Cruising | A Queer Documentary Podcast

Sarah Gabrielli, Rachel Karp, and Jennifer McGinity

A show about lesbian bars, the humans that run them, and the humans that call them a home. Not sure where to start? You don’t have to listen in order! Pick your favorite city or your favorite bar and dive in.


Season 1 follows creators Sarah Gabrielli, Rachel Karp, and Jen McGinity on their 2021 cross-country road trip to visit and document every lesbian bar in the U.S.  Season 2 chronicles the current lesbian bar resurgence AND takes you back in time to lesbian bars of decades past!

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Our Editor's Take

Cruising | A Lesbian Bar Road Trip is a unique and entertaining listen. What do listeners get when they combine one vehicle, three queer women, and an ultimate quest? They get this podcast. This show is all about three friends on a mission to go to the few remaining lesbian bars in the United States. Friends and queer women Sarah Gabrielli, Rachel Karp, and Jen McGinity trek across the US to find them. Together, they explore America, conquer their mission, and learn.

Listeners can expect to hear hilarious road trip antics. But that's not all. They'll get details about each of the bars the hosts visit. They'll learn the histories, stories, and futures of each establishment. But the hosts will not only give their insight on the venues. They'll talk directly with folks who have attended the bars for years. Regulars will share their stories. Bar owners will walk listeners through the history of their establishments. And, of course, the three friends will also describe their experiences at the bars.

All it takes is one Honda SUV to get these women around—but the appeal isn't about the road trip. Listeners will love the journey each episode takes them on. New segments of the podcast drop randomly. For insight into the show's overarching themes, listeners should begin at the first episode. Audiences can hear Cruising | A Lesbian Bar Road Trip now on Amazon Music.

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Society & CultureSociety & Culture

