BFF Kathy Tu and Tobin Low are super queer, super fun and ready to take over your podcast feed. Join them for provocative stories and frank conversations about the LGBTQ experience today. Because everyone’s a little bit gay. WNYC Studios is a listener-supported producer of other podcasts including Radiolab, Death, Sex & Money, Snap Judgment, On the Media, Here’s the Thing with Alec Baldwin and many others.
Nancy Was Here
Team Nancy takes a final stroll down memory lane.
Check out our open-sourced Queer Podcasts spreadsheet for more queer shows. To get you started, check out Afroqueer, History is Gay, LGBTQ&A, Flyest Fables, Making Gay History, Gender Reveal, and If These Ovaries Could Talk.
Music in this episode by Jeremy S. Bloom, Josh Woodward (Once Tomorrow, Border Blaster), and Albert Behar. Theme by Alexander Overington.
6/29/2020 • 36 minutes, 59 seconds
All the Fine Girls Be There
This week, we dive into the world of an underground Black lesbian strip club in Los Angeles.
— You can watch Shakedown at shakedown.film and The Criterion Channel.
— Leilah Weinraub is a filmmaker and artist. Ronnie D. Ron is the founder of Shakedown. Egypt Blaque Knyle is a social worker and renowned burlesque dancer.
Special thanks this week to Tracie Hunte.
Music in this episode by Jeremy S. Bloom. Theme by Alexander Overington.
6/22/2020 • 26 minutes, 59 seconds
Black Trans Lives Matter
Imara Jones joins us to talk about creating a truly inclusive Black Lives Matter movement, and getting back to the roots of Pride.
— Imara Jones is an award-winning journalist, and the creator of TransLash, a multi-episode series about what it is like to be transgender, especially a trans person of color, at a time of social backlash.
Resources:
— Trans Lifeline - Trans Lifeline is a grassroots hotline offering direct emotional and financial support to trans people in crisis - for the trans community, by the trans community.
— The Okra Project - The Okra Project is a collective that seeks to address the global crisis faced by Black Trans people by bringing home-cooked, healthy, and culturally specific meals and resources to Black Trans People wherever we can reach them.
— The Transgender District - The mission of the Transgender District is to create an urban environment that fosters the rich history, culture, legacy, and empowerment of transgender people and its deep roots in the southeastern Tenderloin neighborhood.
— Trans Justice Funding Project - The Trans Justice Funding Project is a community-led funding initiative founded in 2012 to support grassroots, trans justice groups run by and for trans people.
Music in this episode by Jeremy S. Bloom and Josh Woodward ("20/20"). Theme by Alexander Overington.
6/11/2020 • 19 minutes, 26 seconds
Samantha Irby + Brandon Taylor
It's a book filled episode as Tobin and Kathy chat with authors Samantha Irby and Brandon Taylor.
— Samantha Irby is the author of Wow, No Thank You., as well as Meaty, We Are Never Meeting in Real Life., and New Year, Same Trash.
— Brandon Taylor is the author of Real Life.
— Matt Ortile is the author of The Groom Will Keep His Name.
— Rachel Matlow is the author of Dead Mom Walking: A Memoir Of Miracle Cures And Other Disasters.
— Meredith Talusan is the author of Fairest.
— Alok Vaid-Menon is the author of Beyond the Gender Binary.
— Kacen Callender is the author of Felix Ever After, as well as other books.
Music in this episode by Jeremy S. Bloom, Albert Behar, Alexander Overington, & Kevin MacLeod ("Slow Burn"). Theme by Alexander Overington.
6/1/2020 • 35 minutes, 35 seconds
Carmen Maria Machado's Queer Horror Stories
Carmen Maria Machado joins us to talk queer horror stories, writing about pandemics, and the conversation we as queer people should be having more often.
If you or someone you know is experiencing intimate partner violence, contact The National Domestic Violence Hotline. The National Coalition Against Domestic Violence has more info on LGBTQ intimate partner violence statistics here.
Music in this episode by Jeremy S. Bloom. Theme by Alexander Overington.
5/18/2020 • 24 minutes, 9 seconds
InvestiGAYtions!
Iced coffee and bi chairs and glory holes, oh my!
Music in this episode by Jeremy S. Bloom, Alexander Overington, and Albert Behar ("Pizzicato Playground"). Theme by Alexander Overington.
CORRECTION: A previous version of this episode misidentified Lady Gaga as straight. She is bisexual.
5/4/2020 • 30 minutes, 55 seconds
Make Australia Gay Again
It's our 100th episode! And for this special occasion, Nancy sound designer Jeremy Bloom goes on a quest to find the truth behind a mysterious gay and lesbian island kingdom.
— Bruce Hecht is the owner of the Champion Stamp Company in New York City.
— Derek Adam Thomas makes videos about micro-nations and the fun things they get up to.
— Dennis Altman an academic and gay rights activist. He is the author of over 20 books including Homosexual Liberation & Oppression and Unrequited Love.
— Nick Henderson is a curator for the Australian Lesbian and Gay Archives.
— William Jackson Freeman is the former Lord Chancellor of the Gay and Lesbian Kingdom of the Coral Sea Islands.
— Dale Parker Anderson I is the former Emperor of the Gay and Lesbian Kingdom of the Coral Sea Islands.
— Voiceovers by Rosa Gollan.
— Episode image courtesy of Glen Stephens.
Special thanks this week to the other Dale Parker Anderson, Sabrina Lipovic (Archives researcher for the Australian Broadcasting Corporation), Oley Media Group, Emperor George Cruckshank II, Viktor Zimmerman (Gay Homeland Foundation), Simon Sellers & George Dunford (Authors of the Lonely Planet Guide to Micronations), Judy Lattas, Jody Shapiro, Glen Stephens, Paul Poet, Bob Jervis, Don Green, James "Jaix" Brooks, the former members of the of the Gay and Lesbian Kingdom of the Coral Sea Islands.
Music in this episode by Jeremy S. Bloom, Albert Behar, Sergey Cheremisinov ("Fog"), and Kevin MacLeod ("Bridal Chorus" & "I Knew A Guy"). Theme by Alexander Overington.
4/20/2020 • 37 minutes
Give Me A Sign
Note: This episode includes a story that mentions suicide.
At the age of 61, Richard was searching for a boyfriend. But finding love was about more than just getting past the trials of dating. There was also Peter.
— Other Men Need Help is a bi-weekly podcast about the emblems, habits, and struts in the male performance. You can listen to their original episode featuring Richard's story, "Boy Talk", from their first season. Their staff includes Lead Producer Caitlin Mae Burke, and producers Ben Goldberg and Rebecca Seidel.
— Mark Pagán is the host of Other Men Need Help. He's also an award-winning film and podcast producer, storyteller, writer, educator, and former b-boy.
— Richard Cardillo is an educator and storyteller whose work has been featured on The Moth, Story Collider, and RISK!
If you or someone you know is having suicidal thoughts, call the National Suicide Prevention Hotline at 1-800-273-8255. The Trevor Project also has LGBTQ specific resources. The TrevorLifeline is at 1-866-488-7386.
Music in this episode by Jeremy S. Bloom, Kyle Sanna, & Gangi ("Proton Beat"). Theme by Alexander Overington.
4/6/2020 • 28 minutes, 42 seconds
Nancy Checks In
We understand that this is a really scary time for all of us right now. And in times like these, it's important to check-in on each other. So that's what Team Nancy did.
— SAGE is the country's largest and oldest organization dedicated to improving the lives of LGBT older adults.
— Ariana Martinez in an artist and audio producer.
— Eric Silverberg and Todd Sowers are the CEO and COO, respectively, of Perry Street Software (makers of SCRUFF and Jack'd).
— Sex and Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Guide by New York City's Department of Health.
— Club Quarantine is on Instagram "every night of the quarantine. 21:00-00:00 ET on zoom app."
Music in this episode by Jeremy Bloom, Nilhore ("Crux"), and Rest You Sleeping Giant ("Light Lab"). Theme by Alexander Overington.
3/27/2020 • 31 minutes, 16 seconds
Chella Man + Rebecca Sugar
A distraction for those of you who need it: We talk to activist and YouTuber Chella Man as well as Steven Universe creator Rebecca Sugar about what it's like to evolve in the public eye.
