On Purpose with Jay Shetty - Layla Taylor EXCLUSIVE: The Truth She's Finally Ready To Share

Episode Date: June 29, 2026

In one of her most honest conversations yet, Layla Taylor reflects on the quiet journey of becoming herself. She opens up about coming out as bisexual, navigating faith, identity, single motherhood, a...nd the weight of growing up feeling like she had to fit into everyone else's expectations. Rather than focusing on the hardships alone, this episode explores what happens when you stop living in survival mode and finally choose authenticity, self-worth, and the freedom to define your own life. In this episode you'll learn: How to Stop Living for Other People's Approval How to Finally Embrace Your Authentic Self How to Leave a Toxic Relationship Without Regret How to Find Yourself After Divorce and Heartbreak How to Be Comfortable Being Alone for the First Time How to Turn Your Hardest Experiences Into Strength The greatest freedom comes from embracing yourself with honesty, letting go of the expectations that no longer serve you, and trusting that growth often begins on the other side of fear. Your story doesn't have to be perfect to be meaningful, it just has to be yours. With Love and Gratitude, Jay Shetty JAY’S DAILY WISDOM DELIVERED STRAIGHT TO YOUR INBOX Join 900,000+ readers discovering how small daily shifts create big life change with my free newsletter. Subscribe https://news.jayshetty.me/subscribe   Check out our Apple subscription to unlock bonus content of On Purpose! https://lnk.to/JayShettyPodcast  What We Discuss: 00:00 Intro 00:48 Coming Out for the First Time 02:45 Stop Living for Other People 03:48 Choosing to Be Yourself 06:33 Understanding Your Sexuality 07:56 Why We Need to Talk About Sex 10:08 Why I Became Mormon 12:50 The Need to Fit In 15:12 How My Kids Changed Me 16:53 Becoming a Mom at 19 18:15 Why I Chose Marriage 19:53 Inside a Toxic Relationship 21:04 Learning to Know Your Worth 23:24 Starting Over as a Single Mom 25:54 My Lowest Point 27:31 Learning to Date Again 29:05 Finding Yourself in Solitude 30:32 The Conversation Women Need to Have 33:08 Why Sex Education Matters 36:26 Letting Go of Perfection 36:59 Accepting Who You Are 38:51 Facing Your Biggest Fear 39:40 Dating Women for the First Time 41:07 The Reality of Parenting 43:00 Raising Mentally Healthy Kids 44:16 Healing Low Self-Worth 46:41 Using Your Platform for Good 47:58 Opening Your Heart Again 49:03 If You're Afraid to Come Out 52:30 Layla on Final Five  Episode Resources: Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/laylaleannetaylor  TikTok | https://www.tiktok.com/@laylaleannetaylorSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Transcript
Discussion (0)
Starting point is 00:00:00 This is an I-Heart podcast, guaranteed human. Layla, you came here today because there's something you haven't shared. It's something that I have known since I was little. It's just something that I honestly didn't really know how to formally address for a long period of my life. We're only on this earth for however long we are here, and I'll be damned if I'm not able to be fully who I am. Hey everyone, welcome back to On Purpose. My guest today is Leila Taylor. Many of you know Leila from her show, The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives, where she shared her journey through motherhood, divorce, dating, and navigating faith in Utah. Today she's opening up about experiences
Starting point is 00:00:50 she hasn't fully shared before and a journey that brought her into a new chapter today. Please welcome Leila to On Purpose. Layla Taylor, welcome to On Purpose. Thank you so much. I'm so excited to be here. I am so grateful that you're here today. People know your work. They know parts of your story. They see you on TV. But you came here today because there's something you haven't shared before.
Starting point is 00:01:17 And I wanted to give you this space and ask you what's on your heart. Yeah. It's just something that I honestly didn't really know how to formally address for a long period of my life. and that it's, I'm gay and I'm bi and date women and men. And it's just, I think growing up, I didn't fit in for a lot of reasons in my childhood. I grew up in a very predominantly white area. And being a little black girl, I already stood out so much to my peers and kind of took that on a lot more than I feel like I realized.
Starting point is 00:01:54 And I always kind of had these thoughts. And I kind of laugh about it now because I would be watching shows like. like pretty little liars. And I would watch like, Shane Mitchell kissing a girl. And it's like, wait, like, why is that like hot? But I didn't know like what those feelings were because I didn't have queer representation around me of like I could look at it and be like, okay, like this is normal. And it wasn't necessarily that I had parents or I was, I was Mormon at one point, but I didn't necessarily have that pressure to not do that. I just didn't have people around me that modeled that. And it's just, it's just something that I, for a long time, didn't know if it was just
Starting point is 00:02:30 a phase or something that, you know, maybe I'm just curious. And I would just kind of underplay it for a long period of my life. And I don't know. I just feel like I'm finally in the era that I, I'm over not being truly myself and I'm over not showing every part of Layla to the world. and yeah, I'm very proud to be by, and I'm very proud now to be out. And I hope that if anyone's in a situation that I am as well, that for a long time there, I didn't know if I could come out and truly be myself. I hope that they can feel safe to do so and proud to do so. First of all, I'm so happy for you.
Starting point is 00:03:13 Thank you. I can't imagine how good it feels to share it out into the world. This is the first time you've talked about it publicly. right? Yeah, I haven't dressed it, yeah. Why was now the right time for Leila to share this? Honestly, I went through a breakup at the beginning of this year. And I feel like for just a long period in my life, I was constantly living my life for other people, whether if that was, you know, being a mom or I was in a marriage at one point, I was married. And I just feel like I was always fulfilling other people around me. And it honestly just caused me to never really focus on myself and
Starting point is 00:03:45 never be able to, like, really just sit alone with who I am as a person and my feelings and kind of just really get to the root of why I felt certain ways. And I just kind of always just pushed it aside. And again, just I was just like, oh, this is just like a phase. Like, you're not actually attracted to girls. Like, you're just, you're drunk at a party and you kiss a girl. Like, it's no big deal. Like, you're not, you're not gay, Lela. Like, just ignore that. And I just feel like I just never was in a place that I feel like I could truly authentically focus on it. And I think, honestly, that breakup was like a blessing in disguise. because I feel like now I've been fully able to just focus on Layla
Starting point is 00:04:18 and yeah, just focus on who I truly am. How does it feel to actually say it out loud and get it off your chest? Good. Honestly, I just feel like it's like, girl, this should have happened forever ago. I don't know why for so long I was so afraid, but I mean, there are people that are probably going to judge me and there's people that aren't going to be supportive of it. And luckily for me, like I'm in a position that I'm surrounded by so much love
Starting point is 00:04:41 and so much support. And I know that I haven't told a lot of people around me that I am. So this is honestly they're going to be finding out for themselves on this podcast. And I know that they're going to be nothing but supportive, though. And I know that's not the case for everybody. And I'm so grateful that I am in the position that I am that I can truly be myself and feel the love and support. And I just wish that was the same for like everyone. Yeah, you're so right.
