LGBTI Conversations

Critically acclaimed Nashville-based LGBTQ+ indie-rock artist Abby Nissenbaum

Critically acclaimed, Nashville-based LGBTQ+ indie-rock artist Abby Nissenbaum and premiering her highly anticipated EP Don't Want to Cry. Nissenbaum writes from the heart, exploring themes of depression, isolation, and heartbreak, but anchored by messages of hope, empowerment, and community. Complemented by her effortlessly honest and raw vocal delivery, Nissenbaum offers relatable, honest and heartfelt lyricism amidst catchy melodies, beautifully contrasting the energetic indie-rock soundscape which surrounds her. A lifelong musician, classically-trained soprano, and musical theater performer, Nissenbaum pursued a career in social psychology and data analytics before rediscovering her music roots during her time as graduate student at the University of Memphis. Her 2023 debut EP, "Unreliable Narrator," swept international press with accolades from Wonderland, Earmilk, Notion, Clash, Psychedelic Baby Mag, Today in Nashville, andShe Makes Music UK among others. Nissenbaum's emotive, bright vocal performances blend with contemporary indie-alt rock elements to create a compelling and unique sound worthy of the acclaim she is receiving.

Ann Russo was raised in a queer household in the 1980s

Ann Russo was raised in a queer household in the 1980s and 1990s, Russo witnessed firsthand both the warmth of family acceptance and the societal hostility directed at LGBTQ+ people. These early experiences shaped her lifelong commitment to advocacy and healing. She earned a Master's in Theology with a focus on queer perspectives and liberation, which she integrates with her clinical expertise to help clients reconcile spirituality and identity. Ann also hosting A podcast sharing powerful insights on mental health, sex positivity, and religious trauma. Listen to Ann's full podcast episodes here.

Get ready to roll out the red carpet! Join Justin Hill as he chats about all things LGBTQ+

Alethea Crimmins is here to sprinkle some daily motivation into your life. Embrace the power of positivity

Alethea Crimmins is renowned for her daily motivational mantras, including empowering phrases like "Be Great In Their Face" and "Have A Good Day On Purpose," each punctuated with her signature "Ya' Welcome," Crimmins has established the influential brand and podcast "Pimpin' Positivity," dedicated to uplifting millions across the globe. Recognized and reposted by influential figures such as Madonna, Viola Davis, and Rihanna, Crimmins is not just a motivational speaker but a global influencer shaping a movement of empowerment, self-love, and positivity. Her new single & Video release of "Shine" is a vibrant anthem of self-confidence, pride, and unapologetic self-expression. This infectious dance track empowers listeners to break free from the chains of self-doubt, loneliness, and fear of failure, urging them to embrace and celebrate every facet of who they are. With its electrifying energy, "Shine" invites you to step out of the shadows and illuminate the world with your true colors.

Aaron Kelly From The Pulpit To The Spotlight Has Transformed His Life with pride

Aaron Kelly once lived a double life as an Anglican pastor who was encouraged to "pray the gay away.'' After undergoing harmful conversion therapies and being forced to marry, he gave himself permission to live life authentically. From his upbringings in a Christian family and schooling to a deep involvement in both the Baptist and Pentecostal churches, he now helps others find acceptance, hope and a place in the new community.

Celebrating The Beauty Of Being Intersex With Gigi Raven Wilbur.

