Best Samantha Sande Podcasts (2025)

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Christianity, Social Tolerance, and Homosexuality with Paul Cram 45:55

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4d ago45:55

45:55

Is there any theology in the religion that I grew up in that is meaningful? Or is it just hate with a halo? Today we meet Paul Cram and we’re talking about the queer book that saved his life: Christianity, Social Tolerance, and Homosexuality by John Boswell. Described as “Honest, a little quirky,” Paul is a Twin Cities-based character actor, book l…

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The Gaily Show: Pride Book Lists 47:46

11d ago47:46

47:46

A new episode of This Queer Book Saved My Life drops next week on July 8th! In our off weeks, we air a recent episode of The Gaily Show which John hosts. The Gaily Show is the only daily LGBTQ progressive news and talk radio show in the country airing in Minneapolis (AM950-KTNF) and Chicago (WCPT 820). In this episode, Abigail Dillon from the Metro…

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Uncle Bobby's Wedding with Brendan Gillett and Sarah S. Brannen 49:25

18d ago49:25

49:25

The book that showed you what a positive queer future could be. And then literally came true. Today we meet Brendan Gillett and we’re talking about the queer book that saved his life: Uncle Bobby's Wedding by Sarah S. Brannen. And Sarah joins us for the conversation! Brendan is a high school English teacher in Brooklyn, New York. He works with Engl…

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The Priory of the Orange Tree with Arden Harris, Emily Autenrieth, and Samantha Shannon 51:02

1M ago51:02

51:02

This book sparked a five-year long career and life journey. In a first for us, we have two guests today! They are Arden Harris and Emily Autenrieth. We’re talking about the queer book that saved their lives: The Priory of the Orange Tree by Samantha Shannon and she joins us for the conversation! Arden Harris is the buyer and lead bookseller for A S…

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Diving Into The Wreck with Kris Kleindienst 33:42

2M ago33:42

33:42

I was hungry for language. And stories. And how to tell our stories. That's what this book gave me. But let's not make a Bible out of it. Today we meet Kris Kleindienst and we’re talking about the queer book that saved her life: Diving Into The Wreck by Adrienne Rich. Kris is a 72-year old queer lesbian writer, bookseller, and activist. She owns Le…

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The Murderbot Diaries with Esmé and Martha Wells 58:09

2M ago58:09

58:09

What would it feel like for other people to love me if they were to truly see me and truly know me as I am right now? Today we meet Esmé and we’re talking about the queer book that saved their life: The Murderbot Diaries by Martha Wells. And Martha joins us for the conversation! Esmé has been slinging radical books at Firestorm since 2019. They wea…

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Something That May Shock and Discredit You with Christina Neuwirth and Daniel M. Lavery 44:58

2M ago44:58

44:58

What would it happen if I allowed my thoughts about my gender become known to me? Today we meet Dr. Christina Neuwirth and we’re talking about the queer book that saved their life: Something That May Shock and Discredit You by Daniel M. Lavery. And Daniel joins us for the conversation! Dr. Christina Neuwirth is a writer, researcher and bookseller b…

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Dare Truth or Promise with Stephanie Beardslee and Paula Boock 48:58

3M ago48:58

48:58

I was 8,000 miles from home asking is it ok to be gay? That's when I wandered into a shop found this book. Today we meet Stephanie Beardslee and we’re talking about the queer book that saved her life: Dare Truth or Promise by Paula Boock. And Paula joins us for the conversation! Stephanie Beardslee is the owner of Wolf & Wyld’s Queer Bookstore, an …

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Boring Testimonies 22:10

3M ago22:10

22:10

Have you ever felt like you have a "boring" testimony? How have you dealt with any negative feelings that came with it?

