This isn’t your usual Homo Sapiens episode, it’s a documentary really, a first hand account of the AIDS crisis in New York in the 80s, of art, adventure and a couple who have been through it all. Artist Frank Holliday and his partner of 22 years, Raphael, joined us to talk about working for Andy Warhol, hanging out with Jean-Michel Basquiat, Keith Haring, Studio 54 and how AIDS impacted the queer scene of the city. All with a huge twist in the tale. Sit down, grab a cocktail and enjoy an incredi...
Aug 26, 2021•32 min•Ep 140•Transcript available on Metacast This isn’t your usual Homo Sapiens episode, it’s a documentary really, a first hand account of the AIDS crisis in New York in the 80s, of art, adventure and a couple who have been through it all. Artist Frank Holliday and his partner of 22 years, Raphael, joined us to talk about working for Andy Warhol, hanging out with Jean-Michel Basquiat, Keith Haring, Studio 54 and how AIDS impacted the queer scene of the city. All with a huge twist in the tale. Sit down, grab a cocktail and enjoy an incredi...
Aug 26, 2021•31 min•Ep 140•Transcript available on Metacast The ⚡️icon ⚡️that is k.d. lang was on the first ever list of dream guests for this podcast and remarkably this week our dream came true. k.d. zooms in from Calgary to put the world to rights in a chat that covers the wild times of finding superstardom with Constant Craving, why k.d. lang shows were the original Tinder, a fascinating discussion about Butch, and a beautiful behind the scenes story about THAT Vanity Fair cover with Cindy Crawford. In a departure from our normal schedule, over the s...
Aug 19, 2021•19 min•Ep 139•Transcript available on Metacast The ⚡️icon ⚡️that is k.d. lang was on the first ever list of dream guests for this podcast and remarkably this week our dream came true. k.d. zooms in from Calgary to put the world to rights in a chat that covers the wild times of finding superstardom with Constant Craving, why k.d. lang shows were the original Tinder, a fascinating discussion about Butch, and a beautiful behind the scenes story about THAT Vanity Fair cover with Cindy Crawford. In a departure from our normal schedule, over the s...
Aug 19, 2021•31 min•Ep 139•Transcript available on Metacast What do Pamela Anderson, Paul McCartney and The Golden Girls have in common? Well - it's this week's guest. PETA icon Dan Mathews is the king of controversy and author of two wild memoirs, "Like Crazy" and "Committed." He has changed the face of fashion and activism over the past 36 years with campaigns like "I'd Rather Go Naked Than Wear Fur." He joins us with stories of storming runways, enlisting superstars and how he and his husband entice hunters to their vegan dinner parties. Hear how an e...
Aug 12, 2021•22 min•Ep 138•Transcript available on Metacast What do Pamela Anderson, Paul McCartney and The Golden Girls have in common? Well - it's this week's guest. PETA icon Dan Mathews is the king of controversy and author of two wild memoirs, "Like Crazy" and "Committed." He has changed the face of fashion and activism over the past 36 years with campaigns like "I'd Rather Go Naked Than Wear Fur." He joins us with stories of storming runways, enlisting superstars and how he and his husband entice hunters to their vegan dinner parties. Hear how an e...
Aug 12, 2021•46 min•Ep 138•Transcript available on Metacast This week’s guest, Cyndi Lauper really is one in a million. In 2008 she found the LGBTQ+ homeless charity, True Colours United, with a mission statement to ‘implement innovative solutions to LGBTQ youth homelessness’. She tells Chris and Alan about the charity, being an iconic queer ally and calling out Donald Trump’s homophobia on The Apprentice. Be sure to subscribe so you never miss an episode! 📍H O M O S A P I E N S P O D C A S T 📍NEW EPISODE Every Thursday 📍Come play with us on soci...
