Sagittarian Matters

We are over the moon to welcome back friend to the show DEAN SPADE for some advice on love, liberation, intergenerational dating, boundaries and MORE. Dean joined me in honor of his new podcast, Love in a F*cked Up World. We will be posting the third episode, with guests Tourmaline and Morgan Bassichis, in our podcast stream alongside this episode.   Now please enjoy my talk with…. Dean Spade.   p.s. We will be recording more advice together soon! If you'd like to submit a question, please DM Sagittarian Matters on instagram.   Dean Spade has been working to build queer and trans liberation based in racial and economic justice for the past two decades. He is a professor at the Seattle University School of Law, and the author of the books Love in a Fucked Up World, Mutual Aid: building solidarity during this crisis and the next, and Normal Life: Administrative Violence, Critical Trans Politics and the Limits of Law    

Today on Sagittarian Matters we are completing our Ultimatum Queer Love s2 coverage by talking with reality dating competition show enthusiast and expert, Joan Lubin. In the second part of the show, we recapped season 3 episode 7 of And Just Like That, the episode where everyone (except the known Broadway stars) sang karaoke,  The Woman shared a drink with Duncan, and then got wildly hostile when Miranda acknowledged reality.     You can hear us recapping the entire season of AJLT Patreon.com/nicolejgeorges. If you become an Honorary Sagittarian or above you’ll have access to tons of bonus episodes, diary comics and top ten lists, AND you’ll be supporting my art and podcasting work, as well as the work of producer Ponyo and assistant executive producer Hermes the tortoise.   Today's episode was edited and produced by me, Nicole J. Georges. 

We are over the moon to present you with the finale of our 3-part Queer Ultimatum crossover coverage with Nicole's other podcast, The Gaymazing Race.  In this episode, titled MAGAN MOANS SADLY, Nicole and Karen Tongson are joined by professors Poulomi Saha and Greta LaFleur to discuss the Ultimatum Queer Love REUNION and provide final thoughts and commentary on this season.  Please join us as we discuss the fate of Nicole's trial wife, what counts as queer sex anyway, and what part of the reunion felt like  "a paid promotion by heterosexuality". Stay tuned. Want to support the podcast? Please do! Become an Honorary Sagittarian at: patreon.com/nicolejgeorges

We are over the moon to present our 2nd of 3 Queer Ultimatum crossover episodes with The Gaymazing Race.  Creator of the Ultimatum Fantasy League Dani Wassel, and raconteur, writer and performer Amanda-Faye Jimenez join Karen Tongson and Nicole to process everything from "The Choice" to "Ultimatum Day." We discuss a range of topics from trial spouse criteria, to  mommy issues, to sexual loopholes and "good old fashioned tribadism."

We are over the moon to present you with this crossover episode with Nicole's other podcast, The Gaymazing Race. TGR returns with 3 special bonus episodes on season 2 of THE ULTIMATUM: QUEER LOVE. Karen and Nicole gather queer experts, friends of the pod and Ultimatum enthusiasts to join them in astute, if also sometimes raw and raunchy assessments of the couplings, uncouplings and potential throuplings of Netflix's messiest queer dating show. This week: Greta La Fleur and Poulomi Saha join us to introduce all the couples, haircuts, trial spouses and more leading up to "The Choice."

Alison Bechdel returns to the podcast to talk about drawing goats, making a living as a lesbian and her new book SPENT!   Alison Bechdel is a Virgo friend to the show and  the author of the comic strip Dykes to Watch Out For, and the graphic memoirs Fun Home, Art you My Mother and The Secret to Superhuman Strength. She joined me in the Sagittarian Matters Social Distancing Studios to talk about her newest book, SPENT- a comic novel.   Alison is hitting the road with her new book Spent later this month. Look her up and go see her in Portland, Seattle, San Francisco AND MORE!   You can listen to my 2016 and 2018 Sagittarian Matters interviews with Alison on iTunes or wherever you get your podcasts.    

