The Gaymazing Race
A limited podcast series that recaps and discusses The reality competition show The Amazing Race from an LGBTQ point of view. Hosts Nicole J. Georges and Karen Tongson, both authors, professors, and self-described professional queers, offer commentary, humor, and insights into the series. The show examines queer representation, pop culture, and the contestants' journeys, appealing to fans of the program and those interested in LGBTQ media criticism.
Episodes
Ep. 75: Getting Fruity in Marrakech
The teams take on tough challenges in the heat of Marrakech. Team Boss Mom, Ann Marie and Riley lead the pack, as multiple teams claim to speak Arabic or have Arabic-adjacent skills, including Jo from Team Rainbow Wristband. Our gaymazing Dafina has pulled her hamstring, but she and Saran also find a new feature in the shattered ruins of pottery: the "roadside assist." A new str8 alliance is build
Ep. 74: Bear Hands and Rainbow Wristbands in Vancouver + Hot Jamon and "Femme Fringe" in Madrid
Season 39 of The Amazing Race comes in hot, which means we're back to talk about everything Gaymazing on the race whether it's actually gay or not. Karen gives Nicole a lesson in soccer lesbian lore as the two discuss the inclusion of elite LGBTQ athletes, Ali Krieger and Joanna Lohman amongst the new teams. We're cautiously optimistic about the brewing "Boss Lady Alliance," though we have some wo
BONUS EPISODE - The Gaymazing Hacks w/ Guy Branum
Hacks writer, producer and all around awesome person, Guy Branum joins us for an insider's debrief about the show's "D'Amazing Race" episode. Plus, we get into the most beautifully lesbionic "Montecito" ep, which Guy co-wrote.
BONUS INTERVIEW w/ Izzy and Paige!
Nicole and Karen have an epic post-race exit interview with Team LezBoss, Izzy and Paige. Get some inside scoop and all the sapphic love!
Ep. 73: Inevitable in NYC: The Amazing Race S38 Finale
Karen regales Nicole with stories from the LIVE Amazing Race S38 finale at Berry park, while Nicole tells Karen what actually happened in the episode that started with the end of the road for our beloved Team LezBoss (Izzy and Paige), and culminated in the inevitable victory of Jas and Jag, who won 6 legs along the way. We also get into how meaningful it is to see the self-dubbed "Turbanators" wi
Ep. 72: "Izzy is Very Talented With Her Hands" in Paris
The final four Amazing Race teams descend on Paris and we are reminded repeatedly that the U.S. was once a democracy worthy of gifts from allies like the Statue of Liberty. At the Moulin Rouge, everyone must can-can in gendered outfits constituting what Nicole calls a "hate crime" on our gender non-conforming Team LezzBoss. The two judges at the Braille Institute steal the show with their coffee
Ep. 71: "I'm a Little Bushy Here, I think" in Milano
The final 5 teams of the The Amazing Race make their way to Milan, where they're all struck by the revelation that all but one team–Izzy and Paige, aka Team LezBoss– has a Big Brother winner. In Survivor-like fashion, we see a MEDIC on screen as Adam from the Brothers Keffiyeh suffers a scary plunge in his blood sugar. Jas and Jag continue to coast, while Izzy and Paige use their eye for detail an
Ep. 70: Lesbian Retirement Plan in Athens
The giant has been slayed this week in a SHOCKING turn of events in Greece. We've got Sisyphus (aka a caveman), the Greek alphabet, women helping women (sometimes), and a real shake up in the order of things! Nicole and cartoonist, illustrator and Jeopardy champion guest cohost Ajuan Mance talk about all of this while Karen is away at an academic conference. Stay tuned!
