Surface Level

Latest Episodes:

No Means No Jul 20, 2022

Show notes

Jordan, Damon & Tony are curious – how is consent defined and exercised in our sex lives? This week, the idea of consent is reflected upon both personally and for its larger implications on society specific, to Black Queer men. We delve into the idea of blurred consent and the need for an explicit “yes” at all stages of sexual intercourse. We then turn the lens on the broader community to discuss cases of sexual trauma and abuse towards Black Queer men and the lackluster response from law enforcement. We welcome Rasheed Gonga to our Surface Level Family. Rasheed is the Program Director for Impulse Group, and an activist fighting for the rights of Black Queer men. He brings a perspective that makes the hosts think not just about protecting themselves but pushes us to be advocates for those who are afraid to speak up for themselves. Consent and sexual assault in our community are topics to be treated with respect and care and we hope to offer perspective on how to move to a place of healing for all of those affected. We know a lot but we don’t know it all, so join the conversation on social and let us know your thoughts.

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Parents Just Don't Understand Jul 13, 2022

Show notes

Jordan, Damon & Tony are curious – how can Black parents better support their Queer children? This week we reflect on our experiences growing up in Black households - the good, the bad, and the downright ugly. We kick off with a game deciding if we need to “get the belt” to deal with rebellious children. Then launch into a discussion that focuses on past experiences but also forward-looking advice regarding tools that we wished our parents had when raising us. We welcome Dr. Lulu to our Surface Level Family. Dr. Lulu the multi hyphenated Pediatrician, Parent Coach, Author, Disabled Veteran, and Activist was an amazing addition to our discussion. As a Queer woman who is also the parent of a trans daughter, both her personal and familial experience added great depth to this conversation. Her goal is to help parents heal and be the best thing their children need right now. She serves as a possibility model for who Black parents can be, honing in on the idea that if trauma can be passed down through generations then so can healing. We know a lot but we don’t know it all, so join the conversation on social and let us know your thoughts.

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CocoDorm.com Jul 06, 2022

Show notes

Jordan, Damon & Tony are curious – do storylines in porn perpetuate harmful stereotypes of Black Queer men? This episode starts with a fun game where each host discovers the type of “deviant” they are through a series of questions regarding our kinks or lack thereof. We then delve into a conversation regarding our introduction to and relationship with pornography, and debate both the harmful and healing aspects of the inclusion of Black Queer men in porn. Like most work environments systemic racism rears its ugly head. The question becomes, how does one balance real-world consequences in an industry that is built on selling fantasy? This episode is equal parts fun but also takes a serious look at a topic we typically only view as entertainment. We’re sure this will spark debates on social and we look forward to what you all have to say! We know a lot but we don’t know it all, so join the conversation on social and let us know your thoughts.

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P-Valley Jun 29, 2022

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Jordan, Damon & Tony are curious – how does media visibility affect how we see ourselves? This week’s episode is an absolute treat. We dissect the value of visibility within media and how it affects the way we view ourselves in real life. This week we are all living in Nicco’s world and the host of Surface Level are along for the ride. We welcome actor, Nicco Annan to our Surface Level Family. Nicco plays the beloved non-binary character, Uncle Clifford, on the hit show P-Valley. We play a game themed on some of the fun and outlandish advice that the character would give. We then dive into the journey that has lead Nicco to a place of self love and the desire to show love, not just in his art, but in life. Thematically this episode is about humanity and the desire to show all aspects of it with the hope that we can all move to a more authentic place in our own lives day by day. We know a lot but we don’t know it all, so join the conversation on social and let us know your thoughts.

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Masc 4 Masc Jun 22, 2022

Show notes

Jordan, Damon & Tony are curious – is a preference for masculinity inherently femmephobic? We kick off with a game imagining a world if we were girls, then launch into a discussion that centers around various facets of femininity as it relates to Queer cis men. We discuss our relationship with femininity, our opinions on “femme tops”, and what we are doing to make the world more accepting towards femininity in men. This is a fun take on a serious conversation that we are happy to bring you this week. We have spent years unlearning things we have been taught about our femininity while trying to find truth in our appreciation of masculinity. We have discovered we are three butch queens hoping to give you both. We know a lot but we don’t know it all, so join the conversation on social and let us know your thoughts.

