Fantasy vs. Reality: Culture Shock and "Cheap" Travel

Armor Up! We're Going Back

Season 1, Episode 5 Fernando and Jason have freshly returned from the US! For Jason, it was his first time back since moving abroad. Both of them are in their feelings. Fernando headed to Seattle's Vashon Island for his godson's 18th birthday (strangers, ferries, teen drama — it had everything). Jason flew to San Francisco to complete filming on his feature documentary. In between the laughs — Jason's belly dancer 18th birthday story, a debate about storage units and butt plug sculptures, $86 pizzas, and an empty Virgin Atlantic flight that said everything about the moment — they get real about identity, belonging, and what it means to stop trying to become someone else. Also: Portugal just doubled the path to citizenship from 5 years to 10. Fernando breaks it down, keeps it calm, and finds the silver lining. Plus: listener Jules gets her answer about The Thing in the Closet. You'll know when you get there.

Fantasy vs. Reality: Shameless Sex and Abundant Eating Abroad

Season 1, Episode 4 In this episode of Bear Fur & Sparkles, Fernando (Lisbon) and Jason (Athens) get refreshingly honest about two topics people rarely discuss together: food and sex. (Unless you freaky like that then go on girl, do you!) Fernando confesses he's gained 10 pounds since moving to Portugal — but here's the twist: he's never felt better about his body, he's off every fad diet he was cycling through in California, and the chains are officially off! Jason gets even more personal, sharing how PrEP's limited availability in Greece has been a wake-up call — one that connects to a lifetime of shame, fear, and the very real trauma that gay men of their generation carry from growing up during the AIDS crisis. They talk about the life-changing harm reduction models at San Francisco's Magnet and Strut clinics, what it means to reclaim your body for pleasure, and why access to sexual health care is a quality-of-life issue — not a moral one. They also answer a listener question from Tara, who wants to know: where do I even begin if I want to move abroad? Fernando and Jason break it down with practical, honest advice — including the most important question you need to ask yourself before you book that one-way ticket.

The Role Models

Role models who never knew they were role models. Fernando and Jason share stories about the people they've met earlier in life that showed them they can live their lives anyway they wanted. These role models don't give you the script. But they show us what it could look like. That includes picking up and moving abroad. Plus! Fernando reveals to Jason how he saved Fernando's move to Portugal. Oh, and we debut our brand new theme song. 🎶 Enjoy episode 3 of Bear Fur & Sparkles!

Fantasy vs. Reality: Culture Shock and "Cheap" Travel

Episode 2 is here! What is "disidentification?" You could be doing it right now! Jason spills the tea on that and his struggles to come to terms with new cultural norms in Greece. With budget airlines and aggressive competition, air travel in Europe is thought to be inexpensive and easy. Fernando draws back the curtain on what travel is really like within the European continent.

Goodbye, I'm Home!

Season 1 debut! Episode one of Bear Fur and Sparkles starts with Jason's brush with a god on the Athens subway and Fernando's hot takes on the "Heated Rivalry" phenomenon. Then hear the full story of why they chose to leave the US and begin again with new lives in Europe. If you've ever thought about living in a foreign country, you'll love the first episode of Bear Fur and Sparkles!