The body positivity movement wants us to love our bodies regardless of our shape, size, color, sex, or ability. That’s a wonderful goal, but how easy is that to achieve in our modern culture that worships at the altar of idealized lean, ripped, muscled physiques? We bring in trainer Sterling Walker to help us explore this topic in an enlightened way. This episode tries to dispel false myths and negative beliefs that get in the way of full self-acceptance and embracing our full erotic self. Not being one to simply accept a bad situation, Brent decided to do something. He formed Safety Blows, a grassroots nonprofit initiative to empower queer people and other marginalized communities to better protect themselves while also fostering strength and solidarity. In this episode, On Guard interviews Brent Heinze about his organization and safety within our communities.

After the last national election and seeing news reports shortly thereafter of a racist demonstration by white nationalists, Brent Heinze became even more worried than he had been and began to fear some horrifically troubling times ahead for the US. Those fears were sadly validated by increases in discrimination and hate crimes affecting people within LGBTQ+, BIPOC, and other communities. Not being one to simply accept a bad situation, Brent decided to do something. He formed Safety Blows, a grassroots nonprofit initiative to empower queer people and other marginalized communities to better protect themselves while also fostering strength and solidarity. In this episode, On Guard interviews Brent Heinze about his organization and safety within our communities.

On Guard Cigar Salon traditionally celebrates Pride during the month of June but this year we’ve invited three special guests to join cast member Graylin Thornton in honor of Juneteeth (look it up). Meet Jason, Pony and Brown Bomber Bear, a group of old black leathermen hanging out at Smokeout in Las Vegas to discuss their experience in this episode titled “Power in Smoke”.

The new administration has done a lot of damage to our country in a short amount of time. But people are pushing back as we become the OPPOSITION PARTY. There is an energy rising of Americans from all walks of life who are horrified by what they’ve seen. So, what’s working to push back against the attempt to install authoritarian rule and what’s not? The On Guard crew has a lively discussion to inform and inspire our audience to get engaged to save our democracy and protect our freedoms.

The leather and kink communities embrace certain agreed upon boundaries that when crossed are considered inappropriate behavior. People within those communities also have their own individual boundaries. In this episode, the On Guard crew discusses the topic of boundaries. What are the community's rigid boundaries and which ones might be more contextual? What boundaries might a person adopt and how do they enforce them? Join us for a lively discussion in the spirit of author and speaker Brene Brown who once said "Daring to set boundaries is about having the courage to love ourselves, even when we risk disappointing others.

The On Guard crew is back with another Unfiltered show. We recorded this about two weeks into the new administration and it's clear we're angry and pissed off. But, that said, we offer tangible action items our viewers and listeners can do to push back against the firehose onslaught of awful coming from the administration right now. This is a heated and lively discussion and we point you to useful resources so you can get active immediately to help save our democracy and freedoms.

As people in leather and kink communities age, they’re presented with unique challenges and perspectives. Sometimes we adjust our play, sexualities, dress, and social interactions. Aging is a normal part of life and hopefully we can do so gracefully as leather people and kinksters. Our On Guard crew discusses aging during this live audience episode in one of the gay retirement capitals of the world, Palm Springs.

Just two days after the election we threw a camera in the corner of the room and just talk about our true feelings about this elect. This is not our normal professional studio shot. Just our normal salon we do every week unfiltered. Agree or not we invite You to be a fly on the wall and witness out true feelings unfiltered and sometimes angry. We just witnessed what could be a tipping point for our democracy as a result of the recent election. We now have a precarious situation considering who will soon occupy The White House. Vigilance is the watchword. Unity is the goal. Democracy and freedom are the guiding lights toward which we should all reach. In this unscripted, spontaneous episode, the On Guard crew candidly reacts to the election results, what they might mean for queer and kinky people, and what we can do now that we have to deal with this challenging outcome.

