‘King of Dirt’ with special guest Holden Sheppard + ‘I’m Your Venus’ encore

‘King of Dirt’ with special guest Holden Sheppard + ‘I’m Your Venus’ encore

Author: JOY 94.9 - LGBTI, LGBTIQA+, LGBTQIA+, LGBT, LGBTQ, LGB, Gay, Lesbian, Trans, Intersex, Queer Podcasts for all our Rainbow Communities June 24, 2025 Duration: 55:15

As you know, Out Takes is the home of queer cinema and television on JOY 94.9 but for this show, we dived into the world of gay literary fiction to spotlight an Aussie author who is doing great things on the page that has also been making waves on our screens. When we heard Holden Sheppard had a new book out and was available for interviews, we jumped at the chance to speak with him. From the author of ‘Invisible Boys’, now a hit original series on Stan that we reviewed earlier this year and loved, comes a new novel; ‘King of Dirt’, Holden’s first novel for adults. Described as a gritty and heartfelt gay coming-of-age story set in the world of FIFO workers and tradies in Western Australia, the story follows Jack who by all accounts, including his own, is a mess. He works piecemeal construction gigs in remote WA, drinks himself to oblivion and is estranged from his family and friends. He’s consumed by a self-loathing all too common for closeted men who have grown up in a world of hate and shame. But then Jack returns to his regional hometown of Geraldton for a family wedding. He hasn’t been back since he fled at the age of eighteen, and his past soon catches up with him… It was a delight to speak with Holden Sheppard about his latest book and we hope you think so too.

We also celebrated the arrival of ‘I’m Your Venus’ on Netflix with an encore presentation of our fantastic interview from February with the film’s director Kimberly Reed, and two of the producers, Jonovia Chase and Dominique Jackson a.k.a Elektra Abundance Evangelista from Pose.

The post ‘King of Dirt’ with special guest Holden Sheppard + ‘I’m Your Venus’ encore appeared first on Out Takes.


Dive into the rich and ever-evolving world of queer cinema with Out Takes. This isn't just a series of reviews; it's a thoughtful exploration of how LGBTQIA+ stories on screen intersect with the wider world. Each episode places films and television within a broader cultural, political, and cinematic context, asking what these narratives say about us and the society we live in. You'll hear insightful interviews with creators, critics, and community voices, offering perspectives that go far beyond a simple plot summary. Presented by JOY 94.9, this podcast is a vital resource for anyone interested in the depth and diversity of rainbow storytelling. Whether discussing a groundbreaking new release or re-examining a classic through a contemporary lens, the conversations are always engaging and substantive. Tune in for a deeper appreciation of how queer film both reflects and shapes our collective experience. Find Out Takes for a regular dose of analysis and celebration dedicated to all our communities.
Author: Language: en-us Episodes: 100

Out Takes
Podcast Episodes
‘My Melbourne’ and the 2025 Melbourne Women in Film Festival [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

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It’s no secret that we love highlighting local film festivals and the talent behind it and for this Out Takes we were delighted to welcome back Artistic Director Spiro Economopoulos to tell us about the 2025 Europa Europ…
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Duration: 13:13
The latest release from award winning Irish film and theatre director John Crowley is called ‘We Live in Time’, starring Florence Pugh and Andrew Garfield, which is in cinemas now. These two incredible actors are brought…
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Midsumma Festival is back in 2025 with an explosion of queer events that centre around hidden and mainstream queer culture, involving local, interstate, and international artists including a fantastic range of film event…