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. 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. 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.
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. Today, I'm honored to welcome Valerie Madden. Valerie is a seasoned creative director and community activist. 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.
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. Valerie served on the board of directors for Outfest, the Los Angeles LGBTQ Film festival, and has volunteered with countless other LGBTQ organizations. Professionally, she's held DNI leadership roles with out at NBCu and Glamazon, which is the LGBTQ employee resource group at Amazon. Val, thanks so much for joining me today.
Oh, it's such a pleasure to be here. I've been enjoying your podcast, so I've been listening to it. Thank you so much. Well, I'm so glad. 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. So let's let's jump in. So the first thing I always ask guests is to tell us just a little bit about how do you identify.
And I know this is a loaded and can be a complicated question, but maybe tell us a little bit about coming out professionally. And I certainly know that's not always a one and done situation. So. Let us know a little bit about how you identify and how you have come out over the years. Sure. 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. 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. And and then for coming out. 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. 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. But great. 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. So I'm going to put that context out.
It was just starting to come out, but we didn't have access to it. Um, and I was born and raised first in Chicago, first 12 years of my life. 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. And but my circle groups were all around church, uh, FCA, Fellowship of Christian Athletes, um, Bible studies, uh, that type of thing. That was my life, my world outside of my friends and my neighborhood, though.
That's what I did all the time. So that's all I knew. And my parents weren't necessarily churchgoers. 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. We're not going to go as often. 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. So I still chose I loved it, I loved every bit of it. But we were taught not to.
Well, I shouldn't say not. We were taught that homosexuality was wrong from a very young age and and or it wasn't even discussed. I didn't even know it was an option. 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. I wasn't that wasn't one of my focus. But it was challenging. And I and I look back, yes, I had crushes on girls, but I didn't know what that meant.
I just thought it was friendship and went through that whole journey. 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. But it was also art school, too. So a little bit of both, and it was a full education. 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.
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. And that, again, is where I built my friend groups. And that combined with where I was in art school. So again, no understanding that I could be out. And this was in the late 80s and, and had no idea the whole Aids crisis was happening. Not clueless of any of that stuff. I didn't learn about that so many, many years ago.
Which, uh, shows you how protected I was in that space. Mhm. So in the midst of all that, I, I, uh, the four years of art school were wonderful. And I actually had my first fell in love with a woman toward the latter half, I think my junior year. And it blew my mind. I'm like, what am I going to do with this? You know, you we had these incredible feelings and experiences. But I was in leadership for InterVarsity Christian Fellowship. I was, uh, leading Bible studies was in all it was.
And I didn't know what to do with all of that. So it was intense. It was both beautiful and challenging and, um, difficult. And the two of us explored one another. But at the same time, we're very much in the closet. And because we didn't know how to, to manage that. So the leadership at the time, we told a few folks and they pretty much counseled us to not be together, the counselors. And they took me out of my leadership roles.
And so slowly that was trying to be, uh, working through and counseling through the whole process. 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. It was more innocent type of. Yeah, yeah. Yeah, um, and met so many beautiful people. But it was really hard.
And so after graduating, um, she went and got married to a man, had kids, family. She's very happy. And we broke up and I left and I joined. I don't know if y'all know this, but it's Exodus International. So because I was like, I don't want to be gay if this is my struggle, I was taught that it's wrong. I can't be a part of this. So I did whatever I could to not be in that space. And I went right to it. And. And that in itself was eye opening. And I was dating a beautiful man at the time.
We were having a great relationship. He was everything you could ever want in a relationship, and he was supportive. He knew what I was struggling with, so it was very open and honest. And we, uh, were talking through it. 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. 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. It's not fair to myself.
And so I felt like I had to be fully on my own and, um, meet with people, date with people a little bit. And then when I'm in the workplace, obviously there's nothing to come out to because I didn't know who I was. 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. And I was working.
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. 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. He still is.
