Podcast
Silver Linings with The Old Gays
Hosted by iHeartPodcasts · EN
The Old Gays: Queer icons. Viral sensations. Palm Springs royalty. And totally unfiltered! Robert Reeves, Jessay Martin, Bill Lyons, and Michael “Mick” Peterson reflect on the many lives they’ve lived and the lessons they’ve learned along the way. With over 300 combined years of experience, these four bear it all: illegal love, aging with grace, bad dates, great sex, heartbreak, chosen family, and everything in between. They’ve lived it all, and they’re still standing…and dancing! Don’t say we didn’t warn you. New episodes every other week.
18episodes
Episodes
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The Secret Sex Lives of Married Men ft. Eric Leven: “Not all men who have sex with men are gay."
2d ago00:30:16Summary readyAnd what about the men who don’t fit neatly into the boxes we create? Beaming in from iHeart Studios in New York is documentary filmmaker Eric Leven, who has spent the last several years interviewing married men who secretly have sex with other men. Naturally, we had a few questions… Join us as we explore the complexity of bisexuality, masculinity, secrecy, male intimacy, and the blurred lines between identity and behavior. Along the way, we share a few of our own stories about meeting married men over the decades. From bear chasers and bathhouses to steam rooms, small towns, and the Kinsey Scale, this conversation ventures into some territory that is rarely discussed. Do labels help or hurt? What’s the cost of living honestly? And what about the women caught in the middle of it all? Follow Eric Leven on Instagram @eleven__11See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
SummaryPassions, Projects, & Paychecks: “All of us had to do a bit of reinvention.”
2w ago00:34:20Summary readyWhat did we want to be when we grew up? Before the four of us were The Old Gays, we were singers, city planners, grant writers, shop owners…and even a very unsuccessful farmer. So this week, we’re dishing about the jobs, passions, hobbies, and creative pursuits that shaped our lives, and the unexpected detours along the way. You’ll hear from each of us about the things that lit us up: from performing around the world and meeting the Pope, to designing cities, making human sculptures, and surviving more than one major career pivot. And along the way, we’ll reflect on the work we loved, the dreams that changed, and why it’s never too late to reinvent yourself.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
SummaryAging with Pride: “Our house is clothing optional.”
Jun 2300:32:00Summary readyIn the words of Dua Lipa and Olivia Newton-John…let’s get physical! Today we’re talking about our bodies: the parts we love, the parts we’ve struggled with, and the ways our relationship with them has stretched over the years (pun intended). From gym culture and body image to nudity, aging, sleep, yoga, hair loss (and a few surprisingly passionate opinions about butts and bulges), we’re reflecting on what it means to live in a body that keeps changing, whether we like it or not. Because getting older may come with new aches, pains, wrinkles, and white hairs in unexpected places... but it also comes with something even better: appreciating the body that carried us this far.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
SummaryFaith & Spirituality: “That may be your God, but that’s not mine.”
Jun 900:35:05Summary readyCalling all sinners, saints, and heathens to the front pews! This week, we're sharing our thoughts, stories, and unanswered questions about faith, religion, spirituality, and experiences beyond explanation. Growing up gay and religious wasn’t exactly simple. Some of us found comfort in church, others felt pushed out of it, and some of us cherry-picked what worked, then sashayed away. But whether it came through stained glass windows, gospel music, meditation, a near-death experience, or flying purses (?!)… spirituality found its way into all of our lives at some point in time. From Catholic theatrics and sparkling church outfits to guardian angels, spiritual awakenings, and one very specific prayer for an endowment… let’s just say the spirit moves in mysterious ways.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
SummaryRomance Before Apps: “Boyfriends are something you have between lovers.”
