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Listen Up Girl
Zach Randles-Friedman
161 episodes
1 day ago
Hosted by Zach Randles-Friedman, a seasoned podcaster and communications professional, Listen Up Girl delivers trusted coverage of the stories shaping LGBTQ+ lives today. From breaking political news and cultural moments to personal stories of resilience and pride, every episode is designed to inform, inspire, and connect. With years of experience amplifying diverse voices and building authentic conversations, Zach brings credibility, compassion, and insight to each discussion. Listeners can expect accurate reporting, thoughtful commentary, and a safe space where queer voices are always centered.
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All content for Listen Up Girl is the property of Zach Randles-Friedman and is served directly from their servers with no modification, redirects, or rehosting. The podcast is not affiliated with or endorsed by Podjoint in any way.
Hosted by Zach Randles-Friedman, a seasoned podcaster and communications professional, Listen Up Girl delivers trusted coverage of the stories shaping LGBTQ+ lives today. From breaking political news and cultural moments to personal stories of resilience and pride, every episode is designed to inform, inspire, and connect. With years of experience amplifying diverse voices and building authentic conversations, Zach brings credibility, compassion, and insight to each discussion. Listeners can expect accurate reporting, thoughtful commentary, and a safe space where queer voices are always centered.
Show more...
Daily News
Society & Culture,
News,
Entertainment News,
Relationships
Episodes (20/161)
Listen Up Girl
Episode 159: January 8, 2026 - LGBTQ+ News
UK’s First Queer-First Retirement Community Fully Opens in Vauxhall John Whaite Recovers After Near-Fatal Accident, Praises Stranger’s Kindness Madonna Builds Momentum Ahead of Confessions Sequel Minneapolis Mayor Tells ICE to Leave After Shooting Incident Maine School District Faces Backlash Over Trans-Inclusive Policies GLAAD Announces 2026 Media Awards Nominees Bowen Yang Reflects on Leaving SNL and the Myth of “Range” Please complete our audience survey. It helps me learn more about you and what you like most about this show. I am always looking for ways to improve our content/podcast/show. http://survey.podtrac.com/start-survey.aspx?pubid=0qI0Tj7TBKvS&ver=standard Follow me on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/therealzachre
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1 day ago
7 minutes 52 seconds

Listen Up Girl
Episode 158: January 7, 2026 - LGBTQ+ News
Please complete our audience survey. It helps me learn more about you and what you like most about this show. I am always looking for ways to improve our content/podcast/show. http://survey.podtrac.com/start-survey.aspx?pubid=0qI0Tj7TBKvS&ver=standard Follow me on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/therealzachre Cher Reflects on Her Relationship With David Geffen Heated Rivalry Stars Break Into Late-Night TV California Appeals Court Halts Forced Outing Policy Joe Keery Funds LGBTQ+ Youth Through His Tour Kazakhstan Criminalizes Queer Visibility Queer Stories Dominate Critics Choice Awards Trump Warns Republicans of Impeachment Utah Pushes Ban Despite Pro-Care Evidence January 6 Candidate Uses Nazi Salute Hate Crime in Sacramento Turns Fatal Washington State Ballot Targets Trans Athletes UK Trans Activists Hack Free Speech Union Japanese Soccer Player Comes Out as Trans Miles Heizer Addresses Netflix Cancellation Jameela Jamil on Rage and Closeted Fear
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2 days ago
12 minutes 39 seconds

