To begin our series of special episodes about Cherry Grove that we will be posting over our Summer Vacation, we thought it might be a good introduction to first explore the queer communities that we’ve created in New York City, which have directly impacted the life of Fire Island.

Hosted by: Parker Sargent
Produced by: koitz
Guest: Gil Neary and Daniel Nardicio

Parker welcomes New York City realtor Gil Neary to discuss his experiences with the ebb and flow of gayborhoods in Manhattan and the surrounding boroughs. From cruising Christopher Street to bar hoping in Hells Kitchen and partying in Fire Island, Gil has seen it all. Then the King of New York City nightlife Daniel Nardicio joins us to ponder the power of "the gay bar" in helping to forge queer communities and the idea that gay men might be the biggest problem of all for the gentrification of many urban areas.

Red Eye NY

"Women's House of Detention" by Hugh Ryan

"When Brooklyn Was Queer" by Hugh Ryan

We're going to further a recent discussion with our guest Emery Grant about an amazing new youth project called CAMP BEYOND BINARY, which operates in Ithaca New York throughout the month of August.

Hosted by: Parker Sargent
Produced by: koitz
Guest: Emery Grant

Parker chats with LGBTQ historian Emery Grant about being part of the Admin Team developing a radical new project to provide transgender and non-binary youth with an environment to explore their identity and teach them core goals to become strong community members. Camp Beyond Binary is a fabulous example of how we as a queer community can create safer spaces.

Camp Beyond Binary

Over the past year the LGBTQIA+ community has endured many battles against our social freedoms and civil rights, so this year's pride month should be even more important than it has been in quite a long time.

Hosted by: Parker Sargent
Produced by: koitz
Contributors: Chris Hampton, Alex Borsa and David Gilleo
Guest: DJ Lina Bradford

Parker chat about the world famous New York City Pride Parade with show contributors koitz, Alex Borsa and Chris Hampton. Then Parker cozies-up with dancing diva DJ Lina Bradford to talk about the roots of the New York City Pride Parade, what it was like for her growing up in NYC and experiencing the event through the 90's, what pride means to Lina today and she dishes on getting her records ready for her Residency as the DJ for NYC Pride 2023. We wrap up the episode chatting with Davida about the recent wins for non-binary performers at this year's Tony Awards.

Lina Bradform Instagram

In the Dollhouse with Lina

Pride Live Stonewall Day 2023

NYC Drag March

The Queer Liberation March

On this episode we will be chatting with our guests about how our queer communities can improve their allyship to their transgender and non-binary siblings.

Hosted by: Parker Sargent
Produced by: koitz
Contributors: Nia Nottage
Guests: Emery Grant and Sis Thee Doll

Parker welcomes trans-youth camp director Emery Grant to discuss their experiences facilitating trans inclusion in queer spaces through the 90s and creating a safe space for queer youth. Then Broadway actress Sis Thee Doll joins us to talk about her mission to make the theaters of Broadway more inclusive on the stage and in the seats. Parker wraps up with show contributor Nia Nottage, to talk about acceptance and inclusion of trans and non-binary people in the queer Millennial communities.

Camp Beyond Binary

Thee Open House Project

This is the first in a series of episodes we will be doing about this concept of shared trauma…we will be talking with various guests and specialists about the affects of LGBTQ bullying and how we can heal our wounds.

Hosted by: Parker Sargent
Produced by: koitz
Contributors: Alex Borsa and Chris Hampton
Guests: Howard Rosenman and Boudoir LeFleur

Parker presents her unofficial theory that we as a queer collective have shared emotional baggage that is unique to our community and she chats with show contributor Alex Borsa about seeing ramifications of this trauma in his sociology research. Drag Witch Boudoir LeFleur joins us to talk about growing up gay and being bullied at home and in school, before finding queer community and starting to work through their issues. Show contributor Chris Hampton shares her experience working with queer youth and how bullying is still affecting LGBTQ kids.

Fire Island is a strip of sand just off the coast of Long Island in New York that has been a safe haven for the LGBTQIA+ community since the early 1900's. Fabulous parties, gorgeous nature, and an environment that celebrates queer sexuality. This is the first in a series of special episodes about Cherry Grove that we will be doing through the summer, exploring the various aspects of this queer Mecca.

Hosted by: Parker Sargent
Produced by: koitz
Contributors: David Gilleo and Alex Borsa
Guests: Jack Parlett, Kay Davis

Parker sets the scene and walks us through a brief history of the two queer communities of Cherry Grove and the Pines. Chatting with author Jack Parlett to discuss his book Fire Island: Love, Loss and Liberation in an Amercian Paradise, we explore Fire Island's queer past and present. Cherry Grove DEI Project Chair Kay Davis joins us to talk about their work to make Fire Island a more inclusive space and then show contributor Alex Borsa chats about what the gay vacation destination means to young queers today.

Fire Island: A Century in the Life of An American Paradise

The Poetics of Cruising: Queer Visual Culture from Whitman to Grindr

Same Blue, Different You

Koitz Gay Fire Island

Cherry Grove, Fire Island: Sixty Years in America's First Gay and Lesbian Town

The Panzi Invasion

SNAP- Year of a Queen

Historic Houses

Bella's Dish

Founding Families

Grove Girls

It seems like since we've started this podcast in February, the world has changed 2 or 3 times…especially in our LGBTQ communities. Whether its starting a new job, or ending one...getting into a new relationship or getting out of one...all of us can relate to the excitement and feeling of being overwhelmed when it comes to embarking on a new beginning.

Hosted by: Parker Sargent
Produced by: koitz
Contributors: David Gilleo
Guests: Shauna Brooks

Parker gets into the fallout of becoming "clickbait" and the inspiration of activism with Shauna Brooks, who has used her online platform to build a new life for herself and help the queer community in the process. Then show contributor David Gilleo spills the tea on the newest controversy for the Tony Awards.

SHAUNA BROOKS

Indecent Proposal (TV Show)

GINA YASHERE tickets

With all the negativity pointed at the LGBTQIA+ community, it can start to feel overwhelmingly unwelcoming and unsafe to be queer. Finding moments to focus on the positive is our best defense against being weighed down by the troubles in our world.

Hosted by: Parker Sargent
Produced by: koitz
Guests: Barbara Rosenblat

Parker chats with actor Barbara Rosenblat (best known for her role as Miss Rosa on "Orange Is The New Black") about how her unique life has taught her to cherish the positive moments and how to create good energy in your every day life.

Midnight Mass Podcast: The Wiz

ALSO CHECK OUT:
S1E10: Banning Drag with Esther Newton & Mariyea Jackson
S1E9: The Anti-Oscars with John Cameron Mitchell
S1E5: Queer Cult Classics with Peaches Christ