Going There: Taboo Topics Are Back on the Table

Furries, Swingers & Doms! Oh my! We end Season 1 exploring kink, fetish & lifestyles. Rara & Dara of the Pink Kink Podcast teach us about kink and do some myth-busting. Our friend Carter shares personal & community aspects of furries, plushies & inflatophiles. Brenna & Brian of the Front Porch Swingers podcast help convince LeJon he may need to be ethically non-monogamous. It’s all about explorati...

The hosts turn to speakers in the climate space for guidance, insight & hope. New Zealander, Mark Spencer of the Climactic Podcast, shares witnessing the real effects of climate change throughout the world and getting certified in Al Gore’s climate initiative. The titular host of Talking Climate Change with Yash Negi, from India, talks about his scholastic studies & activism as he tries to educate...

Hassan Rogers rejoins the hosts for a conversation on homophobia & transphobia through different social lenses. They discuss how this bigotry varies from white, black & brown communities, to religious, academic & other subsets of our culture. Hassan’s colleagues Tabitha and Syrmylin call in to tell their unique stories in navigating the LGBTQ+ experience and judgment. Plus Natalie Martin shares he...

Nicola Graham aka the Anti-Racist White Chick shares valuable insight on what it looks like to be white and stand against racial injustice. The hosts talk discuss their own prejudices and how awareness & the willingness to engage on the topic is where it all begins. They share methods & resources for starting your antiracist journey. Musician Caleb Hudson aka A Boy Named Barbara urges you to Do Yo...

Blogger Mattie Jo Cowsert talks about the role of religion in our understanding of sexual identity, & how her journey from purity culture to spiritual reconstruction led to her documenting her tale. As a Missourian, middle class girl, moving to NYC to live amongst the filthy rich, non-Christian, homosexual & anything but ‘midwest-normal’ opened her eyes & heart to new people & truths. Mo’ Sweets o...

Our justice system is overtly flawed, but prison & punishment keep out of public view much of the time. LeJon shares his personal story of spending 6 months in prison, what put him there and how he views rehabilitation and redemption. Several guests join the conversation to share their own experiences with the justice system, private prisons, incarceration and helping inmates, old and young alike....

Financial Advisor Tom Hill joins the hosts for a discussion on Capitalism and the rigged game of Monopoly. They talk about red lining and the systemic issues that still play out today, as well as how the terms Socialism and Communism are incorrectly shouted in the public forum. Are Billionaires immoral? Is the wealth gap reasonable? Who gets a piece of the pie? As they try to answer these question...

Lindsay & Matt share their experiences of fertility treatments and having a miscarriage, and the hosts discuss the expectations of making babies & the stigma of infertility. Dr. Shannon Clark, MD, MMS, FACOG, Obstetrician, Maternal-Fetal Medicine Specialist and TikTok phenom joins the show to tell her pregnancy story & why she started @BabiesAfter35. Plus Lindsay’s friends Renae & Sarah add some i...

Former Akron Beacon Journal Editor/VP & recently retired Professor, Jan Leach, joins the podcast to discuss fake news and our troubling lack of news media literacy. She and the hosts help decipher the differences in misinformation, disinformation, conspiracies, satire and the label of “fake news.” They cover the Conspiracy Theory Chart from @abbiesr and people choosing their own facts. Joe Maxx Co...

The group celebrates the holidays and Matt’s birthday by taking a break from the heavy to have some fun, nostalgic and self-indulgent conversations. Jo gets to share her love for ancient aliens, LeJon rattles off show theme and title ideas, and Matt brings in multiple guests from his past and present. Tina from the FB group Indie Pods United stops by. And a long-time friend of Matt’s, E.W. Harris,...

The hosts tackle mental health head-on, with help from their guest Olivia Queener, a mother, veteran and PTSD survivor. She shares her very personal stories of being bullied in the military, her family’s stigma in seeking help, and losing her son to suicide. They call in a licensed therapist and counselor, Mandy Kirsch, to guide the group through much of the conversation; offering experience and i...

Palliative Chaplain, Shannon M. Blower, rejoins the hosts for a discussion on the interpretation of sacred texts by groups and individuals who use them to play into political and social agendas. Shannon sheds a light on what "Sin" might actually mean and how to address it for our own mental health. Does God choose the President? Are natural disasters meant to happen? Is Jesus a Browns fan? The opi...

