Best Transmasculine Podcasts (2024)

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Ep 8: Top Surgery & an Identity Crisis 56:44

3M ago56:44

56:44

In this episode I discuss my top surgery experience (8ish days post op at time of publishing), and it's not exactly what I thought it would be! Hear about the ups and DOWNS of my recovery (things not many people talk about), and get a little insight into a mini identity crisis that top surgery triggered for me.…

1
Ep 7: Bathroom Anxiety 48:15

4M ago48:15

48:15

In this episode, I express my last thoughts about my top surgery with less than 12 hours to go! Then we dive in on something I know so many gender non-conforming people experience: Bathroom anxiety!

1
Ep 6: So Nice of You to Show Up 42:37

6M ago42:37

42:37

After quite the hiatus, I'm back with another episode of NPWD! In this episode, I discuss some of my changes/updates on low dose testosterone as I'm right around the 1 year and 9 month mark. Then, I talk about my upcoming top surgery and how excited I am for it. Thanks for tuning in and waiting for me to show back up!…

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#103 – Deafheaven As Transmasculine Role Models 1:03:40

10M ago1:03:40

1:03:40

The LGBTQ+ heavy metal podcast welcomes Tom's friend (and former guest) Benjamin into the co-host chair for one week only, to discuss how George from Deafheaven and Johannes from Cult Of Luna helped provide the male role models they didn't see elsewhere, and how that helped them come to terms with their gender identity. Also, there's a brief discus…

1
#102 – In Hot Pursuit Of Vikings 1:02:49

11M ago1:02:49

1:02:49

Hell Bent For Metal favourites Amon Amarth are back under discussion again, this time explaining why breakthrough song 'The Pursuit Of Vikings' makes them think about coming-out experiences, something gay men are surprisingly comfortable discussing that most folks aren't, and, er, Destiny's Child. It's a surprisingly well behaved Camp Classic (by H…

1
#101 – Hellish Form: "They want trans and gay people to be dead" 48:14

11M ago48:14

48:14

Hell Bent For Metal speculated in episode #99 that Hellish Form's new album Deathless may be heavily talking about LGBTQ+ – and, especially, trans – themes. And when HBFM asked Willow Ryan from the band about this, the confirmation naturally demanded that they invite Willow back to talk about this. This week, Tom sits down with Willow to talk the s…

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#100 – St. Peter Won't You Let Me In (Your Bum) 53:40

11M ago53:40

53:40

Hell Bent For Metal seldom needs much reason to see something metal as hella gay, actually, but even by those standards, singalong stoner anthem 'St Peter' by British band Black Spiders is an easy target. Tom and Matt manage to find multiple ways it sits firmly in their areas of experience, and none of them are subtle or difficult to deduce. Who ta…

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#99 – On The Road(burn) Again 1:07:12

12M ago1:07:12

1:07:12

Hell Bent For Metal host Tom has been back to Roadburn to host another panel about queerness in heavy music, and reports back on how the festival's efforts to make themselves a welcoming, inclusive place have clearly, visibly paid off. The show's been on hiatus due to a bereavement, with Roadburn being the one bright light in the dark. And while th…

1
#98 – Inter Arma's Randy Bumgardner 54:49

1y ago54:49

54:49

The vast expanse and crushing weight of 'Stillness' by post-metal/everything band Inter Arma seems an unlikely Camp Classic, but Hell Bent For Metal have somehow found a way to see not one but two entirely separate ways in which that song speaks to their gay sides. Brace yourself. This show's visit to the Hate Crew Gaybar sees Suffocating Hallucina…

1
#97 – Carbon Based 52:27

1y ago52:27

52:27

Hell Bent For Metal give 'Carbon Based Anatomy' by queer metal royalty Cynic the Camp Classic treatment, and explains why that song speaks to their queer sides. And no, it has nothing to do with the sexualities of the band members. This week's visit to the Hate Crew Gaybar sees Matt put Den Tapte Krigen by Bizarrekult in the jukebox, before Tom goe…

