Best Ruby Noir Podcasts (2026)

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La Cosa Nostra Gang War 1928-32 Bonus Episode Trailer 7:16

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1d ago7:16

7:16

We pick up alongside Episode Nine on Bones Remmer, zooming out to look at what was happening in San Francisco in 1928 as the La Cosa Nostra gang war intensified in North Beach. Along the way, we pause on the culture of the moment: the movies people packed theaters to see, the arrival of Mickey Mouse in Steamboat Willie, and the everyday stories tha…

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Ep. 11—A Very Frisco Christmas Special 27:36

6d ago27:36

27:36

This special holiday episode of Frisco — The Secret History explores how Christmas was celebrated in San Francisco from the Gold Rush through the 1940s. The episode opens with a reflection on Emperor Norton, the city’s most beloved eccentric and an early, outspoken champion of civil rights, whose proclamations stood in stark contrast to the exclusi…

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Call It Frisco Part 3: Emperor Norton and Herb Caen Myths Debunked! 24:08

6d ago24:08

24:08

In this episode of The Secret History of Frisco, Knox Bronson returns—hopefully for the last time—to San Francisco’s most emotionally charged semantic battlefield: the word “Frisco.” Building on the earlier episodes Call It Frisco and Call It Frisco #2 — Sally Stanford Weighs In On The Eternal Conflict, Knox dismantles two of the most commonly cite…

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Ep. 9 Bones Remmer Pt. 1—Tenderloin Gambling King, Jack Ruby, & A Short History of Frisco's La Cosa Nostra 29:03

2M ago29:03

29:03

In this episode, we step back into San Francisco at the end of the roaring twenties, when bootleggers, blackhanders, and quiet Mafia bosses carved out invisible empires in North Beach. It was a time when the city’s underworld tried to keep its violence out of sight — but the headlines told another story. It’s also the backdrop for the rise of Elmer…

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Ep. 8—Rachel Walther Discusses "The Lady from Shanghai" Orson Welles’ Fractured Dreamscape of San Francisco Noir 44:20

2M ago44:20

44:20

This installment is all about the wild 1947 film noir The Lady From Shanghai, and guest Rachel Walther, a film historian with a book coming out soon called Born To Lose, The Misfits Who Made Dog Day Afternoon, breaks down the chaotic story behind it. The Lady From Shanghai film was a last-ditch effort by Orson Welles to get back in Hollywood’s good…

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Ep. 7—"WOMEN IN SALOONS—The Shame of My Sex" (1944) Part Two 32:51

3M ago32:51

32:51

Welcome back, Frisco fans! You're tuning into Part Two and the conclusion of our deep dive into the San Francisco Examiner's 1944 sensation: "WOMEN IN SALOONS—The Shame of My Sex," by the legendary, if controversial, author Gertrude Atherton. If you missed the start, you definitely want to go back and listen to Part One! This episode picks up where…

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Ep. 7—The Examiner's 1944 Moral Crusade Against Barfly Women—"WOMEN IN SALOONS—The Shame of My Sex" Part 1 50:12

3M ago50:12

50:12

In this episode of The Secret History of Frisco, we're diving into the San Francisco Examiner's sensational 1944 moral crusade against Barfly Women and the threat they posed to the social fabric of San Francisco. The paper hired the renowned 86-year-old author and novelist, Gertrude Atherton, a San Francisco native, to mount an investigation into t…

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Ep. 6—Jimmie Tarantino Pt. 2: D.A. Thomas Lynch Spells Out Jimmie's Scams in Post-WWII Frisco 28:16

4M ago28:16

28:16

California State Attorney General Thomas C. Lynch was the Assistant D.A. in San Francisco in the late 1940s, the years Jimmie Tarantino, blackmailer and extortionist magazine publisher, was plying his trade in San Francisco at the behest of Frisco gambling czar Bones Remmer. This episode comes from the Oral History Department of the Bancroft Librar…

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Ep. 5—Jimmie Tarantino Part 1: When Frank Sinatra and Mickey Cohen Invested in His Hollywood Nite Life Magazine 32:26

