Lost Spaces

It's entirely possible that it's just the contrarian in me, but I kind of love when I am talking to a guest who is like ‘been there, done that, do not want to go back'.Because, yes, I love hearing about queer nightlife, and how accessing those spaces helps you tap into something bigger than yourself, but it's important not to over romanticise them. And, on top of that, it's always nice to be reminded that there are bigger and better things out there in the wild world.And I was reminded of just that when I sat down to talk to author Troy Ford, who is currently on the cusp of releasing his new book, Lamb, a book about two friends and their complicated relationship.And speaking of complicated relationships (see what I did there?), Troy had refreshing insights in to the queer world of San Francisco in the 90s, a space and time he had a complicated relationship with. As hard as he tried, he just couldn't connect with the scene and the people in it.Follow meInstagram: ⁠⁠www.instagram.com/lostspacespod⁠⁠Facebook: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.facebook.com/lostspacespod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TikTok: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@lostspacespod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Sign up to the Queer Word newsletter: https://queer-word.beehiiv.com/subscribe⁠⁠⁠⁠Support meBuy Me A Coffee: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.buymeacoffee.com/lostspacespod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow my guestWebsite: https://troyfordauthor.com/lamb/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mrtroyfordauthor/Newsletters: https://troyford.substack.com/ AND https://qstack.substack.com/

Ok, so this just might be the most obvious statement that I've ever made. And, that's really saying something, considering all of the clangers that I come out with...But... it's kind of incredible how much our family and our early years define us. Like, so much of who I am is because of who they are. And, vice versa, I suppose. But, there's something really interesting in the messages that we chose to internalise and how difficult those are to shake off. But, like, what would happen if we just did? If we just stopped believing all of those things about ourselves that we thought were innate or hard-wired or just who we are... What if they're not who we are?Ok, ok, that's too much navel gazing. Let me introduce you to this week's guest, who sent me down this thought path. He is Brian Gryhpon, a queer neurodelightful Canadian who is a photographer, tarot card reader, and poet. We got together to talk about his days in Toronto, and how he graduated from the bar scene to start going to Club Manatee, a club that operated in the 1970s.....Follow meInstagram: ⁠⁠www.instagram.com/lostspacespod⁠⁠Facebook: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.facebook.com/lostspacespod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TikTok: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@lostspacespod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Sign up to the Queer Word newsletter: https://queer-word.beehiiv.com/subscribe⁠⁠⁠⁠Support meBuy Me A Coffee: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.buymeacoffee.com/lostspacespod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow my guestWebsite: http://digitalgryphon.com/text-lynx/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/briangryphon

Have you ever decided that you were going to go celibate and swear off sex forever? Probably. It happens. Now, my follow up question - have you ever promised that you'd go celibate to... oh, i don't know, let's say,,,, thousands upon thousands of evangelical christians and then felt the weight of all of their expectations upon you whilst you're still trying to wrestle with your sexuality and identity?No, I didn't think so. Me either.But this week's guest, the sex and intimacy coach, porn star, and podcast host, Alex Ray did just that, promising the world that he would remain celibate. But that was all to come crashing down when he went to Washington, DC's club Town. Follow meInstagram: ⁠⁠www.instagram.com/lostspacespod⁠⁠Facebook: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.facebook.com/lostspacespod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TikTok: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@lostspacespod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Sign up to the Queer Word newsletter: https://queer-word.beehiiv.com/subscribe⁠⁠⁠⁠Support meBuy Me A Coffee: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.buymeacoffee.com/lostspacespod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow my guestWebsite: https://alexxxgay.univer.se/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@heyalexgayInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/heyalexgay

Do you remember the person that you were before you first had your heart broken? How you moved through the world? How you approached relationships and falling in love?Do you ever miss that person?This week I caught up with comedian Glo Butler, and though we sat down to talk about the Fab Lounge, a lesbian bar in Washington DC, what we talked about was the people she met there and how they changed her outlook on life, love, and lesbian bars. Follow meInstagram: ⁠⁠www.instagram.com/lostspacespod⁠⁠Facebook: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.facebook.com/lostspacespod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TikTok: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@lostspacespod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Sign up to the Queer Word newsletter: https://queer-word.beehiiv.com/subscribe⁠⁠⁠⁠Support meBuy Me A Coffee: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.buymeacoffee.com/lostspacespod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow my guestInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/glo_inthecity/

This week's episode feels like a bit of a culmination of different thoughts that have been bubbling up from recent conversations on the show.First, there's my realisation that I'm more of a sponge than an island — and I know that sounds cryptic, but it's really not. It's just this idea that who we are is shaped as much by what's going on around us as it is by what's inside us.Then there's been a lot of talk about people pleasing — that's come up in a few conversations lately too.But don't worry, it's not all existential crises! That's only half of the conversation.The other half is a lovely chat with actor and founder of the 'Men Who Read' book club, Paul Cram, about the lost Minneapolis space Jet Set, where he and his friend Robert used to go religiously, embracing the opportunity to leave behind the rest of the world if only for the evening.Sound familiar? Yeah, me too.Follow meInstagram: ⁠⁠www.instagram.com/lostspacespod⁠⁠Facebook: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.facebook.com/lostspacespod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TikTok: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@lostspacespod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Sign up to the Queer Word newsletter: https://queer-word.beehiiv.com/subscribe⁠⁠⁠⁠Support meBuy Me A Coffee: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.buymeacoffee.com/lostspacespod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow my guestWebsite: http://www.iampaulcram.com/

This week it's the story of The Copa, a club that was found (across two different sites) in Flint, Michigan between the years of 1980-1995But, really, it's a love story. And the first scene in this love story just happened to be at The Copa. And, who is here to tell us all about it? Why, it's the self-proclaimed 'professional homosexual' Greg R Baird, who is a Global Lecturer on LGBTQIA+ Civil Rights, Allyship & Community.Greg is currently working on his memoir, and so was in a reflective mood when we sat down. And I learnt some really important things in this conversation, like how Greg learnt to masturbate, and how he managed to fit in his really tight trousers that he bought especially for his first night in the club. But, most importantly, I learnt about the power of unconditional love.Follow meInstagram: ⁠⁠www.instagram.com/lostspacespod⁠⁠Facebook: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.facebook.com/lostspacespod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TikTok: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@lostspacespod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Sign up to the Queer Word newsletter: https://queer-word.beehiiv.com/subscribe⁠⁠⁠⁠Support meBuy Me A Coffee: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.buymeacoffee.com/lostspacespod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow my guestInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/greggerspeaks/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@greggerspeaksYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@GregRBairdWebsite: https://www.gregrbaird.com/

