Queertowne

Journey with us back into the Queertowne archives for a recording from our October 2024 event in front of a live audience at First Light Books.

Hosts Mase Kerwick and Charlie Blaine sat down with SG Huerta and KB Brookins, two Texas writers doing essential work at the intersection of queerness, transness, and literature.

KB Brookins is a Black, queer, and trans writer whose poetry collection Freedom House won the ALA Barbara Gittings Literature Award. Their debut memoir Pretty released in May 2024.

SG Huerta is a queer Xicanx writer and managing editor at Abode Press, a Texas non-profit dedicated to antiracism and intersectionality. Their nonfiction chapbook Good Grief is forthcoming via Fifth Wheel Press.

Many thanks to the team at First Light for being such incredible hosts of this event.

Pull up a seat. This is a good one.

Follow the show on Instagram ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@queertowne⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, and if you want to anonymously share something with us to be featured on an upcoming episode of Queertowne, call or text 512-900-9459.

Queertowne is hosted by Mase Kerwick, Javier Ungo, Charlie Blaine, and Laura de la Fuente. Elizabeth Easterly is our production manager. Drewsky Hulett is our editor. Show art by Bee Creates. Xaria Coleman took promotional photos for this episode.

For our third and final episode of Feartowne this year, we’re sitting down with a Good Judy who’s also queering Austin’s podcast scene: the one and only Ayden Castellanos (he/they).

Ayden is the host and creator of Susto, a popular ooky spooky podcast centered on paranormal folklore from Latin American & Hispanic cultures - which you should check out after you finish listening to our decidedly giggly conversation together. We dished on the hottest scary movie villains (Hi Michael), theorized on why horror is so popular in the Latin community, and maybe schmaybe interacted with Walter Mercado herself. All of this, and more, await you in our Feartowne finale.

Follow the show on Instagram ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@queertowne⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, and if you want to anonymously share something with us to be featured on an upcoming episode of Queertowne, call or text 512-900-9459.

Queertowne is hosted by Mase Kerwick, Javier Ungo, Charlie Blaine, and Kristen Washington. Elizabeth Easterly is our production manager. Drewsky Hulett is our editor. Show art by Bee Creates. Xaria Coleman took promotional photos for this episode.

What happens when drag meets horror? Find out in this spine-chilling episode of our Feartowne miniseries! Hosts Mase and Javi venture into Coco Coquette, Austin's premier wig store, to chat with the legendary ⁠Louisianna Purchase⁠ (she/they).

A fixture in Austin's vibrant drag scene, Dragula Season Three top-four finalist, and hostess of Die Felicia at Elysium, Louisianna Purchase brings a unique blend of glamour, gore and giggles to the table. From heartfelt thoughts on Austin's drag scene to hilarious backstage stories during her time on Dragula, this episode is bursting with tricks and treats. We're so thrilled to share our great conversation with y'all - please enjoy!

Follow the show on Instagram ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@queertowne⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, and if you want to anonymously share something with us to be featured on an upcoming episode of Queertowne, call or text 512-900-9459.

Queertowne is hosted by Mase Kerwick, Javier Ungo, Charlie Blaine, and Kristen Washington. Elizabeth Easterly is our production manager. Drewsky Hulett is our editor. Show art by Bee Creates. Xaria Coleman took promotional photos for this episode.

Boo, witches! Queertowne morphs into our yearly celebration of Halloween - aptly titled Feartowne - as Mase, Javi, and Charlie conjure queer chaos in Easterly's haunted kitchen. Dare to join us for: a lightning round of Halloween Truth or Dare, a deep dive into the most homophobic options in the candy bowl, and a delightfully deranged round of Queertowne Quiz Time.

Warning: May cause uncontrollable laughter and an insatiable craving for gay Halloween shenanigans. Listen at your own fabulous risk!

Follow the show on Instagram ⁠⁠⁠⁠@queertowne⁠⁠⁠⁠, and if you want to anonymously share something with us to be featured on an upcoming episode of Queertowne, call or text 512-900-9459.

Queertowne is hosted by Mase Kerwick, Javier Ungo, Charlie Blaine, and Kristen Washington. Elizabeth Easterly is our production manager. Drewsky Hulett is our editor. Show art by Bee Creates. Xaria Coleman took promotional photos for this episode.

In this episode of Queertowne, Mase and Charlie sit down with visual artist and trans-activist Xavier Schipani (he/him) for a wide-ranging conversation about how he explores queer identity, the trans masculine body, sexuality, memory, and language in his work.

This episode was recorded within the Tudor Cottage in Kingsbury Commons—one of Pease Park’s many gems! Pease Park isn’t just what you see from Lamar—it’s an 84 acre park where wellness, art, learning, and conservation come together to create a vibrant community hub for students, families and Austinites.

