Travis Timmerman, co-author of a paper advocating for straight actors portraying queer characters, and Kurt Blankschaen, who contributes to the discourse on authenticity, dive deep into casting controversies. They discuss the societal pressures on actors, using Kit Conner's role in 'Heartstopper' as a case study. The duo navigates the moral implications of character versus performer authenticity, argues for inclusivity in casting, and highlights the evolution of queer representation in media while addressing the need for nuanced storytelling.