Subscribe to my newsletter Queer Word, where we explore and unpack a different queer word every week. You know how we talk about queer spaces as a place where you can just be yourself? And we talk about how liberating and exciting and freeing that is?Well, what if the opposite is also true? What if being someone else in a queer space is also really liberating? What if being someone else actually helps you to realise who you are? Ok, I seem to be tying myself up in knots here. So, instead of pondering that massive question, why don't I introduce you to this week's guest?If you are a fan of Drag Race, but you haven't yet watched any of the international versions of the franchise then let me recommend you go straight to Drag Race Philippines. And, in particular, season 3 because it's chaotic and ridiculous in all the best ways. And it's where I found this week's guest, the delightful Tita Baby. Tita and I caught up to talk about Bed, which was a club in the capital city of the Philipines, Manila. And, of course, we also talked about much, much more - her childhood growing up in a sheltered catholic family, never being picked to play basketball with the other boys, and her relationship with her bisexuality. I loved this conversation because Tita was so open and honest throughout. Follow meInstagram: ⁠⁠www.instagram.com/lostspacespod⁠⁠Facebook: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.facebook.com/lostspacespod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TikTok: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@lostspacespod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Sign up to the Queer Word newsletter: https://queer-word.beehiiv.com/subscribe⁠⁠⁠⁠Support meBuy Me A Coffee: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.buymeacoffee.com/lostspacespod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow my guestInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/yourtitababy/

Have you ever heard of the concept of a “gay age”?If not, here's the gist: the idea goes that we each have a gay age, which starts from the moment we come out. So, that means if I came out yesterday, I'd be zero. If you came out a decade ago you're ten years old in gay years.It's a really fascinating concept, but the more I sit with it, the more I find it to be a little problematic.But I won't get into all that now (I'll actually be talking about it in this week's issue of my newsletter, Queer Word. If you haven't signed up yet, make sure you do before Friday!)Let me instead introduce you to this week's guest, Koby Falks—an adult entertainer from Australia who started going out in the early 2000s at one of Melbourne's most iconic queer clubs, The Market.It was in this space that he really got to step into his queerness—and no other place was this more true than on the dancefloor where he could feel free, open... and shirtless.If the whole “gay age” thing has piqued your interest, I'll be writing about it in this week's issue of Queer Word, my newsletter all about queer language and its history. If you haven't already signed up, you'll find all the details in the show notes—I'd love to hear your thoughts on the idea.Follow meInstagram: ⁠⁠www.instagram.com/lostspacespod⁠⁠Facebook: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.facebook.com/lostspacespod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TikTok: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@lostspacespod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Sign up to the Queer Word newsletter: https://queer-word.beehiiv.com/subscribe⁠⁠⁠⁠Support meBuy Me A Coffee: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.buymeacoffee.com/lostspacespod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow my guestInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/kobyfalks/

Sometimes when you live in a small close-knit community there is nowhere to hide. No where to disappear to. It can feel like you're always on guard, always wearing the false smile and maintaining the pretence for everyone else around you. So, what would happen if you found somewhere that you knew no one else was going to be? Somewhere that you could totally relax, and just be yourself for an hour or two? How would that impact you? Well, we're about to find out, because this week's guest is comedian Sunny Laprade, who grew up in small town America , and found an abandoned building as a teen where she got to be away from the judgemental eyes of... well... everyone else in her life.Follow meInstagram: ⁠⁠www.instagram.com/lostspacespod⁠⁠Facebook: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.facebook.com/lostspacespod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TikTok: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@lostspacespod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Sign up to the Queer Word newsletter: https://queer-word.beehiiv.com/subscribe⁠⁠⁠⁠Support meBuy Me A Coffee: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.buymeacoffee.com/lostspacespod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow my guestInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/sunnylcomedy/

We talk a lot about — and when I say 'we,' I mean the wider queer community — how upsetting it is that queer bars and clubs are closing at an accelerated rate. But I think the bigger tragedy is the disappearance of queer cafés.And maybe it's wrong to pit them against each other, but queer cafés offer that beautiful intermediate step. They're not as full-on or intimidating as a bar or a club, and they're places where you can just be. There's no pressure to perform, no need to match the thump of a bassline — just you, your overpriced oat flat white, and the comforting hum of conversations that sound a little more like home.One of the absolute best queer cafés that ever existed — and I won't hear any counterarguments — was First Out Café in Central London. Before it closed in 2011 to make way for yet another railway construction project, it was a sanctuary. A place where you could nervously nurse a tea while pretending to read the free gay magazines that used to exist, all the while sneaking glances at the other queers who had found refuge there too.It's also where today's guest, drag king extraordinaire Mr Wesley Dykes, took his first tentative steps into queerdom. Growing up between Lagos and South London, Wesley navigated the complexities of identity, family expectations, and self-acceptance. And when that weight felt a little too heavy, First Out Café was there — offering a cup of tea and the reassuring presence of a community.Other episodes about First Out Cafe'The First Gay Place That I Went Inside...' - with Alex Iantaffi from Gender Stories PodcastFirst Out Cafe, London (with Ali Brumfitt)Follow meInstagram: ⁠⁠www.instagram.com/lostspacespod⁠⁠Facebook: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.facebook.com/lostspacespod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TikTok: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@lostspacespod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Sign up to the Queer Word newsletter: https://queer-word.beehiiv.com/subscribe⁠⁠⁠⁠Support meBuy Me A Coffee: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.buymeacoffee.com/lostspacespod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow my guestInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/mrwesleydykes/

