Cruising | Queer History and Culture
Sarah Gabrielli, Rachel Karp, and Jennifer McGinity
Show overview
Cruising | Queer History and Culture has been publishing since 2021, and across the 5 years since has built a catalogue of 92 episodes, alongside 17 trailers or bonus episodes. That works out to roughly 75 hours of audio in total. Releases follow a monthly cadence, with the show now in its 3rd season.
Episodes typically run thirty-five to sixty minutes — most land between 37 min and 1h — though episode length varies meaningfully from one episode to the next. It is catalogued as a EN-US-language Society & Culture show.
The show is actively publishing — the most recent episode landed 1 weeks ago, with 15 episodes already out so far this year. The busiest year was 2025, with 24 episodes published. Published by Sarah Gabrielli, Rachel Karp, and Jennifer McGinity.
From the publisher
Conversations about lesbian bars, sapphic spaces, and beyond! Not sure where to start? You don’t have to listen in order! Pick your favorite city, space, or LGBTQ+ icon and dive in. Season 1 follows creators Sarah Gabrielli, Rachel Karp, and Jen McGinity on their 2021 cross-country road trip to every lesbian bar in the U.S., sharing the stories of the humans that run these spaces and the humans that call them a home. Season 2 features 14 more spaces, chronicling the current lesbian bar resurgence AND taking you back in time to lesbian bars of decades past. In Season 3, host Sarah Gabrielli sits down with history-making lesbians and LGBTQ+ folks to discuss all kinds of queer spaces - from bookstores, to farms, to peace encampments and more! New episodes air every other Tuesday.
Latest Episodes
View all 92 episodesLIVE: Community Story Share at As You Are (Washington, DC / 05.28.26)
Live: Community Story Share at The Lipstick Lounge (Nashville, TN / 06.06.26)
LIVE: Community Story Share at Gossip Grill and Diversionary Theatre (San Diego, CA)
Making Queer Space in Brooklyn: LIVE Panel at Greenlight Bookstore
LIVE: Community Story Share and Book Launch (Ginger's Bar, Brooklyn / 05.26.26)
LIVE: Community Story Share (Northampton, MA / 06.01.26)
Highlights From Our Lesbian Bar Road Trip
Organizer Meg Riley on living in a lesbian co-op, the history of radical resistance in Minneapolis, and the ICE surge
Activist Mandy Carter on war resistance, the Quaker tradition, and the search for her long lost siblings
Franco Stevens on the history of Curve Magazine, lesbian visibility, and extremely creative fundraising
S3 Ep 26Angeli Luz on creating the Lesbian Masterdoc and the backlash
Angeli Luz was 18 years old when she sat down to research, pen, and post the “Am I A Lesbian?” Masterdoc. Over a decade later, her work has withstood the test of time having reached millions of readers worldwide. The Lesbian Master Doc, for those that don’t already know, is a 30 page research paper asking the question that Angeli herself was parsing out at the time: How do I know if I'm a lesbian? What is the difference between actual attraction and compulsory heterosexuality (comphet) fostered by the world around us? In conversation, Angeli discusses: -the story behind the creation of the doc -going viral and the backlash that comes with that -what she would change about her writing if approaching it today -attention from celebrities like Reneé Rapp and Kehlani -discovering her own sexual identity and coming out, for a second time, as bisexual Read the full “Am I A Lesbian?” Masterdoc Follow Angeli on Instagram, Tiktok, Twitter, or visit her website! Thank you for listening to Cruising Podcast! -Reviews help other listeners find Cruising! If you like what you hear, please subscribe and leave us a 5-star review! -For more Cruising adventures, follow us @cruisingpod on Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook -Check out Cruising's Substack for deep dives and companion pieces to our episodes! -Preorder our book, THE LESBIAN BAR CHRONICLES -Support Cruising here! Cruising is an independent podcast. That means we're entirely funded by sponsors and listeners like you! -Cruising is reported and produced by a small but mighty team of three: Sarah Gabrielli (host/story producer/audio engineer), Rachel Karp (story producer/social media manager), and Jen McGinity (line producer/resident road-trip driver). Theme song is by Joey Freeman. Cover art is by Nikki Ligos. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
S3 Ep 25Bernie Stark on women's softball, Title IX, and trans inclusion in sports
