For years I’ve been kicking around the idea of a podcast. Seriously. For Years. Like, for so long that when I was gifted a microphone for Christmas in 2025, Mal paired it with the NPR’s Podcast Start Up Guide she gifted me in 2019. She just plucked the book off our household bookshelf and added it to the gift.
So now, finally, the podcast is starting.
But first. More dates.
In November 2025, Mal and I went to Denver, Colorado for the 50th Anniversary Tour for DEVO. (SIDE NOTE: “Girl You Want” is a transformational tune for me, maybe even a root. Maybe. But I’m just now thinking about it, so let’s let that simmer. )
On with our tale.
Michael and I met in 2006 at Watermark Books & Cafe, where we both worked at the time; me parttime after my fulltime job as a teacher, Michael as a fulltime job while he finished up his university degree. And we hit it off. We listened to each other’s stories. We finished each others’ sentences. We laughed a lot. And then Michael started teaching next door to me, our classrooms connected by a small office – a place we called Narnia.
Years passed. Michael moved away. We *kind of* kept in touch, but not closely. More like we were only casual acquaintences.
Until November 2025. And that’s when I tell Michael about Your Roots are Showing. And his first question is “When do we start recording?”
The name comes from a line in a terribly problematic movie, Shag. The antagonist hollers the phrase “Your roots are showing!” at Melana as an insult. And that line always stuck with me. Always. I said it all the time.
And in 2006 I saw the movie But I’m a Cheerleader on one of my first dates with Mallory (of course she helped expand my queer touchstones). And that whole scene of them talking about their roots. This one.
And the two ideas – the line and the scene – clicked as something that needed to be heard. Ultimately, the podcast I brained through for years but never really told folks about.
So. Yeah. Now Michael and I are starting the podcast. We’re going slowly, and the idea is that we’ll chat with queer folks about their moments, the seedlings from which their wonderful queer selves first took root. If you want to follow along with some authentic storytelling and lots of laughs, hit the follow button for our Instagram. And in late March 2026, find our recordings wherever you get your own podcast fix.
shelly. walston. writes. 