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For all the unhappy stories we year about LGBT youth today, for many their experience is one filled with excitement and wonder as the world has never been so accepting.
Today we’re joined by our summer intern Ryan Burdick who started downloading the podcasts when he was in high school. With his parents permission, of course.
Fausto Fernós is the host of iTunes’ #1 LGBT talk show, the Feast of Fun podcast, which he produces and hosts with his partner, Marc Felion.
Born in San Juan, Puerto Rico, Fausto Fernós created the Feast of Fools in 1998 as wacky artists variety show in Chicago, Illinois. Feast of Fun grew out of an audio blog to promote the live show into the world’s most downloaded talk show aimed for gay people.
When he’s not blogging, recording or sleeping, Fausto can be found at the gym or appreciating the beauty found in nature.
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Comments
I listened to this podcast first thing in the morning and had to leave a quick comment before my workout. Besides my age, growing up with FOF was also something I share in common with Ryan (although at the time i listened because i thought it was a porn podcast:)) Loneliness is one big problem for me though i am living in SF area. I wish i have a gay friend to discover the gay experience with since even though i am living in this supposedly gay concentrated neighborhood of America, all the hot guys I have seen seems straight.
Anyway, enough with my whining, thank you Ryan for sharing your story. It is wonderful to have somebody of the same age on the podcast for me to relate or compare my experience.
Glad that we’re relatable and that you enjoyed the show, Andy. If you want a Michigan friend, find me under Fausto or Marc’s friends on Facebook. =v)
I sure do a Michigan friend. Thank you for the offer:))
It’s strange to think about, but you guys definitely made me into the man I am today. I remember searching iTunes for something gay and you popped up. From that day forward, I became more and more accepting of myself and the culture that I was being ushered into by two fabulous men. So I supposed this would be an appropriate time to say, Thank you.
Oh, and to Ryan. I totally have that same shirt from MBLGTACC! Maybe I’ll see you next year!
I’ve only been listening for about a year but love your range of guests and regulars (any word on when Melissa Young will be back on?). Fausto, sending best wishes to your mom. And Mark, will we be seeing a new “friend” of Dafne DuMont’s in a video? I hear she looks a lot like Ryan.
This is one of your best guests ever! Ryan is wise, insightful, honest, and full of energy. I really enjoyed listening to his story.
Fausto and Mark, I always enjoy your podcast. Thanks for making the world a better place.
Fausto- I’m sorry I haven’t gotten a chance to respond to the new about your mom earlier. My thoughts are with you, your family, and her. My aunt had breast cancer that spread to her colon and she still beat it. I’m sure your mom can too.
Ryan- Hope you enjoy your time in Chicago!
Thanks Barrett. It’s nice to be with my mom during these hard times, but I’m confident she will get through this. F*ck Cancer!
I enjoyed the show with Ryan a lot. It was nice to hear from someone who listens to the show already long time and grew up with it. It shows again what a fantastic community Feast of Fun has to offer with cute, intelligent guys like Ryan.
Wish you have a wonderful time and internship in Chicago, Ryan. Wasn’t there a rule that all interns have to be forced feminized at least once?
I can’t understand why the Chicago LGBT community does not really want to support you. If you work together everyone can benefit. Those bloody gay bar owners, unfortunately many of them are selfish idiots. But I think with the support of the FOF community you can do it and can find new advertisers.
Thanks for reading the story about the probably last survivor of the Nazi terror. I think it is important to remember what happened, particular now as the right-wing in the US and certain European countries is on the rise.
Cher’s twitter is AMAZING!! I’m shocked that I just find out about it!
Do you believe in life after Twitter?
I enjoyed the show greatly even if you didn’t answer my question about Marc and Fausto- though Marc did say that his penis tasted like Fausto’s shit so I guess that’s kind of an answer. Very insightful! And I’d love to come to Michigan to do a show with Feast Of Fun sometime. Don’t dream, just bring it… XOXO
I believe this will happen soon enough. Wisconsin anyone?
