Explore every episode of the podcast Gays Reading
| Title | Pub. Date | Duration | |
|---|---|---|---|
| What's the TEA? with Shannon Bowring (Where the Forest Meets the River) | 12 Sep 2024 | 00:17:33 | |
In this new series What’s the TEA? host Jason Blitman gets the inside scoop on new books–authors are tasked with describing their books with 3 words using the letters T, E, and A. This first episode features Shannon Bowring talking to Jason about her new book Where the Forest Meets the River. Shannon Bowring has been nominated for a Pushcart and a Best of the Net, and was recently selected in Best Small Fictions. She holds an MFA from University of Southern Maine Stonecoast and currently resides in Maine. The Road to Dalton is her first novel. BOOK CLUB! SUBSTACK! MERCH! WATCH! | |||
| Danzy Senna (Colored Television) feat. Jonathan Adler, Guest Gay Reader | 10 Sep 2024 | 01:01:06 | |
Host Jason Blitman talks to author Danzy Senna whose new book Colored Television is the latest Good Morning America Book Club pick. They talk about psychics, the Cult of California, author personas, and her writing process. Jason is then joined by Guest Gay Reader, designer Jonathan Adler who shares what he’s reading as well as tips to best curate your bookshelf. Check out the Colored Television Spotify Playlist Danzy Senna is the author of five previous books, including the bestselling Caucasia and, most recently, New People, as well as a memoir. The recipient of numerous awards and honors, she teaches writing at the University of Southern California. Theme song performed by Kyle Sherman Sign up to learn more about OUTspoken at www.weareoutspoken.org BOOK CLUB! SUBSTACK! MERCH! WATCH! | |||
| Catherine Newman (Sandwich) | 27 Jun 2024 | 01:00:44 | |
Jason and Brett talk to Catherine Newman (Sandwich) about ailments, weighted blankets, reproductive mayhem, peanut butter, queerness, and of course… sandwiches. Catherine Newman has written numerous columns, articles, and canned-bean recipes for magazines and newspapers, and her essays have been widely anthologized. She is the author of the novel We All Want Impossible Things; the memoirs Waiting for Birdy and Catastrophic Happiness; the middle-grade novel One Mixed-Up Night; and the bestselling kids’ life-skills books How to Be a Person and What Can I Say? She lives in Amherst, Massachusetts. BOOK CLUB! SUBSTACK! MERCH! WATCH! | |||
| Chris Whitaker (All the Colors of the Dark) | 25 Jun 2024 | 00:48:05 | |
Jason and Brett talked to Chris Whitaker (All the Color of the Dark) about what keeps friends in your life, horror stories from his time working in a library, what it means to have faith and hope, and Danny Zuko. Chris Whitaker is the award-winning author of Tall Oaks, All the Wicked Girls, and the New York Times bestseller We Begin at the End. Chris lives in the UK. All the Colors of the Dark was recently announced as the July 2024 Read with Jenna Book Club selection. BOOK CLUB! SUBSTACK! MERCH! WATCH! | |||
| Claire Lombardo (Same As It Ever Was) | 20 Jun 2024 | 00:44:44 | |
Jason and Brett are joined by Claire Lombardo (Same As It Ever Was), last month's Reese's Book Club pick for her novel, The Most Fun We Ever Had. They talk to Claire about secrets in relationships, favorite children, Boo Radleyism, and debate Joni Mitchell. More info about Claire & Jason in conversation at Warwick's HERE. BOOK CLUB! SUBSTACK! MERCH! WATCH! | |||
| PRIDE Upcoming/Up & Coming feat. Kimberly King Parsons, KB Brookins, and Santiago Jose Sanchez | 18 Jun 2024 | 00:58:10 | |