In the realm of LGBTQ and civil rights politics, there are few people more experienced than the rightfully esteemed Cleve Jones. We’ve interviewed Cleve before, but in light of the upcoming election and the onslaught of anti-LGBTQ legislation and sentiment coming from the conservative side of the political spectrum, we wanted to have Cleve back on our show to give us his thoughts on how we as queer, kinky, and otherwise marginalized people can rally the vote in November and maintain our freedoms and move our causes forward.

In the realm of LGBTQ and civil rights politics, there are few people more experienced than the rightfully esteemed Cleve Jones. We’ve interviewed Cleve before, but in light of the upcoming election and the onslaught of anti-LGBTQ legislation and sentiment coming from the conservative side of the political spectrum, we wanted to have Cleve back on our show to give us his thoughts on how we as queer, kinky, and otherwise marginalized people can rally the vote in November and maintain our freedoms and move our causes forward.

On Guard Cigar Salon has been producing content for more than 2 years. Often when we finish recording an episode, one of us suddenly thinks "I forgot to say this" or "I wish I had covered that." So, in this Shoulda Coulda Woulda episode we look back at the first 2 years of On Guard and critique ourselves, what did we get right, what did we get wrong, and what we wish we would have said instead.

Gay leather and drag cultures have been intertwined for decades. Within gay communities, leather and drag have often formed strong alliances and been considered outsiders, mavericks, and rebels. Leather and drag community members have also often been part of the vanguard of LGBTQ activism. That's why On Guard wanted to interview Brigitte Bandit an activists from the drag community to discuss our shared commonalities as well as the recent anti-drag sentiment that echoes the anti-LGBTQ and anti-leather/kink forces with which many of us have had to deal with our entire lives.

Music is such an important part of our culture and that includes queer, leather, and kink culture. The On Guard crew has had their gay and kinkster journeys influenced by music throughout the years. In this episode, each of us talks about the music that has had the most impact on us and why.

Bootblacks. What do they do, and why? What are some of the ins and outs of bootblacking itself? How do bootblacks fit into the fabric of kink and leather culture. These are just some of the questions we asked one of the country's preeminent bootblacks, Buck Harder. You'll find Buck teaching or practicing his craft on his social media channels, at leather events, or on most Sundays at the Barracks bar in Palm Springs.

Folsom Street Fair is the world's biggest fetish and kink fair of its kind. People from all over the globe descend on San Francisco every year to revel with other like-minded kinksters at the Fair itself plus an ever-growing assortment of surrounding parties and events catering to those who live and play on the outskirts of conventional sexuality. As the fair has gotten bigger, the community has gotten wider and misconception and judgements have become common.

We're living in a time when trans issues are front and center in the social discussion, both within kink communities and elsewhere. But what is being kinky and trans really like? What was it like to transition decades ago and how does it differ today? How does a trans man best navigate within gay men's spaces? How can event producers, groups, and individuals within the kink scene be useful allies and inclusive of trans men? Huge thank you to our sponsors: http://LeatherDaddySkin.com Use offer code: ONGUARD for 10% OFF and Mr-S- Leather WARDROBE: http://OnGuardGear.com -------- Cast Socials ------- Twitter: http://Twitter.com/OnGuardSalon IG: http://instagram.com/OnGuardSalon http://OnGuardSalon.com Race Bannon Twitter: http://Twitter.com/BannonRace IG: http://instagram.com/BannonRace http://Bannon.com Graylin Thornton Twitter: http://Twitter.com/GraylinThornton IG: http://instagram.com/GraylinThornton Kristofer Weston Twitter: http://twitter.com/KristoferWeston IG: http://instagram.com/KristoferWeston The Cigar Pig Twitter: http://twitter.com/TheCigarPig IG: http://instagram.com/TheCigarPig Pup Amp Twitter: http://twitter.com/PupAmp IG: http://instagram.com/PupAmp A @Wattsthesafeword Production

