Talia Cass wants you to know: Being bi isn’t a phase

Happy Thursday, Capital Region! Today, in honor of Pride Month, we’re introducing you to Schenectady-based podcaster Talia Cass, who dives deep into the complexities of bisexuality. “In 2024, bisexuality became a cultural destination,” touts New York magazine. Talia’s your local guide to bisexual behavior.

Also, our week of corrections continues: On Monday, we told you that Schenectady would be celebrating the “50th anniversary of Marquis de Lafayette’s Farewell Tour of all 24 United States.” In fact, it’s the 200th anniversary because 50 years ago, we had—count them—all 50 states. And the Lafayette 200th celebration is not this Wednesday, as we reported, but next Wed. 🤦‍♂️ Apologies while we go find some brain food.

—Phat X. Chiem & Karley Sullivan

Talia Cass wants you to know: Being bi isn’t a phase

When Talia Cass started her podcast Bisexual Behavior, it wasn’t about going viral—it was about being seen. “I came out in my late 20s, during Covid,” Talia tells us. “There weren’t a lot of community spaces, and I didn’t know where to turn. Podcasts helped me feel less alone. So I created one that I wish existed.”

Now three years in, the pod has become a lifeline for listeners navigating bi+ identity. Tune in for intimate, thoughtful convos with guests locally and across the globe, from a 50-something man who comes out late in life to the occasional celeb such as The Voice winner Sawyer Fredericks.

“I only have my own perspective,” Talia says, “so the point of the show is to learn from other people and amplify their voices.”

She wears every hat—producer, host, editor—and still finds time for her day job in advertising and a side hustle with podcast collective Multitude. 

A native of Duanesburg and now based in Schenectady, Talia is deeply rooted in the Capital Region and proud of it. “People tell me the show feels local,” she says. “That’s intentional. I love this community and I want to reflect it.”

Her podcast doesn’t shy away from heavier topics, including bi-erasure, online bi-phobia, and misconceptions about queer relationships. “People think bisexuals are confused or more likely to cheat,” she says. “There’s a lot of policing, even from within the queer community.”

Talia recently got married—to a cis straight man. But being in a “straight-passing” relationship doesn’t negate her queerness, she says. “Even though I’m married to a man, I’m still bisexual. That doesn’t go away. I’m still queer. I’m still valid. That’s something I remind myself of all the time.”

Her advice for fellow bi+ folks trying to find community in the Capital Region? Try online groups, hobby meetups, even dating apps—with friendship as the goal. “You never know who you’ll meet,” she says.

BiCupid and Feeld are good places to start, as far as apps. And here’s a useful roundup of LGBTQ+ resources in Albany County and beyond.

Listen to Bisexual Behavior on Spotify or Apple. And follow on Instagram.

A word from our sponsor

Back in 2001, Bill Soucy was one of the very first Geniuses ever hired by Apple, and the first person to join the team at the Capital Region’s Apple Store. These days, “my business is about keeping Macs out of the landfill,” Bill says.

We recently sent over a MacBook Pro for a screen repair and were pleasantly surprised by the super-fast service and affordable pricing. If you need to get work done on your Apple products, Dr. Soos is your guy 💪 He’s located in Rensselaer.

💔 Troy’s breakup with its decade-long City Hall lease isn’t going well. The building’s landlord is lashing out and calling Mayor Carmella Mantello’s office the “most incompetent” administration. “It’s very sad for Troy to have no leadership,” says First Columbia President Kevin Bette. [Times Union]

🚧 Gloversville is celebrating the completion of several state-funded projects, part of a $10 million effort to revitalize its urban core. Once a thriving center because of the leather trade that gives the locale its name, the Mohawk Valley city is hoping this is the beginning of a genuine rebirth. [WAMC]

💰️ The massive federal cuts under the Trump administration are being felt locally. The Jobs Corp program in Glenmont, which houses low-income students and gives them skills training, will be shuttered by the end of this month. Staff were told they had a week to get students off the campus. Meanwhile, a pair of Adirondack AmeriCorps programs are hoping to continue despite having their federal funding slashed in April.

⭐️ 🏳️‍🌈 On Sunday, the Capital Pride Parade kicks off at 11:30a, starting down State Street, onto Lark Street and then Madison Avenue. The Pride Festival spreads out across Washington Park. 11:30a–5p, free.