4M ago32:26

32:26

This episode of "The Secret History of Frisco" podcast introduces listeners to Jimmie Tarantino, a man described as a "louse, a blowhard, a barely literate, anti-Communist shake-down artist." The episode delves into Tarantino's early life in East Orange, New Jersey, and his eventual move to Hollywood where he became a peripheral member of Frank Sin…

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Bonus Ep. 5—Call It FRISCO Part Two—Sally Stanford Weighs In On The Eternal Conflict 26:04

5M ago26:04

26:04

In "Call It FRISCO, Part 2," host Knox Bronson defends his podcast's name, "The Secret History of Frisco," against objections from hither and thither, including the Reddit San Francisco group. Historical figures like Emperor Norton and madam Sally Stanford each make an appearance, showcasing their differing views on the term "Frisco." "Colorful cha…

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Bonus Ep. 4—FRISCO NOIR With Rachel Walther—The Maltese Falcon No.1 (1931) & No.2 (1941) and Dark Passage (1947) 47:38

5M ago47:38

47:38

In this episode, the first of a series, Knox Bronson, host of "The Secret History of Frisco" podcast, welcomes Rachel Walther, a film noir expert and author, to discuss the genre's connection to San Francisco. Walther, who writes for the Film Noir Foundation's "Noir City" magazine and has a forthcoming book on "Dog Day Afternoon," highlights San Fr…

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Ep. 4—The Story of Johnny Ochsner, The Rich Kid Romeo, and the Lovesick Stowaways 45:47

5M ago45:47

45:47

The episode chronicles the romantic life of Johnny Ochsner, a young Oakland oil heir whose escapades in the 1940s became international news. Marguerite Faye Human and Teresa Briston, separately stowawayed across the Pacific in pursuit of Johnny, driven by dreams of marriage. The story involves underage sex, a high-seas burglary, and the interventio…

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Bonus Episode 3—When Sally Stanford Kicked Humphrey Bogart Out Of Her Flagship Pleasure Palace At 1144 Pine Street In 1941 43:29

6M ago43:29

43:29

This bonus episode of "The Secret History of Frisco" podcast delves into the scandalous lives intertwined with San Francisco's notorious madam, Sally Stanford. Born Mabel Busby in 1903, Stanford's early life of poverty and a wrongful imprisonment for cashing stolen checks fueled her determination to achieve financial independence. By 21, she opened…

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Ep. 3—The Secret Life of Bob Patterson, The Charming Ex-Con Who Terrrorized High Society With His Column, "Freddie Francisco Observes" In The 1940s 43:28

6M ago43:28

43:28

The Secret Life of Freddie Francisco: A Rogue's Rise and Fall This episode of "The Secret History of Frisco" delves into the captivating, often scandalous, life of Bob Patterson, a writer of prodigious talent and even more prodigious roguishness. Under the pen name Freddie Francisco, Patterson became Northern California's most powerful newspaper co…

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Bonus Episode No. 2—Interview with Paul Drexler, Author of "Notorious San Francisco: True Tales of Crime, Passion, and Murder" 52:39

6M ago52:39

52:39

In this episode, I talk to author and historian Paul Drexler about the crime and vice rooted in the very birth of San Francisco and their evolution and influence in the city for the next hundred years. People and groups discussed in the episode include the Sydney Ducks, the Hounds, the San Francisco Police Department, Donna Fine, Sally Stanford, Bo…

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Ep. 2 ~ The Hawaiian Princess Who Wanted To Sing 37:13

7M ago37:13

37:13

I have a wonderful episode for you today, the story of the Hawaiian princess who came to San Francisco to open a nightclub where she could sing. We will again encounter lawyer Jake Ehrlich, of course. The McDonough Brothers, who controlled all the vice in the city, Chief of Police William Quinn and his corrupt Captain Fred Lemon at Central Station,…

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Bonus Episode No. 1—Call It Frisco! 26:14