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Mostly Dead Things with Casey Holland and Kristen Arnett 47:02

3M ago47:02

47:02

How was I going to reshape my life into something new after this fundamental part of me had been buried? Today we meet Casey Holland and we’re talking about the queer book that saved her life: Mostly Dead Things by Kristen Arnett. And Kristen joins us for the conversation! Casey is one of the owners of Wayfaring Booksellers, a queer bookstore in MI…

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The Once and Future King with Max Yeshaye Brumberg-Kraus 54:38

4M ago54:38

54:38

How do you get out of a spiral of shame and guilt and try to make the world a better place? Today we meet Max Yeshaye Brumberg-Kraus and we’re talking about the queer book that saved their life: The Once and Future King by T.H. White. Max studied classics and theatre at Beloit College, received their MA in Theology and the Arts from United Theologi…

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The Persian Boy with Blair Fell 41:45

4M ago41:45

41:45

When a queer book elevates our own expectations of ourselves and moves us to honor ourselves by saying: we deserve something more. Today we meet Blair Fell and we’re talking about the queer book that saved his life: The Persian Boy by Mary Renault. Blair Fell’s television work includes Queer as Folk, and the Emmy Award–winning California Connected.…

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The Gaily Show: Queer Poetry for Valentines Day 47:20

5M ago47:20

47:20

A new episode of This Queer Book Saved My Life drops next week on March 5! In our off weeks, we air a recent episode of The Gaily Show which J.P. hosts for AM950 Radio. The Gaily Show is one of the only daily LGBTQ news and talk shows in the country. In this episode, author and teacher Belo Miguel Cipriani brings students from his writing courses a…

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The Comeback 13:10

5M ago13:10

13:10

I'm back! (again). Hopefully this time it's for good. Shoutout to all the returning listeners. Thank you for your patience. Hopefully this year is going to be a good one. Peace and love x

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The Nearest Exit May Be Behind You with Seth Anderson-Matz and S. Bear Bergman 52:12

5M ago52:12

52:12

Ok, I've started to embody my transness. Now what? Today we meet Seth Anderson-Matz and we’re talking about 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! Seth Anderson-Matz is a queer & trans community organizer and minister. He has lived and worked in the Twin Cit…

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Ruby Fruit Jungle with Louisa Hext 48:10

5M ago48:10

48:10

When you find the book that gives you the resilience, strength, and willingness to be yourself. Today we meet Louisa Hext and we’re talking about the queer book that saved her life: Ruby Fruit Jungle by Rita Mae Brown. Louisa is a transformational coach, speaker, and mediator with over 30 years of experience helping individuals and families navigat…

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History Is All You Left Me with Edwin Santos Lepiz and Adam Silvera 48:15

6M ago48:15

48:15

How do I keep going when my one support person isn't there for me anymore? 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 for the conversation! Edwin is a gay first-generation Mexican-American graduate student at the University of Utah Colleg…

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Harriet the Spy with Dean Backus 38:47

6M ago38:47

38:47

Is the loss of innocence the beginning of compassion and wisdom? Today we meet Dean Backus and we’re talking about the queer book that saved his life: Harriet the Spy by Louise Fitzhugh. Dean is a playwright, essayist, screenwriter, journalist, filmmaker, and high school English teacher. He is the author of Darts and Flowers and the forthcoming The…

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7 Minutes in Book Heaven with Lev AC Rosen and Rough Pages 11:39

7M ago11:39

11:39

We have a special Christmas episode of This Queer Book Saved My Life dropping next week! Today, Once Upon a Crime Books presents 7 Minutes in Book Heaven, the podcast where we interview LGBTQ authors about the new books they have coming out for us to love and cuddle up with. Once Upon a Crime Books is an independent bookstore specializing in myster…

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Love Me Tender with Chloé Caldwell 39:37

7M ago39:37

39:37

How do you go on in life after losing a child who is still alive? Today, Chloé Caldwell returns to the podcast! But this time, we talk about the queer book that saved her life: Love Me Tender by Constance Debré. Chloé is the author of the national bestseller, Women (Harper Perennial, 2024). Chloé’s next book, Trying, is forthcoming from Graywolf, o…

