Category Archives: Featured Guest

01Sep/23

Tate Barkley

Featured Guest, , , ,

September 1, 2023

It gives us great pleasure to present a Season 8, Episode 37 Interview – Tate Barkley

Tate Barkley shares his memoir Sunday Dinners, Moonshine, and Men, plus why people wanted to hear the ending, and reveals the trials in his life that lead him to learning to forgive.

Follow and support:

Mentioned in this episode:

Bio:

Tate Barkley carried the burden of shame for years, stemming from poverty, addiction, and the struggle of being a closeted gay man. Through Alcoholics Anonymous, he found sobriety and now seeks to inspire others by sharing his transformative journey. His memoir, releasing this month, unveils his troubled relationship with his father and his path to overcoming shame and a scarcity mindset. Tate reflects on his challenging childhood from rural North Carolina to poverty in Central Florida, and their move to 1970s Houston. He details his battle with repressed sexuality and escalating drinking, leading to rock bottom. Tate’s story resonates as he pursues self-acceptance and inner peace. A Houston-based attorney, speaker, author, and educator, Tate lives with his husband, Anson, and their dog, Emerson.

This Podcast episode is available on these channels (in order alphabetical):
Apple PodcastsGoogle PlayiHeartRadioSpotifyTuneIn

Or Listen Right Here:

Or Watch on YouTube:

[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=djhDlK8QCaI[/embedyt]

25Aug/23

C.H. Williams

Featured Guest, , , ,

August 25, 2023

It gives us great pleasure to present a Season 8, Episode 36 Interview – C.H. Williams

C.H. Williams joins us to share his love of the dark side of fairy tales that have a radiance of queer joy! We discuss his character-driven works, the random-factor he used to write One of a Thousand Names, and the multi-era span of his overarching Merchant Series!

Follow and support:

Mentioned in this episode:

Bio:

C.H. Williams is a fantasy author and illustrator living in the Mid-Atlantic with his husband, a very spunky dog, and two troublesome cats. With a repertoire of character-driven high fantasy novels, his writing couples the darker side of fairy tales with the radiance and joy of queer love. When not causing trouble or spending time doing foundry work with his husband, he can be found walking in the woods and listening to music. Before delving into the realms of magic, he worked as a classical musician, actively performing and conducting research about musicians’ relationship to gender. He has since pivoted to legal work during the day and writing dark, contemplative fantasy at night.
His writing touches on the soft, small moments of magic made when we cultivate our gardens amid the storms, and on the immensity of experience as he explores character-driven stories that play out realistic decisions and consequences of a fantastical universe.

This Podcast episode is available on these channels (in order alphabetical):
Apple PodcastsGoogle PlayiHeartRadioSpotifyTuneIn

Or Listen Right Here:

OR Watch on YouTube:

[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PO0lf5ia7l0[/embedyt]

18Aug/23

Willie Carver

Featured Guest, , , ,

August 18, 2023

It gives us great pleasure to present a Season 8, Episode 35 Interview – Willie Carver

Willie Carver joins us to share his passion for teaching, his experience as Kentucky Teacher of the Year, his love of Appalachia, and his book Gay Poems for Red States!

Follow and support:

Mentioned in this episode:

Bio:
Willie Edward Taylor Carver Jr. has spent his entire life dedicated to student success. He holds degrees in French and English from Morehead State University, where he focused his studies on advocacy for students, particularly first generation, Appalachian, and minoritized students. He began his work in eastern Kentucky, later studying and teaching in France. In 2022, Carver was named Kentucky Teacher of the Year and Ambassador to the Kentucky Department of Education, where he created a platform of inclusion and advocacy for LGBTQ+, BIPOC, and Appalachian students. His work has been published in Kentucky Teacher, Education Week, and EdPost. Carver’s story has been featured on NBC, PBS, NPR, and other news outlets.

This Podcast episode is available on these channels (in order alphabetical):
Apple PodcastsGoogle PlayiHeartRadioSpotifyTuneIn

Or Listen Right Here:

OR Watch on YouTube:

[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hqAo9eUaOF4[/embedyt]

15Aug/23

David S. Pederson

Featured Guest, , , , , , , ,

August 15, 2023

It gives us great pleasure to present a Season 8, Episode 35 Release Day Short – David S. Pederson

David S. Pederson takes time out of his busy release day to share his latest novel, Murder at the Oasis with us!

Follow and support:

Mentioned in this episode:

Bio:
A two-time Lambda finalist, David S. Pederson has written many short stories and poems and is passionate about mysteries, old movies, and crime novels. When not reading or writing, he enjoys working out, and studying classic ocean liners, floor plans, and historic homes.

