Prairie Rainbow Review

Recently, Lee read an article about a San Francisco-based coffee chain removing Pride flags from its decor. The move was to make more people feel included, at least that was the stated reason. What does inclusion look like? And what does exclusion look like? Brett and Lee try to break it down.  

Lee sent Brett a reel through Facebook about the TOP 5 ALL-TIME GROSSING LGBTQ+ FILMS. Some were predictable, but others were a surprise. We talk about the five and give our thoughts on each one in brief. Trust us, it is tough for Brett to be brief about films. 

After an incident in the gym, Brett and Lee decide to discuss PDA. Public displays of affection between same gender couples seem to still be frowned on, even in our progressive neighborhood. The conversation goes off on many tangents (no surprise!), but they ponder what the public can handle.  

So what are we watching right now? We break down some of the streaming series that caught our attention lately. 

We went to Puerto Vallarta for a family vacation just in time for a cartel uprising. We break down the incident for you that made our vacation more exciting than it should have been. We got to see Mexico like never before, under lockdown, and wondering what could possibly be next. 

Lee found a Facebook reel shared by a hypnotherapist named Raymond Aubel. It was entitled "Six Things Straight People Don't Know About Being Gay." We found it interesting and wanted to discuss what he brought up. 

If you follow Lee or Brett online, you may notice that we rarely broadcast anything concerning politics or religion. There's a reason for this, and some of it stems from how we were raised, but we also want to bring the fights where they belong. We talk here about how we navigate a world where everything seems political. Even saying "we are not talking politics" in this era feels like a political choice. 

Brett and Lee watched STRANGER THINGS' final season at the same time that they watched IT: WELCOME TO DERRY. And that got a little confusing at times because both shows kinda did the same thing. Kids on bikes save the world! What did we like, and what did we not like? Find out! Welcome to Stranger Things!  

A really hot topic lately has been familial or parental estrangement. This is when you go "NO CONTACT" with a relative, such as your parents. This has been cited as more of a Gen Z phenomenon, and psychologists say that one in every four Americans is estranged from a family member. In this age where the digital world narrows our divides, it is harder to keep a toxic relationship at bay. So what do we think of it? Is the world full of narcissistic parents or narcissistic kids? And what does this all mean? 

Everybody is talking about the HBO gay hockey romance HEATED RIVALRY. We finished it about a week ago, and here is our take on the show. It's a romantic fantasy from Canada, and it's got some heat to spare! We liked it. WARNING - MILD SPOILERS FOR ALL EPISODES 

We break down the superstitions and traditions of New Year's Eve! And we admit that ours is never very exciting. But hope you enjoy your New Year's, and don't forget to run around the block with your empty suitcase. And then eat 12 grapes with some black-eyed peas! 

This week we talk all things CHRISTMAS! Lee is known as "Mr. Christmas" or "The King of Christmas" with all of our friends, and now you can hear why. He LOVES the holidays! So, we dive into what Christmas means to us. HAPPY HOLIDAYS EVERYONE!  

Here we go, marching into December. That means SHOPPING. We talk about how we shop with our community in mind. We found these companies super supportive of the LGBTQIA+ community:  Levi's, Nike, Starbucks, Costco, Bath & Body Works, Delta, United, MGM Resorts, Apple, Microsoft, PayPal, Chase Bank, Wells Fargo, Coca-Cola, PepsiCo, Ulta, Absolut Vodka, Mercedes, Home Depot, and Sephora. Local to Houston - Eclectic Home, Antiques on 19th, AG Gallery, Silverlust, Dramatika, Bliss, and Vinal Edge. These were midling right now:  Amazon and Walmart Companies to Avoid: Chick-fil-a, Shen Yun, and the Salvation Army

Whew! That was a close one. Kim Davis asked the Supreme Court to look again at same gender marriage, and we thought they would. But thankfully, they said no. So we break down what this means, and caution that this may not be the end of the debate. It will likely still go on, because less than half of Republicans approve of it at this point in time. We get into all of that, and more! 

Lee talks about the history of AIDS FOUNDATION HOUSTON and OMEGA HOUSE. These two organizations were grassroots efforts originating from our community in the 1980s, and now they are large, structured nonprofits. It serves as a reminder of how the smallest seeds can grow into the largest tree! 

