Everything & Anything...and a bit gay Podcast

Actor, Broadway star, and cabaret performer Clayborne Elder sits down with Zach for one of the most anticipated interviews in Everything & Anything…and a Bit Gay history — and yes, Clay was literally on Zach's top five wish list. Clay opens up about playing John Adams on HBO's The Gilded Age, what it felt like when his character was written off the show, and the bittersweet experience of saying goodbye to a cast he describes as feeling like a theater family. He talks about the deliberate choice to cast theater people for the series and why that made all the difference on set — including staying close with co-stars like Cynthia Nixon long after filming wrapped. Growing up the eighth of eight children in a conservative Mormon family in Utah, Clay shares his journey of coming out — and the bond it deepened with his brother Billy, who also happens to be gay. Both were asked to leave BYU for being gay, and Clay reflects on what it means to have had family support in a story that doesn't always end that way for LGBTQ+ people from religious backgrounds. The conversation shifts to Clay's current Broadway run as the dentist in Little Shop of Horrors, his philosophy on keeping live performance fresh every night, and why he actually prefers the stage lights bright enough that he can't see the audience. He talks about what it means to share that experience with his son — who doesn't particularly care that his dad is famous, except when his best friend (who has seen Little Shop five times) nearly lost his mind knowing Clay was playing the dentist. Clay also dives deep into If the Stars Were Mine, his new album rooted in a cabaret show he's been performing for years. He explains the emotional weight behind his version of "I Wanna Dance with Somebody" — a song that as a young gay kid felt like a longing he wasn't sure would ever come true. He and his husband met working in theater 17 years ago, and that context makes the song land differently. The album is available now on streaming platforms and on vinyl (personalized and signed) at clayborneelder.com. Clay also reveals his dream collaborators — Catherine O'Hara and Daniel Levy on the acting side, and Sara Bareilles for a vocal duet — his experience as the bartender on Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen, his wild DM stories (yes, people want to buy his socks), and a standing campaign Zach is officially launching to get Clay and Daniel Levy on a project together. This one's a full-circle moment — Zach interviewed Clay's brother Billy on this very show two and a half years ago, and now the wish has finally come true. Links mentioned in this episode: 🎵 If the Stars Were Mine — available on Spotify, Apple Music & https://www.claybourneelder.com/ 🎭 Little Shop of Horrors — check listings for current run: https://littleshopnyc.com/ 📸 Follow Clay on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/claybourneelder Podcast song by SIXFOOT 5: https://www.sixfoot5prod.com Apple: https://music.apple.com/us/artist/sixfoot-5/1551774977 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/5rHMzoU0G0fLhaBsrQiOOY?si=laSZ5hiKTYubJJyhrzf2JQ Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

What actually happens when we die — and is there real evidence for it? Researcher and author Brendan Murphy has spent 23 years studying near-death experiences, reincarnation, consciousness, and the nature of reality. In this conversation, we go deep — from NDE case studies that defy every materialist explanation, to how reincarnation actually works across different layers of consciousness, to what simulation theory gets right (and wrong), to why who you are psychologically may determine everything about where you go after death. This one genuinely shifted something for me. I think it'll do the same for you. In this episode: The book that started it all: The Holographic Universe by Michael Talbot What NDEs actually reveal — and why the "dying brain" explanation completely falls apart The stunning parallel between a 2008 NDE and a Rudolf Steiner lecture from 1904 Peak in Darien cases: encountering people in an NDE you didn't know had died How reincarnation works across different planes of consciousness — and why some souls come back immediately while others go deeper Why kids who remember past lives often died violently in their previous one The "oversoul" — a collective identity made up of thousands of lifetimes What simulation theory gets right, and where it goes off the rails What happens to someone like Hitler after death (no imposed punishment — but it's not pretty) Whether knowing all of this actually helps with grief Are we living in the hardest reality available — and can we incarnate on other planets? Why Brendan says everything he does is preparation for his own death Connect with Brendan Murphy:Reverse Engineering the Afterlife — Pre-order: https://brendandmurphy.com/pre-order/reverse-engineering-the-afterlife The Grand Illusion: A Synthesis of Science and Spirituality — Book 1: https://brendandmurphy.com/books/the-grand-illusion Regenetics Method facilitation with Brendan: https://www.evolveyourself.live Subscribe, rate, and review — it genuinely helps more people find the show. And if this episode hit differently, share it with someone who needs to hear it. 🎙️ Everything & Anything…and a Bit Gay is available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, Amazon Music, and iHeartRadio. 🌐 everythingandanythingpodcast.com 📸 Instagram: @TheRealZachRE Podcast song by SIXFOOT 5: https://www.sixfoot5prod.com Apple: https://music.apple.com/us/artist/sixfoot-5/1551774977 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/5rHMzoU0G0fLhaBsrQiOOY?si=laSZ5hiKTYubJJyhrzf2JQ Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

