Explore every episode of the podcast Queerly Recommended
| Title | Pub. Date | Duration | |
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| Super Gay Librarian (QR 135) | 23 Jun 2026 | 01:18:52 | |
We're back for Pride, Part Two! Kris talks about the delightful romance bookshop she discovered in her city (shout out to Smitten Booktique). While comparing the relative merits and discomforts of different medical procedures, Tara and Kris provide their irregularly timed reminder to get your boobs squished, you know, professionally. Official Recommendations From Kris: Shrill (Hulu/Netflix) Kris's official recommendation this week is the TV series Shrill (originally released on Hulu, now available on Netflix). Kris loved this show, especially Aidy Bryant as the lead, and praised the queer representation in the show's side characters. From Tara: The Whole Truth by Haley Cass Tara's official recommendations this week is The Whole Truth by Haley Cass, an enemies-to-lovers sapphic romance set in the world of country music. Tara adored the chemistry between these two characters as they go from enemies with benefits to their happily ever after, and thinks you will too. Works/People Discussed
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| Under the covers (QR 134) | 09 Jun 2026 | 00:52:16 | |
It's that most wonderful time of the year (Pride! And it's beach reads time!). Old Lady Tara rears her ancient head this episode, talking about respecting bedtimes and being excited for the rain to loosen up the soil for weeding flowerbeds. We also return to one of our favourite topics of conversation: book covers. Official Recommendations From Kris: Love is a Contact Sport by Frederick Smith Kris's official recommendation this week is the gay romance novel Love is a Contact Sport by Frederick Smith. You may remember Smith from previous episodes where we've officially recommended his book One and Done and had the opportunity to sit down with him for a conversation. This second chance romance includes aspects of relationships we don't often see on page, like therapy and safe sex practices. Kris loved this one. From Tara: For the Bride by Becca Grischow Tara's official recommendation this week is For the Bride by Becca Grischow, an enemies to lovers sapphic romance that Tara couldn't put down. She may have quibbles about the cover's colour scheme, but only because it suggests the book is a cozy, rom-com kind of affair, which it is not (and that's a very good thing). The main character, Alice, is a mess and Tara hasn't seen this kind of character work in a long time. 2026 has been a great year for books and For the Bride is right up there. Works/People Discussed
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| Introducing Henry Rollins (QR 125) | 20 Jan 2026 | 00:46:54 | |
We talked about this! New year. NEW. Different. Better. Not (waves hands at the world) all of this. Oh well, at least there's puppies, blurbs, and recommendations on tap. Pull up a chair, fellow sapphic fiction readers. We've got what you've been looking for. Official Recommendations From Kris: Atmosphere by Taylor Jenkins Reid From Tara: Greta Gets the Girl by Melissa Marr Works/People Discussed
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| They're Here, We're Here (QR 052) | 31 Jan 2023 | 00:47:58 | |
This week, Kris and Tara are thrilled to welcome two very special guests to the podcast. All the way from We're Here Season 2, we have Shangela's drag daughter Amy Rambow and Amy's son Alex. If you've listened to the podcast before, you know we have a special place in our hearts for We're Here. In this time of increased radicalization and targeting of queer people, We're Here is one of the most important shows on TV, documenting these shifts, while keeping its message of love front and center. Official RecommendationsFrom Amy:
From Alex:
Follow Amy: Follow Alex on Tiktok Follow Watertown Love Support & follow the show
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| New Year, Same Us (QR 051) | 17 Jan 2023 | 01:27:31 | |
Kris and Tara are back from break with an extra long episode. We've got listener questions this week and it's all about reintroductions. Who are we? What are we like? What are we doing on this podcast? Questions are answered! Kris's new book, Catch, is also out! She discusses reviews and her thoughts on first and third person perspective bias. And, Kris and Tara check in on how their dogs are doing. Kris found something that wasn't a walnut. Tara felt deep inter-species empathy for her puppy. Also, Tara queerly recommends taking time off work. Welcome to the new year, folks. We're going places. Official RecommendationsFrom Kris: The Inspection (2022) This week, Kris recommends The Inspection, a film written and directed by Elegance Bratton. It's based on his own real-life experiences as a young man facing homophobia at home and in a Marines boot camp as he struggles to make something of his life. From Tara: Rational Creatures Tara's big recommendation this week is Rational Creatures, a web series that retells Jane Austen's Persuasion in the modern day. Tara loves herself some queering of Austen (remember her love of last year, Fire Island?) and this series is one she couldn't put down. Works/People Discussed
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| Happy new year! | 03 Jan 2023 | 00:04:12 | |
No new episode this week because the holidays borked our recording timing. But! We don't want to leave you totally hanging, so here are our top 5 most downloaded episodes of 2022. If you haven't listened to any of them yet, you should check them out!