Starting point is 00:05:04 Who is the first person you told? My best friend, Kate. Okay. Yeah. We were actually on a trip together for Miami Swim Week. And I was getting a text from somebody. And she's like, who's this person like texting you and calling the all the time? And I was like, oh, like, it's no one.
Starting point is 00:05:16 At first she thought it was my ex. And I was like, no, like, no, I don't circle back with ex. It's not an ex. But I was like, and I finally was like, Kay, like, Kate, I have to tell you, like, it's a girl. Like, I'm by. And she's like, oh my gosh, like, I'm so excited for you. Like, that's amazing. So I, she was obviously the best person for me to tell first because she just, she just knows me so well.
Starting point is 00:05:37 And, yeah, she was very supportive. It must be so relieving when the first person you tell actually sees you. Yeah. Yeah, I feel like she's like, okay, awesome. Like, cool. I just feel like she didn't really like care, not in a bad way, but she's like, okay, awesome. Like, I'm glad that, you know, you're happy.
Starting point is 00:05:55 That's all I care about. Yeah. Have you shared this with any of the other cast members of Secret Lives? No. We've been kind of not in a bad place, any of us girls. I know that there's some friendships that are like in different places than they have been in the past. But I think right now we've just been kind of a little separate
Starting point is 00:06:10 since just, you know, going on that pause from filming and everything like that. so I just haven't seen any of them in person. And I feel like me coming out, it's not really like a text of like, hey, and bye. I feel like I kind of want to see them in person to like let them know. So they might see this before and then I'll talk to them in person the next time I see them. But yeah, right now, no one from the group knows. Wow. How do you hope they'll react or do you have no expectation?
Starting point is 00:06:33 I think supportive. I don't think that anyone would not be. I think that I lucked out with like a cast that we all have our things and we're all supportive of each other regardless. That's actually amazing. It's awesome. I'm really, I'm lucky for the group of girls that we have. Yeah, that's incredible. Tell me about the first time you've realized you were into both men and women. I feel like I can't like necessarily pinpoint. Those kind of like those memories I said that I was like watching people of hours and I was like, okay, like, huh. Or just like, you know, again, like I would have like drunk moments. I would like kiss a girl, but then I would get
Starting point is 00:07:05 always just downplay it. But it wasn't until recently actually that the girl that I'm talking to right now DM'd me and then we met up and we hung out and it was just kind of like that first kiss of like it wasn't this wasn't like a drunk moment like this was me intentionally going into a moment knowing how I felt about women and the first time you know actively dating a woman that I was like okay like this is what I want to do also so I think it was like that moment that it wasn't just like a ooh gotcha moment and like this is where I want to be wait did she just send you a DM hoping that you were Yeah. So I actually, I liked one of her TikToks that it was like, I don't even know what it was. I think it was just something, it was a thirst trap or something. And I like liked it. And she ended up just sending me like eye emojis. And I was like, hey. So I don't know. She just went on a whim. She told me she was like I didn't know if you were. Because I feel like on my page, you can't. Obviously, I feel like no one would know that I am into girls, obviously not until now. She just kind of went on a whim. Maybe like a gut feeling. And I'm yeah, I'm really got you did. Wow. That's awesome. Yeah. Wow. Look at you. That's like you. I know.
Starting point is 00:08:09 You haven't even got out there yet. I know. That's amazing. Did you talk about sexuality growing up? Like, was that a conversation in your family and your home? No, not at all. I think, honestly, that's one of the reasons why I probably got pregnant at such young age. I got pregnant when I was 19.
Starting point is 00:08:24 And I feel like it wasn't necessarily something that they avoided because I feel like there was like some moments that they would make small little comments, but they never really sat me down and like ever had like a talk about anything. So I kind of just figured out everything on my own. Wow. When you look back now. At that time, what do you wish Little Leila had? That was different. I think just a little bit more support. I think I spent a lot of my childhood hiding things from my parents because I was just really afraid of their reactions. Just even small, small things. Like I lost my virginity when I was 15. And that was something my parents probably still to the state don't even know. And I was very terrified to tell them like little small details. So even like these, when I started like have these feelings and have, you know, these thoughts, I would have never gone to them. in a million years. And I think that's honestly probably why for such a long time I felt like
Starting point is 00:09:13 I had to stay closeted because I just didn't have the support system around me that I wish, you know, as a child that I did have. And was that around the same time as Mormonism came into your life as well? Yeah. So I converted to the church when I was 16. Wow. What was it about losing your virginity at 15 and converting at 16? I feel like I kind of went through like a, I don't even know, just like a phase that I was kind of rebelling a little bit from like probably like 14 to like right before I converted. And I don't know, it just kind of set me back on track for like a second. But I was still kind of doing, I was still like sleeping my boyfriends in high school and stuff like that. But it almost just kind of gave me a little bit of like a moral compass. I feel like
Starting point is 00:09:52 I didn't necessarily have before. I can relate to some degree because I got deep into spirituality when I was 18 years old. And I obviously went and lived as a monk after. But it became part of my life so young. Yeah. I have such a love for the wisdom I learned and I have such a love for my teachers, but I'm not as much of a fan of the institution. Yeah. And it's just a really interesting experience as I've got older and older and older, I'm older than you. But as I've got older and older and older and older from that stage, it's just I have such
Starting point is 00:10:22 an interesting relationship with that time in my life. And I'm like, what was it that you were seeking, apart from rebellion? What were you seeking at that time that Mormonism met or made you feel? I think for me, one of my biggest things, just having a very messy childhood where I didn't have that family consistency that like a lot of families did have in the Mormon church. I feel like I spent a lot of times at my friend's house is kind of avoiding what was going on at home. And I feel like a common theme I would notice between all of them was how strong their families seemed together. So I think just being 16 and being young and kind of optimistic about the world, I was like,
Starting point is 00:10:58 hey, like I'm missing that one thing that would make me have a happy family one day and that's being Mormon. So I just, it was everyone around me is Mormon. I think 98% of my school was enrolled in seminary, which is like an hour block in your schedule that you can go and like learn more about the church. So everyone around me is Mormon, just like all that I knew. And I just thought that that was, that was the way that you're supposed to live life. Yeah. When you look back on that, what are the lessons that you feel have really improved your life, better to your life, things that have stayed? And then the things that you're like, I need to unlearn that, need to leave that behind. I honestly, I feel like I didn't really take a lot away from my experience being Mormon.