It's Friday, which means it's time for The Gay Bit — and this week, Zach is doing a full-on opinion dump on the things he absolutely cannot stand. If your podcast week wasn't gay enough, buckle up. Zach kicks things off with his deeply held conviction that tank tops are the enemy of civilization. Sweaty underarms, deodorant balls, and terrible fit — he's making the case that the world would be a better place without them. (Yes, even on hot guys at the gym.) From there, he shares the surprisingly wholesome origin story of how a TSA confiscation at the airport turned him into a lifelong Secret deodorant convert — and he has zero regrets. Then it's on to the cultural hot takes: Zach confesses he has never been able to get through more than an episode or two of RuPaul's Drag Race, despite genuinely loving drag queens. (The corny judge commentary is just not it.) Meanwhile, Andrew is out here sending him cat videos and Family Guy clips on a daily basis, and Zach is barely surviving. Circuit parties get their moment in the crosshairs, too — Zach traces his history with White Party and Winter Party in Miami and arrives at the same conclusion he always has: not for him, and he's not sure anyone under 40 is rushing to disagree. The episode takes a wonderfully chaotic detour through Provincetown — the full P-Town gay vacation routine from Joe's Coffee to Tea Dance to Spiritus Pizza — and Zach's honest assessment of what it means if you still can't meet someone after working through literally every opportunity the town has to offer. Then there's the beach, Speedos, and the nude beach. Zach traces his childhood Speedo trauma (courtesy of his mom, who put him and his brother in them at Larry & Penny Thompson Park in sixth grade — and yes, someone he later became friends with saw it), explains why he hasn't gone in the ocean since learning about barracudas and gold jewelry, and lovingly describes the very different beach philosophies of his mom (shells and peace), his husband Andrew (nude and free), and himself (pool, frozen margarita, SPF, umbrella, goodbye). The whole episode wraps with a story about a guy at a Dallas bar with a very specific kink involving underarms and pubic hair — and Zach's completely understandable reaction to the whole thing. It's unfiltered, it's funny, and it's exactly what The Gay Bit is for. Episode Notes: Tank tops: a wrongful cultural institution How a TSA confiscation made Zach a Secret deodorant convert for life RuPaul's Drag Race — great queens, could do without everything else Andrew's algorithm is 90% cats and 10% Family Guy clips Circuit parties: are they still a thing, and does Gen Z care? The full Provincetown gay vacation itinerary, including Spiritus Pizza as a last resort Speedo trauma courtesy of Zach's mom, sixth grade, and a water park in Miami Why Zach won't go in the ocean (barracudas + gold necklace = no) The pool vs. the beach vs. the nude beach: three very different people in Zach's life That guy at the Dallas bar and his very unusual interests Canyon Ranch dreams vs. $21,000 reality checks 🎙️ Everything & Anything…and a Bit Gay drops new episodes throughout the week, with The Gay Bit every Friday — a little more unfiltered, a little more chaotic, and exactly as gay as advertised. 👉 Subscribe, leave a rating and review, and share this episode with someone who needs to hear Zach's definitive take on tank tops. 📲 Follow Zach on Instagram: @TheRealZachRE Podcast song by SIXFOOT 5: https://www.sixfoot5prod.com Apple: https://music.apple.com/us/artist/sixfoot-5/1551774977 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/5rHMzoU0G0fLhaBsrQiOOY?si=laSZ5hiKTYubJJyhrzf2JQ Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Are gay men lonelier than ever — and why won't anyone admit it? In this week's This Is Everything, Zach gets brutally honest about the loneliness epidemic hitting the LGBTQ+ community, the apps that promise connection and deliver bots, the "shit friends" we finally stop tolerating after 50, and why cutting toxic people out of your life might be making you lonelier even when it's the right call. From a $500 phone bill in a fourth-floor walkup in New York City in 1998 to becoming the self-proclaimed Mayor of Gay NYC by starting a meetup group that blew up — Zach traces his own relationship with loneliness and shares what he thinks gay men (and everyone else) actually need right now. In this episode: The gay loneliness epidemic nobody wants to talk about Why the dating apps are broken — bots, fakes, and the Grindr scam rabbit hole Standards, self-awareness, and why some guys keep going after people out of their league Social media making everyone feel like their Tuesday night is a failure The slow death of friendships — no dramatic breakup, just stopped texting Cutting out toxic friends and the loneliness that follows Kevin and Greg: a love story