In Season 3, Episode 5 of the Element Q Podcast, host TJ Woodward sits down with licensed clinical psychologist Dr. Jessica Hamilton for an honest and compassionate conversation about LGBTQ+ mental health, addiction recovery, adolescent identity development, and the healing power of human connection.

Drawing from her own recovery journey and decades of experience working with marginalized communities, Dr. Hamilton shares deeply personal stories about supporting transgender youth, working with long-term HIV/AIDS survivors in San Francisco, advocating for LGBTQ+ youth in juvenile justice systems, and helping families navigate identity, acceptance, and healing with compassion.

Together, TJ and Dr. Hamilton explore the emotional impact of shame, societal stigma, political polarization, social media algorithms, and the importance of repairing relationships through empathy and understanding. This episode is a heartfelt reminder that healing happens through connection, curiosity, and love — even in deeply divided times.

If you’re passionate about mental health, recovery, LGBTQ+ advocacy, trauma-informed care, or creating safer spaces for authentic identity, this conversation will leave you inspired and empowered.

🎧 Whether you’re navigating sobriety or seeking deeper meaning, this episode offers insight, validation, and inspiration.

👉 Please subscribe to support conversations on conscious healing, authentic living, and personal transformation.

🔗 Learn more:

Element Q Healing: https://www.elementqhealingcenter.com

TJ Woodward: https://www.tjwoodward.com

Dr. Jessica Hamilton: https://drbyrdolmstead.com

In Season 3, Episode 4 of the Element Q Podcast, host TJ Woodward sits down with Bryce Beliveau—Admissions and Outreach Coordinator at No Matter What Recovery and a proud graduate of the program—to explore the raw truth of addiction, identity, and healing within the LGBTQIA+ community.

Bryce shares his powerful journey from growing up as a gay child in a small Midwestern town—feeling isolated, ashamed, and “othered”—to finding belonging through musical theater, and ultimately spiraling into addiction. With striking honesty, he opens up about how substances like alcohol and meth temporarily silenced the inner voices of shame, only to lead him into a rapid downward spiral.

What follows is a story of resilience, recovery, and transformation. Bryce reveals how finding an LGBTQIA+-affirming treatment space changed everything—allowing him to feel seen, safe, and supported for the first time. Today, he dedicates his life to helping others take that same first step toward healing.

This episode dives into:

The impact of toxic shame and spiritual disconnection

Why LGBTQIA+-affirming care matters in recovery

The power of community, stillness, and self-acceptance

How asking for help can change—and save—your life

🎧 Whether you’re navigating sobriety or seeking deeper meaning, this episode offers insight, validation, and inspiration.

👉 Please subscribe to support conversations on conscious healing, authentic living, and personal transformation.

🔗 Learn more: Element Q Healing: https://www.elementqhealingcenter.com

TJ Woodward: https://www.tjwoodward.com

In Season 3, Episode 3 of the Element Q Podcast, host TJ Woodward sits down with Davina Kotulski—a licensed therapist, author, and internationally recognized LGBTQ+ advocate—to explore how we can cultivate inner resilience, healing, and authenticity in a deeply divided world.

Drawing from decades of clinical experience, Davina shares compassionate, practical tools for navigating emotional triggers, political stress, and collective trauma—while staying grounded in love, self-awareness, and truth.

Together, TJ and Davina unpack:

The emotional impact of political and cultural polarization

Lessons from LGBTQ+ history, including the AIDS crisis and the marriage equality movement. How to balance activism with inner peace

The difference between reactivity and conscious response

Why self-care and nervous system regulation are essential right now

How to stay connected to your truth—even in difficult conversations

Davina’s work bridges mental health, social justice, and spiritual growth, offering a powerful roadmap for anyone seeking to live with greater authenticity, resilience, and self-acceptance.

🎧 Whether you’re navigating sobriety or seeking deeper meaning, this episode offers insight, validation, and inspiration.

👉 Please subscribe to support conversations on conscious healing, authentic living, and personal transformation.

🔗 Learn more: Element Q Healing: https://www.elementqhealingcenter.com

TJ Woodward: https://www.tjwoodward.com

Dr. Davina Kotulski: https://drdavinakotulski.com/

In Season 3, Episode 2 of the Element Q Podcast, host TJ Woodward sits down with Brittany Leach, Marketing Director at Gossip Grill, to explore the transformative journey of healing, sobriety, and self-discovery within the LGBTQ+ community.

Brittany shares her personal story of stepping away from alcohol, confronting suppressed emotions, and rediscovering joy in its most authentic form. What begins as a conversation about nightlife and community quickly evolves into a profound exploration of identity, trauma, and what it truly means to “meet yourself.”

With over 17 years at Gossip Grill, Brittany has helped shape one of the most inclusive and community-driven spaces in San Diego. This organization gives back nearly $500,000 annually to causes including mental health, unhoused support, and trans advocacy. Her work blends storytelling, connection, and purpose-driven marketing to create meaningful impact both online and in real life.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

Why sobriety can initially feel harder—not easier

How identity shifts when you remove coping mechanisms

The role of community in healing and transformation

Why compassion is the key to personal and collective growth

How moments of joy signal true emotional recovery

🎧 Whether you’re navigating sobriety, questioning your identity, or seeking deeper meaning, this episode offers insight, validation, and inspiration.

👉 Subscribe to support conversations on conscious healing, authentic living, and personal transformation.

