@thisqueerbook.com
2024 GLAAD Media Award nominee for Outstanding Podcast. LGBTQ guests share the queer books that saved their lives. Posts by Exe. Producer Jim Pounds. Unless signed by host @jpderboghossian. Listen: podfollow.com/thisqueerbook
Giovanni's Room by James Baldwin is special. It is one of the two most popular books requested on this podcast. Michael Horvich does the honors today. The life stories connected to this book are so personal. Perhaps it is because there was so little for us in 1956.
thisqueerbook.com/giovannis-ro...
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Bayard Rustin was an American hero. Lucas brought us Lost Prophet-Dr. John D'Emilio joined for a great conversation about this man whose contribution was downplayed by people who didn't like the fact that a Gay man was a critical element of the March on Washington.
thisqueerbook.com/lost-prophet/
We've never allowed a guest to select a book that has already been profiled. Michael Horvich implored us to let an 80 year old man share the reality of it for him. I think he was right. The power of the book is undeniable as the original episode still gets listens
thisqueerbook.com/giovannis-ro...
This episode is compelling when TJ Semmerling brought us The Deviant's War by Eric Cervini. The machinations of the Pentagon to harm a lawyer working for them backfired when the defendant (a bad guy) figured out who was on his side. TJ is the hero in this story.
thisqueerbook.com/the-deviants...
Lucas & John D'Emilio gave us a great episode w/Lost Prophet:The Life & Times of Bayard Rustin. What an exceptional choice for Black History Month. I was struck with how much resistance Bayard received WITHIN the movement. We break the code & bring MLK forward . Sad
thisqueerbook.com/lost-prophet/
Do you know a lapsed Mormon? There are tens of thousands of them. Bobbie Smith is one. He tells us about Coming Out by Wallace Hamilton. Astonishing to me is the absolute willingness of people to count themselves as religious leaders who are in fact viciously anti human
thisqueerbook.com/coming-out/
I have never heard a more astonishing story of straight washing history than this episode featuring Neil Laird. The Satyricon by PETRONIUS! The construct of gay being a threat to society came about because 62% of humans are Bisexual whether they act on it or not!
thisqueerbook.com/the-satyricon/
Bobbie Smith brought his extraordinary life story to a discussion of the book, Coming Out by Wallace Hamilton. Although a friend, I had never heard Bobbie's full story which is remarkable. He is a recovering Mormon and yes, his last name is significant. A must listen!
thisqueerbook.com/coming-out/
Neil Laird brought us the incredible story of The Satyricon by Caius Petronius Arbiter around 99 AD. It is part of our remarkable history that has been kept from us. Denied. Straight Washed. Personally, I felt proud to have this new insight. I'm hungry for more !
thisqueerbook.com/the-satyricon/
Robin Jeffrey brought us the science fiction classic Stars in My Pocket-Samuel Delaney. Robin is a well know author in her own right & you can tell from this convo that John appreciates sci fi as well. This book was published in 1984. Recommend to a fan of the genre
thisqueerbook.com/stars-in-my-...
More listeners please!
Dean Backus brought us the classic Harriet the Spy. Do you know this book has been mentioned by more people as a pivotal book while they were growing up? Louise Fitzhugh was the author. In these supremely difficult times, Harriet is a balm
thisqueerbook.com/harriet-the-...
Max Yeshaye Brumberg-Kraus brought us The Once & Future King- T.H.White. They are an author of 2 books & the discussion of this book is intelectually fascinating. A biographer of White concluded that he was Gay & it is interesting how we see ourselves in coded ways
thisqueerbook.com/the-once-and...
The Hours-Michael Cunningham became one of John's favorite films. Samantha Mann's an excellent author and she gave a great episode. We regret that Michael declined to join us but sometimes that makes the guest shine because they realize it is up to them to open our minds
thisqueerbook.com/the-hours/
I think we can agree that Eric Marcus is one of the most famous podcasters in the LGBTQ space as the host & producer of Making Gay History. He brought us Consenting Adult by Laura Z. Hobson. We don't play the star ******* game. Eric is the real deal. Have a listen!
thisqueerbook.com/consenting-a...