and a shoutout From South Beach to New York to Boston — how your friend circle shrinks as you age The Newcomers Club idea that could save gay Boston Why Zach thinks a gay meetup group might be the answer — and why he's seriously considering starting one Connect with Zach: 🌐 everythingandanythingpodcast.com 📸 Instagram: @TheRealZachRE Everything & Anything…and a Bit Gay — new episodes drop weekly. Subscribe and never miss a This Is Everything episode. Podcast song by SIXFOOT 5: https://www.sixfoot5prod.com Apple: https://music.apple.com/us/artist/sixfoot-5/1551774977 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/5rHMzoU0G0fLhaBsrQiOOY?si=laSZ5hiKTYubJJyhrzf2JQ Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Jordan Rainer — country singer, preacher's daughter, and four-chair-turn phenomenon from Season 26 of The Voice — joins Zach for one of the most honest conversations you'll hear about coming out late in life, leaving religion behind, and reclaiming your identity through music. Jordan opens up about growing up in a Southern Baptist household in Altus, Oklahoma, where who she really was "was not safe, not talked about, and hated." She didn't plan to come out — until a phone call with her dad changed everything. Her younger brother was in tears at a park, struggling with the family's rejection of his being gay. Jordan called her parents and told them: if you can't figure out how to love him, you can't figure out how to love me either — because I'm gay too. That moment of courage became the seed of her debut album, Outlaw Revival — a record about deconstruction, freedom, bodily autonomy, and a different kind of rebirth. Jordan talks about why the album is sold exclusively on her website (streaming robs the little guy), how coming out literally changed the sound and register of her voice, and why she re-recorded key tracks — including the stunning "Days of Thunder" — to capture a freedom she didn't know she'd been holding back. She also shares: what it was like to audition with Reba McEntire's biggest hit on Reba's first season of The Voice (spoiler: she threw up after), Reba's warm and immediate reaction when Jordan came out, the story behind "The Night I Drank with Tanya" (yes, Tanya Tucker has heard it — and loves it), and her dream of making country music a truly inclusive space. If you're queer, if you've ever been confined by religion, if you're still in the closet — this one's for you. Jordan Rainer is a beacon. 🎵 Buy Outlaw Revival exclusively at Jordan's website —https://www.jordanrainerofficial.com/  📲 Follow Jordan:https://www.instagram.com/thejordanrainer/ 📲 Follow Zach: @TheRealZachRE 🎙️ Subscribe, leave a review, and share this episode — it genuinely helps the show reach more people who need to hear it. Podcast song by SIXFOOT 5: https://www.sixfoot5prod.com Apple: https://music.apple.com/us/artist/sixfoot-5/1551774977 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/5rHMzoU0G0fLhaBsrQiOOY?si=laSZ5hiKTYubJJyhrzf2JQ Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Nic Dantes is a New York-based actor, singer, dancer, and songwriter with an IMDB page, a growing social following, and a talent pool deep enough to make anyone feel like an underachiever. In this episode of Everything & Anything…and a Bit Gay, Zach sits down with Nic for a wide-ranging conversation about building a career in entertainment as an openly gay man — from his childhood auditions for kids' TV to a guest spot on one of the most iconic crime dramas in television history. Nic shares what it was actually like being cast on Law & Order — the weight of stepping onto that set, the warmth of the cast, and the slightly surreal fact that he now shares a credit with Sabrina Carpenter. He also opens up about his time on What Should I Do?, the hidden camera show where he played a gay teen coming out, and how strangers in New Jersey during Pride Month showed up for him in a way that genuinely surprised him. But the heart of this episode is the conversation about what it means to be gay in the entertainment industry from a young age. Nic reflects on the anxiety of auditioning for straight romantic roles as a kid, the fear of being "found out," and how that weight shifted as he grew up and stepped into his identity more fully. He talks candidly about the progress the industry has made — and the ways it still asks queer actors to straddle two worlds. Zach and Nic also get into the fun stuff: dream collaborations (Sabrina Carpenter, a K-pop group, Jennifer Lawrence — yes, all three), the debate between a film career versus a long-running series, and what Nic is actually looking for in a relationship. Plus, Zach officially opens his Instagram DMs to matchmaking applicants — first date paid for, applications reviewed personally, no hate DMs accepted.   Follow Nic on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nicdantes Everything Nic! https://linktr.ee/nicdantes?utm_source=ig&utm_medium=social&utm_content=link_in_bio&fbclid=PAZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAc3J0YwZhcHBfaWQPOTM2NjE5NzQzMzkyNDU5AAGnsiyk4qyvQNXBa3XA3KfbWF8Ay84eKMQZbBU9cDm5eyYS-ysXjqIB_PZJOkw_aem_nPzndVWLK9d69uGsd9VkNA Podcast song by SIXFOOT 5: https://www.sixfoot5prod.com Apple: https://music.apple.com/us/artist/sixfoot-5/1551774977 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/5rHMzoU0G0fLhaBsrQiOOY?si=laSZ5hiKTYubJJyhrzf2JQ Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

