Lost Spaces: Memories from Gay Bars, Lesbian Clubs, and LGBTQ+ Parties

Lost Spaces: Memories from Gay Bars, Lesbian Clubs, and LGBTQ+ Parties

lost queer spaces

How do queer spaces help to shape people's lives?  Why are they so important to the LGBTQ+ community? What is the impact of losing these spaces? Lost Spaces explores these questions (and more!) through conversations with members of the LGBT community. Each week host K Anderson sits down with a different guest to discuss a space from their past, why it was important to them, and how it helped shape who they are. Expect conversations about coming out, going out, and getting down. And snogging strangers on sweaty dancefloors. We can't talk about gay history without that coming up.

'I Thought I Was God's Gift To Drag' - with Jackie Daniels

'I Thought I Was God's Gift To Drag' - with Jackie Daniels

Ugh, I can't believe that it's been almost five whole years since the Covid-19 pandemic came along and turned all of our lives upside down. Five. whole. years. Doesn't that make you feel old? I still don’t know if the pandemic changed my life for better or worse, but for this week’s guest, it was the unexpected catalyst that kick-started their drag career.This week, I’m joined by bearded drag queen Jackie Daniels, who shares how moving from small-town Armidale to the bright lights of Sydney, a s

Feb 19, • 50:56

'Just Seeing Two Guys Dancing Cheek-to-Cheek...' - with Frank Akinsete

'Just Seeing Two Guys Dancing Cheek-to-Cheek...' - with Frank Akinsete

This week's episode could very well be titled 'The Many Lovers of Frank Akinsete', because we somehow manage to cover off about half a dozen love affairs during our conversation!And if you’re a longtime listener ofLost Spaces you already know that we love a good detour here. Honestly, I think those are the best episodes, where we get to truly know a person and trace their many, many queer footsteps.This week’s guest is Frank Akinsete, a fashion stylist and consultant who’s been part of London’s

Feb 12, • 45:40

'Being In A Room Full Of Queer People Has Such A Power' - with author AJ Romriell

'Being In A Room Full Of Queer People Has Such A Power' - with author AJ Romriell

So, Mormonism doesn't have the best reputation on this show. And honestly, given their policies toward queer people, that's not exactly surprising. But, there are some people working within the religion trying to make it more inclusive and open-minded. One of these groups is Understanding Sexuality, Gender, and Allyship - or USGA - a support group that gave queer students at Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah a place to find community. And one of the people that went there religiously (se

Feb 5, • 57:29

'I Was A Fat Guy Living In The Gay World' - with Dan and Don from The Big Fat Gay Podcast

'I Was A Fat Guy Living In The Gay World' - with Dan and Don from The Big Fat Gay Podcast

So, we're over 250 episodes in to this show, and on some days when I'm feeling particularly cocky I'm like 'oh, yeah, I think I've learnt everything there is to know about being queer', and then on other days I'm like 'actually, I know nothing about the human spirit and the resilience of queerness despite the odds.' (Ok, that was a little dramatic, but I think you get the gist of what I'm saying!). All of that is to say, that this week marks our first episode featuring a chubs and chasers spac

Jan 29, • 59:28

'People Are So Gay Now!' - with author Frank DeCaro

'People Are So Gay Now!' - with author Frank DeCaro

So if I were to tell you that this week's guest had just published a new book titled 'Disco: Music, Movies, and Mania Under the Mirror Ball'* you'd be expecting some spectacular stories of glamour and debauchery, right? Well, I'm pleased to say that author Frank DeCaro did not disappoint! We caught up to chat about the lost legendary Chicago space Dugan’s Bistro, a gay discotheque that was a cornerstone of his coming-of-age years, and Frank was so generous in sharing stories of friendships, w

Jan 22, • 53:34

Introducing 'Sex Ed With Tim'

Introducing 'Sex Ed With Tim'

Sign up for the Queer Word Newsletter⁠⁠⁠ We are back to our regular programming next week! But, for our final pod-swap I am sharing the conversation I had with Tim Lagman (registered sexologist, don't you know!) on his show Sex Ed With Tim. Tim was also a guest on Lost Spaces all the way back in 2021, and that conversation can be found ⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠ Can't wait to get back to regular Lost Spaces episodes! See you next week. Follow me Instagram: www.instagram.com/lostspacespod Facebook:

Jan 15, • 1:08:57

Introducing 'Dennis Anyone'

Introducing 'Dennis Anyone'

Sign up for the Queer Word Newsletter⁠⁠ This week we have ⁠Dennis Anyone⁠, hosted by Dennis Hensley, as our special podcast-swap episode! Dennis was also a guest on Lost Spaces all the way back in 2022, and that conversation is can be found ⁠⁠here⁠⁠ Follow me Instagram: www.instagram.com/lostspacespod Facebook: ⁠⁠www.facebook.com/lostspacespod⁠⁠ TikTok: https://ww

Jan 8, • 1:11:34

Introducing 'The Queer Family Podcast'

Introducing 'The Queer Family Podcast'

Sign up for the Queer Word Newsletter⁠ Share your 2025 plans/resolutions with me: k@lostspacespodcast.com Over the holidays I'm going to share episodes from other podcasts that I've guested on throughout 2024, talking about lost spaces, queerness, and the weirdness of life. This week we have The Queer Family Podcast, hosted by Jaimie Kelton! Jaimie was also a guest on Lost Spaces, and that conversation is can be found ⁠here⁠ Follow me Instagram: www.instagram.com/lostspacespod Facebook:

Jan 1, • 52:03

Introducing 'Gender Identity Weekly'

Introducing 'Gender Identity Weekly'

Sign up for the Queer Word Newsletter Over the holidays I'm going to share episodes from other podcasts that I've guested on throughout 2024, talking about lost spaces, queerness, and the weirdness of life. First up we have Gender Identity Weekly, hosted by Amethysta Herrick. Amethysta was also a guest on Lost Spaces this year. If you want to go and listen to that conversation is can be found here Follow me Instagram: www.instagram.com/lostspacespod Facebook:

Dec 25, 2024 • 1:08:52

'Queerness As A Kind Of Attitude' - with Emma Frankland

'Queerness As A Kind Of Attitude' - with Emma Frankland

Lately I keep thinking about that phrase "the past is a foreign country", and how sometimes a space doesn’t have to disappear to feel lost to us. And I know that sounds like a bit of mumbo jumbo, but stay with me! Queer spaces are always evolving and changing, and if we don't evolve and change with them, or if we're not there at the time they are evolving, then we risk being left behind. Which brings us to this week's conversation, which happens to be one of my favourite types of stories - t

Dec 18, 2024 • 40:50

'A Lot Of Gay Men Were Kind Of Rude' - with Matthew Hays

'A Lot Of Gay Men Were Kind Of Rude' - with Matthew Hays

I've been getting increasingly sappy with you recently, and I'm not sure whether that's because I'm just getting softer in my older years, or if there's just an accumulation of gratitude that's bubbling to the surface, but... well, either way, just giving you the heads up that this intro is a bit sappy! So, what am I sappy about? Well, I just love the network of stories that this podcast is building and how there's an overlap between experiences, perspectives, and memories. And, I love that I

Dec 11, 2024 • 32:58

'Oh, So You're A Lockdown Queen?' - with Jens Radda

'Oh, So You're A Lockdown Queen?' - with Jens Radda

Sometimes when I'm putting this show together I like to imagine that someone has somehow found this show in 50 years time and are having a good ol' giggle at how quaint and ol'timey the things we are talking about are. And if you are one of these people from the future it's probably worth me telling you about a little thing called the Covid-19 pandemic. This was (hopefully) a once-in-a-lifetime event where a highly contagious disease was sweeping the globe and, so, we were all made to stay in o

Dec 4, 2024 • 46:37

'I Never Had To Say I'm Gay Or I'm Queer Or I'm Pansexual' - with D'orjay

'I Never Had To Say I'm Gay Or I'm Queer Or I'm Pansexual' - with D'orjay

Although I can appreciate a lot of the things about getting older I wouldn't say that I'm totally super enthusiastic about it (especially the creaking joints!). So, it was kind of nice to talk to singer/songwriter D'orjay and get a different perspective on getting on in years. And, in fact, everything about this week conversation is just lovely. It's one of those looking-back-at-teenage-you and thinking both 'what the hell was wrong with you?' at the same time as 'oooh, you are such a speci

Nov 27, 2024 • 52:29

'I've Always Been The Odd One Out Because Of My Queerness' - with Sam See

'I've Always Been The Odd One Out Because Of My Queerness' - with Sam See

Not many people can say they owe their entire career to their local gay bar, but for comedian Sam See, that’s exactly the case! His first brush with comedy happened while prepping for a talent show at Play Club in Singapore. Performing in front of a queer audience gave him the spark to pursue comedy full-time. We dug into what it was like growing up queer in Singapore, how his queerness shapes his comedy, and his experiences at an all-boys school (and yes, I think you know where that conversati

Nov 20, 2024 • 53:39

'Am I A Lesbian?' - with Jane Postlethwaite from All the Terrible Things: A Paranormal Queer Comedy Podcast

'Am I A Lesbian?' - with Jane Postlethwaite from All the Terrible Things: A Paranormal Queer Comedy Podcast

I would never wish the years of uncertainty, overthinking, and isolation on anyone navigating their queerness. But, there's something magical about the person who comes out at the other end of all that. And one of the best parts of Lost Spaces is getting to speak with people who have reached that place of self-assuredness, and who are so confident in who they are and the path they’re meant to be on. But for this week’s guest, Jane Postlethwaite, who is a stand-up comedian and host of All the T

Nov 13, 2024 • 49:24

'We Can All Kiss Girls (And Nobody's Mad About It)' - with Sinn Sage

'We Can All Kiss Girls (And Nobody's Mad About It)' - with Sinn Sage

I've just realised that, for a podcast that is for mostly about queer clubbing and nightlife, we don't actually talk all that much about drugs, drug-taking and the impact of that. That's not a good or a bad thing, per se. It's just a little odd. Which isn't to say that that is a huge part of this week's chat, but it struck me because, for this week’s guest, drugs were a key factor in helping her connect with others and, more importantly, with herself. And who is this mystery guest that I'm r

Nov 6, 2024 • 52:11

'...Because I'm THAT Gay Stereotype' - with Nick Baker from Incomplete Geeks Podcast

'...Because I'm THAT Gay Stereotype' - with Nick Baker from Incomplete Geeks Podcast

When I first moved to London I had this friend who I would go to bars and clubs with. And, he was totally, 100% a friend of convenience. In fact, the only reason we spent any time together is because neither of us had any other friends. But I always look back on that friendship with a great deal of affection — and I think that one of the gifts of being queer is that you end up making friends with people you'd never otherwise meet, and that can open up your world in surprising ways. It can push

Oct 30, 2024 • 51:11

'Being Gay Is A Great Superpower' - with Santana Sexmachine

'Being Gay Is A Great Superpower' - with Santana Sexmachine

You may have had some wild clubbing nights in your life, but were any ever as wild as obliviously walking around with a shit-stained t-shirt thinking that you were fabulous? No, probably not. But, that's exactly what this week's guest, Santana Sexmachine, managed to get up to in her lost space, Berlin's Greece-muller. (i hope I said that correctly. Sorry if you are German and I just slaughtered your language). Now, you might know Santana best from her time as a contestant on Sweden's Drag Rac

Oct 23, 2024 • 1:00:34

'A Beautiful Go-Go Dancer' - with Manuel Skye

'A Beautiful Go-Go Dancer' - with Manuel Skye

So, if we were to say that clubbing is a religion, then the club is the place of worship, the music is the hymn, and the DJ takes on the role of the Priest. But what about the go-go dancer? Where do they fit into this clunky, overused metaphor? Well, according to former go-go dancer, and current author and porn actor, Manuel Skye, the role of the go-go dancer is more than just eye candy—they’re the facilitators of connection. We sat down with Manuel to talk about Parking, a legendary Montreal,

Oct 16, 2024 • 37:17

'A Rite Of Passage For Any Gay Man Living In New York' - with David Kennerley

'A Rite Of Passage For Any Gay Man Living In New York' - with David Kennerley

I think that I might have met my match. For the last few years I've been feeling as though I'm the person who talks the most about lost queer spaces, but journalist David Kennerley might actually be ahead of me. He loves queer nightlife so much that he's gone and written a whole book about the long-lost gay scene of '90s New York City. The book, Getting In: NYC Club Flyers from the Gay 1990s, includes flyers that he collected throughout the '90s from legendary spaces like the Palladium, Limeli

Oct 9, 2024 • 34:45

'I Didn't Have Gay Friends At That Point' - with Neil Laird

'I Didn't Have Gay Friends At That Point' - with Neil Laird

This week it's time to talk about love... Now, I know what you're thinking. Who am I to talk about love when all I seem to be interested in are firey, passionate, fleeting moments on a dancefloor? Well, yeah, you've probably got a point there.... So, it's a good job that this is a conversation podcast and I have a guest to show me the way! And who is that guest? Why it is the author Neil Laird, who is currently promoting his new book 'Prime Time Travelers: a satirical MM Adventure', to tell u

Oct 2, 2024 • 45:42

'Queerness Is Such A Big Part Of My Identity And Definition' - with Matte Namer from The FMs

'Queerness Is Such A Big Part Of My Identity And Definition' - with Matte Namer from The FMs

We get assigned a lot of roles in life depending on how we look, how tall we are, which family we're born in to... Sometimes living up to these roles can be a total breeze, but other times can be an incredibly daunting, terrifying task, and overcoming these isn't in any way straightforward. And so it's always really affirming when I get the chance to sit down and talk to someone who is on the other side of all of that and has taken the time to figure themselves out and be clear on what they wan

Sep 25, 2024 • 56:29

'It Didn't Feel Very Queer To Me' - with Ames Pennington

'It Didn't Feel Very Queer To Me' - with Ames Pennington

What do you do if you think the scene isn't a welcoming place for you? If you don't feel particularly excited to be in spaces that are pumping out Top 40 chart hits and offering jell-o shots for £1 a go? Well, you roll your sleeves up and you make your own night. And that's precisely what this week's guest did (with the help of some friends, of course). Before they were a 'self-proclaimed future award winning documentary filmmaker' Ames Pennington was discovering themself in Manchester, Engla

Sep 18, 2024 • 46:58

'Full Blown Gay...' - with J3m

'Full Blown Gay...' - with J3m

I sometimes rail against this notion of 'chosen family', and I always assumed that the reason I did this was because somewhere in the back of my head I was just jealous of other people who happened to find that and make that happen for themselves because that's not been my experience. But, I had a bit of a moment of realisation in this week's conversation. I think the reason that the concept makes me feel a bit icky is because it's almost always spoken about as this wonderful thing that everyo

Sep 11, 2024 • 36:00

'I Wasn't Very Popular In Gay Male Spaces' - with Miah Jeffra

'I Wasn't Very Popular In Gay Male Spaces' - with Miah Jeffra

We’re going to get really cheesy this week... You probably already know that I love me some cheesy, poetic imagery. And this week I may have stumbled upon the cheesiest thing that you ever did hear. Now, we've talked about the importance of the dancefloor in finding community and being oneself, but we haven't ever spoken to someone who attributes the dancefloor as THE place where the queer scene, and their position in the queer scene, suddenly started to make sense. But that’s about to change.

Sep 4, 2024 • 44:07

'Oh, Look, There's International Mr. Leather!' - with John Pendal

'Oh, Look, There's International Mr. Leather!' - with John Pendal

So, I will readily admit that I was a bit naive when it came to the world of leather pageantry. Obviously I knew that these leather competitions existed, and that they were loosely modelled on beauty pageants, but I kind of assumed that they weren't all that serious. I just thought that people showed up, had a bit of a laugh, took a few pictures and then went home. But, I was wrong. And, I quickly learnt that when I sat down to talk about lost London space The Hoist with life coach and former

Aug 28, 2024 • 52:07

'The First Gay Place That I Went Inside...' - with Alex Iantaffi from Gender Stories Podcast

'The First Gay Place That I Went Inside...' - with Alex Iantaffi from Gender Stories Podcast

The lyric to that very famous 80s TV theme song is 'sometimes you want to go where everybody knows your name'. Whilst I think that's true I also think there are times where you want to go where nobody knows your name and where there's absolutely no risk of running in to anybody that you even vaguely know. It's that type of space that gave this week's guest - scholar, therapist and host of the Gender Studies podcast Alex Iantaffi - the courage to actually go through the front door and start to e

Aug 21, 2024 • 56:58

'Seeing These Beautiful Queer Faces' - with Terrence O'Brian Henderson

'Seeing These Beautiful Queer Faces' - with Terrence O'Brian Henderson

Are you one of those people that has a crystal clear memory of where they were and how they reacted when they found out about momentous moments in history? For instance, do you remember where you were on September 11? When you first heard of the Covid-19 outbreak? Most importantly, do you remember the first time you heard Beyonce’s ‘Single Ladies’ being played in the club? Well, if that final momentous (momentous!) occasion resonates with you then i think you’ll get a kick out of this week’s

Aug 14, 2024 • 36:14

'My Queerness Is My Strength' - with John Sizzle

'My Queerness Is My Strength' - with John Sizzle

I was gutted, understandably, when I found out earlier this year that my favourite queer bar, The Glory, was going to close. But I also had a bunch of questions, as it wasn't closing for the same reason that so many others do (£££). In fact, the owners opened a brand new venue, The Divine, within days of The Glory closing its door. So I needed to find out more... Luckily, I got to sit down with one of the bar's owners, John Sizzle, just a few weeks after the space had closed to find out all t

Aug 7, 2024 • 44:31

'The Seediness of New York' - with Richard Skipper

'The Seediness of New York' - with Richard Skipper

If you were trying to seduce someone in the audience when you were performing at a piano bar or at karaoke... what song would you sing? I imagine you'd go for something slinky and sexy, right? Or maybe something bombastic and exuding confidence? Well, not, it turns out, if you are this week's guest, the singer and story teller Richard Skipper, who went a decidedly different route... But, I'm going to leave that mystery hanging, and you can find out what his go-to song was when you listen to th

Jul 31, 2024 • 58:35

'There Is No Word for Gay in the Samoan Context' - with Edward Cowley (aka Buckwheat)

'There Is No Word for Gay in the Samoan Context' - with Edward Cowley (aka Buckwheat)

One of the things that I get asked a lot when people find out that I do this show is 'well, why are queer spaces important? bars and clubs close all the time, why should we care about them just because they're queer?'. And there are lots of answers to that, but the one that I keep coming back to is that they aren't just businesses - they're community hubs, they're late-night befriending services, and they are places where people get to explore and push themselves. And it was wonderful to be

Jul 24, 2024 • 49:53

'Maybe We Should Explore Polyamory...' - with Mehgan Sapphire from Sapphire's Earplay Podcast

'Maybe We Should Explore Polyamory...' - with Mehgan Sapphire from Sapphire's Earplay Podcast

It's time to talk all about the fine art of ho-ing. And who is going to guide us through this very important lesson? Why, it's Mehgan Sapphire, host of the Sapphire's Earplay podcast. Mehgan joined me to talk about her lost space, The Lexington, a San Franciscan lesbian bar that she went to when she was just a little baby gay in her college days. Along the way we discuss late night hook ups, the road to polyamory, and, of course, the importance of good hygiene... And once you've listened to t

Jul 17, 2024 • 49:28

'I'm In San Francisco And Everyone's Dying From Sex' - with Daniel Nardicio

'I'm In San Francisco And Everyone's Dying From Sex' - with Daniel Nardicio

San Francisco in the 80s. If you know anything about queer history then you may already know that that wasn't the most joyous of times. And, yet, despite that... despite all that was happening in the world - heightened homophobia, and the really real fear of contracting HIV - people got on with their lives and they found and made joy. And that is exactly what happened for promoter and party producer Daniel Nardicio, who arrived there as a young man escaping small-town Ohio. For him San Franc

