Bammer and Me

Епизоде

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  Jacob Butchoff: Self Destruction to Self Acceptancence 06.02.2026 1ч 8мин

  This week I talk with Jacob Butchoff, a British man whom I connected with through a friend I serendipitously sat next to on a plane. His life story is incredibly interesting: he harbored deep self hatred for being gay which sent him on a violent journey, one we’re pleased to say he's on the other side of. Today, he helps kids and adult communities alike with their identity struggles, demonstrating how important it is to be one's authentic self. Join me as we hear about Jacob's journey toward self discovery and self acceptance.   You can find Jacob on Instagram @jacobcharlesthomas
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  Johnathan David Katz: Homosexuality Through Art History 03.10.2025 44мин

  Joining me this week is accomplished art historian, genre and sexuality lecturer and gay rights activist, Johnathan Katz. He takes us on a journey through not only his life and career but the discoveries he's made in the history of homosexuality through the lens of art history.
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  Perry Brass: Southern, Jewish, Impoverished, Gay 13.09.2025 1ч 3мин

  Perry Brass, the accomplished author, playwright and founding member of the Gay Liberation Front joins me to talk about his incredible life as we discover many parallels between us, and discuss many more amazing memories and achievements. It is an honor to converse with a man who has seen and done so much for the gay community as well as art and culture as a whole.
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  Dastan Kasmamytov Returns: Mountain Climbing and New Activism Efforts 12.09.2025 36мин

  Dastan returns to talk with me about his mountaineering activities around the world and the community he has built with it as well as  his more recent escapades in gay rights activism, an update on his ban from Kyrgyzstan and more. 
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  Art Smith & David Kennerley: Gay Bars Through The Ages 26.04.2025 1ч 14мин

  Back after almost 1 year! Today's episode is also available as a video on our Youtube at www.youtube.com/@BAMMER47MikeArt Smith of YouTube Channel Gay Barchives fame and David Kennerley, author of Getting In, a history of gay clubs in 90's NYC, join me, Mike Balaban, to talk Gay Bars Through the Ages. We remember our favorite spots, how our coming out stories were hotly formed by gay bars and spaces available at the time and what the state of LGBTQ+ friendly bars is right now. We also chat about the continued importance of gay-only spaces to the community, trends we've recognized and where they could be headed next.Check out Art's incredible collection of stories from and about gay bars across America at either www.gaybarchives.com or on www.youtube.com/@GayBarchives.Check out David's awesome book at https://www.gettinginclubbook.com/
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  Suzie Kruger: London Fetish Maven 07.06.2024 41мин

  Suzie Kruger felt like she just fell into the role, but has maintained one of the most impressive careers organizing Adult Parties across London Europe and the rest of the world. Join Mike on a journey with icon, Suzie Kruger as she tells us all about her trials and tribulations at the vibrant center of the UK sex club scene.
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  Mohsin Zaidi: The Remarkable Journey of a Gay Muslim 01.03.2024 47мин

  In this heartening episode, join Mike as he engages with Mohsin Zaidi, a passionate lawyer, LGBTQ activist, and best-selling author of "A Dutiful Boy". Learn about Mohsin's remarkable journey from a poor London neighborhood to his rise as a celebrated lawyer amidst the challenges and triumphs of growing up as a gay Muslim. Gain deeper insights into the complexities of societal norms, cultural identities, and Mohsin's truth-seeking voyage towards authenticity. Dive into Mohsin's childhood where he fearlessly recounts his struggles and alienation, his diligent balancing act between becoming 'too Western' and maintaining his cultural identity, and the role of cultural traditions and religion in shaping deeply ingrained stigmas, particularly around homosexuality within the Islamic community. His balanced exploration makes space for the aspects of love, hope, and faith that guided his path, rendering an honest portrayal of life within a religious, immigrant family. Mosin's conversation spans across societal class structures in the UK and US, highlighting the hurdles faced by individuals from lower-income backgrounds attempting to scale societal ladders. Get a candid look into his educational voyage from public education to Oxford, inspired by mentors and supporters that believed in him, teaching the immense importance of determination and hard work. In this explosive episode, Mohsin switches gears to discuss his professional life, his shift from a corporate lawyer to a criminal barrister, and his subsequent plunge into the sphere of LGBTQ activism. Recognized as one of UK's top 20 future LGBT leaders, he reflects on his struggle for race representation within the gay community and offers valuable insights into negotiating with religiously conservative families. Embark with us on this enlightening journey filled with profound reflections urging for acceptance and diversity, beautifully narrated by Mohsin himself. Produced by Mike Balaban and Tom Walker, with audio editing by Henry Ley.
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  Peter Tatchell: Fearless Human Rights Activist 15.12.2023 1ч 3мин

