Surface Level Surface Level

Jordan, Damon, & Tony are curious – are you ready to go beyond the surface level with us?

We made it through another cycle of the Surface Level journey. Through this season of reflection, we hope that we were able to introduce you some new figures or expand your knowledge of familiar faces. We believe truly that there is much to learn from our Queer ancestors and elders and are proud that we did our part in preserving their legacies. Now once again it’s your turn to ask the question so strap in as we wrap up the eighth installment of our curious voyage.

We know a lot but we don’t know it all, so join the conversation on social and let us know your thoughts.

Jordan, Damon, & Tony are curious – with time can Queer love exist without shame?

In this episode, we are excited to welcome actor Noah J. Ricketts to our Surface Level family. Exploring the themes of his incredible character Frankie from the miniseries Fellow Travelers we delve into the expanse of how Queer people express love. We close our season of reflection exploring how the themes of shame and personal triumph play equal roles in our journey to love ourselves and other Queer folx. This season has given us much to look back on to grow our own perspectives on life we hope this final installment encourages everyone reflect on who they are today and constantly strive to be a better version of that person tomorrow.

We know a lot but we don’t know it all, so join the conversation on social and let us know your thoughts.

Jordan, Damon & Tony are curious – does cash rule everything around you?

This week we talk about the ever-looming presence of capitalism. What experiences have shaped our relationship with money, have we ever felt looked down upon because of material things we lacked, how have we navigated mainly White professional spaces as Black Queer professionals. An often-quoted scripture says that the love of money is the root of all evil. We explore how we find the balance of meeting our economic needs but not being consumed by the constant capitalistic need for more.

We know a lot but we don’t know it all, so join the conversation on social and let us know your thoughts.

Jordan, Damon, & Tony are curious – where is the line between funny and offensive?

In this episode, we are joined by comedian, actor * writer Jay Jurdan. The artform of comedy has been in the spotlight in recent years as we all try and define the line between jokes and insensitivity. We explore the artform and the need for specificity in discussing its subjects. Is the concept of punching down a hard rule or should there be nuance instead of hard rules? Depending on who you ask those answers can vary greatly, and we explore our individual points of view on the topic. We close with a very Black moment of laughing at our pain and sharing ridiculous life expereinces that we think would make a hilarious sketch comedy.

We know a lot but we don’t know it all, so join the conversation on social and let us know your thoughts.

Jordan, Damon & Tony are curious – is fear of femininity the thief of joy?

This week we revisit our relationship with the expression of femininity in what we wear. Are we uncomfortable with expressing ourselves outside of the confines of the gender binary? Is that fear greater for men within our community than for women? We challenge what we’ve been taught but also interrogate who has the right to own this aesthetic in the future, if anyone at all. The beauty in finding new ways to outwardly express who we are is a joy we revel in. So in the future let’s be more masc, fem and everything in between.

We know a lot but we don’t know it all, so join the conversation on social and let us know your thoughts.

Jordan, Damon & Tony are curious – what place does AI have in the creation of art?

This week we bring a fresh topic to our listeners debating the benefits and concerns around artificial intelligence. We focus in on generative AI and its effect on the world of art. Should we look for ways to make the creation of art more efficient and democratize its various forms for more people? Should we view art forms and creation as sacred where the journey is as valuable as the outcome? The world is changing and we are curious about how to best navigate what at this point is the inevitable.

We know a lot but we don’t know it all, so join the conversation on social and let us know your thoughts.