On Saturday, In Our Own Voices presents Say It Loud! BIPOC Pride 2025 in the park, and the Big Gay Market has a popup too. Noon-5p, free.

⭐️ 🖼️ First Friday Albany returns with loads of popup events throughout the city. The Albany Institute of History & Art will be open late with free admission; come for the excellent cocktails from Larkin Hi-Fi and stay for the Americans Who Tell the Truth exhibition and the 11th Annual Elementary Art Show.

Curragh opens the Metroland Now First Friday concert series at the Irish American Heritage Museum in Quackenbush Square. See all of the First Friday events here.

⭐️ 🐎 The 2025 Belmont Stakes Racing Festival is already underway, with the big race taking place on Saturday. Our friends at Saratoga Living have the deets on everything you need to know before you go, and the Times Union has a handy guide to the best places to eat in Saratoga.

⭐️ 🎈 The 23rd annual Cambridge Balloon Festival will feature four launches of hot air balloons through the weekend, starting Friday at 6:30p. Yes, it’s about an hour from Albany, but worth the drive to see these impressive balloons fill the sky. Find the full schedule here. Free to watch; tethered rides available for $20/person.

⭐️ 🚣‍♂️ If you’ve never been to the Albany Rowing Center, this Saturday is a perfect opportunity because the center is celebrating National Learn to Row Day by hosting free lessons on the Hudson. Sat, 9:30-noon, free.

🎟️ MORE NOTABLE EVENTS

TODAY

🎸 Starting at 4:30p this afternoon, the first Alive at Five concert of the summer kicks off with Queensrÿche and Albany’s own stone rockers Gozer. Note: The event has been moved to the rain location at the Corning Preserve Boat Launch under the I-787 bridge.

🎻 Saratoga’s Mostly Modern Festival features 10 concerts over 15 days, starting tonight.

🎷 Also tonight, Schenectady’s Jazz on Jay opens for the season, featuring the Dylan Canterbury Quintet.

🎭️ The Black Theatre Troupe presents “Eclipsed,” the story of five Liberian women and their tale of survival near the end of the Second Liberian Civil War. At theREP through Sunday.

FRIDAY

👀 As part of First Friday, the Albany Public Library and Opalka Gallery are celebrating the latest Art at APL exhibition, “Sight Specific,” at the Pine Hills branch.

🎬️ On Friday, Movie Under the Stars will screen “Mufasa” at Arbor Hill Elementary—assuming the weather holds up!

🎸Troy Listening Room welcomes Metno Music with Katie Martucci and special guest dancer Claire Cuny. (Read our story on the wonderful Listening Room here.)

SATURDAY

🎨 The free Kids Arts Festival in Schenectady features loads of activities and performances for the little ones (and adults too).

🖤 Presented by Hex, Goths for Pride comes to Ophelia’s to turn rainbows black with darkwave and early Industrial sounds.

🖼️ The Fort Orange General Store invites you to their Drop-In Screen Printing Workshop with Breakout Press Co.

🎙️ The 2025 Improv Spaces Music Festival brings 35 talented musicians to the Round Lake Auditorium.

🐩 Get your pup all gussied up for the Dog Fashion Show in Colonie.

🏃‍♀️ Ella Go invites you to join their Wellness Running Retreat for Women. For runners, walkers and run-walkers alike, this event benefits team-in-training for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.

💃 Pole in the Park is back at Washington Park. Sat-Sun, free.

SUNDAY

💍 The Pride 2025 Wed-In and Vow Renewal hosted by the PRIDE Center of the Capital Region is a celebration of love & resilience.

🏳️‍🌈 Adirondack Winery in Queensbury promises plenty of sass, sequins & sips at its Drag Show.

🧥 The Second Sunday Market in Saratoga takes over Congress Park.

🎸 The Lake George Music Festival kicks off on Sunday and goes through June 19.

🦹 Albany Comic Con is at the Polish Community Center.

GET YOUR EVENT ON THE LIST 🎸

Weekly deadline: Sundays at 2pm

🦫 GET IN TOUCH!

Got an awesome business, event or personality we should feature? Let us know! Contact: [email protected]