Today’s essay is called “The Weaker Half” and is written and performed by Abigail Anne. It explores first loves and heart breaks, self-acceptance, and compulsory heterosexuality.

Abigail is a poet, writer, and graduate student at The Ohio State University. Her work explores identity, grief, healing, and the complexities of human relationships, and she shares her writing with more than 80,000 readers on her social channels. She is the author of the poetry collection, The Story of the 1% Girl. You can connect with her on her TikTok or on Instagram.

Learn more or submit an essay at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.thealphabetclub.co/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

This episode is sponsored by TomboyX - use code SHANNON for 15% off. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://tomboyx.com/shannon⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

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Today’s essay is called “Double-Walking” by Sofia Montrone. Sofia is an adjunct assistant professor in Columbia’s undergraduate writing program, and formerly served as editor-in-chief of The Columbia Review and the director of Columbia Artist/Teachers. Nymph, her debut novel, is a coming-of-age meets sapphic love story about the exuberant highs and awkward lows on the journey from girlhood to womanhood. In her essay today, Double-Walking, Sofia reflects on queer identity, desire, and the ways longing can shape the person we become.

Learn more or submit an essay at ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.thealphabetclub.co/⁠⁠⁠⁠

This episode is sponsored by TomboyX - use code SHANNON for 15% off. ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://tomboyx.com/shannon⁠⁠⁠⁠

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Website: ⁠https://www.sofiamontrone.com/

Instagram: ⁠@whine.barrel

Buy Nymph: ⁠https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/Nymph/Sofia-Montrone/9781668200476

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Today’s essay is called “When Lesbian Bed Death Came for Us.” by Alyson Pomerantz. Alyson writes memoir and personal essays about sexuality, identity, and agreements between people. She has recently been published in The New York Times Magazine, Newsweek, HuffPost, and Out Magazine, and holds an MFA in creative writing in addition to a JD. She is working on a memoir about coming out after her mother’s death and lives in Poughkeepsie, New York.

Learn more or submit an essay at ⁠⁠⁠https://www.thealphabetclub.co/⁠⁠⁠

This episode is sponsored by TomboyX - use code SHANNON for 15% off. ⁠⁠⁠https://tomboyx.com/shannon⁠⁠⁠

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Website: https://www.alysonpomerantz.com/

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This week’s essay follows a hilarious gay awakening story called “Pizza Girl” and is by screenwriter and director Sara Monge. Angry, tired, and 24. This story takes place at a film school Halloween house party, a classic place to figure out you’re so fucking gay.

Sara specializes in grounded, queer comedies. She wrote and directed the 2025 LGBTQ+ short film Happy Place, which follows a woman exploring her sexuality at a lesbian engagement party (it’s so good!!).

Content warnings this week are recreational alcohol consumption and drug use.

This week’s essay will be performed by Maureen O'Boyle!

Learn more or submit an essay at ⁠⁠https://www.thealphabetclub.co/⁠⁠

This episode is sponsored by TomboyX - use code SHANNON for 15% off. ⁠⁠https://tomboyx.com/shannon⁠⁠

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YouTube: @sarammonge

Happy Place on YouTube

Instagram: @sarammonge

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This week’s essay, “Dancing for the Female Gayze,” is by Caroline Blaike, a queer, American Sign Language performer, consultant, and interpreter. She has a master’s degree in social work from Gallaudet, the world’s only university exclusively devoted to Deaf students. Caroline is also a trained dancer and performer, and has a passion for combining ASL with music. Caroline came out at 13 and started stripping at 18, and while her first few years were spent performing for male audiences to make ends meet, everything changed for her the moment a lesbian walked into her club and sat down.

(Content Warning: references to abuse and drug use)

Learn more or submit an essay at ⁠https://www.thealphabetclub.co/⁠

This episode is sponsored by TomboyX - use code SHANNON for 15% off. ⁠https://tomboyx.com/shannon⁠

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Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@the.blaike

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This week we have Hannah Beck’s essay, “On Homoerotic Girl Best Friendships.” Hannah grew up in a conservative Christian cult(ish), leaving when she came out as gay and making the classic journey from cult member to stand up comic. Hannah’s essay is an introspective look at first love and self-discovery. It’s a love letter to the people that helped us find our way to true ourselves, even if they themselves got lost. (Content Warning: Religious trauma)

Learn more or submit an essay at https://www.thealphabetclub.co/

This episode is sponsored by TomboyX - use code SHANNON for 15% off. https://tomboyx.com/shannon

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Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠@hannahbeckcomedy

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This week we have Peyton Dix on the pod! Peyton is a writer, strategist, and co-host of Higher Ground’s Lemme Say This podcast. Her essay, “Savannah” centers around a classic queer experience, falling for a friend. But the way Peyton tells this story… it is absolute poetry. (Content Warning: self-harm)

Learn more or submit an essay at https://www.thealphabetclub.co/

This episode is sponsored by TomboyX - use code SHANNON for 15% off.

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Today’s essay, “Oblivious to My Queerness,” is by Maya Maldonado, a content creator based in San Francisco. This essay explores having multiple competing identities at different levels of visibility and public acceptance.

Maya tells the story of meeting her person on the dating app HER and how growing up as a queer, Latina, first-generation college student contributes to her self-concept and self-acceptance: a constantly evolving journey.

Today's episode is brought to you by HER, the Sapphic Dating App.

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This week’s essay is called, “Eat, Pray, Spank” and is written by writer, producer, and comedian, Topher Cusumano. Topher is a creative director and a co-founder of DaddyTV where he makes shows like For the Love of DILFs, Slag Wars, Hot Haus & more.

This week’s essay will be read by Jonah Wheeler. Jonah Wheeler is a pornographic actor and musician known for an enthusiastic and expansive approach to queer sexuality.

Content themes and warnings for this week’s episode are: divorce, sex work, religious trauma, BDSM, and kink.

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TikTok ⁠@tophcus

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TikTok @daddyTV_

Watch DaddyTV shows on OutTV

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This week’s essay is called, “The Gaybors” and is written by Amelia Montooth. Amelia is a producer, content creator, strategist and CEO of Mutuals Media (the creators of Gaydar with Anania). This essay is about the power of queer community and the beauty of self-discovery and evolution when blanketed by a network of queer support and chosen family.

Content warning for this week’s episode is: unexpected loss.

Find Amelia Montooth

TikTok @ameliamontooth

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