Surface Level

Trans Day of Visibility

31 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Damon and Tony are curious — if so many people say they support trans rights, why does it still feel like trans people are under attack? In honor o...

Beyond The Surface Level 11

03 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Damon, Jordan, and Tony are curious – are you ready to go beyond the surface level?  We’re winding down our 11th (!!) season with the classic tr...

Black Famous

26 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Damon, Jordan and Tony are curious – Is being mainstream famous better than being Black famous?  In today’s social media era many are in pursuit...

The Gay Cousin

19 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Damon, Jordan and Tony are curious – How much can you respect your family members who don’t respect your queerness?  Being Black & Queer in a pl...

Blue Eye’d Soul

12 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Damon, Jordan and Tony are curious – Can white gay men ever truly belong in Black queer spaces? Now this one’s gonna have the girls fired up! We’...

Black Joy vs Black Resistance

05 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Damon, Jordan and Tony are curious – Is prioritizing Black joy really an act of defiance? “Joy as Resistance” is a nice catchphrase that’s ...

Sex, Secrecy, and Survival

29 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Damon, Jordan and Tony are curious – Does hiding sex make us safer or is it more dangerous? Many people hide sexual encounters in order to control ...

Too Black, Too Queer, Too Much

22 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Damon, Jordan and Tony are curious – Can you be too loud and proud? We’ve all either had those moments or seen those moments where we or someone ...

Say Less | Why does everyone online have a "Blaccent"?

15 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Damon, Jordan and Tony are curious – Who’s to blame for the mainstreaming of Black language? We’ve all seen the ways that Black slang and espec...

I'm Back On The Apps

04 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Damon, Jordan, and Tony are curious – what's your experience been on the apps? We are excited to welcome our friences Greg, Tylan & Hector to our Su...

Hiding In Plain Sight

05 Mar 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Damon, Jordan, and Tony are curious – where’s the line between secrecy and privacy? This National Black HIV/AIDS Day, we had the privilege of host...

The Age of Pleasure

26 Feb 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Damon, Jordan, and Tony are curious – is Queer pleasure a privilege? This National Black HIV/AIDS Day, we had the privilege of hosting Harlem Stage ...

Beyond The Surface Level 10

20 Feb 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Damon, Jordan, and Tony are curious – are you ready to go beyond the surface level? We end our growth journey and 10th season with a tradition we ho...

Gurl, Bring Back Gatekeeping

14 Feb 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Damon, Jordan, and Tony are curious – has access to the internet reduced the quality of art? In Season 1, we explored the desire for people to use t...

Gurl, Release Your Wiggle

05 Feb 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Damon, Jordan, and Tony are curious – can freedom and the need for validation coexist? In Season 1, we explored authenticity and living in our trut...

Gurl, Stay Woke

29 Jan 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Damon, Jordan, and Tony are curious – how do we balance resistance and protecting our peace? In Season 1, we explored the sacrifices needed to make...

Gurl, You Good?

22 Jan 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Damon, Jordan, and Tony are curious – how does loneliness effect Black Queer identity? In Season 1, we explored the disconnect we sometimes feel to...

Gurl, We're Just Friends

15 Jan 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Damon, Jordan, and Tony are curious – can failed romance become friendship? In Season 1, we explored how we navigate platonic friendships. Today, w...

Gurl, Who Raised You?

08 Jan 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Damon, Jordan, and Tony are curious – who has shaped our Queer identities? In season one, we explored our relationships with our fathers. Today, we...

Gurl, You Tried It

01 Jan 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Damon, Jordan & Tony are curious – when is criticism friend or foe? In season one, we discussed the environment of cancel culture. Today, we go fur...

Gurl, Who Gone Be The Boy

25 Dec 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Damon, Jordan & Tony are curious – where do we stand on toxic masculinity? In season one, we discussed the obsession with masculinity in the queer ...

Gurl, Are Yall Open?

18 Dec 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Damon, Jordan & Tony are curious – how varied are our views on non-monogamy? We are excited to welcome you to Season 10 of Surface Level: Gurl, Gro...

The Personal Is Political Pt. 3

16 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Damon is curious – how do anti-LGBTQ+ laws impact the Black Queer community, and what’s being done to fight back? In this final episode of our 3-...

The Personal Is Political Pt. 2

09 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Jordan is curious – how is politics shaping the daily lives of young Queer Americans? In this episode, we continue our 3-part mini-series with a fo...

The Personal Is Political Pt. 1

02 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Tony is curious – how will this election effect Queer healthcare? We welcome you to part one of our three-part miniseries, “The Personal Is Polit...

