The Feast of Fools podcast is a talk show hosted by Fausto Fernós and Marc Felion that features celebrity guests, artists, musicians, actors and members of the LGBT community. The program is a roundtable discussion of unusual news, social trends and features cocktail recipes and interviews.

The Feast of Fools podcast continually ranks as the top-rated gay and lesbian podcast on iTunes and is frequently listed in the Top 100 list of Comedy podcasts. On average, the podcast is downloaded 30,000 times per week, making it the most downloaded LGBT podcast in the United States.

Podcast

The first Feast of Fools Podcast was posted on Tuesday, February 8, 2005. It featured Fernós, Felion and former live show band leader (and recurring podcast contributor) Link Pinks. The name "Gay Fun Show" was added to the title of the podcast to help prospective listeners easily discern what the show is about when searching podcast databases. Since it began, the Feast of Fools podcast has become known as a pioneer in the podcasting media form. The show is accountable for a number of podcasting firsts, such as:

First podcast to feature an HIV-Positive person discussing living with full-blown AIDS.

First podcast to use album art.

First podcast to use show titles.

Show format

A typical Feast of Fools show is a round table discussion on unusual news stories, LGBT issues and social trends. Other shows may feature celebrity interviews (live or by phone), cocktail recipes, or “how to” sessions, such as 'How drag queens lip sync and put on makeup.' Celebrities and other notable guests are asked a series of "Breakdown" questions at the end of the show, such as "Describe yourself as a fancy shade of paint" and "What would you like to see Oprah doing in 5 years?" Since 2005, the Feast of Fools podcast has interviewed many celebrities, including Margaret Cho, Kathy Griffin, Teri Garr, George Takei, John Waters and Bruce Vilanch. Occasionally, a show will open with an original cocktail recipe, typically given a name that pays tribute to that episode's special guest. Cocktail recipes feature unique ingredients or put a new spin on classics. Examples include the "Organic Cosmopolitan" (a tarter version of the popular drink made with unsweetened cranberry juice concentrate and all natural ingredients) and the "Dancing Queen,"(an unusual and flavorful combination of pear sake and energy drink).

When not interviewing a special guest, Fernós and Felion are often joined by a rotating cast of regular guests.

Show Personalities

Fausto Fernós - Creator, Host and Producer

Marc Felion - Co-Creator, Host and Co-Producer

Marsian DeLellis - Guest

Gigi DeLuxe - Guest

JoJo Baby - Guest

Victoria LaMarr - Guest

Miss Ronnie - Guest

Steven Peterson - Website Designer and Guest

Sal-E - Guest

John Q. Sanchez - Blog Contributor and Guest

Gregg Shapiro - Guest

Amanda Steinstein - Guest

Tracy Tyler - Guest

Music

Music is an integral part of the Feast of Fools podcast, and the show regularly interviews and features the music of up-and-coming talent, mostly unsigned or signed to independent record labels. Born out of necessity due to copyright and RIAA restrictions on the use of music on podcasts, this feature of the podcast has grown into an important avenue for emerging musicians to reach a previously untapped audience. Musicians whose music is featured on the Feast of Fools podcast realize increased sales on iTunes and Amazon.com. Musicians featured on the Feast of Fools podcast include: Jim Verraros | Levi Kreis | Eric Himan | Rachael Sage | Robert German | The Wet Spots | Chris Garneau | Dangerous Muse | Gaye Adegbalola | Ferron | Hey Willpower | Leslie Hall | Mystechs | Reuben Butchart | Scott Free | Jen Porter|

Awards

In 2006, Fausto Fernós was recognized as one of nine Chicago GLBTQ community leaders for his work on the Feast of Fools podcast by the Chicago Reader.

On September 29, 2006, the show was awarded the 2006 "Best GLBT Podcast" by Podcast Awards/Podcast Connect, Inc. In November 2006, The Feast of Fools Podcast was named "Best Podcast" for 2006 by Gay Bloggies, operated by Queerclick.com. Fausto Fernós and Marc Felion were named "Queers of the Year" by Time Out Chicago in the December 28, 2006-January 3, 2007 issue for their work on the Feast of Fools podcast.

In 2007, the Feast of Fools podcast was nominated for both 2007 "Best GLBT Podcast" and the "People's Choice" overall award by Podcast Awards/Podcast Connect, Inc. On October 4, 2007, the show was awarded 2007 "Best GLBT Podcast."

History

The creator of the show, Fausto Fernós, was born and raised in San Juan, Puerto Rico. Fernós moved to Austin, Texas at age 17 to enroll in art school at the University of Texas at Austin. At the age of 18 he started the "SoftMen Show" above an alternative clothing store in Austin, Texas in the well-known music area known as Sixth Street. In 1993, Fernós created a successful cable access show entitled "El Chow De Faustina," which featured Fernós in drag interviewing artists and musicians from the local area. In 1995, the Austin Chronicle named the program as the "Best Cable Access Show" and featured Fernós on the cover of its publication along side Texas Governor Ann Richards. In 1996, his solo performance work was featured in The Cleveland Performance Art Festival, a then-world-renowned festival of experimental art and live theater.

Fernós met his partner, Marc Felion, in Chicago, Illinois in 1999, and together they developed Feast of Fools, a live theatrical variety show performed in various Chicago area venues. It featured music, dance, poetry, comedy and performance art strung together by a play that took place between acts. The name "Feast of Fools" was chosen by Fernós to pay tribute to Harry Hay, a gay activist from the 1970s, who felt gays should "embrace a certain frivolity." Hay envisioned a future where people felt free to express themselves fully and honestly, and therefore “act foolish.” In September 2000, Fernós, identifiable around Chicago by his distinctive blue hair, gained notoriety as a 'fire-eating drag princess' and performed as part of the Radical Faeries of Chicago at Chicago's HotHouse. By April 2001, Fernós and Felion expanded their show at the HotHouse to be a "nighttime cabaret about daytime television."

By 2005, Fernós - whose friend, video artist Kerthy Fix described as "a celebrity waiting for the technology to catch up with [him]" - and Felion aspired to take the show a step further by creating a cable access show; but at the same time, podcasting burst onto the scene with the promise of video podcasting in the near future. Taking a chance on the up-and-coming technology, they decided to embrace the new medium.