Surface Level
A weekly show hosted by longtime friends Jordan, Damon, and Tony, explores the complexities of the Black and Queer experience. Through personal stories, dynamic guests, and curious conversations, this series offers a nuanced understanding of identity, race, and sexuality that goes beyond the surface level, with a touch of humor and a fearless willingness to challenge the norm.
This week we end our mini series Have We Lost the Plot? — a stripped-down, at-home series born out of group chat energy and that constant feeling of: what is actually happening right now? In this conversation, we ask if always being online helps our social lives and careers, or do we feel trapped in a cage? You can join the conversation on socials and let us know your thoughts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
This week we continue our mini series Have We Lost the Plot? — a stripped-down, at-home series born out of group chat energy and that constant feeling of: what is actually happening right now? Next we wonder if AI is really able to meet human emotional and intimate needs? You can join the conversation on socials and let us know your thoughts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
This week we continue our mini series Have We Lost the Plot? — a stripped-down, at-home series born out of group chat energy and that constant feeling of: what is actually happening right now? Next we ask if the soft life a choice or a luxury we can’t all afford? You can join the conversation on socials and let us know your thoughts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
This week we continue our mini series Have We Lost the Plot? — a stripped-down, at-home series born out of group chat energy and that constant feeling of: what is actually happening right now? Next we wonder what the biggest concerns are heading into the 2026 midterm elections? You can join the conversation on socials and let us know your thoughts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
We are kicking off something a little different. We’re calling it, Have We Lost the Plot? — a stripped-down, at-home series born out of group chat energy and that constant feeling of: what is actually happening right now? First up we ask is sharing our relationships online necessary representation or performance? You can join the conversation on socials and let us know your thoughts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Support REVOLT Podcast Network & Vote Surface Level Podcast For the 2026 Webby Award's Visit the link below and search Surface Level to vote today! https://vote.webbyawards.com/PublicVoting#/2026/apps-software-immersive/app-excellence/accessibility-inclusion Damon and Tony are curious — if so many people say they support trans rights, why does it still feel like trans people are under attack? In honor of Trans Day of Visibility, we sit down with Tori Cooper, Director of Community Engagement at the Human Rights Campaign, to unpack the gap between awareness and action. From visibility and safety to what real support actually looks like, this conversation challenges us to think beyond performative allyship and show up with intention. You can join the conversation on socials and let us know your thoughts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Support REVOLT Podcast Network & Vote Surface Level Podcast For the 2026 Webby Award's Visit the link below and search Surface Level to vote today! https://vote.webbyawards.com/PublicVoting#/2026/apps-software-immersive/app-excellence/accessibility-inclusion Damon, Jordan, and Tony are curious – are you ready to go beyond the surface level? We’re winding down our 11th (!!) season with the classic tradition of responding to questions from our Surface Level insiders. We’re also starting a new tradition of the Surface Level Commenter Awards! This episode is a fun little after party where we crown the messiest commenter, hottest take, most confused comment and the biggest award, most curious commenter. Plus, Jordan and Tony try their hand at guessing Black famous trivia, and we all know how that goes with those two. So buckle up and come have some fun with us to close out the year on a high note. You can join the conversation on socials and let us know your thoughts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Support REVOLT Podcast Network & Vote Surface Level Podcast For the 2026 Webby Award's Visit the link below and search Surface Level to vote today! https://vote.webbyawards.com/PublicVoting#/2026/apps-software-immersive/app-excellence/accessibility-inclusion Damon, Jordan and Tony are curious – Is being mainstream famous better than being Black famous? In today’s social media era many are in pursuit of some type of fame. But while some rise to new heights, they often get questions and judgement about who they’re in it for and why. The Surface Level crew sits down with multi-hyphenate creator Brandon Kyle Goodman to dig into identity, visibility, and whether mainstream approval is overrated. You can join the conversation on socials and let us know your thoughts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Support REVOLT Podcast Network & Vote Surface Level Podcast For the 2026 Webby Award's Visit the link below and search Surface Level to vote today! https://vote.webbyawards.com/PublicVoting#/2026/apps-software-immersive/app-excellence/accessibility-inclusion Damon, Jordan and Tony are curious – How much can you respect your family members who don’t respect your queerness? Being Black & Queer in a place like New York, it can be very easy to curate our lives to only interact with people who respect our queerness. But we can’t always do that with family, and in Black families respecting elders is important too, sometimes regardless of how much they respect your queerness. The internet’s favorite viral queer chef William Coleman joins us for this intimate conversation about how to survive the cookout. The group talks about the moments they’ve let slide, the moments they’ve had to stand up to family, and how they each approach this tricky question of respect. You can join the conversation on socials and let us know your thoughts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Support REVOLT Podcast Network & Vote Surface Level Podcast For the 2026 Webby Award's Visit the link below and search Surface Level to vote today! https://vote.webbyawards.com/PublicVoting#/2026/apps-software-immersive/app-excellence/accessibility-inclusion Damon, Jordan and Tony are curious – Can white gay men ever truly belong in Black queer spaces? Now this one’s gonna have the girls fired up! We’ve all seen them. They pop up from time to time. Sometimes causing confusion, sometimes controversy, and sometimes delight. White gays are at the Black functions, so how do we feel about them? In this episode, the hosts talk about their feelings on this white presence, what white allyship looks like to them, how to tell the good ones apart, whether some spaces should be homogenous, and yes, who they think is Blue Eye’d Soul. Join us for this ki and feel free to chime in online too. