Fruitbowl: An Oral History of Queer Sex

S4E12 - Getting Fresh with Eric & James

Qubed Media, LLC

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On this special Getting Fresh episode of Fruitbowl editor Ryan Weadon takes the reins as host and introduces a conversation Dave had with Eric, a medical assistant and Monkeypox survivor who lives in Portland with his partner Dave. Eric describes what it’s been like dealing with the virus and the challenges he’s had emotionally. Click HERE to visit the webpage for this episode that features Eric’s written answers to Dave’s pre-interview questions in case you wanted more information about his specific treatments and care. 

After the Monkeypox conversation, we are proud to present a listener submission from James who describes a summary of his journey as a bisexual and the arrangement he has with his current wife to finally explore his queer identity without shame. 

Thanks to both Eric and James for trusting Fruitbowl with their stories.

1. Give us an idea of where you’re at right now in your recovery. How’re you feeling?

I was diagnosed with presumptive hMPXV on 8/29 pending test results. Today is day 13. At this point in the recovery process I am still experiencing a fair amount of pain with the lesions on the bottom of my feet, particularly the left heel along with a great deal of frustration. Most other lesions have healed or are still in the process of healing. I am also having chronic fatigue and intermittent body aches. In addition, I have conjunctivitis and ocular rosacea. According to my eye specialists and other care team, they believe that the conjunctivitis is associated with the hMPXV virus. I have had rosacea for many years now. It tends to be opportunistic, meaning I usually have flare-ups (some severe) when stressed or with an illness. In this case I seem to have a flare-up that attacked my left eye. However, I have experienced marked blurry vision in both eyes since the onset of my hMPXV diagnosis.

2. What was the first sign of infection? How has the illness progressed?

My partner was diagnosed a few days prior. And the first sign of infection for me was delayed by a few days. It started with skin abnormalities. I noticed tiny bumps on my hands on 8/28 and I knew that hMPXV infection was highly probable. Overnight the lesions progressed fairly rapidly and it was clear that I was infected with the virus. The bumps got bigger and looked like blisters and were very painful. The worst of these were on my hands and feet. Although I did have a few on my chest and various random places on my body like my buttocks and perineum.

Interestingly, my partner’s first symptom was high fever and throat pain. He say urgent care because we both suspected strep throat, which was negative. That first night we slept in the same bed as we normally do. But the night after we immediately started to take isolation measures due to the appearance of lesions on his body. We didn’t kiss, touch, or have sex. I slept not the sofa. We cleaned shared surfaces. We didn’t share food or utensils. He even went as far as to wear a mask and we tried to stay away from one another by occupying separate rooms.

3. I’ve read that it often takes a while to get an official diagnosis. Did a doctor formally diagnose you? Was the diagnosis quick?

In my case, and my partner’s, we both were diagnosed with presumptive hMPXV by our local health department. The results came back fairly quickly, 3-4 days. However our hMPXV tests came back negative. His first and then mine. I was also sent to the Emergency Department at OHSU for the initial left eye issue out of an abundance of caution particularly because they have eye specialists available. They also did a skin culture at that time which also came back negative. I was seen at Multnomah County Health Department by the OHA infectious disease specialist who concurred that I had hMPXV, he then ordered another set of skin cultures that were sent to the state lab. Those results also were negative. Although my care team all concurred that those results were a false negative for unknown reasons.

4. What kinds of meds or treatments are you taking? Any holistic or non-pharma healing or palliative care?
I consented to take an experimental treatment of sorts. Tecovirimat, also known as TPOXX is FDA approved to treat smallpox in adults and children. It is not however, approved for other poxviruses like hMPXV. Thus, this drug is considered investigational and is being offered under the expanded access program (also known as compassionate use). I started taking this medication on 8/29. I have taken as prescribed, 600mg or 3 capsules twice daily. There are very specific instructions on how to take this medication. For instance, instructions say to eat a full, fatty meal 30 minutes before taking. According to the instructions the meal should contain 600 calories and 25 grams of fat. You can also open the capsules and mix with food. For me that was a hard no. I found it easiest to open the capsules and mix into a glass of whole milk and then eat said fatty meal. During the onset of taking the meds I didn’t notice any serious side effects. However, I discontinued the medication on 9/9 at my own will due to concerns about serious reactions that can occur with the medication including blurry vision and loss of vision. I have been experiencing blurry vision since the beginning of the hMPXV infection which happens also coincide with the start of the TPOXX medication. So, I have no idea if the TPOXX medication had anything to do with it. I also don’t know that the medication has been helpful.

