August Ponthier came out to the world in an article, messaging their mom the day before it dropped: "I just want you to read it before you react… I hope you can love this about me." 

On this episode of Identified with Nabil Ayers, they trace the whole road there: a nuclear-family childhood in a conservative Texas football town, church school every day, and the "classic recession divorce" delivered in a Baskin-Robbins parking lot at nine years old.

August and Nabil talk about remaking family on your own terms: growing up adultified and alone, learning that your parents are just people; jazz school in Denton — the most music-filled time of their life — then New York in 2017 with less than a month's rent and a contact list built by DMing Sofar Sounds artists from Texas; the sister who always saw them.

 

00:00 "I hope you can love this about me"
01:27 A nuclear family in Texas
02:40 The recession divorce & Baskin-Robbins
06:24 Football town, church school
09:12 "A huge fan of divorce"
10:55 Jazz school, then New York on a month's rent
15:43 Coming out via an article
20:42 The sister who always knew
22:48 Loneliness, Elton John & the record
27:57 "Family is a choice"

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Identified is a podcast series that explores identity, race, culture, and family through personal conversations. Hosted by author and music executive Nabil Ayers, each episode dives into lived experiences that reveal how our backgrounds shape who we are—and how we find belonging.

Nabil is the author of My Life in the Sunshine (Viking, 2022), and has written for The New York Times, The Guardian, and GQ on themes of race, music, and personal history. He’s also the President of Beggars Group US, co-founder of Sonic Boom Records, and founder of the record label The Control Group / Valley of Search.

Identified brings together notable voices for reflective, vulnerable conversations about where we come from—and where we’re going.

Read more about Nabil:
➡️https://www.nabilayers.com/

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#AugustPonthier #Identified #NabilAyers #ChosenFamily #Queer #NonBinary #Podcast

August Ponthier came out to the world in an article, messaging their mom the day before it dropped: "I just want you to read it before you react&hellip; I hope you can love this about me."&nbsp;
On this episode of Identified with Nabil Ayers, they trace the whole road there: a nuclear-family childhood in a conservative Texas football town, church school every day, and the "classic recession divorce" delivered in a Baskin-Robbins parking lot at nine years old.
August and Nabil talk about remaking family on your own terms: growing up adultified and alone, learning that your parents are just people; jazz school in Denton &mdash; the most music-filled time of their life &mdash; then New York in 2017 with less than a month's rent and a contact list built by DMing Sofar Sounds artists from Texas; the sister who always saw them.
&nbsp;
00:00 "I hope you can love this about me" 01:27 A nuclear family in Texas 02:40 The recession divorce &amp; Baskin-Robbins 06:24 Football town, church school 09:12 "A huge fan of divorce" 10:55 Jazz school, then New York on a month's rent 15:43 Coming out via an article 20:42 The sister who always knew 22:48 Loneliness, Elton John &amp; the record 27:57 "Family is a choice"
-
Identified is a podcast series that explores identity, race, culture, and family through personal conversations. Hosted by author and music executive Nabil Ayers, each episode dives into lived experiences that reveal how our backgrounds shape who we are&mdash;and how we find belonging.
Nabil is the author of My Life in the Sunshine (Viking, 2022), and has written for The New York Times, The Guardian, and GQ on themes of race, music, and personal history. He&rsquo;s also the President of Beggars Group US, co-founder of Sonic Boom Records, and founder of the record label The Control Group / Valley of Search.
Identified brings together notable voices for reflective, vulnerable conversations about where we come from&mdash;and where we&rsquo;re going.
Read more about Nabil: ➡️https://www.nabilayers.com/
-
#AugustPonthier #Identified #NabilAyers #ChosenFamily #Queer #NonBinary #Podcast

Welcome to 'Identified', a podcast hosted by Nabil Ayers, music executive and author of 'My Life in the Sunshine'. This show explores the intricate and often complicated world of family and identity.

In his memoir, Nabil shared his journey of understanding his mixed-race identity, navigating a distant relationship with his father, renowned jazz musician Roy Ayers, and discovering new family connections. 'Identified' continues this exploration, broadening the scope to encompass universal themes of family dynamics.

Join Nabil as he engages in heartfelt conversations that traverse cultural histories, the impact of non-traditional childhoods, and the ways our relationships shape our identities. Through personal stories, the show confronts the challenges of loss and grief, while celebrating the unique bonds that define us. Each episode seeks to answer the profound question: What is family?

Discover remarkable stories from individuals of diverse backgrounds as 'Identified' unravels the complexities that make family so unique.

The executive producer for 'Identified' is Kieron Banerji, and is produced by Palm Tree Island.

Welcome to 'Identified', a podcast hosted by Nabil Ayers, music executive and author of 'My Life in the Sunshine'. This show explores the intricate and often complicated world of family and identity.
In his memoir, Nabil shared his journey of understanding his mixed-race identity, navigating a distant relationship with his father, renowned jazz musician Roy Ayers, and discovering new family connections. 'Identified' continues this exploration, broadening the scope to encompass universal themes of family dynamics.
Join Nabil as he engages in heartfelt conversations that traverse cultural histories, the impact of non-traditional childhoods, and the ways our relationships shape our identities. Through personal stories, the show confronts the challenges of loss and grief, while celebrating the unique bonds that define us. Each episode seeks to answer the profound question: What is family?
Discover remarkable stories from individuals of diverse backgrounds as 'Identified' unravels the complexities that make family so unique.
The executive producer for 'Identified' is Kieron Banerji, and is produced by Palm Tree Island.

Identified with Nabil Ayers

Welcome to 'Identified', a podcast hosted by Nabil Ayers, music executive and author of 'My Life in the Sunshine'. This show explores the intricate and often complicated world of family and identity.
In his memoir, Nabil shared his journey of understanding his mixed-race identity, navigating a distant relationship with his father, renowned jazz musician Roy Ayers, and discovering new family connections. 'Identified' continues this exploration, broadening the scope to encompass universal themes of family dynamics.
Join Nabil as he engages in heartfelt conversations that traverse cultural histories, the impact of non-traditional childhoods, and the ways our relationships shape our identities. Through personal stories, the show confronts the challenges of loss and grief, while celebrating the unique bonds that define us. Each episode seeks to answer the profound question: What is family?
Discover remarkable stories from individuals of diverse backgrounds as 'Identified' unravels the complexities that make family so unique.
The executive producer for 'Identified' is Kieron Banerji, and is produced by Palm Tree Island.