Ep. 69: "Worried You're Becoming a Vegetarian" in Bucharest
The Amazing Race teams descend on Bucharest, where they encounter a harrassy sinister chicken as they harvest Christ's eggs in a big city park. All Express Passes have to be used up on this leg, as Eric and Tucker, and Jas and Jag continue to vie for the top two spots, with Kyland and Taylor trying to play spoilers. Team LezzBoss, Izzy and Paige find religion when they are blessed with a PAN FLUTE
Ep. 68: "Non-Gentleman's Agreement" in Romania
The consequences of running with the "Trainwreck" alliance come home to roost with team Sissy my Sissy, as The Amazing Race makes its way to Bucharest, Romania from Split, Croatia: Joseph & Adam nab the crucial last ticket on the first flight away from Natalie and Stephanie! Paige takes a 13,000 foot skydive roadblock for Team LezzBoss to spare Izzy the angst, and nearly all the teams make shit br
Ep. 67: Ston Butch Blues in Croatia
Are team LezzBoss getting the villain edit as the weeks wear on, while Jas and Jag are getting the lovable multifaceted hero edit? This week of The Amazing Race moves fast with lots of self-driving and a detour that makes our teams choose between hauling salt, or gathering oysters. We learn all about Kristene and Rubina's sisterly bond forged through trauma, as they do their race "for their mama."
Ep. 66: Sisterhood is Powerful in Dubrovnik
This episode of The Amazing Race moved us to tears as dastardly U-Turns,and a controversial "gentleman's agreement" led to three all-female teams competing to stay alive at the end of this leg in Dubrovnik, Croatia. Just when we were starting to feel for Jas and Jag after they struggled to hail taxis last week, they decide to U-Turn team LezBoss, while the Brothers Keffiyeh, Joseph and Adam pick
Ep. 65: Bathhouse Kings and False Bottoms in Budapest
The Amazing Race heads to Budapest, where teams have the option of taking a direct sleeper train from Prague that arrives an hour later, or enduring three transfers to land an hour earlier. Which would YOU choose? Team Sissy-My-Sissy proves they can thrive without the Trainwreck alliance, and Izzy and Paige offer the realest lesbian bathing suit representation we've ever seen on TV. We're profound
Ep. 64: Foam Party + Strap and Plow in Kutna Hora
THEEEEE Izzy and Paige join Karen as guest-hosts this episode, while Nicole is off in the Pacific Northwest causing trouble. We recap the episode together from their insider's perspective on what it felt like to run this leg, while reveling in all the gaymazing moments yielded by resident beer expert Stephanie, and Kristene of the 1-shot goal at hockey. Plus, we get a candid take on how Izzy and P
Ep. 63: Swiping Right for HRNKY PRNKY in Prague
The teams dive into some old-school Amazing Race travel (by train) from the Netherlands to Prague. At the top of the pack, Jas and Jag (the self-dubbed "turbanators") ally with the Brothers Keffiyeh, Joseph and Adam, and team Sister-my-Sister / Huju (aka hug-jump), Natalie and Stephanie. Team Orange, Kristene and Rubina sound like they're speaking Klingon at the tavern crest-matching challenge, an
Ep. 62: "We're Doin' it For the Queers"
We're back covering season 38 of The Amazing Race, which is filled with Big Brother contestants and GAYS! Phil greets teams in the "cradle of democracy," as they're collectively tasked with human bowling, creating cheese pyramids and color-coordinating gerber daisies, the flowers Karen calls "90s lesbian coded." We LOVE Izzy and Paige, who look like they're already part of our friend group (Thanks
Ultimatum: Queer Love S2E3 - Magan Moans Sadly
Ultimatum: Queer Love S2E2 - "They F****** 'Til The Room Stank"
Creator of the Ultimatum Fantasy League Dani Wassel, and raconteur, writer and performer Amanda-Faye Jimenez join Karen and Nicole to process everything from "The Choice" to "Ultimatum Day." We discuss a range of topics from trial spouse criteria, to dommy mommy issues, to sexual loopholes and "good old fashioned tribadism." Happy 4th of July!
Ultimatum: Queer Love S2E1 - Butterflies and Cockroaches
Surprise! TGR returns with 3 special bonus episodes on season 2 of THE ULTIMATUM: QUEER LOVE. Karen and Nicole gather queer experts, friends of the pod and Ultimatum enthusiasts to join them in astute, if also sometimes raw and raunchy assessments of the couplings, uncouplings and potential throuplings of Netflix's messiest queer dating show. This week: Greta La Fleur and Poulomi Saha join us to i
Ep. 61: Elimination Station for the S37 Amazing Race Finale!