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The Black Gay Agenda Jun 15, 2022

Show notes

Jordan, Damon & Tony are curious – what can the current political system do to better protect Black Queer people? We are excited to welcome you back with a brief update on our time off between seasons. We then launch into a fun gay reimagining of the government for and by Black people. Our discussion is then centered around how the current political landscape is causing physical, mental, and emotional harm towards Black Queer people. This week we welcome Executive Director and Co-Founder of Campaign Zero, DeRay McKesson to our Surface Level Family. DeRay adds a point of view from an individual who has been doing the work as a former teacher and dedicated activist. We weave through topics related to gun violence, “Don’t Say Gay” bills, and trans identity. He poignantly said during the episode that, “the culture wars are here”, and we discuss what we’re going to do about it. We know a lot but we don’t know it all, so join the conversation on social and let us know your thoughts.

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Beyond The Surface Level 4 Feb 23, 2022

Show notes

Jordan, Damon & Tony are curious – are you ready to go beyond the surface level with us? The finale to our fourth season features the theme of community. We kick off by welcoming LaQuann Dawson, Creative Director of MOBI, to our Surface Level family. We discuss his experience with the organization and the parallel missions of creative space and a platform for Black Queer folx. We then move into a game themed on the standout moments from this season. We wrap up with one of our most fun segments yet, chatting through an array of topics all sourced from you, our beloved Surface Level Insiders. This season has seen our platform grow in ways we would never have imagined and we look forward to sharing this fun and candid exchange with you. So, thank you for the support and until next time…stay curious. We know a lot but we don’t know it all, so join the conversation on social and let us know your thoughts.

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Shade Came From Reading Feb 16, 2022

Show notes

Jordan, Damon & Tony are curious – is the art of shade helpful or harmful in our communities? We play a game deciding which common statements are shade vs “no shade”, discuss the history of “the dozens” and shade in Black communities, litigate if throwing shade for sport is based in insecurities, and discuss ways in which positive defense mechanisms we’ve developed help combat a world that views us as less than. Black communities often live by the phrase “laugh at our pain”. This statement is further cemented in the Black Queer experience. Our take is that it’s all about balance. Are we people that need to laugh to stop from crying or individuals that need to heal from generational trauma? Or, are both things true at the same time? We know a lot but we don’t know it all, so join the conversation on social and let us know your thoughts.

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Reading Rainbow Feb 09, 2022

Show notes

Jordan, Damon & Tony are curious – what do Black Queer stories look like when we write them ourselves? We play a literature-themed game, discuss our favorite Black Queer reads, discuss stories that we would write ourselves, then delve into a conversation around how Black Queer culture has informed the writing of our guest. This week we welcome New York Times bestselling author Michael Arceneaux to our Surface Level Family. Michael’s fun writing style takes a unique look at millennial problems, from dating to student loan debt. He brings a point of view that is equal parts funny, honest, and real. This is not an author who takes himself too seriously and that is why his books are resonating with a generation truly doing the best we can with what we’ve got. We know a lot but we don’t know it all, so join the conversation on social and let us know your thoughts.

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School Gayze Feb 02, 2022

Show notes

Jordan, Damon & Tony are curious – how have HBCUs evolved to fit the needs of Queer students? We play a game that reminds us of our time at Howard, discuss the history and evolution of Queer communities at HBCUs with two educators, then end with speaking to current students and recent graduates about the hope they wish to see for future generations and the work that is still to come. This week we welcome educators Dr. Steven Mobley (Howard) & Dr. Kirstin Byrd (Hampton & Spelman), Transgender HBCU Queen Malay Simmons (Johnson C. Smith), former Mr. HBCU Jauan Durbin (Morehouse) & former Human Rights Campaign HBCU Program intern Janelle Edge (F.A.M.U.) to our Surface Level family. We are excited to offer perspectives on the HBCU experience that show how far we have come but ultimately where we can continue to grow. We hope you enjoy their stories and that any student attending an HBCU will feel seen and understand that their experience is as big a part of the history of our institutions as anyone else’s. We know a lot but we don’t know it all, so join the conversation on social and let us know your thoughts.

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