Jul 10, 2024 • 55:56

'Looking Back Through This Queer, Non-Binary Lens' - with Holly Revell

'Looking Back Through This Queer, Non-Binary Lens' - with Holly Revell

One of the constant gifts of doing this show is the reminder of how privileged those of us who get to grow old are.  It’s easy to forget this in a world saturated with messages glorifying youth, but youth isn't always that great (sure, I still have crippling social anxiety, but I'm MUCH better at masking it now!).  So, getting the chance to talk to people who say, "I'm so glad I'm not the person I was at 20, 30, 40," is refreshing.  They still love the person they were,

Jul 3, 2024 • 49:30

'I'm Really Lucky That I'm Gay' - with Eric Marcus from Making Gay History Podcast

'I'm Really Lucky That I'm Gay' - with Eric Marcus from Making Gay History Podcast

I don't know about you, but I really like the idea of being referred to as a gay elder at some point in the future. The only part about it that worries me is that I hope I'm not expected to suddenly be wise or level-headed or clever or anything... And though this week's guest, Eric Marcus from the Making Gay History podcast, might not like being referred to as a gay elder, he's certainly got the credentials to bear this title. You probably already know about the Making Gay His

Jun 26, 2024 • 54:23

'Gays Aren't The Best At Catching' - with Recognition

'Gays Aren't The Best At Catching' - with Recognition

I think what's so magical about a place like London is the promise of what the city represents rather than what it can actually meaningfully offer people... And, that might sound like a strange distinction, but for me London was always the place that I was going to run away to in order to become the person that I was meant to be. And it was here that I was going to live out my dreams and have every success in the world. And, in some ways it didn't matter that all of those things didn&#3

Jun 19, 2024 • 57:28

'All These Gay Men With No Shirts On...' - with Van Hechter

'All These Gay Men With No Shirts On...' - with Van Hechter

I love the kind of people that can go through a whole bunch of bullying, a whole bunch of othering, a whole bunch of shit in their life and still come out the other end and be like 'this is who I am, take it or leave it, I'm not changing for anyone'... And those are exactly the vibes that this week's guest, singer/songwriter Van Hechter, was putting down when we got together to talk about his lost space, KOX, which was in Montreal, Canada, and which he started going to whilst he

Jun 12, 2024 • 42:12

'A Gay Man in New York' - with Colin Drucker from Alright Mary Podcast

'A Gay Man in New York' - with Colin Drucker from Alright Mary Podcast

One of my favourite things about queer people is that they make shit happen.  Ok, ok, so that's a massive generalisation. And here's another one...   Straight people (apologies to any that are reading this) are not forced to put themselves out there and meet people and make new connections in the same way that queer people are. So they don't have to go through all the effort of plucking up the courage to go to bars and clubs on their own, and then talking to strangers and trying to

Jun 5, 2024 • 1:01:57

'That's Where Cruising Tends To Happen...' - with Marcus McCann

'That's Where Cruising Tends To Happen...' - with Marcus McCann

So, this week we’re doing something a little different. Rather than visit a lost space we’re setting out to answer the question ‘is the ancient art of cruising about to be lost?’. I know that's a fairly dramatic question, but there are a number of factors - like hook up apps and the over-gentrification of our cities - that seem to threaten these little discreet woodlands or private beaches from offering a secret place for people to meet and do the things that they do... Anyway, to help me

May 29, 2024 • 43:56

'Every Letter Of The Alphabet Mafia...' - with Karl Dunn

'Every Letter Of The Alphabet Mafia...' - with Karl Dunn

LA. Los Angeles. City of Angels. It's not really known to be the easiest of towns to live in. But, i think that's part of what makes it so exciting, right? Not to completely plagiarise a popular song, but if you can make it there then... you know the rest... And this is what brought Karl Dunn, who has just released his first book How To Burn A Rainbow: My Gay Marriage Didn't Make Me Whole, My Divorce Did, to town. In amongst all the newness, and networking parties with fellow wanna

May 22, 2024 • 49:08

'I Felt That Way About Pulse' - with JJ Ivey

'I Felt That Way About Pulse' - with JJ Ivey

So, if you're reading these show notes I'm going to go ahead and make the assumption that you know about the Pulse nightclub shooting that happened in Orlando in 2016. And I'm also going to assume that you've heard some of the stories from survivors and families of victims about the impact of that night. But, now that we're a few years on and people's attention has moved elsewhere what happens to those feelings that are sitting there for people that were impacted by tha

May 15, 2024 • 44:44

'I Didn't Have Any Gay Friends' - with Rudy Jeevanjee

'I Didn't Have Any Gay Friends' - with Rudy Jeevanjee

I've been thinking a lot lately about how your life can just happen to you. And, if you're not careful you can wake up one day wondering how you ended up there. But then, there are times when we take the bull by the horns and throw caution to the wind (and all the other cliches that you can think of), even if we know we might fail. Anyway, I had a wonderful reminder of that strength and courage that we can summon this week when I spoke to the cabaret performer Rudy Jeevanjee. Rudy fou

May 8, 2024 • 43:00

'Where Do Lesbians Go For Fun?' - with Layne the Auctionista

'Where Do Lesbians Go For Fun?' - with Layne the Auctionista

I love hearing people's stories of places that are close to their hearts - places where they spent tonnes of time, met lots of wonderful people, and figured out things about themselves. But, you know what else I love? When people want to talk about places that they HATED! And hate is maybe too strong a word for this week's guest's experience, but I still enjoyed hearing about how the sticky floors and the dark, dank bar were just not up their alley. And who's alley were we not

May 1, 2024 • 47:32

'Disco 2000 Was The Hub Of The Club Kids Scene' - with Abdi Nazemian

'Disco 2000 Was The Hub Of The Club Kids Scene' - with Abdi Nazemian

So, if you were to ask me to overly generalise and boil down the types of experiences that guests on this show have had when first accessing a queer space I'd say they neatly fit in to two categories: 1) there are those who feel instantly at home and like they've arrived. 2) there are those who feel like an outsider, or a 'tourist' in the space. Sometimes that feeling of being an outsider goes away after a few visits when they get the chance to ease in to the space and better

Apr 24, 2024 • 1:05:46

'I Can't Be Gay Because I'm Christian...' - with Dr Luke Wilson

'I Can't Be Gay Because I'm Christian...' - with Dr Luke Wilson

We seem to have, in the last few months, had a lot of religious guests, and through that we've had a lot of conversations about how religiosity can be in direct conflict with queerness, and all the issues that that can create. But what we haven't really talked about are the similarities between religion and queerness. And, to be fair, there probably aren't that many, but what stuck out for me in this week's conversation is that they both offer community and the promise of belonging. And that m

Apr 17, 2024 • 1:10:50

'This Kid's Probably Gay...' - with Matt Fishel

'This Kid's Probably Gay...' - with Matt Fishel

Can you really call yourself queer if you don't have a weird love/hate relationship with your home town? Because even if you love the place that you're from and you had an idyllic childhood there's still that reckoning that you need to have with all of those feelings of isolation and anticipation judgement and scorn when you came to terms with your identity... and, sometimes even experiencing ACTUAL judgement and scorn. Which brings us to today's guest (not that I'm asking

Apr 10, 2024 • 45:58

"I Needed To See Masculine-Of-Centre Black Lesbians" - with Anna DeShawn

"I Needed To See Masculine-Of-Centre Black Lesbians" - with Anna DeShawn

How much of yourself do you bring to the spaces that you spend time in? How much of the different sides of yourself do you bring out when you are at work? At dinner with friends? Spending time with your family? Hanging out at the club? Do you dial back your queerness, do you push down your beliefs or censor your thoughts? Or, are you one of those people who is just 100% themselves no matter where they go? I think that there are merits to both approaches, so I'm not necessarily advocating on

Apr 3, 2024 • 42:15

"It Took Almost 30 Years Before I Actually Transitioned" - with Amethysta Herrick from Gender Identity Weekly Podcast

"It Took Almost 30 Years Before I Actually Transitioned" - with Amethysta Herrick from Gender Identity Weekly Podcast

There's one question that gets asked in this week's episode that’s really stuck with me and that I continued to ponder even after we'd said our goodbyes and turned our microphones off... And that question is: how do you know when you have become the person that you’re supposed to be? By that I mean - at what point do you say 'yes this is the person I was supposed to be' rather than continue to strive and figure that out? Or, do you just kind of like make do with who you pre

Mar 27, 2024 • 59:25

"Oh, But I AM Queer..." - with Eric Kostiuk Williams

"Oh, But I AM Queer..." - with Eric Kostiuk Williams

Have you ever shown up at the tail-end of a really exciting party just as everything was ending, and you get that overwhelming feeling of having had missed out on something big? Well, that's kinda what happened to illustrator and cartoonist Eric Kostiuk Williams. He had moved to Toronto in 2008, and took a few years to discover the corner of the scene that felt right for him - in his word, the 'art f*g' scene - but just as he was finding his feet he could feel that the scene was shif

Mar 20, 2024 • 53:31

"This Hotbed Of Trans Activism..." - with Dr Syrus Marcus Ware

"This Hotbed Of Trans Activism..." - with Dr Syrus Marcus Ware

So, it's well documented on this show that queer spaces are good for many things - they're for dancing, socialising, drinking, falling down, getting back up, losing yourself, finding yourself in the arms of some strange men at 2am in the morning... BUT, they are also for organising and activism, and I think that's something we don't talk about enough on this show. That's all about to change. This week we are joined by activist Dr Syrus Marcus Ware, who joined me to talk a

Mar 13, 2024 • 42:43

"'Love Is Love' - Until You're Black, Trans, Disabled, Non-Binary..." - with Andrew Gurza from Disability After Dark

"'Love Is Love' - Until You're Black, Trans, Disabled, Non-Binary..." - with Andrew Gurza from Disability After Dark

I know there's always the risk with this show of completely romanticising queer spaces as these glistening oasis' of tolerance and acceptance. But, that's really not the case - despite how wonderful and freeing they can be, they can also be a bit shitty and exclusionary. And I was reminded of that this week when I sat down to talk to talk to Andrew Gurza, who is a disability awareness consultant and activist, as well as being the host of the Disability After Dark podcast. We caugh

Mar 6, 2024 • 49:26

"My Faith Side And My Queer Side" - with Crystal Cheatham

"My Faith Side And My Queer Side" - with Crystal Cheatham

I have a fairly straightforward relationship with religion in that... well, I don't have one. I wasn't brought up religious, I've never dabbled in religiousity, and it's never seemed to be something that particularly drew me in. Where it's a bit more fuzzy for me is when talking about the intersection between queerness and religiousness. It'll come as no surprise to you when I say that most religions take a fairly strong stance when it comes to queerness (and that st

Feb 28, 2024 • 50:51

"I've Never Really Liked This Concept Of 'Coming Out'"- with Lamya H

"I've Never Really Liked This Concept Of 'Coming Out'"- with Lamya H

We talk in this episode a little about Lamya's new memoir, Hijab Butch Blues. If you're interested in snagging yourself a copy why not take a look at my Bookshop store? https://uk.bookshop.org/a/13642/9781785788499 Books! Is there anything more inviting and accepting than a good book - one that seems to know you better than you know yourself? Books were my best friend when I was growing up, and they seemed to always provide comfort and solace from whatever shit was happening elsewhere

Feb 21, 2024 • 50:28

"Gay and Emo?" - with Matt Hey

"Gay and Emo?" - with Matt Hey

It's time to put on your skinny jeans, dig out your studded belt, and apply about a week's worth of black eyeliner, because this week.... we're going emo! Now, if you’re listening to this episode 300 years from now and you’re like ‘what the heck is emo’ let me break it down for you... According to dictionary.com emo is 'a style of rock music resembling punk but having more complex arrangements and lyrics that deal with more emotional subjects'. And, as with every good genre

Feb 14, 2024 • 39:41

"She Gave Us The Space To Be Ourselves" - with Barrak Alzaid

"She Gave Us The Space To Be Ourselves" - with Barrak Alzaid

This study was published at the beginning of 2024, and it talks about the key role of Aunties and 'othermothers' in supporting queer children to flourish by providing emotional and practical support. Admittedly, it's probably one of those studies that confirms what everyone else has known for years, but it's particularly interesting to me because I didn't grow up with any adult female figures in my life other than my mother (and teachers at school, I suppose, but there's

Feb 7, 2024 • 42:40

"It Felt Like There Was Only One Way To Be Queer" - with Natali Caro

"It Felt Like There Was Only One Way To Be Queer" - with Natali Caro

So it's fairly well established that I think queer spaces are really significant and an important way to explore your identity and dip your big toe into the queer lake of fabulosity. But, what we don't talk a lot about on this show is the importance of queer performance spaces, where people who are just starting out - singers, comedians, jugglers - have the chance to perform in front of an understanding audience (even if they do occasionally heckle and objectify you - somehow it's

Jan 31, 2024 • 53:37

"All The Other Black Queer Boys Who I've Known..." - with Jord Hailwood from The Winning Side Podcast

"All The Other Black Queer Boys Who I've Known..." - with Jord Hailwood from The Winning Side Podcast

Now, you might want to sit down or take a deep breath before you read this episode description, but.... it's possible that I've managed to find someone wracked with more self-doubt than me! Now, i hope you haven’t spit out your coffee or come over all faint, but I can confirm it is absolutely true. And who is that person? Well, it’s host of The Winning Side podcast Jord Hailwood, who joined me to talk about his university days in Oxford and how special being able to go to his lost space

Jan 24, 2024 • 38:24

"Other Kinky Queer People" - with Auntie Vice from Fat Girls On Top Podcast

"Other Kinky Queer People" - with Auntie Vice from Fat Girls On Top Podcast

On this week's show I'm starting to question whether I should be getting in to the world of kink or not. And, who is enticing me over to the kinky side? Why, it's podcaster and well-known kinkster Auntie Vice, who tells me all about what drew her to the world of kink, as well as what was so special about her lost space, Wicked Grounds in San Francisco, USA.  Find out more about Auntie Vice by listening to the Fat Girls on Top podcast, following her on Instagram (https://www.instagram

Jan 17, 2024 • 57:18

The future of Lost Spaces podcast...

The future of Lost Spaces podcast...

What's the future for Lost Spaces podcast? I need your help figuring that out! I'm re-running my (sort of) annual survey, and I'd love to hear your views on the show, what's working, and what could be better! Survey link - http://tinyurl.com/lostspacespodcastsurvey I know it's a big ask, but the survey takes about 5-10 minutes to complete (unless you've got oodles and oodles of things to say, in which case it may take a little longer!) and your feedback will help me to bring more aural pleasure

Jan 10, 2024 • 4:55

Introducing 'The Queer Family Podcast'...

Introducing 'The Queer Family Podcast'...

More new podcast recommendations this week! This week I'm sharing an episode of The Queer Family Podcast, a show all about queer families. Every episode is a chat between host Jaimie and different guests who have been through the process of starting their own family, and I've learnt so much from listening about how varied everyone's journey is. This particular episode is a chat with Richard and Carlos, (aka @therealdadsofnewyork), who chat about their experiences of fostering and a

Jan 3, 2024 • 1:04:56

Introducing 'This Queer Book Saved My Life!'....

Introducing 'This Queer Book Saved My Life!'....

Ahoy! I'm taking a few weeks off over the festive period to recharge (and eat too many mince pies). But, rather than leaving you languishing out there in podcast land without any fresh content I thought I would share some of my favourite episodes from past guests' own podcasts. And, the first show that I'm sharing is..... This Queer Book Saved My Life! This show is hosted by JP Der Boghossian, who appeared in the Lost Spaces episode "Every Bachelorette Party Seems To Be At A

Dec 27, 2023 • 43:21

"I Started Discovering These Gay Country Bars" - with David F M Vaughn from Gaytriarchs Podcast

"I Started Discovering These Gay Country Bars" - with David F M Vaughn from Gaytriarchs Podcast

Sometimes on this show we talk about spaces that my guest went to religiously, and they have stories from years of partying and socialising. And sometimes, like with this episode, we go to spaces that my guest only went to once. Despite that, it was still hugely influential to them. And, so, although we don't know the name of this week's bar, or exactly what town it was in, we DO know that it was in Arizona, that it was a country bar, and that it had a huge impact on my guest, David F

Dec 20, 2023 • 50:20

"Becoming A Nightlife Celebrity..." - with Miss Guy

"Becoming A Nightlife Celebrity..." - with Miss Guy

What do you do when Malcolm McLaren, that hugely influential promoter and manager for punk rock bands like Sex Pistols, Adam and the Ants, and Bow Wow Wow, tells you that he thinks you should move to New York City? Well, you pack your bags and get moving! That’s exactly what this week’s guest did, packing his bags and moving with his best friend Lauren after the two got talking to Mr McLaren at a party they attended in their home state, California. Moving from San Diego in the autumn of 1985,

Dec 13, 2023 • 43:12

"Drag Can Be Different Things For Different People" - with Zelda Moon from Death to Everyone Podcast

"Drag Can Be Different Things For Different People" - with Zelda Moon from Death to Everyone Podcast

What do you do when you're a drag queen who wants to get more gigs? Well, that's simple - you create you own night! Easy, right? But we're not talking about just any old drag queen. We are talking about someone who, dare I say, loves a checklist almost as much as I do (I know, can you believe it?). Zelda Moon is the co-host of the Death to Everyone podcast (and we've already met her co-host Lazy Susan in last week's episode), and she is also a huge lover of K-Pop and J-Pop

Dec 6, 2023 • 44:30

"Drag And Gayness Requires Delusion" - with Lazy Susan from Death to Everyone Podcast

"Drag And Gayness Requires Delusion" - with Lazy Susan from Death to Everyone Podcast

Who doesn't love a bit of competition? I'm rarely happier than when there are dreams to crush, plans to thwart and hearts to break. But, enough about me. Instead, let's talk about this week's guest, Australian drag queen and co-host of the Death to Everyone podcast, Lazy Susan, who found herself getting a bit competitive herself taking part in a drag competition at the Melbourne drag bar The Greyhound. And, it was through this that she fell in love with the space and the cast

Nov 29, 2023 • 52:59

"I Don't Want To Be Gay, I Want To Be Normal" - with Stephen Griffiths from Are the Gays OK? Podcast

"I Don't Want To Be Gay, I Want To Be Normal" - with Stephen Griffiths from Are the Gays OK? Podcast

So, if you are a long time listener of this show you will probably know that I am on a bit of a quest to stamp out the use of the word 'normal', because it find it is just a really unhelpful descriptor, and it's so subjective - like, what's normal for me may not be normal for you. Anyway, I say all of this because I need to formally apologise to this week's guest for telling him off whenever he used that word in our conversation. My guest is Stephen Griffiths, co-host of th

Nov 22, 2023 • 1:00:13

"Once I Get To College I'll Start Doing Gay Things..." - with Corey Sherman

"Once I Get To College I'll Start Doing Gay Things..." - with Corey Sherman

Picture it. It's an evening sometime in 2012. You've met up with a guy from one of the apps (Grindr or Scruff or something). He takes you to dinner, and then he takes you to a bar, and then in that bar you have your very first kiss. How does that feel? Well, we're going to find out from writer/director/filmmaker Corey Sherman, who got a little smoochy at lost LA space Faultline. And, that's where we start our conversation - finding out about how that first kiss felt. Do you

Nov 15, 2023 • 52:49

"You Can't Defeat Queerness" - with Mya Byrne

"You Can't Defeat Queerness" - with Mya Byrne

Sometimes being in a new location, surrounded by strangers and new-ness, is just the thing that you need to give you the bravery to embrace new things... And, that's exactly what happened for singer/songwriter Mya Byrne, who moved to San Francisco in 2015 to give herself a change of scenery. Along the way threw herself head first in to exciting new things (which we'll find out more about in this here very episode!). We got together to talk about The Stud, and we DID talk about The Stud

Nov 8, 2023 • 42:07

"Small Town Gay Bar" - with Freddy Freeman

"Small Town Gay Bar" - with Freddy Freeman

I recognise that it's a total romanticisation, but I have a really soft spot for small-town gay bars. I love that they are inclusive (even if it is by necessity rather than design) and I love what they represent - a safe haven nestled in to a place that may not feel all that safe otherwise... This week we're headed to the lost small town gay bar Rumours, which was found in upstate New York. And our guest is singer/songwriter, teacher, facilitator, and Director of Marketing and Communic

