Sister Roger's Gayborhood

Following the last few weeks of the tragic and devastating war in Ukraine at the hands of Vladimir Putin's Russia, we felt a responsibility to welcome two phenomenal and brilliant young people of Ukrainian descent into the Gayborhood. We're honored this episode to host actor/activist Aleksandr "Sasha" Krapivkin and Adam Odsess-Rubin, the Founding Artistic Director of the National Queer Theater. Sasha and Adam speak to their families' respective heritages as refugees from Ukraine, more than a century apart, with Adam's family immigrating in the wake of the tsarist pogroms and Sasha arriving in America 18 years ago. We discuss their Jewish ancestry and the history of anti-semitism and racism in Ukraine. We then learn more about how the current war with Russia is impacting the queer people of Ukraine and the trans community specifically. In addition to discussing the cultural and linguistic differences between Ukraine and Russia, Sasha also treats us to a staggeringly gorgeous selection from a beloved Ukrainian song, so be sure to listen all the way to the end of the episode. Our hearts remain with the Ukrainian people, and we encourage all our listeners to support Ukraine however possible. Go on Instagram to follow Sasha at @aleksandr.krapivkin and Adam at @adamodsessrubin_92, and learn everything you can about the organizations highlighted in this week's Gayborhood Watch: the documentary on the Ukrainian fight for democracy "Winter on Fire;" Black Ukrainian activist Betty Fosho; Ukrainian trans support organization Cohort; LGBTQ refugee support organization Immigration Equality; Canadian NGO Rainbow Railroad; non-profit Razom for Ukraine; Kyiv Pride; Kharkiv Pride; and Direct Help for Ukraine (http://directhelpforukraine.info/ (directhelpforukraine.info)), whose website was designed by Gayborhood friend and ally Daria Lavelle. Slava Ukraini, heroyam slava! And don't forget to follow @rogerq.mason, @lovell.holder, @miachanger, and @dgonzalezmusic on Instagram for all your Gayborhood updates.

The brilliant choreographer and educator mayfield brooks reunites with Roger after their time together in graduate school at Northwestern, ready to discuss everything that brought them together and bonded them in Chicago. We learn all about how mayfield explored dance in their childhood, and we hear a powerful story about the formative experience when mayfield was unjustly arrested, which then inspired them to eventually found their landmark interdisciplinary dance project, Improvising While Black. What follows is a powerful conversation about how to further the legacy of compassionate education and community within teaching environments. Plus, it's a Tale of Two Joannes, when we have a Joanne revelation like no other! Go on Instagram to follow mayfield at @mayfieldbrookz, plus learn everything you can about the folx highlighted in this week's Gayborhood Watch: composer Julius Eastman, civil rights activist Marsha P. Johnson, and poet June Jordan. And don't forget to follow @rogerq.mason, @lovell.holder, @miachanger, and @dgonzalezmusic on Instagram for all your Gayborhood updates!

We were so thrilled to commemorate February 22, 2022 ("Twosday!") with three phenomenal thought leaders in the Native American community: queer therapist and author Tavi Hawn, drag queen and activist Landa Lakes, and novelist and screenwriter W.A.W. Parker (though his nearest and dearest get to call him Adam). Lovell and Adam have been friends for several years, and Adam honored us by essentially bringing his Gayborhood Watch icons to join us for his episode. Adam, Landa, and Tavi all connected at the Montana Two Spirit Gathering last year, and we are so grateful that they joined us to discuss the legacy of Two Spirit people within Native American culture. Landa recounts their work founding the Brush Arbor Gurlz, the first Native American drag troop, and the fascinating lineage of their own drag name (as well as growing up on a reservation in Oklahoma plus their time in the Navy). Tavi also tells us about their extraordinary new book, "The Gender Identity Guide for Parents: Compassionate Advice to Help Your Child Be Their Most Authentic Self," and Adam fills us in on his new project with Disney that spotlights the Two Spirit experience. Go on Instagram to follow Adam at @wawparker, Landa at @landalakes, and Tavi at @hawntherapyandconsulting plus learn everything you can about the folx highlighted in this week's Gayborhood Watch: Timothy White Eagle, Ty Defoe, L Frank, and Judy Tallwing McCarthy. And don't forget to follow @rogerq.mason, @lovell.holder, @miachanger, and @dgonzalezmusic on Instagram for all your Gayborhood updates.

Love is in the air, and we are thrilled to celebrate Valentine's week with one of the Gayborhood's favorite couples: Philippe Bowgen and Erik Limpitlaw! After an acting career that has spanned virtually every iconic theater and now television (including major roles on "The Mick," "Supernatural," and the "Veronica Mars" reboot!), Philippe tells us about venturing into the writing game since relocating from New York to LA, and Erik opens the library (literally!) to tell all about his new job as the Digital Collections and Licensing Librarian at Stanford University. Erik also shares many memories from his digital licensing and data analysis career at Bloomberg LP and Thomson Reuters, plus his time as a lawyer and a member of the US National Rowing Team. Due to Philippe and Erik's involvement in the leadership (and post-pandemic reinvention!) of LA's queer nightlife scene, we also dive deep into the history of circuit parties within queer life, which includes a candid conversation about how that culture can both build community but also affect body image. Plus, stay tuned at the end of the episode for a sneak peek into "Popular," the new narrative podcast about queer life in DC by Gayborhood alum William Keiser! Go on Instagram to follow Philippe at @philippebowgen and Erik at @limpitbro, plus learn everything you can about the folx highlighted in this week's Gayborhood Watch: Honey Dijon, Luke Nero, Gabby Rivera, Candis Cayne, Eric Conrad, Joel Kim Booster, and check out Philippe and Erik's queer staffing company, QStaff. And don't forget to follow @rogerq.mason, @lovell.holder, @miachanger, and @dgonzalezmusic on Instagram for all your Gayborhood updates!