Follow the show on Instagram ⁠⁠⁠@queertowne⁠⁠⁠, and if you want to anonymously share something with us to be featured on an upcoming episode of Queertowne, call or text 512-900-9459.

Queertowne is hosted by Mase Kerwick, Javier Ungo, Charlie Blaine, and Kristen Washington. Elizabeth Easterly is our production manager. Drewsky Hulett is our editor. Show art by Bee Creates. Gueric Nkunzimana took promotional photos for this episode.

Today's wrestling-centric episode of Queertowne features a return from our good pal, stand up comedian and wrestling super fan Roxy Castillo (she/her). Join us as we explore the humor and heart of wrestling through a very queer lens - and make sure to stick around for one of our goofiest versions of Queertowne Quiz Time to date.

Follow the show on Instagram ⁠⁠⁠⁠@queertowne⁠⁠⁠⁠, and if you want to anonymously share something with us to be featured on an upcoming episode of Queertowne, call or text 512-900-9459.

Queertowne is hosted by Mase Kerwick, Javier Ungo, Charlie Blaine, and Kristen Washington. Elizabeth Easterly is our production manager. Drewsky Hulett is our editor. Show art by Bee Creates.

In this episode of Queertowne, Mase and Charlie are joined by James Scott, the Austin Chronicle's Calendar and Qmmunity Editor, and our friend Hope Bachman to unpack the endurance race that has become Brat Summer and what we'd personally call Summer 2024. Then we give out some juicy awards for our favorite pop-culture and personal moments of the summer. This is a fun one!

Follow the show on Instagram ⁠⁠⁠@queertowne⁠⁠⁠, and if you want to anonymously share something with us to be featured on an upcoming episode of Queertowne, call or text 512-900-9459.

Queertowne is hosted by Mase Kerwick, Javier Ungo, Charlie Blaine, and Kristen Washington. Elizabeth Easterly is our production manager. Drewsky Hulett is our editor. Show art by Bee Creates. Xaria Coleman took promotional photos for this episode.

In this episode of Queertowne, Mase and Javi sit down with mayoral candidate Carmen Llanes Pulido (she/her) inside of Neon Grotto. Join us for an in-depth conversation about Carmen's community-driven campaign, her upbringing in Austin, and her vision for the future of Central Texas.

Learn more about Carmen by visiting https://www.carmen4mayor.com/.

Follow the show on Instagram ⁠⁠@queertowne⁠⁠, and if you want to anonymously share something with us to be featured on an upcoming episode of Queertowne, call or text 512-900-9459.

Queertowne is hosted by Mase Kerwick, Javier Ungo, Charlie Blaine, and Kristen Washington. Elizabeth Easterly is our production manager. Drewsky Hulett is our editor. Show art by Bee Creates. Gueric Nkunzimana took promotional photos for this episode.

In this episode of Queertowne, Kristen surprised us mid-recording with not one but two shocking revelations. The first was that this episode would come out on her actual birthday - HBD K WASH - but you'll have to listen to the full episode to see what else was spilled.

Follow the show on Instagram ⁠⁠@queertowne⁠⁠, and if you want to anonymously share something with us to be featured on an upcoming episode of Queertowne, call or text 512-900-9459.

Queertowne is hosted by Mase Kerwick, Javier Ungo, Charlie Blaine, and Kristen Washington. Elizabeth Easterly is our production manager. Drewsky Hulett is our editor. Show art by Bee Creates. Xaria Coleman took promotional photos for this episode.

The episode you've been waiting for! Brigitte Bandit, the popular drag queen and inspirational political activist based in Austin, returns to Queertowne five years after performing in our last Halloween show before Covid. During our sit down conversation, Brigitte opens up about her extremely low key and not at all newsworthy journey these past few years. (Spoiler Alert: she's kind of a big deal these days.)

We also get into Brigitte's creative process, how her identity as a nonbinary AFAB queen influences her approach to performance and activism, and why she thrives within Austin's dynamic drag scene. And we of course had to wrap things up with a silly round of Queertowne Quiz Time, so make sure to stick around for the whole thing.

This episode was recorded at the one and only Cheer Up Charlies in Downtown Austin. Thanks Maggie!

Follow the show on Instagram ⁠@queertowne⁠, and if you want to anonymously share something with us to be featured on an upcoming episode of Queertowne, call or text 512-900-9459.

Queertowne is hosted by Mase Kerwick, Javier Ungo, Charlie Blaine, and Kristen Washington. Elizabeth Easterly is our production manager. Drewsky Hulett is our editor. Show art by Bee Creates. Xaria Coleman took promotional photos for this episode.