Best Karen Tongson Podcasts (2024)

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Episode 284- SOLOMON J. BRAGER : Advice, ice cream, graphic history & memoir, academia, and MORE 53:18

3h ago53:18

53:18

Ep 284: Solomon J. Brager! We are over the moon to welcome graphic novelist Solomon Brager to the podcast to discuss their new book, Heavyweight, AND complain about ice cream, talk graphic memoir, history, confronting zi**ism, and give advice on friends, leaving academia, tortoise food and MORE. Solomon J. Brager is a writer, teacher, and artist. T…

1
“Bellies” with Nicola Dinan 29:46

8d ago29:46

29:46

If I hadn’t already been a massive fan of Nicola Dinan, I would have become one after this! I was beyond excited to get to speak to Nicola at Surrey New Writers Festival and was extremely grateful that she was able to take some time after our panel to tell me more about her incredible debut novel Bellies (2023), about capitalism and queerness, abou…

1
“Theoryish” with Paola Medina-Gonzalez and Hannah Ayres 47:18

4d ago47:18

47:18

Meet your new favourite theory podcast! Theoryish is a brilliant audio journey that may just meet all your academic needs. Paola and Hannah are an amazing team and bring you everything from an introduction to queer studies to a deep dive into a critique of #girlboss. If you’re looking for a fun and relatable entry point to that particular theory yo…

1
Episode 283- MICHELLE TEA & KATY DAVIDSON! Acaì bowls, advice on writing, boundaries, tattoos and MORE 44:12

11d ago44:12

44:12

Show less We are over the moon to have MICHELLE TEA back in the Sagittarian Matters Social Distancing Studio in honor of her new anthology, SLUTS- the inaugural book of Dopamine Press. Michelle Tea joined us to give listeners advice on writing, boundaries, people pleasing, tattoo remorse, and more! But first, in an Unsolicited Vegan Food Review, Ka…

1
“Queer Podcasting and Knowledge Production” with Hannah McGregor 48:01

19d ago48:01

48:01

Combine the age-old art of conversation with easy access to digital dissemination and you get: podcasting! Hannah McGregor is THE expert on scholarly podcasting, new approaches to peer review and (although we only mention this briefly) feminist lesbian dinosaurs. In this episode, we chat about how Hannah approaches podcasting, what it can and can’t…

1
Episode 282- CHRIS VARGAS! Trans Hirstory in 99 Objects, Golden Girls Live, and snorkeling misadventures 54:24

27d ago54:24

54:24

We are over the moon to welcome Capricorn CHRIS VARGAS back to the show to discuss his new book, Trans Hirstory in 99 Objects. But first! We do some live reporting from a Golden Girls show in Hollywood, where Chris & I were treated to room-temperature coke, hateful theater patrons and top notch impersonations. Bonus: Chris discusses a Florida snork…

1
“Narrating Palestine” with Nora Parr 41:31

1M ago41:31

41:31

Narratives can help us make sense of trauma – but what if these trauma narratives do not fit into preconceived structures of storytelling? Nora Parr joins me to speak about the role of narrative in trauma, in mental health and in understanding national, cultural and individual identity construction. Nora talks about how Palestinian literature forge…

1
“Lesbian Fashion History” with Eleanor Medhurst 50:16

2M ago50:16

50:16

Did you know that lesbians sporting sportswear is a queer tradition dating back centuries? Or that 1910s Japanese lesbians liked to don a yukata to send subtle signals about their gender identity and sexual orientation? My favourite foremost expert in lesbian fashion history, Eleanor Medhurst, is gracing the podcast with a return performance, shari…

1
100 Episodes! 24:42

2M ago24:42

24:42

Can you believe this is our 100th episode? Listen now to hear about some listeners’ favourite episodes, about future plans for the podcast and about how the cats are feeling these days. References: https://ko-fi.com/queerlit Karen Tongson Normporn Susan Stryker Cate Sandilands Kew Gardens Elizabeth Freeman Diane Watt Briona Simone Jones Yesterqueer…

1
Ep. 48: The Most Gaymazing Episode EVER in Philadelphia (S36, Ep 10) 1:46:16

2M ago1:46:16

1:46:16

1
“Normporn and Queer Imaginaries” with Karen Tongson 54:15

2M ago54:15

54:15

What could be more soothing than escaping your beautiful but complex queer life by watching a bunch of straight people remodel their suburban home in a new shade of beige? Karen Tongson joins me to explain why mainstream television can be so comforting and why admitting to having watched Gilmore Girls for the fourth time can feel a bit like sharing…

