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Welcome back to the LOTL Lounge! In this episode, we dive deep into the lived experiences, creative voices, and histories that make our lesbian and queer community shine. Host Silke is joined by inspiring guests and contributors from across Australia, spanning art, activism, music, sport, and storytelling.

Featured Stories & Guests

🌊 Healing in Cold Waters: Avi’s Story

Silke sits down with Avi, a 54-year-old cold ocean swimmer from Victoria’s surf coast, for a profoundly honest chat about trauma, resilience, midlife identity, and the life-saving power of the sea. Facing waves and past wounds, Avi shares how plunging into icy waters with her queer swim pod brought her back to herself, and offers hope and courage to others in our community.
Catch Avi’s raw and compassionate journey at 00:03:08.
Read the article and listen to the full conversation 

✨ Hawaiian Healing & Queer Wisdom

What if healing isn’t about perfection, but restoring our connection to self and others? This gentle spoken word segment explores the concept of aloha and the importance of belonging for queer folk, especially those who’ve navigated disconnection or exclusion. Find solace and perspective at 00:16:04.
Read the article and listen to the full reading

🎶 Trailblazers – Queer Anthems with Tullara

Meet Cairns-based pop-rock artist Tullara, whose new single “Trailblazers” is a fierce, 80s-inspired tribute to all queer folks who’ve carved a path forward. Hear the making-of, her reflections on pride, and listen to the full anthem, a power-up for anyone who ever felt “too different.”
Jump into Tullara’s segment at 00:18:54.
Read the article and watch the Music Video

Regular Segment: The Tuck Shop Ladies

No episode of the LOTL Lounge would be complete without a visit from the Tuck Shop Ladies! Their signature of cheeky humour and queer community spirit makes them a staple in our storytelling. Keep an ear out for their latest updates and don’t forget to follow them on socials for more laughs and singalongs.

🎨 Lesbians of Australia: Portraits & Power

Artist Stacey Bennett takes us inside her nationally recognised “Lesbians of Australia” project- 100+ painted portraits and stories documenting the rich, real, everyday lives of lesbian and queer women. Stacey and Silke discuss art as activism, the impact of vulnerability, and the importance of recording our history for generations to come.
Experience the art behind the movement at 00:38:14.
Read the article and listen to the full conversation

📖 Living History: Kate Rowe, 78er & Lesbian Activist

From the first Mardi Gras to World Pride, political trailblazer Kate Rowe reflects on protest, loss, visibility, health, and finding new energy at 75. Her stories highlight community courage and how staying engaged keeps us vital—mind, heart, and body.
Walk through decades of activism at 00:52:37.
Read the article and listen to the full conversation

🏉 League from the Lounge – NRLW Updates

Jo Barrett, Fox League NRLW expert and commentator, gives a passionate NRLW wrap, celebrating Women in League’s 20th year, the rise of new teams, and the evolution of women’s rugby league.
Tactics, breakthroughs, and queer sporting visibility at 01:04:35.

🌈 Voices from Regional Australia

Mara Lucas shares an intimate blog about growing up queer in regional Queensland—where pride means quiet rebellion and small acts of authenticity can light a path for others.
Read Mara’s moving excerpt at 01:12:07.

🎵 Musical Farewell with Rachel Sage

We close with “Canopy,” a beautiful track by Rachel Sage, celebrating hope, softness, and queer belonging.
Listen to “Canopy” at 01:15:39.  and Stream/download "Canopy" - https://mpress.lnk.to/CanopySingle

Resources & Connect

• If you need support:
  • Lifeline: 13 11 14
  • 1800RESPECT: 1800 737 732
• Discover more:
  • Avi’s story, Stacey Bennett’s art, and Mara Lucas’s blog at lotl.com
  • Stacey’s portraits: staceybennett.art | IG: @stace.paints.queers
  • Kate Rowe’s memoir: “How the fuck would I know?” katerowe.net or [email protected]  to order her book 
  • Music: Follow our LOTL Lounge playlist on Soundcloud and Spotify for all tracks featured on the show
  • Tuck Shop Ladies  www.tuckshopladies.com
• Feedback & Participation:
  • Email feedback: [email protected]
  • Send a voice message: click here
  • Are you a lesbian or queer musician? Submit your track for the playlist and show!