Thanksgiving, love it or hate it, is just around the corner. So Brett and Lee look at how it all started, and discuss how theirs have been over the years. Is it family? Is it food? Or is it just a hassle of a holiday? We look at some trivia and some trivial memories of our own experiences. Happy November!  

When did GAY come to mean what it does now? Brett and Lee dive into the history of the words for LGBTQIA+ folk. Some of them are hysterical. However, it is challenging to find historical information from these individuals from the past, as they lacked the correct terminology that we are accustomed to. So that is our point. 

HOUSE OF GUINNESS from Netflix is a new favorite series of ours. It has the costume drama that Lee loves, and the zip and biff bang pow that Brett does. It is well acted, well paced, and well designed. You can hear us rave about it right here!  

Michael Locher is Alley Theatre's Director of Design, and in this episode, Brett talks to him about the impressive work he did with THE DA VINCI CODE. The show closes on October 19th, and this interview ran on BROADWAY WORLD and also on the KPFT program QUEER VOICES, but here it is unedited. If you saw the show at the Alley, this is an interesting glimpse into what goes on with their design. And trust me, THE DA VINCI CODE proved that the Alley's design is AWE-INSPIRING! 

Richard Watson is a great friend of ours, and he has an amazing history. Lee talks to him about growing up and coming out in rural Mississippi and New Orleans. He gains perspective from Richard on what life was like for him as he grew up, and Richard offers advice to current young people. It's a fascinating piece of history! 

One night, Lee proclaimed, "Diana Ross, the iconic beauty of our time!" He asked Brett if he could think of another, and that led us down a rabbit hole about beauty and iconic women.  And somehow, all of this ends up being our gayest episdoe ever!"  

Brett talks to Lee about how to age well - exercises, sleep, diet, and social. Lee is much older than anyone would guess, and he is a great model for how to age gracefully and in great shape along the way. So it's an interesting discussion for anyone interested in how to fend off Father Time. 

Brett interviews Rhett Martinez, who is directing THE LAST YIDDISH SPEAKER for Mildred's Umbrella at the Jewish Community Center. The play imagines a world where the January 6th insurrectionists won that day and overthrew the government with a right-wing, super-Christian slant. It runs at the Evelyn Rubenstein JCC September 4-14, 2025. Starring: Deborah Hope, Jason Duga, Olivia Knight, and Austin Brady. Tickets can be bought at: https://www.mildredsumbrella.com/current-production-tickets

Brett interviews John Patterson, who is directing INCIDENT AT VICHY by Arthur Miller. The show runs at Theatre Southwest through September 27th. There will be a special performance at the Holocaust Museum on October 5th. Tickets can be purchased here... https://tswhouston.com/season-69

Lee and Brett are DEXTER fans, and we really loved RESURRECTION. It was a fun ride, so we talk about it. From Uma Thurman to Peter Dinklage, and of course, Michael C. Hall. Come join us in our love for THE BAY HARBOR BUTCHER!  

Ivan Moreno is currently starring as Luis Carruthers in Houston Broadway Theatre's production of AMERICAN PSYCHO. We talk about his unique take on the role, recreating Luis as a closeted corporate guy who wants to cloak both his sexual and racial identity. Ivan is a classically trained singer with an opera background. It will be amazing to hear him in this show!  You can get tickets right here: https://my.thehobbycenter.org/overview/7465?_gl=1*3kiyr0*_gcl_aw*R0NMLjE3NTUwMTIzNjAuQ2owS0NRand6T3ZFQmhEVkFSSXNBREhmSkpSODcwRG9Wa0F0WjA5X002d2NIVmxBSktmQTJNTVA1YVpla1RDeFo2dEQ5cVpJOGhPUHFVQWFBbmhHRUFMd193Y0I.*_gcl_au*MzI3MTUwOTkxLjE3NTQ3NTk3MTMuMTM2MTA5NjIxMS4xNzU0NzYwNDA4LjE3NTQ3NjA0Mjc.

