In this episode, I sit with Comedian Christopher James (he/him).

We discuss the walking ray of sunshine that was Christopher at the RAW Comedy State Final, Chris’ current tour of his new nursing comedy show “Fun Scrubs”, late career changes when we feel like we are selling our soul, reminders from Chris that Pride is a celebration and a protest, how we never stop coming out and the sometimes long yet always rewarding journey into being comfortable in authenticity!

🌈 Connect with Lauren Deborah and MDSML:

-FOLLOW Lauren on Instagram: @hilaurendeborah

-Join the FREE mailing list: hilaurendeborah.substack.com

-TIP Lauren to say thanks for the free content: buymeacoffee.com/hi.laurendeborah

-SAY HI or share a limelight-stealing story: mydadstolemylimelight@gmail.com

🌈 Connect with Lauren’s guest:

-Follow Chris on Instagram:@standup_christopherjames

-Follow Chris on TikTok: @nurse_chris

-Connect with Chris on Facebook: facebook.com/standup_christopherjames

-Check out Chris’ upcoming shows and book tickets: https://linktr.ee/Standup_christopherjames

🌈 Resources:

-2SLGBTQIA+ resources

🌈 Behind the scenes:

-Podcast production made possible by: Alexi Johnson, Alex McCarthy and the team at @604podnetwork

-Theme Music: Shawn Kangro

-Logo Art: @raphe.ca

In this episode, I sit with Comedian Eden Kaminski (she/her), reconnecting after many years in this very special way.

We discuss Eden’s experience coming out as queer trans woman, getting into comedy and philosophy at the same time (very cool!), DIY hormones, treating coming out as the celebration that it is and why that is sometimes secondary to making it convenient to others, mental health and how that has shifted since Eden came out, and all the layers we pull away from ourself over time!

🌈 Connect with Lauren Deborah and MDSML:

-FOLLOW Lauren on Instagram: @hilaurendeborah

-Join the FREE mailing list: hilaurendeborah.substack.com

-TIP Lauren to say thanks for the free content: buymeacoffee.com/hi.laurendeborah

-SAY HI or share a limelight-stealing story: mydadstolemylimelight@gmail.com

🌈 Connect with Lauren’s guest:

-Follow Eden on Instagram: @eden_some_apple

-Follow Eden on TikTok: @eden_some_apple

🌈 Resources:

-2SLGBTQIA+ resources

🌈 Behind the scenes:

-Podcast production made possible by: Alexi Johnson, Alex McCarthy and the team at @604podnetwork

-Theme Music: Shawn Kangro

-Logo Art: @raphe.ca

In this installment of the Limelight Mailbag episodes, I am joined by my bestie, a champion of stand-up comedians in Canada, talented sketch writer, beautiful human and all ‘round angel baby Stove Sidi (he/him).

We unpack this month’s limelight-stealing submission — LIVE IN THE STUDIO! — from hilarious comedian and wonderful friend, Amber Harper-Young (she/her).

AND! We have a bonus submission from lead singer of Fake Shark, extraordinaire producer and lovely bug Kevvy, that we all unpack together!

🌈 Connect with Lauren Deborah and MDSML:

-FOLLOW Lauren on Instagram: @hilaurendeborah

-Join the FREE mailing list: hilaurendeborah.substack.com

-TIP Lauren to say thanks for the free content: buymeacoffee.com/hi.laurendeborah

-SAY HI or share a limelight-stealing story: mydadstolemylimelight@gmail.com

🌈 Connect with Lauren’s co-host & guests:

-Follow Stove on Instagram (if he let’s you!): @stovesidi

-Follow Amber on Instagram: @amberdalsey

-Follow Kevvy on Instagram: @drkevvy

🌈 Resources:

-2SLGBTQIA+ resources

🌈 Behind the scenes:

-Podcast production made possible by: Alexi Johnson, Alex McCarthy and the team at @604podnetwork

-Theme Music: Shawn Kangro

-Logo Art: @raphe.ca

In this episode, I sit with artist (in many, many ways) The Mollusc Dimension AKA Squid (he/him).

We discuss Squid’s comic memoir The Weird & Wonderful Surviveries of Squid Horse (shortlisted for The Selfies Book Awards) and the upcoming audio-described comic book version, Squid’s creative process, #cosytrauma, collaborating with other creatives, learning not to put pressure on ourselves to be “perfect” at queerness, why more people should make comics, the vitality of welcoming intersectional communities, and actively choosing the colour pink!

🌈 Connect with Lauren Deborah and MDSML:

-FOLLOW Lauren on Instagram: @hilaurendeborah

-Join the FREE mailing list: hilaurendeborah.substack.com

-TIP Lauren to say thanks for the free content: buymeacoffee.com/hi.laurendeborah

-SAY HI or share a limelight-stealing story: mydadstolemylimelight@gmail.com

🌈 Connect with Lauren’s guest:

-Follow The Mollusc Dimension on Instagram: @SquidHorseComics and @SquidHorseAudioDescribed

-Find The Mollusc Dimension on Facebook: @SquidHorseComics

-Follow The Mollusc Dimension on Bsky: @MolluscDimension

-The Weird & Wonderful Surviveries of Squid Horse, by The Mollusc Dimension: themolluscdimension.com/the-weird-wonderful-surviveries-of-squid-horse-british-chinese-comic-book

-The e-book: themolluscdimension.gumroad.com/l/squidhorsecomics

-Listen to the theme song: open.spotify.com/album/1m6hh1DhBPtFWBcS3c2aQw

🌈 Resources:

-2SLGBTQIA+ resources

-besea.n - Britain’s East and South East Asian Network: besean.co.uk

-Misery Party: @miseryparty

🌈 Behind the scenes:

-Podcast production made possible by: Alexi Johnson, Alex McCarthy and the team at @604podnetwork

-Theme Music: Shawn Kangro

-Logo Art: @raphe.ca

In this episode, I sit with Activist and South Australian Pride Awards Winner, Charlotte Coulthard-Dare (she/her).

