Among many other topics, we explore:

The Magic of Grandma’s Kitchen: How Tom’s earliest memories of baking with his grandmother sparked a lifelong love for bread.
From Corporate Life to Cottage Bakery: Why leaving behind a PhD program and corporate consulting led Tom to a more joyful, fulfilling path.
Baking as Healing: How bread became a form of therapy during anxiety, divorce, and major life transitions.
Redefining Success: Why less money and more joy turned out to be the richest combination of all.
Growing Up Queer in a Fundamentalist Church: Tom shares the challenges of discovering his identity in an environment that didn’t offer safety or support.
Religious Trauma and Self-Acceptance: How unlearning shame became part of Tom’s healing journey.
Choosing Joy on Purpose: Why happiness isn’t always automatic—but it can always be chosen.
Finding Community Beyond the Bar Scene: The importance of diverse, supportive spaces for queer connection and belonging.
The Story Behind “Behind the Breadbox”: A nostalgic, meaningful name rooted in family, food, and home.
The Special Bond Between Gay Men and Straight Women: A heartfelt reflection on safety, trust, and joyful connection.

Join us for a warm, honest, and laughter-filled conversation about identity, resilience, and the beautiful freedom that comes from finally being yourself—proof that it’s never too late to start living the life that feels like home.

Connect with Tom!

Website: https://www.behindthebreadbox.com/

Heather N. Wilde & Hezzie Mae Book Publishing

Website: www.HezzieMae.com

Facebook: Heather N. Wilde

Do you need an engaging, heartfelt speaker to inspire your audience? Heather brings a blend of authenticity, insight, and storytelling to every event. Whether addressing professional teams, high school audiences, or creative communities, Heather’s talks focus on personal growth, resilience, and the power of stories to transform lives. Reach out to hwilde@hezziemae.com to book Heather for your next event.

Among many other topics, we explore:

Growing Up Different in the 1950s: Bella recalls her early years in a male-dominated household, long before there was language or support for what she was experiencing.

The Mask of Normalcy: From sports to music to marriage, Bella describes how she built a “normal” life while carrying a hidden truth.

Halloween Outfits to Honesty: What started as a playful tradition with her wife became the first space where Bella could explore her authentic self, and eventually led to seeking therapy and beginning transition in her 60s.

The Tipping Point: How decades of suppression, one too many goodbyes to her true self, and finally seeing role models like Caitlyn Jenner and Laverne Cox pushed Bella to say, “When is it my turn?”

Transitioning Later in Life: From hundreds of hours of electrolysis to major surgery, Bella shares the physical and emotional journey of aligning her inner and outer self.

Writing The Uninvited Passenger: Why Bella turned to writing as a way to process her story, and how her memoir became a message of hope for anyone carrying silent battles.

Hope in the Midst of Gaslighting: Bella speaks to today’s political climate, the dangers of misinformation, and why her book is also a call to protect and encourage vulnerable young people.

Join us for an honest, inspiring conversation about identity, resilience, and the joy of finally living as your true self—proof that it’s never too late to embrace who you are.

The Uninvited Passenger releases September 12, 2025, in paperback and eBook. Visit

HezzieMae.com

to order your copy and step into this powerful story.

Heather N. Wilde & Hezzie Mae Book Publishing

Website: www.HezzieMae.com

Facebook: Heather N. Wilde

Do you need an engaging, heartfelt speaker to inspire your audience? Heather brings a blend of authenticity, insight, and storytelling to every event. Whether addressing professional teams, high school audiences, or creative communities, Heather’s talks focus on personal growth, resilience, and the power of stories to transform lives. Reach out to hwilde@hezziemae.com to book Heather for your next event.

Among many other topics, we explore:

Leading from the Heart: Jen shares what it means to lead with a strong sense of community and stay rooted in your values, even when the outcome isn't what you hoped for.

The Firecracker Grandma: We talk about how Jen's grandmother, a "firecracker" who advocated for everyone, taught her the heart of inclusion and the importance of having a strong support system.

Brewing Community: We dive into Jen’s family business, Spiral Brewery, which is more than just a business—it's a mission to "brew community through quality beer and rich history."

Join us for a beautiful and inspiring episode filled with layers of richness about how hope lives right next to despair, how to be part of the "untangling process" of problems, and the powerful lesson that showing up with what you can is always enough.

www.spiralbrewery.com

Heather N. Wilde & Hezzie Mae Book Publishing

Website: www.HezzieMae.com

Facebook: Heather N. Wilde

Do you need an engaging, heartfelt speaker to inspire your audience? Heather brings a blend of authenticity, insight, and storytelling to every event. Whether addressing professional teams, high school audiences, or creative communities, Heather’s talks focus on personal growth, resilience, and the power of stories to transform lives. Reach out to hwilde@hezziemae.com to book Heather for your next event.