Join us for some intense and candid Elimination Station interviews with the final 4 teams, Josiah and Alyssa, Jonathan and Ana, Han and Holden and Jack and Carson. So much gaymazing processing, truth talking and big love! Follow our IG @gaymazingrace for updates on footage taken at the watch party :)
Ep. 59 & 60: "Shout Out to All My Lisbons" / Queer Little Weirdos
The Amazing Race reaches its breathtaking end, and we dive into all the Gaymazingness the final legs in Portugal and Miami have to offer. We're left with a cliffhanger at the end of the penultimate episode, in which team ToH and the Soccersexuals compete for the last spot in the finale. In the finale, we see teams face their greatest fears while trying to achieve their greatest hopes. Have we re
Ep. 58: Our Strategy is to Make it Pretty in Strasbourg
This was a tough episode of The Amazing Race for the contestants and us. The teams joust head-to-head, which brings up a lot of masc issues with the str8 guys, before consuming eight varieties of French soft, semi soft and hard cheeses on an empty stomach, followed by running up the stairs of a cathedral. Team Tragedy of Heterosexuality (Jonathan and Ana) are having a ROUGH leg, as Jonathan won't
Ep. 57: Gagging from Excitement in Napoli
We've reached leg 9 of The Amazing Race, and all of the teams are excited by the old world charm and "verticality" of Napoli, Italy–and it's the first time TAR has visited this destination. Mark is "gagged" to be there, and we learn more about his and Brett's backstory as godpoppas and donors to their lesbian BFF neighbors in Las Vegas. Jonathan and Ana have their best detour yet and work well tog
Ep. 56: Klek it Like It's Hot in Sofia, Bulgaria
The Amazing Race continues in Sofia, Bulgaria, and we wonder: which TAR intern had to book the dungeon on Peer Space for the fire-walking Express Pass challenge? Nicole thinks this episode in the "A"-range for its gay score when all of our straight guy competitors take tremendous joy dancing in the water with circles of local men,, as the teams have to dive "Like a Prayer"-style to fetch an ornate
Ep. 55: Who Wants to Fill 'er Up in Bulgaria?
The Amazing Race teams face their first self-drive in Bulgaria, as well as another double U-turn. Our Gaymers end up lost beyond all hope, it seems, after struggling with navigation lagging nearly three hours behind everyone else. This leaves teams What About Bob (Han and Holden) and the Basic Bros (Nick and Mike) vulnerable to the U-turn, which is exactly what Erika and Melinda do to the boys. A
Ep. 54: "That's my girl! And by that I mean my sister" in Dubai
We've reached the halfway point of The Amazing Race, and the teams are in Dubai for some SATC2-coded adventures, along with two roadblocks, a fast forward and lots of diving. We learn that Han has a boyfriend (sad) after she says "YES, CHEF" during a tea challenge, but where the Lorde taketh, they also giveth, and we get a few Gaymazing moments (perhaps unintentionally) courtesy of Holden. Our Gay
Ep. 53: Gaycation and Domination in Bali
Nicole and Karen get into the gayest episode of The Amazing Race this season, as Cirque du So Gay (Mark and Brett), and The Gaymers (Jack and Carson) both wind up on top–but who tops whom between them? Meanwhile, the tragedy of heterosexuality plays out as two of the remaining three straight couples face the dreaded double U-Turn. Karen, who is based in NY until the end of the season made her way
EP. 52: Taxicab Tingles & Gay Choreo in Bali
