Ivory Tower Boiler Room

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Andrew welcomes back author Lev AC Rosen to talk about his award winning queer noir novel "Lavender House." Lev wastes no time revealing his obsession with noir film and literature, especially Agatha Christie, Raymond Chandler, and the film "Laura," and how his obsession led him to create a murder mystery meets detective novel with all queer characters! Lev opens up about how writing "Lavender House" allowed him to bring to light queer history that's been erased in an inventive way, by creating queer historical fiction set in 1952 San Francisco. His novel centers on the Lamontaine soap empire and begins with the mysterious death of Irene Lamontaine who not only owned the soap empire but also created the queer safe haven known as Lavender House. Lev explains how his historical interest in queer World War 2 and post-World War 2 history makes its appearance in his novel since the Lavender House alludes to the homophobic history of the Lavender Scare. He explains how his detective, Andy, a San Francisco police officer who is fired for being gay, so desperately tried to hide his sexuality, like so many queer people during this time period, but once Andy decides he's going to find Irene's murderer, he not only unravels the murder mystery but begins to embrace who he really is. As the New York Times writes, Lev's novel “Movingly explores the strain of trying to pass as straight at a time when living an authentic life could be deadly."

Follow Lev AC Rosen on IG, @levacrosen, and Twitter, @LevACRosen. 

Get your hands on Lev's "Lavender House" here: https://bookshop.org/p/books/lavender-house-lev-ac-rosen/17868139?ean=9781250834225

Or listen to Vikas Adam's suspenseful performance of "Lavender House" on Audible: https://www.audible.com/pd/Lavender-House-Audiobook/B09QBC3P74

And have you heard Lev's interview with us about his queer Young Adult novel "Camp"? Listen here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/reminiscing-about-camp-with-lev-ac-rosen/id1527297273?i=1000543422781  

Find all of Lev's published and forthcoming books on his website: https://www.levacrosen.com/

Head to Broadview Press, an independent academic publisher, for all your humanities related books. Use code ivorytower for 20% off your broadviewpress.com order.

To subscribe to The Gay and Lesbian Review visit glreview.org. Click Subscribe, and enter promo code ITBR to receive a free copy with any print or digital subscription.

Be sure to follow @mandeemadeit and @skinmedspapj (all on IG)!

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Hey, true crime friends! This week I've got another News Catch Up for you guys! More in-depth cases coming soon!

Follow True Crime in Academia on social media

Twitter: @tcinacademia

IG and TikTok: @truecrimeinacademia

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/student-20-found-dead-after-he-was-last-seen-at-bar-on-christmas-eve-we-miss-you-so-so-much/ar-AA15IxAh?ocid=entnewsntp&cvid=05cfcd8ca356469293db54cec8cbf397

https://www.msn.com/en-us/entertainment/entertainment-celebrity/princeton-student-misrach-ewunetie-s-cause-of-death-revealed-after-her-body-was-found-on-campus/ar-AA15Ky3g?ocid=entnewsntp&cvid=dc65f8046dc34ebbb5f21f3dc75918d3

https://people.com/crime/2-high-school-cheerleaders-killed-in-crash-police-officer-arrested/

https://www.collegian.psu.edu/news/state-college-police-charge-man-with-public-intoxication-bites-security-officers-finger/article_e50c0e88-6f5a-11ed-850d-b7718485a0e6.html

Join The Ivory Tower Boiler Room Cafe, $5 a month, to watch the video interviews and listen to bonus episodes: patreon.com/ivorytowerboilerroom 

On January 5th, 2019, Taylor Ferber posed in Playboy's "New Wave" issue which featured female journalists who explored whether intellect and nudity are mutually exclusive, or can go hand in hand. Taylor sits down with Andrew and Mary to dig into her Playboy experience, and the three of them discuss why sexiness and intellect are not seen as similar concepts. This episode will definitely question your assumptions about being smart while also embracing open conversations around sex and sexuality! Get ready for a deep dive of Playboy compared to Playgirl and learn more about Taylor, Andrew, and Mary's bedroom endeavors. This is the sex in the media class you needed!

