Exploring art, identity and sexuality with the hosts of Chosen Family

This week we're sharing one of our favourite episodes from June 2020.

The definition of "family" can go way beyond who you're related to. For many folks in the LGBT community, building a chosen family comes after facing rejection from biological family members. Chosen families can be made up of many people — friends, non-immediate family members, partners, neighbours or communities. For Tranna Wintour and Thomas Leblanc, the hosts of CBC Podcasts' Chosen Family, their podcast is an extension of that relationship.

The cosmically-destined BFFs joined us from their respective homes in Montreal to talk about their love for divas, history, pop culture — and of course, to share their favourite podcasts. You can find their picks below.

 — Kelsey Cueva, associate producer, Podcast Playlist

Podcasts featured this week:

Chosen Family: In this episode of Chosen Family, hosts Wintour and Leblanc recap the Celine Dion concert they attended together. They look at the singer's renaissance, the generational divide among her fans and... her hair.

Miss Thing (Wintour's Pick): "Find out everything you oughta know about the titular Miss Thing in this first of two deep dives into Alanis Morissette! In this episode, we're covering Alanis's origins as a Canadian pop princess and her evolution into the pop grunge queen of the '90s. What makes Jagged Little Pill so special? How does Supposed Former Infatuation Junkie hold up 20 years on? And is Alanis responsible for Grindr? We're answering these questions and more as we lift the hood on Morissette's first and most influential decade in music."

Making Gay History (Leblanc's Pick): "Stonewall had a rich, complex, fraught, compelling, exciting, and inspirational backstory. And that's the story we cover in this first of four episodes marking the 50th anniversary of the Stonewall uprising."

1619 (Leblanc's Pick): "Black Americans were denied access to doctors and hospitals for decades. From the shadows of this exclusion, they pushed to create the nation's first federal health-care programs."

Origins (Wintour's Pick): "Join award-winning journalist and best-selling author James Andrew Miller as he uncovers bold beginnings of success stories in the worlds of television, movies, sports, music, and business." In this episode, Miller explores the story of why the third Sex and The City movie was never made.

Leblanc and Wintour had so many great picks, we couldn't fit them all into the episode. Here are the rest of their faves:

Race Chaser (Leblanc's Pick): "RuPaul's Drag Race superstars Alaska (winner, All Stars Season 2) and Willam (Season 4, Drag U) bring us an insider's look at the world of drag and the worldwide phenomenon that is RuPaul's Drag Race. Part dissection of every episode of Drag Race and part discussion about everything happening behind the curtain in today's drag scene."

Werque (Wintour's Pick): "Co-hosted by Luis Camacho (Xtravaganza) and Kim Blackwell, Werque is a bi-weekly podcast inspired by Luis's Werque Vogue Workshop that expands on the kiki's and creative expression to bring you candid conversations and inspiring stories that will have you saying, "WERQUE!" " The episode Wintour recommends features the legendary Niki Haris.

Which podcasts are on your recommendation list? Email, tweet us @PodcastPlaylist, or find us on Facebook.

For more great podcasts, check out CBC's podcast portal, subscribe in Apple Podcasts.