Cocoon After Dark

Quincy Tessaverne

There’s a certain kind of story we only tell in the dark. The kind that lingers. The kind we’ve carried in silence. The kind that needs soft lighting, no interruptions, and someone who won’t flinch. Welcome to Cocoon After Dark—I’mQuincy Tessaverne, and this is a space for truth-telling that’s tender, textured, and unapologetically queer. Each week, we sit with voices—mostly Black, brown, LGBTQ+—who’ve lived through things that don’t always fit into polite conversation. We talk identity, pleasure, boundaries, grief, reinvention, and the moments that changed everything. This isn’t small talk. It’s soul talk. So take what you need. Leave what you don’t. And listen with your whole body.

  1. 6D AGO

    Lights, Courage, Action: Lee Rose's Directorial Odyssey

    Send us Fan Mail Lights, Courage, Action: Lee Rose's Directorial Odyssey Lee Rose: In-the-Face Storytelling, The Truth About Jane, and Refusing to Disappear Host Quincy interviews writer-director-producer Lee Rose about her career and approach to storytelling, highlighting The Truth About Jane as a project that enabled parent-child conversations and drew intense reactions, including death threats, a White House screening, and a fight to dedicate the film to Matthew Shepard. Rose traces her path from theater and production work to writing and producing TV movies, learning ruthless editing from Stockard Channing, and making her directorial debut with The Color of Courage, a civil-rights story she pushed to greenlight with Linda Hamilton’s support. She discusses being raised by a Black housekeeper, sexism in directing versus being gay, the shrinking pipeline for new diverse directors post-COVID/strikes, and advice to persist through shorts, grants, festivals, and DGA mentoring. Rose also reflects on coming out later in life, separating work from news, and currently writing a novel about generations of women and slavery. 00:00 A Rebel Builds Her Own Table 01:08 Welcome to Cocoon After Dark 01:25 Rapid Fire and The Truth About Jane 02:52 From Theater to TV Sets 04:06 Learning to Let Words Go 07:19 Becoming a Ruthless Editor 09:14 Directorial Debut The Color of Courage 13:56 Raised by Johnny and Identity 15:18 Women Gay and Power on Set 17:01 Who Gets Hired Now 19:29 Advice for New Directors 21:24 When Representation Catches Up 24:46 Writing for Everyone Strong Leads 26:39 Origins Late Bloomer Lessons 29:23 Chores and Tough Love 30:39 Truth About Jane Fallout 33:07 Culture Backlash Today 34:18 Staying Focused Creatively 35:28 Mentoring Women Filmmakers 36:38 Two Ideas at Once 37:59 Coming Out at 38 41:21 Parents and Upbringing 47:37 Exes and Adulthood 49:52 Martinis and Quitting Smoking 51:09 Cruise and Farewell Support the show https://linktr.ee/CocoonAfterDark

    52 min

  2. MAR 19

    Intersections of Voice and Identity: Discovering Jen Cheng

    Send us Fan Mail Intersections of Voice and Identity: Discovering Jen Cheng Host Quincy interviews Jen Cheng, poet laureate of West Hollywood, about voice, identity, community, and showing up authentically. After rapid-fire questions, Jen reads her poem “10,000 Butterflies,” written in 2023 for a Grand Performances opportunity, tracing family survival, war, displacement, and queer safety across Hong Kong, China, and Buenos Aires. Jen discusses her pronouns (“she/ke”) and how Cantonese lacks binary gendered pronouns, then explains Cantonese vs. Mandarin and efforts to suppress Cantonese. She describes writing in English while incorporating Cantonese pronunciation, teaching workshops through the West Hollywood Library and WeHo Arts Pride, and moderating a March 29 event with the Mazer Lesbian Archives honoring Eloise Klein Healy. Jen shares coping tools (listening to Maya Angelou and James Baldwin), performance-anxiety techniques, a short rainbow meditation, and closes by reading “Still I Stand,” plus where to find her classes and links. 00:00 Meet Jen Cheng 01:10 Rapid Fire Warmup 01:59 Poem 10000 Butterflies 06:56 Pronouns and Language 08:23 Cantonese vs Mandarin 10:48 Writing and Roots 14:07 Identity Shapes Art 17:14 Creative Breakthroughs 20:30 Finding Your Voice 23:37 Poet Laureate Life 27:33 Teaching and Queer Joy 31:46 Stage Fright Tools 35:50 Stress and PTSD Tools 36:40 Grandma Confidence Story 39:15 Grief and Spirit Guide 39:53 Visibility on National Stage 43:55 Coming Out and Pride 47:27 Proudest Personal Growth 50:00 Guided Rainbow Meditation 54:30 Chakras and Creativity Blocks 57:59 Courage Creativity Belonging 59:11 Closing Poem and Where to Find Support the show https://linktr.ee/CocoonAfterDark

