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One thing I insanely love about Jon is how genuinely naive and sweet he is at times. All the questions he asked were questions I would have asked too, I could relate so much to his sense of curiosity and slight fear towards the topic. Once again, such a catch. Thanks for another interesting episode xx

I was never a very sexually active individual, and so this entire aspect of the "lifestyle" has always been lost on me. I've also always found public restrooms to be very off-putting and uncomfortable to begin with, and so I'm totally at a loss as to how this environment would ever be seen as conducive to sexual activity......particularly in an airport!

I'm shocked Jon.  I look at you and I think you have done everything and how I wish as I grew up that I could look like you and have your experience.  Then you talk about cruising and your hesitation and fears and I start to feel normal because I never acted on what I always wanted.  I just can't believe I have you so wrong but then again I relate your looks to who you are and it's just not the case.  Actually, I'm so happy that I can stop knocking myself down because my feelings are just like yours.  You are so damn sweet.  ❤

This is so strange. And sweet. I feel lucky to have been part of the last wave of gays who found some comradery in the bars, passion in the parks and our telepathic powers led us to eachother.

Jon, I love your true innocence around this topic!! 😮 😂😅😂 - Crusing was the 'Grindr' of today. Sure you will never need to go, but the one thing your guest failed to mention, is never take your Wallet with you! 😮🙊🫣

It seems you are defining "cruising" as always related to sexual activity.  I came out in the 1980s (just as AIDS was hitting us) and we used the term "cruising" to describe times when you would catch another guy's eye and he'd look back with interest.  It happened all the time at the gym, walking down the street, etc.  I even had a cruising encounter with Anderson Cooper back in the 1990s walking through W Hollywood.  Nothing came of it but we cruised each other for sure!  There was also the encounter where you would catch a guy's eye, he'd look back, you'd pass each other and then count 1-2-3 and turn back to see if he had turned back.  That's classic cruising!

American here.  I really liked this guest and his interview!  I'm not much of a Cruiser, myself.  I came out in bar culture.  So, yes, there was Cruising within the bar and a hookup from there.  I just never was lucky outdoors Cruising for men.  It just wasn't a natural fit for me.  Having said all that, Cruising is part of our DNA.  Cruising is part of our gay culture.  I, honestly, feel it is instinctual to gay men.  Even though I don't do much Cruising, I want it to exist and I want it to happen.  Cruising is not sinful, it is a part of nature.

I'm a veteran and avid Cruiser. I tend to prefer outdoor Cruising in the warmer, dryer months and to stick to indoor venues, Saunas in the Winter. It's such a pity that we don't, in the UK, have that many (I can only think of one) indoor Cruising bars, like they do on the European mainland. I have, in the past, a few times, gone Cottaging, but was never comfortable with it, due to the possibility of members of the public walking in and, as I prefer long, sensual sessions, I really just don't see the point. But, there are places (or there used to be) we're you could "click" with someone in the loo and then head off into the nearby bushes, or drive somewhere remote.

Other than that, I absolutely love outdoor Cruising and probably still go out, at least 2x a week.
But, I tend to be prepared to drive to places that are remote and unlikely to be frequented by members of the public.
However, I do wonder, if Cruising is becoming a dying art. So many guys I meet these days don't seem to have the slightest clue about the etiquette and just wander around with their eyes on the ground, or who are massively inhibited when it comes to sex.

That said, it makes it all the more special when you catch someone's eye and/or encounter a group of guys who are totally ill at ease and up for some long, lingering quality nookie. And yes, I agree. I don't do it for social reasons, although I am happy to chat with some guys afterwards, so long as it's not what a friend calls "a mother's meeting," with people gumming up the works and talking so loudly that it puts others off, or scares them away.

But, the "thrill," of chance, spontaneous encounters never gets old! 😉😉

At the risk of sounding like a stuffy conservative, I really don’t understand why this is remotely necessary in this day and age. Your desire for excitement or a thrill doesn’t outweigh the public - including children’s - rights to safe public spaces where they don’t run the risk of seeing people shagging. Just get a room.

Cruiser here in America. I live in a part of the country (Utah/Idaho) where historically homosexual behavior had to be very hush hush. And because of that, there are some long established cruising locations that have been active for many decades. Before there were websites and apps, there was cruising. Now that sexuality is more open and accepted, and with the facility of apps, cruising has expanded to a very encouraging degree. Like Dan said, it's not just gays, it's bi and and straight guys too. I can't tell you how many straight/married/curious guys I've met on the trails or in the bushes at various parks in SLC or Boise. Also I was not prepared for the Sniffies sponsorship (congrats btw),  as I had Sniffies open this whole time. I love Sniffies, it's so great for men to just be men together.

I don't think hooking up with an app counts as cruising. It has to be the raw thing, the direct connection. As a side effect of that, if you're not "Mr Perfect" you may be surprised you still can be attractive to many guys. Trust your instincts, the others do, too, and if the vibe fits, it just does. Far less thinking going on then with apps and profiles. and that's a good thing

Great open guest.  Thanks for sharing your experience & scene knowledge 👍👍👍

I lived in Guildford Street just off Russell Square in the 90's and many a time going home late at night through Russell Square the trees used to talk to me. As a newly out gay man I was so naive and had to have it explained to me that I was living next to one of the iconic cruising areas of London. I really had no idea!

I've even met a boyfriend cruising in the city hall park of Vienna. Wish he were still here to tell the tale himself'; he took his life about a decade ago. It was a rocky relationship, but it eventually brought him out of the closet, and I know he was happier that way, even if he wasn't happy in life.
But cruising is essential and I'll never forget being in Amsterdam and finding out that the cops in the bushes were there to protect us. That was wild, my friends had to point that out to me -- they're not here to arrest you!

Love this interview.

I really don't get that police trap thing in the US. Here in Germany there's actually a brochure about safe cruising developed by 2 local queer community projects, the City of Stuttgart and "Velspol" - that's the organisation of gay and lesbian police officers.

As a 70ish gay man that lived in NYC in the 70s, San Fransisco in the 80s and Atlanta in the 90s found this chat fascinating! Great interview.

Brilliant episode and guest. Jon, I felt the same way you do (awkward, fearful) in my long ago youth. Practice relieves the awkwardness...

Jon has the prettiest smile ever. ❤❤❤ This is such an interesting topic. :) Also, curse you for reminding me of the pickle jar 😭😭😭😭