As far as palliative care I was also prescribed a medication called Gabapentin, sold under the brand name Neurontin. It helps to control pain associated with hMPXV particularly because the pain associated with hMPXV is nerve pain. There is no playbook for hMPXV but most physicians are avoiding prescribing opioids. Personally, as a person who has worked in addiction medicine I believe that is a good thing.

5. What has your experience been like quarantining?

The quarantining has been hell, for myself and my partner. Although he has the ability to work from home, which he has been doing. I on the other hand work in the medical field and cannot work from home. I believe that staying occupied with something as best we can is helpful. My anxiety has been pretty high to be sure. My partner and I express our frustration and anxiety in different ways. I am currently in school part-time and have managed to be able to keep up with my assignments and took my final exam yesterday. I have a week off before my next full-time term begins on the 19th. I was really hoping to be enjoying some time off and doing something fun. However, my lockdown continues and I have the added stress of potentially not starting with my cohort on the 19th.

6. What would you most like listeners to hear about your perspective as a Monkeypox survivor?

First and foremost, GET VACCINATED! Keep in mind that maximum protection is only 85% two weeks after your second vax (source: Jynneos) I would also say be extremely careful. Do daily self examinations of your body. Look for small bumps or lesions that look different than what you may have had in the past (you can google what the lesions look like) however most of those are pretty extreme from what I have seen. The first bumps on my hand seemed very noticeable but benign. Without my partner having a presumptive diagnosis of hMPXV I don’t believe I would have thought of it as something potentially infectious.

Also, I have said this many times but it’s worth ending with this message: support your friends with hMPXV. The isolation, the lack of ability to work, loss of income, the stigma, the unknowns all make this a very hellish disease. Not to mention it can be disfiguring or scarring. I think that I will most certainly have physical scars on my body. That can be a huge blow to someone’s self esteem. But the emotional scars are just as important. Check in with your friends experiencing this, OFTEN. Make sure that they have the things they need but also your love and support.

Learn more about the recent Monkeypox outbreak via the CDC website.

Eric’s photo by David Frazier.

Thanks to our post-production sponsor, the new SPACES app, powered by Hornet! Learn more about it HERE. 

This episode was edited and mixed by Ryan Weadon. Rebecca M. Davis is the season 4 voice of Fruitbowl. Dave Quantic is the creator Fruitbowl.

Submit your own story for inclusion in a future episode! Describe a sexy hook up or something you’ve learned about sex via SPACES, email or record a story via your phone’s voice memo app and email it to [email protected]. 

Fruitbowl is produced independently without corporate media infrastructure or full time staff. Every interview is recorded in-person, on location in each interviewee’s home and production expenses including travel, accommodations, equipment rental are paid for out of pocket by Dave Quantic, FRUITBOWL’s creator. 

The only consistent financial support (currently $295/mo.) comes from Fruitbowl’s Patreon community. Thanks to our new patron Phillip. A minimum $5 monthly donation allows patrons early access to episodes, behind the scenes updates and Salad Tosser tier patrons ($10/mo.) receive access to exclusive video content that is not available to the general public. Learn more about how to become a patron at: https://www.patreon.com/fruitbowlpodcast

Larger donations and underwriting/advertising fees are 100% tax deductible through a partnership with Northwest Film Forum’s fiscal sponsorship program.  FRUITBOWL RECEIVES NO DIRECT FUNDING FROM NWFF, only the use of their non-profit status to receive tax deductible donations. For more information check out: https://www.fruitbowlpodcast.com/donate

Tell your friends about Fruitbowl, rate us on your podcast platform or write a review on Apple Podcast. Every little bit helps. And, of course you can also follow us, for now, on twitter at Fruitbowlpod and Instagram and Tik Tok at fruitbowlpodcast.

Find out more about Rebecca M. Davis at https://www.instagram.com/stayuplateshow/

Fruitbowl’s fruit artwork was created by Patrick Stephenson of Bearpad! https://bearpad.storenvy.com/

S4E11 - Andrew, 31. Philadelphia

Qubed Media, LLC

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Listen on Apple Podcasts  Listen on Spotify

Andrew was a self-described baby drag queen when he was little, putting on makeup and heels and performing for his parents. So when he told his mom at age 10 he was gay, her reaction was, “I know.  Do you still wanna go to the mall?”

But just because Andrew was out didn’t mean adolescence was a walk in the park. A self-described awkward kid, he struggled with ADHD and anxiety. At age 8 he was sexually abused at a theater camp and, in his teens, started acting out by abusing substances. His parents admitted him into a “troubled teen” facility in Utah which was further traumatizing.

Originally recorded in 2019, this episode also features a “follow-up” interview recorded just one month ago that finds Andrew in a much more secure place now. Currently, he’s proud to work at Nacy Warner Associates, a social justice consulting and advocacy non-profit in Albany, New York. 

