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Lost Spaces: Memories from Gay Bars, Lesbian Clubs, and LGBTQ+ Parties

Lost Spaces: Memories from Gay Bars, Lesbian Clubs, and LGBTQ+ Parties

By lost queer spaces

How do queer spaces help to shape people's lives?

Why are they so important to the LGBTQ+ community?

What is the impact of losing these spaces?

Lost Spaces explores these questions (and more!) through conversations with members of the LGBT community.

Each week host K Anderson sits down with a different guest to discuss a space from their past, why it was important to them, and how it helped shape who they are.

Expect conversations about coming out, going out, and getting down.

And snogging strangers on sweaty dancefloors. We can't talk about gay history without that coming up.
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Currently playing episode

"Squishy Femme Bear" - with Neil Higgins from FMKLit Podcast

Lost Spaces: Memories from Gay Bars, Lesbian Clubs, and LGBTQ+ PartiesNov 23, 2022

00:00
49:02
"It Took Almost 30 Years Before I Actually Transitioned" - with Amethysta Herrick from Gender Identity Weekly Podcast

"It Took Almost 30 Years Before I Actually Transitioned" - with Amethysta Herrick from Gender Identity Weekly Podcast

There's one question that gets asked in this week's episode that’s really stuck with me and that I continued to ponder even after we'd said our goodbyes and turned our microphones off...

And that question is: how do you know when you have become the person that you’re supposed to be?

By that I mean - at what point do you say 'yes this is the person I was supposed to be' rather than continue to strive and figure that out? Or, do you just kind of like make do with who you presently are and accept that that might change one day?

And it's one of those annoying questions where there probably isn't an answer, so it's not worth expending any energy trying to figure it out, but if you have any suggestions do let me know!

But for now, let’s focus on our guest for this week’s episode, Amethysta Herrick, writer and host of the Gender Identity Weekly podcast.

Amethysta came out as a trans woman in 2022, but if you've ever come out then you know that it takes a lot of mental computation and processing to get to that point and it's usually something that you know about a long time before you're willing to share it with the wider world.

But luckily for us we have queer spaces where it's safe to explore these things.

And, one of the places that helped Amethysta explore and understand her identity was the Athens, Georgia bar Boneshakers, where, way back in the 90s, she got to try out an alternate identity - she named herself Selina after Catwoman's civilian name - and just got to flirt, hang out, and exist as herself.

Do you have any memories of Boneshakers, or clubbing from your own scene that you want to share? Well, if you have please get in touch - I want to create the biggest online record of people's memories and stories - go to www.lostspacespodcast.com and find the section 'Share a Lost Space' and tell me what you got up to! Bonus points for embarrassing photos!


You can also find me on Facebook (www.facebook.com/lostspacespod) and Instagram (www.instagram.com/lostspacespod)


Find out more about Amethysta by listening to her podcast, Gender Identity Weekly, or by visiting her website (https://www.amethysta.io/)


Takeaways

  • Identity is a continuous process of becoming and evolving, and there is no fixed destination.
  • The 90s were a time of both darkness and hope for Amethysta, as she navigated her gender transition and struggled with mental health.
  • Living in Athens as a student was a formative experience for Amethysta, shaping her understanding of herself and her place in the world.
Mar 27, 202459:25
"Oh, But I AM Queer..." - with Eric Kostiuk Williams

"Oh, But I AM Queer..." - with Eric Kostiuk Williams

Have you ever shown up at the tail-end of a really exciting party just as everything was ending, and you get that overwhelming feeling of having had missed out on something big?

Well, that's kinda what happened to illustrator and cartoonist Eric Kostiuk Williams. He had moved to Toronto in 2008, and took a few years to discover the corner of the scene that felt right for him - in his word, the 'art f*g' scene - but just as he was finding his feet he could feel that the scene was shifting and moving on, meaning that he always feels that he missed out on many magical nights in his lost space, The Beaver.

But that's not to say that he still didn't have a good time!

We caught up to talk about his new book, 2am Eternal, which documents 10 years of Toronto nightlife flyers that he illustrated - along the way we talk about when and how to leave the party, Eric's relationship with the word 'queer', and letting go of your twink-dom.

Do you have any memories of The Beaver, or clubbing from your own scene that you want to share? Well, if you have please get in touch - I want to create the biggest online record of people's memories and stories - go to www.lostspacespodcast.com and find the section 'Share a Lost Space' and tell me what you got up to! Bonus points for embarrassing photos!


You can also find me on Facebook (www.facebook.com/lostspacespod) and Instagram (www.instagram.com/lostspacespod)


Find out more about Eric by following him on Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/eric.k.w/) or visiting his website (https://www.kostiukwilliams.com/)


If you liked this episode I'd really appreciate if you subscribe, leave a review on your podcast platform, or just tell people that you think might be interested!

Takeaways

  • The term 'twink' can have different connotations and meanings, ranging from derogatory to enviable, depending on the context and individual perspectives.
  • The experience of coming out and embracing one's identity can vary greatly, and it is important to respect each person's unique journey.
  • Toronto offers a vibrant and inclusive environment for the LGBTQ+ community, with thriving creative and queer communities that provide a sense of belonging and support.
  • Finding one's community and personal growth often involves exploring different spaces, connecting with like-minded individuals, and embracing self-expression.
  • The terms 'gay' and 'queer' have different connotations and can represent different aspects of identity and community.
  • Creating posters for queer parties requires understanding the vibe and atmosphere of the event and collaborating with the organizers.
  • Generational shifts and the passage of time can bring changes to the queer scene, but new experiences and connections can still be found. The Beaver played a significant role in creating a vibrant queer scene in Toronto.
  • Being part of a scene involves both a sense of community and practical considerations.
  • Knowing when to exit a party or scene is important for personal well-being.
  • The closure of The Beaver highlights the loss of unique spaces in Toronto.
  • Lessons from The Beaver include embracing oneself and appreciating the value of personal experiences.
Mar 20, 202453:32
"This Hotbed Of Trans Activism..." - with Dr Syrus Marcus Ware

"This Hotbed Of Trans Activism..." - with Dr Syrus Marcus Ware

So, it's well documented on this show that queer spaces are good for many things - they're for dancing, socialising, drinking, falling down, getting back up, losing yourself, finding yourself in the arms of some strange men at 2am in the morning...


BUT, they are also for organising and activism, and I think that's something we don't talk about enough on this show.


That's all about to change. This week we are joined by activist Dr Syrus Marcus Ware, who joined me to talk about The Red Spot, in Toronto, Canada. This was a space where he unwound, met and connected with many fellow organisers, and planned protests and marches in the late 90s...


Oh, yes, you read correctly! We are headed back to the 90s, and our conversation starts with the most 90s conversation ever, where Syrus explains all about how answering machines and pagers worked!


Do you have any memories of The Red Spot, or clubbing from your own scene that you want to share? Well, if you have please get in touch - I want to create the biggest online record of people's memories and stories - go to www.lostspacespodcast.com and find the section 'Share a Lost Space' and tell me what you got up to! Bonus points for embarrassing photos!


You can also find me on Facebook (www.facebook.com/lostspacespod) and Instagram (www.instagram.com/lostspacespod)


Find out more about Syrus by following him on Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/syrusmarcus) and Twitter (https://twitter.com/syrusmarcusware) or visiting his website (https://www.syrusmarcusware.com/)


If you liked this episode I'd really appreciate if you subscribe, leave a review on your podcast platform, or just tell people that you think might be interested!


Takeaways

  • The Red Spot was a significant space for activism and organising in Toronto, providing a home for marginalised communities.
  • Experiencing anti-blackness in LGBTQ+ spaces highlights the need for intersectional activism and the importance of creating inclusive and welcoming environments.
  • Coming out as trans is a personal journey that can be supported by community and activism. The Red Spot was a significant community space for queer and trans individuals in Toronto, providing a cozy and inclusive atmosphere.
  • The closure of the Red Spot raised concerns about the loss of a safe and accessible gathering place for the community
  • The Red Spot taught valuable lessons about the power of community organising, the value of accessibility, and the impact of artistic practice in activism.
Mar 13, 202442:43
"'Love Is Love' - Until You're Black, Trans, Disabled, Non-Binary..." - with Andrew Gurza from Disability After Dark

"'Love Is Love' - Until You're Black, Trans, Disabled, Non-Binary..." - with Andrew Gurza from Disability After Dark

I know there's always the risk with this show of completely romanticising queer spaces as these glistening oasis' of tolerance and acceptance.


But, that's really not the case - despite how wonderful and freeing they can be, they can also be a bit shitty and exclusionary.

And I was reminded of that this week when I sat down to talk to talk to Andrew Gurza, who is a disability awareness consultant and activist, as well as being the host of the Disability After Dark podcast.

We caught up to discuss The Edge, which was a gay bar in Ottawa, Canada, and held so much promise for Andrew but pretty much failed to deliver.


But, that's not to say that this is a totally depressing episode.

That Andrew is one horny guy, and he seems to have mastered the art of turning every conversation into one about blow jobs, so penises and giggling come up a lot, as well as the despair we both feel about mainstream gay male culture!

So, in other words - something for everyone (?)!


Do you have any memories of The Edge, or clubbing from your own scene that you want to share? Well, if you have please get in touch - I want to create the biggest online record of people's memories and stories - go to www.lostspacespodcast.com and find the section 'Share a Lost Space' and tell me what you got up to! Bonus points for embarrassing photos!