In the final PRIDE installment of Upcoming/Up & Coming, Jason and Brett talk to debut* authors Kimberly King Parsons (We Were the Universe), KB Brookins (Pretty), and Santiago Jose Sanchez (Hombrecito). They talk about the theatre of parenthood, queer representation in books and media, and using writing to better understand your own story. *Debut-ish! Kimberly’s debut novel and KB’s debut memoir. Kimberly King Parsons is the author of Black Light, a collection of stories that was long-listed for the National Book Award and the Story Prize. In 2020, she received the National Magazine Award for fiction. Born in Lubbock, Texas, she lives in Portland, Oregon, with her partner and children. We Were the Universe is her first novel. KB Brookins is a Black, queer, and trans writer and cultural worker from Texas. They are the author of Freedom House and How to Identify Yourself with a Wound. Brookins has poems, essays, and installation art published in Academy of American Poets, Teen Vogue, Poetry Magazine, Prizer Arts & Letters, Okayplayer, Poetry Society of America, Autostraddle, and other venues. They have earned fellowships from the National Endowment for the Arts, PEN America, Equality Texas, and others. Santiago Jose Sanchez (they/them), a Grinnell College assistant professor of English and a graduate of the Iowa Writers’ Workshop, is a queer Colombian American writer. Santiago’s writing has appeared in McSweeney’s, ZYZZYVA, Subtropics, and Joyland and been distinguished in Best American Short Stories. They are the recipient of a Truman Capote Fellowship from the University of Iowa and an Emerging LGBTQ Voices Fellowship from Lambda Literary. BOOK CLUB! SUBSTACK! MERCH! WATCH! | |||
| Rufi Thorpe (Margo's Got Money Troubles) | 13 Jun 2024 | 00:49:52 | |
Jason and Brett talk to Rufi Thorpe (Margo’s Got Money Troubles) about her obsession with wrestling (and how learning about it was like an all-cereal buffet), having a public persona and the chaos of the modern internet, falling in love with strangers, and of course, @tooturnttony. BOOK CLUB! SUBSTACK! MERCH! WATCH! | |||
| PRIDE '24 feat. Jen Silverman, David Levithan, and Emma Copley Eisenberg | 11 Jun 2024 | 01:04:10 | |
Jason and Brett continue PRIDE 2024 with celebrated authors. They’re joined in conversation with Jen Silverman (There’s Going to Be Trouble), David Levithan (Wide Awake Now), and Emma Copley Eisenberg (Housemates) talking about the cyclical nature of history, queer inheritance, intersectionality of arts and queerness, and much more. When not writing during spare hours on weekends, David Levithan is editorial director at Scholastic and the founding editor of the PUSH imprint, which is devoted to finding new voices and new authors in teen literature. His acclaimed novels Boy Meets Boy and The Realm of Possibility started as stories he wrote for his friends for Valentine’s Day (something he’s done for the past 22 years and counting) that turned themselves into teen novels. He’s often asked if the book is a work of fantasy or a work of reality, and the answer is right down the middle—it’s about where we’re going, and where we should be. Emma Copley Eisenberg is a queer writer of fiction and nonfiction. Her first book, The Third Rainbow Girl: The Long Life of a Double Murder in Appalachia, was named a New York Times Notable Book and was nominated for an Edgar Award, a Lambda Literary Award, and an Anthony Award, among other honors. Her fiction has appeared in Granta, McSweeney’s, VQR, American Short Fiction, and other publications. Raised in New York City, she lives in Philadelphia, where she co-founded Blue Stoop, a community hub for the literary arts. BOOK CLUB! SUBSTACK! MERCH! WATCH! | |||
| Pride Upcoming/Up & Coming feat. Justinian Huang, KT Hoffman, and Myriam Lacroix | 06 Jun 2024 | 00:52:11 | |
In this Pride edition of Upcoming/Up & Coming, Jason and Brett talk to Justinian Huang (The Emperor and the Endless Palace) about living life romantically, KT Hoffman (The Prospects) about how anyone can play baseball, and Myriam Lacroix (How it Works Out) about a twist on autofiction. BOOK CLUB! SUBSTACK! MERCH! WATCH! | |||
| PRIDE '24 feat. Carvell Wallace, R.O. Kwon, and Byron Lane | 04 Jun 2024 | 01:05:14 | |