I've always struggled with the word community, because it's something that I've desperately wanted - I've wanted to belong, and I've wanted to feel a part of something bigger than myself. But, at the same time, how do you measure those things? How do you know that you belong? What does that feel like, and how do you measure it? And, I think someone who has had a similar experience, and has always strived for community and belong is this week's guest, Steve Whiting. Steve is the founder of the online listings site Hey Queer London, which started off as an Instagram page sharing events and goings on for people in London to have a better idea of how to enjoy their city. At the end of 2024 Steve made the difficult decision to close Hey Queer London, and we caught up to talk about this lost digital space, and what it has meant for him over the years.Along the way we also discuss another famous lost-ish space, Twitter, guilty pop pleasures, and how your interactions with the queer scene change when you become sober.Follow meInstagram: ⁠⁠www.instagram.com/lostspacespod⁠⁠Facebook: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.facebook.com/lostspacespod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TikTok: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@lostspacespod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Sign up to the Queer Word newsletter: https://queer-word.beehiiv.com/subscribe⁠⁠⁠⁠Support meBuy Me A Coffee: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.buymeacoffee.com/lostspacespod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow my guestInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/originalsteve/https://www.instagram.com/heyqueerldn/

There's a reason that the theme song to the Golden Girls hits so hard for me. And, I think it's because I've always valued friendships over all other types of relationships. There's just something magical about having that person who eggs you on, pushes you out of your comfort zone, and encourages you to be bolder than you ever thought possible.So, I loved hearing about Norwegian drag king Erik Sjon's first foray into dressing up—back when he and his friends would go full klub kid glam and dance the night away at Oslo's Erskin. This was well before he became a drag king or performer; it was just about self-expression, community, and joy.We talked about what drew him to drag, the inspiration behind his character, and that one time he and his friends accidentally became go-go dancers (as you do!). Oh, and—true to form—I completely failed to pick up on the pun in Erik's name. Did you get it? No worries if not—he's just about to explain it.Follow meInstagram: ⁠⁠www.instagram.com/lostspacespod⁠⁠Facebook: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.facebook.com/lostspacespod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TikTok: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@lostspacespod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Sign up to the Queer Word newsletter: https://queer-word.beehiiv.com/subscribe⁠⁠⁠⁠Support meBuy Me A Coffee: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.buymeacoffee.com/lostspacespod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow my guestInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/king.eriksjon/

So, usually we talk about a bar or a club or a coffee shop… or some kind of building, at least. But this week we're doing something a little bit different. We're talking about a set of steps. Yes, you heard that correctly. But, these weren't just any set of steps. They were the legendary, and imaginatively titled, Steps that were found in Toronto's gay village. And to tell us all about them is the author, speaker, and DEI specialist Michael Bach, who may have recently escaped the cold, cold winters of Canada to live in Palm Springs, but nonetheless maintains that a huge chunk of his heart belongs to Toronto's gay village.We talk about coming out before you even know what gay is, using a fake ID to get in to the bar, and navigating being queer at a boy's boarding school. Follow meInstagram: ⁠⁠www.instagram.com/lostspacespod⁠⁠Facebook: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.facebook.com/lostspacespod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TikTok: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@lostspacespod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Sign up to the Queer Word newsletter: https://queer-word.beehiiv.com/subscribe⁠⁠⁠⁠Support meBuy Me A Coffee: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.buymeacoffee.com/lostspacespod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow my guestInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/TheMichaelBach/Website: https://www.michaelbach.com/

Coming out can be both thrilling and exhilarating… but also kind of dangerous.There's something about that first rush of freedom that makes you feel invincible—like you can throw yourself into any and every experience, consequences be damned.Which brings us to this week's guest—Brad Shreve. Now, you might already know Brad as an author and the host of multiple podcasts, including Going Hollywood, Queer We Are, and Queer Writers of Crime.He finally came out to himself in his 30s, when he was working in the travel industry, newly single, that he dove headfirst into queer life—taking in everything, the good and the bad. And, it was at Faultline, a bar in Los Angeles , where he first felt seen.Content warning: this episode touches on drug use, suicidal thoughts, and domestic violence. If you're not in the right headspace to listen, please take care of yourself and come back when you're ready.Follow meInstagram: ⁠⁠www.instagram.com/lostspacespod⁠⁠Facebook: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.facebook.com/lostspacespod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TikTok:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@lostspacespod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Sign up to the Queer Word newsletter: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://queer-word.beehiiv.com/subscribeSupport meBuy Me A Coffee: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.buymeacoffee.com/lostspacespod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow my guestInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/thebradshreve/

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 special bond with her drag sister, and nights at The Green Park Hotel—a beloved gay bar in Darlinghurst that shut its doors in 2020—all shaped her journey.Oh, and of course, we get into the highs and lows of lockdown life!Follow meInstagram: ⁠⁠www.instagram.com/lostspacespod⁠⁠Facebook: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.facebook.com/lostspacespod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TikTok:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@lostspacespod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Sign up to the Queer Word newsletter: https://queer-word.beehiiv.com/subscribe⁠⁠⁠⁠Support meBuy Me A Coffee: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.buymeacoffee.com/lostspacespod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow my guestInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/thejackiedaniels/

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 queer scene since the70s, giving him a front-row seat to its evolution over the decades.Frank and I caught up to talk aboutThe Mews, a late-night, dingy little club with almost no digital footprint, but we also talk about The Embassy, and just what Soho in London was like in the 70s and beyond. And, on top of that, we dive into his coming-out story, his overprotective cat, and, of course, hismany lovers.For some context: for a long time, the heart of London's gay scene was in Soho, particularly around Old Compton Street. But thanks to gentrification, that landscape has shifted, and the scene is much more fragmented now.Follow meInstagram: ⁠⁠www.instagram.com/lostspacespod⁠⁠Facebook: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.facebook.com/lostspacespod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TikTok:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@lostspacespod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Sign up to the Queer Word newsletter:https://queer-word.beehiiv.com/subscribe⁠⁠⁠⁠Support meBuy Me A Coffee:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.buymeacoffee.com/lostspacespod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow my guestInstagram:https://www.instagram.com/frankakinsete/Vintage Fashion Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/souledoutathouseofprovenance/