Andrew is also a gifted musician. This episode features one of his songs, The Man I Am. You can learn more about his music at www.iamsynes.com.

Learn more about the recent Monkeypox outbreak via the CDC website.

Thanks to our post-production sponsor, the new SPACES app, powered by Hornet! Learn more about it HERE. 

This episode was edited by Bayley Boecker and mixed by Ryan Weadon. Rebecca M. Davis is the season 4 voice of Fruitbowl. Dave Quantic is the creator and host of Fruitbowl.

Submit your own story for inclusion in a future episode! Describe a sexy hook up or something you’ve learned about sex via SPACES, email or record a story via your phone’s voice memo app and email it to [email protected]. 

Fruitbowl is produced independently without corporate media infrastructure or full time staff. Every interview is recorded in-person, on location in each interviewee’s home and production expenses including travel, accommodations, equipment rental are paid for out of pocket by Dave Quantic, FRUITBOWL’s creator. 

The only consistent financial support (currently $291/mo.) comes from Fruitbowl’s Patreon community. Thanks to our new patrons, Robbie H. and Rob T. A minimum $5 monthly donation allows patrons early access to episodes, behind the scenes updates and Salad Tosser tier patrons ($10/mo.) receive access to exclusive video content that is not available to the general public. Learn more about how to become a patron at: https://www.patreon.com/fruitbowlpodcast

Larger donations and underwriting/advertising fees are 100% tax deductible through a partnership with Northwest Film Forum’s fiscal sponsorship program.  FRUITBOWL RECEIVES NO DIRECT FUNDING FROM NWFF, only the use of their non-profit status to receive tax deductible donations. For more information check out: https://www.fruitbowlpodcast.com/donate

Tell your friends about Fruitbowl, rate us on your podcast platform or write a review on Apple Podcast. Every little bit helps. And, of course you can also follow us, for now, on twitter at Fruitbowlpod and Instagram and Tik Tok at fruitbowlpodcast.

Find out more about Rebecca M. Davis at https://www.instagram.com/stayuplateshow/

Fruitbowl’s fruit artwork was created by Patrick Stephenson of Bearpad! https://bearpad.storenvy.com/

S4E10 - Mike B., 69. NYC

Qubed Media, LLC

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Mike had a lot of variables to balance while coming of age in the 70s and 80s:  the sexual revolution & liberation, drug culture, AIDS, social stigma and intimacy. And being out wasn’t an option while he was working on Wall Street for 15 years.  Through all of it, Mike tried to stay true to himself while figuring out that, as sexual beings, we are in a constant state of evolution.

And let’s not forget his sexy adventures: his first time having sex with a man he met through a personals ad; frisky times in NYC sex clubs; a cross country trip exploring the gay bars and cruising sites of America; exploring the “Meat Rack” of Fire Island while doing acid. Those were some good times.

Later in life, Mike became a leader and activist, sitting on executive boards of many national gay organizations. Now he dedicates himself to educating and learning from younger generations via his popular Instagram account (@bammer47), a YouTube channel and podcast. His hope is that, by engaging with different generations will bring us all closer together. 

Sounds a lot like what I try to do with Fruitbowl which makes it so amazing that Mike agreed to contribute his history to our archive. I know you'll find a lot to relate to with his story.

Are you in Seattle? Come to our first ever LIVE Fruitbowl event, PASSIONFRUIT on August 4, 2022. Learn more and RSVP HERE.

Learn more about the recent Monkeypox outbreak via the CDC website.

Thanks to our post-production sponsor, the new SPACES app, powered by Hornet! Learn more about it HERE. 

This episode was edited by Danny Tayara and mixed by Ryan Weadon. Rebecca M. Davis is the season 4 voice of Fruitbowl. Dave Quantic is the creator and host of Fruitbowl.

Submit your own story for inclusion in a future episode! Describe a sexy hook up or something you’ve learned about sex via SPACES, email or record a story via your phone’s voice memo app and email it to [email protected]. 

Fruitbowl is produced independently without corporate media infrastructure or full time staff. Every interview is recorded in-person, on location in each interviewee’s home and production expenses including travel, accommodations, equipment rental are paid for out of pocket by Dave Quantic, FRUITBOWL’s creator. 