Starting point is 00:11:35 I think I would go to sacrament meetings and I would try my best to like attend, but I just feel like my heart was never fully in it. I was really only just there to fit in and to just have one less thing that people would notice was different than my peers. You know, like already being black and like, you know, having these thoughts in the back of my head of like liking girls, but not wanting to admit it. It was just like one more thing. And I was like, hey, if I check this box off, I'll fit in a little bit more with everyone around me. So I honestly, I don't feel like I really took a lot out of going to church. I truly would just show up to say that I was there. And yeah, like, but it pulled me out of a really dark place. I was dealing with a lot of mental health issues in high school and obviously dealing with
Starting point is 00:12:13 things at home. So it gave me a lot of purpose to kind of keep going and to have motivation that it was going to work out. So I am grateful for the church in a lot of ways just because it did pull me out of that dark place that I honestly don't think I could have pulled myself out of on my own. Obviously, there's a lot of things within the church that, I mean, now being openly gay, like, obviously that's not something that they're supportive of. So there's a lot of things that like I don't love and I wasn't obviously aware of them at the time when I was little when converting. But I'll always be grateful for the positive impact to have me. It's such a natural experience when we're in our teenagers to just want to fit in.
Starting point is 00:12:47 Yes, exactly. Yeah. I just want to belong to find a place where you don't feel different. Yeah. You don't feel othered. You don't feel like there's something hard to understand about you. And you mentioned then, I know you've talked about it on the show as well, being a black woman in predominantly white areas, white experiences. Talk to me about what that experience was like for you. Like what were the questions in your head? Or what were the things that you were struggling with, grappling with internally? I think I just didn't have a lot of black peers around me.
Starting point is 00:13:18 So it's just all I saw was just pretty blonde girls with blonde hair and blue eyes or green eyes. And I just think being young and very impressionable, that's what I honestly for a long time thought that that was the definition of beauty. I truly thought that that was what I knew. needed to like look like to fit in and for guys to like me and all those things. And it was just so sad. I remember one of my like worst experiences in high schools when I actually attempted to bleach my skin, which is so sad that I even did that. But I just thought I had to do all these extremes just to fit in. And I just wish that someone would have just told me that I was pretty and that I was worthy regardless of what color my skin was. And just because I don't look like people around me,
Starting point is 00:13:58 doesn't mean that I'm any less than them. Honestly, no. But being a mom, I feel like having little boys of my own that look up to me, I'll make sure that they have those affirmations about themselves that, like, I wasn't taught. And it's just honestly taught me how to be better mom. Talk to me about the process of even trying to bleach your skin. Like, how did that even come about? I just, on, again, me just being little, I was like 10. I thought that if I drew a bath and I put a bunch of bleach in it, and then I sat in the bath and scrubbed, it would, like, cause my skin to light in. I just think I was just very young. I didn't know how that would work.
Starting point is 00:14:31 but just anything I could possibly do to, like, fit in, I wanted to try to do. I mean, even just like my hair, I went on to this on my show of me kind of just finally, like, owning me being black and experimenting with my hair. But my whole entire life growing up, my mom taught me that my curly hair was just hard to manage for her. So the second that she could, she started straightening my hair and that's all I knew for a long time was just, okay, just straightening your hair. Like, don't, if it starts to get curly, like, straighten it really quick again. Like, you don't want people to know that your hair is like actually naturally curly and has texture. And it's something that I hid for a long time. So I just think any part of myself that would show that I was black,
Starting point is 00:15:06 I was so afraid to, and that breaks my heart to say. But I think it's caused me to do a complete 180 now, even though it did take me 25 years to get to this point, that I'm so incredibly proud to be black and to represent a huge community of the world on the show. I feel like I'm in such a unique position being the only black cast member, and I'm just really, really proud to be able to represent a lot of people.
Starting point is 00:15:28 Talk to me about that journey from, was it a sense of, shame, was it, or was it just a sense of feeling othered and different? Yeah. And then how do you even get from going there to actually developing a sense of, as you just so beautifully said, a sense of pride, a sense of representation, a sense of I actually am standing for something and that's more important than fitting in? Talk to me about that journey that you've been on.
Starting point is 00:15:51 I mean, it was hard. I think, again, I was just shy away from anything that made me feel different. And I honestly think the biggest shift for me was having my own kids because they're a quarter black, but either which way, they're still black. And I don't want them to feel the things that I felt and just seeing them and, you know, seeing how beautiful they are. And, you know, I want them to be proud of themselves and proud of every single part of themselves. And I can't do that if I'm not proud of me. And I think that was where the big shift for me happened. And yeah, I mean, it was a hard thing. I remember the first time I wore a wig. I was like, oh, take it off like I hate this. And I think that was. And I mean, it was a hard thing. I remember the first time I wore a wig. I was like, oh, take it off. I hate this. And. And. And I'm. And I'm. And I'm. And I just, it felt so foreign to me. But I think the more I've been doing it and the more I've just been fully just loving myself, I like love it. And I love, you know, just owning me fully. I love hearing about how your kids have inspired you to want to stand on your own two feet
Starting point is 00:16:44 and really represent who you want to be and what you believe in and for them to experience that. And it's fascinating how when you're caring for a little person, there's almost like all of these lessons. and reflections that almost make sense almost immediately. I feel like it just honestly alters the way you just handle life and you go forward and just, yeah, it changes the way you think about a lot of things. You got pregnant at 19. What was your emotion like when you first find out?
Starting point is 00:17:15 Oh, terrified. I actually have kind of like, it's funny now in the moment. It was not funny. I was obviously not being safe with my boyfriend now or ex-husband now. and I knew what, you know, what potentially happened if we weren't being, you know, safe. But I didn't think it was a possibility that I would actually be pregnant. And I went to an urgent care because I thought I had some type of weird stomach bug. And they're like, is there a possibility that you're pregnant?
Starting point is 00:17:42 And I was like, no, there's like literally no way I'm pregnant. Like, no, no, that wouldn't happen. And they ended up testing me. And that's how I found out was in an urgent care on my own by myself in Provo, Utah. And it was the most terrifying day of my life at that point. didn't have a lot of family support. I was kind of not isolated in Utah, but my boyfriend at the time was like all I really like had. So when I found out, I was like, okay, like I don't know what I'm going to do at that point. Like I didn't know if like I should move forward with pregnancy. I don't know if I
Starting point is 00:18:09 should put the baby up for adoption. I didn't know if I should marry the sky, date this. I didn't know what to do. I think I had so many questions in my head and didn't know how to proceed. But I, they changed my life, both of my kids for the better. And I'm so, so grateful to be their mom. but it's definitely a terrifying experience to get pregnant when you don't really have the support around you at such like a young age. How did you decide that marriage was the option and not to actually open yourself up to other experiences or explore? In my head, I felt like I almost messed up some steps by getting pregnant before we were
Starting point is 00:18:45 married that I was like, hey, at least like let me give my family like a chance of us being together. I think coming from a broken household and experiencing divorce and kind of the very toxic dynamic my parents had growing up with each other. I wanted the opposite of that for my kids. And I think just being so terrified of being a single mom, I was like, hey, like, I have to marry him. And now I'm a single mom. So obviously, that didn't, you know, pan out exactly how I was envisioning it to. But I'm still happy that we gave it a shot. I think that obviously, you know, divorce isn't easy and it's not fun. But if we wouldn't have gotten married, I wouldn't have had my second baby. So I think everything happens for reason.
