In this week’s episode of the Geeks OUT Podcast, Kevin is joined by Kate Moran, as they discuss Disney’s newest movie, Raya and the Last Dragon, debate whether more inclusion in Hogwarts Legacy washes away J.K.’s TERF past/present, and celebrate Alan Scott, the Green Lantern, coming out in a new story from James Tynion IV in This Week In Queer.
.
BIG OPENING
KEVIN: San Diego Comic Con is canceled for virtual event and a smaller IRL one in November KATE: Upcoming Hogwarts Legacy gives the option to play as transgender character
.
DOWN AND NERDY
KEVIN: Coming 2 America, Debri, For All Mankind, The Real World Homecoming, Wiccan & Hulkling, DC’s Infinite Frontier KATE: Sims 4 Kits disappoints again, Wandavision Finale, Raya, Super Mario in Animal Crossing
.
STRONG FEMALE CHARACTER
Watch Raya & the Last Dragon on March 12th for less than premiere access & support a non-profit
• New trailer for AppleTV+ series Calls • Fox renews The Simpsons for two more seasons bringing them to 750 episodes • Fox’s Animation Domination extends to Monday • The CW renews Superman & Lois after airing one episode • CBS orders a pilot based on Sarah Cooper’s book • New trailer for South Park’s vaccination special • First look & reintroduction to The Proud Family • Sony secures showrunner for new Silk series • The Golden Globes address their lack of diversity during broadcast • Starz is working on a Party Down revival
.
VIDEO GAMES
• New Switch system coming in time for the holidays • Act 1 of Hamilton was recreated on Animal Crossing
Molly Ostertag is an Igntaz and Prism Award winning graphic novelist and author of the Witch Boy series from Scholastic. She also writes and designs for TV animation. She lives in Los Angeles with her wife and pets, where her hobbies include cooking, camping, and thinking about hobbits. I had the chance to interview her, which you can read below.
When or how did you first realize you wanted to create and draw cartoons and comics for a living?
I started out wanting to write novels, because I was the kind of kid who read everything I could get my hands on and spent most of my childhood acting out stories I made up. But I loved to draw (like every kid does, honestly) and got enough encouragement that I just never stopped drawing. In high school a friend introduced me to Neil Gaiman’s SANDMAN series, and I realized comics didn’t have to be about superheroes – they could be a way to merge my love of storytelling and of drawing. I feel really lucky that I entered the industry during a huge boom in kids’ comics (thanks, Raina Telgemeier and Dav Pilkey!) and that I could make an actual career out of drawing graphic novels!
What were some of the first stories that inspired you as an artist growing up and what stories inspire you now or continue to inspire you today?
There were a ton of (mostly young adult) novels that really shaped me as a storyteller – authors like Tamora Pierce, Diana Wynne Jones, Diane Duane, Susanna Clarke, and Ursula K. Le Guin were huge for me. More recently, I’ve been enjoying Tasmyn Muir, N.K. Jemisin, Octavia Butler, Jeff Vandermeer, and Madeline Miller. I’ve also been doing a sort-of embarrassing deep dive into my preteen love of Lord of the Rings, and finding a lot of new inspiration and interest in that classic story (did you know that it’s like, SUPER gay?).
Previously, you had paneled for an event at Flame Con, a queer comic con sponsored by Geeks OUT, on “Telling All-Ages Queer Stories.” Can you talk about your work and personal motivation creating inclusive stories for young queer kids, like Witch Boy?
It’s really important to me! I came out at the ripe old age of 24 (I’m kidding! But it felt old at the time). I grew up in a liberal environment, but the 90s and early 00s were still deeply lacking in gay representation in film and books. Gay men were usually a joke, lesbians existed entirely for the male gaze, and any other identity was barely mentioned. I just didn’t know it was a real option for myself. Each piece of work I make for kids that features queer themes is a way to push back against that – to show young people that there’s a huge world of queerness out there, and to show how exciting and wonderful it is to be yourself. ‘Being yourself’ and ‘listening to your heart’ are very over-used morals in children’s media, but when you put them in the context of queer stories they gain new power.
Relating to such, as a writer for Dana Terrance’s hit show, The Owl House, you had the opportunity to write some pretty major episodes, including “Enchanting Grom Night” and “Wing It like Witches.” What was that experience like, writing canonical LGBTQ+ representation on Disney into existence?
