Rated LGBT Radio

My guest is interdisciplinary poet and multidisciplinary artist Laurier Tiernan!  We talk about their work and life experiences. Laurier shares their journey as a genderqueer and non-binary person growing up in conservative Edmonton, Alberta, where they were bullied in school and faced discrimination, including being chased and called slurs as recently as 2024.
We cover Laurier's recent poetry book "Fifty-Five Ways to Survive," which follows a theme of darkness-to-light, and their 15th-anniversary album "Peace on Earth," which contains songs like "End of the World" that prophesied Donald Trump's rise to power.
We discuss how the poetry of FIFTY-FIVE WAYS resonates with the experiences of young LGBTQ+ people and how the music supports profound lyrical content.

Great conversation with Dr. Joel A. Davis Brown, author of "Souls of Queer Folk: How Understanding LGBTQ+ Cultural Values Can Transform Your Leadership Practice." Dr. Brown, an attorney with a doctorate in educational leadership and founder of the management consulting firm Pneumos, discussed his journey of understanding his LGBTQ+ identity and how queer culture embodies leadership values that can benefit society as a whole. We explore topics including the debate over the term "queer" following Michael Vines' New York Times article, the nine meta-themes from Dr. Brown's book (somatic awareness, interconnectedness, authenticity, perceptiveness, non-binary thinking, creativity, justice, agency, and verve), and how LGBTQ+ people demonstrate leadership through resilience and cultural contributions despite facing prejudice. 

My guest is the LGBTQ treasure, Margaret Cho. We discussed her ever-present presence throughout fabulous LGBTQ culture as well as her new song "YER DIHH" (a gay version of "WAP") featuring Jane Wiedlin and a music video with many LGBTQ comedians., We discussed her upcoming comedy special "Choligarchy" to be filmed in Palm Springs.  We spoke at length about current controversies over labeling, Margaret's unique experience and perspective, and why trans people are heroes.

My guest today is acclaimed author and tribal leader Greg Sarris . We discuss his latest book "The Last Human Bear." Greg shares his personal background as a mixed-race individual who was adopted and later discovered his birth mother's identity, as well as his journey of coming to terms with his gay identity while growing up as an outsider. He discusses how his relationship with Mabel McKay, a medicine woman, inspired the book's central character Mary Hatcher, who possesses bear power and navigates complex relationships across racial and cultural lines, and how the book challenges stereotypes about Indigenous people in California.

We Are Pat is a new feature-length documentary exploring the evolution of gender identity and comedy from the 90s to now through the lens of the iconic SNL sketch, It’s Pat. Featuring the now classic character by Julia Sweeney, the film examines Pat’s origins as a joke rooted in cultural anxiety of the 90s around gender while drawing striking parallels to today’s culture wars around transness and queerness.
My guest, director Rowan Haber is an aesthetically-minded Writer/Director. An MFA graduate of NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts, they have directed numerous documentaries and narrative films, winning numerous awards. They were a shadowing director on FX’s Pose and featured on The Alice Initiative’s 2018 list of directors ready to helm studio films and Indiewire’s 8 Best Trans Directors Working Today,

 Today on Rated LGBT Radio, we’re stepping into a bold, funny, and beautifully crafted piece of LGBTQ storytelling on television. My guests are Rex Glensy and Asad Moghal, the creative forces behind the acclaimed UK series PATTERNS, now premiering its second season. Across eight episodes per season of PATTERNS, each episode offers a self-contained story within a shared universe where characters reappear.
Today we focus on a particular episode in the new and unreleased second season, Kevin’s Series of Unfortunate Events, which is making its World Premiere this week at Tribeca’s Indie TV Narrative Showcase. The response has already been electric, with multiple sold-out screenings and another sold-out showing set for the 14th.
Kevin’s Series of Unfortunate Events is a sharp, witty, and wildly charming piece of comedy. Actor Jake Watkins, known for his work in the horror genre, brings Kevin to life with a disarming mix of uninhibited sexuality, innocence, vulnerability, and romantic longing. Working from Asad Moghal’s brilliantly funny script, Watkins turns Kevin’s chaotic search for connection into something both hilarious and unexpectedly sweet. Under the direction and production of Rex Glensy, Asad’s real-life romantic partner, the episode walks a perfect comedic tightrope—taking situations that could easily become dark drama and transforming them into a dating-world adventure that feels outrageous, heartfelt, and all too relatable.

I welcome back to the show David Archuleta!  When David was last here, he was merely a multi-award-winning and bravely out singer…. Making his mark on his journey with hits like UP and HELL TOGETHER—and we were celebrating his version of George Michaels FREEDOM.
That was then—this is now.  He is now David Archuleta, NYT bestselling author—of the hugely important and significant memoir, DEVOUT. With that work, which has been embraced by not only LGBTQ folks and Mormons seeking truth, but the broader public as well – for its life-changing perspectives.  We will talk about that—plus, David, the consummate singer-songwriter, released DEVOUT inspired music with the book—and will be releasing even more music in just a few weeks—new music with a new sound and the heartbeat of romance….

My guest today is the uber talented BJ Minor who stars in Scared to Death (in theaters now).
B.J. is a multi-talented artist who acts, writes, directs and sings…and is best known for portraying teen Mike Tyson in Hulu’s Mike (2022), a breakout role that showcased their physical transformation, dramatic range, and commitment to representation. They have since had impactful roles in several dozen major TV dramas and genre films, including Bel‑Air on Peacock, Grey’s Anatomy, and the current movie, our focus today, the horror‑comedy Scared to Death.

My guest today is Aidan Langford, who plays a pivotal LGBTQ character in the Happy Madison film Roommates for Netflix. We discuss working with Adam Sandler as well as Dolly Parton, when he was featured in Netflix's "Dolly Parton's Heartstrings." You may have also seen  in Amazon's "Bosch", and the SXSW independent feature 1985, as well as Breaking Them Up and "NCIS: New Orleans". 
Along with acting, he’s passionate about LGBTQ rights and is a musician/singer songwriter with 3 singles out currently and an EP that is being made and leans into the indie rock genre of the early 2000s.A visual artist and painter and he is currently receiving his BFA in painting. 

How is your work-life in the Trump2 era?  Today, we get an insightful look thanks to the new Shine the Light Study report. My guests are Evan Linett, the lead researcher, and Veronica Comings, a Be the Transformational Change Fund board member.
 The study found that 74% of LGBTQ employees experienced workplace support, though 49% witnessed discrimination, with notable differences across generations and identity groups. We discuss issues from dress expectations to restroom comfort, and everything in between.