The Deliverance

04 Sep 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Jordan, Damon, & Tony are curious – when will folx learn to trust Black women? This week, we're thrilled to welcome director, producer, and screenw...

Beyond The Surface Level 9

21 Aug 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Jordan, Damon, & Tony are curious – are you ready to go beyond the surface level with us? With this episode, we close another chapter in the journe...

Pornhub

14 Aug 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Jordan, Damon, & Tony are curious – what role does porn play in our understanding of sex? We round out Throb, our season on sex, with an exploratio...

Sorry, We're Not Sexually Compatible

07 Aug 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Jordan, Damon, & Tony are curious – how important is sexual compatibility? This week, we explore the value placed on sexual compatibility when cons...

Bedroom Playlist

31 Jul 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Jordan, Damon, & Tony are curious – are we ready for Queer men to sing about sex? This week, we're thrilled to welcome music artist serpentwithfeet...

HIV Is Not A Crime

24 Jul 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Jordan, Damon, & Tony are curious – do HIV criminalization laws increase stigma? This week, we are excited to welcome Robert Suttle, a social justi...

Sexual Media Pt. 2

17 Jul 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Jordan, Damon, & Tony are curious – are you sexual on social media? We're thrilled to announce a two-part crossover episode with special guests, Bu...

Sexual Media Pt. 1

17 Jul 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Jordan, Damon, & Tony are curious – are hookup apps in their flop era? We're excited to announce a two-part crossover episode featuring special gue...

Are You Clean?

10 Jul 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Jordan, Damon, & Tony are curious – what language should we use to discuss STIs? Part of maintaining a healthy sex life involves regular screenings...

Chasing The High

03 Jul 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Jordan, Damon, & Tony are curious – how do we reduce harm when drug use and Queer sex intersect? This week, as we delve into a sensitive topic, we ...

Sex Ed

26 Jun 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Jordan, Damon, & Tony are curious – what is medical fact vs fiction when it comes to Queer male sex? This week, class is in session, and we are thr...

Healing In My Hoe Phase

19 Jun 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Jordan, Damon, & Tony are curious – how can casual sex be used as a tool for exploration and empowerment? During this dynamic episode, we welcome s...

Hookup Horror Stories

12 Jun 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Jordan, Damon, & Tony are curious – what impact does hookup culture have on Queer male intimacy? For our ninth season titled “Throb,” we are em...

Beyond The Surface Level 8

14 Feb 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Jordan, Damon, & Tony are curious – are you ready to go beyond the surface level with us? We made it through another cycle of the Surface Level jou...

Fellow Travelers

07 Feb 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Jordan, Damon, & Tony are curious – with time can Queer love exist without shame? In this episode, we are excited to welcome actor Noah J. Ricketts...

C.R.E.A.M.

31 Jan 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Jordan, Damon & Tony are curious – does cash rule everything around you? This week we talk about the ever-looming presence of capitalism. What expe...

Queens Of Comedy

24 Jan 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Jordan, Damon, & Tony are curious – where is the line between funny and offensive? In this episode, we are joined by comedian, actor * writer Jay J...

Beautiful Gowns Pt. 2

17 Jan 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Jordan, Damon & Tony are curious – is fear of femininity the thief of joy? This week we revisit our relationship with the expression of femininity ...

Fake Smart, Real Dumb

10 Jan 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Jordan, Damon & Tony are curious – what place does AI have in the creation of art? This week we bring a fresh topic to our listeners debating the b...

Don't Be A Drag, Just Be A Queen

03 Jan 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Jordan, Damon, & Tony are curious – why are conservatives so scared of drag queens? In this episode, we are joined by drag phenom Olivia Lux. Wit...

Never Again, For Anyone

27 Dec 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Jordan, Damon, & Tony are curious – if your humanity is conditional is it humanity at all? Surface Level began as a show reflecting the lives, expe...

The Risk It Takes To Bloom

20 Dec 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Jordan, Damon, & Tony are curious – what are the risks it takes to bloom into who we really are? In this episode, we're honored to be joined by t...

Coming Out Is A Scam

13 Dec 2023

Contributed by Lukas

00:00-Introduction 00:54-Recap since season 7 10:00-Unveiling the season 8 theme: "A Reflection" 10:46-Engaging in a game inspired by Little Richar...

Make Me Water Pt. 2

01 Nov 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Jordan, Damon & Tony are curious – how have our views around relationships become more fluid? This week we offer a second look at fluidity; this tim...

