Estradiol Illusions

Michael Hurst

We are delighted to welcome Michael Hurst to the show for a wide-ranging discussion of his illustrious career. Michael is best remembered for playing Iolaus on Hercules: The Legendary Journey's & Xena: Warrior Princess, and for his directorial work on shows like Spartacus and Ash vs. Evil Dead. Ian & Michael talk at length about the influence that Hercules has had on the fantasy genre, opening the door for dozens of shows that followed.
Michael recently appeared in the New Zealand production Dead, a hilarious and tender buddy cop comedy. Dead premieres on virtual cinemas on September 25th, with a VOD release on October 6th. Full of LGBTQ themes and making great use of the beautiful New Zealand landscape, Dead is a perfect choice for pandemic viewing.
Ian's review of Dead: https://ianthomasmalone.com/2020/09/dead-is-a-hilarious-buddy-cop-comedy-with-a-ton-of-heart/
 
Headshot courtesy of Michael Hurst. Film poster courtesy of 1091 Pictures.

Jasper Mall

We are delighted to welcome Bradford Thomason and Brett Wittcomb, directors of the new documentary Jasper Mall, to the show. One of Ian's favorites at the Slamdance Film Festival, Jasper Mall charts a year in the life of the eponymous shopping center, struggling to keep up with a changing American retail landscape. Bradford & Brett share many insights from making the film, and the state of brick-and-mortar commerce. Jasper Mall is a must-watch for anyone feeling nostalgic for a time when we weren't all cooped up with nowhere to go.
The trailer for the film: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-LWYYcg0nuA&t=9s
To learn more about the film and how to watch, please visit https://www.window-pictures.com/jasper-mall
Ian's pre-Slamdance review of the film: https://ianthomasmalone.com/2020/01/slamdance-review-jasper-mall/
 
Film poster courtesy of Jasper Mall. 

Amanda Jetté Knox

We are delighted to welcome author & LGBTQ activist Amanda Jetté Knox to the show for a wide ranging discussion. Amanda shares her thoughts on absurd gender critical talking points such as "lesbian erasure" and "transing children," while providing plenty of insight into the care and concerns that go into raising trans youth alongside a trans partner. Fully embodying the mantra put forth in her appropriately titled book Love Lives Live, Amanda's family is a shining example of how trans people can thrive in loving environments.
You can purchase Love Lives Here (highly recommended) wherever books are sold.
Be sure to follow Amanda on Facebook and Twitter, https://www.facebook.com/mavenofmayhem/ & @Mavenofmayhem
Photo courtesy of Amanda Jetté Knox
 

TTTE & Chill: James Goes Buzz Buzz

Ya boo snubs! Join Ian & Tarabelle for another edition of everyone's favorite Thomas the Tank Engine VHS recap show. James Goes Buzz Buzz introduces the first hand-drawn animation into the show, perhaps opening the doors for its later reliance on CGI. BoCo features prominently, coparenting Bill & Ben with his husband Edward. Gordon spends the night at the harbor, potentially stranding all the passengers from the main line with him. Did the Lady with the Green hat get home safe? Tune in to find out.
This collection includes the following episodes:
James Goes Buzz Buzz
One Good Turn
Bertie's Chase
Heroes
Bulgy
Wrong Road
Percy, James and the Fruitful Day
VHS cover photo courtesy of the Britt Allcroft Company

Animal Crossing: New Horizons

Grab your Switch and your Nook Miles Tickets because we are going island hopping! Join ITM & special guest Natty Strange, comedian, organizer and coauthor of Pokey the Penguin, for a wide-ranging discussion on life in everyone's favorite quasi-capitalistic utopia.
Ian & Nat tackle the broader philosophical questions that ACNH. Are Tom Nook & Redd former lovers? Is Isabelle a neoliberal? Why doesn't Dodo Airlines chart mystery islands for return visits? What is Gulliver(varrr)'s deal? All of that and more! 
You can follow Nat on Twitter @nuns_on_film
Be sure to check out Pokey the Penguin's latest adventures by checking out Pokey's website https://www.yellow5.com/pokey/ & @pokeythepenguin
 
Cover image courtesy of Nintendo

Heather Reid, Musician & Cofounder of The Murmurs

Today we are joined by Heather Reid, cofounder of the iconic 90s duo The Murmurs. Heather talks about her impressive career and life as a lesbian in an era far less receptive to LGBTQ rights. Heather also talks about her recent projects, including a new single "Right Here Right Now," and the musical she's currently working on. A must-listen for 90s rock fans. 
 