WARNING: some language is for adults! Although your kids already know this word.  Lee and Brett discuss what happens to your stuff when you die, particularly the stuff that NOBODY WANTS! It all came about from handling four estates in the last several years, and reading this book by Messie Condo called NOBODY WANTS YOUR SH*T. Hopefully, here is some practical advice on how to handle things. 

Lee picked a book for our book club called THE INTIMATE WORLD OF ABRAHAM LINCOLN by C.A. Tripp. It's a book that reframes the idea of Lincoln as someone who was at the very least bisexual. So what does that mean? Is it something that history should pursue? Join us for a peek into the intimate world of history's most revered U.S. Presidents. 

Logan Vaden is a well-known name in Houston Theatre, but most folks don't know that he is currently working as a Development Officer at Theatre Under the Stars. Brett took an opportunity to interview Logan about the business side of Show Biz! 

Lee's favorite film is JURASSIC PARK, so we had to talk about it and the latest film JURASSIC WORLD REBIRTH. So it wasn't the best of the series, but we are down for whatever comes next. Something about dinosaurs and creatures always sucks Lee in.  

Here is your chance to hear the unedited conversation between Houston Broadway Theatre's founder and president, as Brett and Tyce Green talk all things AMERICAN PSYCHO THE MUSICAL. Yes, this is the Bret Easton Ellis novel that became a movie starring Christian Bale! Tyce and his company are premiering this controversial show regionally and working directly with Duncan Sheik to help improve the score before a re-launch in London's West End next year. 

We loved the Amazon Prime Video series called ETOILE! It was created by Amy Sherman-Palladino and Daniel Palladino, who did THE GILMORE GIRLS and THE MARVELOUS MRS. MAISEL. It stars Luke Kirby, Charlotte Gainsbourg, Lou de Laâge, Gideon Glick, David Alvarez, Ivan du Pontavice, Taïs Vinolo, David Haig, LaMay Zhang, and Simon Callow. It only gets one season, but it really is a fun show about ballet. Lee was a dancer professionally, so he has some special insights into this series. And trapped inside Brett is a bitchy French girl, so our love for it makes total sense.  

Aaron Alon is a talented composer and playwright who has written a couple of musicals, and this year he is debuting THE CHOSEN ONES at the MATCH facility in Midtown Houston. This one is a small, intimate show about six kids who go to a conversion therapy camp because they are all part of the LGBTQIA+ community. They bond together and create a mighty and tight group. We talk about this production and how he created it.  

Joan and Mariana are hosts of a podcast called SCARY MOVIE NIGHTS, where they talk about spooky movies. So Lee and Brett thought it would be fun to talk about why we like horror movies so much! Okay, so Brett is the diehard scary movie guy, but Lee has never met a creature feature he didn't like. 

We took a trip to Kansas City with some friends, and loved the place itself! But man, the hotel was such a buzzkill! Listen as we break it all down for you. 

Joel Sandel has been gracing Houston theater stages since 1986. He's everywhere - Main Street Theatre, Stages, The Alley, and anywhere you can name. But now through August 10th, Joel is the wonderful Wizard in Oz at the George Theater. He is in the AD PLAYERS production of THE WIZARD OF OZ. Joel and I talk about the show, what it means culturally, and his wonderful YouTube series "Car Takes" that he does with his girl Friday, Deborah Hope!  

Chip and Joanna Gaines are getting criticized over their new show, BACK TO THE FRONTIER, because they have included a same-sex couple with kids. The celebrity pair has previously been criticized for being devout Christians who did not show any diversity in their Waco-based show, FIXER UPPER. But now? They are going all in and fending off critics with clear logic and not the strict doctrines of their Antioch church. Can you be an ally and a fundamentalist Christian? 

Austin Colburn is a Houston actor who recently moved to New York. He is back here for a very quick run of THE LAST FIVE YEARS at Queensbury Theatre. This is a show that just ended its run on Broadway with Adrienne Warren and Nick Jonas. This is a special event for Houston audiences to see this show with local talent.  Austin is a fascinating guy who grew up here in Houston! 

Puerto Vallarta is a hotspot for tourists in Mexico, and basically like San Francisco in Latin America. We talk all things PV in this episode, and address why you never want to go in August or September. We also reveal who made the place so damn GAY! 