The Mary Vazquez Women's Softball League was founded in 1976 in Northampton, Massachusetts. A collection of lesbian feminists (Eileen Stewart, Jean Grossholtz, Susan Tracy, and Maryann Jennings) formed the league around their values of equity, inclusion, and community. Today, Sarah sits down with long-time player, and former league commissioner, Bernie Stark to discuss: -The league's history and origin story -Unique traditions, rules, and culture -The impact of Title IX on different generations of players -How the league decided to define "women's" softball and include trans athletes -Growing up in a traditional home as a girl in sports Explore the leagues website! Follow the league on Instagram! Thank you for listening to Cruising Podcast! -Reviews help other listeners find Cruising! If you like what you hear, please subscribe and leave us a 5-star review! -For more Cruising adventures, follow us @cruisingpod on Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook -Check out Cruising's Substack for deep dives and companion pieces to our episodes! -Preorder our book, THE LESBIAN BAR CHRONICLES -Support Cruising here! Cruising is an independent podcast. That means we're entirely funded by sponsors and listeners like you! -Cruising is reported and produced by a small but mighty team of three: Sarah Gabrielli (host/story producer/audio engineer), Rachel Karp (story producer/social media manager), and Jen McGinity (line producer/resident road-trip driver). Theme song is by Joey Freeman. Cover art is by Nikki Ligos. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
S3 Ep 24Activists Heather Booth and Martha Scott on their historic underground abortion network
They called it "The Service," the world has called them "The Janes" - this episode follows the story of Chicago's underground abortion network. From its 1965 inception, through their devastating police bust, and the eventual legalization of abortion on the federal level in 1973. Act I features Heather Booth, a Civil Rights activist who first founded the service and trained other women in her procedures and philosophies. In Act II we meet Martha Scott, a stay-at-home mom who decides to dedicate a bit of her time to a worthy cause, and ends up a central figure in the collective. Both women help paint a chilling picture of the time: including women's oppression, treatment in the medical industry, access to birth control, and the impact of "Our Bodies Ourselves." -Stream "The Janes" documentary on HBO -Order the book "The Story of Jane" by collective member Laura Kaplan Thank you for listening to Cruising Podcast! -Reviews help other listeners find Cruising! If you like what you hear, please subscribe and leave us a 5-star review! -For more Cruising adventures, follow us @cruisingpod on Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook -Check out Cruising's Substack for deep dives and companion pieces to our episodes! -Preorder our book, THE LESBIAN BAR CHRONICLES -Support Cruising here! Cruising is an independent podcast. That means we're entirely funded by sponsors and listeners like you! -Cruising is reported and produced by a small but mighty team of three: Sarah Gabrielli (host/story producer/audio engineer), Rachel Karp (story producer/social media manager), and Jen McGinity (line producer/resident road-trip driver). Theme song is by Joey Freeman. Cover art is by Nikki Ligos. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
S3 Ep 23Margaret Cho on her parents’ gay bookstore, BDSM during HIV/AIDS, and why Ellen hates her
Iconic comedian Margaret Cho joins us on the podcast to discuss the ups and downs of her career, and all of the ways queerness has always been part of her life. We cover topics like: discovering gay people at her parents' gay bookstore working at a lesbian BDSM leather shop the devastating impact of HIV/AIDS in her communities being a self-proclaimed life-long *** hag starring in the first Asian-American family sitcom on television, and the eating disorder that came from that racism and fatphobia in Hollywood why Ellen Degeneres hates her -You can find out more about Margaret Cho and her current "Choligarchy" stand-up tour at margaretcho.com -Follow her on Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, and YouTube Thank you for listening to Cruising Podcast! -Reviews help other listeners find Cruising! If you like what you hear, please subscribe and leave us a 5-star review! -For more Cruising adventures, follow us @cruisingpod on Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook -Check out Cruising's Substack for deep dives and companion pieces to our episodes! -Preorder our book, THE LESBIAN BAR CHRONICLES -Support Cruising here! Cruising is an independent podcast. That means we're entirely funded by sponsors and listeners like you! -Cruising is reported and produced by a small but mighty team of three: Sarah Gabrielli (host/story producer/audio engineer), Rachel Karp (story producer/social media manager), and Jen McGinity (line producer/resident road-trip driver). Theme song is by Joey Freeman. Cover art is by Nikki Ligos. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
S3 Ep 22Diane on coming out at 77, going viral, and life as a nun
