Beck and Dash talk Winter Olympics, snowstorm forecasts, Appalachian culture, and West Virginia food like Hillbilly Hotdogs. From “milk sammiches” and rural winter rituals to diabetes, healthcare, and everyday life, it’s humor, storytelling, and hillbilly charm.

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beck_24_01-24-2026_131916: Welcome

to Queer Next, the podcast that puts

2

the Yee Hall in y'all means hall.

3

I'm your host, Beck,

4

dash_23_01-24-2026_121916:

and I'm your host.

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Dash.

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Welcome to today's episode.

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Is, is it an Olympics year?

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beck_24_01-24-2026_131916:

Yes, it is Winter

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dash_23_01-24-2026_121916:

Is it It's winter.

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Okay.

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I love the Winter Olympics.

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beck_24_01-24-2026_131916: me too.

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dash_23_01-24-2026_121916: They're

like, they're the Redneck Olympics.

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They really feel summer's kind of

proper, you know, like you, you're

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like lots of running and like sports

that everybody agrees are sports.

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But winter, it's like, winter is

like when the Winter Olympics are

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like the, the hold my beer Olympics.

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It's just like us finding new ways

to throw ourselves off of shit.

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beck_24_01-24-2026_131916: like curling

has become a national phenomenon though.

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dash_23_01-24-2026_121916:

They do that up here

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beck_24_01-24-2026_131916:

There's one in Bowling Green, a,

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dash_23_01-24-2026_121916: actually.

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beck_24_01-24-2026_131916: curling center.

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dash_23_01-24-2026_121916:

Have you ever been.

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beck_24_01-24-2026_131916: No.

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dash_23_01-24-2026_121916: I wanna do it.

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beck_24_01-24-2026_131916: I

have a thing with ice that I

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don't know if I could do it.

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Like, I, so, okay.

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Y'all are gonna think I'm crazy

and a little bit weird and I am.

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It's okay.

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But like everyone has some texture they

don't like, maybe it's Popsicle sticks.

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Maybe it's cotton, maybe it's whatever.

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Everyone has like, some texture they

don't like my daddy didn't like satin.

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It just gave him the, the like,

goosebumps every time he touched it.

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I'm that way with like dry, not wet

ice, like straight outta the freezer.

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If it sticks to your

hand, it makes me gag.

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Like it, the, and the sound of two

pieces of ice scraping against each

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other makes me nearly throw up.

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dash_23_01-24-2026_121916: Wow.

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beck_24_01-24-2026_131916:

really hard for me to like scrape

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the windshield in the winter.

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dash_23_01-24-2026_121916: Oh goodness.,

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I remember the first year I saw curling.

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I think it was like 2009,

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Was that Tokyo?

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beck_24_01-24-2026_131916: No,

Tokyo was during the pandemic

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or maybe they've had 'em

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dash_23_01-24-2026_121916: Right.

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beck_24_01-24-2026_131916: That was

the summer Olympics for Tokyo recently.

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dash_23_01-24-2026_121916: Okay.

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They were in China.

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They were Beijing.

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Okay.

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Oh, I got mixed up.

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Sorry.

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All Asians.

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is it, is snow apocalypse there yet?

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beck_24_01-24-2026_131916: It is

supposed to start, uh, tonight.

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We're supposed to get like two

inches overnight tonight, and

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then it's supposed to snow all day

tomorrow, and we're expecting between

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seven and nine inches after that.

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So anywhere between 10 and 12 inches,

I guess is what we're expecting

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total over the next few days.

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And that's not the really the bad part.

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It's that it is going to be wind

gusts of like 30 to 50 miles

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an hour and temperatures below

zero on top of all of that.

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So

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dash_23_01-24-2026_121916: Yeah.

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beck_24_01-24-2026_131916:

I'm, I'm wondering if they're

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gonna have school on Monday.

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I don't know.

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I guess we'll see.

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dash_23_01-24-2026_121916: Yeah, I,

it doesn't sound like they should.

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I mean, the wind is wind

and, and cold is a problem.

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Like a person can get, frostbite and I

think they, it's, I think it's, uh, 15

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minutes outside you can get frostbite.

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Mm-hmm.

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beck_24_01-24-2026_131916: with

the highways and stuff like

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that, and professors coming

in, it's gonna be a mess.

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I don't know.

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We'll see.

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If they don't, I might do

my class online Monday.

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dash_23_01-24-2026_121916: Yeah.

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I mean, if you're allowed.

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beck_24_01-24-2026_131916: Yeah, we are.

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Yeah.

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dash_23_01-24-2026_121916: Yeah.

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beck_24_01-24-2026_131916: I found

out I get to keep my job next year.

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I'm already scheduled for spring of 27,

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dash_23_01-24-2026_121916: Well,

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beck_24_01-24-2026_131916:

that's very good.

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I learned that because

of the faculty union.

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If they offer me a fourth

year, they're required to

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offer me a three year contract.

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dash_23_01-24-2026_121916: oh,

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beck_24_01-24-2026_131916: So

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dash_23_01-24-2026_121916: okay.

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beck_24_01-24-2026_131916: Yeah, it's

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either that or somebody hit the highway.

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dash_23_01-24-2026_121916: Those, those

three year contracts are pretty nice.

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Like it's, it's just a little bit

of security for a little while,

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but you're not having to pursue

like full tenure type shit.

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You just do your regular reviews

and then decide next go around.

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I mean, you hope they want you back.

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But I mean, a lot of staffing

is just inertia, especially when

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it comes to teaching gen eds.

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Like I, um, I know people who adjuncted

like that was they adjuncted forever

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because they were dependable and it was

all they wanted, they didn't want the,

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you know, the, all the other bullshit.

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beck_24_01-24-2026_131916:

what Jamie does.

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He adjuncts for the Pathways program.

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dash_23_01-24-2026_121916: Yeah.

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I, I dunno, I thought about it here,

but all, everything is so far away.

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beck_24_01-24-2026_131916: Try SNHU

or California Southern University

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has been advertised to me a lot.

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I guess they're ramping

up their online program.

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I've seen so much advertising

for them recently.

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But teaching online is interesting.

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It doesn't pay great, but they're

usually eight, eight weeks semesters

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and there's, I mean, there's a lot

of grading, but it's pretty standard.

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It's pretty cut and dry.

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dash_23_01-24-2026_121916: SNHU

won't hire you in, in Minnesota.

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I think that those types of programs,

there are certain states whose employment

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laws or tax laws or something like that

don't vibe with what their setup is.

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beck_24_01-24-2026_131916: Got

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dash_23_01-24-2026_121916: I don't

know, could be a minimum wage

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thing for, you know, but yeah,

SNHU doesn't hire in Minnesota.

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I mean, right now I'm, I'm back to

work at my, at my job here part-time.

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Uh, I'm just trying to do some stuff

remotely, trying to be of help in some

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way, while they we're onto the next thing

now with trying to figure out what's

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going on with my, my back and my neck.

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I really think that this is

just the rest of my life though.

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I mean, my whole life has already been

pretty much constant chronic pain, and

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it, it does make sense that at a certain

age, it would just simply get worse.

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So that could be what this is.

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beck_24_01-24-2026_131916: I keep

waiting for the shoe to other shoe

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to drop with my being diabetic.

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I've been diabetic, I've been

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dash_23_01-24-2026_121916: I

think it was recent for me.

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I think, I don't know.

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I mean, I've had the occasional

like blood sugar thing.

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I'm more likely to have low blood or like

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beck_24_01-24-2026_131916: hypoglycemia.

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dash_23_01-24-2026_121916: Yeah.

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beck_24_01-24-2026_131916: Yeah.

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A tip somebody gave me one time, I,

because I, that would happen to me too

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when I would be working at weddings

and stuff, especially one time my sugar

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dropped real quick and a lady pulled out,

you know, those tiny little tubes of icing

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that you get to write on top of a cake?

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dash_23_01-24-2026_121916: Yeah,

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beck_24_01-24-2026_131916:

Keep one of those in your bag.

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It's pure sugar.

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dash_23_01-24-2026_121916: my

Aunt Josie used to keep those

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really soft peppermints.

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beck_24_01-24-2026_131916: I, yeah.

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I'm allergic

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dash_23_01-24-2026_121916: Yeah.

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beck_24_01-24-2026_131916: butter mints.

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dash_23_01-24-2026_121916: I'm not

sure, but yeah, she had just a, a

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pocketbook full of various sugar candies.

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beck_24_01-24-2026_131916: I

keep, uh, Welch's fruit snacks

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in my bag in case that happens.