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7 Minutes in Book Heaven with Leslie Karst and Molten Death 12:34

7M ago12:34

12:34

We have a new episode of This Queer Book Saved My Life coming up December 10! Today, Once Upon a Crime Books presents 7 Minutes in Book Heaven, the podcast where we interview LGBTQ authors about the new books they have coming out for us to love and cuddle up with. Once Upon a Crime Books is an independent bookstore specializing in mystery fiction. …

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Annie On My Mind with Haley Steinhilber 31:29

8M ago31:29

31:29

I don't know who I was fooling by bringing this book to school with me and being like, "I am not gay." Today we meet Haley Steinhilber and we’re talking about the queer book that saved their life: Annie On My Mind by Nancy Garden. Haley Steinhilber is a public historian and host of Q4Q: The Queer Personals Podcast. In Annie On My Mind, when Liza Wi…

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7 Minutes in Book Heaven with John Copenhaver and Hall of Mirrors 12:38

8M ago12:38

12:38

Today, Once Upon a Crime Books presents 7 Minutes in Book Heaven, the podcast where we interview LGBTQ authors about the new books they have coming out for us to love and cuddle up with. Once Upon a Crime Books is an independent bookstore specializing in mystery fiction. Located in Uptown Minneapolis, you can shop in their store Monday through Satu…

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I Will Greet The Sun Again with René Zadoorian and Khashayar J. Khabushani 38:46

8M ago38:46

38:46

This is a level of "relate" that I hadn't read in other books. Today we meet René Zadoorian and we’re talking about the queer book that saved his life: I Will Greet The Sun Again by Khashayar J. Khabushani. And Khashayar joins us for the conversation! René Zadoorian, is an Armenian writer with a degree in creative writing from California State Univ…

1
About Self-Worth | Lessons from scrabble 18:39

8M ago18:39

18:39

What scrabble has taught me about self-worth Cover art from Bitmoji.com

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Angels in America with David Reddish 56:45

9M ago56:45

56:45

This book gave me an understanding of the queer community that I hadn’t found anywhere else. Today we meet David Reddish and we’re talking about the queer book that saved his life: Angels in America by Tony Kushner. Self proclaimed uber-geek David Reddish is the award-winning author of Sex, Drugs & Superheroes trilogy. The third novel in the series…

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I'm tired | Vent session 20:45

9M ago20:45

20:45

-- Cover art from Bitmoji

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The Hours with Samantha Mann 46:03

9M ago46:03

46:03

Who am I going to be and what is my life going to look like? Today we meet Samantha Mann and we’re talking about the queer book that saved her life: The Hours by Michael Cunningham. Samantha writes essays & articles exploring culture, mental health, motherhood, & LGBTQ issues. Her work has been featured in The Cut, Vogue, Elle, TODAY, Romper, and m…

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Women with Mia Arias Tsang and Chloé Caldwell 1:01:46

9M ago1:01:46

1:01:46

Am I the only one who feels this crazy about what's happening to me right now? Today we meet Mia Arias Tsang and we’re talking about the book that saved her life: Women by Chloé Caldwell. And Chloé joins us for the conversation! Mia is a writer, freelance editor, and former biologist based in Queens, NYC. She has conducted extensive research in evo…

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Consenting Adult with Eric Marcus 46:30

10M ago46:30

46:30

Is it possible that my family, my mother, could ever accept me? Today we meet Eric Marcus and we’re talking about the book that saved his life: Consenting Adult by Laura Z. Hobson. Eric Marcus is the author of a dozen books, including two editions of Making Gay History (the original 1992 edition is entitled Making History), Why Suicide?, and Breaki…

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The Gaily Show: Lover of Men, The Untold History of Abraham Lincoln 20:18

10M ago20:18

20:18

A new episode of This Queer Book Saved My Life drops next week on September 17! In our off weeks, we air the most recent episode of The Gaily Show which J.P. hosts for AM950 Radio. Today, the director of the new documentary Lover of Men: The Untold History of Abraham Lincoln is here. Also joining me are two historical experts from the film. It debu…

