The Cutting Up: A Kiki with Connie & Lina

Pride House Media
  • 5.0 (25)
  • Fashion & Beauty

Welcome to The Cutting Up: A Kiki with Connie and Lina, a new weekly podcast hosted by DJ/activist Lina Bradford and fashion legend Connie Fleming, the show offers unprecedented access to the icons, secrets, and untold stories that shaped queer culture. Lina and Connie are both trailblazing women of transgender experience, with deep backgrounds hosting and performing in NYC’s most storied clubs—and pioneering on fashion runways. They bring their knowledge, stories, and relationships to “The Cutting Up,” offering audiences a backstage pass to authentic conversations that can only happen between true friends and industry legends. “The Cutting Up” goes deep on fashion, music, activism, and identity.

  1. 4d ago

    A Summer Cookout Chaos Cutting Up

    Summer vibes only!  Lina, Connie, and Producer Matt take Summer by storm. It’s all music, cookout food debates, beach energy, Fire Island plans, tan lines, and how you know summer has really started (hint: shirtless runners and sandals). They kick things off riffing on The Pointer Sisters, Cher, florals (groundbreaking), and the ultimate summer playlist soundtrack — from Donna Summer and the B‑52’s to “Summertime Sadness,” “Summer Breeze,” bossa nova, and Jessie Ware. If you need songs of the summer inspiration, we’ve got you. Then it’s cookout chaos: 🍗 What are you bringing to the BBQ? Potato salad? Mac & cheese? Ribs? Curry goat? Watermelon‑feta‑mint salad? Tuna‑pickle pasta? Barbecued shrimp?  🍹 What are we drinking, babes? Ginger beer, gin + fizzy lemonade, or our chaotic Fire Island special: Corona + tequila + lime.  We are serving peak summer energy. Drop your go‑to summer song and cookout dish in the comments 👇 And don’t forget to like, subscribe, and send this to your favorite BBQ guest. Write to us at Kiki@TheCuttingUp.com And follow us on instagram: @TheCuttingUp @TheRealConnieGirl @TheLinaBradford @PrideHouseMedia “The Cutting Up: A Kiki with Connie & Lina” is a Pride House Media production. Producers: Josh Rosenzweig & Matthew Breen. Graphic Design by Daryl Raymond. Original Music by 808 BEACH (John “J-C” Carr & Bill Coleman), courtesy of Peace Bisquit.   Production Design by Darryl Dickens.  Photography by Shane Reynolds. Our very special thanks to Jason Kanner for all your support.

    35 min

  2. Jul 2

    Fire Island’s Hidden History + Madonna’s Next Act

    Pop icon debates, queer history deep dives, and insider cultural storytelling! This week Connie and Lina are joined by writer-producer Jess Rothschild. First up, Madonna’s Confessions Two album. What do we know and what do we really want Madonna to deliver? Plus a deep dive on mother’s discography: Erotica, Bedtime Stories, Ray of Light, her stunning debut, and early classics like “Burnin’ Up” and “Borderline.” Then Jess talks Finding Fire Island, her documentary podcast series now streaming: her first Cherry Grove trip in 2008, falling for The Pines a decade later, why nobody had made an accessible Fire Island history before, and the work of tracking down longtime residents for oral history. Lina closes it out with her own return to The Pines including anniversary events, a new residency, and how female energy is reshaping the island's culture.  Write to us at Kiki@TheCuttingUp.com And follow us on instagram: @TheCuttingUp @TheRealConnieGirl @TheLinaBradford @PrideHouseMedia “The Cutting Up: A Kiki with Connie & Lina” is a Pride House Media production. Producers: Josh Rosenzweig & Matthew Breen. Graphic Design by Daryl Raymond. Original Music by 808 BEACH (John “J-C” Carr & Bill Coleman), courtesy of Peace Bisquit.   Production Design by Darryl Dickens.  Photography by Shane Reynolds. Our very special thanks to Jason Kanner for all your support.

    31 min

  3. Jun 25

    Moral Panic & Queer Cinema with Blue Film director Elliot Tuttle

    Buckle up. This week we’re joined by debut filmmaker Elliot Tuttle, director of Blue Film, one of the boldest queer indie films in recent memory. The film follows a cam boy hired by an anonymous client who turns out to be his disgraced former middle school teacher. It’s not comfortable and it was too scary for some LGBTQ film festivals.  This conversation goes deep, into queer loneliness, empathy vs. morality in film, voyeurism, adolescent desire, and whether art is allowed to be messy. Elliot talks about low-budget filmmaking, festival resistance to his movie, and landing a theatrical run (that keeps getting extended!) at NYC’s IFC Center plus a New York Times Critics’ Pick. It’s queer cinema, but really it’s about being human. It’s messy, contradictory, and a little unhinged. Go see Blue Film. Support queer artists.  Write to us at Kiki@TheCuttingUp.com And follow us on instagram: @TheCuttingUp @TheRealConnieGirl @TheLinaBradford @PrideHouseMedia “The Cutting Up: A Kiki with Connie & Lina” is a Pride House Media production. Producers: Josh Rosenzweig & Matthew Breen. Graphic Design by Daryl Raymond. Original Music by 808 BEACH (John “J-C” Carr & Bill Coleman), courtesy of Peace Bisquit.  Photography by Shane Reynolds.  Production Design by Darryl Dickens.  Our very special thanks to Jason Kanner for all your support.

