The Old Gays: Queer icons. Viral sensations. Palm Springs royalty. And totally unfiltered! Robert Reeves, Jessay Martin, Bill Lyons, and Michael “Mick” Peterson reflect on the many lives they’ve lived and the lessons they’ve learned along the way. With over 300 combined years of experience, these four bear it all: illegal love, aging with grace, bad dates, great sex, heartbreak, chosen family, and everything in between. They’ve lived it all, and they’re still standing…and dancing! Don’t say we didn’t warn you. New episodes every other week.
Our CHOsen Sister ft. Margaret Cho: "I'm a certified freak...but like maybe two days a week."
Comedian Margaret Cho joins The Old Gays to explore comedy, activism, chosen family, and aging, sharing candid insights from her iconic career.
21 Jul 2026TRANSCRIPT
The Secret Sex Lives of Married Men ft. Eric Leven: “Not all men who have sex with men are gay."
Documentary filmmaker Eric Leven discusses married men's secret sex lives with hosts of "Silver Linings with The Old Gays," exploring the complexities of identity and intimacy.
7 Jul 2026TRANSCRIPT
Passions, Projects, & Paychecks: “All of us had to do a bit of reinvention.”
The Old Gays share their diverse career journeys and passions, revealing how reinvention shapes a fulfilling life.
23 Jun 2026TRANSCRIPT
Aging with Pride: “Our house is clothing optional.”
The Old Gays explore evolving relationships with their bodies, discussing body image, nudity, and aging to foster appreciation for the bodies that carry them.
9 Jun 2026TRANSCRIPT
Faith & Spirituality: “That may be your God, but that’s not mine.”
The Old Gays explore diverse personal journeys with faith, religion, and spirituality, sharing stories of finding comfort, feeling excluded, and embracing unique spiritual paths.
26 May 2026TRANSCRIPT
Romance Before Apps: “Boyfriends are something you have between lovers.”
The Old Gays explore romance and relationships before dating apps, sharing personal stories of crushes, first loves, and lessons learned about connection.
12 May 2026TRANSCRIPT
From The Closet to The Red Carpet (Queer on Screen, Part 2): “A lot of hot gravy over cold meat.”
Hosts The Old Gays explore queer representation in film and TV from the 1980s to today, discussing impactful media and ongoing progress in this interview.
28 Apr 2026TRANSCRIPT
Muscles, Drama, & Trauma (Queer on Screen, Part 1): “If there were no gays, there would be no Hollywood.”
We’re kicking off Season TWO with a double feature. That’s right – Inspired by the culture’s sudden obsession with Heated Rivalry, the four of us sat down to talk through queer film and television from across our lifetimes…starting at the very beginning of film history.
Back when we were growing up, “mainstream” and “gay” didn’t exactly go together. So what did it feel like to see ourselves on screen for the first time? Sexy…inspiring…confusing…and yes, sometimes downright terrifying.
From Ben-Hur’s little “secret”...to some of the earliest queer characters in cinema… to things we’re still trying to process (gay cannibalism, anyone?), consider this your queer film festival. So join us as we look back at the portrayals that shaped us...for better, worse, and everything in between.
See omnystudio.com/listener (https://omnystudio.com/listener) for privacy information.
21 Apr 2026TRANSCRIPT
The Old Gays Are Back! (Season 2 Trailer)
Viral sensations Michael Peterson, Bill Lyons, Jessay Martin, and Robert Reeves return for Season 2 of Silver Linings, exploring love, sex, faith, and identity.
4 Nov 2025TRANSCRIPT
Pride, from Protest to Parade: “As American as apple pie.”
From the first brick at Stonewall to flashy floats rolling down the main drag, Pride has always been part protest, part celebration, and part pure self-expression.
To celebrate Palm Springs Pride, which lights up the desert every November, The Old Gays reflect on the unapologetic queer energy that makes this event so iconic. They get frank about every part of this global celebration, sharing hilarious and heartfelt stories from their earliest parades, the days of secrecy and resistance, and the culture's slow march toward the Pride festivals we know and love today.
From getting royal treatment by the police, to one of our boys being carried down the parade on a stretcher (can you guess which one?), this episode is a love letter to the communal joy, queer resilience, and silver linings of Pride, here to remind us just how far we’ve come.
See omnystudio.com/listener (https://omnystudio.com/listener) for privacy information.
19 Aug 2025TRANSCRIPT
Evolving Through The Mess ft. Brandon Kyle Goodman: “Permission to break the boxes.”
For the season one finale, The Old Gays are joined by their first special guest, Brandon Kyle Goodman: an actor, activist, and author, best known for their work on Netflix's "Big Mouth" and their iHeart Radio podcast, "Tell Me Something Messy."
From family dynamics and queer visibility to butt plugs and the sex tip that landed Brandon in the Urban Dictionary, this episode weaves through many of our previous themes, this time through an intergenerational lens.
What’s Brandon’s take on bathhouses and queer friendship? How do The Old Gays really feel about being local celebrities? And what are everyone’s practices when it comes to “self-love”?
Through vulnerable truths and a lot of laughter, this episode is a heartfelt bridge between different generations, reminding us of the many reasons to connect and learn beyond the limitations of age.
