In this episode, we reflect on the fear, grief, confusion, and overwhelming sense of unity that followed 9/11. We talk about how much America has changed over the past 25 years—and the difficult reality that some things have remained exactly the same.

We also honor the queer heroes who stepped forward that day and in the weeks that followed—people whose courage is part of the American story, even when their identities have been overlooked. Their stories remind us that bravery has no political party, patriotism has no sexual orientation, and pride in our country does not belong exclusively to the right.

This is a conversation about memory, loss, courage, division, and what it truly means to be an American. Twenty-five years later, we remember where we were, honor every hero, and ask ourselves: Have we become the country we promised one another we would be?

This week on Sweet Tea & Side Eye, Josh and Dustin are talking about what it means to be told—or simply made to feel—that you’re “too much.” Too loud. Too opinionated. Too dramatic. Too colorful. Too queer. Just… too much.

For a lot of queer people, there can be an unspoken pressure to make ourselves a little smaller, a little quieter, and a little easier for everyone else to digest. But at what point do we stop adjusting ourselves to make other people comfortable?

We’re digging into our own experiences, the times we’ve questioned whether we needed to tone ourselves down, and what we’ve learned about taking up space without apologizing for it. Because maybe being “too much” was never actually the problem. Maybe we were just in rooms that expected less of us.

Of course, it wouldn’t be Sweet Tea & Side Eye without plenty of laughs, questionable opinions, a little Sweet Tea, and some well-deserved Side Eye.

So pour yourself a glass and join us as we ask the question: Too much for who?

Are we getting so caught up in the differences between us that we’re losing the bigger picture? As Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. reminded us, “Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.” We talk about why standing alongside our queer, trans, nonbinary, bisexual, lesbian, and gay siblings matters—and why none of us should assume that someone else’s fight has nothing to do with us.

We also take time to remember Dolly Parton and reflect on the love, acceptance, and kindness she showed throughout her life, including the impact she had on generations of LGBTQ+ people.

It’s a conversation about identity, community, grief, and remembering that even when we don’t agree on everything, we’re stronger when we stand together.

We’re joined by the incredibly talented Lauren-Michael Sellers as she shares her love of music, how she got her start on The Voice, and how songwriting has helped her tell the stories that are sometimes too painful to say out loud.

Together, we have an honest conversation about losing our moms, the trauma those relationships can leave behind, and the complicated reality of grief. Because even after our mothers are gone, our relationships with them continue to change. We’re still unpacking the hurt, holding on to the love, and learning how to live with everything left unsaid.

It’s raw, vulnerable, healing—and filled with beautiful music. Grab your sweet tea and join us for The Dead Moms Club.

#SweetTeaAndSideEye #DeadMomsClub #LaurenMichaelSellers #TheVoice #GriefAndHealing

We’re getting real about the roles we each play in our relationships, how we divide the responsibilities of everyday life, and how those roles have changed over the years. Because a strong relationship doesn’t just happen. It takes communication, compromise, laughter, a little patience, and sometimes knowing when to just do the damn dishes.

From the things we absolutely love about our husbands to the things that drive us completely insane, we’re talking about the work behind the happily ever after—and why, at the end of the day, we’d still choose them all over again.

Grab your sweet tea, bring your side eye, and join us for a conversation about love, labor, and life with the husbands we call home. ????????

We’re diving into why making—and keeping—adult friendships can feel so difficult, especially in the queer community, and why chosen family means so much to us. We share our own experiences, the lessons we’ve learned, and what we’re still trying to figure out.

So grab a glass of sweet tea, hop on the boat, and join us for a conversation about friendship, community, politics, and a little bit of foolishness. Because life is always better when you’ve got good people beside you—and just enough side eye to keep things interesting.

There’ll be stories, laughs, a little chaos, plenty of side eye, and of course… we’re spilling the tea all the way down to the very last drop.

Welcome to Sweet Tea & Side Eye—where the tea is sweet, but the side eye is strong. ????☕