8M ago26:14

26:14

This episode explores the long and often contentious history of the nickname "Frisco" for San Francisco. Despite the strong disapproval of many, including Chronicle columnist Herb Caen, the term has deep roots stretching back to the Gold Rush era. We delve into the earliest documented uses of "Frisco" in the mid-19th century, finding it in letters …

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Episode 1: Vice Defined San Francisco's DNA At Its Inception 45:00

8M ago45:00

45:00

Welcome to The Secret History of Frisco, a podcast peeling back the layers of San Francisco's vibrant and often illicit past during its last wide-open era, 1934 to 1953. Join host Knox Bronson as we journey through the city's smoky backrooms, bustling waterfronts, and glittering nightlife, where fortunes were made and lost, and a unique live-and-le…

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When Gamblers and Newspapermen Ruled The Cool Grey City of Love 10:14

10M ago10:14

10:14

Ever wondered who really pulled the strings in San Francisco during its post-war golden age? It wasn't the mayor or the board of supervisors. When the war ended in 1946, San Francisco experienced an unprecedented boom. Servicemen who'd fallen in love with the city returned to stay, nightlife flourished, and business thrived in what appeared to be a…

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77 - Magical Lizard Boyfriend 1:37:20

4y ago1:37:20

1:37:20

Welcome to 'Giving Me Life', a fortnightly podcast where three Queer Irish Showgirls and one Dapper Dude discuss pop-culture, old and new, over copious amounts of wine. It's our final episode. A long chat about what we liked and disliked and all the things we wished we could have covered in the past three years. Thanks so much to everyone who liste…

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76 - Ham Alarm 1:24:17

4y ago1:24:17

1:24:17

Welcome to 'Giving Me Life', a fortnightly podcast where three Queer Irish Showgirls and one Dapper Dude discuss pop-culture, old and new, over copious amounts of wine. On this episode: Comedy murder mystery 'Only Murders In The Building' and a deep dive into Musical Theatre drama series 'Smash'. 00:00 - 07:10 Intro 07:10 - 21:30 'Only Murders In T…

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75 - Social Media Pirate 1:17:00

4y ago1:17:00

1:17:00

Welcome to 'Giving Me Life', a fortnightly podcast where three Queer Irish Showgirls and one Dapper Dude discuss pop-culture, old and new, over copious amounts of wine. On this episode: The magical realism of 'Dispatches From Elsewhere', the piratey goodness of 'Black Sails', the surf-tastic 'Point Break' and all the usual nonsense. 00:00 - 11:05 I…

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74 - Bleach Doesn't Lather 1:10:08

4y ago1:10:08

1:10:08

Welcome to 'Giving Me Life', a fortnightly podcast where three Queer Irish Showgirls and one Dapper Dude discuss pop-culture, old and new, over copious amounts of wine. On this episode: 'Attack Of The Hollywood Cliches', the youtube channel of hair guru Brad Mondo, and one of the best worst movies of all time 'Staying Alive', as well as all the usu…

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73 - Mouldy Coronavirus Leggings 1:27:58

4y ago1:27:58

1:27:58

Welcome to 'Giving Me Life', a fortnightly podcast where three Queer, Irish Showgirls and one Dapper Dude discuss pop-culture, old and new, over copious amounts of wine. On this episode: Cult film 'Fight Club', the new Netflix competition reality show 'Metal Shop Masters', and Amazon Prime documentary series 'LuLaRich', plus all the usual nonsense.…

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72 - Foot Fetishist Google Search Hole 1:16:17

4+ y ago1:16:17

1:16:17

Welcome to 'Giving Me Life', a fortnightly podcast where three Queer Irish Showgirls and one Dapper Dude discuss pop-culture, old and new, over copious amounts of wine. On this episode: 'Gosford Park', stand up comedy special 'Happy Face' by Ryan Hamilton, HBO Max music documentary ''99: Peace, Love, & Rage'. 00:00 - 16:05 Intro and Listener Submis…

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71 - Cling Film It Up 1:02:35

