Mariah Counts: Music, Healing & the Journey to Self-Power

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

Today’s guest is Melanie Posner - an LGBTQ+ muralist, portrait artist, and creative force based in Los Angeles whose bold, unapologetic work centers around empowerment, identity, and mental health. Through large-scale murals and intimate portraits, Melanie transforms public spaces into canvases of self-expression and healing.In this episode, we go beyond the canvas to talk about her personal journey—moving to LA, navigating self-discovery, building queer community, and how art became both her purpose and her path to personal growth. So get comfy, stay open, and let’s get into it.Follow Melanie Posner:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/therealmelpoz/Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@therealmelpoz 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 Carolina Gutierrez—an award-winning Colombian actress, advocate, and proud Latina trans woman who is making waves both on screen and off. From her breakout roles to her most recent short Buscando Alma—which just qualified for the Oscars—Carolina’s work is as powerful as her presence. You’ve seen her in NCIS: LA, The L Word: Generation Q, and national commercials, but behind every role is a story of resilience, representation, and using her voice to uplift her community.In this episode, we talk about her journey from Colombia to Hollywood, the evolution of trans visibility in media, and how she continues to lead with both heart and purpose. So get cozy, stay curious, and let’s get into it.Follow Carolina Gutierrez:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thecarolinagutierrez/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 Dexter Mayfield—a dancer, actor, plus-size model, and fierce force of queer joy and self-expression. From his early roots in Dallas to performing with icons like Jennifer Lopez, Taylor Swift, and Katy Perry, Dexter has built a career that celebrates visibility, movement, and radical self-love.Whether he's lighting up the stage with Savage x Fenty or judging on Paramount+’s Come Dance With Me, Dexter is rewriting the rules of representation—on his own terms.In this episode, we talk about it all: breaking into the beauty industry as a plus-size, queer performer, navigating a religious upbringing, challenging outdated beauty standards, and what it takes to build a thriving career while staying true to yourself. So get cozy, stay open, and let’s get into it.Follow Dexter Mayfield:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dexrated/ Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@dexratedYoutube: https://www.youtube.com/@DexterMayfield 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 Lauren Abedini—aka KITTENS. She’s a powerhouse DJ, music producer, podcast host, creative strategist, and an unapologetic voice for intersectional feminism. With Iranian-American roots and a deep connection to her identity, Lauren has spent the last decade carving out space not just in music, but across fashion, beauty, and advocacy. Her influence is bold, intentional, and always evolving.In this episode, we get into all of it—her rise in the industry, what it means to take up space authentically, and how to empowering untraditional healthy relationships. So get cozy, stay open, and let’s get into it.Follow KITTENS, Lauren Abedini:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/iamkittens/Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@iamkittensYoutube: https://www.youtube.com/@iamKITTENSFollow She Comes With Baggage Podcast: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shecomeswithbaggage__Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@shecomeswithbaggage__Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@KirstiePike