Life of Bi - podcast cover

Life of Bi

Hotter Projectwww.hotterproject.co.uk

From Ancient China to TikTok, dating dilemmas to Judith Butler, Life of Bi is your bi-monthly deep-dive into what it means to be a modern bisexual. Hosted by the Hotter Project duo Ell and Mary, You can find us @hotterproject on socials. 


Written, created and hosted by Ell Potter and Mary Higgins. Sound design, music and production by Tom Foskett-Barnes. Episodes 1-8 research by Eve Brandon, Robin Craig, Ell Potter and Mary Higgins. Episodes 1-8 produced by Ellie Keel. Graphic design by Madison Coby


You can support Life of Bi by becoming a Patreon! Find out more at www.patreon.com/lifeofbi

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Episodes

Episode 46: agony ankle #3 - date your mates?

A listener writes in to ask advice for dating their best friend. Ell digs out an old email from Mary immediately post their break up back in 2017, and Ell & Mary ask a bunch of their friends: is it ever a good idea to date your mates? Enjoying Life of Bi? Support us at: https://www.patreon.com/lifeofbi Find out more about our work: https://www.lifeofbi.co.uk/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information....

Jun 04, 202535 minSeason 1Ep. 46

Episode 45: 'common sense'

When transphobes call the definition of a woman ‘common sense’, what do they actually mean? We have little in common and, at least to us, they speak little sense. Following the Supreme Court’s judgment on trans rights, Mary uses Andrea Long Chu’s radical work ‘Females’ to try to understand what trans-exclusionary feminists feel they are ‘losing’ to trans people; while Ell explores studies that find commonality and solidarity between bi+ and trans communities. If you can, please don’t hesitate to...

May 21, 20251 hr 11 minSeason 1Ep. 45

Episode 44: queering the Quran with Lamya H

Lamya H is a queer muslim parent, and author of the memoir Hijab Butch Blues. Join Lamya, Ell and Mary for a conversation around Islamophobia, queer parenting and faith in justice. Support The Good Law Project legal challenge of the UK Supreme Court ruling on sex-based rights: https://goodlawproject.org/crowdfunder/supreme-court-human-rights-for-trans-people Enjoying Life of Bi? Support us at: https://www.patreon.com/lifeofbi Find out more about our work: https://www.lifeofbi.co.uk/ Hosted on Ac...

May 14, 20251 hr 4 minSeason 1Ep. 44

Episode 43: agony ankle #2 - fashion advice for Perturbed From Peckham

In this latest instalment of Life of Bi’s Agony Ankle segment we hear from a listener who’s struggling to work out what to wear to the Cloob. Luckily Ell and Mary are expert fashionistas (🤨), and touch on some big Qs while dispensing advice: what does ‘sexy’ actually mean when you’re asexual? Are we dressing for ourselves, or others? And what do you do when yer old friend dysmorphia means you don’t want to be perceived by anybody, at all?! Get involved; ask your own Agony Ankle question at hott...

Apr 16, 202530 minSeason 1Ep. 43

Episode 42: bisexuality under capitalism with Sophie K Rosa

Buckle up fellas! And ready yourselves for an excursive exploration of how bisexuality operates under capitalism. We’ve long been fans of Sophie K Rosa’s radical writings on modern love, intimacy, and relational structures, and were thrilled to find that they are a fellow bisexual — and listen to LOB. In this episode we wonder: are bisexuals too slippery to market to? what does capitalism stand to gain from ignoring fluidity? and — does bisexuality suffer from… a branding issue?! Enjoying Life o...

Mar 31, 202557 minSeason 1Ep. 42

Episode 41: agony ankle #1 - am i bi enough?

The first edition of Agony Ankle - where we answer your questions. Join us for today’s classic bi+ dilemma - am I actually bi? To write in with your own queries, dilemmas and goss - head to hotterproject.co.uk/lifeofbi . Enjoying Life of Bi? Support us at: https://www.patreon.com/lifeofbi Find out more about our work: https://www.lifeofbi.co.uk/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information....

