Homophilia

You know, sometimes a guest comes in and gets on down to the good, emotional stuff right out of the gate. And so it is with the hilarious actor/comic/Vine & IG superstar Clayton Farris this week! No spoilers! Just listen and achieve emotional catharsis with us. 

Steve Yockey, creator of The Flight Attendant and showrunner of Netflix’s much-anticipated Dead Boy Detectives, joins us on Eclipse Day to talk The Traitors, iconic Celebrity Big Brother moments, coming out to Mom at the IKEA cafeteria and to Dad three times, extreme teenage poetry, and the everlasting relevance of Sue-Ellen Ewing.

This week, we are truly, madly, deeply excited to have pop music legend Darren Hayes in the house to talk Madonna at the Forum, U2 at the Sphere, and Beyonce on a horse. Also: life one year after divorce, his relationship with his partner in Savage Garden, hiding a wife during his pop peak, marketing a record from the closet, and what happens when you go to a dinner party, Madonna is there, and she demands that you tell a joke. 

Who says you can’t be smart and joyful? Certainly not Ben V. Greene, the author of My Child Is Trans, Now What: A Joy-Centered Approach to Support. Ben joins us from St. Louis to cruelly bad-mouth Imo’s Pizza, and also talk about the significance of science fiction, the work of Becky Chambers, the brilliance of Our Flag Means Death, The Fosters and Dispatches From Elsewhere, the conundrum of Dave Chappelle and Pretty Little Liars, the underground Facebook group that was his lifeline, the farce-fueled courtship that led to marriage, and the importance of a good squirt bottle in the home.

When, in the course of human events, it becomes necessary to bring back a very recent guest, we will not hesitate. And to discuss Madonna at the Forum AND the Kate Middleton Mystery, there is simply nobody we would rather hear from than the great Pete Zias. Hear the heartbreaking story of a bottle uncaught, enjoy some royal theories, know that Luther Vandross is involved. And see Pete in Drew Droege’s Messy White Gays, in New York City April 7-9 at the Soho Playhouse!

The legendary author of the essential Tales of the City series joins us from London, where a pot roast awaits him, to talk about whether the magic of ‘70s San Francisco can ever exist again, why Breaking Bad and Six Feet Under are his current comforts, the PBS gay kiss that rocked the world, the Early Frost/Our Sons/Consenting Adults TV movie moment that examined gay life strictly in terms of how hard it is on your mom, and whether his character Brian’s 1976 prediction that he and his friends would be 50-year-old libertines in a world full of 20-year-old Calvinists has actually come to pass.

The producer and director of My So Called Life, Six Feet Under and Tales of the City joins us to talk about the devastation of All of Us Strangers, the importance of Juliette Binoche, the drama of the Barbra memoir audiobook, growing up with Maude and Mary Tyler Moore, how WandaVision brought the MCU into his little gay boy heart, the gay bar scene in Japan, the role they wanted Laura Linney for on Tales, the polarizing episodes of Six Feet Under, what it’s like to show up halfway through My So Called Life, and whether Tino ever did show up. 

Comedian, baker, painter, pet portraiteur, Taylor Swift-recognized Taylor Swift song intro re-enactor, One Directioner, runner and satchel-wearer Victor Carlesi to talk unseasonable Chicago temps, the meaning of Madison Beer, the secret of a Nick Jonas voice, Zayn as bias-wrecker, the importance of a comment by the world’s most powerful and Celine Dion-resistant entertainer and the crucial behind-the-scenes role Selena Gomez may have played in the affair, his unconventional journey in stand-up comedy, his potential future as a registered nurse, and why it’s so important to him that he remember to send biscotti to Dave, Matt, and Producer Renee. These are his words and not ours! Follow him on Instagram at @victorcarlesi. 

The genius comedian Brent Sullivan joins us from DTLA to talk travel, traditional family atheism, Hinge, Air Disasters, and Christian rock.