    44 min

  4. Jun 18

    Drag Legend Shequida, The Roxy & Boy Bar: ’90s NYC Nightlife Tea

    This week on Cutting Up:  Roxy. Boy Bar. Mars. Absolute chaos. The legendary Shequida joins us to spill iconic ’90s NYC nightlife tea — from first seeing Lady Bunny at Mars to getting into The Roxy on opening night and navigating the East Village vs. big‑club wars. We get into:  ✨ Boy Bar boyfriend drama that sparked a full confrontation  ✨ Connie’s extreme corset era (and the trauma that followed)  ✨ The ongoing Fluevog shoe saga (broken… then stolen)  ✨ Being the first drag queen in a recurring national TV role on One Life to Live Plus gatekeeping, attitude accusations, shoe wars, shared men tea, and why holding the door open for others to enter matters the most. It’s New York drag history. It’s ’90s nightlife warfare. It’s glamorous survival. Write to us at Kiki@TheCuttingUp.com And follow us on instagram: @TheCuttingUp @TheRealConnieGirl @TheLinaBradford @PrideHouseMedia “The Cutting Up: A Kiki with Connie & Lina” is a Pride House Media production. Producers: Josh Rosenzweig & Matthew Breen. Graphic Design by Daryl Raymond. Original Music by 808 BEACH (John “J-C” Carr & Bill Coleman), courtesy of Peace Bisquit.   Production Design by Darryl Dickens.  Our very special thanks to Jason Kanner for all your support.

    1h 6m

  5. Jun 11

    Inside the Movement Defending Trans Equality Nationwide

    What does it actually take to defend trans rights in 2026? This week, Connie and Lina sit down with Victoria Foster James of Advocates for Trans Equality (A4TE) to talk about the legal, political, and cultural fight shaping transgender equality in America.  Formed from the merger of the National Center for Transgender Equality (NCTE) and the Transgender Legal Defense & Education Fund (TLDEF), A4TE combines federal lobbying, direct legal services, name-change support, and impact litigation into one powerhouse organization. More than 700 anti‑LGBTQ bills were introduced in 2025. This conversation breaks down what’s happening, why it matters, and how advocacy organizations are responding in real time.  Plus: fashion banter, Barbie name lore, astrology detours, and a chaotic fishbowl to close it out. Learn more: transequality.org Follow: @transequalitynow If you value conversations that connect policy, culture, and real impact, make sure to follow, rate, and share the show. It helps more people find these stories. Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-cutting-up-a-kiki-with-connie-lina/id1849020008 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/200MOk48TaLRPLQvzx2UK0?si=6499dd094f704a10 iHeart: https://www.iheart.com/podcast/1333-the-cutting-up-a-kiki-wit-303161901  Write to us at Kiki@TheCuttingUp.com And follow us on instagram: @TheCuttingUp @TheRealConnieGirl @TheLinaBradford @PrideHouseMedia “The Cutting Up: A Kiki with Connie & Lina” is a Pride House Media production. Producers: Josh Rosenzweig & Matthew Breen. Graphic Design by Daryl Raymond. Original Music by 808 BEACH (John “J-C” Carr & Bill Coleman), courtesy of Peace Bisquit.   Production Design by Darryl Dickens.  Our very special thanks to Jason Kanner for all your support.

    37 min

  6. Jun 4

    Laverne Cox on Trauma, Trans Youth & Legacy

    Connie and Lina are back with Part 2 of their conversation with Laverne Cox, and from the jump we are talking about whether trauma is necessary for strength, the political fight over trans youth and puberty blockers, and the real harm of taking kids off medication. Laverne shares how she uses her lived experience in her acting, reflects on a cut monologue in a Keanu Reeves/Cameron Diaz film, and opens up about her Amazon Prime series Clean Slate. The conversation expands into father wounds, therapy, reparenting the inner child, Black intergenerational trauma, post-traumatic slave syndrome, DEI debates, Black maternal mortality, and the ongoing attacks on trans communities. They also honor friends and icons lost during COVID, talk legacy, sisterhood, dream careers, opera training, vintage fashion collecting, and hidden talents—ending with their reminder: Stay in the love. Plus a stupid cackle. Ha!  Click here to order Laverne’s book Transcendent: A Memoir Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-cutting-up-a-kiki-with-connie-lina/id1849020008 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/200MOk48TaLRPLQvzx2UK0?si=6499dd094f704a10 iHeart: https://www.iheart.com/podcast/1333-the-cutting-up-a-kiki-wit-303161901  Write to us at Kiki@TheCuttingUp.com And follow us on instagram: @TheCuttingUp @TheRealConnieGirl @TheLinaBradford @PrideHouseMedia “The Cutting Up: A Kiki with Connie & Lina” is a Pride House Media production. Producers: Josh Rosenzweig & Matthew Breen. Graphic Design by Daryl Raymond. Original Music by 808 BEACH (John “J-C” Carr & Bill Coleman), courtesy of Peace Bisquit.   Production Design by Darryl Dickens.  Our very special thanks to Jason Kanner for all your support.

