I Want To Be Sexier

A list of recommendations on everything from Sasha Velour to a podcast about depression

Welcome to the monthly recommendation roundup! As I scoot around the internet, consuming podcasts, tv shows and articles, I keep a running list of what I think you might like, and then I share it here.

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NBD, just zooming with a world-famous drag queen

I interviewed Sasha Velour last week. Before I get into the recommendations, I thought it would be fun to share a little BTS of that interview. First up: location, location, location.

I usually do my interviews at home, but Google was updating the fiber lines in my neighborhood, so I didn’t have internet at home. No big deal, I thought. I’ll go into the office.

So I’m situated in the office waiting on Velour’s people to admit me into the Zoom and someone at work reboots the wifi and my internet goes out. It came back on while I was still in the Zoom waiting room, so it was fine. But then maybe 10 minutes later the fire alarm goes off.

I was trying to ignore it and keep talking but Velour was like, Are you safe? Do you need to go outside? I looked her dead in the Zoom-eye and said, “No, it’s fine. I’ll burn for you.” And she laughed! I made Sasha Velour laugh!

At the end of the interview she talked to me about eating disorders and learning to love her body and I openly cried. This interview was a real rollercoaster is what I’m saying.

Here is my interview with Sasha Velour about the new season of We’re Here on HBO. The fourth season was partly filmed in and around Nashville and Murfreesboro. Tennessee is one of the states at the heart of anti-LGBTQ and anti-drag legislation. In my interview, I talk to Velour about the decision to film in Tennessee, the heroism of the Tennessee queer community and the hope she has for the future.

One of my favorite parts of the interview is when I ask Velour about the importance of all-ages drag shows. In the middle of her thoughtful answer she starts laughing and says, “I want to be sexier, but I just keep doing family-friendly drag.” It was something she said off-the-cuff, but I found it so earnest and vulnerable, and also incredibly funny.

The fourth season of We’re Here is streaming now. I got to watch screeners in preparation for my interview, so I’m eager for everyone else to see it now that it’s out. Report back!

My colleague Kelsey Beyeler wrote a thoughtful, well-researched reported piece on book bans in Tennessee. She dives into how these bans affect classrooms, libraries and LGBTQ students.

I hope Lindy West continues being a guest on other people’s podcasts because I am getting so much out of hearing what she has to say about mental health, anti-fat bias and internet culture. Her episode of Depresh Mode (amazing podcast title) is so great! Her path to getting a depression and ADHD diagnosis is sadly relatable. Shout-out to everyone who also got told, ‘Oh, it’s just PMDD.’

In one of my first writing classes we read Helen Rosner’s essay on chicken tenders. That essay rewired my brain in the best way and she has since become one of my favorite writers. ICYMI: Rosner spent a year reporting this profile of Padma Lakshmi for The New Yorker.

As someone who works in journalism and is prone to burnout, I have to stay in regular therapy and be careful and intentional about my boundaries. It was fascinating to read Anne Helen Petersen’s recent Culture Study all about burnout and “passion jobs.” She’s mostly talking about educators, but she’s also talking about journalism and non-profits.

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Two quick local things before I go. Hey, one of them is free!

Once or twice a year I teach an in-person class at The Porch called Social Media for Writers. Consider this more of a heads-up than a brag, but it always sells out. I think there’s only room for 12 people. The class is on June 8 and it’s $51 for Porch members, $60 for non-members. If you register before May 6, use code EARLYBIRD to get 10% off.

Okay, now for the free event. On July 18 I’m interviewing Betsy Phillips about the publishing process for her forthcoming book, Dynamite Nashville! This series, Birthing the Book, is hosted by The Porch and is free to attend. In the past, I’ve interviewed Nichole Perkins and Lindsay Lynch. Betsy and I are pals, so I’m really looking forward to this.