Our friend Diane took the internet by storm this winter, when she started to tell her story of coming out and falling in love as a late-in-life lesbian. With over 5 million views, and thousands of adoring commenters, we figured it was time Sarah sat down with Diane to discuss her life in more detail. They unpack everything about Diane's 77 years of compulsive heteronormativity (she is, understandably, very excited to learn the word for that). From growing up in an abusive household, to seeking refuge at the convent (where she discovers alcoholism), and finally finding love (both romantically, and on the internet), Diane brings the same vulnerability and charm we have come to know on social media. -If you want to contribute to Diane's vacation fund, her venmo is Diane-Markel-1 (if there is no photo, or visible transactions, you're in the right place!) Thank you for listening to Cruising Podcast! -Reviews help other listeners find Cruising! If you like what you hear, please subscribe and leave us a 5-star review! -For more Cruising adventures, follow us @cruisingpod on Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook -Check out Cruising's Substack for deep dives and companion pieces to our episodes! -Preorder our book, THE LESBIAN BAR CHRONICLES -Support Cruising here! Cruising is an independent podcast. That means we're entirely funded by sponsors and listeners like you! -Cruising is reported and produced by a small but mighty team of three: Sarah Gabrielli (host/story producer/audio engineer), Rachel Karp (story producer/social media manager), and Jen McGinity (line producer/resident road-trip driver). Theme song is by Joey Freeman. Cover art is by Nikki Ligos. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
S3 Ep 21Carmen Maria Machado on writing 'In the Dream House,' tops/bottoms, and the forgotten history of queer DV
Guest Carmen Maria Machado is a writer of queer horror, essays, and short stories. She is most well-known for her memoir, In the Dream House, which came out in 2019, and really took the queer lit world by storm. In it, she brings light to a concept often shied away from - domestic violence and abuse within queer relationships. While writing the memoir, Carmen did a lot of research into the history of domestic abuse within the lesbian community - the ways in which it is less visible, and the stories that made it into the archives despite all odds. She speaks candidly (and wittily) about all of this, including her own personal experience, coming out journey, and writing process. -Find more about Carmen and her work on her website -Follow Carmen on Instagram -Subscribe to her Substack, Cup of Stars Thank you for listening to Cruising Podcast! -Reviews help other listeners find Cruising! If you like what you hear, please subscribe and leave us a 5-star review! -For more Cruising adventures, follow us @cruisingpod on Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook -Check out Cruising's Substack for deep dives and companion pieces to our episodes! -Preorder our book, THE LESBIAN BAR CHRONICLES -Support Cruising here! Cruising is an independent podcast. That means we're entirely funded by sponsors and listeners like you! -Cruising is reported and produced by a small but mighty team of three: Sarah Gabrielli (host/story producer/audio engineer), Rachel Karp (story producer/social media manager), and Jen McGinity (line producer/resident road-trip driver). Theme song is by Joey Freeman. Cover art is by Nikki Ligos. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
S3 Ep 20Elaine Stott on trying dr*gs at 5, getting kicked out of school bathrooms, and her journey to Survivor
Elaine Stott charmed audiences back in 2019 on the 39th season of CBS's Survivor. She was a shining light on her season and proved that a lesbian could, quite easily, win over the hearts of America, as well as her fellow castaways. This is Elaine's story - one of tomboyishness, and skipping school, and fierce independence. We discuss growing up in small-town Kentucky (where she broke records for the most write-ups in school history), meeting her now-wife working at the factory, and finally achieving her dream of playing Survivor. This episode is for Survivor fans and newbies alike. -Follow Elaine on Instagram and TikTok Thank you for listening to Cruising Podcast! -Reviews help other listeners find Cruising! If you like what you hear, please subscribe and leave us a 5-star review! -For more Cruising adventures, follow us @cruisingpod on Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook -Check out Cruising's Substack for deep dives and companion pieces to our episodes! -Preorder our book, THE LESBIAN BAR CHRONICLES -Support Cruising here! Cruising is an independent podcast. That means we're entirely funded by sponsors and listeners like you! -Cruising is reported and produced by a small but mighty team of three: Sarah Gabrielli (host/story producer/audio engineer), Rachel Karp (story producer/social media manager), and Jen McGinity (line producer/resident road-trip driver). Theme song is by Joey Freeman. Cover art is by Nikki Ligos. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
S3 Ep 19Brooke Webster on Meow Mix, Cattyshack, and being featured in Chasing Amy and Go Fish
