Welcome to The Cutting Up: A Kiki with Connie and Lina, a new weekly podcast hosted by DJ/activist Lina Bradford and fashion legend Connie Fleming, the show offers unprecedented access to the icons, secrets, and untold stories that shaped queer culture. Lina and Connie are both trailblazing women of transgender experience, with deep backgrounds hosting and performing in NYC’s most storied clubs—and pioneering on fashion runways. They bring their knowledge, stories, and relationships to “The Cutting Up,” offering audiences a backstage pass to authentic conversations that can only happen between true friends and industry legends. “The Cutting Up” goes deep on fashion, music, activism, and identity.
House of Field, Space C*nt & Downtown Drag: David Dalrymple Tells All
We’re joined by David Dalrymple, designer, downtown fashion legend, and longtime House of Field creative force, for a kiki about iconic New York nightlife and the looks that shaped downtown culture, from Patricia Field’s collaborations with the Keith Haring Foundation to the jumpsuit inspired by Grace Jones’ body-paint era. We trace the origins of House of Field and working with Pat Field, from scotchlite and girdle-fabric magic to the iconic push-up “carnival” bra, then dive into Boy Bar’s “Space Cunt” era with Mona Foot and Lady Bunny stories, Matthew Kasten’s curation of that nightlife community, designing for the Brooklyn Nets, Knicks, and the Liberty’s mascot Ellie, dressing drag legends and rising stars, a last-minute Bette Midler costume rush, and rag rug couture. It’s fashion history, queer nightlife nostalgia, and drag excellence, all wrapped in chaos in the best way. Write to us at Kiki@TheCuttingUp.com And follow us on instagram: @TheCuttingUp @TheRealConnieGirl @TheLinaBradford @PrideHouseMedia “The Cutting Up: A Kiki with Connie & Lina” is a Pride House Media production. Producers: Josh Rosenzweig & Matthew Breen. Graphic Design by Daryl Raymond. Original Music by 808 BEACH (John “J-C” Carr & Bill Coleman), courtesy of Peace Bisquit. Production Design by Darryl Dickens. Photography by Shane Reynolds. Our very special thanks to Jason Kanner for all your support.
Cruising, Kink and a Bath House Kiki with Dr. Lee Phillips
This week, we're CUTTING UP with Dr. Lee Phillips @ drleephillips ): sexologist, former psychotherapist, comedian, and professional shame-dismantler. Nothing is off the table. We trace Dr. Lee's path from mental health and substance use treatment to sex therapy and social media, and how he's built a platform that makes talking about sex feel normal, and funny. Because if you can't laugh about it, you're probably still ashamed of it. The conversation moves fast: moving back to NYC in 2021 and reclaiming main-character energy, '90s club kid nostalgia, and why humor disarms sexual shame better than anything else. We get into being kink-affirming and sex-work affirming, how cruising migrated from clubs to gyms, and why dating apps function like casino algorithms built to keep you swiping. From there it's ghosting, decision fatigue, the situationship epidemic, Sniffies, steam rooms, dad bod discourse, and how COVID rewired the way we date and connect. There are bathhouse stories. There is seafood boil chaos. There is a fishbowl question game that could have gotten us canceled in 2004. And underneath the laughs, a real conversation about pleasure, connection, and why we deserve better than breadcrumbing and confusion. Smart. Messy. Educational. Unhinged in the best way. Out now. @ drleephillips Write to us at Kiki@TheCuttingUp.com And follow us on instagram: @TheCuttingUp @TheRealConnieGirl @TheLinaBradford @PrideHouseMedia “The Cutting Up: A Kiki with Connie & Lina” is a Pride House Media production. Producers: Josh Rosenzweig & Matthew Breen. Graphic Design by Daryl Raymond. Original Music by 808 BEACH (John “J-C” Carr & Bill Coleman), courtesy of Peace Bisquit. Production Design by Darryl Dickens. Photography by Shane Reynolds. Our very special thanks to Jason Kanner for all your support.
Real Art in a Fake World
What happens when fashion photography, AI, dating apps, and stem cell therapy end up in the same conversation? Chaos. Insight. A little shade. Legendary fashion photographer Ezequiel De La Rosa (Ez to his friends) joins us for a no-filter talk on art, AI, and where creativity is headed, from capturing someone's true essence through a lens to what "photographer" even means now that everyone has a phone. We dig into AI's creep into art and acting, how phones and social media are reshaping dating and real connection, and whether love bombing is just a digital sport now. Then Ez pivots hard: a recent stem cell treatment for hip and knee pain, and whether regenerative medicine is the future of pain relief. We close with thrifted fashion finds, vintage obsessions, and friendships born from random encounters. Fashion. AI. Dating. Wellness. Vintage style. Thoughtful, funny, chaotic, real. Write to us at Kiki@TheCuttingUp.com And follow us on instagram: @TheCuttingUp @TheRealConnieGirl @TheLinaBradford @PrideHouseMedia “The Cutting Up: A Kiki with Connie & Lina” is a Pride House Media production. Producers: Josh Rosenzweig & Matthew Breen. Graphic Design by Daryl Raymond. Original Music by 808 BEACH (John “J-C” Carr & Bill Coleman), courtesy of Peace Bisquit. Production Design by Darryl Dickens. Photography by Shane Reynolds. Our very special thanks to Jason Kanner for all your support.