Jason and Brett kick off PRIDE 2024 with some incredible queer authors! They talk to Carvell Wallace (Another Word for Love) about the key to your ability to fight for what's right, R.O. Kwon (Exhibit) about art and how taking a choreography workshop got her in the body of her characters, and Byron Lane (Big Gay Wedding) about why he thinks he'd thrive in prison. R. O. Kwon is the author of the nationally bestselling novel The Incendiaries, which was named a best book of the year by more than forty publications and was a finalist for the National Book Critics Circle John Leonard Award. With Garth Greenwell, Kwon coedited the bestselling Kink, a New York Times Notable Book. Her writing has appeared in The New York Times, The New Yorker, Vanity Fair, and elsewhere. She has received fellowships and awards from the National Endowment for the Arts, Yaddo, and MacDowell. Born in Seoul, Kwon has lived most of her life in the United States. Byron Lane is the author of A Star Is Bored, hailed by the New York Times Book Review as “wildly funny and irreverent.” He’s a playwright, screenwriter, Emmy Award–winning journalist, and former assistant to actress Carrie Fisher. He’s originally from New Orleans and lives in Palm Springs, California, with his husband, author Steven Rowley, and their rescue dogs, Raindrop and Shirley. BOOK CLUB! SUBSTACK! MERCH! WATCH! | |||
| Upcoming/Up & Coming feat. Zoë Bossiere, Alan Murrin, and Essie Chambers | 28 May 2024 | 00:54:35 | |
In the fourth installment of their debut novelists series UPCOMING / UP & COMING, Jason and Brett talk to three new writers about their recently and soon-to-be released books. Zoë Bossiere (Cactus Country, May 21) talks about navigating identity growing up in a trailer park; Alan Murrin (The Coast Road, June 4) shares how short stories transformed into a novel; and Essie Chambers (Swift River, June 4) talks about how ancestral inheritance shaped her book, and also learns about the cootie shot. Zoë Bossiere (they/she) is writer from Tucson, Arizona. They are the managing editor of Brevity: A Journal of Concise Literary Nonfiction. as well as the coeditor of two anthologies: The Best of Brevity (Rose Metal Press, 2020) and The Lyric Essay as Resistance: Truth from the Margins (Wayne State UP, 2023). Bossiere's debut, Cactus Country: A Boyhood Memoir, chronicles their experiences growing up as a trans boy in a Tucson, Arizona trailer park. Alan Murrin is an Irish writer based in Berlin. His short story, “The Wake,” won the 2021 Bournemouth Writing Prize and was shortlisted for short story of the year at the Irish Book Awards. The Coast Road was shortlisted for the PFD Queer Fiction prize. Murrin is also the recipient of an Irish Arts Council Agility Award and an Arts Council Literature Bursary. He is a graduate of the prose fiction masters at the University of East Anglia, and writes for the Irish Times and the Times Literary Supplement, as well as Art Review and e-flux. Essie Chambers earned her MFA in creative writing from Columbia University and has received fellowships from the MacDowell Vermont Studio Center, and Baldwin for the Arts. A former film and television executive, she was a producer on the documentary Descendant, which was released by the Obamas’ Higher Ground production company and Netflix in 2022. Swift River is her debut novel. BOOK CLUB! SUBSTACK! MERCH! WATCH! | |||
| Steven Rowley (The Guncle Abroad) | 21 May 2024 | 00:49:01 | |
Jason and Brett talk to Steven Rowley (The Guncle Abroad) about sea cave adventures in Capri, Varla Jean Merman's rendition of "Ring Them Bells," the best Wang Chung song, and obviously: Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again and Grease 2. BOOK CLUB! SUBSTACK! MERCH! WATCH! | |||
| Elif Shafak (There are Rivers in the Sky) feat. Franklin Cappadora, Guest Gay Reader | 03 Sep 2024 | 01:01:34 | |
