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  • The Gaily Show: A Black Queer History of the United States
    Jan 20 2026

    Our next episode drops on January 27th! In our off weeks, we air episodes of The Gaily Show. It's the only daily LGBTQ radio news and talk show in the US. John conducts a lot of author interviews on there!

    In this episode, the authors of the upcoming book A Black Queer History of the United States join John to unpack their landmark book tracing the lives of LGBTQ+ Black Americans. It comes out on January 20th! Pre-order your copy here: https://bookshop.org/a/82376/9780807008553

    Dr. C. Riley Snorton is a professor of English language and comparative literature and is core faculty at the Institute for the Study of Sexuality and Gender at Columbia University. He is the author of the award-winning book Black on Both Sides: A Racial History of Trans Identity.

    Dr. Darius Bost is associate professor of Black Studies and of gender and women’s studies at the University of Illinois Chicago. Bost is the author of the award-winning book Evidence of Being: The Black Gay Cultural Renaissance and the Politics of Violence.

    Watch on YouTube

    We're in video too! You can watch this episode at youtube.com/@thegailyshow

    Credits

    Host/Founder: John Parker (learn more about my name change)
    Executive Producer: Jim Pounds
    Production and Distribution Support: Brett Johnson, AM950
    Marketing/Advertising Support: Chad Larson, Laura Hedlund, Jennifer Ogren, AM950
    Accounting and Creative Support: Gordy Erickson

    Support the show

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    46 Min.
  • Lost Prophet: The Life and Times of Bayard Rustin with Lucas F. Schleusener and John D’Emilio
    Jan 13 2026

    How can we hold together idealism and authenticity even when the world is homophobic?

    Today we meet Lucas F. Schleusener and we’re talking about the queer book that saved his life: Lost Prophet: The Life and Times of Bayard Rustin by John D'Emilio.

    Lucas is a writer, educator, and national security strategist shaping the future of equity across the national security enterprise. As Co-Founder and CEO of Out in National Security he leads a global community that advances LGBTQIA+ inclusion and drives policy change across defense and foreign policy. Luke is a Term Member of the Council on Foreign Relations and previously served as Chairman of the Board of No One Left Behind. His writing has appeared in Foreign Policy, Defense One, The Hill, and Law360.

    John D’Emilio, PhD is professor emeritus of history and gender and women’s studies at University of Illinois at Chicago. A Guggenheim Fellow and a pioneer in the field of gay and lesbian studies, he is the author, coauthor, or editor of numerous books, including Sexual Communities and Intimate Matters, which was cited in Justice Anthony Kennedy’s opinion in Lawrence v. Texas, the 2003 Supreme Court case overturning US anti-sodomy laws. John is the founding director of the Policy Institute of the National LGBTQ Task Force, he has also served as President of the Gerber/Hart Library and Archives, a community-based library and historical archives in Chicago.

    Connect with Luke and John

    Luke's website: outinnationalsecurity.org
    linkedin: linkedin.com/in/lucas-f-schleusener-9a470415/

    John's website: americanlgbtqmuseum.org/profile/john-demilio/
    facebook: facebook.com/john.demilio.7/

    Our Bookshop
    Visit our Bookshop for new releases, current bestsellers, banned books, critically acclaimed LGBTQ books, or peruse the books featured on our podcasts: bookshop.org/shop/thisqueerbook

    Buy your copy of Lost Prophet: The Life and Times of Bayard Rustin here: https://bookshop.org/a/82376/9780226142692

    Become an Associate Producer!
    Become an Associate Producer of our podcast through a $20/month sponsorship on Patreon! A professionally recognized credit, you can gain access to Associate Producer meetings to help guide our podcast into the future! Get started today: patreon.com/thisqueerbook

    Credits
    Host/Founder: John Parker
    Executive Producer: Jim Pounds
    Associate Producers: Archie Arnold, K Jason Bryan and David Rephan, Bob Bush, Natalie Cruz, Troy Ford, Jonathan Fried, Joe Perazzo, Bill Shay, Sean Smith, and Karsten Vagner
    Patreon Subscribers: Stephen D., Terry D., Stephen Flamm, Ida Göteburg, Thomas Michna, Sofia Nerman, and Gary Nygaard.
    Creative and Accounting support provided by: Gordy Erickson

    Quatrefoil Library
    Quatrefoil has created a curated lending library made up of the books featured on our podcast! If you can’t buy these books, then borrow them! Link: https://libbyapp.com/library/quatrefoil/curated-1404336/page-1

    Support the show

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    39 Min.
  • The Satyricon with Neil Laird
    Dec 16 2025

    One of the world's oldest surviving novels was a queer book?!

    Today we meet Neil Laird and we’re talking about the queer book that saved his life: The Satyricon by Petronius.