— Chella Man is an artist, actor, and activist, who can be seen on the DC Universe series Titans.
— Rebecca Sugar is the creator of Steven Universe.
Music in this episode by Jeremy Bloom and Boxcat Games ("Mr Fox Shop" & "Inspiration"). Theme by Alexander Overington.
3/23/2020 • 45 minutes, 2 seconds
Dress of Choice
Nancy is back! And we're diving into the taffeta-covered world of kids who do drag.
— Desmond is Amazing is a 12-year-old drag kid, LGBTQ advocate, and founder of their own drag house: the Haus of Amazing.
— Ophelia Peaches is a 15-year-old drag kid, LGBTQ advocate, and emcee.
— Jessica L'Whor is a Denver-based drag queen.
Music in this episode by Jeremy Bloom, Albert Behar, Alexander Overington, Anamorphic Orchestra ("Creature Comforts"), Broke for Free ("Calm the Fuck Down"). Theme by Alexander Overington.
3/9/2020 • 46 minutes, 4 seconds
The L Word is Back
A decade after The L Word ended, The L Word: Generation Q is finally here, so this week we're revisiting the time Kathy watched the original series.
— Cameron Esposito is an actor, comedian, and producer.
— Sarah Shahi, Erin Daniels, and Mia Kirshner played Carmen, Dana, and Jenny on The L Word. Ilene Chaiken was the show's co-creator and executive producer.
— Leisha Hailey and Kate Moennig reprised their roles as Alice and Kate in The L Word: Generation Q.
Special thanks to Cassie Sercia and Autostraddle's Riese Bernard.
Music in this episode by Jeremy Bloom with additional music by Kai Engel ("Seeker") and Lawrence Grey ("The St Marks Shake"). Theme by Alexander Overington.
1/13/2020 • 31 minutes, 55 seconds
It's Mother Fudging BD Wong!
Consider this episode a gift to start your 2020 off RIGHT: It’s our conversation with the one-and-only BD Wong. Dreams do come true.
— BD Wong is an actor known for such roles as Dr. George Huang on Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, Dr. Henry Wu in the Jurassic Park films, and most recently as Whiterose on Mr. Robot. He won a Tony Award for his role in David Henry Hwang’s M. Butterfly, and has a starring role in the upcoming series, Awkwafina is Nora from Queens.
Music in this episode by Jeremy Bloom. Additional music and theme by Alexander Overington.
1/6/2020 • 29 minutes, 41 seconds
Chani Nicholas + Joel Kim Booster
Our holiday gift to you: Chani Nicholas and Joel Kim Booster (our conversation with them, that is, not the actual people...though we wish we could)!
— Chani Nicholas is an astrologer and the author of the upcoming book, You Were Born For This: Astrology for Radical Self-Acceptance.
— Joel Kim Booster is an LA-based comedian and writer, and he is currently starring in Sunnyside.
Music in this episode by Jeremy Bloom. Additional music by Alexander Overington & Broke for Free ("The Great"). Theme by Alex Overington.
12/30/2019 • 36 minutes, 38 seconds
What Do We Have in Common?
For the 50th anniversary of the Stonewall uprising, we talk about what actually happened and where we go from here.
— Marc Stein is a historian at San Francisco State University.
— Karla Jay is an author, activist, and Professor Emeritus at Pace University.
— Raquel Willis is the Executive Editor at Out Magazine.
Music in this episode by Jeremy Bloom, Mystery Mammal ("Relay"), and Little Glass Men ("Sector Vector"). Theme by Alexander Overington.
6/24/2019 • 28 minutes, 34 seconds
When They Win
When Andraya Yearwood runs against her competition, people pay attention — whether she wants them to or not.
— Katie Barnes is a reporter for ESPNW and espn.com.
Music in this episode by Jeremy Bloom, Benedek ("Cruzin'"), Anamorphic Orchestra ("Signs of Life"), Andy G. Cohen ("A Perceptible Shift"), and Kai Engel ("Headway"). Theme by Alexander Overington.
6/17/2019 • 24 minutes, 53 seconds
The Day of Epiphany
It’s a moment of reckoning for many members of the United Methodist Church, and after 25 years as a United Methodist pastor, Cynthia Meyer found herself with a decision to make.
Music in this episode by Jeremy Bloom, Andy G. Cohen ("Land Legs"), Axletree ("Goodnight Esme Instrumental" and "Dragon Country Apple Clove Instrumental"), Josh Woodward ("Border Blaster Instrumental"), Little Glass Men ("Procreation"), and Kai Engel ("Mare"). Theme by Alexander Overington.
6/10/2019 • 30 minutes, 26 seconds
Sex Educated
Good sex ed can be life-changing. But getting access to it often entails a fight.
— The “Our Whole Lives” program was created in partnership between the United Church of Christ and the Unitarian Universalist Association.
— Matt Bloom is a reporter for NPR affiliate station KUNC in Colorado. He's also worked at stations in Los Angeles and Bloomington, Indiana. You can follow his reporting on Twitter @matthew_bloom or find more work at mattbloomwrites.me.
Music in this episode by Jeremy Bloom, Marco Trovatello ("Haunty Fourstroke"), Nctrnm ("Tethered"), Meydan ("Elk"), Against Me! (Transgender Dysphoria Blues), Kai Engel ("Cold War Echo"), and Josh Woodward ("Show Me (Instrumental Version)"). Theme by Alexander Overington.
6/3/2019 • 28 minutes, 17 seconds
Taiwan!
Note: this is a rerun of a previous episode.
Traveling to Taiwan with her mom, Kathy imagines the life she might have lived had her family stayed.
Kathy's mom previously appeared on Nancy in the episodes "Hello hello" and "Kathy's Mom is Uncomfortable With All This."
— Guo Mama is a volunteer at the Taiwan Tongzhi Hotline Association in Taipei.
— Li Te-Yun (Nan Gua) is a singer-songwriter in Taiwan.
Special thanks to Andrew Ryan, a host and producer with Radio Taiwan International.
Music in this episode by Jeremy Bloom, Art of Escapism ("Done with Disco"), Uncan ("Unbroken"), and Little Glass Men ("Cloud Launching").
5/27/2019 • 36 minutes, 5 seconds
When Tobin Met Kathy
This week, Nancy is live and talking romcoms, meet-cutes, and weddings...with special guest Daniel K. Isaac!
— Daniel K. Isaac stars on Billions as Ben Kim and recently guest starred on The Other Two as Jeremy.
— Daniel was also recently on an episode of Death, Sex, and Money.
Music in this episode by Jeremy Bloom. Theme by Alexander Overington.
5/20/2019 • 30 minutes, 15 seconds
100% Science, 100% Magic
On a grey, Wisconsin day two years ago, Kristin Russo's life changed forever.
— Kristin Russo is a writer, speaker, educator, and consultant with a focus on LGBTQ issues. She is CEO of the website My Kid Is Gay and co-authored This is a Book for Parents of Gay Kids. She also co-directs A-Camp, and co-hosts and produces the podcasts Buffering the Vampire Slayer and To L and Back.
— You can read Kristin's article on her miscarriage, The Might-Have-Been, on Autostraddle, and follow her on Twitter and Instagram @kristinnoeline.
— Episode art by Isabella Rotman and courtesy of Autostraddle.
Music in this episode by Jeremy Bloom, Lee Rosevere ("I Wanted to Live"), and David Keifer ("Another Mark"). Theme by Alexander Overington.
5/13/2019 • 22 minutes, 47 seconds
The Nancy Variety Show!
Piñatas, weird car noises, and succulents, OH MY! It's the Nancy Variety Show!
— Chaya Milchtein runs the website Mechanic Shop Femme, where you can find automotive classes and consulting.
— Mark Joseph Stern covers law and LGBTQ issues for Slate.
Music in this episode by Tobin Low and Jeremy Bloom. Theme by Alexander Overington.
5/6/2019 • 28 minutes, 40 seconds
Natalie Diaz Talks Love and Basketball
2018 MacArthur Genius winner Natalie Diaz talks about going from a professional basketball player to a poet, and how her love of language helped her embrace her queerness.
— Natalie Diaz is a poet, essayist, and linguist. She teaches at the Arizona State University Creative Writing MFA program.
— You can find 10 Things That Scare Me wherever you listen to podcasts.