Starting point is 00:19:32 Radio experience. Weekend gold tickets to Ilsoniq. One, two, three. In Montreal, with Dom Dala, Chris Lakin friends, Woolly, Deadmouse, above and beyond, subfocus, and more. With flights from Porter Airlines, three nights at Residence in downtown Montreal, and $1,000 cash. Enter for your chance to win at iHeartRadio.ca.
Starting point is 00:19:56 Ilsonique in Montreal, every day you enter is another chance to win. It feels like you've lived so much life. in like such a short amount of time, whether it's conversion, whether it's becoming a mom, whether it's moving from dating to marriage. There's so many. I mean, when you look back on it now, do you kind of go, God, how did I even do all of that? Oh, yeah. Sometimes I'm like, I don't know how I'm still standing, but I think it made me who I am. I wouldn't take back anything that I've experienced in my life. I feel like truly I've been put through those challenges to be able to help other people. I say this all the time, but I feel like having a platform, you're put in a position that
Starting point is 00:20:48 you can use your platform for good or bad. And truly, if I'm able to just help one person by sharing my story, I feel like that's why I do what I do. And yeah, everything has led me to where I am today, and I want to change the thing. Yeah. You've said that at one point your marriage became manipulative. Yeah. Was that something that was always there and you kind of ignored it and didn't notice it? Or was it something that kind of came later on? No. Unfortunately, we had a very top. toxic relationship from the start. I just think that we never really knew each other on a deeper level. I think it was very surface level for a long time. And then when we got pregnant, it was just kind of we felt like we had to get married, like I said. And I just think we never had the proper foundation of a relationship to be able to, you know, withstand being married and, you know, taking on challenges that you obviously occur when you're married. So I think it was always there. But I'm so scared of being a single mom that I was like, okay, this is this is what I have to do. Like make your husband happy. you know, take care of the home, have the babies, take care of the babies, and that's kind of all that I was doing for that time that I was married.
Starting point is 00:21:52 So I just think I ignored everything. You were saying a few moments ago that you didn't want to be a single mom, that's why, and you were like, I deserve to give this a shot, which is why you got married. I can't then fathom how hard it was when you're like, well, this isn't working, it's toxic, it's manipulative, but the only other option is being single. What was the final story?
Starting point is 00:22:14 that made you go, no, it's okay to accept this fear. The reason I'm asking is there's a beautiful piece of Zen wisdom that says that we've rather accept the pain we know than the pain we don't. And so the pain you have right now, when it's toxic and manipulative, it's like, well, that's better than leaving and being alone. And a lot of people stay in jobs, relationships with parents, family for so much longer. Do you think you stayed too long? And what made you shift finally? What was it that really made you go, I'm willing to accept the uncertainty. I honestly, I don't think I stayed for too long. I feel like I truly wanted to step away from the marriage knowing that I gave it my all
Starting point is 00:22:54 and attempted as much as I could to, you know, put in place more healthy coping mechanisms when they're going through fights and like all these things. I feel like I just wanted to make sure that like I really gave it my all. And I think my final straw was just the word divorce would be held over my head a lot. And I think he just knew that that was my biggest fear coming from a break. broken household and seeing that happened in front of me as a little girl, I think that that was just terrifying for me that concept. And it was kind of a way to get me to fall into line of like where I think he wanted me to behave. And I think he just said it for the final time that
Starting point is 00:23:28 was like, I can't keep begging you to stay with me. I know my worth and I know that like I am a good partner. And if you can't see that, then like it's okay. And I'll always have a place for him in my heart. I think that he is a phenomenal dad. Truly one of the best dads I've ever like seeing and witnessing him love my boys is amazing. But I think in terms of just us working out as a partner, it just wasn't for us. But yeah. What was his reaction when you told him that? Like the race, he was actually the one that brought it up. And normally I would kind of fight back. And I was like, no, don't do this. Like, let's talk this out. Like, let's go to therapy. Let's do this. Let's do that. But he just said it for the final time that I was like, okay,
Starting point is 00:24:05 yeah, like, you're right. Probably go pack your stuff and we'll start to figure out like the next step. So I think his reaction wasn't what he expected me to do. I think he normally, he was just used to me just begging and groveling and wanting this to work and all the things. So I think when I finally was like, you're right, like, let's make this happen. I think it probably caught him off guard. But, I mean, I think he had to have known deep down, like enough would have been enough at some point.
Starting point is 00:24:31 Gosh. When you finally left and were a single mom, how did it feel compared to how you thought it would feel to be free? I think there was so much good around it. Like I wasn't in a toxic relationship. And, you know, like me and my babies got like this fun little night routine that we would do every night. But there was also so much hard things that came at the beginning of my single motherhood journey. Tell me about this.
Starting point is 00:24:55 Yeah, I didn't, for a little bit there, I didn't have an income. This was before the show came to be and before I started making money on brand deals. And there was time periods that I was barring money from family. And I would be grocery shopping and I would buy $30 or $30 or $3. the groceries for the whole week and my kids would get food, but I would eat like their scraps after they ate because I couldn't afford to buy that. And I was getting eviction notices plopped on my door. And this was right around the time that we started filming for the show. So while all this was happening behind the scenes and I was terrified to let anyone know because I was so embarrassed that I was
Starting point is 00:25:27 like mad at myself. I was like, you should have just stayed married. At least married, at least married, you had food on the table. At least married, your lights weren't getting shut off. At least married, you could pay your rent. So it was almost like a shame thing that I was, why did you do this? You should have just stayed with him because now, look at you now. And I was trying to almost keep up a facade because I was just embarrassed to tell the girls. I don't honestly even think that some of them know this to the day of how badly I was struggling at the beginning. And then I was showing up to filming every day, trying to slap a smile on my face, not letting anyone know what was happening behind the scenes. So I think, yeah, my start of single motherhood was not good. And I'm
Starting point is 00:26:03 very, very grateful to be in the position that I am now. I can't even put into words how grateful I am for the show and for the people around me, like my team, that, you know, they believed in me from the start and had been by my side throughout all of this. It, yeah, it was definitely a rocky start, but grateful for it, though. It taught me a lot. God, I had no idea. Yeah. I mean, you're saying it with a smile on your face right now, but. Yeah. I think it just taught me a lot, and it caught me to be very, very grateful for what I have. I will never, ever take for granted the position that I'm in. I think it will never feel real. Even just doing small things that
Starting point is 00:26:41 coming today to do this podcast and being able to buy a flight for myself, that's something that, you know, when I was at start a single motherhood, I would have never been able to do. And yeah, I just, I am just so, so grateful. And I feel like that's why I'm able to look at it, you know, positively now is that I've seen how hard it can be.
