The Queerest Podcast

The Queerest Podcast is back, and Season 2 begins with one deeply inconvenient question: what if the “normal” life you were taught to want was just heterosexuality with better branding? In the Season 2 premiere, Andraé sits down with cultural historian Dr. Nicole Rizzuto to unpack compulsory heterosexuality: the social script that treats straightness as the default and quietly shapes who we date,...

Why has horror always felt so familiar to queer audiences? In this episode of The Queerest Podcast, host Andraé BVR is joined by writer-director Amir Moini to explore why fear, transformation, and otherness sit at the heart of LGBTQ+ storytelling. Long before representation was explicit, horror offered queer viewers coded mirrors — outsiders, monsters, and survivors navigating worlds that wanted t...

What happens when drag kings don’t just perform masculinity—but reshape it entirely? In this episode of The Queerest Podcast, host Andraé BVR speaks with Johnny Gentleman—the Latinx, Indigenous, trans-masc force behind Dapper Puss and The Last Gentleman, two platforms transforming Los Angeles’ drag scene. Through a fusion of artistry and activism, Johnny builds stages for kings, non-binary perform...

Can a meal be an act of liberation? Okra has long symbolized health, prosperity, and community in Black food traditions—a seed carried through the Middle Passage that continues to grow today. For The Okra Project, it’s more than a vegetable. It’s a promise. In this episode of The Queerest Podcast, host Andraé BVR speaks with Gabrielle Inès Souza, Executive Director of The Okra Project, to explore...

What if queerness wasn’t a contradiction, but a compass? In this episode of The Queerest Podcast, host Andraé BVR speaks with author, artist, and equity strategist Dr. Raja Gopal Bhattar about their visually rich and deeply personal new book, Queering Constellations: Mapping This Journey Called Life. Blending memoir, community wisdom, beautiful illustrations, and interactive reader prompts, the bo...

How are queer couples redefining parenthood today? Eden and Jay Treviño —creators of Preciosa Night, a grassroots space for queer women of color, gender non-conforming people, and the Latinx/Latiné community—share their journey from nightlife to family life. After navigating in vitro fertilization as a mixed-sexuality couple, they are now raising baby Jayden while continuing to grow community thro...

What happens when a government decides love is a threat? In the 1950s, the Lavender Scare quietly purged LGBTQ+ people from government, media, and culture under the same paranoia that fueled McCarthyism. In this episode of The Queerest Podcast, host Andraé BVR and cultural historian Dr. Nicole Rizzuto unpack this hidden history—from the surveillance of Billie Holiday to the contradictions of J. Ed...

What does it mean to turn unimaginable loss into lasting change? After losing her close friend Drew Leinonen in the Pulse Nightclub shooting, writer and strategist Sara Elizabeth Grossman co-founded the DRU Project to carry forward his vision of a world where queer youth are safe, supported, and empowered. In this episode of The Queerest Podcast, host Andraé BVR speaks with Sara about transforming...

What makes queer cinema so enduring—and why does it matter now more than ever? In this episode of The Queerest Podcast, host Andraé BVR is joined by legendary film critic, podcaster, and author Alonso Duralde to explore the power and legacy of LGBTQ+ storytelling on screen. As the author of Hollywood Pride: A Celebration of LGBTQ+ Representation and Perseverance in Film, Alonso takes us on a journ...

What does it take to lead a global movement for queer youth? On this episode of The Queerest Podcast, host Andraé BVR speaks with Brian Wenke, Executive Director of It Gets Better—the world’s largest LGBTQ+ youth empowerment organization. Since 2016, Brian has expanded the project from a viral video campaign into a multilingual, multi-continent platform centering queer youth through storytelling,...

How can weddings become symbols of love, resistance, and equality? In Queerly Beloved: Love and Marriage Equality, host Andraé BVR and his husband Albert share their journey of planning a wedding that celebrated their identities while challenging societal norms. Together, they explore how their celebration connects to the broader fight for marriage equality and the enduring power of queer love. Th...

What does it mean to rewrite the narrative—on your own terms? In this episode of The Queerest Podcast, host Andraé BVR is joined by Marie-Adélina de la Ferrière—equalpride’s Community Editor and your favorite Lovable Trans Auntie—to talk Black trans joy, storytelling as survival, and the radical power of being seen. From the media myths she’s helping dismantle to the unlikely journey of acceptance...

How can technology combat human trafficking and protect LGBTQ+ individuals at risk of homelessness? In Stepping into the Spotlight: Human Trafficking, LGBTQ+ Homelessness & Tech Solutions, host Andraé BVR and Kristin Boorse, CEO of Spotlight, discuss the systemic vulnerabilities that leave LGBTQ+ individuals at risk of exploitation. Together, they uncover how innovative technology is empowerin...

What challenges are LGBTQ+ youth facing today—and how can we be part of the solution? LGBTQ+ youth continue to face significant mental health struggles, often rooted in the environments around them rather than their identities. In this episode of The Queerest Podcast, host Andraé BVR is joined by Juan Acosta, an award-winning mental health advocate and author, who began his work in activism at jus...

Why do queer women in media often meet tragic ends, and what does this mean for representation? In Dead Lesbian Trope: Why Queer Women Deserve Better, host Andraé BVR and Dr. Nicole Rizzuto explore the cultural and psychological impact of the Dead Lesbian Syndrome trope. Together, they examine its roots, its effects on LGBTQ+ audiences, and the movement for better representation. This episode is a...

What does it take for LGBTQ+ students to succeed in academia? In Point Foundation: LGBTQ+ Inclusion in Higher Education, host Andraé BVR and Jorge Valencia, Executive Director of Point Foundation, explore how mentorship, advocacy, and financial aid create opportunities for LGBTQ+ students to thrive. Together, they discuss the unique challenges queer students face and share inspiring success storie...

What does it take to reimagine healthcare through a queer lens—and who gets to define what “inclusive care” really means? In Fluid Health: The Future of Queer Care, host Andraé BVR dives into the transformative vision of Dr. Varuna Srinivasan. A physician, public health expert, and sex columnist for Allure, Dr. Srinivasan shares how their experiences as a nonbinary bisexual advocate inform their g...

How are LGBTQ+ businesses building resilience and reshaping industries? In The Queerency The Future of LGBTQ+ Business, host Andraé BVR and Travers Johnson, CEO of Queerency, explore the rise of queer entrepreneurship and its cultural impact. Together, they discuss the origin of LGBTQ+ Business Week, the challenges of queer-owned businesses, and the broader power of “pink money.” This episode show...