Welcome back to another episode of Y'all Out! I missed this and y'all during the month of September, and I am so thrilled to be back.

Today I got to speak with one of the most magnetic and charismatic people I know, Marcus Hooks. Marcus is many things... to name a few, he is a songwriter, a performer, a veteran, and a beacon of hope and joy. Marcus opens up about his musical (and strict) family, moving from an afro-centric community in California to white small town Oklahoma, joining the US Army and contracting HIV, searching for love and finding addiction, and uncovering that his worth is not conditional. He and I also discuss our common threads of recovery and love for musical theater.

I can't wait for you to hear what he has to say.

XO Grace

On today's episode of Y'all Out, Grace is joined by Chef Adam Richardson. Adam is the founding and current Chef de cuisine at Michelin Star restaurant Don Angie, which is located in the West Village in Manhattan. Adam has a vibrant and winding journey that brings him to where we meet today. He has worked in numerous kitchens across New York and designed bread services and dessert programs for some of the city's favorite restaurants. Adam also sings in The Gay Men's Chorus and has an extensive background in opera and music.

Adam opens up about the trauma around his parents rejecting his sexuality when he came out at 14 years old, and the heartbreak in his mid-20's of having to choose between his mental well-being and the music career he had worked toward his entire life. Adam shares the hope he found in perseverance, and moving through pain into openness for new opportunities.

And he has THE BEST LAUGH! Enjoy!

XO GG

On today's episode of Y'all Out, Grace is joined by dear friend and former coworker, Paige Mann. Paige took a passion for music and turned it into a career in the live music business, currently working as the Director of Ticketing for Live Nation. She is a Houstonian through and through, with Texas roots that run deep. She and Grace talk Houston Comets (and Dash!), Joni Jam at the Gorge, the current state of music fandom, recent attacks on the LGBTQIA+ community in Texas, and so much more. Paige believes that the more of us that show up as our authentic selves, the better the world is for everyone.

Follow Paige @paigejmann

Follow Y'all Out @going_yall_out

Follow Grace @gracesgibson

If you are based in Houston, please join us for the first official Y'all Out event: LIVE in the Design Studio with David Peck & Grace Gibson benefitting Grace Place on Saturday, August 26 12-2pm at 1922 Fountain View Drive, Houston, TX 77057. We will mingle, sip specialty mocktails, eat macarons, and shop for a cause while Grace and David interview each other live!