Best Dennis Hensley Podcasts (2024)

1
Actor-Singer-Influencer Garrett Clayton: "I Just Want To Be The Boy Version Of Thoroughly Modern Millie" 1:02:55

1d ago1:02:55

1:02:55

Dennis is joined via Zoom by actor-singer-dancer-influencer Garrett Clayton to discuss his new cabaret show Hero To Villain, which hits LA on September 19 and Palm Springs on September 21st. Garrett talks about the journey of the show, which takes the audience from Garrett's good guy role in Disney's Teen Beach Movie to his more recent stage work, …

1
Happy Clothes filmmaker Michael Selditch: "With Pat, Nothin's Ever Too Much" 1:07:17

4d ago1:07:17

1:07:17

Dennis is joined via Zoom by filmmaker Michael Selditch to talk about his new documentary Happy Clothes: A Film About Patricia Field, which is all about the iconic stylist behind the clothes on Sex and the City, Emily in Paris, Run the World and The Devil Wears Prada. Michael talks about what inspired him to want to make the movie, how he got Patri…

1
Actor-Singer David Burnham ("Burnham Sings Buble"): "My Pants Were So Tight I Almost Passed Out" 58:38

9d ago58:38

58:38

Dennis is joined by singer-actor David Burnham to talk about his new cabaret show Burnham Sings Buble, in which he interprets the music of Michael Buble, singing hits like "Home" and "Everything" along with more obscure Buble gems. David also talks about his previous touring show, a tribute Tom Jones, which, in true Tom Jones fashion, featured pant…

1
Still Working 9 to 5 Filmmakers Gary & Larry Lane: "Just Cuz You're Twins, Don’t Think You're Special" 1:06:30

15d ago1:06:30

1:06:30

Dennis is joined by two of the filmmakers of the new documentary Still Working 9 to 5, which is about the classic film comedy from 1980 and the ongoing movement for equality for women that the film depicted. Gary co-directed the film and Larry executive produced it. The twin brothers talk about how they first got the idea to make the documentary, t…

1
Ganymede Filmmakers Colby Holt & Sam Probst: "I Believe We're Dealing With a Ganymede" 57:19

22d ago57:19

57:19

Dennis is joined via Zoom by the filmmakers behind the new gay thriller Ganymede, Colby Holt & Sam Probst. The film is about a high school wrestling star from a strict Christian family who develops feelings for his openly gay classmate, which causes him to be haunted by a terrifying creature. The co-directors, who are also husbands, talk about wher…

1
Singer-Songwriter & Composer Greg O'Connor: "I Never Gave Myself Permission To Do This Before" 56:55

29d ago56:55

56:55

Dennis connects via Zoom with musician Greg O'Connor to talk about his debut album The Place I've Never Been and what it's been like to venture out as a solo artist after decades of writing songs and scores for TV and movies. Greg talks about what inspired him to take such a big swing in his mid-50's, the artists that inspired him like Toto, The Be…

1
Legendary Bingo founder & Musician Jeffery Bowman: "I've Lived this Nick at Nite Life" 1:16:07

1M ago1:16:07

1:16:07

Dennis connects via Zoom with Jeffery Bowman who is the founder and co-host of Legendary Bingo, a West Hollywood staple since 1998. Jeffery talks about the event's humble beginnings, how he enlisted the queen Belle Aire early on as his first drag co-host and how the event has raised over $9 million to date for countless local charities. He dishes a…

1
With Love, Mommie Dearest Author A. Ashley Hoff: "Faye Dunaway Gave a Performance For the Ages" 1:16:32

1M ago1:16:32

1:16:32

Dennis is joined in person by author A. Ashley Hoff to discuss his new book With Love, Mommie Dearest, his follow-up to Match Game 101, which he discussed on the podcast a few years back. Ashley talks about why he wanted to write this book, what surprised him while he was conducting interviews and doing research and why be believes that Faye Dunawa…

1
L.A. Theater Director Bart DeLorenzo ("Design for Living"): "Bob Fosse Taught Me To Snap My Fingers" 1:17:20

2M ago1:17:20

1:17:20

Dennis is joined via Zoom by L.A. theater director Bart DeLorenzo to talk about his newest production, Noel Coward's Design for Living at the Odyssey Theatre, as well as his career in general. Bart talks about why the 90 year-old play--about three young, struggling artists who can't seem to live without each other--seems so resonant in this moment.…

