Surface Level

Latest Episodes:

Skinny Legends Only Dec 09, 2020

Show notes

Damon, Jordan & Tony are curious about how we have contributed to the system of fatphobia. This episode discusses the pressures Black Queer men face in idolizing certain body types. How can we as a culture do more to stop the othering of fatness? We discuss key news headlines, the definition of fatphobia, the internal and external pressures to look “desirable”, the role appearance plays in how Queer men create friend groups, and how to speak openly about your own physical insecurities without using fatphobic tropes. We welcome our friend Aaron Randle to Surface Level. He is an experienced journalist and podcast producer. He’s also a fellow son of Howard University who entered our Harlem circle about a year ago. Earlier this year Aaron took to his very active Twitter to speak on the topic of fatphobia not only as a theory but on how it is furthered from those around him. This led to many meaningful discussions, debates, and questions regarding the topic. Exploring his experience regarding a topic that our privilege allowed us to ignore felt like the perfect topic for Surface Level. We’ve said before that we are curious because we know a lot but we don’t know it all. In this instance we wade into sensitive waters but hope we gave this topic the respect and open minds to listen that it deserves.

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No Lesbians Allowed Dec 02, 2020

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Damon, Jordan & Tony are curious about the experiences of Black Queer women.

This episode discusses how Black Queer women fit into the broader movement for the liberation of all Queer people. Can we as Queer men be doing more to understand and support Queer women?

We discuss Queer women in entertainment, the positive and negative effects of the LGBTQIA umbrella, the role Black women play in the feminist movement, the differences in the gay and lesbian social scenes, and get playful while being schooled on the labels within the lesbian community.

We welcome an amazing guest Dr. Frances Armas-Edwards to Surface Level. She is an equity, diversity and inclusion expert, leadership coach, and educator. She brings both personal experience and professional knowledge to this conversation. Together we explore the intersections of our identity through race, gender, and sexuality. We are excited to expand our exploration of Black and Queer life and include a perspective totally different from our own. We learned a ton in this episode, and we hope that our curiosity about this topic sparks many more conversations.ope that our curiosity about this topic sparks many more conversations.

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Broke With Expensive Taste Nov 25, 2020

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Damon, Jordan & Tony are curious about how to create generational wealth.

This episode discusses the effects of long and short term financial investments. Do we care too much about immediate gratification in making financial decisions?

We discuss the luxuries we can’t live without, the value of social interactions in professional development, the desire to possess status symbols, the worst financial decisions we’ve made, and how we’ve gotten a better handle on our spending over time.

Don’t be fooled by all the topics, this is not your average financial freedom seminar. We still bring the laughs and the shade like only Surface Level can. As three Black Queer men who are the first in our families to explore our current financial landscape, we hope above all, not to be the last!

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Undetectable Nov 18, 2020

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Damon, Jordan & Tony are curious about the ongoing stigma regarding HIV.

This episode discusses our lived experiences as Black Queer men with and without HIV. How can we collectively work to remove the stigma and educate people about HIV in 2020?

We discuss our individual HIV statuses, the shift in our perception of HIV over the years, the intersection of art and activism, the science behind being undetectable, the role of negative individuals in removing stigmatization, and any advice for individuals newly diagnosed.

The episode, easily one of our most personal, also welcomes Dimitri Moïse into the Surface Level family. His vast list of accolades include being a Broadway performer, magazine editor, and a national HIV activist. Dimitri has used the combination of his own positive diagnosis with his public platform to shed light on the reality of HIV in 2020 and help inspire people all over the world. He shares a beautiful moment with the hosts in witnessing one of the guys speak publicly for the first time about being positive. In true Surface Level fashion we still laugh and have a lot of fun, but with this episode in particular we hope to inspire our listeners to lead with compassion, listen to science, and shed beliefs not based in reality, as we do our part in chipping away at this decades old stigma

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Haus of Representatives Nov 11, 2020

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Damon, Jordan & Tony are curious about what is next for a nation divided.

This episode discusses our current engagement with politics in what will surely go down as the grand finale to one of the most tumultuous presidential terms in history. Is this America, or an anomaly in the journey of this country?

We discuss the presidential election, Black women’s role in politics, the flood of new Queer politicians at all levels of government, how money affects politics, and all things Queen Kamala Harris.

