For those of us who are more, ahem, “mature”, being out and proud during our adolescence was just not an option - especially in Colorado where Ryan spent most of his coming of age years. In his interview, Ryan does a good job of articulating what it’s like when your body tells you you’re gay before you can even admit it to yourself. Sometimes surprising things can happen when a Tony Little VHS tape is near by. Ryan also describes being a part of Gainer culture and the different ways our bodies can be extensions of erotic desire that are not just about genitals and sexual performance.

As promised, here are links to film festivals that will be presenting Dave’s FRUITBOWL films this fall. Almost all these fests are providing online streaming.

STEPHEN & JAMES: BEST GIRLFRIENDS will be screening at:

LA’s OUTFEST, Aug. 13-22 in the BOYS SHORTS program. https://outfestla2021.com/boys-shorts/

Seattle’s LOCAL SIGHTINGS film festival at the Northwest Film Forum. https://nwfilmforum.org/festivals/local-sightings-film-festival-pacific-nw/

And these fests will present both STEPHEN & JAMES as well as FOUR FRUITBITES, a short that features interviewees from Season 2 who identify as trans, genderqueer and non-binary.

Austin’s PRISM Film Festival (also known as AGLIFF). Aug. 26 - Sept. 6. FOUR FRUITBITES will be in the “Indie Series” shorts program. STEPHEN & JAMES will be in the “Coming of Age” shorts program. https://www.agliff.org/schedule

CINEMA DIVERSE, Palm Springs’ Gay and Lesbian Film Festival. Sept. 16-30. Schedule TBD. For more information, check out: https://cinemadiversethepalmspringslgbtqfilmfestival.festivee.com/passes

REELING, Chicago’s LGBTQ+ International Film Festival. Sept. 23 - Oct. 7. Schedule TBD. https://reelingfilmfestival.org/

FRUITBOWL is produced independently without financial sponsors, advertising revenue or corporate media support. Every interview is recorded in-person, on location in each interviewee’s home and production expenses including travel, accommodations, equipment rental, editing and post-production are paid for out of pocket by Dave Quantic, FRUITBOWL’s creator.

The only consistent financial support (currently $93/month) comes from FRUITBOWL’s Patreon community. Help support FRUITBOWL’s mission of documenting and sharing stories about queer coming of age by becoming a patron! A minimum $5 monthly donation allows patrons early access to episodes, behind the scenes updates and exclusive video content that is not available to the general public. Learn more about how to become a patron at: https://www.patreon.com/fruitbowlpodcast

Do you have a business or product that you think FRUITBOWL’s audience would like to know about? Underwriting/advertising rate sheets are available for advertisers and underwriters as well as production support. For more information, visit: https://www.fruitbowlpodcast.com/donate. Underwriting fees are 100% tax deductible through a partnership with Northwest Film Forum’s fiscal sponsorship program. FRUITBOWL RECEIVES NO DIRECT FUNDING FROM NWFF, only the use of their non-profit status to receive tax deductible donations. For more information check out: https://nwfilmforum.org/education/artist-services/nonprofit-fiscal-sponsorship-filmmakers/fiscal-sponsee-fruitbowl-oral-history-queer-sex/

Word of mouth is our most powerful promotional tool right now, so tell your friends about FRUITBOWL and rate & review us on iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/fruitbowl/id1468574292

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The official website: https://www.fruitbowlpodcast.com/

Fruitbowl’s fruit artwork was created by Patrick Stephenson of Bearpad! https://bearpad.storenvy.com/
Check out host Saira B’s awesome podcast about erotic fan fiction, FREAKY TALES 4 U! https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/freaky-tales-4-u-a-queer-fanfiction-show/id1463915467

On iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/fruitbowl/id1468574292

On Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3LVzFe2HSEWCcWtP9OvSbQ?si=aopBYD9oTOqdXKZ7ZZCmXg

BTW, if you want another story from The Cock, you can listen to Adam’s episode (S2E3)

Nathan's story is, at once, extremely unique and totally relatable in that he comes from an Egyptian-American family but was raised in an insular Christian community in New Jersey where being gay was a red line that was not to be crossed. The youngest of his family with two much-older sisters, Nathan didn’t always fit in as the leader of his high school bible club. Fortunately, his best friend, Michelle, was the leader of the school’s Straight/Gay Alliance. Years later, Stephen would ask Michelle why she didn’t call him out as a closet case in high school. “Because that’s what the bullies were saying,” was her brilliant response. Then, she took him to The Cock in downtown New York City and … well you can listen and find out what happened next.

BTW, if you want another story from The Cock, you can listen to Adam’s episode (S2E3)

You'd think that living 2 hours from LA would provide plenty of opportunities for a queer kid to explore queer culture; but when you live in a trailer on an abandoned citrus orchard with limited introductions to other people and spotty internet, two hours from LA can seem like a million miles away.

Nonetheless, Patrick eventually learned about sex and found other queer people, in spite of his mom's objections. A first experience with a mustached stranger from craigslist left a deep impression and, ever since, Patrick has had a taste for sex outside of the formalities of the bedroom. One memorable hook up was atop a 50 ft. waterfall.

Now he lives in Northern Cali and supports himself as an artist and filmmaker. In fact, Patrick is the artist behind FRUITBOWL's delicious season 3 fruit illustrations. You can check out more of his very sexy bear art at https://bearpadart.weebly.com/