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#96 – Split Bi Tongue 52:25

1y ago52:25

52:25

Hell Bent For Metal returns from a health-imposed break, and begins by explaining what they've been up to in the interim, starting with a trip to see an unusual Clutch show in Newcastle-upon-Tyne. The Camp Classic this week is 'Split My Tongue' by evil-sounding Swiss black metallers Schammasch, from their 2014 album Contradiction. And while Matt's …

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Ep 5: From Cis to This 52:03

1+ y ago52:03

52:03

Hey ya'll, I'm back! In this episode, "From Cis to This", I discuss my gender journey from the earliest point that I can remember up to my decision to medically transition with low dose testosterone. Looking back, I always knew I was transgender even if I didn't have the words to truly understand or explain it. For a large portion of my life, I fai…

1
Ep 4: Changes On T (9 Months) 31:53

1+ y ago31:53

31:53

In this episode, I talk about making my transition "social media official", share my voice change update, and explain some of the major physical, mental, and emotional changes at this 9(ish) months on low-dose testosterone mark! <3 Kez (they/them) See the Pantagraph article below that I was interviewed for by Kelsey Watznauer! " Illinois a beacon f…

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Welcome to New Pronouns, Who Dis? 1:54

1+ y ago1:54

1:54

Trailer: New Pronouns, Who Dis?By Kez

1
#95 – Known To Sample The Occasional Rosé 1:05:32

1+ y ago1:05:32

1:05:32

When two-thirds of Mountain Caller were on the Hell Bent For Metal, Tom described them as a majority queer band. Max Maxwell, the band's drummer, is on the show this week to explain why the "majority" bit of that statement wasn't precisely true. It's an extended chat that also takes in the imposter syndrome that comes with being newly out and tryin…

1
#94 – All In The Family Shall Perish 1:20:41

1+ y ago1:20:41

1:20:41

The gayest straight man in metal, Abhi Ahluwahlia, returns to Hell Bent For Metal. Matt's unwell (get well soon), so the music journalist turned broadsheet journalist is back for a show heavily focused on two of his favourite things: nu metal and deathcore. First up, Abhi and Tom remember 'All In The Family' by Korn, the alcohol-induced rap battle …

1
#93 –The Jock And The Whale 1:00:23

1+ y ago1:00:23

1:00:23

In a perhaps unlikely #yeshomo, HBFM this week explain how Ivan Moody of Five Finger Death Punch (and possibly Germany's football team, apparently) erroneously appeared on their gaydars. And no, this isn't some meta irony. They're quite serious. Gojira's last album may have been divisive among Tom and Matt, but the song 'Into The Storm' from it was…

1
#92 – Breaking The Jaw 1:02:03

1+ y ago1:02:03

1:02:03

Hell Bent For Metal never needs much persuasion to talk about things phallic, but even their interest may be stretched to breaking point this week, as 'Jawbreaker' by Judas Priest is analysed for all the euphemisms for something to do with members. Because, oh my, are there a lot. And somehow there's a connection to daft attempts at censorship from…

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#91 – Let's Taake 'Bout Sex (Education) 1:11:37

1+ y ago1:11:37

1:11:37

Hell Bent For Metal has been hinting at what they think about Sex Education, the LGBTQ+-friendly comedy drama smash hit, for months now. Now they dive deep into the show, and explain how their view on it has been affected by being metalheads. The Camp Classic this week comes from Czech metalcore band Skywalker, and their song 'Justify Me', and it's…

1
#90 – Cack Panther 1:01:52

1+ y ago1:01:52

1:01:52

Hell Bent For Metal digs into why 'Death To All But Metal' by hair metal parody troupe Steel Panther really isn't a helpful set of lyrics to the LGBTQ+ community within metal, whatever the intention behind it is. This week's Camp Classic comes from Asira, a criminally under appreciated British black metal band with no respect for genre boundaries. …

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E3: Gender is a Social Construct 23:06

1+ y ago23:06

23:06

This one's intense. In this episode, I take a deep dive into the science behind gender identity, including evidence about gender identity having a genetic component (meaning we weren't simply "raised wrong"!). I try to break down the obsession our society has with gender roles & rules and assert that GENDER IS A SOCIAL CONSTRUCT. Citations for some…