A Summer Cookout Chaos Cutting Up
Summer vibes only! Lina, Connie, and Producer Matt take Summer by storm. It’s all music, cookout food debates, beach energy, Fire Island plans, tan lines, and how you know summer has really started (hint: shirtless runners and sandals). They kick things off riffing on The Pointer Sisters, Cher, florals (groundbreaking), and the ultimate summer playlist soundtrack — from Donna Summer and the B‑52’s to “Summertime Sadness,” “Summer Breeze,” bossa nova, and Jessie Ware. If you need songs of the summer inspiration, we’ve got you. Then it’s cookout chaos: 🍗 What are you bringing to the BBQ? Potato salad? Mac & cheese? Ribs? Curry goat? Watermelon‑feta‑mint salad? Tuna‑pickle pasta? Barbecued shrimp? 🍹 What are we drinking, babes? Ginger beer, gin + fizzy lemonade, or our chaotic Fire Island special: Corona + tequila + lime. We are serving peak summer energy. Drop your go‑to summer song and cookout dish in the comments 👇 And don’t forget to like, subscribe, and send this to your favorite BBQ guest. Write to us at Kiki@TheCuttingUp.com And follow us on instagram: @TheCuttingUp @TheRealConnieGirl @TheLinaBradford @PrideHouseMedia “The Cutting Up: A Kiki with Connie & Lina” is a Pride House Media production. Producers: Josh Rosenzweig & Matthew Breen. Graphic Design by Daryl Raymond. Original Music by 808 BEACH (John “J-C” Carr & Bill Coleman), courtesy of Peace Bisquit. Production Design by Darryl Dickens. Photography by Shane Reynolds. Our very special thanks to Jason Kanner for all your support.
Fire Island’s Hidden History + Madonna’s Next Act
Pop icon debates, queer history deep dives, and insider cultural storytelling! This week Connie and Lina are joined by writer-producer Jess Rothschild. First up, Madonna’s Confessions Two album. What do we know and what do we really want Madonna to deliver? Plus a deep dive on mother’s discography: Erotica , Bedtime Stories , Ray of Light , her stunning debut, and early classics like “Burnin’ Up” and “Borderline.” Then Jess talks Finding Fire Island , her documentary podcast series now streaming: her first Cherry Grove trip in 2008, falling for The Pines a decade later, why nobody had made an accessible Fire Island history before, and the work of tracking down longtime residents for oral history. Lina closes it out with her own return to The Pines including anniversary events, a new residency, and how female energy is reshaping the island's culture. Write to us at Kiki@TheCuttingUp.com And follow us on instagram: @TheCuttingUp @TheRealConnieGirl @TheLinaBradford @PrideHouseMedia “The Cutting Up: A Kiki with Connie & Lina” is a Pride House Media production. Producers: Josh Rosenzweig & Matthew Breen. Graphic Design by Daryl Raymond. Original Music by 808 BEACH (John “J-C” Carr & Bill Coleman), courtesy of Peace Bisquit. Production Design by Darryl Dickens. Photography by Shane Reynolds. Our very special thanks to Jason Kanner for all your support.
Moral Panic & Queer Cinema with Blue Film director Elliot Tuttle
Buckle up. This week we’re joined by debut filmmaker Elliot Tuttle, director of Blue Film, one of the boldest queer indie films in recent memory. The film follows a cam boy hired by an anonymous client who turns out to be his disgraced former middle school teacher. It’s not comfortable and it was too scary for some LGBTQ film festivals. This conversation goes deep, into queer loneliness, empathy vs. morality in film, voyeurism, adolescent desire, and whether art is allowed to be messy. Elliot talks about low-budget filmmaking, festival resistance to his movie, and landing a theatrical run (that keeps getting extended!) at NYC’s IFC Center plus a New York Times Critics’ Pick. It’s queer cinema, but really it’s about being human. It’s messy, contradictory, and a little unhinged. Go see Blue Film . Support queer artists. Write to us at Kiki@TheCuttingUp.com And follow us on instagram: @TheCuttingUp @TheRealConnieGirl @TheLinaBradford @PrideHouseMedia “The Cutting Up: A Kiki with Connie & Lina” is a Pride House Media production. Producers: Josh Rosenzweig & Matthew Breen. Graphic Design by Daryl Raymond. Original Music by 808 BEACH (John “J-C” Carr & Bill Coleman), courtesy of Peace Bisquit. Photography by Shane Reynolds. Production Design by Darryl Dickens. Our very special thanks to Jason Kanner for all your support.