Next Episode Teaser

Don’t miss Episode 3 with iconic guests Joan Nestlé (Lesbian Herstory Archives), intergenerational dialogues, Amber Loomis on lesbian-bisexual storytelling, and more trailblazing queer voices from across Australia.

Thanks for sharing this space. Stay loud, stay proud, and see you next episode!

Support the show

Check out more content on www.lotl.com

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LOTL Lounge - Episode 1

Episode Summary

In the debut episode of LOTL Lounge, host Silke Bader relaunches LOTL’s audio home for lesbian and queer women’s stories - blending culture, lived experience, comedy, sport, and music into a vibrant hour of community storytelling. 

We begin with Nash, a leading voice in the drag king community, who joins Silke to introduce Drag King Corner, their new LOTL.com blog exploring identity, performance, and the growing visibility of drag kings across Australia.

Next, we shift into lived experience with Diana, 78, who reflects on decades of lesbian life - from secrecy and survival to liberation, humour, and resilience. Comedy arrives with the Tuck Shop Ladies, followed by Jo’s NRLW update, and two tracks from LOTL’s queer‑artist playlist.

LOTL Lounge is back - bold, inclusive, and ready to amplify the voices shaping lesbian and queer culture today.

Community Intro 

Before we dive in, I want to talk briefly about language - the words we use to describe ourselves, our identities, and our community. Lesbian, queer, gay, bi, dyke, sapphic… these words carry history, emotion, pride, and sometimes tension. They evolve, they shift, and they mean different things to different people.

I’d love to hear your thoughts. What language feels right for you? What words feel powerful, complicated, or changing?

You can share your opinion here:  https://whatayarn.com/lotl-lounge

Your voice helps shape this space.

Segment Breakdown & Timestamps

00:00 - Intro Silke welcomes listeners and sets the tone for the show: lesbian and queer culture, community, music, sport, and storytelling.

03:00 - Nash: Drag King Corner (Interview) Nash introduces their new LOTL.com blog, shares insights into drag king culture, and discusses visibility, identity, and community.

06:00 - Music Track 1: “I Got U — Antracto A moment to breathe and dance, featuring queer artists from LOTL’s curated playlist.

08:00 - Lived Experience: Diana Wilde  Diana, 78, shares her life story - decades of lesbian history, humour, survival, and community evolution.

21:00 - Music Track 2: “Finding My Place” A moment to breathe and dance, featuring queer artists from LOTL’s curated playlist.

25 :00 - Comedy Segment: Tuck Shop Ladies  Chaotic, clever, and unapologetically queer. A comedic take on identity and culture.

31:00 - Flying Bats Advert Sydney’s iconic lesbian football club.

33:00 - NRLW Update with Jo Season preview, team movements, new recruits, and what to expect.

36:00 - Music Track 3: “Female Power Feminist Movement” A moment to breathe and dance, featuring queer artists from LOTL’s curated playlist.

40:00 - Closing & Next Week Preview Avi’s cold‑water swimming story + Amber’s conversation on lesbian–bisexual solidarity and tension.

Featured Guests

Nash Hill - Drag King Corner Drag king, writer, and c  ultural commentator.

Diana Wilde - Lived Experience A 78‑year‑old lesbian whose life spans eras of secrecy, liberation, activism, and humour.

Tuck Shop Ladies - Comedy A comedic duo exploring queer identity with wit, chaos, and charm.

Jo Barrett -  NRLW Analyst LOTL’s women’s sport contributor.

Music Featured

• Female Power Feminist Movement - Crazy Tunes
• Finding my Place -  PremiumBeat
• I Got U - Antracto

Notable Quotes

“Drag king culture deserves more visibility - and Drag King Corner is here to make that happen.” “Diana reminds us that lesbian history isn’t just political -  it’s personal, hilarious, and brave.” “Are lesbians cool, or is it cooler to be queer? The Tuck Shop Ladies have thoughts.”

