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Conservatives are always forcing their outdated vision onto culture, education, and policy because deep down, they know they’re losing the long game.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

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★ https://jeffreyjaycomedy.com

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

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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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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. 

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https://andrerobertlee.com

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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.)

America is under attack by the wolves in the federal government who are chewing it apart. As the nation spirals into confusion and despair, we are left wondering—why does it feel like no one is fighting back?

As Harvey Milk said, “Get out of the bars and into the streets!” Now more than ever, we need to step away from our screens, show up in public spaces, and organize. In the absence of leadership, it’s up to all of us to lead.

As a protégé of Harvey Milk, Cleve Jones became a key figure in the gay rights movement in the ‘70s and he became the creator of the AIDS Memorial Quilt, one of history’s most powerful public memorials. Cleve’s activism spans decades, from fighting the Reagan administration’s neglect of the AIDS crisis to today’s labor rights battles.

Listen as we take a look at: 

• AIDS denialist Robert Kennedy Jr. as Trump’s Secretary of Health.

• Why language matters, let’s stop calling Democrats "Dems."

• Why grassroots movements need to come out of the closet to organize effectively.

Americans are now queerer than ever! A new Gallup poll shows 9.3% of folks now identify as something other than straight—up from 7.6% in 2023. And Gen Z? A whopping 23%!

Party!

While it seems like the country’s getting more conservative, people's sexuality and gender identity says otherwise. 

Joining us today is the self-proclaimed ‘lesbian on the weekends’-- the West Side comedy queen of raunch, Tiny Thickemz, along with her comedy partner in life and onstage, OhJay Lamont. Together they host ‘Love is Blind’ at Chicago’s Laugh Factory, where real couples do joint stand-up sets about their relationships—LIVE on stage, TONIGHT FEB 27!

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Plus-- 

• What’s the best place in Chicago to buy loose items?

• A big fat beaver on Chicago’s Southside becomes an overnight celebrity. 

• Pope Francis is in the hospital in critical condition. 

• Republicans are upset with the Super Bowl winners, the Philadelphia Eagles, for skipping a fast food meal with the President at the White House."

• We look back at the lives of Roberta Flack, best known for her hit song ‘Killing Me Softly,’ and Lynne Marie Stewart, beloved as Miss Yvonne—the Most Beautiful Woman in All of Puppetland on Pee-Wee’s Playhouse—both of whom passed away this week.

In The Wizard of Oz, Glinda asks, “Are you a good witch or a bad witch?” As it turns out, most witches are good—because the bad ones end up cursing themselves into oblivion. 

Today, we’re chatting with one of our favorite wicked but wonderful witches, musician Caleb De Casper. A fierce advocate for queer rights, Caleb is known for his electrifying performances and signature blend of dark synth-pop, glam punk rock, and horror cabaret. 

Honored with his own day in Austin, Texas, Caleb joins us to celebrate 20 years of Feast of Fun and give us a sneak peek at his new single, Chemical Blue. 

CHECK OUT CALEB DE CASPER:
https://www.calebdecasper.com

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Plus, we’re serving up a cauldron of hot topics:

• Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande will kick off the Oscars with a Wicked medley.

• Emilia Pérez star Karla Sofía Gascón will skip the Oscars amid controversy.

• Emperor Trump storms out of the Super Bowl after getting booed and witnessing  Kendrick Lamar’s unapologetically Black Halftime Show.

• Taylor Swift enters the friendship bracelet and jewelry business.

All that and more—so grab your wands and let’s dive in!



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Netflix’s Emilia Perez is a hot mess of a movie. This musical crime drama, written and directed by French filmmaker Jacques Audiard, follows a de-greenified Zoë Saldaña working as a lawyer for a Mexican drug lord who transitions.

Saldaña’s character later goes on to support the former Mexican drug lord as she attempts to atone for her criminal past by founding a nonprofit to rescue the victims of the country’s drug cartels, including her own.

What could have been a powerful exploration of the struggles faced by trans people and all women in Latin America instead turns everyone into cartoons. Emilia Perez reduces the harsh realities of cartel violence and trans struggles into a gaudy spectacle, making one wonder if it was slapped together just to throw a wrench in Wicked’s awards season dominance.

Adding to the controversy, new reports have surfaced about the film’s lead, transgender actress Karla Sofía Gascón, and her troubling history of racist and anti-Muslim remarks.

Today we take a look at Emilia Peréz and other terrible, campy films the world would rather forget ever existed.
 
Plus-- 

Paul Reubens, best known as Pee-Wee Herman, comes out of the coffin as gay in a new documentary about his not-so-private life.

Woman pleads guilty to sendng fart vdeos to her boyfriends ex. 

Chappell Roan celebrates her Grammy win for best new artist by calling out record labels, demanding they give their employees a livable wage and healthcare. 

A mysterious nationwide network against Trump called the 50501 Movement plans protests in all of the nation’s capitols on Feb 5. 

Happy 20 year anniversary to Feast of Fun, one of the first 50 podcasts in history, still going strong 3133 shows later. 

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The LA fires impacted thousands of lives, with entire neighborhoods and landmarks reduced to ash. In moments like these, it’s easy to feel a sense of dread and despair, but that’s when comedy is at the most vital. Laughter doesn’t fix the chaos, but it reminds us to breathe, connect, and find light even in the darkest moments.

Today comedian and Feast of Fun legend Amanda Cohen joins us to talk about her experience surviving the Greater Los Angeles Wildfires of 2025. Amanda was a big part of our live show and the early days of the podcast. She’s since moved to LA to pursue a comedy career. 

Listen as we take a look at how comedy can be a lifeline in times of crisis and why laughter is sometimes the greatest act of resilience.

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Plus-- 
• For couples dying to celebrate Valentine’s Day, the 'Silence of the Lambs' Murder House is now a charming Bed and Breakfast, a visit to the torture well is optional. 

• Elon Musk does a “well known WWII hate group salute,” distracting people from Trump accidentally admitting he stole the election. 

• A look back at our visit to the worst tv show in history, the Jerry Springer Show.