This Podcast episode is available on these channels (in order alphabetical):

Apple PodcastsGoogle PlayiHeartRadioSpotifyStitcherTuneIn

Or Listen Right Here:

OR Watch on YouTube:

July 1, 2022

It gives us great pleasure to present Season 7, Episode 26 – David S. Pederson + Our Review of season three Love, Victor!

David S. Pederson shares his two 1940s sleuths with us, and we then discuss his recent novel: Murder on Monte Vista, as well as his love of rendering floor plans and designs. Then Baz and Vance review season three of Love, Victor and share who won the week for them!

Follow and support:

Mentioned in this episode:

Bio:
David S. Pederson was born in Leadville, Colorado, where his father was a miner. Soon after, the family relocated to Wisconsin, where David grew up, attending high school and university, majoring in business and creative writing. Landing a job in retail, he found himself relocating to New York, Massachusetts, and eventually back to Wisconsin. He and his husband now reside in the sunny Southwest.

A two-time Lambda finalist, he has written many short stories and poems and is passionate about mysteries, old movies, and crime novels. When not reading or writing, David enjoys working out, and studying classic ocean liners, floor plans, and historic homes.

This Podcast episode is available on these channels (in order alphabetical):

Apple PodcastsGoogle PlayiHeartRadioSpotifyStitcherTuneIn

Or Listen Right Here:

OR Watch on YouTube:

[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qIbiAaaRWV8[/embedyt]

04Aug/23

Hamour Baika

Featured Guest, , , , , , ,

August 4, 2023

It gives us great pleasure to present Season 8, Episode 33: Hamour Baika

Hamour Baika shares his novel Stolen Moments of Joy! We talk about being kind to refugees because you have no way of knowing their circumstances, overcoming domestic violence, and finding happiness.

Follow and support Hamour:

Mentioned in this episode:

Bio:
Hamour Baika was born in Iran and lived in Ahwaz during his teen years. He wrote his first novella, a fan fiction piece about the alien creature E.T. at age 12. Baika has a master’s degree in human rights. He’s a painter and classical pianist, and he now lives in the Washington, DC, metropolitan area.

This Podcast episode is available on these channels (in order alphabetical):
Apple PodcastsGoogle PlayiHeartRadioSpotifyStitcherTuneIn

Or Listen Right Here:

OR Watch on YouTube:

[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PMc2MG4Fbv4[/embedyt]

28Jul/23

Mike Albo

Featured Guest, , , , ,

July 28, 2023

It gives us great pleasure to present Season 8, Episode 32: Mike Albo

Mike Albo shares his speculative romance, Another Dimension of Us! We talk science fiction & scifi, astral projection, time travel, and saving romance.

Follow and support Mike:

Mentioned in this episode:

Bio:
Mike Albo is the author of three novels and myriad magazine articles. He has written horoscopes, love advice, and was The Critical Shopper columnist for the New York Times. He also performs comedy shows, both solo and ensemble, has emcee’d for many galas and benefits, and is an interviewer in his own right!

This Podcast episode is available on these channels (in order alphabetical):
Apple PodcastsGoogle PlayiHeartRadioSpotifyStitcherTuneIn

Or Listen Right Here:

OR Watch on YouTube:

[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uHCT-2bxE5c[/embedyt]

21Jul/23

Juliet Kemp

Featured Guest, , ,

July 21, 2023

It gives us great pleasure to present Season 8, Episode 31: Juliet Kemp

Juliet Kemp shares the final book in their now-complete Marek series: The City Revealed. They discuss writing worlds where gender is a non-issue and explore final confrontations that don’t involve big sword battles!

Follow and support Juliet:

Mentioned in this episode:

Bio:
Juliet Kemp is a queer, non-binary, writer. They live in London by the river, with their partners, kid, and dog. The first book of their fantasy series, The Deep And Shining Dark, was on the Locus 2018 Recommended Reads list; the fourth and final book, The City Revealed, came out at the start of 2023. Their short fiction has appeared in venues including Uncanny, Analog, and Cast of Wonders, and they were short-listed for the WSFA Small Press Award 2020.

When not writing or child-wrangling, Juliet knits, indulges their fountain pen habit, and tries to fit an ever-increasing number of plants into a microscopic back garden.