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| She Can Get It (QR 050) | 20 Dec 2022 | 01:00:57 | |
We made it to the end of the year! Not just us here at Queerly Recommended, but you did too! Good for you and good for us. To celebrate, Kris is releasing her latest book, Catch. In this last episode of the year (also the 50th regular episode — can you even?), Tara and Kris deep dive into the importance of We're Here (HBO Max), the different ways gingerbread houses can work into a romance, and their recent awesome bonus pod with chefs Catie Randazzo and J Chong from The Big Brunch. Happy Holidays, y'all! Official RecommendationsFrom Kris: Under the Christmas Tree (2021) This week, Kris checks out Under the Christmas Tree, Lifetime's first movie centering a lesbian couple. It's sweet. It's gentle. It's the story of one woman looking for a tree for her boss and finding it in another woman's yard. Of course, that's not all she finds. It's love. They find love in the yard. Both of them. The tree was a distraction. From Tara: The Christmas Catch by Clare Lydon Tara describes this book as Planes, Trains and Automobiles meets two lesbians who grew up around each other, one of whom had a massive childhood crush on the other. Clare Lydon specializes in lesbian romcoms and this one is a delight, where two women must travel to get to their Christmas plans by any means necessary…all the while falling in love along the way. Works/People Discussed
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| Remember Who the Fuck You Are, with Catie Randazzo & J Chong (QR Bonus 008) | 13 Dec 2022 | 00:56:59 | |
This week, Tara (Butter Tart) Scott and Kris (Midwest Biscuit) Bryant sit down with chefs Catie Randazzo and J Chong from the hit cooking competition reality show, The Big Brunch. They talk about what it was like representing their communities, how real the camaraderie was on the show, family meals, and, most importantly, what kind of bread they think the judges are. If you think Catie and J were great on the show, wait until you hear them on this episode. Follow Catie on Instagram: @chefcatierandazzo Sort Of (HBO Max) Bound (1996)
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| Polar Bears? I'm Out (QR 049) | 06 Dec 2022 | 01:05:17 | |
The holiday season is upon us and Kris and Tara come bearing gifts…of recommendations! Seriously, they had to make room this week to fit everything in. Kris regales us with the end of The Walking Dead and the Jeopardy! Tournament of Champions. Tara talks about The Big Brunch (yes, again) and Canada's own Ryan Reynolds. There's a bunch of other good stuff before a dive deep into the recommendations. Keep warm, friends. Stay bright. Official RecommendationsFrom Kris: Christmas Mouse by Rachel Spangler It might be tempting to think a story like Christmas Mouse would be easy to write, but it's actually the simple ones that are the toughest to pull off. This city mouse/country mouse romance, with two love interests competing over their perfect visions of Christmas, charms, delights, and warms the heart this holiday season. From Tara: Season of Love by Helena Greer Some books can scare us by how well tailored they are to our specific loves and interests. This is true for Tara and her recommendation, Season of Love. Tara declares this a perfect book and it includes one of her favourite characters of all time, who starts the book dead (ends it dead, too). The writing captivated Tara in how well it balances humour with heart. Content warnings: abusive parent, alcoholism (self and parents), grief, and death. Works/People Discussed
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| Milena McKay (and Tara) loves Truth and Measure (QR Bonus 007) | 29 Nov 2022 | 01:02:08 | |
Roslyn Sinclair has committed high crimes against readers' productivity and we are here for it! This episode, Tara is joined by f/f romance author Milena McKay. They gathered to sit in gratitude and fangirl about one of their favourite stories of all time. It began as a Devil Wears Prada fanfic and ended up being rewritten and published as its own original work. Yes, it's Truth and Measure season, baby! Referred to by Lee Winter as "The Lesfic Bible," Truth and Measure has impacted the lesfic scene in profound ways. Tara and Milena discuss the book's history, including how the #MeToo movement impacted the changes from fic to published work, and all the things the love about both versions. Get ready for major geeking out, friends. Works/People Discussed
Preorder Milena McKay's next book, These Thin Lines! Support & follow the show
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| Any Last Thoughts on Twitter? (QR 048) | 22 Nov 2022 | 00:52:09 | |
Are things coming to an end? Nobody knows. Kris and Tara are taking things one step at a time by talking about the (possible?) end of Twitter and what that means for QR going forward (subscribe to our newsletter!). They move on to talk season finales on tv, finales that aren't finales, finales that are…something else? Fin-allez? Official RecommendationsFrom Kris: Life Partners (2014) Have you heard about the one about the two girls? One's straight, one's queer. They're the best of friends until…the straight one gets into a relationship. You see where this is going, don't you? The love triangle. The learning that the two friends have been in love the whole time. Classic, right? Actually, not so much. The movie Life Partners deals with the more complicated (and more common) situation where you have to manage the different relationships in your life and the tension that can cause. It's fun. It's cute. You're going to have a good time. From Tara: The Big Brunch (HBO Max) The Big Brunch is Dan Levy's big project following Schitt's Creek. It's a reality cooking show that follows the line of The Great British Baking Show or The Great Canadian Baking Show (which Levy hosted the first two seasons of) where the focus is on the people, the personalities, and not the drama. Works/People Discussed
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| If I Have to Know, So Do You (QR 047) | 08 Nov 2022 | 00:48:15 | |
Kris is back with a new book on the horizon and a contest is coming, so stay tuned. Tara is on vacation and loving it. They talk about the faux pas that was GBBO's Mexican Week, plus what they love and don't love about reality shows. We have fun here. If you enjoy this episode, please consider buying Kris & Tara a Ko-fi! Official Recommendations This week, Kris recommends the m/m film Bros (2022). While it might be best known as the first gay romantic comedy released by a major studio that features an openly LGBTQ+ principal cast, Kris is delighted that it's also delightfully written and takes place in the queer scene of NYC. You should check it out! And Tara's recommending reality TV, with the vogueing competition show Legendary (HBO Max). Each week, ballroom houses battle down for the chance to win $100,000. It's fun, informative, and Tara cannot stop talking about it. Works/People Discussed
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| Yuri on Ice! (QR 046) | 25 Oct 2022 | 00:53:13 | |