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 (see what I did there?) is AJ Romriell, a US-based writer who also happens to be the partner of former Lost Spaces guest Terrance O'Brien Henderson. We got together to talk about why that group was so vital for AJ, and particularly the significance of it being allowed to meet on campus... until suddenly, it wasn't. But I'll let AJ tell you more about that. Follow me Instagram: ⁠⁠www.instagram.com/lostspacespod⁠⁠ Facebook: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.facebook.com/lostspacespod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ TikTok: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@lostspacespod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Sign up to the Queer Word newsletter: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://queer-word.beehiiv.com/subscribe Support me Buy Me A Coffee: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.buymeacoffee.com/lostspacespod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow my guest Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/aj_romriell/ Website: https://www.ajromriell.com/

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 space – a whole queer sub-community I knew practically nothing about until my guests graciously fielded all my eager (and perhaps ignorant) questions. And, who are these guests? Well, it's Dan and Don from The Big Fat Gay Podcast, who joined me to discuss Girth and Mirth, a social club that operated across the USA organising events for chubs and chasers. I loved this conversation because sometimes it's nice to have the chaos of three people to try and wrangle, but also because Dan and Don just brought such different perspectives to the table. Oooh, and if you're not familiar with chubs and chasers, don't worry – we break it all down in the first ten minutes of the conversation. Follow me Instagram: ⁠⁠www.instagram.com/lostspacespod⁠⁠ Facebook: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.facebook.com/lostspacespod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ TikTok: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@lostspacespod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Sign up to the Queer Word newsletter: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://queer-word.kit.com/3bf4af59cc Support me Buy Me A Coffee: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.buymeacoffee.com/lostspacespod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow my guest Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bigfatgaypod/ Website: https://www.bigfatgaypod.com/

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, wild nights, and finding himself in the midst of it all. What I really loved about this conversation is that Frank is just unapologetically himself, and from the sounds of it, his coming out was refreshingly joyous, exciting and celebratory, and it's really nice to be reminded that it can be that way. You know? Follow me Instagram: ⁠⁠www.instagram.com/lostspacespod⁠⁠ Facebook: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.facebook.com/lostspacespod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ TikTok: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@lostspacespod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Sign up to the Queer Word newsletter: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://queer-word.kit.com/3bf4af59cc Support me Buy Me A Coffee: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.buymeacoffee.com/lostspacespod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow my guest Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/frankdecaroshow Website: http://www.frankdecaro.com/ Buy a copy of Frank's book Disco: Music, Movies, and Mania under the Mirror Ball: https://amzn.to/4g772Np (* this is an affiliate link, and I will get a small commission, at no extra cost to you, if you buy using this link)

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: ⁠⁠⁠www.facebook.com/lostspacespod⁠⁠⁠ TikTok: ⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@lostspacespod⁠ Support me Buy Me A Coffee: ⁠https://www.buymeacoffee.com/lostspacespod⁠ Follow my guest Website: ⁠⁠https://www.sexedwithtim.com/ Instagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/sexedwithtim

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://www.tiktok.com/@lostspacespod Support me Buy Me A Coffee: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/lostspacespod Follow my guest Website: ⁠https://www.dennisanyone.net/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dennischensley/

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: ⁠www.facebook.com/lostspacespod⁠ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@lostspacespod Support me Buy Me A Coffee: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/lostspacespod Follow my guest Website: https://www.thequeerfamilypodcast.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thequeerfamilypodcast/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thequeerfamilypodcast Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ovariestalk/

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: www.facebook.com/lostspacespod TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@lostspacespod Support me Buy Me A Coffee: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/lostspacespod Follow my guest Website: https://genderidentitytoday.com/ https://www.amethysta.io/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@amethystaherrick

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 - the big scary jump in to the unknown. And the person leading us through the story is performance artist and theatre maker Emma Frankland, who took the big scary jump when she moved to Brighton, England eight years ago. In our chat we talk about living on a boat, the visibility of Brighton's trans community, and finding community and solace at The Marlborough, a theatre-slash-performance space which still exists as a queer space, but has had a change of name and a lick of paint since Emma's glory days there. Follow me Instagram: ⁠⁠www.instagram.com/lostspacespod⁠⁠ Facebook: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.facebook.com/lostspacespod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ TikTok: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@lostspacespod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Sign up to the Queer Word newsletter: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://tinyurl.com/queerwordsignup Support me Buy Me A Coffee: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.buymeacoffee.com/lostspacespod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow my guest Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/notyetarobot/ Website: https://www.emmafrankland.co.uk/

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'm able to have these conversations and form a real sense about cities that I've never been to and decades that I wasn't alive for all thanks to the stories that my guests share and how they navigated and responded to what was going on for them at the time. And I also love how one conversation can lead to another, which then leads to another. Which brings me to the city of Edmonton, Canada. A few weeks ago, I spoke with singer-songwriter D'orjay about The Roost, and during that conversation, they told me about another legendary space in the city—Flashback. It was dubbed the Studio 54 of the Prairies and recently became the subject of a documentary. So, of course I needed to go and find out more! That's how I found Matthew Hays, who, along with his brother, made the documentary. We caught up to talk about sneaking into Flashback when he was underage, what it was like to revisit the past while making the film, and, of course, his favourite hobby at the time—husband hunting! Follow me Instagram: ⁠⁠www.instagram.com/lostspacespod⁠⁠ Facebook: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.facebook.com/lostspacespod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ TikTok: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@lostspacespod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Sign up to the Queer Word newsletter: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://queer-word.kit.com/3bf4af59cc Support me Buy Me A Coffee: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.buymeacoffee.com/lostspacespod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow my guest Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/flashbackdocumentary/ Website: https://www.flashbackdocumentary.ca/

