Tracks of Our Queers

William Yang is one of Australia’s most vital storytellers. For over five decades, he's documented queer life in Sydney -- its parades, parties, politics, and people -- through photography, performance, and prose. 

Born in 1943 in Far North Queensland, William came out as gay in the early 1970s during the wave of gay liberation, and later came out again -- this time as Chinese -- after reconnecting with his heritage through Tao...

Kate Pierson is a founding member of the B-52s: The World's Greatest Party Band, and a beacon for weirdos and queer-does since the late 70s. 

After decades of collaborating with the likes of Iggy Pop, R.E.M., and her Japanese side-band NiNa (more on that in the episode), Kate began writing and recording her entirely solo output in 2015. Last year, her second album Radios and Rainbows was released, and at the age of 77, Kate is ...

I'm trying something new, and treating you, like I treat my long-suffering friends and family, to a quick voice note. 

If you can't be bothered to listen, the summary is... please email or DM me your thoughts on:

• As a listener, how much do you care about interviews with 'known' figures, or for want of a better word, celebrities? Would you rather listen to people you weren't aware of? Or do you like a bala...

Sabah Choudrey is an award-winning, reluctant activist. He's also an author, youth worker, Pride organiser, Saturday morning Fun Run participant – the list is exhausting, but they somehow found time for me and Tracks of Our Queers.

Sabah has also featured on the Diversity Power List 24/25, serves as the Vice Chair of Trustees for the Inclusive Mosque Initiative, a Gay Times Future Fighters Honouree, and the writer of the book S...

Rhys Nicholson is a comedian, actor, and judge on Drag Race Down Under.

They began their stand-up journey in their teens, with regular train rides to Sydney’s open mic evenings, before launching onto the global comedy scene with a slot on Conan O’Brien. This, in turn, lead to a Netflix special, which found it’s way to one RuPaul. 

They’ve won countless awards, have toured globally multiple times, and are a regular panellist and host ...

Peppermint joins me for our 50th episode. 

A mainstay of New York nightlife, Peppermint burst onto the global queer scene as a finalist in RuPaul's Drag Race's ninth season. Soon after, she became the first trans actress to originate a principle role on Broadway, and has starred in dozens of television roles, most recently in Michelle Buteau's Survival of the Thickest on Netflix.

She continues to regularly appear on ma...

Eric Schnall is a Broadway producer and author from New York.

Eric grew up attending Broadway productions with his parents, leading to a professional career which saw him driving critically-lauded shows like the Hedwig and the Angry Inch revival, and Fleabag.

In 2024, Eric published his first book, I Make Envy on Your Disco – a love letter to Berlin, through the eyes of a late 30s gay man exploring the city in the early 2000s, runnin...

Chloe Petts is a *very* funny comedian from the UK. 

Her work is littered with brilliant examples of what I think of as 'soft' activism – she skilfully endears audiences with her warmth, before a one-two punch reminder of the foolishness of homo- and transphobia. 

Chloe is touring the UK and Australia throughout 2025, and you can find her tour dates here.

We discuss music by Tina Turner, Haim, and Kasabian (!). Follow Chloe ...

Margaret Cho. Period.

A groundbreaking comedian, actor, musician, and advocate, Margaret Cho has been smashing barriers and ceilings in entertainment since the early 1990s. She's a massive queero of mine, and I was quite honestly shook to be on a Zoom with the Notorious C.H.O. herself.

Margaret just released her third studio album, Lucky Gift, including punk pop girl group bangers, musings on opioid addiction, and a beautiful tr...

Faustina Agolley is a writer, producer, DJ, presenter, actor, and all-round legend.

She hosted Video Hits, Channel Ten’s flagship music program in Australia, from 2006-2011; she’s toured with Oprah Winfrey as her resident DJ, and she made her stage debut in the 2017 Sydney Theatre Company award-winning production, The Father.

We discuss music by Kylie Minogue, Janelle Monaé, and Tyler, The Creator.

You can follow Faustina on...

David Polson AM is an advocate and educator for HIV awareness. Just 29 in 1984 when he was diagnosed in HIV himself, David is currently celebrating his 70th birthday.

In 2023, he founded Qtopia, a museum in Sydney dedicated to the commemoration and celebration of LGBTQIA+ resilience. To mark his milestone birthday and contributions to HIV advocacy, the museum will open a memorial garden, dedicated to all queer Australians ...

Ash Gordon is a New York-bred, LA-based songwriter, producer, and now playwright, best known for her collaborations with a galaxy of stars from RuPaul’s Drag Race, including but not limited to Trixie Mattel, Sharon Needles, Trinity the Tuck, and most prolifically, Alaska, with ten #1 albums on the iTunes charts to her name. 

Together with Alaska and their collaborator Tomas Costanza, Ash wrote the book, score, and lyrics for DRAG: T...

Bishi is an artist, composer and producer born in London of Bengali heritage. Trained in both Hindustani and Western Classical styles, she has released and composed three albums, several EPs, movie and documentary soundtracks, and tirelessly advocates for the elevation of women, trans, and non-binary creative practitioners in music and technology.

From coming up in London's queer underground in the 90s, Bishi has ca...

Simon Graser is a DJ and nightlife curator based in Naarm/Melbourne, and performs as Simonetti. 

He co-founded the Melbourne party CONFIDE, a love letter to the roots of house, and a means for relief, release, and respect. Five points if you know the iconic Australian song it was named for.

We discuss music by DASCO, Scissor Sisters, and of course, Kylie Minogue.

Follow Simonetti, Club CONFIDE, and Minus 18 here.

Christy DeGallerie is a writer and interdisciplinary artist from New York.

Her contribution to the Modern Love column in the New York Times took my breath away a year ago, in which she wrote about her decision to come out to her mother on the day of her deportation. It's a moving, funny, sharp dissertation on migration, queerness, and gardening, and I insist you give it a read.

Christy is also an enormous mu...

Benjamin Law is a writer, broadcaster, television creator and producer, and refined homosexual about town in Sydney. He's also a former competitor on Australian Survivor – important.

If you haven't already, I implore you to read some of Ben's sharp, warm, illuminating writing.

There's Gaysia, an exploration of LGBTQ+ cultures across South East Asia; The Family Law, a memoir of his childhood th...

Bright Light Bright Light, aka Rod Thomas, is an entirely independent pop superstar based in New York City.

Hailing from Wales, Rod has rewritten the rulebook for being a singer songwriter without major label backing, mostly through tremendously hard work, and an ever-growing back catalogue of bangers.

He's been backed, endorsed, and collaborated with legends like Sir Elton John, Erasure, Scissor Sisters and...

Geraldine Hickey is one of Australia's most beloved comedians, and multiple award-winning at that. She's a regular face on TV, a veteran of the Melbourne International Comedy and Edinburgh Fringe Festivals, and... a bird watcher. More on that in the episode.

We discuss music by Diana Ross, RVG, and Cash Savage.

Further reading:

• Follow Geraldine on Instagram
• Buy tickets to her upcoming Oct/Nov 24 shows ...

Carlton Wilborn is an actor, life coach, and former dancer with Madonna.

At 25, Carlton was hand-picked to join the Blond Ambition World Tour, documented in the ground-breaking concert film Truth or Dare (or, In Bed with Madonna). He would go on to join her second tour, The Girlie Show, before embarking on a career in acting, and life coaching.

Apologies in advance for slightly iffy audio – I hope the conversation...