In this week’s episode we chat with a new friend of mine and first fellow Michigander on the podcast, Ames Ghani!Ames and I met a few months ago when we were both traveling through Mexico City and shortly after meeting, we found ourselves deep in a conversation about our coming out stories (classic me). Ames tells us what it was like growing up as an Arab-American in a predominantly Arab-American community and how cultural norms influenced the course of his coming out.  We also chat about his strategy for coming out to those people that you feel might not handle the news so well, how he had the self-awareness to get into therapy before he came out in order to help him sort through the complex feelings and emotions from being in the closet, and even highlights some of the benefits – yes benefits – of coming out later in life.  (As someone who came out at 28, I appreciated his perspective on this so much.)We also chit chat about the weather because what kind of Midwesterners would we be if we didn’t talk about the cold? Ames is such a lovely and kind person, I’m excited for you to hear his story. Links:Instagram @amesghaniFollow along with Reaching Out!Instagram @reachingoutpodTwitter @reachingoutpodHost @michaelwingsitShare your story!