Duke's Download Hosted by James Duke Mason

In this episode, I sit down with two people whose courage helped change history—Paul Katami and Jeff Zarrillo. You may know their names from the landmark marriage equality case Hollingsworth v. Perry , but getting to hear their story directly is something else entirely. Paul and Jeff take me back to the moment Proposition 8 passed in California and what it felt like to suddenly have their rights s...

In this special New Year’s Eve episode of Duke’s Download , I grab a metaphorical noisemaker, look back at 2025, and say what we’re all thinking: Wow… that was a year. I reflect on the highs, the lows, and the moments that made me stop, stare, and ask, “Is this real life?” I talk about how Duke’s Download continued its mission to bridge the gap between politics and pop culture—sometimes gracefully...

As we roll inot the holidays, I wanted to take a  moment to slow down and say thank you—from the bottom of my heart. When I launched this podcast, I honestly didn’t know what to expect, and the support I’ve received has been overwhelming in the best possible way. From listeners reaching out with kind messages, to the love from the community, to being recognized by outlets like Queerty and WeHo Tim...

In this week’s episode, I wanted to mark World AIDS Month by having an honest, global conversation about where we really are in the fight for equitable health access for gay, bisexual, and queer men. This topic has always been deeply personal to me, and I opened the episode by reflecting on my own connection to the history of HIV and the people who shaped my understanding of activism, loss, and re...

In this episode of Duke's Download, I sit down with Oscar‑winning screenwriter and longtime LGBTQ+ advocate Dustin Lance Black. From the moment we start talking, it’s clear how passionate he is about his newest project, Rock Out —a documentary that uncovers the hidden queer roots of rock and punk music from the ’60s and ’70s. The film is deeply personal for him, inspired by the connection he...

In this episode of Duke's Download , I sit down with Greg Cope White—writer, TV producer, and the mind behind the memoir The Pink Marine , which went on to inspire the Netflix series Boots . Greg opens up about what it was like serving in the Marine Corps as a gay man, how his story grew into a hit show, and the big themes that run through it all: identity, resilience, friendship, and finding...

In this first episode Duke Mason introduces you to his new weekly podcast where he dives into candid conversations about politics and pop culture. He shares a bit of his own story—how his background in activism, journalism, and LGBTQ+ advocacy shaped who he is and why he cares so deeply about these issues. He talks about what sparked his passion for speaking up, and why he believes it’s more impor...