I Spent Years Hiding My Identity — At 40, I Finally Stopped Pretending

In this episode of the Discover You Podcast, Dante opens up about the journey that shaped him into the person he is at 40. He shares how he discovered his gay identity in his early years, why he no longer feels the need to explain his pronouns, and how he finally stopped living for other people’s approval.

Dante speaks honestly about the difference between living a quiet life versus living in constant noise, and why peace matters more than external validation. He discusses the patterns he noticed in the LGBTQ community, the emotional toll of seeking acceptance, and why choosing simplicity transformed his outlook.

This episode gives an unfiltered look into identity, relationships, self-awareness, and choosing authenticity over performance.

In this episode you’ll learn:
How Dante discovered his identity and stopped hiding
Why he no longer explains or defends his pronouns
The difference between quiet living and chaos
How external validation traps people
Lessons from his past 18 relationships
Why his 19th relationship works
His awakening at 40 and what changed
How to live with purpose, honesty, and peace