Be sure to check out Heather's new video for "Right Here Right Now" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BY6nVP6KZIE
 
To keep up with Heather, be sure to follow her website http://heatherreidmusic.com/ & on Twitter @Heathmusic
 
Photo courtesy of Heather Reid

Lendale Johnson, Professional Tennis Player & Actor

Today we are joined by Lendale Johnson, the first openly gay male professional tennis player & star of the upcoming series "Deuces & Love." Lendale talks about his experiences supporting the Black Lives Matter movement and participating in the recent protests. Lendale also shares his experiences acting in the pilot for Fox's Empire and how the intersection of tennis and acting inspired his new show. Join us for a wide-ranging discussion on LGBTQ representation in sports & show business.
To learn more about Lendale's career, please check out his website www.lendalejohnson.com
You can also follow Lendale on Twitter & Instagram @LendaleJohnson
"Deuces & Love" will premiere on Amazon Video later in 2020. Stay tuned for updates on Lendale's website & social media.
 
Photo credit: Robbin Phillips.
 
 

Legal Analysis of Trump's anti-LGBTQ HHS Rule

Today we are joined by Carl Charles, staff attorney at Lambda Legal, to discuss the ongoing case Whitman-Walker Clinic v. HHS, which centers around a recent rollback of LGBTQ healthcare protections within the Affordable Care Act by the Trump administration. Carl eloquently explains the case for a general audience and the dangers that this HHS rule presents to the LGBTQ community, particularly transgender individuals. This episode is a must-listen for people confused as to how such a rollback would be allowed after June's historic Supreme Court ruling.
 
To learn more about the case or to support Lambda Legal's great work on behalf of the LGBTQ community, please visit www.lambdalegal.org
 
Lambda Legal also posts great analysis on Twitter @lambdalegal
 
You can follow Carl on Twitter @oh_rarl
 
 
Photos courtesy of Lambda Legal
 
 

TTTE & Chill: Daisy

Woo-woo! Grab your milk van and be sure to follow fitter’s orders, because it’s time for another episode of Thomas the Tank Engine & Chill. Daisy doesn’t get many speaking roles in TTTE, but everyone’s favorite female diesel rail car made quite the first impression. This collection also includes the infamous “Whistles and Sneezes” saga, where Henry fends off some evil boys using only his stuffed up smoke box. Trevor also makes his debut, dreaming of uncomfortable subjects…
 
This collection includes the following episodes:
 
Daisy
Percy's Predicament
Whistles and Sneezes
Saved From Scrap
A New Friend for Thomas
Tender Engines
Percy Takes The Plunge
Photo courtesy of the Britt Allcroft Company

Everybody Wants Some!!

Join ITM for a solo episode on the 2016 Richard Linklater film, Everybody Wants Some!! Ian talks about the college coming-of-age comedy and the ways it reminded her of her own college experience. Nostalgia is a powerful, often toxic force that suffocates people in the past. Nostalgia can be a particularly perplexing force for transgender folk, parsing the good from the bad with the understanding that longing for ones memory is a dangerous proposition. 
 
