Queer Slam

This weeks episode was recorded live at Akbar in Silverlake on November 25th, 2019. We begin with an open mic chock full of talent. We expected it to be full of holiday pieces but instead it was full of pieces about sex. Then we move on to our headliners-- first is Gabriel Carnick, a nationally recognized writer who has been published in magazines, books, and low-rent college pamphlets. She is currently finishing her first solo book of poetry. For her main hustle, Gabriel works as a freelance film Director and Cinematographer and has a passion for promoting the awareness of social justice issues and queer content. Finally, we hear from Philip Littell, a librettist who has written the books and lyrics for numerous works with a roll-call of modern American composers. He performs his own songs, has been in bands, and also written musical plays. His credits go back so far they are guaranteed to be meaningless to a modern audience, imperishable moments of tarnished glory in forgotten venues, horrible flops best forgotten, and very little in-between. But-- he says-- there is always tomorrow...and today.

This weeks episode was recorded live at Akbar in Silverlake on October 28th, 2019. We start with an open mic with new faces and halloween themed pieces before this month’s headliners. Ryan Opton takes a headliner spot for the first time to share some of his thoughtful poems, he is from Lubbock, TX, went to Pepperdine University, and is the winner of the 2019 Van Nuys comedy festival. Finally we end the night with the sometimes writer, sometimes actor, and star of the feature film Pig Hag, available on iTunes and Amazon, Anna T Schlegel.

This weeks episode was recorded live at Akbar in Silverlake on September 23rd, 2019. It's a very special show because it is the one-year anniversary of Queer Slam. Thank you for your support! We start with an open mic mostly filled with tried and true Queer Slam family-- before jumping into our two headliners. First, we hear another lyrical poem from Author Joshua Castro before comedian Pete Zias rounds out the night with a wild tale from his personal life.

This weeks episode was recorded live at Akbar in Silverlake on August 28, 2019. We start with a small but mighty open mic and get right into our headliners Shane Kalminski a writer living in Hollywood. He grew up near Detroit, Michigan. He loves movies and theatre, traveling and lazy nights at home. He’s already started decorating for Fall. Then, Michael Narkunski a Staten Island survivor with overly personal essays in Out, The Advocate, Narratively, and two LGBT anthologies. He is also a scriptwriter, with short plays produced in NYC and LA.

This episode was recorded live at Akbar in Silverlake on July 21st, 2019. This week we start with our fabulous open mic with a mix of familiar voices and some new ones. Then we move on to our headliners! Anthony AW is an LA-based writer whose work has been published in a myriad of lit reviews and poetry rags. His micro-chapbook, Pantoum'd!, will be published by Ghost City Press for their 2019 Summer Series. We close out the show with Rodnisha Ford. She is a young African American healer who often uses writing to connect to the deepest and most sincere parts of humanity. Determined to encourage and inspire everyone in her path, Rodnisha is dedicated to using her love of poetry and passion for change to help her connect and journey with all those wanting to dive into a better tomorrow.

This episode was recorded live at Akbar in Silverlake on June 16th, 2019 right smack dab in the middle of pride month. This week we hear from an incredible group of open micers with everything from reflections on pride to a poem about our very own host Tony Soto. Then we hear from comedian, writer, pianist & texan-- Daniel Rugg Webb. He has been featured on MSNBC & in the pages of Butt Magazine.

Today's episode was recorded live at Akbar in Silverlake, Los Angeles on May 30th, 2019. We begin the episode with our open micers before getting right into our headliners. First, is Tai Farnsworth, a mixed-race, queer writer based in Los Angeles who earned her MFA in writing from Antioch University. Her work can be found in 'The Quotable,' 'CutBank Literary,' & 'The Evansville Review,' among many others. Then we hear from drag queen, Felony Dodger, a self-proclaimed art f*g from the Midwest living in LA. She is a cast member of the Dragula Franchise. She’ll sew your clothes, she’ll sculpt your props, she’ll take your portraits, and she’ll definitely meet you in the bathroom after the show.

This episode was recorded live at Akbar in Silverlake on April 21st, 2019. We start with our open-micers and then we hear from our headliners. First, is Charles Jensen-- he is the author of two poetry collections and six chapbooks. His poems have appeared in American Poetry Review, Crab Orchard Review, Prairie Schooner, and others. He directs the Writers' Program at UCLA Extension. Then we hear from Larry Powell an actor, writer, and producer born and raised in South Central LA. He is a graduate of the Carnegie Mellon School of Drama, and a Three-time NAACP theatre award nominee whose play Lost Dog will be premiering in Los Angeles.

This is the second half of our show recorded live at Akbar in Silverlake on March 17th, 2019. First, we'll hear the rest of our jam-packed open mic, and then, from our second headliner, Mark Gindi. Mark is a writer and psychiatrist living in Los Angeles. His work has been featured in the Los Angeles Review of Books and the Hastings Center Report. Recently, he was the psychiatric consultant to the Netflix series Maniac.

This is the first half of our live show at Akbar in Silverlake on March 17th, 2019. First, Tony talks partying at 40, we have a jam-packed open mic, before hearing from our first headliner Rebecca Bendheim. She writes stories, songs, poetry, and too many text messages in a row.