You can also find me on Facebook (www.facebook.com/lostspacespod), Instagram (www.instagram.com/lostspacespod) and Twitter (www.twitter.com/lostspacespod)


Find out more about Andrew by following him on Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/andrewgurza6/) or visiting his website (https://www.andrewgurza.com/). Finally, make sure you listen to his podcast Disability After Dark!


Takeaways

  • Queer spaces, such as clubs, can be inaccessible and unwelcoming to disabled individuals, highlighting the need for greater accessibility education.
  • Ableism and ignorance towards disability are prevalent in society, including within the queer community.
  • It is important to confront ableism and educate others about disability, but it can be exhausting and disappointing when met with resistance or indifference.
  • Rejection and disappointment are common experiences in dating and relationships, but it is important to prioritise self-worth and not settle for mistreatment. Intersectionality is crucial in understanding the experiences of queer and disabled individuals.
  • Unpacking biases and stereotypes is necessary for creating more inclusive and accepting queer spaces.
  • There is a need for greater accessibility in queer spaces, and fundraising efforts should be directed towards making these spaces inclusive for all.
  • The fear of disability within the queer community hinders meaningful connections and perpetuates ableism.
  • Enforcement of accessibility laws is essential to ensure equal access for disabled individuals.
  • The concept of community is complex, and it is important to recognise and address the divisions and challenges within different queer communities.
  • Resilience and self-discovery are key in navigating the complexities of identity and finding a sense of belonging.
  • Being the only one with a particular identity can be powerful, but it also highlights the need for greater representation and inclusivity.
Mar 06, 202449:26
"My Faith Side And My Queer Side" - with Crystal Cheatham

"My Faith Side And My Queer Side" - with Crystal Cheatham

I have a fairly straightforward relationship with religion in that... well, I don't have one.


I wasn't brought up religious, I've never dabbled in religiousity, and it's never seemed to be something that particularly drew me in.


Where it's a bit more fuzzy for me is when talking about the intersection between queerness and religiousness.


It'll come as no surprise to you when I say that most religions take a fairly strong stance when it comes to queerness (and that stance isn't one of embrace and love).


And, so, I was always so baffled by people who were both religious and queer, and how they found ways to balance both of those identities. I thought they were in denial or trying to please everyone or trying to be a 'respectable' gay.


But, my views have changed - as I get older I can understand how useful religion can be (and, on top of that, it's kind of none of my business if someone else wants to be religious).


I'm telling you all of this because this week I had a really interesting conversation with Crystal Cheatham, who is the founder and CEO of the OurBible app, an app for progressive Christians that she developed when she got fed-up of the homophobic BS she was encountering on other mainstream apps.


We caught up to talk about the lesbian bar Sisters, which was in Philadelphia, USA, that she started going to when she was but a little gay-by.


And, I think you're going to enjoy this conversation. I personally got a lot of insight, and a new perspective, on how to hold religious views alongside your rampant queerness (!).


Do you have any memories of Sisters?, or clubbing from your own scene that you want to share? Well, if you have please get in touch - I want to create the biggest online record of people's memories and stories - go to www.lostspacespodcast.com and find the section 'Share a Lost Space' and tell me what you got up to! Bonus points for embarrassing photos!


You can also find me on Facebook (www.facebook.com/lostspacespod), Instagram (www.instagram.com/lostspacespod) and Twitter (www.twitter.com/lostspacespod)


Find out more about Crystal by following her on X (https://twitter.com/crystalcheatham) or visiting her website (https://www.crystalcheatham.me/)/ Or, if it tickles your fancy why not download the Our Bible app, which is a community space for people who identify as spiritual but not religious, progressive Christian, or nothing at all.


Key takeaways

  • Lesbian bars can be lively and sometimes chaotic spaces, where unexpected and outrageous things can happen.
  • Moving to a new city can provide opportunities for self-discovery and exploration of one's identity.
  • Reconciling faith and sexuality can be a challenging process, but there are affirming religious spaces available.
  • Fighting for LGBTQ+ rights and challenging conservative ideologies can be fuelled by anger and a desire for change.
  • The first experiences of attraction to women can be both exciting and nerve-wracking, but they can also lead to meaningful connections. The closure of Sisters, a lesbian bar in Philadelphia, had a significant impact on the LGBTQ+ community, resulting in the loss of a cultural hub and safe space.
  • Crystal's journey with religion and spirituality led her to create an inclusive app (OurBible) that reflects her own beliefs and experiences.
  • Family acceptance and support are crucial for LGBTQ+ individuals, and while some family members may struggle with acceptance, it is important to prioritise self-care and set boundaries.
  • Self-discovery and personal growth are essential for embracing one's sexuality and spirituality, and it is important to live in the present moment and not worry about others' opinions.
Feb 28, 202450:52
"I've Never Really Liked This Concept Of 'Coming Out'"- with Lamya H

"I've Never Really Liked This Concept Of 'Coming Out'"- with Lamya H

We talk in this episode a little about Lamya's new memoir, Hijab Butch Blues. If you're interested in snagging yourself a copy why not take a look at my Bookshop store? https://uk.bookshop.org/a/13642/9781785788499


Books! Is there anything more inviting and accepting than a good book - one that seems to know you better than you know yourself?


Books were my best friend when I was growing up, and they seemed to always provide comfort and solace from whatever shit was happening elsewhere in my life (which was usually the horror of high school).

And there's something so magical about going to a library or going to a book shop and just being surrounded by the possibilities and the universes that were inside.

And, I have a hunch I'm not the only one who thinks this way - in fact, this week I'm joined by author Lamya H, who found themselves drawn to the queer, trans and sex worker run bookshop Bluestockings when they were a fresh transplant to NYC.

(And, for clarity's sake, it's worth saying that Bluestockings still exists, but it's no longer at its original location on Allen St, which is where Lamya first found it)


Do you have any memories of Bluestockings, or a queer space from your own scene that you want to share? Well, if you have please get in touch - I want to create the biggest online record of people's memories and stories - go to www.lostspacespodcast.com and find the section 'Share a Lost Space' and tell me what you got up to! Bonus points for embarrassing photos!


You can also find me on Facebook (www.facebook.com/lostspacespod), Instagram (www.instagram.com/lostspacespod) and Twitter (www.twitter.com/lostspacespod)


Find out more about Lamya H by following them on Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/lamyaisangry) or visiting their website (https://www.lamyah.com/)


Feb 21, 202450:28
"Gay and Emo?" - with Matt Hey

"Gay and Emo?" - with Matt Hey

It's time to put on your skinny jeans, dig out your studded belt, and apply about a week's worth of black eyeliner, because this week.... we're going emo!

Now, if you’re listening to this episode 300 years from now and you’re like ‘what the heck is emo’ let me break it down for you...

According to dictionary.com emo is 'a style of rock music resembling punk but having more complex arrangements and lyrics that deal with more emotional subjects'. And, as with every good genre of music there is a scene, a style of dress, and a way of thinking...

But, enough of my thinly disguised judgement - this week comedian and podcaster Matt Hey is taking us to Hot Damn, an emo night in Sydney, Australia, in, of course, the most emo of decades - the 00s.

And, legitimately, Hot Damn sounds like it was the place to be - different rooms playing different music, live bands, and every month there was a themed party (think 'Spring Break', 'School Graduation') and they would have novelty pop-ups like kissing booths and a mechanical bull in the shape of a giant penis.

Growing up on the Central Coast (which is about 1 - 1.5 hours outside of Sydney), the club helped Matt normalise being different and seeing people there just not giving a fuck was liberating.

But, listen to the whole episode to find out the full story...

Do you have any memories of Hot Damn, or clubbing from your own scene that you want to share? Well, if you have please get in touch - I want to create the biggest online record of people's memories and stories - go to www.lostspacespodcast.com and find the section 'Share a Lost Space' and tell me what you got up to! Bonus points for embarrassing photos!

You can also find me on Facebook (www.facebook.com/lostspacespod) or Instagram (www.instagram.com/lostspacespod)

Find out more about Matt by following him on Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/alrighthey) or listen to his podcast High Scrollers!

Feb 14, 202439:42
"She Gave Us The Space To Be Ourselves" - with Barrak Alzaid

"She Gave Us The Space To Be Ourselves" - with Barrak Alzaid

This study was published at the beginning of 2024, and it talks about the key role of Aunties and 'othermothers' in supporting queer children to flourish by providing emotional and practical support.

Admittedly, it's probably one of those studies that confirms what everyone else has known for years, but it's particularly interesting to me because I didn't grow up with any adult female figures in my life other than my mother (and teachers at school, I suppose, but there's a distance and a power dynamic that means that isn't quite the same).

So, in order to explore this more (and ask all the stupid questions that are bouncing around in my head) I sat down with writer Barrak Alzaid, who told me all about his grandmother, Mama Latifa, whose house acted as a safe haven and magical space for Barrak when he was growing up in 1980s and 90s Kuwait.

Along the way we talk about different cultural understandings of the coming out journey, what happens when that coming out journey doesn't go according to plan, and which of the characters from the 80s cartoon Thundercats is the most shaggable....

Do you have any memories from queer spaces that you want to share? Well, if you have please get in touch - I want to create the biggest online record of people's memories and stories - go to www.lostspacespodcast.com and find the section 'Share a Lost Space' and tell me what you got up to! Bonus points for embarrassing photos!

You can also find me on Facebook (www.facebook.com/lostspacespod) and Instagram (www.instagram.com/lostspacespod).