Music in this episode by Jeremy Bloom and Isaac Jones. Theme by Alexander Overington.
4/29/2019 • 20 minutes, 11 seconds
Desiree Akhavan's The Bisexual
Desiree Akhavan—filmmaker, creator, and star of The Bisexual—talks about being the rule-breaker of her family, and why she trolled her brother with her armpit hair.
Music in this episode by Jeremy Bloom. Theme by Alexander Overington.
4/22/2019 • 18 minutes, 21 seconds
The Cowboy Of The West Village
The story of Storme DeLarverie, a true American hero.
— Storme DeLarverie’s obituary in The New York Times.
— The Nod is hosted by Brittany Luse and Eric Eddings. It's produced by Kate Parkinson-Morgan and James T. Green. Sarah Abdurrahman is their senior producer. This story was edited by Annie-Rose Strasser, Alex Blumberg and Jorge Just. Additional editing help from Sarah Geis and Jordan Barnes. Fact checking by Nicole Pasulka. Engineering from Cedric Wilson and Matthew Boll.
Music in this episode by Calid B, Bobby Lord, Haley Shaw, The Five Du-Tones and The Morrie Morrison Orchestra. Nancy theme by Alexander Overington.
4/15/2019 • 25 minutes, 50 seconds
Does It Bring You Joy?
Tobin realizes he’s been carrying around an insecurity since he was a teenager.
— Dr. Christie Block is a Speech-Language Pathologist based in New York City.
— Jacob Tobia is a writer, activist, producer, and author of the book, Sissy: A Coming-of-Gender Story. You can find them on Twitter and Instagram.
— Henry Bae is the Creative Director and co-founder of Syro. Shaobo Han is the Director of Operations and co-founder of Syro.
— Syro is a queer POC business that makes heels in all sizes for all genders.
Music in this episode by Jeremy Bloom, Anamorphic Orchestra ("Taking Dark Matter Lightly"), Lee Rosevere ("Featherlight"), Axletree ("Goodnight Esme (Instrumental)"), Ultracat ("Disco High"), Juanitos ("En Croisiere"), Daedelus ("Make it Drums"), and Creo ("Place on Fire"). Theme by Alexander Overington.
4/8/2019 • 29 minutes, 55 seconds
Masha Gessen's Y2K
A very Russian love story on the brink of Y2K.
— Dan Taberski hosts the show, Surviving Y2K, and previously hosted Missing Richard Simmons. Both shows are part of the Headlong Podcast.
Music in this episode by Jeremy Bloom, Mark Orton & John Hancock, and Nathaniel Wyvern ("Sanctuary Of The Sky Gods"). Theme by Alexander Overington.
4/1/2019 • 22 minutes, 27 seconds
David and Dominique
Note: this is a rerun of a previous episode.
David and Dominique have something in common.
Special thanks to Krishna Stone at Gay Men's Health Crisis, an HIV/AIDS prevention, care, and advocacy organization in New York.
Music in this episode by Jeremy Bloom and Alex Overington. Theme by Alexander Overington.
3/25/2019 • 28 minutes, 4 seconds
A Private Life
Nino and Drew kept their relationship a secret for more than 40 years. And then, they decided to do something that forced them into the spotlight.
— This is Love is a show that explores perseverance, obsession, and what happens when we risk betting it all.
Episode scoring by Blue Dot Sessions and Podington Bear. Nancy theme by Alexander Overington.
3/18/2019 • 22 minutes, 40 seconds
The Golden Queers
What is retirement like when there's been a lifetime of discrimination and added costs, and what do we do about it?
Queer Money Matters is Nancy's series about the straight economy and how queer people navigate it.
Music in this episode by Jeremy Bloom and Tigue. Theme by Alexander Overington.
3/8/2019 • 22 minutes, 48 seconds
Dude, Where’s My Coverage?
Even if you have insurance, being queer can be a barrier to getting the healthcare you need.
Queer Money Matters is Nancy's series about the straight economy and how queer people navigate it.
Music in this episode by Jeremy Bloom and Tigue. Theme by Alexander Overington.
3/7/2019 • 17 minutes, 31 seconds
For Richer, For Poorer
Marriage equality meant more dollars in the bank for lots of queer people. But what if getting married goes against your identity or is simply not possible?
Queer Money Matters is Nancy's series about the straight economy and how queer people navigate it.
Music in this episode by Jeremy Bloom and Tigue. Theme by Alexander Overington.
3/6/2019 • 16 minutes, 24 seconds
The Gayly Grind
From discrimination in the hiring process to a wage gap to a patchwork of legal protections, there are road blocks at every stage of our career.
Queer Money Matters is Nancy's series about the straight economy and how queer people navigate it.
Music in this episode by Jeremy Bloom and Tigue. Theme by Alexander Overington.
3/5/2019 • 16 minutes, 10 seconds
Babies and Bills
When you’re queer and you want to add a kid to your family, things get complicated—and expensive—really quickly.
Queer Money Matters is Nancy's series about the straight economy and how queer people navigate it.
Music in this episode by Jeremy Bloom and Tigue. Theme by Alexander Overington.
3/4/2019 • 24 minutes, 55 seconds
Queer Money Fear$
The economy is built for cisgender, heterosexual people. We're exploring the financial hurdles queer people face and how we navigate them. It's Nancy's "Queer Money Matters."
If you want to see the results of "Nancy’s 2019 Money Survey of a Representative Sample of the Queer and Non-Queer US Population," head over to Queer Money Matters.
— Lee Badgett is an economist, professor, and LGBT policy expert. She teaches at UMass Amherst.
Special thanks this week to Adam Auriemma, Editor-in-Chief of Money Magazine, Morning Consult, and the WNYC data team.
Music in this episode by Jeremy Bloom and Tigue. Theme by Alexander Overington.
2/25/2019 • 16 minutes, 52 seconds
The Word 'Queer'
Strange or obtuse; a stinging homophobic slur; a radical political rejection of normativity; a broad term encompassing every and any variation on sexual orientation and gender identity: the word 'queer' has a multifarious past and complicated present. This is just a fraction of it.
— Helen Zaltzman hosts the podcasts, The Allusionist and Answer Me This! Additional show notes can be found on The Allusionist's website.
— Eric Marcus hosts the podcast, Making Gay History.
— Amy Sueyoshi is a historian and author.
— Cameo appearances from Katie Mingle from 99% Invisible, Katie Herzog from The Stranger, and Jonathan Van Ness from Queer Eye.
Music in this episode by Martin Austwick. Theme by Alexander Overington.
2/18/2019 • 24 minutes, 34 seconds
The Case of the Cutoffs
Eight years ago, Ben found a pair of cutoff jean shorts mounted in a shadowbox. Now, he's on a search for the truth.
— Ben Riskin quit his law firm four years ago and embarked on a career in podcasting. Ben recently joined Endeavor Audio to lead their business development and content acquisition efforts. When he's not working, he's listening to everything and talking to everyone.
Special thanks this week to Tracey Baim of the Windy City Times, the team at Curious City, Ben Rose and Tracey Panek at Levi’s, St. Sukie de la Croix (author of Chicago Whispers: a History of LGBT Chicago before Stonewall), Gnat Carpenter, the team at Third Coast International Audio Festival, and everyone who shared pictures of the shorts on social media.
Music in this episode by Jeremy Bloom, Little Glass Men ("Procreation"), Broke for Free ("Calm the Fuck Down"), and Nctrnm ("Tethered"). Theme by Alexander Overington.
2/11/2019 • 26 minutes, 10 seconds
Phillip Picardi: Out With the Old
Phillip Picardi joins Nancy to talk about his first job at McDonald's, his recent job as Anna Wintour's protégé, and his new job as editor-in-chief of Out Magazine.
— Phillip Picardi is the editor-in-chief at Out Magazine. He previously served as chief content officer at Teen Vogue and them.
— Phillip's response to the Women's Wear Daily article can be found on Twitter.
Music in this episode by Jeremy Bloom, Alex Overington, BoxCat Game ("Mt Fox Shop"), and Drake Stafford ("Matte Black"). Theme by Alexander Overington.
2/4/2019 • 30 minutes, 30 seconds
The League of Extraordinary Trolls
An elite unit of trolls is engaged in an existential battle against hate speech on the internet. This is their story.