Starting point is 00:26:59 And I'm just really grateful that I got to the other side. Talk to me about a night during that time, which was the worst night. Like, the men. memory that when you think about it, you're at rock bottom? I don't even know. There's just so many nights that I would just sit there just thinking and questioning how I was going to keep going for the boys. And there's times of that, like, I was debating, just texting my ex and me like, hey, like, I needed to like take the kids and I might need to go move in with my sister. Like, I just,
Starting point is 00:27:25 at that point, I didn't know how to continue on the road that I was on. And it was scary because all I wanted to do was just be a mom for them and to show up for them because that's what they deserve. They're innocent little babies. They deserve to not have to worry about where their next meal was coming from. And it was hard and was scary because I just also just didn't want to tell anyone around me because it was just a lot of embarrassment. And I shouldn't have been embarrassed. I wish I would have asked for help from more people. But I think I'm such a not prideful person, but it's just so hard for me to ask for help. I think growing up, I never asked for help from like my parents for small things when I was dealing with my mental health issues. I really had no idea when I was dealing with
Starting point is 00:28:01 my eating sort of issues. I had no idea. So I think I've just been like ingrained since a little girl to just kind of like shut your mouth and suck it up and it'll maybe work out. And yeah, I think just, yeah, there's just a lot of nights of just I didn't know how I was going to move forward. Yeah. Thank you for sharing that. I mean, I feel like we don't realize how easy it is to end up in a position like that and how difficult it is. And that's why so many of us will stay longer in relationships or wherever we are because the alternative is a path that you're like, why did I do this to myself? Why am I putting myself through this pain? When did you start to be open to the idea of dating again and meeting someone new? And how are you starting to navigate that?
Starting point is 00:28:46 Honestly, I dated pretty quickly after me and my ex separated. I think for a long period of my life, I used to seek validation and other people really bad. And I think it was almost like because I had those, you know, those abandonment wounds that I, you know, suffered from from when I was a little girl, I just always put myself worth into how other people viewed me and how other people perceived me. And I think I would put that a lot to my partners. So I just feel like I never really knew how to be alone. And that honestly, it would like scare me.
Starting point is 00:29:17 Like I don't have someone that I can like rely on all the time, not even just like, you. you know, physically or like, you know, financially, it's more just like emotional. Like I didn't want to be alone with my thoughts. I didn't want to be alone in general. And I think I would just always jump into relationships. And I feel like I would see comments on life. People are like, oh, just she's in another relationship every other season. Like I actually like, you guys are right for that. Honestly, there's a long period of my life that I just felt like I couldn't be alone with myself. And that's, you know, that led me to not be able to be authentic to me because I didn't know who I was for such a long time. Do you think you feel more comfortable being alone now?
Starting point is 00:29:54 Oh, yeah. I feel like I honestly value my alone time. I feel like that's how I've been able to come, you know, to the conclusion and, you know, finally accept that I am by. And I wouldn't have been able to do that if I was with somebody. So I really do value my alone time. I feel like it's given me a lot of perspective and just, yeah, being able to find out who I am. What was it about being alone that gave you that confidence to look within and actually be comfortable with saying that out loud?
Starting point is 00:30:20 Yeah, I think, again, just not living for other people and just being able to fully focus on me. And I don't know, I just feel like, yeah, just not having to do things for other people's approval. I feel like really helped me. Yeah, it's only when you switch off all the noise from outside that you can actually hear your inner voice. And then when it gets louder, you realize, oh, that's what I should have been listening to all along. Not listen to all of these other opinions and ideas and expectations. and everything else everyone wants me to do. But you're so right, you have to find that alone time.
Starting point is 00:30:56 And I often ask people how many months in their life they've actually spent alone. And when I say alone, I don't mean dating, pursuing with some, I mean, where you weren't thinking about that. And it's quite shocking to me that if you speak to an adult, they'll be like weeks. Like people are constantly looking for relationships or in one. And you don't actually get this space to do that. what you just said. 100%.
Starting point is 00:31:22 Yeah, it's hard to be alone. And it's hard to be, like, alone with your thoughts and to be able to just feel emotions, especially like post-breakups. There's people that, you know, rebound and do those things to kind of like, you know, mute those thoughts that you have and all those things.
Starting point is 00:31:36 And yeah, I just think that's fairly, it's really good to be alone sometimes. One of the storylines on the show is this idea that you're not satisfied by your male sexual partners. Yeah. Was that difficult to say out loud? Like, were you scared to? I honestly, when I said it in the moment, I was just, I forget that the cameras are there half of the time.
Starting point is 00:31:57 And I'll just be like, oh, I'm just like with my girls. And I just shared something. I didn't think it would have the impact that it did until the season came out. And I had so many DMs of women being like, I haven't. And thank you for sharing this and making me feel less, you know, alone in that situation. And yeah, I just didn't think it was going to be such a big thing for me to share. And probably a good thing that I didn't realize that in the moment because then I probably been like, oh, oh my God. No, wait, cut that.
Starting point is 00:32:21 But I'm glad that I did because I feel like it opened up a really big conversation for people that have dealt with that. Talk to me about that wider conversation because I think it's almost like, all those men are going to feel terrible about themselves, obviously. Yeah, I mean, it wasn't, I did get some comments like that of people being like, oh, like, I feel so bad for her exes. And like, that wasn't my intentions to, like, throw them under the bus. Yeah, and be like, yeah, you like never made me. It was more of just like kind of breaking that taboo that I think, especially, I don't know if everyone. feels this way, but I think for me, dating men for so long, I would view sex as I needed to make sure the man always was pleasureed every single time. And like, I don't really matter as long as
Starting point is 00:33:01 like they're good and taken care of, then like, it's good. And like, that's all in my head. I thought sex was for such a long time. And it opened up that conversation. I feel like a lot of people felt the same way. And yeah. It's such a fascinating conversation because of how patriarchal society is wired us, how porn is wired us. a lot of that is so wired that way and geared that way that sadly it naturally ends up resulting in how we feel sexes in real life and I think men are kind of trained in that way and conditioned to think that and then like you said women end up getting trained that way yeah and then you end up in this position where until someone calls it out yeah and I didn't realize that
Starting point is 00:33:43 it was like a thing I just I was like I didn't even know what it felt like because I have never experienced that and knowing that like people are like oh no like my boyfriend makes sure is that every single time I do I'm like what are you talking about like I just never experienced that because I just didn't think that that's how it worked and I think it also relates back to what I said earlier like I didn't have like the birds and the bee conversation with my parents like I didn't know how any of that worked and I think that probably led to that as well of me just having like this preconceived idea of what sex was in my head for such a long time it's almost like when you were pregnant from having sex was the first time you actually...
Starting point is 00:34:21 Honestly, yeah, because I knew what it was. Like, I know, like, how sex should, like, end, but, like, I just didn't know, like, the details, I guess. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Sex education in America obviously isn't doing any... Not great. Yeah, it's cool. Like, it's...
Starting point is 00:34:36 I think about that all the time. I'm just like, how is it that it's taught so poorly in schools? And no one really has a clue. Yeah. I didn't get any sex. because I had classes growing up. Oh, you didn't? Not at all.