Aug 05, 2021•21 min•Ep 137•Transcript available on Metacast This week’s guest, Cyndi Lauper really is one in a million. In 2008 she found the LGBTQ+ homeless charity, True Colours United, with a mission statement to ‘implement innovative solutions to LGBTQ youth homelessness’. She tells Chris and Alan about the charity, being an iconic queer ally and calling out Donald Trump’s homophobia on The Apprentice. Be sure to subscribe so you never miss an episode! 📍H O M O S A P I E N S P O D C A S T 📍NEW EPISODE Every Thursday 📍Come play with us on soci...
Aug 05, 2021•28 min•Ep 137•Transcript available on Metacast Cancel Culture! What does it mean for LGBTQ+ people? What really is it? Every day there seems to be a new conversation about someone being ‘cancelled’, so we’re deep-diving in to what it means to you listeners, and the response has been massive. Plus, I’ll be chatting to former BBC Radio 1 Xtra host & author of ‘Outraged’ - Ashley 'Dotty' Charles who’s article about the ‘cancellation’ of H&M went viral partly thanks to the headline 'As a black, gay woman I have to be selective in my...
Jul 29, 2021•56 min•Ep 136•Transcript available on Metacast What a joy this conversation was. It’s ACTUAL Michael Stipe on this week’s Homo Sapiens. The legendary former R.E.M. frontman tells us how he might have redefined his gender identity if he were a teenager today, talks honestly about his experiences during the AIDS Crisis, and we even learn that this very podcast gave him the confidence (his words, not ours), to create a series of voice notes to accompany his fantastic new book, ‘Michael Stipe’. Plus what exactly is The Church of Michae...
Jul 22, 2021•35 min•Ep 135•Transcript available on Metacast What a joy this conversation was. It’s ACTUAL Michael Stipe on this week’s Homo Sapiens. The legendary former R.E.M. frontman tells us how he might have redefined his gender identity if he were a teenager today, talks honestly about his experiences during the AIDS Crisis, and we even learn that this very podcast gave him the confidence (his words, not ours), to create a series of voice notes to accompany his fantastic new book, ‘Michael Stipe’. Plus what exactly is The Church of Michae...
Jul 22, 2021•33 min•Ep 135•Transcript available on Metacast It’s all terribly sporty over here at Homo Sapiens this week. What with Carl Nassib coming out as gay and footballer Harry Kane’s rainbow armband at the Euros, this week we’re asking - Does homophobia still exist in sport? Well, according to you all it’s an almost unanimous YES! You’ve been generous and brave enough to share your experiences of facing homophobia and transphobia in sport, plus telling us what you’ve done to combat it. Plus, I’ve also got queer professional rugby superstar Devin I...
Jul 15, 2021•1 hr 4 min•Ep 134•Transcript available on Metacast “People who walk are miserable as well!” This week we are talking to the extraordinary life coach, Carson Tueller who suffered paralysis after a spinal cord injury the same year he came out as gay to his Mormon family. We dive in on navigating Grindr when you’re disabled, hear refreshingly honest words about how sex has changed since paralysis and he tells us how he found a very interesting loophole in Mormon rules that he could use to his advantage! Chris and Alan x Be sure to subscribe so you ...
Jul 08, 2021•32 min•Ep 133•Transcript available on Metacast “People who walk are miserable as well!” This week we are talking to the extraordinary life coach, Carson Tueller who suffered paralysis after a spinal cord injury the same year he came out as gay to his Mormon family. We dive in on navigating Grindr when you’re disabled, hear refreshingly honest words about how sex has changed since paralysis and he tells us how he found a very interesting loophole in Mormon rules that he could use to his advantage! Chris and Alan x Be sure to subscribe so you ...
Jul 08, 2021•27 min•Ep 133•Transcript available on Metacast ‘Why have I bought an Owl?’ you ask! Well, my house has been under siege from crows attacking my windows this week, and you lovely lot recommended all sorts of remedies including - get yourself a plastic Owl. So I did. Anyway, it’s Homo Sapiens Extra, and this week you listeners asked us to talk about lockdown love (or lack there of). Has lockdown positively or negatively affected your love life? Did you virtually date due to COVID restrictions? Are you nervous about dating again once we’re prop...
