Feed Your Positive Algorithm

Safe Queer Travel, Community Pride Events, Book Love, and more!

Author

Laura Paisley Beck
June 26, 2025

Table of Contents

Why Wonder When You Can Wander?

In a world of comparison, unrealistic expectations, and toxic work culture… some of us brave the decision to break away and take care of ourselves in our to take care of others. This is quickly becoming a beautiful theme with my podcast guest’s stories, each with their own unique flavor. New UK Tik Tok sensation, Conor Edwards, shares his coming out story, how he broke away from Corporate, and why he now travels the world, documenting where gays can feel safe. Glitter galore…

The IGLA Rainbow Map is an easy to read resource for LGBTQ-friendly places to live and visit. Imagine this: If those countries in green are queer-friendly, chances are they are friendly to most marginalized people. We mention and share the link to this in the Be the Glitter podcast episode with Conor Edwards as well.

What Does Safe Travel Look Like?

  1. “All Are Welcome”: Inclusive decals, signs, and hospitality flags

  2. Making the Map: Look at the IGLA Rainbow map before planning.

  3. Ask Conor: Conor is asking all the questions and dragging his tripod around the world for us all.

Feed the Positive Algorithm

You’ve heard me talk about realigning your Relationship Solar System, right? Every once and awhile it helps to see who is orbiting around you. Are you a good source of positive energy and light? Is there someone too far away into the cold distance that you need to beam them in closer? Are there toxic planets that need a gentle nudge to a galaxy far, far away?

In a similar tone, Conor talks about the growing impact of feeding your positive algorithm, as he calls it. The more you ignore the trolls, create community over competition, and feed the supporters, the more good comes from that.

Talk about algorithms: Could you please Subscribe, Like, Comment, and Share videos from the Be the Glitter Podcast? 

That will help me reach my goal of 500 subscribers by September. 😇 And help share these important stories to empower allies and marginalized people.

Calculate Your Algorithm (or Solar System)

This week’s journal prompt comes with a little sketch. You might have read a chapter in my book in which Agent Quinn Jones is asked to do this. What a more perfect time to realign your stars and feed your algorithm with positivity!

  • Draw a little circle in the middle of the page. Put your name in there.

  • Now draw an orbit ring around that with five planets (maybe there is a moon, a sun). Who are they? Who is getting and giving you the most energy, good or bad?

  • Draw another orbit ring with ten or more representing people who are further out. You don’t see them as much. They don’t reach out as much.

  • If you want, make yet another ring with those who are far away.

✨ Take a few moments to really observe your relationship solar system. What do you notice? What needs to shift? Change? Do you want to color code people? Influencers, Takers, Givers, Supporters, Cheerleaders, Experts, Black holes…

How can you feed more positivity into this environment?

✨ Now revisit your goals in relation to your chart. Let yourself fill pages without the editor forcing the pen. What comes out?

Believe It Or Not, the photographer who was giving away gorgeous headshots at the Big Gay Pride Market is a wood spoon artisan? Derek Brabender was a genius and my hero for taking this shot. His artwork is here: https://www.greenwoodspoons.com

For the Calendar:

Visit me at a resource table at the Sun Prairie Pride Fest this Saturday. Pick up information about WORT’s QUEERY Radio show, the OPEN Madison org, my Be the Glitter Podcast, and fun free writing prompts for healing and positive change.

Forward Fest is coming up! Sign up for my BIG STORY Workshop and walk away a changed human! We’ll be thinking BIG, writing BIG, Sharing BIG, Celebrating BIG. BIG TIME! Registrants get a free book or journal.

Did I mention Queery? Tune in… one of these nights I may be a radio host interviewing more amazing queer people in our community.

So between writing the book, growing the podcast, hosting a radio show here and there, volunteering as much as I can for OPEN Madison, and taking care of my neighbor’s chickens, I still want to find time for meetings on the SUP board. 😎

Feel free to join me.

Your help sharing the Be the Glitter YouTube podcast is greatly appreciated! Together we can share tough conversations with giggles and spread inspiration that sticks. Let’s feed this positive algorithm!

Sending you lots of love,

Laura