The sex industry has been a multi-billion dollar piece of our society for decades while simultaneously being condemned by many of its consumers. Ellie Bou joins the show to share her experience as a webcam model and phone sex operator. They discuss to the stigmas of sex as well as the common kinks that people keep hidden. They put on their "Sunglasses at Night" with the band Titans in Time to disc...

The divisiveness of politics grew to a breaking point in 2021 as we watched racist, antisemitic, anti-maskers violently break into the U.S. Capitol. Matt's State Representative, Casey Weinstein, talks about what it's like to govern during this time, trying to course-correct bad policies, especially as a Jewish man during the reemergence of Nazis and Anti-Semites. The music and food is all about su...

Veteran news personality and public speaker, Catherine Bosley, joins the cast to share her story about humiliation and bullying after a wet t-shirt contest nearly destroyed her career and ended her life. Her story is ultimately about redemption and finding inner strength to fight back. Don't be too quick to judge; there's always more than meets the eye. The hosts help soothe the pain with the heal...

The Man. The Myth. The Legend. Larry Hankin. Maybe you know him as Mr. Heckles from "Friends" - perhaps Charlie Butts from "Escape from Alcatraz" - or even Crazy Carl from "Billy Madison"! Our hosts get the chance to commiserate and laugh with this veteran actor, comedian, and Oscar nominee as he shares his trials & tribulations of being a dyslexic performer in Hollywood. Between Fressh Prep's...

Communications professional, Luke Frazier, shares the story of his voyage from addict to recovering soul. Matt, LeJon and Jo offer up views on the different perspectives surrounding the issue, from enabler to ally, denier to accuser. When it comes to addiction, the greatest weapon is communication. Don’t be afraid to say or ask the things that are important, whether it’s to save your life or that...

Comedian/Activist Molly Gaebe of Abortion Access Front joins the hosts to discuss perhaps the most divisive taboo topic, abortion. Personal experiences and journeys are shared as the group attempts to find reasonable understanding on many sides of the issue. If you’ve ever thrown a brick through a Planned Parenthood window with no regrets...this might not be for you. This taboo episode includes so...

Shannon M. Blower, a community hospital Palliative Chaplain, discusses with the group the taboo topic of death. We all live and we all die. But what does that look like and what priorities and purposes do we experience in our final days and moments? The hosts share what they believe death and beyond might look like as they approach a somber reality with levity and openness. Wine and food help the...

Does this man's voice sound familiar to you? The gang is joined by voiceover artist and former PR director, Joe Cali, to unpack the issues that have surrounded the 2020 election, pre and post, and how social media has played a pivotal role in the divisiveness of our country. They listen to some musical stylings of Demure for Sure as they taste-test some awesome smoothies (and ginger shots) from th...

The creator of the social media sensation, @KarensGoingWilds, Pavel Paulinich joins the hosts for a talk about homophobia, racism, xenophobia and the mindsets behind these movements. Pavel shares his story about emigrating from Peru, learning about our culture and getting involved in politics and activism...and of course, calling out the Karens. Including some awesome Peruvian food talk and music...

Communications professional and award-winning musician Chris B. Harris, aka DJ $crilla, joins the podcast to share his talents and his story. Chris was a 2020 Pfizer COVID vaccine test subject. The group talks about his experience and the ins and outs of the why, how and what. Including several music snippets from DJ $crilla’s “Hustle Reign Supreme” album and delicious food from JB’s Grill in CLE....

Matt’s colleague, Michael Madgar shares his experiences as a first-time voter in the 2020 Presidential Election.  As a previous critic of all things politics, he talks about his change of heart and what led to his involvement in the democratic process.  They discuss how every aspect of the pandemic year was politicized by people on all sides.  Including the music of Mike’s band, King Buu, and some...

The podcast gets its very first guest, Hassan Rogers, who helps the hosts navigate a conversation on white privilege and racism in modern America.  The deep-dive analysis uses candor, challenging questions, levity and some activities from the book My Grandmother’s Hands by Resmaa Menakem.  Including the musical stylings of Bobby Dragon. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Matt, LeJon and Jo introduce themselves and the theme of the podcast, while they unpack the ups and downs of life during the pandemic.  Their candid conversation includes some clips from a healthcare worker friend and her experience with catching COVID-19.  Including the music of Lou Harris and beer selections from Missing Mountain Brewing Co. of Cuyahoga Falls, OH. See omnystudio.com/listener for...