Find out more about Barrak by visiting his website (https://barrakalzaid.com/) or follow him on Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/barrakstar) or X (https://twitter.com/barrakstar)


Key takeaways

  • Mama Latifa's house played a significant role in Barrak's understanding of their identity, providing a safe and empowering environment.
  • The Western concept of coming out does not neatly align with the societal expectations in Kuwait, where discussions about sexuality are often avoided.
  • Barrak's relationship with their mother has evolved over time, with open dialogue and understanding.
  • The limitations and challenges faced by queer individuals in Kuwait highlight the importance of safe spaces and the need for acceptance and support. Creating safe and liberatory spaces can have a profound impact on individuals' personal growth and self-expression.
  • Family meals and gatherings can foster a sense of togetherness and provide a space for individuals to be themselves.
  • Having a supportive and accepting environment can help individuals develop a strong sense of self-assuredness.
  • The freedom to play and consume subversive media can contribute to personal growth and self-expression.
Feb 07, 202442:41
"It Felt Like There Was Only One Way To Be Queer" - with Natali Caro

"It Felt Like There Was Only One Way To Be Queer" - with Natali Caro

So it's fairly well established that I think queer spaces are really significant and an important way to explore your identity and dip your big toe into the queer lake of fabulosity.


But, what we don't talk a lot about on this show is the importance of queer performance spaces, where people who are just starting out - singers, comedians, jugglers - have the chance to perform in front of an understanding audience (even if they do occasionally heckle and objectify you - somehow it's ok when it's a queer audience!).


Anyway, that was my way of introducing this week's guest, comedian extraordinaire, Natali Caro, who found a queer comedy night at Giant Dwarf in Sydney early on in their career, and says that it helped them to be brave and try different things that helped them step into their comedic excellence.


So much so, in fact, that it inspired them to set up their own night - Gag - that we will find out more about during this episode.


Do you have any memories of Giant Dwarf, or clubbing from your own scene that you want to share? Well, if you have please get in touch - I want to create the biggest online record of people's memories and stories - go to www.lostspacespodcast.com and find the section 'Share a Lost Space' and tell me what you got up to! Bonus points for embarrassing photos!


You can also find me on Facebook (www.facebook.com/lostspacespod) and Instagram (www.instagram.com/lostspacespod).


Find out more about Natali by following them on Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/nati_daddy_/)


Takeaways

  1. Performing to a queer audience is often more rewarding and understanding than performing to a non-queer audience.

  2. Comedy can be a powerful tool for self-expression and reaching people with important messages.

  3. Overcoming shyness and pursuing comedy can be a transformative experience.

  4. The first solo performance can be nerve-wracking but can also lead to personal growth and confidence. Queer comedy festivals provide opportunities for performers to showcase their work in a supportive and inclusive environment.

  5. Inclusive comedy spaces are important for marginalised communities who often feel excluded from mainstream comedy.

  6. Queer clubbing can be challenging for individuals who don't feel like they fit into the traditional party scene or who prefer non-clubbing related entertainment.

  7. Creating an inclusive space requires intentional programming, representation, and a welcoming atmosphere set by the host or organiser.

  8. The intangible element of 'vibes' plays a role in the overall experience of a comedy night or event.

  9. Measuring self-worth based on output can be detrimental and it's important to let go of the need for validation.

  10. Living in a cave may sound appealing at times, but human connection and applause can bring joy and fulfillment!

Jan 31, 202453:37
"All The Other Black Queer Boys Who I've Known..." - with Jord Hailwood from The Winning Side Podcast

"All The Other Black Queer Boys Who I've Known..." - with Jord Hailwood from The Winning Side Podcast

Now, you might want to sit down or take a deep breath before you read this episode description, but.... it's possible that I've managed to find someone wracked with more self-doubt than me!

Now, i hope you haven’t spit out your coffee or come over all faint, but I can confirm it is absolutely true.

And who is that person? Well, it’s host of The Winning Side podcast Jord Hailwood, who joined me to talk about his university days in Oxford and how special being able to go to his lost space The Plush Lounge was for him.

(Oh, but, just to avoid any confusion - as of 2024 The Plush Lounge is still very much ongoing, and bills itself as Oxford's premier LGBTQ+ party space! The reason that we're discussing it in this episode is because when Jord first started university it was being held at a different venue - a different physical space - which it moved away from in 2019).

Do you have any memories of The Plush Lounge, or clubbing from your own scene that you want to share? Well, if you have please get in touch - I want to create the biggest online record of people's memories and stories - go to www.lostspacespodcast.com and find the section 'Share a Lost Space' and tell me what you got up to! Bonus points for embarrassing photos!


You can also find me on Facebook (www.facebook.com/lostspacespod) and Instagram (www.instagram.com/lostspacespod)


Find out more about Jord by listening to his podcast The Winning Side, or following him on Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/jordanhailwood/)

Jan 24, 202437:46
"Other Kinky Queer People" - with Auntie Vice from Fat Girls On Top Podcast
Jan 17, 202456:38
Introducing 'The Queer Family Podcast'...

Introducing 'The Queer Family Podcast'...

More new podcast recommendations this week!

This week I'm sharing an episode of The Queer Family Podcast, a show all about queer families. Every episode is a chat between host Jaimie and different guests who have been through the process of starting their own family, and I've learnt so much from listening about how varied everyone's journey is.

This particular episode is a chat with Richard and Carlos, (aka @therealdadsofnewyork), who chat about their experiences of fostering and adopting. The thing I love in particular about this conversation is that very specific energy between a couple (you know what I'm talking about!).


Jan 03, 202401:04:56
Introducing 'This Queer Book Saved My Life!'....

Introducing 'This Queer Book Saved My Life!'....

Ahoy! I'm taking a few weeks off over the festive period to recharge (and eat too many mince pies).

But, rather than leaving you languishing out there in podcast land without any fresh content I thought I would share some of my favourite episodes from past guests' own podcasts.

And, the first show that I'm sharing is.....

This Queer Book Saved My Life!

This show is hosted by JP Der Boghossian, who appeared in the Lost Spaces episode "Every Bachelorette Party Seems To Be At A Queer Bar Now" waaaaay back in August 2022.

I wanted to share this episode because:

  1. JP is a total sweetheart and I think you'll love his interview style

  2. The episode, a conversation with Maya Williams, the Poet Laureate of Portland, Maine, covers a book that is often the focus of book-banning campaigns - The Colour Purple. I am baffled by all this book banning malarkey, and I want to hear your views on it!

Dec 27, 202343:22
"I Started Discovering These Gay Country Bars" - with David F M Vaughn from Gaytriarchs Podcast
Dec 20, 202350:21
"Becoming A Nightlife Celebrity..." - with Miss Guy

"Becoming A Nightlife Celebrity..." - with Miss Guy

What do you do when Malcolm McLaren, that hugely influential promoter and manager for punk rock bands like Sex Pistols, Adam and the Ants, and Bow Wow Wow, tells you that he thinks you should move to New York City?

Well, you pack your bags and get moving!

That’s exactly what this week’s guest did, packing his bags and moving with his best friend Lauren after the two got talking to Mr McLaren at a party they attended in their home state, California.

Moving from San Diego in the autumn of 1985, the two were plunged in to the exciting NYC nightlife scene immediately, attending the lost space Boy Bar on their very first night.

And Boy Bar came to be a pretty big deal in Miss Guy's life - but, I'll let her tell you about that.

This is a really great conversation, and another reminder after the conversation a few weeks ago with Sherry Vine of a time when New York City nightlife was vital and throbbing and the centre of the universe...


Do you have any memories of Boy Bar, or clubbing from your own scene that you want to share? Well, if you have please get in touch - I want to create the biggest online record of people's memories and stories - go to www.lostspacespodcast.com and find the section 'Share a Lost Space' and tell me what you got up to! Bonus points for embarrassing photos!


You can also find me on Facebook (www.facebook.com/lostspacespod), Instagram (www.instagram.com/lostspacespod) and Twitter (www.twitter.com/lostspacespod)


Find out more about Miss Guy by following him on Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/missguynyc/) or visiting his website (www.missguy.com)

Dec 13, 202343:13
"Drag Can Be Different Things For Different People" - with Zelda Moon from Death to Everyone Podcast

"Drag Can Be Different Things For Different People" - with Zelda Moon from Death to Everyone Podcast

What do you do when you're a drag queen who wants to get more gigs?

Well, that's simple - you create you own night! Easy, right?

But we're not talking about just any old drag queen. We are talking about someone who, dare I say, loves a checklist almost as much as I do (I know, can you believe it?).

Zelda Moon is the co-host of the Death to Everyone podcast (and we've already met her co-host Lazy Susan in last week's episode), and she is also a huge lover of K-Pop and J-Pop music.

And, so, she got the bright idea, early in her drag career, to throw a night celebrating this music, which she called Genki (and which was held at Melbourne's Hugs and Kisses).

And that's when the fun began! Listen to the full episode to find out more.

Do you have any memories of Genki at Hugs n Kisses, or clubbing from your own scene that you want to share? Well, if you have please get in touch - I want to create the biggest online record of people's memories and stories - go to www.lostspacespodcast.com and find the section 'Share a Lost Space' and tell me what you got up to! Bonus points for embarrassing photos!

You can also find me on Facebook (www.facebook.com/lostspacespod), Instagram (www.instagram.com/lostspacespod) and Twitter (www.twitter.com/lostspacespod)

Find out more about Zelda by listening to her podcast with Lazy Susan (who was last week's guest!), Death to Everyone, or you can also follow her on Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/zeldamoon/).

Oooh, and if you want to get a better feel for what Genki was like check out the Genki Instagram page (https://www.instagram.com/genkiparty/)

If you liked this episode I'd really appreciate if you subscribe, leave a review on your podcast platform, or just tell people that you think might be interested!