Mar 21, 202522 minSeason 1Ep. 41

Episode 40: bi+ mental health with Bailey Merlin

Did you know it’s Bi+ Health Awareness Month? Oh, and did you know that bisexual people suffer from worse mental health than their lesbian and gay counterparts? Well, we didn’t either. Until we met Bailey. Join us for an eye-opening exploration in the under-researched field of bi+ mental health. Bailey is co-host of the Bisexual Killjoy podcast - go check it out! Enjoying Life of Bi? Support us at: https://www.patreon.com/lifeofbi Find out more about our work: https://www.lifeofbi.co.uk Hosted o...

Mar 05, 202551 minSeason 1Ep. 40

Episode 39: optics odyssey

A chill chat about the politics of optics snowballs into a deep dive on Judith Butler and the cosmos. Ell and Mary muse on what it means to be ‘culturally intelligible’ as bisexuals, and wonder if it really matters — finding solace in the work of theoretical physicist Chanda Prescod-Weinstein. Enjoying Life of Bi? Support us at: https://www.patreon.com/lifeofbi Find out more about our work: https://www.lifeofbi.co.uk/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information....

Feb 19, 202546 minSeason 1Ep. 39

Episode 38: four years later

It's been four years since Ell and Mary started working on Life of Bi. Join them for a big conversation about how their relationships to bisexuality have changed (or stayed the same) since then, touching on bi-erasure, biphobia, flux, doubt, belief -- and how all these make a Life of Bi. Enjoying Life of Bi? Support us at: https://www.patreon.com/lifeofbi Find out more about our work: https://www.lifeofbi.co.uk/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information....

Feb 03, 20251 hr 2 minSeason 1Ep. 38

Episode 37: queer friendship with Dr Monica Pearl

In this very special episode, Ell and Mary talk to veteran professor and HIV/AIDS activist Dr Monica Pearl about her experiences with Act Up and the unique and under-studied intricacies of queer friendship. A perfect antidote and/or accompaniment to the festive season when the emphasis is on “family time”. We met Monica at the Sexuality Summer School, a week of workshops, performances and roundtables held each year at the University of Manchester. Enjoying Life of Bi? Support us at: https://www....

Dec 26, 20241 hr 8 minSeason 1Ep. 37

Episode 36: "wedding" planning

change is in the air for Ell and Mary as they reflect on rituals surrounding moving out, moving in, and moving on. What starts as a ‘wedding planning’ episode turns into a call for ceremony in our everyday lives. Enjoying Life of Bi? Support us at: https://www.patreon.com/lifeofbi Find out more about our work: https://www.lifeofbi.co.uk/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information....

Nov 18, 202451 minSeason 1Ep. 36

Episode 35: queer marriage

After a summer full of wedding bells and disco dancing, Ell and Mary are inspired. But should they take sweet sweet matrimony with a pinch of anti-capitalist salt? Join them as they look at the history of gay marriage in the UK, exploring the choice at the heart of many a queer issue: assimilate, or resist... Enjoying Life of Bi? Support us at: https://www.patreon.com/lifeofbi Find out more about our work: https://www.lifeofbi.co.uk/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information....

Oct 31, 20241 hr 6 minSeason 1Ep. 35

Episode 34: neuroqueer

How can we understand the intersection between queerness and neurodiversity? Ell and Mary take a hard look at the existing research to try and understand why so many queers are neurospicy, and vice versa. Splitting up to look for clues, Ell turns her attention to the co-occurrence of ADHD and bisexuality, while Mary interrogates the connection between autism and gender-nonconforming identities. Enjoying Life of Bi? Support us at: https://www.patreon.com/lifeofbi Find out more about our work: htt...

Sep 24, 202455 minSeason 1Ep. 34

Episode 33: gay panic

It's the episode you've all been waiting for... Ell & Mary's hot (well, now tepid) take on the hit BBC show I KISSED A GIRL. Join us for a deep dive in which we ask: what does "gay panic" actually mean? Is there such a thing as bi or nonbinary panic? What's the deal with gender on the show? And most importantly: if we were on it, would anyone fancy us?!? Alison Bechdel clip: https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2020/04/13/t-magazine/butch-stud-lesbian.html Enjoying Life of Bi? Support us at: ...