4+ y ago1:02:35

1:02:35

Welcome to 'Giving Me Life', a fortnightly podcast where three Queer, Irish Showgirls and one Dapper Dude discuss pop-culture, old and new, over copious amounts of wine. On this episode: '1984' - the 1984 film adaptation of Orwell's masterpiece, art documentary 'Bob Ross: Happy Accidents, Betrayal & Greed', and 80's rom-com 'Mannequin', as well as …

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70 - Sit Up Straight And Read A Dictionary 1:02:50

4+ y ago1:02:50

1:02:50

Welcome to 'Giving Me Life', a fortnightly podcast where three Queer Irish Showgirls and one Dapper Dude discuss pop-culture, old and new, over copious amounts of wine. On this episode: Music documentary 'Summer Of Soul', Stephen Fry and Hugh Laurie in 'Jeeves And Wooster', John Favreau's 'Chef' and 'The Chef Show'. 00:00 - 04:23 Intro 04:23 - 23:0…

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69 - Apocalypse Grandpa 1:05:52

4+ y ago1:05:52

1:05:52

Welcome to 'Giving Me Life', a fortnightly podcast where three Queer Irish Showgirls and one Dapper Dude discuss pop-culture, old and new, over copious amounts of wine. On this episode: Time loop rom-com 'Palm Springs', youtube channel 'Philosophy Tube', and super hero animated series 'Invincible'. 00:00 - 09:45 Intro and Listener Submissions 09:45…

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68 - Bedding Fridge 1:05:06

4+ y ago1:05:06

1:05:06

Welcome to 'Giving Me Life', a fortnightly podcast where three Queer Irish Showgirls and one Dapper Dude discuss pop-culture, old and new, over copious amounts of wine. On this episode: Michael J. Fox rom-com 'Doc Hollywood', indie cannibal flick 'Ravenous', and cult 80's sitcom 'The Golden Girls', as well as all the usual nonsense. 00:00 - 10:00 I…

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67 - Passive-Aggressive Capitalism 1:09:18

4+ y ago1:09:18

1:09:18

Welcome to 'Giving Me Life', a fortnightly podcast where three Queer Irish Showgirls and one Dapper Dude discuss pop-culture, old and new, over copious amounts of wine. On this episode: youtube makeup artist John Maclean, board game 'Catan', and Marvel TV series 'Loki'. 00:00 - 12:55 Intro and Listener Submissions 12:55 - 28:45 'John Maclean' youtu…

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66 Happy Pride 1:17:11

4+ y ago1:17:11

1:17:11

It's Pride Month and we're on holidays! In the meantime, join us in gay reminiscence over conversations about queer cinema documentary The Celluloid Closet with special guest Bunny O'Hare, the queer comedic stylings of Justin Elizabeth Sayer, Ryan Murphys latest musical edition The Prom and one of our favorite musicals of all time, cult classic Hed…

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65 - A Stingray From The Back 1:13:29

4+ y ago1:13:29

1:13:29

Welcome to 'Giving Me Life', a fortnightly podcast where three Queer Irish Showgirls and one Dapper Dude discuss pop-culture, old and new, over copious amounts of wine. On this episode: 'Strictly Ballroom', Bo Burnham's new Netflix special 'Inside' and camp classic 'The Birdcage'. 00:00 - 10:50 Intro and Listener Submissions 10:50 - 29:20 'Strictly…

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64 - Temporally Unmoored 1:06:09

4+ y ago1:06:09

1:06:09

Welcome to 'Giving Me Life', a fortnightly podcast where three Queer Irish Showgirls and one Dapper Dude discuss pop-culture, old and new, over copious amounts of wine. On this episode: 'Halston', 'Dollface', 'Robin Hood: Prince Of Thieves' 00:00 - 13:10 Intro 13:10 - 34:30 'Halston' 34:30 - 44:45 'Dollface' 44:45 - 1:04:10 'Robin Hood: Prince Of T…

