Full Circle: Finding Your Way Home

For some people, coming out as LGBTQ is easy – they’re comfortable with their identity and sexuality, and may have a supportive network. And sometimes it’s downright messy – they’re older, married with kids, or simply unable to accept their truth. Whatever the case may be - coming out can be difficult, confusing and painful. My next guest is Melisa Raney - a mother and advocate for coming out. At 36, Melisa slowly began to question her sexuality. The problem was, she was in a heterosexual marriage, raising their two young children. Today, she is making, what she calls, her ‘mess’ her message: sharing her experience to guide others through the difficult process of coming out later in life.

Show Notes

For some people, coming out as LGBTQ is easy – they’re comfortable with their identity and sexuality, and may have a supportive network. And sometimes it’s downright messy – they’re older, married with kids, or simply unable to accept their truth. Whatever the case may be - coming out can be difficult, confusing and painful.

My next guest is Melisa Raney - a mother and advocate for coming out. At 36, Melisa slowly began to question her sexuality. The problem was, she was in a heterosexual marriage, raising their two young children. Today, she is making, what she calls, her ‘mess’ her message: sharing her experience to guide others through the difficult process of coming out later in life.

It is no easy feat, but as Melisa teaches us: when you live your life authentically, you begin to live your life unapologetically. 
 
 
Quotes
 
“I was following what was expected of me: go to school, go to college, meet the boy and get married…” [3:50]
 
“I had misread my own sexuality.” [4:20]
 
“It made me feel so validated; what I was feeling was real” [10:00]
 
“I was trying to fit in this box that society had created for me…” [11:22]
 
“I was happy in my marriage but I wasn’t fulfilled.” [24:30]
 
 
Notes
 
•    Melisa’s background [2:40]
•    Melisa’s experience of coming out [5:20]
•    How Melisa’s family took her news [7:40]
•    How Melisa handled her new life and her children [13:20]
•    Melisa’s work [18:56]
•    Why people don’t own their sexuality [23:30]
•    How Melisa has changed [25:25]
•    Lessons learned [28:12]
•    Closing thoughts [31:40]
 

Gillian Socials
https://fullcircleglobal.com
https://www.instagram.com/the.master.coach/  
https://www.facebook.com/GillianMcMichaelMasterCoach
https://www.linkedin.com/in/gillian-mcmichael/
https://www.linkedin.com/company/full-circle-development-consultancy/
https://www.facebook.com/fullcircleglobal/

Melisa Socials
https://www.instagram.com/lesbianchronicles/?hl=en
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/lesbian-chronicles-coming-out-later-in-life/id1468550568
https://www.melisaraney.com
https://www.instagram.com/melisawrites/?hl=en
 

What is Full Circle: Finding Your Way Home?

Hosted by Soul Healer, ICF Master Coach, and best-selling Author Gillian McMichael, “Full Circle: Finding Your Way Home” is a sacred space for reflection, healing, and transformation.

Each episode invites you to pause, breathe, and journey inward - exploring themes such as trust, forgiveness, confidence, self-love, and alignment with your true self. Through soulful guidance and heartfelt storytelling, Gillian shares wisdom and practices that help you release what no longer serves you, reconnect with your inner strength, and remember who you truly are.

This is your invitation to awaken, realign, and flourish as you find your way home - back to your soul, back to your essence, back to you.