Nov 1, 2023 • 40:53

"That's What New York City Was Like In The 90s..." - with Sherry Vine

"That's What New York City Was Like In The 90s..." - with Sherry Vine

If you've ever wondered what 90s New York City was like, then today's episode is the one for you. Before mass gentrification, before eye-watering rent hikes, and before all the personality was stamped out of it, queer night clubbing in the Big Apple was anarchic, unhinged, and magical. And the person that told me this is this week's guest, Sherry Vine - drag superstar, singer-songwriter, and host of The Sherry Vine Variety Show (available to stream now on OutTV and FrootTV), who was

Oct 25, 2023 • 40:11

"We've Evolved Through Our Conversations As A Couple..." - with Charles and Martha from Full Circle The Podcast

"We've Evolved Through Our Conversations As A Couple..." - with Charles and Martha from Full Circle The Podcast

So, we talk a lot on this show about new, fresh, exciting love (or, let's be honest, lust!), and how magnificent and all-consuming that can be. But, we don't often talk about that wonderful long-term love - you know the kind where you can be cranky and know the other person won't get offended. Or when you know each other so well that you can finish off each other's sentences? Ahhh.... Anyway, all of that is to say that this week I'm joined by Charles and Martha from the Full

Oct 18, 2023 • 57:46

"The Bear Community Is More Accepting" - with Benjamin Koll

"The Bear Community Is More Accepting" - with Benjamin Koll

Have you ever fallen in love with your best friend? Because - spoiler alert - it's a terrible, terrible idea. Or, at least it is for most people. Anyway, my guest this week, singer-songwriter Benjamin Koll happened to do just that, falling in love with his childhood friend, no less. And so by the time he managed to overcome that, and realise that he needed to move on, he was chomping at the bit to explore the queer scene. And it sounds to me from our conversation that he landed in just

Oct 11, 2023 • 45:26

"People Kept Having To Tell Me Really Obvious Things Like 'You're Gay'" - with Paulus the Cabaret Geek

"People Kept Having To Tell Me Really Obvious Things Like 'You're Gay'" - with Paulus the Cabaret Geek

So when I talk about the importance of queer spaces I'm usually thinking about the fact that they give people opportunities to find others and connect, as well as exploring their identity in a safe space. But there's this whole other layer that I don't think about much. And, that is the fact that, for performers these spaces are (on top of everything else) where they get to dream and craft and create and fuck up with a safe and understanding audience. And this week's conversati

Oct 4, 2023 • 56:53

Richard Hatch - "Engagement With Others Is Something Many Gay Men Yearn For"

Richard Hatch - "Engagement With Others Is Something Many Gay Men Yearn For"

So, if you ask me reality TV, as awful and cringey and addictive and delicious as it is, has been monumental in increasing queer visibility in tv and film. Back in the late 90s/early 00s when reality tv was in its infancy, there were a lot of gay ‘characters’ (for want of a better term) that were cast on these shows as (I think) a bit of a shock tactic… And what TV executives maybe didn't anticipate was that audiences warmed to these people, and were rooting for them, and actively invested

Sep 27, 2023 • 55:30

"I Never Really Came Out To My Mother... She Read My Diary..." - with Sheria Mattis

"I Never Really Came Out To My Mother... She Read My Diary..." - with Sheria Mattis

Sometimes I feel a bit dumb (or maybe just a bit sheepish) about some of the revelations I have through doing this show, especially since we're so close to 200 episodes (eek!) and I feel like I should know it all by now... But, then, on the other hand, the fact that I'm still learning so much is part of the reason that I'm so excited to share these stories with you. And this week the thing that resonated the most is the idea that when things are at their absolute worst also happens

Sep 20, 2023 • 43:59

"If I Get Interrupted On A Dance Floor I Am Upset" - with Digo and Caleb from the Ants Humans Stars Podcast

"If I Get Interrupted On A Dance Floor I Am Upset" - with Digo and Caleb from the Ants Humans Stars Podcast

You know how they say that no matter who you fall in love with during the course of your life you'll always compare everyone to your first true love? Well, I think that's also true of nightclubs. Which I know sounds a little wacky, but I wholeheartedly believe that there's something really magical about your first place. This week I sat down with Digo and Caleb from the podcast Ants Humans Stars to find out about Digo's lost space, Mars Bar, which was in Richmond, Virginia. Yo

Sep 13, 2023 • 39:29

"I Saw Gay Men Everywhere. Gay Women? Not So Much..." - with Jaimie Kelton from The Queer Family Podcast

"I Saw Gay Men Everywhere. Gay Women? Not So Much..." - with Jaimie Kelton from The Queer Family Podcast

You know how sometimes these conversations are only very, very, very tenuously linked to a queer space, and in the intro I try and come up with some justification for why we didn't talk that much about it to prepare you for the episode ahead? Well, dear listener, this week I'm not even going to try to insult your intelligence by pretending that we talked about a queer space, cause we didn't. I failed you. BUT, that's not to say that it's not a great conversation! I was luc

Sep 6, 2023 • 51:21

"What's Better Than Coming Out After A Tina Turner Concert?" - with Markus Hamence

"What's Better Than Coming Out After A Tina Turner Concert?" - with Markus Hamence

I am kind of intrigued by this phenomenon of queer men feeling more comfortable in a lesbian bar than in any other space. And, there's no one reason, obviously, but it seems like a lot of it comes down to the lack of pretence and lack of attitude that you can find in the good ol' fashioned lesbian bar. Which brings us to this week's conversation - we're heading back to the city I grew up in, Adelaide, to visit the lesbian bar Bean's Bar. My guest is Marcus Hamence, who is a bit of a man about t

Aug 30, 2023 • 36:11

"Something Out Of Old Fashioned Lesbian Folklore..." - with Emma Goswell

"Something Out Of Old Fashioned Lesbian Folklore..." - with Emma Goswell

Out of all of the musicals you could possibly blame for making you gay, I would have guessed that Les Miserables would be somewhere near the bottom of the list. But not, it turns out, if you are radio presenter, author, and host of the Coming Out Stories podcast Emma Goswell, who had her queer awakening with thanks to the story about a French peasant and his quest for redemption in 19th century France... Hmm... We caught up to talk about the Manchester in the 90s, and in particular the lesbian

Aug 23, 2023 • 47:34

`'You Know How I Found Out I Was Queer?" - with Rush Kazi

`'You Know How I Found Out I Was Queer?" - with Rush Kazi

Ok, this might be a weird thing for me to admit... but, before this week's conversation, although I knew what polyamory was I hadn't really thought about the fact that there is a whole subculture around it, and that includes slang terms and specific inter-relational concepts... But, of course there is! That's just what human beings do! So, this was a useful conversation for me to help expand my vocabulary and think a bit differently.. And, who enlightened me? Well, it's Canadia

Aug 16, 2023 • 35:17

"The Very Beginnings Of My Actual Gay Life..." - with Jacob Trueman

"The Very Beginnings Of My Actual Gay Life..." - with Jacob Trueman

Sometimes I'm really taken aback by what an absolute privilege it is to do this job, and how people can be so open and honest with me. And I think it's a real honour that I get to help amplify the stories, and get the opportunity to really examine my own queerness and how that's shaped who I am. Maybe that's all a little bit too sentimental? Let's get on with what this show is about this week. I am joined by the British comedian, Jacob Truman, who sat down with me to talk a

Aug 9, 2023 • 46:18

"I Was Getting Surprisingly Comfortable In My Queerness" - with Anthony Criswell from Beards and Sundries Podcast

"I Was Getting Surprisingly Comfortable In My Queerness" - with Anthony Criswell from Beards and Sundries Podcast

This week we are headed to Stonewall! Only not THAT Stonewall (sorry if I got your hopes up)... No, instead of the bright lights of New York city we are headed to small town Oklahoma, to visit the Stonewall Tavern in a town named Stillwater. And whilst this bar wasn't technically a gay bar, it did create a safe environment and give people space to be themselves and figure out who they are. And one of the people who went there is Anthony Criswell, who is one of the hosts of the Beards and S

Aug 2, 2023 • 52:31

"That Was The Fever That Made Me Gay" - with Johnnie Walker

"That Was The Fever That Made Me Gay" - with Johnnie Walker

Before anything else I need to give a huge apology to this week's guest. When we were originally arranging to talk I was very strict with him and firmly said that we could only talk about one lost space and not, as he wanted, talk about the entire shifting queer scene in Toronto.... But... well... you can probably guess when happened when we got together to chat. We went ALL over the place (which is a good thing! The chat is A+)! So, although we originally got together to talk about Toron

Jul 26, 2023 • 1:00:16

"The Only Queer Place In Town" - with Jeena Bloom

"The Only Queer Place In Town" - with Jeena Bloom

So, I had a bit of an a-ha moment fairly early in to this week's conversation, and it's something that I've been wrestling with and trying to reconcile ever since. For most of my childhood I had to just suck it up and accept that things were a bit shitty, because in the back of my mind I told myself that one day it would all be better. And, so, I ended up tolerating a lot of bad behaviour directed towards me. And, I've started to realise recently that I've brought that minds

Jul 19, 2023 • 1:01:50

"It Felt Very, Very Gay..." - with Brian Rowe from A Piece of Pie: The Queer Film Podcast

"It Felt Very, Very Gay..." - with Brian Rowe from A Piece of Pie: The Queer Film Podcast

Straight people are great. Well, most straight people are. Or... some straight people are? Anyway, the point I'm trying to make is that despite the fact that straight people are ok (-ish) sometimes you just need a good ol' queer friend to help show you the world. And, when most of your friends are straight people you can just end up going to where they want to go and do the things that they want to do. And this can kind of get in the way of you developing in to the queer creature you

Jul 12, 2023 • 30:35

"It Became A Gay Bar For That Hour" - with Filip Jeremic

"It Became A Gay Bar For That Hour" - with Filip Jeremic

We talk a lot on this show about the very, very first time that people went to queer spaces, and all of the wonder and dread that comes with that… But, there’s another time that we don’t celebrate enough (and which I think might actually be better), and that is going out in your late 20s… For most people this is a time when you’re a little more settled, a bit less desperate (let's be honest), and you’ve started to ease into yourself and who you are… Which brings us to this week’s episode…

Jul 5, 2023 • 43:04

"Another Weird Thing About Being Bi...." - with Terry Bartley

"Another Weird Thing About Being Bi...." - with Terry Bartley

What do you do when you live in a small town that has no queer presence? Well, you go right ahead and create that presence yourself! At least that's what you'd do if you were this week's guest, the writer of the soon to be released 'Tyranny of the Fey', Terry Bartley. Now, Terry comes from a tiny tiny tiny town called Danville in West Virginia, USA. Just how tiny is it? Well, the population is a mere 600 people! After coming in to a little bit of money Terry decided that h

Jun 28, 2023 • 41:08

"Are You 'In The Life'?" - with Phil Corin

"Are You 'In The Life'?" - with Phil Corin

One of the things that I've noticed is fairly common in people who come out later in life is just how much of a hurry they are in to experience ALL of the queer shit they've missed out on... And that is what happened to this week's guest, podcaster and voice-over artist Phil Corin, who, upon realising that they may not be heterosexual was on a mission to make their way to the New York City lesbian bar Meow Mix (1996 - 2004). And once they got in to the bar? Well, the gloves were off

Jun 21, 2023 • 56:32

"It Was A Big Gay Community There..." - with Robert Black

"It Was A Big Gay Community There..." - with Robert Black

So, this might be the saddest episode we've ever had... And, I don't say that in a sensationalist way! I mean it legitimately. So, if you're not in the right headspace to listen to a sad chat then maybe come back to this episode another time. But, for those of you who are in the mood for a little contemplation let me tell you all about my guest, Robert Black. Robert is probably best known as being a porn star, and in fact is this year celebrating 25 years in the business! But he&#

Jun 14, 2023 • 39:08

"Being A Black Queer Femme In America..." - with Lottie Ellington

"Being A Black Queer Femme In America..." - with Lottie Ellington

I'm still thinking a lot about this week's conversation. And, in particular, it's made me think about the things I do in my life just to live up to other people's expectations of who I should be. And I'm trying to unpick that and understand it better... But, I'm getting ahead of myself. Let's get in to the episode.... This week I'm chatting to the burlesque artiste, the-prodigal-titty-of-the-Motor-City, Lottie Ellington. She's originally from Detroit, but fo

Jun 7, 2023 • 42:27

"Eighth Grade Is One Of The Hardest Years For A Lot Of People" - with Wil Fisher from Queerly Beloved Podcast

"Eighth Grade Is One Of The Hardest Years For A Lot Of People" - with Wil Fisher from Queerly Beloved Podcast

So, I'm just going to come right out and say it - school kind of sucked.  And, it's bad enough when you have that gnawing suspicion that you don't fit in, but the real kicker is when other kids start to notice this too, and they think that the most appropriate response is... to go out of their way and make your life misery...  I was never really popular, and so I just learnt to keep my head down and survive the experience. But, for this week's guest, Wil Fisher who is the host

May 31, 2023 • 48:14

"You're Gay And Gothic... And You're A Christian Now?" - with Chris Conde

"You're Gay And Gothic... And You're A Christian Now?" - with Chris Conde

You know, in all of the time that we've been doing this show we've never featured a sauna... but that's about to change! Our very first sauna is ACI, which was in San Antonio, Texas. And, showing us around is the subversive queer rapper Chris Conde. Now, Chris was a military brat, and so they moved around a lot when they were a kid. But, as a young adult they decided they wanted some stability, and so chose to settle in San Antonio. And it was here that they let go of religion, got

May 24, 2023 • 40:05

"Unpacking My Relationship To Queerness" - with Manish Mathur from 'It Pod To Be You'

"Unpacking My Relationship To Queerness" - with Manish Mathur from 'It Pod To Be You'

You know that cliche about being in a crowded room but still feeling all alone? Sometimes I think the person that came up with that imagery was talking about being on a dancefloor in a gay bar. Cause, yeah, there's so much to celebrate there - a room full of people who get to be themselves for the evening. But, there can also be a feeling of disconnect or outsider-ness... And, even though that's probably all inside your head, it's still a very real feeling in the moment. I got to

May 17, 2023 • 40:22

"The Eurovision Song Contest Has Always Been A Big Platform For The Queer Community" - with Rob Holley

"The Eurovision Song Contest Has Always Been A Big Platform For The Queer Community" - with Rob Holley

So, this week we're going to do something a little different... It's our first ever episode celebrating the Eurovision Song Contest. And, before you say it - yes, technically Eurovision isn't a queer event. But, I mean... have you ever watched it? it's pretty bloody queer... And, to celebrate the 2023 competition I sat down to chat to Rob Holley, the Head of Content for the Eurovision Song Contest. Only we didn't talk about the contest itself - we chatted about #Eurovision

May 8, 2023 • 56:13

"Don't I Know You from Somewhere?" - with Jay Roudybush from Beards and Sundries Podcast

"Don't I Know You from Somewhere?" - with Jay Roudybush from Beards and Sundries Podcast

You must be exhausted because you've been running through my mind all day.... Ooooh yeah! This week on the show we're talking all about pick up lines... the cringier the better! What started off as a conversation about expectations versus the reality of flirting in a gay bar quickly turned in to a back-and-forth of cheesy pick-up lines! And, who is flirting with me? Why, it's Jay Roudybush from the Beards and Sundries podcast, who has come on the show to tell us all about Fantasy i

May 3, 2023 • 32:03

"I Was Basically Spokesperson For Gay People" - with Alex Marcus

"I Was Basically Spokesperson For Gay People" - with Alex Marcus

So, I have something to admit. I have not been dancing in a really long time. And, when I say dancing I mean sweaty, throbbing, disgustingly sticky kind of dancing. And, I kind of miss it... I got a nice reminder of how important it used to be in my life when I caught up with Alex Marcus, the Podcast Director of The Pop Break, a digital pop culture and entertainment online magazine, for this week's show. Alex is from New Jersey, but made the move to New York City when he went to college in

Apr 26, 2023 • 47:00

"I Was Afraid Of Being Gay In General" - with Ronda Vu

"I Was Afraid Of Being Gay In General" - with Ronda Vu

It seems hard to believe, but in the early days of the internet there were these things called internet cafes, where you would go, pay some money, and then have access to a computer with the internet for a set period of time. And this was at a time when the internet wasn't on every phone and every TV and every watch. In fact, lots of families didn't even have computers in their houses... Wild, right? The reason I'm telling you this is because the internet cafe was, for many queer ki

Apr 19, 2023 • 31:16

"Gay Can Be Anything" - with Pepper

"Gay Can Be Anything" - with Pepper

I'm often guilty of romanticising small town queer bars, but I just think there's something really magical about everyone being in the same space and not segregating and splitting off in to different sub-communities like leather and lesbian and bears (oh my!)... But, there are also downsides to this... being in a small city or town can get in the way of you having the freedom to explore who you really are... And, this very thing happened for week's guest, Pepper (who you may know as

Apr 12, 2023 • 53:37

"I Just Didn't Know Drag Kings Existed Before That" - with Maria Moschus

"I Just Didn't Know Drag Kings Existed Before That" - with Maria Moschus

So, you've probably picked up from listening to this show that I have mixed feelings when it comes to the concept of 'representation'. I still can't quite articulate why I'm a bit iffy about it, but I think it's something about the commodification of the term. Like, yes, I agree that it's important, but it seems to have been hijacked and monetised by people, which I think is a bit icky... But, you're not here for my half-baked ponderings.. you're here to li

Apr 5, 2023 • 52:11

"A Group Of Gays Is A Gaggle" - with BBKyle

"A Group Of Gays Is A Gaggle" - with BBKyle

Ok, be totally honest with me - have you ever hooked up with a work colleague? Or, actually, the question I'm more interested in is - have you ever known about a work-place hook up that hasn't ended catastrophically? Well, if you haven't guessed already by the way I framed those questions - this week we are finding out all about a doomed hook up that our guest, Twitch streamer extraordinare, BBKyle had when he was working at Spin, a bar in Chicago's queer neighbourhood Boystown

Mar 29, 2023 • 59:04

"If There're No Other Drag Queens, We're Going To Be The Drag Queens" - with Mentalika

"If There're No Other Drag Queens, We're Going To Be The Drag Queens" - with Mentalika

This podcast started at the end of 2019, and had been running for a few months when... well, you remember what happened in 2020, right? And, for the longest time... I kind of wanted this show to make no mention of the pandemic or Covid-19 or any of the shit going on in the world. I wanted it to be an escape, and an opportunity to think about something else for the people that were listening. But, maybe (and just maybe) I'm finally ready to talk about the pandemic.... One of the wonderful th

Mar 22, 2023 • 40:55

"Those Trans Women That I Was Admiring..." - with Tiffany Rossdale

"Those Trans Women That I Was Admiring..." - with Tiffany Rossdale

This week it's our first ever trip to Japan! And we're not going to just any old bar, we're going to a hostess club... Hostess (and host) clubs are fairly unique to Japan, so if you've not heard of them before the long and short of it is that they are a type of cabaret bar that provides entertainment, but also employs people to provide attentive conversation and a little bit of flirting to their customers (kind of like giving the boyfriend or girlfriend experience). And, showing us a

Mar 15, 2023 • 53:50

"Platonic Queer Joy" - with Sina Grace

"Platonic Queer Joy" - with Sina Grace

So, you may have heard the joke before that watching Drag Race in a bar is the gays equivalent of watching football or rugby in a bar. And, yes, ok, it's a basic, basic stereotype...but... well... maybe there's a smidgen of truth in it? (Just a smidgen, mind you...!) This week I'm joined by the comic book legend Sina Grace, who has written and/or drawn queer superheroes like Ice-Man, and his own Rockstar and Softboy, to talk about his experience in finding what he calls 'platonic queer joy' at t