Drag Legend Shequida, The Roxy & Boy Bar: ’90s NYC Nightlife Tea
This week on Cutting Up: Roxy. Boy Bar. Mars. Absolute chaos. The legendary Shequida joins us to spill iconic ’90s NYC nightlife tea — from first seeing Lady Bunny at Mars to getting into The Roxy on opening night and navigating the East Village vs. big‑club wars. We get into: ✨ Boy Bar boyfriend drama that sparked a full confrontation ✨ Connie’s extreme corset era (and the trauma that followed) ✨ The ongoing Fluevog shoe saga (broken… then stolen) ✨ Being the first drag queen in a recurring national TV role on One Life to Live Plus gatekeeping, attitude accusations, shoe wars, shared men tea, and why holding the door open for others to enter matters the most. It’s New York drag history. It’s ’90s nightlife warfare. It’s glamorous survival. Write to us at Kiki@TheCuttingUp.co m And follow us on instagram: @TheCuttingUp @TheRealConnieGirl @TheLinaBradford @PrideHouseMedia “The Cutting Up: A Kiki with Connie & Lina” is a Pride House Media production. Producers: Josh Rosenzweig & Matthew Breen. Graphic Design by Daryl Raymond. Original Music by 808 BEACH (John “J-C” Carr & Bill Coleman), courtesy of Peace Bisquit. Production Design by Darryl Dickens. Our very special thanks to Jason Kanner for all your support.
Inside the Movement Defending Trans Equality Nationwide
What does it actually take to defend trans rights in 2026? This week, Connie and Lina sit down with Victoria Foster James of Advocates for Trans Equality (A4TE) to talk about the legal, political, and cultural fight shaping transgender equality in America. Formed from the merger of the National Center for Transgender Equality (NCTE) and the Transgender Legal Defense & Education Fund (TLDEF), A4TE combines federal lobbying, direct legal services, name-change support, and impact litigation into one powerhouse organization. More than 700 anti‑LGBTQ bills were introduced in 2025. This conversation breaks down what’s happening, why it matters, and how advocacy organizations are responding in real time. Plus: fashion banter, Barbie name lore, astrology detours, and a chaotic fishbowl to close it out. Learn more: transequality.org Follow: @transequalitynow If you value conversations that connect policy, culture, and real impact, make sure to follow, rate, and share the show. It helps more people find these stories. Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-cutting-up-a-kiki-with-connie-lina/id1849020008 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/200MOk48TaLRPLQvzx2UK0?si=6499dd094f704a10 iHeart: https://www.iheart.com/podcast/1333-the-cutting-up-a-kiki-wit-303161901 Write to us at Kiki@TheCuttingUp.com And follow us on instagram: @TheCuttingUp @TheRealConnieGirl @TheLinaBradford @PrideHouseMedia “The Cutting Up: A Kiki with Connie & Lina” is a Pride House Media production. Producers: Josh Rosenzweig & Matthew Breen. Graphic Design by Daryl Raymond. Original Music by 808 BEACH (John “J-C” Carr & Bill Coleman), courtesy of Peace Bisquit. Production Design by Darryl Dickens. Our very special thanks to Jason Kanner for all your support.
Laverne Cox on Trauma, Trans Youth & Legacy
Connie and Lina are back with Part 2 of their conversation with Laverne Cox, and from the jump we are talking about whether trauma is necessary for strength, the political fight over trans youth and puberty blockers, and the real harm of taking kids off medication. Laverne shares how she uses her lived experience in her acting, reflects on a cut monologue in a Keanu Reeves/Cameron Diaz film, and opens up about her Amazon Prime series Clean Slate . The conversation expands into father wounds, therapy, reparenting the inner child, Black intergenerational trauma, post-traumatic slave syndrome, DEI debates, Black maternal mortality, and the ongoing attacks on trans communities. They also honor friends and icons lost during COVID, talk legacy, sisterhood, dream careers, opera training, vintage fashion collecting, and hidden talents—ending with their reminder: Stay in the love. Plus a stupid cackle. Ha! Click here to order Laverne’s book Transcendent: A Memoir Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-cutting-up-a-kiki-with-connie-lina/id1849020008 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/200MOk48TaLRPLQvzx2UK0?si=6499dd094f704a10 iHeart: https://www.iheart.com/podcast/1333-the-cutting-up-a-kiki-wit-303161901 Write to us at Kiki@TheCuttingUp.com And follow us on instagram: @TheCuttingUp @TheRealConnieGirl @TheLinaBradford @PrideHouseMedia “The Cutting Up: A Kiki with Connie & Lina” is a Pride House Media production. Producers: Josh Rosenzweig & Matthew Breen. Graphic Design by Daryl Raymond. Original Music by 808 BEACH (John “J-C” Carr & Bill Coleman), courtesy of Peace Bisquit. Production Design by Darryl Dickens. Our very special thanks to Jason Kanner for all your support.