This is the problem with recommendations: when you love 'em, you can't stop talking about 'em. Thanks to her recommendation in the last episode, Amanda returns to dish and deep dive into Yuri on Ice! Tara devoured the m/m figuring skating romance anime series in a weekend, and this whole episode is dedicated to geeking out about the things they loved about it (and one or two things they didn't). If you enjoy this episode, please consider buying Kris & Tara a Ko-fi! Other works discussed:
Amanda's Yuri on Ice! fanfic recommendations Listen to the episode | |||
| Aggressively horny (QR 124) | 06 Jan 2026 | 01:06:47 | |
It's a new year and we're already full of surprises here at Queerly Recommended. Kris reveals that she's never seen the sitcom Arrested Development. Tara drops more personal lore that connects her with an infamous Canadian serial killer. We have updates on Daryl Dixon the cat and the newest QR pet, Henry Rollins, Tara's little black schnoodle who hadn't yet arrived by the time of recording but is home now and thriving. This episode, instead of looking forward, Kris and Tara look back at their favourite recommendations of 2025. They are, in no particular order. Top Recommendations of 2025 Kris's top three
Tara's top three
Works/People Discussed
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| The Friend From Toronto (QR 045) | 11 Oct 2022 | 00:52:44 | |
Kris is away this week, so Tara lit up the Queer Signal and her friend from Toronto, Amanda, showed up. Amanda and Tara talk different Pride events and their own queer journeys, before diving into recommendations. If you enjoy this episode, please consider buying Kris & Tara a Ko-fi! Official Recommendations Tara describes Purposefully Accidental by G. Benson as an explosion of trope candy. Enemies to lovers? It's in there. Slow burn? You betcha. Fake relationships? Of course! It follows the story of a famous actress coming back into contact with a childhood friend she once humiliated, who still holds a grudge. A grudge that develops into…romance! Amanda's recommendation is The Untamed (2019), which is a difficult TV series to sum up. It's a fantasy historical Chinese drama set in a world where cultivators (spiritual warriors) battle evil spirits, demons, and sometimes each other in cross-clan conflict. But really, it's just the story of two lovely boys who, while queer in the original source material, aren't allowed to be overtly queer onscreen, due to censorship. That said, it's still pretty gay and a great story. Works/People Discussed
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| Jonathan Van Ness Says "Tara 4 Congress!" (QR044) | 27 Sep 2022 | 00:53:02 | |
This is not your normal episode of Queerly Recommended, friends! This week, we're bringing you a conversation that Tara had earlier this year with nonbinary truth teller, Jonathan Van Ness (Queer Eye, Gay of Thrones). In front of a live audience at Benevity's Goodness Matters conference, JVN talks all about authenticity, self-acceptance, and the importance of dualities. Somehow, Tara (just barely) keeps her shit together, especially when he says she should run for Congress. Can a Canadian run for Congress? Please no Ko-fis this week. If you enjoy this episode, make a donation to the Transgender Education Network of Texas. Listen to the episode | |||
| Tattooed Chaps (QR 043) | 13 Sep 2022 | 00:57:18 | |
Tara talks new hair colours and adding to her tattoo collection. Kris is back from ClexaCon, with stories of creating the perfect author photobomb. We're not in our twenties anymore, with our back tattoos and art house films. We're past our thirties (how past? None of your business), which means it's documentary time, bay-bee! This week, an interesting theme connects a number of the recommendations: how and why people quit competitions. When discussing Glow Up and RuPaul's Drag Race, Tara tells stories of queens and makeup artists who left before they could be kicked off, and in Kris's official recommendation, she talks about a skateboarder who had to bow out of the Olympics because of misgendering. Was it planned? Not at all. Is it interesting? Let us know on Twitter. If you enjoy this episode, please consider buying Kris & Tara a Ko-fi! Official Recommendations This week, Kris brings us the Netflix documentary Stay on Board: The Leo Baker Story. It's an inspiring story of one person's identity and the sport that they love. Kris really dug this one and we think you'll dig it too. Rounding the bases into home, Tara delivers another Netflix documentary, A Secret Love. Inspired by the recent explosion of Amazon Prime's A League of Their Own, Tara followed up with this documentary about one of the original All-American Girls Professional Baseball League players and her partner, their secret lives, and their changes in older years. It's a home run, folks. Works/People Discussed
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| Nothing But Ding Dong (QR042) | 30 Aug 2022 | 00:57:44 | |
By the time you hear Kris say she's looking forward to the upcoming ClexaCon, bemoaning her 9 AM panel and how everyone'll be hungover… it's already happened. Time is weird, people. Regardless, WHENEVER you're reading this (hearing this?) you'll be treated to Tara and Kris passing judgement on the contestants wimping out of Alone: Frozen, all from the comfort of their homes. There's a bunch more stuff, too, all of it very good. Too much to list, really (there is a list, it's below). Oh, they pick their favourite Drunk Histories! Come on in. If you enjoy this episode, please consider buying Kris & Tara a Ko-fi! Official Recommendations This week, Kris hits a home run with her official recommendation of Prime Video's A League of Their Own. Rather than remaking the 1992 hit movie, this series version shares the stories of queer and/or Black players in the 1940s that couldn't be told 30 years ago. And Tara brings us home with Hulu's Fire Island. This gay romantic comedy is a contemporary reinterpretation of Pride and Prejudice. It takes place on real world Fire Island, where Noah makes it his weeklong business to get his friend Howie laid…all while a new Mr. Darcy enters the field. Works/People Discussed
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| You Can Have My Cheese (QR 041) | 16 Aug 2022 | 01:01:01 | |
A lot is going on in this episode! Kris has a book baby coming out. Who does it look like? We'll find out! Tara reveals how the cosmic calendar and the finite nature of the known universe gave her some peace. They both try their best to fan cast The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo and find it surprisingly tough. Kris walks down memory lane with her experiences of Lilith Fair and makes an impassioned argument for its return. To top it off, Kris reveals whether or not she has ever been dumped. If you enjoy this episode, please consider buying Kris & Tara a Ko-fi! Official Recommendations This week, Kris recommends the Neil Patrick Harris show Uncoupled (Netflix), which follows Neil's character Michael after he is dumped by his partner on his 50th birthday and his subsequent journey into middle-aged queer dating. Kris loved the focus on queer adults and the particular challenges and opportunities that come with that experience. Tara doesn't usually gush, but... who are we kidding? She totally does. And this week, she's gushing about Ann McMan's Dead Letters From Paradise. It's a historical mystery about a young woman managing the dead letter office Winston-Salem, North Carolina, and how her experiences there widen her world and connect her to the community around her. Tara tentatively describes this as Ann McMan's best book. Listen to the review then go and pick this up! Works/People Discussed
