Drop Call #5

Victor and I review Pillion and catch up on all the gay media that's been hitting 'the discourse'

• SPOILERS
• Pillion
• Dudley in the closet
• Heated Rivalry (again)
• Fujoshis Vs Jordan Firstman
• Gay v Queer media
• Rotting in the Sun
• AMC's Anne Rice's Interview With the Vampire
• Paper Bag Girls
• I Love LA
• Drag Race
• Susan Sontag Camp Sexy
• Henry?
• Phantom Thread

________

Directed by Harry Lighton, Pillion is a coming of age film about a timid young gay man named Colin (Harry Melling) who enters into a BDSM relationship with Ray (Alexander Skarsgard), an enigmatic and handsome biker

________

Find Victor @ugly_knees on insta!

Keep up to date by following @AlsoPurp on all socials.

Original podcast Artwork by Valentine M. Smith. 

Video Production by Victor Alexander (@Ugly_knees on insta and @clevvergirl on Tiktok)

Subscribe to our Youtube Page!

https://youtube.com/@referentialpod

More at www.alsopurple.com

Thank you for listening! Don’t forget to leave a 5 star rating and review to help people find the podcast!

_____

NEXT UP: Trans Pride Brighton '25 (with Dr. Sam Hall, Phat Problem & Sarah Savage) (Pt 2)

Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/referential/donations

Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Drop Call #4

Victor and I were convinced by the gay internet to watch Heated Rivalry.

Listen try to us process the experience

• CockyHockeyBoys
• Yuri in Ottowa
• Western BL
• Demon Twink Media
• Subs and Doms and stereotypes
• Anal
• Yaoi
• Heartstoppers, Fellow Travellers, Red, White & Royal Blue, Queer As Folk
• Noah's Arc
• Double speed scale
• Queer v Gay
• The homonormative (?)

____

Heated Rivalry is a Canadian sports romance television series created, written and directed by Jacob Tierney for Crave. Based on Rachel Reid's Game Changers novel series, it follows two rival professional hockey players, Canadian Shane Hollander (Hudson Williams) and RussianIlya Rozanov (Connor Storrie), whose on-ice animosity conceals a passionate, secret romance.

________

Find Victor @ugly_knees on insta!

Keep up to date by following @AlsoPurp on all socials.

Original podcast Artwork by Valentine M. Smith. 

Video Production by Victor Alexander (@Ugly_knees on insta and @clevvergirl on Tiktok)

Subscribe to our Youtube Page!

https://youtube.com/@referentialpod

More at www.alsopurple.com

Thank you for listening! Don’t forget to leave a 5 star rating and review to help people find the podcast!

_____

NEXT UP: Trans Pride Brighton '25 (with Dr. Sam Hall, Phat Problem & Sarah Savage) (Pt 2)

Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/referential/donations

Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Drop Call #3

Ash and I got together to interview Alexander Pavlis the writer and creator of the indie series 'The Cages'. We talk about the work that went into making S1 and the kickstarter for S2!

_________

THE CAGES is a passion project created from the love of superpowered action and queer drama. Written and created by Alexander Pavlis, featuring art by CJ Camba, Olivia Ratkins, Seye Sanyaolu, Karen Charm, Addriano Divino and Leonardo Cino; and lettered by Danny Djeljosevic!

The Story

For the people of State 16, life is spent inside a walled city, governed by a mysterious AI company that tells them it's for their own good. There's no way out, except for [THE CAGES] --a massive, televised event in which robots and enhanced humans clash for the opportunity at recruitment into State 16's military force and a chance to see beyond the walls. One team of recruits, determined to go the distance, might discover along the way that the price for victory might be higher than they can pay.

_________

You can help fund Season 2 by supporting the team on Kickstarter!

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/thecages/the-cages-season-2-battle-round

Find Alexander and more about the project @al_pavlis on socials

__________

Keep up to date with Dr. Khaliden Nas by checking out www.alsopurple.com and following @AlsoPurp on all socials.

Hosted, produced & edited by Dr. Khaliden Nas.

Music by PamperedFists & Anzahlung.

Video production by Victor Alexander (Check out his film video essays @Clevvergirl on tiktok!)

Podcast Artwork by Valentine M. Smith. 

Thank you for listening! Don’t forget to leave a 5 star rating and review to help people find the podcast!

NEXT UP: Trans Pride Brighton '25 (with Dr. Sam Hall, Phat Problem & Sarah Savage) (Pt 2)

Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/referential/donations

Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

PART 2!

(slight Act 2 spoilers from 54:15 to 57:11)

Tangent episode #17

REFERENTIAL rings in the new year with a 2 parter on the latest film adaptation of Act 1 of Wicked! 

Welcome back to the ‘Session of The Witch’!

I’m joined by returning guest Miss Sundi to talk about the 20 year history Wicked the musical and its most recent film adaptation! 

