My Dad Stole My Limelight

Connect with MDSML:

-Join the FREE mailing list for queer joy! hilaurendeborah.substack.com

-Email the pod to say hi or share a limelight-stealing story! [email protected]

-2SLGBTQIA+ resources

Neut (they/them/their) is back, pals! What a treat! They are such a wonderful person to chat with and I am thrilled we get more of their wonderfulness for your listening pleasure.

In this episode:

-We discuss the "have to" when it comes to our creative pursuits!

-Neut pulls tarot while we record!

-We hear from Neut's bestie, Silvia!

-Breakups are tough but who we become from them can be the most wonderful!

-Conversations with queers are perfect and necessary!

-Changing our wardrobe to be our true selves, as we go, is a huge yes!

-We are never done when it comes to discovering and uncovering ourselves!

-Coming out can be a boundary and a point of self-respect!

-Here is to being persistent and resilient!

-The people who get it, get it! Unsubscribes and unfollows are a gift!

Connect with my guest:

-Follow Neut on Instagram! Check out their awesome stuff/diary project! @therealneut

-Visit Neut's website: neut.space

-Check out Neut's Bandcamp: neutwho.bandcamp.com

-Spotify link! https://tinyurl.com/pkg93

-Neut's webcomic: neut.space/visitbostonor

-Neut's tarot deck project: neut.space/#/fools-journey

-Explore all of the cool things Neut creates in one space! tap.bio/@neut

Behind the scenes:

-Podcast production and editing made possible by: Alexi Johnson and the team at @604podnetwork

-Theme Music: Shawn Kangro

-Logo Art: @raphe.ca

Connect with MDSML:

-Join the FREE mailing list for queer joy! hilaurendeborah.substack.com

-Email the pod to say hi or share a limelight-stealing story! [email protected]

-2SLGBTQIA+ resources

Joanne Tsung (she/her) is back to let y'all know gays are taking over the world! I had such a great time chatting with her last time, I wanted to do it all again. PLUS! We needed the ending to the story that was her first weekend at university. So while this ep is less coming out (we covered that a lot in part 1) it is still loads of queer joy and Joanne joy!

In this episode:

-Since we last spoke, Joanne went to Peru!

-Lesbian feature walls are on my vision board for my future home!

-Joanne's first weekend at university was indeed WILD!

-Starbucks is a little boutique cafe, have you heard of it? Joanne made it cool!

-If you follow a queer person into a gay bar… BOOP! You are gay now! You are welcome!

-Is axe throwing masculine or is that just Canadian?

-Hand blisters make me butch and I love this for me so much!

-We love soft, sensitive boys who have rejected toxic masculinity!

-IF YOU HAVE THE POWERS, GET JOANNE A PODCAST GRANT!

-We are living in a time where queers are ready to take over, and we are so ready!

Connect with my guest:

-Follow Joanne on IG! @jtsung

Resources:

-Wells for Boys <3

Behind the scenes:

-Podcast production and editing made possible by: Alexi Johnson and the team at @604podnetwork

-Theme Music: Shawn Kangro

-Logo Art: @raphe.ca

Connect with MDSML:

-Join the FREE mailing list for queer joy! hilaurendeborah.substack.com

-Email the pod to say hi or share a limelight-stealing story! [email protected]

-2SLGBTQIA+ resources

I love my two sisters Lolo (she/her) and Brooke (she/her) and as you listen you will quickly discover why. Here they are, the muses and magical beings themselves, on the podcast, finally. I slept on this for so long, but please enjoy the delight that is these two queer queens, because they are worth every second of the wait.

In this episode:

-We are giving big 'get the girlies together for a sleepover' vibes!

-Well, what a letdown it has turned out to be to receive the male validation we were taught to want our entire lives! NOT ALWAYS! But ya, know, enough of the time that it is a thing we devoted time to in this convo so…

-As kids, our options were narrow, we had straight or gay to choose from — if that — and as we have grown, so have our options!

-Singing and dancing and knowing every word to a song with your Mum and your bestie = witchcraft!

-If someone trusts you enough to come out to you, let them keep that main character, at least for a minute!

-Queer love is magical!

-There is so much beauty in sisterhood, including the fact that you can text each other secrets from the other room and that be a beautiful form of communication!