  It's an honour to have Peter Tatchell on the podcast, a fearless LGBTQ and human right's activist who's launched social movements the world over including in some of the most politically dangerous countries. He and Mike talk early life, influences and trajectory and his own gay journey both in Australia and in the UK, as well as his work founding OutRage! and many other amazing human rights projects.
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  Prof. Steve Gillon: Modern Historian and Documentarian (Friend of JFK Jnr.) 29.09.2023 1ч 1мин

  Steve Gillon recently retired following 40 years as a professor of American history at some of the most prestigious universities in the US and UK where his students appreciated his dedication to storytelling even more than his in-depth knowledge of history. He also served as long-time spokesperson for the History channel on A & E cable network. Listen to Steve share details from his (previously) private life, including his insight and humorous tales about his close friend, John F. Kennedy, Jr. who he instructed at Brown University and later wrote his posthumous, best-selling biography.
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  Alexandra Billings: This Time For Her 21.07.2023 1ч 7мин

  In her epic roller-coaster of a memoir, "This Time For Me" Alexandra Billings muses on her unlikely journey as an accomplished actor and performer as well as her other lives in sex work, as a HIV positive activist, not to mention a huge LGBTQIA+ icon. Join Mike and Alexandra as she dishes about what she thinks of the next generation of queer activists! We had such a great time with Alexandra and you are sure to enjoy her energy as much as we do!
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  Barney Frank: 30 Years of Kicking Prejudice’s Ass 15.05.2023 51мин

  Barney Frank represented Massachusetts in Congress from 1982 to 2012, thirty years in which he was one of the most powerful, smartest, and wittiest politicians in DC.  He was also the first LGBTQ Congressman to voluntarily come out while in office, a highly controversial move in 1987 during the height of the AIDS crisis. I interviewed Barney remotely from his home in Ogunquit, Maine (where he now resides with his husband, James Ready). As I had expected, Barney’s whip smart mind was evident as was his wit.  What I hadn’t expected were his answers to some of my questions. Most notably, I was surprised by his assessment of the state of our democratic system at present. 
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  Eric Cervini: Young Gay Historian Making Waves 22.02.2023 51мин

  Today the accidental gay historian interviews a young, credentialed historian illuminating gay history and actively working for representation on TV and beyond. Eric Cervini has been and continues to be incredibly busy; having written a NYT Best Selling and Pulitzer Prize finalist book in 2020, writing and producing "The Book of Queer" TV series in 2022 with more still in production, and most recently starting his own book club and publishing company to spread the modern and historical stories of LGBT people everywhere. Mike and Eric talk upbringing and future plans in one of the most exciting episodes of the podcast to date. Check Eric out on https://ericcervini.com/
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  Barbara Poma: Pulse Night Club Owner and LGBTQ Activist 23.12.2022 56мин

  We're lucky this week to be joined by Barabara Pomo, staunch ally. Shaped by the loss of her older gay brother to AIDS in the late 1980s, Barbara Poma has become an integral part of the LGBTQ community. First, she bought and managed the Pulse Disco in Orlando, Fla., turning it into a multi cultural haven for queers and their families and after a tragic terrorist shooting and the deaths of 49 patrons by a hate-filled 29 y.o. man in June 2016, Barbara realized it could never be re-opened. So, she set about figuring out how to create a memorial and museum to pay appropriate tribute to those who lost their lives that night - One Pulse Foundation is the result.
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  Stanley Stellar: Legendary Gay Photographer and Historian 30.09.2022 1ч 10мин

