Homophilia

WELLLLLL that is a wrap on Homophilia, at least for now. But before we go, we want you to hear this conversation with activist/CEO/Pennsylvania State Rep Brian Sims. We're all processing the news from this week, and Brian gets real about what's at stake, what's ahead, and what we can do. Also: meeting a future husband at the P-Town High Tea, The Repair Shop, what makes us cry, why Sarah McBride gives us hope, coming out to a college football team, and why “teddy bear restorer” is the dream job title. To our listeners: thank you for spending an hour a week with us for the last 7-plus years. It's been an honor. We love you. 

One of our favorite human beings and most beloved guests Drew Droege takes a break from Dracula: A Comedy of Terrors to talk about working with Luca Guadagnino and Daniel Craig in the upcoming Queer, plus: flake culture in San Diego, important vampires and villains in The Lost Boys, Dark Shadows, and Sleepaway Camp, relating to the Final Girl, our collective lack of interest in the Terrifier franchise, Lady Gaga's pen, paper, and process, the significance of Desiree Gould, a paranormal experience at Casita del Campo, why Saturday Night is worth seeing, and the long-overdue streaming debut of Kate & Allie. Do not flake: See Drew as Lady Van Helsing and many more demented characters in Dracula at the Old Globe in San Diego: visit theoldglobe.org for tix!

The American, no, GLOBAL treasure joins us from rural Pennsylvania where he is starring as Dr. Frank in The Rocky Horror Show to talk Sunset Blvd., Mamma Mia, the Charli XCX Sweat Tour, the Sympathy is a Knife remix, Halloween Horror Nights done right, kicking Lunesta, getting sober, learning from a throuple, meeting a man on line dance night and marrying him on Star Wars Day, watching Big Brother as an alumnus, and why it's actually important to call Twitter “X” now. Don't dream it, be it; see Frankie in Rocky Horror at the Bucks County Playhouse until November 3: https://bcptheater.org/shows/the-rocky-horror-show/. 

Former creative director of Barney's, Making It judge, and proud High-Low Bitch Simon Doonan stops by to talk about his new book The Camp 100: Glorious Flamboyance from Louis XIV to Lil Nas X. Also: Lord Byron as superfreak, Pete Burns' memoir Freak Unique, the pop of color Twiggy and Jean Shrimpton brought to the ‘60s, the optimism inherent in glamour, a The Wizard of Oz porta-potty, the legacy of Russ Meyer, Camp vs. campy, a future husband showing up to a first date covered in clay and on rollerblades, and a piece of music-video trivia that will blow your damn mind. 

The best thing about Only Murders In The Building AND YOU CAN QUOTE US ON THAT joins us to talk about an epic Emmys night, the timeless appeal of Madeline Kahn, enduring a cat allergy for love, a big gay road trip revenge tour, the dachshund who made his family complete, the genius of Tanya Donelly, the box office archetype, coming out of the closet and coming out of the closet as the creator of a web show, his breakthrough in Stage Kiss, a chance encounter with Catherine O'Hara, and meeting a future husband on Friendster. 

Hodor himself hops on board to talk about his life as a global DJ, Our Flag Is Death, con life, and the apparent best mother of all time.

The genius comedian celebrates the release of his new stand-up special Path of Most Resistance [OUT NOW] with special memories of Alex Jones and Mike Lindell, Thunderball and Goldfinger, Clue and all its endings, the early influence of Saturday morning cartoons, a ghost experience in a party mansion, and space cigarettes. 

Dancer and choreographer of RuPaul's Drag Race (and about a hundred music videos whose choreography you know by heart) Jamal Sims joins us from the sweltering Valley in the dead center of a heat wave to talk about the upcoming Emmys, Janet Jackson, Expose and SWV, the dance masterclass scene in Los Angeles, high school football, a big start in the industry via Puttin' On The Hits, remembering the time he was in Michael Jackson's Remember The Time video, a pandemic hike that made him say “I'm gonna marry that man,” and the mystical qualities of a borrowed RuPaul suit. 

The man behind Missing Richard Simmons, Surviving Y2K, Running From Cops, and the new Audacy Original podcast Hysterical joins us to talk about the disarming intimacy of The Robin Byrd Show, the comfort of the Ezra Klein and Times Literary Supplement podcasts, the charm of Tim Walz, the inherent danger of new wave as a symbol of gayness, the whimsical intensity of a Richard Simmons exercise class, the real-life horror of mass psychogenic illnesses, the significance of showering go-go boys, the difficulty of coming out while married, and a meet-cute at the Russian and Turkish Baths.