We are over the moon to welcome back birthday twin to the show BEAUX LYLES-LAMOTTE to discuss the finale, reunion, and episode 10 of TRAITORS.  Plus, Nicole's most recent and bizarre travel innovation.    Beaux Lyles-Lamotte is an honored sagittarius and the witch behind Magic Hour Candles. They love reality t.v. and have been offering their Housewife insights all season as we've recapped The Traitors US, Season 3.  You can find Beaux at magichourcandles.com Listen to the end of the show for a special offer code for listeners to get 15% off their order at magichourcandles.com.  If you want to  access the entire SEASONS of Love is Blind and Traitors recaps,  plus see exclusive videos, bonus episodes,  listen to everything early and frankly support my work and read HUNDREDS of pages of unpublished diary comics,  Please go to patreon.com/nicolejgeorges and become an honorary sagittarian or above TODAY! And if you join at a higher level, I’ll say your name on the podcast. Producer Ponyo will too

Wedding bells are ringing and longboards are rolling as we recap the FINALE and REUNION of Love is Blind with friend to the show, Dr. Joan Lubin.  Joan joined me in the Sagittarian Matters Social Distancing Studios to recap the finale and reunion  of a show that feels like a self-styled lobotomy, Love Is Blind, season 8.   Dr. Joan Lubin is a major reality dating competition show enthusiast, and Assistant Professor of Modern and Contemporary Literature at Durham University.

We are over the moon to welcome reality dating show enthusiast Dr. Joan Lubin to the Sagittarian Matters Social Distancing Studios to recap episodes 1-3 of Love Is Blind, season 8.  Join us, won't you, as we discuss attachment styles, straight men, and how Nicole would fare on this very show (spoiler: she'd do GREAT). Find recaps of the rest of this season of Love Is Blind, plus bonus videos, Traitors, and early access episodes on Patreon! Patreon.com/nicolejgeorges Thank you for your support.   Dr. Joan Lubin is a major reality dating competition show enthusiast, and Assistant Professor of Modern and Contemporary Literature at Durham University.         

We are over the moon to welcome Honored Sagittarius Beaux Lyles Lamotte back to the show to give a full breakdown on the reality star-studded cast of Traitors UK, and to recap episode one. I get a crash course in Scandoval, The Housewives, Gabby the gay Bachelorette, Carolyn from Survivor (Courtney Love as professional wrestler?) and all the contestants who entered Alan Cumming's castle this season. We also discuss my DeeDee Ramone haircut of yore, seeing Jillian Michaels from the Biggest Loser on a dating app, breakups over Skype, AND MORE.    You can find videos and more Traitors recaps at patreon.com/nicolejgeorges   You can find Beaux at magichourcandles.com  

We were over the moon to welcome Dean Spade to the Social Distancing Studios to give advice to listeners in honor of his book, Love In A Fucked Up World (available now). Dean and I gave advice to listeners on love, despair, dating, distance,  liberation, boundaries and MORE.   Dean Spade has been working to build queer and trans liberation based in racial and economic justice for the past two decades. He is a professor at the Seattle University School of Law, and the author of the books Mutual Aid: Building Solidarity During This Crisis and the Next, and Normal Life: Administrative Violence, Critical Trans Politics and the Limits of Law   You can get his new book, Love In A F*cked Up World NOW through Bluestockings, or your preferred independent bookstore.    Sagittarian Matters is hosted & produced by Nicole J. Georges, with assistance from Ponyo Georges. Our Executive Producer is Chris Sutton, and our editor is Shanna Polley. You an support the podcast by joining Patreon as an Honorary Sagittarius, Ponyo's Friend Club Member or above. Patreon.com/nicolejgeorges Thank you for your support.     

