This Queer Book Saved My Life
@thisqueerbook.com
2024 GLAAD Media Award nominee for Outstanding Podcast. LGBTQ guests share the queer books that saved their lives. Posts by Exe. Producer Jim Pounds. Unless signed by host @jpderboghossian. Listen: podfollow.com/thisqueerbook
I admired this episode featuring TJ Semmerling: The Deviant's War by Eric Cervini. Most of the stories on this podcast are highly personal. This was a professional story & is utterly compelling. Our people have contributed in some huge & often unappreciated ways
thisqueerbook.com/the-deviants...
thisqueerbook.com/the-deviants...
The Deviant's War with Tim Jon Semmerling
Tim Jon Semmerling shares the queer book that saved his life: The Deviant's War: The Homosexual vs. the United States of America by Eric Cervini.
thisqueerbook.com
January 9, 2026 at 10:45 PM
I admired this episode featuring TJ Semmerling: The Deviant's War by Eric Cervini. Most of the stories on this podcast are highly personal. This was a professional story & is utterly compelling. Our people have contributed in some huge & often unappreciated ways
thisqueerbook.com/the-deviants...
thisqueerbook.com/the-deviants...
Here's an oldie & a goodie! The first episode we ever recorded but not the first released. Neil Aasve was our guest & Bill Burleson is the author of Bi America. These are the only two Bi men we have had on the show to my knowledge. Odd because there are so many!
thisqueerbook.com/podcast/bi-a...
thisqueerbook.com/podcast/bi-a...
What it means to have a bi community with Neil Aasve and William Burleson - This Queer Book Saved My Life!
Welcome to our LGBT podcast This Queer Book Saved My Life! In this episode, we talk with fundraiser and philanthropist Neil Aasve (he/him) about the LGBT book Bi America: Myths Truths and Struggles of...
thisqueerbook.com
January 6, 2026 at 1:50 PM
Here's an oldie & a goodie! The first episode we ever recorded but not the first released. Neil Aasve was our guest & Bill Burleson is the author of Bi America. These are the only two Bi men we have had on the show to my knowledge. Odd because there are so many!
thisqueerbook.com/podcast/bi-a...
thisqueerbook.com/podcast/bi-a...
On this Sunday I am going back to a 2nd season episode that some think is overly religious. I'm not a religious person & I see it as questioning religion. What do you think? I am only aware of 2 religious leaders who have shown leadership: Mariann Budde & the Pope
thisqueerbook.com/podcast/oran...
thisqueerbook.com/podcast/oran...
God Cares About The Most Marginalized Bodies with Shannon TL Kearns
In this episode we’re talking with the Reverend Shannon TL Kearns about Oranges Are Not The Only Fruit by Jeanette Winterson.
thisqueerbook.com
January 4, 2026 at 1:11 PM
On this Sunday I am going back to a 2nd season episode that some think is overly religious. I'm not a religious person & I see it as questioning religion. What do you think? I am only aware of 2 religious leaders who have shown leadership: Mariann Budde & the Pope
thisqueerbook.com/podcast/oran...
thisqueerbook.com/podcast/oran...
SO proud to start 2026 by announcing our newest Associate Producer Karsten Vagner!
Associate Producers not only invest financially in our podcast, but they also provide valuable input at our quarterly AP meetings. Thank you so much Karsten for your support! We look forward to working with you. 🌈📚🎙️
Associate Producers not only invest financially in our podcast, but they also provide valuable input at our quarterly AP meetings. Thank you so much Karsten for your support! We look forward to working with you. 🌈📚🎙️
January 2, 2026 at 7:32 PM
SO proud to start 2026 by announcing our newest Associate Producer Karsten Vagner!
