Intentional Man Project

This week we had the pleasure of speaking with former NFL player, Wade Davis. Being an out gay man in professional football helped shape Davis into the man he is today --- a thought leader, a public speaker and a consultant on gender, race and sexual orientation equality. He's led training sessions for NFL players and coaches on diversity and inclusion, he's a global champion for innovation of UN women, a member of the National Fair Housing Alliance 50th Anniversary Committee, a founding member of VICE's diversity and inclusion advisory board along with Gloria Steinem. He's partnered with Ebony magazine where he launched the #blackmenandfeminism campaign, and with the Ms. foundation #myfeminism campaign. He currently works as the VP of Diversity and Inclusion at Netflix. In this interview he tells us why he calls himself a "solidarity partner" to women rather than an "ally."

Davis is a reader. Here's just a few of the books he recommends:  Bell Hooks, "Feminist Theory From Margin to Center"  / Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, "America" / James Baldwin, "Giovannie's Room" / Stephanie Coontz, "The Way We Never Were"  / Paula Giddings, "When and Where I Enter" / Toni Morrison, "The Bluest Eye" / Janet Mock, "Redefining Realness" / George Orwell, "Shooting an Elephant" / Roxanne Gay "Hunger"

This week Brian Michael Smith interviews fellow L-Word: Generation Q actor, Leo Sheng. They discuss the controversial character of Max from the original L-Word and the dramatic cultural shift with Generation Q. Listen to hear about Leo's first sex scene, life as an activist, coming out at the age of 12 as trans, and their first big role in the 2019 movie, Adam.

Rocco Kayaitos and Brian Michael Smith talk about Brian's rising star with his latest acting work, how he knows Oprah (?!) and they co-interview Jamison Green, author of "Becoming a Visible Man." Brian also takes a moment to acknowledge the Black Lives Matter movement and how we can help.