Last updated on February 3, 2024
Sharing these transcripts and notes is an extention of the joy I have in researching and writing each episode . You might notice the spoken episodes don’t match the transcript word for word. Somethings are better read than spoken. I hope you enjoy reading them as much as I did writing them for you. -Reggie
Fannie Lou Hamer Says VOTE
Fannie Lou Hamer is a true pioneer. Her vision, her intention, her sheer bravery are enough to be admired. This episode includes Mrs. Hamer telling her story in her own words. Hope you enjoy it.
Apologies
My interest in this subject of apologies was peaked when YouTubers tried to save face for posting racist content and content that sexualized children. This episode starts with public apologies and corporate apologies and why they are so terrible. Then we take a look at apologies in personal settings and what we can learn about offering a more deeply heartfelt apology. I’d love to hear about what you’ve learned about apologizing.
Négritude
I wanted to talk about an aspect of racism not often expressed outside academic circles. As the worldwide protests have shown things are changing and while we wait to see the social and political outcomes the othering of people remains as fundamental to racism in the United States and around the world as is melanin.
Sex and the Zipper
This a case of my mind wandering. We are surrounded by objects that we use every day and never give a thought to. In many ways, they were designed not to be thought about. After all, if you’re not thinking about them they’re working. The story of the zipper suggests that invention needs many things including being created at the right time. A little too soon and no one wants it, a little too late and everyone’s invented one. Timing, creativity, and our collective dirty minds made the zipper into the most erotically considered utilitarian object ever created.
The Hayes Valley Carnival of 1911
If you’re the sort of person who likes to research and root around you will understand this. As I researched another story I stumbled upon The Hayes Valley Carnival of 1911. I collected the stuff I needed for the initial story but the carnival would not leave me alone. So I unearthed as much as I could. I am happy to have the opportunity to share this event that happened once but had an enormous impact on being a neighborhood brought together. What will our reunions be like when we can gather together again?
The Doodler. Cops. Queers. Serial Killers.
There some terrific podcasts about The Doodler case but what I wanted to add, due in no small part to my own curiosity, is how attitudes, bias and a general lack of community “insider knowledge created misdirection and confusion for the police. The killer’s pattern, or lack of one may have also confused the police. Be sure to check out the Deeper Dive page for maps and a peek into the mindset of the investigating officers and an up to date study about serial killers from the FBI.
Life At The Movies
As often happens when I start with an episode idea the more I research a topic the more it nuances and changes. I love that! This episode is more of a plea to allow art to have its way with you.
Notes on a Scandal
Rhinelanders vs. Rhinelander is the perfect example of how a scandal is a sign of the times. I think we can learn a lot about ourselves by the scandals that we’re drawn to.
For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Suicide When the Rainbow is Enuf
What Ntozake Shange gave to the world is one of the great piece of American theater. It focuses on the lives of black women specifically and like all great art it demands our attention creating waves of empathy and joy.
Pink on Purpose
The history of men’s clothes gives us great inspiration. Color, patterns, fabrics, adornments. All waiting for you. This episode has been amazingly popular. More next season.
Earthquakes and Consequences
I wanted to find a way to fold in my obsession with the Newton J. Tharp School in San Francisco with some of the history of the children of color in the city before and after the earthquake of 1906.
27 Cotton of Tennessee Williams
William’s work is well known but these “minor works” contain astonishing glimpses into the crushing effects of gay sexual repression in very person terms. One acts and short stories give voice to lives lived in quiet desperation accompanied by beautiful poetry.
Gohatto, A Beautiful Mystery
When this film came out I was just at the end of researching the presence of male/male love in Japanese Ukiyo-e. The film uses what the samurai called Bido or the beautiful way as the thing on which the film turns. A comment on society and an obsession with the past. The second film is a parody of what is still referred to in Japan as “The Mishima incident” It’s sexy and I don’t think Mishima would like any of it.
Dougla, Dance and Inspiration
This episode was born out of a dance performance by a company I had waited to see for over a year. As the performance started I realized it just didn’t work for me anymore. I thought I would share some of the dance work that has given me inspiration while I wait for something new to arrive.
Live recordings have always held a fascination for me. They can be revealing listening to an artist’s voice sometimes a little raspier or in this case in full command of the material and the audience and you can hear it all. I love these recordings.
Panic A Killer Defense Part Two
The second half of the gay panic defense exploration involves the trial of John Stephan Parisie who was only 19 years old when he shot Robert Jackson killing him. In researching this episode I couldn’t find the transcript of the trial but I did find the appeal transcripts and they are full of detail. If you like trials this is a good one.
Panic A Killer Defense Part One
My original idea for a podcast involved researching and presenting stories about the hidden deaths of members of the LGBTQ community but it evolved into what it is now. In the early days of research, I kept coming up against the gay panic defense. These two episodes are my attempt to understand this defense and how it became a tool in the legal community.
