Empowered & Out with Guest Dr. Jess Spohn

Leading Without a Blueprint — Visibility, Resilience & Authenticity with Dr. Jess Spohn (they/them)

What does it mean to lead when there’s no roadmap for someone like you?

In this powerful episode of Empowered & Out, host Jonathan Barbe sits down with Dr. Jess Spohn (they/them) — a nonbinary, queer, and neurosparkly public health social worker redefining leadership and visibility in social work and beyond.

From turning pronoun mistakes into dance breaks 💃 to navigating discrimination with courage and humor, Dr. Jess shares what it’s really like to build a leadership identity without nonbinary role models — and how visibility itself can be a radical act of resistance and hope.

You’ll hear stories about:

🌈 Leading authentically in systems that weren’t built for you

💬 A real-life discrimination experience that reshaped their advocacy

💃 Reclaiming joy and agency through creativity and humor

🧠 The power of lived recovery experience in leadership and supervision

🔥 Why nonbinary & trans visibility in professional spaces matters now more than ever

Whether you’re an LGBTQ+ professional, an ally, or a leader learning how to make your workplace safer and more inclusive, this conversation will leave you inspired to lead with truth, courage, and compassion.

🎧 Tune in now — and if it resonates, don’t forget to follow, rate, and share Empowered & Out to help others lead authentically, too.

🔗 Resources

• Dr. Jess’s publication: Trans and Gender Expansive Invisibility in Social Work Senior Leadership

• Kaleidoscope Wellness Services (OUTLAST Workshop): withkaleidoscope.com

• InsideOut Advocacy: ioadvocacy.org