The Amazing Race heads to Bali, and our special guest co-hosts Ricky & César, the winners of season 36, join Karen to process the first ever "Driver's Seat" aka "Knee Deep in the Passenger Seat" challenge. Our Gaymers Carson and Jack bring multiple gaymazing moments in taxicabs and on their ATVs this episode. Meanwhile, Team Cirque du so Gay, Mark and Brett hustle hard while telling us about their
Ep. 51: Knee Deep in the Passenger Seat in Kyoto
Both Karen and Nicole are recording on the road after their own planes, trains and automobiles, so their Amazing Race recap is a little more "gestalt" than precise for S37, E4, as the teams travel to Kyoto on the bullet train. Ironically, both our sapphic fanfic team, Bernie and Carrigain and our actual sapphic team, Courney and Jasmin are in trouble on this leg after being confronted by a sporty
Ep. 50: Gays Know How to Drape in Osaka
The Amazing Race continues onto Osaka, Japan, and some of our gaymazing suspicions are confirmed, as we learn about the gamers (aka "gaymers") cute back-story of coming out to each other as young gays who weren't gay for each other. We've rechristened Carrigain with the sapphic Gaylor nickname, "Cardigan," and Nicole has pointed out that Bernie's tongue is pierced and looks good with her hoodie. M
Ep. 49: Bun Scrambling & Getting Forked in Hong Kong
What is bun-scrambling, and who's good at it? And which daddy gets to be "a female" in an opera singing challenge in Hong Kong? Welcome back to the Gaymazing Race!!! Season 37 of The Amazing Race debuts with 14 teams, the most ever to compete on the first leg. This is owed to the introduction of a NEW challenge structure, the "Fork in the Road," where teams are divided for the detour and the pit s
Ep. 48: The Most Gaymazing Episode EVER in Philadelphia (S36, Ep 10)
Ep. 47: Girls Who Like Girls Who Like The Amazing Race (S36, E9)
Once again, we were tantalized by the promise of a historic GALA (Gay and Lesbian Alliance) between Ricky & Cesar and Yvonne & Melissa, as the final five hit the Dominican Republic to water slide into natural grottoes, harvest cacao and play some D.R.-style "beisbol." Sadly, Melissa is stumped by a rock-symbol challenge and Yvonne's struggled to make a bottlecap fly with a broomstick.. With just a
Ep. 46: Fish Pots (S36, E8)
The Amazing Race gets busy in Barbados, Rihanna's homeland. We admire their tiny jeeps and racquet sports skills, though the teams still struggle with navigation. There's another tantalizing possibility of another all gay alliance at the fish pot detour. Leading up to it Team Walla Walla Mama & Son LOSE THEIR CREW, which sends them directly to our Elimination Station.
Ep. 45: Sisterhood is Powerful in Montevideo (S36, E7)
The Amazing Race teams head to Uruguay where Brokeback Fannypack is under the weather, and Sunny and Bizzy are looking forward to a "Girls night out, girls night in." Parenting emerges as a leitmotif in this episode, and we see Walla Walla Momma and Son emerge from the pack to run their own race. Ricky and César and Yvo and Melissa–aka, THE GAYS–all take on a Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence-style
Ep. 44: A Meaty 3Way (Alliance) Conquers Argentina (S36, E6)
Friend of the pod Kat Spada from Feminist Frequency Radio sits in for Nicole this week, as The Amazing Race moves to Argentina for gaymazing challenges that involve recycling and meat puzzles. Can Ricky & César keep Shane and Juan, aka Brokeback Fannypack from overtaking their top position? The girls who like girls, Yvonne and Melissa, and the other girls who like wraparound sunglasses, Sunny and
Ep. 43: I Lost My Nut! (S36, E5)
Sorry for the delay in getting this episode out! Nicole recorded this mere hours before her own amazing race to a meditation retreat, and our production assistant Corky (Karen's cat) kept pausing the recording to give notes. He's very picky.