Resources & Links

• New LOTL website www.LOTL.com 
•  Old LOTL website legacy.lotl.com
• 35 Years of LOTL magazine digitized https://legacy.lotl.com/digital-archive/ 
• Drag King Corner   https://www.lotl.com/stories-conversations/the-resurgence-of-drag-kings-in-australia 
• LOTL Queer‑Artist Playlist (Spotify  https://open.spotify.com/playlist/6jaflmqJZPd04AQgEqu53j?si=21LJs-xRTRiuFkjI9fpEAw   & Soundcloud  Notion (Radio Edit) in Lesbian And Queer  )
• Flying Bats Women’s Football Club  https://www.theflyingbats.com/ 
• NRLW official site  https://www.nrl.com/draw/?competition=161&round=1&season=2026
• Tuck Shop Ladies  www.tuckshopladies.com

Call to Action

Have a lived experience story? Nominate yourself or someone you know via LOTL.com. Share your thoughts on identity language at: https://whatayarn.com/lotl-lounge Subscribe to LOTL Lounge on Spotify, SoundCloud, or your favourite podcast app.

Support the show

Check out more content on www.lotl.com

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Loretta Smith, bestselling author of A Spanner in the Works, returns with Corpus in Extremis—a deeply personal memoir tracing a life shaped by physical challenges, creative ambition, and extraordinary resilience. 

Known for her acclaimed biography of Alice Anderson, Smith now turns the lens on her own story, reflecting on how chronic pain and a lifelong bone condition have influenced her work, identity, and determination to create.

In this conversation, she speaks about the experiences that shaped her writing, the barriers she has navigated, and the ways creativity and persistence have carried her through moments of difficulty and transformation

Socials: @LOTLMedia 

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Barbara Baird discusses Personal Politics, a landmark work tracing the evolution of feminism, sexuality, and queer activism in Australia from the 1970s to today. 

This conversation explores the book’s nine‑year development, the movements that shaped it, and the ongoing fight for equality across LGBTQIA+ communities

Socials: @LOTLMedia

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Hannah Malarski joins Queer Conversation to talk about BIG DYKE ENERGY — her riotous, unapologetically queer comedy show. 

After sold‑out seasons at the 2023 Melbourne Fringe and the 2024 Melbourne International Comedy Festival, Hannah returns with sharp wit, bold storytelling and a whole lot of pride.

Socials: @LOTLMedia

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Pauline Menczer’s journey is an Aussie underdog story like no other — think Rocky meets Puberty Blues. From battling sexism, homophobia, and rheumatoid arthritis to becoming World Surfing Champion, her life is a testament to grit, resilience, and refusing to be defined by adversity.

In this Queer Conversation, we explore Pauline’s rise from the fringes of competitive surfing to global recognition, and the impact her story continues to have on athletes and queer communities around the world.

If you enjoy queer content, subscribe to our channel and follow us on social media.

Socials: @LOTLMedia

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Dr Kerryn Phelps AM reflects on her landmark memoir Power of Balance, tracing the experiences that have shaped her work across medicine, media, and public life. 

In this conversation, she discusses key moments from her career, including her early years in clinical practice, her visibility in the Australian media, and her involvement in national discussions on health and community issues.

She also speaks about the personal challenges she has navigated, the public attention surrounding her private life, and the advocacy work that has influenced her approach to leadership and service.

Socials: @LOTLMedia

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Sydney Gay & Lesbian Choir returns with one of its biggest performances yet: Back to the 80s, a high‑energy jukebox concert celebrating the iconic hits of the decade. 

Taking place at the Seymour Centre on Saturday, 8 June, this special long‑weekend event brings together nostalgia, queer joy, and the powerful harmonies the choir is known for.

In this Queer Conversation, LOTL speaks with Jodey Schneider, President of the Sydney Gay & Lesbian Choir, about the creative vision behind Back to the 80s, the community spirit that drives the choir, and why this show is set to be one of their most memorable performances. 

Jodey reflects on the choir’s legacy, the joy of queer music‑making, and the importance of celebrating LGBTQIA+ voices on major stages.

Socials @LOTLMedia

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Sydney’s vibrant art scene is set to embrace the innovative work of Jane Cavanough, a distinguished artist whose practice blends Landscape Architecture with Visual Arts to create pieces that are both conceptually rich and visually arresting. 

Her work explores the intersection of place, memory, and design, transforming natural forms into sculptural expressions that invite reflection and emotional connection.

With a background that bridges technical precision and artistic intuition, Jane’s pieces reveal an alchemy of structure and imagination — landscapes re‑imagined through texture, form, and a deep sensitivity to the environments that shape us. Her upcoming exhibitions continue to push the boundaries of how we see and experience the Australian landscape.

Socials: @LOTLMedia

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Check out more content on www.lotl.com