The only consistent financial support (currently $283/mo.) comes from Fruitbowl’s Patreon community. A minimum $5 monthly donation allows patrons early access to episodes, behind the scenes updates and Salad Tosser tier patrons ($10/mo.) receive access to exclusive video content that is not available to the general public. Learn more about how to become a patron at: https://www.patreon.com/fruitbowlpodcast

Larger donations and underwriting/advertising fees are 100% tax deductible through a partnership with Northwest Film Forum’s fiscal sponsorship program.  FRUITBOWL RECEIVES NO DIRECT FUNDING FROM NWFF, only the use of their non-profit status to receive tax deductible donations. For more information check out: https://www.fruitbowlpodcast.com/donate

Tell your friends about Fruitbowl, rate us on your podcast platform or write a review on Apple Podcast. Every little bit helps. And, of course you can also follow us, for now, on twitter at Fruitbowlpod and Instagram and Tik Tok at fruitbowlpodcast.

Find out more about Rebecca M. Davis at https://www.instagram.com/stayuplateshow/

Fruitbowl’s fruit artwork was created by Patrick Stephenson of Bearpad! https://bearpad.storenvy.com/

Swimming in Florida

This is the pool where Mike describes spying on the men’s locker room. His brother was confused, “Why don’t you just go in the locker room to look?”

Mike in his 20s

Personals Ad

This is the personals ad that appeared in an independent newspaper in Boston which led Mike to have his first gay sexual experience.

The Grand Canyon

Just one of many vacation photos Mike took during his cross-country journey visiting different towns and sampling all the different gay bars and cruising areas.

Beau at WCPC in San Diego

This is the bartender that picked up Mike in San Diego. They spent the rest of the summer together.

Beau and His Car

Beau lookin’ cool in San Diego, 1979.

San Diego Citation

This is the ticket Mike got in San Diego for running naked on the beach.

Mike in the Sun

Mike living the good life.

Bar Ratings

This is just one page from Mike’s catalog of all the different bars he went to on his cross country journey.

With Friends at Lake Michigan

Mike's LTR

Mike and his former partner in Cape Town, 2004. They were together for 12 years.

Mike and his former partner.

Provincetown, 2012.

Puerta Vallarta, 2007

S4E9 - Puddin', 35. Atlanta

Dave Quantic / Qubed Media

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Originally from a small town in Alabama, Puddin’s coming of age was divided in two. Outwardly, he was a devout Christian of the Pentecostal tradition and aspired to be a church leader. During sermons, homosexuality was always used as an example of the worst kind of sin. Privately, though, he struggled with his sexuality and was the target of abuse by a family member. 

After his family found out, he tried several different faith-based solutions for “curing” himself and, in the process, met other queer people like him for the first time in his life. A gay friend in college encouraged Puddin’ to consider - just maybe - that God didn’t hate him for being gay and, eventually, he left the church and moved to a gay commune where he learned how to live off the grid and love himself.  

Are you in Seattle? Come to our first ever LIVE Fruitbowl event, PASSIONFRUIT. Learn more and RSVP HERE.

Learn more about the recent Monkeypox outbreak via the CDC website.

Thanks to our post-production sponsor, the new SPACES app, powered by Hornet! Learn more about it HERE. 

This episode was edited and mixed by Ryan Weadon. Rebecca M. Davis is the season 4 voice of Fruitbowl. Dave Quantic is the creator and host of Fruitbowl.

Submit your own story for inclusion in a future episode! Describe a sexy hook up or something you’ve learned about sex via SPACES, email or record a story via your phone’s voice memo app and email it to [email protected]. 

Fruitbowl is produced independently without corporate media infrastructure or full time staff. Every interview is recorded in-person, on location in each interviewee’s home and production expenses including travel, accommodations, equipment rental are paid for out of pocket by Dave Quantic, FRUITBOWL’s creator. 

The only consistent financial support (currently $287/month) comes from Fruitbowl’s Patreon community. Thanks to our new patron PH. A minimum $5 monthly donation allows patrons early access to episodes, behind the scenes updates and Salad Tosser tier patrons ($10/month) receive access to exclusive video content that is not available to the general public. Learn more about how to become a patron at: https://www.patreon.com/fruitbowlpodcast

Larger donations and underwriting/advertising fees are 100% tax deductible through a partnership with Northwest Film Forum’s fiscal sponsorship program.  FRUITBOWL RECEIVES NO DIRECT FUNDING FROM NWFF, only the use of their non-profit status to receive tax deductible donations. For more information check out: https://www.fruitbowlpodcast.com/donate

Tell your friends about Fruitbowl, rate us on your podcast platform or write a review on Apple Podcast. Every little bit helps. And, of course you can also follow us, for now, on twitter at Fruitbowlpod and Instagram and Tik Tok at fruitbowlpodcast.

Find out more about Rebecca M. Davis at https://www.instagram.com/stayuplateshow/

Fruitbowl’s fruit artwork was created by Patrick Stephenson of Bearpad! https://bearpad.storenvy.com/

S4E8 - Debra, 71. Palo Alto

Dave Quantic / Qubed Media

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You might assume you don’t have much in common with a 71 year old lesbian, but consider these three points: 1. Debra came of age at the dawn of the sexual revolution; 2. She’s a legend in the lesbian kink community and has some really fun kink play stories; 3. She is a total badass and a one of a kind human.