I am K Anderson, and you've been listening to Lost Spaces

Dec 06, 202344:31
"Drag And Gayness Requires Delusion" - with Lazy Susan from Death to Everyone Podcast
Nov 29, 202352:59
"I Don't Want To Be Gay, I Want To Be Normal" - with Stephen Griffiths from Are the Gays OK? Podcast

"I Don't Want To Be Gay, I Want To Be Normal" - with Stephen Griffiths from Are the Gays OK? Podcast

So, if you are a long time listener of this show you will probably know that I am on a bit of a quest to stamp out the use of the word 'normal', because it find it is just a really unhelpful descriptor, and it's so subjective - like, what's normal for me may not be normal for you.

Anyway, I say all of this because I need to formally apologise to this week's guest for telling him off whenever he used that word in our conversation.

My guest is Stephen Griffiths, co-host of the Are the Gays Ok? podcast, and he came on to talk about moving to Bangkok in his early 20s as a way of escaping his life... and it was here, at Telephone Bar and other clubs in the gay district, that he got the opportunity to try on being gay... and recognise that it, too, is normal.

Do you have any memories of Telephone Bar, or clubbing from your own scene that you want to share? Well, if you have please get in touch - I want to create the biggest online record of people's memories and stories - go to www.lostspacespodcast.com and find the section 'Share a Lost Space' and tell me what you got up to! Bonus points for embarrassing photos!

You can also find me on Facebook (www.facebook.com/lostspacespod), Instagram (www.instagram.com/lostspacespod) and Twitter (www.twitter.com/lostspacespod)

Find out more about Stephen by listening to his podcast Are The Gays Ok?, a show all about queer mental health. You can also find out more about him by visiting his website https://www.swgcounselling.co.uk/, where you can find out about his counselling services.

Nov 22, 202301:00:13
"Once I Get To College I'll Start Doing Gay Things..." - with Corey Sherman
Nov 15, 202352:50
"You Can't Defeat Queerness" - with Mya Byrne
Nov 08, 202342:07
"Small Town Gay Bar" - with Freddy Freeman
Nov 01, 202340:54
"That's What New York City Was Like In The 90s..." - with Sherry Vine

"That's What New York City Was Like In The 90s..." - with Sherry Vine

If you've ever wondered what 90s New York City was like, then today's episode is the one for you.

Before mass gentrification, before eye-watering rent hikes, and before all the personality was stamped out of it, queer night clubbing in the Big Apple was anarchic, unhinged, and magical.

And the person that told me this is this week's guest, Sherry Vine - drag superstar, singer-songwriter, and host of The Sherry Vine Variety Show (available to stream now on OutTV and FrootTV), who was right there smack dab in the middle of it all.

We talk about moving to NYC, getting started in drag, and Sherry gives a flavour of that anarchic magic that used to be on every street corner...

Do you have any memories of sleazy, sleazy NYC, or clubbing from your own scene that you want to share? Well, if you have please get in touch - I want to create the biggest online record of people's memories and stories - go to www.lostspacespodcast.com and find the section 'Share a Lost Space' and tell me what you got up to! Bonus points for embarrassing photos!

You can also find me on Facebook (www.facebook.com/lostspacespod), Instagram (www.instagram.com/lostspacespod) and Twitter (www.twitter.com/lostspacespod)

Find out more about Sherry by watching her tv show The Sherry Vine Variety Show on OutTV in North America or FrootTV in the UK.

You can also find her via her website (https://www.sherryvine.com/), or following her on Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/misssherryvine/) or YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/user/misssherryvine).


Oct 25, 202340:12
"We've Evolved Through Our Conversations As A Couple..." - with Charles and Martha from Full Circle The Podcast

"We've Evolved Through Our Conversations As A Couple..." - with Charles and Martha from Full Circle The Podcast

So, we talk a lot on this show about new, fresh, exciting love (or, let's be honest, lust!), and how magnificent and all-consuming that can be.

But, we don't often talk about that wonderful long-term love - you know the kind where you can be cranky and know the other person won't get offended. Or when you know each other so well that you can finish off each other's sentences? Ahhh....

Anyway, all of that is to say that this week I'm joined by Charles and Martha from the Full Circle Podcast, who joined me to talk about The Venture Inn in Philadelphia.

We jump straight in to their meeting story, and then weave a path from there to their experiences of enjoying the scene together, and how the pandemic had a significant (but wonderful) impact on them.

Do you have any memories of The Venture Inn, or clubbing from your own scene that you want to share? Well, if you have please get in touch - I want to create the biggest online record of people's memories and stories - go to www.lostspacespodcast.com and find the section 'Share a Lost Space' and tell me what you got up to! Bonus points for embarrassing photos!


You can also find me on Facebook (www.facebook.com/lostspacespod), Instagram (www.instagram.com/lostspacespod) and Twitter (www.twitter.com/lostspacespod)


Find out more about Charles and Martha by listening to their podcast Full Circle, or following them on socials - they're on Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/fullcirclethepod/), Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/FullCircleThePod) and Threads (https://www.threads.net/@fullcirclethepod).


Oct 18, 202357:46
"The Bear Community Is More Accepting" - with Benjamin Koll

"The Bear Community Is More Accepting" - with Benjamin Koll

Have you ever fallen in love with your best friend?

Because - spoiler alert - it's a terrible, terrible idea.

Or, at least it is for most people.

Anyway, my guest this week, singer-songwriter Benjamin Koll happened to do just that, falling in love with his childhood friend, no less.

And so by the time he managed to overcome that, and realise that he needed to move on, he was chomping at the bit to explore the queer scene.

And it sounds to me from our conversation that he landed in just the right place - a welcoming bar in Valencia, Spain, which was called Central.

We caught up to talk about Central and why it was so important to him. Along the way, we also talked about the growing visibility of the bear community, and what it's like to follow your passion.

Do you have any memories of Central, or clubbing from your own scene that you want to share? Well, if you have please get in touch - I want to create the biggest online record of people's memories and stories - go to www.lostspacespodcast.com and find the section 'Share a Lost Space' and tell me what you got up to! Bonus points for embarrassing photos!

You can also find me on Facebook (www.facebook.com/lostspacespod), Instagram (www.instagram.com/lostspacespod) and Twitter (www.twitter.com/lostspacespod)

Find out more about Benjamin by visiting his website (https://www.benjaminkoll.com/), or following him on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/benjaminkollofficial/), or Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/benjaminkollmusic) or YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/c/BenjaminKoll).


Oct 11, 202345:26
"People Kept Having To Tell Me Really Obvious Things Like 'You're Gay'" - with Paulus the Cabaret Geek

"People Kept Having To Tell Me Really Obvious Things Like 'You're Gay'" - with Paulus the Cabaret Geek

So when I talk about the importance of queer spaces I'm usually thinking about the fact that they give people opportunities to find others and connect, as well as exploring their identity in a safe space.


But there's this whole other layer that I don't think about much. And, that is the fact that, for performers these spaces are (on top of everything else) where they get to dream and craft and create and fuck up with a safe and understanding audience.


And this week's conversation was a great reminder of this. For this chat I'm joined by the cabaret geek himself, Paulus, who took a break from his latest show Looking For Me Friend: The Music of Victoria Wood to talk me about London's Madame JoJos.


It was here that he got his big break as a drag queen, and though drag is no longer his bread and butter the place remains important to him because of the magic within the walls.


We talk about the thanklessness of drag, building a chosen family, and how sometimes all you need is a wonderful middle-aged woman to tell you what you should do next.


Do you have any memories of Madame JoJos, or clubbing from your own scene that you want to share? Well, if you have please get in touch - I want to create the biggest online record of people's memories and stories - go to www.lostspacespodcast.com and find the section 'Share a Lost Space' and tell me what you got up to! Bonus points for embarrassing photos!


You can also find me on Facebook (www.facebook.com/lostspacespod), Instagram (www.instagram.com/lostspacespod) and Twitter (www.twitter.com/lostspacespod)


Find out more about Paulus by visiting his website (https://thecabaretgeek.com/), or following him on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/thecabaretgeek/), or Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/thecabaretgeek/).

Oct 04, 202356:53
Richard Hatch - "Engagement With Others Is Something Many Gay Men Yearn For"

Richard Hatch - "Engagement With Others Is Something Many Gay Men Yearn For"

So, if you ask me reality TV, as awful and cringey and addictive and delicious as it is, has been monumental in increasing queer visibility in tv and film.

Back in the late 90s/early 00s when reality tv was in its infancy, there were a lot of gay ‘characters’ (for want of a better term) that were cast on these shows as (I think) a bit of a shock tactic…

And what TV executives maybe didn't anticipate was that audiences warmed to these people, and were rooting for them, and actively invested in their success. And, as a result, that made the aforementioned TV Execs a little less scared about including queer characters in other shows...

Which brings us to today’s guest.

Now, everything I've just said definitely applies to this man. He was the very first winner of the reality TV juggernaut ‘Survivor’ all the way back in the year 2000. He became an overnight star because of his antics on the island, which included his comfort with being naked.

But, long before he found fame he was a bartender at Lost and Found, a gay bar that was found in Washington DC.

We got together to talk all about the bar, and along the way we discuss body image, THAT tv show, and being on the hunt for ‘guile’.

Do you have any memories of Lost and Found, or clubbing from your own scene that you want to share? Well, if you have please get in touch - I want to create the biggest online record of people's memories and stories - go to www.lostspacespodcast.com and find the section 'Share a Lost Space' and tell me what you got up to! Bonus points for embarrassing photos!

