My Dad Stole My Limelight

In this episode, I sit with Writer, Development Analyst and Fur Baby Mama, Karen'Nicole Mitchell (she/her).   We discuss her flawless submission to a previous mailbag episode, the evolution of our cookie palates, coming out in different spaces and communities, entering chapters of our lives where we begin to explore who we are outwardly, the challenges of discovering identity while growing up in a...

In this episode, I sit with comedian and content creator Maddy Weeks (they/them).   We discuss favourite ice-cream flavours, Maddy's journey into comedy, being allies before coming out, gender envy, coming out on stage via a ukulele song, repressing parts of ourselves as children and having the courage to unlearn being an actor in our own life to become our truest selves! 🌈 Connect with Lauren De...

In this installment of the Limelight Mailbag episodes, I am joined by talented and hilarious comedian, musician, and actress, Ava Val (she/her). We unpack this month's limelight-stealing submission — our first anonymous story! 🌈 Connect with Lauren Deborah and MDSML: -Follow Lauren on Instagram: @hilaurendeborah -Join the FREE mailing list: hilaurendeborah.substack.com   -Tip or buy something fro...

In this episode, I sit with Photographer, Marlo (he/they).   We discuss Marlo's first photographic book, Foreground: Portraits of Older Transgender and Gender Diverse People, older people in the LGBTQIA+ community and their visibility in the media and place within society, different approaches to experimenting with photography, first meeting trans and gender-diverse people in university and Marlo'...

In this episode, I sit with Journalist and Author, Patrick Lenton (he/him). We discuss elevating and normalising bisexual experiences, Nonsense Newsletter, Patrick's debut queer rom-com novel, coming out via a national newspaper, feeling "undercover" without realising, bi-erasure existing the loudest inside of us and the fulfilled dream of annoying people with how queer we are! Connect with MDSML:...

In this instalment of the Limelight Mailbag episodes, I am joined by hilarious comedian and drag sensation Rae Carson (they/them). We unpack this month's limelight-stealing submission from Marian.   Connect with MDSML: -Join the FREE mailing list for queer joy! hilaurendeborah.substack.com   -Email the pod to say hi or share a limelight-stealing story! mydadstolemylimelight@gmail.com -2SLGBTQIA+ r...

In this episode, I sit with a Writer and Therapist, who specialises in working with the LGBTQIA+ community, Tom Smithson (he/him).   We discuss the faith that it gets better, Tom's book that he is writing due for release in 2025, that there is no one way to come out, how what a therapist looks like can affect how much we share with them, the many ways in which Tom finds his work meaningful, and th...

In the second instalment of the Limelight Mailbag episodes, I am joined by my delightful co-host; writer and gecko enthusiast Nessa Chileshe (she/they). We unpack this month's limelight-stealing submission from Fiona.   Connect with MDSML: -Join the FREE mailing list for queer joy! hilaurendeborah.substack.com   -Email the pod to say hi or share a limelight-stealing story! mydadstolemylimelight@gm...

In this episode I sit with researcher and historian, specialising in Australian Indigenous and LGBTIQA+ histories, Noah Riseman (he/him). We discuss the language we use and how that has evolved, the importance and privilege of sharing trans folks' stories, the long history of visibility and activism in Australia and coming out to different family members! Connect with MDSML: -Join the FREE mailing...

In this episode I sit with comedian Tom Ballard (he/him) and discuss coming out over a meat pie, internet browser histories, coming out to ourselves, MySpace, letter-writing as a lost art, lying about being straight to taxi drivers and the insanity of the monarchy!   Connect with MDSML: -Join the FREE mailing list for queer joy! hilaurendeborah.substack.com   -Email the pod to say hi or share a li...

I am honoured that my guest on this episode is comedian and musician Eve Parker Finley (she/her). We talk about the role of her art in her coming out and her emotional well-being. A behind-the-scenes note is that I kept trying to write the show notes for this episode and instead just got distracted multiple times watching clips of Eve performing because she is PURE JOY! Connect with MDSML: -Join t...

In this episode I got to chat with comedian, producer, host of New Moon Comedy and just all round wonderful human, Jackie Hoffart (they/them).   Connect with MDSML: -Join the FREE mailing list for queer joy! hilaurendeborah.substack.com   -Email the pod to say hi or share a limelight-stealing story! mydadstolemylimelight@gmail.com -2SLGBTQIA+ resources   In this episode: -Check out New Moon Comedy...

In this month's (and our first ever) Limelight Mailbag episode, I am joined by my wonderful co-host; filmmaker, podcaster, writer and dear friend Jason T. Gaffney! (P.S. I get so excited my voice goes high-pitched several times and Zoom is like "Nope! No sound here!") We unpack this month's limelight-stealing submission from Karen'Nicole. Connect with MDSML: -Join the FREE mailing list for queer j...