Listen Up Girl
Episode 157:January 6, 2026
Please complete our audience survey. It helps me learn more about you and what you like most about this show. I am always looking for ways to improve our content/podcast/show. http://survey.podtrac.com/start-survey.aspx?pubid=0qI0Tj7TBKvS&ver=standard Follow me on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/therealzachre Marjorie Taylor Greene Loses Her Seat After Years of Anti-Trans Rhetoric Miley Cyrus Teases Possible Involvement in Season Two of Heated Rivalry Kathy Griffin Opens Up About Finding Humor During Life’s Darkest Moments Corporation for Public Broadcasting Votes to Dissolve After Federal Funding Is Cut First Openly Lesbian Archbishop Cherry Vann Speaks Out on Painful Backlash Netflix Confirms Final Season of Queer Eye Premiering January 21 Trans Writer Lexie Handlang Describes Fear and Survival in Men’s Prisons French Court Convicts Ten in Cyberharassment Case Targeting Brigitte Macron Orlando Sentinel Sues Florida DOT Over Destruction of Pulse Memorial Crosswalk Former Mormon Missionary Garth Huelskamp Reflects on Praying Away His Sexuality Anti-LGBTQ+ Group Urges Trump Administration to Scrutinize Netflix Kids’ Content Cardi B Shouts Out Her Trans Glam Squad on RuPaul’s Drag Race Stephen Schwartz Steps Away from Kennedy Center Over Political Concerns Ariana Grande Prepares for First Tour in Six Years Sarah Paulson Pays Emotional Tribute to Diane Keaton on Her 80th Birthday Ricky Gervais Responds to Backlash Over Trans Jokes François Arnaud Calls on the NHL to Change After Heated Rivalry Promo Federal Judge Rules Teachers Can Out Queer and Trans Students to Parents Marlon Wayans Reaffirms Support for Trans Community and LGBTQ+ Youth
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3 days ago
10 minutes 23 seconds

Listen Up Girl
Episode 156: January 4, 2026 - LGBTQ+ News
Historic majority female council and first trans president elected LGBTQ+ people overrepresented among Canada’s homeless population Luke Evans to star as Dr. Frank-N-Furter in Broadway Rocky Horror revival Judge rejects anti-trans school brief over AI-generated errors RFK Jr. cuts pediatric funding after vaccine policy criticism Marlon Wayans speaks out in support of his trans son Former NYT editor alleges paper’s anti-trans editorial shift NYC inauguration narrated by beloved trans subway announcer Massachusetts court allows opt-out from LGBTQ+ classroom books Texas city cancels Pride after LGBTQ+ protections rolled back LGBTQ+ streaming highlights for January 2026 Three out LGBTQ players named to U.S. women’s Olympic hockey team LGBTQ+ rights across Asia show progress — and backlash Please complete our audience survey. It helps me learn more about you and what you like most about this show. I am always looking for ways to improve our content/podcast/show. http://survey.podtrac.com/start-survey.aspx?pubid=0qI0Tj7TBKvS&ver=standard Follow me on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/therealzachre
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5 days ago
10 minutes 31 seconds

Listen Up Girl
Episode 155: January 3, 2026 - LGBTQ+ News
Please complete our audience survey. It helps me learn more about you and what you like most about this show. I am always looking for ways to improve our content/podcast/show. http://survey.podtrac.com/start-survey.aspx?pubid=0qI0Tj7TBKvS&ver=standard Hudson Williams stars in short film Hold Your Back Rachel Reid teases possible Heated Rivalry Broadway musical Tom Hardy discusses sexual fluidity Skate Canada pulls events from Alberta over anti-trans law Zohran Mamdani sworn in as NYC mayor Mamdani’s Kim Petras playlist goes viral Matt Bomer reunites with Fellow Travelers team EHRC chair responds to trans community criticism Gay couple deletes Grindr on wedding day Anderson Cooper & Andy Cohen bring NYE chaos Oklahoma Supreme Court blocks Christian nationalist curriculum U.S. isolated at UN over “woke” language Trump’s Kennedy Center renaming sparks backlash Artists cancel Kennedy Center performances X offers legal support in anti-trans bathroom photo case Local LGBTQ+ protections advance Trans TA placed on leave at University of Oklahoma Jonathan Bailey named 2025’s top box office star Follow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/therealzachre/
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6 days ago
15 minutes 3 seconds