We are honored to host this very special conversation between some of the most thoughtful people who are currently a part of the movement for visibility on behalf of the Jewish community in America. With the persistent and horrific rise of antisemitism across the globe, including the recent synagogue attack in Dallas and the banning of Pulitzer-winning graphic novel Maus in Tennessee, the Gayborhood team felt compelled to provide a platform for several of the Jewish people in our lives who have been our beloved allies and trusted friends. We're thus proud to welcome a star-studded panel (in alphabetical order): Dylan Alban, whose aid work in international non-profits took him around Asia for years before he joined APDS, an education technology company that provides resources to justice-involved individuals across the US; Jordan Daniels, who identifies as a Fat Queer Afro-Jew writer and photographer and who focuses on Queer experiences, anti-racism, belonging for Jews of Color, and Fat activism; Jonathan Lipnicki, movie icon and Jewish activist, whose blockbuster films include the Oscar-winning Jerry Maguire, The Little Vampire, Like Mike, and the Stuart Little franchise; and Broadway actress and singer Jaime Rosenstein, who has graced the stage in the recent Sunday in the Park with George revival and the Wicked national tour.  Our panelists discuss a variety of topics, including the many and complex definitions of Jewish identity, their families' generational relationships to America, and their hopes for the future regarding how the Jewish community is depicted in the media. We also dive deep into how we can all be advocates for the Jewish community, not just now but always. Go on Instagram to follow Dylan at @dylra1, Jordan at @johodaniels, Jonathan at @jonathanlipnicki, and Jaime at @jaimero1, and learn everything you can about the Jewish people and organizations highlighted in this week's Gayborhood Watch: the 92nd Street Y, the Anti-Defamation League, Blake Flayton, Eve Barlow, Hila Love, Adam Eli, The Empress Mizrahi, Keshet, the Jews of Color Initiative, the Black-Jewish Liberation Collective, the Jewish-Asian Film Project, San Diego's the HIVE at Leichtag Commons, Jews for Racial and Economic Justice, Bend the Arc, Tony Kushner, Wendy Wasserstein, and Theatre Dybbuk. And don't forget to follow @rogerq.mason, @lovell.holder, @miachanger, and @dgonzalezmusic on Instagram for all your Gayborhood updates! 

The legal eagles have come home to roost in the Gayborhood! Civil rights investigator (and dancer, architect, and icon-in-development!) Eric Jordan joins us to discuss his career at Harvard conducting investigations into cases of sexual and gender-based harassment. Eric shares how he went from studying architecture during undergrad (and moonlighting as the most jaw-droppingly talented dancer!) into serving for Teach for America, followed by a chapter as a New York lawyer. We examine the throughlines that define all these passions, highlighting Eric's incredible commitment to service and uplifting others - and Eric reminds us that it's never a bad idea to always default to the Golden Rule. Go on Instagram to follow Eric at @hehimthatguy and check out the incredible routines by his Boston-based dance company QWAM: Queens with a Mission (@qwamfam), plus learn everything you can about the folx highlighted in this week's Gayborhood Watch: Linus Baker, lead character of TJ Klune's The House in the Cerulean Sea; Associate Justice Martin Jenkins, the first Black gay justice on the California Supreme Court (and former Seattle Seahawk!); and dancer-choreographer Sean Bankhead. And don't forget to follow @rogerq.mason, @lovell.holder, @miachanger, and @dgonzalezmusic on Instagram for all your Gayborhood updates.

We are celebrating the opening week of Lovell's most recent feature film, the romantic comedy "The End of Us," and we're honored to welcome his fellow producer, Claudia Restrepo, to discuss the wild ride of making this movie. Shot during April 2020 in those first weeks of the pandemic, "The End of Us" premiered at SXSW in March, and it is now available for audiences everywhere, all thanks to Claudia's stunning efforts as the film's producer... and production designer... and cast member... As Claudia informs us, pandemic filmmaking requires an artist to wear a lot of hats, but no one could have been more prepared for that job than Claudia. Claudia also reflects on her time as a creator and performer at BuzzFeed in those roaring days before the digital content bubble burst, and then we look forward to what creative endeavors she's aiming to tackle as a writer/director now that she's produced her first feature film. Plus, you'll never believe the remarkable connection that Roger and Claudia discover that they share live on the air, and we also litigate the politics of regifting just in time for the holidays (spoiler alert: Joanne made a faux pas...). Go on Instagram to follow Claudia at @clauddog, plus learn everything you can about the folx highlighted in this week's Gayborhood Watch: baseball player Glenn Burke, historian Eric Cervini and his book "The Deviant's War: The Homosexual vs. The United States of America," and creator Curly Velasquez. And don't forget to follow @rogerq.mason, @lovell.holder, @miachanger, and @dgonzalezmusic on Instagram for all your Gayborhood updates and check out "The End of Us" on all major VOD platforms!

Is there a doctor in the house?! There is today! We are so honored to have Roger's own physician, Dr. Joshua Khalili, join us to discuss the importance of queer health and the demystifying of queer intimacy. We learn all about Joshua's road to serving as an internal medicine and primary care provider at UCLA, and he provides additional insight into his work in HIV care and prevention. Roger and Joshua even share an in-depth example of how to have conversations regarding PrEP, the life-changing drug that supports HIV prevention, and how to determine what the right options are for each individual. We also hear about Josh's experience coming out within the Persian community, and amidst the beautiful conversations in this episode we might have even broached Joanne's HIPAA rights! Go on Twitter to follow Joshua at @KhaliliJosh, plus learn everything you can about the folx highlighted in this week's Gayborhood Watch: Dan Savage and of course RuPaul's Drag Race! And don't forget to follow @rogerq.mason, @lovell.holder, @miachanger, and @dgonzalezmusic on Instagram for all your Gayborhood updates!

