In this episode, I sit down with actor, musician, and writer Nico Tortorella to talk about everything from why this is the most nervous I’ve ever been for an interview; to how he discovered songwriting during his wife’s pregnancy. We discuss my journey with Nico’s work and why his book, Space Between: Explorations of Love, Sex, and Fluidity deeply moved me, how challenging it was for him to write the book, and how his views on gender have expanded since having a child.
He shares how he was raised regarding queerness, how his and his wife’s monogamy has organically taken shape since having their child, and what it was like having a profound home birth experience. He also talks about his views on approaching gender conversations in households, his ten-year sobriety from alcohol, on allowing ourselves and others permission to change our minds, and much more.
Key Takeaways / Points:
My exposure to his work and why I was so nervous for this interview
Where Nico was in life when he wrote his book and how it felt to write
How his views on gender have expanded since having a child with his wife
How he has reconnected with his masculinity since becoming a father
On approaching gender conversations at home and with our children
How Nico was raised regarding queerness, gender, and sexuality
On his current monogamy and how that took form since having their child
On their profound home birth experience
On sobriety from alcohol and being free of things that no longer serve us
On Nico’s journey with music, songwriting, and writing a children’s book
Giving ourselves (and others) permission to grow and change