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So

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dash_23_01-24-2026_121916:

Well, this, that's smart.

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I love gummies.

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I don't know if I would, I would

just probably just eat 'em though.

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This wearable thing, I, I get like

a terrifying alert and alarm goes

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off when my blood sugar drops.

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I, I'm not a fan of that.

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beck_24_01-24-2026_131916: my insurance

company sent me a new glucometer and

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some really futuristic, like, like look

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dash_23_01-24-2026_121916:

We're tested in the future.

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beck_24_01-24-2026_131916: Yeah, like,

so you like, look at this test strip.

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dash_23_01-24-2026_121916:

It's got a computer in it.

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beck_24_01-24-2026_131916: I know.

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It's like plastic completely.

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And it's like a, it's like a

computer chip and it's wild.

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And I don't know how to get these, I

don't know how to get these from my doc.

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I have a doctor's appointment in a

couple of weeks, so I'm gonna take

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it with me and have her write a

prescription for those, because if

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your insurance company sends them,

obviously they accept them, you know?

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dash_23_01-24-2026_121916: mm-hmm.

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I am tired of fucking doctors

and insurance and shit.

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beck_24_01-24-2026_131916: you

and me both you and me both.

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But my doctor again refused my insulin

prescription until I come see her.

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So I really gotta go.

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I had an endocrinologist and

the, the woman that was the main

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doctor in the practice left and

so they were bouncing around and

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didn't have a doctor for a while.

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And I just haven't been in like

since I was living down home.

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dash_23_01-24-2026_121916: Yeah, I'm

supposed to see one that's who prescribes,

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um, HRT for trans people most of the time.

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An endocrinologist.

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beck_24_01-24-2026_131916: got you.

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dash_23_01-24-2026_121916: But I just,

uh, I usually just convince a private

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practice doctor to do it for me.

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Like you already know the stuff you

need to know to be able to do this.

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Like I can teach you the rest.

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I literally am certified to teach

continuing education courses in this.

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Uh, Like I know that's a privilege,

like having, being able to, to kind

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of do that work with your own doctor.

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So, 'cause I would have to go and the,

the students were having to do this

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drive to the Twin Cities to see an endo

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beck_24_01-24-2026_131916: Yeah.

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dash_23_01-24-2026_121916: would pre

prescribe them HRT ' cause it's so

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common, you know, and I don't, I think

we've talked about this before, like

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doctors will just look you in the

face and say, why I can't treat you

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for that because I'm not an expert.

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they, you know, that they

don't say that very often.

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beck_24_01-24-2026_131916: Right.

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dash_23_01-24-2026_121916: But they

say it to trans people constantly.

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They're so afraid and mystified by what

we are, what happens to our bodies.

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I don't even think it's that.

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I think that it's, it's,

it's an unconscious bias

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that we are so fucking alien.

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We are so unlike everybody

else, that we must have to have

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our own version of whatever.

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Like I need to go find a trans,

uh, cardiologist if I ever have,

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you know, some sort of heart thing.

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It's like, and and they'll say that.

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They're like, well, I don't know

what your, I don't know how your

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heart is supposed to behave.

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And it's like probably very

similar to many other people's

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beck_24_01-24-2026_131916: How

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does that even make sense?

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dash_23_01-24-2026_121916: They'll say,

oh, it's because you're on hormones.

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And hormones change things.

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Correct.

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They do.

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That's why I take them.

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Every other living human being

also has these hormones and like

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in a way it's kind of infuriating.

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'cause I have to gas them up.

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I have to be like, you're not

as stupid as you think you are.

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Like, you can do this.

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It's okay.

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It's called, um, trans

broken arm syndrome.

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Uh, there's some articles

been published by it.

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I actually think, I worked with the

doctor at the med school at SIU who

241

first published this and, and doctors,

you know, they're not very good at

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examining their own culture, especially

the culture of their treatment.

243

And so this person, it

was, it's a phenomenon.

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Very similar.

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Fat people experience it.

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People with disabilities or

chronic illnesses experience,

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uh, something similar too.

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But what he means by trans broken

arm syndrome is say, I went to the

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doctor with a, for a broken arm.

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You know, I suspect this arm is broken.

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And they said, um, well, we should

check your testosterone levels first.

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And then say, I have to, I have to

send you to a specialist who treats

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trans people for your broken arm.

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Which is one step further than

the version of medical bias that

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a fat person might experience.

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Where, you know, like you go to the

doctor and you've got a broken arm

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and you're a fat person and they

say, well, we need to do blood work

258

and check your cholesterol and shit.

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Like, I, I seriously doubt

my cholesterol broke my arm.

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And so it delays treatment.

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beck_24_01-24-2026_131916: like

when they did a pregnancy test

262

on Shana because she had a UTI.

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Even though she insisted she was a lesbian

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dash_23_01-24-2026_121916: Yeah.

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Yeah.

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Right.

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And, and medical bi and they all

fall back on the same thing of

268

like, oh, it's just procedure.

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Or,

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beck_24_01-24-2026_131916: insurance.

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dash_23_01-24-2026_121916: insurance

is a big problem too, but you

272

know, I need to know this because

I'm dealing with you in this way.

273

So like this surgeon in Fargo who

refused to put male as my legal sex,

274

they're like, whoa, we need, we have to

deal with what your body actually is.

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Right?

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And it's like, you can do that.

277

They don't understand that they're

playing into the social construct.

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Because the letter M has nothing to do

with the body that's looking at, that

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you're looking at right now, and, and,

you can't convince me that this is for

280

paperwork reasons because you're actually

fucking my whole shit up right now

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beck_24_01-24-2026_131916: Right.

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dash_23_01-24-2026_121916: female here.

283

My insurance doesn't know who

the hell you're talking about.

284

I mean, they have fought me not as hard

as it would've happened in another state.

285

Probably if I was a North Dakota resident.

286

Oh God, I'm, I would say that

I'd be paying out, out of pocket

287

for this, um, neck surgery.

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beck_24_01-24-2026_131916: Oh wow.

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dash_23_01-24-2026_121916: they're,

you know how they're always looking

290

for an excuse not to cover things.

291

And so if, if a provider puts

the wrong sex for you, insurance

292

is just gonna take that as an

opportunity to, to not cover it.

293

Which, and that's a big reason

why I moved to Minnesota.

294

There was, there's a small number

of states that insurance is both by

295

law and by culture, um, more likely

to take care of a trans person.

296

But this, this surgeon is in

Fargo, literally across the

297

border, right into North Dakota,

like Fargo's right on the border.

298

And the culture of treatment

is extremely different.

299

Like they made me take

pregnancy tests there.

300

'cause they were like, well,

don't you still have female parts?

301

They, and they asked me that on the phone.

302

I was like, oh, great.

303

Okay.

304

So it's gonna be that kinda experience.

305

This was the pre-surgical screening.

306

She goes, do you still have female parts?

307

and I, I would've been an asshole

if I had been dealing with someone.

308

That I had civil rights with,

but I don't in North Dakota.

309

So I just said yes, because you know what

I would've said if it had been a Minnesota

310

provider is what do you, which ones, which

female parts, females have many parts.

311

Because if you make them say that,

you then can say, well, that part

312

doesn't get pregnant, so I don't

need to take a pregnancy test.

313

Right.

314

A vagina doesn't get pregnant.

315

You didn't ask me if I had ovaries.

316

You didn't ask me if I

had functioning fallopia.

317

You didn't ask me if I ovulate, you

know, you said, do you have female

318

parts that could have meant breasts?

319

That could have meant, and there's

plenty of, you know, like I, I didn't.

320

Have the right to push back on it

because they could, they would have

321

probably just refused to do the surgery.

322

'cause they have the right to do that.

323

In North Dakota, in most states, they

have the right to refuse to do surgery

324

on someone because they're trans.

325

So I just said yes.

326

And so then they made me take pregnancy

tests 'cause I could be pregnant.

327

And I was like, that's not

the question you asked me.

328

You didn't ask me whatever.

329

And, and then so they fall back on like,

oh, well it's about safety because if you

330

were pregnant and we did this procedure

or gave you this drug or whatever, then it

331

could be, it could be fatal for the fetus.

332

And it's like, well, if we were

talking about pregnancy, we would've

333

been having a different conversation.

334

But we weren't, we were talking

about my gender and my genitalia.

335

And I just had, I played nice with

them until I could get done with them.