Growing up in famously liberal Palo Alto, Debra was a precocious young woman, hungry for knowledge but a proposal from a “perfect” boyfriend in her 20s felt premature so she broke his heart and dove into the deep end of California 70s counterculture at UC Santa Cruz. Soon she was exploring the GLBT club and her sexuality was confirmed when she saw a gorgeous woman step off her motorcycle and reveal her long, luscious hair.

Since then, it’s been one adventure after another: New York, Seattle, LA. And the adventure continues to this day. Debra recently decided to leave LA, move into a van and travel the country visiting friends and making new ones.  Check out this link for Route 70+, a charming short film by Nina Penzhorn that illustrates Debra’s journey.

Her final advice: have as much fun sex as you can so you can look back on it fondly when you’re old. 

Thanks to our post-production sponsor, the new SPACES app, powered by Hornet! Learn more about SPACES HERE. 

This episode was edited by Bayley Boecker and mixed by Ryan Weadon. Rebecca M. Davis is the season 4 voice of Fruitbowl. Dave Quantic is the creator and host of Fruitbowl.

Submit your own story for inclusion in a future episode! Describe a sexy hook up or something you’ve learned about sex via SPACES, email or record a story via your phone’s voice memo app and email it to [email protected]. 

Fruitbowl is produced independently without corporate media infrastructure or full time staff. Every interview is recorded in-person, on location in each interviewee’s home and production expenses including travel, accommodations, equipment rental are paid for out of pocket by Dave Quantic, FRUITBOWL’s creator. 

The only consistent financial support (currently $286/month) comes from Fruitbowl’s Patreon community. Thanks to our new patron Jeremy. A minimum $5 monthly donation allows patrons early access to episodes, behind the scenes updates and Salad Tosser tier patrons ($10/month) receive access to exclusive video content that is not available to the general public. Learn more about how to become a patron at: https://www.patreon.com/fruitbowlpodcast

Larger donations and underwriting/advertising fees are 100% tax deductible through a partnership with Northwest Film Forum’s fiscal sponsorship program.  FRUITBOWL RECEIVES NO DIRECT FUNDING FROM NWFF, only the use of their non-profit status to receive tax deductible donations. For more information check out: https://www.fruitbowlpodcast.com/donate

Tell your friends about Fruitbowl, rate us on your podcast platform or write a review on Apple Podcast. Every little bit helps. And, of course you can also follow us, for now, on twitter at Fruitbowlpod and Instagram and Tik Tok at fruitbowlpodcast.

Find out more about Rebecca M. Davis at https://www.instagram.com/stayuplateshow/

Fruitbowl’s fruit artwork was created by Patrick Stephenson of Bearpad! https://bearpad.storenvy.com/

Kenny is the definition of a survivor. After experiencing abuse by a family member and getting kicked out of the house by his single mom while still in high school, Kenny lived in his car until he decided to move in with his first boyfriend. A move to Chicago for a job seemed like an opportunity to start fresh until he was laid off and had to turn to sex work in order to support himself.

But despite all the challenges, he refuses to feel shame about his past and his sexuality. His advice: embrace all the different parts of your queerness: the masculine and the feminine; don’t let others dictate who you are and develop friendships with people who show you love.

Thanks to our new sponsor, the new SPACES app, powered by Hornet! Learn more about it here: https://spaces.hornet.com/invite/e824dc9f879c0d556ac4c3cd1ab6d4ff

This episode was edited by Danny Tayara, a queer designer, filmmaker, and animator living in Seattle. You can learn more about their work at www.dannytayara.com. Rebecca M. Davis is the season 4 voice of Fruitbowl. Ryan Weadon was the sound mixer for this episode. Dave Quantic is the founder and creative director of Fruitbowl.

Fruitbowl is now accepting short, listener-submitted stories to feature on future episodes. Send a story about a sexy hook up or something you’ve learned about sex via SPACES or email a story to [email protected] via your phone’s voice memo app.

Fruitbowl is produced independently without corporate media infrastructure or full time staff. Every interview is recorded in-person, on location in each interviewee’s home and production expenses including travel, accommodations, equipment rental are paid for out of pocket by Dave Quantic, FRUITBOWL’s creator.

