From Analog to AOL & Beyond: Growing Up Queer in the 1990s

From Analog to AOL & Beyond: Growing Up Queer in the 1990s

Hello everybody. This week I am ‘on the road’ so I am coming to you from a makeshift studio care of my boyfriend’s sister’s childhood bedroom in Florida.  Anyway, I cannot believe it, but we are winding down this season. This episode marks my 34th show, so we are a little overdue so we are going to take a short Summer break. But before I do, I am going to leave you with a couple more AMAZING episodes. This week on Duke’s Download, I sit down with historian, cultural critic, and all-around brilliant human Hugh Ryan (aka Hugh the Historian co-host Queer 101 with Pepermint) to talk about his memoir My Bad: A Personal History of the Queer ’90s and Beyond—and wow, do we go there. We dive into what the queer 1990s were really like. Not the glossy, playlist-ready nostalgia version. I’m talking about the messy, confusing, sometimes dangerous reality of growing up LGBTQ in the shadow of the AIDS crisis—when community was analog, the internet was barely a thing, and representation was… limited at best. Hugh opens up about why he chose memoir instead of straight history—because sometimes the most powerful way to tell queer history is to tell the truth about how it actually felt. We talk about how the shift from analog queer spaces to early internet connection changed everything, why progress is never a straight line (pun absolutely intended), and why marriage equality didn’t magically solve systemic inequality. We also get into: * Why ’90s nostalgia leaves out some hard truths * The limits of assimilation politics * How queer archives can be endangered—even inside major institutions * The “dangerously fabulous” early-2000s NYC nightlife scene * The Pop-Up Museum of Queer History and the Smithsonian Hide/Seek controversy * The fight to build lasting institutions like the American LGBTQ Museum (opening 2028) This episode is about queer culture, queer history, queer survival—and why preserving our stories matters now more than ever. And yes, we laugh a lot too. You can write to us at: Questions@DukesDownload.com And follow us onInstagram:  * @jamesdukemason * @PrideHouseMedia

Boy George on Makeup, Reinvention & His Next Era

This week on Duke’s Download, I sit down with the one and only Boy George (yes that Boy George) — and let me tell you, he does not disappoint. We had a super fun and really relaxed conversation about reinvention — again. George gets real about makeup, transformation, and how differently people treat him when he’s not in full Boy George mode. (Spoiler: the face changes, the attitude doesn’t.) I even share a memory of watching him put on make up backstage when I was a little kid. It is kind of crazy… he is auctioning off some of his most iconic looks in LA — yes, actual fashion history — and he shares the stories behind the pieces. We also get into the new Boy George & Culture Club documentary, and how he refuses to become a nostalgia act while still honoring the past. Touring, DJ sets, even spinning at London’s goth club The Dark Room — he’s still out there. We also dive into why he quit X (formerly Twitter), the madness of online culture wars, and how words like “woke,” “gay,” and “trans” get repeated until they harden into “truth.” And then — plot twist — we talk AI. George is experimenting with AI as a songwriting tool, using it to spark ideas and bring fresh hooks to the band. He’s testing it on tour, writing daily like therapy, and exploring where technology and creativity collide. Plus: * A revival of Taboo * Possible new music directions * Buddhism, astrology, Eurovision * And how to survive the internet without losing your mind It’s reflective. It’s sharp. It’s funny. It’s very George. He’s not stuck in the ’80s. He’s not stuck anywhere. And honestly? That might be the most punk thing about him. You can write to us at: Questions@DukesDownload.com And follow us onInstagram:  * @jamesdukemason * @PrideHouseMedia

Ask Duke Anything: Presidents I’ve Met, Politics, Wellness & Favorite LGBTQ+ Films