The On Guard Cigar Salon crew delves into the topic of play parties and weekend events in front of a live GearUp Weekend audience. What are some tips on how to navigate such events? What are some of the common rules and guidelines that most play party environments enforce? In what ways are men's kink play and erotic spaces different today than in the past? The On Guard crew offers their insights as they answer these and other great questions from the audience comprised of both newcomers and experienced kinksters. Huge thank you to our sponsors: http://LeatherDaddySkin.com Use offer code: ONGUARD for 10% OFF and Mr-S- Leather WARDROBE: http://OnGuardGear.com -------- Cast Socials ------- Twitter: http://Twitter.com/OnGuardSalon IG: http://instagram.com/OnGuardSalon http://OnGuardSalon.com Race Bannon Twitter: http://Twitter.com/BannonRace IG: http://instagram.com/BannonRace http://Bannon.com Graylin Thornton Twitter: http://Twitter.com/GraylinThornton IG: http://instagram.com/GraylinThornton Kristofer Weston Twitter: http://twitter.com/KristoferWeston IG: http://instagram.com/KristoferWeston The Cigar Pig Twitter: http://twitter.com/TheCigarPig IG: http://instagram.com/TheCigarPig Pup Amp Twitter: http://twitter.com/PupAmp IG: http://instagram.com/PupAmp A @Wattsthesafeword Production

In honor of Pride Month, the On Guard crew discusses their coming out experiences. We came out gay. We came out kinky. We came out poly. We have stories. It's by queer and kinky people telling their coming out stories that we empower those who might be struggling with that process. Smokeout is unique. It attracts certain types of maverick and rebel gay men who often differ from the leathermen or kinksters you might see at other events. That is why the On Guard crew was especially interested in the questions they might have for us since they represent a sector of gay kinksters many don't see or hear from elsewhere. As expected, the men at Smokeout provided us with some great questions and we hope we fulfilled our salon's mission by providing helpful answers. We're grateful for the opportunity Smokeout gave us. Twitter: http://Twitter.com/BlueBaileySF IG: http://instagram.com/BlueBaileySF Get the book : BLUE MOVIE https://www.unboundedition.com/product/blue-movie-stephan-ferris-literary-nonfiction/ Reading is Fundamental Podcast https://www.youtube.com/@ReadingIsFundamentalPodcast Resources for Help: Alcoholic's Anonymous. Find a meeting near you -https://www.aa.org/find-aa Castro Country Club, a refuge for the San Francisco queer community - https://www.castrocountryclub.org/ Conscious Recovery Library -https://www.wholehearted.org/title/conscious-recovery-library Crystal Meth Anonymous. Find a meeting near you - https://www.crystalmeth.org/cma-meeting-directory/ Definitions of addiction and recovery terms - https://www.recoveryanswers.org/addiction-ary/ Directory of drug and alcohol detox and rehabilitation services which includes LGBTQ-specific community addiction services by state - https://www.addicted.org/drug-alcohol-addiction-services-lgbtq-community-united-states.html Gay & Sober's. Providing a safe, fun, and enriching experience to the sober LGBTQ community. https://www.gayandsober.org/ Harm Reduction - https://www.recoveryanswers.org/resource/drug-and-alcohol-harm-reduction/ LGBT Foundation - Recovery (UK) - https://lgbt.foundation/recovery LGBT Treatment Centers - https://www.gayandsober.org/directory LGBTQ+ & Recovery. Recovery Research Institute (MA) - https://www.recoveryanswers.org/resource/lgbtq-in-recovery/ Making Addiction Treatment More Realistic And Pragmatic: The Perfect Should Not Be The Enemy Of The Good - https://www.healthaffairs.org/do/10.1377/forefront.20211221.691862/ San Francisco AIDS Foundation, substance health services - https://www.sfaf.org/services/substance-use-treatment/ There is life after addiction. Most people recover - https://www.npr.org/2022/01/15/1071282194/addiction-substance-recovery-treatment Huge thank you to our sponsors: http://LeatherDaddySkin.com Use offer code: ONGUARD for 10% OFF and Mr-S- Leather WARDROBE: http://OnGuardGear.com -------- Cast Socials ------- Twitter: http://Twitter.com/OnGuardSalon IG: http://instagram.com/OnGuardSalon http://OnGuardSalon.com Race Bannon Twitter: http://Twitter.com/BannonRace IG: http://instagram.com/BannonRace http://Bannon.com Graylin Thornton Twitter: http://Twitter.com/GraylinThornton IG: http://instagram.com/GraylinThornton Kristofer Weston Twitter: http://twitter.com/KristoferWeston IG: http://instagram.com/KristoferWeston The Cigar Pig Twitter: http://twitter.com/TheCigarPig IG: http://instagram.com/TheCigarPig Pup Amp Twitter: http://twitter.com/PupAmp IG: http://instagram.com/PupAmp A @Wattsthesafeword Production