Listen Up Girl
Episode 154: News Breakdown: Trans Rights in the United States
In this special long-form episode of Listen Up Girl, we take a step back from the daily headlines to look at the full picture of transgender rights in America — how we got here, why this issue has become such a dominant political battleground, and what comes next. Throughout the year, Listen Up Girl has covered countless stories involving transgender Americans: state bans on gender-affirming care, school policies, court challenges, election rhetoric, and the real-world impact on families and young people. This episode connects those dots. We explore: - What’s actually happening across the U.S. - The conservative arguments driving these laws - Why Republicans have made transgender issues such a central focus - The perspective of transgender people and advocates - How media and moral panic fuel the debate - Why courts now matter more than legislatures - How upcoming elections could shape the future of trans rights This isn’t a shouting match — it’s a deep dive into fear, power, strategy, and humanity. Because behind every political argument are real people being asked to justify their existence. If you want context, clarity, and a fuller understanding of one of the most consequential civil-rights debates of our time, this episode is for you. Follow me on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/therealzachre/ Please complete our audience survey. It helps me learn more about you and what you like most about this show. I am always looking for ways to improve our show. http://survey.podtrac.com/start-survey.aspx?pubid=0qI0Tj7TBKvS&ver=standard
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1 week ago
10 minutes 29 seconds

Listen Up Girl
Episode 153: 2026 Wish List for the LGBTQ+ Community
In this episode of Listen Up Girl, we look ahead to 2026 through the lens of the LGBTQ+ community — not with vague optimism, but with clear expectations shaped by the headlines we’ve lived through. From federal LGBTQ+ protections and trans rights becoming settled law, to the dismantling of ICE and a humane immigration system for queer and trans asylum seekers, this episode breaks down what real progress should look like in the year ahead. We talk about Florida changing course after years of anti-LGBTQ+ policy, why safety and accountability must be non-negotiable, and how the 2026 midterms could shape the future of LGBTQ+ lives nationwide. This is a conversation about power, policy, and people — and why hope for the LGBTQ+ community in 2026 isn’t passive. It’s something we organize, vote for, and demand. If you care about LGBTQ+ rights, equality, and the future we’re building together, this episode is for you.
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1 week ago
7 minutes 13 seconds

Listen Up Girl
Episode 152: December 30, 2025 - LGBTQ+ News
Please complete our audience survey. It helps me learn more about you and what you like most about this show. I am always looking for ways to improve our show. http://survey.podtrac.com/start-survey.aspx?pubid=0qI0Tj7TBKvS&ver=standard Barack Obama Highlights LGBTQ+ Anthems in His 2025 Favorites List Dylan Kevitch’s Viral Moment Continues to Snowball Across Internet Culture As “MAGA Minaj” Backlash Grows, Cardi B’s Drag Race Appearance Hits Differently Tender Masculinity Is Winning as Pop Culture Rejects Toxic Norms Oklahoma Supreme Court Blocks Christian Nationalist Curriculum Push in Public Schools Nineteen States Sue to Stop Federal Plan Targeting Gender-Affirming Care for Youth Gay NYC Councilmember Erik Bottcher Drops House Bid to Run for State Senate University of Oklahoma Bars Instructor After Gender Stereotypes Essay Controversy Mayor-Elect Zohran Mamdani Appoints First Openly LGBTQ+ FDNY Fire Commissioner Heated Rivalry Creator Jacob Tierney Fires Back at Critics: “It’s TV. Take a Breath.” Despite Widespread Queer Visibility, Zero Active NHL Players Have Come Out Pew Research Finds LGBTQ+ Youth Are Coming Out Earlier Than Any Previous Generation
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1 week ago
15 minutes 28 seconds

Listen Up Girl
Episode 151: The State of 2025 - A Year-End Recap
2025 was loud, messy, historic, and impossible to ignore. In this year-end roundup, we break down the biggest stories that shaped 2025—from political chaos and culture wars to moments of resilience, resistance, and real progress for the LGBTQ+ community. We revisit the headlines that made us angry, hopeful, heartbroken, and fired up—and talk honestly about what they mean going into 2026. This isn’t just a recap. It’s context, accountability, and a reminder that our stories don’t end when the year does. Follow me on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/therealzachre/
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1 week ago
8 minutes 8 seconds