Hello everybody. Well…you asked — I answered. In this Ask Duke Anything episode of Duke’s Download, I’m diving into your questions about everything from the U.S. presidents I’ve met (yes, really!) to my daily wellness routine, my political origin story, and my favorite LGBTQ+ films of all time. Over the years, I’ve either met or been in the room with Presidents Reagan, Carter, Clinton, George W. Bush, Obama, Trump, and Biden — which still feels surreal to say out loud. I also share what it was like meeting Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip back in 2002 (a moment I’ll never forget). We also get into: * My current wellness routine (daily walking, weight training, high‑protein focus, meditation, and faith) * Why mental health and movement go hand in hand * Whether I’d ever make a documentary about my family and my grandfather, James Mason * My thoughts on the upcoming book James Mason: The Star Hollywood Forgot (coming this September) * How I first got involved in politics around the 2000 election * My favorite songs from my mom’s career (you know I had to!) * Thoughts on the war in Ukraine * My all‑time favorite LGBTQ+ films like The Birdcage, To Wong Foo, and Priscilla, Queen of the Desert * Favorite travel spots, actors, and what’s ahead this summer This one is personal, wide‑ranging, and honestly a lot of fun. I love doing these Q&A episodes because they let me connect with you beyond headlines and hot takes. If you enjoy conversations about politics, Hollywood history, wellness, LGBTQ+ culture, and life behind the scenes — this episode is for you. Drop your questions for the next Ask Duke Anything in the comments 👇 You can write to us at: Questions@DukesDownload.com And follow us onInstagram:  * @jamesdukemason * @PrideHouseMedia

Preserving Queer History: Brian J. Smith on His New Film "A House Is Not a Disco"

This week, I sit down with actor and filmmaker Brian J. Smith (Sense8, Stargate Universe, Tony‑nominated for The Glass Menagerie) — but this conversation is really about something deeply personal and culturally urgent: his Fire Island documentary, A House Is Not a Disco. And honestly? This film feels like a time capsule. Brian and I talk about why Fire Island — a place so central to queer history, identity, and freedom — deserved a documentary that captured it not just as a party destination, but as a living, evolving community. He shares how the film was shot across the 2022 season, with extraordinary access to residents, performers, and longtime community members. We get into what it takes to document a queer space from the inside — the trust, the archival material, the emotional responsibility — and why this moment in LGBTQ culture felt important to preserve on camera. We also talk about: * Why he moved from acting into directing and producing * Capturing Fire Island as both sanctuary and spectacle * The balance between nostalgia and forward momentum * Why queer spaces must be documented before they disappear * Self‑distribution in today’s indie film world Of course, we also touch on Brian’s career — from moving to New York in 2002 to study acting, to navigating a “don’t ask, don’t tell” industry climate after graduating in 2006, to how Sense8 built a passionate global fanbase during the early days of streaming before algorithms began steering creative decisions. But at its heart, this episode is about his extraordinary film A House Is Not a Disco — It’s about a chosen family, queer legacy, and what it means to document a culture while you’re still living in it. If you care about: ✅ Fire Island history and LGBTQ culture  ✅ Queer documentary filmmaking  ✅ Independent film distribution  ✅ Sense8 and LGBTQ representation in media  ✅ Preserving queer spaces  ✅ The evolution of LGBTQ storytelling This one’s for you. A House is Not a Disco is available for pre-order on July 2nd here Gathr.com [https://gathr.com/vod/69affd7f/a-house-is-not-a-disco#]. It will be availblre for download July 9th. For more information about the film go to ahouseisnotadisco.com [http://ahouseisnotadisco.com] And be sure to follow at @ahouseisnotadisco You can write to us at: Questions@DukesDownload.com And follow us onInstagram:  * @jamesdukemason * @PrideHouseMedia

Eric Orner on Queer Comics, Ethan Green, Capitol Hill & Barney Frank’s Legacy

Hey everybody, this week on Dukes Downloaded, I’m sitting down with someone who has truly lived at the intersection of queer culture, politics, and comics — Eric Orner. You might know Eric as the creator of the iconic LGBTQ comic strip “The Mostly Unfabulous Social Life of Ethan Green.” Or maybe you know him from his graphic biography “Smahtguy: The Life and Times of Barney Frank.” Or maybe — plot twist — you didn’t know he also worked on Capitol Hill, AND at Disney Studios out in Hollwood.  Yeah. We get into all of it. Eric tells me how he went from being a political cartoonist in conservative New Hampshire (yes, really) to becoming a major voice in queer comics. We talk about how Ethan Green was born out of his own dating disasters — because honestly, what better source material is there? We also reflect on Barney Frank’s legacy following his recent passing and what it means for LGBTQ political history. This episode is really about how art and politics collide — and how queer storytelling shapes culture in ways we don’t always see coming. If you care about: * LGBTQ history * Queer comics * Barney Frank * Capitol Hill stories * The evolution of the gay press * Graphic novels and political storytelling You’re going to love this one. Follow Eric on Instagram@EricSamOrner You can write to us at: Questions@DukesDownload.com And follow us onInstagram:  * @jamesdukemason * @PrideHouseMedia