Overview

In this episode, we analyze Season 8 of Are You The One?, which features an all-queer cast and is described as a transformative representation in reality TV. The episode opens with an introduction to the show's unique ability to foster queer identity, led by guest Hunter Hargraves, a noted queer intellectual. The discussion delves into how the season promotes polyamory and challenges traditional heteronormative structures through concepts like "compulsory authenticity." Special guest Arewá shares their personal journey and insights as an unofficial producer on the show, emphasizing the importance of genuine queer representation, highlighted by significant moments. The episode reflects on the show's legacy in advancing queer narratives and representation within reality TV.

Notes

 

Introduction to Get Queer podcast (00:00 - 05:00)

• Podcast focuses on queer reality TV and its impact on queer identity
• Episode discusses Are You The One? Season 8, described as the queer reality TV GOAT
• Hunter Hargraves introduced as a social media personality, queer intellectual and writer

Analysis of Are You The One? Season 8 (05:01 - 10:39)

• Season 8 featured all queer or trans contestants
• Show's format encouraged poly dating within a non-monogamous structure
• Hunter discusses how the show subverted heterosexual structures
• Concept of “compulsory authenticity” in reality TV introduced

Authenticity and Strategy in Reality TV (10:40 - 19:45)

• Discussion on balancing authenticity with game strategy in reality shows
• Introduction of Arewá (formerly known as Basit on the show)
• Arewá shares their journey to joining the show and initial hesitations
• Arewá's role as an unofficial producer on the show highlighted

Representation and Responsibility (19:46 - 28:45)

• Arewá discusses the importance of authentic queer representation
• Kai and Jenna scene showcasing trans experience highlighted
• Arewá's post-show journey into production discussed
• Reflection on the show's impact and legacy in queer representation

Guests

Hunter Hargraves (any pronouns) is an intellectual bon-vivant and boldly queer social media presence. He teaches cinema and television arts at California State University Fullerton and he is the author of Uncomfortable Television published by Duke University Press in 2023.

Arewá Basit (she/they) is a singer/songwriter/producer/actor and former participant on the iconic queer season of Are You The One?.  Arewá headlined Transmission, NYC’s first all trans music festival, and she is a co-founder of Legacy a NYC based production company focusing on uplifting Black queer voices and fostering community.

Are you ready for the next best pop culture podcast on all things reality TV? Get Queer is here. 

A product of Xtra magazine, Get Queer questions and celebrates LGBTQ2S+ representation in pop culture. For the show's first season, reality TV fan and host Mel Woods takes you through a candid analysis of unscripted television’s history in a bid to answer a central question: “How has reality TV shaped queer identity in the community, in the world and in the mirror?"

Through interviews with stars, experts and fan favourites, including Zeke Smith (Survivor), Wes Culwell (Boy Meets Boy), and Racquel Chevremont (The Real Housewives of New York City), Get Queer takes listeners behind the scenes of reality TV’s most shocking and compelling moments to unravel how they were made and their lasting impact.

Show Credits

Host Mel Woods (they/them) is a journalist, editor and content creator. They are currently the Senior Editor Audience Engagement at  Xtra, a digital magazine covering culture and politics through an LGBTQ2S+ lens. They grew up in Red Deer, Alberta and now live in Vancouver with their partner and two beloved cats.

Producer Daniel MacIvor (he/him) is a writer, producer, director and performer. They are currently Creative Consultant with Pink Triangle Press and Artistic Director of reWork a Toronto-based production company for new theatre and film.

Cover photography by Celina Koops

Overview

This episode of Get Queer explores the influence of reality television on queer identity, beginning with an overview of Bravo’s inaugural same-sex marriage reality show, Boy Meets Boy, which debuted in 2003. The episode discusses the network’s strategic shift toward queer-centric programming, leading to iconic shows like Queer Eye and the emergence of the Logo network. The episode critiques stereotypical portrayals of queer individuals in reality TV, debating the nuances of implied versus explicit queerness. The discussion evolves to highlight the growing acceptance of casual queerness in media, referencing Henry Jenkins' theory of convergence culture. The host also interviews Wes Culwell, a former reality TV participant turned producer, to reflect on the evolving landscape of queer representation in reality TV and the significant role of queer producers in shaping future narratives.