Every year a growing group of gay men with an interest in cigars gather in Las Vegas to socialize and play. The event is called Smokeout and our crew was honored that the Smokeout organizers invited us to record an episode live during this year's event. Smokeout is unique. It attracts certain types of maverick and rebel gay men who often differ from the leathermen or kinksters you might see at other events. That is why the On Guard crew was especially interested in the questions they might have for us since they represent a sector of gay kinksters many don't see or hear from elsewhere. As expected, the men at Smokeout provided us with some great questions and we hope we fulfilled our salon's mission by providing helpful answers. We're grateful for the opportunity Smokeout gave us. Twitter: http://Twitter.com/BlueBaileySF IG: http://instagram.com/BlueBaileySF Get the book : BLUE MOVIE https://www.unboundedition.com/product/blue-movie-stephan-ferris-literary-nonfiction/ Reading is Fundamental Podcast https://www.youtube.com/@ReadingIsFundamentalPodcast Resources for Help: Alcoholic's Anonymous. Find a meeting near you -https://www.aa.org/find-aa Castro Country Club, a refuge for the San Francisco queer community - https://www.castrocountryclub.org/ Conscious Recovery Library -https://www.wholehearted.org/title/conscious-recovery-library Crystal Meth Anonymous. Find a meeting near you - https://www.crystalmeth.org/cma-meeting-directory/ Definitions of addiction and recovery terms - https://www.recoveryanswers.org/addiction-ary/ Directory of drug and alcohol detox and rehabilitation services which includes LGBTQ-specific community addiction services by state - https://www.addicted.org/drug-alcohol-addiction-services-lgbtq-community-united-states.html Gay & Sober's. Providing a safe, fun, and enriching experience to the sober LGBTQ community. https://www.gayandsober.org/ Harm Reduction - https://www.recoveryanswers.org/resource/drug-and-alcohol-harm-reduction/ LGBT Foundation - Recovery (UK) - https://lgbt.foundation/recovery LGBT Treatment Centers - https://www.gayandsober.org/directory LGBTQ+ & Recovery. Recovery Research Institute (MA) - https://www.recoveryanswers.org/resource/lgbtq-in-recovery/ Making Addiction Treatment More Realistic And Pragmatic: The Perfect Should Not Be The Enemy Of The Good - https://www.healthaffairs.org/do/10.1377/forefront.20211221.691862/ San Francisco AIDS Foundation, substance health services - https://www.sfaf.org/services/substance-use-treatment/ There is life after addiction. Most people recover - https://www.npr.org/2022/01/15/1071282194/addiction-substance-recovery-treatment Huge thank you to our sponsors: http://LeatherDaddySkin.com Use offer code: ONGUARD for 10% OFF and Mr-S- Leather WARDROBE: http://OnGuardGear.com -------- Cast Socials ------- Twitter: http://Twitter.com/OnGuardSalon IG: http://instagram.com/OnGuardSalon http://OnGuardSalon.com Race Bannon Twitter: http://Twitter.com/BannonRace IG: http://instagram.com/BannonRace http://Bannon.com Graylin Thornton Twitter: http://Twitter.com/GraylinThornton IG: http://instagram.com/GraylinThornton Kristofer Weston Twitter: http://twitter.com/KristoferWeston IG: http://instagram.com/KristoferWeston The Cigar Pig Twitter: http://twitter.com/TheCigarPig IG: http://instagram.com/TheCigarPig Pup Amp Twitter: http://twitter.com/PupAmp IG: http://instagram.com/PupAmp A @Wattsthesafeword Production