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| More Fun Than a Horror Movie (QR 040) | 02 Aug 2022 | 00:53:03 | |
With COVID behind her, we welcome Tara back to the land of the living (sorry, it's a bit of a mess right now) and catch up with Kris who is back with Brit Ryder's award from GCLS (thief!). There's tons to catch up on! We revisit a tale of sisterly abuse, which Tara claims is the best story she's ever heard, minus the living-with-trauma bits. For some reason, the evil presence of Subway's Jared is invoked, but don't worry, we hold it down with catching up on Drag Race and recommending two, count 'em, two books! If you enjoy this episode, please consider buying Kris & Tara a Ko-fi! Official Recommendations This week, Kris brings us two-time Goldie Award winner, Changing Majors by Ana Hartnett Reichardt. It's a story about going off to college, thinking you'll end up one way and discovering, welp, you're going in a whole different direction. Kris loves the writing on this one, even if it is — gasp — first person present tense. It works, y'know? Tara's love of ice queens and the rich girl/poor girl trope strikes again with The Delicate Things We Make by Milena McKay. Journalist Jamie lands the assignment of a lifetime when she's tasked with discovering the secret identity behind the elusive artist DeVor. Turns out, she discovers more than what she signed up for when she falls in love with none other than DeVor herself. Tara loves this one, between the tension, mutual obsession, and exploration of ethics and social issues. It's a hard recommend from one of our two self-described softies. Works/People Discussed
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| We Recommend Self-Care | 19 Jul 2022 | 00:02:17 | |
Sorry, friends. No episode this week, because Tara got COVID and couldn't record an episode. But, in the most mini of mini-sodes, Tara recommends two things:
See you in two weeks! Listen to the episode | |||
| Mistaking Access for Permission (QR 039) | 05 Jul 2022 | 01:00:57 | |
The world's a heavy place right now, so after pleasantries about puppies and tattoos, Kris and Tara sit down to talk about the devastating attack on reproductive rights that is the repeal of Roe vs. Wade. There's no jokes about this, it just sucks. Know what else is unacceptable? Sexual harassment of authors. Instead of questions this week, Kris and Tara bring on popular lesfic author, Jae, and Sarah Wendell from Smart Bitches Trashy Books to talk about some all-too-prevalent problem behaviours that authors face, ranging from inappropriate emails to straight-up stalking. Then, of course, Kris and Tara share their recommendations as always. It might seem trivial in light of everything happening right now, but connecting people with queer media and creators is more crucial than ever. Seeing ourselves in the world is vital to begin changing it — and it fucking needs changing. No Ko-fi link today, friends. Please donate to the National Network of Abortion Funds instead. Transcript coming soon Official RecommendationsThis week, Kris brings us Transhood, a documentary from 2020. Transhood follows four children through their coming-of-age journeys over five years. Tara brings us a few different pieces of media that tell Tig Notaro's story. Tara starts with Tig's groundbreaking album Live, then recommends her documentary, Tig, her autobiography I'm Just a Person, and the show One Mississippi. Tig's health struggles, trauma, recovery and success are expressed beautifully in each, ensuring there's at least one way you can take in her story, no matter your media consumption preferences. Works/People Discussed
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| It's Radclyffe! (QR 038) | 21 Jun 2022 | 00:43:29 | |
There are many key figures in lesbian literature, without whom, we wouldn't have today's rich publishing scene. Radclyffe is one of them. In this episode, Radclyffe shares what inspired her not just to write but to publish lesbian fiction, her thoughts on the industry, why lesbian fiction has always been political, and what she queerly recommends. Happy Pride y'all! If you enjoy this episode, please consider buying Kris & Tara a Ko-fi! Transcript coming soon Works/People Discussed
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| Is This What I Want to Wear For The Apocalypse? (QR 037) | 07 Jun 2022 | 00:56:31 | |
Welcome, welcome, one and all to your Queerly Recommended meal of the week! As a little aperitif, we begin with a discussion of the corporatization of Pride. Following this is a starter of listener questions…as well as other questions! Is Kris a people pleaser? Who was the first lesfic author Tara and Kris met? We have a relaxing deconstruction of 80s fashion trends, an out-of-left-field callout on megahit and media darling, This Is Us, and Kris processes her toxic relationship with Survivor. Finally, it's main course time, and we have our official recommendations! If you enjoy this episode, please consider buying Kris & Tara a Ko-fi! Transcript coming soon Official Recommendations This week, Kris brings us the comedic drama 4th Man Out, where a working-class car mechanic makes the jump to come out to his best friends and live the life he's always wanted. Tara's pick this week is the 1968 documentary, The Queen. If you care about the history of drag and queer culture, you'll want to watch, as it covers the 1967 Miss All-America Camp Beauty Contest and the contestants involved. It even includes one of the most iconic reads of all time. Works/People Discussed
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| Eyeballs can get freckles (QR 123) | 23 Dec 2025 | 00:41:45 | |
Someone's been rocking around the Christmas tree early and has already paid for it. Kris threw out her back! She's been laid up, recovering and catching up on her Netflix. Tara's on vacation and replaying Baldur's Gate 3. She also has a freckle on her damn eyeball. Happy Holidays, everyone! Official Recommendations From Kris: A Keller Christmas Vacation (2025) Kris's official recommendation this week is A Keller Christmas Vacation, one of the few queer holiday movies that Hallmark put out this year. Kris had a lot of fun with this one and thinks you will too! From Tara: Christmas Toys by Lily Seabrooke Tara's official recommendation this week is Christmas Toys by Lily Seabrooke, an erotic, falling-for-the-roommate, Christmas romance that has a surprising amount of laughs. Tara loves Seabrooke's Christmas offerings and this is no different. Pick it up! Works/People Discussed
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| Cannabis For Everyone! (QR 036) | 24 May 2022 | 00:51:57 | |
