The Play Typer Guy

Joining me today is Mirella Stoyanova, a Seattle-based writer, therapist and international adoptee from Bulgaria of Bulgarian and Iraqi origin. She discusses her experience growing up in a less-than-diverse environment and how she’s worked to reclaim her identity. You’ll hear: How much changed when Mirella came to America Cultural complexities and identity The pressure to conform to as many conven...

In this week’s episode, after watching Governor Gretchen Whitmer step on a political rake by being photographed shaking hands with Trump, I am speaking again with my colleague Noah Berlatsky regarding an article he wrote last month on the different responses Republicans and Democrats have in treating with their political opponents after a loss. When Republicans lose, they tend to say “we were chea...

Democratic National Committee vice chair David Hogg announced his support last week for primary challenges against incumbents in safe seats who he felt aren’t rising to the occasion during Donald Trump’s second nightmare term. This is an obviously controversial position for a DNC official, and it resulted in predictable backlash. Charles Pierce at Esquire wrote, “The one thing that this time in hi...

Joining me today is Lindsey Boylan, who in 2021 was the first of several women to accuse former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo of sexual harassment. Cuomo would eventually resign, under collective pressure from Democrats at the state and national levels. Now, Cuomo is running for mayor of New York, where he’s leading in most polls. This might seem a shocking turn of events in a reality where Donal...

The free world is under assault by unhinged, power-mad billionaires, and we could use a powerful beacon of justice who’s also a crusading journalist. My friend Michael Mora joins me to continue my ongoing discussion about Superman, the progressive champion who happens to come from another planet. You will hear: Is Superman the ultimate story of immigration fraud? How much of Superman’s origin stor...

It’s 1987, and a heartbroken Sam Malone (Ted Danson) has sold his beloved bar Cheers to the massive Lillian corporation — originally called Drox Chemical, Die, and Munitions with the unlikely motto “We care about people.” Sam’s new boss is businesswoman Rebecca Howe (Kirstie Alley), and for the next three years, this faceless corporation where nobody knows anyone’s name would provide a new source...

In this episode, I had the honor of speaking with filmmaker Joy Davenport, whose documentary Fannie Lou Hamer’s America is a must watch. Joy and I had a great conversation about Hamer’s life and activism, as well as the personal inspiration she’s provided. You can find the documentary on YouTube. You will hear: Why Joy felt compelled to tell Ms. Hamer’s story Why more people don’t know about Fanni...

Kaitlin Byrd (Dame Magazine) joins me to discuss what the hell just happened on January 6, 2025. In this episode, we will discuss: The easy concession by Democrats during the vote confirmation on January 6th Problems within the Democratic party and the need for younger people who understand the current political landscape How was Trump even allowed to take office after violating Section 3 of the 1...

Our guest this week is writer and author Matthew K. Manning. Matthew has written hundreds of comics and prose books for a range of publishers, including DC, Marvel, IDW, Scholastic, Disney, and many more. Some standouts are the Batman/Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Adventures, the hardcover The Batman Files, the 12-issue comic series Marvel Action: Avengers, and a recent stint on the Dick Tracy comi...

In this episode, I interviewed author Tim English about his book, The Kennedys' New York: American Royalty in the Greatest City in the World , which I recommend even if Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has permanently soured you on the Kennedy family or if you prefer New Orleans and Barcelona to New York. You will hear: Why Tim chose to write about the Kennedys specifically and how he chose to make it d...

Twilight Zone creator Rod Serling was born on Christmas Day, 1924. I had the great honor of speaking with Emmy-winning writer, Joseph Dougherty (Thirtysomething, Pretty Little Liars), about his new book, Rod Serling at 100: One Writer's Acknowledgement , a wonderful tribute to Serling that examines his work and significant contributions to television. You will hear: Rod Serling’s contribution...

In this episode, I am joined by previous guest and political analyst Cliston Brown for a post-election debrief to talk about what went wrong and what we need to do to get out of this situation going forward. You will hear: Democrats have a problem connecting with everyday “normal” people and how that impacts the voters A realignment is happening along class lines rather than racial or ethnic lines...

Writer Michael Mora joins me to discuss Donald Trump's historic performance among Latino voters in the 2024 election, which should not have come as a surprise to Democrats and pundits. You will hear: How the party bases are treated by Republicans versus Democrats when it comes to speaking out against the radicals amongst them Why Democrats need to divorce themselves from the term “Latino” and...