Gigi Raven Wilbur was born in 1955 in Houston, Texas. At birth, Gigi's genitalia did not fit the standard definitions for male or female bodies (a condition known as being intersex or a hermaphrodite). Within days, Gigi's anatomy was "normalized" via surgery, and Gigi was defined as male. Today, Gigi identifies as intersex, and uses the title Ladyboy to offset the lack of pronouns for hermaphrodites. Growing up, Gigi struggled with the strict gender roles forced upon her by family, coaches, and classmates. She also suffered from severe learning disabilities. Told she would never go to college, Gigi worked stringing barbed wire on ranches in north and east Texas, until a fellow ranch hand convinced Gigi to give college a shot. Despite being forced to take a foreign language, something experts said would be impossible for Gigi, she graduated with a BA in Philosophy, and later earned a master's degree in social work. During college, Gigi finally understood that she was intersex. Armed with this new knowledge, Gigi decided it was time to come out, all the way, as dyslexic, ADHD, intersex, and bisexual. Since then,Gigi has been an outspoken activist for the bisexual and intersex communities. After co-producing AfterHours, a radio program about human sexuality, Gigi created an iTunes podcast called Adult Bedtime Stories to help create a more sex-positive world through adult sexual education and BDSM performance art. Gigi has also served on BiNet USA's board of directors, and helped established Celebrate Bisexuality Day in 1999. That year, Gigi was awarded the AIB Globe Award for outstanding service to the bisexual community worldwide. Gigi is also deeply involved with the BDSM world. Today, she advocates for the healing, cathartic, and spiritual power of BDSM as founder and Sacred Harlot of Aphrodite's Temple, a modern-day sex temple which provides sex-positive education and a sex-positive sacred play space for adults. Gigi's book is called The Dominant's Handbook: an Intimate Guide to BDSM Play. Gigi also wrote the essay Walking in Shadows: Third Gender and Spirituality, about her intersex identity.

Michael Waugh - It's More Than Gay Pride, It's Life

Michael Waugh is a singer and songwriter, for sure. One of the best, who fellow writers look at with awe: ARIA and Golden Guitar winner Fanny Lumsden says that "his lyrics stop me in my tracks": the great Eric Bogle labels him "a gifted songwriter … a compassionate and insightful human being". He is an out and proud singer/songwriter whose coming out happened well into adulthood, a marriage and a successful career, in an industry that has always favoured safety over bravery. Then there's the teacher and mentor who takes that role seriously. "There are young people for whom I'm responsible and where I'm needed but I didn't have role models when I was growing up," he says. "I have a responsibility to represent them and speak my truth because that contributes to a world where others can speak as well. You can't be what you can't see." Yes, all of the above. That is Michael Waugh, and that is all through his new album, Beauty & Truth, which looks at history and looks at today and defiantly declares, We Are Here; which faces the brutal truth of fractured families and the wounds of Father's Day, and treats with compassion the complicated lives of boys-not-yet-men too easily labelled Young And Dumb; deals unflinchingly with a culture not just antagonistic to half its population in its many Songs About Women, but destructive to the other half who hate themselves and want someone to Fix Me. Yet it's only part of the story of this record because "at the heart of that is being in love" and that changes everything. "I think love between gay men is often complex, especially of my generation, because we come from a place of trauma," Waugh says. "The journey into the record is you can't experience some of the love that I talk about in Out and Playlist without comprehending all of that [trauma that came before]. Out of all of that, the love comes." And the love and the songs don't go quietly. Right from the start, Beauty & Truth, tracked with a live band in the studio of his long-time producer Shane Nicholson, was a record that didn't so much break from the folk and country-based sound of his previous work as build on it. Build up from it, into a record that doesn't see boundaries.

Jeffrey Masters Is The History Keeper of Stories For The LGBTIQ+ Community

Jeffrey Masters specialize in long-form interviews, documenting the stories of the LGBTQ community on LGBTQ&A podcast, His interest in his guests' stories, as well as his encouraging manner, allows him to get beyond the surface whether he's interviewing activists or members of the entertainment industry." Jeffrey is the Senior Producer of the New Yorker Radio Hour and the host/creator of the LGBTQ&A podcast (recommended by The New York Times). The most recent season of LGBTQ&A featured LGBTQ+ elders, including Rep. Barney Frank, Charles Silverstein, Tracey 'Africa' Norman, and Angela Davis

Stan Herman is 95 years young and a remarkable openly gay man who's lived a fascinating life!

