Our Black Gay Diaspora host Erick speaks with independent filmmaker, writer, director, and showrunner Lazarus X to explore the power of Black queer storytelling in arthouse cinema.

With over two decades of experience, Lazarus X discusses his journey as an auteur, from his early days in the web series movement to creating internationally filmed productions like the erotic drama Guap, set in Naples, Italy, and the critically intimate series A Beautiful Cruel Thing. He unpacks why authentic representation still falls short despite milestones like the 2016 film Moonlight and how arthouse cinema can transform how Black audiences see themselves.

Lazarus X also shares his passion for capturing intimacy, his exploration of Afrofuturism, and his vision for expanding Black storytelling to global stages. A must for fans of independent filmmaking, Black LGBTQ+ culture, and authentic creative expression.

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Wayne Mertins-Brown is a British psychotherapeutic counselor specializing in Black gay mental health and culturally competent therapy for Black LGBTQ clients. Based in Greater London, he provides one-to-one, couples, and group counseling, helping people embrace their authentic identities through inclusive, affirming mental health care.

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American writer and novelist Doug Jones, Morehouse College alumnus, Columbia University MFA graduate, and Lambda Literary Fellow, discusses his powerful 2025 debut novel, The Fantasies of Future Things. Set against the backdrop of the 1996 Atlanta Olympics and gentrification, the novel centers on two young Black gay men as they navigate identity, purpose, and community displacement. In this candid conversation, Doug explores the intersection of Black same-gender-loving identity, intimacy, and social justice. He also reflects on his journey as a Black gay writer, his real estate career, his deeply personal essay “Dear Dad” from the anthology Black Love Letters, and the healing power of Black LGBTQ storytelling.

Rate, comment, and subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Acast, and YouTube. For more information, go to Our Black Gay Diaspora. Thank you!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.