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 our houses for a good chunk of time to slow down the spread - like, around two years. It was especially tough because we didn't know when it was going to end, and we kept having these false starts where we were told we were allowed out and then our governments were like 'oh, whoops, no, spoke too soon - get back in your houses!'. Anyway, I tell you all of this because this week's guest, actor/singer/cabaret artist Jens Radda, had just moved to the city of Melbourne, Australia, from Sydney when the pandemic broke out, and so it had a significant influence on how he settled in to the city, how he made friends, and how he filled his days. And the periods of 'freedom' (for want of a better word) that he got in between lockdowns were precious and exciting to him because he got to go to queer spaces like the Rainbow House Club. Other episodes about Melbourne "Drag And Gayness Requires Delusion" - with Lazy Susan from Death to Everyone Podcast "Drag Can Be Different Things For Different People" - with Zelda Moon from Death to Everyone Podcast The Market, Commercial Road, Melbourne, Australia (with Katie Underwood) Follow me Instagram: ⁠⁠www.instagram.com/lostspacespod⁠⁠ Facebook: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.facebook.com/lostspacespod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ TikTok: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@lostspacespod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Sign up to the Queer Word newsletter: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://queer-word.kit.com/3bf4af59cc Support me Buy Me A Coffee: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.buymeacoffee.com/lostspacespod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow my guest Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jensradda Website: https://www.jensradda.com/

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 special person', and I always find those conversations really affirming. Finding out about a teenage D'orjay who had just moved to Edmonton, Canada, and found a little corner of the city in the gay bar The Roost was just delightful. It's worth nothing that there are a couple of things that come up in this chat that are worth mentioning so you can keep up. - D'orjay is a trained shaman, so they share a bit about their practice One of their day jobs is delivering post, which makes an appearance too! Follow me Instagram: ⁠⁠www.instagram.com/lostspacespod⁠⁠ Facebook: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.facebook.com/lostspacespod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ TikTok: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@lostspacespod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Sign up to the Queer Word newsletter: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://queer-word.kit.com/3bf4af59cc Support me Buy Me A Coffee: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.buymeacoffee.com/lostspacespod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow my guest Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/17degreesofdorjay Website: https://www.dorjay.ca/

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 conversation goes!).... I really got a lot out of this conversation, mostly because Sam and I have such a different perspective on things, and so much of what he reflected really resonated with me, and I think you'll really enjoy his stone-cold pragmatism. If you haven't already subscribed to my newsletter, Queer Word, you're missing out! It's where I promise to help you get a little queerer in under five minutes each week. This week, in Sam's honour, I'll be including some Singaporean queer slang, so make sure you sign up by Friday to catch it. Sign up here - https://queer-word.kit.com/3bf4af59cc Follow me Instagram: ⁠⁠www.instagram.com/lostspacespod⁠⁠ Facebook: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.facebook.com/lostspacespod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ TikTok: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@lostspacespod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Sign up to the Queer Word newsletter: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://queer-word.kit.com/3bf4af59cc Support me Buy Me A Coffee: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.buymeacoffee.com/lostspacespod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow my guest Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mrsamsee/ Website: https://www.mrsamsee.com/

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 Terrible Things: A Paranormal Queer Comedy Podcast, it was a pretty long road. She didn't realise she was a lesbian until well into her 30s, And it was, in part, thanks to the warm, welcoming audience at the Indigo Club, a comedy night in Brighton, England, that she began to put the pieces together about her true self. Find out more in the episode. Follow me Instagram: ⁠⁠www.instagram.com/lostspacespod⁠⁠ Facebook: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.facebook.com/lostspacespod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ TikTok: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@lostspacespod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Sign up to the Queer Word newsletter: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://tinyurl.com/queerqueerword⁠⁠⁠⁠ Support me Buy Me A Coffee: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.buymeacoffee.com/lostspacespod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow my guest TikTok: ⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@janedoescomedy⁠ Instagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/JaneDoesComedy⁠ Website: ⁠https://janepostlethwaitecomedy.com/⁠

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 referring to? Why, it's Sinn Sage, who is an adult film star, and host of the Sage Advice podcast, where she interviews fellow performers about their experiences in the industry. We caught up to chat about The Masterdome, a club in San Bernardino, California, and along the way, we touched on everything from Sinn's experience of coming out in high school, crushing on 90s film stars, and rebelling against your small-town conservative roots! Other episodes about lost Californian spaces ⁠'I'm In San Francisco And Everyone's Dying From Sex' - with Daniel Nardicio⁠ (about Cafe Flore) ⁠"Once I Get To College I'll Start Doing Gay Things..." - with Corey Sherman⁠ (about Faultline) ⁠"Platonic Queer Joy" - with Sina Grace⁠ (about Flaming Saddles) Follow me Instagram: ⁠⁠www.instagram.com/lostspacespod⁠⁠ Facebook: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.facebook.com/lostspacespod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ TikTok: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@lostspacespod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Sign up to the Queer Word newsletter: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://tinyurl.com/qwsignup Support me Buy Me A Coffee: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.buymeacoffee.com/lostspacespod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow my guest Twitter: ⁠https://x.com/sinnsage⁠ Onlyfans: ⁠https://onlyfans.com/sinnsage⁠

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 you to do things you wouldn't have otherwise done, like going to places that you wouldn't choose to go to. Which brings us to this week's guest—Nick Baker is co-host of the Incomplete Geeks podcast, a show for all your gay geeky needs, from TV shows to comics. But many years ago he too was new to London and he too had a friendship of convenience, which led him to a club he wouldn't have gone to on his own. At the time he was into the fizzy, frothy pop of mainstream gay places like G-A-Y and Heaven, but this friendship exposed him to the much cooler Ghetto (honestly, I'm not exaggerating when I say that - if you speak to queers of a certain age in London, Ghetto was THE place to be). Other episodes featuring lost London spaces 'The First Gay Place That I Went Inside...' - with Alex Iantaffi from Gender Stories Podcast "I'm Such A Cliched Gay Of A Certain Age" - with Ty Jeffries 'My Queerness Is My Strength' - with John Sizzle Follow me Instagram: ⁠⁠www.instagram.com/lostspacespod⁠⁠ Facebook: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.facebook.com/lostspacespod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ TikTok: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@lostspacespod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Sign up to the Queer Word newsletter: https://queer-word.ck.page/3bf4af59cc Support me Buy Me A Coffee: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.buymeacoffee.com/lostspacespod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow my guest Incomplete Geeks website: https://incompletegeeks.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/incompletegeeks/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@incompletegeeks