And he said, well, come and work here. We don't have to tell Jerry. We don't have to tell anybody. Just you have a great job. You'll be out of everything else that you're familiar with. But you can come here and, um, do what you do. Great. Which is an art director and, um, and figure out who you want to be and what you want to do. So that's what I did.
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. Plus, I still wasn't sure who I was and went and went into the fire. And if anyone who doesn't know, definitely Google him. But at the time, he was very much against all homosexuality. He was out on pretty much all the broadcast networks telling, you know, saying it's a sin, it's wrong.
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. So that's during all of that. I know this is a long story, but I think it's. Fascinating. Informative, and for a lot of people. And to understand that when I went there the most, it was the most. Beautiful time in a sense that all I had was my job.
And then I would go home and I would pray, meditate, journal again, pre-internet, pre phones. And I didn't talk to the girl that I was dating. 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.
So I would take all of that out the books. 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. 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. And. I. It was like a voice came down and said, wow, I am going to love you. Whoever you love, whoever you choose to be with.
You are a light in this world and you just need to be you and be who you are. I am not going to judge you. And he was like, and it was a he. 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. And it's not going to be easy at first, but know that you are going to be loved. And to even hear that, to know that, to know that I wasn't going to be judged, it was that truth.
And to be able to sift through all the learnings and teachings and everything. The fact that that was before me specifically, I knew that I could come out. So that was the moment that it happened. In the midst of working for Jerry Falwell at Liberty University. Wow. That is profound. And and thank you for sharing.
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. Um, but there are things that folks are really interested in learning. So I really appreciate you sharing all the the personal sort of nature of all of that. And so much to unpack. First of all, I'm a practicing Unitarian Universalist.
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. And I love, I love that you brought that up because I'm always like, I'm not sure. Do people really have an issue with this?
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. That was very clear. 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.
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. We we don't want you to be you. And tell me a little bit about that. How what did that you know, because clearly you continued on and said, I'm going to stick this out. I'm going to I'm going to continue to practice my faith. I'm going to continue to serve. But I think it's really powerful.
You also, in your mind, had the strength. You said, I'm going to continue to explore. 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. How how did that impact your next steps? Say, there's been a through line in my life even to this day. There's been a lot of severed belongings, and I put a lot of energy and time within whatever. It's my friend group, my job, my world, wherever I end up being.
And then it gets disrupted. It ends in a way that most sometimes because I choose to move on because I like. I recognize that this isn't a good place for me to be. Like, I knew, like, I have to say one, one little thing about Jerry Falwell. 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.
And he would go through the hall and he would bear hug men from behind, like, lift them up and put him down. 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. So I saw that side of him. So I respected him greatly for that. And, and I think I found community in every one of these places and when in the midst of it.
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. I'm like, I refuse to be a sheep and I refuse to be a sheep at a very early age. And I think that's the biggest lesson. I think a lot of people end up doing that.
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. And this goes the same for politics. They have to either choose one side or the other.
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. Important to me, and I think it's because I've. I've experienced such extreme. Several belongings. Yeah. Well, and I think, you know, Exodus, Liberty, internet.
I mean, these are such as you think of our LGBTQ history and you think of moments and you think of players. Those are some that come to mind that are, you know, sort of top of list of anti-LGBTQ. But yet I, I'm so impressed just hearing you right now talk about it. But there was something about that that I could take away. There was something that I could learn.
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. 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?
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.
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. Especially now. Back then it was in the theaters and all that.
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. 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.
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. And so I recreated that movie poster and cut paper, and I was like, this is what I want to do. I want to create movie posters. And I didn't know what that was going to grow into. And luckily when I was, you know, working at Liberty University, it was one step in that.
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. So I understood that part of it, too. 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.
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? 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. And they're also not afraid to put that content out into the world.
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. And so that's why. 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.
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. None. 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. There's a possibility.
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. And now a long way to go, but still so much more representation, so much better. I think, for younger folks today to see and to to be able to understand. And when I think about Hollywood. And when I think about the entertainment business, one stereotype that comes to mind, you know, is the the gays run Hollywood. So what's your experience?