Listen Up Girl
Episode 150: December 28, 2025 - LGBTQ+ News
Please complete our audience survey. It helps me learn more about you and what you like most about this show. I am always looking for ways to improve our content/podcast/show. http://survey.podtrac.com/start-survey.aspx?pubid=0qI0Tj7TBKvS&ver=standard New Data Shows LGBTQ+ People Face Widespread Family Rejection and Holiday Isolation Meth Addiction and Party-and-Play Culture Continue to Devastate the Gay Community as Apps Avoid Accountability Rachel Maddow Says She Has Reconnected With Her Catholic Faith After Decades Away Andrew Scott to Portray Actor Ian Charleson in AIDS-Era Biopic Elsinore Bishop Mariann Budde, Branded “Nasty” by Trump, Delivers BBC Christmas Message on Mercy Dancing With the Stars Ireland Makes History With First Female Same-Sex Pairing Study Finds LGBTQ+ Inclusive Workplaces Perform Better on Climate and Sustainability Elliot Page Publishes Open Letter to the Trans Community Amid Political Attacks Mariah Carey Credits Her Gay Uncles for Giving Her a Sense of Belonging and Joy Congresswoman Sarah McBride Slams GOP for Prioritizing Anti-Trans Bills Over Healthcare
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1 week ago
8 minutes 57 seconds

Listen Up Girl
Episode 149: Special Report: Nicki Minaj, MAGA, and the Fallout With LGBTQ+ Fans
Nicki Minaj was long embraced as a queer cultural icon — celebrated in clubs, drag culture, and on RuPaul’s Drag Race by LGBTQ+ fans who helped fuel her rise. But her recent appearance in MAGA-aligned political spaces, including Turning Point USA’s AmericaFest, and her silence alongside anti-trans rhetoric have sparked backlash and a wave of unfollows. In this episode of Listen Up Girl, we break down both sides of the story — Nicki’s history with the LGBTQ+ community, why some fans defend her political independence, and why many queer and trans listeners feel hurt and abandoned. This isn’t about canceling. It’s about consequence. Follow me on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/therealzachre
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1 week ago
10 minutes 30 seconds

Listen Up Girl
Episode 148: December 26, 2025 - LGBTQ+ News
Please complete our audience survey. It helps me learn more about you and what you like most about this show. I am always looking for ways to improve our content/podcast/show. http://survey.podtrac.com/start-survey.aspx?pubid=0qI0Tj7TBKvS&ver=standard Leaked Memo Suggests FBI Bounties Targeting Trans Activists Federal Law Still Protects LGBTQ+ Workers From Employment Discrimination Billy Porter Shares Emotional Health Update Following Battle With Urosepsis Heritage Foundation’s Project 2025 Targets LGBTQ+ Rights in 2026 FDA Turns Its Attention to Chest Binders Used by Trans and Nonbinary People Journalism Ethics Experts Alarmed by Coverage of Trans High School Athlete Aetna Agrees to Cover IVF and Fertility Treatments for Same-Sex Couples Nationwide Ohio Set to Welcome Its Only Openly LGBTQ Mayor in Cleveland Heights Follow me on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/therealzachre/
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2 weeks ago
6 minutes 50 seconds

Listen Up Girl
Episode 147: December 25, 2025 - LGBTQ+ News
Please complete our audience survey. It helps me learn more about you and what you like most about this show. I am always looking for ways to improve our content/podcast/show. http://survey.podtrac.com/start-survey.aspx?pubid=0qI0Tj7TBKvS&ver=standard Nicki Minaj loses followers after MAGA-aligned AmericaFest appearance Grindr outages reported during AmericaFest in Phoenix Pedro Pascal revealed as Heated Rivalry fan Heated Rivalry nearly censored by executives Supreme Court considers overturning conversion therapy bans Bowen Yang exits Saturday Night Live Rep. Sarah McBride slams GOP focus on anti-trans bills
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2 weeks ago
9 minutes 41 seconds

