EP11 – Jeff & EJ – The Old Man and the Queer
This week on the GayPHX Podcast, Bily sits down with Jeff Ro and EJ Radford, the voices behind The Old Man and the Queer — a powerful story that started in the most unexpected place: a barber chair.
Jeff, a retired mayor in his seventies, and EJ, a queer barber in his twenties, come from very different generations and very different life experiences. What began as casual conversation during a haircut slowly turned into something deeper — honest discussions about identity, accountability, politics, and what it really takes to listen to someone whose life looks nothing like your own.
Over time, those conversations built a friendship neither of them expected, and eventually became a dual memoir that explores how dialogue, vulnerability, and curiosity can bridge divides that often feel impossible.
In this episode, we talk about how the book came together, the surprising moments that changed each of their perspectives, and why conversations like these matter more than ever in our communities.
Plus, Brian drops in with another Brian’s Hot 3, highlighting events happening around the Valley this week.
This is a conversation about growth, connection, and the unexpected ways people can change each other’s lives — sometimes starting with something as simple as a haircut.
Listen now on GayPHX — Queer Stories. Local Beats. Real Community.