What was it like to be gay in San Francisco in the 1970s — when the city was wide open, Harvey Milk was your neighbor, and an entire community was inventing what it meant to be queer? Chuck Forrester lived it. He came out at 28, moved from Wisconsin to the Castro, and found himself in the middle of one of the most extraordinary moments in LGBTQ+ history — one that would soon be transformed forever by the AIDS crisis. In this episode, Chuck shares what it felt like to finally be free, what we lost in the epidemic, and why he spent decades fundraising and fighting for his community — including co-chairing the board of the Human Rights Campaign Fund and raising $3.5 million for the Queer Center at the San Francisco Main Library. He also talks about working as a special assistant to three San Francisco mayors, being a gay dad, and his book Bonding in the Time of Plague — a frank, unapologetic tribute to his generation of gay men. This is living history. And it's essential listening. 📖 Buy Chuck's book Bonding in the Time of Plague on Amazon:https://www.amazon.com/Bonding-Time-Plague-Chuck-Forester/dp/B0H2BQKBCP/ref=sr_1_1?crid=RHYU8UFH1Z39&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.ff6s45NxJL6Kx7d_Y3sl3g.a1eQogOE1q8wtqjKTs-m5Ii7xfOlnLu7OWrz7uBiIL4&dib_tag=se&keywords=Bonding+in+the+Time+of+Plague&qid=1782929360&sprefix=bonding+in+the+time+of+plague%2Caps%2C165&sr=8-1 🎙️ Subscribe to Everything & Anything…and a Bit Gay wherever you listen to podcasts ⭐ Leave us a review — it means everything 📲 Follow us on Instagram: @TheRealZachRE Podcast song by SIXFOOT 5: https://www.sixfoot5prod.com Apple: https://music.apple.com/us/artist/sixfoot-5/1551774977 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/5rHMzoU0G0fLhaBsrQiOOY?si=laSZ5hiKTYubJJyhrzf2JQ Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Madonna is BACK — and she's never been better. On this week's Gay Bit, host Zach Randles-Friedman celebrates the release of Confessions on a Dance Floor 2, Madonna's highly anticipated new album dropping just before the Fourth of July weekend. Zach shares his lifelong love affair with Madonna — from hearing her songs as a fifth-grade safety patrol in Miami, to plastering every inch of his bedroom with posters from Spencer Gifts and Teen Beat, to paying $1,500 a ticket to see her live. He talks about her Coachella surprise with Sabrina Carpenter, why Feel So Free is already a certified banger that had an entire bar singing along, and why this album is exactly what Madonna's fans — and her critics — needed to hear. Plus: why Madonna would absolutely love Zach if she ever came on the podcast, and why he would 100% drop his friends Mandy and Jen the second she texted him back. 🎙️ Everything & Anything…and a Bit Gay drops new episodes every week. Subscribe so you never miss a Gay Bit, a guest interview, or a solo monologue that hits a little too close to home. 👍 Like this episode | 💬 Leave a comment with your favorite track on the new album | 🔔 Subscribe for more Podcast song by SIXFOOT 5: https://www.sixfoot5prod.com Apple: https://music.apple.com/us/artist/sixfoot-5/1551774977 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/5rHMzoU0G0fLhaBsrQiOOY?si=laSZ5hiKTYubJJyhrzf2JQ Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

What happens when we die? Can our loved ones really reach us from the other side? Spiritual counselor and intuitive coach Laura Hoorweg joins Zach for a wide-ranging, mind-expanding conversation about life after death, mediumship, soul families, and what it truly means to evolve as a soul. Laura shares her extraordinary out-of-body experience at 15 that changed everything she believed about life and death — plus the car accident she believes was prevented by an actual angel. She breaks down the difference between psychics and mediums, why mediumship is a gift you're born with (not something you can be taught), and how she uses her abilities to help people heal from grief and rebuild their lives. They also get into: forest bathing and wilderness as spiritual connection, why Earth is the only planet of free will, reincarnation and soul contracts, what really happens when we pass over, and why there is no hell. 💻 Connect with Laura: 🌐 www.spiritspeaks2.me 📧 [email protected] 📬 Subscribe so you don't miss Part 2 with Laura — coming soon! 👍 If this episode resonated with you, leave a review, share it with someone who needs it, and hit subscribe. It truly makes a difference. Podcast song by SIXFOOT 5: https://www.sixfoot5prod.com Apple: https://music.apple.com/us/artist/sixfoot-5/1551774977 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/5rHMzoU0G0fLhaBsrQiOOY?si=laSZ5hiKTYubJJyhrzf2JQ Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