Listen Up Girl
Episode 146: December 23, 2025 - LGBTQ+ News
Please complete our audience survey. It helps me learn more about you and what you like most about this show. I am always looking for ways to improve our content/podcast/show. http://survey.podtrac.com/start-survey.aspx?pubid=0qI0Tj7TBKvS&ver=standard Most Sniffies users don’t identify as gay, new 2025 data shows 70% of trans Americans fear for their public safety, Pew finds Gen Z LGBTQ+ women more likely to identify as bisexual than lesbian Fake AI video targets Maine Gov. Janet Mills over trans rights Three Democrats help pass GOP bill banning trans youth healthcare Russia blocks Rainbow Railroad website, escalates LGBTQ+ crackdown Rep. Sarah McBride criticizes GOP as ACA subsidies near expiration Nicki Minaj faces backlash over pro-Trump shift New Zealand hate crimes linked to Grindr assaults get light sentences Follow me on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/therealzachre/
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2 weeks ago
9 minutes 29 seconds

Listen Up Girl
Episode 145: December 21, 2025 - LGBTQ+ Podcast
Please complete our audience survey. It helps me learn more about you and what you like most about this show. I am always looking for ways to improve our content/podcast/show. http://survey.podtrac.com/start-survey.aspx?pubid=0qI0Tj7TBKvS&ver=standard Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton urges residents to report alleged bathroom law violations through an online tip line, raising legal and privacy concerns CMS Administrator Mehmet Oz proposes rules that could end gender-affirming care for trans youth — and draws backlash for bizarre remarks during the announcement Rep. Robert Garcia accuses Donald Trump and the Department of Justice of violating federal law in continued Epstein file redactions Former All Blacks prop Campbell Johnstone celebrates marriage to longtime partner Ben Thomson in landmark moment for LGBTQ+ visibility in rugby Kennedy Center quietly retires its iconic rainbow sash under Trump-appointed leadership, replacing it with a redesigned medallion Actor Tramell Tillman delivers powerful message of solidarity for the LGBTQIA+ community amid rising attacks
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2 weeks ago
7 minutes 13 seconds

Listen Up Girl
Episode 144: December 20, 2025 - LGBTQ+ News
Please complete our audience survey. It helps me learn more about you and what you like most about this show. I am always looking for ways to improve our content/podcast/show. http://survey.podtrac.com/start-survey.aspx?pubid=0qI0Tj7TBKvS&ver=standard • RFK Jr. announces proposal to ban gender-affirming care for trans youth nationwide • Federal plan would strip Medicare, Medicaid, and CHIP funding from hospitals providing trans healthcare • Sniffies releases 2025 user data as Melbourne earns title of global capital of swallowing • Palm Desert City Council overwhelmingly rejects MAGA mayor’s attempt to roll back Pride • Bowen Yang prepares to exit Saturday Night Live after historic run as a queer cast member • Kevin Spacey set to return to television in controversial Italian comedy series • European privacy group accuses TikTok of tracking Grindr users through third-party data services • Trans athlete Cal Calamia pushes boundaries and expands inclusion in elite marathon racing • Anti-trans judicial nominee Justin Olson grilled during Senate Judiciary Committee hearing • UK government doubles funding for GiveOut’s LGBTQI Solidarity Fund to support activists worldwide
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2 weeks ago
8 minutes 37 seconds

Listen Up Girl
Episode 143: December 19, 2025 - LGBTQ+ News
Please complete our audience survey. It helps me learn more about you and what you like most about this show. I am always looking for ways to improve our content/podcast/show. http://survey.podtrac.com/start-survey.aspx?pubid=0qI0Tj7TBKvS&ver=standard Miles Heizer responds after Netflix cancels Boots Heated Rivalry gay hockey series coming to the UK Noah Schnapp addresses “Byler” rumors New Zealand High Court blocks puberty blocker ban Texas queer leaders build grassroots care networks Dallas church unveils pro-immigrant, pro-trans Nativity scene Florida moves to enforce drag ban law House passes bill criminalizing gender-affirming care Trump remains underwater in approval ratings Rep. Angie Craig reflects on fight for LGBTQ+ families
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3 weeks ago
8 minutes 39 seconds