We discuss Charlotte’s nomination (which after recording became a win!) for First Nations Person of the Year in the South Australian Pride Awards 2025, sharing her culture and heritage through work that Charlotte does, being the role model younger generations need, the process of Charlotte coming out as transgender on a documentary on NITV, being representation when you didn’t have it growing up and ALL THE gratitude for Black trans women without whom so much wouldn’t exist!

🌈 Connect with Lauren Deborah and MDSML:

-FOLLOW Lauren on Instagram: @hilaurendeborah

-Join the FREE mailing list: hilaurendeborah.substack.com

-TIP Lauren to say thanks for the free content: buymeacoffee.com/hi.laurendeborah

-SAY HI or share a limelight-stealing story: mydadstolemylimelight@gmail.com

🌈 Connect with Lauren’s guest:

-Follow Charlotte on Instagram: @coultharddare

🌈 Resources:

-2SLGBTQIA+ resources

🌈 Behind the scenes:

-Podcast production made possible by: Alexi Johnson, Alex McCarthy and the team at @604podnetwork

-Theme Music: Shawn Kangro

-Logo Art: @raphe.ca

In this episode, I sit with Comedian Marc Isaac (they/them).

Content Warning: Marc also works in the medical field and speaks on the important and hard work of doing research into mental health care and suicide rates among transgender people.

We discuss The Loch Ness Monster’s shy side, Marc’s solo festival show The Kilted Queer, making comedy for the people we want it to be for, Marc’s identity throughout school feeling safe and preferring to live in a chosen fantasy world, the importance of representation and diversity in the medical field and how the story isn’t over yet!

🌈 Connect with Lauren Deborah and MDSML:

-FOLLOW Lauren on Instagram: @hilaurendeborah

-Join the FREE mailing list: hilaurendeborah.substack.com

-TIP Lauren to say thanks for the free content: buymeacoffee.com/hi.laurendeborah

-SAY HI or share a limelight-stealing story: mydadstolemylimelight@gmail.com

🌈 Connect with Lauren’s guest:

-Follow Marc on Instagram: @marcisaaccomedy

-Get tickets to Marc’s show at Sydney Pride Fest: events.humanitix.com/a-kilted-queer

🌈 Resources:

-2SLGBTQIA+ resources

🌈 Behind the scenes:

-Podcast production made possible by: Alexi Johnson, Alex McCarthy and the team at @604podnetwork

-Theme Music: Shawn Kangro

-Logo Art: @raphe.ca

In this episode, I sit with drag performer, comedian and self-described silly, sober, sexy YYC nerd clown, Anne Xiety (she/they). We are also joined by Lulu — the dog in my care — who makes some adorable appearances throughout.

We discuss our journeys with sobriety, the importance of taking care of our mental health, being proud of what we put out into the world, Calgary’s queer and sober communities, discovering a better sense of self as we grow and the impact reality TV has had on us!

🌈 Connect with Lauren Deborah and MDSML:

-FOLLOW Lauren on Instagram: @hilaurendeborah

-Join the FREE mailing list: hilaurendeborah.substack.com

-TIP Lauren to say thanks for the free content: buymeacoffee.com/hi.laurendeborah

-SAY HI or share a limelight-stealing story: mydadstolemylimelight@gmail.com

🌈 Connect with Lauren’s guest:

-Follow Anne Xiety on Instagram: @anne_xiety_

-Check out Anne’s upcoming shows: linktr.ee/anne_xiety_

🌈 Resources:

-2SLGBTQIA+ resources

-Skipping Stone Foundation: skippingstone.ca

🌈 Behind the scenes:

-Podcast production made possible by: Alexi Johnson, Alex McCarthy and the team at @604podnetwork

-Theme Music: Shawn Kangro

-Logo Art: @raphe.ca

In this episode, I sit with Comedian, Quiz Host and Corporate Trainer, Courtney Maldo (she/her), otherwise self-described as Perth’s Punk Princess of Comedy.

We recorded this episode during Melbourne International Comedy Festival, IRL, from Naarm, which was a real treat!

We discuss Courtney’s next solo show Gender, Drugs and Rock and Roll, Courtney’s exploration of herself before coming out, feelings of isolation in growing up in a rural area, how much can change generation to generation, theatre in highschool leading to Courtney’s first fan mail, how being alive is just a phase, what “passing” means and how that is different for every trans and gender non-conforming person and that things get better: rocky starts happen but the journey is yours.

🌈 Connect with Lauren Deborah and MDSML:

-FOLLOW Lauren on Instagram: @hilaurendeborah

-Join the FREE mailing list: hilaurendeborah.substack.com

-TIP Lauren to say thanks for the free content: buymeacoffee.com/hi.laurendeborah

-SAY HI or share a limelight-stealing story: mydadstolemylimelight@gmail.com

🌈 Connect with Lauren’s guest:

-Follow Courtney on Instagram: @ctourtney

-Check out Courtney’s upcoming shows: linktr.ee/ctourtney

🌈 Resources:

-2SLGBTQIA+ resources

🌈 Behind the scenes:

-Podcast production made possible by: Alexi Johnson, Alex McCarthy and the team at @604podnetwork

-Theme Music: Shawn Kangro

-Logo Art: @raphe.ca