Chosen Family

Of all the young revolutionaries in Syria during the Arab Spring, Amina is different. An out lesbian in a country where homosexuality is illegal, she bravely documents her life on the blog Gay Girl in Damascus. Her candid posts attract readers from around the world, and soon she has a wide, ardent following. But then a post appears saying Amina has been abducted. Her fans mobilize, desperate to track down and save their fearless heroine. What they find shocks them. Journalist Samira Mohyeddin investigates what actually happened to the infamous Gay Girl in Damascus in this 6-part series. The result is a twisted yarn that spans the globe and challenges our thinking on love, politics and identity in cyberspace. More episodes are available at: https://link.chtbl.com/lHJ7pSfH

It’s with a heavy heart and sense of pride that we bid you, dear listeners, farewell. Yes, this is the series finale of Chosen Family, but we’re not leaving without one last soulful, deep conversation. Joining us for this bittersweet episode is the brilliant Miguel Gutierrez, New York-based choreographer, composer, performer, singer, writer, educator and one of our favourite people. We spoke about Madonna, the complexity of gender identity, and the connection between sobriety and the creative process. We thank you from the bottom of our hearts for listening to us for these last three seasons. Even though this is the last episode, these conversations are timeless and they will always be there for you to return to. We are so proud of this body work; it’s been a true honour to make this show. Sending you all our love!

It’s a very special episode as we welcome one of our dream guests, Québecoise pop icon, Mitsou Gélinas! Mitsou has had one of the most varied and fascinating careers in Québec entertainment, from pop success with hits like “Bye Bye Mon Cowboy” to 20 years in radio to founding her own magazine—Mitsou has done it all! We spoke to her about the ups and downs of being a pop star, the slut shaming she experienced in the 90s, and how she has managed to continually reinvent herself. And, on Obsessions, we’re taking on the two most outrageous biopics of the year: Aline and House of Gucci!

Before rolling out the red carpet for a very special guest, Tranna talks to Thomas about the high school English teacher that changed her life and how she used her new live show, High School Reunion, to process the nightmare that was her high school years. Then the two are joined by drag royalty, RuPaul’s Drag Race UK runner-up and instant fashion icon, Bimini Bon Boulash, for a conversation about London, inspiration, and learning to release the beast within. Plus Thomas gets the chance to call Bilal Baig, the co-creator and star of Sort Of, the new CBC show that everyone is talking about. And this week’s Obsessions is all about working the runway and finding love.

Thomas and Tranna let their inner theatre geeks out as they share memories of the fabulous Broadway shows they’ve seen. They couldn’t dream of a better guest to join them in their love of musical theatre than a person who’s being heralded as the future of the medium: the Pulitzer-prize-winning playwright, composer, lyricist, Michael R. Jackson. His breakthrough, groundbreaking musical, A Strange Loop, is Broadway-bound and Tranna and Thomas talk to him about the creative process, the 90’s female singer-songwriters who shaped him, and why being gay is more confusing than ever. Plus on Obsessions we’re talking the art of portraits and a brilliant new album by Swedish pop star, Agnes.

When Tranna first started comedy eight years ago, she never could have imagined an international community of trans comedians. Thomas and Tranna reflect on the emergence of the trans comedy scene and its vitality. Then they’re joined by special guest Kama La Mackerel, multidisciplinary artist and writer of the acclaimed poetry collection, Zom-Fam, for an illuminating and inspiring conversation about rituals, spirituality and the role of the imagination in learning to move from surviving to thriving. Plus this week’s Obsessions segment is all about horror movies!

Thomas and Tranna never excelled in science, but that’s okay because today they are welcoming the best science teachers they never had: Gregory Brown and Mitchell Moffit, creators of the wildly successful YouTube channel, AsapSCIENCE, which has racked up over 1.5 BILLION views! Greg and Mitch bring their signature wit, charm, and smarts to this high-energy episode as they talk candidly about being a working couple, how to talk to anti-vaxxers, staying hopeful in the face of climate disaster and, yes, even poppers. Plus, we’re livin’ la vida loca on Obsessions as Thomas talks about Ricky Martin and Tranna does a dramatic reading of a Twitter thread she can’t get out of her head.

Tranna shares her secret life as a digital exhibitionist and gives Thomas a few tips on how to take hot nudes. Then they’re joined by award-winning writer, Zoe Whittall, whose new novel, The Spectacular, is truly spectacular. In this conversation she speaks about the creative process, the sometimes agonizing internal debate about starting a family, and the importance of the word femme and queer terminology. Plus it’s a particularly musical edition of Obsessions!

Thomas and Tranna are joined by the brilliant performer, composer, activist, and musicologist, Jeremy Dutcher, whose debut album, Wolastoqiyik Lintuwakonawa, won the 2018 Polaris Prize. In this deep and illuminating conversation, Jeremy talks about the connections between music and ancestry, reconciliation, and the spirituality of queerness. Also on the show: Thomas talks about the end of his relationship with his therapist and Obsessions is all about a fashion show gone wrong and an epic novel.

Come on listeners, do you believe in making your pop star dreams come true? Cuz we’ve got something to say about it. Thomas and Tranna are joined by singer, writer, multidisciplinary artist and queer icon, Vivek Shraya, for a fun and moving conversation about the power of pop music and what happens when you fail at becoming the one thing you want most in the world: to be a pop star yourself. Plus Tranna shares the story of her bumpy road back to the stage and on Obsessions we’re talking FBoy Island and the joy of discovering a great film podcast.