You can also find me on Facebook (www.facebook.com/lostspacespod), Instagram (www.instagram.com/lostspacespod) and Twitter (www.twitter.com/lostspacespod)

Find out more about Richard by visiting his website (https://www.richhatch.com/), or following him across socials - Twitter (https://twitter.com/HatchRichard), Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/hatch_rich), Youtube (https://www.youtube.com/RichHatch) and Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/richardhatchofficialpage)

Sep 27, 202355:31
"I Never Really Came Out To My Mother... She Read My Diary..." - with Sheria Mattis

"I Never Really Came Out To My Mother... She Read My Diary..." - with Sheria Mattis

Sometimes I feel a bit dumb (or maybe just a bit sheepish) about some of the revelations I have through doing this show, especially since we're so close to 200 episodes (eek!) and I feel like I should know it all by now...

But, then, on the other hand, the fact that I'm still learning so much is part of the reason that I'm so excited to share these stories with you.

And this week the thing that resonated the most is the idea that when things are at their absolute worst also happens to be the time when being in a sweaty nightclub is actually the most fulfilling....

This week I was lucky enough to sit down with comedian and podcaster Sheria Mattis, and it helped me refocus on the importance of clubbing and nightlife and release. In those times of my life when things have felt so difficult and knotty and hard, being out and shocking my senses was the best way for me to recalibrate,.

Oh, and before you listen to this episode - if you don't know who she is already you should probably google Rachel Maddow, because... well, we talk about her quite a lot and it's useful if you know what she looks like!

Do you have any memories of Rock N Rollerskate, or clubbing from your own scene that you want to share? Well, if you have please get in touch - I want to create the biggest online record of people's memories and stories - go to www.lostspacespodcast.com and find the section 'Share a Lost Space' and tell me what you got up to! Bonus points for embarrassing photos!

You can also find me on Facebook (www.facebook.com/lostspacespod), Instagram (www.instagram.com/lostspacespod) and Twitter (www.twitter.com/lostspacespod)

Find out more about Sheria by listening to her podcast, Semi-Woke - a show where Sheria brainwashes her co-host Pranav with one woke concept a week with the ultimate end goal of turning him gay. I mean, what's not to love?

Or, why not follow her on Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/sheriamattiscomedy) or on Twitter/X (https://twitter.com/sheriadidthat)

Sep 20, 202343:59
"If I Get Interrupted On A Dance Floor I Am Upset" - with Digo and Caleb from the Ants Humans Stars Podcast

"If I Get Interrupted On A Dance Floor I Am Upset" - with Digo and Caleb from the Ants Humans Stars Podcast

You know how they say that no matter who you fall in love with during the course of your life you'll always compare everyone to your first true love?

Well, I think that's also true of nightclubs.

Which I know sounds a little wacky, but I wholeheartedly believe that there's something really magical about your first place.

This week I sat down with Digo and Caleb from the podcast Ants Humans Stars to find out about Digo's lost space, Mars Bar, which was in Richmond, Virginia.

You can quickly see why he loved this place.- it was one of those dive bars that had an especially cheesy 80s night every week.

And, it came at just the right time in his life - he'd just dropped out of college, fled to the nearest city, and was trying to fall in love (or, as he puts it, he was chasing D)...

I loved this conversation because of the reminder of the importance and pull of the dancefloor.

Do you have any memories of Mars Bar, or clubbing from your own scene that you want to share? Well, if you have please get in touch - I want to create the biggest online record of people's memories and stories - go to www.lostspacespodcast.com and find the section 'Share a Lost Space' and tell me what you got up to! Bonus points for embarrassing photos!

You can also find me on Facebook (www.facebook.com/lostspacespod), Instagram (www.instagram.com/lostspacespod) and Twitter (www.twitter.com/lostspacespod)

Find out more about Caleb and Digo by listening to their podcast, Ants Humans Stars. You can also visit their website (https://www.antshumansstars.com/), or following them on Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/antshumansstars/) or YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/@antshumansstarspodcast)

Sep 13, 202339:30
"I Saw Gay Men Everywhere. Gay Women? Not So Much..." - with Jaimie Kelton from The Queer Family Podcast

"I Saw Gay Men Everywhere. Gay Women? Not So Much..." - with Jaimie Kelton from The Queer Family Podcast

You know how sometimes these conversations are only very, very, very tenuously linked to a queer space, and in the intro I try and come up with some justification for why we didn't talk that much about it to prepare you for the episode ahead?

Well, dear listener, this week I'm not even going to try to insult your intelligence by pretending that we talked about a queer space, cause we didn't.

I failed you.

BUT, that's not to say that it's not a great conversation!

I was lucky enough to sit down with Jaimie Kelton, actor, voiceover artist, author and host of the Queer Family podcast. And in our conversation we talk all about what it's like to grow up in one of the gayest cities in the world, San Francisco, but still battle with coming to terms with your own sexuality, how to shed the idea of yourself being a 'good girl', and why the stereotype of the u-haul lesbian is so damn persistent...

Do you have any memories of queer spaces that you want to share? Well, if you have please get in touch - I want to create the biggest online record of people's memories and stories - go to www.lostspacespodcast.com and find the section 'Share a Lost Space' and tell me what you got up to! Bonus points for embarrassing photos

You can also find me on Facebook (www.facebook.com/lostspacespod), Instagram (www.instagram.com/lostspacespod) and Twitter (www.twitter.com/lostspacespod)

Find out more about Jaimie by listening to the Queer Family Podcast, visiting her website (⁠https://www.thequeerfamilypodcast.com/⁠), or following the show on Facebook ⁠https://www.facebook.com/ovariestalk/⁠), Instagram (⁠https://www.instagram.com/thequeerfamilypodcast/⁠) or TikTok (⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@thequeerfamilypodcast⁠)

Sep 06, 202351:21
"What's Better Than Coming Out After A Tina Turner Concert?" - with Markus Hamence

"What's Better Than Coming Out After A Tina Turner Concert?" - with Markus Hamence

I am kind of intrigued by this phenomenon of queer men feeling more comfortable in a lesbian bar than in any other space.
And, there's no one reason, obviously, but it seems like a lot of it comes down to the lack of pretence and lack of attitude that you can find in the good ol' fashioned lesbian bar.
Which brings us to this week's conversation - we're heading back to the city I grew up in, Adelaide, to visit the lesbian bar Bean's Bar.
My guest is Marcus Hamence, who is a bit of a man about town in Adelaide. He's an interior designer, events promoter and he writes a column for the local newspaper.
When he first came out (and he came out to his parents following a Tina Turner concert, which is probably one of the best coming out stories ever!), he found that the first club he went to was a bit too intense, and felt more able to be himself and to explore his identity in a room full of lesbians!
Do you have any memories of Bean's Bar, or clubbing from your own scene that you want to share? Well, if you have please get in touch - I want to create the biggest online record of people's memories and stories - go to
www.lostspacespodcast.com and find the section 'Share a Lost Space' and tell me what you got up to! Bonus points for embarrassing photos!
You can also find me on Facebook (www.facebook.com/lostspacespod), Instagram (www.instagram.com/lostspacespod) and Twitter (www.twitter.com/lostspacespod)
Find out more about Markus by visiting his website (https://markushamence.com/), or following him on Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/markushamence/).
Aug 30, 202336:12
"Something Out Of Old Fashioned Lesbian Folklore..." - with Emma Goswell

"Something Out Of Old Fashioned Lesbian Folklore..." - with Emma Goswell

Out of all of the musicals you could possibly blame for making you gay, I would have guessed that Les Miserables would be somewhere near the bottom of the list.

But not, it turns out, if you are radio presenter, author, and host of the Coming Out Stories podcast Emma Goswell, who had her queer awakening with thanks to the story about a French peasant and his quest for redemption in 19th century France... Hmm...

We caught up to talk about the Manchester in the 90s, and in particular the lesbian bar Follies, which sounds like one of those delightfully bizarre places that has a little bit for everybody (including those who just want a nice cup of tea and a sit down!).

Before we get in to it, and in order to set the context for the beginning of the episode, we start off by discussing the strange rivalry in England between the North and the South of the country.

I'm pretty sure every country has their own version of this, but worth stating that the North is seen as more down to earth whilst the South is seen as snobby and hoighty.

Total oversimplification, but hopefully that's enough to get us going.

Do you have any memories of Follies, or clubbing from your own scene that you want to share? Well, if you have please get in touch - I want to create the biggest online record of people's memories and stories - go to www.lostspacespodcast.com and find the section 'Share a Lost Space' and tell me what you got up to! Bonus points for embarrassing photos!

You can also find me on Facebook (www.facebook.com/lostspacespod), Instagram (www.instagram.com/lostspacespod) and Twitter (www.twitter.com/lostspacespod)

Find out more about Emma by listening to either of her podcasts - Coming Out Stories, which is all about coming out stories, and Effin Hormones, which is a show all about the perimenopause. You can also follow her on X (www.twitter.com/emmagoswell).

Aug 23, 202347:35
`'You Know How I Found Out I Was Queer?" - with Rush Kazi

`'You Know How I Found Out I Was Queer?" - with Rush Kazi

Aug 16, 202335:18
"The Very Beginnings Of My Actual Gay Life..." - with Jacob Trueman

"The Very Beginnings Of My Actual Gay Life..." - with Jacob Trueman

Sometimes I'm really taken aback by what an absolute privilege it is to do this job, and how people can be so open and honest with me. And I think it's a real honour that I get to help amplify the stories, and get the opportunity to really examine my own queerness and how that's shaped who I am.

Maybe that's all a little bit too sentimental?

Let's get on with what this show is about this week. I am joined by the British comedian, Jacob Truman, who sat down with me to talk about a small-town gay bar that was in the city where he went to University.