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63 - Murder Hornet 1:02:35

4+ y ago1:02:35

1:02:35

Welcome to 'Giving Me Life', a fortnightly podcast where three Queer Irish Showgirls and one Dapper Dude discuss pop-culture, old and new, over copious amounts of wine. On this episode: cult 80's film 'Overboard', Stand up comedy legend Dylan Moran, post-apocalyptic rom-com 'Love and Monsters' and all the usual nonsense. 00:00 - 08:25 Intro and Lis…

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62 - Excelsior! 1:13:40

4+ y ago1:13:40

1:13:40

Welcome to 'Giving Me Life', a fortnightly podcast where three Queer Irish Showgirls and one Dapper Dude discuss pop-culture old and new over copious amounts of wine. On this episode: 'Dark Tourist', 'Velvet Buzzsaw', 'Rutherford Falls' 00:00 - 14:10 Intro and Listener Submissions 14:10 - 41:35 'Dark Tourist' 41:35 - 43:40 Wine Corner 43:40 - 56:00…

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61 - Some Killer, Mostly Filler 1:23:06

4+ y ago1:23:06

1:23:06

Welcome to 'Giving Me Life', a fortnightly podcast where three Queer Irish Showgirls and one dapper dude discuss pop-culture old and new over copious amounts of wine. On this episode: Art con documentary 'Made You Look: A True Story About Fake Art', the work of Queer icon Justin Elizabeth Sayre, drag documentary 'Trixie Mattel: Moving Parts', Food …

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60 - Queer Eye For The Patriarchy 1:20:55

4+ y ago1:20:55

1:20:55

Welcome to 'Giving Me Life', a fortnightly podcast where three Queer Irish Showgirls and one dapper dude, discuss pop-culture old and new over copious amounts of wine. On this episode: Stand up comedy from Nate Bargatze, Heavy Metal music doc 'Anvil! The Story Of Anvil', Netflix reality show 'Marriage Or Mortgage', and all the usual nonsense. 00:00…

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59 - The Shepherd's Pie Of Television 1:16:04

5y ago1:16:04

1:16:04

Welcome to 'Giving Me Life', a fortnightly podcast where three Queer Irish Showgirls and one dapper dude discuss pop-culture old and new over copious amounts of wine. On this episode: Cult classic 'Hedwig and The Angry Inch', 'Castle', and retro video game documentary 'The King Of Kong: A Fistful Of Quarters', as well as 'Wine Corner' and all the u…

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58 - You Stole My Line 1:16:42

5y ago1:16:42

1:16:42

Welcome to 'Giving Me Life', a fortnightly podcast where three Queer Irish Showgirls and one dapper dude, discuss pop-culture old and new over copious amounts of wine. On this episode: Johnny Cash documentary 'Tricky Dick and The Man In Black', epic S ci-Fi series 'The Expanse', and cult mockumentary 'Drop Dead Gorgeous', as well as all the usual n…

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57 - Mildly Allergic To Rubber 1:09:30

5y ago1:09:30

1:09:30

Welcome to 'Giving Me Life', a fortnightly podcast where three Queer Irish Showgirls and one dapper dude discuss pop-culture, old and new, over copious amounts of wine. On this episode: 'Star Trek: Lower Decks', cult music documentary 'DIG!', and 90's action-comedy 'Last Action Hero', and all the usual nonsense. 00:00 - 14:25 Intro and Listener Sub…

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56 - Off To Doctor Lawyer School 1:06:38

5y ago1:06:38

1:06:38

Welcome to 'Giving Me Life', a fortnightly podcast where three Queer Irish Showgirls and one dapper dude, discuss pop-culture old and new over copious amounts of wine. On this episode: Marvel's 'WandaVision', cult 90's documentary 'The Cruise', and bonkers B-Movie 'The VelociPastor'. 00:00 - 15:05 Intro and Listener Submissions 15:05 - 32:05 'Wanda…

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55 - The Push-Up Bra Of Wine 1:13:48

