Queen of Queer Media and former Advocate and Out editor and writer Tracy E. Gilchrist has found a new platform for holding space — a podcast where she interviews queer icons.
Holding Space with Tracy E. Gilchrist premieres Wednesday on podcast platforms. It's a new weekly series where Gilchrist (who is "in queer media") invites luminaries in entertainment, politics, and beyond to "hold space" for talks on culture and craft.
The podcast is based on Gilchrist's uber-viral interview with Wicked stars Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande, where the journalist told the actors that people were "really taking the lyrics of 'Defying Gravity' and really holding space with that and feeling power in that."
"I didn't know that was happening," an emotional Erivo responded as Grande grabbed her pointer finger in solidarity. "That's really powerful. That's what I wanted."
Now, the first episode, featuring Grande's brother, gay icon and Out100 honoree Frankie Grande, is out!
In the debut episode, Grande talks about his new album, Hotel Rock Bottom, his sobriety journey, his sister being rushed at the Wicked: For Good Singapore premiere, and dishes on why he's holding space for power bottoms.
"Why are we shaming power bottoms? You tops need them," Grande says. "We serve a purpose in the community. It is in the name. Power. Power is in the name. Power bottom."
To learn what else he's holding space for, watch the episode on YouTube or listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, iHeartRadio, Amazon Music, and wherever podcasts are available. The second episode, out next Wednesday, features RuPaul's Drag Race Pit Crew icon Bruno Alcantara, and new episodes will drop weekly after that.
“In the last year, I’ve held more fingers than I can count. And with this podcast, I can’t wait to continue to connect with the millions of fans who were moved by my ‘holding space’ interview,” Gilchrist says. “There’s clearly a demand in media for conversations that prize substance and joy. Listen in and hold space for your new favorite weekly podcast.”
