Facing the homophobia in our families. Welcome to our LGBT podcast! In this episode, we meet Barrak Alzaid (he/him) and talk with him about Ties That Bind: Familial Homophobia and Its Consequences by Sarah Schulman . This book invites us to understand familial homophobia as a cultural crisis, rather than a personal or an individual problem. Barrak shares with us, "What I think saved me is not just feeling seen in the book, but also feeling like I had a roadmap and a set of tools for reengag...
Feb 07, 2023•52 min•Season 2Ep. 19
Welcome to our LGBT podcast 7 Minutes in Book Heaven – presented to you by This Queer Book Saved My Life! In this short podcast, we spend 7 minutes in our virtual studio interviewing LGBTQ authors about their new and upcoming books for us to love and cuddle up with. Today, we meet Loren A. Olson, MD and his new book No More Neckties: A Memoir in Essays . Loren is the award-winning author of Finally Out: Letting Go of Living Straight and in this new memoir he flings open the doors on the hard stu...
Jan 31, 2023•12 min•Season 2Ep. 18
God cares about the most marginalized bodies. Welcome to our LGBT podcast! In this episode we’re talking with the Reverend Shannon TL Kearns (he/him) about Oranges Are Not The Only Fruit by Jeanette Winterson. Rev. Kearns was raised fundamentalist Evangelical, however he went on to become the first openly Transgender man ordained to the Old Catholic Priesthood. Our wide-ranging conversation includes how Oranges Are Not The Only Fruit helped him reconcile his gender identity, sexuality, and faith...
Jan 24, 2023•46 min•Season 2Ep. 17
Welcome to our LGBT podcast 7 Minutes in Book Heaven – presented to you by This Queer Book Saved My Life! In this podcast, we spend 7 minutes in our virtual studio interviewing LGBTQ authors about their new and upcoming books for us to love and cuddle up with. Today, we meet Tess Sharpe and her upcoming book 6 Times We Almost Kissed ( And One Time We Did ). What’s this new YA novel about? After years of bickering, Penny and Tate have called a truce: they’ll play nice. They have to. Their mothers...
Jan 17, 2023•10 min•Season 2Ep. 16
I didn't really understand, until I read this book, what was my meaning? What was I here for? Welcome to our LGBT podcast! In this episode we’re talking with Nicole Olila (she/her) about the Lambda Literary Award winning novel Out of Time by Paula Martinac. Today’s conversation is one of those life imitates art imitates life moments as Nicole’s work as an archivist and owner of a vintage feminist and queer bookshop mirrors Out of Time ’s main character Susan who finds a scrapbook in a vinta...
Jan 10, 2023•40 min•Season 2Ep. 15
The first time I saw a potential future for someone like me. Welcome to our LGBT podcast! In this episode we’re talking with Henry Holden (he/they) about Peter Darling by S.A Chant. This novel is a sequel and really a re-telling of Peter Pan, in which Peter is trans, an adult now, and starts a relationship with Captain James Hook! For Henry, he told us, that reading Peter Darling was, "the first moment that I saw a potential future for someone like me. And I think it was the first time I wa...
Dec 27, 2022•58 min•Season 2Ep. 13
Welcome to our LGBT podcast 7 Minutes in Book Heaven – presented to you by This Queer Book Saved My Life! In this short podcast, we spend 7 minutes in our virtual studio interviewing LGBTQ authors about their new and upcoming books for us to love and cuddle up with. Today, we meet Lindsey A. Freeman and her upcoming book is Running . What’s it about? Lindsey presents the feminist and queer handbook of running that she always wanted but could never find. For Freeman, running is full of joy, desir...
Dec 20, 2022•10 min•Season 2Ep. 12
Building a language to be able to talk with my parents. Welcome to our LGBT podcast! In this episode we’re talking with community organizer and activist LaSaia Wade (she/they) about Secret Society by Miasha. This novel starts as a story about two flashy women who hustle men for money, but then dives into the twists and turns of living and loving in the world as trans women of color. LaSaia tells us that Secret Society "was part of me building the language to translate transness to my parent...
Dec 13, 2022•50 min•Season 2Ep. 11
On today’s episode, we have a special crossover episode for you with one of my favorite podcasts The Sewers of Paris . The Sewers of Paris is a podcast about how queer people's lives are shaped by our favorite books, movies, music, and shows. So, how could we not have a crossover? The host is writer, podcaster, and video-maker Matt Baume. He’s been nominated for a GLAAD award for journalism and he created the YouTube pop culture series Culture Cruise and the LGBTQ news shows Weekly Debrief ...