Starting point is 00:34:49 Not one, yeah. So I think it just... Is that because of where... No. I think maybe where I grew up, I was again, like very predominantly Mormon. And I just think that, again, people, a lot of people think that if you don't address it,
Starting point is 00:35:01 then like people won't be curious about it. But I think if anything, at least from me, in my perspective, being, you know, very young. And having sex for the first time, I think it made me more curious, if anything. So I think me going, now being a parent, like, I want to address these things with my kids and address it and be like,
Starting point is 00:35:16 we're all going to have those urges. and like this is what you do if you're in this situation and like teach them how to have safe sex and all the things. So again, I think all my experiences in life have just really led me to rewire my brain on how I want to be a parent and hopefully, you know, other people, same thing because I think, yeah, my faults,
Starting point is 00:35:35 not that they're faults, but I think those experiences have led me to want to kind of do things differently. What's the Mormon approach to sex? Don't have it until you're married. Okay. Yeah, yeah. But then still, kind of the point of, of sex a little bit when you're Mormon is just to procreate.
Starting point is 00:35:49 Right. Not really for the enjoyment. Right. I don't know. Maybe some people would like argue differently with that. But I know like a lot of members of the church that don't even have like toys or like they, things like that. Like they, it's literally just to make babies for some people, which is unfortunate because I
Starting point is 00:36:04 think it's, you know, a great thing. And do people actually follow through with that? With. Like are there, are people in the church actually stay strict to that? I think so. Yeah. Like there are a lot of people I know, you know, the first time they have sex is when they, get married and they get pregnant really fast and all the things, which I also think is, you know,
Starting point is 00:36:22 that's what we're taught is to just make babies. So I saw in a lot of religious institutions, the opposite where it was, there was the rule of no sex before marriage. And then there was the same as what you're saying only for procreation. But the majority of people were still having sex, they just wouldn't tell anyone. Yeah. So then there was like this shame and guilt attached to it. And everyone's pretending. Yeah. But saying that they're not because that's what. the standard is. And it's fascinating to me how you kind of get stuck in these anti-authenticity loops where you think you're being authentic because you're trying to live up to this ideal. But then no one's actually living up to it and we're all pretending we are. So I've always found it so interesting
Starting point is 00:37:04 how humans, because this isn't about, it actually isn't about religion or God, it's how humans can gather to kind of set a standard and people either pretend to live up to the standard or they don't know what to do with it. Yeah. And they fake it kind of keeping up of the Joneses, I feel like it's like a phrase that we have in Utah that everyone, you know, we all have our secrets and like our things that we don't share. And it's just kind of to keep it that facade that you, you know, are this perfect member. Yeah. When did you let go of that wanting to be the perfect member? I haven't been active probably for four or five years now. But when I was married, me and my ex would go sometimes like here and there, but we weren't really actually. members either. It was, again, kind of the same thing to kind of keep the facade up and, you know, keep with what we thought we had to do. But when we separated, I was like, okay, like, I finally am, like,
Starting point is 00:37:58 I'm able to not have to keep up the facade that I know that I truly don't believe in, which was, yeah, that was nice. How did you decide that you were finally ready to start doing women? I don't know. Like, there was, like, an exact moment that I remember, like, it just, like, dawned on me. I think just it felt right. But did you feel like there was, you said earlier, like there was this sense of, like you should have done this the whole time. Like, is there a sense of like lost time or that I held myself back? I think everything played out how like it was supposed to.
Starting point is 00:38:34 I think obviously I wish I would have, you know, came out a lot sooner. But I also think I was going through so much that it would have been still swept on a rug like I did for so long. I just think a lot of things just were not more important in that moment, but just took precedence a little bit, like becoming a single mom and like things that I dealt with in childhood and all those things. I just think it just never felt like the right time to like just dive into it. And I think honestly just like the concept of coming out in general is just kind of something that I've never really understood. And obviously like I can hold space for people that like are taught either in their homes or in their religions that, you know, love is between a man and a woman.
Starting point is 00:39:19 But I think the concept that we're all just born straight is something that, like, I've never been able to fully, like, conceptualize and coming out and just having to say, like, I like, girls and boys. It's just, I never could see myself, like, sitting down at a podcast and saying this. But I also understand, like, the position that I'm in that there's so many people that look up to me and maybe, you know, resonate with my story. And if I can help someone feel just more comfortable to be able to be true to themselves than I want to do that. But yeah, I feel like I just never could picture myself like coming out in this way. I just thought that maybe I would just show up with the girl in day and people would be like, oh, and I'd be like, yeah, what about it?
Starting point is 00:39:52 But yeah, so I just think I just never had like an idea in my head of like when it was going to happen. I just think, I just always thought it was going to happen at some point. What was your like biggest fear in your mind with what it would feel like to come out? Like what was the thing that you were like, I keep getting close. Yeah. I'm about to say it. I'm about to act on it. But this keeps blocking me. I think it was just so foreign for me because I, you know, dated for men for so long my whole entire life and that's all I knew. Like I obviously had like, you know, experiences with women, but like I never in depth, you know, got to know a woman on like an intimate level and all those things. So I think for me for so long, it was just very foreign and scary. But I think, you know, you can't get over that
Starting point is 00:40:37 without getting through it. And I think I just was like, hey, like, you know that you are. stop being scared of like the what-ifs and like the unknown and just you could just got to dive in so what surprised you about dating women compared to men oh my gosh everything not like surprise me but like already just like more like emotionally aware about certain things and very patient i feel like at least who i'm talking to right now she's just been very understanding and kind of letting me take this at my own pace because it is just still foreign to me and it is so so new. And yeah, I just think the level of like understanding and just like being there for me. Yeah. How do you feel about certain people who may disagree, may not be happy about it, may have different views? Like I'm sure you've thought
Starting point is 00:41:27 about that and had to think about it. Oh for sure. Being so public. Yeah. I think I have tried to like play by the books, you know, in certain ways. I feel like looking back on like my experience, even on the show, season one and season two, I tried so hard to do everything right, and I still had people that hated me. And now, you know, being more vocal and being more outspoken, I still have people that hate me. And I just think we're only on this earth for, you know, however long we are here. And I'll be damned if, like, I'm not able to be fully who I am. And if you don't like that, then that's okay. And I can understand if, like, you were raised a certain way and you have certain values and standards, maybe.