336

beck_24_01-24-2026_131916: Have you

heard of a quote unquote documentary, a

337

frontline episode called Growing Up Trans?

338

Have you ever heard of that before?

339

dash_23_01-24-2026_121916:

It rings a bell.

340

There was a time when I was pretty

plugged in on that growing up.

341

Trans?

342

beck_24_01-24-2026_131916:

It's a frontline episode.

343

dash_23_01-24-2026_121916:

Yeah, here it is.

344

beck_24_01-24-2026_131916: I'm just

345

dash_23_01-24-2026_121916: Oh,

346

beck_24_01-24-2026_131916: about it.

347

dash_23_01-24-2026_121916:

uh, I haven't seen it.

348

It's quite old.

349

beck_24_01-24-2026_131916: Yeah,

350

dash_23_01-24-2026_121916:

I'll check it out.

351

It's about kids, so I'm sure.

352

I'm sure it has got some weird shit in it.

353

what did you think of it?

354

beck_24_01-24-2026_131916: I, I can

see where I had some problems as

355

the culture has changed a bit in the

last, you know, 15, 10, 15 years about

356

the way we talk, the language we use

around things, that kind of thing.

357

Not to say that that language is invalid

if people are still using it, especially

358

if it applies to themselves, but.

359

As a person who is not trans.

360

The the language has gotten

more sensitive, in my opinion.

361

And I found that to be kind of weird.

362

I thought about showing it in class,

but I was afraid that, like some other

363

words, students, because they hear

them, they will feel free to use them.

364

So I don't know.

365

And then I would have to address that.

366

Also think it would be good for people

to see, you know, 10-year-old trans kids

367

that look that are absolutely passing.

368

Not that that is important, but I think

if people could see that these kids are

369

just kids and they really are telling

the truth that they are this other

370

gender, I think that that could be

mind changing for some of these kids.

371

You know, to see that it does start that

early because the parents come on and

372

they're like, at three years old, he

was already trying to, you know, take

373

off his dresses and stuff like that.

374

And I

375

dash_23_01-24-2026_121916: Yeah,

376

beck_24_01-24-2026_131916: would

understand that this stuff isn't

377

just, you decide in high school

or you decide when you're 35.

378

This stuff is from the

beginning a lot of people.

379

dash_23_01-24-2026_121916: I, uh,

have to show things all the time

380

that you use outdated, like discourse

out outdated ideas around things.

381

you know, it's totally

possible to do that.

382

I prepare like a little

pre, critical lecture.

383

Talking, you know, saying first of

all, I chose this because of, you

384

know, the fact that there's not a

lot of, uh, resources about this.

385

You know, we're not spoiled

for choice when it comes to,

386

information about trans children.

387

That is because frontline, you know,

they would, it's a political subject.

388

It's inherently a political subject,

but, you know, a source like Frontline

389

is not going to do, they're not

gonna set out to be sensationalist.

390

And so I will always say

this is this many years old.

391

Um, you may, you'll hear these terms,

these terms and whatever, and these are

392

no longer uh, appropriate to be used by

anyone who doesn't identify this way.

393

because we have to, even when

it comes to like the super

394

problematic, we have to show it.

395

I show Parises burning fairly

regularly as part of, you know,

396

beck_24_01-24-2026_131916:

I need to watch it.

397

It's

398

dash_23_01-24-2026_121916: oh

399

beck_24_01-24-2026_131916:

need to watch list.

400

dash_23_01-24-2026_121916: yeah,

it's, it can be hard to find.

401

For a long time there, she, Jenny

Livingston, it was available nowhere.

402

You had to go through her,

couldn't even get it from Swank.

403

You had to go straight through her

to get the rights to screen it.

404

And they were a thousand dollars.

405

beck_24_01-24-2026_131916: Oh.

406

dash_23_01-24-2026_121916: Uh, I have,

I have beef with Jenny Livingston.

407

A lot of people do.

408

This is not just me, right?

409

Like, there's accusations that

she misrepresented, intentionally

410

misrepresented what she was

doing with the documentary to

411

the women that she chronicled.

412

And I, you could actually see it.

413

I see evidence, like the, the

accusation is that she kind of.

414

insinuated that she was in some

way connected with the fashion

415

industry, that she could have been

a talent scout and she denies it.

416

But there's some scenes in this movie

where these women are obviously being

417

interviewed, talking about their hopes

and dreams, their career goals, and

418

it's like, well then how did this

become a trend in their interviews then

419

beck_24_01-24-2026_131916: Right.

420

dash_23_01-24-2026_121916: if,

if you weren't bringing it up?

421

But it's available for

streaming somewhere.

422

Oh, it's on Tuby?

423

Yep.

424

It's free on Tubi and Plex.

425

Looks like you can get it.

426

It's on HBO Max as well if you have that.

427

So yeah, it's a, it's available more

places now, which is good because

428

it is a very important movie.

429

But the, the things that they do

and say about, their identities,

430

the ways they talk about gender.

431

You know, a lot, a lot of people

might hear that and hear that

432

as internalized homophobia.

433

I could agree with that.

434

You know, I think that in 20, 30 years,

50 years from now, we'll look back at

435

the ways that we talked about ourselves.

436

It's, and be able to see, okay, there

were some vestiges of internalized

437

transphobia or homophobia.

438

Like that stuff's always gonna be there.

439

We haven't eradicated that.

440

We're not living in some time where

we are fully able to deconstruct

441

our isms, our unconscious biases.

442

We're just not aware of them yet.

443

So when you feel like it's worth

it when you, it's, you're like

444

thinking about showing something

that is perhaps outdated and or uses

445

outdated language, does the reward

outweigh whatever risk there may be?

446

If the answer's yes.

447

Next, you start to go about a

way to mitigate that risk by

448

providing them, um, knowledge

about those pieces ahead of time.

449

Sometimes assign a reading, sometimes

just prepare a few slides, and then

450

afterwards that, that can also help

your post viewing discussion too.

451

But yeah, Paris is burning is a lot

of people they may not realize, or I

452

think, I think they don't realize, we

all think we invented culture, right?

453

So at the, our drag show

last year, we had a couple of

454

hosts, one of whom was an alum.

455

They were very sweet.

456

It, it was kind of, they were awful.

457

They were actually terrible MCs, but

they were so like authentic and sweet.

458

And because the one was an alum,

like there was some affection for

459

the, the campus in the space and

it, it worked, you know, sometimes.

460

Sometimes it's not about like being

a professional who's always polished

461

and on sometimes it's about that

authenticity and the students.

462

Absolutely.

463

They just loved being

able to have a mentor.

464

One was a trans woman of color.

465

Who was, um, an alum, she's, uh, 39

years old, and the younger person who

466

was like her drag daughter referred to

her as mother before mother was a thing.

467

And I was like, wait a minute here.

468

Do you think Gen Z invented mother?

469

I was like, good god almighty.

470

Okay, we've gotta show Paris is burning.

471

Y'all didn't invent this.

472

And, and that it sounds

a little get off my lawn.

473

It's not about them taking

credit for something that they

474

inherited because we all do that.

475

There's a particular kind of

violence to erasure when it comes

476

to minoritized groups and the

people in that film are dead.

477

And they died young.

478

I mean, not all of them.

479

Some of them are still alive,

but they died of violence.

480

they died of HIV aids.

481

They died of ill health and not

having access to healthcare.

482

Uh, they died of poverty.

483

And so like, I, all that is to say

to anyone out there like, engage with

484

problematic texts if the, if the reward

outweighs the risk because it, it's

485

possible for us to lose ourselves or

especially our, our old selves, right?

486

And then the people who are

still around the elders.

487

Does anybody call you a queer elder?

488

beck_24_01-24-2026_131916: Um, Yes.

489

The students have called me that

a few times over the years, so

490

dash_23_01-24-2026_121916: I know

491

beck_24_01-24-2026_131916:

personally claim it.

492

So,

493

dash_23_01-24-2026_121916: Yeah, exactly.

494

beck_24_01-24-2026_131916: I'm

in that weird generation between

495

Gen X and between the millennials

we're called centennials, right?

496

dash_23_01-24-2026_121916: Mm-hmm.

497

beck_24_01-24-2026_131916: last ones

to outside without computers and the

498

first ones to have computers in school

and, you know, kind of one foot on

499

either side of the digital divide.

500

So,

501

dash_23_01-24-2026_121916: Yeah.

502

Yeah.

503

I'm technically a, a first

year millennial, so the

504

very, very first year of

505

beck_24_01-24-2026_131916: you're an elder

506

dash_23_01-24-2026_121916: that.