Laverne Cox, Part 1: ’90s NYC Nightlife & Her Memoir
Laverne Cox is here, and she's giving us two full episodes. This is the conversation we've been waiting for! Laverne sits down to talk about 1990s New York nightlife, trans visibility, and her new memoir, Transcendent (out June 9, available for presale now). Before the Emmy nominations and the global recognition, Laverne was on the downtown dance floors during one of the most electric eras in New York City club culture. The stories do not disappoint. We talk about what it actually felt like to navigate that world as a Black trans woman in the '90s—the joy, the complicated politics of race and access, the relationship between downtown club culture and the ballroom communities uptown, and the messy shift that happened when bottle service moved in and something essential moved out. There's also some serious sparkle in here: Laverne on the dance floor at Beyoncé and Jay-Z's Oscar party. Lina DJing Laverne's 50th birthday celebration which was perfectly timed to the release of her Barbie doll. The whole conversation about chosen family and community-building in a world before social media. Laverne’s memoir opens up about trauma, shame, dissociation, family secrets, and healing. Part 1 is Laverne at her most reflective, funny, vulnerable, and expansive. And part 2 picks up right where we left off. Click here to order Laverne’s book Transcendent: A Memoir Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-cutting-up-a-kiki-with-connie-lina/id1849020008 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/200MOk48TaLRPLQvzx2UK0?si=6499dd094f704a10 iHeart: https://www.iheart.com/podcast/1333-the-cutting-up-a-kiki-wit-303161901 Write to us at Kiki@TheCuttingUp.com And follow us on instagram: @TheCuttingUp @TheRealConnieGirl @TheLinaBradford @PrideHouseMedia “The Cutting Up: A Kiki with Connie & Lina” is a Pride House Media production. Producers: Josh Rosenzweig & Matthew Breen. Graphic Design by Daryl Raymond. Original Music by 808 BEACH (John “J-C” Carr & Bill Coleman), courtesy of Peace Bisquit. Production Design by Darryl Dickens. Our very special thanks to Jason Kanner for all your support.
Why Real Conversations Still Matter (NYC Edition)
This week, Connie and Lina welcome Zach Miller, host of the podcast Before We Cheers, and the vibes are very New York, very cultured, and just a little chaotic (in the best way). Zach describes Before We Cheers as “the emotional truths we tell before the toast.” The show was inspired by writing his best friend’s wedding speech, that vulnerable, unfiltered moment before everyone raises their glass. We talk: The origin of Before We Cheers Building community in New York’s creative scene Growing up born-and-raised NYC with culture and travel Dating apps in 2026 and avoiding catfishers The right way to do a first date Slow dinners, Italian-style And the scent of a perfect night out (dirty martinis, pizza, Byredo’s Alto Astral, and a Sunday at The Eagle) Zach also shares how he started his podcast to spotlight his peers in the New York creative community—not celebrities, but the people shaping culture in real time. Follow Zach’s show @BeforeWeCheers and also @iamzcm Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-cutting-up-a-kiki-with-connie-lina/id1849020008 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/200MOk48TaLRPLQvzx2UK0?si=6499dd094f704a10 iHeart: https://www.iheart.com/podcast/1333-the-cutting-up-a-kiki-wit-303161901 Write to us at Kiki@TheCuttingUp.com And follow us on instagram: @TheCuttingUp @TheRealConnieGirl @TheLinaBradford @PrideHouseMedia “The Cutting Up: A Kiki with Connie & Lina” is a Pride House Media production. Producers: Josh Rosenzweig & Matthew Breen. Graphic Design by Daryl Raymond. Original Music by 808 BEACH (John “J-C” Carr & Bill Coleman), courtesy of Peace Bisquit. Production Design by Darryl Dickens. Our very special thanks to Jason Kanner for all your support.
