Discover a lively new way to learn queer history , drag king Don One's Time Travelling Queers brings historians and LGBTQIA+ icons together in a witty, warm audio-visual series that makes forgotten figures feel vivid and possible. It's trending among queer audiences and worth a listen this week.

Essential Takeaways

  • Host-led format: Don One anchors each episode from a cheeky, time-travelling taxi cab, giving the show a theatrical, approachable tone.
  • Guest mix: Episodes pair performers like Tia Kofi, Rosie Jones and Dani St James with historians, so stories are personal and researched.
  • Range of subjects: From Gladys Bentley to Njinga a Mbande, the podcast covers global, gender‑blurring figures across centuries.
  • Accessible & watchable: Episodes are available as audio and video, released weekly and easy to stream on major platforms.
  • Tone: Informative but playful , expect humour, heart and a sense of celebration rather than dry lecturing.

Why this podcast feels like a conversation with a friend

The first thing that hits you is Don One’s voice: warm, theatrical and mischievous, which makes dense history feel chatty and inviting. The cab framing , literally taking guests back in time , gives the show a playful visual cue even when you’re listening, and you can almost hear the taxi’s creak as a storytelling device.

According to Podwires and the show’s pages, Don One designed the series to spotlight figures erased from mainstream narratives. That intent comes through: every episode balances archival detail with human anecdotes so listeners get both facts and feeling. If you’ve ever found textbooks cold, this is the antidote.

Guests and research: where pop culture meets scholarship

What makes Time Travelling Queers stand out is the guest pairing. Big-name performers bring emotional resonance while historians provide context and sources. It’s a smart format; the entertainment draws you in, the scholarship keeps you there.

Listen on Apple Podcasts, Podfollow or Podimo and you’ll find episodes where the research is clear but never didactic. The result is stories that teach , and inspire , which matters for younger listeners discovering queer ancestors for the first time.

Stories that surprise: from Harlem to 17th-century Africa

Episodes reach wide and unexpected corners: drag scenes in 1920s Harlem, gender-transgressive rulers in African kingdoms, and queer royals in Europe. That variety is more than novelty; it shifts the frame from “queer history as niche” to “queer people have always been part of world history.”

If you’re choosing what to listen to first, pick a subject you know nothing about. The show rewards curiosity, and hearing these figures described with affection and rigour makes their lives feel urgent today.

How to listen and what to expect episode-to-episode

Time Travelling Queers is available as audio and a filmed version, with weekly releases that suit bingeing or casual dips. Platforms include Apple Podcasts and the show’s own pages, which also list guests and sources for curious listeners.

Practical tip: watch the video episodes for the full cab theatrics and guest reactions, but the audio stands alone if you prefer commuting-friendly listening. Episodes run a comfortable length , long enough for texture, short enough not to drag.

Why this matters now , and who will love it

This podcast isn’t just nostalgia or heroic retelling; it’s an act of cultural reclamation. Don One has said the aim is to make queer figures visible to younger generations, and that aspiration comes through in every episode. For queer listeners, allies, teachers or anyone who likes history with personality, it’s a cheerful, substantive addition to the listening roster.

Expect episodes that make you laugh, well up and then want to read more. It’s educational radio with the sparkle of a West End stage.

It's a small change that can make every history lesson feel more inclusive and alive.

Source Reference Map

Story idea inspired by: [1]

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