The DJ DORAN SHOW

Llisteners will be familiar with our guest on this week's episode. We are delighted to welcome back our dear friend and lovely rumbling voice, Kyle back to the show. This is our third show with Kyle and we expect that you'll be hearing much more from him in the future. Kyle joined us for two previous shows regarding the great COVID debacle but this week's episode is more in his wheelhouse as we discuss all things law enforcement assessment. The show is broken into three main parts: the process of becoming a police officer, on-the-job assessment, and fitness for duty evaluations following an incident. This show is not meant to criticize any one position or another regarding law enforcement. Rather, we hope to offer an alternative perspective on some information that is in the Zeitgeist of Americans amid recent events. As always we challenge our audience to read beyond the headlines, ask questions, and seek the Truth in all things. This isn't the time to be intellectually lazy. Support the show Thanks for listening! Follow us on Twitter and find us on Facebook and Instagram to keep up with our shenanigans!

We talk about the PrideFlight project and my bid to fly a WWII era DC-3 around the world on a goodwill mission to promote interest in vintage and civil aviation. PrideFlight is also about supporting LGBTQ communities and organizations around the globe by landing in their countries and bringing some attention to their needs and challenges by virtue of this epic flight. If I am successful I will also become the 1st openly gay pilot to circumnavigate the globe by air. Support the showThanks for listening! Follow us on Twitter and find us on Facebook and Instagram to keep up with our shenanigans!

Support the showThanks for listening! Follow us on Twitter and find us on Facebook and Instagram to keep up with our shenanigans!

After last week’s brief brush with positivity, we’re wading back into the turbulent waters of American politics and current events. Rachael V and I discuss a new direction for the show and the term we coined “Libracon”, a liberal conservative. We are going to tackle the truth, based on the facts about current events, politics and culture from a LGBTQ perspective. Taking a page from Madeline Brewer’s book, I will not stand idly by while the shit storm that is engulfing Washington threatens to drown the country. It is imperative that we use the time we have encourage others to search for truth in current events, belief systems, and be informed. War Crimes and Misdemeanors What does friendliness have to do with electability? Would I personally hang out with former President Bush? And what the heck is a war criminal, anyway? Rachel and I parse comments by Ellen DeGeneres and Joy Behar, extrapolating everything from politicians’ over-reliance on emotional appeal, to how to treat people with different political beliefs, to the difference between a fact and an opinion, from the comediennes’ quips. Other Topics covered: Immigration, Unions, the 9/11 Response, Clinton Administration Show Updates: Show Updates: submitted show to I Heart Radio, hope to expand audience. At this point all of the technical challenges we faced in the first few episodes have been sorted out. Running your own podcasting is an interesting experiment compared to radio, a medium which DJ is much more experienced in. In future episodes the show’s focus will be centered on four main elements: culture, politics, news, current events. Not just covering those topics but striving to find the truth in current events and politics above all. The goal of the show, no matter the topic, will be to seek truth through all of the noise and with that, maybe we can all learn and grow along the way. New shows will always be added to our website and distributed to all major podcast/streaming platforms. Support the showThanks for listening! Follow us on Twitter and find us on Facebook and Instagram to keep up with our shenanigans!

Halloween: The Ultimate Gay High Holy Holiday On this episode of, DJ and Rachel discuss the ancient, religious origins of the holiday now known as Halloween. The hosts then explore why the LGBTQ+ community has adopted it as a Gay High Holy Day. Returning listeners may remember similar conversation to our previous episode on Valentines Day. Other topics include DJ’s debatably excessive holiday decorations, Dia de los Muertos, the hosts’ mutual enjoyment of Chicago’s summer and autumn weather, and why the holidays help them take stock of the good things in their lives. History Dj shares some historical information about Halloween, or All Hallow’s Eve, shares its date with the Gaelic holiday Samhain, which is has Celtic Pagan roots, dating back perhaps as far as 500 BCE. Some believe that the early Church Christianized Samhain, while others believe it evolved separately. Modern Halloween traditions like increased candy consumption and dressing in costume may have evolved from certain Samhain rituals like feasting and guising. Following that DJ and Rachel reminisce on Halloweens gone by, talking of candy stores, trick-or-treating, and watching Universal monster movies. DJ continues the history lesson revealing Halloween’s roots as a Gay High Holy Day! Lesbian poet Judy Grahn once described Halloween as the “Great Gay Holiday,” and DJ wastes no time diving into the annual drag balls and costume contests formerly held at Cliff’s in the Castro District of San Francisco in the 1970s. The hosts discuss drag, the concept of camp, what this means to Rachel as a trans person, and why Halloween is a safer night of the year for everyone to openly be themselves. DJ explains that instead of aligning with parts of the Christian community’s view of Halloween as evil, he views the holiday as a chance for everyone to cut loose and have some fun, as people do at the Halloween Parade in Chicago. Around the world The show then moves to DJ’s experiences in Mexico on Dia de los Muertos, or The Day of the Dead, and how Mexican culture differs in its view of death from American culture. Rachel and DJ wind down the conversation by discussing holiday routines, decorating for Halloween and Christmas (DJ decorates to within an inch of his life nearly every year), and using the all-too-brief Autumn in Chicago to expend the last of their energies from summer before settling in for the deep, dark winters the city is known for. This episode ends on a sentimental note, as the hosts reflect on how the holidays make them feel fortunate for the good things they have, and optimistic for the New Year ahead. Support the showThanks for listening! Follow us on Twitter and find us on Facebook and Instagram to keep up with our shenanigans!

