Referential

Dropcall #9 Ashley and Victor came to visit me in my new flat and I decided to record it. Chaos ensues. Topics covered include: Victor hates K-Pop Demon Hunters Ashley and Khaliden loved K-Pop Demon Hunters Wallace and Gromit is not a children’s film We debate if most of American Animation is for children. What’s the state of Western Adult Animation today? Common Side Effects, Blue-Eyed Samurai, P...

New Series! MIXepisodes: Where I'm joined by past guests and new to talk about, what I’ve been, calling their ‘cornerstone album’. We go in depth and track by track on some of our favourite musical projects to break apart what it’s doing, why we love it and why it’s important.  On the second chair, I'm joined by Black Fat Femme Podcast's Dr Jonathan Paul Higgins to talk about the album...

*'Or why we're skipping Scream 7' Drop Call #8 Victor and I did not watch Scream 7 and tell you all about why. Then we talk about our history with the Scream franchise Distracting yourself. Haden Panitierre’s Scream Jenny McCarthy’s Scream Heather Graham’s Scream Jennifer Love Hewitt’s Ghost Whisperer Aisha Tyler’s Bruce Willis  Bangs The bear necessities Nostalgic for nostalgia Footlo...

Drop Call #7 Victor watched Emerald Fennell’s ' Wuthering Heights' and gives me his review before we unpack Netflix’s new documentary series ‘ Reality Check: Inside America's Next Top Model’ about Tyra Banks and America’s Next Top Model . The controversial reality show that ran from 2003 to 2018 and has been getting reappraised by the TikTok era. Brontë Classics Tyra Banks  The Netflix...

Part 2! It is currently 2026, I initially wanted to put this series out a lot quicker! (Many these conversations I’ve been holding on to for a few months now!) I’ve been feeling a little guilty about the delay, until recently I decided that it’s a good thing. It’s meant I spent a lot of the past year thinking about this one topic.  This episode spans 3 different conversations I’ve had this past ye...

"We will not give in. We will not give up. We will not bow. We will not beg. We will not capitulate. We will survive." - Sarah Savage (Trans Pride Brighton CEO) Captured sounds and interviews from Trans Pride Brighton 2025. Trans Pride Brighton was the first Trans Pride event outside of the United States. It is also one of the largest, gathering tens of thoughts of Trans people and allies...

Drop Call #6 Victor and I try to make sense of why 2026 is starting with all the queers getting ‘cancelled’.  “Cancellation” Memetic Pile Ons Ginger Minj Vs The World Escape from Gag City Bowen Yang and Matt Rogers Dylan Mulvaney Professor Mel Curth Heated Rivalry (again again) The gays in the bubble Gotmik and Violet Chachki and Marilyn Manson Lindsay Ellis and Victor Vs Raya the Last Dragon Cont...

Video available to view on the Spotify app or YouTube _________ 'The Imperial Sessions Part 2' Conversations on Fascism & Media   / Video Episode 5 Vid version updates on Youtube + Spotify some weeks after initial audio-only release. Ancient Hatreds (Or New Antisemitism, and the Left’s ‘Muslim Problem’ with Dr. Jonathan Galton) In Part 2 of The Imperial Sessions series I'm joined b...

RE-RELEASE A lot of you joined us since the first days of the pod so I figured I'd re-up the first ever test episode of REFERENTIAL recorded with the one and only Miss Sundi for those of you who mixed it! Give it a listen and REFERENTIAL will be back with you proper in a few days! ---------- Tangent Episode #1** *Apologies for the audio quality! It's not too bad but we were still learning....

Drop Call #5 Victor and I review Pillion and catch up on all the gay media that's been hitting 'the discourse' SPOILERS Pillion Dudley in the closet Heated Rivalry (again) Fujoshis Vs Jordan Firstman Gay v Queer media Rotting in the Sun AMC's Anne Rice's Interview With the Vampire Paper Bag Girls I Love LA Drag Race Susan Sontag Camp Sexy Henry? Phantom Thread ________ Directed...

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...