Referential

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 Can...

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...

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’...

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...

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...

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 dat...

*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/va...

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...

Tangent Episode #2 *'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.. *  Happy Holidays! Commuting? Looking for a reason to escape family for a few minutes? Bored because you don't celebrate anything but everything has shut d...

Finished the full Lady Gaga v Niamos MIX I started as a jingle in the 1st 'Imperial Session' Ep about 'Andor' & the Star Wars franchise. I decided to title it " Judas in Jedha " and share as a bonus. Enjoy! New episode in your feeds next week - see you then! Check out Project Fulcrum! https://www.getfreetogether.org/project-fulcrum Original song credits: 'NIAMOS!&#3...

Tangent Episode #21 'The Imperial Sessions' Conversations on Fascism & Media New recurring series alert! And to kick off these series of conversations about Fascism in media I'm joined by returning guest (and my X-Men '97 Sessions Co-host) X of Words ' Ash Alleyne to cover Lucasfilms' latest instalment to the Star Wars Saga and franchise: 'Andor'. Created by Ton...

While I’m in the edit cave prepping the next episode here’s a treat for the feed. Return of friends of the pod Allison and Joe from Queer Cinema Catch Up! Alison and Joe asked me to come on their podcast to talk about Lady Gaga’s latest album Mayhem! Tune in to hear us dig into this current moment in pop music and diva worship! Make sure to check back in a few days for REFERENTIAL’s upcoming episo...

While I’m in the edit cave prepping the next episode here’s a treat for the feed. Return of the podcast cousin Sara Century! Some time ago I was asked the host of Best Issue Ever Podcast to join her for a discussion and I chose Wonder Woman Vol. 2 #20 (by George Perez, Bob McLeod, Carl Gafford, John Costanza, and edited by Karen Berger) as the comics I wanted to talk about the most #BringBackMyndi...

Tangent episode #18 Crossover! I got together with Elana Levin from Graphic Policy Radio to talk through our feelings about the current state of the X-Men franchise in the comics.  A conversation in two parts! First we sat down to talk about the Fall of X and the end of the X-Men & Marvel's 'First Krakoan Age'.  Then we came back to the mic to talk about the state of the X-Office t...

Tangent episode #16  REFERENTIAL enters the ‘Session of The Witch’ with a special series of episodes diving into the resurgence of witches in pop culture fiction and their ties to this moment in feminism, womanhood, queerness, misogynoir (and musicals!). To start us off, I’m joined by host of Best Issue Ever ’s Sara Century to talk the MCU’s latest instalment Agatha All Along ! Created by Jac Scha...

Tangent #15 Josie and the Pussycats (Crossover) I’m joined on this episode by hosts of the Queer Cinema Catch Up Podcast Allison and Joe ! We get into 2001’s Josie and the Pussycats , directed by Harry Elfont and Deborah Kaplan and starring Rachel Leigh Cook, Tara Reid, Rosario Dawson, Alan Cumming, Missy Pyle and Parker Posey. The film was a commercial and critical failure that turned into a cult...

(Preserving Pride Part 1) Trying something a little different and introducing a new format... I started working on this after being advised to stay in doors because the streets we’d marched on were now being threatened by rioters who feel anyone Brown, Black or different doesn’t belong.  Trans Pride Brighton was the first Trans Pride event outside of the United States. It is also one of the larges...

Video episode 3 Back to regular programming! [Part 1 of a series.] Have you ever heard the term 'digital blackface'? The Real Housewives franchise has spawned a million gifs and opinions; all asking if this is how 'we'' should be represented- and what these shows mean for the community. For our third main episode we decided to examine that statement through a discussion about B...

Video Episode 2 Beyonce’s Renaissance is over, now we’ve entered the Age of Enlightenment. Welcome to the rodeo? Yeehaw! I’m joined by Antonia Jade King (poet, writer, and soon to be Dr. AJ writing her thesis about the cultural and historical significance of the Fresh Prince of Bel Air) after watching the Renaissance film for a discussion on Beyoncé and the cultural conversations we’ve been having...

Video episode 1 I'm joined by Ash Alleyne for a discussion about the state of Black representation in superhero, fantasy and science fiction media. + Find out how we also fit the following in: Black Telepaths or the lack of them in comics Reading against the grain Storm & Marvel & The X-Men Aquaman and The Lost Kingdom Uhura & Star Trek Black Panther: Wakanda Forever Insecure Queen...

Here's what you can expect! Referential  is hosted by Dr. Khaliden Nas to have serious conversations about frivolous topics! Each episode takes you on an academically informed deep dive into pop culture and media that never skips out on a stupid joke. Subscribe & join Dr. Khaliden Nas (and the occasional guest!) as we dive into conversations about identity, representation, Blackness, queer...