Notes

️Introduction to Get Queer (00:00 - 02:08)

• Podcast focuses on reality TV's effect on queer identity
• Episode titled “Gay Streaming”
• Discusses Boy Meets Boy, first same-sex dating reality show in 2003

Gay Streaming and Bravo Network (02:08 - 07:04)

• Bravo network's shift towards queer content
• Boy Meets Boy as a moderate success for Bravo
• Introduction of Queer Eye and the Logo network
• Concept of “gay streaming” explained

️‍ Reality TV Representation (07:04 - 12:42)

• Discussion on stereotypical representations in queer reality TV
• Critique of shows like The A-List: New York
• Debate on implied vs. explicit queerness in reality TV

Queer Convergence in Media (12:42 - 17:25)

• Shift from implied to casual queerness in reality TV
• Discussion on queer representation and authenticity
• Introduction of Henry Jenkins' theory of convergence culture

Queer Producers in Reality TV (17:25 - 22:50)

• Wes Culwell's journey from reality TV participant to producer
• Impact of queer producers on reality TV content
• Discussion on the future of queer representation in media

Guests

Eve Ng (she/her) teaches media arts and is the author of Cancel Culture: A Critical Analysis and Mainstreaming Gays: Critical Convergences of Queer Media, Fan Cultures, and Commercial Television.  She’s a participant in and critic of queer women fandoms and is co-editing a forthcoming special for Popular Communication on that subject.

Wes Culwell (he/him) is the founder and executive producer at Studiio Box Creative a Washington D.C. based full-service creative agency specializing in video production and experiential marketing. After getting his start as a participant in reality TV, Wes worked for nearly a decade as a story producer and director in TV and film prior to launching Studio Box in 2012.

Are you ready for the next best pop culture podcast on all things reality TV? Get Queer is here. 

A product of Xtra magazine, Get Queer questions and celebrates LGBTQ2S+ representation in pop culture. For the show's first season, reality TV fan and host Mel Woods takes you through a candid analysis of unscripted television’s history in a bid to answer a central question: “How has reality TV shaped queer identity in the community, in the world and in the mirror?"

Through interviews with stars, experts and fan favourites, including Zeke Smith (Survivor), Wes Culwell (Boy Meets Boy), and Racquel Chevremont (The Real Housewives of New York City), Get Queer takes listeners behind the scenes of reality TV’s most shocking and compelling moments to unravel how they were made and their lasting impact.

Show Credits

Host Mel Woods (they/them) is a journalist, editor and content creator. They are currently the Senior Editor Audience Engagement at  Xtra, a digital magazine covering culture and politics through an LGBTQ2S+ lens. They grew up in Red Deer, Alberta and now live in Vancouver with their partner and two beloved cats.

Producer Daniel MacIvor (he/him) is a writer, producer, director and performer. They are currently Creative Consultant with Pink Triangle Press and Artistic Director of reWork a Toronto-based production company for new theatre and film.

Cover photography by Celina Koops

Overview

In this episode, host Mel Woods delves into the crucial topic of queer and trans representation in reality TV, beginning with notable moments like Zeke Smith’s groundbreaking transouting on Survivor and the impact of Pedro Zamora on HIV/AIDS awareness during Season One of The Real World: San Francisco. The discussion features an interview with Zeke, who reflects on his journey since Survivor, including insights into the motivations and strategies behind his participation in the show. The episode also tackles various coming out experiences on reality TV, emphasizing the challenges and significance of authentic representation. Finally, it analyzes the evolution of queer representation over time, highlighting key milestones and the need for more casual portrayals of queerness in media.