May 2600:39:40Summary readyAre we flirting now? Is this a thing? Today, we’re talking all about Romance and Relationships…from our first crushes and early days of flirting, to dating stories, and long-term love. When we were growing up, there were no apps, no swiping right, and definitely not the same d*ck picks we see today. We found our friends and lovers the old-fashioned way: a held gaze, a feeling in the air, and the kind of connection that could only happen in person. So in this episode, we’re looking back at the crushes that made our stomachs flip, the romances that changed our lives, the heartbreaks we survived, and the first times we dared to call someone “boyfriend.” From awkward flirting and unforgettable kisses, to love, loss, and lessons learned the hard way, let’s just say we’ve seen some things. And whether it lasts five minutes or twenty-five years, romance always has something to teach us.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
SummaryFrom The Closet to The Red Carpet (Queer on Screen, Part 2): “A lot of hot gravy over cold meat.”
May 1200:31:00Summary readyIn Part 2 of this special “Queer on Screen” series, we’ll continue right where we left off…diving into queer representation in film and TV from the 1980’s to now, the chapter when things finally changed. From the impact of The Celluloid Closet and the AIDS crisis, to breakthrough media like The Birdcage, Will & Grace, and Brokeback Mountain, we’ll share the moments that made us feel seen, what missed the mark, and why some modern portrayals still don’t quite get it right. Look…Heated Rivalry is by no means the first hot gay love story, and it won't be the last either. Join us as grief and recognition lead to progress and possibility, as we reflect on how far we’ve come, and how much further there is still to go. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
SummaryMuscles, Drama, & Trauma (Queer on Screen, Part 1): “If there were no gays, there would be no Hollywood.”
Apr 2800:28:48Summary readyInspired by the world’s obsession with Heated Rivalry, this two-part season premiere has our fab four recounting queer film and TV moments from the past 100 years that were sexy, inspiring, confusing, and sometimes downright terrifying. The boys dive into over a century of queer representation in mainstream film and television…starting at the very beginning of film history. What did it mean to see gay characters on screen for the first time? From Ben-Hur’s secret backstory to cinema’s first gay characters to… gay cannibalism (!?), this episode sure has range. Part 1 takes us from the birth of film through 1981 and the publication of The Celluloid Closet, as The Old Gays reflect on the portrayals that shaped them, for better, worse, and everything in between.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
SummaryThe Old Gays Are Back! (Season 2 Trailer)
Apr 2100:01:54Summary readyThe Old Gays are back… and so are you. Viral sensations Michael “Mick” Peterson, Bill Lyons, Jessay Martin, and Robert Reeves return for Season 2 of Silver Linings, diving even deeper into love, sex, faith, identity, and everything in between.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
SummaryPride, from Protest to Parade: “As American as apple pie.”
Nov 400:26:29Summary readyFrom the first brick at Stonewall to flashy floats rolling down the main drag, Pride has always been part protest, part celebration, and part pure self-expression. To celebrate Palm Springs Pride, which lights up the desert every November, The Old Gays reflect on the unapologetic queer energy that makes this event so iconic. They get frank about every part of this global celebration, sharing hilarious and heartfelt stories from their earliest parades, the days of secrecy and resistance, and the culture's slow march toward the Pride festivals we know and love today. From getting royal treatment by the police, to one of our boys being carried down the parade on a stretcher (can you guess which one?), this episode is a love letter to the communal joy, queer resilience, and silver linings of Pride, here to remind us just how far we’ve come.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
SummaryEvolving Through The Mess ft. Brandon Kyle Goodman: “Permission to break the boxes.”
Aug 1900:46:07Summary readyFor the season one finale, The Old Gays are joined by their first special guest, Brandon Kyle Goodman: an actor, activist, and author, best known for their work on Netflix's "Big Mouth" and their iHeart Radio podcast, "Tell Me Something Messy." From family dynamics and queer visibility to butt plugs and the sex tip that landed Brandon in the Urban Dictionary, this episode weaves through many of our previous themes, this time through an intergenerational lens. What’s Brandon’s take on bathhouses and queer friendship? How do The Old Gays really feel about being local celebrities? And what are everyone’s practices when it comes to “self-love”? Through vulnerable truths and a lot of laughter, this episode is a heartfelt bridge between different generations, reminding us of the many reasons to connect and learn beyond the limitations of age.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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