We have three delightful guests straight from Open Fist Theatre Company visiting the Gayborhood to discuss their fantastic play The Soldier Dreams! Conor Lane, Ethan Niven, and David Shofner join us to discuss the "phoenix rising from the ashes" experience that is returning to the West Coast premiere of Daniel MacIvor's daring gay romance after an era of pandemic. We hear all about their unique years-long rehearsal process, their paths to acting, and some powerful anecdotes about the importance of education - even if it's learning what not to do!  The Soldier Dreams plays at Los Angeles' Open Fist Theatre Company until December 12, 2021, and go on Instagram to follow Open Fist at @openfisttheatrecompany to get all the info about how to see Conor, Ethan, and David's wonderful performances. Plus, learn everything you can about the folx highlighted in this week's Gayborhood Watch: the iconic Miranda Priestley, Conor's former teacher Father G, the stars of We're Here, Crush by Richard Siken, author and AIDS activist David Wojnarowicz, Bill Gunn of Ganja & Hess, horror mastermind Clive Barker, and casting director Mark Bennett (David's amazing husband, and it's a treat to hear David speak so movingly about their marriage!). And don't forget to follow @rogerq.mason, @lovell.holder, @miachanger, and @dgonzalezmusic on Instagram for all your Gayborhood updates!

Attention, Gayborhood sports fans! We are hitting the courts today with the iconic, inspirational powerhouse couple Tipesa and Chelsea Gray! WNBA superstar and Olympic gold medalist Chelsea gives us a full account of competing in the Olympics for Team USA during the time of COVID, and Tipesa explains how her career in the logistics field aligns with Chelsea's commitments playing professional basketball both for the Las Vegas Aces and abroad in the international leagues. Tipesa and Chelsea also speak candidly about how they balance work, life, and love to make their partnership work, and they truly prove that they are both the dream team and the dream couple. Plus, you'll learn their roster of favorite basketball players and hear multiple anecdotes about how to survive the holidays in freezing cold Prague! Go on Instagram to follow Tipesa at @tipesa_gray and Chelsea at @cgray209, plus learn everything you can about the folx highlighted in this week's Gayborhood Watch: the WNBA, basketball stars Natasha Cloud and Layshia Clarendon, lawyer Cherelle Griner, and educator Danielle Lenore. And don't forget to follow @rogerq.mason, @lovell.holder, @miachanger, and @dgonzalezmusic on Instagram for all your Gayborhood updates!

We're ringing in both Season 3 and the Halloween Season too with none other than queer horror mastermind Haygen-Brice Walker! The rising star playwright of such pieces as Wolfcrush: A Queer Werewolf Play and Throuple, Throuple, Throuple (which now boasts a phenomenal new name that we won't spoil for you here...), Haygen-Brice calls in from Philadelphia to tell us all about growing up as a half-Puerto Rican/half-white only child in the Deep South and how that has since impacted his work. In addition to discussing the nuances and shortcomings of sex education, Haygen-Brice very generously shares a candid window into he and his partners' experiences as a polyamorous triad, illuminating the Gayborhood with a provocative and insightful conversation about modern romance and sexuality. Go on Instagram to follow Haygen-Brice at @hyphenbrice, plus learn everything you can about the folx highlighted in this week's Gayborhood Watch: writers R. Eric Thomas, Grace McLeod, Preston Choi, and the movie Titane. And don't forget to follow @rogerq.mason, @lovell.holder, @miachanger, and @dgonzalezmusic on Instagram for all your Gayborhood updates!

As the summer winds down, Roger, Lovell, Mia, and David gather together - in person, for the first time ever! - to celebrate the end of another season in the Gayborhood. We reflect back on some of our favorite moments on the year thus far, and debrief all the Gayborhood team's many endeavors and collaborations that have been percolating over the last few months, from Roger's regional theater debut (orchestrated by David of course!) to Lovell's most recent film Midday Black Midnight Blue shooting in Washington. Plus, Lovell chats all about the joy of being a new godparent, and everyone reflects on what new topics we'd love to explore in our next season. And don't forget to learn everything you can about the folx highlighted in this week's Gayborhood Watch: transgender gamer Autumn Burchett, actor Tyler Posey, and the National Queer Theater, led by Adam Odsess-Rubin. And don't forget to follow @rogerq.mason, @lovell.holder, @miachanger, and @dgonzalezmusic on Instagram for all your Gayborhood updates! 

It's a special day in the Gayborhood filled with a new vision for the American theater! Over the last several months, Roger has been mentoring two brilliant rising star writers, Ayla Xuân Chi Sullivan and Nick Mwaluko, as part of the New Visions Fellowship, which has been sponsored by the National Queer Theater and Dramatists Guild of America to provide a platform for Black TGNC playwrights. It is our pleasure and privilege to welcome these two geniuses to join us today. In addition to multiple mic drop moments discussing both of their experiences as BIPOC creators navigating higher education, Ayla fills us in on their upcoming play For Colored N*****, or Who Gonna Beat My Ass?, and Nick tells us all about their plays Silence is a Sound and Waafrika 123 -- and we highly encourage everyone to check out their work as soon as you get the opportunity! You heard it here first, friends! Go on Instagram to follow Ayla at @thatblasianayla and Nick at @nickmwaluko, and learn everything you can about the folx highlighted in this week's Gayborhood Watch: poet J. Delys, the rap group Close Good featuring Aaliyah Bradshaw and Tay Bivens, actor T.L. Thompson, actor Troy Rocket, and director Shariffa Ali. And don't forget to follow @rogerq.mason and @lovell.holder on Instagram for all your Gayborhood updates -- and be sure to catch the filmed theater performance of The Duat, Roger's regional theater debut with the world famous Center Theater Group, streaming now until August 12, 2021, at https://www.centertheatregroup.org/digitalstage (https://www.centertheatregroup.org/digitalstage).