It’s a family affair, as Matt & Dave finally reconnect in a fresh new year that’s already 10% over. And what a year it’s been: new dogs, old Swans, hometowns, Ordinary Joes, Mean Girls, Los Angeles driving challenges, movie theater bag crinkulations, 8th grade financial literacy courses, We Are The World, and a full hailstorm of names to drop. 

Drag Race All Star Ginger Minj is here to share her Ursula origin story, her hot takes on the current Drag Race cast, and her efforts to connect with Ron DeSantis. Don't miss her show "The Broads Way" at Green Room 42 in NYC February 10-12, and grab your copy of her memoir "Southern Fried Sass" now! 

Writer and director of the instant classic All Of Us Strangers (and Weekend, and HBO’s Looking, and much more) Andrew Haigh takes a break from a packed awards season to talk about the joyous queerness of mid-‘80s pop music, the useful loneliness of the queer experience, the link between parental love and romantic love, and- AFTER A BREAK, DON’T SAY YOU WEREN’T WARNED- what’s going on in this beautiful, devastating movie. Also: Max Richter, Hercules and Love Affair, and Harry & Meghan.

He’s written for The Golden Girls, Roseanne, and Gilmore Girls to name but three, and now Stan Zimmerman is here to talk about his new book The Girls: From Golden to Gilmore. Plus: life as an 11-year-old network executive, creating a Russian Roseanne, Love, Sidney, the importance of journaling, the healing power of live theater, the dream Lifetime sitcom that wasn’t, and Ladies of the ‘80s: A Divas Christmas, the dream Lifetime movie that was. 

Icon in the making Lio Mehiel joins us to talk about their new movie MUTT, streaming now on Netflix. Also: FX’s The Bear and the Buffalo Wild Wings trauma it resurfaces, life as a child Broadway star, Maya Hawke as Nepo Ideal, feeling desirable, and making a film with moments that have never been seen on screen before. 

Happy New Year, Homophiacs! We're ringing in 2024 with Tony-winner Matt Doyle, who shares tales of crying in Patti Lupone's arms backstage, getting the stamp of approval from Tina Sinatra, meeting his soon-to-be-husband Max Claytor in line at Starbucks, and battling anxiety on Broadway.

Please join us in giving icon Daniel Franzese a warm holiday welcome to the World of Wonder fam! To celebrate his podcast "Yass, Jesus"! joining the WOW Podcast Network, Danny literally takes us to church, with spiritual sermons on everything from his experience with conversion therapy to the gayest stories in the Bible. 

Our pal Michael Kennedy is back for a holiday horror spectacular! We go deep on the gift of sobriety, his unique path to screenwriting success, the recent drama surrounding the Scream movies, and much more. His new movie, It's a Wonderful Knife, is a total blast. And it's now available on Shudder, AMC+, and VOD!

This week, we're joined by filmmakers Melinda Maerker & David Clayton Miller.

We get into everything from religion to parenting to all the good shows that start with a "B." Don't miss Melinda and David's must-see new documentary, "We Live Here: The Midwest," streaming on Hulu starting December 6th.

Broadway veteran, Sirius XM host, and Bravo royalty John Hill is here at last. He gives great chat on his holiday plans, Housewives, pickleball, mental health, his relationship with Sir Andy Cohen, and The Artist's Way. Don't miss his solo musical, Wellness Check, at NYC’s The Green Room 42 on December 11 and in Los Angeles December 22.

Returning champion and fan fave Brian Moylan is back for what is either his 5th or 37th appearance on Homophilia! Brian has done his homework, as always, and you're welcome! He's here to dish on his adventures at BravoCon in Vegas, from hanging with Housewives to Grindr chats. Plus: NYC glory hole memories!

Here’s something to be grateful for: Our beloved Bryan Safi has returned to regale us with skin care tips, holiday hacks, and so much more. We finally ask him the questions we keep forgetting to ask. And, as always with Bryan, the answers are explosive. We hope to the gods you’re already listening to him on “Ask Ronna with Ronna (and Bryan)” and “Attitudes.” 