This episode originally aired on Endless Thread, a co-production of WBUR and Reddit. It's a show about Reddit (also known as the front page of the internet), hosted by Ben Brock Johnson and Amory Sivertson, produced by Josh Swartz, and mixed by Paul Vaitkus.
Nancy theme by Alexander Overington.
1/28/2019 • 31 minutes, 26 seconds
Nancy Takes the Stage
Tobin and Kathy have sweated through a few live shows, and now it's time to share a few of them with the world.
— Jes Tom is a weird nonbinary queer Asian-American radical cyborg stand up comic. They will be performing at Caroline's on February 12th.
— John Paul Brammer wrote the column "Hola Papi" for Into; he's now a staff writer at Them.
Music in this episode by Jeremy Bloom. Theme by Alexander Overington.
1/21/2019 • 32 minutes, 28 seconds
Love Song
Myosha Smith stopped speaking to her brother Joseph Wilson after he handled her coming out poorly. Realizing his mistake, Joe decided to try to win his sister back with a song.
— Daniel A. Gross is a writer, reporter, and radio producer based in Brooklyn.
— Myosha Smith is a social worker and songwriter based in Brooklyn.
— Musical Connections is a program run by Carnegie Hall that teaches inmates at Sing Sing Correctional Facility to create and perform music.
— You can listen to live performances of Gnarly Knees and Bright Dark, a song Joe co-wrote with Myosha, from inside Sing Sing Correctional Facility.
Special thanks to John J. Lennon, a journalist in Sing Sing Correctional Institution who helped Nancy find this story. John wrote about the Carnegie Hall Musical Connections program for Pacific Standard. Also thanks to our friends at WQXR: Christine Herskovits, Aaron Dalton, Eileen Delahunty, and Matt Abramovitz.
Music in this episode by Kyle Sanna. Nancy theme by Alexander Overington.
1/14/2019 • 31 minutes, 32 seconds
Mr. LA Leather
Every year, contestants spend months working on their charisma, memorizing speeches, and getting their show-stopping outfits ready to win the sash. No, this is not Miss America...this is Mr. Los Angeles Leather.
— James Kim makes podcasts at KPCC.— Pup Yoshi can be found @toddster213 on Twitter.— You can listen to both seasons of The Competition at competitionpodcast.com.Music in this episode by Jeremy Bloom, the team at The Competition, and Broke For Free ("Calm the Fuck Down"). Theme by Alexander Overington.
1/7/2019 • 27 minutes, 39 seconds
A Gaggle Resolution
Note: this is a rerun of a previous episode.
Nancy staged a friend-tervention for Joe Rodriguez. Will finding your gaggle be your resolution for the new year?
And if you want to broaden your friendship horizons this year, join our How to Get a Gaggle project!
Special thanks to Fran Tirado of the podcast Food 4 Thot, Eric Sosa at C'mon Everybody, and Bill Clark and Libby Willis at MeMe's Diner. Our friendship project is coordinated by Charlotte Cooper with help from Ashley Lusk, Caroline English, Sahar Baharloo, Sarah Sandbach, Fiona Carswell, and many more of our colleagues at WNYC Studios.
Original music by Jeremy Bloom with additional music by Mystery Mammal ("You're Up There"), Podington Bear ("Gizmo"), and Creo ("Memory"). Theme by Alex Overington.
12/31/2018 • 38 minutes, 24 seconds
God + The Gays
Growing up, Phoebe was a Jesus kid. In college, after Tinder-swiping her way to gayness, she comes out to Christians and hopes that they’ll accept her. And now, Phoebe goes on a mission to find out whether people with fundamentally different beliefs can have meaningful relationships.
— Phoebe Wang is a multidisciplinary artist based between Brooklyn, NY and Toronto, ON. You can find her on Twitter @feebswang.
— "God + The Gays" won the 2018 Third Coast/Richard H. Driehaus Foundation Competition Best New Artist Award and Phoebe gave an acceptance speech that resulted in a 45-second standing ovation.
Music in this episode by Joni Void. The song “Let Your Little Light Shine” is by Pamela Warrick-Smith and was performed by Community Chorus, a resistance-themed choir led by Carolyn Pennypacker Riggs in LA. Nancy theme by Alexander Overington.
12/24/2018 • 31 minutes
You Couldn't Say It Was Wrong
A nun leaves her small town home in Illinois and comes to the West Village of ‘80s New York...so she can learn how to care for patients dying of HIV/AIDS.
— Michael J. O'Loughlin is a Chicago-based religion journalist and author of The Tweetable Pope: A Spiritual Revolution in 140 Characters.
— Bethany Place is a non-profit AIDS Service Organization in the St. Louis Metro East area.
— Brian Dolphin contributed original music to this episode. Visit him at briandolphin.com to receive his free monthly songs or to join a community sing near you.
Music in this episode by Jeremy Bloom, Brian Dolphin ("Cow Trough Song"), Marco Trovatello ("Haunty Fourstroke"), and UltraCat ("Disco High"). Theme by Alexander Overington.
12/17/2018 • 29 minutes, 42 seconds
Bowen Yang Was Fooled by Grey's Anatomy
Bowen Yang drops by the studio to talk to Tobin and Kathy about Sandra Oh, Saturday Night Live, and bad representation.
— Bowen Yang is a comedian, producer, and formerly mediocre chemistry major based in Brooklyn, NY. He co-hosts the podcast, Las Culturistas, and you can find him on Twitter @bowenyang.
Music in this episode by Jeremy Bloom. Theme by Alexander Overington.
12/10/2018 • 24 minutes, 55 seconds
Coming Out, Coming Forward
Warning: this episode discusses childhood sexual assault.
When he was a young teenager, Luke realized he had to speak up—about who he was and what had happened to him.
— Radio Rookies is a New York Public Radio initiative that provides teenagers with the tools and training to create radio stories about themselves, their communities, and their world.
— The Ali Forney Center is a community center assisting LGBT homeless youth in New York City.
Music in this episode by Jeremy Bloom and PC III ("Blue Hope"). Theme by Alexander Overington.
12/3/2018 • 34 minutes, 23 seconds
X & Y
This week, Nancy is featuring an episode of Radiolab Presents: Gonads.
A lot of us understand biological sex with a pretty fateful underpinning: if you’re born with XX chromosomes, you’re female; if you’re born with XY chromosomes, you’re male. But it turns out, our relationship to the opposite sex is more complicated than we think.
This episode was reported by Molly Webster, and produced by Matt Kielty. With scoring, original composition and mixing by Matt Kielty and Alex Overington. Additional production by Rachael Cusick, and editing by Pat Walters. The “Ballad of Daniel Webster” and “Gonads” was written, performed and produced by Majel Connery and Alex Overington.
Special thanks to Erica Todd, Andrew Sinclair, Robin Lovell-Badge, and Sarah S. Richardson. Plus, a big thank you to the musicians who gave us permission to use their work in this episode—composer Erik Friedlander, for "Frail as a Breeze, Part II," and musician Sam Prekop, whose work "A Geometric," from his album The Republic, is out on Thrill Jockey.
Radiolab is supported in part by Science Sandbox, a Simons Foundation initiative dedicated to engaging everyone with the process of science. And the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation, enhancing public understanding of science and technology in the modern world. More information about Sloan at www.sloan.org.
Nancy theme by Alex Overington.
11/26/2018 • 40 minutes, 9 seconds
I've Been Meaning to Tell You...
We asked you to share with us the things you've been meaning to tell someone. This is what happened next.
— The article that led us to Michael Kerr can be found at The New York Times.
— Dylan Marron is a digital creator in New York.
— Glenn Marron is a psychologist in Manhattan and the Hudson Valley.
Music in this episode by James Pants ("Cha Cha Demo"), Little Glass Men ("Cloud Launching"), and Benedek ("Cruzin"). Theme by Alexander Overington.
11/19/2018 • 35 minutes, 7 seconds
Alexandra Billings Won't Stay Quiet Anymore
Alexandra Billings, who plays Davina on Transparent, says she believes Jeffrey Tambor's accusers — and feels complicit for not speaking up earlier.
— Alexandra Billings is an actor and singer. She recently appeared on Broadway in the comedy The Nap.
Music in this episode by Jeremy Bloom. Theme by Alexander Overington.