We're so excited to finally share our conversation with the brilliant actor Matthew Hancock, who is currently leading the charge back to theaters by starring in the West Coast premiere of the award-winning play An Octoroon at The Fountain Theatre. Yes, people: plays are back, and we couldn't be more thrilled to celebrate Matthew's tremendous success and commemorate this special occasion. Coming to us straight from preview performances, Matthew tells Roger and Lovell all about the demands of rehearsing a play behind masks, the protocols required to bring a live play (!) in person (!!) to audiences today, and why intimate theater in Los Angeles is more vital than ever. Recently spotlighted in the New York Times, this landmark production of An Octoroon (written by none other than Roger and Lovell's college classmate, the transcendent Branden Jacobs-Jenkins!) runs until September 19, 2021, so do not miss it! Go on Instagram to follow Matthew at @imatthewhancock, and learn everything you can about the folx highlighted in this week's Gayborhood Watch: civil rights icons Bayard Rustin and Marsha P. Johnson, activist Mariah Lopez, and John Imperato at the LGBT Center of Los Angeles. And don't forget to follow @rogerq.mason and @lovell.holder on Instagram for all your Gayborhood updates!

We've got none other than our very own musical genius David Gonzalez joining Roger to co-host the conversation with this week's incredibly special guest, film composer Jake Monaco. The brilliant mind behind the original scores to such recent star-studded features as Jennifer Aniston's Dumplin', Like a Boss with Tiffany Haddish and Rose Byrne, and of course the teen classic Struck By Lightning (produced by the Gayborhood's own Mia Chang), Jake chats with Roger and David all about his career and inspirations, and we couldn't be more grateful that he joined us as part of our Pride Month extravaganza. Go on Instagram to follow Jake at @jtmonaco, and learn everything you can about the folx highlighted in this week's Gayborhood Watch: director Steven Clay Hunter, director Bret Parker, and Frank-N-Furter / Tim Curry. And don't forget to follow @rogerq.mason and @lovell.holder on Instagram for all your Gayborhood updates!

While Lovell is filming in the Land of Blue Black Midnight, Roger sits down solo with Sean Abley and Bill Brochtrup, two of the creative forces behind Antaeus Theatre Company's podcast series The Zip Code Plays: Los Angeles. Now in Season 2, The Zip Code Plays investigate the tapestry of LA's sundry neighborhoods, and Sean has written a clever satirical episode devoted to none other than 90069: West Hollywood. Bill (who is not only Antaeus' Co-Artistic Director but also starred in the landmark drama NYPD Blue) joins actors Parnell Damone Marco and Anne Gee Byrd in this portrait of interracial gay couple confronting the "straight colonization" of WeHo. Get ready for a fun deep dive into the place where classical and contemporary storytelling collide and how we also wrestle with change, in our neighborhoods and our lives - especially while creating work in these twilight days of the pandemic. As soon as you finish this episode, go check out The Zip Code Plays wherever you listen to podcasts, and follow Sean at @seanabley and Bill at @billbrochtrup. Don't forget to check out all the folx mentioned in this week's Gayborhood Watch: F.W. Murnau and Mitchell Anderson. And be sure to follow @rogerqmason and @lovell.holder for all your Gayborhood updates!

Not even pre-production on a feature film and a regional theater debut could keep Roger and Lovell from chatting with these two iconic pioneers of the Los Angeles queer community! We're thrilled to welcome playwrights and performers Tony Abatemarco and Michael Kearns into the Gayborhood, and they come in hot with perhaps the best Joanne saga yet. After nurturing Roger's play Lavender Men in their roles as Co-Artistic Directors at Skylight Theatre, Tony and Michael have become dear friends and mentors to Roger and Lovell both, and it's a privilege to hear them speak about creating work during the AIDS epidemic in 1980s Los Angeles -- when Michael became the first Hollywood actor to announce he was HIV positive -- and how their lives and careers have marched onward ever since. Plus, we'll hear all about the challenges of self-publishing one's own work, and you'll definitely want to check out their respective anthologies of plays: Tony's Action/Items and Michael's Who's Afraid of Michael Kearns?  While Tony is not on Instagram, follow Michael at @michaelkearns1234, plus learn everything you can about the folx highlighted in this week's Gayborhood Watch: Oscar Wilde, Thornton Wilder, Billy Wilder, Dan McLeary (Tony's husband!), James Carroll Pickett, Robert Chesley, and Charles Pierce. And don't forget to follow @rogerq.mason and @lovell.holder on Instagram for all your Gayborhood updates!

This week Roger and Lovell are so honored to meet the incredible creative team of Lexie Bean (author of the groundbreaking and award-winning novel The Ship We Built and editor of the anthology Written on the Body, a Lambda Literary Award finalist) and Logan Rozos (rising star of the Peabody Award-winning series David Makes Man and the brilliant voice behind the audiobook of new TGNC classic Felix Ever After). Logan and Lexie are about to begin filming their powerful documentary project What Will I Become?, which chronicles the stories of three young trans men who lost their lives to suicide: Blake Brockington, Andrew Martinez, and Kyler Prescott. We could not be more grateful that Lexie and Logan took the time out of their busy pre-production schedule to discuss the film with us, and we encourage all our listeners to go support this special endeavor via their fundraising page on Fractured Atlas: https://fundraising.fracturedatlas.org/what-will-i-become (https://fundraising.fracturedatlas.org/what-will-i-become). Logan also speaks about his work with the Parity organization to bridge the gaps between various faiths and the LGBT community, and Lexie discusses their role as a member of the National Leadership Council of RAINN (Rape, Abuse, and Incest National Network). These two extraordinary young people are definitely going to be names you'll be hearing for decades to come, so now's the time to start learning all about them! Plus we'll discover more than we ever wanted to know about the elusive Joanne's gremlin antics - and you'll hear Roger perform the Gayborhood's first exorcism... Go on Instagram to follow Lexie at @itssk8nite, Logan at @loganrozos, and their documentary at @whatwillibecome_doc, plus learn everything you can about the folx highlighted in this week's Gayborhood Watch: Blake Brockington, Andrew Martinez, Kyler Prescott, Travis Coles, Drew Dickler, and the podcast Maintenance Phase. And don't forget to follow @rogerq.mason and @lovell.holder on Instagram for all your Gayborhood updates!