Are you ready to go for it? Friend of the show, living legend, and current toast of New York City Drew Droege returns to talk about his role as Celine Dion’s recollection of Frances Fisher as Kate Winslet’s mother in the off-Broadway sensation Titanique!! (First exclamation point is in the actual title of the show, the second is an expression of our own excitement!) Also, life in New York City, Spamalot, Merrily We Roll Along, the full-scale emotional devastation of All Of Us Strangers, and so much more. (Note to you from Dave: this episode was recorded before I had seen Titanique!, which now I have, and which you must.) 

It's still Halloween over here at Homophilia, especially since we're graced by Nay Bever! She's an artist, writer, horror queen, and co-producer/series consultant for QUEER FOR FEAR (now streaming on Shudder and AMC+). We talk old horror, new horror, relationship horror... and we just have a real nice time. And so will you. 

Writer, delight, and host of the excellent new podcast "Tell Me Everything" Liam Gareau joins Matt for a deep and dishy 1-on-1 therapy session/gossipy hang/spiritual exorcism. Liam shares his brilliant takes on the enduring power of Linda Ronstadt, sloughing off the old "struggling artist/waiter" identity, how to have the perfect breakup, the meaning of Madonna, and SO. MUCH. MORE. Subscribe to "Tell Me Everything" wherever you get your pods!

It’s a family affair as Matt & Dave talk Teen Witch, Britney’s memoir, and an unexpected Trolls 3 promotional opportunity…and then, as in any productive therapy session, things get deep and honest and enlightening when you least expect it.

Messy White Gays actor, The Grind dancer, and long-standing dream guest Pete Zias joins us from a hotel room lit by candlelight and the setting October Brooklyn sun to talk about his absolutely crucial Instagram Live show (and podcast!) Total Trash. Plus: Britney’s memoir, Jamie Lynn’s Dancing With The Stars flop, a life informed by tabloids, the dominance of the Tonya Harding/Nancy Kerrigan scandal across all four sections of USA Today, the view from the pit at the 1997 Video Music Awards, fraternization among the dance company of the gayer later-‘90s reboot of The Grind, the celebrities who wandered into his section at Bloomingdale’s to find out what jackets were, his final verdict on the JonBenet Ramsey case, the unhinged nature of Los Angeles’ Look Cinemas, his secret life as a teenage capital-P Pranker with a skeleton key to the high school, what exactly the hell is going on with Jada Pinkett-Smith, why Will Smith is gay and Liberace is not and Tarbie will have her day, and the importance of pizzazz. Watch Total Trash at Pete’s IG (@petezias) on the Monday nights when he feels like doing it. 

The author of The Queer Film Guide joins us to talk queer horror, Cruising, May December, Gregg Araki, Bringing Up Baby, De-Lovely, why the original Scream films are better, why standup within movies generally stinks, the meaning of the Saw series, getting into To Wong Foo at age 7, Dylan Adler, Jes Tom, the new RHONY, The Golden Bachelor, and the brilliant evil of both Milf Manor and Mary Cosby.

Actress, ally, and Real Housewife of Orange County Heather Dubrow joins us to dish on her castmates, her new home in LA, and her scheduled breakdown in Cabo (with an assist from Richard Marx). In our surprisingly candid conversation, Heather opens up about the gift of having queer children, the fear that comes with returning to acting, her longtime friendship with Jenny McCarthy, and the pain of being this season's scapegoat. We also chat about Terry's recent health scare, with a special cameo from Dr. Dubrow himself. 

Hilarious, handsome, and the star of most of the shows you watch Johnny Sibilly joins us to talk about getting offline, standing in your power even when you are standing next to Oprah, nearly sharing a B-Day with Beyonce, crush playlists, Olivia Rodrigo leading the children back to an Ashlee Simpson moment, a strike routine that involves morning Housewives consumption, Shannon Beador’s Pee-Wee Hermanesque DUI, consciously uncoupling and becoming friends with an ex, and the ways he vets a potential new boyfriend. Listen, and it could be you. 