We're flipping the table today. No guests. No interview. Just Zach, a microphone, and a very long list of verified, documented, reported facts — because an informed community is a powerful community, and silence is complicity. In this solo episode, Zach walks through the full record of what the orange convicted felon has done since January 20th, 2025. Not opinion. Not rant. Everything cited from news organizations, congressional records, nonpartisan watchdogs, and in many cases, his own words. In this episode: The promises vs. the receipts — prices, gas, energy costs, and "no new wars" Who this man actually is — the Access Hollywood tape, E. Jean Carroll, 34 felony counts, two impeachments The legislative war on trans Americans — 598 bills in 2025, 796 under consideration in 2026, and what's really happening in federal prisons ICE raids, civilian deaths, and 75,000 people with zero criminal record deported Venezuela, Iran, and the two wars he started after promising peace The Epstein files — what was released, what was withheld, and the questions we deserve to ask out loud Gaza, $12 billion in weapons, and what "peace" actually looks like The defunding of PBS and NPR — 58 years of public broadcasting, gone Freedom 250 and the only person who said yes: Vanilla Ice This episode is not the kind Zach usually makes. He prefers inspiring interviews and uplifting conversations. But this has been building — and sometimes you have to put it all on the table so the community can see the full picture in one place. If this episode moved you, share it. Send it to someone who keeps saying "it's not that bad." Podcast song by SIXFOOT 5: https://www.sixfoot5prod.com Apple: https://music.apple.com/us/artist/sixfoot-5/1551774977 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/5rHMzoU0G0fLhaBsrQiOOY?si=laSZ5hiKTYubJJyhrzf2JQ Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

📋 Show Notes Everything & Anything…and a Bit GayEpisode: The Questions That Exhaust Us There's a particular kind of tired that comes not from overworking or overextending — but from decades of explaining your existence to people who feel entitled to interrogate it. In this solo This Is Everything episode, Zach Randles-Friedman names that feeling out loud: exhaustion. And then he does something more interesting than venting about it — he unpacks it. Zach walks through some of the most common (and most maddening) questions and phrases that follow LGBTQ+ people through life, not just to dismiss them, but to sit with what they actually reveal — about the people who say them, about the culture that produces them, and about the extraordinary amount of labor our community has long performed just to be seen. In this episode, Zach covers: "Why isn't there a straight pride?" — The history matters. Stonewall wasn't a party. It was a survival riot led by trans women of color who had nowhere else to go. Pride was chosen deliberately because society demanded shame. Straight people have never had to build a movement to reclaim their dignity — and that's not an insult, it's just the truth. "I'm fine with gay people, I just don't want it shoved in my face." — Zach breaks down the quiet cruelty in this one: the entire architecture of public life was built around straight love — every movie, every commercial, every magazine — and no one ever asked him if that was shoved in his face. He made room for their story his whole life. All we're asking is: can you make room for ours? The bachelorette party problem. — Why do straight people flood gay bars seeking safety, then perform hyper-masculinity to prove they don't belong there? Zach unpacks the dynamic with empathy and a little exasperation. "I'm gay, but I don't need to make it my whole personality." — This one comes from inside the house, and it's the hardest to sit with. Zach shares a personal story about a close friend who slowly disappeared into an acceptable, contained version of himself — and what it cost him. There is no correct amount of gay. There is no right way to express it. But if your self-expression includes looking down on people who are more visible or more flamboyant, that's internalized shame — and it doesn't disappear when you come out. It just changes clothes. "You don't look gay." — Not a compliment. Not an insult. A window into someone's imagination built with incomplete information. Zach reflects on how deeply he once absorbed the idea that "passing" was protection — and what it cost him to unlearn it. "When did you decide to be gay?" — We don't decide. We discover. And usually long before we have the language for it. But Zach goes further: even if it were a choice, so what? The premise that choice would make love less legitimate is the thing worth challenging. "Pride has gotten too corporate." — Rainbow capitalism is real, and worth calling out. But Zach remembers when no company would touch the LGBTQ+ community at all — when being associated with anything gay was brand poison. The fact that companies now want to be associated with pride is a reflection of cultural power. Just hold them accountable for what they're doing the other 11 months. "The community was better before all these new labels." — Translation: things were simpler when fewer people felt included. Every new label represents someone who spent years feeling like they didn't exist and finally found a word for themselves. That's not a problem. That's the whole point. Zach closes with something clear and hard-won: after nearly three decades with Andrew, after a lifetime in this community, the people worth explaining yourself to are already trying to understand. They come to the conversation with something open in them. The others? You don't owe them your exhaustion. You owe yourself your energy, your joy, and your pride — not the kind that disappears on July 1st with the merchandise, but the kind that's quiet, certain, and lives in you every single day.   