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 Race, but before this she was a plucky 23-year old who moved from her hometown of Stockholm to Berlin to run away and become a new person. And it's here where the adventure begins.... Other episodes with Drag Race alumni "Everything You Would Do At A Gay Bar" - with Tempest DuJour Club Muthers, Rochester, NY, USA (with Mrs Kasha Davis) Pandora Boxx: Falling in love with straight men, petty fights, and embracing your inner slut Follow me Instagram: ⁠⁠www.instagram.com/lostspacespod⁠⁠ Facebook: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.facebook.com/lostspacespod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ TikTok: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@lostspacespod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Sign up to the Queer Word newsletter: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://tinyurl.com/queerqueerword⁠⁠⁠ Support me Buy Me A Coffee: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.buymeacoffee.com/lostspacespod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow my guest Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/santanasexmachine/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@santanasexmachine

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, Canada club that became a key part of his life after he moved there from Quebec City in the ‘90s. For Manuel, it wasn't just a place to dance or perform—it was a sanctuary for expression and liberation and he was gutted when Parking literally became parking, converted to a car park in the '00s. Other episodes about Montrealian lost queer spaces Tranna Wintour - Psychic City 'All These Gay Men With No Shirts On...' - with Van Hechter Follow me Instagram: ⁠⁠www.instagram.com/lostspacespod⁠⁠ Facebook: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.facebook.com/lostspacespod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ TikTok: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@lostspacespod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Sign up to the Queer Word newsletter: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://queer-word.beehiiv.com/subscribe Support me Buy Me A Coffee: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.buymeacoffee.com/lostspacespod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow my guest Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/manuelskyejourney/ Buy Manuel's book: https://7skyesunder.com/

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, Limelight, Splash, and Tunnel. But out of all of these lost spaces it was The Roxy that had his heart. We caught up to talk about his book, his early days in NYC, and his journey with his queerness. Grab a copy of Getting In: NYC Club Flyers from the Gay 1990s From David's site From Amazon UK From Amazon USA Other episodes about NYC lost queer spaces 'I'm Really Lucky That I'm Gay' - with Eric Marcus from Making Gay History Podcast 'Disco 2000 Was The Hub Of The Club Kids Scene' - with Abdi Nazemian "I Never Really Came Out To My Mother... She Read My Diary..." - with Sheria Mattis "Are You 'In The Life'?" - with Phil Corin Follow me Instagram: ⁠⁠www.instagram.com/lostspacespod⁠⁠ Facebook: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.facebook.com/lostspacespod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ TikTok: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@lostspacespod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Sign up to the Queer Word newsletter: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://tinyurl.com/queerqueerword⁠⁠⁠ Support me Buy Me A Coffee: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.buymeacoffee.com/lostspacespod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow my guest Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/davidmkennerley/ Website: www.GettingInClubBook.com

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 us all about when he met his husband at the long-gone Caribou Coffee Shop in Chicago's gay village (often referred to as Boystown). And you'll be pleased to hear that I demonstrate a smidgen of growth here, asking questions and trying to understand this love phenomenon and what it all means... (baby steps! I'm getting there!) Follow me Instagram: ⁠⁠www.instagram.com/lostspacespod⁠⁠ Facebook: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.facebook.com/lostspacespod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ TikTok: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@lostspacespod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Sign up to the Queer Word newsletter: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://tinyurl.com/queerqueerword⁠⁠⁠ Support me Buy Me A Coffee: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.buymeacoffee.com/lostspacespod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow my guest Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ancientgayhistory/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@gay_history

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 want and what they don't, who they are and who they're not... (I'm making this person sound a bit like the Dalai Lama here). This week's guest is Matte Namer from the band The FMs. Matte joined me to talk about The Bushwick Boat, which was an actual boat that was moored in Brooklyn, New York City, and became a party boat for over a decade. Or, as Matte described it, 'the boat with no rules'. But, this conversation is about a lot more than a big ol' boat where people partied. After all, this is Lost Spaces, the podcast about how spaces and access to community shape who we are and who we become! As well as the boat we talk about navigating family dynamics, embracing your kinkiness and surviving your 20s. If you happen to be listening to this episode on Pocket Casts, did you know that they have just unleashed a new feature and you can now rate shows directly in the app? Rating is super easy: after enjoying a few episodes of a podcast, all you need to do is tap the podcast's artwork at the top of the screen to open its details, then hit 'rate', select a star rating and enter! I would be chuffed if you could rate this show! Follow me Instagram: ⁠⁠www.instagram.com/lostspacespod⁠⁠ Facebook: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.facebook.com/lostspacespod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ TikTok: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@lostspacespod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Sign up to the Queer Word newsletter: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://tinyurl.com/queerqueerword⁠⁠⁠ Support me Buy Me A Coffee: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.buymeacoffee.com/lostspacespod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow my guest Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/matt_namer/

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, England, and found that the gay scene there wasn't really for them. So, before long they got going with their own club night, Disco Opposite Tesco (and, just quick side note - for those outside of the UK, Tesco is a large supermarket chain). We caught up to talk about DIsco Opposite Tesco, but along the way there's this great conversation about leaping before you look, and attacking the things that terrify you head on. For those in or around London who happen to be listening to this episode on the week it is released, Ames' new film TOPS is playing as part of the Queer Fringe Film Festival this Saturday 21st September at the Rio Cinema in Dalston - https://www.riocinema.org.uk/movie/tops-qa-fringe Follow me Instagram: ⁠⁠www.instagram.com/lostspacespod⁠⁠ Facebook: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.facebook.com/lostspacespod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ TikTok: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@lostspacespod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Sign up to the Queer Word newsletter: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://tinyurl.com/queerqueerword⁠⁠⁠ Support me Buy Me A Coffee: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.buymeacoffee.com/lostspacespod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow my guest Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ames_pennington_ Website: https://www.amespennington.com/