Stan Herman is 95 years young and a remarkable openly gay man who's lived a fascinating life. Born in Brooklyn, he grew up in New Jersey, he was also in the Army and stationed in Europe during the Korean. Stan has long been involved as an activist, fashion designer and fashion leader. For his first fully produced first fashion show, he presented a fashion-first collection featuring 'faux fur' on the open-air runway in the Central Park Zoo, rather than real fur. Stan has had an extensive and varied career at the center of American Fashion on Seventh Avenue, including 16 years as president of the Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA) for 16 years, as well as his years of accessible, casual and "street wear" designs. Stan has shared his life in a 40-year relationship with his partner and novelist Gene Horowitz. Their lives intertwined in 1953 and continued through the AIDS epidemic that impacted their personal and professional lives. When Gene died suddenly in 1992 – Stan determined how to continue and move ahead with a life on his own over the next 30 plus years of his engaged and engaging life. Since 1980, Stan has designed corporate uniforms TWA, United, Jet Blue, FedEx, McDonalds, Amtrak, Acela, Central Park Conservancy, and Sandals Resorts. In addition, he's enjoyed a successful, 30-year stint on-air with QVC – with his ever-popular women's leisure and comfort-wear designs. Just when he thought life would slow down, he released his new book Uncross Your Legs A Life in Fashion and become an author at age 93.

Gary Lonesborough Could Not See Himself In The Books He Read As A Queer Aboriginal Teenager, So He Decided To Write One Instead.

Gary Lonesborough is a Yuin writer, who grew up on the Far South Coast of NSW as part of a large and proud Aboriginal family. Gary was always writing as a child and continued his creative journey when he moved to Sydney to study at film school. He grew up a massive Kylie Minogue and North Queensland Cowboys fan. Gary has vast experience working in both Aboriginal health, including the disability sector and youth justice system as well as the Australian film industry, working on the feature film adaptation of Jasper Jones. His 2021 debut novel, THE BOY FROM THE MISH quickly became a best seller and short listed in both the literary awards and children's book of the year awards before getting published in America under the title of READY WHEN YOU ARE. His much anticipated second novel, WE DIDN'T THINK IT THROUGH was selected as one of the Best Young Adult books in 2023. The story navigates the challenges of racism, family and the youth justice system.

Sue-Ann Post Is Comedian & Writer & Self Described As Australia's Favourite Six-Foot Lesbian.

Sue-Ann Post is an Australian comedian and writer and Self described as "Australia's favourite six-foot, lesbian, ex-Mormon, diabetic, comedian and writer", Post has performed as a stand-up comedian internationally and throughout Australia since 1991. Her debut stand-up comedy stage show, "A Bit of a Postscript" toured internationally and received awards at the Melbourne Fringe Arts Festival and the Wellington Arts Festival, and was adapted to become a best-selling book. Sue-Ann has also worked as a shelf stacker, housemaid, shop assistant and printer's assistant. And one memorable winter in Melbourne she worked as a wood splitter at a woodyard for a guy named Blue. She has written an autobiography A Bit of a Postscript (1997) and a book The Confession of an Unrepentant Lesbian Ex-Mormon which is about her journey to Salt Lake City, Utah, United States, to deliver a talk to a group of Mormon and ex-Mormon gays and lesbians. A documentary about her journey, The Lost Tribe, aired on ABC's Compass.She wrote a weekly column for the Melbourne Age for three years and was nominated for the 2002 Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission's Print Media Award. Her articles have also appeared in the West Australian, the Freethinker (UK) and Versal (The Netherlands)

Charless Queer Book club LIE WITH ME (Bonus Episode)

Our new regular podcast guest Charlee AKA CHARLEES BOOK CLUB A book-obsessed guy from Australia who tells you what queer books to read next! fine out more @ https://linktr.ee/grandpasbookclub?utm_source=linktree_profile_share

Alfie Arcuri An Australian Singer-Songwriter Best Known For Winning The Fifth Season Of The Voice Australia In 2016.