The kicker? He never had the bravery to step foot in the place.

So you've probably already guessed that this one's going to be heavy, but but I promise it's a good one.

We talk all about making all of your decisions from a position of fear, being too scared to come out to your identical twin brother, and what it's like to glimpse through that sliver of a window at a life that you aren't brave enough to start for yourself.

Do you have any memories of Christopher’s, or clubbing from your own scene that you want to share? Well, if you have please get in touch - I want to create the biggest online record of people's memories and stories - go to www.lostspacespodcast.com and find the section 'Share a Lost Space' and tell me what you got up to! Bonus points for embarrassing photos!

You can also find me on Facebook (www.facebook.com/lostspacespod), Instagram (www.instagram.com/lostspacespod) and Twitter (www.twitter.com/lostspacespod)

Find out more about Jacob by visiting his Instagram and TikTok (@jacobtrueman)

Aug 09, 202346:18
"I Was Getting Surprisingly Comfortable In My Queerness" - with Anthony Criswell from Beards and Sundries Podcast

"I Was Getting Surprisingly Comfortable In My Queerness" - with Anthony Criswell from Beards and Sundries Podcast

This week we are headed to Stonewall!

Only not THAT Stonewall (sorry if I got your hopes up)...

No, instead of the bright lights of New York city we are headed to small town Oklahoma, to visit the Stonewall Tavern in a town named Stillwater.

And whilst this bar wasn't technically a gay bar, it did create a safe environment and give people space to be themselves and figure out who they are.

And one of the people who went there is Anthony Criswell, who is one of the hosts of the Beards and Sundries podcast alongside his husband Joe and their friend Jay (who you may remember from a recent episode of the show!).

One of the things that I love most about this conversation is that Anthony is a recovering people pleaser, and he gives us some advice on how to assert yourself in your relationships (which I, of course, immediately start to overthink and over-examine, but, hey, that's what you've come to expect from this show, right?).

Do you have any memories of Stonewall Tavern, or clubbing from your own scene that you want to share? Well, if you have please get in touch - I want to create the biggest online record of people's memories and stories - go to www.lostspacespodcast.com and find the section 'Share a Lost Space' and tell me what you got up to! Bonus points for embarrassing photos!

You can also find me on Facebook (www.facebook.com/lostspacespod), Instagram (www.instagram.com/lostspacespod) and Twitter (www.twitter.com/lostspacespod)

Find out more about Anthony by listening to his show, Beards and Sundries, wherever you find podcasts. And, you can also follow the show on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/beardsandsundries

Aug 02, 202352:32
"That Was The Fever That Made Me Gay" - with Johnnie Walker

"That Was The Fever That Made Me Gay" - with Johnnie Walker

Before anything else I need to give a huge apology to this week's guest.

When we were originally arranging to talk I was very strict with him and firmly said that we could only talk about one lost space and not, as he wanted, talk about the entire shifting queer scene in Toronto....

But... well... you can probably guess when happened when we got together to chat. We went ALL over the place (which is a good thing! The chat is A+)!

So, although we originally got together to talk about Toronto's 'The Steady', (which you might remember as I was lucky enough to interview the venue's owner, Keaton Kash last year), the conversation takes in a number of other spaces and nights.

We talk about dates that never end, throwing the perfect bachelorette party, and being so conscientious that you take the time to come out to everyone in your life individually...

Do you have any memories of The Steady, or clubbing from your own scene that you want to share? Well, if you have please get in touch - I want to create the biggest online record of people's memories and stories - go to www.lostspacespodcast.com and find the section 'Share a Lost Space' and tell me what you got up to! Bonus points for embarrassing photos!

You can also find me on Facebook (www.facebook.com/lostspacespod), Instagram (www.instagram.com/lostspacespod) and Twitter (www.twitter.com/lostspacespod)

Find out more about Johnnie by visiting his website (https://johnniemcnamarawalker.com/), or following them on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/johnniemcnamarawalker) or Twitter (https://twitter.com/handsomejohnnie).

If you liked this episode I'd really appreciate if you subscribe, leave a review on your podcast platform, or just tell people that you think might be interested!

I am K Anderson, and you've been listening to Lost Spaces

Jul 26, 202301:00:16
"The Only Queer Place In Town" - with Jeena Bloom

"The Only Queer Place In Town" - with Jeena Bloom

So, I had a bit of an a-ha moment fairly early in to this week's conversation, and it's something that I've been wrestling with and trying to reconcile ever since.

For most of my childhood I had to just suck it up and accept that things were a bit shitty, because in the back of my mind I told myself that one day it would all be better. And, so, I ended up tolerating a lot of bad behaviour directed towards me.

And, I've started to realise recently that I've brought that mindset in to my adult life, and have continued to tolerate shitty things far beyond what is reasonable.

Anyway, that is all to say that I got a lot out of this conversation...

And who helped provide that a-ha moment?

Why, it's none other than comedian Jeena Bloom.

Now, Jeena wanted to talk about queer spaces that she'd never even been to, but which existed in her small-town Florida 90s childhood as these almost fabled places that everyone in town knew as the gay and lesbian bar.

She shares why those places were special to her even though she never set foot in them.

We also talk all about mid-life crises, sugar daddies, and being meant for the big city.

Do you have any memories of Dockside, or clubbing from your own scene that you want to share? Well, if you have please get in touch - I want to create the biggest online record of people's memories and stories - go to www.lostspacespodcast.com and find the section 'Share a Lost Space' and tell me what you got up to! Bonus points for embarrassing photos!

You can also find me on Facebook (www.facebook.com/lostspacespod), Instagram (www.instagram.com/lostspacespod) and Twitter (www.twitter.com/lostspacespod)

Find out more about Jeena by visiting her website (https://www.jeenabloom.com/), or following her on Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/jeenabloom/), or Twitter (https://twitter.com/jeenabloom).

Jul 19, 202301:01:51
"It Felt Very, Very Gay..." - with Brian Rowe from A Piece of Pie: The Queer Film Podcast

"It Felt Very, Very Gay..." - with Brian Rowe from A Piece of Pie: The Queer Film Podcast

Straight people are great.

Well, most straight people are.

Or... some straight people are?

Anyway, the point I'm trying to make is that despite the fact that straight people are ok (-ish) sometimes you just need a good ol' queer friend to help show you the world.

And, when most of your friends are straight people you can just end up going to where they want to go and do the things that they want to do.

And this can kind of get in the way of you developing in to the queer creature you're meant to be.

This is partly what happened to this week's guest, Brian Rowe, the host of A Piece of Pie: The Queer Film Podcast.

Brian moved to Chicago from small-town Illinois in the late 90s, and quickly found himself gingerly stepping his big toe in to Spin, a lost space that is so legendary we've already featured it twice on this podcast (once with Alexis P Bevels, and once with BB Kyle).

In this episode we talk all about our quest to find identity, the difficulty of making friends, and what kind of sex we think MAGA supporters deserve (but, you probably already know the answer to that).




Small town Illinois, moving to the big city, and


Looking for identity, trying to make friends, navigating bad dates


how straight friends are lovely but sometimes hold you back from getting down

—————-


Do you have any memories of Spin, or maybe a lost space from your own scene that you want to share? Well, if you have please get in touch - I want to create the biggest online record of people's memories and stories - go to www.lostspacespodcast.com and find the section 'Share a Lost Space' and tell me what you got up to! Bonus points for embarrassing photos!


You can also find me on Facebook (www.facebook.com/lostspacespod), Instagram (www.instagram.com/lostspacespod) and Twitter (www.twitter.com/lostspacespod)


Make sure you listen to Piece of Pie, wherever you stream podcasts. You can also follow the show on Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/pieceofpiepod/)


If you liked this episode I'd really appreciate if you subscribe, leave a review on your podcast platform, or just tell people that you think might be interested!


I am K Anderson, and you've been listening to Lost Spaces

Jul 12, 202330:36
"It Became A Gay Bar For That Hour" - with Filip Jeremic

"It Became A Gay Bar For That Hour" - with Filip Jeremic

We talk a lot on this show about the very, very first time that people went to queer spaces, and all of the wonder and dread that comes with that…

But, there’s another time that we don’t celebrate enough (and which I think might actually be better), and that is going out in your late 20s…

For most people this is a time when you’re a little more settled, a bit less desperate (let's be honest), and you’ve started to ease into yourself and who you are…

Which brings us to this week’s episode…

Filip Jeremic is a Canadian Comedian and Writer who moved to New York after finishing theatre school in Toronto in 2014.

It was here that he lived that 'struggling artist' life, replete with skanky share-houses, taking any old job he could just to stay afloat, and dating older men so that they could buy him dinner ..

We caught up to talk about The Rusty Knot in NYC, which technically wasn’t a queer space, but became one on a particular day of the week (which you'll learn about when we get in to the chat).

We talk about the joys of day drinking, the thrills of NYC, and I get slightly panicky and moralistic about free alcohol for some reason...

Do you have any memories of The Rusty Knot, or maybe a bar or a club from your own scene that you want to share? Well, if you have please get in touch - I want to create the biggest online record of people's memories and stories - go to www.lostspacespodcast.com and find the section 'Share a Lost Space' and tell me what you got up to! Bonus points for embarrassing photos!

You can also find me on Facebook (www.facebook.com/lostspacespod), Instagram (www.instagram.com/lostspacespod) and Twitter (www.twitter.com/lostspacespod)

Find out more about Filip by visiting his website, http://www.filipjeremic.com/, or following them on Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/misterfilip).