1
Conversion filmmaker Zach Meiners and featured subject Elena Joy Thurston: "Using My Voice Helps Me To Heal" 1:12:30

2M ago1:12:30

1:12:30

Dennis is joined via Zoom by Zach Meiners and Elena Joy Thurston, two of the three conversion therapy survivors profiled in the new documentary Conversion, which was also directed by Meiners. (The third survivor profiled is Dustin Rayburn AKA Dusty Ray Bottoms from RuPaul's Drag Race). Zach talks about what inspired him to make the film, why he use…

1
Chronicles of a Wandering Saint filmmaker Tomás Gómez Bustillo: "Making Fun Sh#t With My Friends" 57:39

2M ago57:39

57:39

Dennis is joined via Zoom by Argentine-born filmmaker Tomás Gómez Bustillo to talk about his delightful, three-time Indie Spirit Award-nominated film Chronicles of a Wandering Saint, which was first mentioned on this podcast earlier this year when Drew Droege raved about it during our year-end movie wrap-up. The movie is about an elderly woman in a…

1
Playwright Miranda Rose Hall & Executive Director Armando Huipe (The Sandwich Ministry): "I Write About The Questions That Keep Me Up At Night" 43:28

3M ago43:28

43:28

Dennis connects via Zoom with two of the people behind the play The Sandwich Ministry; playwright Miranda Rose Hall and Armando Huipe, who is the Executive Director of the Skylight Theatre Company in Los Angeles where the show is running through July 7, 2024. The play is one of the best things Dennis has seen on stage in years. The story concerns t…

1
Author Alonso Duralde (Hollywood Pride): "Take The Gays Away And None Of This Happens" 1:09:23

3M ago1:09:23

1:09:23

Dennis is joined via Zoom by film critic Alonso Duralde to discuss his new coffee table book Hollywood Pride: A Celebration of LGBTQ+ Representation and Perseverance In Film. It's a beautifully written and designed book about at the history of queer people in the movies, both in front of the camera and behind the scenes. Alonso talks about the arti…

1
Actor-Singer Activist Bryan Terrell Clark (Diarra From Detroit): "Joy Can Be Resistance" 1:08:51

3M ago1:08:51

1:08:51

Dennis is joined via Zoom by actor Bryan Terrell Clark who plays a gay teacher "Mr. Tea" on the BET+ mystery-comedy series Diarra From Detroit. Bryan talks about how he knew the show's creator and star Diarra Kilpatrick for years before working with her and how thrilled he was to learn she was writing the role of Mr. Tea with him in mind. He also t…

1
Trumpery playwright Christian McLaughlin: "It’s All Gonna End Because of a Desk" 1:10:52

3M ago1:10:52

1:10:52

Dennis is joined via Zoom by Christian McLaughin, author of the novels Glamourpuss and Sex Toys of the Gods, to talk about his newest project; the play Trumpery, which is having its world premier at the LA Fringe Festival through June 28th. Here's the shows not-so-implausible premise: Ex-President Trump (Austin Walker) is running from the law on a …

1
Lost Spaces podcast host K Anderson: "I Keep Getting Asked If I’m A Therapist" 1:09:17

3M ago1:09:17

1:09:17

Dennis is joined via Zoom from London by K Anderson, host of the podcast Lost Spaces. On its surface, the show is about lost queer spaces like bars and bookstores, but on a deeper level it about queer people discovering who they really are, often on a dance floor. K talks about how he first got the idea for the podcast, how doing it has changed his…

1
Author Carl Siciliano (Making Room) Part 2: "What Do We Owe The People Who Love Us?" 1:16:43

4M ago1:16:43

1:16:43

Dennis is joined by author Carl Siciliano for Part 2 of their conversation about Carl's new book Marking Room and his decades-long career, fighting to protect the lives of LGBTQ youth in New York City. Carl talks about the most difficult part of writing the book; reliving the murder of his young friend Ali Forney. He also talks about the big themes…

