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Gays Reading | A Book Podcast for Everyone
Host Jason Blitman is joined each week by bestselling authors, VIP gay readers, cultural icons, and other special guests for lively, spoiler-free conversations. Gays Reading celebrates LGBTQIA+ and ally authors and storytellers, offering insightful discussions for everyone. Whether you're gay, straight, or anywhere in between, if you enjoy being a fly on the wall for fun, thoughtful, and fabulous conversations, Gays Reading is for you.
Episodes
127 episodes
The Edmund White Episode
Host Jason Blitman sits down with legendary author Edmund White, a towering figure in gay literature, for what would become one of White's final recorded conversations. In this deeply personal conversation, they explore White's la...
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Season 4
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Episode 38
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47:40
Austin Taylor (Notes on Infinity) feat. Nicola Dinan, Guest Gay Reader
Host Jason Blitman sits down with debut author Austin Taylor (Notes on Infinity) to talk about themes of ambition, mortality, and the challenges of being a woman in science. They also explore big questions about life, the...
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Season 4
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Episode 37
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1:09:36
Lucas Schaefer (The Slip) feat. Mike Curato, Guest Gay Reader
Host Jason Blitman sits down with debut novelist Lucas Schaefer to discuss The Slip, diving into themes of identity, self-expression, and the inspiration behind the book. They explore Lucas’s personal experiences at a box...
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Season 4
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Episode 36
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1:11:54
Jonathan Van Ness & Julie Murphy (Let Them Stare) feat. Alison Bechdel, Guest Gay Reader
Host Jason Blitman talks to Jonathan Van Ness and Julie Murphy (Let Them Stare) about astrology, the names of their teenage cars, and early inspirations for their book. And Crock Pots. And British accents. And Nobu...
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Season 4
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Episode 35
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1:13:47
SPILL THE TEA on Conversations with Alison Wood Brooks (Talk)
In this episode of Spill the Tea, host Jason Blitman is joined by Alison Wood Brooks, behavioral scientist, Harvard Business School professor, and author of Talk: The Science of Conversation and the Art of Being Curio...
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Season 4
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Episode 34
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1:02:33
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Daria Lavelle (Aftertaste) feat. Kareem "Mr. Bake" Queeman, Guest Gay Reader
Host Jason Blitman sits down with author Daria Lavelle (Aftertaste) to explore the sensory phenomenon of clairgustance, how words possess distinct textures that can be experienced beyond their meanings, and the fascinatin...
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Season 4
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Episode 33
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1:09:57
SPILL THE TEA on LGBTQ+ Travel with Alicia Valenski
In this episode of Spill the Tea, host Jason Blitman chats with Alicia Valenski, author of Lonely Planet’s LGBTQ+ Travel Guide, about her journey in creating an inclusive, community-driven resource that highlight...
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Season 4
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Episode 32
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40:07
Jemimah Wei (The Original Daughter) feat. Prabal Gurung, Guest Gay Reader
Host Jason Blitman sits down with current Good Morning America Book Club author Jemimah Wei (The Original Daughter) to explore what silences born of care open up between families, the importance of chosen family, and the ...
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Season 4
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Episode 31
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1:09:55
The Rosie O'Donnell Episode
Host Jason Blitman sits down with often-mentioned Rosie O'Donnell to discuss her newest project, Unleashing Hope: The Power of Service Dogs for Children with Autism. They also talk books, Broadway, bootlegs, and more in t...
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Season 4
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Episode 30
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35:59
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Fredrik Backman (My Friends) feat. Erika J. Simpson, Guest Gay Reader
Host Jason Blitman sits down with bestselling author Fredrik Backman (My Friends) to discuss his love of films, why he could win a Taylor Swift lyric competition, and the exact moment he recalls where his humor originated...
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Season 4
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Episode 29
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1:19:08
Annie Hartnett (The Road to Tender Hearts) feat. Debbie Millman, Guest Gay Reader
Host Jason Blitman talks to Annie Hartnett (The Road to Tender Hearts) about the roots of her humor, why no one can sit in the backseat of her car, and her short-lived foray into greeting card writing. Jason is then joine...
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Season 4
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Episode 28
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1:19:11
SPILL THE TEA on Sexual Evolution with Nathan H. Lents
In this episode of Spill the Tea, host Jason Blitman is joined by professor Nathan H. Lents (The Sexual Evolution) to unpack the sexual history of humans to better understand how we got to today. They talk about ...