The only consistent financial support (currently $264/month) comes from Fruitbowl’s Patreon community. Thanks to our new patrons Lou P. and D.A. and to Paul R. for increasing their monthly donation. A minimum $5 monthly donation allows patrons early access to episodes, behind the scenes updates and Salad Tosser tier patrons ($10/month) receive access to exclusive video content that is not available to the general public. Learn more about how to become a patron at: https://www.patreon.com/fruitbowlpodcast

Larger donations and underwriting/advertising fees are 100% tax deductible through a partnership with Northwest Film Forum’s fiscal sponsorship program. FRUITBOWL RECEIVES NO DIRECT FUNDING FROM NWFF, only the use of their non-profit status to receive tax deductible donations. For more information check out: https://www.fruitbowlpodcast.com/donate

Social media platforms often censor mentions or depictions of queer sexuality. Accounts are suspended, or banned outright without notice, or due process. As a result, promoting FRUITBOWL is an uphill battle, so we rely on you to help spread the word. Tell your friends about Fruitbowl, rate us on your podcast platform or write a review on Apple Podcast. Every little bit helps. And, of course you can also follow us, for now, on twitter at Fruitbowlpod and Instagram and Tik Tok at fruitbowlpodcast.

Find out more about Rebecca M. Davis at https://www.instagram.com/stayuplateshow/

Fruitbowl’s fruit artwork was created by Patrick Stephenson of Bearpad! https://bearpad.storenvy.com/

S4E7 - Getting Fresh with Gayish - ORGIES

Dave Quantic / Qubed Media

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In this Getting Fresh episode, Dave welcomes his in-studio guests: the creators of the Seattle-based Gayish podcast, Kyle and Mike and asks them about their podcast’s origin and its unique format: unpacking gay stereotypes one episode at a time. Then we listen to a listener-submitted story that describes the writer’s first time at an orgy and we discuss our own orgy adventures and our different experiences and expectations when it comes to group sex. Learn more about Gayish at https://www.gayishpodcast.com/

Speaking of group sex, the orgy story was narrated by Paul who was featured in Season 3, Episode 5 of Fruitbowl. Paul Rosenberg is a writer, singer, actor and production designer living in Seattle. He is the founder and manager of Rain City Jacks, a nonprofit jack-off club in Seattle, and creator of The Heart of Jacks Podcast, an interview show exploring sexuality with a focus on the history and culture of jack-off clubs. For more info about Rain City Jacks, visit raincityjacks.org. You can find Paul on the web at theheartofjacks.com, on Twitter @theheartofjacks, and follow The Heart of Jacks Podcast wherever you find podcasts.

Thanks to our post-production sponsor, the new SPACES app, powered by Hornet! Learn more about it here: https://spaces.hornet.com/invite/e824dc9f879c0d556ac4c3cd1ab6d4ff

This episode was edited by Dave Quantic and mixed by Ryan Weadon. Rebecca M. Davis is the season 4 voice of Fruitbowl. Dave is also the founder and creative director of Fruitbowl.

Submit your own story for inclusion in a future episode! Describe a sexy hook up or something you’ve learned about sex via SPACES, email or record a story via your phone’s voice memo app and email it to [email protected]. 

Fruitbowl is produced independently without corporate media infrastructure or full time staff. Every interview is recorded in-person, on location in each interviewee’s home and production expenses including travel, accommodations, equipment rental are paid for out of pocket by Dave Quantic, FRUITBOWL’s creator. 

The only consistent financial support (currently $282/month) comes from Fruitbowl’s Patreon community. Thanks to our new patrons Eric and Joseph. A minimum $5 monthly donation allows patrons early access to episodes, behind the scenes updates and Salad Tosser tier patrons ($10/month) receive access to exclusive video content that is not available to the general public. Learn more about how to become a patron at: https://www.patreon.com/fruitbowlpodcast

Larger donations and underwriting/advertising fees are 100% tax deductible through a partnership with Northwest Film Forum’s fiscal sponsorship program.  FRUITBOWL RECEIVES NO DIRECT FUNDING FROM NWFF, only the use of their non-profit status to receive tax deductible donations. For more information check out: https://www.fruitbowlpodcast.com/donate

Tell your friends about Fruitbowl, rate us on your podcast platform or write a review on Apple Podcast. Every little bit helps. And, of course you can also follow us, for now, on twitter at Fruitbowlpod and Instagram and Tik Tok at fruitbowlpodcast.

Find out more about Rebecca M. Davis at https://www.instagram.com/stayuplateshow/

Fruitbowl’s fruit artwork was created by Patrick Stephenson of Bearpad!https://bearpad.storenvy.com/

S4E6 - Kenny, 30. Hutchinson, KS

Dave Quantic / Qubed Media

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Kenny is the definition of a survivor. After experiencing abuse by a family member and getting kicked out of the house by his single mom while still in high school, Kenny lived  in his car until he decided to move in with his first boyfriend. A move to Chicago for a job seemed like an opportunity to start fresh until he was laid off and had to turn to sex work in order to support himself. 