Mar 8, 2023 • 35:43

"This Small Little Queer Cosmos That I Am Living In" - with Taylor Trash

"This Small Little Queer Cosmos That I Am Living In" - with Taylor Trash

You know, it's been a while since we've had a really rambly, all-over-the-shop conversation on this show.... and, the reason that I mention this fact is because this week we've got ourselves a rambly, all-over-the-shop conversation... But that's not a bad thing! In fact, I loved this conversation that I had with John, who is the man behind the drag character Taylor Trash. Taylor is the host of the drag web-series competition The Gold Rush, which is just about to launch Season 3 on Yo

Mar 1, 2023 • 52:59

"What's So Terrible About Gay Clubbing?" - with Edward Miskie

"What's So Terrible About Gay Clubbing?" - with Edward Miskie

So, if you've ever listened to this show and thought to yourself 'queer clubbing is not as good as all these people seem to be remembering' then: Firstly, maybe this show isn't for you.... Secondly, you'll be glad you stuck it out because this week we're doing something different! Yup, we're complaining about how rubbish queer clubbing is! And, who is joining me to be a big ol' grump? Well, it's the singer/actor and writer of the book 'Cancer, Musical Theatre, & Other Chronic

Feb 22, 2023 • 37:42

"I'm Such A Cliched Gay Of A Certain Age" - with Ty Jeffries

"I'm Such A Cliched Gay Of A Certain Age" - with Ty Jeffries

So, one of the things about drag that i'm really fascinated by is the decision-making process behind crafting a drag character... Because, to me, deciding on who your drag character is - what they like, how they talk, how they present to the world - is a big commitment... almost like a marriage maybe? And, by that I mean you are committing to another person (or, ok, character) that will forever be associated with you. Because of this you've kind of got to make sure you think it throu

Feb 15, 2023 • 37:10

"I Was Still Just New To Being Gay" - with Homer Marrs

"I Was Still Just New To Being Gay" - with Homer Marrs

When you’ve never been to a leather bar it’s easy to view them as seedy and debaucherous and a little scary... and, yeah, ok, they are all of those things - but they’re also surprisingly quite wholesome! Well, maybe not wholesome, but they definitely offer a more down-to-earth and judgement-free alternative to the more mainstream queer spaces that you often find in big cities… And one of the lost leather bars with the absolute best name ever? Why, it's Chicago's Manhole! This week I am joi

Feb 8, 2023 • 40:01

"I Got To Kind Of Shine In My Gay-ness" - with Joshua Lobb

"I Got To Kind Of Shine In My Gay-ness" - with Joshua Lobb

This week I learnt a new word, and that word is.... thelephobia... which, if you didn't know already, is the fear of nipples... And why is that important? Well, it just so happens that this week's guest, Dr Joshua Lobb - who is a Senior Lecturer in Creative Writing at the University of Wollongong (and our first ever doctor on this show!) - happens to have a fear of nipples. But, not just any nipples. REALLY big nipples... The kind you would find on the bartenders who worked at Sydney's The

Feb 1, 2023 • 50:15

"I'd Never Seen Any Lesbians... And Then I Saw ALL The Lesbians..." -with Naomi Mourra

"I'd Never Seen Any Lesbians... And Then I Saw ALL The Lesbians..." -with Naomi Mourra

If you love a good ol' fashioned leaving-my-hometown-to-find-myself story, then this week we've got a doozy. Naomi Mourra, (who happens to be Sydney’s only Lebanese, lesbian, ex-Jehovah’s Witness, comedian), first came to London in the late 90s when she was trying to reconcile the thoughts she was feeling about women-folk with the teachings of her religion. And, it was in London that she got to explore Soho's Candy Bar, a lesbian bar that first opened in 1996, but closed in 2014 due to rising r

Jan 25, 2023 • 57:47

"A Little Big Gay Community" - with Mason Dixon from With A Gay Twist Podcast

"A Little Big Gay Community" - with Mason Dixon from With A Gay Twist Podcast

So, when you are an army brat you get to move around a lot. You get to see lots of different parts of the world, or lots of different parts of the country that you're in. This is kind of a gift, but also kind of not a gift.... Because, you don't always feel grounded and like you belong. But, it's also easier to pick up and change scenes because you have so much experience of it already. But, how do you know when the time is right to settle down? Like. what sign do you nee

Jan 18, 2023 • 45:32

"I Didn't Even Know What Queer Was" - with Marlee Jane Ward

"I Didn't Even Know What Queer Was" - with Marlee Jane Ward

You know how sometimes you go in to a space, and you instantly feel at home? Like, none of that awkwardness whilst you get your bearings - everyone is friendly and open and you feel totally comfortable. And, when you find those places you want to make sure that you go back time and again and soak up those good vibes. Right? RIGHT? Well, not so much for this week's guest, the award winning writer Marlee Jane Ward, who went to Sydney's Club Kooky only the once after being taken there when she firs

Jan 11, 2023 • 43:38

"Saying The Word 'Gay' Made My Voice Shake" - with Will Kostakis

"Saying The Word 'Gay' Made My Voice Shake" - with Will Kostakis

We've talked on this show before about the pressure (whether real or imagined) that you can feel when your sibling or someone else in your family comes out before you. In past examples on this show we've only ever been talking about one person in the family... but, on today's episode we're finding out from children's author Will Kostakis what it's like being one of three gay brothers... and, by the sounds of it, they all had different journeys (i hate myself for using that word. sorry). Snd, tha

Dec 21, 2022 • 47:02

"My Queer Awakening Is Through Dancing" - with Trevor Campbell from You Made Me Queer Podcast

"My Queer Awakening Is Through Dancing" - with Trevor Campbell from You Made Me Queer Podcast

If you've ever lost yourself, found yourself, shaken off your inhibitions, and/or forged community on a dancefloor, then I think you're going to enjoy this week's episode. I was lucky enough to talk to Trevor Campbell, the host of the You Made Me Queer podcast, about Toronto's lost space The Gladstone, and it's mid-week dance party Hump Day Bump where Trevor was found cutting a rug many a night in the 00s. We talk all about accepting the freak you are, figuring out when to put aside

Dec 14, 2022 • 37:12

"I Just Came Out But I'm Smooth With The Ladies" - with C.J. Johnson from Beyond the Rainbow Podcast

"I Just Came Out But I'm Smooth With The Ladies" - with C.J. Johnson from Beyond the Rainbow Podcast

This week we are joined by C.J. Johnson from the true crime podcast, Beyond the Rainbow, who is taking us to the Lavender Heights area of Sacramento, California, to visit the lesbian bar The Buffalo Club. And, along the way we find out about CJ's coming out, her lesbian grandma, and her weakness for blondes.... Do you have any memories of The Buffalo Club, or clubbing from your own queer scene that you want to share? Well, if you have please get in touch - I want to create the biggest onli

Dec 7, 2022 • 31:38

"Little Looney Scared Queers" - with Joey Juschka

"Little Looney Scared Queers" - with Joey Juschka

So, we've done bars, we've done clubs, we've done bookshops and youth groups and websites... but, in all the time we've been doing this show we've never ever featured a queer squat... but all of that is about to change! In the early 00s today's guest, the sex, lust & flirt trainer Joey Juschka, moved to London to help set up a queer squat. And, if you've ever wondered about the how and why of squatting then I think you'll learn a lot from this chat. But, on top of that, and i think the thing

Nov 30, 2022 • 49:30

"Squishy Femme Bear" - with Neil Higgins from FMKLit Podcast

"Squishy Femme Bear" - with Neil Higgins from FMKLit Podcast

Do you like to go out and get properly, properly messy? Do you have a go-to place where you can just let loose and have a rollicking good time without fear of judgement or reprimand? If you answered yes then I think you might enjoy hearing about this week's bar, Badlands, which was in the heart of San Francisco's Castro district. Although our guest, Neil Higgins (from FMKLit Podcast) only went to the bar once he certainly knows a thing or two about getting messy. We talk about finding wher

Nov 23, 2022 • 49:02

"I've Been Relationship Hopping For The Last 10 Years" - with Arielle Isaac Norman

"I've Been Relationship Hopping For The Last 10 Years" - with Arielle Isaac Norman

This week's guest, comedian Arielle Isaac Norman, may have only gone to her lost space 'Bout Time II', a handful of times in her life, but that doesn't mean she wasn't impacted when she discovered that the bar closed at the start of the pandemic in 2020 of all that she had lost. We start off talking about when Arielle moved to Austin (which is where the bar was), in 2015, and then go in to brainstorming drag king names, being a serial relationship hopper, and I get some tips on how to initiate a

Nov 16, 2022 • 48:18

"Everything You Would Do At A Gay Bar" - with Tempest DuJour

"Everything You Would Do At A Gay Bar" - with Tempest DuJour

This week's space has no name... All we know is that it was a rest-stop between the cities of Salt Lake City and Provo, in Utah, USA. And, well, if you know anything about cruising then you've probably already guessed that it was a cruising spot, but, without overly intellectualising it, cruising spots are so much more than just cruising spots. And, in a very homophobic part of the USA this was one of the only places where queer men could go and feel that they could express a part of thems

Nov 9, 2022 • 49:12

"There's Probably A Bar For That Somewhere In Bangkok" - with Ben

"There's Probably A Bar For That Somewhere In Bangkok" - with Ben

It's equal parts thrilling and terrifying to uproot your life and plonk it back down in a brand new country and I have such admiration for anyone who does it... This week's guest, Ben, did this when he left the US in the 2010s to start life again in Bangkok, Thailand as a language teacher. He ended up spending 9 years there before moving back to the US recently. And, in that time, he went through a wonderful learning curve that was backdropped by the city's queer scene. He was

Nov 2, 2022 • 50:03

"I Own A F*cking Hot New Queer Bar" - with Keaton Kash from Mod Love Podcast

"I Own A F*cking Hot New Queer Bar" - with Keaton Kash from Mod Love Podcast

* This episode is sponsored by Spaces, the new group chat app for queer communities - find out more at https://www.queerspaces.com/ (and, come join the Lost Queer Spaces Space after you've set up your profile! * In the three years of this show we've never sat down to talk to someone who actually owned and operated a queer space. But, that's all changing today, as we get to pick the brain of Keaton Kash, current host of the Mod Love podcast, and former owner of Toronto's The Steady. Now, I

Oct 26, 2022 • 57:22

"For Me, Drag Always Was Like A Political Practice" - with Lil Miss Hot Mess

"For Me, Drag Always Was Like A Political Practice" - with Lil Miss Hot Mess

* This episode is sponsored by Spaces, the new group chat app for queer communities - find out more at https://www.queerspaces.com/ (and, come join the Lost Queer Spaces Space after you've set up your profile! * On this week's show we're talking to Lil Miss Hot Mess, who is as fun to talk to as her name is to say! Coming up in the San Francisco scene, Lil Miss got started at the legendary T-Shack, a night held at The Stud, which unfortunately we lost at the beginning of the pandemic. And, yes, y

Oct 19, 2022 • 44:01

"Why The F&*k Are You Talking To My Husband?" - with Marko and Tony from Relationsh!t Podcast

"Why The F&*k Are You Talking To My Husband?" - with Marko and Tony from Relationsh!t Podcast

* This episode is sponsored by Spaces, the new group chat app for queer communities - find out more at https://www.queerspaces.com/ (and, come join the Lost Queer Spaces Space after you've set up your profile! * This week we are talking all about L-O-V-E love... And, yeah, I know, this isn't the content that you're used to from me, so I totally understand if you feel a bit confused and queasy right now, but I promise you that there's a good ol' dollop of cynicism peppered throughout the conversa

Oct 12, 2022 • 59:21

'Can A Straight Person Be Queer?' - with Scott Flashheart from Probably True Podcast

'Can A Straight Person Be Queer?' - with Scott Flashheart from Probably True Podcast

As much as this show celebrates queer spaces and ‘the scene’, i think there’s also always been a bit of a recognition that it's not perfect — it can be exhausting trying to fit in, trying to find people that you like, and trying to just be. But, sometimes... just sometimes... you find the space where you feel that you're meant to be and it can feel like coming home. This week we are joined by Scott Flashheart, from the Probably True podcast, who long-time listeners will remember has

Oct 5, 2022 • 57:47

"Growing Up As A Queer, Non-Mormon Kid.." - with Dylan Rice

"Growing Up As A Queer, Non-Mormon Kid.." - with Dylan Rice

Most of the spaces that we talk about on this show closed because they were no longer making a profit or the owner just decided that they wanted a change... But, we've never talked about a space that stopped existing because it was knocked down by a TORNADO! Until now, that is... This week's guest is singer-songwriter Dylan Rice, who grew up in Salt Lake City, and used to go to The Sun Tavern, a space that first opened in the 70s and was one of the only safe spaces for queer people in the

Sep 28, 2022 • 51:40

"I Started Going Out To The Gay Bars When I Was 16..." - with John Moletress

"I Started Going Out To The Gay Bars When I Was 16..." - with John Moletress

* This episode is sponsored by Spaces, the new group chat app for queer communities - find out more at https://www.queerspaces.com/ (and, come join the Lost Queer Spaces Space after you've set up your profile! * Are you still friends with the people that you used to go clubbing with? Do you keep in touch with them, or just facebook stalk them late at night when the image of their face pops in to your head? Do you know what they've been up to since you knew them, and have any of them gone o

Sep 21, 2022 • 40:46

"All These Lesbians Turn Around And They Yell 'Fresh Meat!'" - with Li Isaacs from Lesbian Speaking podcast

"All These Lesbians Turn Around And They Yell 'Fresh Meat!'" - with Li Isaacs from Lesbian Speaking podcast

I learn so much doing this podcast, and getting the insight in to the scene in different countries and cities has been so illuminating to me. As you probably know one of my favourite things to talk about - one of the things that fascinates me most - is the evolution of language, and concepts and how they're applied and how they're enforced within different communities. And, one of the most fascinating (and, constantly, constantly changing) concepts that keeps getting discussed is this one

Sep 14, 2022 • 41:39

"When I Think About A Gay Bar..." - with Mike and Kyle from Gayish podcast

"When I Think About A Gay Bar..." - with Mike and Kyle from Gayish podcast

Normally when I sit down to talk to my guests we have a bit of chit-chat to break the ice and ease us in before we get going. But, occasionally, the chit-chat turns in to something very interesting and I have to scrabble to press record whilst making sure we don't lose the rhythm of the conversation. Which is what you will find with the start of this week's episode, where Mike, one half of the presenters of the Gayish podcast started to tell me about going out to the gay bar R Place in Sea

Sep 7, 2022 • 56:30

"...And I Was Thinking, 'Am I Gay Now?'" - with Mat Hawley from Mat Tales Podcast

"...And I Was Thinking, 'Am I Gay Now?'" - with Mat Hawley from Mat Tales Podcast

If you love episodes where I gasp a lot, you're going to love this week's show! Now, I know you're not going to believe me when I say this, but the whole concept of cruising in bathrooms is totally foreign to me, and something that I thought it was high time I got a little lesson on. So, luckily for me, Mat Hawley, from Mat Tales Podcast, dropped by to talk me through the basics. And, I'm in good hands. His show, Mat Tales: 40 Years of Gay Adventures, is a show where he shares storie

Aug 31, 2022 • 1:00:46

"When I Was a Young Teen Transsexual in Toronto" - with Morgan M Page

"When I Was a Young Teen Transsexual in Toronto" - with Morgan M Page

* This episode is sponsored by Spaces, the new group chat app for queer communities - find out more at https://www.queerspaces.com/ (and, come join the Lost Queer Spaces Space after you've set up your profile! * One of the things I love doing most about this show is, obviously, getting the chance to learn about different people's experiences and circumstances. But, within that, there's often a really nice reminder of how nobody's journey is the same. There are so many ways to come ou

Aug 24, 2022 • 55:40

"A Slice Of Lesbian Reality That I Had Never Seen" - with Paris Poirier and Karen Kiss

"A Slice Of Lesbian Reality That I Had Never Seen" - with Paris Poirier and Karen Kiss

* This episode is sponsored by Spaces, the new group chat app for queer communities - find out more at https://www.queerspaces.com/ (and, come join the Lost Queer Spaces Space after you've set up your profile! * Picture it. It's 1989. Maud's, one of the only lesbian bars in San Francisco, is about to close down permanently. And, in its last few days a plucky film crew sets up to document the final days of the bar, celebrate the women who went there, and mark the importance of such a

Aug 17, 2022 • 31:53

"He Took Me To My First Gay Club" - with Jonathan Marotto from the Yaaas Bro Podcast

"He Took Me To My First Gay Club" - with Jonathan Marotto from the Yaaas Bro Podcast

* This episode is sponsored by Spaces, the new group chat app for queer communities - find out more at https://www.queerspaces.com/ (and, come join the Lost Queer Spaces Space after you've set up your profile! * You know how when you were a baby gay and you had to someone pluck up every single shred of courage within you in order to make that first visit to your local queer bar, and how you had to go through the emotional acrobats just to make that first step through the front door? Well..

Aug 10, 2022 • 1:00:05

"Every Bachelorette Party Seems To Be At A Queer Bar Now" - with J.P. Der Boghossian (from This Queer Book Saved My Life Podcast)

"Every Bachelorette Party Seems To Be At A Queer Bar Now" - with J.P. Der Boghossian (from This Queer Book Saved My Life Podcast)

*Before we dive in to this week's episode - did you know that I also write a weekly newsletter? I'd love to spend a little time in your inbox! If you want some queer shit once a week sign up here - https://tinyurl.com/lostspacespod * One of the perverse things about doing this podcast is that when I'm talking to a potential guest and they say that all of the bars that were ever significant in their life are still open, instead of me responding 'Yay! That's great news! Queer spaces are thriving',

Aug 3, 2022 • 53:32

"We Call It The Gaybourhood Here" - with Maurice Smith from Category Is... Podcast

"We Call It The Gaybourhood Here" - with Maurice Smith from Category Is... Podcast

*Before we dive in to this week's episode - did you know that I also write a weekly newsletter? I'd love to spend a little time in your inbox! If you want some queer shit once a week sign up here - https://tinyurl.com/lostspacespod * So, you're new to a city... You know no-one... The job you moved for has since disappeared, and you've got to start from scratch... Where do you go to meet people? How do you make new friends? Well, how about... Facebook? (You thought i was going to say your local g

Jul 27, 2022 • 34:17

"I Think A Lot Of Gay People Go Through That" - with Dillan Gay from The Sober Gay Podcast

"I Think A Lot Of Gay People Go Through That" - with Dillan Gay from The Sober Gay Podcast

*Before we dive in to this week's episode - did you know that I also write a weekly newsletter? I'd love to spend a little time in your inbox! If you want some queer shit once a week sign up here - https://tinyurl.com/lostspacespod * It's no secret that there's an addiction issue in the queer community, with those identifying as LGBTQ+ more likely to experience an addiction. And there are different theories about why this is - LGBTQ+ people are more likely to experience early emotional tra

Jul 20, 2022 • 50:05

"This Queer Felt That Way..." - with Owen Keehnen

"This Queer Felt That Way..." - with Owen Keehnen

*Before we dive in to this week's episode - did you know that I also write a weekly newsletter? I'd love to spend a little time in your inbox! If you want some queer shit once a week sign up here - https://tinyurl.com/lostspacespod * This week we're doing something a little different - we're not going to a bar, a club, or even a community group. We're embracing summer and headed to a lost queer beach! The Belmont Rocks were large limestone rocks on the lakefront of Lake Michigan, Chicago,

Jul 13, 2022 • 31:25

 "I Thought That Coming Out Would Sort Out My Life Once And For All" - with Nicholas McInerny

"I Thought That Coming Out Would Sort Out My Life Once And For All" - with Nicholas McInerny

*Before we dive in to this week's episode - did you know that I also write a weekly newsletter? I'd love to spend a little time in your inbox! If you want some queer shit once a week sign up here - https://tinyurl.com/lostspacespod * Coming out later in life brings a whole different set of challenges and questions about identity, community and where you fit in to all of that. This week I was lucky enough to sit down and talk to writer and podcaster Nicholas McInerny, who is the host of Rai

Jul 6, 2022 • 37:20

"The Best Amateur Go-Go Dancer Contest" - with Steve V Rodriguez from TAGS Podcast