Some of the most beloved lesbian bars of the past few decades have been the creations of our guest, Brooke Webster. This week, Brooke shares the stories behind Meow Mix (1996-2004) and Cattyshack (2005-2009). Her bars quickly became cultural phenomenons - from shoutouts on Ellen's coming out episode to features in Kevin Smith's cult classic lesbian film, Chasing Amy (1997). We also get to know Brooke herself, her rich history of activism, and her decades-long love story (lovers to enemies to wives). -Learn more about Meow Mix! -Follow the Instagram page for Meow Mix's 30th anniversary! Thank you for listening to Cruising Podcast! -Reviews help other listeners find Cruising! If you like what you hear, please subscribe and leave us a 5-star review! -For more Cruising adventures, follow us @cruisingpod on Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook -Check out Cruising's Substack for deep dives and companion pieces to our episodes! -Support Cruising here! Cruising is an independent podcast. That means we're entirely funded by sponsors and listeners like you! -Cruising is reported and produced by a small but mighty team of three: Sarah Gabrielli (host/story producer/audio engineer), Rachel Karp (story producer/social media manager), and Jen McGinity (line producer/resident road-trip driver). Theme song is by Joey Freeman. Cover art is by Nikki Ligos. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
S3 Ep 18Jess Dobkin and Lisa DeBoer on the "Lesbian Time-Out Kiss-In," Lesbian Avengers, and queer visibility in the WNBA
In 1999, Jess Dobkin and Lisa DeBoer formed the activist group Lesbians for Liberty. Their purpose was to push for visibility in the WNBA and specifically, at the New York Liberty games. In Act I, Jess and Lisa sit down with Sarah to discuss the history of lesbians and the WNBA, the story of the Lesbian Time-Out Kiss-In, and their experiences in activist groups like the Lesbian Avengers. In Act II, Jess remains to talk about some of her most radical pieces of performance art. Thank you for listening to Cruising Podcast! -Reviews help other listeners find Cruising! If you like what you hear, please subscribe and leave us a 5-star review! -For more Cruising adventures, follow us @cruisingpod on Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook -Check out Cruising's Substack for deep dives and companion pieces to our episodes! -Support Cruising here! Cruising is an independent podcast. That means we're entirely funded by sponsors and listeners like you! -Cruising is reported and produced by a small but mighty team of three: Sarah Gabrielli (host/story producer/audio engineer), Rachel Karp (story producer/social media manager), and Jen McGinity (line producer/resident road-trip driver). Theme song is by Joey Freeman. Cover art is by Nikki Ligos. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
S3 Ep 17Oak Chezar on rejecting the patriarchy and more stories from Greenham Common Women's Peace Camp
Radical lesbian activist Oak Chezar spent three years protesting nuclear war at Greenham Common Women's Peace Camp, and another five living on lesbian women's lands. Some of Oak's stories were aired on our original Greenham Common episode with Sue Say and, due to popular demand, we bring you Sarah's full conversation with her here today. Tune in for never-before-seen tales of creative actions, annoying law enforcement, living outside of the dominant culture, and finding love at the lesbian peace camp. If you missed our Sue Say episode, or forgot its contents: Greenham Common Women’s Peace Camp was an anti-nuke encampment outside of a US military base in England. There, women (and loads of lesbians) occupied from 1981 all the way through 2000. Every day at Greenham was exciting - for better or for worse. The women were evicted from their camps and terrorized by police every morning, they rebuilt every day, and by the end of the night found new creative ways to peacefully disrupt the military base next to them. Tune in for Oak's never-before-seen tales of creative actions, annoying law enforcement, living outside of the dominant culture, and finding love at the lesbian peace camp. Find out more about Oak and her work at oakchezar.com Thank you for listening to Cruising Podcast! -Reviews help other listeners find Cruising! If you like what you hear, please subscribe and leave us a 5-star review! -For more Cruising adventures, follow us @cruisingpod on Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook -Check out Cruising's Substack for deep dives and companion pieces to our episodes! -Support Cruising here! Cruising is an independent podcast. That means we're entirely funded by sponsors and listeners like you! -Cruising is reported and produced by a small but mighty team of three: Sarah Gabrielli (host/story producer/audio engineer), Rachel Karp (story producer/social media manager), and Jen McGinity (line producer/resident road-trip driver). Theme song is by Joey Freeman. Cover art is by Nikki Ligos. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices