One of the most divisive books in children’s literature is Shel Silverstein’s "The Giving Tree," the story of a dysfunctional relationship between a boy and a sentient apple tree who gives him everything she has, from her apples and leaves to her branches and trunk, until all that's left is a stump.

Meant as a parable of unconditional love, writer Topher Payne thought our doomed pair needed a better ending to their sad story. He wrote "The Tree Who Set Healthy Boundaries," where the tree learns to say no and lives a long, happy life because of it.

Today, playwright and Hallmark screenwriter Topher Payne joins us to revisit "The Giving Tree" and other classic children's books with questionable moral compasses, and to explore what happens when we give these stories the therapy they clearly need.

What's the trouble with "Green Eggs and Ham" and "Where the Wild Things Are?" 

READ "Topher Fixed It"
★ https://www.topherpayne.com/fixed-it

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Plus– Topher takes us behind the scenes of his films with the Hallmark Channel, where the snow is always falling, the cookies are always warm, and love is just one conveniently timed misunderstanding away.

After threatening Americans with raising their taxes by 68%, President Trump managed to strong-arm Republicans in Congress into passing his Big Burglary Bill: a sweeping economic and policy package that slashes healthcare funding, shuts down hospitals, inflates ICE’s budget to be larger than the Marines’, opens new concentration camps in Florida, adds $3.4 trillion to the national deficit, and gives billionaires even more tax breaks than ever before.

So why didn’t more people try to stop it? 

Today, comedian Dan Cass joins us to break down the nightmare that is the Big Burglary Bill, and the swampy new detention centers dubbed “Alligator Auschwitz,” where Trump adviser Lara Loomer openly called for feeding all 65 million Latin Americans living in the US  to alligators in Florida.

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Plus-
• How Republicans use tactics like “flooding the zone” to make people give up.

• How to figure out which news media you can trust.

• Dan Cass opens up about being neurodivergent in the comedy world of Chicago.

When the world is falling apart, sometimes the best thing you can do is make art. Just because Republicans are doing everything they can to crush the joy in people’s hearts, doesn't mean you can’t dumpster dive a feather boa, borrow a pair of heels and put on a show.

Remember, that some of the greatest works of art have blossomed in the shadows of fascism. 

Today we're talking with comedian and showbiz mogul Queeny Bitch—a comic, provocateur, and now one of the masterminds behind the Windy City Comedy Festival, where hundreds of top-tier degenerates will be taking over the city to show off their funniest, filthiest, and most unhinged acts. 

Listen as we dive into the radical act of doing absolutely nothing, why she loudly refuses to move to Los Angeles, her six-year survival story in comedy, and how disillusionment turned out to be her secret weapon.

WINDY CITY COMEDY FESTIVAL:
https://www.windycitycomedyfest.com

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Plus--

• Why were the Kardashians invited to Jeff Bezos’ extravagant wedding?

• China cracks down on popular gay erotic fiction written by straight women.

• Almost 200,000 people march against Hungary’s Pride ban in one the country’s biggest protests.

A beloved Pride tradition around the world is the roar of Dykes on Bikes: a fierce motorcade of motorcycle mamas who kick off the parade with a chrome-plated spectacle of queer power, and noise. They first rolled onto the scene at San Francisco Pride in the mid-’70s and quickly became a staple all over the world. 

Inspired by those heavy-metal heroines, Chicago’s own Bikes and Mics emerged—a no-rules posse of queer performers, riders, and creatives. This year, the group celebrates their 10th anniversary with a high-octane Mad Max–themed ride, complete with leather, dust, and rumors of a Tina Turner impersonator showing up as Aunty Entity.

Today, comedian and motorcycle mama Tamale Sepp joins us to dive into the wild, fabulous history of Bikes and Mics and Dykes on Bikes—two-wheeled revolutions led by fierce queer women who love a little heavy metal rumbling between their thighs.

BIKES AND MICS:
https://www.bikesandmics.com

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Plus-

• JoJo Siwa cancels upcoming Chicago Pride performance amid controversy over dating a man.
 
• Comedian Margaret Cho says Ellen DeGeneres was “not nice” and acted like a “mean girl.”

• Sidetrack, one of the world’s largest gay bars, plans to open the first-ever airport gay bar at Chicago’s O’Hare Terminal 1.

• Openly queer musician Daniel Hamrick hijacks a ‘Straight Pride’ event with a trans power ballad.

Spring is here, and things are getting rough. 

T.S. Eliot called April "the cruelest month,” and honestly, he had a point. After a long, cozy winter of emotional hibernation, spring forces us to feel things again. 

Today, Chicago comedian and part-time Russian dance expert Dan Cass joins us to explore the hilarious side of a world that’s struggling. Should we start an OnlyFlans? A nude comedy show? Honestly, it's getting desperate.

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Plus--
• The legendary drag performance venue Hamburger Mary’s returns to Chicago. 
Pee Wee Herman comes out as gay from beyond the grave in a new documentary on Max (coming out on May 23.) 

• Disgraced Republican Congressman and Brazilian drag queen George Santos gets sentenced to seven years in prison for doing exactly the same crimes as Trump.

• Farewell to three very different drag icons: RuPaul’s Drag Race star Jiggly Caliente, Hee Haw’s Lulu Roman and Pope Francis passed away.
 
• Did JD Vance kill the Pope? Let’s find out.

About 20 years ago, Kate Bornstein wrote Hello, Cruel World to give people permission to stay alive in a world that makes that feel impossible.

Today, that world is trying even harder to crush anyone who lives outside the binary—trans, queer, disabled, neurodivergent, or just too free for a system built on control.Attacks on trans rights aren’t just about gender—they’re a strategy to dismantle all core freedoms: privacy, bodily autonomy, parental rights, healthcare, education, and safety.