Silvi Vann-Wall (they/them) is a writer, film critic, improv comedian and as I excitedly learned in our chat, also a frog enthusiast.   I was introduced to their work via an important piece they published for the ABC (see the resources below) and was so honoured to get to know more about them and their journey.   Connect with MDSML: -Join the FREE mailing list for queer joy! hilaurendeborah.substa...

-Join the FREE mailing list for queer joy! hilaurendeborah.substack.com   -Email the pod to say hi or share a limelight-stealing story! mydadstolemylimelight@gmail.com -2SLGBTQIA+ resources Curtis Campbell is a playwright, novelist, theatremaker, director and producer. Dragging Mason County, Curtis' YA book was released last fall. Around Toronto, you may see Curtis being awesome in the comedy worl...

Connect with MDSML: -Join the FREE mailing list for queer joy! hilaurendeborah.substack.com   -Email the pod to say hi or share a limelight-stealing story! mydadstolemylimelight@gmail.com -2SLGBTQIA+ resources Neut (they/them/their) is back, pals! What a treat! They are such a wonderful person to chat with and I am thrilled we get more of their wonderfulness for your listening pleasure. In this ep...

Connect with MDSML: -Join the FREE mailing list for queer joy! hilaurendeborah.substack.com   -Email the pod to say hi or share a limelight-stealing story! mydadstolemylimelight@gmail.com -2SLGBTQIA+ resources Joanne Tsung (she/her) is back to let y'all know gays are taking over the world! I had such a great time chatting with her last time, I wanted to do it all again. PLUS! We needed the ending...

Connect with MDSML: -Join the FREE mailing list for queer joy! hilaurendeborah.substack.com   -Email the pod to say hi or share a limelight-stealing story! mydadstolemylimelight@gmail.com -2SLGBTQIA+ resources I love my two sisters Lolo (she/her) and Brooke (she/her) and as you listen you will quickly discover why. Here they are, the muses and magical beings themselves, on the podcast, finally. I...

Connect with MDSML: -Join the FREE mailing list for queer joy! hilaurendeborah.substack.com   -Email the pod to say hi or share a limelight-stealing story! mydadstolemylimelight@gmail.com -2SLGBTQIA+ resources Steve Sidi (he/him) is back! You first met Steve in Season 2 (which is baffling to me I waited so long to have him on and my only conclusion is that he means so much to me that I was too ner...

Connect with MDSML: -Join the FREE mailing list for queer joy! hilaurendeborah.substack.com   -Email the pod to say hi or share a limelight-stealing story! mydadstolemylimelight@gmail.com -2SLGBTQIA+ resources I AM SO EXCITED TO BE BACK IN YOUR EARS WITH NEW EPISODES! I had the pleasure of seeing AJ Norris (he/they) perform comedy when I was in Seattle recently and I knew I had to introduce myself...

Connect with MDSML: -Join the FREE mailing list for queer joy! hilaurendeborah.substack.com   -Email the pod to say hi or share a limelight-stealing story! mydadstolemylimelight@gmail.com -2SLGBTQIA+ resources Cass Furman (she/her) brings a beautiful balance of laughs and 'things I am going to write in my diary later' in this episode! Cass is a comedian and actor and shares so many lovely gems in...

Connect with MDSML: -Join the FREE mailing list for queer joy! hilaurendeborah.substack.com   -Email the pod to say hi or share a limelight-stealing story! mydadstolemylimelight@gmail.com -2SLGBTQIA+ resources Niki Mohrdar (she/her) is a stand-up comedian and podcaster (she's ⅓ of the podcast Soft For Us, amazing!). In this episode, Niki shares her perspective as a Middle Eastern woman on queernes...

Connect with MDSML: -Join the FREE mailing list for queer joy! hilaurendeborah.substack.com   -Email the pod to say hi or share a limelight-stealing story! mydadstolemylimelight@gmail.com -2SLGBTQIA+ resources This week I got to chat with the hilarious Joanne Tsung (she/her), who I now want to be my BFF and share demisexual memes with all day every day. Joanne is a comedian and writer who has been...

Connect with MDSML: -Join the FREE mailing list for queer joy! hilaurendeborah.substack.com   -Email the pod to say hi or share a limelight-stealing story! mydadstolemylimelight@gmail.com -2SLGBTQIA+ resources Cassidy Anhorn (she/her) is a comedian, writer and producer. You may have seen her on stages around Vancouver and Canada, heard her on her JFL Originals tracks in their 2023 Album (which was...

Connect with MDSML: -Join the FREE mailing list for queer joy! hilaurendeborah.substack.com   -Email the pod to say hi or share a limelight-stealing story! mydadstolemylimelight@gmail.com -2SLGBTQIA+ resources Patti Savard (she/her) is a comedian who likes to not take herself too seriously. She has found that comedy has been a way to "find the lightness in the dark".  Being a comedian, Patti hopes...