"The Best Amateur Go-Go Dancer Contest" - with Steve V Rodriguez from TAGS Podcast

*Before we dive in to this week's episode - did you know that I also write a weekly newsletter? I'd love to spend a little time in your inbox! If you want some queer shit once a week sign up here - https://tinyurl.com/lostspacespod * So, my American guests often talk about go-go dancing as though it's this super common thing, and I always feel a bit too dumb to ask too many follow up questions. But, this week I put all of that aside and asked EVERY. SINGLE. DUMB question there is to ask about th

Jun 29, 2022 • 39:09

"Just Being With Each Other In Queer Space... It Matters" - with Bitch

"Just Being With Each Other In Queer Space... It Matters" - with Bitch

Cast your mind back to the year 1999 - we were all worried about the Y2K bug, there's this new cartoon called Spongebob Squarepants, and the queer folk punk duo Bitch and Animal release their debut album 'What's That Smell?'. One of the songs on the album, 'Drag King Bar', documents the band's misadventures at a night called Club Casanova, which was a weekly drag king night held at Velvet in New York City. I was lucky enough to nab some time with Bitch, who is in the midst of touring her latest

Jun 22, 2022 • 41:51

"Because Of Those Women In Those Lesbian Bars..." - with Crys Matthews

"Because Of Those Women In Those Lesbian Bars..." - with Crys Matthews

Sweet, sweet love.... Usually on this show when a guest brings up affairs of the heart i’m like ‘ugh, let’s move on…’, but this week I didn't. Maybe it’s the summer weather, maybe I’m mellowing in my old age, but this time i leant right in and learnt all about a significant relationship in social justice singer-songwriter Crys Matthew’s life. And, that relationship would not have happened were it not for the lesbian bar Phase 1 in Washington, DC. We talk all about the evolving nature of la

Jun 15, 2022 • 37:00

"At Night, The Gays Come Out Like Werewolves" - with Intesar Toufic

"At Night, The Gays Come Out Like Werewolves" - with Intesar Toufic

You know how I always get overexcited when I learn a new word or phrase on this show? Well, this week I was lucky enough to learn some gay Arabic terms when I sat down to talk to Intesar Toufic about growing up gay in Lebanon. Intesar is an author, stand-up comedian, and patrona of a multinational phone-sex ring. He first started going to Acid, a club that was found in the capital Beirut, when he was in university and had just started to meet other people like him. We talk all about

Jun 8, 2022 • 49:47

“Everybody Has A Time In Their Life Where They’ve Developed A Drag Persona” – with Mitzi MacIntosh / Graeme Browning

“Everybody Has A Time In Their Life Where They’ve Developed A Drag Persona” – with Mitzi MacIntosh / Graeme Browning

Mitzi MacIntosh is the drag persona of the artist Graeme Browning (oh, yeah, and she also happens to be queer Sydney royalty). Graeme moved to Sydney, from Canberra, in the late 80s and quickly established himself as a powerhouse performer, full of the typical down-to-Earth Australian wit and adorned with the most fantastic costumes. It was in the Imperial Hotel, which at the time was owned by Dawn O'Donnell, that Mitzi got the opportunity to really create big, bold exciting drag shows with her

Jun 1, 2022 • 32:32

"Gay Porn And Lube And Poppers And Accoutrements" - with Glenn Gaylord

"Gay Porn And Lube And Poppers And Accoutrements" - with Glenn Gaylord

The golden age of cruising... No one has quite pinpointed the exact years of this magical era, but the 70s were definitely a part of it. It was post-Stonewall, so there was a new kind of hope and enthusiasm, and it was pre-AIDs and HIV, which meant there was less shame attached to sex. And, it was at the tail end of the 70s that this week's guest, the award winning filmmaker Glenn Gaylord first moved to LA from Ohio. At this point he was too young to go to the clubs, but too horny to stay

May 25, 2022 • 28:23

What's Next For Lost Spaces?

What's Next For Lost Spaces?

Hello! I have a wee favour to ask of you....  I'm at a bit of a strange time in the life of Lost Spaces, and lately I've been thinking about what my next move is.  So, I'd really if you could complete this survey - https://forms.gle/5w5k9iVXyUieqZ4SA - to help me understand what works, what doesn't work, and how I can make the show better. The survey shouldn't take more than 10 minutes to complete (unless you have a lot to say in the free-text questions!), and, if you complete it, I'll be your b

May 23, 2022 • 1:41

"I Just Wanted Gay, Gay, Gay, Gay, Gay" - with Mark Perez from Pink Milk Podcast

"I Just Wanted Gay, Gay, Gay, Gay, Gay" - with Mark Perez from Pink Milk Podcast

This thing about fancying straight people... like, I don't get it... is it because they're unobtainable? Is it because we're socialised in a heteronormative society that conditions us to see more value in straightness? Is it because we just really hate ourselves? I don't know... But, luckily I have recovering straight-luster-afterer Mark Perez, co-host of the Star Wars appreciating Pink Milk podcast, to help fill me in. We talk all about Club St. John, a bar in San Jose, California,

May 18, 2022 • 36:48

"Everything We Did Was Queer, Queer, Queer" (with Samantha Nye)

"Everything We Did Was Queer, Queer, Queer" (with Samantha Nye)

A few episodes ago I spoke to the wonderful singer/songwriter Chris Pureka (and, if you haven't heard that chat yet go back and give it a wee listen - I'll still be here when you get back!). After we spoke Chris suggested that I get in touch with their friend, the artist Samantha Nye. Samantha's work is all about a fantasy history and a fantasy future of queer/lesbian pleasure utopias made from references of 1960s pop culture, and so she has lots to say about the importance of spaces in fo

May 11, 2022 • 50:31

"Queer People Were Just Really Pushed To The Fringes" (with Imogen Kelly)

"Queer People Were Just Really Pushed To The Fringes" (with Imogen Kelly)

So, gentrification is a bit of a dirty word around here, and you'll no doubt have heard me talk to at least one of my guests about how gentrification pushes out the queers and the misfits from areas where they once thrived. One of the places in the world that has been totally transformed by gentrification is King's Cross in Sydney, Australia. When I was growing up as a little queer boy in Adelaide, King's Cross was known as a place of debauchery and sin, most famous for the strip bars and prosti

May 4, 2022 • 50:51

"Fat People Didn't Exist In The Gay Community" (with James from Sissy That Pod)

"Fat People Didn't Exist In The Gay Community" (with James from Sissy That Pod)

Usually on this show we talk to someone about a very specific time in their life when they went to a particular venue. What we don't do that often is look at the same venue at different time periods, and reflect on the journey and the growth that the person experienced in the intervening years... But, today, James O'Hagan, writer, activist and co-host of the Drag Race recap podcast Sissy That Pod visits to tell us all about two periods in his life going to Break for the Border, a bar in Ir

Apr 27, 2022 • 1:08:04

"I Don't Even Think I Knew Gay Bars Existed" (with Bryan from Pink Milk Podcast)

"I Don't Even Think I Knew Gay Bars Existed" (with Bryan from Pink Milk Podcast)

Have you every had that experience of being 'fresh meat'? When you walk in to a bar and receive all the attention of everyone who is in there? Well, this week's chat threw me back in time to the (admittedly very few) occasions when that's happened to me, and how glorious and all-powerful I felt in those moments! And, who reminded me of those heady days? Well, it's Bryan, the co-host of Pink Milk Podcast, a show that views Star Wars (and its many properties) through a queer lens

Apr 20, 2022 • 1:00:14

"Who's Got That Sequinned Thong?" (with Boogaloo Stu)

"Who's Got That Sequinned Thong?" (with Boogaloo Stu)

Very early on in the life of this podcast I had Boogaloo Stu on to talk about the cult London club night Shinky Shonky. And, in lots of ways, that was the episode that helped show me that the concept of Lost Spaces was going to work because suddenly people who used to go to Shinky Shonky were talking about the episode on social media and celebrating all of the good times that they had there. So, I wanted to bring Stu back on the show to talk about the final years of the night, when it had

Apr 13, 2022 • 46:30

"The Queers Will Go To The Queer Spaces" (with Chris Pureka)

"The Queers Will Go To The Queer Spaces" (with Chris Pureka)

There's a really interesting conversation in this week's episode about the 'we're all in this together' mentality that queers in small towns have, supporting queer spaces even if they don't particularly enjoy the music or the events held there. And, to show us the way is singer/songwriter Chris Pureka, who took time from promoting their new EP, The Longest Year, to talk all about Diva's, the only queer bar in the small college town of Northampton, Massachusetts. In our chat we talk all a

Apr 6, 2022 • 39:52

"Where's That Slutty Guy That Knew All The Moves?" (with Dennis Hensley from Dennis Anyone? podcast)

"Where's That Slutty Guy That Knew All The Moves?" (with Dennis Hensley from Dennis Anyone? podcast)

So, I'm kinda fascinated with gay country and western bars, where people dress up in their finest cowperson garb, and square dance, two-step and mosey on down... This isn't something that I think is a thing in the UK, so it's just been a curiosity to me until now. But, luckily for me, Dennis Hensley - writer, performer and host of the podcast 'Dennis Anyone?' took the time to tell me all about the etiquette, the ceremony, and the vibe that you'd find at Oil Can Harry's, a country and weste

Mar 30, 2022 • 44:55

"As A Sort Of Lonely, Insecure, Gay Boy" (with Dave Quantic from Fruitbowl Podcast)

"As A Sort Of Lonely, Insecure, Gay Boy" (with Dave Quantic from Fruitbowl Podcast)

I got an e-mail from this week's guest saying that he'd like to be on the show. He pitched himself with something along the lines of 'I know you like talking about sex, so I think you'll be really interested in my stories!'. After feeling very judged and a smidgen shamed I responded immediately to book him! And, so that is how Dave Quantic came on to tell me all about lost LA spaces Spike and Cuffs. And he knows what he's talking about when it comes to sex and sexuality! Dave is the creator of F

Mar 23, 2022 • 44:56

"The Sad, Sad Little Queer Punk With No Friends" (with Eric La Febre)

"The Sad, Sad Little Queer Punk With No Friends" (with Eric La Febre)

It's the crossover episode that none of you asked for (but I promise you're going to love it!)! If you follow me on social media (and, if you don't, why not? @lostspacespod on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook), you will have seen earlier this week that I was a guest on the NotStalgia podcast. Now, this is a really cool show, where hosts Jess and Eric discuss an original film and then they discuss its remake, and contrast and compare the two... The episode that I was on was a discussion about 'Boy

Mar 16, 2022 • 1:04:50

"90,000 Ways To Be Gay" (with Jeffrey Masters)

"90,000 Ways To Be Gay" (with Jeffrey Masters)

Jeffrey Masters is the creator and host of the long-running interview podcast, LGBTQ&A (recommended by The New York Times!). Here he has interviewed such guests as John Cameron Mitchell, Laverne Cox, and Melissa Etheridge, and over 200 others. Back when he was a baby-gay, and after an earlier three-month stint over summer holidays, he packed his bags and plonked himself down in LA, where he lived for several years. it was here that he was exposed to the magical world of West Hollywood,

Mar 9, 2022 • 40:17

"Bring Me The Gays! Bring Me Your Finest Homosexuals!" (with Craig Law)

"Bring Me The Gays! Bring Me Your Finest Homosexuals!" (with Craig Law)

This week we're welcoming back an old guest - Craig Law is a DJ and the host of the #InTheMix show on Gaydio, the world's biggest LGBT radio station. The last time he was here he told me all about his early days of gay clubbing in his hometown Swansea, Wales. This time around we're visiting Manchester's gay village and the lost club Kiki, whose tagline was "A grown-up club for those who grew up clubbing" Now, if you've ever listened to this show before you know that we do tend to som

Mar 2, 2022 • 51:27

"Is There Such A Thing As Too Gay?" (with Seth from Thanks For Coming! Podcast)

"Is There Such A Thing As Too Gay?" (with Seth from Thanks For Coming! Podcast)

This week I am talking to Seth... no last name, just Seth... who is the former co-host of the Thanks for Coming! podcast, which recapped episodes of RuPaul's Drag Race whilst also covering queer pop culture. Alas, the show ended earlier in 2022. Having lived in LA for a few years, Seth moved back to his college town of Bloomington, Indiana (where he had that weird experience of everything being exactly the same but also kind of different) and took the time and space to figure out his next

Feb 23, 2022 • 32:19

"You Can't Cry At A Drag Show" (with Jaimie Sherling)

"You Can't Cry At A Drag Show" (with Jaimie Sherling)

We’ve heard a few times on this show about the healing power of drag, and how important it has been on different guests journeys of self-discovery and recalibration... but that’s always been from the perspective of drag artists, and not the audience who find escape in their art.... Well, that's all about to change. On this week's episode we are talking to Jaimie Sherling, who has recently published her book 'From Queens to Queens: How the Madison Drag Community Saved My Life', which is all about

Feb 16, 2022 • 38:58

"Have You Heard Of Lesbian Drama?" (with Sade Giliberti)

"Have You Heard Of Lesbian Drama?" (with Sade Giliberti)

The longer I do this podcast the more I'm learning about a real and very serious affliction on our community - and that is 'lesbian drama'... a few guests have now talked to me about this phenomenon, and at first I brushed it off, but the more I heard about it the more I wanted to know... Now, if you google 'lesbian drama' you'll probably find a list of films to watch on Netflix, but dig a little deeper and you'll find the Urbandictionary.com (ah, Urbandictionary!) definition, which is: "Drama c

Feb 9, 2022 • 45:08

"There's Something So Definitive About 'Gay'" (with Lee-Sean Huang)

"There's Something So Definitive About 'Gay'" (with Lee-Sean Huang)

Lee Sean Huang is Taiwanese American designer, educator and podcaster. He grew up in Phoenix, Arizona, and had what he describes as a typical middle American upbringing. In the late 90s, as a teenager, he spent two summers in Paris, France on a study abroad programme. It was here that he got an opportunity to explore his identity and figure out who he was. And one of the gay bars where he got to do that? The wonderfully named Le Queen. We talk all about being relegated to side

Feb 2, 2022 • 35:08

"Wherever The Queer People Were, That Was Where I Wanted To Be" (with Amelia from Pitney and Amelia's Bitchen Boutique)

"Wherever The Queer People Were, That Was Where I Wanted To Be" (with Amelia from Pitney and Amelia's Bitchen Boutique)

Amelia is the co-host of the podcast Pitney and Amelia's Bitchen Boutique - they may be awful, but they’re right! (Actually, i don’t know if i agree that they are awful or right, bit it’s how they describe themselves on their show so we’re just gonna go with it....) We caught up to talk about the Austin, Texas club The Crossing. Now, this is one of those situations where, because the club existed before the internet did, there is NOTHING about this venue online. Which is kind of weir

Jan 26, 2022 • 44:08

"As A Vaguely Self-Hating Queer..." (with Doug Crossley)

"As A Vaguely Self-Hating Queer..." (with Doug Crossley)

Doug Crossley is an award-winning writer and artist based in the UK (and - spoiler alert - he also recently won a baking episode of Kirstie's Handmade Christmas which was on Channel 4 over the festive period!). He moved to London in the early 00s to study musical theatre at the infamous BRIT school, and came with a set of preconceptions about the big city and how his life would be there. We caught up to talk about Popstarz, London's legendary weekly indie rock night that started in the 90s

Jan 19, 2022 • 40:35

"I Will Preface This By Saying I'd Had A Few Drinks..." (with DJ Dan Murphy)

"I Will Preface This By Saying I'd Had A Few Drinks..." (with DJ Dan Murphy)

Having been an in-demand DJ for the better part of the last 20 years there were a lot of queer spaces that I could have talked about with DJ Dan Murphy, but we decided to go with the venue that gave him his big start all those years ago... And so we're headed back to the early 2000s to talk about Arq, the legendary superclub at the tip of Sydney's queer district of Oxford Street. At this time in his life he had just returned from living in London, where he sold t-shirts and lol

Jan 12, 2022 • 37:39

"Where Are All The Lesbians?" (with Lisa Haas)

"Where Are All The Lesbians?" (with Lisa Haas)

Have you ever had someone try to coax you out of the closet by asking the seemingly innocent question 'is there anything you want to tell me?'? Do you remember the anguish and pain of simply muttering the 3 or 4 words needed to just confirm their suspicions? Well, if you have, I have a feeling you'll love this week's episode. I'm talking to comedy writer and actor Lisa Haas about her very first trip to the lesbian bar Three Sisters in Denver, Colorado in the 80s. We talk

Dec 22, 2021 • 46:50

“I’ve Never Felt That Included In The Gay Community” (with Martin J Dixon)

“I’ve Never Felt That Included In The Gay Community” (with Martin J Dixon)

There's nothing quite like a small town gay bar. This week we're catching up with Martin J Dixon, a stand-up comedian who is really into soft core porn and hard core hand holding. He lived in Truro between the ages of 16 and 18, having moved there to live with his grandparents and finish high school. It was here that he snuck in to Eclipse, and had his first gay bar experience. During our conversation we veer all over the shop, and discuss what we think is the appropriate Grindr etiquette, what

Dec 15, 2021 • 44:11

"Where Were All These Gay Pubs When I Was A Kid?" (with Charlie Sayce)

"Where Were All These Gay Pubs When I Was A Kid?" (with Charlie Sayce)

Self confessed pop culture expert Charlie Sayce, creator of RuPaul’s Drag Race UK Fans, and host of God Save the Queens, a drag race review show on Glitterbeam Radio, is this week's guest. And he's taking us on a trip back in time to his uni days in Worthing, a small seaside town in the south of England. It was here that he found the only gay bar in town, the Jack Horner. Despite it looking like a generic old man pub they played Britney Spears, had dodgy karaoke nights, and gave him an opp

Dec 8, 2021 • 1:00:42

"Everybody I Ever Knew Who Had HIV Had Died" (with De'Vannon Hubert)

"Everybody I Ever Knew Who Had HIV Had Died" (with De'Vannon Hubert)

1 December is World Aids Day, an international day dedicated to raising awareness of the AIDS pandemic. To mark this day on this week's show I'm joined by De'Vannon Hubert, podcaster and author of 'Sex, Drugs, and Jesus', a memoir about his struggles with his HIV+ diagnosis, drug addiction, homelessness, and rejection from his church for his sexuality. And the venue we're discussing is F-Bar in Houston, Texas, a place that holds bittersweet memories for De'Vannon - it was here that he cele

Dec 1, 2021 • 46:14

"I Don't Hide My Lesbianism. It Is Always A Kernel Of Everything I Do" (with Gretchen Phillips)

"I Don't Hide My Lesbianism. It Is Always A Kernel Of Everything I Do" (with Gretchen Phillips)

So, if you've ever listened to this show before you'll know that I often talk to my guests about straight people in queer spaces... and, for the most part people are not exactly against the idea, but fear that it can compromise the integrity of a space, or... just make it a bit more boring... Well, this week's guest, Gretchen Phillips, has an entirely different view, and wants to see a world where there is more integration, and more 'reaching across the aisle', as she puts it... Gretchen is an i

Nov 24, 2021 • 45:54

"Even Though I Was Gay, I Wasn't Limp Wrist Gay" (with Reese from Not Another Drag Race Podcast)

"Even Though I Was Gay, I Wasn't Limp Wrist Gay" (with Reese from Not Another Drag Race Podcast)

This week's guest is Reese Williams, host of the Not Another Drag Race Podcast. If you follow me on social media you'll have seen this week that I was the guest on his show, spouting my ill-informed opinions about last week's episode of Drag Race UK, and now it's time to return the favour! Reese grew up in Melbourne's outer suburbs and still remembers the long train ride he'd take to come in to the city and explore queer nightlife... The place that's left the strongest impression on him is

Nov 17, 2021 • 46:10

"What Type Of Gay Person Do I Want To Be?" (with Michael Ryan)

"What Type Of Gay Person Do I Want To Be?" (with Michael Ryan)

