The Conversation

Ben and NiNi
  • 4.8 (4)
  • TV REVIEWS

The Conversation is a podcast all about Asian BL/GL/QL and other queer media, coming at you from a film crit perspective. We swan in when we can to shoot the shit on faves, flops and trends, artistry and industry nerdery, and also crack and simping, because we contain multitudes. Ben (@bengiyo) is our executive producer. NiNi (@shortpplfedup) is our editor. Shan (@lurkingshan) is our associate producer. Our theme music is "Dedication" by Ron Gelinas Chillout Lounge (Music promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.com). Find us on Tumblr!

  1. Lagniappe

    10/06/2025

    Lagniappe

    Ben, NiNi and Shan answer your questions and award the Girl Who Tried. Episode transcript available here. 00:00 Welcome 00:55 Introduction 02:32 Inbox: Addicted, and Other Early BL 19:13 Inbox: BL and Queer Cinema 23:36 The Theory of Love RomCom Rewatch 38:51 Girl, You Tried 01:08:04 Outro: One F**k Of A Year So Far

    1h 14m
  2. Senior Prom Square Dance

    09/11/2025

    Senior Prom Square Dance

    Our knees hurt and the music is too loud. Ben, NiNi, Shan and friend of the pod Turtles talk Gelboys and Heesu In Class 2. Episode transcript available here. 00:00 Welcome 00:55 Introduction 08:36 Gelboys: A Portrait of Modern Youth 17:32 Gelboys: Technology, Loneliness and Distraction 30:58 Gelboys: Our Not-So-Fab Four 40:30 Gelboys: Perspectives On The Ending 44:28 Gelboys: Final Thoughts and Ratings 53:17 Heesu In Class 2 01:00:41 Heesu In Class 2: The Story Is Storying 01:09:55 Heesu In Class 2: Friendship, Family, Queerness and Acceptance 01:24:57 Heesu In Class 2: On Seungwon 01:28:06 Heesu In Class 2: The Galloping Disk Horse, Final Thoughts and Ratings 01:38:31 Outro: Things Are Dire

    1h 42m
  3. American Toxic Yaoi

    09/04/2025

    American Toxic Yaoi

    Prestige TV is gay now! Historical bottom dementia is on the menu as we tackle two different era-spanning toxic romances. Ben, NiNi and friend of the pod Captain Hands talk Interview With the Vampire and Fellow Travelers. Episode transcript available here. 00:00 Welcome 00:55 Introduction 02:25 Interview With The Vampire 12:27 IWTV: The Vampire Mythos 17:28 IWTV: The Best Bits 21:35 IWTV: Claudia 26:55 IWTV: Queerness in the Story 36:19 IWTV: Gay Paree 41:24 IWTV: Final Thoughts and Ratings 51:16 Fellow Travelers 01:04:44 Fellow Travelers: Hurt People Hurt People 01:13:22 Fellow Travelers: The Saga of Hawk and Tim 01:21:20 Fellow Travelers: Final Thoughts and Ratings 01:28:38 Outro: More Toxic Tales Please!

    1h 32m
  4. Scent Of A Woman

    08/21/2025

    Scent Of A Woman

    FINALLY SOME GOOD GL. Ben, NiNi and Twig talk Fragrance You Inherit and Fragrance of the First Flower. Episode transcript available here. 00:00 Welcome 00:55 Introduction 03:16 Fragrance You Inherit 08:34 Fragrance You Inherit: All About the Relationships 17:46 Fragrance You Inherit: Sakura's Coming Out 21:50 Fragrance You Inherit: On-chan 24:21 Fragrance You Inherit: Final Thoughts and Ratings 29:08 Fragrance of the First Flower 37:14 Fragrance of the First Flower: A Friend and a Foe 45:22 Fragrance of the First Flower: Life Life-ing Is Good Drama! 52:49 Fragrance of the First Flower: Final Thoughts and Ratings 57:04 Outro: Lesbians!

