Loving Yourself, Mental Health, Starting a Business — Mason Aid

#078 — Loving Yourself, Mental Health, Starting a Business
We all have things we hide about ourselves. Things we are ashamed of. Things we need to ‘come out’ about. But why are we hiding them? Learning to love yourself is a process, and for Mason Aid, it began when they came out as gender queer.
Mason grew up in rural northeast Missouri, where identifying as LGBTQ is not widely accepted. At 17, they were in the hospital for self-harm and diagnosed with bipolar disorder. It took Mason many years to begin working on self-acceptance—and it’s still a work in progress. But now they are an LGBTQ advocate, building a startup that supports businesses in embracing inclusion. 
Today, Mason joins me to share their parenting journey, explaining how they had given up on becoming a parent until meeting their wife Hillary. Mason discusses their business, describing how their work with LGBTQ teens led to the consulting firm they refer to as ‘your business’ gay best friend.’ I ask Mason what they do to take care of their mental health, and they offer insight around using inclusive language to recognize and respect the non-binary members of our audience. Listen in to understand how Mason is strategically building a business while working 30 hours a week and learn how companies can prepare for the next generation of consumers and employees!
FULL SHOW NOTES
Get the complete show notes with episode quotes, photos, and time stamps at http://www.startuppregnant.com/078.
EPISODE SPONSOR & SPECIAL OFFER
Thank you to the sponsor of this episode: Aeroflow Breastpumps. They are dedicated to making the hassle of getting your breast pump a little bit easier—actually, a lot easier! Head to www.aeroflowbreastpumps.com/startup to have them help you qualify for a free breast pump through insurance. 
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LEARN MORE ABOUT MASON AID  
Mason Aid is an LGBTQ educator and advocate focused on helping business owners be inclusive in their language and processes. Based in Columbia, Missouri, Mason got their start working with LGBTQ teens and discovered a passion for activism. This led to volunteer opportunities training educators and social service providers, and Mason has grown those opportunities into a business. Today, Mason helps entrepreneurs avoid ‘accidental asshole moments’ and supports business owners in embracing diversity and inclusion. Mason is also the host of the new podcast, All the Letters.
Mason’s Website
Mason on Facebook
Mason on Instagram
All the Letters Podcast
RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE
Mason’s Blog
Generation Z Marketing Study 
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