Join Ariel, Stef, and their guests Jodie Anders and Shalom (aka Boy Venus) for an honest, colorful, and insightful episode that celebrates queer identity through the magic (and mess) of Disney. The conversation spans nostalgic awakenings, media analysis, cultural critique, and the affirming power of telling your story—your way.

Jodie, author of Queer Cheer, shares how travel and diverse narratives helped her discover her own queerness. Shalom, a young activist and indie musician, reflects on the power of subtext in media like Luca and Frozen, and how art has been central to their self-exploration. Together, this group celebrates Pride, critiques tokenism, and envisions a future where queer stories aren’t subplots—they’re the main event.

Summary of HPOE 45:

00:00:00:00 – 00:00:08:18

00:00:08:18 – 00:00:35:00

Unknown

Hello, everyone. Welcome to the happiest pot on Earth. I’m Steph. I’m an educator who uses passions and fandoms to help my students grow and learn about themselves and the world around them. And I’m Ariel, a licensed therapist who uses clients passions and fandom to help them grow and heal from trauma and mental and wellness. Hey everyone, I’m Jodi Anders, I am a Jewish bisexual creator and I focus on creating diversity and promoting youth empowerment.

00:00:35:02 – 00:01:01:01

Unknown

I currently serve as the publicity and communications director for a youth nonprofit in California, and I’ve spent over two decades mentoring teens in confidence and leadership skills. I’m the coauthor author of Queer Cheer Activities Advice and Affirmations for LGBTQ Plus Teens, and I also produce a podcast. Let’s talk about leadership, service, and Sisterhood, which is a podcast for teens by teens.

00:01:01:01 – 00:01:25:12

Unknown

Hi. My name is Shalom. As a student, I’ve been involved in many campaigns and community organizing organizations, working with youth organizers in the San Fernando Valley to fight for the rights of Filipino migrant workers, justice and visibility for displaced ethnic communities abroad, and have worked to create, support and educate members of the Residents of Color community through the creation of my ever growing coalition.

00:01:25:14 – 00:01:51:16

Unknown

California State University, Northridge is Queer Students of Color Club. I’m also a queer indie musician, producing music under the name Boy Venus. Check me out on SoundCloud if you’re interested. Specifically working within the electronic genre to make music reminiscent of games like Pokemon Legends of Zelda, Undertale, while also using techniques from artists like Rebecca Sugar, Ivy Tran and Stephen Filemon.

00:01:52:00 – 00:02:08:14

Unknown

beautiful. And here at Happiest Pod, we dissect Disney Medium. So the critical lens. Why? Because we are more than just fans and we expect more from the mediums we consume. So, what are we talking about today? As you both heard these wonderful introductions from our exceptional guests today we have Jodi and Shalom.

00:02:08:15 – 00:02:38:08

Unknown

Welcome to the happiest Pod on Earth. We are so thrilled that you are here to talk about all things LGBTQ representation. In honor of Pride Month and we’re really excited to really dive in, and, see the world and see the Disney World from Euro Isles lens. So yeah, welcome to the podcast. So to be here, I’m curious, you know, we have heard about representation in general in the media.

00:02:38:08 – 00:02:59:20

Unknown

And when it comes to Disney, do you feel or believe that they’re increasing LGBTQ plus representation, and if so, when do you think they’ve done it? And are there opportunities they missed or were they just like completely missed the mark? I feel like it’s kind of like an ebb and flow situation. I mean, it’s definitely had some more, you know, representation.

00:02:59:20 – 00:03:24:23

Unknown

And actually this discussion can get so nuanced, right? Because are we talking about like, original animation? Are we talking about like the entire Disney, universe, you know, within Marvel and Star Wars? So, at this point, apparently Hulu’s in there too. So if there’s some horror movies, or other anime animation you want to include that counts.

00:03:25:01 – 00:04:11:02

Unknown

Yeah, I think like in the more like traditional sense of Disney Pixar. It’s it’s slowly increasing, like strictly within like movies and TV. Like in movies, I feel like we’re still not other than maybe like Strange World getting those main characters. That would be great. But, it’s really nice to see at least, you know, some nuances through the community, like having a non-binary character in elementals or, just, you know, at least some representation.

00:04:11:02 – 00:04:57:15

Unknown

Which is better than that. But, there’s also just questionable things that they’ve done in the sense of like pulling from different markets or, you know, like, I know, so, like when they did Lightyear, I, I loved that they had a Lisa like, that his sidekick was such a big representation. And then it was so incredibly heartbreaking to have this, reaction to what was not even a minute of their relationship, the lesbian relationship she had, which was this beautiful little heartwarming family and, seeing at the time, like them, like pulling it from market to things like that.

00:04:57:17 – 00:05:01:20

Unknown

But at the same time, like, if we kind of pull back the lens a little bit,

00:05:01:20 – 00:05:25:22

Unknown

at the same time, there’s like getting the, the monthly emails, not even just the LGBTQ, pieces. They will highli...