🏳️🌈 How The Out Crowd encouraged me to come out of the closet...
🍽️ Plus bonus Scran and The Reset Room launches 🚪
We hope that the podcasts coming out of Laudable HQ help start conversations: whether it’s about the tools to succeed in life, the importance of the fight for equality, or even the best places for food and drink in Scotland.
Join our conversations to start your own conversations.
We are very excited for the launch of our brand new podcast The Reset Room. Producer Kelly Crichton describes how the podcast could answer your questions about the journey to fulfilment.
The Scran crew also pay a visit to the newly opened Johnnie Walker Visitor Centre in Edinburgh in a bonus episode. It’s not a bad job, is it?
But first, podcast producer Dan McLaughlin discusses how The Out Crowd helped him be more open and honest with his family and friends…
🏳️🌈 The Out Crowd: coming out of the closet thanks to the power of podcasting
When we launched The Out Crowd during Pride Month, we wanted our LGBTQ podcast to start conversations about queer issues to everyone: whether it was in the community itself, or to the allies outside of it.
What I didn’t expect was for The Out Crowd to be quite so transformative in my own personal life.
I had, for a while, followed Quentin Crisp’s maxim when it came to my sexual identity: neither confirm nor deny.
For many people involved in my life, my bisexuality was abundantly clear. I wore the rainbow flag on my lapel, I campaigned passionately and vocally for LGBTQ rights, and performed to complete strangers about my dating life with men and women (or lack thereof).
But to most family and friends, I did not explicitly acknowledge my sexuality. I was perhaps frightened of the reaction, held the shame I accrued from my early years, and I was wary of the rise in homophobia in recent times.
In truth, I mainly did not know what to say. Or how to say it.
When The Out Crowd host Joe Ali suggested that I appear on the episode about bisexuality and bi-erasure, I, of course, could not turn down the opportunity. I was apprehensive about my appearance, but Joe’s wonderful presenting style - immediately putting the guest at ease - made it such a pleasurable and interesting experience.
And somehow I was able to articulate my life as a bisexual man in an approachable and accessible way, if I do say so myself.
The episode was released, and that was that, really. Until something remarkable happened when I was visiting my family in Blackburn. Here’s my Facebook post from August 4th, 2021:
My heart is singing, ladies and gentlemen, and gender non-specific. I've just seen two teenage boys walking hand-in-hand quite happily and affectionately in Blackburn.
Now, you may think that is such a small thing, and why should I point it out?
Holding hands publicly with your same-sex partner is still a revolutionary and political act.
That's why I feel emotional at these young lads being so brave and proud in a town that, I have found, had been hostile towards the LGBTQ community. Certainly when I was their age just over a decade ago.
Many still live in perpetual fear about their sexuality, stuck and sometimes, out of their own protection, forced inside the closet.
There are certain things that straight people take for granted, which requires great confidence and sheer guts for LGBTQ people to do.
The next time you automatically take your partner's hand, dwell on how it may not be so easy for others to do - and what we can do in the fight for equality.
Maybe the tide is turning, I bloody hope so.
The bravery - or what I perceived as bravery - from these two young men was inspiring, especially for someone who had spent so long in the closet, I was practically in Narnia.
This post drew quite a bit of attention from my Facebook brethren, and many were starting to put two and two together. And so it seemed the opportune moment to finally be honest, and to come out of the closet once and for all.
So friends, as you may have surmised from the previous post, there's something I ought to tell you...
To which, I posted the episode of The Out Crowd. Thanks to exemplary hosting and perfect questioning from Joe, as well as the format of the podcast, the episode was a great place for my family and friends to get an insight into my life as part of the LGBTQ community.
Many of whom messaged me with support, as well as genuine surprise, delight, and curiosity at what they learnt from the podcast.
We hoped to start conversations with The Out Crowd, and it helped me begin a very important one with those whom I hold dear. I’m out and proud, and I am finally authentically me.
The power of podcasting.
And now, over to producer Kelly Crichton with exciting news about our brand new podcast The Reset Room and bonus Scran…
🚪The Reset Room launches!
We are really excited to say that The Reset Room will launch next Thursday (16th September)!
This brand new podcast aims to equip you with the tools to succeed and to answer your questions on your journey to fulfilment.
Each episode will cover specific topics relating to life, performance, and pressure.
In episode one, Kelly is joined by resident experts in life coaching and personal development, Amana Walker and Kay Woodburn.
They talk about ‘Life after Lockdown’ and re-emerging into both the workplace and society, which is proving daunting for some.
Kay and Amana have years of experience in helping people in all walks of life achieve and perform to the best of their potential.
If you want to get in touch about future episodes or an issue you'd like to see covered in the podcast, please email kelly.crichton@jpimedia.co.uk - it can be totally anonymous, if you would like, of course.
Don't miss episode one, where you'll get to know Kelly, Kay and Amana - and learn more about dealing with 'life after lockdown'.
🍽️ Extra servings of Scran!
What a treat this week, there's a bonus episode of Scran out!
Rosalind and Producer Kelly went along to the brand new Johnnie Walker Visitor Experience on Princes Street in Edinburgh.
Diageo have spent a whopping £185 million on the old Fraser's building and boy, what a transformation!
On this episode you'll be given a sneak peek into what you can expect to experience on a tour, including hearing from Master Blender Emma Walker, the wonderful retiree-turned-Tour Guide Les Defesche and General Manager of the new visitor experience, Barbara Smith.
You'll meander through this remarkable building and catch an auditory glimpse of what is already set to become a new Edinburgh institution.
Variety is the spice of life, and as always, there is plenty of variety in our Laudable podcasts: whether it’s LGBTQ issues, life skills, or food and drink. Plus much, much more.
Stay safe, stay positive, stay informed, and stay tuned.
- Dan McLaughlin and Kelly Crichton