11/13/2018 • 21 minutes, 59 seconds
Jill Soloway's 'Transparent' Reckoning
Transparent creator Jill Soloway on the allegations against Jeffrey Tambor and what's next for the groundbreaking Amazon series.
— Jill Soloway is the creator and executive producer of Transparent. Their new book is called She Wants It: Desire, Power, and Toppling the Patriarchy.
Music in this episode by Jeremy Bloom, with additional music by Creo ("Memory") and Broke for Free ("The Great"). Theme by Alexander Overington.
11/12/2018 • 24 minutes, 7 seconds
Emma Gonzalez Wants You to Vote
Midterm elections are coming up, and March For Our Lives activists Emma Gonzalez and Bria Smith traveled the country registering voters.
— Emma Gonzalez is an activist and advocate with March For Our Lives.
— Bria Smith is an activist and advocate with March For Our Lives.
— Gays Against Guns is a direct action group of LGBTQ people and allies.
Music in this episode by Lee Rosevere ("What Have You Done"). Theme by Alexander Overington.
11/5/2018 • 25 minutes, 21 seconds
Definitely, Maybe
To win in Massachusetts, trans activists have adopted a counterintuitive strategy: leaning into the worst things their opponents say about them.
— Dee Rogers (she/her) is a volunteer for the Yes on 3 campaign in Massachusetts.
— Kasey Suffredini (he/him) is a Yes on Three co-chair and president of strategy at the campaign's national parent organization, Freedom for All Americans.
— David Broockman (he/him) is an assistant professor of political economy at the Stanford Graduate School of Business. He is co-author of the paper "Durably reducing transphobia: A field experiment on door-to-door canvassing."
— Kelly Jenkins (she/her) is a teaching assistant in Wellesley, Mass. She hosts the series Kelly's Quest on the public access channel ActonTV.
— Keep Massachusetts Safe, the group seeking to repeal the state's public accommodations protections for transgender people, argues the existing law puts women at children at risk in places like public restrooms. However, a recent study by researchers at the Williams Institute at UCLA School of Law found bathroom crime has not increased since these protections became law in 2016.
— Learn more about the 2018 Massachusetts Ballot Questions here, and find out what's on your ballot this November at Ballotpedia.
If you, or someone you know, are looking for resources (or for organizations to donate to), consider these ones:
— Trans Lifeline— Transgender Law Center— National Center for Transgender Equality— Lambda Legal— The Trevor Project
Special thanks to Fran Hutchins of the Equality Federation, Columbia University political science professor Donald P. Green, and Yes on 3 campaigners including Dee Moore, Karl Tonge, Pippin Stacks, and Leo Udell.
Episode scoring by Jeremy Bloom and Isaac Jones, with additional music by Rest You Sleeping Giant ("Light Lab") and Lee Rosevere ("Small Steps"). Theme by Alexander Overington.
10/29/2018 • 27 minutes, 43 seconds
We Can't Be Erased
It's been a tough week of news, and we asked our trans and gender non-conforming listeners: What do you want cisgender people to know?
If you, or someone you know, are looking for resources (or for organizations to donate to), consider these ones:
— Trans Lifeline— Transgender Law Center— National Center for Transgender Equality— Lambda Legal— The Trevor Project
Episode artwork by Kiernan Sjursen-Lien. You can find them on Twitter, Tumblr, and Instagram.
Episode scoring by Jeremy Bloom. Theme by Alexander Overington.
10/26/2018 • 5 minutes, 1 second
The First Queer Woman in Congress
The first woman ever elected to Congress was queer. So why isn't that ever really mentioned anywhere? This week, we're featuring an episode of WNYC's The United States of Anxiety, hosted by Nancy favorite, Kai Wright.
— Kai Wright is the host of The United States of Anxiety.
— Mara Silvers is a producer in the WNYC newsroom.
Nancy theme by Alexander Overington.
10/22/2018 • 36 minutes, 9 seconds
You've Been Meaning To Tell Us
Note: this is a rerun of a previous episode.
You've all had a lot you've been meaning to say. Plus, a favorite story from the Nancy archives.
— Peter Bresnan is a radio producer in New York.
Episode scoring by Jeremy Bloom, Isaac Jones, and U.S. Army Blues ("Barbara"). Theme by Alexander Overington.
10/15/2018 • 32 minutes, 8 seconds
Where We Were Then, Where We Are Now
The 20 years since Matthew Shepard's death have been transformative for his mother, Judy. Plus: we talk to Samira Wiley, who appeared in an anniversary production of The Laramie Project.
— Judy Shepard is president of the Matthew Shepard Foundation.
— Moisés Kaufman is founder and artistic director of the Tectonic Theater Project; he co-wrote and directed the play The Laramie Project.
— Samira Wiley is an actor best known for her work on Orange is the New Black and The Handmaid’s Tale.
— You can stream the film version of The Laramie Project on HBO.
Special thanks to Christina Russo and Maxim Ibadov.
Episode scoring by Jeremy Bloom, Alexander Overington, and Broke For Free ("The Great"). Theme by Alexander Overington.
10/8/2018 • 27 minutes, 58 seconds
Closest I Get
Kathy always thought her favorite singer-songwriter was working through something in her songs. It turns out she was.
— Katie Herzig is a Grammy-nominated singer-songwriter based in Nashville. Her latest albums are Moment of Bliss and the Delicate EP.
— The Instagram post Katie talks about in the story can be found here.
Episode scoring by Kathy Tu, with music by Katie Herzig. Theme by Alexander Overington.
10/1/2018 • 26 minutes, 36 seconds
Perfect Son
Jason Kim didn’t talk to his dad very much. But all that changed three years ago, when he got a call that upended their entire relationship.
— Jason Kim is a screenwriter, playwright, and librettist. He's written for shows like "Barry" and "Girls" on HBO, and recent performances of his plays include "The Model American" at The Williamstown Theatre Festival and "KPOP" at Ars Nova Theater.
Episode scoring by Jeremy Bloom, Yuichiro Fujimoto ("The Boys"), and Lee Rosevere ("Featherlight"). Theme by Alexander Overington.
9/24/2018 • 38 minutes, 10 seconds
Nancy is back for Season 4!
Every Monday, stories and conversations about the LGBTQ community. New episodes start September 24.
9/20/2018 • 3 minutes, 4 seconds
Five Simple Steps
Content warning: This episode contains a reference to suicide.
Traveling to Taiwan with her mom, Kathy imagines the life she might have lived had her family stayed.
— Kathy's mom previously appeared on Nancy in the episodes "Hello Hello" and "Kathy's Mom is Uncomfortable With All This."
— Guo Mama is a volunteer at the Taiwan Tongzhi Hotline Association in Taipei.
— Li Te-Yun (Nan Gua) is a singer-songwriter in Taiwan.
Special thanks to Andrew Ryan, a host and producer with Radio Taiwan International.
Episode scoring by Jeremy Bloom with additional music by Art of Escapism ("Done with Disco"), Uncan ("Unbroken"), and Little Glass Men ("Cloud Launching"). Theme by Alexander Overington.
6/29/2018 • 35 minutes, 51 seconds
Cumming to America
Alan Cumming became a U.S. citizen in 2008. His new show, "Legal Immigrant," tells a story of love for his adopted homeland.
— Patti O'Furniture hosts a weekly drag show at PT's 1109, a gay bar in Columbia, South Carolina.
— Lewis Wallace is a radio producer and magazine editor.
Music in this episode by Jeremy Bloom. Theme by Alexander Overington.
6/24/2018 • 27 minutes, 50 seconds
Take the Long Way Home
All things just keep getting better.
— Katie Schlechter is a freelance journalist based in Mexico City.
Episode scoring by Jeremy Bloom with original composition and performance by Kyle Sanna. Theme by Alexander Overington.
6/17/2018 • 33 minutes, 3 seconds
Peppermint 2020
When it comes to RuPaul's Drag Race, Nancy is a house divided.
Episode scoring by Jeremy Bloom with additional music by Mystery Mammal ("Xanadont"), Broke for Free ("Hella"), Benedek ("Cruzin"), and Lee Rosevere ("Welcome to the World of the Living"). Theme by Alexander Overington.
6/10/2018 • 35 minutes, 1 second
Cameron Esposito is Reclaiming Rape Jokes
Content warning: This episode discusses sexual assault.