In the season premiere of Gays Reading, host Jason Blitman talks to acclaimed author Elif Shafak (There are Rivers in the Sky) about the importance of storytelling and information vs. knowledge vs. wisdom. They also engage in a unique conversation about religion and so much more. This episode features Guest Gay Reader Franklin Cappadora aka Jason’s husband. Elif Shafak is an award-winning British-Turkish author of a dozen novels, including The Island of Missing Trees, which was short-listed for the Costa Novel Award, and 10 Minutes 38 Seconds in This Strange World, which was short-listed for the Booker Prize. Her work has been translated into fifty-six languages. She holds a PhD in political science and has taught at universities in Turkey, the United States and the United Kingdom. She lives in London and is an honorary fellow at Oxford University. BOOK CLUB! SUBSTACK! MERCH! WATCH! | |||
| Kaliane Bradley (The Ministry of Time) | 14 May 2024 | 00:46:56 | |
Jason and Brett talk to Kaliane Bradley (The Ministry of Time) about transforming her once-serious novel about Cambodia and being mixed-race into the latest genre-defying Good Morning America book club pick. They learn how Kaliane was able to experience the 21st century as an adventure, gush over the only photo of a footnote of a historical figure, and debate about chilled red wine. BOOK CLUB! SUBSTACK! MERCH! WATCH! | |||
| Great Queer Coffee Table Books feat. Ryan Fitzgibbon, Billie Winter, & Hannah Murphy Winter | 07 May 2024 | 00:48:29 | |
Jason and Brett talk to Hannah Murphy Winter and Billie Winter, the couple behind Queer Power Couples, as they delve into the essence of queer power partnerships, offering intimate insights into documenting this untapped element of queer history. They then talk to Ryan Fitzgibbon (A Great Gay Book, on sale May 21) about his curation of a time capsule featuring essays, poems, and photographs, immortalizing layers of queer history and rich tapestry of LGBTQ+ experiences. BOOK CLUB! SUBSTACK! MERCH! WATCH! | |||
| Rachel Khong (Real Americans) | 30 Apr 2024 | 00:42:51 | |
In their 50th episode, Jason and Brett talk to Rachel Khong (Real Americans) about cooking eggs, mugwort baths, growing into the person who could write this book, and how friction allows for change. BOOK CLUB! SUBSTACK! MERCH! WATCH! | |||
| Upcoming / Up & Coming feat. Jiaming Tang, Melissa Mogollon, Yael van der Wouden | 23 Apr 2024 | 00:49:01 | |
In the April episode of their debut novelists series UPCOMING / UP & COMING, Jason and Brett talk to three new writers about their soon-to-be released books. Jiaming Tang (Cinema Love, May 7) talks about explaining his "accent" to people in Alabama; Melissa Mogollon (Oye, May 14) expresses her love of Rainforest Cafe; and Yael van der Wouden (The Safekeep, May 28) shares the secrets of erotic writing. BOOK CLUB! SUBSTACK! MERCH! WATCH! | |||
| Yulin Kuang (How to End a Love Story) | 16 Apr 2024 | 00:57:39 | |
Jason and Brett talk to Yulin Kuang (How to End a Love Story) about Lisa Frank fan fiction, underrated 90s rom coms, the struggles of watching cooking shows on TV, how she came to adapt two Emily Henry novels, and much more. BOOK CLUB! SUBSTACK! MERCH! WATCH! | |||
| Holly Gramazio (The Husbands) | 09 Apr 2024 | 00:55:19 | |
Jason and Brett talk to Holly Gramazio (The Husbands) about how her life was changed by a misfiled library book, her strong convictions about jewelry, five finger shoes, and High School Musical 3. The Husbands is April's Read with Jenna book club pick. BOOK CLUB! SUBSTACK! MERCH! WATCH! | |||
| Douglas Westerbeke (A Short Walk Through a Wide World) | 02 Apr 2024 | 00:49:55 | |
Jason and Brett talk to Douglas Westerbeke (A Short Walk Through a Wide World) about the research that went into setting up his modern fairy tale, the impact of technology on storytelling, and the importance of staying curious. BOOK CLUB! SUBSTACK! MERCH! WATCH! | |||