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Exile and Pride with Seeley Quest and Eli Clare 36:23

10M ago36:23

36:23

Exile is not a choice that anyone wants to make. It’s something we come to through necessity. Today we meet seeley quest and we’re talking about the book that saved hir life: Exile and Pride by Eli Clare. And Eli joins us for the conversation! Seeley Quest (sie/hir) is a trans disabled environmentalist, working in literary and body-based compositio…

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Broken Horses with Brent Love 53:19

11M ago53:19

53:19

This book isn’t about celebrity. It’s about queer heritage. And passing it on. Today we meet Brent Love and we’re talking about the book that saved his life: Broken Horses by Brandi Carlile. Brent Love is the author of the memoir Leap which debuted in June 2024. He is also the host/producer of the podcasts Hope Works: A Surrogacy and You and Me and…

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Stars In My Pocket Like Grains of Sand with Robin Jeffrey 40:53

11M ago40:53

40:53

No queer person is an island. Even if we start off that way. Today we meet Robin Jeffrey and we’re talking about the book that saved her life: Stars In My Pocket Like Grains of Sand by Samuel R. Delaney. Robin Jeffrey is the author of the series of classic murder mysteries with scifi-twists, The Cadence Turing Mysteries and the paranormal romance s…

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7 Minutes in Book Heaven with Katrina Monroe and Through The Midnight Door 13:36

12M ago13:36

13:36

Today, Once Upon a Crime Books presents 7 Minutes in Book Heaven, the podcast where we interview LGBTQ authors about the new books they have coming out for us to love and cuddle up with. Visit them online: onceuponacrimebooks.com Once Upon a Crime Books is an independent bookstore specializing in mystery fiction. Located in Uptown Minneapolis, you …

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The Clothesline Swing with Mike Z. and Danny Ramadan 44:17

12M ago44:17

44:17

You love your parents because they’re your parents. But would you if they weren’t? This and other queer stories from the Middle East to Canada. Today we meet Mike Z. and we’re talking about the book that saved his life: The Clothesline Swing by Danny Ramadan. And Danny joins us for the conversation! Mike Z. lives in Lebanon and works in art therapy…

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The Gaily Show: Libraries As Spaces Of Connection 20:36

12M ago20:36

20:36

A new episode of This Queer Book Saved My Life drops next week on July 23rd! In our off weeks, we air the most recent episode of The Gaily Show which J.P. hosts for AM950 Radio. Today, Jennie Garner and Andrew Frisbie join us from North Liberty Library to talk about book bans, how to support public libraries, and libraries as spaces for belonging a…

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Running With Scissors with Rex Ogle 43:37

1y ago43:37

43:37

When the adults in your life are this reckless and dangerous, what do you do? Today we meet Rex Ogle and we’re talking about the book that saved his life: Running with Scissors by Augusten Burroughs. Rex Ogle is an award-winning author and the writer of nearly a hundred children’s books, comics, graphic novels, and memoirs—most notably Free Lunch, …

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More Tales of the City with David Ciminello 46:21

1y ago46:21

46:21

After reading about the characters in this book, I made it my mission to have their kind of life for myself. Today we meet David Ciminello and we’re talking about the book that saved his life: More Tales of the City by Armistead Maupin. David Ciminello is a Lambda Literary Fellow and author of The Queen of Steeplechase Park. As an actor, David gues…

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Paul Takes The Form of a Mortal Girl with Saraid de Silva and Andrea Lawlor 51:00

1y ago51:00

51:00

This book made me think about how my relationship to myself is lifelong. Today, we meet Saraid de Silva and we’re talking about the book that saved her life: Paul Takes The Form of a Mortal Girl by Andrea Lawlor. And Andrea joins us for the conversation! Saraid de Silva is the author of Amma and is a screen writer on the TV series Shortland Street.…