1
E2: Gender Dysphoria & Pronouns 25:52

1+ y ago25:52

25:52

In this episode, I dive into my own gender identity and break down what transmasc non-binary means to me. I touch on how my gender dysphoria manifests and also dabble into pronouns, confronting why some people claim they "can't" use they/them as pronouns for a single individual.By Kez

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E1: New Pronouns, Who Dis?: An Introduction 18:47

1+ y ago18:47

18:47

Hi, my name is Kez, and I identify as transmasculine non-binary. This is my first episode where I describe what this podcast will be about. It's about coming out, being trans, medically transitioning, gender inclusion & diversity, society, and more. So much to unpack!By Kez

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#89 – Hell Bent For Riot Act 2: The LGBTQ+ Metalhead Guide To Eurovision 3:27:00

1+ y ago3:27:00

3:27:00

Hell Bent For Metal joins forces for the second time with Riot Act, the alternative music podcast, as their host Steve Hill joins Tom and the returning Matt Rushton to present you with the LGBTQ+ metalhead guide to the Eurovision Song Contest. The annual celebration of kitsch, camp, and occasionally, a good song or two, has long had a huge queer fo…

1
#88 – Gods Of Grind(r)core 55:49

1+ y ago55:49

55:49

Hell Bent For Metal finally gets around to talking about Napalm Death, as the grindcore gods' song 'Suffer The Children' turns out to be super relatable to the LGBTQ+ metal fan, as Tom, Matt D and Charlie all confirm. Plus there's a full rundown of the myriad weird ways Tom's seen Napalm Death, and an explanation as to exactly why he describes the …

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#87 – The Queer Metalhead Guide To Brookyn Nine-Nine 1:18:29

1+ y ago1:18:29

1:18:29

Hell Bent For Metal takes a look at Brooklyn Nine-Nine, the US sitcom based in the 99th precinct of the New York Police Department, to analyse how the show handles queer representation and LGBTQ+ issues, and also discusses how being a metal fan can affect the way someone could view it – including how metal is represented in the show itself. Plus th…

1
#86 – The Return Of The SeeYouSpaceCowboy 1:22:24

1+ y ago1:22:24

1:22:24

Hell Bent For Metal is back after a break due to illness, and kicks it off by inviting Connie Sgarbossa from SeeYouSpaceCowboy to talk about being out in the scene, as well as breaking down stigmas about mental illness and addiction. This episode's Camp Classic is the shred-tastic 'Blood On Your Hands' by Arch Enemy. And perhaps understandably, giv…

1
#85 – Hell Bent For The Horizon 58:14

2y ago58:14

58:14

Hell Bent For Metal chats about how Bring Me The Horizon's Oli Sykes and Mat Nicholls are doing a charity triathlon for Ukrainian LGBTQ+ charity Ukraine Pride. Which you can donate to here: https://justgiving.com/crowdfunding/ukrainepride Katatonia provide the Camp Classic this week, with 'Liberation' being shown to have three separate queer interp…

1
The Oslo Terrorist Attack 11:39

2y ago11:39

11:39

Tom explains why the Oslo terrorist attack is so terrifying to the LGBTQ+ community, both in terms metal fans will understand, and in the wider context for anti-LGBTQ+ hate crime.By Tom Dare, Hell Bent For Metal

1
#84 – A Feminist Queercore View On Metal 1:14:13

2y ago1:14:13

1:14:13

Hell Bent For Metal welcomes London feminist queercore band Shooting Daggers to the podcast, to talk about the contrasting natures of the metal and hardcore scenes when it comes to how welcoming they are to queer women. The Camp Classic this week comes from Ghost, whose new album Impera went into HCGBs earlier this year and was promised to contain …

1
#83 – Viking Horn 1:08:12

2y ago1:08:12

1:08:12

Hell Bent For Metal, being a mature, serious podcast, reads the lyrics to 'Raise Your Horns' by Amon Amarth, and finds the phallic euphemisms are so close to the surface, they're basically poking through it. With Matt Rushton away, Tom is joined by Charlie Howard and Matt Dawson to chortle at a song about Vikings being thirsty for a drink from a ni…