Kris and Tara are talking about drugs this episode — specifically, cannabis. They wonder about their parents' experience with Mary Jane and modern technology, before getting into their recs. And the recs? They cover a wide variety (although very few books this time). Lots of good TV and movies out there, especially documentaries. We're living in a golden age! If you enjoy this episode, please consider buying Kris & Tara a Ko-fi! Transcript coming soon Official Recommendations This week, Kris decided to balance all the fluff that she's been bringing with the Patty Jenkins' 2003 directorial debut, Monster. A biographical crime drama, Monster tells the story of Aileen Wuornos, a sex worker who murdered seven of her male clients over the space of two years, and her relationship with the semi-fictionalized lover, Selby Wall. And, it's been a while since Tara's recommended a game, but this is a good one. Half-visual novel, half tabletop roleplaying game, Citizen Sleeper puts you in the role of an android with the memories of the human who sold a copy of themselves into corporate slavery. You wake up on an ancient space station, after escaping the company. Each day you manage your precarity by taking jobs, meeting people and making choices. Will you use your energy to help a friend or do something so you can get more food? Only you can decide. Works/People Discussed
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| 62% Gay (QR 035) | 10 May 2022 | 01:03:56 | |
Context for future historians: the world is currently ON ONE. Things are looking pretty dark right now. But if there's one theme for this week's episode, it's that we've been here before and we will fight again. This week, Kris and Tara go hard. Kris talks about her moving experience supporting queer kids who were targeted by parents at their school. And watch out supporters of Friends, Pretty Woman and Batman (individually or all together, you know who you are), because Kris is coming in hot with some blistering takes on your formative cinema. Tara details her trip from reading Jonathan Van Ness's new book to digging into the queer history of her hometown and do you know what she finds? We've been here before. We'll do it again. Despite the darkness and the erasure, these books, films, games, and everything that Kris and Tara recommend or talk about on this show are the result of queer lives coming to light. Queer isn't new. It's old as bones. None of us is alone. If you enjoy this episode, please consider buying Kris & Tara a Ko-fi! Transcript coming soon Official Recommendations Kris's official recommendation for this week is the British coming-of-age romantic series, Heartstopper, which follows Charlie Spring, a gay schoolboy who falls in love with someone he sits next to in class, Nick Nelson. She (and so many other people) say it's ADORABLE. This week, Tara recommends the 2018 documentary Mapplethorpe, which tracks the Robert Mapplethorpe from his rise to fame in the 1970s to his untimely death in 1989. Mapplethorpe was a photographer best known for his black-and-white photographs and his controversial works that detailed the gay male BDSM subculture of New York City in the late 60s and early 70s. Works/People Discussed
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| Chunky Blasphemy (QR 034) | 26 Apr 2022 | 00:53:32 | |
This week opens on one of those eternal questions. No, it's not "Cake or Death?" It's something a lot more…I dunno, you're going to have to listen. Kris and Tara go all over the map in this one. They discuss THAT ENDING of Killing Eve. They pass judgement on store names in Hallmark movies. And, speaking of Hallmark movies, Kris might have to rescind her "No Hallmark" bumper sticker. Also, if you haven't been listening beyond the outro in previous episodes, maybe now's a good time to start. :) If you enjoy this episode, please consider buying Kris & Tara a Ko-fi! Transcript coming soon Official Recommendations This week, Kris looks into the abyss of Hallmark and likes what she sees! It's the movie Love, Classified. Romance novelist Emilia returns to her tiny hometown and into the lives of her adult children, Taylor and Zach. Sure, she says she's there for a book signing arranged at the local book shop, but really, Emilia wants to reconnect with them. Taylor and Zach each explore the possibility of love using a classified app, and Taylor's match with a woman is a pleasant surprise within an overall delightful movie. Go Hallmark! Tara's recommendation is actually a Kris recommendation, making it a twofer — one that comes with the Queerly Recommended Seal of Approval. Queercore is a documentary that follows the cultural and social movement that began as an offshoot of punk and was distinguished by its discontent with society's disapproval of the gay, bisexual, lesbian and transgender communities. It includes appearances from Bruce LaBruce, GB Benson, John Waters, Kathleen Hanna, and Peaches. Works/People Discussed
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| The Seven Layer Jello of Tropes (QR 033) | 12 Apr 2022 | 00:58:17 | |
We're running on fumes and getting loopy. Kris is fresh off of a ten-hour drive and Tara has been working all day. You know what that means? That's right, it's a Monday night recording sesh. Get ready for the weird, the tired and the queer… recommendations, that is. If you enjoy this episode, please consider buying Kris & Tara a Ko-fi! Transcript coming soon Official Recommendations This week, Kris recommends the Netflix drama, Inventing Anna. It's inspired by the story of Russian-born Anna Sorokin, who conned members of New York City's elite into believing she's Anna Delvey, German heiress. By leaning on this (very, very fake) image, she's able to get people to give her hundreds of thousands of dollars in cash, goods, and services, towards her goal of opening a club. Tara recommends the delightful f/f romance Delilah Green Doesn't Care by Ashley Herring Blake. It follows Delilah Green as she returns home to Bright Falls, Oregon, so she can photograph her estranged stepsister's wedding. A fling with her stepsister's totally proper, single-mom, super-hot best friend might be just the ticket for getting through the festivities. Now they just need to make sure they don't catch any feelings. Works/People Discussed
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| Seven Brides for Seven Sisters (QR 032) | 29 Mar 2022 | 00:55:15 | |
It's the run up to awards season! So, in addition to congratulating our friend Brit Ryder for making finalist in the Foreword Indies for Not Guilty, Tara and Kris discuss the Lammy nominations. Next, they dive into an important listener question from Sheena at The Lesbian Review about which movie would they would queer up. Tara and Kris also indulge in the reality world of the Tinder Swindler and Love is Blind and have some takes to share. If you enjoy this episode, please consider buying Kris & Tara a Ko-fi! Transcript coming soon Official Recommendations Kris cheats! She has two official recommendations this week. The first is Normal Heart, the 2014 movie based on the largely autobiographical play of the same name by Larry Kramer, detailing the rise of the AIDS epidemic from 1981-1984. Kris's second recommendation is Nuclear Family, a documentary mini-series on HBO that follows the lives of two lesbians raising their children and the legal complications that ensue from the sperm donor. Tara didn't cheat, but she did something else this week: she changed her mind. She had all these notes for one recommendation, but pivots wildly to bring to you the lesbian fiction classic, Desert of the Heart by Jane Rule. There's a deep history to his book, which revolves around queerness in the mid-20th century against the backdrop of Reno's divorce industry. Works/Authors Discussed