Follow Taylor on IG, @talktometaylor, and Twitter, @TaylorFerber. 

Read the origin story of Taylor's Playboy debut: https://talktometaylor.com/playboy-feature/

Here's the "Six Female Journalists Ask if Nudity Discredits Intellect" feature on Playboy's magazine as well as a video feature: https://www.playboy.com/read/nsfw-a-new-wave

Read more about Playgirl's history in "A Pen*s on Every Page: The Rise and Fall of Playgirl": https://www.esquire.com/entertainment/a55592/playgirl-magazine-history/

Head to Broadview Press, an independent academic publisher, for all your humanities related books. Use code ivorytower for 20% off your broadviewpress.com order.

To subscribe to The Gay and Lesbian Review visit glreview.org. Click Subscribe, and enter promo code ITBR to receive a free copy with any print or digital subscription.

Be sure to follow @mandeemadeit and @skinmedspapj (all on IG)!

Follow ITBR on IG, @ivorytowerboilerroom, TikTok, @ivorytowerboilerroom, and Twitter, @IvoryBoilerRoom!

Thanks to the ITBR team! Andrew Rimby (Executive Director), Mary DiPipi (Chief Contributor), Kimberly Dallas (Editor)

To listen to our bonus episode with Michela, join the ITBR Cafe for only $5 a month! patreon.com/ivorytowerboilerroom.com 

If you've ever thought "how would I handle sitting down with someone who is part of the same marginalized community but has different viewpoints than me," then Andrew's conversation with Michela Griffo is that conversation you needed. First, Michela is a lesbian force to be reckoned with! She is not only a prolific lesbian artist, whose current exhibit "The Price We Pay" is being shown at Pen + Brush, but she was one of the original members of the Gay Liberation Front (yes, the group that Marsha P. Johnson and Sylvia Rivera were part of). This is a rare moment in which Michela, who was in NYC during the Stonewall Uprising (1969) and part of the first Gay Pride March (June 28, 1970), reflects back on these watershed moments while also having an extremely nuanced intergenerational conversation with Andrew (who is 30). 

Andrew asks Michela to reflect on her coming out story, going to the Mafia owned Lesbian Bars, and how all of her activism led to her artistic life. And then Andrew asks Michela a question that will have many of you wanting to weigh in. He asks "Why is it a problem for you to be labeled as queer"? This is such a pivotal question for Michela since she is extremely concerned with the divide that currently exists in the LGBTQ+ community. Don't worry Michela addresses that while some may agree with her views, many will try to label her as a TERF or cancel her. But guess what, we're going to air the entire interview, including another bonus episode that is available on our Patreon, because it's important to have an uncensored conversation. 

Andrew and Michela prove that nuanced discussions, where room for disagreement is made, allows for them to learn where the other is coming from and debate is healthy and necessary to bridge the divide in the LGBTQ+ community.  

See Michela's exhibit "The Price We Pay" at Pen + Brush (29 East 22nd Street, New York, NY) and look at it online here: https://www.penandbrush.org/exhibition/michela-griffo-the-price-we-pay/

Follow Michela on IG, @michelagriffo, and Pen + Brush, @penandbrushnyc. 

To subscribe to The Gay and Lesbian Review visit glreview.org. Click Subscribe, and enter promo code ITBR to receive a free copy with any print or digital subscription.

Be sure to follow @mandeemadeit, @thatolgayclassiccinema, and @skinmedspapj (all on IG)!

Follow ITBR on IG, @ivorytowerboilerroom, TikTok, @ivorytowerboilerroom, and Twitter, @IvoryBoilerRoom!