Most jokes about rape are terrible. But in a new special, comedian Cameron Esposito is using them to talk about being a survivor of sexual assault.
Cameron's special "Rape Jokes" can be streamed for free on her website or purchase a copy with all proceeds going to RAINN, the United States’ largest organization combatting sexual violence. You can find resources for survivors of sexual violence at RAINN, End Rape on Campus, and the Trevor Project.
Episode scoring by Jeremy Bloom with additional music by Drake Stafford ("Casets"). Theme by Alexander Overington.
6/7/2018 • 21 minutes, 20 seconds
Poor Unfortunate Souls
Everybody loves a hero. But villains can be much more interesting.
Meredith Talusan is the Executive Editor at Them. She wrote an essay about trans villains in film for BuzzFeed.
Dan Kois and Isaac Butler are co-authors of The World Only Spins Forward, an oral history of Angels in America. Andrea Bernstein is the co-host of Trump, Inc., a podcast about the Trump family business from WNYC Studios and Pro Publica. Stephen Spinella plays Roy Cohn in the Berkeley Rep production of Angels in America.
Episode scoring by Jeremy Bloom with additional music by Lee Rosevere ("I Was Waiting for Him" and "Featherlight"). Theme by Alexander Overington.
6/3/2018 • 26 minutes, 57 seconds
We Can Be Friends
Nancy's "How to Get a Gaggle" project gave listeners four weeks of challenges toward making new friends. This week on the show, we check in on how it all went.
Special thanks this week to friendship guinea pig Joe Rodriguez and WNYC engagement project extraordinaire Charlotte Cooper.
Episode scoring by Jeremy Bloom with additional music by James Pants ("Bird"), Madame Rrose Selavy ("Sojou Meu Nome"), Mystery Mammal ("Xanadont"), Ondrosik ("Love is Over"), and Anamorphic Orchestra ("Machine Elves"). Theme by Alexander Overington.
5/27/2018 • 26 minutes, 24 seconds
You're Not a 'Bad Gay'
JP Brammer has all the answers.
— John Paul Brammer is a writer who's wrote for Into and Them. You can subscribe to "Hola Papi" here.
Episode scoring by Jeremy Bloom. Theme by Alexander Overington.
Original music by Jeremy Bloom.
Support our work! Become a Nancy member today at Nancypodcast.org/donate.
5/20/2018 • 17 minutes, 30 seconds
DilDOs and DilDON'Ts
Sex toys can be about more than just pleasure. For queer people, they're often a vital part of figuring yourself out.
— Gabe Gonzalez is a comedian and writer.
— Buck Angel is a trans advocate and sex toy designer.
Special thanks to Hallie Lieberman, author of the book Buzz: The Stimulating History of the Sex Toy.
Episode scoring by Jeremy Bloom with additional music by James Pants ("Bird") and Kevin MacLeod ("Off to Osaka"). Theme by Alexander Overington.
5/13/2018 • 23 minutes, 13 seconds
The Rowan County Clerk
Kim Davis denied David Ermold a marriage license three times. Now he's running to replace her.
Episode scoring by Jeremy Bloom with additional music by Andy Cohen ("Land of Legs"), Nctrnm ("Blonde"), and Drake Stafford ("Only Love"). Democratic forum audio via WIVY and WMKY. Theme by Alexander Overington.
5/6/2018 • 38 minutes
Michelle Buteau Is Straight But We Love Her Anyway
Michelle Buteau is the host of Late Night Whenever. This episode features comedian Matteo Lane and actor Nico Tortorella. Subscribe on Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen to shows.
Episode scoring by Rob Lewis. Nancy theme by Alexander Overington.
5/1/2018 • 38 minutes, 41 seconds
Shamir Bailey Hates Your Favorite Shamir Song
He wrote "On the Regular" to be hated.
— Shamir Bailey is a queer, Philadelphia-based musician. His albums include Ratchet, Hope, Revelations, and Resolution.
— While he was in the studio, we had Shamir perform acoustic versions of his songs "Straight Boy" and "I Can't Breathe."
Video production by Kim Nowacki. Episode scoring by Jeremy Bloom. Theme by Alexander Overington.
4/29/2018 • 18 minutes, 40 seconds
Gaggle Update: We're Here to Make Friends
Our month-long "How to Get a Gaggle" project is just getting started! Today we're checking in on what participants are looking for and how they're doing.
Share your own stories! Email a voice memo to nancypodcast@wnyc.org, post on social media using the hashtag #NancyGaggle, or join our brand-new Facebook group.
Episode scoring by Jeremy Bloom. Theme by Alexander Overington.
4/25/2018 • 3 minutes, 59 seconds
Punks
Once upon a time, Kai Wright saw a movie called "Punks." A romantic comedy about black gay men, it was like nothing he'd ever seen before. But then it disappeared.
Kai Wright is editor and host of WNYC’s Narrative Unit and a columnist for The Nation magazine. Patrik-Ian Polk is the writer and director of Punks; he went on to create Noah's Arc, The Skinny, and Blackbird, and is now a producer and writer for Being Mary Jane. He is currently producing and writing the upcoming Starz drama series, Pussy Valley.
Special thanks to the ONE National Gay & Lesbian Archives at USC.
Episode scoring by Jeremy Bloom with additional music by Ultracat ("Little Happenings"). Theme by Alex Overington.
4/22/2018 • 22 minutes, 59 seconds
A Gaggle for Me
In our season three premiere, Nancy stages a friend-tervention for Joe Rodriguez. Plus, we launch our new How to Get a Gaggle project!
Special thanks to Fran Tirado of the podcast Food 4 Thot, Eric Sosa at C'mon Everybody, and Bill Clark and Libby Willis at MeMe's Diner. Our friendship project is coordinated by Charlotte Cooper with help from Ashley Lusk, Caroline English, Sahar Baharloo, Sarah Sandbach, Fiona Carswell, and many more of our colleagues at WNYC Studios.
Original music by Jeremy Bloom with additional music by Mystery Mammal ("You're Up There"), Podington Bear ("Gizmo"), and Creo ("Memory"). Theme by Alex Overington.
4/15/2018 • 37 minutes, 22 seconds
Tobin. Kathy. Season Three!
Nancy's back with a whole new season of stories and conversations about the queer experience today. All-new episodes starting Sunday, April 15.
Music by Jeremy Bloom. Theme by Alexander Overington.
4/12/2018 • 3 minutes, 50 seconds
Return to Ring of Keys
Note: this is a rerun of a previous episode.
Sarah Lu's first glimpse at life as a queer adult came while visiting Maura Koutoujian's general store back when she was a kid. Years later, Sarah tracked Maura down.
Episode scoring by Jeremy Bloom with additional music by Arne Bang Huseby (“Stormy Blues”), Jalen Warshowsky (“Dollar Theater”), Josh Woodward (“Once Tomorrow”, “Grey Snow”, and "Border Blaster"), Anamorphic Orchestra (“Taking Dark Matter Lightly”), Joey Pecoraro (“Strong Vibes”), and Little Glass Men (“Kelp Grooves”). Theme by Alexander Overington.
12/3/2017 • 25 minutes, 17 seconds
Kathy's Mom is Uncomfortable With All This
Note: this is a rerun of a previous episode.
Kathy's mom didn't expect anyone would actually listen to her the first time Kathy recorded their conversation. And she's still not particularly comfortable with all this gay stuff.
Episode scoring by Jeremy Bloom with additional music by Benedek ("CRUZIN"). Theme by Alexander Overington.
11/19/2017 • 24 minutes
Lena Waithe's Superpowers
Note: this is a rerun of a previous episode.
We first spoke with Lena Waithe just ahead of Master of None's second season, which featured the groundbreaking episode "Thanksgiving." Kathy checked back in shortly after Lena won an Emmy for writing that episode.
— Lena Waithe is an Emmy-award winning writer and actress on Master of None. Her new show, The Chi, premieres Jan. 7, 2018 on Showtime.
— This episode was recorded in Los Angeles at Werk It, WNYC's women's podcast festival.
Episode scoring by Jeremy Bloom. Theme by Alexander Overington.
11/12/2017 • 18 minutes, 8 seconds
Out at Work
— Asa Sevelius is principal of the Heath School in Brookline, Mass.
— Clair Farley is the director of economic development at the San Francisco LGBT Center; Mia Satya is an employment services specialist with the center's Trans Employment Program.