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| Stanley Tucci, the Toni Collette of Men (QR 031) | 15 Mar 2022 | 00:43:55 | |
There's a lot of looking back in this episode. Kinda weird how that turns out sometimes. What are we looking back at? Our favourite butch-femme pairings, the age gap romance discussion from the previous episode, and the evergreen Evelyn Hugo discussion. Kris and Tara also pose the impossible question: is Stanley Tucci the Toni Collette of men…OR is Toni Collette the Stanley Tucci of women? If you enjoy this episode, please consider buying Kris & Tara a Ko-fi! Official Recommendations This week, Kris recommends the film Supernova (2020). Sam and Tusker are traveling across England in their old RV to visit friends, family and places from their past. Since Tusker was diagnosed with dementia two years ago, their time together is the most important thing they have. Kris reflects on how representation doesn't always have to be happy, that it's important to showcase the difficult and sad realities of losing someone you love to dementia. Tara recommends Truth and Measure by Roslyn Sinclair. What began life as a 300K word Devil Wears Prada fanfic has been reborn as a superb duology, The Carlisle Series. Jules Moretti is personal assistant to the icy fashion magazine mogul, Vivian Carlisle. Their professional relationship takes an unexpected turn towards romance when Vivian learns she's pregnant and Jules is the one person who has her back. Works/Authors Discussed
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| I Grew Up in Europe, Everybody was Naked! (QR 030) | 01 Mar 2022 | 00:45:28 | |
This week's episode is a live recording that was part of The Lesbian Review's Sexy Reads event! Kris and Tara come bearing recommendations. Sexy recommendations. You have questions, we have questions. What is Kris's safe word? Is live, in-person sex therapy 'a thing'? People in the chat have the answer! If you enjoy this episode, please consider buying Kris & Tara a Ko-fi! Transcript coming soon. Works Discussed
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| Baby Queers (QR 029) | 15 Feb 2022 | 00:33:49 | |
What stage of the pandemic are you in? We're not talking waves here — we're talking clothes. No pants? That's a given, but what else? When's the last time you wore a shirt? A proper, honest-to-goodness adult shirt? It's been a while, hasn't it? Post-pandemic catch-up, Tara and Kris talk about what's good and continue to plan their post-covid Kansas City tour. Kris also comes out as a Toon Blaster and she doesn't care who knows it! What's a Toon Blaster? We have some ideas. If you enjoy this episode, please consider buying Kris & Tara a Ko-fi! Official Recommendations This week, Kris recommends Jay's Gay Agenda by Jason June. It's a debut novel that introduces us to a gay teenager who can't exactly join in with the straight kids in his life about their romantic lives, so instead plans out all the firsts that await him once he graduates. As Kris says, it's a book for all queers about the excitement and joy of coming out and into a wider community. Tara recommends The Demon Equilibrium by Cathy Pegau. Yes, this book has demons and the lesbians who hunt them. But at its heart, it's the story of Grace and Maggie, two women who — when together — can harness magical power to fight evil. The story is told in two timelines: the first when Grace and Maggie meet, learn to use their shared power and fall in love, and the second when they reunite after a forced separation and Maggie can't remember who Grace is. While demon hordes abound, Grace waits to see if her old love will fall in love all over again. Works Discussed
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| Melissa Brayden Has Not Been Frugal With Her Jewels (QR Bonus 006) | 08 Feb 2022 | 00:55:40 | |
Valentine's Day is around the corner, and we have chosen you (yes, you!) to be our valentine. And the gift we've chosen? A very special hangout with f/f romance author extraordinaire Melissa Brayden, who's recently had her story Kiss the Girl turned into a game through the Chapters: Interactive Stories app. We're talking love this episode, people! In addition to reading your valentines, Kris, Tara and Melissa compare their fave fictional couples, kisses, and romances that they love to reread. We also find out if Kris has a low bar for kissing in media (Melissa thinks so), Kris thinks out loud about Charlize Theron's mouth, and Tara recounts her Summer of Steel at the tender age of twelve. If you enjoy this episode, please consider buying Kris & Tara a Ko-fi! Transcript coming soon! Works Discussed
If you want to check out more from Melissa, you can find her on:
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| We're into Teasing this Episode, Apparently (QR 028) | 01 Feb 2022 | 00:45:58 | |
What can I say? I'm a little disappointed. Tara and Kris start with some teasing about stuff that's not even in this episode and I'm the show notes! I want to include everything! There's a whole bunch of stuff that does come up that I can tell you about, though. Kris has a Cujo story (what, you're surprised?). Somehow Willy Wonka makes an appearance. Kris reminisces about the time Queer Eye came to her town and the pair discuss what it would take for them to get in bed together. It's less than you'd think! If you enjoy this episode, please consider buying Kris & Tara a Ko-fi! Official Recommendations This week, Kris recommends the Showtime series Yellowjackets. It's the story of a girl's soccer team in the 1990s that crash lands in the wilderness, only to be rescued 18 months later. What happened in those 18 months? It's a creepy, tense show that jumps time periods between the crash and the girls in middle age being confronted with the possibility that someone knows the secret of what happened to them. Tara follows with her recommendation for D'Vaughn and Kris Plan a Wedding by Chencia C. Higgins. Kris and D'Vaughn are contestants in a reality show, Instant I Do, where strangers get together and pretend to be getting married in six weeks. They have to convince their families that everything is real, and if anyone suspects, they lose. The problem is that Kris and D'Vaughn catch real feelings in their fake relationship. Works Discussed
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| Son, I can see you (QR 122) | 09 Dec 2025 | 00:51:56 | |