1
Author Carl Siciliano (Making Room) Part 1: "I Could See That They Were Beloved" 1:07:38

4M ago1:07:38

1:07:38

Dennis is joined via Zoom by author Carl Siciliano to discuss his new book Making Room: Three Decades of Fighting for Beds, Belonging and a Safe Space for LGBT Youth, which documents his founding of the Ali Forney Center in New York City in 2002 as well his many years at the Times Square youth center Safe Space before that. It was at Safe Space in …

1
Production Whisperer & Host of the When Is Now Podcast Capella Fahoome: "People Make Me Happy" 1:10:34

4M ago1:10:34

1:10:34

Dennis is joined via Zoom by Capella Fahoome, a film producer who also works as what she calls a "Production Whisperer," which is a consultant who helps sets run more smoothly. Capella talks about how she first got into film, the rookie mistakes she made when she was first starting out and the difference between being a Set Whisperer and a Set Wolf…

1
Photographer & Director Mike Ruiz: "All I Did Was Fantasize About Being at Studio 54" 1:11:11

4M ago1:11:11

1:11:11

Dennis is joined via Zoom by photographer and director Mike Ruiz to discuss his latest project, Vanessa Williams new music video "Legs," his long friendship with Williams and how he relates to the song's theme of being fabulous at any age. Meanwhile, Dennis recalls how he once asked Vanessa Williams to dance at a Halloween party in 1986 and she sai…

1
Actors Kevin Daniels and Logan Arditty ("Monsters of the American Cinema"): "I Will Never Be Scared of a Script Again" 48:07

4M ago48:07

48:07

Dennis is joined via Zoom by Kevin Daniels and Logan Arditty, who co-star in the play Monsters of the American Cinema, which is produced by the Rogue Machine theater company and showing at the Matrix Theatre in Hollywood through May 19th. Dennis caught the play and was struck at the connection between the intergenerational pair who are the only act…

1
DENNIS ANYONE 10th ANNIVERSARY INTERVIEW PART 2 1:08:34

5M ago1:08:34

1:08:34

For the 10th Anniversary of Dennis Anyone, Dennis flips the script and gets interviewed by one of his past guests, filmmaker and longtime Dennis Anyone listener Robert Chandler. This is Part 2 of their interview, in which Dennis recalls some of his most memorable interviews with folks like Leslie Jordan, Kate Flannery, Mitchell Anderson and Dick De…

1
DENNIS ANYONE 10th ANNIVERSARY INTERVIEW PART 1 58:26

5M ago58:26

58:26

For the 10th Anniversary of Dennis Anyone, Dennis flips the script and gets interviewed by one of his past guests, filmmaker and longtime Dennis Anyone listener Robert Chandler. Dennis recalls the beginning of Dennis Anyone, his first guests, why he does it and how it feels to have done 410 episodes. He also talks about why he likes interviewing pe…

1
I Think I Do FIlmmaker Brian Sloan: "Hey, Do You Know Somebody Named Elaine Stritch?" 53:51

5M ago53:51

53:51

Dennis is joined via Zoom by filmmaker Brian Sloan whose 1997 gay rom-com I Think I Do is coming to streaming this month in a newly restored version. It's also being celebrated at a Newfest screening and cast reunion on April 15th at the BAM Rose Cinemas in New York City. Brian talks about what originally inspired him to write the movie, the thrill…

1
Transition fiImmakers Jordan Bryon and Monica Villamizar: "Surely I Could Have Found A Nicer Bra To Burn" 47:38

6M ago47:38

47:38

Dennis is joined via Zoom by filmmakers Monica Villamizar and Jordan Bryon to talk about their new documentary Transition, which Jordan is also the main subject of. Here's the film's synopsis: Australian journalist Jordan Bryon gains incredible access to a Taliban unit during the fall of Afghanistan. The countryʼs transition coincides with his own …

1
A LOVE LETTER TO XANADU with Alonso Duralde and Dave White from the Linoleum Knife film review podcast 57:51

6M ago57:51

57:51

This is a special crossover episode with the film podcast Linoleum Knife Presents More Linoleum Knife hosting by husbands and film critics Dave White and Alonso Duralde who Dennis has been friends with since the 1990s. They invited Dennis on to talk about one of his favorite movies ever, Xanadu starring Olivia Newton-John, Gene Kelly and Michael Be…