-Once the weight of our own judgement (put on us by society) is lifted, so much can change to be authentic: who we love, what we wear, how we speak…!

-If you don't karaoke, then can you really call yourself our friend?

-The limelight-stealing stories in this episode will haunt my guests on their deathbeds and that is warranted!

Connect with my guests:

-Follow Lolo for her cute photo dumps: @lolosuede

-Follow Brooke for sexy burlesque, independent film and photography: @brookeewadee

Behind the scenes:

-Podcast production and editing made possible by: Alexi Johnson and the team at @604podnetwork

-Theme Music: Shawn Kangro

-Logo Art: @raphe.ca

Connect with MDSML:

-Join the FREE mailing list for queer joy! hilaurendeborah.substack.com

-Email the pod to say hi or share a limelight-stealing story! [email protected]

-2SLGBTQIA+ resources

Steve Sidi (he/him) is back! You first met Steve in Season 2 (which is baffling to me I waited so long to have him on and my only conclusion is that he means so much to me that I was too nervous to host him when I was still very green). Stove was my roommate for my last long stint in Canada, and long before that, we have been close pals and also work colleagues! How dreamy to have so much of him in my life!

In this episode:

-If you are familiar with the movie Burlesque, then you already completely understand the dynamic of our friendship!

-When you get to a place in your life where you're happy to run into someone in your kitchen, you know you've made it!

-Nicknames can be a demotion as they progress and I learn something new every day!

-Stand-up comedy has helped Steve understand who is is and who he wants to be and express himself in a way he hadn't been able to before!

-Steve learned how to make friends with queer people by creating spaces for queer folks in comedy, where he always felt comfortable!

-There is a great reminder to seize opportunities, and also create them for others where you can. Thank you, Steve!

-Once again, we are reminded to make the queer community part of our lives, often and intentionally!

-Go support comedy! It is a good investment!

-"Best friend" is a tier and I am so very lucky to put Stove in the tier!

Connect with my guest:

-Follow and fall in love with Stove on Instagram: @stovesidi

Resources:

-Lauren started watching this before the recording and that is (partly) why they were crying

Behind the scenes:

-Podcast production and editing made possible by: Alexi Johnson and the team at @604podnetwork

-Theme Music: Shawn Kangro

-Logo Art: @raphe.ca

Connect with MDSML:

-Join the FREE mailing list for queer joy! hilaurendeborah.substack.com

-Email the pod to say hi or share a limelight-stealing story! [email protected]

-2SLGBTQIA+ resources

I AM SO EXCITED TO BE BACK IN YOUR EARS WITH NEW EPISODES!

I had the pleasure of seeing AJ Norris (he/they) perform comedy when I was in Seattle recently and I knew I had to introduce myself to him after the show to talk to them more. AJ brought as much joy to me in this chat as he did from the stage, and I am so grateful I get to share all that with you in this episode!

In this episode:

-Here is to not being seen as a queer comedian, but rather as a comedian, who also happens to be queer!

-Lauren didn't know how to pronounce Arkansas!

-AJ is "a being, and the rest is secondary, " which is beautiful!

-It's so great witnessing kids being raised in the present day, outside of the 'norms' that we were raised in!

-The power of a haircut can never be underestimated!

-Is it really an episode of MDSML if it doesn't include the guest moving to another town before coming out?

-AJ talks about dismantling the expectations that society sets on you as a kid!

-Tattoos are a way to "decorate our home"!

-Is there a gender-neutral term for aunt or uncle? Please write and tell us!

-Here is your reminder to spend time by yourself!

Connect with my guest:

-Follow AJ on Instagram! @actually_aj_art

Behind the scenes:

-Podcast production and editing made possible by: Alexi Johnson and the team at @604podnetwork

-Theme Music: Shawn Kangro

-Logo Art: @raphe.ca

Connect with MDSML:

-Join the FREE mailing list for queer joy! hilaurendeborah.substack.com

-Email the pod to say hi or share a limelight-stealing story! [email protected]

-2SLGBTQIA+ resources

Cass Furman (she/her) brings a beautiful balance of laughs and 'things I am going to write in my diary later' in this episode! Cass is a comedian and actor and shares so many lovely gems in this conversation.

In this episode:

-Cass played a lesbian character in a play and from there was able to own up to some feelings she hadn't acknowledged fully at that point!

-Attraction means so much more than what we are taught!

