Brooke Ventre - Pursuing Creativity and Community

Today’s guest is Maartje Hensen (they/she) — an Amsterdam-based queer traveler, photographer, and author of The Pride Atlas. Soon-to-be coach and full-time storyteller, Maartje is known for their vibrant, fairytale-like imagery that captures the magic of queer joy and exploration. They’re embracing a new era, retiring the “girl boss” and leaning into “girl moss” — because, at the end of the day, we’re BEings, not doings.In this episode, Maartje opens up about:✅ Nonbinary identity and queerness beyond the binary✅ Queer fluidity and resisting societal constructs✅ Exploring kink culture and destigmatizing BDSM✅ Self-expression, joy, and living authentically as a queer creator🎧 Listen on Spotify, Apple & all major platforms ✨ New episodes launch every Thursday across all audio players and YouTubeFollow Maartje Hensen:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/maartjehensen/Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@maartje.hensen Follow She Comes With Baggage Podcast:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shecomeswithbaggage__Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@shecomeswithbaggage__Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@KirstiePike

Today’s guest is Madison Werner — a self-proclaimed “trans glam girl,” beauty content creator, and human rights activist. She made history as the first transgender face of a Covergirl campaign, and as a born-and-raised Jewish valley girl, she brings both sparkle and substance to everything she does.In this episode, Madison opens up about:✅ Living out loud in a world that hasn’t always made space for trans joy✅ Becoming the first transgender face of a Covergirl campaign✅ Navigating visibility, activism, and beauty✅ Finding empowerment through self-expression and communityFollow Madison WernerInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/madisonwerner/Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@madisonwern Follow She Comes With Baggage Podcast: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shecomeswithbaggage__Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@shecomeswithbaggage__Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@KirstiePike

Today’s guest is Brooke Ventre — a multifaceted creator with a deep passion for animals and the ocean. Beyond her creative pursuits, Brooke has acting credits in productions like “Girl Lost” (2016) and “Drib” (2017). On TikTok, she’s built a following of over 128,000 and 1.5 million likes, sharing content that reflects her authentic, fun-loving personality.In this episode, Brooke opens up about:Growing up and coming outLiving vegan and aligning lifestyle with valuesThe harmful effects of animal tourismBuilding community through creativity and authenticityFollow Brooke VentreInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/veganbeautyguru/Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@brookeventreFollow She Comes With Baggage Podcast: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shecomeswithbaggage__Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@shecomeswithbaggage__Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@KirstiePike

Today’s guest is Scott Frenzel - a rising pop artist who first gained traction on TikTok and YouTube Shorts with his debut single “Sugar High”, which went viral as the number one song on YouTube Shorts with over a million fan-created videos. Since then, Scott has continued to captivate audiences with tracks like “Key Lime Pie” and “Streetlights”, blending catchy hooks, witty lyrics, and heartfelt storytelling. With a background in comedy and a passion for connection, he’s carving out a lane in pop that’s unapologetically inclusive, bold, and real.In this episode, Scott opens up about:✅  Pushing back against gender norms and being told he’s “too much”✅  His creative process and the stories behind his inclusive songs✅  Navigating mental health, anxiety, and depression while building a career✅  His journey from comedy content to becoming a pop star on the rise✅  Finding confidence in his voice, both on and off stageFollow Scott FrenzelInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/scott.frenzel/Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@scott.frenzelYoutube: https://www.youtube.com/@scottfrenzelFollow She Comes With Baggage Podcast: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shecomeswithbaggage__Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@shecomeswithbaggage__Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@KirstiePike

Today’s guest is Blair Imani - a historian, educator, and the brilliant mind behind the viral web series Smarter In Seconds. She’s also an LA Times bestselling author of Read This to Get Smarter, and if you’ve ever seen her content, you know she has a one-of-a-kind way of breaking down big, complex ideas with clarity, color, and compassion. The New York Times called her delivery “perky” and “quirky,” but her scholarship runs deep, covering everything from race and gender studies to intersectionality and U.S. history.In this episode, Blair opens up about:Embracing her bisexual identity and the beauty of self-discoveryNavigating faith as a proud Muslim womanHow intersectionality shapes the way we live, learn, and connectReshaping education and activism through storytellingLiving with purpose and impact while staying true to who you areFollow Blair Imani:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/blairimani/Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@blairimani Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@blairimani Follow She Comes With Baggage Podcast: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shecomeswithbaggage__Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@shecomeswithbaggage__Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@KirstiePike