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Season 4
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Episode 27
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52:32
Denne Michele Norris (When the Harvest Comes) feat. Zee Carlstrom, Guest Gay Reader
Host Jason Blitman talks to Electric Literature's editor-in-chief Denne Michele Norris about her debut novel, When the Harvest Comes. They talk about the unexpected 14-year journey to write the book, love at first sight, ...
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Season 4
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Episode 26
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1:09:40
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Seán Hewitt (Open, Heaven) feat. Jeffery Self, Guest Gay Reader
Host Jason Blitman sits down with Seán Hewitt (Open, Heaven) to discuss sense memories, queer representation in school growing up, and Seán’s aversion to musicals—despite offering a sharp insight into The Sou...
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Season 4
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Episode 25
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1:13:48
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Katie Kitamura (Audition) feat. Nathan Lee Graham, Guest Gay Reader
Host Jason Blitman talks to Katie Kitamura (Audition) about learned behaviors, the nature of intimacy, the art of performance, and her immersive process of writing. Perhaps most importantly, they talk at length about fren...
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Season 4
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Episode 24
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1:20:54
SPILL THE TEA on Penguin Classics with Elda Rotor
For the inaugural episode of the new series Spill the Tea, host Jason Blitman is joined by Elda Rotor, VP and Publisher of Penguin Classics. They delve into what defines a 'classic,' explore Penguin's expansive and divers...
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Season 4
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Episode 23
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50:13
Sameer Pandya (Our Beautiful Boys) feat. Emma Donoghue, Guest Gay Reader
Host Jason Blitman talks to Sameer Pandya (Our Beautiful Boys) about his affinity for textiles and half-sleeve shirts, the surprising phase Sameer went through in school, and the best time in a party to play Butt Darts. J...
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Season 4
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Episode 17
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1:11:52
Kristen Arnett (Stop Me If You've Heard This One) feat. Torrey Peters, Guest Gay Reader
Host Jason Blitman talks with Kristen Arnett (Stop Me If You've Heard This One) about grief, art, optimism, and their shared Florida experience. Jason is then joine...
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Season 4
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Episode 16
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1:17:53
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Jinwoo Chong (I Leave It Up To You) feat. Dylan Mulvaney, Guest Gay Reader
Host Jason Blitman talks to Jinwoo Chong (I Leave It Up To You) about the inspiration behind his new novel, what it means to start over, and the most accurate way to eat sushi. Jason is then joined by actress, comedian, c...
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Season 4
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Episode 15
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1:10:00
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Clare Leslie Hall (Broken Country)
Host Jason Blitman talks to Clare Leslie Hall (Broken Country) about the inspiration behind her book and how she straddled multiple genres. They talk about themes of nostalgia, the challenges of writing, and the emotional...
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Season 4
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Episode 14
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43:36
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Charlotte McConaghy (Wild Dark Shore) feat. Bruce Vilanch, Guest Gay Reader
Host Jason Blitman talks to Charlotte McConaghy (Wild Dark Shore) about Charlotte's journey from writing fantasy epics to exploring real-world themes, environmentalism and human connection in her recent works, and the cha...
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Season 4
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Episode 13
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1:10:22
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Sara Sligar (Vantage Point) on Deepfakes, Live at Palm Springs Readers' Festival
In this bonus episode of Gays Reading, host Jason Blitman is in conversation with author Sara Sligar (Vantage Point) recorded live at the Palm Springs Readers' Festival. Together they explore the unsettling world of deepf...
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Season 4
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Episode 12
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46:47
Karissa Chen (Homeseeking) feat. Paul Lisicky, Guest Gay Reader
Host Jason Blitman talks to Karissa Chen (Homeseeking) about musicals--particularly The Last Five Years' influence on her writing, dreams as well as idealism, the coincidence of reconnection, and the concept of s...
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Season 4
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Episode 11
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1:10:40
Nancy Johnson (People of Means) feat. McKenna Michels, Guest Gay Reader
Host Jason Blitman talks to Nancy Johnson (People of Means) about race, class, and civil rights, offering a multi-layered perspective on life issues both timeless and timely. They touch on intriguing parent-child relation...
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Season 4
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Episode 10
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1:04:19
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Valentine's Day with Jessica Soffer (This is a Love Story)
In this special Valentine's Day episode, host Jason Blitman talks to February's Read with Jenna author, Jessica Soffer (This is a Love Story). From New York City's Central Park to the evocative smell of street food, Jason...
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Season 4
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Episode 9
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41:12