Directed by Jon M. Chu,  ‘Wicked: Part 1’ is a film adaptation starring Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande. 

The original musical featured music and lyrics by Stephan Schwartz, book by Winnie Holzman and starred Idina Menzel and Kristin Chenoweth. The musical itself was an adaptation of Gregory Macguire’s 1995 revisionist retelling of L. Frank Baum’s Wicked Witch of the West character (renamed Elphaba in tribute) from 1900’s Wonderful Wizard of Oz children’s novel. 

[Part 1- 'The Music' 

We recap of the story of Act 1 + a music commentary delving into the music of the musical track by track and note by note!]

Part 2 - 'The Movie' 

A conversation about the history of the book, the shows musical origins and more of our thoughts on the recent film adaptation!

+

• A 120 year 'Ozian' history - from book, to musical, to movie)
• Interpretation
• Colour grading
• Vocalists.
• The war on terror
• Avengers level talent - A vocally demanding musical
• A roll call of musical titans who played Glinda and/Or Elphaba including: Idina Menzel, Kristin Chenoweth, Nikki Bentley, Rachel Tucker, Annaliegh Ashford, Brittney Johnson, Louise Dearman, Shoshanna Bean, Megan Hilty, Eden Espinosa, Alice Fern, Kerry Ellis, Jessica Vosk (...)
• Holding space in queer media
• CGI animals and zoology girlies
• Black Elphaba
• Rudity
• Practical effects
• Janet Jackson's turn as Aida
• Lesbians
• The racialisation of Elphaba
• The racialisation of Glinda
• Yuh
• The 'G' slur
• Act 1 vs Act 2 - soft spoilers
• Give us Hadestown the adaptation
• Jill Scott
• BOQ

___ 

This one is for the musical nerds who found themselves awake at 2 am listening to Elphaba and Glinda high note compilations.

___

Hosted and produced by Dr. Khaliden Nas.

Music by PamperedFists & Anzahlung.

All videos edited by Victor Alexander.

Podcast Artwork by Valentine M. Smith. 

Keep up to date with Dr. Khaliden Nas by checking out www.alsopurple.com Follow me @AlsoPurp on all socials.

Find out more about REFERENTIAL’s upcoming episodes on www.alsopurple.com/citations

*'Tangents' are audio-only episodes posted more frequently than Video Episodes because they require less work/research/editing!

Expect quick reviews, edited out content, collabs, mailbags, live audio, and so on.. *

Thank you for listening! Leave the pod a rating to help other people find the show

Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/referential/donations

Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

PART 1!

REFERENTIAL rings in the new year with a 2 parter on the latest film adaptation of Act 1 of Wicked!

Welcome back to the ‘Session of The Witch’!

[an ongoing miniseries of episodes diving into the resurgence of witches in pop culture fiction and their thematic relationship to this moment in feminism, womanhood, queerness, misogynoir (and musicals!]

I’m joined by returning guest Miss Sundi to talk about the 20 year history Wicked the musical and its most recent film adaptation! 

Directed by Jon M. Chu, ‘Wicked: Part 1’ is a film adaptation starring Cynthia Erivo as Elphaba and Ariana Grande as Glinda..

The original musical featured music and lyrics by Stephan Schwartz, book by Winnie Holzman and starred Idina Menzel as Elphaba and Kristin Chenoweth as Glinda. The musical itself was an adaptation of Gregory Macguire’s 1995 revisionist retelling of L. Frank Baum’s Wicked Witch of the West character (renamed Elphaba in tribute) from 1900’s Wonderful Wizard of Oz children’s novel. 

Part 1 - 'The Music'

We recap of the story of Act 1 + a music commentary delving into the music of the musical track by track and note by note!

+

• A recap
• Mother Schwartz
• The Glinda and Elphaba binary
• Motifs
• Glinda's double speak
• Optional notes
• Making Good
• Jonathan Bailey is thriving
• Back phrasing
• High stamina 'I want' songs
• LAR
• Sharon D. Clarke
• Fresher's week at Shiz
• The Mics are on
• Nessa Um Nessa
• Madame Morrible's DBS
• Men singing
• Sopranos and Belters
• BALLGOWN!
• Mindful riffing
• Lesbianism
• Colours('Colors')
• Musical Lesbianism

[Part 2 - 'The Movie'

A conversation about the history of the book, the shows musical origins and more of our thoughts on the recent film adaptation.]

___

This one is for the musical nerds who found themselves awake at 2 am listening to Elphaba and Glinda high note compilations.

___

Hosted and produced by Dr. Khaliden Nas.

Music by PamperedFists & Anzahlung.

All videos edited by Victor Alexander.

Podcast Artwork by Valentine M. Smith. 

Keep up to date with Dr. Khaliden Nas by checking out www.alsopurple.com Follow me @AlsoPurp on all socials.