1
#82 – Kickstart My Heartstopper 1:10:54

2y ago1:10:54

1:10:54

Hell Bent For Metal talk through their (many, many) opinions on Heartstopper, the Netflix teenage same-sex romance hit that's proved a breakout hit. The hosts also explain why being metalheads has significantly affected the way they view the show. The epic 'Sons Of Winter And Stars' by Wintersun is this week's Camp Classic, as Tom and Matt reveal w…

1
#81 – Anathema's Perfect Gay Heartbreak Songs 1:00:19

2y ago1:00:19

1:00:19

Having put it off for weeks because of various unforeseen circumstances, Hell Bent For Metal finally explain why 'Untouchable Part 1' by goth metal legends-turned-life-affirming prog band Anathema is a particular type of gay heartbreak viewed from years later, in this week's Camp Classic. It's then followed up with a second Camp Classic, as the oth…

1
#80 – The Black Dahlia Murder's Accidental Ode To Queer Joy 50:11

2y ago50:11

50:11

Hell Bent For Metal's Camp Classic this week is 'What A Horrible Night To Have A Curse' by The Black Dahlia Murder, and it's a case of a cishet band accidentally writing a song that can reflect an aspect of queer life perfectly – in this case, the joyful side of being LGBTQ+ – and in doing so, discuss how the world was better with Trevor Strnad bei…

1
#79 – Metal's Tacit Homophobia Endorsement Problem 1:02:41

2y ago1:02:41

1:02:41

Hell Bent For Metal addresses two recent examples of heavy metal's problem with tacitly endorsing homophobia. First, Faust plays with Emperor again, this time at a festival in London, and some self-declared allies use social media to say how great the show was without mentioning Faust's hate crime. Tom and Matt explain why this is worse than when t…

1
#78 – (Al)legaeons Of Hell (Bent For Leather) 1:02:54

2y ago1:02:54

1:02:54

HBFM welcome Michael Stancel from pod favourites Allegaeon to the show, who explains how this is a good time to be a gay man in a touring death metal band, and that people care more about his music than his sexuality. Having put it off for 78 episodes, Hell Bent For Metal finally discuss 'Hell Bent For Leather', the Judas Priest song that gave the …

1
#77 – Roadburn: The Heavy Festival Where You Can Celebrate Being Queer 1:05:47

2y ago1:05:47

1:05:47

Hell Bent For Metal goes to Roadburn Festival, where being queer was celebrated. Whether through visibly queer artists celebrating themselves in their performance, or through a panel discussion about this very topic, the 4-day festival in Tilburg, Netherlands, the LGBTQ+ community were able to proudly be themselves while playing or listening to the…

1
#76 – "We Were Taught Gay People Aren't Going To Heaven" 1:00:04

2y ago1:00:04

1:00:04

Hell Bent For Metal talks to Rich Lowe, the editor of overtly political, progressive multiplatform media outlet Astral Noize, about his experiences as an out but discreet queer man in metal. He talks about being recently fully out in metal and his journey to this point, taking in viciously homophobic experiences in childhood and as a young adult, h…

1
#75 – Let There Be Cock 1:06:09

2y ago1:06:09

1:06:09

Hell Bent For Metal talk to possibly the gayest covers band in the world, GayC/DC, the AC/DC tribute act you do not want to go watch with your dad. But as well as all the fun stuff, there's a serious side to the chat, as the members talk about being gay in rock and metal at a time when being out could end your music career – literally. This week's …

1
#74 – 2 Camp, 2 Fabulous 1:03:18

2y ago1:03:18

1:03:18

It's a double Camp Classic show, where two proggy Nordic tunes both get analysed from a queer perspective. First up, 'Silver Bride' by Finnish death/doom-turned-folk/prog crooners Amorphis gets a multi-angled view. hen 'Voices' by Norwegian prog black metallers Borknagar sees Tom and Matt take the same starting point, and then run off in literal op…