Associate Producers not only invest financially in our podcast, but they also provide valuable input at our quarterly AP meetings. Thank you so much Karsten for your support! We look forward to working with you. 🌈📚🎙️
Associate Producers not only invest financially in our podcast, but they also provide valuable input at our quarterly AP meetings. Thank you so much Karsten for your support! We look forward to working with you. 🌈📚🎙️
On this first day of 2026, I am focusing on an episode that featured a book from 88 years ago. Lauren Sanders brings us Nightwood by Djuna Barnes. Our history has been straightwashed for centuries but here is a moment filled with coded language to savor. Recommended!
thisqueerbook.com/nightwood/
thisqueerbook.com/nightwood/
Nightwood with Lauren Sanders
Props designer Bobbie Smith shares the queer book that saved his life: Coming Out by Wallace Hamilton.
thisqueerbook.com
January 1, 2026 at 2:20 PM
On this first day of 2026, I am focusing on an episode that featured a book from 88 years ago. Lauren Sanders brings us Nightwood by Djuna Barnes. Our history has been straightwashed for centuries but here is a moment filled with coded language to savor. Recommended!
thisqueerbook.com/nightwood/
thisqueerbook.com/nightwood/
Looking for 3 more followers! ellie Krug brought us the book, She's Not There in Season 1. Jennifer Finney Boylan joined the conversation and it was fascinating to hear. ellie has just released her second book. ellie is host of The Illegal Trans Woman on KTNF-AM.
thisqueerbook.com/podcast/shes...
thisqueerbook.com/podcast/shes...
I'm so lucky I was able to be brave with ellie krug and Jennifer Finney Boylan - This Queer Book Saved My Life!
Welcome to our LGBT podcast This Queer Book Saved My Life! In this episode, we talk with idealist, legal advocate, and author ellie krug (she/her) about the LGBT book She’s Not There by Jennifer Finne...
thisqueerbook.com
December 26, 2025 at 12:56 PM
Looking for 3 more followers! ellie Krug brought us the book, She's Not There in Season 1. Jennifer Finney Boylan joined the conversation and it was fascinating to hear. ellie has just released her second book. ellie is host of The Illegal Trans Woman on KTNF-AM.
thisqueerbook.com/podcast/shes...
thisqueerbook.com/podcast/shes...
More followers please! Our latest is Neil Laird who brought us The Satyricon by Gaius Petronius. No, I'm not kidding. In ad63. It is an amazing conversation & when we say we don't know our full history because it has been repressed, we are not kidding around. Listen!
thisqueerbook.com/the-satyricon/
thisqueerbook.com/the-satyricon/
The Satyricon with Neil Laird
Filmmaker and author Neil Laird shares the queer book that saved his life: The Satyricon by Petronius.
thisqueerbook.com
December 25, 2025 at 4:15 PM
More followers please! Our latest is Neil Laird who brought us The Satyricon by Gaius Petronius. No, I'm not kidding. In ad63. It is an amazing conversation & when we say we don't know our full history because it has been repressed, we are not kidding around. Listen!
thisqueerbook.com/the-satyricon/
thisqueerbook.com/the-satyricon/
Two more followers please! AJ Writer came to us with One Last Stop by Casey McQuiston. Sound familiar? She wrote Red, White and Royal Blue! This is the second time a guest has brought us NOT the most popular book by an author but ANOTHER book by a popular author.
thisqueerbook.com/one-last-stop/
thisqueerbook.com/one-last-stop/
One Last Stop with AJ Writer
Aj Writer shares the queer book that saved their life: One Last Stop by Casey McQuiston.
thisqueerbook.com
December 22, 2025 at 2:25 PM
Two more followers please! AJ Writer came to us with One Last Stop by Casey McQuiston. Sound familiar? She wrote Red, White and Royal Blue! This is the second time a guest has brought us NOT the most popular book by an author but ANOTHER book by a popular author.
thisqueerbook.com/one-last-stop/
thisqueerbook.com/one-last-stop/
More followers please!
Lauren Sanders brought us the book Nightwood by Djuna Barnes from 1936. The thought of that just stops me in my tracks. The risks seem monumental and yet she did it.
I highly recommend this episode to you and your friends who need to know about it
thisqueerbook.com/nightwood/
Lauren Sanders brought us the book Nightwood by Djuna Barnes from 1936. The thought of that just stops me in my tracks. The risks seem monumental and yet she did it.