It was very exciting! I had worked for Disney TVA in various capacities and had always tried to push for better queer representation (‘better’ here meaning ‘literally anything’), but this was my first job as a writer. Dana had a vision for these characters and when I expressed how much I love writing romance, she assigned me the Grom Night script. It’s been heartening to see Disney realize that there’s no reason a story featuring a same-sex crush shouldn’t be on their network. That’s thanks to a lot of hard work from people behind the scenes, as well as all the other shows that made strides in this area (Steven Universe, Adventure Time, She-Ra, Korra – we build on what came before).
By the time I was writing the episode, the process went really smoothly. It was a dream to get to tell the story of a nerve-wracking high school crush (in the context of battling an ancient fear demon) and the reaction to that episode and to Wing It Like Witches was awesome.
Your partner, Noelle Stevenson, also a former panelist at Flame Con, is a creative influence in comics in her/his/their own right. How did you two first meet and would you say your creativity as artists sometimes bounce off each other?
The one time we tabled together at Flame Con (2018, I think?) was SO fun, because we initially met at conventions and so they’ll always have a special place in our relationship. We knew each other from cons, and Tumblr, and from both being in art school and making webcomics at the time. It wasn’t until I moved across the country that we started actually dating (after a lot of coming out drama, some of which Noelle wrote about in their gorgeous memoir The Fire Never Goes Out) and now we’re married and very happy!
It’s truly amazing to be with someone so brilliant and creative. I feel like I’m always scrambling to keep up with Noelle’s giant brain (in a good way; I hope the feeling is mutual) and we bounce ideas off each other constantly. There’s some of me in She-Ra, and some of Noelle in the Witch Boy series, but being in constant conversation means that our voices have been able to diverge and grow and be strengthened by one another. Noelle is incredible with characters and humor; I’m good at world building and story structure; and we’ve both learned a lot from each other in the last five years. I feel lucky every day.
Hypothetically speaking, if the characters of your books or you yourself could interact with characters from any other fictional universe, where would they be from?
I talk about this incessantly, but I would LOVE to travel to Middle-Earth and hang out with some hobbits. Hopefully in this scenario I would also be a hobbit, or else the height difference would be a problem when they inevitably invited me over for elevenses, followed by luncheon.
As a creator, what are some tips you can give to people regarding how to break into the industries (comic books/animation) you occupy? What advice would you give for those who are struggling with inspiration or figuring out how to keep going?
For me, becoming a good artist is about pursuing the stories and art you love. It’s about honing in on what makes your voice unique, feeding your interests, and learning the craft of how best to communicate your story to others – whether that means studying writing, or story structure, or drawing, or anything other form of art.
Being a good artist with a distinct voice is important to break into these industries, but I always have to note that systemic privilege plays a big, frustrating role. The world of comics and animation are slowly getting better at bringing in underrepresented voices, but there are many issues.
Generally, here are some practices that have helped me most in my career: forming connections with my peers, elevating and celebrating their successes, and sharing information with them. Being vocal about what jobs I want, and being ready to leave when I outgrew them. And finally: consistently making work I’m passionate about and sharing it, even when it isn’t perfect, and even when I have to self-publish and self-distribute.
Are there any projects you are working on at the moment and are at liberty to speak about?
I’m really excited about my upcoming graphic novel, THE GIRL FROM THE SEA (Scholastic, June 2021). Morgan, a 15-year-old lesbian who lives in Nova Scotia, has a plan to stay closeted until she can go to college; that is, until she meets Keltie, a selkie girl from the sea with some secrets of her own. It’s a very personal story – it explores the transformative power of queer love, and the fear of coming out and being known, in a way that’s really close to my heart. From the setting, to the fashion, to the sweet romance scenes, it was an absolute joy to draw and I hope people enjoy it!
Finally, what are some LGBTQ+ books or authors you would recommend to the readers of Geeks Out?
Here are some books I’ve loved recently!
Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller – an aching retelling of the romance between Patrocles and Achilles.
The Locked Tomb Trilogy by Tasmyn Muir – truly insane, extremely fun books about dirtbag lesbian necromancers in space.
Laura Dean Keeps Breaking Up With Me by Rosemary Valero-O’Connell and Mariko Tamaki – a gorgeous graphic novel about high school love and heartbreak.
In the return of the Geeks OUT Podcast, Kevin is joined by Aaron Porchia, as they discuss all the new shows coming to Paramount+, the new trailer for Disney/Pixar’s Luca, and celebrate a nostalgic BTS look at Michelle Pfeiffer as Catwoman as our Strong Female Character of the Week.