    1h 4m

  3. MAR 11

    Olivia and Kelly-and their age gap relationship

    Send us Fan Mail Support the show https://linktr.ee/CocoonAfterDark

    1h 3m

  4. MAR 4

    What If I Die Tonight?--Love, Legacy and Queer Power

    Send us Fan Mail In a solo episode of Cocoon After Dark, Quincy Tessaverne argues that many queer people build beautiful lives yet could lose everything in a crisis because the system defaults to bloodline, not love, when paperwork is missing or outdated. She urges listeners to structure “queer wealth” with intention: review beneficiary designations yearly, title property correctly, and create written co-ownership agreements.Quincy explains how powers of attorney, medical proxies, and advance directives decide who can manage money, speak to doctors, and honor end-of-life wishes—otherwise next of kin may overrule partners and chosen family. The episode also explores queer caregiving pressures with aging parents, the need for boundaries and paid support, and planning for one’s own care. Finally, it covers chosen-family inheritance, living trusts to avoid probate, and directing wealth to partners, friends, pets, or LGBTQ+ causes as a lasting act of authorship. For in-home support use queer owned Sheridan Care. Support the show https://linktr.ee/CocoonAfterDark

    24 min

  5. FEB 26

    Part 2- Dr. Lorri Sulpizio-Chemistry, Conflict and Control- The Truth About Lesbian Relationships

    Send us Fan Mail In part two of her interview with coach Dr. Lorri Sulpizio, Quincy and Lorri discuss “growing up” in relationships by slowing down, prioritizing self-understanding over labels, and avoiding measuring love by speed rather than safety. They explore midlife women leaving long heterosexual marriages for relationships with women, the intensity of lesbian relationships, outness mismatches, and how fear and attachment wounds can drive conflict, red-flag blindness, and choosing partners who soothe old pain. Lorri describes her couples and one-on-one coaching approach, emphasizing emotional regulation, psychological safety, advocacy, conflict repair, and practical tactics like talking side-by-side or on walks. The episode also includes a first sponsor spot for Sheridan In-Home Care, an LGBT-founded provider serving Greater LA and the Coachella Valley, and ends with reflections on representation, Instagram-based lesbian relationship content, and modeling healthy relationships for kids. 00:00 Part Two Setup 01:26 Sponsor Break 02:22 Media Queerbait Talk 03:47 Midlife Coming Out 06:20 Labels Versus Self 07:37 Coaching And Outness 10:31 Outness Conflict Repair 14:18 Relationship Lessons 16:20 Spotting Red Flags 19:19 Repair Without Shame 20:59 Attachment Wounds 27:37 Excitement Versus Safety 28:52 Premarital Skills Gap 31:11 Childhood Patterns Repeat 32:34 Couples Coaching Method 36:06 Modeling For Kids 38:07 Repair After Hurt 38:28 Blending Families Later 40:29 Intentional Role Blending 42:35 Family Meetings Not Balance 48:59 Holding Without Control 52:49 Side By Side Conflict 55:39 Hiking And Connection 59:12 Devices And Disconnection 01:01:05 Instagram And Representation 01:07:18 Final Reflections And Thanks Find Lorri here: https://www.lorrisulpizio.com/ https://www.instagram.com/lorrisulpizio/ Sheridan In-Home Care: https://www.sheridancare.com/ 310.204.1187 https://www.instagram.com/sheridancare/ Support the show https://linktr.ee/CocoonAfterDark

    1h 8m

  6. FEB 18

    Dr. Lorri Sulpizio- Outed, Fired, and Unapologetic- the fallout of telling her truth.