Thanks to the ITBR team! Andrew Rimby (Executive Director), Mary DiPipi (Chief Contributor), Kimberly Dallas (Editor)

Join The Ivory Tower Boiler Room Cafe, $5 a month, to watch the video interviews and listen to bonus episodes: patreon.com/ivorytowerboilerroom 

It's not everyday that Andrew gets to sit down with an Off-Broadway composer, creator, writer, and production team! Andrew had the pleasure of seeing "The Parts I Keep Inside" with Mary DiPipi and his undergrad. mentor Dr. Jan Balakian this past summer. Funny enough, we all know that Andrew and Mary met at Mainstage, but guess what...Andrew met Rye Myers there too! Rye is one of the producers of the new musical "The Parts I Keep Inside," and Andrew knew that they needed to sit down to talk about how the creation of an Off-Broadway musical happens. But, not only did Rye agree to discuss the process but the musical's very own composer and writer, Jeffrey Schmelkin sat down to talk about his musical's development process! 

If you were at the Triad theater (on the Upper West Side) this summer and saw the musical, you know how much it spoke to the audience. Jeffrey reveals the origin story for taking on such a timely theme of mental health and how it originated from his own mental health experience during the pandemic. Because Jeffrey, Rye, and Andrew are all in person at our favorite place, Pen + Brush (in Chelsea), the creative energy is palpable. So many topics are discussed from which composers Jeffrey draws inspiration from, how resonant the theme of mental health is throughout the musical, what the next steps are for the musical, and what's the difference between Off-Broadway and Broadway? 

Watch selections from "The Parts I Keep Inside" (filmed at the Triad in NYC): https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL_uAUOXIutfOIvkcI2E_Uby1C6bK3sxlz

Stay up to date with all of the development news and make sure to follow "The Parts I Keep Inside" on social media (links on the website): https://www.thepartsikeepinside.com/

Follow Jeffrey Schmelkin on IG, @jeffreyschmelkin and TikTok, @jeffreyschmelkin. See more of Jeffrey's musical work here: http://www.jeffreyschmelkin.com/

Follow Rye Myers on IG, @rye_myers and TikTok, @rye_myers. And remember Rye is the host of the only Broadway Talk Show in NYC, "Live with Rye & Friends!"

To subscribe to The Gay and Lesbian Review visit glreview.org. Click Subscribe, and enter promo code ITBR to receive a free copy with any print or digital subscription. 

Be sure to follow @mandeemadeit, @thatolgayclassiccinema, and @skinmedspapj (all on IG)! 

Follow ITBR on IG, @ivorytowerboilerroom, TikTok, @ivorytowerboilerroom, and Twitter, @IvoryBoilerRoom!

Join The Ivory Tower Boiler Room Cafe, $5 a month, to watch the video interviews and listen to bonus episodes: patreon.com/ivorytowerboilerroom 

Antoine Wilson, the author of "Mouth to Mouth," which has been highly praised by critics, joins Andrew to chat about how he brought this literary noir novel into existence. Antoine explains how his reader enters "an enthralling literary puzzle" (a NY Times quote) and what is so intoxicating and tense about his narrative! "Mouth to Mouth" has been named one of Barack Obama's Favorite Books of 2022 and an NPR and Time Best Book of the Year. Antoine gets into how his novel ended up in Barack Obama's hands, and whether Obama's endorsement will propel his novel into the film or TV universe. 

If you aren't familiar with Antoine's novel, here's a little backstory. It's about Jeff Cook, a successful Beverly Hills art dealer who confesses the story of his meteoric rise to our narrator in a JFK airport lounge. Our narrator is forced to listen to Jeff's rise to fame as Jeff reveals an earth shattering moment when he saved the life of Francis Arsenault, a famous Los Angeles art dealer. But how does Jeff use this moment to propel him into the art dealer world? And why is Jeff so obsessed with Francis; one might even say it's a form of queer voyeurism? Get ready for a noir themed episode!

Follow Antoine on IG, @theantoinewilson, or Twitter, @antoinewilson. 

