A Lesbian Affair

All good things must come to an end. In this final episode, I turn the microphone on myself, inviting you into an intimate exploration of my life and experiences. Journey with me through conversations about my childhood, my experiences growing up in the Bavarian Alps, and the influential role Dusty Springfield played in my language learning, coming out, and overall self-discovery.This episode is rich with personal stories, featuring conversations with my mother, peers, close friends, and conf...

How do sledges enhance a lesbian wedding? What is it like to navigate adoption procedures in the UK? Also, what does 'losing and finding oneself' entail in the aftermaths of a marriage break-up? Meet Hannah, a professional photographer and friend of mine who lives to tell the tale. Topics discussed in this episode touch on the notions of 'co-dependency', 'destiny', as well as what it means to re-enter the community again after having been in a long term relationship for 20 years. This episode...

How do pitch forks, a bunch of woman during apple harvest, and a LP vinyl cover make history? And what's it like to travel the world in the name of music and feminism?Meet Liza Cowan, an artist, former radio host, producer, magazine editor, and lesbian activist from New York City who lives to tell the tale. She happens to be the confidant and former partner of the late singer Alix Dobkin, who is also featured heavily in this episode. Listen in if you'd like to hear more about Liza's life, her...

For this year's 'Lezmas Special', we are joined by author, academic, and oral history expert Jane Traies, who tells us about her relationship to Christmas, Christmas routines but also Christmas taboos. She generously opens a window into her journey and work with lesbian refugee communities. There are reflections on the notions of shame and pride, citizenship, legal discrimination, what it takes to do oral history work, and the ethics of being a conduit for voices of the usually 'unheard'. She...

What's it like to spend a night in a jail in the US and still see the humour in it? And what does it take to stay friends with your ex and maybe even work with each other professionally? Meet Alice Frick and Lauren Karl who, in this episode, share insights about their careers in comedy and entertainment, talk about their autobiographic and cultural backgrounds, and deliberate on what it means to navigate differences and language barriers within the industry and community. Both al...

What's it like to identify as a 'dyke' and live and work in Bamako, Mali? How do women's co-operatives work and how does resource scarcity impact local economies and peace?Meet Osazeme who, in this episode, helps shed some light on these questions. She spends most of her time developing agricultural businesses with local women and is also a jewellery designer on the side.There are discussions about her relationship to labels, religion, the aftermath of break-ups and toxic relation...

Once upon a time, homosexuality was treated as a criminal offence within the UK military. Elaine Chambers unfortunately lives to tell the tale as she faced serious allegations that were hinged on her 'lesbian tendencies' and led to the abrupt ending of her career. In this episode, Jess and her talk about the horrifying and heartbreaking treatment she endured and also discuss what led to her becoming a 'reluctant activist'. Elaine reflects on her early lesbian crushes, how she came to enlist w...

What's it like to come out later in life to your family and children? And what does it take to gently challenge the status quo on an island where Lesbians might, conventionally speaking, not feel as visible? In this episode, we meet Caroline who has made the Isle of Wight (UK) her home and thus can offer us some insights. She talks about what it was like to start a Lesbian / LGBT+ community within the smaller geographical confines of her surroundings, how she now relates to her own youth, and...

Something curious happens whenever Elaine is told that she can't do something... In fact, chances are that every 'no' she received in her life has possibly resulted in something special. When it comes to the community here in London - this special thing is called the 'Glass Bar', a small paradise tucked away in a lodge outside a big train station. Elaine built this women's space up herself and in this episode she talks about what it took to get it going. Jess and her explore her value system,...

Meet Annie - an operations & logistics professional with a background in voice-over work in the Nigerian film industry. In this episode, she shares her story, talks about what 'home' means to her, and also what it was like to find strength in her voice and grow in confidence. Jess and her also talk about her family, her Nigerian roots, what coming out meant to her, as well as how school and her relationship to her grandmother helped her become who she is today. In addition to this, ...

