Together Real Bad

In this special episode of Together Real Bad, we’re sharing the full story behind our engagement. From the surprise proposal and emotional moments to the behind-the-scenes planning, family reactions, and early wedding conversations, this episode is a real-time reflection on love, partnership, and community.
We talk through the day of the proposal, what each of us was thinking, how the surprise came together, and what it meant to be surrounded by people who love and support us. We also get into the reality of planning a wedding, deciding what kind of celebration feels right, and how this next chapter is already stretching us in beautiful ways.
We’re also shouting out Black-owned businesses and sharing details about an upcoming Mother’s Day collaboration focused on mind, body, and soul care.
If you’ve been rocking with Together Real Bad from the beginning, this is a full-circle episode you don’t want to miss.
In this episode, we talk about:
Our surprise engagement storyWhat the proposal day felt like from both perspectivesThe emotional planning process behind the momentFamily, friendship, and community supportFirst thoughts on wedding planningCourthouse wedding vs. destination wedding ideasThe beauty of being deeply known and lovedA Black business spotlight and upcoming Mother’s Day event
Black Business Spotlight:This episode also highlights a special upcoming Mother’s Day collaboration featuring:
Akeelah and the BeadsA massage therapist partnershipJem Junkies
This experience is centered around a mind, body, and soul theme, with more details coming soon.
Together Real Bad podcast, Black queer love podcast, lesbian relationship podcast, engagement story podcast, surprise proposal story, wedding planning podcast, Black love podcast, LGBTQ couple podcast, real relationship conversations, proposal story, engaged couple podcast, Chicago couple podcast, queer wedding talk, Black-owned business spotlight

In part two of 21 Questions Reloaded Part 2, we keep the conversation going and dig into what it really means to be seen in a relationship while also living life in public. We talk about the reality of being human, how people can misunderstand a relationship based on short clips or small moments, and why grace matters when you are looking at someone else’s life from the outside.
We also get into business, travel, and what it feels like to build something together. From our Milwaukee pop-up to seeing people show up for grillz and tooth gems, this episode reflects on how rewarding it is to create experiences that make people feel good and leave confident.
Later, we get into one of our classic differences as a couple: how we experience movies and storytelling in completely different ways. We talk about supporting beginner filmmakers, reacting to films differently, and the funny little tensions that come with having two strong personalities in one relationship.
At its core, this episode is about connection. It is about being honest, giving each other grace, laughing through differences, and making sure intimacy does not get lost in the middle of busy schedules and everyday life.
In this episode, we talk about:
Why people should be careful judging relationships from clips aloneThe importance of grace and perspective in loveOur Milwaukee pop-up experience and what it meant for Jem JunkiesThe joy of seeing customers get excited about their grillz and tooth gemsCreative differences in how we watch and critique filmsHumor, tension, and honesty in our relationship dynamicWhy intimacy and connection still need intention in a busy life
If this episode speaks to you, send it to someone who understands that relationships are about more than chemistry. They are also about patience, perspective, growth, and continuing to choose each other in real life.

We didn’t record this week due to a hectic weekend and the launch of our new business. Sorry for the break.We’ll be back with a brand new episode next week. Until then, y’all be smooth.

In this episode of Together Real Bad, we’re bringing back one of our favorite formats with 21 Questions Reloaded—but this time, we’re talking intimacy.
Not the loud, off-the-wall version. The real version.
We get into what intimacy looks like when you’re building a life together, juggling work, stress, responsibilities, and still trying to stay connected. We talk about feeling desired, how differently we each communicate what we want, why emotional safety matters just as much as physical attraction, and what happens when life starts pushing intimacy to the back burner.
This episode is honest, funny, a little awkward, and very us. If you’ve ever loved your partner deeply but still struggled to find the time, energy, or words for intimacy, this conversation is for you.
In this episode, we talk about:
What makes each of us feel desired
Why intimacy often starts outside the bedroom
The non-sexual things that can turn your partner on
How stress, distractions, and everyday life affect connection
Why asking for what you want can feel harder than it sounds
Sexual reassurance in a relationship
What emotional safety looks like in intimacy
Respecting “not tonight” in a healthy partnership
How communication shapes closeness over time
We also share a little bit of date night, some real-life relationship banter, and the kind of transparency y’all have come to expect from us.
This is one of those episodes that reminds us intimacy is not just about sex. It’s about trust, timing, vulnerability, comfort, and being willing to learn your partner again and again.
Black Business Spotlight:This episode’s Black Business Spotlight highlights Jetible a Black-owned cannabis brand.
Listen, share, and let us know:What makes you feel most desired in your relationship?Does intimacy start outside the bedroom for you too?

In this episode of Together Real Bad, we get real about personal hygiene in relationships — the funny parts, the awkward parts, and the honest conversations couples do not always know how to have. We talk about everything from body odor, sweating, deodorant, oral hygiene, and grooming habits to the bigger question of what it really means to be comfortable with your partner. 
We also dig into how hygiene issues are not always just about cleanliness. Sometimes they can point to stress, burnout, depression, or something deeper going on emotionally. We discuss the importance of approaching these conversations with honesty, care, and compassion instead of judgment. 
This episode also gets very real about the everyday things couples eventually have to face if they are building something lasting: farting, showering together, being on your period, grooming changes, and learning to accept each other as full human beings instead of polished versions of ourselves. It is funny, transparent, and very much us. 
 
We also spotlight a Black-owned streetwear brand, Made It Through the Struggle (MITTS 217), and share a little love for the story behind the brand. 
 
What we talk about in this episode:
How to bring up hygiene issues in a relationship
The difference between normal body funk and a real hygiene concern
Oral hygiene, deodorant, and grooming habits
When hygiene issues may be connected to mental health
Flatulence, periods, and body acceptance in relationships
Why comfort and transparency matter in long-term love
A Black business spotlight you should check out 
 
Closing thought:Real intimacy is not just about attraction — it is also about acceptance, honesty, and being able to handle the unglamorous parts of being human together.

In this episode, we talk about boundaries within relationships—how to say no without guilt, how to stop being passive when you really mean “no,” and how to build emotional safety so honesty doesn’t feel like rejection. We break down real-life examples (intimacy + tiredness, overwhelm and household tasks, going out boundaries), and how past relationship experiences can shape how you communicate today. We also touch on therapy, processing vs blurting, and why boundaries get clearer as you grow.
 
 

We just finished our grand opening and it really wore us out, so we’re taking this week to recover and get reorganized.We’ll return with a new episode next Tuesday. Thanks for your patience — have a good week!

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.
 
Grand Opening Quick Info (add to notes)
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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