We're getting into the season here at Queerly Recommended. We're cuddling up with our pets, we're recommending angst-free Christmas books, and shows with so much chemistry they cause a tingling reaction. Official Recommendations From Kris: Heated Rivalry (HBO Max/Crave) Kris's official recommendation this week is Heated Rivalry, a new TV series currently airing about two closeted (for now?) hockey players and their relationship as it unfolds over different playing seasons. Kris was really impressed by the chemistry of the leads and how hot the show is. From Tara: Once Upon a Time in December by Alyson Root Tara's official recommendation this week is Once Upon a Time in December by Alyson Root. It's an angst-free, charming, wealth-gap romance that, similar to Heated Rivalry, takes place over several years, during holiday parties the leads continue to meet at. Tara was utterly charmed by this novel and secondary characters are particularly notable. Works/People Discussed
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| Sinclair Sexsmith and the Lineage of Kisses (QR Bonus OO5) | 25 Jan 2022 | 00:57:43 | |
It's that time of year again! The latest instalment of The Best Lesbian Erotica series is here, and Kris and Tara are thrilled to be joined by the collection's editor, Sinclair Sexsmith. Together, they discuss why writing queer erotica is a radical and political act, the healing potential of reading erotica that reflects your identity and desires, and the case for expanding the definition of the word "lesbian." Buckle up, friends. It's an important and enlightening conversation. If you enjoy this episode, please consider buying Kris & Tara a Ko-fi! Works Discussed
About Sinclair Sexsmith Sinclair Sexsmith (they/them) is "the best-known butch erotica writer whose kinky, groundbreaking stories have turned on countless queer women" (AfterEllen), who "is in all the books, wins all the awards, speaks at all the panels and readings, knows all the stuff, and writes for all the places" (Autostraddle). Their short story collection, Sweet & Rough: Queer Kink Erotica, was a 2016 finalist for the Lambda Literary Award, and they are the current editor of the Best Lesbian Erotica series. Find more of their work at sugarbutch.net. Listen to the episode | |||
| We're Almost Twins (QR027) | 18 Jan 2022 | 00:45:06 | |
It's our first pod of 2022, and Kris and Tara jump straight into the deep end. They talk about Jeopardy! and how Wheel of Fortune is beneath Kris. (Did you know that Kris was almost on Wheel of Fortune? Or the obstacle that blocked her dreams of game show domination forever? Find out!) Also, it should be no surprise that Kris has an Alanis Morissette story. It's a good time. We have fun here. If you enjoy this episode, please consider buying Kris & Tara a Ko-fi! Official Recommendations This week, Kris recommends Vigil, a six-part series from BBC One. It revolves around the mysterious disappearance of a Scottish fishing trawler and a death onboard a Trident nuclear submarine, which bring the police into conflict with the Navy and British security services. For Gentleman Jack fans, Suranne Jones heads up the investigation with Game of Thrones alum Rose Leslie. Tara rounds out the recommendations with Love and other Disasters by Anita Kelly, a romance about the first openly nonbinary contestant on America's favorite cooking show, who falls for their clumsy competitor. It's got angst, and it's that good, good angst. Topics & Works Discussed
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| Kris & Tara's Christmas Recommendation Extravaganza (QR026) | 21 Dec 2021 | 00:49:57 | |
Auntie Tara and Aunt Kris welcome you around the fire with their recommendations and yours for the Christmas season. Also, we know this time of year can be especially hard for the queer community, so we want you to know that we're here for you. If you're needing a pick-me-up, an urgent recommendation to get you out of a funk, or a cheering section, reach out to us at @queerlyrec on Twitter or email podcast(at)queerlyrecommended(dot)com. You're not alone. Not now, not ever. If you enjoy this episode, please consider buying Kris & Tara a Ko-fi! Your recommendations:
Kris's recommendations:
Tara's recommendations
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| An Airing of Grievances (QR025) | 07 Dec 2021 | 01:02:40 | |
There are no listener questions this week, so things get a bit heated. Tara regales us with her story of spite ice cream. Kris weighs in on reality show judging. Then it's a knock down, drag out brawl with...Happiest Season? Close your ears, gentle listeners, as there is not much love for this movie here. Kris's official recommendation this week is for the Hallmark holiday film Every Time a Bell Rings and Tara recommends the f/f romance Read Between the Lines by Rachel Lacey. If you enjoy this episode, please consider buying Kris & Tara a Ko-fi! Works Discussed
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| Kris Broberts, Reporting for Duty (QR024) | 23 Nov 2021 | 00:48:10 | |
A lot of good questions on the pod this week. Kris details her editing woes, her paradoxical love of editors, and the blessing/curse of being a working writer. Then Tara joins her as they both go deep into how they found lesfic before giving all you angst-lovers out there some gut-wrenching recommendations. Enjoy, we guess? Official recommendations for this week are Beginner's Bet by Fiona Riley from Kris, and The Headmistress by Milena McKay from Tara. If you enjoy this episode, please consider buying Kris & Tara a Ko-fi! Also discussed:
Transcript coming soon Listen to the episode | |||
| We Watch Imagine Me & You! (QR Bonus 004) | 16 Nov 2021 | 01:31:58 | |
This week we've got something special. Something very, very 2005. It's a commentary track for Imagine Me & You! A lot of people love this movie, but it's also kind of strange. It's a cheating story about a woman who is tempted to leave her husband for a florist who only has one pair of pants. And people are all right with the cheating? (Which we all know is the ultimate lesfic no-no.) It's weird. And did we mention it's also very, very 2005? A Dance Dance Revolution machine even appears at a pivotal point! So sit back, get Imagine Me & You ready, and turn on this track at the same time. Enjoy! If you enjoy this commentary track, please consider buying Kris & Tara a Ko-fi! | |||
| No Real World Bullshittery (QR023) | 09 Nov 2021 | 00:58:41 | |
Tara and Kris are back and raring to go. Kris recalls her exploits at Women's Week at Ptown before delving into writerly questions. Tara opens up about her youth, pretending to be an olden-times camp follower. Recommendations are made, laughs are had, and the important question of "Would you rather be a vampire or werewolf?" Is asked...and answered! Official recommendations for this week are The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid (narrated by Alma Cuervo, Julia Whelan and Robin Miles) and Squad, written by Maggie Tokuda-Hall and illustrated by Lisa Sterle. If you enjoy this episode, please consider buying Kris & Tara a Ko-fi! Also discussed:
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| We Watch The Rocky Horror Picture Show! (QR Bonus 003) | 26 Oct 2021 | 01:37:13 | |