| Garrard Conley (All the World Beside) | 26 Mar 2024 | 00:47:25 | |
Jason and Brett talked to Garrard Conley (All the World Beside) about how we reinvent ourselves when we challenge the status quo, the pros and cons of “adulting,” and making our own rules. Garrard Conley is the New York Timesbestselling author of the memoir Boy Erased, as well as the creator and co-producer of the podcast UnErased: The History of Conversion Therapy in America. His work has been published by The New York Times, Oxford American, Time, and Virginia Quarterly Review, among others. Conley is a graduate of Brooklyn College’s MFA program, where he was a Truman Capote Fellow specializing in fiction. He is an assistant professor of creative writing at Kennesaw State University. BOOK CLUB! SUBSTACK! MERCH! WATCH! | |||
| Tommy Orange (Wandering Stars) | 19 Mar 2024 | 00:48:27 | |
Jason and Brett talk to Tommy Orange (Wandering Stars) about dreams and spirituality, learn about sound engineering and roller hockey, and how understanding your history can shape your future. Come for special insider info about a character's playlist, stay for a Moulin Rouge debate. Tommy Orange is a graduate of the MFA program at the Institute of American Indian Arts. An enrolled member of the Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes of Oklahoma, he was born and raised in Oakland, California. His first book, There There, was a finalist for the 2019 Pulitzer Prize and received the 2019 American Book Award. He lives in Oakland, California. BOOK CLUB! SUBSTACK! MERCH! WATCH! | |||
| Jason & Brett Answer Listener Questions | 12 Mar 2024 | 00:28:28 | |
Jason and Brett take a break from talking to authors to answer your questions! Everything from choosing books and finding time to read to their experience and relationship to books as queer people. BOOK CLUB! SUBSTACK! MERCH! WATCH! | |||
| BONUS Read-Along: Abraham Verghese (The Covenant of Water) | 13 Aug 2024 | 01:09:18 | |
In this BONUS episode, Jason and author Amy Jo Burns (Mercury) talk to Abraham Verghese about his book The Covenant of Water. Jason and Amy did a summer-long read-along with fellow listeners and readers and this is their culminating conversation with Abraham. Note: There WILL be spoilers! BOOK CLUB! SUBSTACK! MERCH! WATCH! | |||
| Armistead Maupin (Mona of the Manor) | 05 Mar 2024 | 00:41:14 | |
Jason and Brett talk to Armistead Maupin (Mona of the Manor) about living in the world of Tales of the City for 50 years, inspiration for the character of Mona, a day in his life at nearly-80, shows he's seen in the West End recently, Bernadette Peters, and more. BOOK CLUB! SUBSTACK! MERCH! WATCH! | |||
| Upcoming/Up & Coming feat. Lottie Hazell, Ursula Villarreal-Moura, and Alexandra Tanner | 27 Feb 2024 | 00:44:21 | |
In the second installment of their debut novelists series UPCOMING / UP & COMING, Jason and Brett talk to three new writers about their soon-to-be released books. Lottie Hazell (Piglet, Feb 27) talks about working as a board game designer; Ursula Villarreal-Moura (Like Happiness, Mar 26) shares her stories writing fan letters; and Alexandra Tanner (Worry, Mar 26) tells real-life stories that inspired her book. BOOK CLUB! SUBSTACK! MERCH! WATCH! | |||
| Bianca Bosker (Get the Picture) | 20 Feb 2024 | 00:50:57 | |
Jason and Brett talk to Bianca Bosker (Get the Picture) about the immersive approach to her writing, why we need to unlearn how to behave around art, developing new tastes, and the importance of context in the context of art. BOOK CLUB! SUBSTACK! MERCH! WATCH! | |||
| Ijeoma Oluo (Be a Revolution) | 13 Feb 2024 | 00:42:29 | |
Jason and Brett talk to Ijeoma Oluo (Be a Revolution) about actionable steps for making social change, the importance of diversifying where you get your information, doing your own research, outlining a blueprint for being the catalyst of change. BOOK CLUB! SUBSTACK! MERCH! WATCH! | |||