507

Right.

508

I'm an elder, queer millennial.

509

beck_24_01-24-2026_131916: Yeah.

510

dash_23_01-24-2026_121916: Yeah.

511

I know there, especially gay men,

I know some, some gay men who

512

are like, react negatively to

being called a, a queer elder.

513

Maybe that is part of, well, they

also, have you ever heard the phrase,

514

uh, gay, gay dead or gay death?

515

beck_24_01-24-2026_131916: I've

516

heard of lesbian bed death.

517

dash_23_01-24-2026_121916:

Yeah, which is another kind of

518

problematic, but no gay death is

apparently, uh, a gay man over 30.

519

beck_24_01-24-2026_131916:

How does that even work out?

520

dash_23_01-24-2026_121916: Their

currency, their cultural cachet,

521

their, their relevance is youth.

522

so I first heard the

term it's very flippant.

523

A lot of, a lot of cis gay

culture, especially cis gay,

524

white culture is, is flippant.

525

Dismissive does not consider

the experiences of anyone else.

526

Um, I've seen a couple of examples

of that lately, but I heard some kids

527

say it while I was working there.

528

And, uh, the, the little center that

they had there, it was not center, it

529

was just some like, uh, high cubicle

walls, you know, there on the OMA floor.

530

So when they were in there, you

know, Kiking or whatever, like

531

with it, we could hear them.

532

They were pretty audible.

533

And so, but I heard someone say.

534

They were talking about gay death,

and somebody said, what is gay death?

535

They're like, oh, you know when you,

when you hit 30, that's gay dead.

536

And I was like, I went in

there and I said, I, I'm not

537

gonna do this to you all often.

538

And I know it's uncomfortable knowing that

someone has heard something you've said.

539

Right.

540

I wish you had a more secure

space to, to be yourselves.

541

But, our community is one for whom

30 was, uh, aspirational, like the

542

full fully, uh, in the eighties,

seventies and eighties and nineties.

543

Our community knew that to reach the

age of 30 would've been a miracle.

544

So like, I get the joke.

545

I understand what you're describing.

546

You're describing a real problem in,

in the gay community that is ageist.

547

I get it.

548

I understand our humor or whatever, but

let's not call it gay death to get old.

549

Like maybe can we, let's reframe this

a little bit in a way that honors the.

550

Millions of people that never saw 30.

551

beck_24_01-24-2026_131916:

What'd they say?

552

dash_23_01-24-2026_121916:

They were like, uh, okay.

553

Yeah.

554

Oh, snap.

555

I, I, I get it.

556

And it was students that I had a

relationship with, so I wasn't, I didn't

557

often police their language, but I was

first of all conscious of the, well, I,

558

I know that I was reacting, you know,

outta my own emotions, but also conscious

559

of the fact that these were student

leaders in the space and everybody

560

could hear what they were saying.

561

beck_24_01-24-2026_131916: Yeah.

562

dash_23_01-24-2026_121916: But yeah, I

was also kind of, I was also reacting

563

emotionally 'cause I was like, oh,

564

I mean, I know people who died of aids,

565

not many, but.

566

beck_24_01-24-2026_131916: Most of

the people that I know that have

567

it have lived a very long life.

568

So that speaks to the power

of the medications and the

569

technology that have come along.

570

I've known people that have

been sick for 20, 25 years.

571

dash_23_01-24-2026_121916: Yeah,

there was a case, there was someone

572

actually in Jellico who had it, and

they were, this was the first time

573

that I remember anyway, uh, this is

a, a friend of a friend of David's

574

had been intimate with this person.

575

And so he was telling me how worried

he was and I'm pretty sure that he had

576

also been intimate with this person.

577

' Cause he was like, yeah,

there's a, there's a guy down

578

Jellico Hospital dying of aids.

579

And, you know, my, my friend

had been sleeping with him and

580

so, and I was like, and were you

sleeping with any of these people?

581

Like, should we get you tested?

582

Everybody ignored it until

it came home, I guess.

583

beck_24_01-24-2026_131916: I just

read a good book and I've already

584

forgotten the name of it, unfortunately.

585

I literally read it like four months

ago about a guy, it, it was the, the

586

early nineties, and a guy comes home

to his home in southern Ohio and he

587

has, he's, he's gay from new, he had

moved to New York when he was like 17,

588

and he came home after his lover died

and he was dying of aids and he came

589

home to his parents' house and it was

how the, the town reacted to him and

590

how his sister reacted and his grandma

reacted and, you know, all of that.

591

And it was, it was very eye-opening.

592

I'm glad I read it.

593

dash_23_01-24-2026_121916: Hmm.

594

beck_24_01-24-2026_131916:

Shanna had an uncle.

595

She, I think she remembered him like

very vaguely when she was two or

596

three, but it was her mom's brother

and he was part of the AIDS epidemic

597

and he died as part of all of that.

598

dash_23_01-24-2026_121916: Yeah,

it, it never got too close to me.

599

I've known quite a few people who are

poz, but only just a couple of, like

600

six degrees of Kevin Bacon removed,

acquaintances who actually passed away,

601

beck_24_01-24-2026_131916: Yeah,

602

dash_23_01-24-2026_121916: and,

and some people that I like.

603

After I lost contact with them, I

found out that they passed away.

604

beck_24_01-24-2026_131916: I think

I've known more young people to

605

die of sepsis than I have of HIV.

606

dash_23_01-24-2026_121916:

Isn't that crazy?

607

That's what Jiggly Caliente died of.

608

beck_24_01-24-2026_131916:

I don't know who that is.

609

dash_23_01-24-2026_121916:

She, she died last year.

610

She was, um, a comedian.

611

She was on an earlier season

of RuPaul's Drag Race.

612

And, she had sepsis and I How does,

how does that, it sounds to me like

613

dying of scurvy or something, right?

614

Like that's some like

615

beck_24_01-24-2026_131916: That's

616

just when infection gets

out of control in your body.

617

Like my friend Jonas, I've

brought him up before.

618

He was only 41 when he passed.

619

He had back surgery and he was, uh, an

alcoholic and wouldn't quit drinking

620

and he got drunk while he was recovering

from back surgery several times.

621

And that led to sepsis.

622

And he died.

623

dash_23_01-24-2026_121916: Wow.

624

beck_24_01-24-2026_131916: Yep.

625

dash_23_01-24-2026_121916:

Death is sneaky.

626

beck_24_01-24-2026_131916: Yep.

627

He's in the same cemetery that

I'm gonna be buried in though,

628

so at least I have friends there.

629

dash_23_01-24-2026_121916: You know what

I thought about was getting programs

630

ready for Black History month at work.

631

I'm not able to do much.

632

It's gonna be kind of lackluster.

633

We, I think we've only got like four

things to put on the, the calendar.

634

'cause I'm just not there physically,

but I thought like, we should,

635

this is my programming ring.

636

We should pick a movie to

review for Black History Month.

637

And then I was like, what in

the world are two white rednecks

638

gonna do for Black History Month?

639

Who in the world needs that?

640

Nobody asked for that.

641

beck_24_01-24-2026_131916: Yeah.

642

Nobody asked for that.

643

Nobody wants this as the TV

644

dash_23_01-24-2026_121916: No.

645

Oh, I watched the first episode

of that after I talked to you

646

beck_24_01-24-2026_131916: It's

647

dash_23_01-24-2026_121916: about it.

648

It was surprising.

649

Yeah.

650

It was really cute.

651

I've been doing nostalgia lately,

but feeling kind of nostalgic or I

652

think, I'm trying to feel nostalgic.

653

I don't if you ever do that, you're

like, I want to remember what it

654

was like to be in in another time.

655

beck_24_01-24-2026_131916: I think

everybody is feeling nostalgic for

656

2016 because that was before Trump

got into our lives too much, you know?

657

dash_23_01-24-2026_121916: Yeah.

658

You know, something I realized

is, uh, I started transitioning.

659

In 2015.

660

So like my transition is exact arc of this

current hellscape we find ourselves in.

661

beck_24_01-24-2026_131916: So you

picked a fine Time to do this,

662

dash_23_01-24-2026_121916:

yeah, apparently.

663

beck_24_01-24-2026_131916: to be existing.

664

dash_23_01-24-2026_121916: Do you

remember what so in the place that,

665

that we were living there in northwest

Ohio is famous at the time, was famous.

666

I don't even know if this is

still true for always voting

667

for whoever becomes president.

668

beck_24_01-24-2026_131916:

I didn't know that.

