The Play Typer Guy

In this episode, Sci-Fi/Fantasy author M.H. Ayinde and I discuss the racial politics at the core of Doctor Who’s “Dot and Bubble.” We also discuss Modupe’s debut novel, A Song of Legends Lost, launching in 2025, how it came to be, and more about the publishing journey itself.  You will hear: Moving forward in the face of rejection Finding space in the Sci-Fi/Fantasy genre as a POC Looking at colon...

Lawyer, professor, and all-around whiz Madiba Dennie joins us for a lively discussion about her debut book, "The Originalism Trap, How Extremists Stole The Constitution And How We The People Can Take It Back." Dennie's legal and political commentary has been featured in The Atlantic, The Washington Post, and more. She's shared her views about race, gender, and the law on BBC an...

Friend of the podcast Dr. Andrew Erdman joins us to discuss Beautiful: The Story of Julian Eltinge, America's Greatest Female Impersonator . His book is a compelling read about a major figure on stage and screen who was sadly forgotten although his legacy endures today. I enjoyed chatting with Andy about Eltinge’s career and this fascinating period in pop culture history.  “Beautiful” is out...

Artist and activist Tina Duryea joins us today to discuss Democratic politics and how "preachy females" will continue to play a key role in the party whether fossils like James Carville like it or not.  You Will Hear: Too many men (and women) want women to “stay in their place” The problem with James Carville and the rest of the fossils Feminism and “wokeness” West Wing Syndrome The prob...

In this episode, I am joined by Emily Taylor, professor at Presbyterian College and the author of Hot Feminism: Letters from South Carolina . We had a great conversation about reproductive freedom, local politics, and a state we both love.  You’ll hear:  The beginnings of Hot Feminism How Trump’s presidency brought out the hidden racism in our country and realizing that it wasn’t allocated to just...

Voting advocate Jamie Lynn Crofts joins me to discuss some promising developments in Wisconsin  — goodbye forever gerrymandered maps! We also explore the outsized role Wisconsin plays in the presidential election and why we’re cautiously optimistic that the purple state will reject Donald Trump again. It’s a good time, so pull up a comfy chair and enjoy! You will hear: How the new maps approved in...

In this episode, Ed Oswald and I look at the similarities and differences between the campaigns of Ronald Reagan and Donald Trump. Both ran on nostalgia with the idea of “making America great again,” both were Democrats for a large part of their lives, and both were incredibly media savvy. Ed is the author of From Ronald to Donald: How the Myth of Reagan Became the Cult of Trump . You will hear: P...

In this episode, I am chatting with my friend Danny Horn, the writer behind the Dark Shadows Every Day and Superheroes Every Day blogs. He has a new project coming out soon, The Fantastic Miss Piggy podcast that will discuss the history, analysis, and celebration of this cultural icon, which can be found on the site toughpigs.com . This is a really entertaining episode! You’ll hear: Talk about 196...

In this episode, I am joined by legal journalist Liz Dye from the Law and Chaos newsletter and podcast to help answer some questions about the state of Donald Trump's legal issues. Short answer, the courts probably won't save us. The long answer is sure to entertain! You’ll hear: The likelihood of Trump’s cases actually going to trial What things could look like if Trump is re-elected Re...

In this week’s episode, I am joined by Democratic political commentator Kaivan Shroff to talk about the aftermath of the New Hampshire primary. We discuss how the race for the Republican nomination hasn't actually changed (and probably won't). We also take a deep dive into Nikki Haley's views on race and how appeasing the GOP's extremist, anti-Black MAGA base is a disturbing pr...

In this episode, I chat with Democratic candidate for Congress for Oregon’s 3rd District, Nolan Bylenga. Nolan, who last ran for office in 2020, heads into the primary with some stiff competition against people with experience and a lot of money, but aren’t necessarily shoo-ins, so he feels there is a chance for a new type of candidate. He has experience organizing community events, such as a Blac...

The incredibly talented Eliza Jane Schneider is an actor, singer, and dialect coach, who set out to travel the country (in an ambulance) and eventually the rest of the English speaking world collecting sounds of dialects from everywhere during the pre-internet days, which she assumed would take a month. But 30 years later, she’s still at it!  I'm a big fan of Eliza's going back to her wo...