| Mark Daley (Safe) | 08 Feb 2024 | 00:38:39 | |
Jason and Brett talk to Mark Daley (Safe) about his new memoir chronicling a piece of his journey becoming an adoptive parent. They talk about some of the systemic issues within the adoption process, chosen family, and the impetus to telling this story. BOOK CLUB! SUBSTACK! MERCH! WATCH! | |||
| Dolly Alderton (Good Material) | 06 Feb 2024 | 00:48:59 | |
Jason and Brett talk to Dolly Alderton (Good Material) about hetero optimism (yes, it's a thing), Geri Halliwell as a sexual awakening, Robbie Williams as... another sexual awakening, Nora Ephron (unrelated to sexual awakenings), and so much more. Grab your Zabar's mug and enjoy. BOOK CLUB! SUBSTACK! MERCH! WATCH! | |||
| Crystal Hefner (Only Say Good Things) | 30 Jan 2024 | 00:43:44 | |
Jason and Brett talk to Crystal Hefner (Only Say Good Things) about life following her time in the famed Playboy mansion, beauty standards and carrying the burden of how we want to be perceived in the world, and what she's discovering about herself now that she's on the other side. BOOK CLUB! SUBSTACK! MERCH! WATCH! | |||
| Kaveh Akbar (Martyr!) | 23 Jan 2024 | 01:01:25 | |
Jason and Brett talk to Kaveh Akbar (Martyr!) about his transition from poet to novelist, listening to your dreams, how language is a sense memory, parallels with the musical Pippin, and much more. BOOK CLUB! SUBSTACK! MERCH! WATCH! | |||
| Upcoming/Up & Coming feat. Christina Cooke, Daniel Lefferts, and Rebecca K Reilly | 18 Jan 2024 | 00:46:23 | |
In the first installation of their debut novelists series UPCOMING / UP & COMING, Jason and Brett talk to three new writers about their soon-to-be released books. Christina Cooke (Broughtupsy, Jan 23) talks about how it took 13 years to write and publish her book; Daniel Lefferts (Ways & Means, Feb 6) shares how his novel emerged from a short story he wrote in college; and Rebecca K Reilly (Greta & Valdin, Feb 6) explains the unique publishing process in New Zealand, where her book has been a bestseller for over 3 years. Christina Cooke’s writing has appeared in The Caribbean Writer, PRISM International, Prairie Schooner, Epiphany: A Literary Journal, and elsewhere. A MacDowell Fellow, Journey Prize winner, and a Glenna Luschei Prairie Schooner Award winner, she holds a Master of Arts from the University of New Brunswick and a Master of Fine Arts from the Iowa Writers’ Workshop. Christina was born in Jamaica and is now a Canadian citizen who lives and writes in New York City. Broughtupsy is her debut novel. Daniel Lefferts was born in upstate New York and now lives in Hudson, New York. He holds an MFA from Columbia University and has taught writing at Columbia and Rutgers. Ways and Means is his first novel. Rebecca K Reilly (Ngaati Hine, Ngaati Rehua Ngaatiwai ki Aotea), born 1991, is a Maaori novelist from Waitaakere, New Zealand. She has a BA (hons) in German and European studies from the University of Auckland and an MA from the International Institute of Modern Letters at Victoria University of Wellington, where she won the Adam Foundation Prize in Creative Writing for 2019. Greta & Valdin is her first novel. BOOK CLUB! SUBSTACK! MERCH! WATCH! | |||
| 2024 Anticipated Books feat. Jenny Jackson | 16 Jan 2024 | 00:43:46 | |
In the first episode of the new year, Jason and Brett discuss books they’re excited to check out in 2024. They’re joined by editor and author Jenny Jackson (who initially put The Rachel Incident on their radar—one of Jason’s Most Memorable 2023 Books!) Jenny talks about titles, some of which she served as editor, that she’s looking forward to this year. Jenny Jackson is a vice president and executive editor at Alfred A. Knopf. A graduate of Williams College and the Columbia Publishing Course, she lives in Brooklyn Heights with her family. Her debut novel Pineapple Street, a Good Morning America Book Club pick, was released in March 2023. BOOK CLUB! SUBSTACK! MERCH! WATCH! | |||