Ep 284: Solomon J. Brager!   We are over the moon to welcome graphic novelist Solomon Brager to the podcast to discuss their new book, Heavyweight, AND complain about ice cream, talk graphic memoir, history, confronting zi**ism, and give advice on friends, leaving academia, tortoise food and MORE.   Solomon J.  Brager is a writer, teacher, and artist. They are currently a Jerome Hill Artists Fellow, a member of the Pinko magazine editorial collective and the director of community engagement at Jewish Currents magazine. Sol joined me from their home in New York to discuss their new book, Heavyweight- a family story of holocaust, empire, and memory.   Like the show? Become an Honorary Sagittarian at patreon.com/nicolejgeorges .  Need advice? Call 971-361-9998 and leave a message!    Time stamps: Beginning: The bummers of avocado food politics 3:40 Talking Heavyweight: getting fired for being anti-zionist 7:10 Less-effective political strategies 9:35 "You need to train your body out of being afraid of people who disagree with you. That's not a feeling you can trust."  9:50 The family history behind the book 13:05 Graphic Novel process: Hand-lettering, traditional vs. digital drawing & more 20 Choices between what parts of the story were visual vs text 28:24 The joy of filling in backgrounds with black paint 29- book cover talk ADVICE: 34:16 - How do I talk to my zi**ist friends about what’s going on? 38:25- Should I leave academia? Is there life after academia? Is it even possible? FOOD:  43:35 Bemoaning the changes at Van Leeuwen ice cream 47:55 Advice: How do I differentiate the tortoise’s food from my own?  Bonus cucumber recipe    

Show less   We are over the moon to have MICHELLE TEA back in the Sagittarian Matters Social Distancing Studio in honor of her new anthology, SLUTS- the inaugural book of Dopamine Press. Michelle Tea joined us to give  listeners advice on writing, boundaries, people pleasing, tattoo remorse, and more!  But first, in an Unsolicited Vegan Food Review, Katy Davidson tries Acai for the first time and is very surprised.    Go learn more about Sluts and all upcoming books and events at dopaminepress.org.  Go listen & buy Katy's new album, Human Futures, here.    You can listen episodes early and support Sagittarian Matters by becoming an Honorary Sagittarius on Patreon. Patreon.com/nicolejgeorges This week on Patreon, we have a bonus video episode with Michelle Tea, where Nicole recounts the Perfect Wife docu-series, we talk shrimping, prudishness, and more.    Today's episode produced and hosted by Nicole J. Georges, with Executive Produced by Chris Sutton, with editor Shanna Polley, field producer Ponyo Georges, and intern Gigi Peloso.   

  We are over the moon to welcome Capricorn CHRIS VARGAS back to the show to discuss his new book, Trans Hirstory in 99 Objects. But first! We do some live reporting from a Golden Girls show in Hollywood, where Chris & I were treated to room-temperature coke, hateful theater patrons and top notch impersonations.   Bonus: Chris discusses a Florida snorkel boat trip   Chris Vargas is also a Guggenheim-award winning artist, filmmaker, professor, and the founder of MOTHA, the Museum of Transgender Hirstory and Art. Chris and his collaborators  have just released a giant, beautiful book, Trans Hirstory in 99 objects. A compelling exploration of trans art, activism, and resistance.   In this episode we discuss Angela Douglas, Assunta Femia, Pippa Garner, Catholics regendering indigenous people of California, the Tootsie film genre, A Hormonal Fog AND MORE.   Get Trans Hirstory in 99 Objects by Chris Vargas, Christina Linden & David Evan Frantz now! Wherever you get your books.  

Today on the podcast, we are remembering beloved friend to the show Trina Robbins, who passed away April 10th, 2024 at age 85.    We are rebroadcasting a solo interview from 2016 (before the rotting pumpkin took office), and a live interview Nicole did in 2017 with Trina, Lee Marrs and Mary Wings at Root Division in San Francisco.   Enjoy.

We are over the moon to have known Sagittarius Cathy de la Cruz join us to discuss a CHICKEN RESCUE on the streets of Brooklyn.  PLUS! Dawn defends her honor, reviews something called Giggles,  Morgan & Dawn review CAROB MOLASSES together, Nicole tries it, and talks about getting NEW GLASSES, and MORE.    Tune in!

Today on Sagittarian matters! We’re over the moon to welcome Morgan back to the show to  talk about Cafix, CELERY, Trader Joes Vegan Fish, TJ's Bird Nest, signs of aging, the smell of trader joes, Alfred Coffee, Outstanding Cheeseballs, Lagusta's cheese powder, Lagusta's turtles, Molasses cookies, Moku mushroom jerky and SO MUCH MORE.    PLUS! An unsolicited food review from Dawn Riddle, with special guest Megan DIneen. 