    1h 1m
  5. The Untamed Episodes: The Second Life

    06/05/2025

    The Untamed Episodes: The Second Life

    In Part 2 of our Untamed discussion, Ben, NiNi, Shan and Bookworm talk our love for Jiang Cheng, our hatred for Meng Yao/Jin Guangyao, and why we will always hold out hope for more Chinese BL. Episode transcript available here. 00:00 Welcome 00:55 Intro: More Notes From The Future 01:45 The Second Life 09:23 The Second Life: The Fallout of Wei Wuxian's Choices 16:52 The Second Life: Meng Yao's Dastardly Deeds 26:52 The Second Life: The Tragedy of Wen Ning 32:35 The Second Life: Two 'Fools' 37:41 The Second Life: Various Random Musings 48:18 Page to Screen (and Audio, and Anime, and Stage, and...) 56:59 Afterlife: The Impact of The Untamed on BL and Fandom

    1h 2m
  6. The Untamed Episodes: The First Life

    05/29/2025

    The Untamed Episodes: The First Life

    It's 'the biggest goddamn BL in the world', and we're finally going to talk about it. Ben, NiNi, Shan and Bookworm talk The Untamed. In Part 1 of our two-part episode, we talk censorship, the journey from MDZS to The Untamed, and the first half of the story. Episode transcript available here. 00:00 Welcome 00:55 Introduction 03:55 Censorship in Media: A Global View 12:37 The MoDaoZuShi Phenomenon 24:33 The Big Picture 33:36 The First Life 40:07 The First Life: Thoughts and Impressions 46:21 The First Life: WangXian and Other Fucked Up Love Stories 01:01:17 The First Life: Various Random Musings 01:11:02 Outro: Notes From the Future

    1h 12m
  7. The 2024 VIIB Awards

    02/06/2025

    The 2024 VIIB Awards

    It’s our 3rd Annual Very Important Internet BL Awards and we’ve changed up our whole shit! Ben and NiNi talk the best things we watched all year. Episode transcript available here. 00:00 Welcome 00:55 Introduction: It's Awards Season Once More 02:09 Acting! 08:00 Ships Ahoy! 16:31 Immortal Technique 29:05 Top Tings 41:43 Special Class Awards 43:11 Special Class: Honourable Mentions 47:36 Special Class: Mark Pakin 6th Man Awards 51:13 Special Class: Standout Queer Narratives 01:06:00 Outro

    1h 8m
  8. The Diamond League

    01/30/2025

    The Diamond League

    It’s our holiday special (because it's a holiday somewhere in the world)! Ben, NiNi and assorted friends of the pod look back on 10 years of BL as a genre and talk 10 shows that define the genre for us. Episode transcript available here. 00:00 Welcome 00:55 Celebrating the BL Canon: A Retrospective 02:08 Blueming (2022) | KR | dir. Hwang Da Seul (Megan) 07:35 Dark Blue Kiss (2019) | TH | dir. Aof Noppharnach Chaiwimol (Shan) 13:59 He's Coming To Me (2019) | TH | dir. Aof Noppharnach Chaiwimol (Captain Hands) 17:00 His (2020) | JP | dir. Imaizumi Rikiya (Twig) 21:12 Light On Me (2021) | KR | dir. Lee Yoo Yeon (Kyra) 25:40 Make It Right (2017) | TH | dirs. New Siwaj Sawatmaneekul and Cheewin Thanamin Wongskulphat (Turtles) 33:29 The Miracle of Teddy Bear (2022) | TH | dir. Paajaew Yuthana Lorphanpaibul (Pluem) 39:52 Theory of Love (2019) | TH | dir. X Nuttapong Mongkolsawas (Bookworm) 46:15 The Untamed (2019) | CH | dirs. Steve Cheng and Chang Ka Lam (Shan) 51:42 We Best Love (2021) | TW | dir. Ray Jiang (Twig) 57:59 Ben and Nini's Drive-by Faves

    1h 4m
See All (64)

Trailers

Ratings & Reviews

4.8
out of 5
4 Ratings

About

The Conversation is a podcast all about Asian BL/GL/QL and other queer media, coming at you from a film crit perspective. We swan in when we can to shoot the shit on faves, flops and trends, artistry and industry nerdery, and also crack and simping, because we contain multitudes. Ben (@bengiyo) is our executive producer. NiNi (@shortpplfedup) is our editor. Shan (@lurkingshan) is our associate producer. Our theme music is "Dedication" by Ron Gelinas Chillout Lounge (Music promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.com). Find us on Tumblr!

Information

  • Creator
    Ben and NiNi
  • Years Active
    2023 - 2025
  • Episodes
    64
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Ben and NiNi
  • Show Website
    The Conversation