Starting point is 00:42:03 But I think for me, I just, yeah, I just, it shouldn't bug you. if people choose to love whoever they want to love. I think it's just, it's nobody's business at the end of the day. Yeah. Is there any of it
Starting point is 00:42:16 that does affect you or get through to you? I know for me, there's always something that kind of just like creeps through and you're like, oh man, like I just,
Starting point is 00:42:26 I wish, like I always say, I wish I could sit everyone down and tell them what my intention was and how I feel and who I am. And if they got to spend like an hour with me,
Starting point is 00:42:37 then maybe they'd feel different. But is there anything that ever just like gets to you sometimes and you're like, oh, this keeps me up at night? I think the only insult that people can ever say to me that like actually like is like, oh, that hurt a little bit is anything to do with parenting. I think that's like the one thing that I'm like, I'm so protective over my baby. So that's something that like I didn't get growing up. And I think that's the one thing that will always just kind of hit home as if someone says something about like my parenting. I think everything else like looks say what you want to say. Now if I'm being gay and that offends you, say what you want to say. But I'm,
Starting point is 00:43:08 like my babies don't say anything about them ever. Yeah, I feel, and I feel like the internet is good at talking about everyone's babies and mothering, motherhood and motherhood. I feel like, I get, it's so, I can't imagine how hard that is as a mom or a dad or a parent. Like, I can't imagine how difficult that is because everyone's kind of telling you like, this is the right way and that's wrong. And yeah, I mean, that seems exhausting. I think parenting is just, it's such a one-off experience for every single person. Like, Every child is different. Every parent's different. And there's no textbook for how to parent properly. There's no textbooks of how to handle situations of, you know, how to just be a parent. It's hard. It's challenging every single day. It teaches me new things about myself that I didn't even know before. And yeah, I think that's the one thing that I'm like just parents, we're doing our best. And ultimately, just as long as your kids' health and, you know, mental health is being protected in the day and they're happy and healthy, that's all that matters. An IHard Radio Experience, weekend gold tickets to Ilsoniq.
Starting point is 00:44:20 One, two, three, Montreal with Dom Dalla, Chris Lakin Friends, Woolly, Deadmouse, Above and Beyond, sub-focus, and more, with flights from Porter Airlines, three nights at residence in downtown Montreal, and $1,000 cash. Enter for your chance to win at iHeartRadio.ca. Ilsonique in Montreal, every day you enter is another chance to win. You've mentioned that for your kids right now, you've talked about health and mental health a couple of times. What do you do for yours and your kids' health and mental health? Like, what are the priorities? Definitely a lot of affirmations.
Starting point is 00:45:11 I didn't really hear a lot of that growing up. I feel like I honestly had very negative self-worth. I don't think I know. I had very negative self-worth for a long time because I felt like I heard the opposite a lot growing up. Even just small things like my mom would be looking in the mirror and she was like, oh, I'm so fat or this. or my dad would say, you know, mean comments to my mom. So I just felt like I never heard positive self-talk about themselves or others around them. And I think my biggest thing for my boys is that we do affirmations that like I have them sit in front of the mirror and say like, I'm handsome and I'm
Starting point is 00:45:39 smart and I'm loved and I've cared for and like all these things that kind of just like set their mind already of just being grateful and loving themselves. I think that that's just so important and that honestly can set you up for success in your life in so many ways, whether that's, you know, your career path, school, confidence in sports, you know, confidence in relationships, just so many things. I just think that uplifting yourself is so, so important and so undervalued. And I just think that that's like my biggest thing of my boys. I just want them to love themselves and love everyone around them and just be good people. That makes sense. And when you said self-worth, I was wondering, talk to me about the moments in your life where you experienced low self-worth.
Starting point is 00:46:21 A lot of it stemmed from, like I mentioned, just growing up. up just being the only black kid in a room full of 30 students and I'm the only kid there that's black. I think that's triggered a lot in me, just not valuing myself and my individuality. But I think also I struggled with an eating disorder throughout high school. And then it resurfaced here about probably a year ago. And I feel like I'm kind of in remission from it right now. And I'm really really proud of myself for getting that to that point again. But I think I've always had a very jaded perspective of, you know, my worth and my image and all those things. And I think I'm finally in the position that I am realizing that, like, again, those negative self-talks can affect my children.
Starting point is 00:47:07 And they view their mommy as beautiful and kind and, you know, all these good things. And I want to be able to say those things about myself back. And I try to look at myself as like a little girl that I would never like see a little girl staying there. be like you're ugly or you're fat or no one likes you at school like I would never do that so I try to talk to myself as if I was like that little girl I have such a concern for young women right now especially in terms of what they're exposed to online the name calling the criticism of women's bodies it just it just feels like we're going backwards yeah like we haven't gone in the right direction yeah and I can't imagine what it feels like to be a mom and have kids and
Starting point is 00:47:50 whether they're young boys or young girls or young children that are having to grow up right now and be exposed to all of that. I'm like, I'm sure you feel so protective. Oh my God. But also, what do you do? Yeah, I think it's inevitable, but hopefully setting them up with the right tools to handle those things properly, I think, is what I'm trying to do for my kids. I think I don't think I would have maybe not experienced the things that I would have, or I did. I mean, either which way I couldn't change the circumstances of where I grew up, but if I had those, you know,
Starting point is 00:48:19 coping mechanisms that were healthy, I think I would have been able to overcome those a lot better than I did. So I think just being able to instill those of my boys and, you know, and everyone, I think that that's how you get through those things, is just being able to have the proper tools to handle them. Yeah, it sounds like you're investing in all the right stuff. I mean, you can hope, right? What I find phenomenal is just, it just shows us that as soon as you feel responsible for someone else, you realize how valuable it is, what you put in your mind, your body, and everything else. Yeah.
Starting point is 00:48:51 Right? Like, that's what it comes from. As soon as you realize that your actions affect someone else, you start to take so much more accountability and responsibility for everything you eat, consume, read, listen to. Yeah. Honestly, even though, even on that, too, like having a platform as well, I think that there's so many, you know, young women men that watch our pages and watch the show,
Starting point is 00:49:14 and I wouldn't want to affect them and have my poor choices. affect them as well and they, you know, mirror those. So I think being in the position that we are, all of us women on the show, I think that, again, using our platforms for good is, it's beneficial for like a lot of people. Yeah. What's your, if you could say this is what I want to use my platform for right now, what would you say it is? I think owning single motherhood and being proud to be a single mom, owning being a black woman, owning being a woman, and now owning being a bi woman. So, yeah, I think just being truly authentic to like who yourself, I hope that that's what people take away from my page. Yeah. Have you spoken to your partner and potentially even your children about your
Starting point is 00:50:03 new relationship? They aren't really involved with it right now. I think, obviously, I'm still kind of exploring and kind of trying to navigate this so until I feel more steady because it's not like I'm going to change my mind like I know that I am. I think I'm just going to kind of just handle it on my own until, yeah, until the time feels more right. Yeah. And what's co-parenting like in the situation you were talking about how your ex is a great dad and so good to the boys? Like what does that set up look like for you right now? We're just finally in a place that the motions have died down, you know, initial adjustment period of like getting into a good swing of things with co-parenting has finally like set in and I think that at least I can say from my behalf I just I want the best for him um and I think
Starting point is 00:50:52 we're in a really good place with co-parenting that we just we want the boys to be happy and we're doing that you know coincide next to each other and I think that yeah we're in like a good rhythm which is nice yeah if there's someone who's listening right now and they're struggling to come out they're struggling to leave a toxic relationship. What would you say to them? I think for me personally, I think I've just been in survival mode, like my whole entire life, whether if it was surviving my childhood, surviving becoming a single mom, surviving now single motherhood, surviving my eating disorder, surviving just all these things. I just feel like I've just constantly been in fight or flight. And life is not meant to just be survived. You're supposed to enjoy life and you're supposed to
Starting point is 00:51:36 limit to its fullest. And I think to do that, you have to be authentic. and fully yourself, and it's scary, and it's hard to do that. But who are you living your life for if it's not for yourself? And I, you know, it took me 25 years to fully be completely proud of every single part of myself. And I wish it happened sooner, but I think everything happens for reasons. So I just think if you're out there and you're, you're afraid or you're scared, be more scared of not being who you are. I think it's like my piece of advice. Yeah. How old are you know? 25. You're very wise and strong. Thank you.