Notes

Reality TV and LGBTQ2S+ Representation (00:00 - 09:16)

• Introduction to the podcast Get Queer focusing on queer reality TV
• Highlight of Zeke Smith's outing as trans on Survivor in 2017
• Discussion of Pedro Zamora's role in Season One of The Real World: San Francisco in 1994
• Pedro's impact on HIV/AIDS awareness and representation
• Host Mel Woods' personal connection to reality TV and queer representation

Zeke Smith's Survivor Experience (09:16 - 17:30)

• Interview with Zeke Smith about his life post-Survivor
• Zeke's recent marriage and reflection on personal growth
• Discussion of Zeke's motivation to apply for Survivor
• Zeke's preparation for the show and strategy to create interesting moments

Coming Out on Reality TV (17:30 - 26:08)

• Exploration of various "coming out" moments on reality TV
• Zeke's experience of being outed on Survivor and its impact
• Discussion of the challenges faced by Zeke after being outed
• Reflection on the importance of authentic representation in media

Impact and Evolution of Queer Representation (26:08 - 34:56)

• Analysis of the long-term effects of queer representation on reality TV
• Discussion of Lance Loud as an early example of casual queerness on TV
• Highlight of Pedro Zamora's relationship ceremony on The Real World
• Zeke and Nico's proposal at the GLAAD Media Awards
• Conclusion on the importance of casual queer representation in media

Guest

Zeke Smith (he/him) is a writer and comedian living in Los Angeles. His writing has been featured in The Blacklist and in The Hollywood Reporter.  Zeke is well-known for his queer and trans advocacy stemming from two seasons on Survivor. He serves on the board of directors for GLAAD.

Are you ready for the next best pop culture podcast on all things reality TV? Get Queer is here. 

A product of Xtra magazine, Get Queer questions and celebrates LGBTQ2S+ representation in pop culture. For the show's first season, reality TV fan and host Mel Woods takes you through a candid analysis of unscripted television’s history in a bid to answer a central question: “How has reality TV shaped queer identity in the community, in the world and in the mirror?"

Through interviews with stars, experts and fan favourites, including Zeke Smith (Survivor), Wes Culwell (Boy Meets Boy), and Racquel Chevremont (The Real Housewives of New York City), Get Queer takes listeners behind the scenes of reality TV’s most shocking and compelling moments to unravel how they were made and their lasting impact.

Show Credits

Host Mel Woods (they/them) is a journalist, editor and content creator. They are currently the Senior Editor Audience Engagement at  Xtra, a digital magazine covering culture and politics through an LGBTQ2S+ lens. They grew up in Red Deer, Alberta and now live in Vancouver with their partner and two beloved cats.

Producer Daniel MacIvor (he/him) is a writer, producer, director and performer. They are currently Creative Consultant with Pink Triangle Press and Artistic Director of reWork a Toronto-based production company for new theatre and film.

Cover photography by Celina Koops

Get Queer debuts May 8, 2025, with new episodes dropping weekly. 

Are you ready for the next best pop culture podcast on all things reality TV? Get Queer is here. 

A product of Xtra magazine, Get Queer questions and celebrates LGBTQ2S+ representation in pop culture. For the show's first season, reality TV fan and host Mel Woods takes you through a candid analysis of unscripted television’s history in a bid to answer a central question: “How has reality TV shaped queer identity in the community, in the world and in the mirror?"

Through interviews with stars, experts and fan favourites, including Zeke Smith (Survivor), Wes Culwell (Boy Meets Boy), and Racquel Chevremont (The Real Housewives of New York City), Get Queer takes listeners behind the scenes of reality TV’s most shocking and compelling moments to unravel how they were made and their lasting impact.

Show Credits

Host Mel Woods (they/them) is a journalist, editor and content creator. They are currently the Senior Editor Audience Engagement at  Xtra, a digital magazine covering culture and politics through an LGBTQ2S+ lens. They grew up in Red Deer, Alberta and now live in Vancouver with their partner and two beloved cats.

Producer Daniel MacIvor (he/him) is a writer, producer, director and performer. They are currently Creative Consultant with Pink Triangle Press and Artistic Director of reWork a Toronto-based production company for new theatre and film.

Cover photography by Celina Koops