KEVIN: Antebellum, Possessor, The Equalizer, Batwoman, Superman & Lois, The Cruising Diaries AARON: Charmed, Agents of SHIELD, I Care A Lot, WandaVision
• The Big Two (WB/DC and Disney/Marvel) make statement denouncing anti-asian racism • Marvel announces Reptil series from designer of Flame Con Flamies, Terry Blas
Blue Delliquanti is a comic artist and writer based in Minneapolis. They are the creator of the science fiction comic O Human Star, which ran online from 2012 to 2020 at ohumanstar.com. Blue is also the co-creator of the graphic novel Meal (with Soleil Ho), and their next book Across a Field of Starlight will be published by Random House Graphic in 2022. I got the chance to talk with Blue, which you can read below.
How would you describe the premise of O Human Star to first time readers?
O Human Star is about an inventor named Alastair Sterling who wakes up one morning to discover that he is in a robot body and sixteen years have passed since his untimely death. When he seeks out his former business partner (and lover) for answers, Al has to confront the consequences of a lot of painful memories between them – and he must face a world whose technology had advanced significantly due to innovations he made in life, and is therefore fixated on his legacy and identity.
What were some of the first comics/book/stories that inspired or influenced you as an artist?
I read comics omnivorously as a middle schooler in the early 00s, so that ranged from superhero comics, manga, webcomics, even Jhonen Vasquez’s alt comics. In terms of stuff whose influence you can trace to O Human Star, I think Mike Mignola’s Hellboy was an early case of a comic whose protagonist I found incredibly appealing. Hiromu Arakawa’s Fullmetal Alchemist was also a huge early influence on my art and the kind of stories I like to tell. But EK Weaver’s The Less Than Epic Adventures of TJ and Amal was a roadmap for me – as a webcomic, a queer comic, and a comic about love.
Where did the inspiration for this story come from? What references from real-life or fiction have inspired you since its inception?
I like to tell this story because I can still hardly believe it happened, but the basic premise came to me almost fully formed in a dream. I wrote it down in a journal at the time, but the implied characters and conflict intrigued me, and I kept sketching them out until I had an outline for something much bigger. I researched the science behind the story’s technology, but I was really interested in evoking the melancholy tone from “softer” sci fi with similar themes that I love – like Stanisław Lem’s Solaris or Naoki Urasawa’s Pluto.
At previous conventions, including the 2018 panel hosted by Flame Con, Robots and Ro-Butts: How We Learned to Love Robots, you touched upon the connection between robots and LGBTQ+ narratives? Could you expand on this?
Absolutely. Queer audiences are attracted to stories about characters who are “othered” all the time, and that definitely extends to science fiction about aliens, monsters and robots. Robot narratives are often about transformation and augmentation – improving ourselves in ways that are often seen as strange by other people.
But I also believe, as we spend a significant amount of our lives developing our identity online, that we often find artifacts of our earlier selves that look very different from how we are now. Accepting that continuum as part of our identity is a universally human experience, but it’s especially impactful as a queer person.
Lucille Villas Santos, who in my opinion one of the best characters of O Human Star, is an accomplished prosthetist as well as a congenital amputee. What kind of research did you do in creating this character, and incorporating disability into sci-fi?
I think of all the technological fields that have advanced in the time I worked on OHS, prosthetics might have changed the most! Much of it comes down to the fact that prosthetic limbs were intricate and important to fine-tune for the user, and therefore very expensive – but technology like 3D printing have made it easier to fabricate and customize parts as needed, especially for children. There’s also been a cultural shift in how users discuss their prostheses and their identity – people will often choose limbs that are vibrant colors or interesting designs instead of one that is the closest to their skin tone and limb shape as they can get. Prostheses can be fashion statements or art pieces. Acceptance of disability can mean an opportunity for augmentation, and that idea informed Lucille’s motivations as a scientist and a person.
Body modification and transformation are strong themes within this story, both in terms of queer/trans narratives and technology. Was that exploration of dissonance/unification between appearance and self always present within the story?