Ian's review of the film: https://ianthomasmalone.com/2020/07/everybody-wants-some-presents-a-subtle-indictment-of-nostalgia/
 
Film poster courtesy of Paramount Pictures

Transgender Storytime: One Wand to Rule Them All

***Note this episode is probably not for everyone.***
 
There are many in the gender critical movement who think transgender people are sexless blobs, incapable of any pleasure whatsoever. Ian debunks the nonsense, explaining how her wand vibrator helped her rediscover her sexuality after bottom surgery. This subject is certainly an awkward one for many, Ian included, but there's a lot of misinformation out there. The "othering" of trans people is based on a lot of myths and false theories. 

Beau Dyess, Prodigal Butch

Today we welcome Beau Dyess to the show to talk about their past involvement with the gender critical movement. Beau has authored a Medium piece detailing the lengths to which they were groomed by leading anti-trans figures to serve as a public face of the campaign. Ian & Beau discuss the unholy alliance that the GC movement has formed with the far-right and the diminishing returns of their strategies.
 
Beau’s Medium piece: https://medium.com/@amydyess83/prodigal-butch-7f0d2e00f693
 
You can follow Beau on Twitter @BeauDyess
 
Photo courtesy of Beau Dyess
 
 

TTTE & Chill: Thomas, Percy & The Dragon

The era of BoCo is upon us! Join Ian & Tarabelle for an exciting episode of Thomas the Tank Engine & Chill, covering the Thomas Percy & The Dragon collection, full of twins, depostations, and the death of that awful, totally not essential, spiteful brake van. Should Sir Topham Hatt have been more sympathetic to Percy’s scarf dysphoria? Is “Edward’s Exploit” the old blue engine’s finest hour? Tune in to find out!
This collection includes the following episodes:
Thomas, Percy & the Dragon
Donald and Douglas
The Deputation
Time for Trouble
A Scarf for Percy
The Diseasel
Edward's Exploit
VHS image courtesy of The Britt Allcroft Company

Jack & Yaya

Today we welcome the directors & stars of the new documentary Jack & Yaya to the show, breaking EI's record for number of guests on one show. Jack & Yaya focuses on the lifelong friendship between the two trans people, neighbors who found a sense of belonging in their shared companionship. Directors Jen & Mary, along with the eponymous Jack & Yaya talk all about the film, many of its exciting scenes, and what they hope viewers take away from the touching narrative.
Jack & Yaya is available now on Amazon, Vimeo, and other major streaming platforms.
Website: jackandyaya.com
Facebook: JackandYayaFilm
Twitter: @JackandYayaFilm
Instagram: @jackandyayafilm
Ian's review of the film: https://ianthomasmalone.com/2020/07/jack-yaya-is-a-touching-testament-to-the-power-of-friendship/
Film poster courtesy of Hewes Pictures

JK Rowling & The Future of Fantastic Beasts

Join host Ian Thomas Malone for a short episode on the world's most notorious Feminism-Appropriating Radical Transphobe (FART), J.K. Rowling. Rowling's latest collection of transphobic temper tantrums have thrown the future of the Fantastic Beasts franchise into question, a series already beleaguered by various controversies surrounding Johnny Depp, Ezra Miller, not explicitly gay Dumbledore, and Nagini the snake.
How many horcruxs does Rowling have left? Tune in to find out.
Trans rights are human rights.
If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to tune in to our episode dedicated to Not Explicitly Gay Dumbledore, which was recorded last year.
 
 

TTTE & Chill: Thomas Gets Bumped

Grab your mail train and your backing signal, it's time for Thomas the Tank Engine & Chill. Join Ian & Tara as they dissect this peculiar VHS collection, featuring the return of Diesel and the introduction of Duck's branch line. The Vicar's garden party was conspicuously under-promoted before Edward swooped in with the assist. How does City of Truro talk? All of those answers and more in this exciting episode.
This VHS collection includes the following episodes
 
Thomas Gets Bumped
Edward, Trevor and the Really Useful Party
Diesel Does It Again
Gordon and the Famous Visitor
Donald's Duck
Percy and the Signal
Thomas, Percy and the Mail Train
For more Thomas fun, be sure to check out all of our other TTTE & Chill episodes.
Photo credit: The Britt Allcroft Company