669

dash_23_01-24-2026_121916: Yeah.

670

Up until that point anyway.

671

And, and 2016 was no was the same.

672

Uh, it had the whole time that that

town has existed, it has voted the

673

exact same as whoever becomes president.

674

beck_24_01-24-2026_131916: wow.

675

dash_23_01-24-2026_121916: So, and

it was that, that sort of, I don't

676

know if you remember all those, the

white supremacists waking up there

677

beck_24_01-24-2026_131916: Oh yeah.

678

dash_23_01-24-2026_121916: when tr

when Trump, you know, they would the

679

drive around in their trucks with the

Trump flags, the Oath keepers started

680

to wander around the small and ask

brown people to, to see their papers.

681

Shit like that.

682

I mean, that was going on in 2015.

683

beck_24_01-24-2026_131916:

Known as a sun downtown.

684

dash_23_01-24-2026_121916: yeah.

685

Yep.

686

And it's a very queer phobic town.

687

beck_24_01-24-2026_131916: Yeah.

688

dash_23_01-24-2026_121916: I had all

kinds of horrible experiences there.

689

Uh, and where I lived too was kind of,

I mean, it was, it was a shitty part.

690

It was right downtown.

691

So there was.

692

A lot of like drunken fights

and things happened down there.

693

Like I saw somebody get stabbed

in the middle of the road

694

there on Prospect Street.

695

And then the Black Swamp Festival

would always be right outside my

696

door and those people would turn up.

697

And then I remember like the

politics began to get really charged

698

and injected into everything.

699

And that's what the rest of

the country feels like now.

700

I remember when I left, I was

like, I am never going back.

701

I'm never living here again.

702

Like if I moved back to that area,

it is gonna be in an adjacent

703

town or somewhere within commuting

distance because that was dreadful.

704

Somebody threw a cup of piss on me

705

beck_24_01-24-2026_131916: Oh

706

dash_23_01-24-2026_121916:

I was visibly queer.

707

It was the day after the election.

708

beck_24_01-24-2026_131916: Oh, Jesus.

709

dash_23_01-24-2026_121916: I

think they had been up all night.

710

I was walking to my therapy appointment.

711

I had therapy at like seven 30 in the

morning and it was kind of a walk.

712

And so I had to, um, start walking

at like six 30 to get there on time.

713

And I had been up all night too.

714

'cause remember that election

wasn't decided until like 3:00 AM

715

beck_24_01-24-2026_131916: Yeah.

716

dash_23_01-24-2026_121916: So I think

that they were just really, I think

717

they were out fucking with everybody.

718

And I think that they were drunk, but

they were in one of those like lifted

719

trucks with the Trump flags all over

it and just out bothering anybody.

720

And I was visibly queer at the time,

so just wrong place, wrong time.

721

That happens to me a lot.

722

That's something that, that, uh, you know,

I'm sure people of color know exactly

723

what that means, but you know, anybody

who has a marginalized identity, the

724

number of times you find yourself in the

wrong place at the wrong time is just

725

kind of astronomically high compared to.

726

That was actually not as

bad as the dip spit though.

727

beck_24_01-24-2026_131916: Ugh.

728

You told me about that

when you were in school.

729

dash_23_01-24-2026_121916: Yeah,

730

I still threw all the clothes away.

731

beck_24_01-24-2026_131916:

Yeah, I would've too.

732

That's disgusting.

733

When I think of Dipti Spit, I think

of this kid that I had in class,

734

and it was when I was still a ta.

735

So I was very early in my teaching

years and he was very intently pouring

736

over his book and he had an iPad and

he was watching a hockey game in the

737

middle of class, and he had a spit

bottle that he was actively using.

738

So he was sitting there chewing

and watching a game in the

739

middle of class, and I was like,

what the hell are you doing?

740

Why are you even here?

741

Like, know.

742

I didn't know how to

handle things back then.

743

So

744

dash_23_01-24-2026_121916:

Well, you weren't, you didn't

745

have the authority to either.

746

Really,

747

beck_24_01-24-2026_131916: yeah.

748

Though I do have a clause in my syllabus

that says I reserve the right to ask

749

any student to leave for any reason.

750

' cause I mean, I've had a couple of times

where my students have just been way

751

outta pocket and they just need to go, you

752

dash_23_01-24-2026_121916: really,

753

beck_24_01-24-2026_131916: yeah.

754

Like the time that I had a kid.

755

The only time I've ever thrown

somebody outta class the

756

kid, there's a fly in here.

757

The kid

758

dash_23_01-24-2026_121916: I can see it.

759

beck_24_01-24-2026_131916: it

has this vengeance set on me.

760

No.

761

This kid we were talking about,

uh, sexual assault and consent and

762

that kind of thing, and he started

screaming that Bill Cosby was framed.

763

And my mouth threw him out before my

brain even knew what was going on.

764

I was like, you need to go.

765

You need to go.

766

And he bitched and moaned and

pissed, and slammed and all that.

767

But he left and he tried to go to my boss.

768

And I, because he had been a problem

several times because he was a

769

freshman football player and he thought

that he was extra special for that.

770

So he would come in late every day, he'd

fall asleep in the back of the room.

771

He'd always have his cell phone out.

772

He was rude to me in several

different, and I had kept my

773

boss, uh, uh, abreast of these

774

dash_23_01-24-2026_121916: Mm-hmm.

775

beck_24_01-24-2026_131916: you

know, like you're supposed to.

776

And he was like, who's your boss?

777

And I was like, wrote it down for him.

778

And I was like, here you go.

779

And he went.

780

And by the time he came back to

me, he had agreed with her that

781

he was gonna be on time for class.

782

He was gonna, uh, stay awake during

class and that he was gonna do his

783

work because she threatened to tell

his coach about everything that

784

I had already told her about him.

785

So,

786

dash_23_01-24-2026_121916: Oh,

787

beck_24_01-24-2026_131916: yeah.

788

So he

789

dash_23_01-24-2026_121916: that's nice.

790

beck_24_01-24-2026_131916:

Yeah, but it was the same kid

791

causing all those problems.

792

He, he ended up famously transferring

to another school a few weeks after

793

that, so, or like the next semester.

794

dash_23_01-24-2026_121916:

Bill Cosby was framed.

795

I remember all the white people who were

absolutely white knighting for Bill Cosby.

796

like even my, my, uh, grandparents

who were Trump supporters, they

797

were like, they're just trying

to ruin his life or whatever.

798

And I started thinking, I was like, what?

799

when have white people shown up en

mass to defend a person of color?

800

And I, this the nerd in me, I started

doing research and like there plenty

801

of people of color had written either,

you know, articles or blogs or actual

802

like scholarship on why Bill Cosby

was the white person's black comedian.

803

Because he was, he, he was the

mouthpiece of respectability politics.

804

beck_24_01-24-2026_131916: Right.

805

dash_23_01-24-2026_121916:

he would tell other.

806

Black people publicly in the media

as part of his standup, he would

807

be like, tell them to act right.

808

You know, he would say, pull your

pants up and stuff like that.

809

beck_24_01-24-2026_131916: Yep.

810

dash_23_01-24-2026_121916: So white

people loved Bill Cosby because Bill Cosby

811

was, Are we allowed to say Uncle Tom?

812

beck_24_01-24-2026_131916: I, I

813

dash_23_01-24-2026_121916: I mean, well,

he, he enforced something that whiteness

814

benefited from on other people of color

publicly, like in the entertainment space.

815

beck_24_01-24-2026_131916: call

that like internalized racism?

816

dash_23_01-24-2026_121916: I would,

yeah, I think it's more appropriate

817

to say something, to be descriptive

instead of using the term Uncle Tom.

818

Because I also, sort of thinking like, is

that a term for white people to even use?

819

How often is it even appropriate

for us to even be calling that

820

out, critical of that or whatever?

821

So, yeah.

822

In terms of Bill Cosby, I would say

whatever it was, whatever his motivations

823

were, proximity to whiteness, maybe.

824

I, he white people loved the fact

that he would enforce really outdated

825

respectability politics onto other

black people, in particular black men.

826

So, fuck Bill Cosby in general

though, because he's a rapist.

827

beck_24_01-24-2026_131916: Yep.

828

And I was a, I was a big Bill Cosby fan.

829

I loved some of his standup.

830

He had some, some of the

funniest standup there ever

831

dash_23_01-24-2026_121916: Absolutely.

832

I still quote Bill

Cosby himself regularly,

833

beck_24_01-24-2026_131916: yeah.