| Season Finale: Books We're Excited About Second Half of '24 and a Message | 01 Aug 2024 | 00:11:43 | |
In this Season Finale, Jason and Brett take it back to the beginning--two friends talking about books. They shout out 8 different books releasing in the second half of 2024 that they're excited about as well as share some Gays Reading updates. BOOK CLUB! SUBSTACK! MERCH! WATCH! | |||
| Most Memorable Books 2023, Season Finale | 19 Dec 2023 | 00:39:00 | |
In the season finale of Gays Reading, Jason and Brett share not the "favorite" and not the "best," but their most memorable books of 2023. What makes a memorable book? Do any overlap? Check out this episode and prep for the new year by adding a whole bunch of books to your TBR. BOOK CLUB! SUBSTACK! MERCH! WATCH! | |||
| Books, Broadway, & Beyond feat. Kait Kerrigan, Merri Sugarman, & Matthew Chisling | 12 Dec 2023 | 00:59:28 | |
Jason and Brett's love for books and Broadway come together in this exciting episode! They talk to musical book writer and lyricist Kait Kerrigan about adapting The Great Gatsby for the stage, Merri Sugarman about the casting process and her new book From Craft to Career, and Matthew Chisling (aka @mattyandthebooks) about book adaptations coming to Broadway. A behind-the-scenes conversation you won't want to miss! BOOK CLUB! SUBSTACK! MERCH! WATCH! | |||
| Stephen Markley (The Deluge) on Climate Not-So-Fiction | 07 Dec 2023 | 00:48:34 | |
Jason and Brett talk to Stephen Markley (The Deluge) about writing his climate fiction epic over the course of 13 years, scaring Stephen King, differences between writing for television and novels, and growing up in Ohio. Stephen Markley is the acclaimed author of Ohio, which NPR called a “masterpiece.” A graduate of the Iowa Writer’s Workshop, Markley’s other books include the memoir Publish This Book and the travelogue Tales of Iceland. BOOK CLUB! SUBSTACK! MERCH! WATCH! | |||
| Cozy Season Book Recs feat. Jasmine Guillory | 05 Dec 2023 | 00:40:59 | |
'Tis the season to be under a blanket, sitting by a fireplace, reading a book! Just in case your TBR doesn't have something you're in the mood for, Jason and Brett have some cozy recommendations for you. If that's not enough, they also enlist the help of bestselling author Jasmine Guillory (The Wedding Date, The Proposal) to share her recs. BOOK CLUB! SUBSTACK! MERCH! WATCH! | |||
| The Old Gays (The Old Gays Guide to the Good Life) on Saving the Best for Last | 28 Nov 2023 | 00:43:09 | |
Jason and Brett talk to Mick Peterson, Bill Lyons, Robert Reeves, and Jessay Martin aka The Old Gays (The Old Gays Guide to the Good Life) about chosen family, the importance of talking about the past, social media bringing people together, and their admiration for the younger generation's acceptance. BOOK CLUB! SUBSTACK! MERCH! WATCH! | |||
| Zachary Zane (Boyslut) on Sex, Sexuality, and Sexual Expression, among other things | 21 Nov 2023 | 00:58:44 | |
Jason and Brett talk to sexpert Zachary Zane (Boyslut) about bisexuality, kinks, overcoming shame, and the importance of talking openly and honestly about sexual expression in its many forms. In case the title of the episode doesn't make it clear: sex comes up a lot in this episode. BOOK CLUB! SUBSTACK! MERCH! WATCH! | |||
| Greg Marshall (Leg) on Coming of Age in Two Closets ...and Speedos | 16 Nov 2023 | 00:45:39 | |
Jason and Brett talk to Greg Marshall (Leg) about Speedos, the importance of finding your community, Speedos (there's a lot of Speedo talk), parents (of course, we're all gay), and how queer people are responsible for inventing culture. BOOK CLUB! SUBSTACK! MERCH! WATCH! | |||
| Jedediah Jenkins (Mother, Nature) on Relationships and Donuts | 14 Nov 2023 | 00:56:40 | |