Get ready for brilliant creator and effervescent clown Lola Kelly to unlock a whole secret garden in the Gayborhood! The director of some of LA's most acclaimed immersive theater experiences, Lola goes deep with Roger and Lovell on everything from theater history and silent clown work to the fascinating connections between identity, gender, and flowers. Trust us when we say you'll never look at bougainvillea the same way again, and Lola's story of their journey toward understanding their own gender fluidity is certainly one of the most moving stories we've gotten to hear in the Gayborhood, so you are in for a treat this week. Go on Instagram to follow Lola at @lohlala, and learn everything you can about the folx highlighted in this week's Gayborhood Watch: botanist Jeanne Baret, model Munroe Bergdorf, and model Elliott Sailors. And don't forget to follow @rogerq.mason and @lovell.holder on Instagram for all your Gayborhood updates!

We could not let Adam Hyndman out of the Gayborhood without his own spotlight episode! Fresh off his Tony nomination and Drama Desk Award win as a co-producer of Broadway's The Inheritance, Adam sits down for a "power lunch" with frequent collaborators Roger and Lovell to reflect on his leap from Broadway performer to producer. After an acting career that's included appearances in Aladdin, Once on this Island, and Hadestown, Adam has begun a thrilling chapter in his activist work that includes a major leadership role on the Board of Directors for Broadway for Racial Justice, while additionally serving as a guest teaching artist at Princeton University. Plus, we get to hear Adam's extraordinary romantic advice and we celebrate the premiere of the new hit CW show Kung Fu, which stars Adam's husband, Brad Gibson! Go on Instagram to follow Adam at @adam_hyndman, and learn everything you can about the folx highlighted in this week's Gayborhood Watch: musician India.Arie, producing organization The Industry Standard Group, and (we can't get enough of this show!) Kung Fu. And don't forget to follow @rogerq.mason and @lovell.holder on Instagram for all your Gayborhood updates!

We are honored to host this very special conversation between some of the most thoughtful and inspiring people currently leading the movement toward AAPI equality in America. Following the March murders in Atlanta and the heightened increase of violence against the AAPI community, the Gayborhood team felt a responsibility to stand in solidarity and join this dialogue. Alongside Roger, we're proud to welcome Broadway actor, producer, and activist Adam Hyndman (Aladdin, Once on this Island, Hadestown, and a current Tony nominee for The Inheritance); artist, voice coach, and speech language pathologist Ruth Coughlin Lencowski; and actor and producer Brian Yang (Westworld, Hawaii 5-0, Sundance documentary Linsanity, and the upcoming projects The Little Prince(ss) for Disney+ and Snakehead), who also served as the West Coast Regional Fundraiser Director of the Andrew Yang 2020 Presidential Campaign. Our panel discusses everything from their personal definitions of AAPI identity, their families' generational relationships to America, and their hopes for the future regarding how the AAPI community is depicted in the media. PS We also couldn't be more thrilled to count Brian and Ruth as our first ally guests on the podcast! Go on Instagram to follow Adam at @adam_hyndman, Ruth at @babiruth, and Brian at @briflys, and learn everything you can about the AAPI organizations highlighted in this week's Gayborhood Watch: Heart of Dinner (founded by the Gayborhood's own Yin Chang and Moonlynn Tsai!), ZAPI Artists, GoFundMe's "Stop AAPI Hate" network, East West Players, and Leviathan Lab. And don't forget to follow @rogerq.mason and @lovell.holder on Instagram for all your Gayborhood updates!

There was no better guest to commemorate Easter weekend in the Gayborhood than the extraordinary Larry Powell. After originating roles in some of the most popular new American plays of the last decade, including The Christians, The Legend of Georgia McBride, and Father Comes Home from the Wars, we are thrilled to chat with Larry to learn about the journey that led him to create his own award-winning play (and now an acclaimed series!) The Gaze ...No Homo. We're also honored to hear all about Larry's experiences as an activist in Louisville on behalf of Breonna Taylor and about his spiritual identity too. A shining beacon of warmth, grace, and generosity, get ready to embrace the "Powell of Love!" Go on Instagram to follow Larry at @powellplease and The Gaze at @thegazeseries, and learn everything you can about the folx highlighted by Larry in this week's Gayborhood Watch: Galen J. Williams, Kenneth Lee Roberson, and Danny Johnson. And don't forget to follow @rogerq.mason and @lovell.holder on Instagram for all your Gayborhood updates!

It is a true honor to welcome L Morgan Lee, the Obie-winning star of the instantly iconic show A Strange Loop, to join us in the Gayborhood. The first trans performer to originate a lead role in a Pulitzer-winning play and a Lucille Lortel Award nominee, L Morgan is a beacon of grace and kindness, and we could not be more thrilled to hear all about her upcoming digital theater piece at New York's famed Ars Nova, The Women (2021), and her new talk show, The Circle. We're so grateful to hear L Morgan's reflections on the last year of the pandemic and her endeavors for reform within the Broadway community, as well as looking ahead to all the work that remains to be done. Go on Instagram to follow L Morgan at @lmorganlee, and learn everything you can about the folx highlighted by L Morgan in this week's Gayborhood Watch: the producing group Legacy - Black Queer People of Color, the Future Perfect Project organization, and the creative team behind the upcoming musical adaptation of The Danish Girl, Alex Parker and Katie Lam. Don't forget to follow @rogerq.mason and @lovell.holder on Instagram for all your Gayborhood updates -- and stay tuned for the blooper reel at the end of the episode!

