Ugh, I can't believe that it's been almost five whole years since the Covid-19 pandemic came along and turned all of our lives upside down.

Five. whole. years.

Doesn't that make you feel old?

I still don’t know if the pandemic changed my life for better or worse, but for this week’s guest, it was the unexpected catalyst that kick-started their drag career.

This week, I’m joined by bearded drag queen Jackie Daniels, who shares how moving from small-town Armidale to the bright lights of Sydney, a special bond with her drag sister, and nights at The Green Park Hotel—a beloved gay bar in Darlinghurst that shut its doors in 2020—all shaped her journey.

Oh, and of course, we get into the highs and lows of lockdown life!

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This week's episode could very well be titled 'The Many Lovers of Frank Akinsete', because we somehow manage to cover off about half a dozen love affairs during our conversation!

And if you’re a longtime listener ofLost Spaces you already know that we love a good detour here. Honestly, I think those are the best episodes, where we get to truly know a person and trace their many, many queer footsteps.

This week’s guest is Frank Akinsete, a fashion stylist and consultant who’s been part of London’s queer scene since the70s, giving him a front-row seat to its evolution over the decades.

Frank and I caught up to talk aboutThe Mews, a late-night, dingy little club with almost no digital footprint, but we also talk about The Embassy, and just what Soho in London was like in the 70s and beyond. And, on top of that, we dive into his coming-out story, his overprotective cat, and, of course, hismany lovers.

For some context: for a long time, the heart of London’s gay scene was in Soho, particularly around Old Compton Street. But thanks to gentrification, that landscape has shifted, and the scene is much more fragmented now.

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So, Mormonism doesn't have the best reputation on this show. And honestly, given their policies toward queer people, that's not exactly surprising.

But, there are some people working within the religion trying to make it more inclusive and open-minded. One of these groups is Understanding Sexuality, Gender, and Allyship - or USGA - a support group that gave queer students at Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah a place to find community.

And one of the people that went there religiously (see what I did there?) is AJ Romriell, a US-based writer who also happens to be the partner of former Lost Spaces guest Terrance O'Brien Henderson.

We got together to talk about why that group was so vital for AJ, and particularly the significance of it being allowed to meet on campus... until suddenly, it wasn't. But I'll let AJ tell you more about that.

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