Two Bi Guys

This week I sat down with my friend Aaron Hammersly, filmmaker and production executive at Disney, board member on the LA Bi+ Task Force, and outspoken advocate for the LGBTQ+ community, working especially for more inclusive representation in front of and behind the camera. Earlier this year, Aaron co-authored Re-Write the Bi-Line’s “Bi+ Narratives: A Guide to Authentic Representation in Storytelling”, the first comprehensive guide to portraying bi+ characters in film and television.

In this IN-PERSON (!!) interview, we talked about Aaron’s queer journey; “the social insidious nature of biphobia and bi erasure”; why it’s difficult to represent queerness within the major studio system and in our current climate; the costs and benefits of being out at work for writers, producers, and other creatives; why it’s unfair and unproductive when writers’ rooms fill a “diversity slot” instead of valuing diverse identities and experiences across the board; and how Aaron got involved with “Still Bisexual”, “Rewrite the Bi-Line”, and co-author Christina Fialho in order to write the Bi+ Narratives Guide.

We then dove into the recommendations in the guide (like “if the audience does not know if the character is bi+, we cannot change the narrative for bi+ people”, and “expand opportunities and empower new voices”), and we began to discuss case studies of bi+ representation in the current film & TV landscape. Stay tuned for more with Aaron in next week’s season finale when we continue going through the guide!

Magic Mind: You have a limited offer you can use now, that gets you up to 48% off your first subscription or 20% off one time purchases with code TWOBIGUYS20 at checkout. You can claim it at: https://magicmind.com/TWOBIGUYS20

The Bi+ Narratives Guide: https://www.rewritethebiline.com/bi-test

Follow Aaron on IG: https://www.instagram.com/secretsyrin/

“Manic Pixie Bi Boys”: https://www.queermajority.com/essays-all/the-manic-pixie-bi-boys

SURJ: https://surj.org/

DSA website: https://www.dsausa.org/

Follow Vera on IG: https://www.instagram.com/verawestenberg/

Follow Leroy on IG: https://www.instagram.com/leroyduivenvoorden/

Marketing Schmarketing: https://www.marketingschmarketing.nl/

“One Thing Does Not Exclude the Other” (Vera & Leroy’s podcast) on Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/het-een-sluit-het-ander-niet-uit/id1615666895

Leroy’s photos from the Bi+ Netherlands Pride Boat: https://www.instagram.com/p/Cg_cgA1o1Wh/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==

Vera’s photos from the Bi+ Netherlands Pride Boat: https://www.instagram.com/p/ChACzpmICKF/?img_index=6

Try Magic Mind: You have a limited offer you can use now, that gets you up to 48% off your first subscription or 20% off one time purchases with code TWOBIGUYS20 at checkout. You can claim it at: https://magicmind.com/TWOBIGUYS20

This week I’m so excited to share part 1 of my interview with Vera & Leroy Duivenvoorden-Westenberg, my friends from the Netherlands! In addition to running a marketing company together called “Marketing Schmarketing” – which designed the “Studio 54” Bi+ boat in the 2022 Amsterdam Pride canal parade – Vera & Leroy are Bi+ activists and hosts of the podcast “One Thing Does Not Exclude the Other” (“Het een sluit het ander niet uit” in Dutch). We chatted about my trip to Amsterdam Pride when we all met, their journey as a married couple both navigating bisexuality, what’s great about the queer scene in the Netherlands (and also what’s missing), and much more. Stay tuned for part 2 next week – and don’t forget to VOTE in the Nov. 5 US election!

Follow Vera on IG: https://www.instagram.com/verawestenberg/

Follow Leroy on IG: https://www.instagram.com/leroyduivenvoorden/

Marketing Schmarketing: https://www.marketingschmarketing.nl/

“One Thing Does Not Exclude the Other” (Vera & Leroy’s podcast) on Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/het-een-sluit-het-ander-niet-uit/id1615666895

Leroy’s photos from the Bi+ Netherlands Pride Boat: https://www.instagram.com/p/Cg_cgA1o1Wh/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA

Vera’s photos from the Bi+ Netherlands Pride Boat: https://www.instagram.com/p/ChACzpmICKF/?img_index=6

To get fired up and ready to go for the upcoming Nov. 5 election (and because I was behind on editing the next episode…), today I sat down again with our bi stepfather, RJ Aguiar, to talk politics! We discussed the importance of voting, especially for queer people, and what we’re doing in the final two weeks to support the causes we care about (mostly: democracy!). Please make a plan to vote, and make sure your friends and family have a plan to vote. We cannot afford to sit this one out – the stakes are too high.

Donate to the Harris/Walz campaign: https://kamalaharris.com

Volunteer! https://go.kamalaharris.com

Donate via ActBlue: https://secure.actblue.com

Phone bank with White Men Against MAGA / Showing Up For Racial Justice: https://www.mobilize.us/surj/event/653094/

Donate to FairVote: https://fairvote.org

Learn About Represent Us (the pro-democracy and voting reform organization I couldn’t remember the name of): https://represent.us/

Visit RJ’s website: https://www.rjaguiar.com/

Follow RJ on IG: https://www.instagram.com/damnitrj/?hl=en

Visit my website: www.RobertBrooksCohen.com

This episode features the second half of my interview with Mark Cusack (he/they), founder of the support site "Not Defining" (a space for anyone struggling with their sexuality, gender, or identity), ICF Certified Integrative Coach, and LGBTQ+ mentor. In this section, we discussed asexuality and the ace spectrum, what’s so special about dating couples, how queerness intersects with neurodivergence, Mark's drag persona “Marco Fabulasio”, and we each said "bye bye" to something we'd like to do away with in queer culture. Thanks for listening!