Ep. 42: Mama Rat Took Baby Rat Skiing in Medellin (S36, E4)
Ajuan Mance, an artist, illustrator and author of many books and comics series joins us on our own megaleg, as The Amazing Race continues in Colombia. A rebus puzzle nearly derails our favorite lady firefighters, Sunny and Bizzy, who at this point are showing more enthusiasm for each other than the girls who like girls who like hiking. Ricky and César continue their gay excellence, while Vinny exe
Ep. 41: Gays on Top in Colombia (S36, E3)
Ricky & César remain strong as they cruise through the first Colombian leg of The Amazing Race, which involves cooking platters of meats, salty abuelas, and squeezing coffee bean baskets between one's knees. Whither the girls who like girls, Yvonne and Melissa, who get nary an edit in this ep, as the firefighter sheroes prove why they're shaping up to be a perfect fan fic duo, babe, for this year'
Ep. 40: Trust, But Verify in the Zona Romantica (S36, E2)
Melissa, one of the girls who likes girls on The Amazing Race spawns the first lesbian catch phrase of the season. Nicole and KT take bets about whether or not she's a Virgo or a Scorpio. This season continues to SERVE gaymazingness and intrigue, as Ricky and Cesar, and Yvonne and Melissa finish in the top 5. KT shares more insider gaycation info about Puerto Vallarta, and the bustling gay distric
Ep. 39: Girls Who Like Girls Who Like the Amazing Race (S36, E1)
We are BACK, and both Karen and Nicole have a lot of annoying Puerto Vallarta expertise to share, as they marvel at this season's gaymazing cast. Which butch daddy are both hosts enamored with in between their distracted chatter about The Traitors US, UK, Australia and New Zealand? And what do they make of this season's LGBTQ+ abundance? Maya and Rohan, siblings and Amazing Race superfans from bir
Ep. 38: You've Gotta Flip the Top, Boys
It's a nailbiter of a finale for season 35 of The Amazing Race, as the top three teams scramble throughout Seattle without coffee. The "grunge" challenge leads to some challenging understanding of tops, while "glass" requires everyone learn how to blow. "Grab" becomes someone's Carrie Bradshaw moment, and we talk to all three finalists in our last mega-sized elimination station of the season.
Ep. 37: A Cold Plunge into Gaiety
The Amazing Race teams arrive in Dublin for the penultimate leg, and despite everyone having to Riverdance at the Gaiety theater, Karen and Nicole think this is among the straightest episodes yet. Corey falls in love with his pretty dance instructor, the lady Swayze to his Baby, while John from Team BLERD is lithe and light in his (heeled) dancing shoes. Beardback Mountain duke it out with Steve
Ep. 36: Midsommar Daydreams and Lesbian Recycling
Things get tense as the final 5 teams on The Amazing Race winnow down to 4 in Sweden's Stockholm archipelago. Everyone skydives their way to Nordic bliss before the slimmest of margins separate all the teams. This week's detour is decidedly a choice between a lesbian task–recycling–and a gay task: expediting a gourmet French menu. Nicole makes a case for reimagining team Beardback Mountain as "pan
Ep. 35: Gorgeous Caves and Sacks of Shellfish
After a long prelude in which Nicole and Karen discuss the new Todd Haynes film, May December, with some notes on which Amazing Race contestants they would cast in the lead roles, they get into how painfully straight the show has become. Slovenia feels very "Covid lockdown" season to our team, despite all the hype. Karen talks a little too much about caves, and Nicole thinks the greeters at the en
Ep. 34: Fisting Hay and Pansexual Beekepers
The Amazing Race visits Llubjana, Slovenia for the first time ever in its history, and Karen tells us about how Llubjana became a gaycation destination in the late aughts and early-2010s. Nicole softens to Steve, the daddy of team Daddy/Daughter dance, especially after Anna Leigh makes him run up a long ski lift for an express pass that was already claimed. Despite the gayness of Llubjana, we were
Ep. 33: "Yes! I wanted sausage so bad!" in Köln
The Amazing Racers take a 15 hour flight from Jaipur to Frankfurt where the season's first self-driving leg awaits them. As they make their way along the Rhine, we find out who can't find the right ferry. Are all the teams secretly laughing at the German word "Fährt"? Karen declares she would "slay in Köln," one of her favorite cities in the world, and a place she knows well. Nicole feels like the
Ep. 32: A U-Turn in India
Ep. 31: "We've got the man done."