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. What is the environment like from your experience for an LGBT employee within that space ? What what is it like? 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.
I didn't know at that particular moment that he was a gay man leading an NBC, but that gave me confidence. 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. I lost a lot of friends. Um, there's a core of them that I'm still close to to this day. Many of my high school friends, there's a core group of us that are that are still close.
Um, and my family was amazing, but because I experienced many losses in the midst of that too, I was still not sure. And even though I'm here, I am working at NBC. There was more. I was one of very few women. Luckily there was a VP that hired me. That was the lead of the marketing team at the time, and I think that's how I was able to get in. But I wasn't because I was gay, it was because I think I was a woman.
And that's how I got that role, because I needed more women, because the rest were all, unfortunately, white men. I mean, I'd say unfortunately, because there was no city there. Yeah. And so it was a boys club for sure. And I think that there were a few, as you start to know, there's a few gay men for sure. 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.
And so even when my partner and I had our commitment ceremony, we didn't tell anybody. And and this was like pre when the marriage equality and all that started happening. Yeah. And so we went and got married, had a big ceremony. And when we came back to the office or when I came back to the office, there was no toast. Whereas other colleagues would get a toast. And I was feeling really sad. So I still wasn't talking about what I was doing on the weekends.
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. I mean, it really did that. 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.
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. It was just the most wonderful, beautiful time of celebration and being out. And I'm like, I can be out. I can actually bring my full self to work and this is going to help me do my job better, which it did.
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. And I could just flow and be a part of the conversation like everybody else.
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.
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. And so for me, um, being able to have that freedom gave me more of the freedom to be completely out.
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. And, uh, so that was wonderful. And I think it really worked. We were able to get a lot more visibility. That's amazing.
Well, and and then I know you continued that work at Amazon as well with their ERG and so many other organizations. 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. I'd like to be myself. I may even consider coming out in the workplace, you know, with with your experience. Both starting in college and and through all of these organizations.
What advice might you give to someone as they're thinking about that? What what advice would you would you give them to consider? I think that seeking a community or a job where you can be your authentic self is very important.
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. 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.
If you feel like you can't move somewhere to go, be a part of that, or then create it. 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. It's just started at the end of last year and it's we are vibrant. Org. They are a creative marketing and entertainment, uh, industry group that is all LGBTQ.
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. 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.
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. Let's figure out the best way to support one another. And the fact they just started that out from scratch is amazing. So that's what I would say is like, if you're not finding it, make it. And I mean that's the biggest thing.
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. I mean, AI is definitely going to be your friend and going and asking. That's right. But also reaching out to folks. There's so many people who would be grateful.
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. You know, Amazon was amazing. You know, they were from day one, I was able to be out and there was no question it wasn't even a thought. 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.
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. 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.
I it's such great advice, Valerie. I think, as you said, um, talking about we are vibrant. I what a great example. 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. And I thought, well, someone's telling those stories.
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. And I love sounds like we are vibrant. It's this we're we found this gap, we found this opportunity. And I think it's a really important. 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.
I'm sure this already exists. And I think your your advice of create it, you know, seek it. And if it isn't there, create it. And I think you are exactly right with also we have the resources where we have tools that we can use. We have channels we can leverage. 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. And and I think that's great advice.
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. And your experiences really navigating. 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. Where have you been most proud?
You know, clout for good is is when you're out, you have this clout and you can do good. 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. 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.
And I would say out of the 80 plus shows and films that I worked on in series and specials and all of them. 1%. Wasn't something I wanted to work on. The the rest, the 99. The rest of it I there was some sort of purposeful, wonderful story that was being put out into the world. 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.
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. So working on transparent and with Joey Soloway and their whole team and cast and crew, that was just what a gift that was. And that series was phenomenal. Fleabag with, you know, Phoebe Waller-Bridge and and that was incredible to to work on. And I got to work on A Very English Scandal with Hugh Grant was another one.