Jul 05, 202343:05
"Another Weird Thing About Being Bi...." - with Terry Bartley

"Another Weird Thing About Being Bi...." - with Terry Bartley

What do you do when you live in a small town that has no queer presence? Well, you go right ahead and create that presence yourself!

At least that's what you'd do if you were this week's guest, the writer of the soon to be released 'Tyranny of the Fey', Terry Bartley.

Now, Terry comes from a tiny tiny tiny town called Danville in West Virginia, USA.

Just how tiny is it? Well, the population is a mere 600 people!

After coming in to a little bit of money Terry decided that he would open his own comic book shop, Spoiler Warning. And, whilst not exclusively queer, he went out of his way to make sure that the space was inclusive, which even included hosting a Pride event right there in that little town.

We talk all about falling out of love with religion, realising that not everyone feels the way you do, and being a role model in your community. Let's find out more....

Do you have any memories of Spoiler Warning, or maybe a queer utopia from your own small town that you want to share? Well, if you have please get in touch - I want to create the biggest online record of people's memories and stories - go to www.lostspacespodcast.com and find the section 'Share a Lost Space' and tell me what you got up to! Bonus points for embarrassing photos!

You can also find me on Facebook (www.facebook.com/lostspacespod), Instagram (www.instagram.com/lostspacespod) and Twitter (www.twitter.com/lostspacespod)

Find out more about Terry by visiting his website, https://www.terrybartleywriter.com/, or following him on TikTok (https://www.tiktok.com/@terrlet) or pre-order his new book 'Tyranny of the Fey'! Or, listen to his podcast, “Most Writers are Fans,” which is all about the intersection between writing and fandom.

Jun 28, 202341:08
"Are You 'In The Life'?" - with Phil Corin

"Are You 'In The Life'?" - with Phil Corin

One of the things that I've noticed is fairly common in people who come out later in life is just how much of a hurry they are in to experience ALL of the queer shit they've missed out on...

And that is what happened to this week's guest, podcaster and voice-over artist Phil Corin, who, upon realising that they may not be heterosexual was on a mission to make their way to the New York City lesbian bar Meow Mix (1996 - 2004).

And once they got in to the bar? Well, the gloves were off, but you'll have to listen to the episode to find out the whole story...

In this episode we chat all about coming out tactics, lesbian pulp fiction, and.... our complicated feelings about single-gender spaces...

Do you have any memories of Meow Mix, or maybe a bar or a club from your own scene that you want to share? Well, if you have please get in touch - I want to create the biggest online record of people's memories and stories - go to www.lostspacespodcast.com and find the section 'Share a Lost Space' and tell me what you got up to! Bonus points for embarrassing photos!

You can also find me on Facebook (www.facebook.com/lostspacespod), Instagram (www.instagram.com/lostspacespod) and Twitter (www.twitter.com/lostspacespod)

Find out more about Phil by visiting their website, https://philcorin.com/, or following them on Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/philcorin/). Phil also hosts the Transition of Style podcast, and co-hosts the I'm From Driftwood podcast, so make sure you go and check those out.

Jun 21, 202356:33
"It Was A Big Gay Community There..." - with Robert Black

"It Was A Big Gay Community There..." - with Robert Black

So, this might be the saddest episode we've ever had...

And, I don't say that in a sensationalist way!

I mean it legitimately. So, if you're not in the right headspace to listen to a sad chat then maybe come back to this episode another time.

But, for those of you who are in the mood for a little contemplation let me tell you all about my guest, Robert Black.

Robert is probably best known as being a porn star, and in fact is this year celebrating 25 years in the business! But he's also much more than that, obviously, and in the last few years he's launched his own podcast, Sexual Heroes, and youtube channel which gives practical tips about self-care and sex for queer men.

But today we are going back in time to when he was but a young 18 year old going out on the scene for the first time. And, the bar he went to, Casa Lido in Trenton, New Jersey, quickly became his second home. It was here that so many important life events happened for him, helping him figure out who he was and what he wanted from life...

So, I've already said it's a sad chat. But, there's always light and shade in these things - during the chat we talk all about this concept of chosen family and what that means to each of us, the joy of the dancefloor, and I get a bit of a flirting lesson from Robert...

Do you have any memories of Casa Lido, or maybe a queer coffee shop from your own scene that you want to share? Well, if you have please get in touch - I want to create the biggest online record of people's memories and stories - go to www.lostspacespodcast.com and find the section 'Share a Lost Space' and tell me what you got up to! Bonus points for embarrassing photos!

You can also find me on Facebook (www.facebook.com/lostspacespod), Instagram (www.instagram.com/lostspacespod) and Twitter (www.twitter.com/lostspacespod)

Find out more about Robert by visiting his website (https://www.robertblack.one/), or following him on Twitter (https://twitter.com/robertblackxxx). Or, why not check out the Sexual Heroes podcast and Robert's youtube channel (https://www.youtube.com/@robertblackvideos) which includes wellness and sex tips for men.


Jun 14, 202339:09
"Being A Black Queer Femme In America..." - with Lottie Ellington

"Being A Black Queer Femme In America..." - with Lottie Ellington

I'm still thinking a lot about this week's conversation. And, in particular, it's made me think about the things I do in my life just to live up to other people's expectations of who I should be. And I'm trying to unpick that and understand it better...

But, I'm getting ahead of myself.

Let's get in to the episode.... This week I'm chatting to the burlesque artiste, the-prodigal-titty-of-the-Motor-City, Lottie Ellington. She's originally from Detroit, but found herself living in Richmond, Virginia for a while.

At this time, the queer scene was not always so welcoming - very white, cis-male heavy, and anyone who doesn't fit in the box was made to feel very unwelcome - and, so, Lottie didn't really bother to explore the scene...

But then she signed up for burlesque classes at Dogtown Dance Studios, and she found - first of all, that she loves performing burlesque, and second of all, a whole group of queer, like minded people at the studio... and that is why it's her lost space...

We talk all about Lottie's infatuation with Wonder Woman (the OG Lynda Carter version!), how some people find it difficult to separate the performer from the person, and the pressure that we feel to live up to other people's expectations...

Do you have any memories of Dogtown Dance Studio, or maybe a queer coffee shop from your own scene that you want to share? Well, if you have please get in touch - I want to create the biggest online record of people's memories and stories - go to www.lostspacespodcast.com and find the section 'Share a Lost Space' and tell me what you got up to! Bonus points for embarrassing photos!

You can also find me on Facebook (www.facebook.com/lostspacespod), Instagram (www.instagram.com/lostspacespod) and Twitter (www.twitter.com/lostspacespod)

Find out more about Lottie by visiting her website, https://www.lottieellington.com/, or following her on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/lottie.ellington), Twitter (https://twitter.com/lottieellington), Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/lottieellington/) or TikTok (https://www.tiktok.com/@lottieellington)

Jun 07, 202342:27
"Eighth Grade Is One Of The Hardest Years For A Lot Of People" - with Wil Fisher from Queerly Beloved Podcast

"Eighth Grade Is One Of The Hardest Years For A Lot Of People" - with Wil Fisher from Queerly Beloved Podcast

So, I'm just going to come right out and say it - school kind of sucked. 


And, it's bad enough when you have that gnawing suspicion that you don't fit in, but the real kicker is when other kids start to notice this too, and they think that the most appropriate response is... to go out of their way and make your life misery... 


I was never really popular, and so I just learnt to keep my head down and survive the experience. But, for this week's guest, Wil Fisher who is the host of the podcast Queerly Beloved, the experience was different. He went from being one of the most popular kids to being a social pariah overnight. 


How would you even begin to get your head around that?


But, in a weird way, being an outcast gave him an opportunity to evaluate things he may not have otherwise done, and that time alone let him figure some things out about himself... And, it was at the San Diego queer cafe Euphoria that he got to *ahem* practice that all a little more... 


We talk about running in to your teacher in a queer space, listening to Gregorian chants on your first date (how romantic!), and coming out to your dad all thanks to Dolly Parton....


Do you have any memories of Euphoria, or maybe a queer coffee shop from your own scene that you want to share? Well, if you have please get in touch - I want to create the biggest online record of people's memories and stories - go to www.lostspacespodcast.com and find the section 'Share a Lost Space' and tell me what you got up to! Bonus points for embarrassing photos!


You can also find me on Facebook (www.facebook.com/lostspacespod), Instagram (www.instagram.com/lostspacespod) and Twitter (www.twitter.com/lostspacespod)


Find out more about Wil by listening to his podcast Queerly Beloved, or following him on Instagram at ⁠https://www.instagram.com/wilfish99/⁠

May 31, 202348:15
"You're Gay And Gothic... And You're A Christian Now?" - with Chris Conde

"You're Gay And Gothic... And You're A Christian Now?" - with Chris Conde

You know, in all of the time that we've been doing this show we've never featured a sauna... but that's about to change!

Our very first sauna is ACI, which was in San Antonio, Texas. And, showing us around is the subversive queer rapper Chris Conde. Now, Chris was a military brat, and so they moved around a lot when they were a kid. But, as a young adult they decided they wanted some stability, and so chose to settle in San Antonio.

And it was here that they let go of religion, got sober, and then came out of the closet... again (?).

Oooh, and for those who don't know, saunas, or bathhouse as they are commonly named in America, are places where people go for relaxation and... sex... let's be honest - it's mostly for sex. Anyway, they've kind of fallen out of fashion since the rise of the apps, but they were a huge part of queer (predominately male) culture for decades.

Do you have any memories of ACI, or clubbing from your own scene that you want to share? Well, if you have please get in touch - I want to create the biggest online record of people's memories and stories - go to www.lostspacespodcast.com and find the section 'Share a Lost Space' and tell me what you got up to! Bonus points for embarrassing photos!