Yes, although I expanded upon it much more as the story developed organically over the years. Al’s struggles with identity and legacy were always at the core of the story, but Lucille’s role developed over time as I realize just what a valuable foil she was in terms of perspective on this subject. Personal transformation – especially of the queer varieties – is tinged with this fear of loss. If you radically change yourself, will you lose your family or community? Your identity you spent years, if not decades, building? The specter of loss is at the center of Al and Brendan’s relationship. At one point in the story, meanwhile, Lucille says, “I can’t lose what I never had,” and I think that reflects a radical shift in how you perceive yourself and how you allow others to perceive you, no matter how you change.
What are some of your favorite elements of comics/graphic novel medium? What craft elements/techniques stand out to you the most?
Pacing. A comic artist has control over the way readers perceive the passage of time in a comic in a way that is really exciting to recognize when an artist does it well. I love experimenting with ways to make a quiet moment seem to stretch for ages, or to make a fight scene seem fast-paced and exciting. I also really enjoy stories that are wordless or dialogue-free, but still communicate loads of information.
What’s a question no one has asked you yet or that you wish was asked?
I always like sharing a weird or interesting fact like I learned while researching something for a comic – maybe it wasn’t useful for the purposes of the comic, but I’m never going to forget it. Once I had to look up what was the safest way to fall into water from a great height, and that’s how I learned that clenching your butt was essential unless you want rushing water to destroy all of your internal organs. Unrelatedly, I also have a new worst fear!
What advice would you give to those who may want to create their own stories or are already in the process?
Make sure you’re making time for hobbies that aren’t art or writing related! Over the last couple years I got into urban foraging and playing mahjong, and they make for immensely satisfying breaks from my daily comics routine. The perspectives you gain from those pastimes or those communities can also keep you from being in the same bubble in terms of creative problem solving.
Are there any projects you are currently working on or project ideas you are currently nursing and are at liberty to speak about?
I’m currently finishing a YA graphic novel for Random House Graphic called Across a Field of Starlight that’s also very sci fi and queer. Keep an eye out for it in 2022!
Finally, what LGBTQ+ books/comics would you recommend to the readers of Geeks OUT?
Two queer prose books I’ve read recently that I really liked were The Breath of the Sun by Isaac R. Fellman and Small Beauty by Jia Qing Wilson-Yang. Displacement by Kiku Hughes is an absolutely gorgeous graphic novel that came out last year. I’ve also adored Pseudonym Jones’ online comics – she’s got an incredible aesthetic and sense of humor and I look forward to every update in her characters’ lives.
Peter Wartman has been drawing monsters, robots, and spaceships since he figured out how to hold a pencil. He lives in Minneapolis, Minnesota, where he works as a designer by day and a comic artist the rest of the time. Xanthe Bouma is an illustrator based in Southern California. Their work includes picture books, such as Little Sid, fashion illustration, and comics.
I had the opportunity to interview to both Peter and Xanthe on their latest project at Scholastic, The Dragon Prince: Through the Moon, which you can read below.
First of all, how did you get assigned to work on this comic? How aware were you of the show prior to working on Through the Moon?
PW: I was already a fan of the show! It’s absolutely the kind of story I love, and I hopped on it as soon as it was available on Netflix.
I honestly have no idea how I got the project – I just got an email one day asking if I’d like to work on it. I assume they found me through my work on the Avatar comics or my creator owned work (Over the Wall and Stonebreaker).
XB: One of the senior designers at Scholastic approached me, having known my work. She thought I might be a good match for the book, and since I got really into the show around the season 2 premiere and made a bunch of Dragon Prince fanart, I was, of course, stoked.
You’ve been a writer and an artist for quite a few fandoms before, including Avatar the Last Airbender, What was the process like working on a story with an already established universe? What’s it like balancing keeping consistent with the story’s original voice while including your own elements? Would you describe it as writing professional fan-fiction?
PW: The great thing about starting with an established universe – especially a fantasy universe – is that you can skip all the setup. No need to introduce the characters or magic systems or anything else; the readers will already be familiar with what’s going on, and you can jump right into the story. I was lucky in that Through the Moon touched on a lot of themes I’m already interested in (although I can’t really get into specifics without spoilers), so I didn’t find it too hard to work that in. My biggest goal was just to keep true to the characters – if they feel right everything else should fall into place.
The biggest difference from fan-fiction is that I was working closely with the show runners. It was based on a story outline they provided and we went through a lot of revisions and edits to make sure everything fit. Otherwise, yeah, the experience is probably pretty close.
As an artist who has drawn their own original works and collaborated with other writers and artists on their property, how would you say the artistic process varies? What stays the same?