1
Author Abdi Nazemian Part 2 ("Only This Beautiful Moment"): "My Books Aren't About The Fact That They've Been Banned. My Books Are About What They're About" 1:05:36

6M ago1:05:36

1:05:36

Part 2 of Dennis's conversation with author Abdi Nazemian focuses on his latest book Only This Beautiful Moment, which recently won the Stonewall Award from Young Adult Literature. Abdi talks about drawing inspiration for the multigenerational story from his own family, how he was able to write scenes set in Iran despite having left there when he w…

1
Author Abdi Nazemian ("Like A Love Story"): "The Opposite of Shame Is Madonna" 1:18:02

6M ago1:18:02

1:18:02

Dennis is joined via Zoom by author Abdi Nazemian (Only This Beautiful Moment) to discuss his previous book Like A Love Story, which is about three high schoolers in the late 1980's who are obsessed with Madonna. Dennis first met Abdi at a queer writers mixer and commented on Abdi's Madonna T-shirt. They discovered they were both big fans of Madge …

1
ACMT WORKSHOP REUNION w/ Kristin Dahl, Sherri Fleming, Karole Forman, Dennis Osborne and Jon Thomas 55:32

6M ago55:32

55:32

In this special episode of Dennis Anyone, Dennis is joined by five friends he's known since 1986 when he moved from Arizona to Los Angeles to take part in a 12-week long performing workshop put on by American Center for Musical Theater at held at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion in downtown Los Angeles. This reunion meal happened in 2017 and was held …

1
TCM Host and Author Dave Karger (50 Oscar Nights): "Oprah Roses Don't Die" 45:30

7M ago45:30

45:30

Dennis is joined via Zoom by TCM host Dave Karger to discuss his new book, 50 Oscar Nights: Iconic Stars and Filmmakers On Their Career Defining Wins, which features delicious new interviews with icons like Nicole Kidman, Jane Fonda, Martin Scorsese and Mel Brooks as well as lesser-known winners like Precious screenwriter Geoffrey Fletcher, documen…

1
THE YEAR IN MOVIES 2023 Part 2 w/ film critic Glenn Gaylord and actor-writer Drew Droege 1:19:45

7M ago1:19:45

1:19:45

Dennis is joined via Zoom by Glenn Gaylord, Senior Film Critic at The Queer Review, and actor-writer-film enthusiast Drew Droege to talk about the movies of last year; their favorites, the moments that have stuck with them and the movies they just weren’t that into. The films discussed include Barbie, Anatomy of a Fall, Dicks: The Musical, A Good P…

1
THE YEAR IN MOVIES 2023 Part 1 w/ film critic Glenn Gaylord and actor-writer-film lover Drew Droege 1:04:10

7M ago1:04:10

1:04:10

Dennis is joined via Zoom by Glenn Gaylord, Senior Film Critic at The Queer Review, and actor-writer-film enthusiast Drew Droege to talk about the movies of last year; their favorites, the moments that have stuck with them and the movies they just weren’t that into. The films discussed include The Zone of Interest, American Fiction, M3GAN, Bottoms,…

1
Playwright & Director Luke Yankee ("Marilyn, Mom & Me"): "My Mother Was Famous For Going 'Fire, Ready, Aim'!" 1:00:44

7M ago1:00:44

1:00:44

Dennis is joined via Zoom by playwright and director Luke Yankee whose new play Marilyn, Mom, and Me will have its World Premier on February 16th at the International City Theatre in Long Beach, CA. The play is about Luke's mother, Oscar-winning actress Eileen Heckart and her close friendship Marilyn Monroe while they were shooting the movie Bus St…

1
Author Curtis Chin ("Everything I Learned, I Learned In A Chinese Restaurant"): "I Live My Life As A Chinese Waiter" 1:12:23