The actor/writer/producer/legend joins us at the height of the DNC to talk about the familiar sensation of hope, the first gentlemanliness of Doug Emhoff, the elusive joy of the hair flick, the various international iterations of The Traitors, the significance of Significant Others, the cast of characters on Chimp Crazy, the genius of his producing partner Lisa Kudrow, The Comeback, Web Therapy, The Opposite of Sex, Scandal, and the importance of pineapple in one's diet. (It's not for the reason you're thinking of. Stop being disgusting.) 

Vanderpump Rules alum Billie Lee pulls over in her Tesla to discuss her post-Scandoval relationships and the slings and arrows of reality TV fame. Billie opens up about launching her standup career, dating her high school crush, and writing her new book, Why Are You So Sensitive: Navigating Everyday, Unintended Microaggressions. 

The hilarious actor/writer/lighthouse unto the world Jack Plotnick stops by in an immediate-post-Olympic-pole-vault moment to talk morning self-care, Free To Be You and Me, The Empire Strikes Back, The Greatest Night In Pop, Trap, the problematic nature of Marianne Williamson, and the 1904 St. Louis World's Fair. Change your life with Jack's free e-book New Thoughts for Actors at jackplotnick.com TODAY.  

The legendary fashion academic, author, and TV superstar Tim Gunn joins us ON HIS BIRTHDAY EXCUSE ME to talk about The Wizard of Oz, Schitt's Creek as antidepressant, sticking with Only Murders in the Building, Jack Whitehall, family beach vacations with a conservative dad and an Angela Davis mom, truth-telling, clothes-pitching, the joy of vintage J Crew, the surprising excellence of SuitSupply, the life-changing qualities of My Fair Lady, and being happy by himself. 

Comedian, host of Just Sayin', and excuse us HOMECOMING KING Justin Martindale joins us on the official first day of Kamala Is Brat Summer to talk about The Boys, Hollywood Squares, the ‘90s magic of A&F, EW, and TGIF, life as a high school social floater, being the last person picked to be a paid regular at the Comedy Store by Mitzi Shore herself, the hazards of being Bebe Rexha and/or Rita Rudner, the significance of Robin Williams, Jim Carrey and Joan Rivers, and meeting a life partner in real life. Catch Just Sayin' on the Comedy Store's YouTube channel or wherever you get your podcasts!

Exotic and Chanel, ballroom legends from the Iconic House of Miyake Mugler, join Matt to chat about the hierarchy of the house, their ballroom origin stories, on what they've learned from living their lives on camera on "House on Fire," now streaming on WOW Presents Plus.

Married couple of legends Paula Pell (Girls5Eva! SNL!) and Janine Brito (Also Girls5Eva! Standup!) join us from their home on the outskirts of Undisclosed, NY to talk about the discreet joys of Reddit before bed, the excellence of CBS soaps and NBC's Wednesday night Chicago suite, the tragedy of Lottery Dream Home, the truth of lesbian sex, the allure of Peggy Bundy, a Twitter meet-cute, and a janky Make-a-Wish wish fulfillment made right. 

Comedian/producer Page Hurwitz takes time out of a summer day in Provincetown to talk about OUTSTANDING: A Comedy Revolution, the Netflix documentary she directed. In keeping with the spirit of the doc, we talk about the LGBTQ+ legends of standup (Lily Tomlin! Sandra Bernhard!), the unsung heroes (Robin Tyler!), the guys who white-knuckled it through the intense homophobia of the ‘80s (Todd Glass! Scott Thompson!), and the big show at the Greek that brought them all together. OUTSTANDING is streaming globally on Netflix now, and it is not to be missed. 

The first champion of Canada's Drag Race and current star of Max's We're Here joins us from distant and beautiful Toronto to share her thoughts on the origins and definitions of Gay Pop, run-ins with JoJo Siwa, life on the road, the new cop of Drag Race All-Stars, the summer of Sabrina Carpenter and Chappell Roan, the Pussycat Dolls songs with special significance, the real-time downfall of Justin Timberlake, life as a Canadian kids' show host, coming out to family via Drag Race, falling in love off of Grindr, and why we're all more powerful than we think. Catch Priyanka on tour this summer and fall!