I highly recommend this episode to you and your friends who need to know about it
thisqueerbook.com/nightwood/
Nightwood with Lauren Sanders
Props designer Bobbie Smith shares the queer book that saved his life: Coming Out by Wallace Hamilton.
thisqueerbook.com
December 20, 2025 at 11:38 PM
More followers please!
Lauren Sanders brought us the book Nightwood by Djuna Barnes from 1936. The thought of that just stops me in my tracks. The risks seem monumental and yet she did it.
I highly recommend this episode to you and your friends who need to know about it
thisqueerbook.com/nightwood/
Lauren Sanders brought us the book Nightwood by Djuna Barnes from 1936. The thought of that just stops me in my tracks. The risks seem monumental and yet she did it.
I highly recommend this episode to you and your friends who need to know about it
thisqueerbook.com/nightwood/
You won't believe Bobbie Smith's story & his discussion of the book Coming Out by Wallace Hamilton. Yes, Danielle Steel wrote some tripe with the same title but this book helped a young man who was a victim of the Mormon Church to find his footing & survive that cult.
thisqueerbook.com/coming-out/
thisqueerbook.com/coming-out/
Coming Out with Bobbie Smith
Props designer Bobbie Smith shares the queer book that saved his life: Coming Out by Wallace Hamilton.
thisqueerbook.com
December 18, 2025 at 3:17 PM
You won't believe Bobbie Smith's story & his discussion of the book Coming Out by Wallace Hamilton. Yes, Danielle Steel wrote some tripe with the same title but this book helped a young man who was a victim of the Mormon Church to find his footing & survive that cult.
thisqueerbook.com/coming-out/
thisqueerbook.com/coming-out/
I think this episode w/ Caro De Robertis is so important.
I tend to focus on the cruelty in this country. This episode reminds me that our siblings in other nations are in so much MORE danger. I would like to see Caro be recognized for her humanity by you listening
thisqueerbook.com/notes-of-a-c...
I tend to focus on the cruelty in this country. This episode reminds me that our siblings in other nations are in so much MORE danger. I would like to see Caro be recognized for her humanity by you listening
thisqueerbook.com/notes-of-a-c...
Notes of a Crocodile with Caro De Robertis
Caro De Robertis shares the queer book that saved their life: Notes of a Crocodile by Qiu Miaojin, translated by Bonnie Huie.
thisqueerbook.com
December 17, 2025 at 4:50 PM
I think this episode w/ Caro De Robertis is so important.
I tend to focus on the cruelty in this country. This episode reminds me that our siblings in other nations are in so much MORE danger. I would like to see Caro be recognized for her humanity by you listening
thisqueerbook.com/notes-of-a-c...
I tend to focus on the cruelty in this country. This episode reminds me that our siblings in other nations are in so much MORE danger. I would like to see Caro be recognized for her humanity by you listening
thisqueerbook.com/notes-of-a-c...
5 more followers please. Most of us don't know a lot about asexuality. Yet it is part of our rainbow. This episode is an excellent discussion of the topic framed around the Alice Oseman book Loveless. She of Heartstopper fame. This will raise your IQ on the subject!
thisqueerbook.com/loveless/
thisqueerbook.com/loveless/
Loveless with Jake Mier
In this episode, we meet Jake Mier and talk about the book that saved their life: Loveless by Alice Oseman.
thisqueerbook.com
December 14, 2025 at 3:29 PM
5 more followers please. Most of us don't know a lot about asexuality. Yet it is part of our rainbow. This episode is an excellent discussion of the topic framed around the Alice Oseman book Loveless. She of Heartstopper fame. This will raise your IQ on the subject!
thisqueerbook.com/loveless/
thisqueerbook.com/loveless/
Kim Hines gave a passionate case for James Baldwin's The Fire Next Time & taught us a bit about Minneapolis' sketchy history w/busing. Kim's a playwright & director in her own right. Disquieting to me but totally valid is the idea that her black identity comes first
thisqueerbook.com/the-fire-nex...
thisqueerbook.com/the-fire-nex...