Ep. 30: Guyliner, Tears and Octopusses with Kat Spada
Kat Spada of Feminist Frequency Radio guest-hosts as Nicole takes the week off for a silent meditation retreat (gaymazing!). Kat comes in hot with new team nicknames like "ZZ and/or Top" (referring of course to team Beardback Mountain), as we give a thorough account of the mega part of the teams' second leg through Vietnam. The matching challenge at the Hung King Temple broke our hearts, especiall
Ep. 29: Side-eye Pups, Smokin' Hot Vinyl and the Queens of Rice
Nicole and Karen 's powers of projection are more powerful than ever as they comb through the details of TAR's leg 3 in Vietnam for the subtlest of queer content. How are our fanfic Gaymazing teams (the tatted-up GenX moms, and "Beardback Mountain") faring against the ACTUAL gays competing this season, Joe and Ian? How hot does it get in the vinyl challenge? And who can roll the rice right to slid
Ep. 27 + 28: Welcome to A Gaymazing Mega-Leg
Nicole and Karen are back to give you all their spicy, gaymazing commentary on not one, but the first TWO episodes of season 35 of The Amazing Race. What teams have each of them cathected onto for their gay fan-fiction? Who are their favorites otherwise? Is this season's gay team evil enough? Plus interviews with the eliminated contestants.
Ep. 26: "Shortest, Oldest, Most Femalest," vs. The Most Bisexualest Winner of The Amazing Race
It's the Amazing Race Season 34 finale, and Nicole and Karen not only interview the top 3 teams, but they also bring back Aastha and Nina, the lesbian team woefully eliminated at the very start of the race, for a S34 post-mortem. Will Derek and Claire have it out with our hosts for not only erasing Claire's bisexuality, but also rooting against them most of the time? What will Emily and Molly reve
Ep. 25 - David with the Good Hair and Lesbian Carabiners in Iceland
There's a schism in this week's gay scores doled out by Karen and Nicole, as Karen thinks "all of Iceland is lesbionic," while Nicole is a little more skeptical as we confront three out of four "straight-facing couples" in the final four. David with the Good Hair touches us with his bravery as he confronts his difficulties swimming this week. We digress into educational riffs about spectrums of ra
Ep. 24: Bend Over for Castanets
Despite the prevailing heterosexuality (and one lone bisexual) amongst our remaining contestants, episode 10 of The Amazing Race offers the most gaymazing detours yet, from dressing a flamenco dancer, to a challenge dubbed "Bend Over Backwards," testing how much a brick arch can, in Phil's words, "take a load." Marcus of Michael and Marcus joins us in our elimination station to break down exactly
Ep. 23: Bisexual Veganism in Malaga
The Amazing Race serves up another Mega Leg, so we have no elimination station this week: just teams racing around Malaga, Spain recreating art, riding bicycles, and pumping up paddleboards. We get into some of the racers' squeamishness while undertaking a sardine-grilling challenge, and Nicole makes her case for why our hypothetical team might want to choose the other side of the detour. Karen se
Ep. 22: The Lorde Gayeth, and the Lorde Taketh Away
The Amazing Race teams head due south from Domme to Toulouse, and Karen and Nicole are tantalized by the Road Block which involves running drills with an entire French women's rugby team. BUT FIRST, our hosts atone for their bisexual erasure of one of the remaining contestants. Even amidst this gay plentitude, deprivation looms on the horizon as our last officially GAYmazing team, the co-ed cheerl
Ep. 21: Women w/ Tractors & Border Collies in the South of France
Nicole and Karen get into a discussion about reclaiming pejoratives like "dyke" and "queer" while recapping The Amazing Race's return to Europe and the Dordogne region in the South of France. Is the lady-Knight at the genealogy challenge actually Nicole's "lesbian" doctor in L.A.? Are the short-haired women who used their tractor to rescue the team who drove into the ditch family? Plus, we welcome
Ep. 20: Flirt Dances and Quarantine w/ Will and Abby (S34, E6)
The Amazing Race manages another first during its visit to the Kingdom of Jordan: the first team ever to be eliminated for testing positive for Covid is cut from the race within this episode's opening minutes. Is it just us, or are we starting to see Quentin and Mattie (our official Gaymazing team) beginning to make strides in the competition, including limber stretches to grab tinfulls of nails?