834

dash_23_01-24-2026_121916:

like, but you know.

835

mean, and that's kind of growing up

because like growing up is learning

836

that like many of the things that

you loved and even were part of your

837

growth and identity, were not so great.

838

We're, we're fucking

shitty for some people

839

beck_24_01-24-2026_131916: right,

840

dash_23_01-24-2026_121916: and we don't

get to go like, well, I enjoyed it though.

841

Like how, first of all, say

that out loud right now.

842

You know, somebody tells you

something, somebody has harmed

843

them physically or emotionally

and you're like, well, I like it.

844

beck_24_01-24-2026_131916: right.

845

I kind of feel that way about my friends.

846

I have, we, when we lived, all

lived in the dorms, there was a

847

big group of us that were friends.

848

There's four of us that are core.

849

And then there's a couple of

like stragglers that, that we, we

850

have incorporated over the years.

851

And this one girl, she

is just a mean girl.

852

And she's the one that sent me

the biggest loser link to apply.

853

And that wasn't even all the,

all the stuff that she did,

854

there were several things.

855

And so we are no longer friends, but

I noticed that I've still got like

856

four friends in common with her,

and I have a little bit of beef with

857

them because if she was that awful

to me, they should get rid of her.

858

You know, but you

859

dash_23_01-24-2026_121916: Yeah.

860

beck_24_01-24-2026_131916: So.

861

dash_23_01-24-2026_121916: Now, have

you ever been in, uh, like dealt with

862

a friend breakup and like, they're,

they're like dividing up the friends.

863

Or like, you know, somebody, somebody

if with people who've been a couple

864

for a really long time and they have

the same friends when they break up.

865

Like you kinda have to pick a side.

866

beck_24_01-24-2026_131916:

I, I don't know.

867

I haven't really been friends

with a lot of couples that we came

868

into the friendship as the couple.

869

Usually it's one person and then they

find their person and then they get

870

divorced and we keep the original person.

871

dash_23_01-24-2026_121916:

It's only happened to me

872

like a couple times I think.

873

beck_24_01-24-2026_131916:

that has to be awkward,

874

dash_23_01-24-2026_121916: It probably is.

875

For me it was not so bad because

I'm kind of good at, at, i'm not

876

sure what you would really call it.

877

I'm just able to do it.

878

I'm able to be, to stay friends with

879

beck_24_01-24-2026_131916:

compartmentalizing.

880

dash_23_01-24-2026_121916: Yeah,

because it's, it's not, not taking

881

a side because that's stupid.

882

Nobody is impartial.

883

It, it was just like when I was with

one of them, if, if the other person

884

came up, it was like, you just listen.

885

They're not looking for

your opinion anyway.

886

Uh, so like, if, if your opinion

gets brought up and a situation

887

like that, it that's on you.

888

And a lot of times they're just looking

for somebody to listen anyway, so,

889

beck_24_01-24-2026_131916: Right.

890

Aren't we all?

891

dash_23_01-24-2026_121916: yeah.

892

Well in honor of the weather, maybe it's

time to hear from this week's sponsor

893

beck_24_01-24-2026_131916:

Ooh, the weather.

894

Okay.

895

dash_23_01-24-2026_121916: The weather.

896

beck_24_01-24-2026_131916: already got

our Kroger pickup, so we're good to go.

897

We got everything for

898

French toast,

899

dash_23_01-24-2026_121916: oh my god.

900

That's ex, that is our sponsor.

901

So

902

beck_24_01-24-2026_131916: French

903

toast.

904

dash_23_01-24-2026_121916: uh,

the special weather report is

905

sponsored by Milk Sandwiches.

906

And low.

907

The clouds did gather and

the meteorologist spoke

908

saying, accumulation possible.

909

And the people heard this

and were sorely afraid.

910

In unison, they toned milk sandwiches.

911

Thus the first seal was broken

and the bread aisle was laid waste

912

saved for gluten-free options, which

nobody knew anything to do with.

913

The second seal was broken and the

eggs vanished, though no one knew what

914

purpose and for how many breakfasts.

915

And the third seal was broken,

and milk flowed like a river.

916

2% in holes stacked into the heavens

in carts piloted by men in shorts who

917

heed not your meteorology, but rather

older, more heathen gods of khaki.

918

The fourth seal black ice milk sandwiches

were gathered in great quantity for the

919

people believed, if I have milk, bread,

and eggs, then surely I shall endure.

920

Endure.

921

What they could not say there

was wailing in the parking lot

922

and there was gnashing of teeth.

923

When the last loaf was taken

by a stranger with no shame,

924

there was one person yelling.

925

They're saying it's only

flurries, and no one listened.

926

But the prophecy had been fulfilled,

and though the snow fell, but lightly,

927

and the roads remained mostly passable,

the milk sandwiches were not in vain.

928

For the people who had performed the

ritual, they had shown readiness,

929

and they had said, as, as one

body, we will not face our maker

930

with refrigerator shelves empty.

931

So when the siren sing and the bread

aisle empties once more, go forth

932

children and gather your dairy.

933

Neither food, not logic, but instead

faith for the end, maybe nigh,

934

but it also might be slippery milk

sandwiches as it was for told.

935

Please panic responsibly.

936

beck_24_01-24-2026_131916: I got,

uh, brownie bites and I got Totino's

937

pizzas I got macaroni and cheese

and I got, uh, stuff to make chili.

938

'cause we never did make it the other day.

939

The hamburgers in the freezer.

940

So we've got everything.

941

So I just got another thing, a

hamburger so I don't have to thaw it.

942

dash_23_01-24-2026_121916: I, I said

something about milk sandwiches one time I

943

was, it was an icebreaker, um, and nobody

knew what I was talking about and I was

944

like, it's, it, it's the store run before

a snowstorm hits it's milk sandwiches.

945

But yeah, I don't know.

946

When did we just all decide?

947

Because we apparently did that.

948

It has to be milk and bread and eggs.

949

What are we making with those?

950

beck_24_01-24-2026_131916: A French toast.

951

That's the only logical thing.

952

dash_23_01-24-2026_121916: Yeah, exactly.

953

beck_24_01-24-2026_131916:

I did get bacon.

954

I like to eat castleberry hotdog

sauce with just plain bread.

955

So we got some extra bread for that.

956

I'm trying to think.

957

We got some jello puddin, the cups.

958

dash_23_01-24-2026_121916: Ooh,

959

beck_24_01-24-2026_131916: We get

the vanilla chocolate swirl one.

960

Oh, it's so good.

961

Oh, I got a cherry or a

strawberry cheesecake too.

962

It's in the fridge.

963

Thawing

964

dash_23_01-24-2026_121916: damn.

965

I, so I've been, I've been following

my, my diet and things, trying to get

966

my macros to the best of my ability.

967

I mean, most of the time I don't do it

because they want me to have an insane

968

amount of protein and next to no carbs.

969

And I'm like, girl, I'll do my best.

970

But I'm, I'm not.

971

But I to get the amount

of protein they want.

972

'cause I don't have much of

an appetite right now either.

973

So I got some protein powder Vanessa

sent me, like this gigantic bag

974

of whey protein isolate, but it's

flavored like vanilla bean something.

975

And so if you put that in like Greek

yogurt, it kind of tastes like ice cream.

976

beck_24_01-24-2026_131916: Nice.

977

dash_23_01-24-2026_121916: and so like

you, I, I can put it in granola or put

978

it on top of like some sort of pastry if

I wanted to, which I don't normally get.

979

beck_24_01-24-2026_131916: Have

980

you seen The Nature Valley came

out with a bag of granola bits that

981

are just their broken granola bars.

982

dash_23_01-24-2026_121916: Nope.

983

But I.

984

beck_24_01-24-2026_131916: I

bought 'em, it says 34 bars in

985

here or something like that.

986

It's a crazy number of, of, but they're,

they're unwrapped in just big pieces.

987

And I love it with like, I

love a good parfait with a

988

fruit and yogurt with granola.

989

dash_23_01-24-2026_121916: Yep,

that's what I've been doing.

990

I've got like the low fat Greek

yogurt 'cause it's a ton of protein

991

and then I'll bust up a gram cracker

and then put, uh, I think it's kind.

992

Sometimes I get or bare naked

the crumbles of granola and

993

then stir that powder in there.

994

It's pretty, pretty delicious.

995

I hate having to think about

food all the time, though.

996

beck_24_01-24-2026_131916: Yeah, me too.