What NYC Nightlife Was Like in the 90s (Before Social Media)
What was New York nightlife really like before phones, influencers, and bottle service? This week on The Cutting Up, we sit down with East Village legend DJ Gant Johnson to relive the chaos, glamour, and dance-floor magic of 80s and 90s NYC club culture. We’re talking: 🔥 Crowbar Tuesdays 🔥 Boy Bar 🔥 Salon Wednesdays (1993–1999) 🔥 Pat Fields era fashion 🔥 Sugar Babies, the legendary Monday night party. And yes — the time Lina was electrocuted on stage… and the crowd thought it was part of the show. We get into how nightlife changed when: 📱 Phones hit the dance floor 📸 Social media killed mystery 💸 Pay-for-position replaced organic scenes 🔐 Privacy disappeared Was the energy better back then — or just different? For Gant and Lina DJing isn’t just music — it’s spiritual. It’s community. It’s bringing people together. This episode is a true love letter to the East Village that raised us. Click here to support his ride for Housing Works- to End Homelessness and AIDS https://pro.gofundme.com/fundraiser/7212007 Click here to support him on the Empire State Ride. NYC --> Niagra where he will be raising money for cancer research at Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center https://give.roswellpark.org/site/TR/SpecialEvents/General?pg=personal&px=1730543&fr_id=2130 Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-cutting-up-a-kiki-with-connie-lina/id1849020008 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/200MOk48TaLRPLQvzx2UK0?si=6499dd094f704a10 iHeart: https://www.iheart.com/podcast/1333-the-cutting-up-a-kiki-wit-303161901 Write to us at Kiki@TheCuttingUp.com And follow us on instagram: @TheCuttingUp @TheRealConnieGirl @TheLinaBradford @PrideHouseMedia “The Cutting Up: A Kiki with Connie & Lina” is a Pride House Media production. Producers: Josh Rosenzweig & Matthew Breen. Graphic Design by Daryl Raymond. Original Music by 808 BEACH (John “J-C” Carr & Bill Coleman), courtesy of Peace Bisquit. Production Design by Darryl Dickens. Our very special thanks to Jason Kanner for all your support.
Peppermint on Survival of the Thickest, Trans Rights, and Celebrity Traitors
Peppermint joins The Cutting Up , and the gloves are OFF. The icon, activist, and 2026 NYC Pride Grand Marshal comes through for what starts as a springtime kiki, and ends up being one of our most honest, most necessary conversations yet. From shouting out Sinners to going all the way in on Caitlyn Jenner's cheerleading for Trump, travel bans hitting the community, celebrity non-apologies, the TLC/Chilli tour mess, and the very specific double standards Black queer people have to navigate. Peppermint says what she says. ☕🔥 We talk about her return to Netflix’s Survival of the Thickest , and she introduces us to something we didn't know we needed: Transcendence Tea, her caffeine-free vanilla-mint blend made in collaboration with Chicago’s queer Black-owned Moody Teas. And it’s blue! A portion of proceeds goes to Advocates for Trans Equality, the organization that helps Peppermint through her own name and document changes. She celebrates: ✨ Being named NYC Pride Grand Marshal 🎬 Her return to Netflix’s Survival of the Thickest 🌈 Why representation in Harlem still matters Messy. Meaningful. Unfiltered. No mercy for hypocrisy. Full love for the community. Press play. 💅🏽🔥 For more about Peppermint you can follow here at @Peppermint247 Click HERE to order Pep’s tea Transcendence. And remember a portion of each purchase goes to support Advocate For Trans Equality. Click HERE for more information on Advocates For Trans Equality. Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-cutting-up-a-kiki-with-connie-lina/id1849020008 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/200MOk48TaLRPLQvzx2UK0?si=6499dd094f704a10 iHeart: https://www.iheart.com/podcast/1333-the-cutting-up-a-kiki-wit-303161901 Write to us at Kiki@TheCuttingUp.com And follow us on instagram: @TheCuttingUp @TheRealConnieGirl @TheLinaBradford @PrideHouseMedia “The Cutting Up: A Kiki with Connie & Lina” is a Pride House Media production. Producers: Josh Rosenzweig & Matthew Breen. Graphic Design by Daryl Raymond. Original Music by 808 BEACH (John “J-C” Carr & Bill Coleman), courtesy of Peace Bisquit. Production Design by Darryl Dickens. Our very special thanks to Jason Kanner for all your support.
Cleansing Curses, Taking Leaps & Owning Your Power
This week on The Cutting Up, Connie and Lina are welcoming our brother-in-chaos and Pride royalty himself, David Correa. Shall we start with outfits and an I Love Lucy tangent? Yes, we shall. David and Lina go way back—all the way to 2016, when he booked her as the resident DJ for NYC Pride’s Pride Island, a year that honestly shifted everything in terms of diversity, visibility, and who gets to take up space. From WorldPride to Hudson Yards to the moment he told Lina (to her face!) that the community elected her as a Pride Grand Marshal! Then we talk about the real leap. David opens up about leaving NYC Pride, freelancing with his husband’s support, and stepping into his next chapter as a pop-culture entertainment correspondent and executive producer/co-host of the ABC Pride broadcast. And we get into the concept that changed everything: Unshrinking. Why do we make ourselves smaller? How do bullying and trauma follow us into adulthood? What does it actually mean to take up space — especially in media and within the LGBTQ community? We talk representation, diversity in media, career pivots, and turning trauma into strength. It’s heartfelt. It’s chaotic. It’s empowering. And always a cackle. So, Sugar, if you’ve ever felt like you were “too much” or “not enough,” this one’s for you. Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-cutting-up-a-kiki-with-connie-lina/id1849020008 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/200MOk48TaLRPLQvzx2UK0?si=6499dd094f704a10 iHeart: https://www.iheart.com/podcast/1333-the-cutting-up-a-kiki-wit-303161901 Write to us at Kiki@TheCuttingUp.com And follow us on instagram: @TheCuttingUp @TheRealConnieGirl @TheLinaBradford @PrideHouseMedia “The Cutting Up: A Kiki with Connie & Lina” is a Pride House Media production. Producers: Josh Rosenzweig & Matthew Breen. Graphic Design by Daryl Raymond. Original Music by 808 BEACH (John “J-C” Carr & Bill Coleman), courtesy of Peace Bisquit. Production Design by Darryl Dickens. Our very special thanks to Jason Kanner for all your support.