Find out more about REFERENTIAL’s upcoming episodes on www.alsopurple.com/citations

*'Tangents' are audio-only episodes posted more frequently than Video Episodes because they require less work/research/editing!

Expect quick reviews, edited out content, collabs, mailbags, live audio, and so on.. *

Thank you for listening! Leave the pod a rating to help other people find the show!

Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/referential/donations

Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

"We will not give in. We will not give up. We will not bow. We will not beg. We will not capitulate. We will survive." - Sarah Savage (Trans Pride Brighton CEO)

Captured sounds and interviews from Trans Pride Brighton 2025.

Trans Pride Brighton was the first Trans Pride event outside of the United States. It is also one of the largest, gathering tens of thoughts of Trans people and allies people in protest and celebration.

Volunteer-led and taking no corporate sponsorship, the TPB organisation keeps the punk and rebellious spirit of Pride alive, defiant and uncompromising.

Voices in order of appearance (@'s instagram):

Act 1 (Morning Rain)

[0 - 5.30]

• Victor (@uglyknees)
• Khaliden (@alsopurp)
• Glow Choir (@glow.choir)
• Alfie (@alfiesheppard)
• Laila (@serendipilayher)
• Bosun (@bosunburaimoh)
• Ed (@edviney)
• Tom B. (@tom.jan)
• Alice (@visualfeastetc)
• Sarah Savage (@ohsarahsavage)

Act 2 (March/Speeches)

[5.30 - 28.30]

• Sarah Savage (@ohsarahsavage)
• Proud Wellness (@proudwellness)
• Mikey (@mikey_caleb89)
• Dave
• Bosun
• Matthew (@nationaleducationunion)
• Leo
• ECP (@ecp_org)
• Olivia Campbell Cavendish (@translegalclinic)
• Sarah Savage

Act 3 (Stages)

[28.31 - 46.58]

• Charlie Allen (@charlieallen.music)
• Max Dobson
• Claire
• Zascha (@pennypounddrag)
• Just Like Us (@justlikeus)
• Radical Rhizomes (@radicalrhizomesuk)
• Industrial Workers of the World (@Industrialworkersoftheworld)
• Terrance Higgins Trust Brighton (@thtbrightonandhove)

Act 4 (Kate Nash/Backstage)

[46.58 - 1.01.13]

• Mizz Kimberly (@Mzzkimberly)
• Kate Nash interview [53.27 - 1.01.13]

Act 5 (Afterparty[s])

[1.01.14 - 1.23.21]

• Prince of Persia (@theprinceofp3rsia)
• Lilya (@asti.pumantini)
• Bin Fingered (@binfingered)
• Wesley (@fanciful_chaos)
• Misha (@mx_misha)

Act 6 (Outro)

[1.23.22 - 1.25.19]

• Victor (@uglyknees)
• Khaliden (@alsopurp)
• Glow Choir (@glow.choir)

Thank you everyone who contributed their voices to this episode and to the Trans Pride Brighton Committee for another year of pride and protest without compromise.

Find resources and more about Trans Pride Brighton at https://linktr.ee/transpridebrighton

Make a donation at https://transpridebrighton.org/donate/

Keep up to date with Dr. Khaliden Nas by checking out www.alsopurple.com and following @AlsoPurp on all socials.

Hosted, produced & edited by Dr. Khaliden Nas.

Music by PamperedFists & Anzahlung.

Video production by Victor Alexander (Check out his film video essays @Clevvergirl on tiktok!)

Podcast Artwork by Valentine M. Smith. 

Thank you for listening! Don’t forget to leave a 5 star rating and review to help people find the podcast!

Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/referential/donations

Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Drop Call #2

Victor and I have been diligently working on the next episode! In the mean time I decided to pull out my recorder to capture what we talk about in between bursts of productivity and share it as a 'Drop Call' episode!

Two queers unite for a first of its kind groundbreaking neverdonebefore conversation about pop stars and pop music.

Listen!

• Lady Gaga
• Sabrina Carpenter
• Katy Perry
• Taylor Swift
• Kelly Rowland
• The ghost of Mary J Blige
• Ashanti
• Jennifer Lopez
• Amy/Adele/Duffy
• City Girls
• Kim Petras
• Dula Peep
• Lil Nas X
• Ariana
• Chase Icon
• Bruno Mars
• Jamie Foxx
• Anastasia
• Rita Ora
• Cheryl Cole
• Gwen Stefani
• Lana Del Rey
• Girls Aloud
• Sugababes
• Brandy
• Dolly Parton
• Jojo (a)
• Jojo (b)
• Poppers music
• Gay songs for straight girls

Let us know if you want more of these kinds of chats with a comment on socials or Spotify!

_____

Find Victor @ugly_knees on insta!

