Author Archives: kayliametcalfe

Parable of the Sower (Book Review)

Part warning about the future, part supernatural adventure, and part philosophical deep dive into humanity’s desire for religion… this book just might be the perfect read for January 2025.

90. The Well To Hell

Many years ago, Soviet scientists drilled the deepest borehole ever dug by humans. They were looking for geological information, but instead, they encountered the very fires of Hell itself. In this episode, Matt discusses an urban legend with ties to both Evangelical Christianity and late 1980s right-wing politics.

Smells Like Christmas (December 20th, 2024)

We have special guests James Hensley (Chris’s husband) and Matt Armstrong (Kaylia’s husband) on our Christmas episode. We highlight a couple of local nonprofits, enjoy a queer holiday poem, and then dive into gift-giving. Plus, fragrances for everyone, lesbian resourcefulness, Christmas songs, Christmas movies, Mariah Carey, and a holiday quiz. Add Y2K memories and a dash of New Year’s Eve and you have our annual Christmas (politics-free) spectacular!

S012 Relaunch

Books, books books! We learn about local efforts to get a library in the Tower District, a new queer-centric bookstore in Fresno’s Chinatown, and our personal picks for the best books of 2024. Plus book ban updates, what’s going on in queer lit, and we both find love… Hot Santa or Tater Tots? You decide which is yummier!

89. Ghosts of the Playa Vista Project

The Playa Vista or Bellona Wetlands area is said to be haunted. Despite the location containing a well-known and widely reported Native American cemetery, the ghosts are actually somewhat unexpected and weirdly delightful. In this episode, Matt talks about ghosts, real estate development, archaeology, and Howard Hughes.

Tower Library, A Queer Bookstore, and Hot Santa (December 6th, 2024)

Books, books books! We learn about local efforts to get a library in the Tower District, a new queer-centric bookstore in Fresno’s Chinatown, and our personal picks for the best books of 2024. Plus book ban updates, what’s going on in queer lit, and we both find love… Hot Santa or Tater Tots? You decide which is yummier!

Just Thanks (Bonus Holiday Episode)(Thanksgiving, 2024)

Join Chris and Kaylia for this special bonus holiday episode! No politics, but lots of turkey talk, plus cooking tips with Chris and exciting “new” vocabulary words! Enjoy!

88. Three Haunted California Theaters

It seems that every theater that hosts live performances is home to at least one ghost story. But what about movie theaters? What about old movie theaters that became live performance venues? What can the ghosts that haunt these places tell us about how we connect our present with the past? In this episode, Matt talks about three theaters in his home state that are said to be haunted by a variety of ghosts.

Food Not Bombs, Election Aftermath, and Monkey Business (November 15th, 2024)

In this episode we talk to J from Food Not Bombs Fresno about collecting and dispersing food to the community in need, dive into a 2024 election aftermath, talk the Onion and Info Wars, The Liberty Council Naughty or Nice list, empowered people in New Zealand, laugh at some strange monkey business, and share about more local LGBTQ nonprofits.