Alvaro Takes Us Inside 80s NYC Art & Fashion: Antonio Lopez, Naomi & The Golden Club Era
Okay, first of all… yes. The camera betrayed us last time. But like true legends, we came back hotter. On this episode, we welcome back the incomparable Alvaro, an artist, fashion insider, South Bronx original. And this time the cameras stayed ON. Not only is his art all over our “studio,” but he literally presented Connie with a gorgeous original portrait. Because we keep company with icons only. We get into… ✨ Growing up in the South Bronx with big dreams and bigger manifestations ✨ How he engineered, nay, seduced (his word) his way into a meeting with legendary illustrator Antonio Lopez at an FIT seminar ✨ Assisting Antonio for years—posing, learning, grinding, absorbing genius 🔥 Discovering models before they were THE models 🔥 Forming a close bond with Naomi Campbell 🔥 Meeting the iconic Oribe 👻and ghosts! Because in New York City, one connection changes everything. It gets cosmic. And it’s very, very us. You can find us on: Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-cutting-up-a-kiki-with-connie-lina/id1849020008 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/200MOk48TaLRPLQvzx2UK0?si=6499dd094f704a10 iHeart: https://www.iheart.com/podcast/1333-the-cutting-up-a-kiki-wit-303161901 Write to us at Kiki@TheCuttingUp.com And follow us on instagram: @TheCuttingUp @TheRealConnieGirl @TheLinaBradford @PrideHouseMedia “The Cutting Up: A Kiki with Connie & Lina” is a Pride House Media production. Producers: Josh Rosenzweig & Matthew Breen. Graphic Design by Daryl Raymond. Original Music by 808 BEACH (John “J-C” Carr & Bill Coleman), courtesy of Peace Bisquit. Production Design by Darryl Dickens. Our very special thanks to Jason Kanner for all your support.
Music to Kiki By: Disco, House & the Albums That Raised Us
This week we are joined by producer Matthew Breen (who also doubles as HR, Sugar). We all spiral from the iconic Justin-Britney denim lewk into a full jukebox of memories. It’s all about MUSIC. The albums that raised us, the songs that cracked us open, the disco divas who built community, the house tracks that baptized us on dance floors, and the very specific art of a “seal the deal” sexy playlist. Because music is memory, identity, resistance, heartbreak, healing… and foreplay. We talk about the childhood albums that shaped us—Michael Jackson’s Ben , Barbra Streisand’s Guilty , Bob Marley, Midnight Oil, Sinéad O’Connor, Kate Bush (obsessed), and the B‑52’s. These weren’t just records. They were bedroom sanctuaries, Sunday cleaning rituals, and emotional education. Then we get into disco. It’s resistance music! And it’s pure queer joy. We time‑travel to late‑’80s/early‑’90s House and early club days at the Limelight, Area, Sound Factory and all the dance floors that felt like church. We swap songs for heartbreak, empowerment anthems, and the artists whose voices still stop us in our tracks. And yes, we absolutely discuss sexy listening picks—Sade, Maxwell, Afro‑Cuban rhythms—because vibes. If you’ve ever cleaned your house to Barbra, cried to Sinéad, found religion on a dance floor, or curated a very intentional late‑night soundtrack, this one’s for you You Can find us on: Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-cutting-up-a-kiki-with-connie-lina/id1849020008 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/200MOk48TaLRPLQvzx2UK0?si=6499dd094f704a10 iHeart: https://www.iheart.com/podcast/1333-the-cutting-up-a-kiki-wit-303161901 Write to us at Kiki@TheCuttingUp.com And follow us on instagram: @TheLinaBradford @TheRealConnieGirl @PrideHouseMedia The Cutting Up: A Kiki with Connie & Lina is a Pride House Media production. Producers: Josh Rosenzweig & Matthew Breen. Graphic Design by Daryl Raymond. Original Music by 808 BEACH (John “J-C” Carr & Bill Coleman), courtesy of Peace Bisquit. Production Design by Darryl Dickens. Our very special thanks to Jason Kanner for all your support.