What's it like to come out as gay to your twin sister? And what's life like in Arkansas? Meet Pat, a history buff, Park Ranger and 'thespian lesbian' who can share some insight into these questions.In this episode, she talks to Jess about her upbringing in Texas, what it was like to start a career as a teacher and to also transition out of it, the notion of rainbow flags at work, political neutrality when in uniform, as well as what it was like to come out to her mother and ...

Surprise - we've reached the Season One Festive Special of 'A Lesbian Affair'!So let's have a look at what makes Christmas good and how we can also talk about its associated challenges. What's love got to do with it and what about family traditions that are unique to each and every one of us? Jess explores these and other personal questions in a celebratory round-up of conversations with Diana Souhami, Mia, Fen & Kerry, Miriam, Sarah and Fae. Trigger warning - this episode features some s...

What's it like to find love, and dance into a relationship that comes with its own challenges... such as navigating a 20 year age-difference? Meet Anna and Teresa, who have learned to deal with just that.In this episode, they generously let us in on their lives; their coming out stories; how they got to know and love each other, and also what the prospect of marriage and commitment means to them individually. We hear about Teresa's activist work during the Aids Crisis and what it was li...

What's it like to join the circus and identify as 'not straight'? In today's episode, Jess is joined by Fae who discusses her journey into the performing arts sector and her relationship with the queer community. There is common ground as both explore historic German geopolitical issues and the impacts of those on family life, personal values and outlooks. There is talk about what it means to have been raised by parents who experienced pressures from a socialist regime and also what integrati...

This week's episode features Sandra - a singer, writer, and bibliophile from London. In many ways, this podcast recording is about her story, talent and extraordinary level of resilience as she reflects on adverse childhood experiences, the stigma of abuse, as well as her relationship to the world and people in general. She deliberates on what it means to reach a level of confidence and authenticity, the act of triumph that can be achieved through coming out but also how difficult the journey...

Does Tinder work in Kyrgyzstan?... Meet Krisha who might be able to tell you just that as she navigates life and dating within Kyrgyz society. In this episode, we discuss experiences around breakups, what it means to be at home in different cultures and to inhabit the linguistic mentalities that may come with them. Additionally, there are also explorations around the topics of nature vs. nurture (why are we gay?); the taste of horse milk, and what it means to experience a safe space within a ...

What does it take to be a radical bookseller? Well... meet Fen & Kerry, two women who have earned a reputation as just that. Both work for 'Letterbox Library' in London and also happen to be a lesbian couple. In this episode, we explore historical shifts within the community, and also how the terms 'queer' and 'lesbian' have changed in what they signify depending on generations. Fen and Kerry reflect on their relationship, how it all started, coming out, and why certain friendships can at...

In this episode, Jess introduces Robin who joins her for a discussion about coming out and explores why staying in the closet on a selective basis can be a matter of self-protection. She talks about how being a daughter to Chinese parents in an American setting shaped her. There are talks about love, heartbreak, endings, death, but also her first romantic experiences. Additionally this episode contains autobiographic reflections on the power of communication and what it means to avoid certain...

Meet Kate Charlesworth, an award-winning illustrator, artist and graphic novelist who has recently brought out 'Sensible Footwear: A Girls Guide'. In this episode, she explores how her autobiography lent itself as a framework for the graphic novel and why re-telling lesbian and queer history is of more importance than ever. She reflects on her personal and professional life, non-monogamy, the institution of marriage, coming out, activism, and working in a male-dominated environment within the...

Meet Sarah - a retired recruitment professional and hypnotherapist. In this episode, she explores what it means to come out late in life, how coming out changes us but also whether it impacts the ways in which we conduct our relationships. There is also talk about health taboos, Sarah's own experiences in relation to the 'butch-femme' dynamic and the implicit pitfalls of socialisation. Jess and her also discuss what the practice of hypnotherapy entails, and reflect on the importance of friend...