Jul 02, 202456 minSeason 1Ep. 33

Episode 32: solidarity

It's been 10 years since the film 'Pride' came out - a heartwarming billion-dollar British blockbuster about the birth of Lesbians and Gays Support The Miners (LGSM). Ell and Mary chart the legacy of LGSM from its early days to today's Lesbians & Gays Support The Migrants movement, asking: what can it teach us - or warn us - about solidarity today? Show solidarity with Palestine now by donating to Medical Aid for Palestinians: https://www.map.org.uk/ Or join Direct Action near you with Pales...

Jun 17, 202449 minSeason 1Ep. 32

Episode 31: bi married men

Are bi married men the most invisible bisexuals? Join Ell and Mary in conversation with Robert Cohen, author of ‘Bi Married Men: Stories of Relationships, Acceptance & Authenticity’ and host of the wildly successful podcast 2 Bi Guys. Find the book here: https://www.routledge.com/Bisexual-Married-Men-Stories-of-Relationships-Acceptance-and-Authenticity/Cohen/p/book/9781032473260 And tickets to our Bristol run here: https://bristololdvic.org.uk/whats-on/the-last-show-before-we-die Enjoying Li...

Apr 21, 20241 hr 3 minSeason 1Ep. 31

Episode 30: the bi-section: All Of Us Strangers

It's Ell & Mary's 30th episode, and they celebrate by not mentioning bisexuality a single time! Come ease into 2024 with a discussion on the queer credentials of Andrew Haigh’s latest film All Of Us Strangers. Expect low-stakes chat with high-brow ideas, including Lee Edelman’s Death Drive and Bessel van der Kolk’s theory on body trauma. P.S. this is not a film podcast. We repeat, this is not a film podcast. Enjoying Life of Bi? Support us at: https://www.patreon.com/lifeofbi Find out more a...

Feb 19, 202436 minSeason 1Ep. 30

Episode 29: all about carol

Ell and Mary aren’t film critics but they are queer. And that’s all the expertise they need surely? It’s cold outside, come on in for a free-spirited barely-edited long form discussion of Todd Haynes’ movie Carol starring Cate Blanchett and Rooney Mara, hosted by your fave amateurs. Things are about to get sexy… Enjoying Life of Bi? Support us at: https://www.patreon.com/lifeofbi Find out more about our work: https://www.lifeofbi.co.uk/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information...

Dec 22, 202358 minSeason 1Ep. 29

Episode 28: queers for palestine

On November 9th, The Telegraph published an opinion piece by writer Brendan O'Neill titled, 'Queers for Palestine must have a death wish'. In today's episode, Ell and Mary answer: no we don't. Palestinian liberation is a queer issue. Here's why. Support alQaws for for Sexual & Gender Diversity in Palestinian Society: http://alqaws.org/support-us OXSID interview with Dr Sa'ed Atshan: https://soundcloud.com/oxsidorg/a-discussion-of-queer-palestine-and-the-empire-of-critique-with-dr-saed-atshan...

Nov 28, 202344 minSeason 1Ep. 28

Episode 27: queer dreamhouse

So yes fine, Ell and Mary are approaching thirty and they’re wondering what their lives might look like in five years time. Will they own houses? Who will they live with? Will they want babies? What does growing up look like if you don’t want a conventional life-style? Join them on a ramble through aspec perspectives, polyamorous advocacy and home-building. Enjoying Life of Bi? Support us at: https://www.patreon.com/lifeofbi Find out more about our work: https://www.lifeofbi.co.uk/ Hosted on Aca...