    Neil is a multiple Emmy-nominated Executive Producer who has worked extensively on both the network and production side of non-fiction TV since 1997. He's developed, overseen, and produced over 1,000 hours of non-fiction programs and specials in nearly every genre, with a particular passion, expertise, and contacts in history, archaeology, and international exploration. He write a series of satirical adventure novels: Prime Time Travelers, Prime Time Pompeii, and, the forthcoming Prime Time Troy. They're all about a time-traveling TV crew uncovering forgotten LGBTQ voices from the past.

    Petronius (20 C.E. - 66 C.E.) served as a Governor in the Roman Empire and ultimately as Consul, the most powerful position in the Empire. When he left public service, Emperor Nero named him the Arbiter Elegantiae, or master of elegance. A prominent writer, Petronius is considered the likely author of The Satyricon.

    Connect with Neil

    website: neillaird.com
    instagram: @primetimeauthor
    facebook: facebook.com/neil-laird-author

    Our Bookshop
    Visit our Bookshop for new releases, current bestsellers, banned books, critically acclaimed LGBTQ books, or peruse the books featured on our podcasts: bookshop.org/shop/thisqueerbook

    Buy your copy of The Satyricon here: https://bookshop.org/a/82376/9780806144382

    For the forthcoming Prime Time Troy, as well as Prime Time Travelers and Prime Time Pompeii, check this out: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Neil-Laird/author/B0CYJ7HDB4

    Become an Associate Producer!
    Become an Associate Producer of our podcast through a $20/month sponsorship on Patreon! A professionally recognized credit, you can gain access to Associate Producer meetings to help guide our podcast into the future! Get started today: patreon.com/thisqueerbook

    Credits
    Host/Founder: John Parker
    Executive Producer: Jim Pounds
    Associate Producers: Archie Arnold, K Jason Bryan and David Rephan, Bob Bush, Natalie Cruz, Troy Ford, Jonathan Fried, Paul Kaefer, Joe Perazzo, Bill Shay, and Sean Smith
    Patreon Subscribers: Stephen D., Terry D., Stephen Flamm, Ida Göteburg, Thomas Michna, Sofia Nerman, and Gary Nygaard.
    Creative and Accounting support provided by: Gordy Erickson
    Quatrefoil Library
    Quatrefoil has created a curated lending library made up of the books featured on our podcast! If you can’t buy these books, then borrow them! Link: https://libbyapp.com/library/quatrefoil/curated-1404336/page-1

    Support the show

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    43 Min.
  • 7 Minutes in Book Heaven with Anne Laughlin and Clean Kill
    Dec 2 2025

    We have a new episode of This Queer Book Saved My Life on December 16th! Today, Once Upon a Crime Books presents 7 Minutes in Book Heaven, the podcast where we interview LGBTQ authors about the new books they have coming out for us to love and cuddle up with.

    Visit them online: onceuponacrimebooks.com

    Once Upon a Crime Books is an independent bookstore specializing in mystery fiction. Located in Uptown Minneapolis, you can shop in their store Monday through Saturday 11am – 5:30pm. Or, visit their website! There, you can browse all of their books, from new releases to classic mysteries.

    In this new episode, Once Upon a Crime Books introduces us to Anne Laughlin and her new novel: Clean Kill which is available to buy in in-store or on their website.

    Anne Laughlin has written seven books for Bold Strokes Books, all stand alone crime novels of the classic mystery, police procedural, and psychological thrill variety. She is the winner of four Goldie Awards from the Golden Crown Literary Society and has been short listed three times for a Lammy Award from the Lambda Literary Foundation. Currently a board member of Mystery Writers of America/Midwest and MWA's Queer Advisory Board, Anne believes in giving back to the crime writing community. Anne lives in Chicago with her wife, Linda Braasch, and their two cats.

    Buy Clean Kill

    Visit Once Upon a Crime Books in-person or buy online: https://onceuponacrimebooks.com/book/9781636796345

    Connect with Anne Laughlin

    website: annelaughlinwriter.com
    facebook: facebook.com/anne.laughlin

    Credits

    Presented by: Once Upon a Crime Books
    Host/Founder: John Parker
    Executive Producer: Jim Pounds
    Theme music: Summer Mood by lesfm

    Support the show

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    12 Min.
  • Coming Out with Bobbie Smith
    Nov 18 2025

    Can you have a happy ending in a gay relationship?

    Today we meet Bobbie Smith and we’re talking about the queer book that saved his life: Coming Out by Wallace Hamilton.

    Bobbie has been a community activist for 35 years. He helped found the Gay and Lesbian community council in Salt Lake City, Utah of which he was a member. He also founded the Sacred Fairies. Bobbie started the Stonewall Community Center in Salt Lake City, where he served as its first Librarian and donated over 1,000 books to that library. He has been a leader in the local leather community here in Minnesota since 2000. He is a props designer for various community theaters in the Twin Cities, primarily with Theatre in the Round.