🔗 Learn more:

Element Q Healing: https://www.elementqhealingcenter.com

TJ Woodward: https://www.tjwoodward.com

In Season 3, Episode 1 of the Element Q Podcast, host TJ Woodward interviews Heather Hester, speaker, author, advocate, and host of the award-winning More Human. More Kind. podcast—to explore what it truly means to support and love LGBTQ+ children.

Heather shares her personal journey as a parent of two LGBTQ+ kids, opening up about the fear, confusion, and deep transformation that followed her son’s coming out at 16. What began as a search for answers became a mission to help other families navigate similar experiences with compassion and courage.

As the author of Parenting with Pride: Unlearn Bias, Embrace Your Child. Empower Their Authenticity: Heather’s work centers on meeting people exactly where they are—guiding them through complex, emotional moments with a calm, grounded presence.

Together, TJ and Heather dive into:

The intersection of faith and LGBTQ+ identity

How to move through fear-based beliefs

Why doing your own “inner work” as a parent matters

The importance of community, boundaries, and grace

Letting go of control and embracing authentic connection

👉 Subscribe to support conversations on conscious healing, authentic living, and personal transformation.

🔗 Learn more:

Element Q Healing: https://www.elementqhealingcenter.com

TJ Woodward: https://www.tjwoodward.com

Heather Hester: https://www.heatherhester.net

In Season 2, Episode 26 of the Element Q Podcast, host TJ Woodward sits down with licensed marriage and family therapist Betsy Spier to explore the complex and often hidden impact of internalized homophobia.

Even after coming out, many LGBTQ people carry unconscious shame shaped by cultural messaging, family dynamics, and early life experiences. Betsy shares her personal story of growing up during the feminist movement, navigating identity in the late 70s and 80s, and discovering how deeply internalized beliefs can linger—even after decades of personal growth.

Together, TJ and Betsy unpack how shame, trauma, and identity conditioning affect LGBTQ mental health and discuss practical ways to heal through awareness, connection, experiential therapy, and inner child work.

They also explore:

• How internalized homophobia shows up in everyday thoughts and behaviors

• Why awareness is the first step toward healing

• The power of experiential therapy and psychodrama

• Why connection—not isolation—is essential for recovery

• The importance of self-acceptance and internal safety

This conversation is a compassionate and insightful look at the journey toward authenticity, healing, and deeper self-love within the LGBTQ community. If you’re interested in LGBTQ mental health, trauma recovery, self-acceptance, or personal growth, this episode offers powerful tools and perspectives.

👉 Subscribe to support conversations on conscious healing, authentic living, and personal transformation. 🔗

Learn more:

Element Q Healing: https://www.elementqhealingcenter.com T

J Woodward: https://www.tjwoodward.com

Betsy Spier: https://betsyspier.com

In Season 2, Episode 25 of the Element Q Podcast, host TJ Woodward welcomes Rev. Cindy Edelson, Senior Minister of Centers for Spiritual Living in Salt Lake City. Together, they explore the deeper call for healing within the LGBTQ+ community and the transformative power of compassion, connection, and spiritual awareness.

Rev. Cindy shares her experience building an LGBTQ+ and allies support group in Utah and how authentic dialogue can break down fear, misunderstanding, and division. The conversation dives into topics many LGBTQ+ people can relate to—childhood shame, internalized beliefs, spiritual trauma, and the journey back to self-acceptance.

TJ and Cindy also explore how practices like mindfulness, awareness, and spiritual teachings can help people break free from negative mental loops, media overload, and “doomscrolling,” allowing us to create a more loving relationship with ourselves and others. If you’ve ever struggled with shame, felt disconnected from your spiritual path, or wondered how to create deeper compassion in a polarized world, this conversation offers insight, hope, and practical tools for healing.

Topics covered include: Healing LGBTQ+ shame and internalized stigma, Building a connection between LGBTQ+ people and allies, Breaking free from doomscrolling and negativity, The role of spirituality in healing trauma, Self-compassion and learning to be gentle with yourself

👉 Subscribe to support conversations on conscious healing, authentic living, and personal transformation.

🔗 Learn more: Element Q Healing: https://www.elementqhealingcenter.com

TJ Woodward: https://www.tjwoodward.com

Rev. Cindy Edelson: https://spirituallyfree.org/leadership

In Season 2, Episode 24 of the Element Q Podcast, host TJ Woodward welcomes Brian Nachreiner, a queer man in long-term addiction recovery. They discuss Brian's journey and the podcast's mission to highlight individuals making a difference in the lgbtqia community. This conversation explores gay self-acceptance and strategies for healing shame, fostering shame resilience, and supporting a thriving recovery. and the internalized shame many LGBTQ+ people carry—especially those raised in religious environments. Growing up in a Catholic household, he shares how early messages of “being wrong” became embedded as core beliefs, shaping his self-perception long into adulthood. Together, they unpack how internalized homophobia often becomes indistinguishable from shame and why true healing requires more than intellectual understanding. The discussion moves beyond cultural commentary into the heart of recovery and self-discovery, touching on 12-step foundations, therapy, meditation, inner child work, sobriety, emotional rock bottoms, and the myth that we are fundamentally broken.

👉 Like and subscribe to support conversations on conscious healing, authentic living, and personal transformation.

🔗 Learn more: Element Q Healing: https://www.elementqhealingcenter.com

TJ Woodward: https://www.tjwoodward.com