The Avengers (no, not those Avengers) remains my favorite TV show, so I'm thrilled to speak with author Michael Scott Phillips to discuss his book, Quite Quite Fantastic! The Avengers for Modern Viewers (The Grande Marque Edition) . Pop open the champagne, watch out for diabolical masterminds, and enjoy. You’ll hear: Michael’s interest in British cult (classic) television How the filming of s...

This week we are taking a break from natural disasters and political mayhem to have a pleasant conversation with Oregon’s Mallory Smith from Alt Wine Fest. You will hear: How Mallory got into wine thanks to the owner of a wine and beer bar How she teaches wine classes based on the history and geography of wine using writing and storytelling The creation of the Alt Wine Fest with her partner, Marti...

On this week’s bonus episode, Stephen is joined by actor, writer, and comedian Tess Rafferty. They discuss her wonderful Kat Kelly mystery series and how mysteries can provide a much-needed escape and catharsis during America’s slow creep toward fascism.  You will hear: The inherent interest and sexiness brought out in mystery stories How the election in 2016 impacted Tess’ writing How much of wha...

Author and playwright Laramie Dean (Black Forest) joins me for The Play Typer Guy's second annual Halloween special! This time, we're celebrating the witchy women of the Marvel Cinematic Universe! ( Spoiler Alerts for Agatha All Along included) You will hear: Witches in fiction, from the Weird Sisters in MacBeth to Maleficent and the Evil Queen in Snow White, among others Agatha All Alon...

In this week’s episode, Florida state senator Shevrin Jones discusses the aftermath of Hurricane Helene, climate change, and the Democrats’ chances in this year’s elections. You will hear: Policy conversations that need to be happening, even in states like Florida where the current government officials want to wipe anything to do with climate change off the map, especially with an annual hurricane...

This week, Noah Berlatsky from the Everything Is Horrible newsletter joins me to discuss CNN's misinformation campaign against Rep. Rashida Tlaib. You will hear: How CNN moved the news cycle focus away from Republican Mark Robinson’s declaration of being a “Black Nazi” to smear Representative Tlaib as anti-semetic after expressing concern for anti-Palestenian bias shown by Michigan’s Attorney...

Democrat Ruwa Romman made history in 2022 as the first known Muslim woman elected to the Georgia House of Representatives. The granddaughter of Palestinian refugees, she’s also the first Palestinian-American elected to any office in the state.  I had the opportunity to speak with Rep. Romman about the upcoming election and the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza.  You will hear: Ruwa’s unusual story of how s...

(Recorded before President Joe Biden ended his re-election campaign on July 21) Democrats in tough races this year are asking the incumbent president and presumptive nominee Joe Biden to step aside. This is unprecedented, so political analyst Cliston Brown joins me to unpack why the Biden re-election campaign has become the Hindenburg after the explosion. Can the president turn this around and why...

The showgirl scholar herself, Sailor St. Claire — also known as Stevi Costa, joins me to discuss her work at the Noveltease Theatre in Seattle and the state of theatre during what the government at least considers the post-covid period. You’ll hear: How Noveltease Theatre uses burlesque to drive storytelling forward, harkening back to how burlesque started in the U.S. back in the 1880s How the the...

In the previous episode, I chatted with Gabe Garbowit, former Senate staffer for Democrat Tina Smith, regarding the radicalized Supreme Court and how the party’s leadership has responded in ways not easily understood by the public. In this episode, Gabe and I continue our discussion, so make sure you check out episode 34 for the first part. You’ll hear: Why we hear that crime is up/down or that th...

Gabe Garbowit, former Senate staffer for Tina Smith, joins me to help explain why Senate Democrats, especially in leadership, have responded to a radicalized Supreme Court and GOP in ways that don’t make a lot of sense to us common folk. This is part one of a two-part episode. You're welcome. In this part, you will hear: How things have come to become so radicalized within the U.S. Supreme Co...

My friend Raven Snook is a writer, editor, performer, mom and all-around diva (in the positive sense of the word) who’s currently the Editor of Creative Content for TDF and a contributing theater critic for Time Out New York. She joins me to discuss the Tony Awards and the post-pandemic state of theatre.  You will hear: Raven’s analysis of this season’s Broadway shows and who could win different c...