1
#73 – A Don't-Ask-Don't-Tell In The Metal Community 1:02:20

2y ago1:02:20

1:02:20

Hell Bent For Metal talks to Ethereal Shroud mainman Joseph Hawker about being out as a gay man in black metal circles. In an in-depth chat, Joseph tells Tom about how his experiences of growing up as queer in a homophobic, racist environment inform what he wants to express in his music, and how dramatically things have changed for gay men in metal…

1
#72 – Diamond Head, Diamond Heart 56:35

2y ago56:35

56:35

Hell Bent For Metal returns to one of their favourite topics, Ghost, to discuss how the band did something amazing for the trans community with a Metallica cover. Speaking of Metallica covers, the seminal NWOBHM classic 'Am I Evil?' by Diamond Head is this week's Camp Classic, with that was a huge influence on the biggest metal band of the lot prov…

1
Rant Session and Tarot Reading 1:18:30

2y ago1:18:30

1:18:30

We make fun of a so-called "sex shaman" and then read tarot cards. Find all of our stuff here: https://linktr.ee/Ayla_n_Ammo Theme: Seven Seas by Alexander Nakarada | https://www.serpentsoundstudios.com Music promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.com Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0 Support th…

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#71 – Hell Bent On Wednesdays 1:02:29

2y ago1:02:29

1:02:29

Yasmine Summan, the music journalist, social media guru, and TikTok star, most famous for their work at Altpress and as one-third of On Wednesdays We Wear Black, guests. They talk about being out as non-binary in metal, about racism and sexism in metal and alternative music (and also the music industry), the weight of expectations, and the foibles …

1
#70 – Peace Sells… But Who's Bi-ing? 56:58

2y ago56:58

56:58

Hell Bent For Metal highlights a simple show of solidarity with the LGBTQ+ community – and the bi community in particular – shown by Ireland's foremost thrash metallers Gama Bomb. Because sometimes simple gestures mean a huge amount. Swedish pop metallers Amaranthe provide this week's Camp Classic, as 'Drop Dead Cynical' is up for discussion. And i…

1
Reincarnation, Spirituality and Religion (March 6th 2022) 1:15:46

2y ago1:15:46

1:15:46

We discuss our history in the Christian church, our first introductions to the idea of reincarnation, and what we believe now. As well as our personal experiences in learning about our own past lives. Find all of our stuff here: https://linktr.ee/Ayla_n_Ammo Theme: Seven Seas by Alexander Nakarada | https://www.serpentsoundstudios.com Music promote…

1
#69 – Village People In Camo Pants 59:18

2y ago59:18

59:18

Hell Bent For Metal welcome Sabaton frontman Joakim Brodén to the show, who's on to chat about how Tom thinks his band look really gay – and why Joakim agrees, and says so on stage. Triptykon's 'Goetia' is the Camp Classic this week, with Tom G Warrior's imploration to Satan somehow connecting on a queer level with Tom… even if he is scared Matt wi…

1
#68 – "The Chance Of Me Getting Knocked Out Is Not Worth The Risk" 1:02:09

2y ago1:02:09

1:02:09

Hell Bent For Metal hears from its LGBTQ+ audience about their experiences of trying to date as a metalhead, and whether that's a barrier to their romantic lives as queer folk – with a predictably wide range of views getting in touch. 'Broken Cross' by Architects is this weeks' Camp Classic, and it's amazing both how easily the hosts each hear the …

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Sex, Submission, and Self-Worth (February 20th 2022) 1:16:58

2y ago1:16:58

1:16:58

We discuss our experiences on the submissive side of the BDSM lifestyle. As well as our self worth, and the growth we've experienced since first discovering alternative lifestyles. Find all of our stuff here: https://linktr.ee/Ayla_n_Ammo Theme: Seven Seas by Alexander Nakarada | https://www.serpentsoundstudios.com Music promoted by https://www.fre…

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#67 – A Trans Fist In The Face Of Bigots In The Metal Scene 1:08:28

2y ago1:08:28

1:08:28

With Hell Bent For Metal finally able to do an in person interview, Tom goes to Durham to meet singer, drummer, and trans pioneer in the metal scene, the metal as hell Kat Shevil Gillham. They discuss what playing heavy metal means to Kat, how the scene has changed, and how she is quite happy to piss off people who need it. The ferocious 'All Hail …

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