But despite all the challenges, he refuses to feel shame about his past and his sexuality. His advice: embrace all the different parts of your queerness: the masculine and the feminine; don’t let others dictate who you are and develop friendships with people who show you love.

Thanks to our new sponsor, the new SPACES app, powered by Hornet! Learn more about it here: https://spaces.hornet.com/invite/e824dc9f879c0d556ac4c3cd1ab6d4ff

This episode was edited by Danny Tayara, a queer designer, filmmaker, and animator living in Seattle. You can learn more about their work at www.dannytayara.com. Editor’s note: this episode combines two separate interview sessions. Rebecca M. Davis is the season 4 voice of Fruitbowl. Ryan Weadon was the sound mixer for this episode. Dave Quantic is the founder and creative director of Fruitbowl.

Fruitbowl is now accepting short, listener-submitted stories to feature on future episodes. Send a story about a sexy hook up or something you’ve learned about sex via SPACES or email a story to [email protected] via your phone’s voice memo app.

Fruitbowl is produced independently without corporate media infrastructure or full time staff. Every interview is recorded in-person, on location in each interviewee’s home and production expenses including travel, accommodations, equipment rental are paid for out of pocket by Dave Quantic, FRUITBOWL’s creator. 

The only consistent financial support (currently $264/month) comes from Fruitbowl’s Patreon community. Thanks to our new patrons Lou P. and D.A. and to Paul R. for increasing their monthly donation. A minimum $5 monthly donation allows patrons early access to episodes, behind the scenes updates and Salad Tosser tier patrons ($10/month) receive access to exclusive video content that is not available to the general public. Learn more about how to become a patron at: https://www.patreon.com/fruitbowlpodcast

Larger donations and underwriting/advertising fees are 100% tax deductible through a partnership with Northwest Film Forum’s fiscal sponsorship program.  FRUITBOWL RECEIVES NO DIRECT FUNDING FROM NWFF, only the use of their non-profit status to receive tax deductible donations. For more information check out: https://www.fruitbowlpodcast.com/donate

Social media platforms often censor mentions or depictions of queer sexuality. Accounts are suspended, or banned outright without notice, or due process. As a result, promoting FRUITBOWL is an uphill battle, so we rely on you to help spread the word. Tell your friends about Fruitbowl, rate us on your podcast platform or write a review on Apple Podcast. Every little bit helps. And, of course you can also follow us, for now, on twitter at Fruitbowlpod and Instagram and Tik Tok at fruitbowlpodcast.

Find out more about Rebecca M. Davis at https://www.instagram.com/stayuplateshow/

Fruitbowl’s fruit artwork was created by Patrick Stephenson of Bearpad! https://bearpad.storenvy.com/

S4E5 - Lilian, 36. Sedalia, CO

Dave Quantic / Qubed Media

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Lilian grew up in Sedalia Colorado, a small community outside of Denver. Growing up, Lilian was a good little straight boy who judged other kids for having pre-marital sex. It wasn’t until college in LA that Lilian began her journey into becoming a self-described non-binary, genderfluid transgender woman who is a solo-polyamorous, relationship-anarchist pansexual lesbian slut.

An advocate for sexual liberation, Lilian describes the unique sexual relationships she has with various friends. She also shares intimate details about her gender journey which includes two gender affirming surgeries in an effort to attain the body she has always wanted. 

Thanks to our new sponsor, the new SPACES app, powered by Hornet! Learn more about it here: https://spaces.hornet.com/invite/e824dc9f879c0d556ac4c3cd1ab6d4ff

This episode was edited by Bayley Boecker, one of three new assistant editors for Season 4, funded by our sponsor, SPACES. Rebecca M. Davis is the season 4 voice of Fruitbowl. Ryan Weadon was the sound mixer for this episode. Dave Quantic is the founder and creative director of Fruitbowl.

Fruitbowl is now accepting short, listener-submitted stories to feature on future episodes. Send a story about a sexy hook up or something you’ve learned about sex via SPACES or email a story to [email protected] via your phone’s voice memo app.

Fruitbowl is produced independently without corporate media infrastructure or full time staff. Every interview is recorded in-person, on location in each interviewee’s home and production expenses including travel, accommodations, equipment rental are paid for out of pocket by Dave Quantic, FRUITBOWL’s creator. 