Make Me Water Pt. 1

31 Oct 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Jordan, Damon & Tony are curious – how have our views around our sex lives become more fluid? Surprise we’re back for a special two-part bonus ser...

Beyond The Surface Level 7

02 Aug 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Jordan, Damon & Tony are curious – are you ready to go beyond the surface level with us? Once again we sign off after this very special season groun...

The Girls Are Fighting

26 Jul 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Damon, Jordan & Tony are curious – how can healthy disagreement lead to personal growth? Closing the fire series, our penultimate episode for season...

Bad Bitches Only

19 Jul 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Jordan, Damon & Tony are curious – how does aligning with traditional beauty standards benefit and harm our community? Pretty privilege, the hot-but...

Black Excellence Is A Scam Pt. 2

12 Jul 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Jordan & Tony are curious – how can we broaden what it means to be Black and excellent? In this unprecedented bonus episode, we revisit our season o...

Butch Queen On The Scene Pt. 2

05 Jul 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Jordan, Damon & Tony are curious – how does the work of Queer nightlife curators impact our ability to find community? In closing out Wind series, w...

The Stroll

28 Jun 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Jordan, Damon & Tony are curious – how is the quest to not just survive but thrive unique within Black Trans experience ? In an effort to continue t...

Pride & Prejudice

25 Jun 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Jordan, Damon & Tony are curious – how do we protect our joy when pride is under attack? We bring you something special edition of Surface Level for...

Parents Just Don't Understand Pt. 2

14 Jun 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Jordan, Damon & Tony are curious – What was our parent’s journey in accepting our Queer identity? This episode will likely take the crown as our m...

Losing My Mind

07 Jun 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Jordan, Damon & Tony are curious - How can we dismantle mental health stigmas and foster understanding? In this episode as we navigate the complex ter...

Black Excellence Is A Scam

31 May 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Jordan, Damon & Tony are curious – is Black Excellence doing more harm than help? In this thought-provoking episode, we challenge the notion of "Bla...

Beyond The Surface Level 6

08 Feb 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Jordan, Damon & Tony are curious – are you ready to go beyond the surface level with us? Another season in the books for this journey that we call S...

We Wear The Mask

01 Feb 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Jordan, Damon & Tony are curious – who are we…really? This season’s penultimate episode forces us to look within in a very meaningful way. First...

Pretty Hurts

25 Jan 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Jordan, Damon & Tony are curious – why are men afraid to embrace beauty? If you walk away with one thing from this episode, know that if beating tha...

Black Pain For Sale

18 Jan 2023

Contributed by Lukas

ordan, Damon & Tony are curious – is categorizing certain stories as trauma porn fair? This week is centered around the hot topic of “trauma porn”...

Don't Ask Don't Tell

11 Jan 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Jordan, Damon & Tony are curious – how does the approval of others lead us to hide parts ourselves? Today’s episode explores the idea of hiding pa...

I'm Never Drinking Again

04 Jan 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Jordan, Damon & Tony are curious – how can establishing healthier relationships with alcohol? We are all guilty of the proclamation “I’m never d...

You Can't Sit With Us

28 Dec 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Jordan, Damon & Tony are curious – how does self-hate create toxicity among Black, Queer men? Our show often highlights external factors that stifle...

You Ain't Black!

21 Dec 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Jordan, Damon & Tony are curious – are the benefits of abiding by respectability politics worth the cultural sacrifice? Today’s episode gets into ...

Sexual Healing

14 Dec 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Jordan, Damon & Tony are curious – has our fear of judgment stifled our sexual liberation? Safe spaces are important for Black Queer people and that...

Invisible Life

07 Dec 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Jordan, Damon & Tony are curious – what can we do to make Black Queer stories more visible? In this season opener, we highlight the cultural moments...

Beyond The Surface Level 5

07 Sep 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Jordan, Damon & Tony are curious – are you ready to go beyond the surface level with us? The finale to our fifth season further highlights our expan...

We Can't Be Friends 2

31 Aug 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Jordan, Damon & Tony are curious – what did we learn when traversing the toughest moments in our friendship? This week’s episode is quite introspe...

Monkeypox, Chile

24 Aug 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Jordan, Damon & Tony are curious – how can healthcare information best be communicated to Black Queer folx? This week’s episode takes a relevant l...

Surface Level Live From Berlin!

17 Aug 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Jordan, Damon & Tony are curious – how is the Black German experience different from that of Black Americans? This week’s episode is a special gli...