XB: When I’m working on something alone, it’s a lot of hats to wear and they don’t always fit… so I try to trust my sensibilities while still being self-critical. Collaborators will take some of that load off. They notice and do things I can’t, so what stays the same is having trust, I guess – relinquishing some artistic control and trusting them with their strengths as part of the process. What those strengths are and how other artists, writers and editors play to them is the different part. I get to learn other people’s creative language and hope they’ll be willing to learn mine, which is very different from being in my own head. That and I’m a little neater when I share sketches with other people…!
In terms of The Dragon Prince timeline, Through the Moon, takes place between the end of season 3 and the unreleased season 4. How would you say the events that take place in the graphic novel affect future storylines?
PW: I have no idea! I’m excited to find out.
XB: It seems especially emotionally affecting, particularly for Rayla and Callum. The whole team composition changes going forward in the show now, right? Things can’t really go back to how they were before. I was excited when I finished reading the script because I was like “WHAT does this mean for them next?!”
What were your favorite characters to write/ draw and why?
PW: Rayla is my favorite character in the Dragon Prince – I think her struggles trying to figure out where she belongs / where she comes from resonate the most with me.
That, and she can parkour everywhere, which is neat.
XB: Indulging in the Rayla/Callum interactions, because I’m a sap. Absolute favorite was drawing sad Soren, that was truly fulfilling. Peter wrote such an emotionally complex moment for him!
What drew you to the comics medium? Do you remember the stories that first inspired you as creatives?
PW: I honestly think the biggest thing about comics for me is that its the only visual storytelling medium that you can conceivably do on your own or as part of a small team. I’m also fascinated by some of the weird things in the language of comics – the way time passes in panels on a page, for example, is very strange, and it’s kind of magic that it all works.
The first comic I can think of that really opened my eyes to what was possible in the medium was Hellboy. Otomo’s Akira was also mind-blowing. Neither of those were the first comics I read, but they were what made me fall in love with the medium.
XB: Garfield and CLAMP… which maybe explains everything. Basically, Sunday strips like Calvin and Hobbes got me interested, then discovering shoujo manga, BL, and webcomics kept that going. When I was 9, I read this punk pamphlet about how anyone can make a zine so then I was like “okay… time to self-insert me and my friends in an original Digimon comic and distribute it at school.”
What advice do you have to give for people working on their own projects/ wanting to enter the comic book industry?
PW: It’s a marathon, not a sprint. It took me seven years from graduating college until I started making enough money to live off comics full time. What’s more, every path in comics is different, and the industry is always changing, which makes giving advice hard. That said, you can’t go too wrong making work that you love, and I think it’s essential to reach out to your peers and stay connected.
Also: never sign a contract without getting a someone to look over it first.
XB: Comics take long and often don’t pay well, so make the art/stories you earnestly enjoy making for whatever reasons feel right to you and share with the communities you want to speak to. That said, not everything that comes along will be a dream job. That’s fine – even in art, sometimes work is just work. Choose your battles, know your value, read your contracts, take care of yourself!
Are there any projects you are currently working on or project ideas you are currently nursing and are at liberty to speak about?
PW: I’m currently working on drawing more Avatar: The Last Airbender books with Faith Erin Hicks!
XB: I’ve been working on the sci-fi adventure series 5 Worlds for the last six years… and we are about to finish the final book, The Emerald Gate! So that’s a huge conclusion. Can’t report much beyond that, but I can say I’m working on developing my own stories next. Yeehaw!
Finally, what comics/books would you recommend to the readers of Geeks OUT?
PW: A comic I’ve been thinking about a lot lately is Miyazaki’s Nausicaa (which the film is partially based on). It goes in a lot of cool and weird places that I think fans of the Dragon Prince will enjoy, and it’s only two volumes long.
XB: I revisited SuperMutant Magic Academy by Jillian Tamaki recently! The Prince and the Dressmaker by Jen Wang is an amazing book. This Is Not Fiction by Nicole Mannino is a fun rom-com that’s free to read online. A favorite contemporary manga: Dungeon Meshi by Ryōko Kui; and, finally, a favorite classic manga: Rose of Versailles by Riyoko Ikeda.
Follow Peter on Twitter @Peter_Wartman, and Instagram @peterwartman
Follow Xanthe on Tumblr @yumbles, Twitter @xoxobouma, and Instagram @xoxoboh
In this week’s episode of the Geeks OUT Podcast, Kevin is joined by Geeks OUT President, Nic Gitau, as they discuss the latest revelations from WandaVision, check out the new Coming 2 America trailer, and celebrate the new writer for the Blade reboot, Stacy Osei-Kuffour as our Strong Female Character of the Week.