Listen Up Girl
Episode 142: December 18, 2025
Please complete our audience survey. It helps me learn more about you and what you like most about this show. I am always looking for ways to improve our content/podcast/show. http://survey.podtrac.com/start-survey.aspx?pubid=0qI0Tj7TBKvS&ver=standard B.D. Wong apologizes after racist Instagram comment Trump attacks Gov. Jared Polis over Tina Peters pardon refusal Syphilis cases reach highest levels since the 1960s Tryst Hospitality announces Wilton Manors luxury gay hotel Netflix cancels Boots after one season Cardi B celebrates gay best friends Troye Sivan responds to Bondi Beach terrorist attack Brock McGillis questions Heated Rivalry impact claims Grindr commits to becoming “AI-first” DOJ labels “radical gender ideology” a terrorist threat D.L. Hughley fires back at Nicki Minaj Texas compiles list of trans residents LSU sextortion case leads to arrest Heritage Foundation hires extremist academic Antisemitism on display at NY Young Republican gala Marjorie Taylor Greene criticizes Trump over Rob Reiner posts St. Petersburg earns perfect HRC equality score Arlington Pride suspended over safety concerns
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3 weeks ago
13 minutes 5 seconds

Listen Up Girl
Episode 141: December 17, 2025 - LGBTQ+ News
Please complete our audience survey. It helps me learn more about you and what you like most about this show. I am always looking for ways to improve our content/podcast/show. http://survey.podtrac.com/start-survey.aspx?pubid=0qI0Tj7TBKvS&ver=standard • Hollywood mourns legendary director and LGBTQ+ rights advocate Rob Reiner as Trump sparks backlash with political comments following his death • Michigan school athletic director Chet Hesson placed on leave after expressing support for a trans student targeted by far-right media • Apple TV+ makes history as Pluribus becomes the streamer’s most-watched show ever, led by a lesbian protagonist • Bishop Mariann Budde to deliver BBC Christmas message after globally praised sermon defending LGBTQ+ people • Culver City makes history with Freddy Puza elected first openly LGBTQ+ mayor and Bubba Fish named vice mayor • Conservative backlash erupts after a Chick-fil-A franchise congratulates a gay couple on their wedding • Kim Petras responds to Nicki Minaj’s transphobic tirade with viral message: “trans kids r healthy btw.” • Trans woman says gender-affirming care helped save her life after late-stage cancer diagnosis • Library board abolished after refusing to ban a children’s book about a trans child • Former anti-LGBTQ+ Arkansas library board chair arrested in alleged kidnapping plot involving her daughter • Trans actress Kevin Ninh’s coming-out moment with her grandmother goes viral for its simplicity and love
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3 weeks ago
9 minutes 42 seconds

Listen Up Girl
Episode 140: December 15, 2025 - LGBTQ+ News
Please complete our audience survey. It helps me learn more about you and what you like most about this show. I am always looking for ways to improve our content/podcast/show. http://survey.podtrac.com/start-survey.aspx?pubid=0qI0Tj7TBKvS&ver=standard Elon Musk escalates feud with Gavin Newsom, deadnames trans daughter Arkansas mother charged after allegedly staging daughter’s kidnapping Frankie Grande challenges sex-shaming in queer culture “Fujoshi” fandom resurfaces amid queer media boom Nancy Mace sparks backlash over airport remarks Graham Linehan reveals transphobic video game project Rosie O’Donnell reflects on life after moving to Ireland New recombinant mpox strain detected in England Jason Collins reveals Stage 4 glioblastoma diagnosis
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3 weeks ago
9 minutes 49 seconds

Listen Up Girl
Hosted by Zach Randles-Friedman, a seasoned podcaster and communications professional, Listen Up Girl delivers trusted coverage of the stories shaping LGBTQ+ lives today. From breaking political news and cultural moments to personal stories of resilience and pride, every episode is designed to inform, inspire, and connect. With years of experience amplifying diverse voices and building authentic conversations, Zach brings credibility, compassion, and insight to each discussion. Listeners can expect accurate reporting, thoughtful commentary, and a safe space where queer voices are always centered.