From Nerves to Connection: Behind the First Episode of Unpacking LIVE

When I hit the “Go Live” button for the first time, I was nervous. Like… really nervous.

Even though I’ve poured so much heart into building Hunky Tops, stepping in front of the camera felt like a totally new level of vulnerability. I fumbled my words a little. I overthought everything. And in those first few minutes, I kept wondering if I’d made a mistake putting myself out there like that.

But here’s what happened next: I found my rhythm. I felt the energy shift. I remembered why I started all of this in the first place.

By the end of the stream, I wasn’t just proud — I was energized. I wanted to do it again. And I will.

This is the start of something new for Hunky Tops:🧡 Unpacking LIVE — a talk series about real, queer topics that matter.

🎥 In The First Episode of Unpacking Live:

I was joined by writer and marketing pro Joseph Federico, who has written some of the most heartfelt pieces on our blog. Together, we unpacked:

• What burnout feels like for gay men
• Why so many of us tie our worth to productivity
• How identity, family expectations, and emotional labor all come into play
• And what healing and rest can actually look like

Whether you’re part of the Hunky Tribe or you’re just now finding us — this episode is for you.

Watch the full stream below, and drop a comment if it resonates. I’d love to hear from you.

📺 Watch “Burnout & Gay Men” on Unpacking LIVE — Ep. 1

Thanks for being part of this journey. The next stream is already in the works — and I can't wait to see where it takes us.