  Iconic photographer Stanley Stellar, 77, has been documenting queer life and male nudes since 1976. When he began, most media outlets wouldn’t even feature images of men with their clothes on. Best known for his street photography, Stanley was present and shooting during many milestones in gay history, including the Christopher Street piers, gay pride marches, the HIV epidemic, Mr. Leather competitions, etc. Listen as he traces society’s reaction to the male body and how censorship today is beginning to resemble what he experienced decades ago.
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  Lilly Ann Velez: Ecuadorian Woman of Trans Experience 06.08.2022 1ч 8мин

  We're lucky enough to have as out guest, Lilly Ann Velez, a 39 yo Ecuadorian woman of trans experience. She explains misconceptions and describes the spectrum of trans experience, all while sharing with us the almost 30 year journey she's taken to becoming the woman she is today.
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  Hudson Taylor: Athlete, ally, fighting homophobia and transphobia in sports 17.06.2022 1ч 11мин

  In 2010, three-time All-American collegiate wrestler Hudson Taylor slapped a gay-equality sticker on his headgear before a match, leading to an interview with OutSports, an LGBTQ media outlet. Afterwards, he heard from 2,000 mostly closeted athletes who were moved to see a straight ally standing up for them. After that, Hudson founded Athlete Ally, which focuses on getting sports organizations to include and welcome participation by LGBTQ athletes. Today, it continues its effort to dismantle homophobia and transphobia in sports.
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  Khalleed Ahmed Part 1: The Journey of a Gay Somalian Refugee 03.05.2022 40мин

  Khalleed Ahmed and his family fled civil war in Somalia, spent eight years in Kenyan refugee camps, and finally were given asylum in the United States. Join us as we listen to Khalleed share his journey to becoming an openly gay, Islamic, cardiac surgeon and an inspiration for others living in countries where they can't be themselves (Part 1 of 2 interviews)
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  Dastan Kasmamytov Part 2: Leading the first LGBT Mountaineering Team in Kyrgystan. 15.04.2022 45мин

  Dastan Kasmamytov, a 30 y.o. Kyrgyzstani, is an LGBTQ activist and founder of Pink Summits, an LGBTQ mountaineering team attempting to scale the Seven Summits, the highest mountains on each of the seven continents. When that's completed, Dastan will become the first Kyrgyzstani citizen to accomplish this feat, which ought to greatly change the perception of LGBTQ people in an Islamic country where mountain-climbing is a national passion.
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  Dastan Kasmamytov Part 1: Outed on national TV in Islamic Kyrgyzstan 08.03.2022 57мин

  Growing up in the central Asian nation of Krygystan, Dastan Kasmamytov had no idea he’d ever become an LGBTQ activist. But, when he was outed in national media at 19 and a fatwa was issued by the Islamic religious authorities, urging their followers to stone him to death, that path became inescapable.Find Dastan @dastanik& His Pink Summits Project @pinksummitsFollow Our Instagram & Twitter @bammer.coSend Your Stories to [email protected] Out Our New YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJfqFoe2tAJUsdlIMt4nvlg
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  Andrew Tobias: Author of ”Best Little Boy in the World”, Treasurer of the Democratic National Committee and LGBT Activist 10.01.2022 52мин

  Andy Tobias' journey from being the "Best Little Boy in the World" (the title of the best-selling coming out memoir he authored under a pseudonym while still in grad school in 1972) to serving as the first openly-gay Treasurer of the Democratic Party from 1999-2016 is a fascinating one. Growing up in a suburban Jewish household where he was taught that helping others was imperative, Andy has dedicated his life to political and charitable causes. He and Mike Balaban have known each other for more than 40 years. In this interview they discuss their lives, and shared values while pursuing paths of political and social activism.