It's a spooky month, so Tara and Kris are celebrating with a new film commentary! What to do when your hosts don't like horror movies? Snark about The Rocky Horror Picture Show, of course. (Also, Kris was in P-Town when they needed to record the next episode, so it worked out.) Kris and Tara dive into this important, unabashedly queer, classic that might... not be good? Kris discusses losing her Rocky Horror virginity at whatever age she says she is. Tara talks about the patriarchy and her father's favourite song at weddings. Sit back, fire up The Rocky Horror Picture Show on the device of your choice, and hit play on this commentary track. Let's do the time warp AGAAAAAAAIN! | |||
| Kris's Socially Awkward Moment (QR 022) | 12 Oct 2021 | 00:52:52 | |
There's nothing clever to say about twenty-two. It's even, divisible by eleven. It's...just there really. By contrast, this episode has substance. Kris and Tara are talking about movies they'd like to see and actors...they have no idea about actors. Kris discusses her P-Town plans and prepares herself for some post-Covid socializing ugly crying. Tara joins in with her thoughts about Everybody's Talking About Jamie. Oh, and Kris reveals a hilarious and stunningly socially awkward moment. It's *chef kiss* stuff. Official recommendations for this week are The Intervention (2016) from Kris and The Good Place from Tara. If you enjoy this episode, please consider buying Kris & Tara a Ko-fi! Also discussed:
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| Romance Womance (QR021) | 28 Sep 2021 | 01:05:27 | |
Happy 21st! The only thing this podcast can't do is become president...yet. Kris and Tara cover a lot of ground in this episode. Kris reveals she has a List of Pure Voices after Tara recounts her surprise at hearing Liza Minelli sing during a YouTube rabbit hole sesh. Our hosts give their two cents about their favourite FFBs (Funny Fucking Books). And then there's some disagreement about whether or not Dickinson is for them. Lots of recs today, with the big ones coming in strong. This week Kris brings a movie with possibly the best title ever, Abbie and Ellie (and Ellie's Dead Aunt), and Tara follows with the HBO series We're Here. If you enjoy this episode, please consider buying Kris & Tara a Ko-fi! Also discussed:
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| Crime against Doritos (QR 121) | 25 Nov 2025 | 00:45:08 | |
'Tis the season! We have our first holiday recommendation of the year, folks! Kris and Tara react to the Devil Wears Prada 2 trailer, discuss family Dungeons and Dragons time, and talk about co-workers who wear four jerseys to work (yes, at the same time). It's a short and sweet but stacked episode. Enjoy! Editor's Note: This episode has a couple of recommendations that revolve around heavy topics like people going through cancer treatment, loss and addiction. If that's not where you're at, feel free to skip this one. Take care of yourself. Official Recommendations From Kris: Melissa Etheridge: I'm Not Broken Kris's official recommendation this week is Melissa Etheridge: I'm Not Broken. This two-part docuseries came out in 2024 and follows Etheridge as she shares the stories of addiction and loss with the women incarcerated in the Topeka Correctional Facility. From Tara: The Milkyway Hotel by Jude Silberfeld-Grimaud and Marguerite Grimaud Tara's official recommendation this week is The Milkyway Hotel by Jude Silberfeld-Grimaud and Marguerite Grimaud. In the midst of her life falling apart in Paris, Celeste inherits her great-aunt's Milkyway Hotel in the French Alps. And wouldn't you know it, there's a sexy chocolatier there waiting to keep her company. Tara describes this as a slooooow burn, but when it gets there, it absolutely gets there. Works/People Discussed
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| Kris-sandra (QR020) | 14 Sep 2021 | 00:52:22 | |
Kris is the Cassandra of recommendations. How did we not realize this before? She lays down winners, and Tara? She will not budge. Listen to Kris, Tara! Everybody! Unless you can't. Because, you know, Cassandra. What were we talking about again? This episode goes some places. For official recommendations Kris brings 2020 film Joe Bell to the table. It's an important but difficult movie that deals with the painful reality that many queer youth go through every day. To balance it out, Tara brings the exact opposite with About That Kiss by Harper Bliss. Content warning for bullying, harassment and queer youth suicide in the discussion of Joe Bell 32:08 - 41:33. If you're a parent or family member of a queer kiddo and are looking for support, contact your local chapter of PFLAG. And if you are a young, queer person in crisis, feeling suicidal, or in need of a safe and judgment-free place to talk (or know one such person), reach out to The Trevor Project. If you enjoy this episode, please consider buying Kris & Tara a Ko-fi! Also discussed:
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| How Are We Friends? (QR019) | 31 Aug 2021 | 00:57:11 | |
19. 19 is about getting cocky. It's about feeling yourself. And what's more 19 than starting a podcast episode with a round of Fuck, Marry, Kill using the cast of The L Word and expecting you'll be friends by the end? Kris answers the question of whether she'd write anything outside of lesbian romance. Tara brings the latest game phenom Boyfriend Dungeon to the table to discuss how the rules are different for queer creators. Also, Kris tells the story of how she has tiger blood (or something). Official recommendations this week are Netflix's The Old Guard, with Kris swooning over Charlize Theron and the rest of her immortal buddies. Tara gushes about Lily Seabrooke's Fake It, an f/f romance with a trans lead written by a trans author. It's a fake relationship romance, people! Note: spoilers for the season finale of Alone from 11:07-14:17 If you enjoy this episode, please consider buying Kris & Tara a Ko-fi! Also discussed:
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| The Windsor Ballet (QR018) | 17 Aug 2021 | 00:57:17 | |
In her twenties, Tara learned in the eulogy of a famous Detroit news anchor that he had an enduring fondness for the "Windsor Ballet." And today is your lucky day, because you're going to learn about this Canadian cultural institution. You've heard about the Calgary Stampede. Now it's time to go to the ballet. Never let it be said we don't go places on this podcast. The official recommendations this week are proper bangers. Kris gives a rousing endorsement of the 2020 film Cowboys, about a trans boy fighting for his identity and the troubled father who fights for him. Tara brings out the big guns with Ann Bannon's groundbreaking Beebo Brinker series. This isn't the first time Tara has spoken about Ann's influence in lesfic. After the episode, if you want to learn more about Ann, you can listen to Tara's 2019 interview with Lynn Ames about why Beebo Brinker is essential reading and the interview with Ann Bannon that Tara references in the podcast: CONTENT WARNING FOR DISCUSSION OF CHILD SEXUAL ABUSE IN SCOTTY AND THE SECRET HISTORY OF HOLLYWOOD: 31:05 - 32:15. If you enjoy this episode, please consider buying Kris & Tara a Ko-fi! Also discussed:
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