Ep. 19: Context Clues and Queer Truths with Linton and Sharik (S34, E5)
The Amazing Race makes its first visit ever to the Kingdom of Jordan, and Karen and Nicole are excited to welcome camel caravans and cute puppies into the show's environments.. Despite some Gaymazing references to Lawrence of Arabia and the like, this episode scores low on our Gaymazing-meter until we have a chance to meet with Linton & Sharik in our Elimination Station, and hear about Sharik's qu
Ep. 18: Chiseled Bods and Charcuterie (S34, E4)
The first MEGA-LEG reaches its conclusion this week in Florence, Italy, or as Quinton reminds us, "Firenze in Italian." Nicole beams in from NYC where she just accepted an Edward R. Murrow award for her other pod series Relative Fiction–HOORAY!--and Karen does her best to up episode 4's Gaymazing score with a couple of gay flourishes, and a mini-rant about exposing kids to straightness. Plus, we "
Ep. 17: The Head of The Cheese ft. Katy Davidson (S34, E3)
Leg 3 kicks off the first MEGA LEG of Season 34 - but almost certainly won't be the last. This to-be-continued episode has everything from lectures, wheels of cheese, socket wrenches, and of course, driving (or failing to drive) stick shift. Since there was no elimination station, Karen and Nicole are joined by a Gaymazing-Amazing-Race Superfan, Katy Davidson!
Ep. 16: Leather, Bells and Butt-Slaps (S34, E2)
Leg 2 S34 departs from Munich and lands in Innsbruck, Austria and its Alpine environs for some yodeling, cowbells and a leather-clad butt-slapping dancing in the square. Karen speculates whether or not she would be allowed to select her gender-affirming version of the lederhosen/dirndl attire the contestants had to wear throughout the entire leg. Nicole tells us what both incontinence and Jesus ha
Ep. 15 Sufferin' Sapphos, The Amazing Race is Back! (S34, E1)
Season 34 of The Amazing Race has returned, and so have we! Join Nicole & Karen as they recap the new season from an LGBTQ POV. How do we feel about "the scramble" replacing our old familiar road blocks, detours and route info? How much do we love the engaged lesbian couple, Aastha and Nina from L.A., and who else triggers our gaydar and queer admiration? Plus, Elimination Station returns–we'lll i
Ep. 14: Season 33 Bonus Interviews!
To wrap up the season, we're bringing you post-finale interviews with Raquel and Cayla, Dusty, and Arun and Natalia.
Ep. 13: Los Angeles, City of Champions: An Interview w the Winners of The Amazing Race S33!
In this supersized episode of TGR, Nicole and Karen recap the final two legs of the race in Lisboa and Los Angeles. Cayla and Raquel continue to inflame all the fanfic we've been weaving about them by calling each other "babe" all over Portugal and Los Angeles. Dusty talks-up Ryan's upper-body strength in a rowing challenge. Arun and Natalia demonstrate what can be accomplished without ever workin
Ep. 12: Oracles, Thespians and (Rock) Bottoms in Greece
Could leg 9 of season 33 be the gayest episode of The Amazing Race yet? Nicole and Karen have such rich Hellenistic content to explore, from all the Thespians featured throughout this leg in Thessalonaki to the Oracle of Delphi giving us endurance-oriented experimental theater vibes. Through it all, Cayla offers Raquel a back massage, Ryan won't do the same for Dusty, and at least 3 cats show up,
Ep. 11: Iconic Wrappers
In this food-centric leg 8 of The Amazing Race, we witness more kitchen hubris from the guys, ladies climbing ladderless, some dumpster diving, and add to our TGR Dogs & Cats tally. Plus, Lulu and Lala join us for an elmination station interview to talk about their touching goodbyes to Phil and give the inside scoop on some...digestive realities of the race.