997

dash_23_01-24-2026_121916: Oh, did you

bring a noun of Appalachian interest

998

beck_24_01-24-2026_131916: I did.

999

Did you see the video

I sent you on Facebook?

00:42:05,182 --> 00:42:06,082

for, of the glass?

00:42:06,082 --> 00:42:06,472

Yeah.

00:42:06,652 --> 00:42:08,242

no, that it was the another one

00:42:08,242 --> 00:42:09,472

that I sent you like yesterday.

00:42:09,872 --> 00:42:10,592

00:42:10,992 --> 00:42:11,262

00:42:11,277 --> 00:42:13,317

I don't have the, I don't have

00:42:13,317 --> 00:42:15,327

the Messenger app on my phone,

00:42:15,402 --> 00:42:15,852

00:42:16,167 --> 00:42:18,447

I have to go into Oh, I see.

00:42:18,477 --> 00:42:19,462

No, I didn't see that one.

00:42:20,112 --> 00:42:22,032

what it is after I do the the thing.

00:42:22,397 --> 00:42:22,687

00:42:22,992 --> 00:42:25,712

week's down of Appalachian interest

00:42:25,712 --> 00:42:27,782

is a place called Hillbilly Hotdog.

00:42:28,171 --> 00:42:30,901

If you've ever driven through

West Virginia and thought I could

00:42:30,901 --> 00:42:34,025

really go for a hot dog and a

run of the bill experience, then

00:42:34,025 --> 00:42:35,855

buddy, this place is not for you.

00:42:36,095 --> 00:42:38,105

But if you wanna a hotdog

in a story you'll be telling

00:42:38,105 --> 00:42:39,215

for the rest of your life.

00:42:39,215 --> 00:42:40,835

Welcome to Hillbilly Hotdogs.

00:42:41,225 --> 00:42:42,575

Hillbilly Hotdog in Las Sage.

00:42:42,575 --> 00:42:45,875

West Virginia is not just a restaurant,

it's an Appalachian landmark.

00:42:46,085 --> 00:42:47,795

It's a roadside situation.

00:42:48,035 --> 00:42:52,295

It's what happens when someone looks at

an old bus, a shack, some scrap be, and

00:42:52,295 --> 00:42:54,065

a dream, and says, yeah, this'll work.

00:42:54,125 --> 00:42:55,685

And it does really well.

00:42:56,165 --> 00:42:58,685

The menu starts with hot dogs,

but it does not stop there.

00:42:58,685 --> 00:43:02,675

You can get toppings, you recognize

toppings you forgot about, and toppings

00:43:02,675 --> 00:43:04,505

like onion rings and deep fried pickles.

00:43:04,720 --> 00:43:06,220

These are not polite hot dogs.

00:43:06,220 --> 00:43:07,840

These are real commitment dogs.

00:43:08,050 --> 00:43:09,730

You don't eat them in

a hurry, you eat them.

00:43:09,730 --> 00:43:12,940

Knowing your afternoon plans may

change, and if you're feeling

00:43:12,940 --> 00:43:17,110

brave, like commitment level, brave,

there's the 15 inch homewrecker.

00:43:17,330 --> 00:43:21,230

It stretches the limits of what a hot dog

should be and makes no apologies for it.

00:43:21,230 --> 00:43:22,955

The name alone lets you

know that this is a serious.

00:43:23,315 --> 00:43:23,915

Decisions.

00:43:24,305 --> 00:43:27,366

Ordering it is a leap of faith and

Finishing it becomes a story you'll

00:43:27,366 --> 00:43:29,166

tell for years, like a badge of honor.

00:43:29,566 --> 00:43:32,236

Now, let's talk about the setting

you might eat inside an old school

00:43:32,236 --> 00:43:34,216

bus you might eat next to a wash tub.

00:43:34,516 --> 00:43:37,846

You might sit next to license

plate bras, signs, and myriad

00:43:37,846 --> 00:43:39,466

things that defy explanation.

00:43:39,736 --> 00:43:43,396

It looks like a yard sale and art

installation or a mystery hole all

00:43:43,396 --> 00:43:45,646

rolled into one, but somehow it works.

00:43:45,646 --> 00:43:46,936

That's Appalachian math.

00:43:47,026 --> 00:43:50,296

And yes, because this place refuses

to be normal, they also have a

00:43:50,296 --> 00:43:51,856

wedding chapel on the property.

00:43:52,246 --> 00:43:55,726

Should you find yourself in need of

in one of a hurry, uh, that's right.

00:43:55,726 --> 00:43:58,276

You can eat a hot dog, walk

a few steps and get married.

00:43:58,276 --> 00:44:01,696

Nothing says commitment like vows

followed immediately by chili and slaw.

00:44:01,936 --> 00:44:02,686

Love is real.

00:44:02,686 --> 00:44:03,586

Love is lasting.

00:44:03,586 --> 00:44:05,071

Love smells faintly like onions.

00:44:05,632 --> 00:44:07,252

People come from everywhere to eat here.

00:44:07,252 --> 00:44:10,192

Tourists, roads, trippers, and

even celebrities like Guy fii

00:44:10,192 --> 00:44:11,932

from Diners Drive-Ins and Dives.

00:44:12,292 --> 00:44:15,592

Some folks spot it on TV ads and

think, well, that's on the list now.

00:44:15,982 --> 00:44:18,322

And locals, they don't make

a big deal of it out of it.

00:44:18,322 --> 00:44:21,412

They just shrug a little smile and

say, yep, that's hillbilly hotdog.

00:44:21,812 --> 00:44:23,642

Everything about this place is messy.

00:44:23,642 --> 00:44:27,855

It's loud and chaotic, but mostly

it's just unforgettable and exactly

00:44:27,855 --> 00:44:29,145

what kind of place that proves that.

00:44:29,145 --> 00:44:31,065

Appalachia does not do boring.

00:44:31,365 --> 00:44:35,325

We do character, we do flavor, we do

West Virginia slaw dogs with confidence.

00:44:35,685 --> 00:44:37,995

So if you ever find yourself

hungry in West Virginia and

00:44:37,995 --> 00:44:40,905

willing to trust the universe a

little, follow the science down.

00:44:40,905 --> 00:44:42,645

Route two, grab a napkin or six.

00:44:42,735 --> 00:44:44,625

And remember, this is not fast food.

00:44:44,865 --> 00:44:47,527

This is mountain food that

knows exactly what it is, and

00:44:47,527 --> 00:44:49,027

isn't asking for permission.

00:44:49,387 --> 00:44:51,457

So that's this week's down

of Appalachian interest.

00:44:51,457 --> 00:44:53,617

Hillbilly Hotdogs in

Las Sage, West Virginia.

00:44:53,652 --> 00:44:55,087

Tell 'em Queer Next Senta.

00:44:55,487 --> 00:44:57,532

God, this website's incredible.

00:44:59,139 --> 00:45:01,149

video I sent you is the Diners

00:45:01,149 --> 00:45:02,919

Dive and Dive, the, it's about

00:45:03,109 --> 00:45:03,329

00:45:03,489 --> 00:45:03,759

00:45:03,759 --> 00:45:05,439

It's the episode, I'll link it

00:45:05,579 --> 00:45:05,869

00:45:06,279 --> 00:45:07,809

in the newsletter this week.

00:45:08,049 --> 00:45:09,999

But you can, you can actually

check out the place and they

00:45:09,999 --> 00:45:10,959

show you some of the stuff.

00:45:11,229 --> 00:45:14,229

There's a congressman that shows up

and eats a hotdog in the middle of it.

00:45:14,679 --> 00:45:18,369

Like hillbilly hotdogs is, so I,

when my parents came to Huntington

00:45:18,369 --> 00:45:21,309

one time when I lived there,

they had a store in Huntington.

00:45:21,639 --> 00:45:24,819

And so we took him there one time and the

guy that owns it was there and he came out

00:45:24,819 --> 00:45:26,679

and told us the story of the Homewrecker.

00:45:27,079 --> 00:45:29,569

and it was named for exactly the

reason that you think it was.

00:45:29,659 --> 00:45:33,499

They, the, they were, they were shopping

for a new product and the people that make

00:45:33,499 --> 00:45:37,279

the hot dogs whipped out this giant one

and landed on the table, and his brother

00:45:37,279 --> 00:45:38,989

was like, well, that's a home record.

00:45:39,389 --> 00:45:41,849

And if you can, if you can eat it,

and I think it's like 10 minutes

00:45:41,849 --> 00:45:44,759

or less, you, uh, you could get

it for free and you get a T-shirt.