We are on a summer break & will come back at some point in the fall with an actual season of the show!\ But in the meantime,  We are over the moon today to bring you Tortoise Drama, Diary Comics, Unsolicited Vegan Vacation Food Reviews, Big news, where to find AJLT recaps and MORE.  You can find Nicole's new book here: https://www.phasesevencomics.com/phase8/dogs-breakfast/ Get her 2024 calendar here: nicolejgeorges.com/shop Find an unlocked And Just Like That finale recap bonus episode with Bran Taylor at patreon.com/nicolejgeorges And find Nicole live in person at SPX Small Press Expo, Cartoon Crossroads in Columbus, and Short Run Comics Fest in Seattle.  Featured on today's show,  Roving reporters Dawn, Luca, Morgan & Torrence bring us unsolicited vegan food reviews from Spain, Tucson, & Denver.  Dawn Riddle is a multidisciplinary artist from Portland, Oregon. She is a brilliant painter, weaver, photographer, musician, playwright, videographer and so much more.  Luca J. Davis is a writer, web designer and long distance hiker. You will notice their review is in two parts, because it was  originally sent to me as a video text, which you can see on our instagram page, but  after hearing just the names of BEAUTIFUL tahini drink & breakfast items from Houlden’s Rise Above, I demanded more details. Which Luca sent. Via memo.  Morgan is a baker and seed lover, and Torrence is a cat lover who was once my  very excellent roommate.  Alec Longstreth is an award winning cartoonist. He also works as a freelance illustrator, animator, digital colorist, and comics educator. He works at the Center for Cartoon Studies, just did all the images and some animations for Weezer’s summer tour, and is the author of Basewood  And the all ages comic Isle of Elsi. He runs Phase 8 publishing, and you can get my NEW BOOK by going to his website.  Phasesevencomics.com. You’ll see the phase 8 logo in the top right, click on it, and be taken to a print AND digital download link that directly benefits me! Find Alec's comics at phasesevencomics.com. The audio portion of this episode with Alec was originally recorded and edited by Alec for his Patreon page! Find him here:  https://www.patreon.com/longstreth/posts

BETH PICKENS: Live Advice on Dating, Revenge, Asking, Volunteering, New project announcements and MORE.    We are over the moon to welcome noted Capricorn BETH PICKENS back to the show to give  Advice on Revenge, Dating,  Asking for things,  Working for free, Having a life,  a new press, two new classes AND MORE.    Beth Pickens is the author of the books Your Art Will Save Your Life and Make Your Art No Matter What.   Today's episode was guest edited & produced by our theme song composer, Carolyn Pennypacker Riggs. Thank you Carolyn!      You can find Beth & join her homework club RIGHT NOW at bethpickens.com .   You can find Dopamine Press, Beth Pickens, and Nicole all on  on instagram RIGHT NOW! https://www.instagram.com/dopaminebooksla/

We are over the moon to welcome Capricorn dream LIL MISS HOT MESS to the podcast to discuss her book If You’re a Drag Queen and You Know It, Drag Story Hour, queer drag pedagogy, standing up to fascists and MORE.  AND Aquarius friend to the show MICHELLE TEA joins us to talk about the recent anti-queer violence at the Glendale School Board meeting, and how to show up, resist, and keep your queer joy.  Also- Nicole discusses the latest drama from her "friendly" tortoise Facebook group.  Lil Miss Hot Mess is the author of the children's books If You’re a Drag Queen and You Know It (Running Press Kids, 2022) and The Hips on the Drag Queen Go Swish, Swish, Swish (2020) and serves on the board of Drag Story Hour.  She has also appeared on world-class stages like SFMOMA, Stanford University, and Saturday Night Live, was a founding organizer of the #MyNameIs campaign that challenged Facebook’s “real names” policy, and has published essays in The Guardian, Wired, and Salon.  When not twirling, Lil Miss Hot Mess is a university professor. Michelle Tea is the author of over a dozen books, including Knocking myself up, Valencia, Against Memoir, and Black Wave.  She is also the co-creator of Sister Spit and Drag Queen Story Hour.  Michelle joined me from a literary festival’s wellness center in Denver Colorado to discuss the recent attack on the Glendale school board by the proud boys, and how to be an ally and spark queer joy in the face of it.  Please enjoy my talk with Michelle Tea