The Fire Next Time with Kim Hines
In this episode, we meet Kim Hines and talk about the book that saved her life: The Fire Next Time by James Baldwin.
thisqueerbook.com
December 13, 2025 at 4:20 PM
Kim Hines gave a passionate case for James Baldwin's The Fire Next Time & taught us a bit about Minneapolis' sketchy history w/busing. Kim's a playwright & director in her own right. Disquieting to me but totally valid is the idea that her black identity comes first
thisqueerbook.com/the-fire-nex...
thisqueerbook.com/the-fire-nex...
7 more followers please!
Joel Freedman brought us the book Good Times/Bad Times by James Kirkwood. He told us the book was a cautionary tale for him about how NOT to live his life. This is the second guest who has taken this tactic. This will be nostalgic for some.
thisqueerbook.com/good-times-b...
Joel Freedman brought us the book Good Times/Bad Times by James Kirkwood. He told us the book was a cautionary tale for him about how NOT to live his life. This is the second guest who has taken this tactic. This will be nostalgic for some.
thisqueerbook.com/good-times-b...
Good Times/Bad Times with Joel Freedman
Joel Freedman shares the queer book that saved his life: Good Times/Bad Times by James Kirkwood
thisqueerbook.com
December 12, 2025 at 3:33 PM
7 more followers please!
Joel Freedman brought us the book Good Times/Bad Times by James Kirkwood. He told us the book was a cautionary tale for him about how NOT to live his life. This is the second guest who has taken this tactic. This will be nostalgic for some.
thisqueerbook.com/good-times-b...
Joel Freedman brought us the book Good Times/Bad Times by James Kirkwood. He told us the book was a cautionary tale for him about how NOT to live his life. This is the second guest who has taken this tactic. This will be nostalgic for some.
thisqueerbook.com/good-times-b...
Still looking for six more followers. Rex Ogle brought us the book Running With Scissors by Augusten Burroughs. It is a really great episode and I highly recommend it. Rex is a successful author in his own right. I highly recommend this episode to you. Life is messy
thisqueerbook.com/running-with...
thisqueerbook.com/running-with...
Running With Scissors with Rex Ogle
Today we meet author Rex Ogle and we’re talking about the book that saved his life: Running with Scissors by Augusten Burroughs.
thisqueerbook.com
December 8, 2025 at 10:29 PM
Still looking for six more followers. Rex Ogle brought us the book Running With Scissors by Augusten Burroughs. It is a really great episode and I highly recommend it. Rex is a successful author in his own right. I highly recommend this episode to you. Life is messy
thisqueerbook.com/running-with...
thisqueerbook.com/running-with...
Joel Freedman brought us Good Times/Bad Times not because he loved the book but because it was a cautionary tale for him. That is the second guest who has seen the show in that respect. Books have the power to instruct as well as the power to warn This is a good one
thisqueerbook.com/good-times-b...
thisqueerbook.com/good-times-b...
Good Times/Bad Times with Joel Freedman
Joel Freedman shares the queer book that saved his life: Good Times/Bad Times by James Kirkwood
thisqueerbook.com
December 6, 2025 at 3:42 PM
Joel Freedman brought us Good Times/Bad Times not because he loved the book but because it was a cautionary tale for him. That is the second guest who has seen the show in that respect. Books have the power to instruct as well as the power to warn This is a good one
thisqueerbook.com/good-times-b...
thisqueerbook.com/good-times-b...
I'd love 6 more followers. The story of Notes of a Crocodile's author is indescribable. Caro De Robertis brought the book to us. The author was Qiu Miaojin. Each of us faces discrimination. It is ALWAYS wrong. Caro is exquisite in this episode. Please listen.
thisqueerbook.com/notes-of-a-c...
thisqueerbook.com/notes-of-a-c...
Notes of a Crocodile with Caro De Robertis
Caro De Robertis shares the queer book that saved their life: Notes of a Crocodile by Qiu Miaojin, translated by Bonnie Huie.
thisqueerbook.com
December 4, 2025 at 2:20 PM
I'd love 6 more followers. The story of Notes of a Crocodile's author is indescribable. Caro De Robertis brought the book to us. The author was Qiu Miaojin. Each of us faces discrimination. It is ALWAYS wrong. Caro is exquisite in this episode. Please listen.
thisqueerbook.com/notes-of-a-c...
thisqueerbook.com/notes-of-a-c...
