Larry Duplechan is the acclaimed and iconic author of 5 queer novels. They include Blackbird (considered by many the first modern Black “coming-out” novel) and the Lambda Literary Award-winning Got ’til it’s Gone. Blackbird was adapted for film in 2014, starring Mo”Nique and Isiah Washington.

In 2023, Britain’s Team Angelica published Larry’s delicious and sweeping memoir, Movies That Made Me Gay. It does double-duty as an encyclopedic and highly personal act of movie criticism, and it asks the provocative question: Can movies actually make us gay? Larry is the perfect guest to help me contemplate Pride Month in 2024.

Malissa Smith is the author of A History of Womens’ Boxing, published in 2014. It is the first comprehensive history of the sport; Ring Magazine dubbed it “the Bible of Women’s Boxing.”

Malissa is a co-host of the popular WAAR Room podcast, a founding board member of the international Women’s Boxing Hall of Fame, and contributed a powerful essay, “How Boxing Uncaged Me,” to a book we put out last year via Balboa Press, The Difference. Malissa’s follow-up to A History of Women’s Boxing, titled The Promise of Women’s Boxing: A Momentous New Era for the Sweet Science, is out the first week of June and will be celebrated by an official book launch on June 15 at the iconic Gleason’s Gym in Brooklyn.

Paula Ayotte is a professional dancer, poler, actress, and model. After a career as a dancer in LA in her 20s, Paula left for Hawaii, studied microbiology, combined it with her passion for scuba diving and forged a new career in maritime research, often living on boats for months on end.

When Paula explored pole dancing as a hobby in her 50s, it turned out to be her ticket back to show business. In her late 50s Paula moved back to LA, performed in pole dancing competitions, found instant representation by commercial agents and, more importantly, immediately booked work as an actress, model, and dancer. Now in her early 60s, Paula is an avid pro-aging advocate.

www.instagram.com/paulaayotte

Anita Barbero is a Wellness Coach, Speaker and Corporate Wellness Consultant who integrates over 25 years of experience as a health fitness practitioner, yoga & meditation teacher, and workshop & retreat leader in her practice.

At ESPN, where high performance is key both in front and behind the camera, Anita served as an in-house Wellness Lead. She taught fitness, yoga, and meditation classes to employees at ESPN. In partnership with a ESPN Wellness team, Anita designed numerous innovative in-house wellness offerings including a pilot program for the Monday Night Football remote crew which offered onsite yoga, meditation, and personal wellness coaching.

www.anitabarbero.com

Grace E. Niwa is a former piano prodigy who received a Master's Degree in Piano Performance from Juilliard, made her Carnegie Hall debut - and then decided to not pursue a professional career in music. Grace's subsequent professional life of multiple pivots includes being the Principal of her own PR firm and serving as Principal in a Global Executive Search firm.

These days, Grace is the VP of Global Talent Acquisition, Talent Management and Early Career at the red-hot Vertex Pharmaceuticals, a global pharma powerhouse. Grace arrived at Vertex after serving as VP of Talent Acquisition and Executive at the equally celebrated Flagship Pioneering. Grace is a disruptor and visionary in the highly competitive world of Global Talent Acquisition, with a drive and discipline that are animated by her early training as a concert pianist.

Rich Habets is a former management consultant from Maastricht/Netherlands who has roamed the world. He is a trusted advisor to CEOs, C-Suite leaders, and entrepreneurs who long to play a bigger game. Rich is opinionated, outspoken, and fearlessly questions the status quo - for others, and for himself. He has already lived several acts in his life, disrupted himself, and boldly pursued new visions for himself.

Geoffrey Roche is an executive in the healthcare industry who currently serves as the first Director of Workforce Development for Siemens in North America. Geoffrey is the son of a German-born nurse and a dedicated father to three sons. He is a powerful strategist in Healthcare who believes in creating change by fostering meaningful relationships. Geoffrey has already had an indelible impact on the healthcare field with his heart-centered approach - and he has several great acts ahead in his future.

www.linkedin.com/in/geoffreymroche

Jay Samit is widely recognized as one of the world’s leading experts on disruption and innovation. Jay raises hundreds of millions of dollars for startups, sells companies to Fortune 500 firms and transforms entire industries. He is a former NASDAQ company CEO and Independent Vice Chairman of Deloitte. Jay helped grow pre-IPO companies such as LinkedIn, held senior management roles at EMI, Sony and Universal Studios. Everyone from the Pope to the President calls on Jay to orchestrate positive change in this era of endless innovation.

Jay is also the international bestselling author of Disrupt You, published in ten languages, and Future Proofing You. During the pandemic, Jay began to create celebrated pop-art cartoons that brim with sly social commentary.

www.jaysamit.com