All right, we are down to our last three cities for the live in the stacks tour, and if the first two stops were any indication, you do not want to miss this tour.

I will be in Washington, D.C. with Jason Reynolds on September 24th. I will be in New York City with KSA layman on September 25th, and I will be in Los Angeles on October 18th with three guests.

Yes, three guests, three of my favorite friends of the podcast, Rachel Lindsay, Chelsea Devantes, and Sam Sanders.

The show promises a night of big laughs, hot takes, and more bookish conversation than you could possibly imagine.

Tickets are selling fast, so head to the stackspodcast.com slash tour right now before they sell out.

Welcome to the stacks, a podcast about books and the people who read them. I'm your host Tracy Thomas, and today we are welcoming Brandon Kyle Goodman to the show.

Brandon is a New York foreign actor and a writer on the television program Big Mouth and a social justice activist, and an author of a brand new book called You Gotta Be You, How to Embrace This A Messy Life and Step Into Who You Really Are.

The book is part memoir, part how to, and it's a compassionate and hilarious book all about unlearning the toxic traits we grew up with and now take for granted.

You know, the ones that hold us back from our true potential, queer, black, and non-binary from an immigrant household, Brandon shares a hopeful and galvanizing message that you'll hear all about on today's episode.

I also have to say, full disclosure, Brandon is one of my dearest friends. We've known each other since we were 19 years old at NYU, and I honestly could not be more excited to celebrate their work, the fact that they have a book, and just our friendship on this week's episode.

Remember, our October book club pick is the memoir fairest by Meredith Talucin. Make sure to listen on October 26th when Anthony Christian Ocampo returns for the discussion.

And don't forget, everything we talk about on each episode of the stacks can be found in the link in the show notes.

If you love this show and want more of it, head to patreon.com slash the stacks to join the stacks pack. That's our wonderful bookish community.

And since the stacks is an indie podcast, it means I rely on listeners like you to make the show possible weekend and week out.

In addition to knowing that you're supporting your favorite book podcast, you also get to earn perks like our monthly virtual book club.

Bonus episodes this month is with KSA Lehman, and it's such a good time and access to our discord plus more.

If you'd like to be a part of this wonderful bookish community, head to patreon.com slash the stacks.

Thank you to some of our newest members at the stacks pack, Sarah Ruiz Grossman, Mary Ann Watson, Patrick Prudent, Teresa Genaro, Disha Filia, and Cynthia Waseleck.

Thank you all so much and thank you to the entire stacks pack. And now it's time for my conversation with my dear dear friend Brandon Kyle Goodman.

Alright everybody, I am so excited today. I know I say that every week, but this time I like really, really mean it because my guest today is one of my dear old darling, not old like old but old like long.

Friends, Brandon Kyle Goodman, Brandon, welcome to the stacks.

Hi, I'm so happy to be here. This is a dream come true Tracy. I remember when you were thinking about starting the stacks because I think I was still living with you.

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