Podcast song by SIXFOOT 5: https://www.sixfoot5prod.com Apple: https://music.apple.com/us/artist/sixfoot-5/1551774977 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/5rHMzoU0G0fLhaBsrQiOOY?si=laSZ5hiKTYubJJyhrzf2JQ Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Episode: Martha Jo Atkins — The Language of Dying What does it feel like to be with someone as they leave this world? Death doula, psychotherapist, and end-of-life specialist Martha Jo Atkins has spent 35+ years answering that question — and she joins Zach for one of the most profound conversations this show has ever had. Martha Jo has been present for more than a thousand deaths. She's watched people reach for loved ones no one else can see. She's heard patients narrate their own journey through doors, ladders, and lights in the ceiling. She's received phone calls — in her dreams — from people who've passed. And she's found a way to hold all of it with grace, curiosity, and zero BS. In this episode: How losing her brother Jim at 24 sent Martha Jo toward a life's work in death and dying What the "language of dying" actually sounds like — and why most families miss it The phenomenon of "friendlies": spirits that appear to the dying before they recognize anyone Why hearing is believed to be the last sense to go — and what that means for the people left in the room Terminal lucidity: when someone who hasn't communicated in years suddenly comes back — and then quietly goes The story of the woman who died smiling, and the three people in the same room who all saw light in the ceiling Butch and the ladders — one of Martha Jo's most unforgettable bedside stories What Martha Jo believes actually happens when we die: "the balloon pops, and we go everywhere" Her evolving views on heaven, hell, and reincarnation — and why she's okay not having all the answers Medical aid in dying: where it's legal, who it helps, and the complicated grief it leaves behind What it means to be a gay death doula — and why LGBTQ+ people deserve end-of-life care that truly sees them Dreams, visitations, and the phone calls that wake Martha Jo up at 5am Zach also gets personal — sharing stories about his father's death, the picture that flew through the shower curtain, six photos that flipped at once, and how a dream from his aunt convinced him to quit smoking for good. Connect with Martha Jo: 🌐 MarthaJoAtkins.com 📺 TEDx Talk: The Language of Dying (2M+ views) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vg8WAv0YT9c If this episode moved you, please share it with someone who needs it. Subscribe, rate, and review — it means everything. See you next episode. Podcast song by SIXFOOT 5: https://www.sixfoot5prod.com Apple: https://music.apple.com/us/artist/sixfoot-5/1551774977 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/5rHMzoU0G0fLhaBsrQiOOY?si=laSZ5hiKTYubJJyhrzf2JQ Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

SHOW NOTES Episode Title: Psychic Medium & Pet Communicator Medium Mari on Signs, Grief & the Gift She Was Born With Episode Summary: This week Zach sits down with Medium Mari — a Boston-area psychic medium, animal communicator, and licensed clinical social worker — for a conversation that goes deep into the world of spirit, intuition, and healing. Mari has spent decades bridging two worlds: the clinical and the metaphysical. The result is a reading experience that's both evidential and deeply compassionate. Episode Highlights: Mari shares what it was like growing up seeing angels at age four and keeping her gift as her "dirty little secret" How her family responded — and why she followed the "normal path" of degrees and clinical work before fully embracing her abilities The moment a UK psychic told her she was meant to do this work — and why she didn't believe him The Orlando airport tarot card story: one card, standing upright in an airport bathroom stall, that read Trust What a reading actually looks like from Mari's side — clairvoyance, images, movie clips, scents, and spirit drawing her words and symbols How her background as a licensed clinical social worker shapes the way she delivers messages with care and intention Energy protection: golden bubbles, grounding meditations, and why grocery stores can be overwhelming when you feel everything A heartfelt message for anyone grieving a pet or a loved one — and how to start noticing the signs they're sending Mari's Books: Heaven Sent — a multi-author compilation of stories about the miraculous ways pets have helped people (available on Amazon and mariamari.com) Reflections Between Two Worlds — a compilation of psychic mediums sharing their experiences, including Mari's account of physically seeing a Revolutionary War soldier at Minuteman National Park Connect with Medium Mari: 🌐 https://www.mediummari.com/ Podcast song by SIXFOOT 5: https://www.sixfoot5prod.com Apple: https://music.apple.com/us/artist/sixfoot-5/1551774977 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/5rHMzoU0G0fLhaBsrQiOOY?si=laSZ5hiKTYubJJyhrzf2JQ Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