Jason and Brett talk to Jedediah Jenkins (Mother, Nature) about topics ranging from starter words on Wordle to the best time to eat donuts, about complicated parent relationships, the nuances of LTRs, and everything in between. BOOK CLUB! SUBSTACK! MERCH! WATCH! | |||
| Ginger Minj (Southern Fried Sass) on Food, Bette Midler, and Reading | 07 Nov 2023 | 00:49:32 | |
Jason and Brett talk to RuPaul’s Drag Race alum Ginger Minj (Southern Fried Sass) about how to keep your house and heart open, auditioning for the live action Little Mermaid, naming Bette Midler as her new drag mom, and the important differences between throwing shade and reading. Ginger Minj is the stage name of Joshua Allen Eads, an American drag queen, actor, singer-songwriter, and reality television personality. After achieving recognition for placing as runner-up on the seventh season of the reality television competition series RuPaul’s Drag Race, Minj returned to compete on the second and sixth seasons of RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars. Minj has acted in three Netflix productions: Dumplin’, Super Drags, and AJ and the Queen; made an appearance in Disney’s Hocus Pocus 2; and has released three studio albums. Southern Fried Sass is her first book. BOOK CLUB! SUBSTACK! MERCH! WATCH! | |||
| Danny Pellegrino (The Jolliest Bunch) on the Art of Gift Giving, Lindor Balls, and Meat Sticks | 02 Nov 2023 | 00:56:27 | |
Jason and Brett talk to Everything Iconic podcast host Danny Pellegrino (The Jolliest Bunch) about traditions, how to avoid "stuffing disappointment," Judy Greer dream casting, a shocking piece of advice about *that* Mariah song, and much, much, more. BOOK CLUB! SUBSTACK! MERCH! WATCH! | |||
| Upcoming/Up & Coming feat. Alana S. Portero, Komail Aijazuddin, and Gina María Balibrera | 30 Jul 2024 | 00:53:51 | |
Jason and Brett are joined by debut authors Alana S. Portero (Bad Habig), Komail Aijazuddin (Manboobs), and Gina María Balibrera (The Volcano Daughters). They talk about how the city of Madrid is like a drag queen, cheesecake and carbs, and reclaiming your culture's narrative. BOOK CLUB! SUBSTACK! MERCH! WATCH! | |||
| Nonfiction November Book Recs feat. Sy Montgomery | 31 Oct 2023 | 00:36:52 | |
To kick off #NonfictionNovember, Jason and Brett share some of their favorite nonfiction books before talking to prolific nonfiction author, Sy Montgomery. (How many times can one say "nonfiction" in a description?) They talk to Sy about the nonfiction genre, how she decides her topics, and about her newest book Of Time and Turtles. (Nonfiction count: 4. Technically 5.) BOOK CLUB! SUBSTACK! MERCH! WATCH! | |||
| Pidgeon Pagonis (Nobody Needs to Know) on the "I" in LGBTQIA+, Trauma Soup, and Pizza | 26 Oct 2023 | 00:59:34 | |
Do you know what the "I" in LGBTQIA+ stands for? In case you don't, Jason and Brett talk to Pidgeon Pagonis (Nobody Needs to Know) about what intersex means and Pidgeon's experience living "in between." They also discuss the best Chicago-style pizza, gush over diners, and debate a controversial A League of Their Own question. BOOK CLUB! SUBSTACK! MERCH! WATCH! | |||
| Dann McDorman (West Heart Kill) on Mysteries and Shenanigans | 24 Oct 2023 | 00:45:28 | |
In this spoiler-free conversation, Jason and Brett talk to Dann McDorman (West Heart Kill) about his reverence for the classic mystery story, why so many people are drawn to the genre, his least favorite trope, and his experience writing his debut novel. BOOK CLUB! SUBSTACK! MERCH! WATCH! | |||
| Amy Schneider (In the Form of a Question) on "Who is Amy Schneider?" | 17 Oct 2023 | 00:46:45 | |
Jason and Brett talk to Jeopardy! champion Amy Schneider (In the Form of a Question) about life before and after her lauded run on the show, the impact of teachers, her experience writing nonfiction and stand-up comedy, and how hard it is to execute the infamous "Jeopardy! poker face." BOOK CLUB! SUBSTACK! MERCH! WATCH! | |||