-Cass experienced being the Janis Ian to Regina George and it hurt like it "was a little bit true"!

-When we come out there can be a lot of pressure to change, but Cass reminds us that there are parts we want to keep and that they're amazing!

-Thank you to the expansive and large queer community who have helped us discover and love more about ourselves!

-All of the things Cass shared brought me back to the "why" of starting this podcast!

-Imagine if we loved ourselves the way we loved others! Or as Cass puts "The more we look for things to love about each other, the more we find to love"!

-WE ARE RETIRING JOURNALS! We are bringing back our diaries!

-The number of us who are scared to come out as we feel we do not have the "right" to it is a pattern in these conversations! You belong, and your dating history does not define you!

-Being honest will get you where you want to go a whole lot quicker!

Connect with my guest:

-Follow Cass on Instagram: @cassfurman

Behind the scenes:

-Podcast production and editing made possible by: Alexi Johnson and the team at @604podnetwork

-Theme Music: Shawn Kangro

-Logo Art: @raphe.ca

-This episode of My Dad Stole My Limelight was recorded with @SquadCast

Connect with MDSML:

-Join the FREE mailing list for queer joy! hilaurendeborah.substack.com

-Email the pod to say hi or share a limelight-stealing story! [email protected]

-2SLGBTQIA+ resources

Niki Mohrdar (she/her) is a stand-up comedian and podcaster (she's ⅓ of the podcast Soft For Us, amazing!). In this episode, Niki shares her perspective as a Middle Eastern woman on queerness and coming out.

In this episode:

-Bisexuals? Us? We are attracted to a vibe!

-Look, Montreal is a place so many of us have gone to and then been like OH DAMN THIS IS WHO I AM!

-I want to talk about being queer ALL THE TIME and also, please recognise I am more than that!

-Niki and I never had an "official" coming out and mayyyyyybe we hold a little jealousy about that towards those who did!

-Choosing not to be open about who we are in certain spaces can be hard and it can also be a way to protect ourselves!

-Comedy is such a freeing space to have a "one-sided conversation" and express who we are, how we feel, what we believe and in the process make you laugh!

-Niki and I have struggled in an ongoing way with imposter syndrome and code-switching, feeling like there is something we need to prove!

-Sex and intimacy are so much more than being physical, and demisexuality can empower us to feel safe and secure exploring that!

-Niki wants there to be more openness and less suppression of our sexuality — being free to explore who we are and not shut ourselves off!

-Coffee is not needed if you have a wonderful queer conversation to have instead!

Connect with my guest:

-Follow Niki on Instagram: @niki.mohrdar

-Listen to Niki's podcast, Soft For Us: @softforus

Behind the scenes:

-Podcast production and editing made possible by: Alexi Johnson and the team at @604podnetwork

-Theme Music: Shawn Kangro

-Logo Art: @raphe.ca

-This episode of My Dad Stole My Limelight was recorded with @SquadCast

Connect with MDSML:

-Join the FREE mailing list for queer joy! hilaurendeborah.substack.com

-Email the pod to say hi or share a limelight-stealing story! [email protected]

-2SLGBTQIA+ resources

This week I got to chat with the hilarious Joanne Tsung (she/her), who I now want to be my BFF and share demisexual memes with all day every day. Joanne is a comedian and writer who has been featured on CBC Vancouver, CBC Pride, Killjoy Comedy with OutTV and YVR Funny Season 2 with Storyhive.

In this episode:

-I smiled this entire episode and my hands moved between cupping my face adoringly listening to Joanne and cupping my mouth to stop my laughing drown out Joanne's voice!

-Joanne has the most wonderful explanation of the beauty of being demisexual!

-We need "horny in your own time" on a throw pillow!

-Joanne describes her take on internalised bi-erasure!

-The voices in our head can give us so much imposter syndrome, over and over and over again!

-The alternative title for this episode was "Joanne Tsung on unfortunately participating in society"!

-There is a cameo from Karla, Joanne's girlfriend and it is amazing!

-Being queer takes up a huge part of our brain, and it is the best!

-Joanne shares the disappointment in the microaggressions experienced after coming out, and I am so grateful for her voicing things so many folks face!

-Joanne and I entered queer spaces for the first time assuming everyone was going to hit on us when they clearly would not, and to hear her say that? Validating!

