Episode 19

Paul Bartel, Part 1: 'He Should Be Standing with His Nose in a Lily'

Published on: 2nd July, 2024

Paul Bartel was one of the most celebrated cult movie directors and most recognizable character actors of all-time. For two and a half decades, he was the go-to choice for nebbish and pompous supporting players. Most would be surprised to learn of the giddy peaks and harrowing valleys that helped shape his trademark dark humor.

In the first half of this two-parter, we explore how those circumstances informed his personality and later work. We also talk about the first half of his career, including his work on films like Death Race 2000 and Eating Raoul.

In part two, we'll be joined by hilarious and insightful actress Susan Saiger, a friend of Bartel who worked with him on a number of projects over the last 20 years of his life.

Kickass Queers shares the incredible life stories of amazing lesbian, gay, transgender, gender-nonconforming and otherwise queer people.

Learn More & Support the Cast

Paul Bartel: The Life and Times, by Stephen B. Armstrong https://amzn.to/45Qcktp

Death Race 2000 https://amzn.to/4cN29Im

Eating Raoul (with Secret Cinema and Naughty Nurse) https://amzn.to/3VQ96RL

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About the Podcast

Kickass Queers
An LGBTQ+ history podcast.
Kickass Queers explores the lives and achievements of notable LGBTQ+ individuals throughout history. The show delves into the fascinating and often underrepresented stories of queer trailblazers, offering a mix of humor, emotion, and insightful commentary on their contributions to society.

Each episode focuses on a different figure or topic.

Co-host Larry Womack is a journalist with a diverse publication history, and Rachel Stuart is a Communication Studies academic focusing on Critical Intercultural Communication and LGBTQ+ identities online. Together, they bring both academic insight and engaging storytelling to the podcast​.
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About your hosts

Larry Womack

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Larry Womack is a writer and journalist whose work has appeared in publications as diverse as The Independent (UK), Yahoo! News (US), Aftenposten Innsikt (Norway), and others. According to The Washington Post, he wrote the most-engaged news story on Facebook of the 2016 election cycle. His credits as editor includes a tenure at HuffPost, among others.

Rachel Stuart

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Rachel Stuart is a Communication Studies faculty member in the Seattle area. Her area of focus in Communication centers on Critical Intercultural Communication and New Communication Technologies. Her research has examined how members of the LGBTQIAAP+ community use the Internet and social media to negotiate identity, create community, and build social support.