    41 min

  7. May 28

    Laverne Cox, Part 1: ’90s NYC Nightlife & Her Memoir

    Laverne Cox is here, and she's giving us two full episodes. This is the conversation we've been waiting for! Laverne sits down to talk about 1990s New York nightlife, trans visibility, and her new memoir, Transcendent (out June 9, available for presale now).  Before the Emmy nominations and the global recognition, Laverne was on the downtown dance floors during one of the most electric eras in New York City club culture. The stories do not disappoint. We talk about what it actually felt like to navigate that world as a Black trans woman in the '90s—the joy, the complicated politics of race and access, the relationship between downtown club culture and the ballroom communities uptown, and the messy shift that happened when bottle service moved in and something essential moved out. There's also some serious sparkle in here: Laverne on the dance floor at Beyoncé and Jay-Z's Oscar party. Lina DJing Laverne's 50th birthday celebration which was perfectly timed to the release of her Barbie doll. The whole conversation about chosen family and community-building in a world before social media. Laverne’s memoir opens up about trauma, shame, dissociation, family secrets, and healing.  Part 1 is Laverne at her most reflective, funny, vulnerable, and expansive. And part 2 picks up right where we left off. Click here to order Laverne’s book Transcendent: A Memoir Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-cutting-up-a-kiki-with-connie-lina/id1849020008 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/200MOk48TaLRPLQvzx2UK0?si=6499dd094f704a10 iHeart: https://www.iheart.com/podcast/1333-the-cutting-up-a-kiki-wit-303161901  Write to us at Kiki@TheCuttingUp.com And follow us on instagram: @TheCuttingUp @TheRealConnieGirl @TheLinaBradford @PrideHouseMedia “The Cutting Up: A Kiki with Connie & Lina” is a Pride House Media production. Producers: Josh Rosenzweig & Matthew Breen. Graphic Design by Daryl Raymond. Original Music by 808 BEACH (John “J-C” Carr & Bill Coleman), courtesy of Peace Bisquit.   Production Design by Darryl Dickens.  Our very special thanks to Jason Kanner for all your support.

    46 min

  8. May 21

    Why Real Conversations Still Matter (NYC Edition)

    This week, Connie and Lina welcome Zach Miller, host of the podcast Before We Cheers, and the vibes are very New York, very cultured, and just a little chaotic (in the best way). Zach describes Before We Cheers as “the emotional truths we tell before the toast.” The show was inspired by writing his best friend’s wedding speech, that vulnerable, unfiltered moment before everyone raises their glass.  We talk: The origin of Before We CheersBuilding community in New York’s creative sceneGrowing up born-and-raised NYC with culture and travelDating apps in 2026 and avoiding catfishersThe right way to do a first dateSlow dinners, Italian-style And the scent of a perfect night out (dirty martinis, pizza, Byredo’s Alto Astral, and a Sunday at The Eagle)Zach also shares how he started his podcast to spotlight his peers in the New York creative community—not celebrities, but the people shaping culture in real time. Follow Zach’s show @BeforeWeCheers and also @iamzcm Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-cutting-up-a-kiki-with-connie-lina/id1849020008 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/200MOk48TaLRPLQvzx2UK0?si=6499dd094f704a10 iHeart: https://www.iheart.com/podcast/1333-the-cutting-up-a-kiki-wit-303161901  Write to us at Kiki@TheCuttingUp.com And follow us on instagram: @TheCuttingUp @TheRealConnieGirl @TheLinaBradford @PrideHouseMedia “The Cutting Up: A Kiki with Connie & Lina” is a Pride House Media production. Producers: Josh Rosenzweig & Matthew Breen. Graphic Design by Daryl Raymond. Original Music by 808 BEACH (John “J-C” Carr & Bill Coleman), courtesy of Peace Bisquit.   Production Design by Darryl Dickens.  Our very special thanks to Jason Kanner for all your support.

    34 min
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5
out of 5
25 Ratings

About

Welcome to The Cutting Up: A Kiki with Connie and Lina, a new weekly podcast hosted by DJ/activist Lina Bradford and fashion legend Connie Fleming, the show offers unprecedented access to the icons, secrets, and untold stories that shaped queer culture. Lina and Connie are both trailblazing women of transgender experience, with deep backgrounds hosting and performing in NYC’s most storied clubs—and pioneering on fashion runways. They bring their knowledge, stories, and relationships to “The Cutting Up,” offering audiences a backstage pass to authentic conversations that can only happen between true friends and industry legends. “The Cutting Up” goes deep on fashion, music, activism, and identity.

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