Mark’s Website: https://www.notdefining.com/

NotDefining on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCct1pE5fNVUdIR1aw3wxPew

NotDefining on IG: https://www.instagram.com/notdefining/

Mark’s Drag Alter-Ego, Marco Fabulasio: https://www.instagram.com/marcofabulasio/

Rob’s Website: https://www.robertbrookscohen.com/

This week I sat down with Mark Cusack (he/they), founder of the support site "Not Defining" (a space for anyone struggling with their sexuality, gender, or identity), and we discussed why even under the Bi+ umbrella, many queer people are moving away from fixed labels and definitions of their identities. Mark is also an ICF Certified Integrative Coach and LGBTQ+ mentor, and we chatted about how his journey with content creation led to his new coaching practice (similar to my own story!). We also discussed stand-up comedy, authenticity, dating... and more, coming in part 2 next week! Thanks for listening.

Mark’s Website: https://www.notdefining.com/

NotDefining on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCct1pE5fNVUdIR1aw3wxPew

NotDefining on IG: https://www.instagram.com/notdefining/

Bisexual Research Group: https://www.bisexualresearch.com/

HOW (Husbands Out to Wives): https://how-support.org/

Rob’s Website: https://www.robertbrookscohen.com/

Happy end of Bi+ Visibility Month! This episode includes the second part of my chat with Lewis Oakley – a Bi+ Activist in the UK, co-host of the "Bisexual Brunch" podcast, and author of a new book, “Bisexuality: The Basics” from Jessica Kingsley Publishers – and spoiler alert, the title of this episode is ironic, as Lewis argues that you can't go into these things with a game plan, and we discussed how to get comfortable with that uncertainty. After that, enjoy the recording of an Instagram Live in which I was interviewed by Lucy LaForge, Bi+ artist, musician and creator of Lucy & La Mer. Enjoy!

Follow Lewis on IG: https://www.instagram.com/lewyoaks/?hl=en

Visit his website: https://lewisoakley.com/

Buy “Bisexuality: The Basics” https://us.jkp.com/products/bisexuality-the-basics

Listen to Bisexual Brunch: https://bisexualbrunch.buzzsprout.com/

Lucy & La Mer on IG: https://www.instagram.com/lucyandlamer/

Follow TBG on IG: https://www.instagram.com/twobiguys/

Follow me on IG: https://www.instagram.com/robertbrookscohen/

My website: www.robertbrookscohen.com

Happy Bi+ Visibility Day / Week / Month! In this episode, I chatted with Lewis Oakley, a Bi+ Activist in the UK, co-host of the Bisexual Brunch podcast, and author of a new book, “Bisexuality: The Basics” from Jessica Kingsley Publishers. We chatted about his recent appearances on cable news (where he had to prove he was a “real” bisexual), and then we dove into his book and the complicated, nuanced questions he poses in it for people who are navigating sexual fluidity. Stay tuned at the end for one of my stand-up sets! More with Lewis next week.

Follow Lewis on IG: https://www.instagram.com/lewyoaks/?hl=en

Visit his website: https://lewisoakley.com/

Buy “Bisexuality: The Basics” https://us.jkp.com/products/bisexuality-the-basics

Listen to Bisexual Brunch: https://bisexualbrunch.buzzsprout.com/

Lewis takes on Piers Morgan: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wndJdXwK558

Lewis debates bisexuality with Laurence Fox: https://www.youtube.com/watch?app=desktop&v=MWGO5mxGluU

Visit Rob's website: https://www.robertbrookscohen.com

See more of Rob's stand-up comedy: https://www.youtube.com/@RobCohenComedy

We’re back with RJ Aguiar, part two! We chatted about queer stand-up comedy (and butthurt straight guys), we debuted a new segment called “Bye Bye!” where we rant about things that bother us, I asked RJ about his hottest sexual experiences both on and off camera, and then we have a difficult time saying goodbye…

Everyone gets the bonus content today! But for early access, full video episodes, and bonus content from most episodes, please consider supporting this podcast and subscribe on Patreon!

Visit my website! https://www.robertbrookscohen.com/

Follow RJ on IG: https://www.instagram.com/Damnitrj/

Follow RJ on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@damnitrj

RJ’s website: www.rjaguiar.com

RJ’s “Don’t Tell My Mother” storytelling performance: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AlCanxAnCrw

The Emperor and the Endless Palace (book): https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/146145975-the-emperor-and-the-endless-palace

Two Bi Guys (By One Bi Guy) is back! And with a familiar friend, RJ Aguiar! We discussed his new "professional penis" and all that comes with it...

In honor of Bi+ Visibility Month, I'm trying something new -- weekly episodes! (We'll see how it goes...) The second half of my chat with RJ will drop next week -- or for access to both parts right now, plus 10 minutes of bonus content, subscribe on Patreon!

Follow RJ on IG: https://www.instagram.com/Damnitrj/

Follow RJ on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@damnitrj

RJ’s website: www.rjaguiar.com

RJ’s “Don’t Tell My Mother” storytelling performance: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AlCanxAnCrw

The Emperor and the Endless Palace (book): https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/146145975-the-emperor-and-the-endless-palace

Visit my website! https://www.robertbrookscohen.com/