• New ad promotes the new Paramount+ streaming service • The CW renews almost all of their shows for new seasons • More guest hosts announced for Jeopardy • New trailer for Punky Brewster revival • New teaser for The Nevers • Creators of Haunting at Hill House are adapting The Midnight Club for Netflix • New trailer for City of Ghosts • Ryan Coogler developing Wakanda series for Disney+
.
COMIC BOOKS
• Yara Flor is getting her own Wonder Girl series in May • Controversial artist includes anti-semetic art in Immortal Hulk panel • James Tynion IV introduces a new Batman rogue, Miracle Molly
.
SHILF
• KEVIN: Aaron Taylor Johnson (Quicksilver) • NIC: Evan Peters (Quicksilver)
Casey McQuiston is the New York Times bestselling author of Red, White & Royal Blue, as well as a pie enthusiast. She writes books about smart people with bad manners falling in love. Born and raised in southern Louisiana, she now lives in New York City with her poodle mix and personal assistant, Pepper. I had the opportunity to interview her, which you can read below.
How did you know you wanted to be an author?
Honest, I can’t remember not wanting to be an author, so it’s hard to answer this. I’ve always gravitated to storytelling and books, as far back as preschool, and I always dreamed of writing my own one day. I started and abandoned a dozen novels throughout my teens, and eventually tried to find a job that seemed more practical, but I could always tell I wouldn’t really be fulfilled until I gave it a real try. I’m so glad I did, because five-year-old me was right: writing books is what makes me happiest.
What books inspired you growing up and inspire you now?
Growing up, I loved fantasy novels and voice-y, contemporary comedies. I was into all the big escapist blockbuster series like Harry Potter and The Lord of the Rings and things that made me laugh like Louise Rennison’s Georgia Nicolson series, plus whatever raunchy supermarket romances I could steal from my older sister. Now, I read across all genres, looking for anybody doing something cool with voice or craft. Some of my favorites lately have been The Locked Tomb series by Tamsyn Muir, Hanif Abdurraqib’s backlist, basically any romance novels by Alyssa Cole or Talia Hibbert, My Dark Vanessa by Kate Elizabeth Russell, and good old fashioned Jane Austen.
Your debut novel, Red, White, and Royal Blue, can be described as a very contemporary book entranced in the here and now. What was it like writing in such a precarious time while creating a novel filled with so much joy and hope?
It was hard, but at the same time, it was easier than it would have been if I tried to write the same book right now. I conceived the idea in early 2016 and wrote it in 2016 and 2017, while I was still relatively close to the feelings of hope and optimism I felt when I voted in my first election and helped re-elect Obama. I think the reason it works is because I was still able to access that. I wanted to create something that could be a small amount of sustenance for readers who wanted a momentary escape, and that was the motivation that kept me reaching for joy when I was writing.
Could you tell us any trivia about the main characters of Red, White, and Royal Blue, Alex and Henry that we might not know yet?
For Alex, his favorite Whataburger order is a patty melt with bacon. For Henry, his moon is in virgo.
As one can tell by your writing, you seem to be a fan of tropes. What are some of your favorite tropes, and what are some tropes we can expect from your writing in the future?
Obviously, one of my all-time favorites is enemies or rivals to lovers—so much banter and tension, plus the idea I think many of us covet, which is that someone could see the very worst of us first and fall in love with us anyway. I also love gratuitous karaoke scenes, forced proximity, star-crossed lovers, and a grumpy character falling for a sunshine character. One trope I haven’t explored yet in a main romance pairing is best friends to lovers, so I definitely have that one at the top of my to-do list.
To quote a friend, where do you get all your amazing dad shirts?
Haha, thank you for asking! I’m so proud of my collection, so I’m happy they seem to be something people associate with me. I get them from all over! Some are thrifted or vintage, some are from the men’s section of Forever 21 or Target, some are from Ragstock, some are from Madewell, and I have one that a friend brought back from the Philippines for me.
What can you tell us about your forthcoming book, One Last Stop? Any minor spoilers you can give to the readers of Geeks OUT?