1
Ep. 47: Girls Who Like Girls Who Like The Amazing Race (S36, E9) 1:02:59

2M ago1:02:59

1:02:59

Once again, we were tantalized by the promise of a historic GALA (Gay and Lesbian Alliance) between Ricky & Cesar and Yvonne & Melissa, as the final five hit the Dominican Republic to water slide into natural grottoes, harvest cacao and play some D.R.-style “beisbol.” Sadly, Melissa is stumped by a rock-symbol challenge and Yvonne’s struggled to ma…

1
Ep. 46: Fish Pots (S36, E8) 1:05:01

3M ago1:05:01

1:05:01

The Amazing Race gets busy in Barbados, Rihanna’s homeland. We admire their tiny jeeps and racquet sports skills, though the teams still struggle with navigation. There’s another tantalizing possibility of another all gay alliance at the fish pot detour. Leading up to it Team Walla Walla Mama & Son LOSE THEIR CREW, which sends them directly to our …

1
“Trans in Translation” with Alberto Poza 17:52

2M ago17:52

17:52

Have you read the iconic Taiwanese novel The Membranes by Chi Ta-Wei? If so, in which language? Alberto has crafted the fabulous Spanish translation of this beautifully genderweird text and joins me to speak about the opportunities and challenges the highly gendered structures of Spanish offer for this. If you have ever wondered which pronoun or ge…

1
Ep. 45: Sisterhood is Powerful in Montevideo (S36, E7) 58:48

3M ago58:48

58:48

The Amazing Race teams head to Uruguay where Brokeback Fannypack is under the weather, and Sunny and Bizzy are looking forward to a “Girls night out, girls night in.” Parenting emerges as a leitmotif in this episode, and we see Walla Walla Momma and Son emerge from the pack to run their own race. Ricky and César and Yvo and Melissa–aka, THE GAYS–al…

1
Episode 281-Remembering TRINA ROBBINS. Plus Lee Marrs & Mary Wings 1:13:16

3M ago1:13:16

1:13:16

Today on the podcast, we are remembering beloved friend to the show Trina Robbins, who passed away April 10th, 2024 at age 85. We are rebroadcasting a solo interview from 2016 (before the rotting pumpkin took office), and a live interview Nicole did in 2017 with Trina, Lee Marrs and Mary Wings at Root Division in San Francisco. Enjoy.…

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Ep. 44: A Meaty 3Way (Alliance) Conquers Argentina (S36, E6) 1:20:29

3M ago1:20:29

1:20:29

Friend of the pod Kat Spada from Feminist Frequency Radio sits in for Nicole this week, as The Amazing Race moves to Argentina for gaymazing challenges that involve recycling and meat puzzles. Can Ricky & César keep Shane and Juan, aka Brokeback Fannypack from overtaking their top position? The girls who like girls, Yvonne and Melissa, and the othe…

1
“Knight as a Gender” with Mabel Mundy 14:43

3M ago14:43

14:43

If you could pick a gender, any gender, which one would that be, and why would it 1000% be knight? In this special minisode, I get to answer that question with Mabel Mundy, who shares fascinating insights into the genderfuckery of chivalric romance and crossdressing knights. Tune in now, to learn more about why gender ambiguity clearly is, and has …

1
Ep. 43: I Lost My Nut! (S36, E5) 1:10:48

3M ago1:10:48

1:10:48

Sorry for the delay in getting this episode out! Nicole recorded this mere hours before her own amazing race to a meditation retreat, and our production assistant Corky (Karen's cat) kept pausing the recording to give notes. He's very picky.

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Ep. 42: Mama Rat Took Baby Rat Skiing in Medellin (S36, E4) 1:30:51

4M ago1:30:51

1:30:51

Ajuan Mance, an artist, illustrator and author of many books and comics series joins us on our own megaleg, as The Amazing Race continues in Colombia. A rebus puzzle nearly derails our favorite lady firefighters, Sunny and Bizzy, who at this point are showing more enthusiasm for each other than the girls who like girls who like hiking. Ricky and Cé…