We talk about the origins of Christmas from the religious to the secular perspectives and to the commercialization of the holiday. We also share our own Christmas family traditions and funny stories. Support the showThanks for listening! Follow us on Twitter and find us on Facebook and Instagram to keep up with our shenanigans!

Rachael and I discussed some of our favorite horror movies as well as the differences between the Horror classics like Dracula, Frankenstein and the Mummy and the slasher movies like Friday the 13th and Nightmare on Elm Street. Rachael also told me a little about her review of IT part 2 and we made a short sizzle reel about Rachel meeting Dracula in Lakeshore Park! Check it out! Ah, the horror film. Sating our desire for a good scare. From the earliest days of cinema, filmmakers have sought to create the creatures that go bump in the night. The classic Universal Monsters like Dracula, Frankenstein’s Monster, and the Wolf Man were preying on imaginations long before Netflix was pumping out spooky original content and Stephen King was unleashing IT on the populace. Dive in as we discuss our personal favorite horror movies, our own real-life spine-tingling experiences, representation in horror (or lack thereof), and more! We get creepy right away with favorite genre talk, from haunted houses to the original cycle of Universal Monsters (Dracula, Frankenstein, The Wolf Man, Creature from the Black Lagoon, etc.). One of us prefers the subtlety of Bela Lugosi’s Dracula to his more violent modern counterparts, while the other gravitates (or LEVITATES) toward haunted houses. Our basis for horror film enjoyment is self-insertion, taking a “What would I do?” approach to viewing. The scares get real with a story from my military days involving a visit to a friend’s barracks, a barracks that may or may not have been under siege from malevolent forces invited via Ouija board, an instrument of evil that I loathe to this day. Ouija boards factor into several horror flicks, from The Exorcist all the way to the more recent Ouija and Ouija sequel, Ouija: Origin of Evil. We get more in-depth on IT: Chapter Two with our takes on the movie, and our differing opinions on the relatability of Stephen King’s often white-male centric fiction. Then we wax philosophic on our perceived lack of LGBTQ representationin the genre as a whole. Stay tuned and stay curious for an audio teaser for our own (possibly fake) upcoming short horror film! Support the showThanks for listening! Follow us on Twitter and find us on Facebook and Instagram to keep up with our shenanigans!

I talked about the scriptures that some Christians use to justify their bigotry and hate. I also discuss why scriptures from the Old Testament do not hold us hostage anymore because Jesus Christ fulfilled those laws and teachings by living his life without sin, dying and rising so that we may be saved by Gods grace and not sacrifices and deeds. Support the showThanks for listening! Follow us on Twitter and find us on Facebook and Instagram to keep up with our shenanigans!

This week gets topical, as we jump into the controversial impeachment proceedings against President Trump, the recent scandal surrounding celebrities’ children’s university qualifications, the importance of individual rights, and more. I absolutely go off on both elected Democrats and Republicans for their conduct during these impeachment proceedings. As an Independent, I feel free to criticize members of both parties for what amounts to inexcusable behavior regarding the president. Nancy Pelosi, Adam Schiff, and Elizabeth Warren are just some of the politicians I mention by name in this show. Rachel and I then compare and contrast Felicity Huffman’s crime and punishment with my own, as I reveal my salacious criminal past and brief stay in county jail. (I wrote a bad check.) The Lifestyles of the Rich & Famous…. The misdeeds of the rich and powerful continue to make headlines in this country, from the comparatively benign Huffman/Loughlin NYU scandal to the more upsetting latest in the rash of sexual assault allegations against men in power. Speaking of the government, should our elected officials have the right to have any say in our daily lives at all? Where is the line for government intervention? We discuss abortion and the American peoples’ lack of interest in self-education. Then we examine what arguing legality in front of the Supreme Court exactly means. Is the issue one’s right to exist? Or is it separate entirely. We discuss! The troubled movie fit for these troubled times may or may not be Todd Phillips’ Joker. Is it just another flick about the supposedly unendurable suffering of white men? Something more? Something less? Find out with us. Show updates: I announce a future project, a second podcast called Gaycation, about travel destinations, tips and tricks for the LGBTQ+ community. Make sure you check out our previous episodes and sign up for our mailing list so you don’t miss an episode! Support the showThanks for listening! Follow us on Twitter and find us on Facebook and Instagram to keep up with our shenanigans!