— Check out the results from our Out at Work survey, plus a whole bunch of resources for navigating being queer on the job.
Special thanks to Mandy Naglich, Anna Burke, and Alison Morgenstern.
Episode scoring by Jeremy Bloom with additional music by Drake Stafford ("Matte Black") and Evan Schaeffer ("Sisyphus"). Theme by Alexander Overington.
10/29/2017 • 30 minutes, 48 seconds
This Awful Side of Me
You don't accept it or you don't understand it?
— Lewis Wallace is a magazine editor and radio producer in North Carolina.
— Liza Yeager is a senior at Brown University, where she co-founded Now Here This.
Episode scoring by Jeremy Bloom with additional music by Anamorphic Orchestra ("Signs of Life"). Theme by Alexander Overington.
10/22/2017 • 25 minutes, 48 seconds
Absence Of
You don't know what you don't know.
— Jordan Crucchiola is an associate editor at Vulture, where this spring she wrote "An Asexual's Defense of Jughead Kissing Betty on Riverdale."
— Ben Schwartz is a LARP writer at the Wayfinder Experience.
Episode scoring by Jeremy Bloom with additional music by Drake Stafford ("In Heaven"), Age of Escapism ("Done With Disco" and "Start Over"), Kai Engel ("Daedalus" and "Low Horizon"), and Ultra Cat ("Disco High"). Theme by Alexander Overington.
10/15/2017 • 29 minutes, 1 second
Tegan & Sara & Abby & Josh
Sibling relationships can be tricky.
— Tegan & Sara are about to hit the road for "The Con X: Tour," which marks the 10th anniversary of their breakout album.
— Abby Holtzman is a radio producer working now at WAMU and NPR's The Big Listen. Her brother Josh is in his first year at Oberlin College. They only look like twins.
Episode scoring by Jeremy Bloom with additional music by Andy Cohen ("A Perceptible Shift") and Juanitos ("Mondo Wack"). Theme by Alexander Overington.
10/8/2017 • 17 minutes, 54 seconds
Oliver Sipple
On Sept. 22, 1975, Oliver Sipple went for a walk. The rest is history.
— Latif Nasser is the director of research at Radiolab.
— Tracie Hunte is a reporter at Radiolab.
This episode was produced by Matt Kielty, Annie McEwen, Latif Nasser, and Tracie Hunte. Nancy theme by Alexander Overington.
10/3/2017 • 1 hour, 5 minutes, 41 seconds
Different in Two Ways
Ryan Haddad is a writer and actor with a one-man show about hooking up, dating, and intimacy. He also has cerebral palsy. Please don't call him inspirational.
— Ryan Haddad is a New York-based writer and performer. His one-man show is called "Hi, Are You Single?"
This week's episode was recorded live at the Now Hear This podcast festival. Special thanks to Chris Bannon, John DeLore, Chris Hartnett, and the entire Now Hear This team.
Episode scoring by Jeremy Bloom with additional engineering by Matt Boynton. Additional music by Kevin MacLeod ("Slow Burn") and Anamorphic Orchestra ("Radiant Flux"). Theme by Alexander Overington.
10/1/2017 • 19 minutes, 6 seconds
Will and Grace Are Back! (But Should They Be?)
The world's changed since the groundbreaking sitcom went off the air. Eleven years later, does Will & Grace still have something to say?
— Alex Jung is a staff writer at Vulture, where he covers entertainment and culture.
— New episodes of "Will & Grace" air Thursdays on NBC starting Sept. 28. You can watch episodes from the series' original run on Hulu.
Episode scoring by Jeremy Bloom. Theme by Alexander Overington.
9/28/2017 • 19 minutes, 20 seconds
Somewhat Out
It's easy to feel invisible.
— Chirlane McCray, New York City's first lady, spoke to us about the new NYC Unity Project. Her 1979 essay in Essence is called "I Am A Lesbian."
— Rich Bellis is an associate editor at Fast Company, where he covers the intersection of LGBT issues, business, and leadership.
— Join our "Out at Work" project by taking our quick survey.
Episode scoring by Jeremy Bloom. Theme by Alexander Overington.
9/24/2017 • 24 minutes, 41 seconds
I See You, I Love You
If you don't see something, say something.
— Gaby Dunn and Allison Raskin produce a YouTube series called Just Between Us. They have a new YA book called "I Hate Everyone But You."
— Vivek Shraya is the author of "The Boy and the Bindi," a children's book illustrated by Rajni Perera. (Here's the research she cites about diversity in books for kids.)
Special thanks this week to Daniel Guillemette.
Episode scoring by Jeremy Bloom. Theme by Alexander Overington.
9/17/2017 • 23 minutes, 19 seconds
Does Your Boss Know You're Gay?
Twenty-eight states lack employment protections for LGBT people. And what federal protections do exist are under new attack.
— This episode is part of our Out at Work series. Take our quick survey to tell us about your experience being queer at work.
— Find out what protections you have with this state-by-state guide from Lambda Legal.
— Mark Joseph Stern covers law and LGBTQ issues for Slate.
Episode scoring by Jeremy Bloom with additional music by Podington Bear ("Lightfeet"), Arne Bang Huseby ("Stormy Blues"), and Anamorphic Orchestra ("Radiant Flux"). Theme by Alexander Overington.
9/10/2017 • 23 minutes, 8 seconds
Multiple Lesbians in Any Scenario
"The L Word" is a soap opera, and maybe not even a particularly good one at that. But it's also essential viewing for queer women.
— Cameron Esposito is an actor, comedian, and producer.
— Sarah Shahi, Erin Daniels, and Mia Kirshner played Carmen, Dana, and Jenny on The L Word. Ilene Chaiken was the show's co-creator and executive producer.
Special thanks to Cassie Sercia and Autostraddle's Riese Bernard.
Episode scoring by Jeremy Bloom with additional music by Kai Engel ("Seeker") and Lawrence Grey ("The St Marks Shake"). Theme by Alexander Overington.
9/3/2017 • 19 minutes, 30 seconds
My Brother and Me
Nore Davis tells jokes about his brother, Khalil, being transgender. But they've never really just sat down to talk about it. Plus: Patti Harrison responds to the president.
— Nore Davis is a comedian. You can listen to his albums Home Game and Away Game on Spotify. Khalil Davis runs a website promoting financial literacy within the transgender community called The Trans Capitalist.
— Patti Harrison is a comedian who made her network debut on The Tonight Show, where she criticized Donald Trump's proposed ban on transgender people serving in the military.
Episode scoring by Jeremy Bloom and Isaac Jones. Additional music by Drake Stafford ("Casets"), Benedek ("Cruzin"), and Broke For Free ("Drop of Water in the Ocean"). Theme by Alexander Overington.
8/27/2017 • 29 minutes, 14 seconds
The Pentagon's Secret Gaggle of Gays
Even after "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" was repealed, the military wasn't an easy place to be out.
— Audrey Quinn, a WNYC health reporter, reported and produced this story.
Special thanks to Alex Wagner, Tarak Shah, Todd Breasseale, and Sue Fulton.
Episode scoring by Jeremy Bloom and Isaac Jones with additional music by Andy G. Cohen ("A Perceptible Shift"), Kevin MacLeod ("Dances and Dames," "Faster Does It," and "I Knew a Guy"), Anamorphic Orchestra ("Creature Comforts" and "Taking Dark Matter Lightly"), the U.S. Army Band ("To The Color"), and the U.S. Army Old Guard Fife & Drum Corps ("Soldier's Farewell"). Theme by Alexander Overington.
8/22/2017 • 23 minutes, 21 seconds
The Swimsuit Issue
Thanks for the invite, but Tobin's going to skip your pool party.
— Sabri Ben-Achour is a senior reporter for Marketplace.
— James T. Green is a producer for The Nod.
— Babetown hosts pop-up events for queer women.
Episode scoring by Jeremy Bloom and Isaac Jones with additional music by Joey Pecoraro ("Sour Sweets") and Gangi ("Proton Beat"). Theme by Alexander Overington.
8/20/2017 • 25 minutes, 57 seconds
Nancy's Back
Your friendly neighborhood LGBTQ podcast is back for season 2. Kathy’s dating, Tobin’s at the beach, and just to make sure this trailer lands up high in the search results: What time is the solar eclipse? New episodes starting Sunday, Aug. 20!