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 everyone should aspire to, when actually the only reason it exists is due to necessity. Chosen family are there to support you when your biological family fail you. And, yes, it's amazing, and yes, people are lucky to find these chosen families, but it's almost over-romanticised and made out to be the solution to all of your problems. Or, maybe it is that i'm just jealous. Who knows? Anyway, I had this epiphany when I was talking to this week's guest, the singer/songwriter J3m. We sat down to talk about The Barn, in Toronto, Canada, and along the way we talk about being in the grips of religion, running away to the big city, and the importance of his chosen family. Follow me Instagram: ⁠⁠www.instagram.com/lostspacespod⁠⁠ Facebook: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.facebook.com/lostspacespod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ TikTok: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@lostspacespod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Sign up to the Queer Word newsletter: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://tinyurl.com/queerqueerword⁠⁠⁠⁠ Support me Buy Me A Coffee: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.buymeacoffee.com/lostspacespod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow my guest Instagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/j3msings⁠

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. This week I sat down with author Miah Jeffra, who was feeling kind of so-so and disconnected from the scene when he was just going to gay bars. It wasn't until he went to the nightclub called Backstreet which was in Atlanta, Georgia, that the world started making sense and he got to find his brand of sexy. And, yes, you read that correctly - ‘brand of sexy'. It'll make sense once you've listened to the episode. I promise. I hope. Follow me Instagram: ⁠⁠www.instagram.com/lostspacespod⁠⁠ Facebook: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.facebook.com/lostspacespod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ TikTok: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@lostspacespod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Sign up to the Queer Word newsletter: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://tinyurl.com/queerqueerword⁠⁠⁠⁠ Support me Buy Me A Coffee: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.buymeacoffee.com/lostspacespod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow my guest Instagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/miahjeffra/⁠ Keywords LGBTQ+, gay, advice, 1990s, queer spaces, gay bars, gay clubs, joy, sense of belonging, dancing, crushes, deep connections, queer spaces, community, connection, self-expression, technology, younger generations, embodiment, self-acceptance

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 stand up comedian John Pendal. John also happens to be the International Mr Leather 2003, so you can rest assured he knows a thing or two about leather pageantry. As well as excessive instances of me saying 'wow' you can expect to hear about John's sex spreadsheet, the effort he put in to preparing for the different categories of the pageant, and how he discovered his neurodiversity many years later. Follow me Instagram: ⁠⁠www.instagram.com/lostspacespod⁠⁠ Facebook: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.facebook.com/lostspacespod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ TikTok: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@lostspacespod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Sign up to the Queer Word newsletter: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://tinyurl.com/queerqueerword⁠⁠⁠ Support me Buy Me A Coffee: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.buymeacoffee.com/lostspacespod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow my guest Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/johnpendal.coach/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Website: johnpendal.com Website: https://www.leatherlondonguide.com

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 explore their queerness for the first time. And so, in this episode, Alex takes us back to the 90s and sits us down in a corner seat in London's First Out Cafe to show us the magical, open, friendly space that made them feel welcome. Follow me Instagram: ⁠⁠www.instagram.com/lostspacespod⁠⁠ Facebook: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.facebook.com/lostspacespod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ TikTok: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@lostspacespod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Sign up to the Queer Word newsletter: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://tinyurl.com/queerqueerword⁠⁠⁠ Support me Buy Me A Coffee: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.buymeacoffee.com/lostspacespod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow my guest Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/xtaffi Podcast: https://episodes.fm/1353717550

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 chat with fashion designer (and contestant on the reality show Sew Fierce) Terrence O'Brian Henderson, who is taking us on a journey to Club Odyssey in Lexington, North Carolina. Terrence tells me how Club Odyssey helped him rediscover his love of dance, explore his gender expression, and learn to move past some of the negative preconceptions about queerness that were instilled in him growing up. We talked about the art of not giving a fuck, the dedication needed to learn Beyoncé choreography (it's really hard!), and the perils of wearing non-stretch pants while dropping it low (I think you know how that story ends). Follow me Instagram: ⁠⁠www.instagram.com/lostspacespod⁠⁠ Facebook: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.facebook.com/lostspacespod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ TikTok: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@lostspacespod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Sign up to the Queer Word newsletter: ⁠⁠⁠https://tinyurl.com/queerqueerword⁠⁠ Support me Buy Me A Coffee: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.buymeacoffee.com/lostspacespod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow my guest Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/theblackbard

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 the answers directly. Why did The Glory close? What was the decision? And, crucially, how difficult was that decision to make? Follow me Instagram: ⁠⁠www.instagram.com/lostspacespod⁠⁠ Facebook: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.facebook.com/lostspacespod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ TikTok: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@lostspacespod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Sign up to the Queer Word newsletter: ⁠⁠⁠https://tinyurl.com/queerqueerword⁠⁠ Support me Buy Me A Coffee: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.buymeacoffee.com/lostspacespod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow my guest Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/johnsizzle Key words: queer bar, business, LGBTQ+, HIV, coming out, queer scene, drag, bullying, uniqueness, resilience, queer venue, cozy spaces

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 the episode. This week we caught up to talk about the Five Oaks, a piano bar in New York City. Richard shares memories of the vibrant community that existed there in the 1980s and 1990s, as well as how the AIDS crisis and a serial killer tragically impacted the scene. London folks! Richard has a show at Crazy Coqs on August 5th 2024. In it he will be celebrating the 60th anniversary of the stage show Hello Dolly, performing all of the hits and reflecting on the legacy of this iconic Broadway musical. More details can be found on the Crazy Coqs website. Follow me Instagram: ⁠⁠www.instagram.com/lostspacespod⁠⁠ Facebook: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.facebook.com/lostspacespod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ TikTok: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@lostspacespod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Sign up to the Queer Word newsletter: ⁠⁠https://tinyurl.com/queerqueerword⁠ Support me Buy Me A Coffee: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.buymeacoffee.com/lostspacespod⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow my guest Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/richard.skipper.celebrates/