The only consistent financial support (currently $237/month) comes from Fruitbowl’s Patreon community. Thanks to our new patron Hobart and to JL for increasing their monthly donation. A minimum $5 monthly donation allows patrons early access to episodes, behind the scenes updates and Salad Tosser tier patrons ($10/month) receive access to exclusive video content that is not available to the general public. Learn more about how to become a patron at: https://www.patreon.com/fruitbowlpodcast

Larger donations and underwriting/advertising fees are 100% tax deductible through a partnership with Northwest Film Forum’s fiscal sponsorship program.  FRUITBOWL RECEIVES NO DIRECT FUNDING FROM NWFF, only the use of their non-profit status to receive tax deductible donations. For more information check out: https://www.fruitbowlpodcast.com/donate

Social media platforms often censor mentions or depictions of queer sexuality. Accounts are suspended, or banned outright without notice, or due process. As a result, promoting FRUITBOWL is an uphill battle, so we rely on you to help spread the word. Tell your friends about Fruitbowl, rate us on your podcast platform or write a review on Apple Podcast. Every little bit helps. And, of course you can also follow us, for now, on twitter at Fruitbowlpod and Instagram and Tik Tok at fruitbowlpodcast.

Find out more about Rebecca M. Davis at https://www.instagram.com/stayuplateshow/

Fruitbowl’s fruit artwork was created by Patrick Stephenson of Bearpad!https://bearpad.storenvy.com/

S4E4 - Drew, 39. Los Angeles

Dave Quantic / Qubed Media

Download

Growing up in a small California town in the late 90s, Drew didn’t have any exposure to queer people or culture except for the brief mentions on broadcast sitcoms. NBC’s “Must See TV” was a particularly rich source of information. A secret relationship with another guy in his high school confirmed Drew’s budding sexuality but it wasn’t until college at UC Santa Barbara that he had his first legit boyfriend. Years later, a shocking discovery made him question their relationship but it also provided Drew an opportunity to forgive and move on instead of focusing on anger and regret.

Living in LA proved difficult when it came to insecurities about his body image but a one night stand right before the pandemic provided Drew a new way of thinking about body acceptance and, since then, he’s embraced a new version of himself. Drews final advice: 1. Worry less about what other people think and 2. You don’t need a six pack to get laid. 

Drew has turned his obsession of old sitcoms into his profession. He’s the co-host of the podcast “Gayest Episode Ever,” a show that explores the “very special” episodes of classic sitcoms that feature queer characters and storylines. He and his co-host Glen discus each episode with deeply researched historical context and industry-insider knowledge. Learn more about it at www.gayestepisodeever.com.

Thanks to our new sponsor, the new SPACES app, powered by Hornet! Learn more about it here: https://spaces.hornet.com/invite/e824dc9f879c0d556ac4c3cd1ab6d4ff

Because of SPACES generous support, this episode is the first to be edited by Ryan Weadon, one of three new assistant editors for Season 4. Rebecca M. Davis is the season 4 voice of Fruitbowl. Dave Pezzner is the sound mixer for this episode. Dave Quantic is the founder and creative director of Fruitbowl.

Fruitbowl is now accepting short, listener-submitted stories to feature on future episodes. Send a story about a sexy hook up or something you’ve learned about sex via SPACES or email a story to [email protected] via your phone’s voice memo app.

Fruitbowl is produced independently without corporate media infrastructure or full time staff. Every interview is recorded in-person, on location in each interviewee’s home and production expenses including travel, accommodations, equipment rental are paid for out of pocket by Dave Quantic, FRUITBOWL’s creator. 

The only consistent financial support (currently $237/month) comes from Fruitbowl’s Patreon community. Thanks to our new patrons: Jeff R. and Gabe L. A minimum $5 monthly donation allows patrons early access to episodes, behind the scenes updates and Salad Tosser tier patrons ($10/month) receive access to exclusive video content that is not available to the general public. Learn more about how to become a patron at: https://www.patreon.com/fruitbowlpodcast

Larger donations and underwriting/advertising fees are 100% tax deductible through a partnership with Northwest Film Forum’s fiscal sponsorship program.  FRUITBOWL RECEIVES NO DIRECT FUNDING FROM NWFF, only the use of their non-profit status to receive tax deductible donations. For more information check out: https://www.fruitbowlpodcast.com/donate

Social media platforms often censor mentions or depictions of queer sexuality. Accounts are suspended, or banned outright without notice, or due process. As a result, promoting FRUITBOWL is an uphill battle, so we rely on you to help spread the word. Tell your friends about Fruitbowl, rate us on your podcast platform or write a review on Apple Podcast. Every little bit helps. And, of course you can also follow us, for now, on twitter at Fruitbowlpod and Instagram and Tik Tok at fruitbowlpodcast.

Find out more about Rebecca M. Davis at https://www.instagram.com/stayuplateshow/

Fruitbowl’s fruit artwork was created by Patrick Stephenson of Bearpad!https://bearpad.storenvy.com/