1
“Gendered Bodies and Narrative Form” with Chiara Pellegrini 45:15

4M ago45:15

45:15

How does a queer, trans or intersex body take shape in a narrative? Dr Chiara Pellegrini is here to help us better understand how narrative form, point of view, and embodiment interact in contemporary storytelling – whether that be in novels, short stories or reality TV. We speak about problematic narrative tropes of trans narration, such as the ‘g…

1
Ep. 41: Gays on Top in Colombia (S36, E3) 1:08:46

4M ago1:08:46

1:08:46

Ricky & César remain strong as they cruise through the first Colombian leg of The Amazing Race, which involves cooking platters of meats, salty abuelas, and squeezing coffee bean baskets between one’s knees. Whither the girls who like girls, Yvonne and Melissa, who get nary an edit in this ep, as the firefighter sheroes prove why they’re shaping up…

1
Ep. 40: Trust, But Verify in the Zona Romantica (S36, E2) 1:10:04

4M ago1:10:04

1:10:04

Melissa, one of the girls who likes girls on The Amazing Race spawns the first lesbian catch phrase of the season. Nicole and KT take bets about whether or not she’s a Virgo or a Scorpio. This season continues to SERVE gaymazingness and intrigue, as Ricky and Cesar, and Yvonne and Melissa finish in the top 5. KT shares more insider gaycation info a…

1
Humanities under Threat 27:15

4M ago27:15

27:15

https://surrey-ucu.org.uk/category/news/ https://www.instagram.com/supportsurreysll/?hl=en https://www.change.org/p/support-our-surrey-campaign? This is not an isolated issue! See this list of current large-scale UK HE redundancies: https://qmucu.org/qmul-transformation/uk-he-shrinking/ IG: @supportsurreysll Twitter/x: @SaveSurreySLL https://univer…

1
Ep. 39: Girls Who Like Girls Who Like the Amazing Race (S36, E1) 1:13:36

4M ago1:13:36

1:13:36

We are BACK, and both Karen and Nicole have a lot of annoying Puerto Vallarta expertise to share, as they marvel at this season’s gaymazing cast. Which butch daddy are both hosts enamored with in between their distracted chatter about The Traitors US, UK, Australia and New Zealand? And what do they make of this season’s LGBTQ+ abundance? Maya and R…

1
Episode #280-CHICKEN RESCUE! with Cathy de la Cruz. Plus Unsolicited Vegan Food Reviews, pod drama, NEW GLASSES and more. 56:21

4M ago56:21

56:21

We are over the moon to have known Sagittarius Cathy de la Cruz join us to discuss a CHICKEN RESCUE on the streets of Brooklyn. PLUS! Dawn defends her honor, reviews something called Giggles, Morgan & Dawn review CAROB MOLASSES together, Nicole tries it, and talks about getting NEW GLASSES, and MORE. Tune in!…

1
“Feeling Bad” with Hil Malatino 50:13

5M ago50:13

50:13

Despite the title, this episode contains a generous amount of laughter, because it is just that enjoyable to talk to Hil Malatino, brilliant author of Side Affects: On Being Trans and Feeling Bad (2022). Hil has published groundbreaking work on trans and intersex stories and histories and, in this most recent monograph, draws our attention to the c…

1
“Hijab Butch Blues” with Lamya H. 39:03

5M ago39:03

39:03

How often do you get to chat with the author of your major literary obsession and learn something about queer storytelling at the same time? I cannot believe I actually got to sit down with @lamyaisangry to talk about their brilliant novel Hijab Butch Blues, their essay writing and the queer future, which, according to Lamya, will be weird AF. List…

1
“Nonbinary History and Queer Kinship” with Mo Moulton 45:23

6M ago45:23

45:23

This episode is all about both/and: both trans and queer history, both kinship and relationships, both the past and the present. Mo Moulton, our illustrious guest this fortnight, is an expert in all of them. Mo is a historian of community, who is particularly interested in nonbinary methods to approach gender nonconforming figures of the past. In t…

1
“The Shape of Sex” with Leah DeVun 41:15

6M ago41:15

41:15

Nonbinary Jesus. Did that get your attention? If so, this episode is for you. Historian extraordinaire Leah DeVun joins me to talk about the pre-modern history of nonbinary gender, about intersex brides, transitioning saints and what terms such as androgyne and hermaphrodite might tell us about conceptions of sex, gender and sexuality. Leah explain…