Kevin Aviance on Black Queer Legacy, Beyoncé, and Club Kid History
It’s a birthday episode and we are celebrating all month, Sugar and we’re setting intentions. Connie and Lena kick things off with a mystical little “circle of three” blessing before summoning the icon, the legend, the voice you definitely know — Kevin Aviance — for the ultimate backstage Kiki. We get into why our work is political (yes, even the glam), how assimilation has dulled parts of LGBTQ+ culture, and why movements that centered white gay men too often erased Black and trans pioneers like Sylvia Rivera and Marsha P. Johnson. We talk about how Black Lives Matter shifted the coalition model — and what real solidarity actually looks like. Then? We time‑travel to peak NYC nightlife chaos. ✨ Limelight ✨ Sound Factory ✨ Tunnel ✨ Pat Fields fashion madness ✨ Swirl at Crowbar ✨ DC & Miami party circuits And yes… the legendary wheelbarrow moment makes an appearance. Kevin serves nostalgia, wisdom, and unfiltered truth about old‑school club culture — when creativity was currency and looks were lethal. Then we get into the Beyoncé of it all.Kevin shares how Queen Bey kept his original vocal sample, made sure he was properly credited under his real name, and paid correctly. (As she should.) We talk about ownership, credits, and why Black artists deserve their flowers — loudly and on time. This episode is queer nightlife history, cultural commentary, music industry tea, and community realness all rolled into one. Icons only. For more about Kevin: @KevinAvianceOfficial Click here for his new album HIPPOPOTAMUS! You Can find us on: Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-cutting-up-a-kiki-with-connie-lina/id1849020008 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/200MOk48TaLRPLQvzx2UK0?si=6499dd094f704a10 iHeart: https://www.iheart.com/podcast/1333-the-cutting-up-a-kiki-wit-303161901 Write to us at Kiki@TheCuttingUp.com And follow us on instagram: @TheLinaBradford @TheRealConnieGirl @PrideHouseMedia The Cutting Up: A Kiki with Connie & Lina is a Pride House Media production. Producers: Josh Rosenzweig & Matthew Breen. Graphic Design by Daryl Raymond. Original Music by 808 BEACH (John “J-C” Carr & Bill Coleman), courtesy of Peace Bisquit. Production Design by Darryl Dickens. Our very special thanks to Jason Kanner for all your support. The Cutting Up: A Kiki with Connie and Lina,” a new weekly podcast hosted by DJ/activist Lina Bradford and fashion legend Connie Fleming, the show offers unprecedented access to the icons, secrets, and untold stories that shaped queer culture. Lina and Connie are both trailblazing women of transgender experience, with deep backgrounds hosting and performing in NYC’s most storied clubs—and pioneering on fashion runways. They bring their knowledge, stories, and relationships to “The Cutting Up,” offering audiences a backstage pass to authentic conversations that can only happen between true friends and industry legends. “The Cutting Up” goes deep on fashion, music, activism, and identity.
Joey Arias Unfiltered: Nightlife, Mugler & a Legendary Downtown Life
This week on The Cutting Up, Connie and I are kiki‑ing in Washington Heights like it’s a downtown séance — and our guest? Only a living, breathing piece of NYC nightlife history: the one and only Joey Arias. Yes. That Joey Arias. Performance art legend. Mugler muse. Warhol era mischief-maker. Billie Holiday channeler. Downtown royalty. We kick off doing what we do best: manifesting peace on earth, success, spiritual elevation… and obviously a hot man. Priorities. From there? Chaos. Glamour. History. Joey and I reminisce about decades of friendship, fashion, and the golden age of New York City nightlife — when the clubs were dangerous, the looks were illegal, and everyone was either famous or about to be. We talk Mugler, Montreal nights, downtown club kid origins, and the kind of stories you cannot Google. And then — because icons don’t retire — Joey drops updates: A book coming A documentary is in progress And his album “Past Present Future” is on Spotify, born from intense studio sessions that were equal parts magic and madness We also get real. Joey opens up about his sobriety journey after an intervention and detox — and how recovery reshaped his body, mind, and art. We talk reinvention, weight loss, body procedures, maturity, dating standards (they’re high, darling), and what it means to survive yourself. And because this is Joey Arias, the conversation floats effortlessly into: Higher consciousness Politics and energy Past lives and ghosts Curses (yes, curses) Spiritual awakenings Channeling Billie Holiday Stories about Andy Warhol, Paul Mooney, Keith Haring And an unearthed Basquiat found in a closet like it’s casual This episode is part New York nightlife documentary, part spiritual fishbowl, part fast-food-fueled kiki, and fully unfiltered. If you love: Joey Arias Downtown NYC legends Fashion history and Mugler LGBTQ nightlife culture Sobriety and reinvention stories Art world icons like Basquiat and Warhol Billie Holiday energy Or just wildly glamorous storytelling Welcome to the coven. Light a candle. Manifest something reckless. And press play. Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-cutting-up-a-kiki-with-connie-lina/id1849020008 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/200MOk48TaLRPLQvzx2UK0?si=6499dd094f704a10 iHeart: https://www.iheart.com/podcast/1333-the-cutting-up-a-kiki-wit-303161901 Write to us at Kiki@TheCuttingUp.com And follow us on instagram: @TheLinaBradford @TheRealConnieGirl @PrideHouseMedia The Cutting Up: A Kiki with Connie & Lina is a Pride House Media production. Producers: Josh Rosenzweig & Matthew Breen. Graphic Design by Daryl Raymond. Original Music by 808 BEACH (John “J-C” Carr & Bill Coleman), courtesy of Peace Bisquit. Production Design by Darryl Dickens. Our very special thanks to Jason Kanner for all your support.