    Wallace Hamilton was a novelist and playwright. His four novels include Coming Out and Christopher and Gay. He wrote fourteen plays and co-wrote the screenplay for Streetchild. He graduated from Harvard and was a World War II conscientious objector.

    Content Warning: This episode contains a description of a suicide attempt.

    Our Bookshop
    Visit our Bookshop for new releases, current bestsellers, banned books, critically acclaimed LGBTQ books, or peruse the books featured on our podcasts: bookshop.org/shop/thisqueerbook

    Coming Out is not available on Bookshop.org, but you can find copies at AbeBooks or Thriftbooks.

    Become an Associate Producer!
    Become an Associate Producer of our podcast through a $20/month sponsorship on Patreon! A professionally recognized credit, you can gain access to Associate Producer meetings to help guide our podcast into the future! Get started today: patreon.com/thisqueerbook

    Credits
    Host/Founder: John Parker
    Executive Producer: Jim Pounds
    Associate Producers: Archie Arnold, K Jason Bryan and David Rephan, Bob Bush, Natalie Cruz, Troy Ford, Jonathan Fried, Paul Kaefer, Joe Perazzo, Bill Shay, and Sean Smith
    Patreon Subscribers: Stephen D., Terry D., Stephen Flamm, Ida Göteburg, Thomas Michna, Sofia Nerman, and Gary Nygaard.
    Creative and Accounting support provided by: Gordy Erickson

    Quatrefoil Library
    Quatrefoil has created a curated lending library made up of the books featured on our podcast! If you can’t buy these books, then borrow them! Link: https://libbyapp.com/library/quatrefoil/curated-1404336/page-1

    Support the show

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    37 Min.
  • Nightwood with Lauren Sanders
    Nov 4 2025

    Am I in love with a woman or am I a woman who's in love with women?

    Today we meet Lauren Sanders and we’re talking about the queer book that saved her life: Nightwood by Djuna Barnes.

    Lauren Sanders (she/they) is the author of the novel Kamikaze Lust, which won a 2000 Lambda Literary Award and was reissued this fall in a 25th anniversary edition. Her other novels include With or Without You (a finalist for the Lambda Literary Award) and The Book of Love and Hate. Short fiction, reviews, rants, etc. have appeared in various publications. By day they run editorial and digital strategy for a national foundation working in education and the arts. Lauren lives in the nation of Brooklyn with her partner and staffie mix, Maverick.

    Djuna Barnes (1892-1982) was born in Cornwall-on-Hudson, NY, and worked as a journalist in New York before leaving the country to spend many years in Paris and London. She returned to New York in 1941, and lived in Greenwich Village until her death.

    Connect with Lauren

    website: laurenisanders.com

    instagram: @lisanders99

    facebook: facebook.com/lauren.i.sanders
    linkedin: linkedin.com/in/lauren-sanders-5345b67

    Our Bookshop

    Visit our Bookshop for new releases, current bestsellers, banned books, critically acclaimed LGBTQ books, or peruse the books featured on our podcasts: bookshop.org/shop/thisqueerbook

    Buy Nightwood: https://bookshop.org/a/82376/9780811216715

    Buy Kamikaze Lust: https://bookshop.org/a/82376/9781888451085

    Become an Associate Producer!

    Become an Associate Producer of our podcast through a $20/month sponsorship on Patreon! A professionally recognized credit, you can gain access to Associate Producer meetings to help guide our podcast into the future! Get started today: patreon.com/thisqueerbook

    Credits

    Host/Founder: John Parker
    Executive Producer: Jim Pounds
    Associate Producers: Archie Arnold, K Jason Bryan and David Rephan, Bob Bush, Natalie Cruz, Troy Ford, Jonathan Fried, Paul Kaefer, Joe Perazzo, Bill Shay, and Sean Smith
    Patreon Subscribers: Stephen D., Terry D., Stephen Flamm, Ida Göteburg, Thomas Michna, Sofia Nerman, and Gary Nygaard.
    Creative and Accounting support provided by: Gordy Erickson

    Quatrefoil Library

    Quatrefoil has created a curated lending library made up of the books featured on our podcast! If you can’t buy these books, then borrow them! Link: https://libbyapp.com/library/quatrefoil/curated-1404336/page-1

    Support the show

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    42 Min.
  • One Last Stop with AJ Writer
    Oct 21 2025

    A lot of us get to our 30s and we don't know what the next step is. Sometimes you make a big pivot.

    Today we meet Aj Writer and we’re talking about the queer book that saved his life: One Last Stop by Casey McQuiston.