I can tell you that I love this book so much. The jacket copy covers the basics: it’s about a struggling waitress/student who falls for a girl on her subway commute who turns out to be displaced in time from the 1970s. What there wasn’t room to mention is that it’s also very much about finding family and community. It’s a love letters two weird roommates who saved your life in your early twenties, dive bars, 24-hour diners, drag shows, and queer history. I can also tell you that it will make you very hungry. Food plays a major role in the book—especially fried chicken and dumplings.
What’s a question no one has asked you yet or that you wish was asked more?
I feel like you already nailed it when you asked about my dad shirts! They’re my pride and joy, so I could talk about them all the time. But also more people should ask me what my favorite cocktail is (it’s a paloma).
What advice would you give to those who may want to create their own stories or are struggling in the process?
Write for yourself and for your characters. Say what you mean, and say it for no other reason then because it is what you want to say. The purpose of writing is not to have your point of view validated by others—it is to have a point of view and write it.
Finally, what queer books would you recommend to others?
A lot of my recommendations are up there under what books inspire me! To add a few, I’d definitely like to shout out all of Danez Smith’s poetry, anything by Akwaeke Emezi, Cemetery Boys by Aiden Thomas, Laura Dean Keeps Breaking Up With Me by Mariko Tamaki, and The Locked Tomb series (again).
In this week’s episode super-sized episode of the Geeks OUT Podcast, Kevin is joined by Fwee Carter, as they discuss the epic battle of new GameStop investors vs. hedge fund companies, get excited for the new Godzilla vs. Kong trailer, and celebrate the nominees of the 2021 GLAAD Media Awards in This Week in Queer.
• Warner Bros. promotes all the movies premiering on HBO Max this year • HBO Max announces the Snyder Cut is coming March 18 • Netflix developing animated musical based on The Witch Boy • New trailer for Raya and the Last Dragon • Kevin Hart joins Cate Blanchett in Borderlands movie • Luke Evans joins the live-action Pinocchio movie
• You can no longer have sex with Keanu in Cyberpunk 2077 • According to Activision Blizzard, policies to hire diverse workers is too hard • Konami shutters all 3 production divisions in restructure
Sounds Fake But Okay is a casual, occasionally chaotic podcast by best friends Sarah and Kayla. Each week, this aromantic/asexual girl and demisexual girl discuss relationships, sexuality, queer issues, and society from an asexual and aromantic lens. Started in 2017, Sounds Fake But Okay releases new episodes every Sunday. I had the opportunity to interview Sarah and Kayla, which you can read below.
First of all, how did you come to know each other and what do you think of the chances of both of you discovering you were on the asexual spectrum and creating a podcast revolving around that topic?
We were randomly placed as roommates at the University of Michigan and hit it off incredibly fast — during our first few weeks of college people would constantly ask if we had been friends in high school because we seemed to know each other so well. It’s kind of scary to think about how many little things had to go right in order for us to end up where we are. If I (Kayla) had never met Sarah, I’m not sure that I would have ever discovered my sexuality, and we obviously would have never made the podcast. It makes you want to believe in fate a bit when you think about how low the chances of all of this are.
How did you come up with the title Sounds Fake But Okay?
Once I (Sarah) came out, I found myself asking Kayla a lot of questions about romance, dating, and sex — the sorts of things that people were just expected to intuitively know, but as an aro ace person, I didn’t. When Kayla attempted to give me answers to questions like “what’s the appeal of dick pics?” and “how long is sex supposed to last?”, her responses often sounded fake to me, like they were just things that society was making up and people pretended to understand. Hence, Sounds Fake But Okay was born.
You two have featured a number of asexual writers and activists on your show before, including Yasmin Benoit, Angela Chen, Gentle Giant Ace, and more. In a way, I feel this helps to illustrate the diversity of the ace community, showing that asexual comes in many shapes and sizes? Was this your intention?
We definitely try to make the show and our guests as diverse as possible. We always say that our experiences are only our own and that they don’t necessarily map onto the community as a whole or speak to every asexual or aromantic person’s experience — we are two cis white women, and it would be harmful to pretend that we understand or represent the experience of all aspecs. Having guests of different sexualities, genders, races, ages, professions, etc. helps us get a broader look at the community.
As an asexual person myself, it often feels like the A is pretty silent in LGBTQIA+. What are your thoughts on the erasure/ gatekeeping of asexual people within the queer community? How do you think the overall queer community can do better?