Michael Ryan, who leads the Gay Bars That Are Gone walking tour in NYC, and loves queer spaces as much as I do, is this week's guest. Originally from Augusta, Georgia, he first moved to New York for college, and although he quickly threw himself in to the scene, he wasn't sure what kind of gay he wanted to be... It wasn't until he found Splash, one of those old school gay bars that was bold, trashy and, invariably, the place you'd end up at the end of the night, that he found his tribe... And th

Nov 10, 2021 • 44:26

"I saw the word transsexual, and I thought, 'Well, I guess that's me'" (with Cidny Bullens)

"I saw the word transsexual, and I thought, 'Well, I guess that's me'" (with Cidny Bullens)

The story behind how this week's conversation happened is almost as good as the interview itself! So, you may know this already, but I’m a big fan of Grease 2, which I think is a far superior film to Grease. Having heard me rant about it on a previous episode of the show (see 'Queer as Punk' with Demi Wylde) a follower on twitter, @rnfrw, who is also a long time listener of the show (hello!) reached out to disagree, and we had a little bit of a back and forth about it. This got me th

Nov 3, 2021 • 1:02:01

"I Never Wanted To Do Drag. Other People Wanted Me To Do Drag" (with Regina Gently / Gentleman Reg)

"I Never Wanted To Do Drag. Other People Wanted Me To Do Drag" (with Regina Gently / Gentleman Reg)

One of the big perks of doing this show is that I get to reach out to people I admire with the flimsy excuse that I want to interview them for my podcast, and then get the opportunity to talk one-to-one with them for a few hours... And, this week's guest is very special. Regina Gently, who you may also know as Gentleman Reg, is a singer, songwriter and drag performer from Canada, who has worked alongside Broken Social Scene, The Hidden Cameras, and Owen Pallett. And, as Reg she even appear

Oct 27, 2021 • 51:31

"I don't think anyone thought I was full-hetero" (with Lori Bell)

"I don't think anyone thought I was full-hetero" (with Lori Bell)

So, this week is a big week. We've made it to 100 episodes. This is the 100th episode. That's weird, right? Whod've thought we'd make it this far? 100 whole episodes, and we've never been to the city where I grew up.... Adelaide. But, that's all about to change today! I got to sit down with the comedian Lori Bell to talk all about her experiences on Adelaide's queer scene (all two venues!)... We talk all about first times, blow jobs on the dance floor, and I find out what the difference is

Oct 20, 2021 • 52:48

"I Finally Came Out And I Was Avoiding Lesbians" (with Bobby Macumber)

"I Finally Came Out And I Was Avoiding Lesbians" (with Bobby Macumber)

We're headed back to the lesbian bar! My guest on this week's show, Bobby Macumber, is a comedian, MC and radio host from Melbourne. We caught up to talk about The Glasshouse, one of Melbourne's only lesbian bars, which opened in 1991, and closed in 2011. The Glasshouse was the very first queer bar that Bobby went to with her cricket teammates back when she was a closeted 23 year old... In this episode we talk all about the joys of karaoke, falling in love with straight women, and co

Oct 13, 2021 • 45:20

"Two and a Half Homosexuals" (with Emerson Collins)

"Two and a Half Homosexuals" (with Emerson Collins)

Big Hair. Oil Rigs. BBQs. Beyonce... Yes, this week we're off to Texas! And our tour guide is actor, producer and director Emerson Collins. He's taking us back in time to The Village Station in Dallas, which was the very first gay bar he ever went to. Though he can't remember the songs he heard that night, what he was wearing, or what performances he saw, he does remember how it felt... The excitement, dread and anticipation of a better future for himself. We talk all about growing up as a South

Oct 6, 2021 • 1:06:54

"I was trying to decide what watching so much gay porn meant, and why I still liked kissing girls..." (with Hayden Winston)

"I was trying to decide what watching so much gay porn meant, and why I still liked kissing girls..." (with Hayden Winston)

Hayden Winston is a Black, bisexual novelist, poet and activist whose work draws on his experiences as a QPOC and the child of West Indian immigrants. Though he currently lives in Sacramento with his husband Tom, he was born and raised in and around Los Angeles. It was here, in West Hollywood, that he started to explore the queer scene at the 18-and-up night Tiger Heat. And Tiger Heat was held at the West Hollywood institution Rage, a nightclub that was open for 37 years, closing in

Sep 29, 2021 • 1:01:25

“Lean Into My Transness” (with Simona Castricum)

“Lean Into My Transness” (with Simona Castricum)

Simona Castricum is a musician, DJ and producer based in Melbourne, Australia. We caught up to talk about Hugs and Kisses, a night that ran in the 2010s and took advantage of the looser licensing laws that applied to the venue it was based in, which created this wonderful, hedonistic atmosphere reminiscent of the early rave scene. We talked a lot about being safe on the scene and how to create that culture, becoming yourself, and drinking in the street. Oh, and I need to let you know

Sep 22, 2021 • 41:52

"We Need To Be More Inclusive" (with Barb Snelgrove)

"We Need To Be More Inclusive" (with Barb Snelgrove)

Barb Snelgrove is a radio presenter, inductee in the Canadian Queer Hall of Fame, and owner of megamouthmedia, a boutique media relations firm. She is also a life-long Vancouverite, and has seen the queer scene shift and change since she first started going out as an underage teen. We first caught up to talk about a bar called The Odyssey, but... well... you already know what I'm going to say... we ended up going a little off-piste. But, don't worry, cause it's all still gold. We ta

Sep 15, 2021 • 45:55

Teenage Crush (with Alistair Barton)

Teenage Crush (with Alistair Barton)

Alistair Barton is the host of Picking at Perfection, a podcast that aims to explore and break down perfectionist expectations. And this week we're doing something a little bit different - instead of visiting a club we're going to a youth group. Alistair says that the youth group he went to as a teenager gave him a safe space to explore his identity with a group of young people that were outside of his school and outside of all the expectations and pressure that he felt there. But it

Sep 8, 2021 • 53:23

Taking your boyfriend to prom, foam parties, and *gasp* dating Republicans (with Michael Dumlao)

Taking your boyfriend to prom, foam parties, and *gasp* dating Republicans (with Michael Dumlao)

Michael Dumlao is an artist, activist and the author of 'The Wisdom of Guncles', a new book that celebrates the role of gay uncles and highlights the diverse perspectives and lived experiences they have to offer their families. Born in the Philippines, he spent his childhood in Sydney, Australia, and then California before moving to Washington, D.C. in his early 20s. It was here that he made his home, finding his chosen family and laying down roots. We caught up to talk about his ear

Sep 1, 2021 • 1:05:11

Flirting tips, avoiding audience participation and how to spot the signs you've joined a cult (with Erika and Paul from That Aged Well)

Flirting tips, avoiding audience participation and how to spot the signs you've joined a cult (with Erika and Paul from That Aged Well)

Erika and Paul are the co-hosts of That Aged Well, a podcast that examines 80s/90s pop culture through a modern lens. The two have been friends for over 20 years, and were finishing each other's sentences, and volleying back and forth throughout our conversation about their lost space. And, you'll be pleased to hear, there was a higher-than-average amount of giggles and guffaws. We met to discuss Vlada, a vodka bar in Hell's Kitchen, NYC, which was the place to be for a short time in the mid-00s

Aug 25, 2021 • 1:01:04

Go-go dancing, overcoming addiction, and long distance relationships (with Kevin Steinberg)

Go-go dancing, overcoming addiction, and long distance relationships (with Kevin Steinberg)

Actor Kevin Steinberg moved to San Francisco in the mid-90s after a particularly memorable trip to Burning Man festival (I'll let him tell you all about that), and quickly built a life for himself working as a living sculpture and a go-go dancer. And it was at Club Universe, a queer nightclub in SoMa that was open from 1994 to 2002, where he first donned his skimpy shorts and worked the podium. Do you have any memories from Club Universe, or from your own queer scene that you want to share? Well

Aug 18, 2021 • 57:38

Pandora Boxx: Falling in love with straight men, petty fights, and embracing your inner slut

Pandora Boxx: Falling in love with straight men, petty fights, and embracing your inner slut

This week we are catching up with Pandora Boxx, drag queen superstar and contestant on Ru Paul's Drag Race Season 2, as well as All Stars 1 and 6. And we are going to find out all about her early days in drag. Back in the 90s she was one of the top performers at Club Marcella, a drag bar in Rochester, NY, that rode on the crest of the wave of that decades drag explosion (think Ru Paul's 'Supermodel of the World' and 'The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert') and courted a mostly straig

Aug 11, 2021 • 48:11

Queer as Punk: Gritty, Dirty, Nasty Fun (with Demi Wylde)

Queer as Punk: Gritty, Dirty, Nasty Fun (with Demi Wylde)

What is it about the punk and the goth scenes that is so appealing to queer kids? This week I caught up with author, podcaster, and entrepreneur Demi Wylde to help explore that very question. I got to find out all about his teen years growing up in the southern California city Riverside, and the refuge that he found at the Showcase Theatre, an alternative rock club in the neighbouring city of Corona which was once described as 'the CBGBs of the west coast', which was open between 1993 and

Aug 4, 2021 • 54:48

The history of G-A-Y (with Jeremy Joseph)

The history of G-A-Y (with Jeremy Joseph)

When most people think of G-A-Y, the iconic club night that has hosted performances from such superstars as Kylie Minogue, Spice Girls, Madonna, and my personal favourites Daphne & Celeste, they think of The Astoria, the central London music venue that hosted the night from when it started in the 90s up until the late 00s. The Astoria was the victim of Crossrail, a railway construction project that started in 2009 and completely changed London's queer scene, resulting in the demolition of th

Jul 28, 2021 • 1:00:38

Making out in the car park, breaking boys' hearts, and finding community during the pandemic (with Seren Oakley)

Making out in the car park, breaking boys' hearts, and finding community during the pandemic (with Seren Oakley)

Seren Oakley is a multi-disciplinary artist and events organiser whose work is based on queer spaces and elevation of others, which includes marginalised groups like asylum seekers. Currently based in Leeds, England, she grew up in Swansea, Wales, where she found solace and community at a venue called The Scene, which hosted gigs for under 18s in the early 2010s. In this episode we talk all about making out in the car park, hosting your own events, breaking boys' hearts, and how the internet has

Jul 21, 2021 • 35:48

How the success of ‘The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert’ changed the gay scene in Sydney (with Andrew Prior)

How the success of ‘The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert’ changed the gay scene in Sydney (with Andrew Prior)

Gay Sydney in the 90s was a magical time according to today's guest, chef, youtuber and podcaster Andrew Prior, who lived very close to the city's main gay hub, Oxford Street, in the early 90s. Our conversation focusses on this area, which Andred dubs the 'gay ghetto', at two periods of his life - the early 90s, when he was a teenager, living away from home for the first time, and the late 90s, when he was a little older (and, maybe perhaps wiser?). We talk all about the impact the m

Jul 14, 2021 • 56:14

Getting comfortable with rejection, sleeping with your school bully, and overcoming pee-shyness (with Conor Collins)

Getting comfortable with rejection, sleeping with your school bully, and overcoming pee-shyness (with Conor Collins)

Today we are catching up with Conor Collins, a Visual Artist based in Manchester, England, who is known for making artworks using unconventional materials such as diamond dust, blood, and hate speech found on social media. He first moved to Manchester to study, and it was here that he found Poptastic, a club night targeted mainly at students that played an eclectic mix of music. We caught up to discuss getting comfortable with rejection, sleeping with your school bully, and pee-shyness (wh

Jul 7, 2021 • 1:02:12

Sticky dancefloors, sweaty bars, and choosing songs for your own funeral (with David Paisley)

Sticky dancefloors, sweaty bars, and choosing songs for your own funeral (with David Paisley)

This week we are talking to David Paisley, a Scottish actor known for roles in soap operas Holby City, and River City. He is also a tireless LGBTQ campaigner, recently being acknowledged with an Attitude Pride Award for his campaigning against the trans-exclusionary agenda of the LGB Alliance. He first moved to London when he got the role as midwife Ben Saunders in Holby City, and hated it. It wasn't until the second time around that the city's charms started to show themselves, and h

Jun 30, 2021 • 1:04:35

Sex work, white cis-men, and dark, dark rooms (with Tim Lagman)

Sex work, white cis-men, and dark, dark rooms (with Tim Lagman)

This week we are talking to Tim Lagman, a certified sex educator and pleasure advocate based in Toronto, Canada. He is also the host of the 'Sex Ed with Tim' podcast, where he interviews sluts (his word, not mine!) from all walks of life and delves into the good, the bad, and the stinky sides of love, sex, sexuality, relationships, and more. And where did he get so damn knowledgeable about all of these things? Well, it was out in the club, and he credits Fly 2.0, which was in the hea

Jun 23, 2021 • 57:36

Is It Even a Lesbian Bar If It Doesn't Have a Pool Table? (with Clare Lydon)

Is It Even a Lesbian Bar If It Doesn't Have a Pool Table? (with Clare Lydon)

In ye olden days (ok, like 20 years ago) London used to be full of small neighbourhood queer bars that had more of a community feel than the bigger, anonymous drinking establishments in the West End. And, if it was a lesbian bar you were after then your best bet would be to head to Stoke Newington in the north east of London, which has been described by today's guest as a 'lesbian mecca'. And, who is today's guest? Well, it's none other than lesbian romance novelist Clare Lydon, whose Lond

Jun 16, 2021 • 33:10

Remembering Pulse on the 5-year anniversary of the nightclub shooting (with Jared Lipscomb)

Remembering Pulse on the 5-year anniversary of the nightclub shooting (with Jared Lipscomb)

Today we are talking about Pulse Nightclub in Orlando, Florida, which on June 12, 2016, became the site of the deadliest terrorist attack in the U.S. since the September 11 attacks of 2001. And, the repercussions were felt worldwide- I remember how shocking and terrifying it was to hear about this happening in a country like America.. But, before it was the sight of this tragedy Pulse was a place where people came to meet likeminded queer folks, dance, be messy and forget their regular liv

Jun 9, 2021 • 1:01:12

Honey Mahogany's History of Queer San Fransisco

Honey Mahogany's History of Queer San Fransisco

Today's guest has a pretty damn impressive CV. She is the recently elected Chair of the San Francisco Democratic Party, as well as the co-founder of San Francisco's Transgender District (which happens to be the first transgender district in the world, so no small feat!). Oh, yeah, and you might know her as a contestant on Season 5 of Ru Paul's Drag Race, where she showed off, amongst other things, her love of kaftans. In 2016 Honey Mahogany became a co-owner of The Stud after it became the

Jun 2, 2021 • 47:45

Astrology, Online Dating Profiles, and Virgil's Sea Room, San Francisco, USA (with Nat Gunn)

Astrology, Online Dating Profiles, and Virgil's Sea Room, San Francisco, USA (with Nat Gunn)

This week we are heading to San Francisco to meet Creative Strategist Nat Gunn. And, when I say strategist I do mean strategist! Moving to San Francisco in 2014 Nat came equipped with a game plan that she took that seriously, throwing herself in to the dating world. It was this very plan that led her to meet her partner Bridget, and their first date together brought them to Virgil's Sea Room, a queer bar on Mission Street that recently closed as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic. We caught

May 26, 2021 • 55:21

Tucking, Mormonism and the Aberdeen Queer Scene (with Romy Deepcheeks)

Tucking, Mormonism and the Aberdeen Queer Scene (with Romy Deepcheeks)

This week we are heading to the northern Scottish city of Aberdeen for some old school drag glamour. We are talking to none other than the mama of Aberdeen's drag scene, Romy Deepcheeks, a queen who has been pioneering the artform in the city since the early 00s. We caught up to talk about the scene, and discuss venues including Club 2000, Castro's and Foundation, but, in typical Lost Spaces style, we also talk about a whole host of tangentially related things, including Romy's coming out r

May 19, 2021 • 38:37

Strip Clubs of Gay Washington, D.C. in the 90s (with Craig Seymour)

Strip Clubs of Gay Washington, D.C. in the 90s (with Craig Seymour)

This week we are catching up with Craig Seymour, an American writer, music critic and former stripper. And, we are heading back to the 1990s to find out about his time stripping at various clubs throughout Washington, DC. At that point in time there was a strange quirk in the zoning laws that meant that strippers could be fully naked and fondled by customers. Whilst a graduate at the University of Maryland, Craig started to write an ethnographic study of the clubs, and what better way to learn a

May 12, 2021 • 56:19

A Very Awkward One-Night-Stand - featuring the 9th Avenue Saloon, NYC, USA (with Conor Kelly O'Brien)

A Very Awkward One-Night-Stand - featuring the 9th Avenue Saloon, NYC, USA (with Conor Kelly O'Brien)

This week we are heading back to the Big Apple with Conor Kelly O'Brien, an actor, theatre maker and creative arts organiser, originally from Scranton, Pennsylvania -- after a day of soul-zapping auditions Conor found himself at 9th Avenue Saloon, a gay dive bar in Hell's Kitchen. It was here, whilst commiserating over an alcoholic beverage or two, that Conor met a man, got pleasantly distracted, got frisky, and then... well, you'll have to listen to the episode to find out... but, yeah, definit

May 5, 2021 • 52:28

Lotus Hotel, Vancouver, Canada (with Jordan King)

Lotus Hotel, Vancouver, Canada (with Jordan King)

This week we are heading back in time to the early 00s - this is the time when the Spice Girls were unravelling, we had e-mail but not social media (not even MySpace!), and electroclash was at its peak. And it was at this time that my guest Jordan King - a Canadian multi-disciplinary artist, archivist, and historian, with her personal work currently focused on the overlap of drag culture and trans female identity - and a small group of friends started to host a weekly party in the then rece

Apr 28, 2021 • 1:07:09

Making the Queer Scene More Inclusive (with Sharifa Whitney James)

Making the Queer Scene More Inclusive (with Sharifa Whitney James)

This week we are heading back to Bristol to meet Sharifa Whitney James, a Queer, Black activist, footballer, model and facilitator. Originally from Wiltshire, Sharifa moved to Bristol to take a spot at a football academy when she was just a teenager about 15 years ago. And Bristol was the city where she first went out on a queer scene, visiting clubs like Flamingos, Vibes and Bent. But, those spaces didn't always feel quite right and weren't always welcoming... and that's where Kiki Bristol came

Apr 21, 2021 • 1:00:41

Rose and Nana (from Two Twos Podcast) Reminisce About London's Black Queer Scene

Rose and Nana (from Two Twos Podcast) Reminisce About London's Black Queer Scene

This week it's my very first three-way interview, which I was absolutely shitting myself about beforehand, but which turned out good (well, you'll see!). Nana and Rose are the hosts of the Two Twos podcast, which they describe as 'two black lesbians living in London speaking their unapologetic truth whilst creating a safe space for people like themselves and bridging the gap between LGBT+ people and cis-gendered straight people'. We caught up to talk about Hidden, and more specifically a n

Apr 14, 2021 • 50:36

Queer Nation, London, UK (with Marc Thompson)

Queer Nation, London, UK (with Marc Thompson)

Inspired by the American direct action group of the same name, Queer Nation was a club night that started in London in 1990 and quickly built a reputation as an attitude free, affordable and welcoming night that played the best in soulful house. And my guest this week is the activist, health promoter, and mentor Marc Thompson, who tells me why the night is so dear to his heart. As well as being an absolute sweetheart Marc has an incredibly impressive CV and I'm just going to break down a f

Apr 7, 2021 • 49:22

The 'Gay Best Friend' stereotype (with Ros)

The 'Gay Best Friend' stereotype (with Ros)

If you listened to my interview with artist John Lee Bird about his days working at Crash you might remember a few mentions of his flatmate, who was... shall we say... exposed to some salubrious shenanigans whilst hanging out with John. Well, I've been nagging for a while, and finally got John's flatmate, Ros, on the show to share some of her story! We started talking about different venues and nights in London in the early 00s, but the conversation really became about the importance of their re

Mar 31, 2021 • 33:48

Granny's Nightspot, Portsmouth, England (with David Ledain)

Granny's Nightspot, Portsmouth, England (with David Ledain)