Glam, Grit & Glisten: Our Convo with Wilson Cruz
Baby… this episode? A whole mood. Wilson Cruz dropped into The Cutting Up and we started where all important conversations start: backstage glam. Because if we’re going to talk about surviving late-stage capitalism and political chaos, we’re at least doing it moisturized. But don’t get it twisted — the kiki got real. We talked about what it means to trust timing in a career that’s feast‑or‑famine. Wilson’s been in this game for decades, and instead of spiraling when the phone isn’t ringing, he’s cocooning. Nurturing his artistry. Sharpening his activism. Staying ready so he doesn’t have to get ready. And yes, we got into the work. From campaigning in the tri-state area to his role as board chair of GLSEN (now Glisten — hello rebrand), we talked strategy, chapters, and the upcoming National Student Climate Survey. Because protecting queer kids is not a side quest. It’s the mission. We unpacked voter regret. Misinformation. Immigration fear tactics. Political distraction. The way they keep trying to divide and conquer like it’s 1992 and we haven’t read a book. But here’s the thing — we are not despairing. We are organizing. Locally. Intentionally. In community. Wilson also gave us tea on new indie projects, theater work, and a play about radicalization (timely much?). We talked about what it means to be a working artist when the industry feels morally… wobbly. How do you build when diversity is backsliding? You build by us. For us. And through it all? Protect your peace. Escape the algorithm. Touch grass. Fortify your local LGBTQ center. Stay curious. Stay dangerous. Stay moisturized. This episode is glam and grit. Fishbowl chaos and acceptance speech gratitude. We laughed. We vented. We plotted. And as always — we’re cutting up, but we’re not playing. Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-cutting-up-a-kiki-with-connie-lina/id1849020008 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/200MOk48TaLRPLQvzx2UK0?si=6499dd094f704a10 iHeart: https://www.iheart.com/podcast/1333-the-cutting-up-a-kiki-wit-303161901 Write to us at Kiki@TheCuttingUp.com And follow us on instagram: @TheLinaBradford @TheRealConnieGirl @PrideHouseMedia The Cutting Up: A Kiki with Connie & Lina is a Pride House Media production. Producers: Josh Rosenzweig & Matthew Breen. Graphic Design by Daryl Raymond. Original Music by 808 BEACH (John “J-C” Carr & Bill Coleman), courtesy of Peace Bisquit. Production Design by Darryl Dickens. Our very special thanks to Jason Kanner for all your support.
Our First Times: Crushes, Chaos & A Married Man
This week’s kiki starts creamy… but quickly turns into a full-blown “the first time I…” chaos! . Yes, we open with creamsicles, Charlie perfume, and a head-to-toe cream moment (because aesthetics matter). But the real meat of this episode? Our firsts. We play a rapid-fire game of: First crush First best friend First heartbreak First album that changed our personality First celebrity crush (problematic? nah!) First concert First time getting in trouble First fight (and why Webster Hall still owes us emotional damages) Some of it is sweet. Some of it is savory. Some of it explains a lot about who we are today. We talk about cursive handwriting pressure, Barbie manifestation energy, therapy jokes, parody songs that ruined our lives, and the very specific personality trait of always being the one who “does it.” And yes, a neighborhood meet-cute with a hot bearded man… who turned out to be married with a situation. This episode is nostalgic, chaotic and emotional. Because once you unpack your firsts, you realize they shaped everything. Like, subscribe, comment and review- xoxo 💫✨ Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-cutting-up-a-kiki-with-connie-lina/id1849020008 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/200MOk48TaLRPLQvzx2UK0?si=6499dd094f704a10 iHeart: https://www.iheart.com/podcast/1333-the-cutting-up-a-kiki-wit-303161901 Write to us at Kiki@TheCuttingUp.com And follow us on instagram: @TheLinaBradford @TheRealConnieGirl @PrideHouseMedia The Cutting Up: A Kiki with Connie & Lina is a Pride House Media production. Producers: Josh Rosenzweig & Matthew Breen. Graphic Design by Daryl Raymond. Original Music by 808 BEACH (John “J-C” Carr & Bill Coleman), courtesy of Peace Bisquit. Production Design by Darryl Dickens. Our very special thanks to Jason Kanner for all your support.