Starting point is 00:52:12 Thank you so much. You're so coherent. I'm like, what? How? Like, how did you just say that? Thank you. It's unbelievable how much life you've squeezed into 25 years. I know.
Starting point is 00:52:21 I'm like, I need a little bit of a break. I don't know. I'm like a little bit less challenges, please. I'm just kidding. No, I'm grateful for everything that I've gone through. I think it made me who I am. Yeah. But also it's like you're saying I wish I learned it sooner, but I'm like 25 is pretty early to have
Starting point is 00:52:37 some of this figure out. people out there that are 65 and they still haven't come out. So I think I'm very grateful that I felt safe enough at this point to do that. And I hope that for everyone. Did you talk to other people who had come out and ask them about their experience? Like have you? No, not really. Honestly, like no one really like knows. I just think, again, like I mentioned earlier, I think my thing was for a long time, I just, I didn't know how to do it. And I just thought that one day I would just date a girl and just be like, hey, this is, this is my girlfriend and just, you know, see how people would react there. But I, the platform that I have, just I want to be able to help people
Starting point is 00:53:17 that are in similar situations. And I think that's why I wanted this to happen the way that it is right now, to just be able to help people. Are there any other friends that you know that have come out or people that you... Yeah, I have so many friends that are in the community as well. And the people that, like, do know, have been like nothing but supportive and just like so excited. And they're just like, you're connecting with another soul. It doesn't matter if they're a guy, if they're a girl. It doesn't matter. We just want you to be happy.
Starting point is 00:53:42 Yeah. What are you most excited to do now that you're out and able to say out loud? Make out with her in public and not have someone be like, what is going on? Is that Laylor from Secret Lives with the girl? Just be able to be like fully me and own it. I'm sure after this, hopefully you feel safe. And, you know, I think that's what I always wish for people when they're making big changes in their life. and making these moves is that people feel safe.
Starting point is 00:54:09 I think that's something everyone deserves for their choices. When people are not breaking the law or doing something wrong, or it's almost like can people just feel safe for their choices that are true to their soul and their heart? And I really hope, Leila, that you feel safe and that, you know, you get to explore the life and experience the life that you really, really want. Thank you. I appreciate that so much.
Starting point is 00:54:29 Leila, we end every episode of On Purpose with a final five. These questions have to be answered in one sentence. Okay. And so, Leila, these are your final five. Question number one, what is the best advice you've ever heard or received? Your love for yourself has to be stronger than your desire to be loved. That's great advice. Who told you that?
Starting point is 00:54:47 I think I just saw it on like Pinterest. I love that. That's a really good one. I think it applies to a lot of things. Say it again? Your love for yourself has to be higher than your desire to be loved. That's great. I love that.
Starting point is 00:54:59 Great piece of advice. That's an awesome one. We never had it. Second question, what is the worst advice you've ever heard of received. I think it relates powerably back to what we were talking about earlier that I used to be in a toxic cycle of constantly, you know, putting my work into other people and being in a lot of relationships. I think one cheesy saying that when you're going through breakup, I feel like people throw this around like casually. They're always like, the best way to get over someone is to get under
Starting point is 00:55:23 somebody else. So that one. I'm like, oh my gosh, no, take time to yourself, girlfriend. Pick up a book or something, a hobby, I don't know. That's great. That's awesome. What a great answer. Okay. You're killing these. Thank you. You're killing these. People usually struggle with that one. That's a great answer. Question number three, how do you define a good friend?
Starting point is 00:55:44 I think someone that loves you through all stages. Every phase of life. And every phase of life, yeah. Every chapter, every challenge, just everything. Question number four. I'm going to add two parts to this. Repeat after me and finish. This is about overthinking.
Starting point is 00:56:01 So repeat after me and finish the sentence. I think I think too much about I think too much about perception and how people view me Is that something you're still working on right now? Yeah, I think that's something that like in the space that we are in I think that's something we see every day people's opinions of us and it's hard to not take things to heart
Starting point is 00:56:21 but I'm just yeah stepping into an era that I just want to be authentically me and you either like it or you don't Yeah, good for you. I love that. Okay, fifth and final question. We asked this to every guest who's been on the show. If you could create one law that everyone in the world had to follow, what would it be? You're not allowed to convert to Mormonism until you have a greater understanding.
Starting point is 00:56:46 Wow. Just kidding. No, that's, no, I like the idea that you can't, the point you're making is you can't make a commitment to something without actually knowing enough about it. Yeah. Yeah. Because was it was it, are you, I'm assuming it was easy. Oh, I think it was five lessons you have to do and then you disagree at the end if you want to. And I had no understanding of a lot of things. I feel like I get the question a lot of like, oh, do you not, did you not know about the history of like this, about that? And I was like, no, they did not teach me that. And my lessons, they were teaching me like very minimal. So yeah. Yeah. I mean, that's all history everywhere. I feel like everything they teach. Yeah, that's a good answer.
Starting point is 00:57:27 Lela Taylor Taylor, thank you so much for your time, your energy. I'm so grateful you came all the way here. I'm thankful to have this conversation with you. I feel so lucky and appreciate so much that you chose us to share this big news. And as I said, I really hope you feel safe. I hope you feel the love of our community and everyone else that sees this podcast and hope you feel the support. I know that the Glad Awards in L.A. are my favorite event of the year.
Starting point is 00:57:54 Yeah. Like the community is just unbelievable. boy. I know every year when I go to that event, or every time I have been, sorry, not every year, every time I go to that event, honestly, the community is just the most fun. I don't know if you've ever been. No, never. I will be there. I hope you get to go. Yeah. Yeah, it's awesome. Thank you so much. Thank you. Thank you. If you're feeling inspired by this episode, you won't want to miss my conversation with Wicked's Cynthia Arrivo. We are afraid to let a person go and we need to be okay with people go. We don't know what path people are walking on when they walk into our lives. We
Starting point is 00:58:27 might just be a stepping stone in their path, just like stepping stones in their life. This is an IHeart podcast, guaranteed human.

There aren't comments yet for this episode. Click on any sentence in the transcript to leave a comment.