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 reminded of all of that in this week's conversation (which is our first ever episode focussed on a lost space in New Zealand!). I got to talk to Edward Cowley, who you may know by his drag alter-ego Buckwheat, about The Staircase, a legendary space (or, spaces, rather, as it moved to a few different venues over its time) in Auckland where Edward first started going when he was underage and before homosexuality was even legal in the country. It was here that he first found his tribe, started drag, and shook his thing on the dancefloor. In fact, he has such an affinity to the space that he even went on to be a co-owner - and, as co-owner he made sure that the space was more than just a business, but a community hub. Follow me Instagram: ⁠www.instagram.com/lostspacespod⁠ Facebook: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.facebook.com/lostspacespod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ TikTok: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@lostspacespod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Sign up to the Queer Word newsletter: ⁠https://tinyurl.com/queerqueerword⁠ Support me Buy Me A Coffee: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.buymeacoffee.com/lostspacespod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow my guest Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/buckwheat_drag_diva

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 this conversation make sure you also download this week's episode of Mehgan's show, Sapphire's Earplay, as we did a swap-a-roo and I am the guest on the latest episode! Follow me Instagram: www.instagram.com/lostspacespod Facebook: ⁠⁠⁠⁠www.facebook.com/lostspacespod⁠⁠⁠⁠ TikTok: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@lostspacespod⁠⁠⁠⁠ Sign up to the Queer Word newsletter: https://tinyurl.com/queerqueerword Support me Buy Me A Coffee: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.buymeacoffee.com/lostspacespod⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow my guest Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/msradiosapphire/

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 Francisco represents a period of self-discovery and self-actualisation, and there are lots of joyous memories from that time when he was finding his feet and his voice. We caught up to talk about his early days in the city, wiling away the hours at the lost space Cafe Flore with his best friend (who you may know as the cabaret superstar Justin Vivian Bond). It was a place where they could nurse a coffee, read books, and occasionally snoop through other people's diaries (but you'll have to listen to the episode to find out more about that). Follow me Instagram: www.instagram.com/lostspacespod Facebook: ⁠⁠⁠⁠www.facebook.com/lostspacespod⁠⁠⁠⁠ TikTok: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@lostspacespod⁠⁠⁠⁠ Support me Buy Me A Coffee: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.buymeacoffee.com/lostspacespod⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow my guest Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/the_danielnardicio/ Website: ⁠https://www.danielsbigideas.com/

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, but they aren't in a hurry to go back to that time. This week, I had the pleasure of speaking with the artist and photographer Holly Revell.  Holly spent much of their 20s and 30s as a self-described "f*g hag", always ready to party surrounded by a gaggle of gays.  But, now, looking back, they appreciate that part of their life but recognise they've outgrown the person they were. We initially came together to talk about London's Black Cap, but our conversation went in many different directions.  You know it just goes that way sometimes, right? Follow me Instagram: www.instagram.com/lostspacespod Facebook: ⁠⁠⁠⁠www.facebook.com/lostspacespod⁠⁠⁠⁠ TikTok: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@lostspacespod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Support me Buy Me A Coffee: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.buymeacoffee.com/lostspacespod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow my guest Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/hollyrevellphotography⁠ Website: https://www.hollyrevell.co.uk/ --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/k-anderson/message

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 History podcast, but just in case you didn't it's an oral history podcast that explores different parts of queer history, like the AIDS crisis or growing up gay in the 70s. In fact, the new season is celebrating the 55th anniversary of the Stonewall uprising, by exploring the myth of what that's become, and sharing stories from people who were actually there.  But, anyway, before he was a podcast host and before he was a gay geezer he was a baby gay in New York City. And it was here that he had an adventure or two on the dancefloors of the gay bars in Manhattan. One of which was the wonderfully named Ice Palace, which we discuss in this conversation. Follow me Instagram: www.instagram.com/lostspacespod Facebook: ⁠⁠⁠⁠www.facebook.com/lostspacespod⁠⁠⁠⁠ TikTok: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@lostspacespod⁠⁠⁠⁠ Support me Buy Me A Coffee: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.buymeacoffee.com/lostspacespod⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow my guest Making Gay History Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/makinggayhistorypodcast/ Making Gay History Website: https://makinggayhistory.org/ Some of the topics we cover: Queer spaces and their impact on personal growth. Sexuality, identity, and coming out in the 1970s and 1980s. Sexual experiences and encounters in the 1970s. Manhattan, and its many gay clubs. Long-distance relationship experiences and crushes. Self-esteem, attractiveness, and relationships. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/k-anderson/message

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't happen to me, because the magic of the city still drew me to it. For many it still holds this promise. In fact, it was this way for this week's guest, the artist Recognition. London gave him this vast city where he was anonymous and able to play around with his own concept of who he was. He did that through dating apps (of course), but also through queer sports clubs, and the many bars and nightclubs in the city. In our chat we talk about age-gap relationships, dark rooms, and taking your shirt off on the dancefloor of the lost space XXL... Follow me Instagram: www.instagram.com/lostspacespod Facebook: ⁠⁠⁠⁠www.facebook.com/lostspacespod⁠⁠⁠⁠ TikTok: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@lostspacespod⁠⁠⁠⁠ Support me Buy Me A Coffee: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.buymeacoffee.com/lostspacespod⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow my guest Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/recognition.art/ Website: https://www.recognition-art.com/ --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/k-anderson/message

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 was still in high school. Takeaways The KOX nightclub in Montreal was a significant place for the queer community in the 1990s. KOX provided a vibrant and inclusive atmosphere for people to express their true selves. Van Hechter reflects on his time in the closet and his relationships with both men and women. The catacombs at KOX offered a different vibe, attracting closeted men and providing a sense of secrecy and understanding. Van's experiences at KOX have influenced his current work as a performer, as he aims to recreate the feeling of acceptance and self-expression he found at the club. There was a fear of AIDS during that time Van Hechter had a conflicted relationship with his father after coming out, but eventually found forgiveness and acceptance. Self-acceptance and embracing one's uniqueness are important for personal growth and happiness. Follow me Instagram: www.instagram.com/lostspacespod Facebook: ⁠⁠⁠⁠www.facebook.com/lostspacespod⁠⁠⁠⁠ TikTok: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@lostspacespod⁠⁠⁠⁠ Support me Buy Me A Coffee: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.buymeacoffee.com/lostspacespod⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow my guest Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vanhechter --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/k-anderson/message