    Aj Writer is a nonbinary writer and general dumpster fire of a human being (editor's note: Aj's words!). After a decade in journalism and conversations with top creatives in their field, Aj opened FWDIO Studios, a creative content company, that focuses on making media that is representative of the diversity in LGBT and BIPOC populations. Aj's second book, Strip Me Down, came out in paperback this month and the company is busy working on its first pilot animation. They want to expand to comics and audiobooks next. "If we want to tell our stories, we have to do it ourselves."

    Casey McQuiston is a #1 New York Times bestselling author of romantic comedies, including One Last Stop, I Kissed Shara Wheeler, and Red, White & Royal Blue, whose writing has appeared in The New York Times, The Washington Post, and Bon Appetit. Born and raised in southern Louisiana, Casey now lives in New York City with a poodle mix named Pepper.

    Connect with Aj

    website: fwdiostudios.com

    patreon: patreon.com/FWDIOStudios

    tiktok: @ajwriter
    bluesky: @ajwriter.bsky.social or @fwdio.bsky.social

    Our Bookshop

    Visit our Bookshop for new releases, current bestsellers, banned books, critically acclaimed LGBTQ books, or peruse the books featured on our podcasts: bookshop.org/shop/thisqueerbook

    Buy One Last Stop: https://bookshop.org/a/82376/9781250244499

    Buy Strip Me Down: https://bookshop.org/a/82376/9798304331609

    Become an Associate Producer!

    Become an Associate Producer of our podcast through a $20/month sponsorship on Patreon! A professionally recognized credit, you can gain access to Associate Producer meetings to help guide our podcast into the future! Get started today: patreon.com/thisqueerbook

    Credits

    Host/Founder: John Parker
    Executive Producer: Jim Pounds
    Associate Producers: Archie Arnold, K Jason Bryan and David Rephan, Bob Bush, Natalie Cruz, Troy Ford, Jonathan Fried, Paul Kaefer, Joe Perazzo, Bill Shay, and Sean Smith
    Patreon Subscribers: Stephen D., Terry D., Stephen Flamm, Ida Göteburg, Thomas Michna, Sofia Nerman, and Gary Nygaard.
    Creative and Accounting support provided by: Gordy Erickson

    Quatrefoil Library

    Quatrefoil has created a curated lending library made up of the books featured on our podcast! If you can’t buy these books, then borrow them! Link: https://libbyapp.com/library/quatrefoil/curated-1404336/page-1

    Support the show

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    35 Min.
  • Good Times/Bad Times with Joel Freedman
    Oct 7 2025

    This book flipped on a lot of switches in my head.

    Today we meet Joel Freedman and we’re talking about the queer book that saved his life: Good Times/Bad Times by James Kirkwood.

    Joel Freedman taught English at a college-prep high school in South L.A., where for most of his tenure, he was the only out gay instructor. He’s a retired writing instructor at L.A. Southwest College and a produced playwright. He published “Echoes of Silence: Empathy and Making Connections through Writing Process” in English Journal, which is a publication of the National Council of Teachers of English. As a member of his union, he contributed to the union’s paper United Teacher. He co-chaired the UCLA-WP’s LGBTQ Study Group and has three as-of-yet unpublished novels: 10 Months to Vermont, All Beneath the Sky, and Love Song. He has been married for 40 years to author-comic-producer Mike Player.

    James Kirkwood was a Tony Award-winning author, actor, and playwright. During his career, he won the Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Book of a Musical and the Pulitzer Prize for Drama.

    Connect with Joel

    bluesky: joelmfreewriter.bsky.social

    Our Bookshop

    Visit our Bookshop for new releases, current bestsellers, banned books, critically acclaimed LGBTQ books, or peruse the books featured on our podcasts: bookshop.org/shop/thisqueerbook

    Buy Good Times/Bad Times: https://bookshop.org/a/82376/9781476767536

    Become an Associate Producer!

    Become an Associate Producer of our podcast through a $20/month sponsorship on Patreon! A professionally recognized credit, you can gain access to Associate Producer meetings to help guide our podcast into the future! Get started today: patreon.com/thisqueerbook

    Credits

    Host/Founder: John Parker
    Executive Producer: Jim Pounds
    Associate Producers: Archie Arnold, K Jason Bryan and David Rephan, Bob Bush, Natalie Cruz, Troy Ford, Jonathan Fried, Paul Kaefer, Joe Perazzo, Bill Shay, and Sean Smith
    Patreon Subscribers: Stephen D., Terry D., Stephen Flamm, Ida Göteburg, Thomas Michna, Sofia Nerman, and Gary Nygaard.
    Creative and Accounting support provided by: Gordy Erickson

    Quatrefoil Library

    Quatrefoil has created a curated lending library made up of the books featured on our podcast! If you can’t buy these books, then borrow them! Link: https://libbyapp.com/library/quatrefoil/curated-1404336/page-1

    Support the show

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    51 Min.