Today’s guest is Mariah Counts, a genre-blending artist whose dynamic sexuality and musical versatility mirror her personal journey. From her early days as an athlete to her fearless rise in the music industry, Mariah has always led with grit and creativity. Music started as a coping tool through family struggles, grief, and coming out, but has grown into a powerful outlet for connection, performance, and purpose.In this episode, Mariah opens up about:Navigating loss, resilience, and the challenges that shaped herHow sports built her relentless work ethic and driveComing out and embracing her sexuality with confidenceThe highs and lows of the music industryStepping fully into her power as an artist and performerFollow Mariah:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mcshmammer/Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mariahcounts Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@MariahCounts Follow She Comes With Baggage Podcast: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shecomeswithbaggage__Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@shecomeswithbaggage__Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@KirstiePike

Today, we’re sitting down with the insanely talented ally Ashamad Heard, a DIY fashion creator, musician, and streamer who’s making waves in the creative world. You might have seen him on Buy It Now or Beast Games on Amazon Prime, but today, he’s here to share his journey - the hustle, the creativity, and any baggage he’s carried along the way.Follow Ashamad:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/notxashamad/Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@notxashamadYoutube: https://www.youtube.com/@NotxashamadFollow She Comes With Baggage Podcast: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shecomeswithbaggage__Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@shecomeswithbaggage__Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@KirstiePike

Today’s guest is Lexie Peters - a creator and community-builder navigating identity, love, and what it means to show up authentically. From growing up more of a tomboy to finding balance in her masculinity today, Lexie’s story is about embracing all sides of yourself while building meaningful connections.In this episode, we’re diving into her journey of identity, adjusting to life in a healthy relationship and cohabitating with a partner, and how she approaches building community with mindfulness for diverse people and backgrounds.Follow Lexie Peters:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lexiepeterss/Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@lexiepeterssYoutube: https://www.youtube.com/@LEXIEPETERSSS Follow She Comes With Baggage Podcast: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shecomeswithbaggage__Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@shecomeswithbaggage__Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@KirstiePike

This season is full of LGBTQ+ voices and perspectives, but today I wanted to include a conversation with one of my close friends and longtime allies. Michael may not be queer himself, but his story of creativity, identity, and showing up authentically still deeply resonates.This week on She Comes With Baggage, I’m joined by the brilliant and stylish Michael Amanor—aka Mikestyle—a civil engineer by profession and a travel, fashion, and lifestyle creator by passion. Today’s episode is a reminder that allyship, creativity, and identity come in many forms. Michael’s journey of self-expression, representation, and showing up authentically as a Black creator deeply aligns with the heart of these conversations.With over five years of content creation under his belt, Michael has built an impressive portfolio working with global brands and tourism boards—all while holding down a full-time job and launching Mikestyle Studios, a creative agency for digital storytelling.Follow Mikestyle:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/iammikestyle/ Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@iammikestyle Follow She Comes With Baggage Podcast: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shecomeswithbaggage__Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@shecomeswithbaggage__Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@KirstiePike

Today, I’m sitting down with my friend Noa Taieb - a lifestyle creator, entrepreneur, and storyteller. Originally from Paris and now based in LA, Noa has built a platform sharing his journey through content, creativity, and self-discovery. He recently launched Sunny Days, a men’s swimwear and lifestyle brand created by and for the LGBTQ+ community, with a portion of all sales supporting It Gets Better to uplift and empower LGBTQ+ youth around the world.In this episode, we’re diving into the power of storytelling, building a brand with purpose, and how embracing authenticity has shaped his career. So, get comfy, stay open, and let’s get into it!Follow Noa Taeib:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/noataieb/Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@noataieb Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@noataiebFollow She Comes With Baggage Podcast: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shecomeswithbaggage__Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@shecomeswithbaggage__Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@KirstiePike