The TV personality and host of the hit podcast Red Flags Everywhere swings by to talk tears at the Janet show, the indelible mark the Love Will Never Do video leaves on a gay boy, the queer beauty of X-Men ‘97, the importance of movie trailer avoidance, the coldness of red carpet Angelina Jolie, the hotness of red carpet Angela Bassett, SoCal Sobriety and so much more. 

Founder of Hello Mr. magazine and editor of A Great Gay Book Ryan Fitzgibbon joins us from his adopted hometown of Tulsa to talk about how Tulsa came to be his adopted hometown, plus: Hacks and We're Here, the summer pop double whammy of Dua Lipa and Charli XCX, 1973's Lavender Country, coming out via a design assignment in Michigan and then moving to the Castro, the revolutionary act of creating a magazine for gay men that actually features gay men, and the three most tantalizing words we've ever heard: Queer Bourbon Week. 

On the release of Supreme Sirens, the third gorgeous book in his Supreme series, author/TV host/documentarian/bon vivant/Egyptian-in-his-heart Marcellas Reynolds joins us to talk about the divas who've inspired him, the proper usage of slides, flops and Crocs, Mickalene Thomas at the Broad, a fortuitous run-in with Issa Rae, a shooting of shots with Andy Cohen, a salting of his game by Sutton Stracke, modeling for an iconic brand, the Murder She Wrote/Columbo/Perry Mason trifecta of comfort, and the subtle sexuality of Robert Blake. Get Supreme Sirens where books are sold, and please use the hashtag #IStandyWithAndy in all your social media interactions until further notice. 

Actor and Professional Published Poet Christian Weissmann stops by to talk about his new book Her, Him and I. Plus: pre-publication jitters, juggling college and a career, the PowerPoint presentation that convinced his parents to let him move to Los Angeles at 13, Girls vs Sex and the City, being IN but not OF the Oakwoods, the proper scheduling of a Coachella weekend, working with a legendary friend on the Saved By The Bell reboot, Billie Eilish, Chappell Roan, the importance of protecting the innocent in poetry, AND his upcoming reading at Chevalier's in Los Angeles June 13!  

Former Bachelor and current dad-to-be Colton Underwood takes us to paradise this week to talk about his podcast Daddyhood. Also: the exorbitance of Erewhon, the appeal of AppleTV+, the superiority of Stagecoach, the occasional ignorance of the Instagram commenter, the importance of therapy, the challenges of surrogacy, the bright side of blackmail, the bagging of a perfect husband, the transformational love of a failed foster pup, and…Spermageddon. 

Actor, writer, and co-founder of Open Books Morgan Walsh drops by to chop it up with Dave and Matt about ghosts, marriage, and her organization's tireless efforts to provide school libraries with LGBTQ+ affirming literature. 

Esteemed film critic, podcaster, and author of your new favorite book HOLLYWOOD PRIDE Alonso Duralde is here to chat with the boys about film history, meeting his husband, and so much more.

It's just Matt & Dave this week, catching up on major life events like Miami Beach Pride, dorks at the Equinox, the miraculous benefits of cold plunging, the tantalizing teases of season three of And Just Like That, the beauty of a Gap in-store playlist, an impending Under The Tuscan Sun situation, and the binge-worthiness of the full series of Who Killed The Video Star: The Story of MTV. 

Hades in the West End production of Hadestown Zachary James joins us from Soho to talk musicals, mystics, and an intense early date with his fiancé. 

Pop/rock/electronic/soul singer-songwriter and legend in the making Zee Machine takes a break from nebulizing to talk about a childhood spent all over the world, a musical arrival in the Boston club scene, a plum spot at WeHo Pride, the gay revolution of 2009, the brilliance of Bonnie McKee, the importance of sobriety, and how life sounds in the pop girly year of 2024. Check Zee out at WeHo Pride on Sunday, June 2!

You know, sometimes a guest comes in and gets on down to the good, emotional stuff right out of the gate. And so it is with the hilarious actor/comic/Vine & IG superstar Clayton Farris this week! No spoilers! Just listen and achieve emotional catharsis with us. 

Steve Yockey, creator of The Flight Attendant and showrunner of Netflix's much-anticipated Dead Boy Detectives, joins us on Eclipse Day to talk The Traitors, iconic Celebrity Big Brother moments, coming out to Mom at the IKEA cafeteria and to Dad three times, extreme teenage poetry, and the everlasting relevance of Sue-Ellen Ewing.