You can also find me on Facebook (www.facebook.com/lostspacespod), Instagram (www.instagram.com/lostspacespod) and Twitter (www.twitter.com/lostspacespod)

Find out more about Chris by going and streaming their music, or following them on Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/chriscondetherapper/), Twitter (https://twitter.com/chrisconde) or Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/chriscondetherapper)

May 24, 202340:06
"Unpacking My Relationship To Queerness" - with Manish Mathur from 'It Pod To Be You'

"Unpacking My Relationship To Queerness" - with Manish Mathur from 'It Pod To Be You'

You know that cliche about being in a crowded room but still feeling all alone?

Sometimes I think the person that came up with that imagery was talking about being on a dancefloor in a gay bar.

Cause, yeah, there's so much to celebrate there - a room full of people who get to be themselves for the evening. But, there can also be a feeling of disconnect or outsider-ness... And, even though that's probably all inside your head, it's still a very real feeling in the moment.

I got to explore this, and other things, in this week's chat with Manish Mathur, who is the host of 'It Pod To Be You' a movie review podcast that is all about romantic films!

We got together to talk about the New York bar Rush, and along the way we chat about the perils or appearing straight, narrow-minded gay men, and what it feels like to always be the fifth wheel!

Do you have any memories of Rush, or clubbing from your own scene that you want to share? Well, if you have please get in touch - I want to create the biggest online record of people's memories and stories - go to www.lostspacespodcast.com and find the section 'Share a Lost Space' and tell me what you got up to! Bonus points for embarrassing photos!

You can also find me on Facebook (www.facebook.com/lostspacespod), Instagram (www.instagram.com/lostspacespod) and Twitter (www.twitter.com/lostspacespod)

Find out more about Manish by listening to It Pod to be You, or following him on Twitter (https://twitter.com/vertigay314)

May 17, 202340:22
"The Eurovision Song Contest Has Always Been A Big Platform For The Queer Community" - with Rob Holley

"The Eurovision Song Contest Has Always Been A Big Platform For The Queer Community" - with Rob Holley

So, this week we're going to do something a little different...

It's our first ever episode celebrating the Eurovision Song Contest.

And, before you say it - yes, technically Eurovision isn't a queer event.

But, I mean... have you ever watched it? it's pretty bloody queer...

And, to celebrate the 2023 competition I sat down to chat to Rob Holley, the Head of Content for the Eurovision Song Contest.

Only we didn't talk about the contest itself - we chatted about #EurovisionAgain, an online watch-party of past competitions that Rob set up during those grim early days of the Covid-19 pandemic after discovering that 2020's competition was cancelled.

I know that's a little bit different to our usual show, cause it's focussing on an online space rather than a physical space, but what struck me most during this conversation is how many similarities there are between #EurovisionAgain and queer bars - in particular this sense of community and belonging... which I think is pretty damn special, and certainly worth celebrating...

We talk all about those early days of lockdown (which, honestly, I seem to have wilfully forgotten), what it was like for Rob to watch the meteoric success of his baby project, and, how #EurovisionAgain led him to snag his dream job with the EBU - the European Broadcasting Union.

Do you have any memories of #EurovisionAgain, or any other online events that brought you joy during the pandemic? Well, if you have please get in touch - I want to create the biggest online record of people's memories and stories - go to www.lostspacespodcast.com and find the section 'Share a Lost Space' and tell me what you got up to! Bonus points for embarrassing photos!

You can also find me on Facebook (www.facebook.com/lostspacespod), Instagram (www.instagram.com/lostspacespod) and Twitter (www.twitter.com/lostspacespod)

Find out more about Rob by following him on Twitter (https://twitter.com/robholley). Or, if you want to know more about #EurovisionAgain go and look at that fancy wikipedia page - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/EurovisionAgain

May 08, 202356:14
"Don't I Know You from Somewhere?" - with Jay Roudybush from Beards and Sundries Podcast

"Don't I Know You from Somewhere?" - with Jay Roudybush from Beards and Sundries Podcast

You must be exhausted because you've been running through my mind all day....

Ooooh yeah! This week on the show we're talking all about pick up lines... the cringier the better!

What started off as a conversation about expectations versus the reality of flirting in a gay bar quickly turned in to a back-and-forth of cheesy pick-up lines!

And, who is flirting with me?

Why, it's Jay Roudybush from the Beards and Sundries podcast, who has come on the show to tell us all about Fantasy in Wichita, Kansas.

We chat about religious parents, internalised homophobia, and staying-up-all-night-overthinking-every-moment-of-the-day-before.... Sound familiar?

Do you have any memories of Fantasy's, or clubbing from your own queer scene that you want to share? Well, if you have please get in touch - I want to create the biggest online record of people's memories and stories - go to www.lostspacespodcast.com and find the section 'Share a Lost Space' and tell me what you got up to! Bonus points for embarrassing photos!

You can also find me on Facebook (www.facebook.com/lostspacespod), Instagram (www.instagram.com/lostspacespod) and Twitter (www.twitter.com/lostspacespod)

Find out more about Jay by listening to his show, Beards and Sundries, wherever you find podcasts. And, you can also follow the show on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/beardsandsundries

May 03, 202332:03
"I Was Basically Spokesperson For Gay People" - with Alex Marcus

"I Was Basically Spokesperson For Gay People" - with Alex Marcus

So, I have something to admit. I have not been dancing in a really long time. And, when I say dancing I mean sweaty, throbbing, disgustingly sticky kind of dancing. And, I kind of miss it...

I got a nice reminder of how important it used to be in my life when I caught up with Alex Marcus, the Podcast Director of The Pop Break, a digital pop culture and entertainment online magazine, for this week's show.

Alex is from New Jersey, but made the move to New York City when he went to college in the mid-naughties, and this gave him an opportunity to spread his wings and explore his queerness a little more...

And what better place to do that than on the sweaty dancefloor of Splash nightclub, a sprawling two-floor gay bar in Manhattan that closed in 2013?

We talk all about the weird hobbies we adopt to 'pass' as straight, being the token gay, and what it's like to lose yourself in a crowd.

Do you have any memories of Splash, or clubbing from your own queer scene that you want to share? Well, if you have please get in touch - I want to create the biggest online record of people's memories and stories - go to www.lostspacespodcast.com and find the section 'Share a Lost Space' and tell me what you got up to! Bonus points for embarrassing photos!

You can also find me on Facebook (www.facebook.com/lostspacespod), Instagram (www.instagram.com/lostspacespod) and Twitter (www.twitter.com/lostspacespod)

Find out more about Alex by following him on Twitter and Letterboxd @MediaThinkings. And make sure you also visit thepopbreak.com for all of your pop culture and entertainment needs!

Apr 26, 202347:00
"I Was Afraid Of Being Gay In General" - with Ronda Vu

"I Was Afraid Of Being Gay In General" - with Ronda Vu

It seems hard to believe, but in the early days of the internet there were these things called internet cafes, where you would go, pay some money, and then have access to a computer with the internet for a set period of time.

And this was at a time when the internet wasn't on every phone and every TV and every watch. In fact, lots of families didn't even have computers in their houses... Wild, right?

The reason I'm telling you this is because the internet cafe was, for many queer kids, HUGE. This was somewhere you could go, find a quiet corner, and then discover a world that was, up until that time, a mystery to you...

And that's what happened for Macedonian drag queen Ronda Vu, who used chat rooms to find other gay people and take those tentative first steps in to being the queerdo that she is today.

And, it was thanks to these friendships that she found Bonnie, a gay bar that was found in the capital city of Skopje, capital of the Republic of Macedonia.

Do you have any memories of Bonnie, or clubbing from your own queer scene that you want to share? Well, if you have please get in touch - I want to create the biggest online record of people's memories and stories - go to www.lostspacespodcast.com and find the section 'Share a Lost Space' and tell me what you got up to! Bonus points for embarrassing photos!

You can also find me on Facebook (www.facebook.com/lostspacespod), Instagram (www.instagram.com/lostspacespod) and Twitter (www.twitter.com/lostspacespod)

Find out more about Ronda by following her on Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/ms.rondavu).

Apr 19, 202331:16
"Gay Can Be Anything" - with Pepper

"Gay Can Be Anything" - with Pepper

I'm often guilty of romanticising small town queer bars, but I just think there's something really magical about everyone being in the same space and not segregating and splitting off in to different sub-communities like leather and lesbian and bears (oh my!)...

But, there are also downsides to this... being in a small city or town can get in the way of you having the freedom to explore who you really are... And, this very thing happened for week's guest, Pepper (who you may know as a finalist in the drag competition tv series Call Me Mother), who started feeling a bit boxed in when people celebrated her drag character but weren't so interested in her non-drag self.

We caught up to talk about The Roost, a legendary bar in the Canadian city of Edmonton. Along the way we chat about what we lose when the LGBTQ+ community gains wider acceptance, learning to be certain of who you are, and, the magic of the 1990s...

Do you have any memories of The Roost, or clubbing from your own queer scene that you want to share? Well, if you have please get in touch - I want to create the biggest online record of people's memories and stories - go to www.lostspacespodcast.com and find the section 'Share a Lost Space' and tell me what you got up to! Bonus points for embarrassing photos!

You can also find me on Facebook (www.facebook.com/lostspacespod), Instagram (www.instagram.com/lostspacespod) and Twitter (www.twitter.com/lostspacespod)

Find out more about Pepper by following her on Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/thepepper.1) and Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/thepepper1).

Apr 12, 202353:37