As aspecs, we’re unfortunately used to getting a lot of criticism or “hate” because of our identities. A lot of the time it comes from straight people or internet trolls. While of course it hurts to see comments from people in those groups, it’s even harder to get hate from fellow queer folks. The queer community is supposed to be about coming together to fight against the norm — it shouldn’t be a contest about who’s the most oppressed or struggles the most.
We need people of other identities and people who are more “accepted” by the queer community to stand up for us. If we have to keep battling for our place in the community alone, it will take a lot longer.
Both of you occupy different identities within the ace spectrum, with you (Sarah) as a person who identifies as asexual and aromantic and you (Kayla) as a self-described demisexual straight girl. How do you feel your own respective identities play off each other when talking about asexuality?
When we first started the podcast it was supposed to be a straight girl explaining love and sex to an aro ace girl. After I (Kayla) discovered I was demi, the dynamic of the show changed a bit. While I do still explain what dating is like or talk from the perspective of someone who’s had sex, been in love, etc, I also talk from the perspective of an aspec person. I’m in kind of a weird situation where I have one foot in the allo or straight work and one in the aspec or queer world. Since Sarah happens to be an aro ace person who doesn’t date and have sex, I’m kind of able to provide the information she is missing and she is able to do the same for many aro and ace issues.
What are some basic truths for someone who is still new to asexuality you would want people to take away from this interview?
It’s okay if you’re not that happy with your identity or if you’re feeling a bit freaked out. We grow up being told it’s normal to have sex, that everyone does it, everyone wants it, etc. When you eventually find out that this isn’t true or that you just don’t feel the same attraction that others do, it can be a bit of a shock. Take your time and don’t feel bad if you don’t love being ace for a while.
What advice would you have to give for people who are interested in creating and promoting their own podcast?
Don’t start a podcast if you’re just in it to get famous or make money, because the vast majority of podcasts don’t reach that level. Pick a topic that you’re passionate about, that you could see yourself recording hundreds of episodes about.
We also always tell people to find their niche. Honestly, one of the main reasons our podcast has become successful is because there were no other shows consistently talking about our topic. This won’t be the case for every topic, so you really have to work to make sure you’re talking about a subject in a new or personal way.
And finally, listeners come for your content but they stay for you. How much of yourself you share on any given podcast is your decision (as it should be!), but once you’ve gained your listeners’ trust, they’ll probably be a bit more accepting if you want to go off topic sometimes or experiment with new things.
What’s a question you haven’t been asked yet or wish you were asked more?
I (Kayla) wish we were asked about the joys of asexuality and aromanticism more. Don’t get me wrong, it’s incredibly important to focus on the struggles we face and to help each other through that, but there are some amazing things that come with being aspec as well. As aspec people, we have good experiences and bad experiences and I wish they were shown more equally.
For me (Sarah), it isn’t even a question but just a topic: I wish people talked about aromanticism more. As a person who is both aro and ace, I often feel as though my aromanticism impacts my life more than my aceness does — people don’t necessarily know if you’re not having sex, but they will ask questions if you’re not dating and have no intention to be. However, so much of the focus both inside aspec spaces and out is on asexuality specifically. Part of this is because the vast majority of the population doesn’t have a grasp on the split model of attraction (the idea that romantic attraction, sexual attraction, etc. are not necessarily the same thing), but it’s also just because there seem to be fewer aros than aces. That said, I think more discussion of aromanticism and how the aro lens can help you reframe and prioritize relationships of all types can benefit everyone, and I wish it were more prevalent.
Finally, what are some LGBTQ+ media (i.e books/ comics/ podcasts/etc.) you would recommend to the readers of Geeks OUT?
In this supersized episode, the Geeks OUT Podcast returns with Kevin and John Jennison, as they discuss the first look at the new animated series Invincible, the new trailer for Superman & Lois, and celebrate Danny Lore and Luciano Vecchio taking over Marvel’s Champions in This Week in Queer.
• Barabara Gordon will be part of Titans season 3 • Peacock renews the Saved by the Bell revival • Disney+ announces the inclusion of all 5 seasons of The Muppet Show • Ethan Hawke cast as the villain in Moon Knight • New trailer for season 2 of For All Mankind • First look at the animated Invincible series • Roku buys all of Quibi’s abandoned content • New teaser for season 2 of Solar Opposites • Full slate of guest hosts announced for Jeopardy • New trailer for Clarice • A new spinoff of Rupaul’s Drag Race is going Down Under • Daniel Dae Kim leads his first series with the second season of The Hot Zone
