Yeast Radio #1653: True Duty and Queer Duty — Blue Origin Fecal Catastrophe + Steve Stalzle’s Military Trauma

Show Notes (by AI) General Description: In this unforgettable episode of Yeast Radio, Madge Weinstein delivers two stunningly different yet equally poignant segments. The show opens with a satirical, scatological radio play titled True Duty, a grotesque and hilarious tale of Gayle King’s space-bound gastrointestinal disaster aboard Blue Origin alongside Katy Perry and Lauren Sanchez. After this explosive opening, Madge shifts tone for an intimate and emotionally raw conversation with longtime listener and friend of the show, Steve Stalzle. Steve shares his powerful story of joining the Navy in the 1980s and the deeply traumatic experience that followed. He reveals the psychological torment of military life as a queer recruit, including coercive enlistment, homophobic abuse, and the dehumanizing process of trying to escape. Steve’s honesty and vulnerability paint a harrowing portrait of institutional cruelty—and his survival. Madge and Steve also reflect on homelessness, sobriety, AI voice cloning, and podcasting dreams. The episode is a testament to the enduring power of queer storytelling, humor, and resilience. Chapters: 0:00:00 – True Duty: Gayle King’s Space Disaster Madge presents a radio play satire featuring Gayle King, Katy Perry, and Lauren Sanchez in a zero-gravity nightmare of diarrhea, floating feces, and malfunctioning life support systems aboard Blue Origin. 0:04:40 – Phil’s Resurrection Phil is back. Yes, that Phil. 0:06:00 – Madge and Steve Reconnect Madge and Steve reflect on their shared podcasting history and Steve’s support of the show for nearly 20 years. 0:09:00 – A Call for Help Madge urges listeners to support Steve financially, detailing his recent experience with homelessness and encouraging donations via Venmo (@steve-stalzle). 0:11:00 – Big Head Baby: Steve’s Medical Childhood Memory Steve recalls discovering medical records stating he had an “abnormally large cranium” as a child—something his parents never told him. 0:14:00 – AI Comedy with Bissy the Robot Madge introduces her AI assistant Bissy, who fields questions about cranial size, prolapse risk, and future predictions with robotic politeness. 0:17:00 – Steve’s Queer Navy Trauma Story Steve tells the harrowing story of how he joined the Navy under duress in 1986. What follows is a graphic and deeply emotional account of life in basic training, homophobic interrogation, and the mental breakdown that led him to fake his way out of military service under the accusation of being gay—a strategy that came with terrifying personal cost. 0:34:00 – Institutional Abuse and Survival Steve describes the humiliating questioning by Navy lawyers, their abusive homophobic taunts, and the ongoing psychological impact of this traumatic experience. His story is one of queer resistance and survival. Final Note: No full music recording or performance was included at the end of this episode. Contact Information: Comments: Visit yeastradio.com Follow Madge on Instagram, Bluesky, and Threads: @madgeweinstein Phone: FIRM UTERUS Email: [email protected] Support Yeast Radio by subscribing to Madge’s Substack: madge.substack.com Support Steve directly on Venmo: @steve-stalzle Album art by Taylor Haggerty Copyright (c) 2025 Madge Weinstein Yeast Radio.