This week, we are truly, madly, deeply excited to have pop music legend Darren Hayes in the house to talk Madonna at the Forum, U2 at the Sphere, and Beyonce on a horse. Also: life one year after divorce, his relationship with his partner in Savage Garden, hiding a wife during his pop peak, marketing a record from the closet, and what happens when you go to a dinner party, Madonna is there, and she demands that you tell a joke. 

Who says you can't be smart and joyful? Certainly not Ben V. Greene, the author of My Child Is Trans, Now What: A Joy-Centered Approach to Support. Ben joins us from St. Louis to cruelly bad-mouth Imo's Pizza, and also talk about the significance of science fiction, the work of Becky Chambers, the brilliance of Our Flag Means Death, The Fosters and Dispatches From Elsewhere, the conundrum of Dave Chappelle and Pretty Little Liars, the underground Facebook group that was his lifeline, the farce-fueled courtship that led to marriage, and the importance of a good squirt bottle in the home.

Fitness titan, trailblazer, and icon Kathy Smith (who is also Matt's former boss) joins Matt for a very special 1-on-1 conversation on aging, mindfulness, her multi-step morning routine, the latest groundbreaking research on exercise, her legendary career, and SO much more. Don't miss this intimate chat on all things wellness with a true media maverick. Learn more about Ms. Kathy at www.kathysmith.com.

When, in the course of human events, it becomes necessary to bring back a very recent guest, we will not hesitate. And to discuss Madonna at the Forum AND the Kate Middleton Mystery, there is simply nobody we would rather hear from than the great Pete Zias. Hear the heartbreaking story of a bottle uncaught, enjoy some royal theories, know that Luther Vandross is involved. And see Pete in Drew Droege's Messy White Gays, in New York City April 7-9 at the Soho Playhouse!

The legendary author of the essential Tales of the City series joins us from London, where a pot roast awaits him, to talk about whether the magic of ‘70s San Francisco can ever exist again, why Breaking Bad and Six Feet Under are his current comforts, the PBS gay kiss that rocked the world, the Early Frost/Our Sons/Consenting Adults TV movie moment that examined gay life strictly in terms of how hard it is on your mom, and whether his character Brian's 1976 prediction that he and his friends would be 50-year-old libertines in a world full of 20-year-old Calvinists has actually come to pass.

The producer and director of My So Called Life, Six Feet Under and Tales of the City joins us to talk about the devastation of All of Us Strangers, the importance of Juliette Binoche, the drama of the Barbra memoir audiobook, growing up with Maude and Mary Tyler Moore, how WandaVision brought the MCU into his little gay boy heart, the gay bar scene in Japan, the role they wanted Laura Linney for on Tales, the polarizing episodes of Six Feet Under, what it's like to show up halfway through My So Called Life, and whether Tino ever did show up. 

Comedian, baker, painter, pet portraiteur, Taylor Swift-recognized Taylor Swift song intro re-enactor, One Directioner, runner and satchel-wearer Victor Carlesi to talk unseasonable Chicago temps, the meaning of Madison Beer, the secret of a Nick Jonas voice, Zayn as bias-wrecker, the importance of a comment by the world's most powerful and Celine Dion-resistant entertainer and the crucial behind-the-scenes role Selena Gomez may have played in the affair, his unconventional journey in stand-up comedy, his potential future as a registered nurse, and why it's so important to him that he remember to send biscotti to Dave, Matt, and Producer Renee. These are his words and not ours! Follow him on Instagram at @victorcarlesi. 

The genius comedian Brent Sullivan joins us from DTLA to talk travel, traditional family atheism, Hinge, Air Disasters, and Christian rock.

It's a family affair, as Matt & Dave finally reconnect in a fresh new year that's already 10% over. And what a year it's been: new dogs, old Swans, hometowns, Ordinary Joes, Mean Girls, Los Angeles driving challenges, movie theater bag crinkulations, 8th grade financial literacy courses, We Are The World, and a full hailstorm of names to drop. 

Drag Race All Star Ginger Minj is here to share her Ursula origin story, her hot takes on the current Drag Race cast, and her efforts to connect with Ron DeSantis. Don't miss her show "The Broads Way" at Green Room 42 in NYC February 10-12, and grab your copy of her memoir "Southern Fried Sass" now! 