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LGBTQ Book Bans: Narrating the Crisis 57:33

1y ago57:33

57:33

A deep dive into LGBTQ book bans with two of the nation's leading researchers. Today, we are joined by Sabrina Baêta and Tasslyn Magnusson. They are leading researchers in the United States on LGBTQ book bans in our schools. They led efforts to research and write the new 2024 PEN America report Banned in the USA: Narrating the Crisis. Here is part …

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The Fire Next Time with Kim Hines 40:53

1y ago40:53

40:53

When I read his work, I feel like he is a close friend that I lost. That’s how much he resonates with me. Today we meet Kim Hines and we’re talking about the book that saved her life: The Fire Next Time by James Baldwin. Kim Hines is a playwright, actor, director, and author. Her plays have been produced across the United States, including tours at…

1
Stop Waiting for Happiness 11:17

1y ago11:17

11:17

Is your happiness attached to a milestone? What if you never reach that milestone? Learn to be happy in whatever state you are.

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7 Minutes in Book Heaven with Jessie Chandler and Shanghai Murder 11:13

1y ago11:13

11:13

Today, Once Upon a Crime Books presents 7 Minutes in Book Heaven, the podcast where we interview LGBTQ authors about the new books they have coming out for us to love and cuddle up with. Once Upon a Crime Books is an independent bookstore specializing in mystery fiction. Located in Uptown Minneapolis, you can shop in their store Monday through Satu…

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We Are All Armenian with Natalie Cruz 38:16

1y ago38:16

38:16

Seriously though. When you're life is hyphenated, how do you put it altogether to live the life you want? Today we meet Natalie Cruz and we’re talking about the book that saved her life: We Are All Armenian edited by Aram Mrjoian and featuring eighteen essayists. Natalie lives in Philly, is the managing editor of the Queer Armenian Library, teaches…

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Loveless with Jake Mier 36:55

1y ago36:55

36:55

They say what matters most is love. But for a lot of us...that’s not what matters most. Today we meet Jake Mier and we’re talking about the book that saved their life: Loveless by Alice Oseman. Jake lives in the Twin Cities and works in restorative justice. Loveless is the funny, honest, messy, completely relatable story of Georgia, who doesn't und…

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Catching the Queer Spirit! 46:39

1y ago46:39

46:39

That moment when you meet kindred queer spirits in podcasting. Today we have a special cross-pollination episode with the Queer Spirit podcast. The Queer Spirit podcast has conversations with embodied artists, practitioners and activists who care for, enliven and empower our 2SLGBTQ+ communities to thrive + flourish. Their hosts are Nick Venegoni, …

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Love Lives Here with Archie Arnold and Rowan Jetté Knox 53:35

1y ago53:35

53:35

All the love in our queer families. Today we meet Archie Arnold and we’re talking about the book that saved his life: Love Lives Here: A Story of Thriving in a Transgender Family by Rowan Jetté Knox. Archie is a grant writer working at a community college in Minnesota. His career in grants and fundraising spans twenty years. Rowan Jetté Knox is an …

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Becoming a Man with K Jason Bryan 34:42

1+ y ago34:42

34:42

As gay kids we have to get through so much that we end up not remembering a lot of our childhoods. Today we meet K Jason Bryan and we’re talking about the book that saved his life: Becoming A Man: Half A Life Story by Paul Monette. Jason is a Sr Client Consultant for corporate insurance, and used to chair his company’s LGBT & Allies ERG. He is a fo…

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Swinging on the Garden Gate with Sandy Hope and Elizabeth Jarrett Andrew 49:24

1+ y ago49:24

49:24

No one ever told me that I could be divine. That my sexuality was a gift. Today we meet Sandy Hope and we’re talking about the book that saved her life: Swinging on the Garden Gate by Elizabeth Jarrett Andrew. And Elizabeth joins us for the conversation! Sandy is a licensed mental health counselor whose practice focuses Internal Family Systems theo…