    Send us Fan Mail Quincy sits down with leadership educator and former women’s college basketball coach Lorri Sulpizio for the first of a two-part conversation focused on “the fire”: what it costs to speak up when silence would be easier. Lorri—director of the Conscious Leadership Academy at the University of San Diego, founder/coach at LorriSulpizio.com, a queer mother of four, and a self-described leadership disruptor—shares how her leadership lens was forged through athletics and public consequence. She recounts growing up in conservative, Catholic family in Poway (San Diego), recognizing her sexuality early, and becoming an outspoken athlete attuned to gender inequity. Lorri describes how advocating for Title IX equity and refusing to stay quiet as a successful community college coach led to her being fired while pregnant and publicly outed, and how she chose to pursue a wrongful termination case despite warnings it could be long, grueling, and could end her coaching career. She details the emotional and physical experience of the trial, the pain of being publicly attacked, the surprise of who did and didn’t show up in support, and the importance of not anchoring to outcomes while telling the truth. The episode covers her landmark jury win in a community college Title IX case, her brief return to coaching at another two-year college until that program was cut, and how she ultimately shifted her PhD focus toward women’s voice and power in leadership. Lorri also discusses motherhood, identity beyond roles, asking for help, the pressure and burnout culture in youth sports, toxic coaching, fueling and recovery for young athletes, and how she and her ex-wife co-parent their four children after a divorce they frame as not “broken” or “failed.” The conversation closes with reflections on women’s leadership in sports organizations, and the Quincy ends by emphasizing the lingering personal cost—and necessary wholeness—of telling the truth in small-town systems. 00:00 Meet Lorri Sulpizio: Leadership, Voice & the Fire We’re Starting With 02:02 Warm-Up: Who Are You When No One Needs You? (Goofy, Musical, Competitive) 03:36 Motherhood & What’s Next: Kids’ Ages, Empty-Nest Energy, New Creative Goals 04:52 Growing Up Queer & Athletic in Conservative, Catholic San Diego 06:36 Sports vs. Arts: Specialization, Choosing One Path, and What Kids Lose 09:32 Finding Your Voice (and the Risk): Early Lessons in Gender Inequity 11:45 What’s Changed in Girls’ Sports: Visibility, Gender Norms, and Progress Since Then 13:32 The Firing: How Lorri Got Into Coaching, Coming Out, and Pushing Title IX 21:04 The Lawsuit & Jury Trial: Telling the Truth, Pain on the Stand, and the Verdict 24:54 Aftermath & Holding It Together: Support Systems, Asking for Help, and Mom Burnout 33:16 Small Luxuries & the ‘Sliding Doors’ Question: Any Regrets Speaking Up? 34:22 Leaving the Team Without Leaving the Players: Supporting Student-Athletes After the Fallout 36:16 Program Canceled Again: Walking Away from Coaching and Shifting to Women’s Leadership 37:35 Life After Divorce: Co-Parenting, New Partners, and Redefining ‘Family’ 38:52 Still an Athlete: From Basketball to Pickleball—and Retiring After Broken Ribs 40:16 Team Pressure vs Solo Sports: Why Some Athletes Thrive Alone 42:45 Parenting Athletes: Standards, Process Over Outcomes, and Dealing with Toxic Coaches 48:06 The Youth Sports Machine: Overtraining, Club Tryouts, and Kids Burning Out 55:57 Changing the System: What Coaches and Schools Can Do Differently 59:49 Coaching the Coaches: Building Healthier Team Cultures (and a Future Course) 01:01:16 Final Take: Women’s Leaders Support the show https://linktr.ee/CocoonAfterDark

    1h 5m

  7. FEB 11

    What Is Worth Keeping: Archives, Authority, and Lesbian Life with Angela Brinksele and Kymn Goldstein

    Send us Fan Mail In this intimate episode of Cocoon After Dark, Quincy  interviews Kymn Goldstein and Angela Brinskele, the dedicated custodians of the June L. Mazer Lesbian Archives. The conversation delves into the essence of preserving LGBTQ+ history, emphasizing the unique struggles and triumphs of the lesbian community. Despite technical and environmental challenges, the discussion remains rich and evocative, highlighting the significance of archiving artifacts from feminist history and lesbian culture. They explore how the archives capture voices and stories often overlooked, from activist athletes to concealed photographic moments. The effort to collect and maintain an authentic representation of diverse lesbian lives is underscored, revealing the power of written records, photographs, and oral histories in capturing ephemeral yet pivotal moments. Amid personal anecdotes and declarations of love for their work, Kim and Angela illuminate their vision for the archives' future—a reflection not just of inclusion, but of authoritative cultural creation and preservation. The Archives are located at: 626 Robertson Ave, West Hollywood. 310.659.2478. Call ahead to make a viewing appointment to see the vast collections of lesbian lives and feminist work from all over the country.   Insta: https://www.instagram.com/direct/t/106294824095985/ Support the show https://linktr.ee/CocoonAfterDark

    1h 28m

  8. FEB 6

    I Was Never The Problem: The Truth about Systems, Culture and Self-Worth with Jen M. Torres

    Send us Fan Mail In a heartfelt and profound conversation with Quincy, Jen Torres, the Puerto Rican lesbian founder of Simply Lead, shares her journey of fighting for authenticity in the face of cultural and professional erasure. Joined by her partner Eboné, Jen delves into the struggles and triumphs of creating a space where everyone can thrive. Through personal anecdotes that range from the oppressive realities faced by BIPOC and LGBTQ individuals to the nourishment found in delicious foods and music, Jen highlights the importance of dismantling harmful norms and fostering environments where true selves can shine. The discussion encapsulates themes of identity, leadership, grief, and the power of coming home to oneself. Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/simplyleadllc/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jen-m-torres-166004116/ Support the show https://linktr.ee/CocoonAfterDark

    1h 2m
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Ratings & Reviews

4
out of 5
4 Ratings

About

There’s a certain kind of story we only tell in the dark. The kind that lingers. The kind we’ve carried in silence. The kind that needs soft lighting, no interruptions, and someone who won’t flinch. Welcome to Cocoon After Dark—I’mQuincy Tessaverne, and this is a space for truth-telling that’s tender, textured, and unapologetically queer. Each week, we sit with voices—mostly Black, brown, LGBTQ+—who’ve lived through things that don’t always fit into polite conversation. We talk identity, pleasure, boundaries, grief, reinvention, and the moments that changed everything. This isn’t small talk. It’s soul talk. So take what you need. Leave what you don’t. And listen with your whole body.

Information

  • Creator
    Quincy Tessaverne
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    40
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Cocoon After Dark
  • Show Website
    Cocoon After Dark