Ramone Nelson is an actor coming to Houston with the National Tour of PARADE. Starting at the Hobby Center on July 15th, PARADE is a deep and dark musical, based on real historical events, and it follows the story of Leo Frank, a Jewish factory superintendent in Atlanta, who is wrongly accused and convicted of murdering a young girl, and it takes place in 1913. It mines themes of prejudice and justice, and the power of love and devotion amidst adversity. It debuted on Broadway back in 1998, and it got some Tony awards that year, but it had a regrettably short run. But now the show is a sensation after a Tony Award-winning revival, and probably because it speaks to our times. Ramone is an amazing actor, singer, and dancer who came from the Broadway production of MJ! 

The Upstairs Lounge arson attack happened on June 24th in 1973. We wrap up our Pride month, remembering the horrible details and what this event said about where we were back then. We will take a short break over the 4th of July weekend, but be back after that to celebrate summer

Domenico Leona is part of THE PHOENIX GROUP, a new production company in HTown. They are putting on a production of PULLMAN, WA by acclaimed playwright Young Jean Lee at the MATCH August 14th through the 17th. Brett talks to him about the challenge of making art in Houston and how much fun this play is going to be. Buy tickets for PULLMAN, WA: https://matchouston.org/events/2025/pullman-wa

Lee describes this episode as "A lighthearted discussion about real estate from an amateur perspective."  But trust me, he has owned and lived in a TON of houses, and always made good investments. When it comes to buying property, he's the one to go to. So we talk about his takes on how to shop and look for property.  

Lee and Brett discuss how they navigate family and friends when they tell us we are "too woke."  Is there such a thing? Is it bad to be? And what do you do when family or friends decide that they really don't want to support your values? This is part of our Pride month discussion. 

Lee wanted to talk about his father for Father's Day, and Brett was willing to interview him about it. Gene Ingalls was an amazing guy! Father to eight kids, he held many jobs and played music in his spare time (?). This is a podcast exclusive, since these details were not in either of the books! Oh, and we were married in 2014 in Minnesota. Lee may say 2024 in this episode. Ignore any mental blips! We got some years behind us! 

Every summer in Houston, the CATASTROPHIC THEATRE unleashes Tamarie Cooper and her best friend Kyle Sturdivant in a show that is a blend of sketch comedy, musical numbers, and chaos. Tamarie has sung about pooping in the ocean, Barbie doll orgies, and just about anything you can't imagine! Kyle has been by her side through the whole thing. Here is an unedited interview that you will only find right here! Everyone else will have a cut version, so if you get this episode somewhere else, you are only getting HALF the story.  Buy tickets here: https://matchouston.org/events/2025/another-ding-dang-tamarie-show

Here we go again! Another Pride month, but this year it hits a little differently. Lee and Brett discuss their plans for this month, how they think Pride has evolved, and what they see as the biggest issues for Pride. They also recall their first Pride experiences and talk about how the world has evolved along with the event. HAPPY PRIDE, everyone! No matter who you are, be proud. 

OVERCOMPENSATING debuted on Amazon Prime Video's streaming channel on May 15th. It's a show from comedian and TikTok sensation Benito Skinner, and was produced by A24 and Jonah Hill. Lee and Brett talk about it without spoiling anything for you. It's a really fun show! You should watch it. And if you can get this to Benito or Mary Beth Barone, we will forever heart you!  We also think this is the perfect series for Pride 2025.  

This is Brett's interview with Derek Charles Livingston, who is directing LET HER RIP at Stages Houston. It runs through June 22nd, and marks the first show that Derek has chosen as artistic director. He is also directing the show, and has an incredible cast and crew assembled to take this one on. Buy tickets here: https://stageshouston.com/event/let-her-rip/#open_drawer

Brett Cullum gets to interview his husband, author R Lee Ingalls, about his writing, and particularly his second book, THE PRAIRIE HAS A RAINBOW. It is the story of Lee's life up to two weeks before they met! We dive into why Lee started writing books, and what he hopes to do and inspire out in the world. Get to know this author and how he is related to the famed Ingalls family, and particularly Laura Ingalls-Wilder.   To buy the book:  https://amzn.to/43Lhkjn