Finality & Taking Nothing for Granted In this episode we take a more grounded and thoughtful approach to our conversation, as we discuss friendships past and present, the impact social media (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, etc.) can have on friendships, and how the finality of a personal loss can spur the reevaluation of priorities in life. Returning listeners may notice a change in tone from our previous episodes regarding politics or current events. While those topics are near to our hearts we wanted to spend this week having an honest conversation about something closer to home. Flowers for Algernon The show focuses on the recent and unexpected death of my friend Mike, and its impact on my life in the days following. The permanent absence of a close friend reveals itself in mundane ways that can be more affecting than is first evident. We discuss valuing friendships in the moment and taking nothing for granted, as mortality can rear its head more suddenly than any of us thinks. It’s almost impossible to predict these sorts of life events. But sure enough they will come, and we will all face moments like this. We hope that this conversation encourages listeners to take stock of what they have in their lives. Whatever situation we are in, we have something to be grateful for. It is easy to fall into a situation where we are taking things for granted, but it’s important to find time to realize this. Support the showThanks for listening! Follow us on Twitter and find us on Facebook and Instagram to keep up with our shenanigans!

I let loose on what I perceive is the current state of affairs in this country and how, in my opinion we got here. I share an epiphany that I had the other day about how the media uses headlines designed to elicit emotional responses to get us to support their agendas rather than reporting the facts and letting US decide what we believe. In the not too distant past we trusted our news gathering organizations and newscasters. We relied on their investigative search for the TRUTH to present fact based reporting so that we could make intelligent decisions about important issues that affect us. We took for granted that they performed a diligent search for truth supported by the facts in their reporting and so when Newscasters like Walter Cronkite said something on the evening news we believed it to be truthful because we trusted their news gathering skills. In todays media landscape that is all but gone. The media is mistrusted because of the accusations of “Fake News”, highly edited video, comments taken out of context all in the name of getting that “gotcha” moment. I share my own personal insights about how I am trying to navigate these challenges and the importance of constantly seeking fact based truth and understanding. Support the showThanks for listening! Follow us on Twitter and find us on Facebook and Instagram to keep up with our shenanigans!

In this episode I spoke about the importance of doing our own research about the topics that we care about and why we should test the veracity of what media outlets and politicians tell us.I also talked about why I think Trump will be re-elected in a landslide and why the Democrats will most likely lose the House. Lastly, I open about the lack of civility in political debate and the dangers of being ideologically rigid. Support the showThanks for listening! Follow us on Twitter and find us on Facebook and Instagram to keep up with our shenanigans!

In these trying times the quest for truth leads us to some of the most perplexing questions. Questions such as “Are Girl Scouts Actually Cicadas?” Rumors of the group’s origins and secret network of cookie delivery often lead many curious minds to strange places. Where do they come from? How do they disappear so quickly? What happens if one tries to politely decline an offer to purchase cookies? No one really knows. In this episode we welcome two new guests to the show: Carmen & Seth. The group explores the day-to-day perspective of COVID-19 and the impact it has been having on both their personal and professional lives. The group discusses toilet paper panic, peculiarities, and downright asinine activity they’ve been seeing over the past week. The trio tries to encourage people to find a light-hearted perspective on recent events while maintaining a serious handle on the current state of the world. Other topics covered include personal accounts from the bathroom, the unique marketing strategies of Girl Scouts, and Chicagoans on St. Patrick’s day. Support the showThanks for listening! Follow us on Twitter and find us on Facebook and Instagram to keep up with our shenanigans!

In this show we discuss what is TRUST? How to earn it? Lose it and regain it. Support the showThanks for listening! Follow us on Twitter and find us on Facebook and Instagram to keep up with our shenanigans!