Ep. 10: The Worms Jump Inside
Today Nicole is joined by noted Amazing Race superfan Poulomi Saha to discuss Amazing Race 33 Episode 7 (Gently Down the Stream) , while our faithful host and executive producer Karen Tongson recuperates from Covid. We watch the teams try Casu Marzu in Corsica, count metal fish together under the water, fake-almost-drown thanks to editing, and MORE. Tune in! Poulomi Saha (@poulomiqsaha) is an
Ep. 9: Strapping it On in Corsica
Leg 6 of The Amazing Race is not for the lactose intolerant, as our contestants take cheesin' to a whole other level. We get a clear picture of which teams know how to manipulate strips of leather and metal loops round an ass to properly strap on giant metal milk containers. Is sisterhood powerful? Or is it all lip service between the all girl teams whose actions don't always match their feminist
Ep. 8: Sausages and Chestnuts - We DO give a Dam
Nicole and Karen experience actual physical distress when they see this week's Amazing Race Road Block: the second highest bungee jump in the world. Would our resident vegan Nicole be able to stomach the sausage-making challenge that Karen thought was a "no-brainer" choice at the Detour? And which of the teams visits our elimination station?!? Plus, find out more about the three teams who couldn't
Ep. 7: Ready, Reset, Go: Alpine Highjinks, Hand Me My Leather
Nicole and Karen rejoin the race as it resumes in St. Gallen Switzerland after a 19 month suspension. The contestants confront dizzying Alpine heights, some fast-moving clouds that Sils Maria would be proud of, and a leather challenge that our hosts feel confident they could master. PLUS: Starting this week, Nicole and Karen will be welcoming TAR 33's eliminated teams for a special exit segment! T
Ep. 6: Bagpipes, Barrels and Kilts
Nicole & Karen recap S33 EP3 in Glasgow, Scotland: what they're calling the last "pre-pan" or "pre-lapserian" episode of The Amazing Race before production was halted on 2/28/2020. How do our hosts feel about the "if it ain't Scottish, it's crrrrraaap" aspects of this leg, which features contestants donning kilts, fondling bagpipes and risking tetanus to refurbish whiskey barrels? The hosts also a
Ep. 5: The World Waited…and Waited for Season 33!
Nicole and Karen reunite to recap the long-awaited 33rd season of The Amazing Race, which began filming in early 2020 before…(well, you know), and didn't resume until 18 months later. We'll introduce you to all 11 teams and who we're currently vibing with. What changes in the first two episodes of S33 (filmed in London), already seemed Covid-aware? Or were they merely refreshing the format? Plus,
Ep. 4: The Amazing Race Fantasy League w/ Poulomi Saha & Greta LaFleur
On the heels of our last episode which touched upon the lack of lesbian representation on The Amazing Race, Nicole and Karen take matters into their own hands to form a lesbian TAR fantasy league. We invite authors, scholars, and queer BFFs Poulomi Saha & Greta LaFleur to talk about what would make them a great Amazing Race team. We hear about how Poulomi groomed an unwitting Greta to be a TAR tea
Ep. 3: Catching up with Married Ministers, Kate & Pat
Karen and Nicole spend some quality time with the first ever lesbian couple and team to compete on The Amazing Race, the "married ministers," Kate and Pat. Though their run on the race lasted only a couple of legs, they also had some spirited drama on the web series Elimination Station. Which of the two earned a lifetime supply of Hooters?! You'll also find out which of them was fired from their
Ep. 2: Flights of Fabulousness w/ Oswald Mendez
One of the most lovable and legendary LGBTQ competitors ever to have graced the Amazing Race mat, Oswald Mendez of "Team Cha Cha Cha" (Oswald & Danny, S2/S11) join Karen and Nicole for a scintillating chat about all things gaymazing. Find out about how watching Pedro Zamora influenced Oswald's sense of self before his own entry into reality TV as a gay Cuban. On which leg did Oswald & Danny take a
Ep. 1: Beyond Gay Villainy with Team Guido
Nicole and Karen welcome Bill Bartek and Joe Baldassare, aka "Team Guido," the very first gay team to compete on Season 1 of The Amazing Race, and the first gay couple to appear as series regulars on network reality TV. In a revealing and candid interview, Bill and Joe help Karen and Nicole break down the recurring trope of "the gay villain"--a reality competition stereotype they were shoehorned i
The Gaymazing Race - Pilot
Authors, professors, and professional queers, Nicole J. Georges and Karen Tongson introduce you to their new limited podcast series on The Amazing Race from an LGBTQ point-of-view. What makes the race so "gaymazing" beyond some of the storied LGBTQ teams who have competed, and in some instances even won, the race? How does TAR touch upon a queer aptitude for travel, adventure, cracking codes, and