Singer, dancer, writer, and comedian Leah Sprecher joins me today, though you might not recognize her at first - she’s most well known for her breakout sketch character born on the Groundlings stage, Broadway Barbara Dixon! I first caught wind of her through social media and her hilarious videos on YouTube. You can check those out in the links below.  You’ll hear: How Broadway Barbara came to be L...

In this episode, I chat with author Alana Best about her memoir, Around The World In Black and White , where she details her experiences traveling the globe as a white mother in a biracial, blended family. Alana did not set out on her travels expecting to write a book, but as they walked through the world, the vast differences between how she was treated versus how her partner was treated could no...

Author and Playwright Laramie Dean joins me in this episode to pay tribute to the wonderful Lara Parker, who passed away last week. Parker played Angelique Collins in the 1960s Dark Shadows series. Laramie and I share our favorite memories of Angelique and discuss the character’s enduring impact. You’ll hear: Challenges with processing the death of your icons Favorite moments of Angelique Collins...

This week I have with me Erica C. Barnett, an award-winning journalist and author from Seattle who has spent a great amount of time covering the story from January of Kevin Dave, a Seattle police officer who struck and killed 23 year old grad student Jaahnavi Kandula in a marked crosswalk going 74 mph in a 25 mph zone. Through records requests, the gruesome video has been released. And strangely,...

Opal Peachey is an incredibly talented writer and performer from Seattle who is bringing her unique brand of joy to the Portland area. Her new show, The Fairy’s Bottom , will play in PDX from October 5 - 8. The comedy is cheeky,  a little dirty, and always a delight. We talk theater, Shakespeare, and more!  You will hear: The importance of engaging with the audience in these types of entertainment...

My Wonkette colleague Jamie Lynn Crofts joins me to discuss Donald Trump’s mounting indictment collection. It’s gonna be wild! Jamie does policy work in Wisconsin and is going to help walk me through the many, many, many indictments of former president, Donald Trump, beginning with the most recent as of this recording, regarding attempts to overthrow the 2020 election in the state of Georgia. We w...

In today’s episode, I am happy to have Laura Bogart, author of Don’t You Know I Love You and essays surrounding pop culture, feminism, and more. Recently. Laura penned a must-read feature for Dame Magazine about her relationship with Barbie and talks with me about her thoughts on the Greta Gerwig/Margot Robie billion dollar movie. You will hear: Laura’s joy at the experience of attending the movie...

In this episode I am happy to have a very talented guest with me. Gin Hammond is an actress and author, and her book is now out, Returning the Bones . Gin talks about her personal connection to the book and how she ventured to seek out relatives she had never met to learn more about her own background and stories from her family’s history. You’ll hear: What caused Gin to turn her play into a book...

This episode, Stephen talks with Meagan Hatcher-Mays, Director of Democracy Policy at Indivisible and founder of the Unrig the Courts Coalition regarding the issues with our current Supreme Court and how no matter the makeup of the executive and legislative branches, they have the power to overturn just about anything. Many of us grew up seeing the Court as a place of neutrality that helped expand...

This week, Stephen sits down with Jasmine Joshua, a Seattle writer, producer, actor and director to chat about flipping the script in theater! Together, they talk about taking established works like 1776 and reimagining them through the lens of casting, design and queering the cannon.  You’ll hear: When does context break the story How Jasmine help produce the first all female full production of 1...

Did you hear my awesome chat with writer/director David Avallone? If not, go listen to episode 9 and then come back. It was so great that we kept talking and today are sharing the rest of this interview. We dive deep into some of the issues we are facing today. You will hear: Could Blazing Saddles and similar films be made today? The power/danger of likability in politics Is the Republican party s...

Let’s talk comedy!! My guest today is writer/director David Avallone, who’s currently writing some very funny comics featuring Elvira, Mistress of the Dark! We discuss the wonderful Cassandra Peterson, classic comedy, and scoff at the losers who claim “wokeness” would’ve cancelled “Blazing Saddles.” And what about that new Disney live-action "Little Mermaid"? You will also hear: Finding...

On this week’s episode, Rita Harris, State Representative from Florida talks with me about the absurd laws being pushed through in the state and where the focus should really be. Rita also talks about the Florida she wants to see. You’ll hear: How dangerous politically Ron DeSantis has become over the past few years The importance of accessible abortions, better sex education in schools, and avail...