Welcome back to Together Real Bad—your Chicago-based WLW relationship podcast where we keep it real about love, life, and building together.

This episode is a full life update: our Denver birthday trip (food, scooters, and a first-ever NFL game) Trying snowboarding at Winter Park (humbling, hilarious, and painful in the right ways) navigating grief and family reality after a sudden loss and why we’re locking in on boundaries so we don’t lose us in the middle of business.

And yes—BIG NEWS: we’re officially opening our studio and throwing our Jem Junkies Grand Opening on February 7 at Lacuna by Catalyst (2150 S Canalport Ave) with an open studio, vendors, raffles, and a super-limited beginner grill-making class.

Content note: This episode includes discussion of grief and death.

• Date: February 7

• Location: Lacuna by Catalyst, 2150 S Canalport Ave, Chicago

• Open Studio: 1–4 PM (walk-ins + appointments)

  Jan 2026 Trans

• First 5 guests: free single tooth gem

  Jan 2026 Trans

• Evening event: ~5:30–8:30 PM + vendors + raffles

• Beginner grill-making class: limited small groups; free for grand opening only

If you rocked with this episode: follow, rate, and write a review (it helps WLW/LGBTQ podcasts get surfaced). And send this to a friend who’s balancing love + life + big dreams.

Hey Yall! No fancy description for y'all today! Just an episode where we talk about our last three years with each other.

Please note **WE WILL BE TAKING A BREAK UNTIL THE SECOND WEEK IN JANUARY 2026**

UNTIL THEN!

PEACE!!

In this heartfelt episode of Together Real Bad, Ace and Beautifulll dive into what it really means to give yourself permission — to grow, to rest, to want more, and to stop asking for approval that you never needed in the first place.

From coming out stories and healing through therapy to learning when to let go of friendships, this episode explores the freedom that comes when you finally tell yourself, “It’s okay.”

💬 Topics We Cover:

• Permission to be yourself (even when others don’t understand)

• Permission to outgrow people, places, and patterns

• Permission to rest — without feeling guilty about slowing down

• Permission to feel what you feel (and not shrink your emotions)

• Permission to want more — emotionally, financially, and creatively

• Relationship talk: learning to give each other space and grace

🎙️ Moments to Listen For:

• “I had to be okay with losing my family before I came out.”

• “When I let that friendship go, I could finally breathe.”

• “Sometimes you just need permission to want more — and stop apologizing for it.”

👭 Hosted by: Ace & Beautifulll 🎧 Podcast: Together Real Bad — A LGBT relationship podcast that’s raw, funny, and full of real conversations about love, growth, and learning each other in real time.

📲 Follow Us:

• IG: @together.real.badpod

• TikTok: @together.real.badpod

relationship podcast, queer couple podcast, love and communication, emotional growth, permission to be yourself, relationship advice for couples, therapy and self-growth, queer love stories, Together Real Bad podcast, self-acceptance and healing

outgrowing friendships, permission to rest, relationship boundaries, black queer podcast, LGBTQ couples podcast, giving yourself grace, emotional safety, healing through therapy, modern relationships, women in love podcast, Chicago podcasters

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