8/17/2017 • 2 minutes, 7 seconds
RuPaul Wants Naked People and Big, Fat Asses
RuPaul navigates performance art with Broad City's Abbi Jacobson in the new WNYC Studios and MoMA podcast A Piece of Work.
Subscribe to A Piece of Work wherever you get your podcasts.
Nancy theme by Alexander Overington.
7/30/2017 • 29 minutes, 8 seconds
Let's Talk About Trump's Trans Ban
An estimated 15,000 trans people currently serve in the U.S. military. We spoke with Jordan Blisk, a former senior airman in the U.S. Air Force Reserves, about why he wanted to serve to begin with, and how it transformed his life for the better.
— Here's BuzzFeed's comic about Jordan's experience being trans in the military.
Nancy theme by Alexander Overington.
7/27/2017 • 8 minutes, 9 seconds
Q is Growing Up
Q Daily is an 11-year-old trans boy. With puberty looming, he and his family have big decisions to make.
— Yasmeen Khan is a reporter covering education and youth for the WNYC Newsroom. Her stories were mixed by Wayne Shulmister.
Nancy theme by Alexander Overington.
7/16/2017 • 16 minutes, 50 seconds
Kathy Goes to Camp
Maybe don't overthink this one.
— A-Camp is an annual summer camp for queer women organized by the website Autostraddle.
Episode scoring by Jeremy Bloom with guitar performance by Hannis Brown. Theme by Alexander Overington.
6/25/2017 • 26 minutes, 13 seconds
It's Really You
Sometimes when you speak up, the world answers.
— Gavin Grimm is a transgender rights activist suing his school district in federal court. The Vice documentary excerpted in this episode was reported by Diana Tourjee for Broadly. Bank Street School for Children is a private progressive school in upper Manhattan.
— Alaska is an LA-based drag queen and former winner of RuPaul's All Star Drag Race. Zoë Sobel is a radio producer in Unalaska, Alaska.
Episode scoring by Jeremy Bloom, Jesse Spillane ("Super Bubbly"), 1000 Names ("Rio"), and Broke for Free ("The Great"). Theme by Alexander Overington.
6/18/2017 • 29 minutes, 6 seconds
Everything Changed
The shooting at Pulse claimed 49 lives. Orlando hasn’t been the same since.
Episode scoring by Jeremy Bloom. Theme by Alexander Overington.
6/11/2017 • 29 minutes, 24 seconds
You've Told Me This Before
Asia Kate Dillon’s role on “Billions” helped them understand the non-binary gender identity. Tina Healy comes out as trans over and over again. Tina Healy comes out as trans over and over again.
— Tina's daughter Jessica Walton's book is called "Introducing Teddy."
Episode scoring by Jeremy Bloom, Little Glass Men ("Dream Blaze"), and Kai Engel ("Snowmen"). Theme by Alexander Overington.
6/4/2017 • 29 minutes, 31 seconds
Dear Nancy
We've got mail.
— Mara Wilson is a former child actor and the author of "Where Am I Now?: True Stories of Girlhood and Accidental Fame."
— Erin McKeown is a musician, writer and producer.
Episode scoring by Jeremy Bloom, Anamorphic Orchestra ("Creature Comforts"), Benedek ("Cruzin"), and Josh Woodward ("Once Tomorrow"). Theme by Alexander Overington.
5/28/2017 • 30 minutes, 11 seconds
Thank You for Being a Friend
Traveled down the road and back again. Your heart is true, you’re a pal and a confidante. Join us for a trip to Florida, with special guests Rufus Wainwright, Saeed Jones and the ghost of Bea Arthur.
— Rufus Wainwright is a musician.
— Saeed Jones is a poet and the executive editor, culture for BuzzFeed.
— Samara Breger and Kelsey Padgett are producers.
Episode scoring by Jeremy Bloom, Revolution Void ("Tree Tenants"), Kevin MacLoyd ("Monkeys Spinning Monkeys"), and Fabian Measures ("Calm the Fuck Down"). Theme by Alexander Overington.
5/21/2017 • 32 minutes, 17 seconds
The Coolest Lesbian Ever
We talk to Lena Waithe, the scene-stealing BFF on "Master of None."
Episode scoring by Jeremy Bloom. Theme by Alexander Overington.
5/16/2017 • 13 minutes, 37 seconds
Fear of Being Butch
There’s no shame in asking for a ‘90s boy-band haircut.
— Khane Kutzwell's barbershop is Camera Ready Kutz.
Thanks to the many people helped produce Kathy's story on being butch: Esther Godoy and Madelaine Imber from Butch Is Not A Dirty Word, Rae Tutera from Bindle & Keep, the women of the Butch-Femme Social Club of LA, and everyone who talked to Kathy but didn’t make it into the final story: Lillian Faderman, BK Chan, and Aheri Stanford-Asiyo. We also had production help this week from Cathy Wong, Tommy Bazarian, and Rachel Matlow.
Episode scoring by Jeremy Bloom, Isaac Jones, Broke for Free ("Calm the Fuck Down"), and James Pants ("Bird"). Theme by Alexander Overington.
5/14/2017 • 23 minutes, 57 seconds
Here's What It's Like
David and Dominique have something in common.
Special thanks to Krishna Stone at Gay Men's Health Crisis, an HIV/AIDS prevention, care, and advocacy organization in New York.
Episode scoring by Jeremy Bloom and Alex Overington. Theme by Alexander Overington.
5/7/2017 • 27 minutes, 30 seconds
There Are No Gay Wizards
Albus Dumbledore isn't gay, no matter what J.K. Rowling says. But that doesn't mean the "Harry Potter" books aren't incredibly queer.
— Matt Collette is the producer of Nancy.
— Pat Brown is a New York-based comedian. Her album is called Sex Tape.
Episode scoring by Jeremy Bloom, Isaac Jones, and Lawrence Grey ("The St. Marks Shake"). Theme by Alexander Overington.
4/30/2017 • 29 minutes, 40 seconds
The Elephant in the Room
Gay Republicans say they’ve got Trump on speed dial. Is he picking up the phone?
— Dominic Holden is the site’s national LGBT reporter.
This episode is a co-production with BuzzFeed News.
Episode scoring by Jeremy Bloom, Tate Peterson ("Ragtime" and "Mid Day Blues"), UltraCat ("Disco High") and James Pants ("Cha Cha Demo"). Theme by Alexander Overington.
4/23/2017 • 35 minutes, 6 seconds
I Had No Idea
We were in a relationship?
— Peter Bresnan is a radio producer in New York.
— Shakina Nayfack was accompanied by pianist and composer Julianne Wick Davis.
Episode scoring by Isaac Jones and U.S. Army Blues ("Barbara"). Theme by Alexander Overington.
4/16/2017 • 39 minutes, 46 seconds
Like Two Ken Dolls Being Smashed Together
When sex ed doesn't cover it, you've got to figure stuff out on your own.
— Tobin looks for "the first Asian top."
— Sarah Lu reconnects with a woman from her past.
Episode scoring by Jeremy Bloom, Arne Bang Huseby ("Stormy Blues"), Jalen Warshowsky ("Dollar Theater"), Josh Woodward ("Once Tomorrow" and "Grey Snow"), Anamorphic Orchestra ("Taking Dark Matter Lightly"), Joey Pecoraro ("Strong Vibes"), and Little Glass Men ("Kelp Grooves"). Theme by Alexander Overington.
4/10/2017 • 36 minutes, 24 seconds
Hello, Hello
Come out. Repeat. Record.
— Kathy has to come out to her mom over and over again. This time she wants to know her mom understands.
— Tobin's dad gets help from five fabulous friends.
Episode scoring by Jeremy Bloom, Broke For Free ("Hella" and "Add And"), UltraCat ("Disco High"), Wake ("Nick Beat"), Little Glass Men ("Kelp Grooves"), and Co.fee ("Calabash"). Theme by Alexander Overington.
4/9/2017 • 29 minutes, 27 seconds
Nancy: It's a Podcast, Not a Person
BFFs Kathy Tu and Tobin Low are super queer, super fun and ready to take over your podcast feed. Join them for provocative stories and frank conversations about the LGBTQ experience today. Coming out April 9.