Still Becoming: On Friendship, Identity, and Starting Again
At nearly 40, I thought I’d be settled — friendships locked in, identity formed, life humming along. But starting again doesn’t mean going backwards. In this reflection, I explore what it means to be in midlife and still becoming — still seeking friendship, still letting go, still learning how to belong. If you’ve ever felt the ache of wanting deeper connection, this one’s for you.
Back Into the Lion’s Den
After years of healing, sobriety, and rediscovering purpose, I’ve returned to the city I once left behind — but this time, I’m different. This story is about growth, boundaries, ambition, and learning to protect your peace, even when old environments come knocking. Some friendships may not survive this new chapter, and that’s okay. Because not everyone is meant to go where you’re headed.
Do You Believe in Love at First Sight?
Love at first sight sounds like something from the movies — but in a world of dating app fatigue, quick connections, and rising romantic idealism, more people are starting to believe in it again. This piece explores why belief in instant love is rising, how the concept is evolving, and what it means for queer daters navigating solitude, self-worth, and the search for something real. Drawing on personal reflections, research, and the wisdom of Esther Perel, we unpack why modern romance might require less swiping — and more curiosity.
The Courage to Change: Reinvention, Decline, and the Joy of Experimenting
What if decline wasn’t the end — but an invitation to begin again? In this thought-provoking piece, we explore how the courage to experiment, shift gears, and redefine success can lead to deeper fulfilment. Drawing on Arthur C. Brooks’ insights and his own lived experience, we challenge the idea that we must cling to peak performance, offering instead a roadmap for growth through reinvention, reflection, and human connection.
The Shift That Saved Me — And Why One Session Might Be Enough to Start Yours
After nearly a decade of drifting through mental health challenges, Get Out founder, Brodie shares the mindset shift that changed everything. Blending personal reflection with evidence from emerging research on single-session therapy, this piece explores how real change starts with small steps — not perfect plans. For anyone who’s ever felt stuck, flat, or quietly overwhelmed, this is your reminder that healing doesn’t always begin with a breakdown. Sometimes, it starts with a decision.
You Don’t Have to Be Alone to Feel Lonely — Loneliness Awareness Week 2025
Loneliness is often misunderstood as a problem faced only by people who are alone. But new research shows many of us feel disconnected even in relationships, families, or crowded social lives. This article, written to mark Global Loneliness Awareness Week (9–15 June), explores the rising health concerns around loneliness, its hidden presence in modern relationships, and how Get Out was founded to offer not just company — but purpose, connection, and joy.
Kindness Isn’t Just Polite — It’s How We Find Each Other
In a world that often prizes hustle over heart, kindness can feel like an afterthought. But new research shows it might be the glue that holds real community together. In this piece, we explore what kindness looks like in queer spaces, the quiet ache of disconnection, and why Get Out is continuing to build tools — like the new volunteer matching platform — that make genuine connection easier. This is not about doing more. It’s about doing what matters.
Pride Is a Protest, a Celebration and a Lifeline
Pride Month didn’t begin with rainbow merch — it began with resistance. In 2025, it’s still both a protest and a lifeline. This article explores the ongoing fight for LGBTQIA+ rights, the impact of loneliness on our community, and how live music and Pride events offer more than celebration — they offer connection.
Move Your Body, Heal Your Mind.
Loneliness doesn’t always announce itself with silence — sometimes it hides behind sore joints, low moods, and the vague ache of being out of sync. But movement, especially when shared, can shift that. Whether it’s travel, a fitness class, or a walk with someone who gets it, moving your body can change your mind.
Where Are My People?
At nearly 40, I’m realising I’ve never really had that lifelong friendship many people seem to take for granted. I’ve always had people around — but not always beside me. Sobriety, shifting values, and the scenic route through life have left me craving something deeper. This is a story about friendship, gay men, and the quiet ache of wondering: Where are my people?
In Trust We Begin: How Trust Transforms Loneliness Into Connection
Loneliness is often framed as a lack of company—but what if it’s actually a lack of trust? In this deeply personal and evidence-backed piece, we explore how broken trust shapes queer disconnection, why epistemic trust matters more than we realise, and how rebuilding trust (in ourselves and others) might be the most powerful antidote to isolation. With insights from So Lonely, Arthur C. Brooks, Esther Perel, and lived experience, this article offers practical strategies for cultivating meaningful, resilient connection.
The Hard Work of Happiness
We’re often sold the idea that happiness is a passive state—something we stumble into with enough time, money, or success. But research tells a different story. True happiness requires effort, intention, and sometimes a little discomfort. In this piece, we explore the neuroscience, psychology, and personal habits that shape lasting happiness—and why it might be the hardest (and most worthwhile) work of all.
IDAHOBIT 2025: We’ve Come So Far — But Let’s Not Pretend It’s Enough
This IDAHOBIT, Brodie reflects on the growing global backlash against LGBTQIA+ rights, the urgency of building genuine inclusion in healthcare, and the loneliness crisis facing queer communities. Drawing on his lived experience, hospital leadership roles, and work with Get Out and MindOUT, Brodie makes a powerful case for why visibility must be backed by action — and why connection is the most radical form of care we can offer.
Lord, Help Us
Lord, Help Us offers a blisteringly funny and unflinchingly honest take on the global rise of conservative power across politics, tech, and religion — and what it means for the LGBTQIA+ community. From Trump’s return to the ballot, to Elon Musk’s reign of dysfunction, to the Vatican’s latest conservative appointment, we explore why queer people are anxious, why they’re right to be, and why resistance — no matter how tired we are — is still essential.
Australia Chooses Connection: Because Culture Wars Won’t Save Us
In a world that often feels divided, Australia is quietly choosing something better: connection. From creative expression to casual conversation, our shared humanity is holding the line against cynicism, culture wars, and loneliness — one friendship at a time.
Still Saying It: Five More Voices That Speak the Quiet Truth
Our community responded powerfully to part one, so we’re continuing the conversation. These five new quotes don’t flinch — they speak to queer longing, healing, and truth-telling with beauty, pain and quiet pride.
Becoming the Role Models We Needed: Why Community Building Must Go Deeper
Today’s world is flooded with hollow role models and quick-fix connection promises — but real belonging, real resilience, and real role models aren’t found overnight. They’re built, deliberately and patiently, by communities willing to do the deeper work. At Get Out, we're committed to being part of that future.
Saying the Quiet Part Out Loud: Five Voices That Still Echo
Some words don’t just speak — they see us. This piece explores five powerful quotes from queer and queer-adjacent writers who say the quiet part out loud — about loneliness, identity, pain and quiet resilience — and why their honesty still matters today.
It’s Not Just You: Why Loneliness Feels So Complicated Right Now
Loneliness in 2025 feels more personal, more misunderstood, and—for queer folks—more complex than ever. This heartfelt piece explores how social connection, chronic illness, internalised stigma, and our digital lives are shaping modern loneliness, and why the answer isn’t just more socialising—it’s better, deeper, more intentional community.
Getting Comfortable Being Uncomfortable
Getting comfortable being uncomfortable isn’t about chasing discomfort for the sake of it—it’s about learning to value clarity over approval, purpose over performance, and choosing a quieter kind of growth. In this honest reflection, Brodie shares what sobriety, solitude, and slower success have taught him about building Get Out—and why the hard path might just be the right one.