Keep up to date by following @AlsoPurp on all socials.

Music by PamperedFists & Anzahlung.

Original podcast Artwork by Valentine M. Smith. 

Video Production by Victor Alexander (@Ugly_knees on insta and @clevvergirl on Tiktok)

Subscribe to our Youtube Page!

https://youtube.com/@referentialpod

More at www.alsopurple.com

-------

NEXT EP:

Trans Pride Brighton 2025 (Parts 1 & 2) (Featuring Kate Nash, Sarah Savage, and more..)

Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/referential/donations

Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Trying something new!

A very lightly edited conversation catching up with my friend Ash Alleyne (host of X of Words!)

• Podding
• Cooking vs burn out
• Easing back in
• Coming up next on X of Words!
• Coming up next on REFERENTIAL!

Let us know if you want more of these kinds of chats with a comment on socials or Spotify!

_____

Find Ash on all socials @Vanthefirst and @xofwords on all socials!

Keep up to date by following @AlsoPurp on all socials.

Music by PamperedFists & Anzahlung.

Original podcast Artwork by Valentine M. Smith. 

Video Production by Victor Alexander (@Ugly_knees on insta and @clevvergirl on Tiktok)

Subscribe to our Youtube Page!

https://youtube.com/@referentialpod

More at www.alsopurple.com

-------

NEXT EP:

Trans Pride Brighton 2025 (Parts 1 & 2) (Featuring Kate Nash, Sarah Savage, and more..)

Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/referential/donations

Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

*All profits from this limited merch run will be donated to Trans Pride Brighton*

Pre-Order a VALENTINE SMITH X REFERENTIAL 'LW/RF' T-Shirt or Print!

Limited run, available to order until the 14th of August 2025. Shipping out August 15th.

T-Shirts!

https://everpress.com/profile/alsopurp

Prints!

https://www.inprnt.com/profile/alsopurp/

Valentine's shop:

https://www.inprnt.com/gallery/valentinesmith/

Find more at 

www.alsopurple.com

*All profits from this limited merch run will be donated to Trans Pride Brighton*

_______

This Valentine M. Smith design was commissioned in collaboration with Dr. Khaliden Nas and REFERENTIAL Podcast to raise funds in the lead to Trans Pride Brighton's 12th year and contribute to the continued and necessary existence of this vital event in an increasingly hostile culture in the United Kingdom.

You can find out more about Trans Pride Brighton's activities at the link below:

https://transpridebrighton.org/about/

Donate directly at:

https://transpridebrighton.org/keep-trans-pride-brighton-alive-donate-monthly/

NEXT EP:

Trans Pride Brighton 2025 (Parts 1 & 2) (Featuring Kate Nash, Sarah Savage, and more..)

Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/referential/donations

Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Video episode 4

Vid version available to view on the Spotify app or link below to watch the YouTube version

https://youtu.be/K6Oh0AgeLaw

For this video episode I'm joined by first time guest Shannon Miller (OG Nerd of Prey!!) to talk about the theme of Black Girlhood and Coming of Age in media.

Shannon Miller is a cultural commentator and writer who you might know from her work as the previous Managing Editor at Adweek, the former News Editor and writer at the A.V. Club, or her many bylines from throughout the web!

Our conversation spanned Black film, TV, characters and celebrity from Michaela Cole's Chewing Gum to Jodie Landon (Daria) and Megan Thee Stallion.

+ Find out how we also fit the following in:

• Adultification
• Depiction of Black girls and femmes in media
• Realities of Black girls and femmes
• Coming of age narratives in media
• The current state of Black television
• The erosion of physical media and Black TV cancellations
• Judging art by quality vs utility
• Empathy as an active process
• Escapism
• Steven Universe
• Black girl magic
• Toxic Excellence
• I Don't Know Him.
• Daria, Chewing Gum, Living Single, How To Die Alone, Heartstoppers, Harlem, Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur, Moesha, Insecure, Awkward Black Girl, On My Block
• Wanting good things for Natasha Rothwell
• Transitional periods
• Issa Rae
• Megan Thee Stallion
• Cardi B, take me out of the group chat
• Michaela Coel
• SNIPER
• Buy Black!

*apologies for audio issues on my end in the first 18ish minutes of the conversation, it fixes it self from that point onwards!*

Find Shannon Miller @shannonlmiller on all Bluesky, @shannon_lmiller and listen to more of her pop culture thoughts @PopDishKitchen on TikTok and Instagram.

Keep up to date by following @AlsoPurp on all socials.

Music by PamperedFists & Anzahlung.

Original podcast Artwork by Valentine M. Smith. 

Video Production by Victor Alexander (@Ugly_knees on insta and @clevvergirl on Tiktok)

Subscribe to our Youtube Page! : https://www.youtube.com/@referentialp

More at www.alsopurple.com

Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/referential/donations

Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy