Licence To Queer

Callum McKelvie joins me for a special Spectre-al episode taking a light-hearted look at the horror elements in the Bond films and novels. We uncover the spookiest skeletons in Bond's closet and get very personal when exploring why queers like us are drawn to the macabre.

You can read Callum's original article about horror in Bond here: https://www.licencetoqueer.com/blog/spectre-al-visions-queers-horror-and-bond

I am joined by Ian Fleming Publications' Managing Director Corinne Turner and Publishing Manager Simon Ward, following their announcement that they will be bringing the publication of all Ian Fleming titles 'in house' for the 70th anniversary of Bond. We discuss what this means for existing fans, their plans for attracting new audiences, the diversity of Fleming aficionados, new cover concepts and lots more. But first of all, I ask them to name their favourite Fleming books...

Dr Brendan J. Dunlop, a Principal Clinical Psychologist in the NHS, clinical lecturer and author of The Queer Mental Health Workbook, helps me analyse James Bond’s mental health experiences and suggests ways he could find some solace.

I regularly write about Bond's psychology and mental health more generally but I thought it was about time I spoke with an expert on the topics. Dr Dunlop is doubly qualified: as well as being a Clinical Psychologist he's also a Bond fan. We talk about the potential causes of Bond's mental health difficulties and things he could do to alleviate his mental distress.

I warmly recommend The Queer Mental Health Workbook to everyone - even if you're not queer you will find it enlightening and useful.

Of the five senses, smell is not something we talk enough about in relation to Bond. This is somewhat ironic considering that this is the very first sense Fleming triggers, setting in motion decades years of olfactory curiosity, especially when it comes to gender.

This is a podcast recording of an article which you can read here: https://www.licencetoqueer.com/blog/pour-homme-pour-femme-and-for-everyone-in-between-the-scents-of-more-than-60-years

Matt Carter's new film, In From The Side, is about a romance between two gay rugby players. In this conversation we tackle (sorry!) avoiding 'gay film' cliches, different masculinities, alternatives to monogamy, drinking culture and how to shoot sex scenes intimately but tastefully.

Check out my earlier conversation with Matt, about his 'gay James Bond' film here: https://www.licencetoqueer.com/blog/matt-carter 

Bisexual Bond expert Ben Williams and I have been speaking for years behind the scenes, emboldening each other to be more openly queer. After they came out as non-binary, we thought it was about time we tackled The Big Stuff more publicly: gender binaries, putting who we’re attracted to into boxes and, perhaps most profoundly of all, what needs to be going down in our personal lives to make sense of Quantum of Solace.

Please note that while I always aim to make Licence To Queer family-friendly, this podcast contains a few swear words from Ben. Even though Ben was on their “best behaviour,” they understandably got quite animated considering the personal nature of much of our discussion.

For 70 years, Her Majesty was the only consistent recurring 'character' across the different versions of Bond, serving as an inspiration for many, including women and those men who had to keep their sexuality secret.

With the first book in her new trilogy, Kim Sherwood has blown the world of Bond wide open - and then some! In this far-ranging conversation we discuss diversifying MI6, seeing 007 from different angles, setting up threads for the next instalment and much more.

Two of my dearest friends Han (until last autumn a Bond first timer) and Maz (ardent Brosnan-era admirer) join me for The World Is Not Enough at our local cinema. Hear our thoughts from before and after the film.

Licence To Queer regulars will already know Han and Maz. We introduced Han to the world of Bond for the first time in September 2021 and talked about what it was like for Maz growing up as a queer female Bond fan in Ireland. You can hear this on an earlier podcast. Scroll down or go to https://www.licencetoqueer.com/blog/lgbt-lesbians-and-gays-bond-together

GoldenEye was the first Bond film I saw in the cinema, aged 13. Seeing it at the cinema 27 years later, aged 40, would it be an emotional experience? (Yes. The short answer is Yes.)

I also had the good fortune to meet Thomas (@TEG79 on Instagram) who you can hear on this episode and Doug Astley (@TheDougHQ on twitter) who was sat next to me the whole time (although we didn't realise this immediately!)