Bromance

03 Aug 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Jordan, Damon & Tony are curious – how can we foster non-sexual male intimacy? This week, we explore the idea of intimacy between men both Straight ...

Death Becomes Her

27 Jul 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Jordan, Damon & Tony are curious – how have our experiences with grief shaped how we want to be remembered? This episode starts with a fun game titl...

No Means No

20 Jul 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Jordan, Damon & Tony are curious – how is consent defined and exercised in our sex lives? This week, the idea of consent is reflected upon both pers...

Parents Just Don't Understand

13 Jul 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Jordan, Damon & Tony are curious – how can Black parents better support their Queer children? This week we reflect on our experiences growing up in ...

CocoDorm.com

06 Jul 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Jordan, Damon & Tony are curious – do storylines in porn perpetuate harmful stereotypes of Black Queer men? This episode starts with a fun game wher...

P-Valley

29 Jun 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Jordan, Damon & Tony are curious – how does media visibility affect how we see ourselves? This week’s episode is an absolute treat. We dissect the...

Masc 4 Masc

22 Jun 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Jordan, Damon & Tony are curious – is a preference for masculinity inherently femmephobic? We kick off with a game imagining a world if we were girl...

The Black Gay Agenda

15 Jun 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Jordan, Damon & Tony are curious – what can the current political system do to better protect Black Queer people? We are excited to welcome you back...

Beyond The Surface Level 4

23 Feb 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Jordan, Damon & Tony are curious – are you ready to go beyond the surface level with us? The finale to our fourth season features the theme of commu...

Shade Came From Reading

16 Feb 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Jordan, Damon & Tony are curious – is the art of shade helpful or harmful in our communities? We play a game deciding which common statements are sh...

Reading Rainbow

09 Feb 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Jordan, Damon & Tony are curious – what do Black Queer stories look like when we write them ourselves? We play a literature-themed game, discuss our...

School Gayze

02 Feb 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Jordan, Damon & Tony are curious – how have HBCUs evolved to fit the needs of Queer students? We play a game that reminds us of our time at Howard, ...

Case Of The Ex

26 Jan 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Jordan, Damon & Tony are curious – how have you worked to heal from failed romantic relationships? We play a game titled, “Are You That Somebody”...

Stop Blasian Hate

19 Jan 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Jordan, Damon & Tony are curious – how can we strengthen the alliance between Black and Asian communities? We play a game of trivia highlighting Bla...

Gayfishing

12 Jan 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Jordan, Damon & Tony are curious – why is same gender affection viewed differently between men and women? We play a game of would you rather in rela...

Plant Kween

05 Jan 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Jordan, Damon & Tony are curious – have you explored self-care through plant care? We play a game centered around what changes we will and will not ...

Gay Dating For Dummies

29 Dec 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Jordan, Damon & Tony are curious – what bad dating habits do you hope to leave in 2021? We play a game centered on common Jack’d scenarios, tell s...

The Upper Echelon

21 Dec 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Jordan, Damon & Tony are curious – how do socio-economic factors effect the relationships we have with other Black Queer folx? We play a game of hig...

White Fragility

15 Dec 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Jordan, Damon & Tony are curious – did anyone really learn to be an anti-racist? We play a ridiculously titled “You Ain’t Black”, discuss our ...

Unpopular Opinion

08 Dec 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Jordan, Damon & Tony are curious – is freedom of speech a right or responsibility? We play a game that exposes our own unpopular opinions, discuss h...

Beautiful Gowns

01 Dec 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Jordan, Damon & Tony are curious - how can fashion tell Black, Queer stories? This week Tony & Jordan fail miserably at a game of Black fashion trivia...

The Nigerian Underground

24 Nov 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Jordan, Damon & Tony are curious - how do anti gay laws affect your travel? We poke fun at the joy and pain of being podcasters, discuss our experienc...

Friends Without Benefits

17 Nov 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Damon, Jordan & Tony are curious, do the best relationships start from platonic friendships? We play a game of never have I ever, assess the environme...

Beyond The Surface Level 3

14 Jul 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Damon, Jordan & Tony are Black, Queer, and Curious. What a ride season 3 of Surface Level has been! We’ve covered everything from sexual health, to...

No Face, No Case

07 Jul 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Damon, Jordan & Tony are curious about the impact the “DL” narrative has had on both Queer and heterosexual communities. The idea of DL culture i...

10's Across The Board

30 Jun 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Damon, Jordan & Tony are curious about the historic role Black & Brown trans women have played in ballroom culture. For our final Pride Month episode...