My strong recommendation is that you listen to Jacob Budenz. This is our happiest episode. It is a David Sedaris book! Jacob is a non binary witch from Baltimore! He had a happy coming out experience. If you think all LGBT stories are depressing, here is the exception.
thisqueerbook.com/corduroy/
thisqueerbook.com/corduroy/
Dress Your Family In Corduroy and Denim with Jacob Budenz
We meet multi-hyphenate Jacob Budenz and talk about the book that saved their life: Dress Your Family In Corduroy and Denim by David Sedaris.
thisqueerbook.com
November 28, 2025 at 5:04 PM
My strong recommendation is that you listen to Jacob Budenz. This is our happiest episode. It is a David Sedaris book! Jacob is a non binary witch from Baltimore! He had a happy coming out experience. If you think all LGBT stories are depressing, here is the exception.
thisqueerbook.com/corduroy/
thisqueerbook.com/corduroy/
Ten more followers please! I loved this episode featuring author, producer and TV writer Abdi Najemian discussing James Baldwin's novel Another Country. I need SEVEN people to listen to this today! We have a fourth person coming on in Jan to repeat Giovanni's Room
thisqueerbook.com/another-coun...
thisqueerbook.com/another-coun...
Another Country with Abdi Nazemian
Abdi Nazemian shares the queer book that saved his life: Another Country by James Baldwin.
thisqueerbook.com
November 27, 2025 at 2:59 PM
Ten more followers please! I loved this episode featuring author, producer and TV writer Abdi Najemian discussing James Baldwin's novel Another Country. I need SEVEN people to listen to this today! We have a fourth person coming on in Jan to repeat Giovanni's Room
thisqueerbook.com/another-coun...
thisqueerbook.com/another-coun...
We would love to get new followers from Chicago. Windy City Times just published an online article about John Parker. We thank Jake Wittich (Chicago Journalist of the Year!) who is a great partner to our show as is all of the 40 year old Windy City Times team!!!!
windycitytimes.com/2025/11/21/r...
windycitytimes.com/2025/11/21/r...
Radio, books, archives: Inside John Parker's growing queer storytelling network - Windy City Times
John Parker is building a media universe that’s helping queer people find each other through storytelling, whether that be on air, online or in the historical record. Windy City Times readers may know...
windycitytimes.com
November 24, 2025 at 4:49 PM
We would love to get new followers from Chicago. Windy City Times just published an online article about John Parker. We thank Jake Wittich (Chicago Journalist of the Year!) who is a great partner to our show as is all of the 40 year old Windy City Times team!!!!
windycitytimes.com/2025/11/21/r...
windycitytimes.com/2025/11/21/r...
15 more followers please. Lauren Sanders brought us the book Nightwood by Djuna Barnes in 1936!!
Thank of the bravery of that. This is a great conversation as both Lauren and John marvel at what it took and what kind of coded language was needed to get this published.
thisqueerbook.com/nightwood/
Thank of the bravery of that. This is a great conversation as both Lauren and John marvel at what it took and what kind of coded language was needed to get this published.
thisqueerbook.com/nightwood/
Nightwood with Lauren Sanders
Props designer Bobbie Smith shares the queer book that saved his life: Coming Out by Wallace Hamilton.
thisqueerbook.com
November 23, 2025 at 9:50 PM
15 more followers please. Lauren Sanders brought us the book Nightwood by Djuna Barnes in 1936!!
Thank of the bravery of that. This is a great conversation as both Lauren and John marvel at what it took and what kind of coded language was needed to get this published.
thisqueerbook.com/nightwood/
Thank of the bravery of that. This is a great conversation as both Lauren and John marvel at what it took and what kind of coded language was needed to get this published.
thisqueerbook.com/nightwood/
More followers please. Caro De Robertis brought us Notes of a Crocodile. We're glad she did. Given the cruel war on LGBT people, this is an example of how hating someone can become de facto killing someone. Listen in order to honor Qiu. Encourage others to listen.
thisqueerbook.com/notes-of-a-c...
thisqueerbook.com/notes-of-a-c...