Jul 01, 2021•54 min•Ep 132•Transcript available on Metacast What do you do when someone throws a burger at you? You get arts council funding and make an award-winning show about it, that’s what you do, and that is literally what this week’s guest, the brilliant writer of the spectacular play, ‘BURGERZ’, Travis Alabanza, did. They tell Chris and Alan about how transphobic abuse inspired them to create art, what it’s like dating in your hometown during a pandemic, and why they think TERFs are a hate group, not a feminist protest group. Chris and Alan x Be ...
Jun 24, 2021•27 min•Ep 131•Transcript available on Metacast What do you do when someone throws a burger at you? You get arts council funding and make an award-winning show about it, that’s what you do, and that is literally what this week’s guest, the brilliant writer of the spectacular play, ‘BURGERZ’, Travis Alabanza, did. They tell Chris and Alan about how transphobic abuse inspired them to create art, what it’s like dating in your hometown during a pandemic, and why they think TERFs are a hate group, not a feminist protest group. Chris and Alan x Be ...
Jun 24, 2021•27 min•Ep 131•Transcript available on Metacast I’m back, vaxxed, and well… a bit jetlagged, but that won’t stop me chattering away to you lovely lot. It’s Pride month and it’s time for some real talk, people! Have we forgotten the history of Pride? Is Pride been taken over by brands? Is the whole LGBTQ+ community catered for at this time of year? You’ve been in touch with your views and as always - you are not backwards in coming forwards. And of course we’ve got a Pride themed Culture Club, your heartwarming Pride memories from over the yea...
Jun 17, 2021•45 min•Ep 130•Transcript available on Metacast Beth Ditto in the house! This episode is a right laugh. Funny as hell, chatty as hell, and queer activist as hell, Beth Ditto chats to me and Alan about how Punk was the lifeline that took her from her hometown near Searcy, Arkansas where MTV was banned to becoming a rock star fronting the Gossip, a trailblazing solo artist, and muse to fashion gods she is today. We cover experiencing Straight Privilege, the body positivity movement, and find who managed to drink Judy Garland under the table? Pr...
Jun 10, 2021•40 min•Ep 129•Transcript available on Metacast This week we are talking to the delightful star of Netflix sen-sation ‘Special' - Ryan O’Connell! Ryan’s story is fascinating, he turned his memoir about being a young queer person with Cerebral Palsy in to a hit TV show that is so funny, clever and really touching that I devoured it in one go when i first saw it. So as Season 2 launches, he came by Homo Sapiens Towers to tell me how making this new season taught him that even he makes mistakes around portraying disabled characters on screen, gi...
Jun 03, 2021•24 min•Ep 128•Transcript available on Metacast This week we are talking to the delightful star of Netflix sen-sation ‘Special' - Ryan O’Connell! Ryan’s story is fascinating, he turned his memoir about being a young queer person with Cerebral Palsy in to a hit TV show that is so funny, clever and really touching that I devoured it in one go when i first saw it. So as Season 2 launches, he came by Homo Sapiens Towers to tell me how making this new season taught him that even he makes mistakes around portraying disabled characters on screen, gi...
Jun 03, 2021•48 min•Ep 128•Transcript available on Metacast Has Chris been the only one wearing aftershave during lockdown!? Surely not. Anyway, other than updating you on that and his special new “celebrity” hat, in his final recording from Adelaide, Chris is asking you about your experiences as an LGBTQ+ person in the workplace! We discuss pronouns in email sign offs, safe spaces to work in and how to cope with homophobia at work (PS, you really SHOULDN’T have to, but it’s where we’re *still* at). PLUS another wonderful Culture Club constructed by you ...
May 27, 2021•47 min•Ep 127•Transcript available on Metacast Our latest guest is a force of nature, a total hoot, and a huge part of Edward Enninful’s new look Vogue Magazine, it’s the AMAZING writer Paris Lees! She tells Chris and Alan all about the sweet delight of getting one over on transphobic newspapers, we have a giggle about what she’s been missing during lockdown, and we find out why she might just be upping sticks to France... Paris is someone we at Homo Sapiens have an abundance of love and admiration for, so press play to hear her trailblazing...
