A Beginner's Guide To A Forty Something Gay Man.

This week is a brief explanation of my absence and lack of podcasts. It's also a brief tribute to my mum -Jennifer Kelly. I wanted to share what's been going on and how we are all doing. Don't worry, it's not all doom and gloom. I hope that you enjoy this short but uncensored/unedited chat. If you are going through anything similar and would like to chat further through or around the topics I've covered then please feel free to contact me directly or through the website www.40somethinggay.co.uk or through the facebook page www.facebook.com/40somethinggay/ Normal service will resume shortly!

This week's episode is with the man behind one of my favourite podcasts, 'Making Gay History' - Mr Eric Marcus. What an honour! Eric has recorded decades worth of interviews with LGBTQ heroes and civil rights activists. Some of them extremely well known - Ellen DeGeneres, Larry Kramer, Vito Russo and Marsha P. Johnson for example - and others that should and will become better known due to the type of documentation Eric has put together. We chat about his work as an author, working with Robbie Rogers and Greg Louganis. We discuss his book 'Is it A Choice?' which helps to answer myriad questions that often pop up regarding homosexuality. This is one of my favourite conversations and sincerely hope you enjoy this as much as I did. Please find the links to 'Making Gay History' below. http://makinggayhistory.com/season-one/ https://twitter.com/makinggayhistry www.facebook.com/makinggayhistory www.instagram.com/makinggayhistorypodcast/ and to my fabulous websites!! https://40somethinggay.co.uk/ http://www.ma

This week I am joined by my friend and fellow actor chum Mr Mark Farrelly. I had the pleasure of working with Mark in the summer of last year and really connected with him. He is a very wise soul and a strong ally to the LGBTQ world. Amongst other projects Mark has been touring the UK for a fair few years with his one man show 'Quentin Crisp - A Naked Hope' - We discuss his relationship with Mr Crisp and we discuss how that through chaos and disorder in his own life he eventually found solace in Quentin. We talk through his other one man show 'The Silence Of Snow' about the life of author Patrick Hamilton. He talks about the connections to both men and how some of life's heartbreaks and losses have inspired him to write some of his strongest material and also how to be a better listener to others who need an ear. He talks through his time at Cambridge and some of the significant insecurities that were born of that time, and how he over dosed on learning. A pleasure to listen to and chat with - Enjoy!! L

First episode of 2018! This week I'm talking about resolutions and their purpose. What's the best way to dive into the year ahead? I chat about my impending wedding and all the planning that I didn't really prepare for! There is news about the future of the podcast and my year ahead. I have some great recommendations for you this week and plenty of questions for you all to get replying back to me. I briefly talk about the recently released Met Police figures for homophobic hate crime in London last year and how we might move forward from these in 2018. The guests begin to appear again in the next episode so consider this a gentle ease in for the new year!

Here it is! The Christmas special. It's a bit of a different format this week. I have four of my friends, who have been previous guests, back to talk about their year and their highlights and lowlights. I really hope you all enjoy this one. Maybe even listen to it on Xmas day whilst cooking the turkey? I hope it fills you with the spirit of the season and that you all have a brilliant Xmas. My thanks to Kieran, Stuart, Tony and Menno for joining me again and to all my guests this year. Keep subscribing and I'll talk to you in 2018!

This week is the final episode before the Xmas special. It's a solo again. I talk through my first year as a podcaster. I chat through what I've learnt and the highs and lows - of my year personally and the world at large. It's almost a compilation of the best bits of the podcast and if you are catching up and perhaps don't want to/don't have time to listen to all of them, this episode is a great way to catch up and figure out the highlight episodes. Thank you all for sticking with me. Please keep on listening and subscribing!

This week my guest is none-other than.....my sister! Mrs Emma Louise Shaw. We talk about when she first knew about all things gay. When she first knew about her brother and the day I came out to her - which lead to a clapham nightclub, lots of Kylie, and Emma find her spiritual home. We discuss all things family and how we both deal with our mother's dementia. Lots of talk of 80's and 90's house music and how that still influences our friendship. It's a lovely chat over a cuppa and a bourbon and think it's one of the most natural chats I've had on the podcast. Share and enjoy!!! Links to Emma. twitter.com/VictorianKitten

