Pop Culture Episodes

Nov. 5, 2024

127. Gay Icons: The Queen of Pop (with Stefan Mreczko)

Previously, we discussed our iconic pop queens and how their songs typically fit into distinct categories that hit an emotional button that appeals to gay men. These categories often include themes of empowerment, heartbreak,...

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Oct. 29, 2024

126. Gay of the Dead: Unleashing Queer Horror (with Sean Abley)

In previous episodes, we explored how queer themes have been woven into horror for over 250 years, highlighting that the genre has always had an inherently queer essence. It resonates with many members of the LGBTQ+ community...

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Oct. 22, 2024

125. Bury Your Gays

In previous episodes, we explored the history of gay representation in TV and film, touching on stereotypes and the challenges faced by queer creators. One major roadblock has been the "Bury Your Gays" trope, which limits aut...

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Oct. 15, 2024

124. Queer Frights & New Media: Horror Beyond the Screen (with Bobby Torrez)

In previous episodes, we've explored how queer themes have been woven into horror for over 250 years, mirroring experiences of otherness, fear, and survival—common realities for those facing societal marginalization. Today, t...

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Aug. 27, 2024

117. Get Pop Cultured (with Carmine Davis)

In previous episodes, we explored pop culture’s resonance with the LGBTQ+ community, serving as both a reflection of societal changes and a source of representation and validation. Pop icons in music, film, television, and ot...

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Aug. 20, 2024

116 Rainbows Don’t Paint Themselves (with Jacoby Nordberg)

Art has been a vital form of expression for queer people, providing a powerful platform to explore, celebrate, and communicate their identities, experiences, and struggles in a world where their voices are often marginalized....

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May 28, 2024

104. The Castro Clone Wars

Following the Stonewall Riots, San Francisco’s Castro District gained a reputation for its relative openness and soon emerged as a gay haven. During the 1970s and 1980s, a group of predominantly white, masculine-presenting ga...

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May 7, 2024

101. Sci-Fi: The Future is Queer (with TQ Sims)

Inclusive representation in various literary genres offers LGBTQ+ people a sense of visibility, validation, and connection as they see their experiences authentically mirrored, which fosters a more affirming narrative for rea...

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April 16, 2024

98. Dear Netflix: Stop Cancelling Our Queer Shows

Today, authentic LGBTQ+ representation in TV is more important than ever since it reflects the community's diverse experiences, fosters a sense of inclusivity, challenges stereotypes, and provides meaningful representation th...

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April 9, 2024

97. Diversifying Queer Horror Cinema (with Jose Nateras)

In previous episodes, we discussed the history of gay representation in TV and film and roadblocks LGBTQ+ actors encounter in Hollywood, with gay characters continuing to be portrayed by straight actors. While representation ...

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March 26, 2024

95. Take a Page from #GayBookstagram (with Rod Lujano)

Inclusive representation in literature offers LGBTQ+ people a sense of visibility, validation, and connection as they see their experiences authentically mirrored, which fosters a more inclusive narrative for readers. While i...

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Oct. 31, 2023

80. Queer Haunts: Happy Halloween (with Ralph Anthony)

Happy Halloween, my LGBTQuties! Previously, we discussed how queer themes have been depicted in horror for more than 250 years and that the genre has always been queer. In this episode, Ralph Anthony, host of the Scream Queer...

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Aug. 15, 2023

69. That's So Gay (You Really Shouldn't Say That)

For decades, the phrase “That’s So Gay” has been tossed around carelessly to refer to things that are bad or undesirable. While many consider it a simple playground put down, it is actually a microaggression that perpetuates ...

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May 23, 2023

58. Gay Icons: Our Friend, Dorothy

Previously, we discussed our iconic pop queens and how their songs typically fit into distinct categories that hit an emotional button that appeals to gay men. In this episode, we continue our Gay Icons series with none other...

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May 2, 2023

55. Gay for Pay: Should Straight Actors Play Queer Characters?

We’ve come a long way regarding LGBTQ+ media representation, with 92 LGBTQ+ characters appearing on scripted broadcast primetime programming for the 2021-2022 season. However, that representation falls flat when you consider ...

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