Episode Details

Zach welcomes Philip Anthony, host of Downright Upright on Minnesota's AM 950 — "the Progressive Voice of Minnesota" — for a conversation that moves from career origin stories all the way to the heart.

Philip shares how he went from teaching and legal work to becoming a flight attendant, landing (unexpectedly) in Minneapolis-St. Paul, where he found a tight-knit community, met his husband, and eventually turned a pandemic-era podcast into a full progressive radio show. He and Zach swap first-date stories, laugh about the "Craigslist romance section" era of gay dating, and reflect on coming out to their mothers in very different decades.

The conversation turns serious as Philip opens up about childhood physical and emotional abuse from his stepfather and from teachers who looked the other way — and what he wishes he could tell his eighteen-year-old self. He and Zach also discuss how interviewing transgender guests personally deepened their understanding and allyship, and they talk candidly about the current wave of anti-trans legislation, misinformation in right-wing media, and the emotional toll of watching political violence hit close to home in the Twin Cities.

They close on a lighter note, previewing Philip's upcoming live shows at Golden Valley Pride and Twin Cities Pride, where he'll be handing out Downright Upright swag and meeting listeners in person.

Topics covered:

• From flight attendant to radio host: Philip's winding career path
• Meeting his husband before dating apps existed
• Coming out in the late 1970s vs. the 1990s
• Podcast-to-live-radio: what changes when you can't edit yourself
• How interviewing trans guests shaped Philip's understanding and advocacy
• Childhood abuse and what he'd tell his younger self
• Political division, misinformation, and the current wave of anti-trans legislation
• Golden Valley Pride and Twin Cities Pride live show details
• Where to follow Philip Anthony and Downright Upright online

Listen to Philip's radio show here: https://www.am950radio.com/category/podcasts/phil/

Podcast song by SIXFOOT 5: https://www.sixfoot5prod.com

Apple: https://music.apple.com/us/artist/sixfoot-5/1551774977

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/5rHMzoU0G0fLhaBsrQiOOY?si=laSZ5hiKTYubJJyhrzf2JQ

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