It was great catastrophe was awesome. Good omens if you all haven't watched Good Omens, it is just fabulous. It's just so good. 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. 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. And then also to support, like uncle Frank and Red, white and Royal Blue and League of Your Own.
And there's so many others that that were a part of that time there. And I'm proud of that. I'm proud of being able to, um, I don't have anything to do with the creation of the series or the films. I help market them, I help brand them. 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.
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. And that is wonderful. And I, I truly love it. I truly love it. And to figure out what I'm going to do next, because I just left Amazon, uh, in March. So I have to figure out where I'm going to go and what I'm going to do next. And I'm excited about what those opportunities and what it looks like.
But, um, I hopefully I got to do more of that because I think I'm pretty good at it. That's awesome. I, I've been impacted by those things. You've worked on many of those, those shows and others. 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.
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. Aside from we are vibrant, are there any other organizations or resources that you might recommend to listeners of Klout for good? Yeah, I mean, I think. One of the.
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. And when we were, we raised quite a lot of money for the community there.
I've done stuff with Glad and Trevor Project and Lambda Legal and glisten all the pride festivals in Los Angeles. There's a bunch of them now. There was only one there for a while. Pound Point Foundation, Equality California, you know, all of those. And I remember doing the no. One hate, you know, any time there was an opportunity to be able to show up. I think that's the biggest thing.
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. 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. 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.
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. And I think that those, uh, being a part of that is helpful.
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. I love, you know, great organizations.
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. But I love what you just said, which is just be a part of it. Go volunteer, go show up, go be be present. And I you know, I did that throughout my, um, early stages, whether it was in LGBT related sports or otherwise.
And I think it's such good advice because sometimes I think these big events can be really intimidating. I think folks are, well, that's not for me, or I don't have $5,000 for a ticket or whatever it is. And I think what you just said is such great advice, because there are ways to participate and volunteer and get to know folks. And and I too, that has been and by the way, that's how we met, you know, through through these organizations.
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. So I think that's that's really great advice. So thanks for that. And I'd love to know. And I know the listeners would love to know one final question. So we want to know who's inspired you along the way. So a lot of these experiences you've shared and I think, uh, your path has just been it's fascinating.
I didn't know a lot of the details you shared today, so thank you for that. 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. Can I disrupt this question? Of course, of course.
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. You just create this wonderful atmosphere so you can have more than just three people join you at a dinner party. So I like see the. Creative director, the creative director at work, I like it, I like it.
Yeah. So I want to have a bigger group, and I would love to bring a collection of people together from different walks of life. Not all queer. I would like, you know, straight allies, maybe not so straight allies. I mean, if we can bring Jerry Falwell back to see where we are, I mean, I think he would be a great guest.
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. So everyone knows that they're free to talk about whatever they need to talk about. 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. And I think that's important.
So I'm going to I'm going to give you my list. My dream list, right? I love it. I love thinking about this a little bit. Good. And there's a story behind every one of them. The last couple, couple of these I've met throughout my life or worked with them at one point or another, and then others. I would love to work with them. So we'll see if people can guess who's who. So number one is Amy Grant. Number two is Tim Cook from Apple.
Mhm. 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. 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. I love it. What a table and I love your premise.
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. I mean, we have a really contentious fall ahead of us with our political environment, and I love it. And Andrew Scott, I just watched the first episode of Ripley last night. So watching a favorite movie of mine being turned into that series, which is fantastic. Well, I, I'd love to join. That sounds amazing.
And I love the setting. I've. I too have been to one of those before and it's it's really fantastic. Well, Valerie, thank you so much for your time today. This is amazing. You've been so generous with sharing all of your personal stories and experiences. I know that people are going to get a lot out of the episode today, so thank you so much for joining me. Oh you're welcome. It's my pleasure. And I and I do hope folks can resonate.
And it brings confidence to people who feel like they don't have it and they hear it. So I do hope that. I love it. Well. And to my listeners, thanks so much for joining us today. Please tune in every other Wednesday for a new episode of clout for good. Follow us on social. 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. Thanks again.