On this special pandemi-versary commemorating one year of quarantine life, we are having a fantastic crossover episode with Claire Thornton and William Keiser, the hosts of the awesome LGBT-driven podcast Queers and Careers. Our youngest guests yet, William and Claire open up about entering the professional world in the fleeting 9 months before lockdown, how the pandemic has affected their respective career goals in the worlds of journalism and choreography, and the nuances of navigating the D.C. queer scene. Get ready for an inspiring, galvanizing, and charming conversation with this dynamic duo, who are now officially the Gayborhood's favorite self-proclaimed "threat" and "brat"! Go on Instagram to follow Claire at @claire_thornton, William at @keiserwilhem, and their podcast at @queersandcareers. Plus, learn everything you can about the folx highlighted by William and Claire in this week's Gayborhood Watch: Claire shouts out USA Today journalists Noah Rosenzweig, Sammy Gibbons, and Petruce Jean-Charles, and William spotlights singer-actor Nathan Phan, actor Justin Sansone, and dancer Camila Arana. Don't forget to follow @rogerq.mason and @lovell.holder on Instagram for all your Gayborhood updates!

While Lovell is away, special co-host and former Gayborhood guest Heather Rae Martin joins Roger to interview media maven and author Sesali Bowen. An accomplished journalist, Sesali is a former editor of Feministing, the former senior entertainment editor at Nylon Magazine, and her upcoming memoir Notes from a Trap Feminist: A Manifesto for the Bad Bitch Generation is about to hit a bookstore near you this fall. Sesali, Heather, and Roger dive deep into a variety of topics, including the definition of an artist, zodiac signs, fatphobia, Brickhouse Commodores, and the power of trap feminism. Go on Instagram to follow Sesali at @badfatblackgirl and Heather at @hrae013, and learn everything you can about the folx highlighted by Sesali in this week's Gayborhood Watch: Amber J. Phillips, Ts Madison, and Sesali's own mom.  Be sure to check out Sesali's podcast Purse First too, and don't forget to follow @rogerq.mason and @lovell.holder on Instagram for all your Gayborhood updates.

Roger and Lovell are beyond delighted to catch up with their dear friend and collaborator Rick Cosnett! Star of such hit shows as The Vampire Diaries, Quantico, and The Flash, Rick provides a brilliant insight into working as a queer actor in network television. We also cover everything from Rick's schoolboy days in Zimbabwe to his current efforts on behalf of anti-racism. Plus, we proudly celebrate and salute the one-year anniversary of Rick's official coming out to the entertainment industry! Go follow Rick on Instagram at @rickcosnett, and learn everything you can about the folx highlighted by Rick in this week's Gayborhood Watch: Doug Middlebrook, Keiynan Lonsdale, and (the Gayborhood's own recent guest!) Ryan J. Haddad.  And don't forget to follow @rogerq.mason and @lovell.holder on Instagram for all your Gayborhood updates.

Ladies, gentlemen, and molls too: we are back for Season Two! Roger and Lovell return for a brand new conversation with the tremendous writer-performer Ryan J. Haddad. Fresh off his second season starring on Netflix's hit satire The Politician, Ryan joins us to chat all about the journey of his creative process as a writer and actor, which has culminated in the current digital theater presentation of his acclaimed solo show Hi, Are You Single?. Available until February 28, 2021 via the famed Woolly Mammoth Theater Company (http://woollyondemand.net/ (woollyondemand.net)) and IAMA Theater Company, the show documents Ryan's inimitable dating life as a Lebanese gay man who has cerebral palsy. Ryan's thoughtful and generous perspectives on love, loneliness, and loss are not to be missed! Go watch Hi, Are You Single?, follow Ryan on Instagram at @ryanjhaddad, and learn everything you can about the solo performers highlighted by Ryan in this week's Gayborhood Watch: Diana Oh, Daniel Alexander Jones, and Becca Blackwell.  And don't forget to follow @rogerq.mason and @lovell.holder on Instagram for all your Gayborhood updates.

Today it's just family for our Gayborhood Holiday Party! The podcast's own guardian angels, our Executive Producer Mia Chang Dreiling and Composer/Sound Engineer David Gonzalez (and even... is that Joanne?!), swing by for a little festive cheer and to reflect on what we've learned producing Sister Roger's Gayborhood so far in these wild 2020 days. Mia's feature producing work includes Struck By Lightning, Some Freaks, and Robin Williams' final film Boulevard, and David has scored music for everything from Working Man to Roger's current digital theater piece Breathe, so they bring tons of experience and warmth to the podcast every week. This is our last episode of 2020, but we can't wait to share new episodes and conversations with the Gayborhood in February 2021! Stay tuned, and until then follow Mia and David on Instagram at @miachanger and @dgonzalezmusic, and go learn everything you can about the figures highlighted by everyone in this week's Gayborhood Watch: comic powerhouses Margaret Cho, Bowen Yang, and Joel Kim Booster; composers Benjamin Britten, Samuel Barber, Aaron Copland, and maybe Tchaikovsky (spread the rumors!); rising star director Ellie Gravitte, actor Nathan Pham, and "Queers and Careers" podcast hosts William Keiser and Claire Thornton; pioneering comedienne Moms Mabley, novelist Kacen Callender, and playwright Yilong Liu.  And don't forget to follow @rogerq.mason and @lovell.holder on Instagram for all your Gayborhood updates.