We are also excited to welcome our first ever guest and fellow Howard Bison, Dorien Blythers. His political track record includes having worked as a Field Organizer for Barack Obama’s 2012 re-election and as Regional Political Director for Senator Kamala Harris’ presidential campaign. He’s currently a Political Director at End Citizens United. Bringing his expertise into this conversation is sure to make it a rewarding experience for all who need a bit more clarity on exactly where we go from here.

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A Little Off the Top Nov 11, 2020

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Damon, Jordan & Tony are curious about the queer experience in the traditionally cishet barbershop environment.

This episode discusses our interactions with the barbershop as youth and adults. Do we have a reason to feel unwelcomed in this environment or is it all in our heads?

We discuss our favorite past hairstyles, rap culture in barbershops, how we engage in shop talk, queer expression and acceptance in barbershops, and the ideal space if we were to create one ourselves.

The shop is a part of our community that we cannot escape. As one of our hosts said, we can’t go downtown to get our hair cut with scissors. Is this cultural space doing all it can to welcome Black people from all walks of life, we’ll explore that here?

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Sup? Looking? Into? Nov 11, 2020

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Damon, Jordan & Tony are curious about the expectations associated with dating in our thirties.

This episode discusses what we look for in both casual and serious encounters with other Queer men. Are our expectations on dating becoming unrealistic or more clear as we age?

We discuss hookup culture, Grindr interactions, shifting dating expectations, the value we place on finding forever partners, and when to establish relationship needs with a new partner.

Dating in New York City is the best of times and the worst of times all wrapped in one. Layering In the experiences of being Black and Queer creates the perfect storm of complexities. We hope to gain clarity on our desires with time, but we can’t say for sure if that is yet the case.

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Beyond The Surface Level Aug 05, 2020

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Damon, Jordan & Tony are Black, Queer, and curious. This episode discusses what this experience has meant to us and revisits the season through the lens of crowd sourced questions. We discuss our favorite episodes, the friction between Damon and Jordan, reactions to he podcast from friends, family, and colleagues, any strain this project has placed on our friendship, adjustments we made due to quarantine, and the biggest impact Surface Level has had on the three hosts. We began this process with a simple focus on curiosity. We kicked off confident in our ability to address topics with care and authenticity, while understanding that our voices only represented the experiences of three individuals. This episode was built around our desire to serve and be a voice for community. In the quest to learn and grow from this project we will continue to challenge our audience and each other to #STAYCURIOUS. EP 10 | BEYOND THE SURFACE LEVEL Download

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Call Tyrone (And My Therapist) Jul 29, 2020

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Damon, Jordan & Tony are curious about what defines “successful” relationships.

This episode discusses our experiences with dating in New York City. Are there lessons to be learned and applied to every relationship or should each experience be evaluated on its own?

We discuss music therapy, our longest previous relationships, what dating life has looked like recently, our views on monogamy, and the most surprising things we’ve learned from previous entanglements.

Relationships are centered on clear agreements. The commitment to those agreements and what they are is different for all individuals. Every experience we have in life shapes us to be more complex version of ourselves. Combining all of who we are with another in hopes of a shared lifetime experience is a monumental goal, even for the best of us. To remove some of that pressure we think back to a Jesse Boykins lyric on love. “People live their whole lives trying to find it. Even if it’s for a second or for a minute If somebody can experience what it is to be loved and love truly that’s what w'e’re here for.”

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Is It Because I'm Black-ish? Jul 22, 2020

Show notes

Damon, Jordan & Tony are curious about privilege within the Black community.

This episode discusses the nuance of Black experience. Are there set topics where we should focus on community more than individually?

We discuss the “Blackest" cultural experiences, our connection to the places where we grew up compared to New York City, privileges we possess, the balance of checking our privilege compared to dimming our light, and just a few Black cards we’d like to revoke.

According to Joe Biden, if you don’t for for him you ain’t Black. With a collective eye roll we agreed that our history, present, and future are too vast to be dwindled into such sweeping assertions. We delve into how the intersections our race, sexuality, body types, and skin tones add layers to our experiences both inside and out of our community. Those individual experiences create the multiplicity that fuels a community that should recognize both the pain and joy in all of its members.

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