l S15 EP2 l Jaimie sits down with Roberto Concepción to chat about his journey to solo parenthood as a gay dad through surrogacy. After his daughter’s birth, he noticed a severe gap in representation for families like his, and so, in true badass style, he decided to change that. He wrote and self-published a children's book called "More Than a Crown" to show his daughter a family like hers in the pages. It's all about embracing different family setups and encouraging kids to shake up old-school expectations.
Jaimie ropes in her non-queer bud, Shephathia, to help kick the episode and dive into the main theme. Together, they stress the importance of addressing "stigmatized" issues, such as Shephathia's experience with her child on the autism spectrum. The conversation highlights the need for diverse and inclusive storytelling and the normalization that occurs from empowering individuals and families from all walks of life.
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?️‍?Key Takeaways:?️‍? *Roberto Concepción is an advocate for diversity, equity, and inclusion, as well as a proud single gay dad who became a parent through surrogacy.*The episode delves into the importance of representation for children, signifying the need for inclusive and empowering books.*”More Than a Crown," Roberto's children's book, challenges traditional narratives and promotes female empowerment across diverse cultures and family structures.
?️‍?Resources mentioned in the episode: *Roberto Concepción's Instagram for the book: @morethanacrownbook *Purchase "More Than a Crown" on Amazon Prime
?️‍?Quotes:?️‍?*” Less than 2% of children's books are written by someone that's Latinx and similarly, less than 2% of children's books have LGBTQIA plus representation.” Roberto 
*”I hope that this book is one small step in really making sure that the stories we're reading are by us, and for us." Roberto
?️‍?About The Guest(s)?️‍?*Roberto Concepción is an in-house employment attorney, children’s book author, and father, whose life is rooted in advocacy for diversity, equity, and inclusion.
*Shephathiah Townsend is a mother, an advocate, an ally, and an all-around badass whom Jaimie adores. 
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