Queer Longing

Hello our sweet angels a top the 'ole Christmas tree! 

Hope you're hanging in there, not long now before we can shake all this 2020 dust from our wings and fly into what is (hopefully) a brighter and more sociable 2021- we know we're ready! 

This week we take stock of the most bizarre and tumultuous year in living memory as well as giving you hefty helpings of all your favourite podcast, book and TV recs, so start peeling the spuds for the roasties and get listening! 

Tracks of the week:

Cowboy Like Me, Taylor Swift: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YPlNBb6I8qU 

Can't Stop Christmas, Robbie Williams: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X4BTaYbsX-s

In the words of gorgeous farmer and sweet hun of the 00’s, JB Gill… MERRY CHRISTMAS!

 

The main event of this stunning ep is a deep dive debrief of new queer holiday film ’Happiest Season’. We have a lot to say about both the toxic narrative and the overwhelming energy of Aubrey Plaza. So buckle in huns, it’s going to be a wild ride.

 

We also talk the disheartening news from the high court’s recent ruling regarding puberty blockers for trans individuals. The link to the great video from mega hun Shon Faye can be found here: https://www.instagram.com/tv/CIQzBwQFkFl/?hl=en.

 

Plus we chat about the coming out of Elliot Page, the stunning Elle cover from Aweng Ade-Chuol (and wife) and our feelings re Spotify Unwrapped- a QL nation divided.

 

Tracks of the Week:

 

Space Girl, Frances Forever https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X5IoQuWoP_E&ab_channel=FrancesForever-Topic

 

Thunder Thighs, Moonlight Sanelly https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L4PM3ZXd74w&ab_channel=MoonchildSanelly

Jingle Bell Rock it's a brand new ep! This week we look forward to 2022, which we have collectively hailed as, 'The Year of All the Bits.' We discuss the great news following Scotland's recent announcement of free period products for all, queer Grammy noms, the new album from the Frock Destroyers' and the cheering news that there's a Christmas bauble for quite literally, anything. We talk brand new Sky Atlantic series 'The Undoing' and new canon lesbian Christmas film 'A New York Christmas Wedding' plus iconic performances in 'Mama Mia 2: Here We Go Again' and a whole host of podcast recs to keep you going for weeks. Fasten your seatbelts and jump aboard our Christmas sleigh! 

Tracks of the week:

'Big Gay Hands'- Partner: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3hxWLlmQYVY

'Happiness'- Little Mix: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gSMn9thX-yw

Oh hiya- two pods in a row, aren’t you a lucky bunch?

 

Join us as we try to figure out what the date is, chat funny GCSE tutors and finding solace in games during lockdown.

 

We get in the festive spirit with gorge vaccine news from Dolly Parton, the importance of Christmas day outfits and we go ham for the new holiday track from our lord and saviour Lil Nas X.

 

There’s a bumper bunch of poddy recs from exploring the troubled history of big queer names in ‘Bad Gays’, rethinking the past in ‘You’re Wrong About’ and creating community with our new shared obsession, YUNGBLUD. 

 

Track of the Week:

 

Holiday, Lil Nas X https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9vMLTcftlyI&ab_channel=LilNasXVEVO

Step into podcasts, step into podcasts, we can watch the eps fall forever and everrrrr. Well hello, and WELCOME to another episode of Queer Longing. It's offically Lockdown 2: The Streets and we all know that the sequel is always so, so much worse. (Except for Grease 2 which is honestly iconic). This week, we chat life in lockdown lane, being a Christmas purist and the sweet sweet alure of those Channel 5 Christmas Movies. Mrs. Miracle 2: Miracle in Manhatten, anyone? We discuss the latest pop culture goss with Nicola Adams' unfortunate departure from Strictly Come Dancing, the brand new trailer for the lesbian Christmas movie 'Happiest Season', queer coding in Frozen 2 (or as Lucy's nephew calls it, 'Fro Fro') and a hearty dollop of music and book recs. We're here, we're queer, and heck, it's almost Christmas. 

Tracks of the week:

BTS, 'Dynamite': https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gdZLi9oWNZg

Biffy Clyro, 'WAP' Live Lounge Cover: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K5ghS8JJPpU

This week we had the absolute pleasure of being joined by friend of the pod, historian extraordinaire and dabbler of the occult, Laura Alston.

 

Laura joins us as a ghost enthusiast to talk all things spooky this season in our very special Halloween episode. We chat about our own experiences with ghosts and Laura takes us through some of the different explanations for those spooky sensations we all experience. Mostly, Laura helps to remind us that most ghosts don’t want to cause harm and we can learn a thing or two about life and what lies beyond it by approaching the veil between worlds.

 

We talk queer ghost stories and Laura reads us the history of the ladies of Llangollen from stunning book, ‘Queer Hauntings’ by Ken Summers. We discuss the phenomenon of Halloween often being described as Gay Christmas and the dangerous notion of queerness being displayed as otherness.

 

Plus, we get a sneak peek into the world of Laura’s pendulum and the importance of channelling your own energy to garner answers to questions in your life.

 

We also have time to cover the latest adaptation of Daphne du Maurier’s ‘Rebecca’ from Netflix, with it’s notorious queer coding of Mrs. Danvers and the true gay icon of the film- Rebecca’s bedroom.