Dec 06, 2022•52 min•Season 2Ep. 10
Be who you are. And don't apologize. Welcome to our LGBT podcast and in this episode we’re talking with actor Troy Stanley (he/him) about Tales of the City by Armistead Maupin. This novel kicked off a landmark series as well as numerous television adaptations. For Troy, he told us, "I think what Tales of the City said to me was be who you are don't apologize for who you are be who you want to be." See Troy live in these upcoming productions! MNM Theatre Company’s production o...
Nov 29, 2022•45 min•Season 2Ep. 9
Welcome to the LGBT podcast 7 Minutes in Book Heaven - presented to you by This Queer Book Saved My Life! In this short podcast, we spend 7 minutes in our virtual studio interviewing LGBTQ authors about their new and upcoming books for us to love and cuddle up with. Today, we meet Dr. Nyri Bakkalian. Her new book is Confluence: A Person Shaped Story . What’s it about? It is a novel set in Japan's Northern Tohoku region in a cyberpunk world. It's about a trans-lesbian couple. An Armenia...
Nov 22, 2022•10 min•Season 2Ep. 8
Room to breathe and ask my own questions. Welcome to our LGBT podcast and in our new episode we're talking with dr. finn schneider (they/them) about Bless Me, Ultima . It is a coming-of-age novel by Rudolfo Anaya. For finn it saved their life three (!) different times and we’ll talk all about them, especially as the novel created a space to explore their spirituality in a new and meaningful way. As finn told us, "It created some room metaphorically for me to breathe into this my own qu...
Nov 15, 2022•47 min•Season 2Ep. 7
It's election day! Go vote! And then listen to our podcast crossover event with the podcast DEI Is . Host Enrico Manalo and I interview Brian McComak the founder of Hummingbird Humanity. Much of Brian's work focuses on LGBTQ inclusivity at organizations throughout the world, but his work is very expansive as a consultant, speaker, author and facilitator. He has a new book coming out in 2023: Humanity in the Workplace, A Framework for Developing a Human Centered Culture. We talk about b...
Nov 08, 2022•56 min•Season 2Ep. 6
Can I give myself permission to be myself? Welcome to our LGBT podcast This Queer Book Saved My Life! In this episode, we talk with lighting designer, radio host, and teacher Rachael Cady (she/her) about the book that saved her life: Whipping Girl by Julia Serano. It's a collection of personal essays that debunk many of the myths and misconceptions that people have about trans women, femininity, and gender. Rachael shares with us that, "for the first time I saw someone who was like me....
Nov 01, 2022•53 min•Season 2Ep. 5
Welcome to our new LGBT podcast short 7 Minutes in Book Heaven - a partner podcast to This Queer Book Saved My Life! We spend 7 minutes in our virtual studio interviewing LGBTQ authors about their new and upcoming books for us to love and cuddle up with. On our premiere episode, we meet Taleen Voskuni. Her new book is Sorry, Bro . What's it about? An Armenian-American woman rediscovers her roots and embraces who she really is in this vibrant and heartfelt queer rom-com. Episode Transcript: ...
Oct 25, 2022•10 min•Season 2Ep. 4
Being gay together is an act of resistance. Welcome to our LGBT podcast This Queer Book Saved My Life! This episode is the recording of our first-ever live event at Lush Lounge and Theater. We talk with James Darville (he/him) about the LGBT book The Evening Crowd at Kirmser's by Ricardo J. Brown. This memoir invites us into Kirmser's, which was the first and only queer gay bar in St. Paul, MN in the 1940s. When the book came to James, he was in college in North Dakota and on his own c...
Oct 18, 2022•43 min•Season 2Ep. 3
It’s an LGBT podcast crossover event with the delightful Queer Lit podcast! We enter a unicorn union with guest host Lena Mattheis and discuss the Queer Armenian Library and the books that saved each of our lives. We laugh, we sigh… an unmissable double feature that will turn you gay on the spot. Listen to new episodes of Queer Lit at: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/queer-lit/id1562201493 Follow Lena on Twitter and Instagram: @queerlitpodcast Check out the Queer Armenian Library (queerarm...
Oct 11, 2022•57 min•Season 2Ep. 2
To be happy on my own terms. Welcome to the Season 2 premiere of our LGBT podcast This Queer Book Saved My Life! In this episode, we talk with Joe Perazzo (he/him) about the LGBT memoir Breaking the Surface by Greg Louganis (he/him), with special guest: 4-time gold medalist Greg Louganis! Breaking the Surface is Greg's memoir and it shares his journey not only in becoming the greatest diver of all time, but also as a gay man living with HIV. For Joe, the memoir played a crucial role in his ...
Oct 04, 2022•51 min•Season 2Ep. 1
Telling stories that are unabashed and unapologetic. Welcome to our LGBT podcast! In this episode, I talk with Michael Barakiva and April Daniels! Writer and Director Michael Barakiva (he/him) shares the LGBT book that saved his life: Dreadnought by April Daniels. Dreadnought is a groundbreaking YA novel about a trans teen superhero. Michael tells us, “The honesty of her anger and the challenges that she faces helped me come to terms in really profound ways about my own coming out process.” Then...