Connect with my guest:

-Follow Joanne on Instagram: @jtsung

-Visit Joanne's website: joannetsung.com

Resources:

-Watch Killjoy Comedy on OutTV!

-Watch Joanne on YVR Funny Season 2!

-The Lesbian Master Doc!

Behind the scenes:

-Podcast production and editing made possible by: Alexi Johnson and the team at @604podnetwork

-Theme Music: Shawn Kangro

-Logo Art: @raphe.ca

-This episode of My Dad Stole My Limelight was recorded with @SquadCast

Connect with MDSML:

-Join the FREE mailing list for queer joy! hilaurendeborah.substack.com

-Email the pod to say hi or share a limelight-stealing story! [email protected]

-2SLGBTQIA+ resources

Cassidy Anhorn (she/her) is a comedian, writer and producer. You may have seen her on stages around Vancouver and Canada, heard her on her JFL Originals tracks in their 2023 Album (which was named after her joke!) or on YVR Funny Season 2. Most recently, you can hear her right here with more queer joy and representation!

In this episode:

-We are secretly okay when plans get cancelled!

-I need to go to more queer events, period!

-The youth have inspired Cassidy to own being a lesbian and this is wonderful!

-Things have changed so much, and yet… so often there is still only one woman (OR NO WOMEN!?) on a comedy show. Ugh!

-Thank GOD for Linda Cardellini!

-This story involves a queer awakening in the middle of English class!

-I have no regrets about leaving social media, but thank goodness for Cassidy for filling me in with cool, queer celebrity gossip!

-There is no party like an LGBTQIA+ party!

-Which Spice Girl made you gay?

-SPOILER! This limelight-stealing story is flipped and Cassidy steals someone else's. ICONIC!

Connect with my guest:

-Follow Cassidy on Instagram: @cassidya

Resources:

-Go to Big Queer Party Mix! @bigqueerpartymix

-Cassidy on YVR Funny!

-Album link for Cassidy on Stand-Up BC!

-Check out QueerProv! @queerprov

Behind the scenes:

-Podcast production and editing made possible by: Alexi Johnson and the team at @604podnetwork

-Theme Music: Shawn Kangro

-Logo Art: @raphe.ca

-This episode of My Dad Stole My Limelight was recorded with @SquadCast

Connect with MDSML:

-Join the FREE mailing list for queer joy! hilaurendeborah.substack.com

-Email the pod to say hi or share a limelight-stealing story! [email protected]

-2SLGBTQIA+ resources

Patti Savard (she/her) is a comedian who likes to not take herself too seriously. She has found that comedy has been a way to "find the lightness in the dark". Being a comedian, Patti hopes to offer a perspective that may help someone on their own journey. I think this conversation can serve the same purpose too and I am so thankful for this chat with Patti!

In this convo, Patti mentions her show on the 19th, and if you're listening, you missed it! I got delayed in releases because of being on vacay and timezone confusion on my part… when will I learn? Please go and follow Patti on socials (linked below) to see where you can catch her performing next!

In this episode:

-Patti grew up surrounded by strong women who have inspired her to be a strong badass, Kirstie Alley in Look Who's Talking inspired legend!

-Patti hitchhiked to Mexico and along the way discovered more about herself than she had imagined for that trip!

-Growing up, Patti had the best-dressed G.I. Joes in the neighbourhood!

-Bless adult stores and sex shops that see us and respect us and encourage us to be us!

-Patti and I are basic bitches and envy our kinky friends!

-Patti was able to discover more about herself via podcasts and listening to other folks' stories. Representation matters y'all!

-Sometimes, as we figure out who we are, we continue to seek the "next thing that will make us happy"!

-Heck yeah to Life Coaching! Patti was able to identify a fear vs a thought and what comes from elsewhere and what comes from her!

-Patti has a mission statement for her writing and her stand up and I LOVE THAT!

-Make your mantra list! Patti has many! And she shares some with us! Amazingly blessed!

Connect with my guest:

-Follow Patti on IG: @pattisavard18

-Like Patti's FB: facebook.com/patatoui69

Behind the scenes:

-Podcast production and editing made possible by: Alexi Johnson and the team at @604podnetwork

-Theme Music: Shawn Kangro

-Logo Art: @raphe.ca

-This episode of My Dad Stole My Limelight was recorded with @SquadCast