Oct 16, 20231 hrSeason 1Ep. 27

Episode 26: hedonism (tm)

Fresh back from the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, Ell and Mary reflect on a wild summer of wine, sex, and theatre. But is the Edinburgh Festival really that radical; that queer; that Bacchic? Or is it another guise for the capitalist machine? Come dip your toes in some Ancient Roman nonsense, and join us for a much-needed catchup. https://www.patreon.com/lifeofbi Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sep 19, 202352 minSeason 1Ep. 26

Episode 25: queer jews - part 2 'god wrestlers'

Ell and Mary are back with the second part of an eye-opening two-parter on the relationship between queerness and Judaism. What began with a dumb Q - why do we have so many queer jewish friends? - evolved into an odyssey into ancient text. This episode features a remarkable conversation with Hava from Queer Yeshiva. Get involved with Queer Yeshiva here: https://www.yeshiva.lgbt/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information....

Jul 05, 202338 minSeason 1Ep. 25

Episode 24: queer jews - part 1 'i love cheese'

In an unexpected turn of events, Ell and Mary bring you the first instalment of a rich two-parter on the relationship between queerness and Judaism. What began with a dumb Q - why do we have so many queer jewish friends? - evolved into an odyssey into ancient text... Ft. interviews with listener Yaz, Rabbi Judith Levitt and Hava of Queer Yeshiva. Support our Crowdfunder https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/the-last-show-before-we-die Contact Rabbi Judith Levitt: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?i...

Jun 04, 202330 minSeason 1Ep. 24

Episode 23: faith in flux

Gays and Christian have not always been best buds. What's queer about faith? Where's the faith in queerness? Ell and Mary talk to a pastor and an ex-pastor abut how queerness and faith can coexist and the dark times when they don't. Edit: Katie was commissioned in 2018, not 2016 as stated in the episode. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

May 02, 202351 minSeason 1Ep. 23

Episode 22: amanananormativity

What can two sex-obsessed queers learn from asexuality? Turns out, a lot. Join Ell and Mary for an exploding of ACE-spectrum assumptions as they ask: what does intimacy look like without sex? What is romance? Are we even as sex-obsessed as we thought? It's time to break from the shackles of amatonormativity, baby! Content note: this episode briefly mentions sexual trauma. which is flagged in advance during the episode. Find more of Libby Sinback's work here: https://libbysinback.com Access the r...

Mar 28, 20231 hr 13 minSeason 1Ep. 22

Episode 21: we'll have to go through it

Stand up fight back! Ell and Mary open a new season of Life of Bi with a march for justice and a dive into the political and institutional barriers to trans rights and healthcare. Whether you think you know a lot, or you know you don’t know much - this one’s worth a listen. Content Warning: this episode contains discussions of transphobia and barriers to gender-affirming healthcare. You can check out & support the activism of our contributors here: Abigail Thorne - www.patreon.com/Philosophy...

Feb 20, 202345 minSeason 1Ep. 21

Episode 20: make the yuletide gay

God rest ye merry Gentlethems. It's been a long silly season , so snuggle down for some chill festive listening. Feat. seasonal self-care tips, and a queer retelling of the nativity. Jesus was enby! We don't make the rules! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Dec 22, 202242 minSeason 1Ep. 20

Episode 19: the desire triptych - part 3

If you got all the people you'd ever fancied in a room, what would that room look like? This is the third and final desire triptych. Inspired by a listener's suggestions, we ask: why do we desire who we desire? Is it power? Difference? Similarities? Does any of this even matter? This episode stars Ella. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Dec 13, 202240 minSeason 1Ep. 19

Episode 18: let them eat lemon bars

Did somebody just say eat? Join us for a smörgåsbord of culinary chat as we ask: can food be queer? What does gay food taste like? Is easting a radical act? Feast you ears, imbibe the bi. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Nov 28, 202249 minSeason 1Ep. 18

Episode 17: the desire triptych - part 2

Welcome back to the Desire Triptych! Inspired by a listener's suggestion, we ask: what role - if any - does gender have to play in attraction? What makes us desire a certain body/bodies if it's not to do with cisnormative gender? And why is it so hard to talk about attraction without drifting into binaried language? This episode stars the wonderful Marco. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Nov 14, 202233 minSeason 1Ep. 17
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