MICKY ANGELO PETRILLO OPENS UP ON IKE AVELLI’S “LOOSE LIPS” PODCAST

Trans advocate and documentary subject shares his story of transition, resilience, and the making of “The Man I Was Born To Be”

Micky Angelo Petrillo, the Jersey-born advocate and documentary subject behind “The Man I Was Born To Be,” sat down with host Ike Avelli today, August 1, on the long-running podcast Loose Lips. The conversation gave listeners an unfiltered look at Petrillo’s journey as a trans man who began his transition at age 59, and at the film he is now building around that story.

“The Man I Was Born To Be” follows Petrillo’s late-in-life transition, a path he has described as both physically demanding and deeply liberating. Rather than framing his story solely through hardship, Petrillo has built the documentary around humor and joy, aiming to show audiences a trans narrative rooted in laughter and community as much as struggle.

The project has already found an audience beyond the podcast circuit. A preview screening at Art House Productions’ “50 Shades of Gay” event in Jersey City drew a packed house in March, and the film is now in its festival phase, with the team polishing a cut for submission to major festivals including Frameline, Outfest, and Tribeca.

Petrillo’s appearance on Loose Lips continues a run of community outreach that has taken him to podcasts, panels, and live events, part of a broader push for trans visibility that he says matters “more now than ever.” Loose Lips, hosted by longtime stage collaborators Ike Avelli and Tym Moss, has built a reputation over multiple seasons for pairing candid conversation with comedy, making it a fitting stop for a story Petrillo insists on telling with as much levity as heart.

Micky Angelo Petrillo is available for panels, conferences, community events, and private engagements, and continues to seek support for the completion and festival submission of “The Man I Was Born To Be.”

Visibility, Petrillo says, is the whole point — and he is not slowing down.

LISTEN & WATCH NOW!

Catch the audio release today on your favorite streaming platform:

• Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/1CsY9vaeLJCw7AMz15Afsc
• Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/092b208e-ec9b-403d-b005-ba94d22e288c/episodes/f8044ef1-187f-45bc-a585-66011e1538ae/loose-lips-from-self-hatred-to-self-love
• Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/from-self-hatred-to-self-love/id1557056718?i=1000779425111

Prefer to watch? The full video portion is available NOW on YouTube! https://youtu.be/l1Ve4b9oq0o  Be sure to subscribe

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• Website: mickyangelopetrillo.com
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