This week we are headed back in time to the early 80s and small(ish) town England, with the writer David Ledain, author of This Forbidden Fruit, Having Gay Sex and his most well-known work Gay Dad, a non-fiction book that compiles the stories of gay men who married women and started families. We talk about his experiences of dipping his toe in gay life at Granny's Nightspot in Portsmouth and The Bush Inn in Chichester, grappling with his sexuality, and then deciding to turn his back on it to mar

Mar 24, 2021 • 57:56

F.A.G. Club, Bristol, England (with Chris Hubley / Crystal Mighty)

F.A.G. Club, Bristol, England (with Chris Hubley / Crystal Mighty)

This week we are catching up with Chris Hubley, a musician, artist and art historian who is also known by his drag alter-ego Crystal Mighty. We talk about a LOT of things this episode - language and how it evolves, strange, intense platonic relationships, and DIY culture... which were all the subjects that branched off of our original reason for meeting, which was F.A.G. Club, an event night held initially in Cardiff, but for the majority of its run in Bristol. F.A.G Club was an inclusive D.I.Y

Mar 17, 2021 • 54:59

Pleather harnesses, living it up as an A-Gay, and death by dildo (with Bernie Hodges from 'What, That Old Queen?' podcast)

Pleather harnesses, living it up as an A-Gay, and death by dildo (with Bernie Hodges from 'What, That Old Queen?' podcast)

This week we are talking to Bernie Hodges, a voice artist, actor, and co-host of the 'What, That Old Queen?' podcast. Moving to Bristol in the early 90s with a few mates when he was just 21 years old he quickly built a life for himself, but struggled to find his tribe and that sense of belonging that comes with that. But, that all changed when he started to go to Horseplay, a club night that billed itself as an 'underground homo disco' which started in 2011. We caught up to talk about pleather h

Mar 10, 2021 • 46:49

Ultra Naté reminisces about the early days of her career, getting sweaty in the club, and her lost space - The Paradox in Baltimore, Maryland, USA

Ultra Naté reminisces about the early days of her career, getting sweaty in the club, and her lost space - The Paradox in Baltimore, Maryland, USA

I am so freaking excited that the guest for this week's episode is Ultra Nate, the dance music superstar best known for the 90s classic 'Free'. A native of Baltimore, Maryland, Ultra fell in to club culture in her first year of university. From here she met the production group the Basement Boys, started writing songs with them and... well, the rest is history... Ultra and I discuss the Baltimore house sound, being famous in one country and unknown in another, and the etiquette of snogging

Mar 3, 2021 • 1:01:14

Champers, Swansea, Wales, UK (with DJ Craig Law)

Champers, Swansea, Wales, UK (with DJ Craig Law)

This week is our first visit to Wales, and we're going to the second largest city, Swansea (which has a population of around 250,000) to find out about the lost bar Champers. I caught up with Craig Law, Host of the #InTheMix show on Gaydio, the world's biggest LGBT radio station to find out why the bar has a special place in his heart. Craig gives me advice on what to do when your friend pulls and you're left standing on your own like an idiot, shares the impact of Section 28 on his coming out,

Feb 24, 2021 • 41:27

Popstarz, London, England, UK (with Scott Flashheart from Probably True podcast)

Popstarz, London, England, UK (with Scott Flashheart from Probably True podcast)

If you were queer in London in the naughties then you would no doubt have spent an evening or two at Popstarz, the alternative institution that is most well known for being held at Scala in King's Cross. I caught up with the host of the filthy, filthy Probably True podcast, Scott Flashheart, to talk all about his first days in London, nights out at Popstarz, vodka coughs, and the lost art of eye-banging... If you enjoy this episode make sure you go and give Scott some love on twitter - @ScottFla

Feb 17, 2021 • 55:20

Club Muthers, Rochester, NY, USA (with Mrs Kasha Davis)

Club Muthers, Rochester, NY, USA (with Mrs Kasha Davis)

Mrs. Kasha Davis came to international fame after appearing in Season 7 of Ru Paul's Drag Race. Before Drag Race, she was one of the main drag performers at Muthers, a bar in Rochester, New York. We caught up to talk about angry white poodles, the Ethel Merman disco album, and some of her memories from her early days in drag. This episode includes shout outs to many drag legends - Ambrosia Salad, Pandora Boxx, Darienne Lake, Aggy Dune, Annie Rexic, Miss Richfield 1981, and the club's owner, Naio

Feb 10, 2021 • 1:04:49

XES Lounge, Chelsea, New York City, USA (with Honey LaBronx)

XES Lounge, Chelsea, New York City, USA (with Honey LaBronx)

For a while in the early 2010s XES Lounge was THE place to be on a Monday night, where drag queens Frostie Flakes and Bob the Drag Queen (who, at the time was going by the name Kitten Withawhip) hosted their show 'Sisters?', winning crowds over with their ramshackle charm. In the crowd every week was Honey La Bronx, vegan drag queen, LGBTQ rights activist, host of the Big Fat Vegan Radio podcast and Bob's drag daughter. We caught up to discuss the pull of Manhattan, why it's not a good idea to t

Feb 3, 2021 • 1:05:30

The Cossack, Sheffield, England, UK (with Heather Paterson)

The Cossack, Sheffield, England, UK (with Heather Paterson)

And we're off to the northern English city of Sheffield, home of the world's oldest football club (who knew?), and the town responsible for legendary bands such as Pulp, Moloko, and The Human League. The lost space we are finding out about in this episode is The Cossack, a tiny pub in the city centre that was open for around 30 years from the early 70s to the early naughties. I caught up with drag artist, DJ, community worker and activist Heather Paterson to talk all about the anticlimax of comi

Jan 27, 2021 • 49:10

Westgay at Westway, NYC, USA (with Big Dipper)

Westgay at Westway, NYC, USA (with Big Dipper)

Remember the days when you'd put on your fanciest/glitter-iest/sluttiest outfit and then.... catch public transport to the club? Big Dipper, rapper and podcaster extraordinaire, sure does. Before moving to his current home in LA he lived for a few years in New York City, where he cut his teeth performing at Westgay, a queer night hosted by the influential Frankie Sharp at a bar called Westway (see what they did there?) every Tuesday night from 2012 to 2015. We talked about waiting in line

Jan 20, 2021 • 50:27

Klozet, Paceville, St. Julian's, Malta (with Chucky Bartolo)

Klozet, Paceville, St. Julian's, Malta (with Chucky Bartolo)

It is frequently listed as the most progressive country in Europe for LGBTQIA+ rights, but what is life really like for queer people in Malta? What’s it like spending all your savings on drag? How could your parents not realise you're gay when your they world's biggest Mariah Carey fan? I found the answer to these questions (and more!) when I caught up with drag queen, stand-up comedian and writer Chucky Bartolo to reminisce about Klozet, a beloved lost gay bar in Malta. Make sure to follow Chuc

Jan 13, 2021 • 1:05:53

Flamingos, Bristol, England (with Will Warren)

Flamingos, Bristol, England (with Will Warren)

Will Warren is the co-host of Track by Track, a podcast that reviews, track by track (see what they did there?), brilliant pop albums from the past. And, we're talking unashamedly pop - think Girls Aloud, Pet Shop Boys and Kylie Minogue. But long before he was reviewing albums online he was drinking a ridiculous amount of alcohol at Flamingos, a bar in Bristol, England that billed itself as THE South West Gay superclub. We caught up to talk alcopops, pre-drinks, and all you can drink alcohol for

Jan 6, 2021 • 39:23

WAR at Andrew's Lane Theatre, Dublin, Ireland (with Rory Boyle)

WAR at Andrew's Lane Theatre, Dublin, Ireland (with Rory Boyle)

Rory Boyle is the host of Queer Ear, a podcast that shines a light and spills the tea on unexplored queer issues Before he moved to London to study he had a gap year in his home town of Dublin where he got to explore his sexuality safely and dance all night (on the podium, no less) at cult club night WAR at Andrew's Lane Theatre. We caught up to discuss the weird etiquette with bathroom attendants, conversations that happen in smoking areas, and favourite Spice Girls songs.... And, after y

Dec 23, 2020 • 42:01

Gay.com (with Darby Lynn Cartwright)

Gay.com (with Darby Lynn Cartwright)

This week we are doing something a little different and visiting a lost website. Launching in 1997, long before the likes of Grindr and Scruff, Gay.com was a chat, personals, and social networking website catering mostly to gay and bisexual men. which operated up until 2017. I caught up with Chicago based drag queen, co-host and creator of hit youtube show IMHO Darby Lynn Cartwright to discuss what the site meant to her as a queer kid growing up in Tennessee in the late 90s. Follow Darby on inst

Dec 16, 2020 • 1:01:45

Dancing On Your Own (with Venn Smyth)

Dancing On Your Own (with Venn Smyth)

Have you ever been clubbing on your own? Is it thrilling, exciting, or... terrifying? If you've had experience standing awkwardly against the wall, unsuccessfully striking up a conversation with a stranger, or loitering at the end of the evening in the hopes of to wangling yourself an invite to an after party, then you'll love hearing all about singer-songwriter Venn Smyth's adventures at East London basement bar East Bloc. We talk about the magic of London, long walks home, and deep and meaning

Dec 9, 2020 • 39:32

Too2Much, Soho, London, United Kingdom (with Holestar)

Too2Much, Soho, London, United Kingdom (with Holestar)

Holestar is an entertainer, DJ and bio-queen. and, she'll hate me saying this, but, after knocking around for nigh on 17 years is a true veteran of the London drag scene. We caught up to reminisce about Too2Much, which was a theatre bar and club in Soho, London, open between 2004 and 2006 before changing its name to Soho Revue Bar. We discuss the T-word, army life, and the joys or packing your performance gear in to neat little bags! Follow Holestar on IG - https://instagram.com/theh

Dec 2, 2020 • 1:18:14

The Beaver, Toronto, Canada (with Casey Mecija)

The Beaver, Toronto, Canada (with Casey Mecija)

Casey Mecija is a multi-disciplinary artist, academic and musician, who used to be the lead singer for indie-pop band Ohbijou, and now records as a solo artist. We caught up to talk about The Beaver, an alternative queer space in the heart of Queen West, Toronto, that closed in 2020 primarily because of restrictions in place due to coronavirus. Find out more about Casey by visiting her website - http://www.caseymecija.com/ And, if you want to hear more about The Beaver check out my interview wit

Nov 25, 2020 • 39:18

Spin, Chicago, USA (with Alexis P. Bevels)

Spin, Chicago, USA (with Alexis P. Bevels)

Spin was a multi-level, 9,000 square-foot, super club in what was then called Chicago's Boystown district. Opening in the 90s it quickly established itself as the place to go for cheap drinks, house music, and wet t-shirt competitions before closing in 2014. I caught up with Alexis P Bevels to find out about her first days in drag, serving drinks on roller skates, and being one of the founding members of the coolest gang in town, the Drag Mafia.... Make sure you follow Alexis on inst

Nov 18, 2020 • 49:44

Manray, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA (with Melissa Ferrick)

Manray, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA (with Melissa Ferrick)

Melissa Ferrick is an American singer-songwriter whose career exploded when, in 1991, she was a last minute replacement support act for a Morrissey tour. Since then she has released an impressive number of albums, and has even had one of her songs, 'Drive', named as a 'lesbian anthem' (and, trust me, that song is FILTHY). We caught up to talk about Manray, a bar in Cambridge, Massachusetts, which closed in 2005 after nearly 20 years of business. Follow Melissa on instagram - https://www.instagra

Nov 11, 2020 • 50:51

Danny's flat, Damascus, Syria (with Danny Ramadan)

Danny's flat, Damascus, Syria (with Danny Ramadan)

Danny Ramadan is a Syrian-Canadian award-winning novelist, public speaker, and LGBTQ-refugee activist who was born in Damascus, Syria. And it was in Damascus where his flat became a safe space for other queer Syrians. We caught up to talk about the flat, his experiences coming out, sexual citizenship, and the ethics of having sex with your clone. Follow Danny on twitter or instagram - @dannyseesit

Nov 4, 2020 • 1:01:15

Town Danceboutique, Washington, D.C., USA (with Tom Goss)

Town Danceboutique, Washington, D.C., USA (with Tom Goss)

Town Danceboutique was the largest gay danceclub in Washington, D.C., open between 2007-2018. And it was really one of those mega-clubs that you don't see much of anymore - split levels, multiple rooms, outside areas, video installations, LED lights, and a proper stage. I met up with singer/songwriter Tom Goss, who lived in D.C. for ten years after leaving the seminary, and first happened upon the Town through one of its events, Bear Happy Hour. Follow Tom on IG: https://www.instagram.com/tomgos

Oct 28, 2020 • 47:42

The Bay Horse, York, England (with Joseph Segaran)

The Bay Horse, York, England (with Joseph Segaran)

Joseph Segaran is a British Artist living and working in Amsterdam, and whose art is inspired by the architecture of the city... and you really have to check it out - black and white ink drawings which are drawn freehand using a very fine Japanese ink pen and also papercuts which are cut using a tiny craft knife from a single sheet of black paper. But before he lived in Amsterdam he lived in Newcastle... and before that he lived in York, a small city in the north of England where he grew up. We

Oct 21, 2020 • 56:40

The Picador, Manchester, England, UK (with Liz Naylor)

The Picador, Manchester, England, UK (with Liz Naylor)

It's our first ever visit to Manchester! This week I'm joined by the, quite frankly, charming Liz Naylor, who, amongst other things has been a writer and music industry bod, before embarking on her recent adventure as one of the founders of the charity Foundation for Change, We caught up to discuss the Manchester scene in the late 70s, how grim lesbian bars were at the time, butches and femmes, and the overlaps between the punk and queer scene...

Oct 14, 2020 • 1:05:54

The Henhouse, Toronto, Canada (with Joseph Amenta)

The Henhouse, Toronto, Canada (with Joseph Amenta)

Basic white gays - what are they good for? Ok, ok, a bit of a sensationalist headline.... But, what do you do when you don't quite fit in with the commercial queer scene, and how do you find your scene? This week I'm joined by writer, director and filmmaker Joseph Amenta to talk all about The Henhouse, a small, queer dive bar in Toronto's west that closed in 2015 as a result of rapid gentrification in the city. Expect to hear about Celine Dion Dance Parties (which are a thing in Canada, appare

Oct 7, 2020 • 49:39

Psychic City, Montreal, Canada (with Tranna Wintour)

Psychic City, Montreal, Canada (with Tranna Wintour)

How was it that, in days of yore (ok, pre-internet) queer kids that were scattered all over the world still somehow managed to find and fall in love with the same movies and books and music? I explored this, and a few other burning questions, when I caught up with comedian/singer/host Tranna Wintour to find out about Psychic City, an underground club in Montreal that hosted Trannavision and closed in 2018. Find out more about Tranna by following her on instagram - https://www.instagram.com/trann

Sep 30, 2020 • 1:12:29

XY, Vancouver, Canada (with Rogue)

XY, Vancouver, Canada (with Rogue)

XY had a short run, opening in 2015 and closing in 2018. But, in that time, it firmly established itself as the go-to club for drag and performance within Vancouver, hosting events most nights of the week. I caught up with THE Jewish non-binary drag artist Rogue to find out about their first time there, Drag Race girls, and I got a little advice about the art of sucking up. Follow Rogue on IG - https://www.instagram.com/itsjustrogue/

Sep 23, 2020 • 59:47

Citibar, Montreal, Canada (with Gerard X Reyes)

Citibar, Montreal, Canada (with Gerard X Reyes)

Did you know that there are three distinct styles of voguing? I didn't, and, in my ask-a-bunch-of-stupid-questions approach to interviewing I found out all about them when I sat down to chat with Gerard Reyes - choreographer, dancer, teacher, video artist, somatic sex educator, intimacy coordinator and Montreal's kiki ballroom scene pioneer. We caught up to talk about Citibar, which, prior to its closing in 2014 served as a meeting point for t-girl sex workers and the men who loved them. Th

Sep 16, 2020 • 38:12

The Coral Reef, Ottawa, Canada (with Ember Swift)

The Coral Reef, Ottawa, Canada (with Ember Swift)

This week we are joined by Canadian singer/songwriter Ember Swift. Known for her unique, jazz-influenced guitar playing and elastic vocals, Ember has released a whopping 12 albums since her first release way back in 1996! We started off talking about The Coral Reef, a lesbian bar in Ottawa that opened in the late 60s and closed in the year 2000, and a space where Ember went when she was a student in the city. As is the way with most of my interviews, though, the conversation morphed to dis

Sep 9, 2020 • 48:48

Slacks, Toronto, Canada (with Brandon Ash-Mohammed)

Slacks, Toronto, Canada (with Brandon Ash-Mohammed)

Brandon Ash-Mohammed is a Toronto based comedian and event promoter. After graduating from comedy school (which is a real thing) he started to go out on the open mic scene, honing his stand up skills. One of the very first places he performed was Slacks, a lesbian bar in Toronto’s Village area, which was open from 1997-2013, and had a comedy night every Wednesday. We caught up to discuss thanksgiving flavoured chicken wings, bombing on stage, and how within that venue he made life long friends…

Sep 2, 2020 • 47:06

The Beaver, Toronto, Canada (with Prawn Waters)

The Beaver, Toronto, Canada (with Prawn Waters)

Established in 2006 by Lynn McNeill and Will Munro, The Beaver was an alternative queer space in the heart of Queen West, Toronto. In 2020 the bar's owners made the tough decision to close knowing that they wouldn't be able to remain profitable with physical distancing rules in place because of COVID-19. I caught up with prawnographer, resident crustacean of crust-nation, and pencil-thin moustachioed Prawn Waters to discuss performing to well-dressed loungey gays, overcoming pee shyness, an

Aug 26, 2020 • 47:21

Just, Bristol, England (with Jamie Jamal)

Just, Bristol, England (with Jamie Jamal)

Jamie Jamal is the Bristol based lead singer of electronic pick n mix duo This Human Condition, which has been described as early Depeche Mode meets a darker Erasure. We caught up to discuss Just, a nightclub which was open between 1994-99. Expect to hear about guncles (which are, if you don't know, gay uncles), ways to keep cool on the dancefloor, and a healthy debate about the age old conundrum - who is better, Kylie or Madonna? Find out more about Jamie's band This Human Condition at http://w

Aug 19, 2020 • 41:00

Lambda Rising, Washington, D.C., USA (with Eric Himan)

Lambda Rising, Washington, D.C., USA (with Eric Himan)

Eric Himan is an award-winning singer-songwriter, and has played with the likes of Ani DiFrance, Melissa Ferrick and Leon Russell. To celebrate his new single, Local Gay Bookstore, we caught up to discuss his favourite lost bookstore, Lambda Rising in Washington, D.C. (as well as other book shops like Outwrite in Atlanta, and the distributor Goldenrod). Before you listen, I need to warn you - we go ALL about the houses, with a bit of a peer support session in the middle of the episode all about

Aug 12, 2020 • 57:19

Bath Tap, Bath, England, UK (with Darryl W. Bullock)

Bath Tap, Bath, England, UK (with Darryl W. Bullock)

Darryl W. Bullock is the author behind books such as 'David Bowie Made Me Gay: 100 Years of LGBT Music' and 'Florence Foster Jenkins:The Life of the World's Worst Opera Singer'. We met up in a previous episode to discuss Crackers in Gloucester, and throughout the interview Darryl kept bringing up Bath Tap, a bar that he would go on to frequent when he became a mature age student and moved to Bath in the mid-90s. So... I invited him back to reminisce about life in his grotty, miserabl

Aug 5, 2020 • 48:01

The Parliament, Belfast, Northern Ireland (with Marcus Hunter-Neill / Lady Portia)

The Parliament, Belfast, Northern Ireland (with Marcus Hunter-Neill / Lady Portia)

Marcus Hunter-Neill, also known as Lady Portia, is Northern Ireland's First Lady of Drag, and has been charming audiences for the last two decades. It all started when she, with two friends, formed their first drag troupe and convinced the owners of The Parliament to let them take over the venue on a Sunday night. We caught up to discuss first times in drag, plucking up the courage to enter a gay bar, and tips for I get some tips about the best pick up lines!