5y ago1:13:48

1:13:48

Welcome to 'Giving Me Life', a fortnightly podcast where three Queer Irish Showgirls and one dapper dude discuss pop-culture, old and new, over copious amounts of wine. On this episode: 'History Of Swear Words', 'Ma Rainey's Black Bottom' and 'Grabbers' 00:00 - 16:35 Intro and Listener Submissions 16:35 - 32:00 'History Of Swear Words' 32:00 - 36:0…

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54 - I'm Gonna Steal Your Eggs Again 1:24:03

5y ago1:24:03

1:24:03

Welcome to 'Giving Me Life', a fortnightly podcast where three Queer Irish Showgirls and one dapper dude discuss pop-culture, old and new, over copious amounts of wine. On this episode: mockumentary 'Death to 2020', Zom-com 'Santa Clarita Diet', and Star Wars spinoff 'The Mandalorian' plus all the usual nonsense. 00:00 - 20:20 Intro, pop-culture re…

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53 - Stupid Leather Boat 1:12:27

5y ago1:12:27

1:12:27

Welcome to 'Giving Me Life', a fortnightly podcast where three Queer Irish Showgirls and one dapper dude discuss pop-culture, old and new, over copious amounts of wine. On this episode: Good news stories from 2020, Ryan Murphy's adaptation of Broadway musical 'The Prom', and the worst film of 2020 'Wild Mountain Thyme'. 00:00 - 19:55 Good news from…

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52 - Disco Daleks 1:10:17

5y ago1:10:17

1:10:17

Welcome to 'Giving Me Life', a fortnightly podcast where three Queer Irish Showgirls and one Dapper Dude discuss pop-culture, old and new, over copious amounts of wine. On this episode: Feelgood docu-series 'We Are The Champions', music industry documentary '20 Feet From Stardom', and Lesbian Christmas Rom-Com 'Happiest Season', as well as Wine Cor…

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51 - Unsafe Gravy Boat Practices 1:12:51

5y ago1:12:51

1:12:51

Welcome to 'Giving Me Life', a fortnightly podcast where three Queer Irish Showgirls and one Dapper Dude discuss pop-culture, old and new, over copious amounts of wine. On this episode: Chess drama 'The Queen's Gambit', 'Legally Blonde: The Musical', and Comedy horror series 'Truth Seekers', plus Wine Corner and all the usual nonsense. 00:00 - 21:3…

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50 Nostalgia Extravaganza 1:16:48

5y ago1:16:48

1:16:48

This week, something's gone terribly wrong! Not really but we've taken a week off so we're offering you a nostalgia extravaganza, revisiting our discussions of 70's horror camp fest Theatre of Blood feat. the glorious Bunny, the best thing ever made The Muppet Show, modern nostalgia vehicle Kobra Kai and 80's kid caper classic The Goonies. Theatre …

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49 - Self-‌Install Bidet 1:12:55

5y ago1:12:55

1:12:55

Welcome to 'Giving Me Life', a fortnightly podcast where three Queer Irish Showgirls and one dapper dude discuss pop-culture old and new over copious amounts of wine On this episode: Cult movies 'Death Becomes Her' and 'Repo: The Genetic Opera', medical history podcast 'Sawbones', and all the usual nonsense. 00:00 - 15:15 Intro, Listener Submission…

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48 - Battle Moth 1:17:01

5y ago1:17:01

1:17:01

Welcome to 'Giving Me Life', a fortnightly podcast where three Queer Irish Showgirls and one dapper dude discuss pop-culture, old and new, over copious amounts of wine. On this episode: 'The Cabin In The Woods'; Morticia, Vampira & Elvira; and 'Practical Magic', as well as all the usual nonsense. 00:00 - 09:10 Intro and Listener Submissions 09:10 -…

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47 - Lizard Orgy 47:48

5y ago47:48

47:48

Welcome to 'Giving Me Life', a fortnightly podcast where three queer Irish showgirls and one dapper dude discuss pop-culture, old and new, over copious amounts of wine. On this episode: 'The Greatest Event In Television History', 'October Rust' by Type O Negative, and cult Halloween classic 'Hocus Pocus'. 00:00 - 16:50 Intro and Listener Submission…