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Damon, Jordan and Tony are curious – Is prioritizing Black joy really an act of defiance? “Joy as Resistance” is a nice catchphrase that’s been taking the Black internet by storm. The phrase has mass appeal and some say political strategy to it too, but in the face of extreme threats to personal liberties and even freedom of speech, is it the strategy really appropriate for this moment? Brooklyn’s powerhouse viral city councilman Chi Osse joins us to dig into these questions. He talks about his strategy for this moment as an elected official, while the hosts question their level of involvement as citizens. The conversation even delves into questions of personal liberty vs collective liberation when thinking of the growing movement of Black people going from escapism to actually leaving the US altogether. You can join the conversation on socials and let us know your thoughts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Damon, Jordan and Tony are curious – Does hiding sex make us safer or is it more dangerous? Many people hide sexual encounters in order to control and manage public opinion, or just because they’re a private lady. But does that secrecy open us up to more trauma? In this especially dynamic episode, the hosts dive into this topic with a pastor and LGBTQ ally, Kristian A Smith. They get into the up and down sides of being private about sex and Kristian opens up about his thoughts on why the church should heal its relationship to sex and sexuality. We getting vulnerable y’all! You can join the conversation on socials and let us know your thoughts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Damon, Jordan and Tony are curious – Can you be too loud and proud? We’ve all either had those moments or seen those moments where we or someone in our orbit is wearing their queerness out loud but very hyped up. They’re usually causing a scene of some sort, whether in person or online. And for some that’s always an expression of freedom whereas other queers feel it works against the community. On today’s episode, Broadway and reality TV star Robert Hartwell joins us to unpack the dilemma of if it’s possible to be too loud and proud. Respectability buzzwords aside, the question forces hosts and our guest to outline what freedom looks like to them, what they consider obnoxious or harmful representation and why. Buckle up for this one! You can join the conversation on socials and let us know your thoughts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Damon, Jordan and Tony are curious – Who’s to blame for the mainstreaming of Black language? We’ve all seen the ways that Black slang and especially Black queer lingo becomes everyone’s slang on the internet. Non-Black people have been monetizing off of our twang and sass, and now Republicans are even coopting and weaponizing words like Woke against our communities. All of this can feel like some inevitable uncontrollable charade at times. But there are still people behind these choices. In this unmissable season opener we’re digging into who needs to be stopped in this exploitative system and how. You can join the conversation on socials and let us know your thoughts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
<p><strong>Damon, Jordan, and Tony are curious – what's your experience been on the apps?</strong></p><p>We are excited to welcome our friences Greg, Tylan & Hector to our Surface Level family. They help us explore different end uses for apps like Jack'd because we are way more than hookups. Whether is research for the social scene of a new city or just casual conversation the apps have become a meeting ground for our community.</p><p>We know a lot, but we don’t know it all, so join
<p><strong>Damon, Jordan, and Tony are curious – where’s the line between secrecy and privacy?</strong></p><p>This National Black HIV/AIDS Day, we had the privilege of hosting Harlem Stage Presents: Surface Level Live, powered by Gilead Sciences. We are grateful for those who were able to join us in person, and we’re beyond excited to share the experience digitally with our Surface Level Insiders who couldn’t be there.</p><p>During Part 2 of this special series, we are excited to welcome produce
<p><strong>Damon, Jordan, and Tony are curious – is Queer pleasure a privilege?</strong></p><p>This National Black HIV/AIDS Day, we had the privilege of hosting Harlem Stage Presents: Surface Level Live, powered by Gilead Sciences. We are grateful for those who were able to join us in person, and we’re beyond excited to share the experience digitally with our Surface Level Insiders who couldn’t be there.</p><p>During Part 1 of this special series, we explored our connection to pleasure in the ag
<p><strong>Damon, Jordan, and Tony are curious – are you ready to go beyond the surface level?</strong></p><p>We end our growth journey and 10th season with a tradition we hold dear—responding to questions and comments from you, our Surface Level Insiders. We laugh, share personal insights, and push back against the inquiries and opinions shared throughout the season. We can't wait to share more parts of this journey with you. Until next time… stay curious.</p><p>We know a lot, but we don’t
<p><strong>Damon, Jordan, and Tony are curious – has access to the internet reduced the quality of art?</strong></p><p>In Season 1, we explored the desire for people to use the internet to stunt and fabricate their lives. In this episode, we take that conversation further by examining the positive and negative effects the internet has had on art. We're thrilled to welcome Durand Bernarr, Grammy-nominated singer, songwriter, and artist, to our Surface Level Family. Together, we explore the im
<p><strong>Damon, Jordan, and Tony are curious – can freedom and the need for validation coexist?</strong></p> <p>In Season 1, we explored authenticity and living in our truths was interrogated over and over again, and today we’re going to have a conversation about how perception and validation shape us—and the freedom we find when we finally let go and “release ya wiggle.” We’re thrilled to welcome Jonté Moaning true trailblazer in dance, fashion, and queer artistry.to the Surface Level family.