I love this episode where an LGBT bookstore owner joins us from CO and the author of her book joins us from NEW ZEALAND! The book is Dare, Truth or Promise and the author is Paula Boock. I was jealous of Paula then. Imagine my longing now! A great bookstore episode!
thisqueerbook.com/dare-truth-p...
I admired this episode featuring TJ Semmerling: The Deviant's War by Eric Cervini. Most of the stories on this podcast are highly personal. This was a professional story & is utterly compelling. Our people have contributed in some huge & often unappreciated ways
thisqueerbook.com/the-deviants...
Here's an oldie & a goodie! The first episode we ever recorded but not the first released. Neil Aasve was our guest & Bill Burleson is the author of Bi America. These are the only two Bi men we have had on the show to my knowledge. Odd because there are so many!
thisqueerbook.com/podcast/bi-a...
On this Sunday I am going back to a 2nd season episode that some think is overly religious. I'm not a religious person & I see it as questioning religion. What do you think? I am only aware of 2 religious leaders who have shown leadership: Mariann Budde & the Pope
thisqueerbook.com/podcast/oran...
SO proud to start 2026 by announcing our newest Associate Producer Karsten Vagner!
Associate Producers not only invest financially in our podcast, but they also provide valuable input at our quarterly AP meetings. Thank you so much Karsten for your support! We look forward to working with you. 🌈📚🎙️
On this first day of 2026, I am focusing on an episode that featured a book from 88 years ago. Lauren Sanders brings us Nightwood by Djuna Barnes. Our history has been straightwashed for centuries but here is a moment filled with coded language to savor. Recommended!
thisqueerbook.com/nightwood/
Looking for 3 more followers! ellie Krug brought us the book, She's Not There in Season 1. Jennifer Finney Boylan joined the conversation and it was fascinating to hear. ellie has just released her second book. ellie is host of The Illegal Trans Woman on KTNF-AM.
thisqueerbook.com/podcast/shes...
More followers please! Our latest is Neil Laird who brought us The Satyricon by Gaius Petronius. No, I'm not kidding. In ad63. It is an amazing conversation & when we say we don't know our full history because it has been repressed, we are not kidding around. Listen!
thisqueerbook.com/the-satyricon/
More followers please!
Lauren Sanders brought us the book Nightwood by Djuna Barnes from 1936. The thought of that just stops me in my tracks. The risks seem monumental and yet she did it.
I highly recommend this episode to you and your friends who need to know about it
thisqueerbook.com/nightwood/
You won't believe Bobbie Smith's story & his discussion of the book Coming Out by Wallace Hamilton. Yes, Danielle Steel wrote some tripe with the same title but this book helped a young man who was a victim of the Mormon Church to find his footing & survive that cult.
thisqueerbook.com/coming-out/
I think this episode w/ Caro De Robertis is so important.
I tend to focus on the cruelty in this country. This episode reminds me that our siblings in other nations are in so much MORE danger. I would like to see Caro be recognized for her humanity by you listening
thisqueerbook.com/notes-of-a-c...
5 more followers please. Most of us don't know a lot about asexuality. Yet it is part of our rainbow. This episode is an excellent discussion of the topic framed around the Alice Oseman book Loveless. She of Heartstopper fame. This will raise your IQ on the subject!
thisqueerbook.com/loveless/
Kim Hines gave a passionate case for James Baldwin's The Fire Next Time & taught us a bit about Minneapolis' sketchy history w/busing. Kim's a playwright & director in her own right. Disquieting to me but totally valid is the idea that her black identity comes first
thisqueerbook.com/the-fire-nex...
7 more followers please!
Joel Freedman brought us the book Good Times/Bad Times by James Kirkwood. He told us the book was a cautionary tale for him about how NOT to live his life. This is the second guest who has taken this tactic. This will be nostalgic for some.
thisqueerbook.com/good-times-b...
Still looking for six more followers. Rex Ogle brought us the book Running With Scissors by Augusten Burroughs. It is a really great episode and I highly recommend it. Rex is a successful author in his own right. I highly recommend this episode to you. Life is messy
thisqueerbook.com/running-with...