This Queer Book Saved My Life
Fans of On Being and Los Culturistas love this 2024 GLAAD Media Award nominee for Outstanding Podcast. Featuring Carmen Maria Machado, Alison Bechdel, Jennifer Finney Boylan, Greg Louganis, Becky Albertalli, and so many more, guests from across the rainbow tell these authors how their books helped them overcome alienation, gender dysphoria, familial homophobia, and being outed. Essayist and Lambda Literary Fellow John Parker hosts the conversations with a gentle and energetic style, standing in as conversational partner for posthumous authors. Stay tuned to off-weeks which features new episodes of 7 Minutes in Book Heaven and The Gaily Show.
Episodes
136 episodes
The Gaily Show: States’ Power to Fight the Trump Admin
Our next episode of This Queer Book Saved My Life drops May 19th! In our off weeks we air episodes from The Gaily Show. It's the only daily LGBTQ news and talk show in the US! John hosts it and it airs on AM950-KTNF, WCPT 820 AM, and weekly on ...
Carol with Lynette D'Amico
This book was a vivid portrayal of queer desire. It didn't have a happy ending, but it had a positive ending.Today we meet Lynette D'Amico and we’re talking about the queer book that saved her life: Carol by Patricia Highsmith.<...
Gay New York with Gabriel Rotello
Between 50-75% of my friends died of AIDS. I was trying to figure out what had happened to our community.Today we meet Gabriel Rotello and we’re talking about the queer book that saved his life: Gay New York by George Chauncey.<...
The Velvet Rage with Max Hovey
This book helped me understand my brain and in particular the queer brain.Today we meet Max Hovey and we’re talking about the queer book that saved his life: The Velvet Rage by Alan Downs.Max Hovey is a London-based write...
The Passion with Sarah Stone
This book has a very fabulous determined, genderfluid, and Bi character. Reading her released something in me.Today we meet Sarah Stone and we’re talking about the queer book that saved their life: The Passion by Jeanette Winter...
Will Grayson, Will Grayson with Jake Stepansky and David Levithan
Will I as a queer person be able to live openly, boldly, and out of the shadows?Today we meet Jake Stepansky and we’re talking about the queer book that saved his life: Will Grayson, Will Grayson by David Levithan and John Green...
Reverie with William Ollayos and Ryan La Sala
What happens when the world tells you you're too much and you start shrinking yourself to survive?Today we meet William Ollayos and we’re talking about the queer book that saved his life: Reverie by Ryan La Sala. And Ryan joins ...
The Prince of Los Cocuyos with Karsten Vagner and Richard Blanco
This question has followed me around my whole life: where do I come from?Today we meet Karsten Vagner and we’re talking about the queer book that saved his life: The Prince of Los Cocuyos by Richard Blanco. And Richard joins us ...
Giovanni's Room with Michael Horvich
In some ways, the characters in this book were my first lovers.Today we meet Michael Horvich and we're talking about the queer book that saved his life: Giovanni's Room by James Baldwin.Michael is a retired Elementary Sch...
Lost Prophet: The Life and Times of Bayard Rustin with Lucas F. Schleusener and John D’Emilio
How can we hold together idealism and authenticity even when the world is homophobic?Today we meet Lucas F. Schleusener and we’re talking about the queer book that saved his life: Lost Prophet: The Life and Times of Bayard Rustin
The Satyricon with Neil Laird
One of the world's oldest surviving novels was a queer book?!Today we meet Neil Laird and we’re talking about the queer book that saved his life: The Satyricon by Petronius.Neil is a multiple Emmy-nominated Executive Prod...
7 Minutes in Book Heaven with Anne Laughlin and Clean Kill
We have a new episode of This Queer Book Saved My Life on December 16th! Today, Once Upon a Crime Books presents 7 Minutes in Book Heaven, the podcast where we interview LGBTQ authors about the new books they have coming out for us to love and ...
Coming Out with Bobbie Smith
Can you have a happy ending in a gay relationship?Today we meet Bobbie Smith and we’re talking about the queer book that saved his life: Coming Out by Wallace Hamilton.Bobbie has been a community activist for 35 years. He...
Nightwood with Lauren Sanders
Am I in love with a woman or am I a woman who's in love with women?Today we meet Lauren Sanders and we’re talking about the queer book that saved her life: Nightwood by Djuna Barnes.Lauren Sanders (she/they) is t...
One Last Stop with AJ Writer
A lot of us get to our 30s and we don't know what the next step is. Sometimes you make a big pivot.Today we meet Aj Writer and we’re talking about the queer book that saved his life: One Last Stop by Casey McQuiston.Aj Wr...
Good Times/Bad Times with Joel Freedman
This book flipped on a lot of switches in my head.Today we meet Joel Freedman and we’re talking about the queer book that saved his life: Good Times/Bad Times by James Kirkwood.Joel Freedman taught English at a college-pr...
The Hobbit with Troy Ford
How do I move forward in life without any queer representation in my life?Today we meet Troy Ford and we’re talking about the queer book that saved his life: The Hobbit by J.R.R. TolkienTroy Ford is an author and editor, ...
Another Country with Abdi Nazemian
What this book showed me was how to balance pieces of myself that didn't fit together.Today we meet Abdi Nazemian and we’re talking about the queer book that saved his life: Another Country by James Baldwin.Abdi Nazemian ...
The Deviant's War with Tim Jon Semmerling
I was combating homophobia against one of the most powerful institutions in the world.Today we meet Tim Jon Semmerling and we’re talking about the queer book that saved his life: The Deviant's War: The Homosexual vs. the United State...
Notes of a Crocodile with Caro De Robertis
How do we live radiantly when the world seems bent on our erasure?Today we meet Caro De Robertis and we’re talking about the queer book that saved their life: Notes of a Crocodile by Qiu Miaojin, translated by Bonnie Huie.
Confessions of the Fox with Ilana Masad and Jordy Rosenberg
Where are all the queer people in history?Today we meet Ilana Masad and we’re talking about the queer book that saved her life: Confessions of the Fox by Jordy Rosenberg. And Jordy joins us!Ilana Masad is a writer of fict...
Christianity, Social Tolerance, and Homosexuality with Paul Cram
Is there any theology in the religion that I grew up in that is meaningful? Or is it just hate with a halo?Today we meet Paul Cram and we’re talking about the queer book that saved his life: Christianity, Social Tolerance, and Homose...
Uncle Bobby's Wedding with Brendan Gillett and Sarah S. Brannen
The book that showed you what a positive queer future could be. And then literally came true.Today we meet Brendan Gillett and we’re talking about the queer book that saved his life: Uncle Bobby's Wedding by Sarah S. Brannen. An...
The Priory of the Orange Tree with Arden Harris, Emily Autenrieth, and Samantha Shannon
This book sparked a five-year long career and life journey.In a first for us, we have two guests today! They are Arden Harris and Emily Autenrieth. We’re talking about the queer book that saved their lives: The Priory of the Orange T...