Episodes

Cruising the Archives: Lillian Faderman
3d ago
Cruising the Archives: Lillian Faderman
Lillian Faderman is a world renowned, award winning LGBTQ+ and lesbian historian, scholar, and author. Her books include Surpassing the Love of Men, Odd Girls and Twilight Lovers, Gay L.A., The Gay Revolution, Woman: The American History of an Idea, and many others. We've interviewed her once before, and we've quoted her in many of our other episodes. This extended interview was recorded in 2023 in Lillian's home, and includes some of Lillian's expertise on lesbian history and culture throughout the 20th century as well as stories from her own life. This episode is a part of a series we’re calling Cruising the Archives. We’re featuring extended interviews with LGBTQ+ icons from our own archives, as well as from the collections of queer and lesbian archives throughout the country.Thank you for listening to Cruising Podcast!-Reviews help other listeners find Cruising! If you like what you hear, please subscribe and leave us a 5-star review!-For more Cruising adventures, follow us @cruisingpod on Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook-Support Cruising here! Cruising is an independent podcast. That means we're entirely funded by sponsors and listeners like you!-Cruising is reported and produced by a small but mighty team of three: Sarah Gabrielli (host/story producer/audio engineer), Rachel Karp (story producer/social media manager), and Jen McGinity (line producer/resident road-trip driver). Theme song is by Joey Freeman.  Cover art is by Nikki Ligos. Logo is by Finley Martin.Support the Show.
Cruising the Archives: Ms. Mabel Hampton
18-06-2024
Cruising the Archives: Ms. Mabel Hampton
This week, we're sharing the story of Ms. Mabel Hampton, in partnership with The Lesbian Herstory Archives. Ms. Hampton (1902-1989) was an African-American lesbian, an activist, a dancer, a singer, and a domestic worker. She was also a dear friend and mentor of Joan Nestle, one of The Lesbian Herstory Archives' founders. Between 1976 and 1988, Joan Nestle sat down with Ms. Hampton numerous times to record a series of oral history interviews. We've pulled bits and pieces from these tapes to share some of Ms. Hampton's life story. The Lesbian Herstory Archives is home to the world’s largest collection of materials by and about Lesbians and our communities.This episode is a part of a series we’re calling Cruising the Archives. We’re featuring extended interviews with LGBTQ+ icons from our own archives, as well as from the collections of queer and lesbian archives throughout the country.Thank you for listening to Cruising Podcast!-Reviews help other listeners find Cruising! If you like what you hear, please subscribe and leave us a 5-star review!-For more Cruising adventures, follow us @cruisingpod on Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook-Support Cruising here! Cruising is an independent podcast. That means we're entirely funded by sponsors and listeners like you!-Cruising is reported and produced by a small but mighty team of three: Sarah Gabrielli (host/story producer/audio engineer), Rachel Karp (story producer/social media manager), and Jen McGinity (line producer/resident road-trip driver). Theme song is by Joey Freeman.  Cover art is by Nikki Ligos. Logo is by Finley Martin.Support the Show.
Cruising the Archives: Pete Smith
11-06-2024
Cruising the Archives: Pete Smith
In  1963, white supremacist terrorists bombed the Sixteenth Street Baptist Church  in Birmingham, Alabama, killing four young black girls. Despite the FBI and local investigators identifying four key perpetrators, no one was charged. Until 1977, when Pete Smith, a trans man, worked with the FBI to testify against and convict his uncle, Robert Chambliss. In partnership with Invisible Histories, we are releasing this 1988 interview with Pete. This episode is a part of a series we’re calling Cruising the Archives. We’re featuring extended interviews with LGBTQ+ icons from our own archives, as well as from the collections of queer and lesbian archives throughout the country. Invisible Histories locates, collects, researches, and creates community-based, educational programming around LGBTQ history in the Deep South. Invisible Histories believes archiving is resistance to oppression and history leads to liberation.Thank you for listening to Cruising Podcast!-Reviews help other listeners find Cruising! If you like what you hear, please subscribe and leave us a 5-star review!-For more Cruising adventures, follow us @cruisingpod on Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook-Support Cruising here! Cruising is an independent podcast. That means we're entirely funded by sponsors and listeners like you!-Cruising is reported and produced by a small but mighty team of three: Sarah Gabrielli (host/story producer/audio engineer), Rachel Karp (story producer/social media manager), and Jen McGinity (line producer/resident road-trip driver). Theme song is by Joey Freeman.  Cover art is by Nikki Ligos. Logo is by Finley Martin. Support the Show.
Cruising the Archives: Patricia McCombs
04-06-2024
Cruising the Archives: Patricia McCombs
Happy Pride Month!! Starting this month, we will be releasing a series of episodes that we’re calling Cruising the Archives. We’re featuring extended interviews with LGBTQ+ icons from our own archives, as well as from the collections of queer and lesbian archives throughout the country. First up: Patricia McCombs. In December of 1974, Pat noticed that she and her Black and latinx friends were being discriminated against at CK’s, a North Side Chicago lesbian bar.  In this interview, you’ll hear all about how she and the community successfully protested discrimination at CK’s and how Pat went on to establish “Executive Sweet” a roving lesbian party that catered to Black women. Thank you for listening to Cruising Podcast!-Reviews help other listeners find Cruising! If you like what you hear, please subscribe and leave us a 5-star review!-For more Cruising adventures, follow us @cruisingpod on Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook-Support Cruising here! Cruising is an independent podcast. That means we're entirely funded by sponsors and listeners like you!-Cruising is reported and produced by a small but mighty team of three: Sarah Gabrielli (host/story producer/audio engineer), Rachel Karp (story producer/social media manager), and Jen McGinity (line producer/resident road-trip driver). Theme song is by Joey Freeman.  Cover art is by Nikki Ligos. Logo is by Finley Martin.-Special thanks to this episode's sponsor, Olivia Travel-Discover Olivia at Olivia.com and save $100 on your next trip when you use promo code CRUISINGSupport the Show.