Notes of a Crocodile with Caro De Robertis
Caro De Robertis shares the queer book that saved their life: Notes of a Crocodile by Qiu Miaojin, translated by Bonnie Huie.
thisqueerbook.com
November 20, 2025 at 1:52 PM
More followers please. Caro De Robertis brought us Notes of a Crocodile. We're glad she did. Given the cruel war on LGBT people, this is an example of how hating someone can become de facto killing someone. Listen in order to honor Qiu. Encourage others to listen.
thisqueerbook.com/notes-of-a-c...
thisqueerbook.com/notes-of-a-c...
More followers please!
Caro de Robertis is a fine author in her own right and her conversation with John about Notes of a Crocodile by Qiu Miaojin is honestly hard to get out of your mind. We need to stand up for ourselves if others won't. We can do better & we must
thisqueerbook.com/notes-of-a-c...
Caro de Robertis is a fine author in her own right and her conversation with John about Notes of a Crocodile by Qiu Miaojin is honestly hard to get out of your mind. We need to stand up for ourselves if others won't. We can do better & we must
thisqueerbook.com/notes-of-a-c...
Notes of a Crocodile with Caro De Robertis
Caro De Robertis shares the queer book that saved their life: Notes of a Crocodile by Qiu Miaojin, translated by Bonnie Huie.
thisqueerbook.com
November 16, 2025 at 6:26 PM
More followers please!
Caro de Robertis is a fine author in her own right and her conversation with John about Notes of a Crocodile by Qiu Miaojin is honestly hard to get out of your mind. We need to stand up for ourselves if others won't. We can do better & we must
thisqueerbook.com/notes-of-a-c...
Caro de Robertis is a fine author in her own right and her conversation with John about Notes of a Crocodile by Qiu Miaojin is honestly hard to get out of your mind. We need to stand up for ourselves if others won't. We can do better & we must
thisqueerbook.com/notes-of-a-c...
More followers please!
This episode is one of our most profound because it deals with loss of one's partner. Call it the unimaginable. Of course people do experience it & do live through it. I thought our guest Edwin Santos Lopez was fantastic & so was the author.
thisqueerbook.com/history-is-a...
This episode is one of our most profound because it deals with loss of one's partner. Call it the unimaginable. Of course people do experience it & do live through it. I thought our guest Edwin Santos Lopez was fantastic & so was the author.
thisqueerbook.com/history-is-a...
History Is All You Left Me with Edwin Santos Lepiz and Adam Silvera - This Queer Book Saved My Life!
Today we meet Edwin Santos Lepiz and we’re talking about the queer book that saved his life: History Is All You Left Me by Adam Silvera. And Adam joins us!
thisqueerbook.com
November 12, 2025 at 4:39 PM
More followers please!
This episode is one of our most profound because it deals with loss of one's partner. Call it the unimaginable. Of course people do experience it & do live through it. I thought our guest Edwin Santos Lopez was fantastic & so was the author.
thisqueerbook.com/history-is-a...
This episode is one of our most profound because it deals with loss of one's partner. Call it the unimaginable. Of course people do experience it & do live through it. I thought our guest Edwin Santos Lopez was fantastic & so was the author.
thisqueerbook.com/history-is-a...
It seems to me that Trans men are particularly absent from society. They exist but are not acknowledged. In this episode, we have both a guest and an author from that stripe of the rainbow. They are great together and you can feel the importance of hearing from them.
thisqueerbook.com/nearest-exit/
thisqueerbook.com/nearest-exit/
The Nearest Exit May Be Behind You with Seth Anderson-Matz and S. Bear Bergman - This Queer Book Saved My Life!
Seth Anderson-Matz shares the queer book that saved his life: The Nearest Exit May Be Behind You by S. Bear Bergman. And Bear joins us for the conversation!
thisqueerbook.com
November 10, 2025 at 5:41 PM
It seems to me that Trans men are particularly absent from society. They exist but are not acknowledged. In this episode, we have both a guest and an author from that stripe of the rainbow. They are great together and you can feel the importance of hearing from them.
thisqueerbook.com/nearest-exit/
thisqueerbook.com/nearest-exit/