00:45:45,119 --> 00:45:47,159

So they have a challenge

that goes with it too.

00:45:47,559 --> 00:45:50,889

a, a picture on the, on the homepage of

00:45:50,889 --> 00:45:52,569

the home of a woman holding the homework.

00:45:52,569 --> 00:45:53,649

I guess this is sunny.

00:45:53,859 --> 00:45:59,899

And it is, it's on a 16

inch pizza, uh, platter.

00:46:00,299 --> 00:46:02,804

A a and it fit, it's almost fills it up.

00:46:02,804 --> 00:46:03,674

End to end.

00:46:04,154 --> 00:46:04,724

Oh man.

00:46:04,724 --> 00:46:08,264

I don't know about that, but I

tell you what, I would mess up

00:46:08,684 --> 00:46:11,404

this coal miner, wiener dog.

00:46:11,804 --> 00:46:13,004

Deep fried.

00:46:13,404 --> 00:46:14,704

Uh oh yeah.

00:46:15,104 --> 00:46:18,524

Deep fried weenie with some chili sauce

and some mustard and Cajun seasoning.

00:46:18,524 --> 00:46:21,838

Jesus moth man, dog.

00:46:22,238 --> 00:46:22,458

00:46:22,753 --> 00:46:24,073

can't say they're not creative.

00:46:24,473 --> 00:46:28,163

look legitimately, this is, this is like

00:46:28,563 --> 00:46:33,423

some people, when they tried it to do,

you know, they get a little gastropod

00:46:33,423 --> 00:46:36,543

about something, you know, they're

like, I'm gonna elevate the wiener dog.

00:46:36,783 --> 00:46:37,593

No, you're not.

00:46:37,893 --> 00:46:41,223

You can make it weirder, but you're

not elevating that thing nowhere.

00:46:41,583 --> 00:46:45,463

Like, and, and so I like that

whole gastro pub scene, like kind

00:46:45,463 --> 00:46:51,213

of, this is a deconstructed taco

bitch that's a pile of meat and you

00:46:51,213 --> 00:46:52,533

can't tell me it's anything else.

00:46:52,933 --> 00:46:55,153

And some of it, um, some of

it's delicious, I'm sure, but

00:46:55,153 --> 00:46:58,453

like, it's the pretension that

I can't stand the pretentious.

00:47:00,421 --> 00:47:01,621

at Hot Hillbilly Hot Dogs.

00:47:01,621 --> 00:47:02,041

I'll give you

00:47:02,041 --> 00:47:02,401

that.

00:47:02,718 --> 00:47:04,188

the, this wedding chapel, like,

00:47:04,188 --> 00:47:05,328

there's photos of it on here.

00:47:05,328 --> 00:47:11,728

It is garish and wonderful,

just absolute trash.

00:47:12,058 --> 00:47:14,848

There's a, there's a van up a tree there.

00:47:15,525 --> 00:47:22,525

It's literally just a, a cabin

a, a whole s goggling cabin, uh,

00:47:22,555 --> 00:47:27,705

halfway up a mountainside with

two trees and a just sheet metal.

00:47:27,795 --> 00:47:28,485

Oh, I love it.

00:47:28,885 --> 00:47:31,045

Listeners, please let us

know if you've been to here.

00:47:31,325 --> 00:47:35,025

And if you live in the area and you

haven't take a trip, like take a

00:47:35,025 --> 00:47:40,755

trip, take some photos and tag us on

Facebook or Instagram @Queernecks.

00:47:40,935 --> 00:47:46,505

'cause I would love to see y'all, uh,

patronizing the establishment like this.

00:47:46,905 --> 00:47:48,345

They have online merch.

00:47:48,745 --> 00:47:51,085

any stores or little hole in the wall,

00:47:51,085 --> 00:47:55,055

places like this that you could tell me

about that I could do for the down of

00:47:55,055 --> 00:47:56,645

Appalachian interest, please let me know.

00:47:56,645 --> 00:47:57,825

I would love to learn

more about the region.

00:47:58,655 --> 00:47:59,705

Yeah, absolutely.

00:47:59,705 --> 00:48:02,925

Like where's, where's the weird place

that can't be missed where you're from?

00:48:03,645 --> 00:48:06,165

there's the, the footer stand.

00:48:06,165 --> 00:48:09,485

Everybody got, everybody calls it

the, the footer stand where they

00:48:09,485 --> 00:48:12,725

have a, a particular kind of chili

sauce that they use down there.

00:48:12,935 --> 00:48:16,835

But you can buy an actual foot

long hot dog for like $2 and it

00:48:16,835 --> 00:48:19,985

comes with sauce and chili and uh,

or sauce and onion and mustard.

00:48:19,985 --> 00:48:20,495

I think.

00:48:20,775 --> 00:48:22,395

I always get them without the hot dog.

00:48:22,675 --> 00:48:25,465

I just get the sauce on the bun,

but then you can get like little

00:48:25,465 --> 00:48:29,255

fried cheese squares and any

kinda ice cream you can imagine.

00:48:29,525 --> 00:48:32,735

prices and it's delicious.

00:48:33,035 --> 00:48:37,535

And you, it's, it's all lit up in

neon and you know, it's all outside.

00:48:37,535 --> 00:48:40,955

You have to, you stand at a, a

window, it's like a dairy bar.

00:48:41,100 --> 00:48:42,725

It's, it's called a dairy cream.

00:48:42,975 --> 00:48:44,445

You can't, there's nowhere to eat inside.

00:48:44,445 --> 00:48:46,605

It's just the restaurant and

everything else is outside.

00:48:47,005 --> 00:48:50,185

some of the best diners is that in

00:48:50,185 --> 00:48:52,975

Eastern Kentucky specifically, that

there's a whole culture of that,

00:48:53,035 --> 00:48:53,395

00:48:53,635 --> 00:48:55,585

window and place your order.

00:48:55,795 --> 00:48:57,625

It's like a food truck

that doesn't go anywhere.

00:48:57,835 --> 00:49:01,675

And then there might be some picnic

tables, but mostly people just sitting

00:49:01,675 --> 00:49:05,185

around on the ground eating their ice

cream or their hot dog or whatever it was.

00:49:05,185 --> 00:49:07,745

They got, there was a place

in Carbondale, Illinois.

00:49:07,745 --> 00:49:11,375

It was a Dairy Queen, but it wasn't,

it was a individual franchise.

00:49:11,375 --> 00:49:13,765

It wasn't part of, and

you couldn't go inside.

00:49:13,765 --> 00:49:18,755

And so they were only open from

like, uh, April to October.

00:49:19,155 --> 00:49:21,950

And people, like, , there would be an

announcement on Facebook or something,

00:49:21,950 --> 00:49:24,440

like, they would put it in the paper or

on the radio or on the news, and people

00:49:24,440 --> 00:49:25,310

would be like, dairy Queen's open.

00:49:25,520 --> 00:49:28,820

There'd be a line block

for blocks down the street.

00:49:28,820 --> 00:49:31,460

And it was, it was so much better

than a regular dairy queen.

00:49:31,860 --> 00:49:33,150

I love places like that.

00:49:33,550 --> 00:49:36,040

a place in Corbin, the a and w stand.

00:49:36,040 --> 00:49:36,970

Same thing, right?

00:49:36,970 --> 00:49:40,210

It's A and w, but it's not

part of the franchise, I think.

00:49:40,420 --> 00:49:42,010

I think Guy Fieri went there too.

00:49:42,410 --> 00:49:43,820

it one of the drive up ones?

00:49:43,820 --> 00:49:45,330

I love the drive up where

00:49:45,375 --> 00:49:45,885

00:49:46,200 --> 00:49:47,370

Like, like Sonic's

00:49:47,550 --> 00:49:47,970

00:49:48,310 --> 00:49:48,730

Mm-hmm.

00:49:48,810 --> 00:49:49,650

they come out like that.

00:49:49,970 --> 00:49:50,210

Yeah.

00:49:50,210 --> 00:49:52,130

A and w root beer stand is very good.

00:49:52,530 --> 00:49:53,160

We had one of those

00:49:53,160 --> 00:49:53,910

in Portsmouth too.

00:49:54,110 --> 00:49:56,555

I remember it was actually not far

00:49:56,555 --> 00:49:58,535

from the drive-in movie in Corbin.

00:49:58,955 --> 00:50:04,655

So you know, in the summer they'd both

be open and we would go, you know,

00:50:05,055 --> 00:50:08,775

up there and either see the movie and

then hit up the, the root beer stand