Redz / Nancy Valverde | Los Angeles, CA
28-05-2024
Redz / Nancy Valverde | Los Angeles, CA
Redz is a little known former lesbian bar in East LA, which opened in the 1950s and catered primarily to Chicana lesbians. This is the story of one woman in particular who called this space a home: Nancy Valverde. Nancy is most known for her long fought battle with the LAPD over masquerading laws, spending dozens of nights in jail throughout the 1950s for her refusal to wear typical women’s clothing.Nancy passed away in March of 2024 just six months after our interview with her. This episode is for her.  Thank you to Nancy.This episode features interviews with: Nancy Valverde (conducted by Sarah Gabrielli and Rachel Karp in 2023 and by Lillian Faderman in 2004, courtesy of the June L Mazer Archives) and Jacquie and Keith Evans.Thank you for listening to Cruising Podcast!-Reviews help other listeners find Cruising! If you like what you hear, please subscribe and leave us a 5-star review!-For more Cruising adventures, follow us @cruisingpod on Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook-Support Cruising here! Cruising is an independent podcast. That means we're entirely funded by sponsors and listeners like you!-Cruising is reported and produced by a small but mighty team of three: Sarah Gabrielli (host/story producer/audio engineer), Rachel Karp (story producer/social media manager), and Jen McGinity (line producer/resident road-trip driver). Theme song is by Joey Freeman.  Cover art is by Nikki Ligos. Logo is by Finley Martin.-Special thanks to this episode's sponsor, Olivia Travel-Discover Olivia at Olivia.com and save $100 on your next trip when you use promo code CRUISINGSupport the Show.
Dorothy Downstairs | Chicago, IL
20-02-2024
Dorothy Downstairs | Chicago, IL
In February of 2020, Chicago's newest lesbian bar, Dorothy Downstairs first opened its doors. A month later, they were forced to close when the city shut down due to the Covid-19 pandemic. About 2 years later, they reopened, and they've been a staple of the Chicago queer community ever since! Thank you to everyone who shared their stories with us for this episode!This episode features interviews with: Lillian Faderman, Zoe Schor, Whitney LaMora, and Rainn Thomas.Zoe and Whitney are fundraising to open Chicago's only queer-focused wedding & event venue in the space above Dorothy Downstairs! You can support this next endeavor HERE.Thank you for listening to Cruising Podcast!-Support Cruising here! Cruising is an independent podcast. That means we're entirely funded by sponsors and listeners like you!-Reviews help other listeners find Cruising! If you like what you hear, please subscribe and leave us a 5-star review!-For more Cruising adventures, follow us @cruisingpod on Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook-Cruising is reported and produced by a small but mighty team of three: Sarah Gabrielli (host/story producer/audio engineer), Rachel Karp (story producer/social media manager), and Jen McGinity (line producer/resident road-trip driver). Theme song is by Joey Freeman. Cover Art is by Finley Martin.-Special thanks to this episode's sponsor, Olivia Travel-Discover Olivia at Olivia.com and save $100 on your next trip when you use promo code CRUISINGSupport the Show.
Mona's | San Francisco, CA
06-02-2024
Mona's | San Francisco, CA
Mona Sargent (born Mona Nystrom) is widely credited as the owner of the first lesbian bar in San Francisco, and perhaps the first public lesbian bar in United States. Between 1933 and 1950 she  owned a series of bars in clubs in San Francisco: Mona's, Mona's Barrelhouse, Mona's 440 Club, The Paper Doll, and Mona's Candle Light. Thank you to everyone who shared their stories with us for this episode.This episode features interviews with Beth Lemke, Clay, and Lillian Faderman. The episode also features archival tape of interviews with Mona Sargent, featuring Rikki Streicher and Reba Hudson, conducted by Nan Alamilla Boyd as a part of the Wide Open Town History Project, Courtesy of Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender Historical Society (collection 2003-05).Thank you for listening to Cruising Podcast!-Support Cruising here! Cruising is an independent podcast. That means we're entirely funded by sponsors and listeners like you!-Reviews help other listeners find Cruising! If you like what you hear, please subscribe and leave us a 5-star review!-For more Cruising adventures, follow us @cruisingpod on Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook-Cruising is reported and produced by a small but mighty team of three: Sarah Gabrielli (host/story producer/audio engineer), Rachel Karp (story producer/social media manager), and Jen McGinity (line producer/resident road-trip driver). Theme song is by Joey Freeman. Cover Art is by Finley Martin.-Special thanks to this episode's sponsors, Olivia Travel and Honda-Discover Olivia at Olivia.com and save $100 on your next trip when you use promo code CRUISINGSupport the Show.
Maud's | San Francisco, CA
16-01-2024
Maud's | San Francisco, CA
Rikki Streicher opened Maud's in the Haight-Ashbury district of San Francisco in 1966. The bar would be a fixture of the lesbian community there until it closed its doors in 1989.  It's memorialized in the 1993 documentary Last Call At Maud's and in the hearts and minds of all those who called Maud's a home over the years!Thank you to everyone who shared their stories with us for this episode.This episode features interviews with Paris Poirier, Karen Kiss, Susan Fahey, Mandy Carter, and Jeanne Clarke, as well as audio excerpts from Last Call at Maud's. The episode also features archival tape of interviews with Rikki Streicher conducted by Nan Alamilla Boyd as a part of the Wide Open Town History Project, Courtesy of Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender Historical Society (collection 2003-05). Thank you for listening to Cruising Podcast!-Support Cruising here! Cruising is an independent podcast. That means we're entirely funded by sponsors and listeners like you!-Reviews help other listeners find Cruising! If you like what you hear, please subscribe and leave us a 5-star review!-For more Cruising adventures, follow us @cruisingpod on Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook-Cruising is reported and produced by a small but mighty team of three: Sarah Gabrielli (host/story producer/audio engineer), Rachel Karp (story producer/social media manager), and Jen McGinity (line producer/resident road-trip driver). Theme song is by Joey Freeman. Cover Art is by Finley Martin.-Special thanks to this episode's sponsors, Olivia Travel and Honda-Discover Olivia at Olivia.com and save $100 on your next trip when you use promo code CRUISINGSupport the Show.