Because the kink and leather communities are founded upon the people who volunteer to keep those communities vibrant and active, we ask Sister Roma for her insights about why people volunteer, the benefits to them and the community they serve, and why volunteering is so vital to ensuring that our kink and LGBTQ communities continue to thrive. Stephan Ferris Twitter: http://Twitter.com/BlueBaileySF IG: http://instagram.com/BlueBaileySF Get the book : BLUE MOVIE https://www.unboundedition.com/product/blue-movie-stephan-ferris-literary-nonfiction/ Reading is Fundamental Podcast https://www.youtube.com/@ReadingIsFundamentalPodcast Resources for Help: Alcoholic's Anonymous. Find a meeting near you -https://www.aa.org/find-aa Castro Country Club, a refuge for the San Francisco queer community - https://www.castrocountryclub.org/ Conscious Recovery Library -https://www.wholehearted.org/title/conscious-recovery-library Crystal Meth Anonymous. Find a meeting near you - https://www.crystalmeth.org/cma-meeting-directory/ Definitions of addiction and recovery terms - https://www.recoveryanswers.org/addiction-ary/ Directory of drug and alcohol detox and rehabilitation services which includes LGBTQ-specific community addiction services by state - https://www.addicted.org/drug-alcohol-addiction-services-lgbtq-community-united-states.html Gay & Sober's. Providing a safe, fun, and enriching experience to the sober LGBTQ community. https://www.gayandsober.org/ Harm Reduction - https://www.recoveryanswers.org/resource/drug-and-alcohol-harm-reduction/ LGBT Foundation - Recovery (UK) - https://lgbt.foundation/recovery LGBT Treatment Centers - https://www.gayandsober.org/directory LGBTQ+ & Recovery. Recovery Research Institute (MA) - https://www.recoveryanswers.org/resource/lgbtq-in-recovery/ Making Addiction Treatment More Realistic And Pragmatic: The Perfect Should Not Be The Enemy Of The Good - https://www.healthaffairs.org/do/10.1377/forefront.20211221.691862/ San Francisco AIDS Foundation, substance health services - https://www.sfaf.org/services/substance-use-treatment/ There is life after addiction. Most people recover - https://www.npr.org/2022/01/15/1071282194/addiction-substance-recovery-treatment Huge thank you to our sponsors: http://LeatherDaddySkin.com Use offer code: ONGUARD for 10% OFF and Mr-S- Leather WARDROBE: http://OnGuardGear.com -------- Cast Socials ------- Twitter: http://Twitter.com/OnGuardSalon IG: http://instagram.com/OnGuardSalon http://OnGuardSalon.com Race Bannon Twitter: http://Twitter.com/BannonRace IG: http://instagram.com/BannonRace http://Bannon.com Graylin Thornton Twitter: http://Twitter.com/GraylinThornton IG: http://instagram.com/GraylinThornton Kristofer Weston Twitter: http://twitter.com/KristoferWeston IG: http://instagram.com/KristoferWeston The Cigar Pig Twitter: http://twitter.com/TheCigarPig IG: http://instagram.com/TheCigarPig Pup Amp Twitter: http://twitter.com/PupAmp IG: http://instagram.com/PupAmp A @Wattsthesafeword Production