Comedy writer (The Sex Lives of College Girls, New Girl, Kroll Show, hey, go on IMDB and pack a lunch) and sculptor of tiny foods Sarah Tapscott joins us at the exact right hour of the morning for maximum coffee sweats to talk about Celsius, the WGA strike as a second Covid, her dog Professor Gordon Meringue, writing poetry, coming out in your 30s and the sequel to your adolescence that that entails, Muna, Tegan & Sara, boygenius, Orlando (the book and play, not the city in Florida nor yet the Tilda Swinton film), Stone Butch Blues, and a story about a skinned knee and a piano tuner that will really stay with you. 

On the eve of the release of their sixth album Love Lines, LP joins us from vacation in the Cayman Islands to talk about the importance of Jeff Buckley, the not-badness of the new Rolling Stones single, the bewildering but undeniable appeal of Post Malone, snorkeling vs. paddle boarding, Leonard Cohen, their thoughts on religion, and life in a Rihanna songwriting camp. Grab a frozen cocktail and dive in. 

TV writer, Gay Twitter legend and sweet, sweet baby Price Peterson brings us up to speed with the WGA strike, the dangers of picketing for a pale person, the tragedy of striking-writer self-owns, learning how to write for TV by recapping TV, the intimidating specter of Ryan Murphy, the breakneck pace of The Vampire Diaries, the escapist properties of John Waters and Dean Koontz, the cultural significance of Chris Farley and Melanie Hutsell, the sexy menace of Christopher Pike novels, the clairvoyance of Nasim Pedrad, the downmarket charm of the early Abbey, and…the new guy in his life. 

Tony winning writer of The Inheritance and co-writer and director of the smash gay Amazon Prime Video romcom Red White & Royal Blue Matthew Lopez joins us from his home in London to talk about growing up with his nose in a book, Mark O’Connell’s "A Threat of Violence," the biographies of Mike Nichols and Walt Disney, the impact of "Around The World In 80 Days," the Latinx representation in the RW&RB’s source material, being the only one on set who’s allowed not to know what he’s doing, scaring the straights, and the movie-star prospects of Rachel Maddow. PLUS: Matt’s on-the-scene reporting from Watch What Happens Live, some parting thoughts about season two of And Just Like That, and some staying thoughts about the future of And Just Like Matt. 

Hot Takes & Deep Dives co-host Jess Rothschild joins Dave and Matt (most recently seen on Watch What Happens Live) to talk about her fascinating new podcast Finding Fire Island. Also: new Real Housewives, Madonna in this and all moments, Real World Homecoming, And Just Like That, and the importance of the Meat Rack. 

Designer but more importantly cabaret sensation Isaac Mizrahi joins us from a TK home in Bridgehampton to talk about RuPaul’s Drag Race UK, yerba mate, dreading summer, learning from failure, the magic of not having a plan, the thrill of live performance, the social hierarchy of a Manhattan performing arts high school and the vowel-rich and therefore crossword-friendly names he encountered there, the Jewish spirit of New York City, the desire for a Barbie, the importance of a kooky aunt with a fun gay friend, and his new podcast Hello, Isaac. Check him out at 42 Below August 3-6! He’s the top.  

Singer/songwriter/icon in the making Garrison Starr joins us fresh off her Grand Ole Opry debut to talk about the secret magic of Los Angeles, the power of Sinead O’Connor, the joy of playing the Lilith Fair, the pain of being outed in college, the struggle to trust yourself, the importance of picking yourself up, and the authentic Mexican cooking at Baja Fresh. Check out her work with My Sister My Brother, and get ready for their new EP, out in September! 

