice because sometimes I think these big events can be really intimidating. 00:37:51.815 --> 00:37:57.179 I think folks are, well, that's not for me, or I don't have $5,000 for a ticket or whatever it is. 00:37:57.246 --> 00:38:03.210 And I think what you just said is such great advice, because there are ways to participate and volunteer and get to know folks. 00:38:03.275 --> 00:38:08.489 And and I too, that has been and by the way, that's how we met, you know, through through these organizations. 00:38:08.556 --> 00:38:15.900 And I think it's such a great way there's there's a place for everyone, these organizations and these, these outlets really need, need help. 00:38:15.965 --> 00:38:17.639 So I think that's that's really great advice. 00:38:17.706 --> 00:38:18.659 So thanks for that. 00:38:18.726 --> 00:38:21.210 And I'd love to know. 00:38:21.275 --> 00:38:24.090 And I know the listeners would love to know one final question. 00:38:24.155 --> 00:38:28.349 So we want to know who's inspired you along the way. 00:38:28.416 --> 00:38:35.250 So a lot of these experiences you've shared and I think, uh, your path has just been it's fascinating. 00:38:35.315 --> 00:38:38.190 I didn't know a lot of the details you shared today, so thank you for that. 00:38:38.255 --> 00:38:55.739 But if you imagine you're hosting a Klout for Good Dinner party, what few queer icons that have inspired you or made an impact or that you look up to might you want to have at the table and tell us a little bit about why you'd invite them and why you'd want them there. 00:38:55.806 --> 00:38:57.570 Can I disrupt this question? 00:38:58.349 --> 00:38:59.730 Of course, of course. 00:38:59.969 --> 00:39:20.250 Okay, so first off, my dream and I and I've attended a couple of these and they're pretty magical is I love those long farm tables in the middle of like a vineyard or like, so you're going to have a farm to table meal and you got all the the firefly lights going on everywhere. 00:39:20.315 --> 00:39:26.489 You just create this wonderful atmosphere so you can have more than just three people join you at a dinner party. 00:39:26.639 --> 00:39:28.380 So I like see the. 00:39:28.445 --> 00:39:32.070 Creative director, the creative director at work, I like it, I like it. 00:39:32.340 --> 00:39:32.840 Yeah. 00:39:32.905 --> 00:39:41.579 So I want to have a bigger group, and I would love to bring a collection of people together from different walks of life. 00:39:41.760 --> 00:39:43.289 Not all queer. 00:39:43.356 --> 00:39:47.789 I would like, you know, straight allies, maybe not so straight allies. 00:39:47.856 --> 00:39:52.650 I mean, if we can bring Jerry Falwell back to see where we are, I mean, I think he would be a great guest. 00:39:52.715 --> 00:40:06.510 But I think also bringing people together that will deepen the connections and diminish the divides and take that opportunity knowing that this is a safe place, magical place, creating that, uh, comfort that's there. 00:40:06.576 --> 00:40:09.750 So everyone knows that they're free to talk about whatever they need to talk about. 00:40:09.815 --> 00:40:18.268 But it's not force, but it's also simply getting to know one each other and finding the similarities and one another versus the differences. 00:40:18.335 --> 00:40:21.090 And I think that's important. 00:40:21.155 --> 00:40:22.710 So I'm going to I'm going to give you my list. 00:40:23.000 --> 00:40:23.989 My dream list, right? 00:40:24.110 --> 00:40:24.619 I love it. 00:40:24.710 --> 00:40:26.869 I love thinking about this a little bit. 00:40:26.936 --> 00:40:27.436 Good. 00:40:27.503 --> 00:40:29.360 And there's a story behind every one of them. 00:40:29.425 --> 00:40:34.335 The last couple, couple of these I've met throughout my life or worked with them at one point or another, and then others. 00:40:34.402 --> 00:40:35.449 I would love to work with them. 00:40:35.516 --> 00:40:37.849 So we'll see if people can guess who's who. 00:40:38.059 --> 00:40:40.190 So number one is Amy Grant. 00:40:40.969 --> 00:40:43.400 Number two is Tim Cook from Apple. 00:40:43.465 --> 00:40:44.000 Mhm. 00:40:44.119 --> 00:40:56.989 Uh, Jodie Foster Kara swisher gotta have Dax Shepard and Monica Padman from Armchair Expert and then love to have Kristen Bell join because that's going to bring another whole dynamic to it. 00:40:57.530 --> 00:41:16.880 Uh, Joey Soloway, Margaret Cho, Brené Brown, which has been an impactful listening to herself over the years, Oprah, Shonda Rhimes, Lee Daniels, Anderson Cooper, Janet Mock, Brandi Carlile, and Andrew Scott. 00:41:17.389 --> 00:41:19.579 I love it. 00:41:19.646 --> 00:41:22.820 What a table and I love your premise. 00:41:22.885 --> 00:41:31.730 I love your premise of, you know, those that that are a part of the community, those that are allies, those that aren't really I mean, I think right now it's such an important time for that. 00:41:31.795 --> 00:41:38.989 I mean, we have a really contentious fall ahead of us with our political environment, and I love it. 00:41:39.056 --> 00:41:42.559 And Andrew Scott, I just watched the first episode of Ripley last night. 00:41:42.626 --> 00:41:47.389 So watching a favorite movie of mine being turned into that series, which is fantastic. 00:41:47.456 --> 00:41:49.190 Well, I, I'd love to join. 00:41:49.255 --> 00:41:50.000 That sounds amazing. 00:41:50.065 --> 00:41:50.989 And I love the setting. 00:41:51.056 --> 00:41:51.556 I've. 00:41:51.623 --> 00:41:54.440 I too have been to one of those before and it's it's really fantastic. 00:41:54.505 --> 00:41:57.590 Well, Valerie, thank you so much for your time today. 00:41:57.655 --> 00:41:58.518 This is amazing. 00:41:58.585 --> 00:42:02.510 You've been so generous with sharing all of your personal stories and experiences. 00:42:02.576 --> 00:42:07.789 I know that people are going to get a lot out of the episode today, so thank you so much for joining me. 00:42:08.179 --> 00:42:09.139 Oh you're welcome. 00:42:09.206 --> 00:42:09.920 It's my pleasure. 00:42:09.985 --> 00:42:12.559 And I and I do hope folks can resonate. 00:42:12.626 --> 00:42:17.329 And it brings confidence to people who feel like they don't have it and they hear it. 00:42:17.396 --> 00:42:18.800 So I do hope that. 00:42:18.920 --> 00:42:19.699 I love it. 00:42:19.766 --> 00:42:20.266 Well. 00:42:20.333 --> 00:42:22.699 And to my listeners, thanks so much for joining us today. 00:42:22.766 --> 00:42:26.809 Please tune in every other Wednesday for a new episode of clout for good. 00:42:26.876 --> 00:42:28.159 Follow us on social. 00:42:28.226 --> 00:42:36.889 Visit our website to subscribe to the newsletter, and I hope this episode motivates you to use your clout for good to make a difference in your workplace. 00:42:36.956 --> 00:42:37.639 Thanks again.