See omnystudio.com/listener (https://omnystudio.com/listener) for privacy information.
5 Aug 2025TRANSCRIPT
Health, Maintenance Required: “I didn’t think I’d live past 40.”
What does it take to stay as healthy, spry, and sexy as The Old Gays? Turns out, it’s a glorious mix of daily habits, earned wisdom...and a whole lotta doctor’s appointments.
In this week’s spirited episode, our four fab fellas share their perspective on health, aging, and getting real about what it means to care for your body, mind, and dignity as the years go by.
Which Old Gay is color-coding his to-do lists? Who’s flossing like their life depends on it? And who has tried the weirdest health product? From hair loss and colonoscopies to anxiety and fitness routines, this group check-up is a heartfelt love letter to the joys of growing older in the one body you’ve got.
See omnystudio.com/listener (https://omnystudio.com/listener) for privacy information.
22 Jul 2025TRANSCRIPT
Queer Spaces & Meeting Places: “Being around your people, that makes a difference.”
Whether it's a curated bar, a crowded dance floor, a church basement, or an online chat room, LGBTQ+ spaces have long been sanctuaries for queer people. These are the places for meeting, connecting, and feeling celebrated as their true selves.
This week, The Old Gays take us on a nostalgic tour of the queer spaces that helped shape them: from mafia-run bars in St. Louis and San Francisco’s video lounges, to the institutions of West Hollywood and a legendary (and illegal) bathhouse in Silver Lake. Along the way, they reflect on the racism in nightlife, the evolution of Pride & protest in these spaces, the refuge of gyms & saunas, and what it means to feel free in your body, identity, and community.
What was Mick's notorious "dick patrol"? Which bathhouse had a circular urinal? And where in Palm Springs can you still buy greeting cards, dildos, and poppers under one roof? Uncovering these corners of queer life, this episode is a love letter to the many spaces and places that The Old Gays have called home.
See omnystudio.com/listener (https://omnystudio.com/listener) for privacy information.
8 Jul 2025TRANSCRIPT
Our Experience: “The gay cancer.”
The Old Gays, Robert and Mick, share their personal experiences with the HIV/AIDS crisis, discussing diagnoses, stigmas, resilience, and the community's response in this interview.
24 Jun 2025TRANSCRIPT
Art & Media, Mirrors of Ourselves: “You get more back than what you put in.”
The Old Gays explore the profound connection between LGBTQ+ culture, media, and the arts, highlighting icons who inspire self-expression and discussing their own creative journeys in an interview.
10 Jun 2025TRANSCRIPT
Coming Out, Again & Again: “You must have courage to define who you are.”
The Old Gays explore the multifaceted experiences of coming out, highlighting personal journeys of self-discovery and offering guidance for LGBTQ+ individuals in this interview episode.
27 May 2025TRANSCRIPT
Sex in Perspective: “ It's like every weekend there's fresh meat.”
The Old Gays share intimate memories and wild sexcapades, exploring the role of romance and sexual dynamics in queer spaces, revealing attraction knows no bounds in this episode.
13 May 2025TRANSCRIPT
Our Chosen Family
What’s the secret to lasting friendships? How does queer community show up through the ebbs and flows of life? And what’s the REAL story behind the “YMCA” song?
In the first episode of Silver Linings, The Old Gays dive into an essential part of queer life: chosen family. They discuss the vital love, support, and sense of belonging that community provides, especially during life's toughest moments. They open up about what “queer” means to them, how chosen family has impacted their lives, and how to maintain close bonds over time–including their love for each other! “We’ve come a long way, baby.” Family isn’t just what you’re born with; it’s the people who show up, shape you, and stick around.
See omnystudio.com/listener (https://omnystudio.com/listener) for privacy information.
29 Apr 2025TRANSCRIPT
Introducing: Silver Linings with The Old Gays
Welcome to the chosen family! Viral sensations Bill Lyons, Michael “Mick” Peterson, Jessay Martin, and Robert Reeves swap the advice and admissions they’ve collected over the years. From disco nights to dating apps, The Old Gays remind the world that aging is a privilege. Starting May 13th, discover the silver linings they’ve embraced along the way. New episodes drop every other week!
Follow The Old Gays:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theoldgays/?hl=en (https://www.instagram.com/theoldgays/?hl=en)
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@oldgays?lang=en (https://www.tiktok.com/@oldgays?lang=en)
See omnystudio.com/listener (https://omnystudio.com/listener) for privacy information.
Inside a recent episode
Our CHOsen Sister ft. Margaret Cho: "I'm a certified freak...but like maybe two days a week."
Published 4 Aug 2026 · Transcript excerpt
[…] And to me, it's very, it's just ridiculous. It's like I want to be like Mae West, you know, or even like when like Marlena Dietrich was doing cabaret, that kind of vibe. I want to bring that sort of back to stand-up comedy. And you don't feel at all inhibited. No, I don't think so. I think... It's because I'm not trying to be younger. That's why I'm so excited that like Madonna's new album. She's she's out there. She's in lingerie. You know, it's so cool. Like, and she's not really she's not trying to be younger. She's just being Madonna. You know, Madonna in her 60s is so powerful. And I just love that she's not diminishing herself with age. […]
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