 

Tracks of the Week:

Dusty Springfield, Spooky https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f7QzxYAjgNc&ab_channel=nicholasmark

Black Sabbath, Mr Crowley https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o0RE230PlX4&ab_channel=OzzyOsbourne-Topic

Rocky Horror Picture Show, Toucha Toucha Touch Me https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sNACNewvhq0&ab_channel=KristineKristensen

Happy Halloween huns! Remember to have a chat with some spiritual pals this week, dress as queer as poss and keep spookin’! xoxo

Come one, come all to an in-depth discussion of the joy of sausage rolls. That’s right, we may be talking Christmas food a lil early but honestly what is time any more and we all need something to look forward to, don’t we huns?

 

We take a trip down old friend Sporty Spice Lane this episode by having a look at the San Diego Loyal’s recent walk off before we have an impromptu therapy session when we discuss the ever important nature of friendships through lockdown.

 

Plus, we’ve got pod recs galore from super lesbian fun chat on ‘Dyking Out’, to the newest outfit from Trixie Mattel and Katya Zamolodchikova, aptly named ‘The Bald and The Beautiful’ and a raw and deeply personal episode of ‘Armchair Expert’.

 

Oh and we talk about what hat we are and the complete demise of advertising- truly, stop it.

 

Tracks of the Week:

 

Romy, Lifetime https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iZRnk971u4M&ab_channel=Romy

 

Frank Ocean, Self Control https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BME88lS6aVY&ab_channel=Blonded

 

Don’t be shy, come say hi xoxo

Why hello one and all and welcome to what is truly an AUTUMNAL episode! 

Sadly, we're not going back to school and no one in QL Towers has a new pencil case but rest assured this episode is as moreish as a pumpkin-spiced latte on Halloween! 

This week, we talk UK staycations, the allure of a good logburner and as ever, our failed clotted lobster pursuits. 

As the nights draw in, we give you a whole host of entertainment delectables to warm the cockles of your heart, from BBC Four's Soul Night to Mrs America to the return of the warmest cockle of all- BAKE OFF, you're going to hear it all. 

This week also boasts a bumper podcast segment where we reminisce re old favourites i.e. 'My Brother, My Brother and Me' and discover new favourites from 'Help, I Sexted My Boss' to 'Out by Suzi Ruffell (Olivia's Mum's favourite). 

We dive in to tensions in the feminist movement and explore the concept of 'queer gatekeepers' inspired by Danielle Vanier's recent Instagram post.

We also talk untold stories of black Britons with the universally beloved Alison Hammond and finish off with a poetry reading from QL Towers' resident poet laureate, Lucy. Honestly, what more could you want! 

Tracks of the week:

Sufjan Stevens, Videogame: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3fCdZzsP4U0

Kylie Minogue, Say Something: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l73FJBnjp28 

Alison Hammond Article: https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2020/sep/28/this-mornings-alison-hammond-i-had-to-educate-myself-on-black-history 

Judith Butler article: https://www.newstatesman.com/international/2020/09/judith-butler-culture-wars-jk-rowling-and-living-anti-intellectual-times

Join us this time for thrilling convo re being alone and eating an after school tea- think baked beans and any frozen potato product. Plus, we reveal the truth about exercise- turns out it's good. 

We've got great book recs from the heartwarming (and breaking) '10 Minutes 38 Seconds In This Strange World' to the second instalment of 'The Bi-ble: Essays and Narratives About Bisexuality'. Plus, pod recs in the form of 'Sex, Lies and DM Slides', a fun exploration of the social media dating landscape and a historical look at being LGBT+ in the UK from 'The Log Books'.

We've watched a couple of intriguing documentaries: 'The Work' about intensive therapy in prison and 'This Is Paris' which pulls back the curtain on OG hun Paris Hilton.

Oh, and then we catch up with Jane McDonald, of course.

Tracks of the Week:

Music For Chameleons, Gary Numan https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_586NoZSr-Y&ab_channel=fireballxl1920

Bend and Snap, Legally Blonde: The Musical https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h41oYYO8CGY&ab_channel=TheatreWorldUK

Join us this time for thrilling convo re being alone and eating an after school tea- think baked beans and any frozen potato product. Plus, we reveal the truth about exercise- turns out it's good. 

We've got great book recs from the heartwarming (and breaking) '10 Minutes 38 Seconds In This Strange World' to the second instalment of 'The Bi-ble: Essays and Narratives About Bisexuality'. Plus, pod recs in the form of 'Sex, Lies and DM Slides', a fun exploration of the social media dating landscape and a historical look at being LGBT+ in the UK from 'The Log Books'.

We've watched a couple of intriguing documentaries: 'The Work' about intensive therapy in prison and 'This Is Paris' which pulls back the curtain on OG hun Paris Hilton.

Oh, and then we catch up with Jane McDonald, of course.

Tracks of the Week:

Music For Chameleons, Gary Numan https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_586NoZSr-Y&ab_channel=fireballxl1920

Bend and Snap, Legally Blonde: The Musical https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h41oYYO8CGY&ab_channel=TheatreWorldUK