Episode 31 sees me in a conversation with the inimitable Bev Rage of the Chicago Queercore punk band 'Bev Rage and the Drinks' Bev (sometimes Beverley/Josh)is the lead singer and punk drag creation. We chat about her origins playing in bands in Cleveland, Ohio and how her/his desire to bring queerness to punk music and to steer away from the 'four white guys in a van' scenario began. Bev tells us the origins of 'Beverley' and how she met fellow bandmate Aaron on the streets of Chicago whilst he was selling ice cream and Bev was selling plasma! We discuss the importance of drag on popular culture and Bev's connections with the Chicago drag scene. From their first gig supporting Pansy Division to the release of their current brilliant EP 'Honk If Yer Hungry' - (on iTunes and Bandcamp,Spotify etc )it's a whirlwind ride and not one for the fainthearted. Ladies and Gentlemen....... Ms Bev Rage. Links below - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WSzil6ttnbU www.bevrageandthedrinks.com/ www.facebook.com/BevRageandtheDrin

After a brief hiatus, I return this week with a great chat to my friend and fellow actor, John Sears. John spent the first part of his adult life in teaching which he loved. However, the itch to 'tread the boards' was ready to be scratched. At 58 he started his full time acting career. John's story is a fascinating one which takes us through university in the 60's to time spent in Africa, his teacher training then finally to going into acting full time. He talks candidly about the difference in how one might have dealt with being gay and coming out in a time before homosexuality was legalised. John's story is an inspirational one and it shows how it is never too late to follow a dream and change life's narrative. John is currently appearing in 'The Castle' by Howard Barker at https://space.org.uk/event/the-castle/ Please enjoy and share! https://www.facebook.com/john.sears.90

This episode is all about giving a brief history of some of my favourite gay playwrights. People that have inspired me - as an actor, director or just an audience member. Starting at 'Torch Song Trilogy' and going right through to 'My Night With Reg' A bit of history about the likes of Noel Coward and Joe Orton. My thoughts on how they have affected me personally and the legacy that these playwrights have left us. I have some great recommendations this week and we delve into my thoughts on the film 'Handsome Devil' Enjoy and share. Thanks for listening!! Details of my fundraising walk next week if you can help us meet our target. https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/matt-kelly4 and My website mattiankelly.com

This week I chat to the charming Laurence Wensel. An established theatre practitioner, Laurence works as a director - with over 50 plays directed under his belt he has also written 4 LGBTQ themed plays of his own. He tells me about growing up and coming out in Laredo, Texas and how he has truly come to call it home again after leaving for a while. How he met up with a school bully in a gay bar later in life and what that lead to. We talk through his time living in Germany, mental health, being in 'Band',and his devotion to Han Solo and Doctor Who. He also explains his creative process as a playwright and his inspirations. A thoroughly charming gentlemen all round. Side note - Recommendations this week are at the end! http://www.laurencewensel.com/ www.redbubble.com/people/lwensel

This week I fly solo again. I talk about having a wobbly week and how one dusts themselves down and picks up themselves up and how it's fine to have a wobbly week! My main topic is to go back through my own experience of London's Gay Scene and my days in Earls Court - The Colherne pub and it's extremely well known clientele, the early experiences of clubbing and then heading into Soho and Old Compton Street. I chat about the history behind London's notorious 'Molly houses' right through to how Soho was affected by the bombing of the Admiral Duncan in the late 90's. I look forward to expanding further into the LGBTQ history on my city in further episodes. Links to my just giving page - to raise funds in memory of my Mum for the Alzheimers society. https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/matt-kelly4

This week, ladies and gentlemen, I am joined direct from LA, by the inimitable Nadya Ginsburg. Many listeners will know Nadya from either the superb 'Madonnalogues' on YouTube or as a comedy coach on 'RuPaul's Drag Race'. I am honoured to have this extremely funny lady join me as we talk about everything from her early days in Canada right through to being out there on the comedy circuit in LA - via gay clubs in NYC. We chat through her wide and varied career that has taken her from working and living with drag legend Jackie Beat to working with Roseanne Barr, Joan Rivers and appearing on the Michael Patrick King CBS show '2 Broke Girls'. Nadya tells us about how her version of Madonna started out as a clever business move and how the Material Girl herself may have been inspired by Nadya's performances! Currently in further development on her stand up show and Madonnalogues - Season 2, we also discuss her thoughts on the political climate in the US and the world at large. Lots of laughs and a fascinating