Alfie Arcuri realized he was gay at age eleven, he came out to his family at age twenty four and then came out again on national television at twenty six. His fear of coming out was once so great he prepared himself for the reality that his Italian catholic family may not accept him at all. He was working as an architect and felt he couldn't even sing until he came out of the closet. Three years later and Alfie found his voice and went on to became a household name in 2016 when he was crowded the season five winner of The Voice Australia. A win he shared with his TV coach and mentor, Delta Goodrem. His heart felt covers of Zayne's 'Pillowtalk', Sam Smith 'Lay Me down' and 'Alive' by Sia cemented his place as a fan favourite both with teenage girls and gay men. Alfie went on to sign a worldwide deal with Universal Music and his debut album 'Zenith' peaked at #5 on the ARIA music charts. The following year Alfie released his most personal song 'If they only knew' about having to hide his relationship with his boyfriend from others. His follow up single 'Love Is Love' became a gay anthem during the time of Australia's marriage equality campaign. In 2019 Alfie was back on TV screens, first as a top five contender to represent Australia at the Eurovision Song Contest and in 2020 Alfie co-wrote the song 'Running' for the Cypriot Eurovision entry. He returned to the world stage again in 2023 to represent San Marino and proudly qualified for the final. In his spare time Alfie loves to travel, cook, preform at gay pride events and spend time with his French Bulldogs Susie and Gary. He also returned to the pop charts with a new sound and five new tracks on his EP, Love Is A Dangerous Drug including an infectious dance track 'Devil's Lips' and a sultry cover of Cyndi Lauper's hit 'I Drove All Night'.

Chris Lani McAllister Is Dedicated In Showing The World A Positive Side To The Transgender Community Through Fun Laughter And Enjoyment!

Chris Lani McAllister is the Co-host and producer and comedian of regular Sydney event Queers of Joy ,which provides a platform for trans and gender-diverse performers. Chris who identifies as non-binary and believes gender to be an expression, not just something assigned at birth. Chris is dedicated in showing the world a positive side to the transgender community through fun laughter and enjoyment!

David Kennerley Went From Night Club Flyer Hoarder To LGBTIQ+ Historian Without Him Even Realising.

DAVID KENNERLEY is a journalist specializing in LGBTQ culture. For nearly two decades, he has been an Arts & Entertainment reporter for Gay City News, A New York City based LGBTQ newspaper and website. David's work has been widely published in other outlets including Metro New York, Genre magazine, and Bravo TV. Originally from the farmlands of Pennsylvania, David moved to NYC and became addicted to nightlife of the 1990s, where he became a club flyer hoarder and an unexpected expert on queer nightlife. Massive dance clubs like the Roxy, Palladium, Limelight, and Tunnel drew fiercely passionate crowds and when it was time to leave, promoters handed out flyers for the next week's parties. Most people tossed them on the sidewalk, but David saved each and every one. Now with a collection of over 200 eye-popping flyers, not only visually stunning but tell a story of a unique movement in the history of LGBTQ communities, reeling from the AIDS crisis and promoting nightspots as a refuge. David Kennerley's book, GETTING IN showcases the queer nightclub culture and provides a rare look inside a historic decade in gay history and culture.

Reece Carter Allowed His Spooky Imagination To Run Wild Yet Again! (bonus Halloween Episode)

Reece Carter is an Australian fantasy author who's debut book, A Girl Called Corpse was first published in Australia and then internationally in the UK, Italy, Spain & Norway. It has gone on to become a beloved and bestselling children's novel. Since then Reece allowed his imagination to run wild yet again to release his spooky follow up book, The Lonely Lighthouse of Elston-Fright. Reece was raised in rural Western Australia and began writing short stories whilst in High School. He now resides in Sydney with his flat haired retriever, Hagrid who was inspiration for a character in his books. love for stories especially those filled with whimsy, magic, and a little bit of weirdness began as a child growing up in rural Western Australia. There was an unfortunate lack of witches and ghosts on his family farm, and so Reece had to find them in books instead. It wasn't until high school though that Reece thought to try his hand at writing his own stories. He loved it, and never looked back. Reece now lives in Sydney. When not reading or writing, he can usually be found talking to his dog, Hagrid, and hoping that one of these days Hagrid might decide to talk back.

