Queer We Are

Wendy Whitman, former executive and producer of Court TV and the Nancy Grace show on HLN, shares her fascinating journey from comedy to crime. Wendy opens up about her experiences collaborating with comedic geniuses George Carlin and Lily Tomlin and how the OJ trial led her to Court TV.

Throughout our conversation, we explore the darker side of true crime, discussing its impact on society and how to prevent fear from consuming us. We also touch on the therapeutic aspects of working with victims' families and having been a powerful motivator for Wendy.  Plus, we discuss turning a devastating setback into a career as a mystery writer.

Wendy Whitman's website

Wendy's Amazon Page

Wendy Whitman on Instagram

Wendy on Facebook

Proud To Be In Baseball website

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Del Shores, a trailblazing gay filmmaker, playwright, and actor known for his contributions to the genre of LGBTQ+ entertainment is Brad’s guest. The conversation begins with a discussion of his plays and films Sordid Lives and Southern Baptist Sissies and includes a comparison between the two stories. The comparison reflects on how each represents different aspects of Del’s life.

Del also opens about his own creative process and the themes that show up in his work, like religious damage and exploring attraction. The conversation continues the discussion about the immense success of Southern Baptist Sissies, which tackled these issues head-on and the healing it brought to so many viewers.

The talk turns towards the recent loss of Leslie Jordan, a close friend of Shores, and how they are honoring his legacy.

Throughout the episode, Shores candidly shares about his personal life and struggles as a gay man, exploring themes of codependency and finding. He talks about the role of storytelling in his own life and how he hopes to inspire others to tell their own stories and connect with one another. His goal to inspire led to The Del Shores Foundation that helps budding LGBTQ+ southern writers and storytellers to the forefront with an annual competition for writers in the categories: short film, screenplay, and plays.

Through laughter and deep conversation, this episode is a testament to the power of storytelling and its ability to heal, connect, and transform.

Del Shores Foundation Website

Del's Website

Del Shores on Instagram

Del on Twitter

Del on Facebook

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Two time Grammy Award winners Cathy Fink and Marcy Marxer are an American folk music duo who have been performing together for over forty years. Their newly released film All Wigged Out brings lightness, comedy, and hope, while also being honest about the challenges of living with cancer. You may not find cancer funny, but some of the eye-opening day to day rituals patients push through may have you in stitches. Add to that the sometimes odd, and sometimes silly reactions from friends and family and you get a great show.

They also discuss with Brad their careers, the art of storytelling, and their creative style to bringing their unique blend of folk, bluegrass, and roots music to audiences around the world.

More about their film All Wigged Out

Cathy and Marcy's Website

Follow them on Facebook

Here's their YouTube channel

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Mike Dorsey & Chih Lin are the Dumpling Dudez. They share their inspiring story of leaving their safe and comfortable engineering careers to start a successful small business making dumplings.
 
"If I can create all this achievement for other people, maybe it's time for me to take a chance on myself and invest in myself instead of investing in other people's passions and dreams."

Their conversation includes the challenges of building a business in the middle of a pandemic and the importance of building and maintaining a healthy relationship with your partner. The guests share their personal experiences, challenges, and strategies for dealing with difficult situations. and the power of taking a risk to follow your dreams.

The Dumpling Dudez Website

Find the Dudez on Instagram

The Dudez Facebook Page

The Dudez LinkedIn page

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Philip Bahr shares his moving and uplifting account of perseverance and the power of personal growth. His is an inspiring story of a librarian who faced numerous obstacles, including HIV/AIDS, and how he overcame them to find purpose and meaning in life.

His story includes facing the growing AIDS crisis, his involvement in activism with Act Up and Body Positive, leading support groups for both HIV-positive and negative individuals. In addition, he shares how he turned to the New Age movement to find his own spiritual journey after leaving the Catholic Church.

Reel Charlie: A Film and Television Review Blog

Listen to Reel Charlie Speaks podcast

For Great Reviews Catch Philip on Goodreads

Philip Bahr on LinkedIn

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Attorney Deb Guston shares her work in marriage equality and adoption laws for the LGBTQ+ community, assisting over 1,000 couples in building their families. The conversation also touches on the importance of inclusion and the conflict between civil society and religious expression when it comes to adoption policies. The discussion includes the history of marriage equality laws as well as their impact on adoption rights.

Deb Guston's Website

Deb on Facebook

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Curtis Chin went from a TV writer to creating award-winning social justice documentaries after his father's death. His career took him to working for the Democratic National Committee and serving on a committee for the Obama administration.  Curtis' upcoming memoir, "Everything I Learned, I Learned in a Chinese Restaurant," Is a coming-of-age story where he learned to embrace his identity as a American-born Chinese, where he navigated the divided city’s spiraling misfortunes.  And what are the three "A"s which switched Curtis from conservative to progressive?

"If they've [Chinatowns] run their course and they're no longer useful, then maybe their time is gone. Maybe they do deserve to be a relic of society. But in doing so, let's at least examine why these things are happening." - Curtis Chin

Purchase Curtis' Memoir

Curtis Chin's Website

Curtis on Facebook

Curtis on Twitter

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From Outback to opera to author. Dive deep into the inspiring life story of Garrick Jones who overcame an abusive childhood and traumatic experiences and thrived as a singer, writer, and academic lecturer.
 
Garrick Jones' Website

See and hear a video of a Garrick Jones on stage.

Garrick on social media
Instagram
Twitter
Facebook
Amazon

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The podcast Coming Out Stories will take you to one the most important moments in many people’s lives. It will perch you on sofas in suburban sitting rooms, stand you in front of officials’ desks, put you at the center of a crowd in a noisy classroom, everywhere where these conversations have happened.

On this episode of Queer We Are, you'll hear Brad's interview with Emma Goswell, when he was a guest on Coming Out Stories.  A taste of an excellent podcast.

Brad's coming out story is a testament to the power of being true to yourself. He had to navigate the challenges of coming out later in life, after getting married and having a child. However, he found the strength to come out and live his life authentically. Brad's story shows that it is never too late to come out and be true to yourself. The coming out is a journey may be vastly different for each individual. Hear Brad's unique story about the path he took.

Coming Out Stories Podcast

Check out the Coming Out Stories book by Emma Goswell and Saw Walker
The book on the U.S. Amazon Website

The Trevor Project website

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Discussion with Mark McNease and Rick Rose, two Emmy award-winning friends who have maintained a strong bond despite going in different directions in their careers. Rick is still involved in television production, while Mark is now a prolific author. They also co-host a podcast together, In addition, they share the importance of long-lasting friendships.

 Mark McNease and Rick Rose have been collaborating for over 30 years, beginning as members of a Los Angeles theater group in the 1980s. They've worked together in stage, TV and a number of projects, including many years as co-hosts of a series of podcasts, culminating in The Twist Podcast now in its fourth year. Mark lives in rural New Jersey, Rick lives in Madison, WI. They share two Emmys for the children's program they co-created, Into the Outdoors, that just celebrated its 20th anniversary.

Website to find "The Twist Podcast," Mark's "One Thing or Another Podcast," and information regarding Mark's novels:
markmcnease.com

The Twist Episode 213:  Brad reads a listicle.
The Twist Episode 217: Brad is a guest.

Mark McNease's Amazon Page
The Twist on Facebook
Mark McNease Author on Facebook
Mark on Twitter

Into the Outdoors Series
Discover Wisconsin Series
Rick Rose on Facebook

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