Advertise on podcast: Silver Linings with The Old Gays

She’s not an Old Gay quite yet, but we’re happy to be in her Choligarchy.  This week we're joined by Margaret Cho, comedian, actor, activist, musician, and all-around icon for one of our favorite conversations of the season.  Margaret has built a career saying the things the rest of us are only thinking. Together, we dive into comedy, activism, chosen family, queer history, aging, sex, and yes... plenty of sex! Along the way, she shares about growing up above her parents' gay bookstore in 1970s San Francisco, reflects on the AIDS crisis, Harvey Milk, and the power of speaking honestly, and somehow gets the four of us talking about pubes, lesbian friendships, and which of us have hooked up.  We laughed so hard during this conversation we're honestly surprised the microphones survived. Because if you're going to spend an hour with Margaret Cho... you don’t steer the conversation. You just hang on!  Follow Margaret Cho on Instagram @margaret_cho and catch Margaret on tour now with her new stand-up comedy show "Choligarchy" - visit www.margaretcho.com to learn more. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

And 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__11 See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What 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.

In 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.

Calling 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.

Happy Pride month from Silver Linings! For more of your favorite LGBTQ+ content, check out the Outspoken Network from iHeartPodcasts. Are 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.

In 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.

We’re kicking off Season TWO with a double feature. That’s right – Inspired by the culture’s sudden obsession with Heated Rivalry, the four of us sat down to talk through queer film and television from across our lifetimes…starting at the very beginning of film history.  Back when we were growing up, “mainstream” and “gay” didn’t exactly go together. So what did it feel like to see ourselves on screen for the first time? Sexy…inspiring…confusing…and yes, sometimes downright terrifying. From Ben-Hur’s little “secret”...to some of the earliest queer characters in cinema… to things we’re still trying to process (gay cannibalism, anyone?), consider this your queer film festival. So join us as we look back at the portrayals that shaped us...for better, worse, and everything in between. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We’re diving even deeper into love, sex, faith, identity, and every lesson learned in between. With over 300 years of combined wisdom (and just as many laugh-out-loud moments), this season brings new stories, new segments, and plenty of surprises from your four favorite Palm Springs icons. New episodes every other week. Come for the mischief, stay for the silver linings.   Follow The Old Gays: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theoldgays/?hl=en TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@oldgays?lang=en See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

From 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.

For 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.

What does it take to stay as healthy, spry, and sexy as The Old Gays? Turns out, it’s a glorious mix of daily habits, earned wisdom...and a whole lotta doctor’s appointments.    In this week’s spirited episode, our four fab fellas share their perspective on health, aging, and getting real about what it means to care for your body, mind, and dignity as the years go by.   Which Old Gay is color-coding his to-do lists? Who’s flossing like their life depends on it? And who has tried the weirdest health product? From hair loss and colonoscopies to anxiety and fitness routines, this group check-up is a heartfelt love letter to the joys of growing older in the one body you’ve got.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Whether it's a curated bar, a crowded dance floor, a church basement, or an online chat room, LGBTQ+ spaces have long been sanctuaries for queer people. These are the places for meeting, connecting, and feeling celebrated as their true selves.   This week, The Old Gays take us on a nostalgic tour of the queer spaces that helped shape them: from mafia-run bars in St. Louis and San Francisco’s video lounges, to the institutions of West Hollywood and a legendary (and illegal) bathhouse in Silver Lake. Along the way, they reflect on the racism in nightlife, the evolution of Pride & protest in these spaces, the refuge of gyms & saunas, and what it means to feel free in your body, identity, and community.   What was Mick's notorious "dick patrol"? Which bathhouse had a circular urinal? And where in Palm Springs can you still buy greeting cards, dildos, and poppers under one roof? Uncovering these corners of queer life, this episode is a love letter to the many spaces and places that The Old Gays have called home. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

“ HIV swept across America.” “Our government did nothing.”    In this deeply personal conversation, The Old Gays reflect on the HIV/AIDS crisis and the community that rose to face it. Robert and Mick, both living with HIV, open up about receiving their diagnoses and the stigmas they have endured. They also share how love and resilience carried them, and countless others, through various degrees of grief, connection, and acceptance.   “I think every gay person looked at that obituary column to see who had died. And that column grew until it was a whole page in the newspaper.”    From the heartbreak of friends lost to the power of protest, from daily meds to the healing magic of the desert, this episode honors the full weight of the epidemic and the generation it transformed.    “If you can learn to harness the energy of your mind, you can deal with your body in physical ways that are astonishing.”   This one’s emotional, yes, but also full of humor, tenderness, and the kind of hard-earned wisdom that only The Old Gays can provide. Come for the vulnerability and honesty, stay for the giant condom on Jesse Helms’ house. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

From opera houses to niche legends, LGBTQ+ culture has always gone hand-in-hand with popular media and the arts. Icons like Tina Turner, Keith Haring, and Lady Gaga aren’t just outlets for mindless entertainment; they’re beacons of self-expression and defiant confidence that shine across borders AND generations. This week, the Old Gays pay tribute to the icons and artists who shaped them, reflect on early memories of queer representation, and share heartfelt musings about their own creative ventures, including making their viral videos (naked or not).  What do The Old Gays really think about social media and the internet? Which legendary diva got her start in a gay bathhouse? And how well can our four fellas decode Gen-Z lingo? Let’s just say: this week, The Old Gays “left no crumbs” on the mic. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.