Aug 23, 2022•36 min•Season 1Ep. 10
Bringing empathy to all aspects of our lives. In this episode, we talk with award-winning children’s author David LaRochelle (he/him) about the LGBT book Conundrum by Jan Morris. David shares with us, "So, on the one hand this book taught me a lot, but the bigger impact that this book had on me was the feeling that just because I don't experience something doesn't mean that it's not true.” We have a fascinating conversation with David about knowing our true selves, expanding ...
Aug 16, 2022•36 min•Season 1Ep. 9
You can tell your story and live. Welcome to our LGBT podcast! In this episode, I talk with Lara Lillibridge and Alison Bechdel! Writer and teacher Lara Lillibridge (she/zher) shares the LGBT book that saved her life: Fun Home: A Family Tragicomic by Alison Bechdel. Lara tells us, "There's two things about Fun Home that were huge for me. The first was just representation. I had never seen anything at all like my family in a book." We are SO proud to welcome Alison Bechdel (she/her...
Aug 09, 2022•51 min•Season 1Ep. 8
What it really means to have a bi community. Welcome to our LGBT podcast! In today's episode I talk with Neil Aasve and William Burleson! Fundraiser and philanthropist Neil Aasve (he/him) shares the LGBT book that saved his life: Bi America: Myths Truths and Struggles of an Invisible Community by William Burleson. Neil recalls the first time he read Bi America, "I remember my heart pounding. I just remember saying the words out loud: I’m bisexual!" William joins us to talk about h...
Aug 02, 2022•49 min•Season 1Ep. 7
This was exactly what I needed to pivot towards my gender transition. Welcome to our LGBT podcast! In this episode we talk with ellie krug and Jennifer Finney Boylan! Idealist, legal advocate, and author ellie krug (she/her) shares how the LGBT book She's Not There by Jennifer Finney Boylan saved her life. ellie told us, "I will say that the book caused me to pivot. It did. There’s no question about it. But it also helped me believe that maybe I can write a book." Then we discuss ...
Jul 26, 2022•40 min•Season 1Ep. 6
There is strength in knowing about the struggles and triumphs. In this episode, we talk with Zaylore Stout (he/him) about the book Don't Sweat the Small Stuff by Richard Carlson. Zaylore told us, "I was digging through the archives of the library, trying to see if there was anybody like me...and it’s like you have to piece these things together, on your own." Our discussion spring boards into Zaylore’s legal career, his coming out journey, and writing his own LGBT book: Our Gay Hi...
Jul 19, 2022•40 min•Season 1Ep. 5
I'm part of a community that has always existed and will always exist. In this episode, we talk with Paul Kaefer (he/him) about the LGBT book Quatrefoil: A Modern Novel by James Barr. We discuss how Quatrefoil: A Modern Novel helped Paul learn that he has the power to decide when and how to share his LGBTQ story. We also learn about Paul's plan to read a book from every country in the world! Episode transcripts available at: thisqueerbook.com/podcast/quatrefoil . Buy the books on this ...
Jul 12, 2022•27 min•Season 1Ep. 4
This is who we are and there is no stopping. In this episode, we talk with Suyane Oliveira (she/they) about the LGBT book Stone Butch Blues by Leslie Feinberg. Suyane told us, "Books don't really make me cry and this book made me cry so many times. It just pulled something out of me. I've never cried so much while reading a book." We discuss how Stone Butch Blues opened up a whole new world for Suyane and how it inspired the work she does at the New Haven Pride Center. Episod...
Jul 05, 2022•26 min•Season 1Ep. 3
I'm not willing to lead a double life. In this episode, we talk with Gary Nygaard (he/him) about the LGBT book Giovanni's Room by James Baldwin. This novel is a classic of LGBTQ literature. For Gary, he read it as a cautionary tale of how destructive it can be to pretend to be straight and how damaging it can be for yourself not to live an authentic life. We discuss how Giovanni's Room shaped and reaffirmed the life decisions he was making, particularly as he attended seminary. Ep...
Jun 28, 2022•32 min•Season 1Ep. 2
Queer people need warning stories too. Welcome to our LGBT podcast! In this episode, we talk with Nancy Agabian and Carmen Maria Machado! Writer and literary organizer Nancy Agabian (she/her) shares the LGBT book that saved her life: In The Dream House by Carmen Maria Machado. It is a memoir about an abusive queer relationship Carmen had with an ex-girlfriend. Then we meet Carmen (she/her) to discuss the writing of her memoir and how it was like passing a kidney stone - something she needed to d...
Jun 21, 2022•46 min•Season 1Ep. 1