Get your hands on Antoine's "Mouth to Mouth" here: https://bookshop.org/p/books/mouth-to-mouth-antoine-wilson/18566383?ean=9781982181802

Or listen to Edoardo Ballerini's riveting performance on Audible: https://www.audible.com/author/Antoine-Wilson/B001JP4ZLK

Head to Broadview Press, an independent academic publisher, for all your humanities related books. Use code ivorytower for 20% off your broadviewpress.com order.

To subscribe to The Gay and Lesbian Review visit glreview.org. Click Subscribe, and enter promo code ITBR to receive a free copy with any print or digital subscription.

Follow That Ol' Gay Classic Cinema on IG, @thatolgayclassiccinema and follow Mandee Made It on IG, @mandeemadeit. 

Follow ITBR on IG, @ivorytowerboilerroom, TikTok, @ivorytowerboilerroom, and Twitter, @IvoryBoilerRoom!

Many thanks to the ITBR team: Andrew Rimby, Executive Director; Mary DiPipi, Chief Contributor; Kimberly Dallas, Editor

Join The Ivory Tower Boiler Room Cafe, $5 a month, to watch the video interviews and listen to bonus episodes: patreon.com/ivorytowerboilerroom 

Andrew is joined with fellow gay white man, Henry Fry to talk about Henry's new novel "First Time For Everything" which focuses on all of Danny Scudd's problems as a gay white man. Not only is Henry a notable gay author, but he is also an activist, vegetarian, and designer! So Andrew and Henry soon become the closest of friends as they discuss straight and gay male relationships. What makes them so unique and Andrew reveals his gay gym bro encounters! And, Henry reveals why boggy balls make an appearance in his novel...oh yes your mind should be in the gutter. They debate whether New York City or London has the hottest LGBT nightlife, and Henry reveals his hot takes on Billy Eichner's movie "Bros." 

And this wouldn't be an ITBR episode without a focus on erotic and phallic language which is everywhere in "The First Time For Everything." Just like Henry's novel, this interview blends comedy and LGBT cultural discussions...you don't want to miss out on this unhinged episode (in all the best ways possible). 

Follow Henry on IG, @henry_fry, and on Twitter, @HenryCFry. 

Get your hands on "First Time for Everything" here: https://bookshop.org/p/books/first-time-for-everything-henry-fry/17374879?ean=9780593358702

Or listen to Will Watt read Henry Fry's book on Audible: https://www.audible.com/pd/First-Time-for-Everything-Audiobook/B09FFRFFLW

To subscribe to The Gay and Lesbian Review visit glreview.org. Click Subscribe, and enter promo code ITBR to receive a free copy with any print or digital subscription.

Follow That Ol' Gay Classic Cinema on Instagram, @thatolgayclassiccinema.

Follow ITBR on IG, @ivorytowerboilerroom, TikTok, @ivorytowerboilerroom, and Twitter, @IvoryBoilerRoom!

Many thanks to the ITBR team: Andrew Rimby, Executive Director; Mary DiPipi, Chief Contributor; Kimberly Dallas, Editor, and our Interns (Andrea, Chris, Rosie, and Taj)

Want access to the rest of this episode? Go to patreon.com/ivorytowerboilerroom.com or click here to become a subscriber. 

Hey, true crime friends! This week I sat down with the host of Revealing the Ivory Tower-Dr. Mac! We talk about her personal experience with teacher abuse and other true crime-related topics! 

Follow True Crime in Academia on social media!

IG and TikTok: @truecrimeinacademia

Twitter: @tcinacademia

To hear the rest of the episode, join our Ivory Tower Boiler Room Cafe ($5 a month): patreon.com/ivorytowerboilerroom.

What a special queer male reunion of sorts, since Andrew met Jesse in June, 2022 when they both attended the Queer History conference, in San Francisco. When Andrew discovered Jesse's queer artistic Instagram account, @queer_modernisms, he knew that Jesse had to come into the Ivory Tower Boiler Room to discuss his project with you all. Jesse has never given a podcast interview, and this is such a treat because many who follow his account don't know who is behind "Queer Modernisms." Right away Jesse reveals why this project is a form of self-education and how he defines the queer modernist time period. 