We have a special bonus treat for you this week! This is my episode of the new podcast, Tell Me Everything, hosted by the fabulous Liam Gareau. Every week, guests bring on their 3 favorite things from pop culture. I brought The Wizard of Oz (can you believe nobody else had yet?!), The Leftovers, and the documentary, Beckham. It was such a fun chat talking about these things that mean so much to me. If you enjoy, you can check out the show's instagram @tellliameverything for more content, and make sure to follow the show wherever you get your podcasts! Episode Description: We're back, back, BACK AGAIN! Divas, did you absolutely miss us? We missed you! We're in a brand spankin' new year, which can only mean one thing…we've got a brand spankin' new episode! On this week's show we have the absolutely divine, Matt McConkey (Homophilia). And babes, I mean it when I say he really delivers the goods. On this week's show, Matt brings us THE WIZARD OF OZ (hello, queer cannon!), THE LEFTOVERS, and the documentary, BECKHAM. I hope you're all kicking things off right in 2024, dear listeners. I know we are!

Writer and director of the instant classic All Of Us Strangers (and Weekend, and HBO's Looking, and much more) Andrew Haigh takes a break from a packed awards season to talk about the joyous queerness of mid-‘80s pop music, the useful loneliness of the queer experience, the link between parental love and romantic love, and- AFTER A BREAK, DON'T SAY YOU WEREN'T WARNED- what's going on in this beautiful, devastating movie. Also: Max Richter, Hercules and Love Affair, and Harry & Meghan.

He's written for The Golden Girls, Roseanne, and Gilmore Girls to name but three, and now Stan Zimmerman is here to talk about his new book The Girls: From Golden to Gilmore. Plus: life as an 11-year-old network executive, creating a Russian Roseanne, Love, Sidney, the importance of journaling, the healing power of live theater, the dream Lifetime sitcom that wasn't, and Ladies of the ‘80s: A Divas Christmas, the dream Lifetime movie that was. 

Icon in the making Lio Mehiel joins us to talk about their new movie MUTT, streaming now on Netflix. Also: FX's The Bear and the Buffalo Wild Wings trauma it resurfaces, life as a child Broadway star, Maya Hawke as Nepo Ideal, feeling desirable, and making a film with moments that have never been seen on screen before. 

Happy New Year, Homophiacs! We're ringing in 2024 with Tony-winner Matt Doyle, who shares tales of crying in Patti Lupone's arms backstage, getting the stamp of approval from Tina Sinatra, meeting his soon-to-be-husband Max Claytor in line at Starbucks, and battling anxiety on Broadway.

Please join us in giving icon Daniel Franzese a warm holiday welcome to the World of Wonder fam! To celebrate his podcast "Yass, Jesus"! joining the WOW Podcast Network, Danny literally takes us to church, with spiritual sermons on everything from his experience with conversion therapy to the gayest stories in the Bible. 

Our pal Michael Kennedy is back for a holiday horror spectacular! We go deep on the gift of sobriety, his unique path to screenwriting success, the recent drama surrounding the Scream movies, and much more. His new movie, It's a Wonderful Knife, is a total blast. And it's now available on Shudder, AMC+, and VOD!

This week, we're joined by filmmakers Melinda Maerker & David Clayton Miller. We get into everything from religion to parenting to all the good shows that start with a "B." Don't miss Melinda and David's must-see new documentary, "We Live Here: The Midwest," streaming on Hulu starting December 6th.

Broadway veteran, Sirius XM host, and Bravo royalty John Hill is here at last. He gives great chat on his holiday plans, Housewives, pickleball, mental health, his relationship with Sir Andy Cohen, and The Artist's Way. Don't miss his solo musical, Wellness Check, at NYC's The Green Room 42 on December 11 and in Los Angeles December 22.

Returning champion and fan fave Brian Moylan is back for what is either his 5th or 37th appearance on Homophilia! Brian has done his homework, as always, and you're welcome! He's here to dish on his adventures at BravoCon in Vegas, from hanging with Housewives to Grindr chats. Plus: NYC glory hole memories!

Here's something to be grateful for: Our beloved Bryan Safi has returned to regale us with skin care tips, holiday hacks, and so much more. We finally ask him the questions we keep forgetting to ask. And, as always with Bryan, the answers are explosive. We hope to the gods you're already listening to him on “Ask Ronna with Ronna (and Bryan)” and “Attitudes.”