May 20, 2021•39 min•Ep 126•Transcript available on Metacast Our latest guest is a force of nature, a total hoot, and a huge part of Edward Enninful’s new look Vogue Magazine, it’s the AMAZING writer Paris Lees! She tells Chris and Alan all about the sweet delight of getting one over on transphobic newspapers, we have a giggle about what she’s been missing during lockdown, and we find out why she might just be upping sticks to France... Paris is someone we at Homo Sapiens have an abundance of love and admiration for, so press play to hear her trailblazing...
May 20, 2021•28 min•Ep 126•Transcript available on Metacast Face mask alert! On this week’s Homo Sapiens Extra, we’re combating discrimination on dating apps, which according to you lovely bunch, is extremely prevelant! Whether it be discrimination against your gender identity, height or even body hair, it’s rife and you lot have got some good ideas of how to tackle it. Plus we’ve got another wonderful Culture Club, where we pick through your best recommendations in film & TV, music, books and cooking, Chris’s laptop is on the blink and he’s wonderin...
May 13, 2021•49 min•Ep 125•Transcript available on Metacast Has your background, race or culture infiltrated and shaped your queerness, or vice versa? Well, this week’s guest the writer, community organiser, and instagram superstar Adam Eli is here to tell us all about how he uses his Jewish upbringing as a blueprint to enrich his queerness, and how we’re all connected through our queerness, like one big family who look out for each other. Does that make Barbara Streisand my aunty? Basically yes. All that and a ton of laughs with one of New York’s most c...
May 06, 2021•29 min•Ep 124•Transcript available on Metacast Has your background, race or culture infiltrated and shaped your queerness, or vice versa? Well, this week’s guest the writer, community organiser, and instagram superstar Adam Eli is here to tell us all about how he uses his Jewish upbringing as a blueprint to enrich his queerness, and how we’re all connected through our queerness, like one big family who look out for each other. Does that make Barbara Streisand my aunty? Basically yes. All that and a ton of laughs with one of New York’s most c...
May 06, 2021•27 min•Ep 124•Transcript available on Metacast “Not since Karl Lagerfeld did a collab with H&M has there been such a mad rush”. Do you know who said that? It was our very own Chris Sweeney on this episode of Homo Sapiens, as seemingly all of Canada and many more have once again been in touch! Can you maintain queer friendships without crossing *that* line? How many of your friendships have developed from starting out as (cringe) lovers? As well as answering all of this and more, Chris tries to tackle a takeaway pizza and a loving phone c...
Apr 29, 2021•54 min•Ep 123•Transcript available on Metacast Why isn’t Queer Netflix a thing? What was it like working with Harvey Weinstein? As it’s finally Oscar season, we are joined by the incredible woman behind your favourite movies like Carol, Boys Don’t Cry, Hedwig & The Angry Inch - the Christine Vachon! Plus Alan’s got a shocking take on Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, and Chris’s husband is doing some very strange acrobatics. Be sure to subscribe so you never miss an episode. 📍H O M O S A P I E N S P O D C A S T is Hosted By: Alan Cumming an...
Apr 22, 2021•21 min•Ep 122•Transcript available on Metacast Why isn’t Queer Netflix a thing? What was it like working with Harvey Weinstein? As it’s finally Oscar season, we are joined by the incredible woman behind your favourite movies like Carol, Boys Don’t Cry, Hedwig & The Angry Inch - the Christine Vachon! Plus Alan’s got a shocking take on Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, and Chris’s husband is doing some very strange acrobatics. Be sure to subscribe so you never miss an episode. 📍H O M O S A P I E N S P O D C A S T is Hosted By: Alan Cumming a...
Apr 22, 2021•27 min•Ep 122•Transcript available on Metacast 
