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.

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.

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.

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!

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. 

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/

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.

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.

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.

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)