This week I had the pleasure to chat to the charming Dan Daw. Dan is a native of Australia but now calls the UK home. He is currently in Edinburgh at the festival with his show 'On One Condition' Dan has toured the show to as far afield as Sweden, NYC and Adelaide Fringe. If you're in Edinburgh it's a must see. In this podcast Dan discusses the creation of the show and how his life has lead to this moment. He chats to me about growing up in Whyalla, South Australia as a young gay man and as a person with disability. We discuss his love of Cher, Elton John and how much love and devotion he has for his Mum and Grandmother for all the support they have given him. I cannot wait to share this episode with you all. Enjoy! http://zoofestival.co.uk/shows/on-one-condition/ https://www.facebook.com/dandawcreativeprojects/ twitter.com/dandawcp

This week I'm joined by my lovely chum Mr Dale Page. His extensive musical theatre background and all his stories from his travels make for a super fun chat. We discuss his time hanging with Cate Blanchett in Australia to his early years through stage school, the Brit School and finally drama school. We chat through our time working together and how our friendship began. Dale talks about his passion for Britney Spears and how she has been a bit of role model for him! Dale also, very honestly, shares his journey through depression and and his road to recovery. He talks about being part of the world tour of the all male 'Pirates Of Penzance' and the adventures that lead to. One of the nicest people on the planet with a talent to match his personality, I hope you love this chat as much as I did. Links - twitter.com/_MusicSunday twitter.com/DalePage1

On my own again this week. I'm sharing my thoughts on how I still feel affected by homophobia occasionally and I look at the BBC show 'Is It Safe To Be Gay In The UK?' It's quite an open and honest chat this week and I feel every so often we have to jump in and talk frankly about the world directly around us. I discuss my feelings after seeing 'Perestroika - Angels In America Part 2' and answer and ask a couple of questions from and to you the listeners. More guests ahead and a really fun one next week!

This week I had the absolute pleasure of chatting to Tempest DuJour, star of 'RuPaul's Drag Race Season 7'. We chat through everything from her playing dress up as a child(and the therapy that he was sent to because of it)to going on a Mormon mission. We talk on her time in NYC and her experiences of the clubs and bars and her work on some big productions. Tempest(and/or Patrick)explains her love of theatre and an early experience of going to see the play 'Torch Song Trilogy' with her mum and the ladies from church! Leigh Bowery, Boy George and Tempest's love of all things 80's and British feature as do some of the characters from the play she derives her name from. And of course we talk about the experience of appearing on 'RuPaul's Drag Race' and the horrific accident that pushed Tempest to go for gold in the Olympics of drag. Enjoy and share!! www.tempestdujour.com Twitter - @TempestDuJour facebook.com/tempestdujour www.instagram.com/tempestdujour and Matt at @kellymatt and on instagram as matti

This week is the turn of the wonderful Mr Steve Nallon. From Margret Thatcher to John Inman to Hyacinth Bucket (all of whom make appearances here), Steve has given his impressions to the world. As one of the leading voices on 'Spitting Image' his career has seen him work with everyone from Dame Edna to Boy George. Steve tells us his journey from working mens clubs in the north of England to appearing live to an audience of 35 million on US television. He tells of his work on his one man shows and his experiences of being taken to his first gay club by family members. We talk about the play we are both currently playing in, in London. A fascinating chat with a hard working, extremely funny man. This episode was recorded in the dressing room in Greenwich Theatre pre-show. I could of talked for hours!! Such a pleasure to chat to . I think you will all really enjoy. http://www.nallon.com/ @SteveNallon

This week I'm talking about why I practice mindfulness and how. Chatting about my thoughts on the amazing 'Angels In America' at the National Theatre and what that inspired and Pride celebrations still ahead. Rehearsals are full steam ahead now and we are readying for the opening night this week , so I share my thoughts on that along with an announcement of a UK tour of another play in November. Jump in. Don't forget to subscribe on iTunes and have a great week gang!

This week I am chatting to my current boss! Mr Pete Shaw - producer of 'Chinese Whispers' - the show I'm currently working on, producer of the second play that I wrote, 'Lightning Strikes' and most famously for being the man who founded broadwaybaby.com Pete chats about having very successful books published by the age of 15, his own coming out story and his life in 80's Soho. He chats about working along side Sir Tim Rice and his time living in Cologne in Germany as younger man. He also talks about the current process of putting Chinese Whispers on the stage. Links - http://broadwaybaby.com/ http://www.greenwichtheatre.org.uk/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=2211:chinese-whispers&catid=7:playingnow&Itemid=1