8M ago1:12:23

1:12:23

Dennis is joined via Zoom by author Curtis Chin to discuss his new memoir Everything I Learned, I Learned In A Chinese Restaurant, which is about his upbringing as one of six kids raised by parents who owned a Chinese restaurant in downtown Detroit called Chung's. Curtis talks about what a magical place Chung's was and what it was like to visit it …

1
Author Tim Murphy ("Speech Team"): "I Don't Even Think I Knew What Mincing Meant" 1:27:01

8M ago1:27:01

1:27:01

Dennis is joined via Zoom by novelist Tim Murphy to discuss his latest novel Speech Team, which he describes as a book about "small T trauma." The book is about four friends in their 40's who were on their high school speech team who reunite and decide to confront the teacher who led the group and said some f-ed up things to each of them back in th…

1
""ONLY IN WEHO!" The Creators & Stars of the webseries "OPEN TO IT" play YOU DON'T KNOW MY LIFE! 55:31

8M ago55:31

55:31

Dennis is joined joined via Zoom by the Fab Five from the new gay webseries Open To It, which is about a happy Weho couple named Greg and Cam who decide it might be fun and exciting to open things up sexually,...and hijinks ensue. Playing the game with Dennis are writer-director-EP Frank Arthur Smith who plays Greg, EP-director Greg Wolf, EP-direct…

1
Performer-Writer Adam Sank: "Stop Freakin' Taking My Neosporin" 1:09:07

8M ago1:09:07

1:09:07

Dennis is joined via Zoom by Adam Sank, the star and writer of the one-man show Adam Sank: Bad Dates, which plays Oscar's in Palm Springs on January 11th and 12th. Adam talks about how the show grew out of his stand up act and evolved into a much richer, more theatrical experience than anything he had done previously. He also talks about people alw…

1
NEW YEARS IN PALM SPRINGS GAME NIGHT w/ Craig Chester, Jack Kenny, Byron Lane & Terry Ray playing You Don't Know My Life! 48:25

8M ago48:25

48:25

For his first episode of 2024, Dennis is joined via Zoom by his pals actor-writer Craig Chester (Swoon, Adam & Steve), writer-showrunner Jack Kenny (Warehouse 13, The Book of Daniel), author Byron Lane (Big Gay Wedding, A Star Is Bored) & Terry Ray (actor and co-founder of The Bent Theater Company) for a few rollicking rounds of You Don't Know My L…

1
Filmmaker Todd Verow & Actor Guillermo Diaz: "It Was Like Summer Camp...With Poppers" 1:00:13

9M ago1:00:13

1:00:13

For his final episode of 2023, Dennis is joined by filmmaker Todd Verow and actor Guillermo Diaz from the new gay thriller You Can't Stay Here, which is about a repressed photographer who becomes obsessed with visiting the gay cruising area the Ramble in New York's Central Park. The producing team recall how they first connected over Instagram, wit…

1
Excerpts from Dennis Hensley's THE MISMATCH GAME: I'll Be Homo For Christmas Edition 56:58

9M ago56:58

56:58

In this special holiday episode, Dennis shares excerpts from the comedy game show Dennis Hensley's The MisMatch Game from December 9th and the LA LGBT Center's Renberg Theatre. The panelists are Nadya Ginsburg (Cher), Dante (Christopher Lloyd), Nicole Parker (Celine Dion), Rebekah Kochan (Jennifer Coolidge), Felix Pire (Silverlake Santa) & Tom Lenk…

1
Performer & Radio Host John Hill ("Wellness Check"): "I Thought I Had EGOT-ed At Six Flags" 1:04:08

9M ago1:04:08

1:04:08

Dennis is joined via Zoom by writer-performer John Hill to talk about his show Wellness Check, which is a mix of standup comedy and original songs, all overseen by John's chihuahua Pete who sits atop the piano and judges both John and the audience. John talks about the real life events that inspired the show, like getting sober during the pandemic,…

1
Holiday Gift Guide 2023 w/ Michael DeMartino, Eddie Shapiro, Dudley Beene & Patrick Marks 1:13:09

9M ago1:13:09

1:13:09

Dennis is joined via Zoom by four different guests, each of whom have products that are perfect for holiday give gifting. First up is Michael DeMartino from Pillow Top, a line of queer-centric pillows and accessories. Michael talks about why he went into pillows, the thrill of having his leather harness pillow featured on Netflix's How To Build a S…