My Anti-Aging Secrets: Skincare, Botox, Micro-Needling & What Actually Works It's The Gay Bit — where Zach packs all the gay into one episode. This week, he's pulling back the curtain on his full anti-aging routine: the supplements, the devices, the spa treatments, and yes — the salmon sperm. In this episode: Zach breaks down everything he does to fight aging at 53 — from his 18-pill morning supplement stack (collagen, NAD, multivitamins, and more) to his double-cleanse routine with oil and soap-based cleansers, multiple toners, serums, vitamin C, and SPF. He talks about the LED face masks he buys and never uses, a $2,000 red light wand from South by Southwest that did absolutely nothing, and the treatments that actually make a difference — including micro-needling with salmon sperm facial, Botox every three months, and lip filler. He also gets candid about quitting smoking in January 2020, gaining weight during COVID when the gyms were closed, hating his 40s, and why turning 50 actually felt like a relief. Plus — he's signing up for a personal trainer twice a week at the fitness studio at the end of his block, because accountability is the only thing that gets him to the gym. Oh, and he definitely went on Facebook to look up his straight high school classmates and feel good about himself. No shame. Topics covered:   18-supplement morning routine: collagen, NAD, multivitamins, and horse-sized pills Double-cleanse method, toners, serums, and SPF LED face masks, red light wands, and skincare devices (mostly gathering dust) Micro-needling + salmon sperm facial — yes, really Botox every 3 months, lip filler once a year Quitting smoking in January 2020 and gaining weight during COVID Joining a personal trainer studio twice a week Being 53, gay, and aging on your own terms The Facebook scroll of shame (looking at old classmates)   Want to know the exact collagen supplement Zach swears by? Send him a DM on Instagram! New episodes drop Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday. The Gay Bit drops every Friday. Follow, subscribe, rate, review, and share — it genuinely helps the show grow. Find Zach on social and at TheRealZachRE on IG.  Podcast song by SIXFOOT 5: https://www.sixfoot5prod.com Apple: https://music.apple.com/us/artist/sixfoot-5/1551774977 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/5rHMzoU0G0fLhaBsrQiOOY?si=laSZ5hiKTYubJJyhrzf2JQ Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

This episode is about what it actually looks like to bet on yourself when you have almost nothing — and win. Danielle P.M. Johnson moved from the East Coast to Los Angeles in July 2020, in the middle of a global pandemic, having left behind an abusive marriage and carrying a dream that most people would have talked themselves out of. She arrived at midnight with rolling suitcases and no plan beyond this is what I'm supposed to do. What she's built since then — a choreography career, an Airbnb hustle that paid her first apartment, a women's empowerment organization, a dance-based film series, and a nonprofit that gets dancers paid — is a masterclass in resilience, faith, and moving when you don't feel ready. Zach and Danielle talk about what it really takes to start over, how dance heals even when you don't know who it's healing, and why knowing who you are changes everything. In This Episode How Danielle moved to LA at the height of COVID with a car ride, a suitcase, and a prayer The Airbnb hustle that turned into her first apartment — and got her debt forgiven during the pandemic Her journey from music to choreography — and the prophecy that redirected her entire path What performing means versus just dancing: getting into character so fully that you become the message How dance heals — and why you can never predict which performance will move someone The film series she shot and is now editing: telling the real story behind the highlight reel of entertainment Glow Up House — the organization she founded for women (and men) focused on community, mentorship, and inner growth Cardio Healing — the umbrella LLC and nonprofit helping dancers get booked, costumed, rehearsed, and paid for major events including the NYC Times Square New Year's Eve ball drop What being a strong woman actually means: "I was always that girl — I just didn't know it yet" What she wants her daughter to learn: resilience and going after what God placed inside you Her manifestation list: mansion, Range Rover, touring with Beyoncé and Chris Brown, choreographing for GloRilla, Megan Thee Stallion, Cardi B, and more Guest Bio Danielle P.M. Johnson is a Los Angeles-based choreographer, entrepreneur, and founder of Glow Up House and Cardio Healing. Specializing in hip hop, jazz, and majorette, she got her start on her high school marching band dance team and has spent the last several years building a platform that centers the whole story of the artist — not just the highlight reel. Her nonprofit organization has helped dancers get booked for major performance opportunities including the New York City Times Square New Year's Eve ball drop. Connect with Danielle 🌐 Glow Up House: https://www.theglowuphaus.club/(Merch, one-on-one dance classes, weekly Zoom calls, monthly events, and community membership) Enjoying the Show? If this conversation resonated with you, share it with someone who needs it. And please take a moment to follow, subscribe, rate, and review Everything & Anything…and a Bit Gay — it makes a real difference in helping more people