Hosted by Effie Dusoleil, And Here You Are is a celebration of joy, resilience, and love across the world. In each episode, we spotlight LGBTQI+ individuals who defy adversity, finding beauty and strength in their authentic lives. Through heartfelt conversations and affirmations from loved ones, this podcast offers a sanctuary of hope and empowerment. Join us as we rewrite the narrative, embracing the vibrant stories that define our community.
Episode 14 is a conversation between host Effie Dusoleil and Dr. Kelsey L. Smoot. During this conversation you’ll hear Effie and Kelz discuss how childhood knowings became adulthood truths, how love itself is something to be proud of giving and receiving and how we can rebuke society’s messages around how we should be or look. You’ll hear Kelz share more about his research, their practices of centering joy & community, and their experience of growing up as a black queer person moving thro...
1 Sept 2026
Episode 13 pt. 2, Drea Bustamante
In part two of episode 13 you hear the continuation of the conversation between host Effie Dusoleil and Drea Bustamante. The second part of their conversation covers the beautiful variety of ways the LGBTQI+ community exist in the world, how vital and important it is to have queer role models that exemplify being honest about who they are and can share their identities openly, the experience of being an immigrant and how they both agree that community is often a lifesaver. They also tal...
1 Aug 2026
Episode 13 pt. 1, Drea Bustamante
In part one of episode 12 you hear the beginning of the, very personal, conversation between host Effie Dusoleil and Drea Bustamante. You'll hear them talk about their past as a married couple, the choices that they made and continue to make to stay close throughout it all, the idea that unconditional love has the potential to literally change communities and the world- starting with each of us. They discuss the plot twist of being happy things didn’t work out as expected, how life is f...
1 Jul 2026
Episode 12, Jo Vee
In this episode you’ll hear host Effie Dusoleil talk with Jo Vee. In this conversation they discuss how it has felt to be a part of the community as a masc lesbian and how it feels to be in spaces that celebrate the spectrum of lesbianism, the vital realization that we don’t have to fit into a box that doesn’t work for us, how we find inspiration all around us and how curiosity can open doors that we never knew existed. Jo Vee is a Washington, DC based content creator who shares about g...
15 Jun 2026
Episode 11, Salimah Kassim-Lakha
To celebrate Pride month we’re releasing two episodes in June! Happy Pride my friends!!! In this beautiful conversation, Effie Dusoleil talks with Salimah Kassim-Lakha. They discuss their experiences as people existing outside of the gender binary, how their inner knowings were very present from a young age and the idea of queerness opening doors to possibility rather than being a limitation. Salimah Kassim-Lakha is a queer South Asian Kundalini Yoga Therapist and spiritual elder with over tw...
1 Jun 2026
Celebratory Episode 10, Effie Dusoleil
And Here You Are has made it to 10 episodes! In a special pride month celebration, the tables are turned. Your host, Effie Dusoleil, is interviewed by past guest and close friend Kiana London. They celebrate the show and its mission by answering questions received from previous show guests and dive in deeper to Effie's story. Special thanks to Kiana for supporting this episode and every guest so far for sharing your story with us. Follow, subscribe, & share to spread the news:...
1 May 2026
Episode 9, Christa Orth
In this episode you’ll hear host Effie Dusoleil talk with Christa Orth about their research in queer and trans history of the Pacific Northwest, how it felt to see herself inside of a rich history of queer and trans ancestors, how their performances in drag helped them to express themselves on a literal stage, and how people’s stories that center justice and joy bring them so much inspiration. We discuss the ways historical fights for liberation aid our own liberation today, how we ourselves ...
1 Apr 2026
Episode 8, Jesse Patterson
In this episode you'll hear host Effie Dusoleil and Jesse Patterson discuss the power in living your truth, the way politics and socially constructed ideas aim to divide us and how the people in your corner can become your grounding rod through tough times. Jesse shares about the unending love of her partner throughout her transition journey, her dedication to stay in Texas despite the rhetoric, and how she navigates societies narratives about right and wrong while raising her child. Fo...
1 Mar 2026
Episode 7, Santy Sanchez
In this episode you'll hear host Effie Dusoleil talk with Santy Sanchez. As Program Director for an organization called The Insight Alliance, Santy leads Insight to Wellbeing groups in prisons across the US state of Oregon, guiding participants to discover that they are not broken and don’t need fixing. In this episode Santy and Effie discuss how beautiful insights can come from tragedy, the way isolation can be an opportunity for self-reflection, how our thoughts create made-up s...
1 Feb 2026
Episode 6, Chih Lin & Mike Dorsey
In this episode you'll hear host Effie Dusoleil chat with Chih and Mike of “The Dumpling Dudez”. During this conversation our two guests open up about their experiences living in a deeply conservative area of the world as a gay interracial couple, their journey towards loving themselves full heartedly and the incredible community they’ve built online. Chih and Mike remind us that love can exist anywhere and community can be found everywhere. More information on The Dumpling Dudes here, ...
30 Dec 2025
New Year Update from Effie Dusoleil
In this episode, your host Effie Dusoleil gives a quick update, thank you and reminder. Next full length episode coming the 1st of February, 2026! Follow, subscribe, & share to spread the news: It's where you shine your light that you see. Pay attention and you will notice! Meet us in the field beyond ideas of wrongdoing and rightdoing. Sign up for our newsletter here: https://preview.mailerlite.io/forms/1759373/163816691543836396/share Nominate someone to be on a future episode her...
1 Nov 2025
Episode 5, marita deLeon
In this episode you'll hear host Effie Dusoleil chat with marita deLeon. During this conversation marita talks about the power of laughter, their journey of following the threads of joy and euphoria, their experience of being raised by loving parents, and their life’s mission of creating places for people to land. We discuss what restorative justice means and looks like, the deep need for us to liberate ourselves and each other from dominate narratives that cause harm, and the ways that we ca...
1 Oct 2025
Episode 4, Erika Castellanos
In this episode you'll hear host Effie Dusoleil chat with Erika Castellanos. During this conversation Erika discusses how it felt to choose herself and leave home at a young age, how our origin stories can fuel our activism and how immensely powerful it is to follow your appetite for love and acceptance. Erika offers a potent reminder that diversity within our beautiful community is the answer to so many efforts to polarize us. Follow, subscribe, & share to spread the n...
31 Aug 2025
Episode 1, Effie Dusoleil
In the very first episode of this show, you'll hear host Effie Dusoleil introduce the concept, share more about what brought them to this podcasting adventure, and give the layout for how things will look moving forward. Follow, subscribe, & share to spread the news: Life as an LGBTQI+ person will and does look a multitude of ways! This show is a love letter to our community. Scream it from the mountaintops! LGBTQI+ people have always been here, and will always be here surviving and...
31 Aug 2025
Episode 2, Lourdes Jordan
In this episode you'll hear host Effie Dusoleil chat with Lourdes Jordan. This is our first publication in the regular format for this show- an interview with a special guest. Lourdes generously shares about how life has unfolded for her so far, the powerful examples of community and family she's both cultivated and continues to nourish and the ways she's chosen herself- even during moments of fear. Follow, subscribe, & share to spread the news: Life as an LGBTQI+ person can be ful...
31 Aug 2025
Episode 3, Kiana London
In this episode you'll hear host Effie Dusoleil chat with Kiana London. During this conversation Kiana shares how it felt to be raised in a household full of love and acceptance, the ways fear and shame showed up during the process of embracing her queerness, and the ways that people can surprise you in their capacity to accept and support you along the journey of being your full self. Follow, subscribe, & share to spread the news: Your light as an LGBTQI+ person can be seen, held, ...
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