Adam got to meet the artist David Shenton and get a sneak peek of his retrospective exhibition at Norwich Castle and Museum. David’s 50+ year career is filled with wit, humour, LGBTQ+ politics, and wry observations — we loved to hear it all. 

Tash went for a haircut and took the mic along! Their barber is the marvellous LP, who talked to Tash about seeing clients who are fed up with the way they’re boxed in by their previous hairdressers and barbers. 

You’ve not seen queer nightlife until you’ve seen it through the lens of the photographer Linden. Adam met Stuart, the man behind the lens, to talk about what it was like to take so many iconic photos, and why it’s important to capture queer nightlife.

Check out Linden’s photos on Instagram and the book, Out and About with Linden.

A stack of letters written by trans people asking for help in the 90s is an essential piece of queer history. The letters are rightly kept confidentially, but a year ago we were given special access to make a sound art piece using them. Today we’re marking the anniversary of that work, which was produced by Tash and Arlie Adlington, with contributions from Jesse Lawson, Kamari Romeo, naafi, and Imogen Sayers.

The Sound of Trans Freedom audio piece in full: Soundcloud | YouTube

Short films mentioned in this episode: 

Tash went along to Hastings for a tour of Lemons, Laws and Secret Doors — an exhibition made by a local queer collective all about their history. There was so much to discover!

Tash and Adam are running a writing workshop at Joelle Taylor’s Maryville salon this weekend - tickets here!

Adam takes Tash on a deep dive of the artist FKA twigs: her style, her drive, her weirdness, and of course her delicious music. We covered the full range of her career and why she’s an icon for queers, women and weirdos. We love you, twigs!

Discussed in this episode:

Tash got a tour of Bradford’s queer history with Alice Parsons, who runs the city’s Castles in the Sky project. We learnt all about the local Switchboard, the gay arts festival, the lesbian support line, and how these all stem from Bradford’s radical politics.

Discussed in this episode:

Tash has tuned into the secret sounds of electricity pylons (no, really) and discovered something unique about human connection and queer experience. We learnt about ‘sferics’ and about static electricity in the air, and how it affects us all.

Discussed in this episode:

Tash went down to Kings Cross in London to visit the newly re-opened Queer Britain museum. From nightclubs like Club Kali to footballers like Justin Fashanu, from the painter Carrington to dyke-themed folk songs, the museum captures every part of queer life. Thanks to Jennifer Shearman (curator) and Beau Brannick (assistant curator) and everyone at Queer Britain.

-Adam + Tash

It feels like life is pulling many of us down at the moment — so we asked each other: what do you do to stay afloat? We discuss swimming, solo cinema trips, birds and well-stocked food cupboards. The queer future starts here?