Jesse and Andrew leave you on the edge of your homoerotic seats since Jesse is about to reveal why Instagram hides some of his more steamy art, and he discusses the idea of shadow banning. This topic is been all the buzz in the Real Housewives universe with Bethenny Frankel and Kelly Dodd (Andrew loves them both)! Listen to the entire episode, another 20 minutes, by joining our ITBR Cafe ($5 a month) where you can hear all of our bonus episodes! 

Make sure to follow "Queer Modernisms" on IG, @queer_modernisms. See Jesse's academic work here: https://sfsu.academia.edu/JesseAtaide. 

To subscribe to The Gay and Lesbian Review visit glreview.org. Click Subscribe, and enter promo code ITBR to receive a free copy with any print or digital subscription.

Head to Broadview Press, an independent academic publisher, for all your humanities related books. Use code ivorytower for 20% off your broadviewpress.com order.

Follow That Ol' Gay Classic Cinema on Instagram, @thatolgayclassiccinema.

Follow ITBR on IG, @ivorytowerboilerroom, TikTok, @ivorytowerboilerroom, and Twitter, @IvoryBoilerRoom!

Many thanks to the ITBR team: Andrew Rimby, Executive Director; Mary DiPipi, Chief Contributor; Kimberly Dallas, Editor, and our Interns (Andrea, Chris, Rosie, and Taj)

Thanks to Anne Sophie Andersen and Meghan Ames for our theme song, "Loverman."

Join The Ivory Tower Boiler Room Cafe, $5 a month, to listen to our bonus episode with Matthew here: patreon.com/ivorytowerboilerroom 

Content Warning: Sexual Abuse

Andrew is joined with queer male author, Matthew Clark Davison who recently wrote "Doubting Thomas," a novel about an openly gay male fourth-grade teacher who gets accused of sexually abusing one of his students. But what happens when you are innocent and unjustly accused? Matthew's book deals with topics like "cancel culture," "homophobic rhetoric," and "education in the 21st century." Matthew opens up about fleeing home because of homophobia and traveling to San Francisco to find his queer community. How can queer educators, authors, and artists be unapologetically queer without worrying about homophobic backlash?

Matthew leaves us on the edge of our seats by bringing up what it's like to be an openly gay educator at a university. Our 20 minute bonus episode, on ITBR Cafe, discusses this difficult topic and others like dealing with parents who are protesting LGBTQ+ topics in school districts. Matthew and Andrew get even more uncensored when they discuss the difficulty of being openly queer in America, while so many want to put queer people back in the closet.

Follow Matthew on IG, @matthewclarkdavison, and on Twitter, @MatthewCDavison. 

Get your hands on Matthew's "Doubting Thomas" here: https://bookshop.org/p/books/doubting-thomas-a-novel-matthew-clark-davison/14834683?ean=9781612941998

Or, listen to his audiobook, wonderfully performed by Ron Butler: https://www.audible.com/pd/Doubting-Thomas-Audiobook/B09L59C5ZL?qid=1669834723&sr=1-1&ref=a_search_c3_lProduct_1_1&pf_rd_p=83218cca-c308-412f-bfcf-90198b687a2f&pf_rd_r=7D6XY2AY3D2VJN7S2AYN

To subscribe to The Gay and Lesbian Review visit glreview.org. Click Subscribe, and enter promo code ITBR to receive a free copy with any print or digital subscription.

Head to Broadview Press, an independent academic publisher, for all your humanities related books. Use code ivorytower for 20% off your broadviewpress.com order.

Follow That Ol' Gay Classic Cinema on Instagram, @thatolgayclassiccinema.

Follow ITBR on IG, @ivorytowerboilerroom, TikTok, @ivorytowerboilerroom, and Twitter, @IvoryBoilerRoom!

Many thanks to the ITBR team: Andrew Rimby, Executive Director; Mary DiPipi, Chief Contributor; Kimberly Dallas, Editor, and our Interns (Andrea, Chris, Rosie, and Taj)