I meant to reference the Rocky Horror Picture Show song “Don’t dream it, just be it” by saying “Don’t dream it, just bring it” but blew it by leaving out the first “it”. I annoy myself! But bring us to your school anyhow. It’ll be a blast. And those feast of FOOLS can pretend they look better than me or whatever, coupla sweathogs in wigs aren’t gonna fool nobody.
Let them judge for themselves-
HOT!
You mean Saltine and Daphne are hot right? RIGHT?
Yes, of course! (…don’t hurt me…)
Hey I just to say that you inspired me Ryan. Yeah I know that sounds cheesy but it’s true, I just turned 18 this May and it was only a few weeks before that when I realized I’m gay. I’ve only come out to 3 of my best friends and this is the first time I’ve ever posted this fact online. I don’t actually know any other gay men or women personally so I kinda feel lost right now, the fact that I have next to no knowledge on sexual matters same-sex or straight makes me feel even more awkward and nervous about discussing my sexuality with others. If you have any suggestions about how to get connected to an online community were members might be able to give me some support I would be incredibly grateful, thanks.
P.S. My sister and brother-in-law live in Ypsilanti and I have some cousins who live in Westland, I was just up there in June.
Isaac,
This has been my favorite comment I’ve received (I think for anything, anywhere).
Your story is inspirational as well (in fact, a little ahead of me). Even though you realized you were gay a little later than me, you’ve found the community you’re looking for in the first 3 months.
That is incredible.
And not knowing sexual matters on any level isn’t something you should be embarrassed about (on the show Marc & I just posted he calls me out for being a virgin).
How are you supposed to learn without asking questions or hearing about other people’s sexual experiences?
My advice to you is to listen to feast of fun (they do a really good job connecting you to the greater gay community), interact on the site with bloggers that you like reading & try and find other gay people in your community.
Marc also says to check out http://www.thetrevorproject.org/, since “those bitches are paid to listen to you.”
And I hope that you can consider me one of the first gay friends. =v)
Find me on Facebook under Marc and Fausto’s Friends ((Ryan Burdick) post a reply if you can’t) or on Twitter (www.twitter.com/Ryan_Burdick).
And next time you’re in the Ann Arbor/Ypsi area, let’s meet up! I want to meet you and give you a big hug.
Hope to hear more from you soon.
Hey, sorry for just now responding. I am really excited to be able to call you my first gay friend it means a lot to me. I’d kinda like to mention a few of things here (sorry if I’m taking up your time here, I’ll try to keep this short). I think it’s great that your family is so cool about your being gay, it sounds like they get that some people are gay and some are straight and it doesn’t make any sense to make one into a bigger deal then the other (at least that’s how I’ve come look at sexuality). Most of my family members have made pretty clear their views on homosexuality, even though none of them know that I’m gay. For example both of my parents have stated at least once that being gay is unnatural and that the parents of kids who say they are gay should do whatever they can to “help” their children abandon that identity. Of my family the only ones I think would be supportive are my sister and brother-in-law. Like you I regularly attend church and I have don’t see why someone can’t be both a Christian and gay. I think you are right about not being embarrassed about being a virgin, I used to be embarrassed about having never been kissed or that I’ve never been on a date, and I thought that I was supposed to know more about sex than a general understanding of how it works,( I just found out what a blowjob is last year and I still blush whenever anyone says the word) but I’ve finally got to where I now just look foreword to my first kiss or first date. If it’s okay I would love to meet you next time I’m up in Michigan, that would so awesome. Sorry this is so long I’ll finish up here, could you tell me what options there are in how to donate thanks.
Thanks so much for responding, it’s great to be able to talk about this stuff, I hope you keep well and tell mister Fernos that I’ll be praying for his Mom.
Ryan is inspiring to me too! I wish I was as together as he was when I was his age. Ryan is simply a joy to be around and his laughter is music.
Issac- have you tried calling Trevor Project? How was the experience like?
I was just kidding about “those bitches are paid to listen to you.” I believe the phone operators are all volunteer. But seriously, they are not just a suicide hotline-they know all the places in your area that are resources you can rely on.
So give them a call 866 488 7386
I’m sure others here can also offer advice.