It's a wonderful day in the Gayborhood as filmmaker and TV mastermind Brian Dannelly joins us to talk all about his current projects and past successes. The brilliant mind behind the iconic cult films Saved! and Struck by Lightning(produced by our very own Mia Chang!), Brian has carved out a phenomenal TV directing career that includes landmark shows like Weeds, United States of Tara, Pushing Daisies, Sweet Vicious, and the recent CW sleeper hit In the Dark, on which he serves as Executive Producer and Producing Director. With a powerful, intimate conversation that ranges from the art of being a student to the challenges of both health and romantic journeys, Brian truly proves that he is the definition of generosity and candor. Follow Brian on Instagram at @bpdannelly, and go learn everything you can about the figures highlighted by Brian in this week's Gayborhood Watch: comedian Zach Noe Towers, actor Miles McKenna, and the genderfluid character Gudrun from Brian's own upcoming AMC animated series Humperdinck.  And don't forget to follow @rogerq.mason and @lovell.holder on Instagram for all your Gayborhood updates.

"So you have a body and you want to move?" Well, then there couldn't be a better time to meet Jose Richard Aviles! A prolific poet and choreographer who has found fascinating ways to marry their creativity with meaningful initiatives in both urban planning and social work, Jose joins Roger and Lovell to share about their journey from South Central LA to the Midwest and back. Hilarious and vivacious, Jose also provides some powerful insights into Thanksgiving that we all need to hear as we embark on our holidays this year. Follow Jose on Instagram at @soynalgona, and go learn everything you can about the figures highlighted by Jose in this week's Gayborhood Watch: La Más Draga, Pepe y Teo, and Memo Reyri.  And don't forget to follow @rogerq.mason and @lovell.holder on Instagram for all your Gayborhood updates.

The awe-inspiring "actorvist" Ianne Fields Stewart arrives in the Gayborhood just in time for the holiday season to discuss her brand new Netflix show Dash & Lily! Ianne shares all about how the last year hasn't just accelerated her acting career - including memorable roles in Freeform's The Bold Type and the Emmy-winning Pose - but how it's catapulted her landmark non-profit The Okra Project to the forefront of the current civil rights movement. Focused on bringing food and unity to the Black Trans community worldwide, The Okra Project has now raised more than $100,000 and you can find out how you can support and donate to this remarkable initiative at http://theokraproject.com/ (theokraproject.com). Follow Ianne on Instagram at @thefreeactorvist and @theokraproject, and go learn everything you can about the figures highlighted by Ianne in this week's Gayborhood Watch: Peaches, Janet Mock, Asanni York of For The Gworls, Devin Michael Lowe, Jordan J, Mojo Disco, Gia Love, Morticia Godiva, Aaryn Lang, Fatima Jamal, Ceyenne Doroshow, and of course the Black Trans folx in your own life. And don't forget to follow @rogerq.mason and @lovell.holder on Instagram for all your Gayborhood updates, including Roger's upcoming tribute online via The Fire This Time Festival (which will feature Ianne!), on 11/24 at 8 pm EST. 

The extraordinary and inspiring Jacob Candelaria, the Democratic State Senator for New Mexico's 26th District, arrives in the Gayborhood to join Roger and Lovell for a special episode commemorating Election Week 2020. What we couldn't have known when we first scheduled Jacob's interview a month in advance was that - a week before recording this conversation - he and his family would receive credible death threats for political statements that Jacob had made regarding the COVID-19 pandemic. What ensues is a powerful, challenging, and intimate conversation about race, hate crimes, law enforcement, body image, and political agency for the queer and POC communities within contemporary America. We at the Gayborhood could not be more grateful to Jacob for his honesty and candor in sharing his life with us - he's officially our resident "civic freedom artist." Follow @jacobcandelaria on Instagram and go learn everything you can about the figures highlighted by Jacob in this week's Gayborhood Watch: land activist Miguel Tijerina, artist Georgia O'Keeffe, and the Pueblo of Acoma. Also a special shout-out to the queer folx elected to public office this week, including but not limited to: Christy Holstege, David Ortiz, Tiara Mack, Brittney Barreras, Roger Montoya, Sarah McBride, Ritchie Torres, Mondaire Jones, Charmaine McGuffey, Stephanie Byers, Mauree Turner, Torrey Harris, Eddie Mannis, Susan Eggman, and Jessica Benham -- plus the State of Nevada, for becoming the first state to protect same-sex marriage in its constitution! And don't forget to follow @rogerq.mason and @lovell.holder on Instagram for all your Gayborhood updates!

What better way to ring in election week than with some pure joy? We are so grateful to welcome ONCH, the founder and designer of the legendary jewelry house, ONCH. Fusing pop art, celebrity, and fun into whimsical, delicious, dramatic gems, ONCH has famously been showcased at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, collaborated with signature brands (think Dreamworks, Forever 21, Sanrio's "Hello, Kitty!"), and united with such pop icons as Nicki Minaj, Kim Kardashian, Kate Moss, and his own longtime reality TV BFF Paris Hilton. Join Roger and Lovell to hear all about the "invention of ONCH," and be prepared to meet one of the kindest, most creative souls ever. Follow @onch for all updates and visit http://www.onch.us/ (www.onch.us) to learn how to get these singular looks for yourself! Plus, go learn everything you can about the people highlighted by ONCH in this week's Gayborhood Watch: cartoon classic Captain Planet, street artist Keith Haring, and media maven Perez Hilton. And don't forget to follow @rogerq.mason and @lovell.holder on Instagram for all your Gayborhood updates!