This Podcast episode is available on these channels (in order alphabetical):
Apple PodcastsGoogle PlayiHeartRadioSpotifyStitcherTuneIn

Or Listen Right Here:

OR Watch on YouTube:

[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0o5oSeNprjI[/embedyt]

 

14Jul/23

E.M. Hamill

Featured Guest, , , , , , ,

July 14, 2023

It gives us great pleasure to present Season 8, Episode 30: E.M. Hamill

E.M. Hamill returns to share her now-complete trilogy: The Dali Tamareia Missions series. We discuss its new covers, its release on audio, and champion self-care with the reminder to get your butts scoped!

Follow and support Elisabeth:

Mentioned in this episode:

Bio:
Elisabeth “E.M.” Hamill is a nurse by day, unabashed geek, chocoholic, sci fi and fantasy novelist by nights, weekends, and whenever she can steal quality time with her laptop. She lives with her family, a dog, and a cat in the wilds of eastern suburban Kansas, where they fend off flying monkey attacks and prep for the zombie apocalypse.

This Podcast episode is available on these channels (in order alphabetical):
Apple PodcastsGoogle PlayiHeartRadioSpotifyStitcherTuneIn

Or Listen Right Here:

OR Watch on YouTube:

[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AYBatTqEgag[/embedyt]

 

April 24, 2020


It gives us great pleasure to welcome E.M. Hamill as the guest on Episode 265 – Get Your Butts Scoped!

EM Hamill brings laughs and fun as we discuss her current release, Peacemaker, and then delve into the life events that lead to her writing career.

Books mentioned in this episode:

Follow Lisa and support her work:

Bio:

Elisabeth “E.M.” Hamill is a nurse by day, unabashed geek, chocoholic, sci fi and fantasy novelist by nights, weekends, and wherever she can steal quality time with her laptop. She lives with her family, a dog, and a cat in the wilds of eastern suburban Kansas, where they fend off flying monkey attacks and prep for the zombie apocalypse.

This Podcast episode is available on these channels (in order alphabetical):
Apple PodcastsGoogle PlayiHeartRadioSpotifyStitcherTuneIn

Or right here:

 

07Jul/23

A.C. Burch

Featured Guest, , , , ,

July 7, 2023

It gives us great pleasure to present Season 8, Episode 29: A.C. Burch

A.C. Burch joins us to share his second HomePort Journals novel: The Distance Between Us. We talk about amateur sleuths, female impersonators, and chosen family.

Follow and support A.C.:

Mentioned in this episode:

Bio:
A.C. Burch loves to explore the diverse circumstances of individual lives. His storytelling revolves around themes of identity, sexuality, and personal evolution, often focusing on those who live outside the margins of conventionality.

A.C. Burch spends his leisure time gardening, capturing life’s moments through the camera lens and sailing Cape Cod Bay on his sloop, Nepenthe. A vocal advocate for diversity and freedom of expression in literature and the performing arts, he splits his time between Provincetown, MA, and South Beach, FL.

This Podcast episode is available on these channels (in order alphabetical):
Apple PodcastsGoogle PlayiHeartRadioSpotifyStitcherTuneIn

Or Listen Right Here:

OR Watch on YouTube:

[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AdzOD4rEDd4[/embedyt]

 

23Jun/23

Felice Cohen

Featured Guest, , , , , , ,

June 23, 2023

It gives us great pleasure to present Season 8, Episode 27: Felice Cohen + our “Matteo Lane: Hair Plugs & Heartache” review!

Felice Cohen joins us to share her memoir, Half-In: A Coming of Age Memoir of Forbidden Love, which leads us into a discussion of forbidden love and moving forward. We also dive into how she rewrites classic fairy tails with an LGBTQ+ twist with her The Fancy Tales. Then we review Matteo Lane: Hair Plugs and Heartache, and share what’s won our weeks!

Follow and support Felice:

Mentioned in this episode:

Bio:
Known nationally and internationally as the woman who lived in one of the world’s smallest apartments, Felice Cohen is the award-winning author of the bestselling books Half In: A Coming-of-Age Memoir of Forbidden Love, 90 Lessons for Living Large in 90 Square Feet (…or More) (inspired by the YouTube video of her tiny NYC studio with over 25 million views) and What Papa Told Me, about her grandfather’s life before, during and after the Holocaust.

Felice also writes The Fancy Tales, a modern day take on the versions of the classic fairy tales we grew up with. These tales take place in New York City with the magic happening in Central Park, and contain a wholesomely presented and slightly sophisticated LGBTQ+ twist. Felice splits her time between NYC and Cape Cod.

This Podcast episode is available on these channels (in order alphabetical):
Apple PodcastsGoogle PlayiHeartRadioSpotifyStitcherTuneIn

Or Listen Right Here:

OR Watch on YouTube:

[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ilrsUV-k2N8[/embedyt]