Veer Queer: Recent Episodes
Mocking Bird Network
Veer Queer is an all inclusive LGBTQ+ podcast based out of Houston, TX about local and national issues affecting our community, hosted by Endesha Haynes and Julien Gomez and moderated by Mai Ha.
In light of the murder of George Floyd, amidst nationwide Black Lives Matter protests, and ahead of Father's Day, Veer Queer interviewer Kevin Anderson connects with guests Roderick Coleman, Paul Guillory, George Williams, and Jay Tillman to ask the question: What does it look like to be a Black, same-gender-loving father raising Black children in America right now?
Healing can be a spiritual process—one that looks different for everyone. In this week's episode, Veer Queer interviewer Kevin Anderson sits down with spoken word artists Ebony Rose and Jus Marvin and singer Rechatter Brady to discuss their artistic journeys and how quarantine has (or has not) sparked creativity.
The "new normal" of COVID-19 is hard, y'all. And it's definitely taking a toll on our collective mental health. Veer Queer interviewer Deondre B. Moore sits down with Kevin Anderson, founder and CEO of the T.R.U.T.H. Project—a Houston-based non-profit that educates and mobilizes LGBTQ communities of color through social arts that promote mental, emotional, and sexual health—to discuss coping with quarantine, tele-therapy, finding accessible and safe creative outlets, and more.
Food—it's what brings us together, a way to show our love, and a tie to our cultural roots. In this episode, Veer Queer interviewer Verniss McFarland III sits down with two special culinary guests, Bunny Woods of Honey B's Cuisine and Gianna Navarro of Somos Semillas Vegan Kitchen, to discuss how food builds community and the vital role it plays in the lives of QTPOC folks.
In this episode, Veer Queer interviewer Deondre B. Moore recaps the March 3 political primaries with guest Mike Webb, president of the Houston GLBT Political Caucus. On the presidential front, the Democrats are left with candidates Bernie Sanders and Joe Biden—what does this mean for the QTPOC community? In local Houston races, many gay, white male candidates are losing their races to Black women. What does this say about the needs of progressive and LGBTQ communities at this point in our movement? Plus, updates on COVID-19.
To kick off Women's History Month, Veer Queer interviewer Verniss McFarland III talks with two Houston-based queer trailblazers, Judge Shannon Baldwin, Harris County’s first openly lesbian Black judge, and Fran Watson, Houston Municipal Court Associate Judge, attorney, and LGBTQ activist. These strong women open up about their personal journeys into politics, barriers they faced, and the legacies they wish to leave behind.
February is the season of love—but how does that translate for queer, larger-bodied folks? In this episode, Veer Queer interviewer Kevin Anderson sits down with guests Marnina Miller, Shadawn McCants, and Ian L. Haddock to talk dating, fatphobia, and love.
The Veer Queer team is back for Season 5! Hosts Julien, Mai, and Endy have moved out of Houston...so what does that mean for the podcast? In this episode, find out what the crew has been up to over the break, and what's in store for this upcoming season.
The Veer Queer team sits down with Mike Webb, first-ever Pride Houston Non-Binary Grand Marshal, to talk grassroots political change, their journey coming out as genderqueer, and Pride inclusivity.
The Veer Queer team sits down with QPOC author Bryan Washington to talk his latest book, ‘Lot,’ his coming of age in Houston, and defining the concepts of community and home.
Executive Director of Transgender Education Network of Texas Emmett Schelling talks current anti-LGBTQ bills and lege updates. Veer Queer 5-2-19_mixdown.mp3
Queer Black musician Rechatter Brady talks local music and artistry, her involvement with the T.R.U.T.H. Project, and her New Orleans roots.
The VQ crew talks with Houston-based chef Adán Medrano about Texas indigenous cooking, the importance of food in relation to resistance, identity, and community, and his upcoming film, ‘The Roots of Texas Mexican Food.’
The team sits down and catches up. We also talk with Julien about a recent nomination of Grand Marshal for pride this summer!
As Black History Month wraps up we wanted to sit with Qweenie a local Dominatrix to talk about what its like being Black in the Kink scene.