Trans people are being scapegoated to erase rights for everyone, starting with the most vulnerable.So what do we do?

Today, Kate Bornstein, performance artist, author, and trans tech pioneer, returns with a revised edition of Hello, Cruel World: 101+ Alternatives to Suicide for Teens, Freaks, and Other Outlaws. With 20 new alternatives full of sass, warmth, and joy, Kate reminds us: survival is a radical act—and staying alive, in all your glorious weirdness, is the first step toward building a future where we all belong.

Plus: why love is the ultimate anti-aging drug—and a reflection on the people who helped us make it this far.

FEATURED BOOK: Hello, Cruel World: 101+ Alternatives to Suicide for Teens, Freaks, and Other Outlaws
Buy it on Amazon: amzn.to/4jB1tsS

SAVE THE FEAST OF FUN PODCAST,
donate $1: gofundme.com/feastoffun20

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Quick heads-up: this episode contains discussions around suicide, self-harm, and mental health. While we approach these topics with care, honesty, and even humor, we understand they may be difficult or triggering for some listeners.

Please take care of yourself in whatever way you need—and know that you're not alone. If you need support, you can always call or text the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline by dialing the number 988, they're there 24/7 ready to help. 

Conservatives are always forcing their outdated vision onto culture, education, and policy because deep down, they know they’re losing the long game. 

A leaked Kennedy Center board meeting reveals Trump is pushing to make the nation’s cultural hub more conservative by stacking its lineup with right-wing musicals. So, what’s next? MAGA: The Musical?

Today, comedian Dan Cass joins us to break down how fascists try to seize power—and, more importantly, how to fight back.

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Plus, we’re diving into all the hot news:

• Rosie O’Donnell claims the 2024 election was stolen—now that she’s safely living in Ireland.
• The University of Texas bans all drag shows.
• Why trans rights benefit everyone.
• How to spot AI bots on social media.
• Hell hath no fury like a righteous teenage girl—Elon Musk’s estranged trans daughter, Vivian Jenna Wilson, says she’s not afraid of her dad.

As the United States slides deeper into fascism, Republicans are ramping up attacks on trans people, immigrants, and pretty much anyone who stands in their way.

One thing is clear—most Americans don’t personally know any trans people so it is easy for Republicans to scapegoat them. 

But here’s the thing: LGBTQ+ people are everywhere. And with polls showing that more people than ever identify as LGBTQ+, we hold real power, if people actually see and know us.

One trans pioneer making that visibility impossible to ignore is comedian Jeffrey Jay.

Today, Jeffrey Jay joins us to talk about his bold new comedy project—performing in right-wing comedy clubs in red states as an openly trans man. A trailblazer in stand-up, Jeffrey was the first trans comedian to appear on our show back in 2012, and he’s back with stories, insights, and a whole lot of laughs.

FOLLOW JEFFREY JAY:
★ https://jeffreyjaycomedy.com

Plus—
• Navigating the choppy waters when your friends and family come out as MAGA Republicans.

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★ instagram.com/heyjeffreyjay
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Chicago’s very own Kyle Smolinski is a rising star in the Open Bodybuilding scene, dominating some of the top NPC heavyweight contests—including a gold-medal win in the heavyweight division at the NPC Jay Cutler Classic in Virginia. 

But beyond his impressive size and stage presence, Kyle is also openly gay and known for his signature rainbow-colored hair.

Let’s Grow Big Together! The podcast that builds muscle with all the colors of the rainbow, including biceps, bronzer, and big queer energy.”

In this series, we take a look at the passion for muscle, adventures in bodybuilding, muscle gods, muscle worship and practical advice to put on the gains.

Today, the rainbow-colored beast Kyle Smolinski, joins us to talk about his rise to fame as an openly gay Open Bodybuilding champion. From his technicolor mane to his heavyweight victories, Kyle shares his journey in the sport and what it takes to stand out—both on stage and beyond.

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★ instagram.com/ksmo92
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Plus all your questions!

• Getting the body of your dreams means making sure your sleep is deep. 

• What’s the skinny on low glycemic natural sugars, artificial sweeteners & sugar alcohols?

• Are cold plunges a scam? 

• How much does sexuality play a role in bodybuilding?

One of our all-time favorite wacky and wild films is RuPaul’s Starrbooty.

Created during a lull in her career, the film revives one of Ru’s early cable-access TV characters- Starbooty—a private detective turned sex worker who lands herself in increasingly ridiculous situations. The film celebrates RuPaul’s love for sexploitation, melodrama, gratuitous nudity, and her circle of kooky friends.

Many consider Starrbooty the launchpad for RuPaul’s resurgence as host of RuPaul’s Drag Race, a show that mainstreamed drag so successfully it has overshadowed many other styles and interpretations of the art form.

Today, Starrbooty producer and acclaimed filmmaker André Robert Lee joins us to revisit this wonderfully twisted film and discuss the challenges and triumphs of being a queer Black creative.

We also dive into his other fantastic projects, including Dirty Laundry (starring Jenifer Lewis and Loretta Devine) and The Prep School Negro, a documentary which follows young Black students adventures on their way to college. 

FOLLOW ANDRÉ ROBERT LEE:
https://andrerobertlee.com

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★ instagram.com/andrerobertlee89

Plus—

• George Washington Carver and our favorite queer Black luminaries.
• Is Lady Bunny on Putin’s payroll? 
• Right wing media is spreading rumors about alleged CEO shooter Luigi Maginone having 20 sex tapes. (Put up or shut up, Rupert Murdoch.)