*Recorded before the SAG-AFTRA strike

Noah Galvin is here to dish about his time on The Real O'Neals, his engagement to Ben Platt, his hilarious new film Theater Camp, and much more.

Actress and star of the must-see movie Monica Trace Lysette is here to talk Somebody Somewhere, Henry Louis Gates on PBS, Kathryn Hahn’s Tiny Beautiful Things (or something?) The Jets, Remy Ma, Latto, the importance of a good playlist for a day shooting hoops, FloJo nails, the rollercoaster of awards buzz, the power of kooky writing workshops, and what stories she wants to tell next. 

Author/professor/policy expert/political strategist and ally for the ages Kate Black is here to talk about the state of American electoral politics, the five steps of getting involved in your own community to advocate for what you believe in, and Kelly Clarkson’s Chemistry. Also: becoming a born-again tidy person, donating a kidney and all that that entails, the challenge of triathlons, the quiet bravery of keeping your head down and continuing to swim, the joys of the Midwest, the cost of diapers, June Diane Raphael as life-changer, how to support LGBTQ+ candidates, why we’re still stuck with the language of hyper-masculinity, and how we’re feeling about the 2024 election. PLUS: the true story of Michael Patrick King on Matt’s new podcast And Just Like Matt!  

Straight-up legend Jake Shears broadcasts from a rare week off in Laguna Beach to talk about his brilliant and summer-defining solo album Last Man Dancing, and: spontaneous New Orleans house parties, Jessie Ware, Alison Goldfrapp, Padam Padam, Sophie Ellis-Bextor, the gentle heaviness of Queens of the Stone Age, life as a gay teen in Seattle the year Nirvana broke, Dan Savage as mentor, the magnetic pull of Emerald City, what he looks for in a man, and a surprising semi-celebrity crush (who we have independently researched and can verify could get it). 

On the heels of the announcement of a season three for Max's Somebody Somewhere, the show’s charming co-star Jeff Hiller comes back home to Homophilia, where he has always felt a deep sense of belonging. We talk about his upcoming memoir, the challenges of urban wildfire smoke, the trap of self-deprecation, the enduring popularity of the idea that the world is getting worse, the essential bro-ness of improv, the significance of an original Broadway cast recording to a certain kind of boy, the importance of in-unit laundry, and why Vanessica cannot work with a dark wig. 

Activist and author Matt Baume joins us to talk about his excellent book on queer representation in sitcoms Hi Honey, I’m Homo!. Also: devastatingly elegant kiss-offs to the ignorant and angry, catching up on the classics, Star Trek: Strange New Worlds, the rise of PlutoTV, Boober from Fraggle Rock as gay icon, cinemaphobia, the genius of Bewitched, All In The Family and Soap, the problem of Jody, the joy of a progressive family, and the place where the hottest men on television can reliably be found: reruns of Supermarket Sweep. 

Friend of the show and author of the just-released and critically-acclaimed Big Gay Wedding Byron Lane is back! The first order of business is holding space for one another in the wake of the Kim Cattrall And Just Like That news, and speculating on its personal, local, and global implications. But there is time for other topics, and these include: finally getting around to reading Kavalier & Klay, gay weddings real and fictional and big and small, auspicious meetings on Tinder, testicular odd couples, Carrie Fisher, Tilda Swinton, the responsible side of New Orleans and the sleazy side of Catholic confession, our evolving relationships with the concept of Pride Month, and how TV can teach us how to write a novel. 

It’s a family affair this week, as Matt and Dave talk a glittering Eurovision, celebrified pickleball drama, Succession theories, Vanderpump conspiracies, and the pros and cons of revisiting exes. This episode is NOT sponsored by Mercedes-Benz, but what a great opportunity that would be for the legendary carmaker, whose 2023 EQS 580 combines luxury with eco-consciousness. 

Subscribe to Matt's new limited-run podcast: And Just Like Matt here or wherever you listen to podcasts.

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/and-just-like-matt/id1688052599?i=1000613321675