Mai and Julien sit down with Catastrophic Theatre to talk about Bootycandy, a production that is loosely based on playwright Robert O'Hara and explores the complicated layers of growing up black and queer.
Veer Queer is a Spectum South podcast! And VQ is kicking off this new season with trans activist and model Jessica Zyrie.
In this final episode of the season, the team sits down with Koomah of the Houston Intersex Society to help them discuss and deconstruct misconceptions about the intersex community.
Endesha gives her perspective on what life has been like since moving to Portland. Also, a special announcement.
National Coming Out Day gives the VQ team some feelings, and they dish it out in this episode with their very first Portland guest, Kris.
The team is back! In this first episode of season three, VQ talks about what they've done during the break and what's to come for this upcoming season. They also sit down with their pal Belinda, who is one of the few members of Queer Wrestling HTX, about why it's important to have safe and affirming spaces.
In this final episode of the season, VQ tries their hardest to smoothly talk about all things Pride and Pride Month.
The crew sits down with their pal Naushaba Patel, Women's and Trans Health Education and Outreach Specialist at The Montrose Center, about sex, sexuality, and about accepting yourself.
VQ is almost at the end of their season - two episodes left, in fact! The pals sit down together and have a check-in session with each other, and talk about how they want to hear from their listeners.
Bee and Mai are both non-binary, but what exactly does that mean? And what does nonbinary mean for them? VQ chats with their pal Ivan, who also identifies as non-binary, as they talk about navigating their gender identities and what allyship looks like.
There's so many creative spaces that are male dominated, and punk is one of those. Veer Queer sits down with local band ImposterBoys about how they navigate the punk scene as one of the few women of color punk bands, and how they're trying to change the face of punk.
The Veer Queer crew will be tackling consent this week. We advise our listener to listen with caution, as we will be discussing triggering content.
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The Veer Queer crew is back and gearing up for the upcoming season. Bee, Endy, and Mai talk about what they've been up to over the break, and what's to come.
Hosted on Mocking Bird Network. Follow us on Facebook!
In this season finale, the Veer Queer crew attends Zine Fest Houston to host a live show! We interview one of the festival organizers and chat with some local artists to talk about their work at ZFH.
Hosted on the Mocking Bird Network
The annual Zine Fest Houston festival is right around the corner! In this episode, S Rodriguez and Sara Balabanlilar of Paraspace Books sit down with Veer Queer about their sci-fi pop-up bookstore, and where they both see it in the future. Nick Stinson also gives a sneak peak of his next issue of Daddy Issues, a zine that aims to bring people together through personal ads.
Mai, Endy and Bee hash it out with special guest Graham Maio on queer representation in the media, and the lack of it. Graham also talks about his play, "The Man Who Failed America", which is based on the Michael Johnson case and why he uses it to bring back the conversation about HIV/AIDS in the black gay community.
Having a supportive network when you’re queer is so important, and sometimes that means creating that support for yourself. Anna Garza with Girls Rock Camp Houston and Hatch Youth at The Montrose Center sits down with Veer Queer about why it’s so necessary for LGBTQ+ youth of color to have a safe and supportive space.
The recent DACA accouncement and the temporary block on SB4 will impact the undocumented community of nearly 1.5 million in Texas. This week, Yunuen Alvarado with University Leadership Initiative joins Veer Queer on what it all means, and what's to come. Hosted on www.mockingbirdnetwork.com
Since Hurricane Harvey left devastating effects on communities all across southeast Texas, the Veer Queer crew attends a local event where all the donations went to Avenue CDC, an organization with a mission to build affordable housing and will serve the neighborhoods affected in their area by the disaster. Julien, Endy, and Mai also sit down with trans porn starlet Valetina Mia, who dives into her own dating woes and deconstructs the stigma surrounding sex work.
Coming out, especially when you live in the South, can be hard. What do you do when you’re trying to come out to your parents? In the workplace? Is there ever a time where you never stop coming out? And will Bee ever stop getting so nervous while she’s being recorded? In this pilot episode, get to know the Veer Queer hosts’ and their coming out stories, and how they navigate with living in their identities.