1
Author Mark S. King (My Fabulous Disease) Part 2: "I Am, By The Way, A Ginger Daddy And I'm Hanging On To That" 36:49

10M ago36:49

36:49

Dennis is joined via Zoom by Mark S. King for Part 2 of their conversation about Mark's new book My Fabulous Disease as well as his previous memoir A Place Like This. In Part 2, Mark talks about building massive box kites with his father, how his father encouraged risk-taking in life and how surviving the AIDS crisis prepared him to deal with his f…

1
Filmmaker Billy Luther ("Frybread Face & Me"): "I Just Knew I Had a Story To Tell" 41:44

10M ago41:44

41:44

Dennis is joined via Zoom by filmmaker Billy Luther to discuss his film Frybread Face and Me, which comes out in select theaters and on Netflix on the day after Thanksgiving, November 24th. The film is a coming-of-age story set on the Navajo reservation in Northern Arizona and is based on Billy's own experience of going to stay with his grandmother…

1
Author Mark S. King (My Fabulous Disease): "I Grew Into My Top-hood" 57:45

10M ago57:45

57:45

Dennis is joined via Zoom from Atlanta by author Mark S. King to talk about his new book My Fabulous Disease: Chronicles of a Gay Survivor, which he describes as his "greatest hits" from years writing columns for outlets like Poz, Frontiers and Windy City Times. In the interview, Mark expounds on some of the experiences he shares in the book, like …

1
Mad Magazine & Match Game writer Dick DeBartolo Part 2: "If I Come Up With Something Stupid, I Can Just Put It Up on Facebook" 53:14

10M ago53:14

53:14

In Part 2 of Dennis's interview with Dick DeBartolo, the writer talks about what it was like to juggle two dream jobs; writing for Mad Magazine and The Match Game TV show...at the same time! He also shares story after story of the good will he receives when a stranger finds out he's "Mad's maddest writer." He's gotten everything from airplane upgra…

1
Mad Magazine & Match Game Writer Dick DeBartolo: "Yes, Alfed E. Neuman Is Running For President" 59:01

11M ago59:01

59:01

Dennis is joined via Zoom by one of his heroes, comedy writer Dick DeBartolo who worked for both Mad Magazine and The Match Game TV show...at the same time! Dick talks about how he landed both jobs, how they actually complimented each other and what it was like to go back and forth between the two offices in Manhattan. Recalling Match Game, Dick de…

1
Filmmaker Dion Labriola (Dear Ike: Lost Letters to a Teen Idol): "Thanks for the Smile! - Carrot Top" 46:33

11M ago46:33

46:33

Dennis is joined via Zoom by Dion Labriola, the filmmaker and the subject of the documentary Dear Ike: Lost Letters to a Teen Idol, which is screening on World Animation Day on PBS SoCal and is also available for streaming on PBS.org. The movie documents Dion's teenage obsession with the child actor Ike Eisenmann from Escape to Witch Mountain and a…

1
Writer-Performer Mitchell Anderson (You Better Call Your Mother): "I Owe It All To My Dirty Laundry" 1:21:00

11M ago1:21:00

1:21:00

Dennis is joined via Zoom by actor-singer-writer-restaurantuer Mitchell Anderson to discuss his new autobiographical play You Better Call Your Mother, which takes its title from something a producer said to him backstage after he came out publicly onstage at the 1996 GLAAD Media Awards. This was while he was playing a gay character on the hit TV se…

1
Writer-Performer Ryan Raftery (Mother of the Year: The Kris Jenner Musical): "It's Like Having Your Brain Stroked To A Low-Grade Orgasm" 53:24

11M ago53:24

53:24

Dennis is joined via Zoom by Ryan Raftery, the star and creator of Mother of the Year: The Kris Jenner Musical, the latest in his series of musicals about complicated celebrities. Ryan talks about what drew him to exploring Kris, the nine months he spent researching her, what surprised him in his research and the words of wisdom from Kris that he's…

Podcasts Worth a Listen

Dennis Hensley Podcasts

Podcasts Worth a Listen

Quick Reference Guide