DJ and Rachel recount tales of adapting to driving in Chicago. Is there a Chicago driving etiquette or rather, a different set of rules for driving in Chicago? It seems like from an outsider’s perspective that driving in Chicago has its own set of rules, street rules if you will. In the second half of the show DJ steers the conversation towards a companion subject, Distracted driving. Everyone’s guilty Road Rage, the mysterious shape shifting goblin that takes total control and makes you see red. The unwritten rule of Chicago Drivers Etiquette states that you must experience this no fewer than 1.5 times per every hour spent on the road. It should be noted that an hour car trip in Chicago may only get you about 4 miles down the road. Other important notes about Chicago Driver Etiquette: if someone appears to be from out of town, definitely cut them off. That is to say, wherever you’re going is by default more important than someone coming out of town. The last main rule of Chicago Driving Etiquette that must be mentioned is the following: One must pass drivers on the right if they aren’t going at least 15 mph over the speed limit. It follows that if one hesitates at all, they deserve to be cut off. DJ admittedly has road rage from time to time. He attributes this to his training as a pilot. It is known that when operating an airplane, one can’t be distracted or hesitate. Driving for Uber has given DJ a front row seat to all sorts of ridiculous driving habits that are commonplace in Chicago. Wait, what did you say? Rachel and DJ spend the second half of the show discussing distraction. Chicago driving etiquette, the unwritten rule of the land, dictates that one must look at their phone at least once every 7-10 minutes while operating a vehicle. DJ explains how his aggressive driving habits are actually a proactive measure against the distracted drivers of Chicago. If you enjoyed this episode consider taking a listen to our past episodes and subscribing to our show wherever you get podcasts from. Support the showThanks for listening! Follow us on Twitter and find us on Facebook and Instagram to keep up with our shenanigans!

We explore the reason that Valentines Day is such a revered holiday in the LGBTQ+ community Support the showThanks for listening! Follow us on Twitter and find us on Facebook and Instagram to keep up with our shenanigans!

Guest host Cassidy Fellows-Sommers Leads the discussion in this episode. Topics range from the recent Super Bowl to HIV Modernization. Cassidy welcomes John William Cooper the 2nd during the second half of the show to discuss the ins & outs of legislation surrounding HIV. The conversation touches subjects of personal responsibility, moral obligation, and HIV stigmatization. Cassidy opens the second half of the show with special guest, John William Cooper. John is the head of the co chair for the HIV modernization movement, Indiana. Here is the expressed mission statement from the group: John and Cassidy talk about Indiana’s HIV legislation from history & practice through the HMM’s current mission. John discusses different ways to disclose HIV status, ways to protect yourself & offers further advice about how to stay on the safe side of moral obligation. John also discusses the particular segments of the current laws that need to be change and why the current laws are harmful to individuals. Support the showThanks for listening! Follow us on Twitter and find us on Facebook and Instagram to keep up with our shenanigans!

IN THIS EPISODE WE JUST TOUCH ON THE VARIOUS INTERESTING TOPICS OF THE DAY Support the showThanks for listening! Follow us on Twitter and find us on Facebook and Instagram to keep up with our shenanigans!

This is our first show without technical difficulties and we talk about what the show will be about and who I am as the host. Support the showThanks for listening! Follow us on Twitter and find us on Facebook and Instagram to keep up with our shenanigans!

What's living in Chicago really like? Living, dating, and eating in Chicago – that’s what it’s all about, right? In this episode DJ and guests Joe Morales of Joe Eats World & Gena Grish of Menage-a-Pod explore the pros & cons of living in Chicago. Before jumping into the pros & cons of living in Chicago the gang discusses how they all landed in the Windy City. DJ explains that he’s rarely lived anywhere for more than 3 years. Gena landed in Chicago because it just may be a Goldie Locks city for her needs. In addition Joe followed his cooking career to Chicago. The trio compares Chicago to other major metro hubs in North America such as New York & Los Angeles. The three explain how they’ve pretty much have become (and will remain) inseparable. Gena makes mention that Joe & DJ are no longer allowed to leave Chicago on her orders. The show also hits on many nostalgic stories from the guests’ past. The conversation weaves back forth but continues to land on one subject: Dating. Why is that? Gena runs her own podcast called Menage-a-Pod. Her show is all about dating and the messes one can find themselves in with our current dating world. On this episode she explains what it’s like dating & living in Chicago compared to different times in her life. Visit Joe Eats World Joe is the culinary genius behind Joe Eats World. He’s also Gena’s “go-to” for dating encouragement & DJ’s husband. Joe has been a cheerleader on the side of many of Gena’s dating stories and weighs in on the hilarity of the situations that she finds herself in. The trio close out the show discussing etiquette, manners, and the horrors of internet dating. If you enjoy this episode consider subscribing on any major podcast or streaming platform and checking out our previous episodes. Support the showThanks for listening! Follow us on Twitter and find us on Facebook and Instagram to keep up with our shenanigans!