The legendary Jake Shears has entered the chat and we are gagged! As frontman of the massively successful Scissor Sisters, Jake brought back a 70s, queer, glam rock aesthetic back to the mainstream pop scene in 2004. After eight successful years with the band, Jake released his self-titled debut solo album in 2018 and a brilliant memoir titled Boys Keep Swinging. He joins Thomas and Tranna for an in-depth conversation about his career, the fear of being alone, and deep friendships. Plus on Obsessions, Tranna and Thomas talk the comedy of Australian suburbs and the end of the world.

Transgender women, and trans sex workers in particular, know what it means to be marginalized, overpoliced, and underprotected. In season two of The Village, host Justin Ling investigates the stories of two women, Alloura Wells and Cassandra Do, whose deaths remain unexplained, and whose cases expose the systems that failed them. More episodes are available at: smarturl.it/thevillagecbc

It's another Pride spent apart in the midst of a global pandemic, but maybe this is the chance we need to re-evaluate what Pride means. This week Thomas and Tranna welcome Syrus Marcus Ware and Rodney Diverlus, brilliant artists, activists, and co-editors (alongside Sandy Hudson) of Until We Are Free: Reflections on Black Lives Matter in Canada. In a riveting and uplifting conversation, we talk about the intersection between art and activism, the corporatization of Pride, and making revolution irresistible. Plus on Obsessions, Thomas talks the joy of driving to his favourite playlist and Tranna shares her love for Wendy Williams.

Chosen Family goes pop as Tranna and Thomas welcome comedian and judge from RuPaul’s Drag Race: Down Under, Rhys Nicholson. Rhys gives us the inside scoop on what goes on behind the scenes, the best advice he received from Ru, and how he uses comedy to make important statements on queer rights. Plus a very special edition of Obsessions with guest Tom Capelonga, curator of @TheChristoperStreetReader on Instagram, who walks us through some of the most iconic moments in queer pop culture history. It might just be our gayest episode yet!

Thomas and Tranna discuss the idea of being unremarkable and what it would be like to move through the world if there wasn’t so much pressure on trans and gender non-conforming folks to disclose and explain their identity. Who better to join the exchange than Sam Feder, the brilliant director of the groundbreaking Netflix documentary, Disclosure. Celebrating the film’s first year anniversary, the conversation with Sam takes a look at how Hollywood is changing and how decades of negative, dehumanizing representation in film and television has affected the trans community. Thomas connects with artist, author, director and overall superstar Chella Man, to talk about representation in social media. Plus, Tranna shares a totally off-brand obsession that may leave you questioning her taste level.

Mother’s day has Thomas a little triggered as he talks to Tranna about the complex relationship he shares with his mom. It’s the perfect opportunity for these two to talk to award-winning writer, andrea bennett, whose brilliant collection of essays, Like a Boy but Not a Boy, examines and redefines parenthood from a non-binary perspective. Also on the show is the delightfully fabulous Richie Shazam, co-host of the new OutTV series, Shine True, a makeover that centres trans and non-binary folks—who doesn’t love a good a glow up?

It’s a dream-come-true moment for Thomas and Tranna as they welcome rockstar, writer, producer, and queer icon Linda Perry! From mega success in the 90s, fronting the band 4 Non Blondes, to writing and producing some of the biggest hits of the early 00s for Christina Aguilera, Gwen Stefani, and Pink, Perry is back behind the mic for the first time in 15 years with her new song, “The Letter.” For Thomas and Tranna, talking to Perry is an opportunity to learn the stories behind the music that shaped them as teens and what it was like to be a queer artist in the 90s, a time when being gay could end your career. Plus it’s a very special “Obsessions,” as T and T are joined by Sean Ross and Derek Aubichon from the brilliant podcast, Miss Thing!

Tranna and Thomas welcome none other than Saturday Night Live cast member Bowen Yang for a wide-ranging conversation! Now in his third season as a player on the show, Bowen has already made comedy history by being the first Chinese-American and only current gay man in the cast. Bowen is also the co-host (with BFF Matt Rogers) of the wildly popular podcast Las Culturistas, now produced by Will Ferrell. Thomas was delighted to learn about Bowen’s francophone childhood in Canada—yes! Bowen was a resident of Brossard, Québec for seven years! He also shares his views on representation in comedy, his leap of faith from being a pre-med student to the world of alternative sketch comedy, and queering Saturday Night Live! Obsessed as ever, Tranna and Thomas wrap up the episode geeking out over musician-comedienne Eve Parker Finley and the original lifestyle queen, Martha Stewart!

Tranna shares the discovery of an old VHS tape of her 6th grade ski trip, which allows her to reconnect with her 12 year old self. The theme of reconnecting with our inner child continues in conversation with photographer and writer, Samra Habib, winner of Canada Reads 2020 for the brilliant We Have Always Been Here: A Queer Muslim Memoir. Thomas has a lovely fanboy moment when he gets the chance to speak with Omari Douglas, one of the dazzling stars of the smash hit show It’s A Sin. Plus: Thomas and Tranna are obsessed with Jessie Ware and Clubhouse, the new social media app. This one is a bit of a tear jerker, so make sure to have those tissues handy!

It’s an extra special episode of Chosen Family, as Thomas and Tranna welcome dance music legend Róisín Murphy, who’s celebrating 25 years in music! This episode is a love letter to nightlife and the dream of being reunited on the dance floor once again. Plus: surprise guest Crystal from RuPaul’s Drag Race UK S1, and T&T share their obsession with Gay Bar by Jeremy Atherton Lin and Madonna’s MDNA Tour.