Danielle Laidley Amazing AFL Career & Personal Life Were Never What They Seemed On The Surface.

Danielle Laidley is the most prominent transgender person in Australia AKA Dean Laidley who played 151 games for West Coast Eagles and North Melbourne football clubs, winning an AFL premiership with the Kangaroos in 1996. She became one of the youngest senior coaches ever at 36, coaching North Melbourne for 149 games across seven seasons. Her amazing career and personal life were never what they seemed on the surface. Danielle faced a private and lifelong battle with gender dysphoria and that constant struggle with her identity had led to legal troubles and addiction issues. Her transition was publicly exposed without her consent by the St Kilda police when photos were taken and sadly distributed publicly, but this was just the start of her incredible journey. Danielle's captivating life story is now a documentary, Two Tribes is now streaming on Stan or you can read all about it, in her revealing memoir Don't look away.

Eric Marcus LGBTIQA+ Historian Author & Podcast Host

Eric Marcus is the founder and host of the award-winning Making Gay History podcast, which mines his decades-old audio archive of rare interviews — conducted for his oral history book of the same name about the LGBTQ+ civil rights movement. Eric is also an author of a dozen books including Is It A Choice?, Why Suicide?, and Breaking the Surface, A #1 New York Times bestselling autobiography of Olympic diving champion Greg Louganis. He is the founder and chair emeritus of the Stonewall 50 Consortium and a founding board member of the American LGBTQ+ Museum.

Jonathan Hosking AKA Miss Betty Confetti didn't just step out of the closet, he came out in fabulous style & became a drag queen sensation.

As a child questioning his sexuality, his parents taught him the word gay, means happy and this lesson has come full circle since Jonathan has come out as a proud gay man, found his decade long partner and gave life to his glamorous drag persona, Miss Betty Confetti. Jonathan went into his local costume store to try on a super hero outfit for an upcoming fancy dress party and instead of the obvious Superman costume, he left the store inspired to dress as another famous super hero, Jupiter from Sailor Moon. This was the moment Jonathan allowed himself to express a new side of his personality and became Betty Confetti, one of Bathurst newest baby queens. Betty perfected her act as a finalist of Australia's got drag and helped to create a local thriving drag scene as well as creating Bathurst first and very own Mardi Gras parade. Betty Confetti went on to create headlines as one of the recent story time drag queens who's upcoming Goulburn gig was cancelled as a result of worldwide negative press, hateful social media comments and a personal threat. Find out how a local community fought back and welcomed Drag story time to their small town and allowed Betty's own courage, uniqueness, nerve and talent to shine and rain down, just like confetti.

Award Winning Author Will Kostakis (Pride month bonus episode)

Will Kostakis is an award-winning author for young adults. He's been at it fifteen years, but his mum insists it's just a phase and any day now, he'll pursue a real career. As a high school student, Will won Sydney Morning Herald Young Writer of the Year for a collection of short stories. He also signed his first book deal and published his first novel, Loathing Lola at only nineteen years old. Will has since contributed to numerous anthologies, including the ABIA Award-winning Begin, End, Begin: A #LoveOzYA Anthology as well as his contemporary novels, The First Third and The Sidekicks. In 2020 Will was awarded the Maurice Saxby Award by the School Library Association of New South Wales for his service to children's and young adult literature. His latest novel, We Could Be Something is a wonderful story of two young men, each on a journey of self-discovery. There stories converge on the same Sydney street and explains how our dreams shapes us and what they cost us.