1
“Trans Future Fiction” with Kit Schuster 39:26

7M ago39:26

39:26

How can we imagine a trans future? Kit Schuster joins me to talk about how transgression in fiction can help us think new futures. We speak about trans, nonbinary and gendernonconforming characters, norms and settings in science fiction, but Kit also stresses that their definition of trans is not limited to gender. Instead, Kit invites us to have o…

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The queerest thing you did in 2023: Part Two 24:25

7M ago24:25

24:25

The queerest thing you did in 2023: Part Two Are you ready for 2024? I absolutely am not but to prepare for another queer year, I listen to more of your voice notes and I give you what you probably have not been waiting for: the queerest thing I did this year. References: ListenQueer https://listenqueer.wordpress.com/ Kit Schuster Jack Jen Giesekin…

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Episode #279-VEGAN FOOD REVIEWS & Celery Help with Morgan. Plus! Dawn Riddle 1:00:53

7M ago1:00:53

1:00:53

Today on Sagittarian matters! We’re over the moon to welcome Morgan back to the show to talk about Cafix, CELERY, Trader Joes Vegan Fish, TJ's Bird Nest, signs of aging, the smell of trader joes, Alfred Coffee, Outstanding Cheeseballs, Lagusta's cheese powder, Lagusta's turtles, Molasses cookies, Moku mushroom jerky and SO MUCH MORE. PLUS! An unsol…

1
Yesterqueer's Holigays 20:20

8M ago20:20

20:20

We're revisiting a holigay chat from two years ago, talking to a wonderful friend about how hard the festive season can be for queer and trans people. CW: grief, death, trauma, religion, violence, antiqueerness, antitransness, family traumaBy Lena Mattheis

1
Welcome to Tangent Island 6:05

8M ago6:05

6:05

I've been dreaming of this very journey for a few years. I turned 40 during COVID and was hit with speed bump after speed bump. Situations I have never anticipated experiencing and in some cases it will be my first time sharing it with you. Once you've lived through a pandemic as I have, you see things differently, your appreciation for life hits d…

1
Ep. 38: You’ve Gotta Flip the Top, Boys 1:46:35

7M ago1:46:35

1:46:35

It’s a nailbiter of a finale for season 35 of The Amazing Race, as the top three teams scramble throughout Seattle without coffee. The “grunge” challenge leads to some challenging understanding of tops, while “glass” requires everyone learn how to blow. “Grab” becomes someone’s Carrie Bradshaw moment, and we talk to all three finalists in our last …

1
The queerest thing you did in 2023: Part One 30:38

7M ago30:38

30:38

It’s here! It’s here! The Queer Lit end-of-year special has arrived and it comes in two parts. One you’ll get now and the other we’ll save for Christmas Eve. Tune in to hear me gush about all the lovely messages I received and listen to this year’s Queer Lit guests talk about their supergay highlights of 2023. References: Maria Sulimma Queer Persev…

1
Ep. 37: A Cold Plunge into Gaiety 59:25

8M ago59:25

59:25

The Amazing Race teams arrive in Dublin for the penultimate leg, and despite everyone having to Riverdance at the Gaiety theater, Karen and Nicole think this is among the straightest episodes yet. Corey falls in love with his pretty dance instructor, the lady Swayze to his Baby, while John from Team BLERD is lithe and light in his (heeled) dancing …

1
Ep. 114: Second Acts: The Waiting to X-Hale Finale 1:11:37

8M ago1:11:37

1:11:37

It’s the final episode, and there are tears shed, and personal revelations made as Karen and Wynter contemplate their favorite “second acts” in popular culture. Amidst it all, Wynter also discusses her new project dropping in January, and Karen shares a couple of lines from her new book Normporn. Plus, a glimpse at Apple TV+’s The Supermodel, and T…

1
Queer Space Special: “Gay’s The Word” with Erica Gillingham 23:31

8M ago23:31

23:31

This extraordinary queer space special makes all my dreams come true: I get to hang out with Erica Gillingham in the basement of Gay’s The Word! Sitting between towering stacks of books and boxes of GTW archival material that goes back all the way to the birth of this magnificent LGBTQ+ bookshop in January 1979, Erica shares some highlights of the …

1
Ep. 113: Favorite Finales 1:04:43

8M ago1:04:43

1:04:43

In our penultimate episode, Wynter and Karen prepare for the end by reflecting on their favorite series finales including Mad Men, Six Feet Under, The Good Place and The Americans among others. Before they do, Karen insists on one more discussion about a pop culture controversy: Julianna Marguilles’ condescending comments told from her perspective …

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