Jul 29, 2020 • 55:49

Smashing, London, UK (with Martin Green)

Smashing, London, UK (with Martin Green)

Smashing was a club night that found itself at the epicentre of the Britpop scene, and though it wasn’t a queer night, had what my guest and co-founder Martin Green calls a queer sensibility. With regulars including Blur, Oasis, Pulp and Leigh Bowery, it was a club night that quickly became the place to be seen, and was thriving between 1991-1996 in various venues across London. To help promote his new compilation 'Martin Green Presents: Super Sonics – 40 Junkshop Britpop Greats', I caught

Jul 22, 2020 • 41:22

Triangles, Connecticut, USA (with Timberlina)

Triangles, Connecticut, USA (with Timberlina)

Timberlina is back! We had such a fun, rambling, meandering conversation the last time that we decided to get together again to talk about another lost space and another time in her life, when she was nannying for a young family in Westchester county, north of New York City. On weekends she would mostly flee to the bright lights of the big apple, exploring the queer scene in Manhattan. But, occasionally she'd venture to an out-of-the-way bar called Triangles, in Connecticut. We caught up to talk

Jul 15, 2020 • 1:12:38

Men's Bathroom, Student Union Building, University of Massachusetts, Amherst Campus (with Conner Habib)

Men's Bathroom, Student Union Building, University of Massachusetts, Amherst Campus (with Conner Habib)

This week we're going to do something a little bit different! Rather than visit a lost bar or club we're going to get down and dirty reminiscing about a lost cruising space with Conner Habib - author, lecturer, and sex workers’ rights advocate. In the late 90s and early 00s, whilst studying at the University of Massachusetts Amerherst Campus, he discovered a fun past-time to while away the hours between classes! We discuss the art of cruising, angry Pennsylvanians, and good ol' fashioned gloryho

Jul 8, 2020 • 1:06:13

Q&A, The Builders Arms, Melbourne (with Jess McAvoy)

Q&A, The Builders Arms, Melbourne (with Jess McAvoy)

Jess McAvoy is a Brooklyn based performing artist, songwriter and musician who was born in Perth, Western Australia. Before they moved to the big apple they lived in Melbourne for a number of years, forging their way in the Australian music scene... We kinda meandered all over the place, and, although we started talking about the lesbian bar Glasshouse we settled on the mixed night Queer and Alternative (or Q&A) which ran from 1996–2013 on Thursday nights at the Builders Arms on Gertrud

Jul 1, 2020 • 38:43

Mr Pussy’s Café De Luxe, Dublin (with Veda)

Mr Pussy’s Café De Luxe, Dublin (with Veda)

Mr Pussy’s Cafe De Luxe was a cafe and restaurant dreamt up by Jim Sheridan, Gavin Friday, and Bono and hosted by old-school drag legend Mr Pussy. Opening in 1994, the place quickly established itself as the place to be seen in Dublin, and hosted a number of record launches and after parties. But, just as quickly as it arrived it disappeared, closing a year after it opened. I caught up with drag super star, singer and recording artist Veda to discuss her time working at the cafe and the adv

Jun 24, 2020 • 47:02

H.A.M. at P.O.D., Dublin (with Declan Buckley / Shirley Temple Bar)

H.A.M. at P.O.D., Dublin (with Declan Buckley / Shirley Temple Bar)

Now, I know that I've been using the term 'icon' to describe a lot of my guests lately, but, if ever there was an appropriate time to use the word it is now. Shirley Temple Bar burst on to the scene when she won Alternative Miss Ireland in 1997. Since then she has hosted bingo weekly (for the last 23 years) at The George in Dublin, and hosts the National Lottery gameshow, Telly Bingo. None of this compares, however, to the fact that she has MET THE SPICE GIRLS... Like, all five of them...

Jun 17, 2020 • 45:06

Instinct Bar, Cork, Ireland (with Candy Warhol)

Instinct Bar, Cork, Ireland (with Candy Warhol)

Candy Warhol is co-Host Of Comedy Central UK's ’Dragony Aunts’, mother of the Haus of Mockie Ah, and, on top of all of that, an absolute sweetheart. But before she was Candy she was a fresh faced 18 year old who worked herself all the way up from the glass collector to the manager of Instinct Bar, a gay bar in Cork that opened in the naughties. Follow Candy on instagram - https://www.instagram.com/candywarholqueen/

Jun 10, 2020 • 1:04:26

Kiss, Dublin, Ireland (with Phil T. Gorgeous)

Kiss, Dublin, Ireland (with Phil T. Gorgeous)

I have a new boyfriend. His name is Phil T. Gorgeous. But, alas, he's only the drag persona of Mia Campbell, emcee and genderqueer weirdo (their words, not mine!). So, instead of flirting wildly we sat down to discuss Kiss, a lesbian and bi women only night that ran for about 10 years through the Naughties in various venues (but predominantly the Tivoli on Francis Street) in Dublin, Ireland. Make sure you find out more about Phil on instagram - https://www.instagram.com/philtgorgeous

Jun 3, 2020 • 1:10:55

Albury Hotel, Oxford St, Sydney (with Bob Downe / Mark Trevorrow)

Albury Hotel, Oxford St, Sydney (with Bob Downe / Mark Trevorrow)

Bob Downe is the stage name of comedian (and polyester lover) Mark Trevorrow, who is… if I can be so bold as to say, a bloody legend. Getting his start in the Globos, a 60s throw back band, in the 80s, his life was turned upside down when the band broke, and in amongst the changes was a move from Melbourne to Sydney. In Sydney he discovered the legendary Albury Hotel, which is one of two queer venues that were used as the inspiration for the film Priscilla, Queen of the Dessert. We caught up to

May 27, 2020 • 54:52

Greyhound Hotel, St Kilda, Melbourne, Australia (with Dean Arcuri)

Greyhound Hotel, St Kilda, Melbourne, Australia (with Dean Arcuri)

The Greyhound Hotel was a 160-year-old venue that, in its last decade, transformed in to a state of the art drag venue, before closing its doors and being demolished in 2017 to make way for.... a boring blocks of apartments. I caught up with performer / photographer / singer / motormouth Dean Arcuri to find out about his first time, the memories he has of the drag queens who performed there, and his most embarrassing make out story. Find out more about Dean on twitter (@deanarcuri)

May 20, 2020 • 50:20

The Market, Commercial Road, Melbourne, Australia (with Katie Underwood)

The Market, Commercial Road, Melbourne, Australia (with Katie Underwood)

Katie Underwood came to fame in the year 2000 following her appearance on the first series of Australian Popstars, and her subsequent role in the band that was formed on the series, Bardot. We caught up to discuss The Market, a club on Commercial Road, Prahan in Melbourne., which closed in 2011. Expect to hear about going clubbing with your mum, inspiring young queers to get in to latex, and alternative uses for the disabled toilet (if you know what I mean...) Follow Katie on instag

May 13, 2020 • 51:14

Patches, Brisbane, Australia (with Fat Gay Vegan)

Patches, Brisbane, Australia (with Fat Gay Vegan)

'You're out of here, queen!' are the last words that Fat Gay Vegan heard from the owner of Patches, a queer bar in Brisbane, Australia in the late 80s, just before he was banned for life. We caught up to talk about growing up in Redcliff, old school drag queens, and the impact of the decriminalisation of homosexuality in Brisbane in 1991. Find out more about Fat Gay Vegan at www.fatgayvegan.com

May 6, 2020 • 59:13

The Black Cap, Camden, London (with Mark Brummitt)

The Black Cap, Camden, London (with Mark Brummitt)

Mark Brummitt is an Associate Professor of Hebrew Bible (Old Testament) and Assistant Dean of Students at a small post-graduate college in Rochester, New York. In the early 90s, after a decade of service, he left his role as a Salvation Army Lieutenant and started exploring his queerness at The Black Cap, an iconic drag bar in Camden, London. We caught up to talk about that transition, Regina Fong and other drag legends who performed at the bar, and what happens when you run in to your brother a

Apr 29, 2020 • 52:29

The Duke of Wellington, Islington, London (with Timberlina)

The Duke of Wellington, Islington, London (with Timberlina)

Isn't that just the way? You wait months for one bearded drag queen to show up, and then two arrive a week apart! One week after schmoozing with Diana Fire I had the utter joy of chatting to Timberlina about living in Dalston in the 90s, how to cruise in the pre-internet days, and the perils of falling in love with a police officer. Find out more about Timberlina and The Duke of Wellington pub in Islington, London on this week's episode of Lost Spaces. Links: http://www.timberlina.co.uk/ https:/

Apr 22, 2020 • 57:48

Embers Avenue, Portland, USA (with Diana Fire)

Embers Avenue, Portland, USA (with Diana Fire)

Diana Fire is Portland's Daddy Bear Drag Queen, and is best known as a contestant in Season 2 of Camp Wannakiki. She first cut her teeth in drag bar Embers Avenue, which she performed at for the last few years of its existence up until late 2017. We caught up to discuss bachelorette parties, stinky basements (and no, that's not a euphemism!), and the confusing, confusing world of drag families! Find out more about Diana Fire at https://www.godianafire.com/

Apr 15, 2020 • 59:57

135 Pearl, Burlington, Vermont, USA (with Gregory Douglass)

135 Pearl, Burlington, Vermont, USA (with Gregory Douglass)

Gregory Douglass is a singer-songwriter, born and raised in rural Vermont. Though now based in Los Angeles, he still has a soft spot in his heart for 135 Pearl, the only gay bar in the state of Vermont which closed in 2006. We talked breast reduction parties, making out in the men's bathroom, and sealing the deal with the love of your life. Find out more about Gregory Douglass at www.gregorydouglass.com

Apr 8, 2020 • 1:07:24

Vibe @ Club Ego, Edinburgh, Scotland (with Venn Smyth)

Vibe @ Club Ego, Edinburgh, Scotland (with Venn Smyth)

Aww, student life! Staying out late, sleeping in, eating cereal for dinner, and.... handing out condoms to strangers in bars... Or, at least, that was Venn Smyth's student life, after he started working for LGBT Youth Scotland on their sexual health project. We caught up to discuss the difference between Scotland and England, how a femidom works, and what it was like being one of the only boys on the netball team! Find out more about Venn at https://www.instagram.com/vennsmyth/

Apr 1, 2020 • 47:58

Triangles, Moncton, New Brunswick, Canada (with Drake Jensen)

Triangles, Moncton, New Brunswick, Canada (with Drake Jensen)

Drake Jensen is a Canadian country singer, who was born and grew up on the tiny Cape Breton Island, which is on the Eastern coast of Canada. After coming out, he moved to the nearby city of Moncton, where he discovered Triangles, the only gay bar in town. We caught up to discuss the straight gentrification of queer bars, why leather is the butch version of drag, and growing up gay in a small town. Find out more about Drake at www.drakejensen.ca

Mar 25, 2020 • 38:14

Big Cup, Chelsea, New York (with Norman Brannon)

Big Cup, Chelsea, New York (with Norman Brannon)

This week's episode is our first trip to the US! Norman Brannon, musician and writer, was busy figuring himself out when he first stumbled upon Big Cup, a gay coffee shop that stood in Chelsea, Manhattan between 1994 - 2005... I ask a bunch of awkward questions about life as a hare krishna rock star (who knew that was a thing?), and the rules of living life as a Straight Edge-r. We also talk about the thrill of being in your first queer venue, the changing face of New York and the importance of

Mar 18, 2020 • 50:14

The London Lesbian & Gay Teenage Group (with Kevin O'Neill)

The London Lesbian & Gay Teenage Group (with Kevin O'Neill)

The London Lesbian & Gay Teenage Group, which started in 1975, was pretty damn revolutionary as one of the world's very first youth groups exclusively for queer kids. Kevin O'Neill was a fresh faced 19 year old when he started going to the group, which at this stage was based in Manor Gardens in Islington, London. We caught up to talk about his coming out experience, his memories of the group, and some of the shenanigans he got up to with other members....

Mar 11, 2020 • 39:31

Crash, Vauxhall, London (with John Lee Bird)

Crash, Vauxhall, London (with John Lee Bird)

John Lee Bird is an artist/designer/musician and all around glorious human being. He is also one of the last people that I had imagined would have fond memories of Crash, a dance party held in South London from the 90s-00s (being a self-described 'pale awkward goth' type)! I really enjoyed this interview, where John told me all about his time working as a barman during student life, avoiding the club's dark room, and whacking sweaty men with bags of ice! Find out more about John at www.johnleebi

Mar 4, 2020 • 51:52

The Fallen Angel, Islington, London (with Colin Clews)

The Fallen Angel, Islington, London (with Colin Clews)

Though he only lived in London for a short while, author Colin Clews has fond memories of The Fallen Angel, a bar in Islington. Whilst desperately waiting for a visa to go to Australia, Colin volunteered at the newly formed Terrence Higgins Trust, and supported fundraising efforts of Lesbians and Gays Support the Miners, and has a slew of stories from this time to share! Find out more about Colin at https://www.gayinthe80s.com/

Feb 26, 2020 • 44:36

Her Upstairs, Camden, London (with Dr J)

Her Upstairs, Camden, London (with Dr J)

Her Upstairs was a kitschy drag and cabaret bar in Camden, London, which opened shortly after another nearby bar, the iconic Black Cap, closed in 2015, and filled a much needed gap for local queers. Though the bar was only open for two years, there was an uproar in the community when it abruptly closed in 2018. I caught up with the self-proclaimed #queernuisance Dr J to talk about what the venue meant for them during a very tumultuous period of their life. Expect lots of chat about drag, languag

Feb 19, 2020 • 58:20

Princess Julia’s history of Queer London Clubbing - Part 2 (1980s - now-ish)

Princess Julia’s history of Queer London Clubbing - Part 2 (1980s - now-ish)

More rambling (her words, not mine!) goodness from the one and only Princess Julia. In this episode, which covers the mid-80s until now, we talk about her first steps in to the world of DJ-ing, the gothic movement, and Princess Julia ponders whether she was the world's first bio-queen! Taking in clubs such as The Embassy, Crash, Ghetto, and Kinky Gerlinky, there's sure to be a club you remember!

Feb 12, 2020 • 54:48

Princess Julia’s history of Queer London Clubbing - Part 1 (1970s - 1980s)

Princess Julia’s history of Queer London Clubbing - Part 1 (1970s - 1980s)

Princess Julia launched into her tales before I got a chance to even set the mic up, and so I hastily pointed one in her direction and let the conversation carry on! We went on a potted tour of queer venues in London from the late 70s until the 00s - so many conversations in so many directions that I’ve decided to make it a two-parter! Find out about how queer punk was, where you could get the best spam supper, and ‘the twilight world of unhappy gays’!

Feb 5, 2020 • 40:32

Crackers, Gloucester, England (with Darryl W. Bullock)

Crackers, Gloucester, England (with Darryl W. Bullock)

Not all queer spaces are queer. Or, at least, exclusively queer... In smaller towns and cities, where there isn't the population to support a full-time queer bar, straight bars can fill the gap by hosting themed nights weekly or monthly, providing a much needed opportunity for local queers to meet and interact... I caught up with Darryl Bullock, author of 'David Bowie Made Me Gay: 100 Years of LGBT Music' to talk about Crackers, a bar in the south western English town of Gloucester, which held a

Jan 29, 2020 • 45:40

Shinky Shonky at The Polar Bear, London (with Boogaloo Stu)

Shinky Shonky at The Polar Bear, London (with Boogaloo Stu)

Obscene badges, old-school game shows, and exploding butts were all things you could expect to see if you attended Shinky Shonky, a legendary club night in London in the 00s. I caught up with Boogaloo Stu, host/producer/DJ/you-name-it of the night to reminisce about it and The Polar Bear, a bar in Soho that hosted the event for the majority of its life.

Jan 22, 2020 • 1:06:39

Ace of Clubs, London (with DJ Jo Bunny)

Ace of Clubs, London (with DJ Jo Bunny)

What's the difference between regular drama and lesbian drama? What is the lesbian uniform? Which dodgy dance moves are guaranteed to woo the ladies? I found out the answer to these (and many other) questions when finding out about a little gem of a lesbian bar called 'Ace of Clubs', which ran for about a decade and was DJ Jo Bunny's stomping ground soon after she moved to London in the late 80s!

Jan 15, 2020 • 46:32

Trash Palace, London (with Quiet Choir)

Trash Palace, London (with Quiet Choir)

Spread over two floors, Trash Palace was THE drinking place of choice for alternative queers for a hot minute in the mid-00s, and is another of central London's disappearing bars (thanks largely to higher rents)... I caught up with Quiet Choir to talk about the skills needed for flirting, the halcyon days of myspace and projectile vomiting down Charing Cross Road.

Dec 18, 2019 • 37:44

First Out Cafe, London (with Ali Brumfitt)

First Out Cafe, London (with Ali Brumfitt)

We are back to London this week, and visiting another venue that fell victim to the Crossrail development (a large scale construction project which saw a good chunk of central London demolished to make way for a high speed train line). I had the delight of talking to Ali Brumfitt, a performance poet and all around charmer, about First Out Cafe, one of London's only daytime queer venues, which was open from the mid-80s up until 2011.

Dec 11, 2019 • 46:42

The Princess Victoria (The PV), Brighton, England (with Kathy Caton)

The Princess Victoria (The PV), Brighton, England (with Kathy Caton)

Brighton is generally accepted as the ‘queer capital’ of the UK, with an estimated 15% of all adults identifying as gay, lesbian or bisexual, and a thriving queer scene. That’s part of the reason it was such a shock when lesbian bar, The Princess Victoria (otherwise known as The PV), closed its doors. I caught up with radio presenter (and founder of Brighton Gin!) Kathy Caton to discuss the beloved bar, her first days in Brighton, and getting kicked out for disorderly behaviour!

Dec 4, 2019 • 22:54

The Terminus, Brisbane, Australia (with Kurt Luthy)

The Terminus, Brisbane, Australia (with Kurt Luthy)

Queensland didn’t legalise homosexuality until 1991 (which kind of blows my mind when you think of Australia’s reputation for being an open and welcoming country). That, says dj and all-around-charmer Kurt Luthy, is what made going to The Terminus in the mid-80s such a thrill.

Nov 27, 2019 • 27:14

The Black Cap, Camden, London (with Joe Pop)

The Black Cap, Camden, London (with Joe Pop)

London’s heart broke when legendary drag bar ‘The Black Cap’ closed in 2015. I caught up with artist, music fan and dj Joe Pop to talk about his life as a ‘punk kid’, the ‘dignity in toast’ rule, and watching Pete Burns perform their heart to a bar full of bewildered patrons.

Nov 20, 2019 • 32:38

Ghetto, London (with Charlotte Richardson Andrews)

Ghetto, London (with Charlotte Richardson Andrews)

Ever fallen in love on the dance floor? That’s what happened to journalist and writer Charlotte Richardson Andrews at the legendary London club ‘Ghetto’. We caught up to discuss online dating, queer role models and falling asleep on the night bus home.

Nov 13, 2019 • 36:48

Kudos Bar, London (with Wilfrid Wood)

Kudos Bar, London (with Wilfrid Wood)

I had never heard of ‘Kudos’, which was an out-of-the-way pub in Charing Cross, London, but I loved hearing from sculptor Wilfrid Wood about his experiences there, and what the place meant to him whilst he was figuring out who he was and what he wanted from life. What I loved most about this conversation was how candid and up-front Wilfrid was… I’m sure you’ll enjoy his frankness too!

Nov 6, 2019 • 33:18

The Joiners' Arms, London (with Mark Walton)

The Joiners' Arms, London (with Mark Walton)

Who hasn't spent an evening stumbling out of The Joiners' Arms, which was once described as 'Britain's trendiest gay dive'? Due to its late night opening the bar had a reputation as a 'last chance saloon', and was often where people would head to instead of home when everything else had closed. I spoke to Mark Walton - a fantastic poet, and founder of social enterprise Shared Assets - about some of his fondest memories of frequenting the bar after he moved to London in the mid-00s.

Oct 25, 2019 • 36:58

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