A genuine legend is officially in the Gayborhood! We are over the moon to welcome the iconic Miss Peppermint to the show to chat all about her journey to create her stunning new album, A Girl Like Me: Letters To My Lovers. From her ascension through the world's drag and nightlife scenes to her classic tenure on the Emmy-winning RuPaul's Drag Race to her history-making performance as the first trans performer to originate a lead role on Broadway in Head Over Heels, Peppermint is here to recount all her triumphs and the hard work required to build her career. Be sure to find her album on iTunes and go to her IG @peppermint247 to learn more about her activism work with Black Queer Town Hall and current virtual performance schedule (including her Twitch show Pepp Talks!). Plus, go learn everything you can about the people highlighted in this week's Gayborhood Watch: Shea Diamond, Prince, and Audre Lorde. And don't forget to follow @rogerq.mason and @lovell.holder on Instagram for all your Gayborhood updates! Peppermint's newly released song BEST SEX is included in the episode. Enjoy!

Heather Rae Martin, director at Sinios Health, joins the Gayborhood to provide a window into her life of strategic management consulting in the "Pharma Corridor," working with biotech, life sciences, and medical device companies. Heather's insights into how to provide possibility models for young queer people of color in corporate America could not be more important to hear - and get ready for some priceless memories of Heather and Roger's time swapping clothes as college kids! After you listen to the episode, follow Heather on Instagram at @hrae013, and go learn everything you can about the people highlighted in this week's Gayborhood Watch: Blendoor founder Stephanie Lampkin, "It's About Damn Time" author Arlan Hamilton, LinkedIn exec Rosanna Durruthy, and rising star MBA student Kneisha McClinton. And don't forget to follow @rogerq.mason and @lovell.holder on Instagram for all your Gayborhood updates!

The Gayborhood is thrilled to welcome the incredible Alex Bisignano to speak to us about the world of genetic testing. Co-Founder and CEO of Phosphorus, Alex tells Roger and Lovell all about how his company has revolutionized preventative genetics in addition to democratizing coronavirus testing during the COVID-19 pandemic. Plus, get ready to hear all about the best anime out there - and how Alex once tried to save Lovell's life on a ski trip gone awry! After you listen to the episode, follow Alex on Instagram at @alexbiz and his company at http://phosphorus.com/ (phosphorus.com), and go learn everything you can about the people highlighted in this week's Gayborhood Watch: Alan Turing and Kakashi Sensei in the manga Naruto. And don't forget to follow @rogerq.mason and @lovell.holder on Instagram for all your Gayborhood updates!

Acclaimed essayist and non-fiction writer Jordan Kisner (the recently released book Thin Places: Essays from In Between) reunites with her college classmates Roger and Lovell to discuss how she crossed the threshold from the world of acting to carve out a thriving and vibrant writing career. Published in The New York Times Magazine, The Atlantic, The Paris Review, and The Guardian, Jordan opens up in detail about her writing process, and her insights into creativity are something no one in the Gayborhood should miss. Visit http://jordankisner.com/ (jordankisner.com) and her Instagram @jordan.kisner to learn more about her breathtaking book, and don't miss her amazing podcast Thresholds for more of her powerful and brilliant thoughts. After you listen to the episode, go learn everything you can about the people highlighted in this week's Gayborhood Watch: poet Natalie Diaz, author Melissa Febos, and musician Dua Saleh. And don't forget to follow @rogerq.mason and @lovell.holder on Instagram for all your Gayborhood updates!

Yin Chang (founder of the charity Heart of Dinner, host of acclaimed literary podcast 88 Cups of Tea, and of course the unforgettable "Nelly Yuki" on Gossip Girl) and Moonlynn Tsai (restauranteur, most recently opening Manhattan's James Beard-nominated Malaysian culinary destination Kopitiam) visit the Gayborhood to share all about their #LovingChinatown initiative, which has brought more than 25,000 free meals to the elderly Asian-American community in New York since the COVID-19 pandemic began. Plus, you won't want to miss one of the best Burning Man stories you'll ever hear! Visit @heartofdinner on Instagram to learn how you too can get involved no matter where you live in the Gayborhood, and follow @yin.i.am and @moonlynntsai to learn more about all their many endeavors across the culinary, philanthropic, and entertainment worlds. After you listen to the episode, go learn everything you can about the people highlighted in this week's Gayborhood Watch: Moonlynn's tributes to Angela Dimayuga, Anita Lo, and Mulan, plus Yin's "two for one special" of iconic couples... Elizabeth Gilbert & Rayya Elias, Maria Bello & Dominique Crenn, and Abby Wambach & Glennon Doyle . And don't forget to follow @rogerq.mason and @lovell.holder on Instagram for all your Gayborhood updates!

Actor-singer-dancer-producer extraordinaire Garrett Clayton (star of everything from Disney's Teen Beach Movie series to NBC's Hairspray Live! to the iconic queer drama King Cobra) sits down with Roger and Lovell to talk about his Detroit roots, a virtual life of cabaret, and how he's striving to redefine the "diva"! Stay up to date with all of Garrett's performances and activism work on Instagram and Twitter at @garrettclayton1, on TikTok at @garrettclayton91, and don't miss his fantastic new YouTube series "A Gay in the Life."  After you listen to the episode, go learn everything you can about the people highlighted in this week's Gayborhood Watch: Queen, Tracy Chapman, and Tim Curry. And don't forget to follow @rogerq.mason and @lovell.holder on Instagram for all your Gayborhood updates!

Best friends and long-time collaborators Roger Q. Mason (the Kilroy Listed play Lavender Men, The White Dress) and Lovell Holder (feature films Working Man, Some Freaks) are here to introduce you to some of their favorite and most influential LGBT folx from across industries and identities. Get ready to meet the self-proclaimed "showgirl who writes" and "holder of love" as they begin their tour through the Gayborhood to learn how their guests' queer identities and connections to community have informed and guided their careers, goals, and professional lives.  After you listen to the episode, go learn everything you can about the people highlighted in this week's Gayborhood Watch: Keyon Monte, Julius Powell, Nico Fife, E.M. Forster, Erika Jayne Girardi, and the late Chi Chi DeVayne. And don't forget to follow @rogerq.mason and @lovell.holder on Instagram for all your Gayborhood updates!