find these stories. Podcast song by SIXFOOT 5: https://www.sixfoot5prod.com Apple: https://music.apple.com/us/artist/sixfoot-5/1551774977 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/5rHMzoU0G0fLhaBsrQiOOY?si=laSZ5hiKTYubJJyhrzf2JQ Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Jacqueline & Japheth | A Girl and a Gay What happens when a metropolitan girly from New York and LA meets a Nashville-born gay man at a summer party — and they become instant best friends? Magic. Content. And a whole lot of tea. Zach sits down with Jacqueline and Japheth, the creators behind the TikTok account A Girl and a Gay, for one of the most wide-ranging, real-talk conversations the show has had in a while. These two met just a year ago through a mutual friend, and they've already built a growing platform giving dating advice to thousands of followers — from real DMs about heartbreak, ghosting, and whether a guy actually likes you. In this episode: How Jacqueline and Japheth met at a Nashville party and became instant best friends (what Japheth calls a "clandestine union of sorts") Jacqueline's move from New York and LA to Nashville — and why she traded city life for something more peaceful What the gay dating scene in Nashville is actually like: close-knit, warm, but also complicated when everyone knows everyone Ghosting, catfishing, and love bombing — why ghosting may be more psychologically damaging than outright rejection How to make friends as an adult (including Zach's Out Close dinner experience in Boston) Being gay in a red state: Japheth's experience growing up out in Tennessee and why he cries every year at Nashville Pride The origin of A Girl and a Gay — how a single TikTok video blew up and turned into a movement Why their DMs started filling up with real relationship questions when they still had under 1,000 followers Skincare secrets (shoutout to Revision Skincare and IT Cosmetics CC cream) And the conversation every aspiring podcaster needs to hear about patience, persistence, and not going in with expectations Connect with Jacqueline & Japheth: TikTok: @agirlAndAGay (combined account) https://www.tiktok.com/@a.girl.and.a.gay Plus their individual TikTok and Instagram accounts —   https://www.tiktok.com/@japhethfranco https://www.tiktok.com/@itsjacqs https://www.instagram.com/japheth__franco/ Everything & Anything…and a Bit Gay is hosted by Zach Randles-Friedman. New episodes drop regularly. Subscribe, leave a review, and share this episode with someone who needs it. Podcast song by SIXFOOT 5: https://www.sixfoot5prod.com Apple: https://music.apple.com/us/artist/sixfoot-5/1551774977 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/5rHMzoU0G0fLhaBsrQiOOY?si=laSZ5hiKTYubJJyhrzf2JQ Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Episode Notes: Let's be real — the gay community has a complicated relationship with age. And Zach is done pretending otherwise. In this episode of This Is Everything, Zach reflects on the journey every gay man eventually takes: from the invincible 20-something who thought 35 was ancient, to the 53-year-old still showing up, still looking good, and still absolutely judging the 21-year-olds walking in like they own the place. In this episode, Zach covers: Growing up in Miami and living his best twink life in South Beach going out six or seven nights a week The exact moment in his 30s at Wonder Bar in New York City when it hit him — oh shit, I'm not the young one anymore The infamous "old troll" comment he and his friend Tony made on the dance floor at Amnesia — and how karma came for both of them Why gay men aging feels a lot more like straight women aging than straight men aging His full skincare arsenal: Botox, microneedling, salmon sperm facials, and his newest obsession — Plated Skin Science, a serum powered by over one trillion platelet-derived exosomes developed by Mayo Clinic physician-scientists Why he'll never do fillers (except for the lips, which doesn't count, apparently) Dressing your age without looking like you've given up — and why he gave his oversized sweaters to his husband The unexpected upside of being 53 in the age of AI About Plated Skin Science: Zach just started using the Plated INTENSE Serum and EYE Serum. Plated is the #1 dermatologist-recommended exosome brand, developed through 20+ years of Mayo Clinic research. The INTENSE Serum contains over 1 trillion platelet-derived exosomes per bottle and is clinically proven to reduce the appearance of fine lines, wrinkles, dark spots, and uneven tone. Time Magazine named it one of the Best Inventions of 2024. Learn more at platedskinscience.com.  💬 Have your own "holy shit I'm getting older" gay bar moment? Tell Zach about it. 📩 DM on Instagram or drop a comment.https://www.instagram.com/therealzachre/ 🎙️ Everything & Anything…and a Bit Gay drops new episodes five days a week. Subscribe, rate, and review wherever you listen — it genuinely helps more than you know.   Podcast song by SIXFOOT 5: https://www.sixfoot5prod.com Apple: https://music.apple.com/us/artist/sixfoot-5/1551774977 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/5rHMzoU0G0fLhaBsrQiOOY?si=laSZ5hiKTYubJJyhrzf2JQ Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Everything & Anything…and a Bit GayEpisode: Billboard-Charting Musical Theater Composer Billy Recce Billy Recce is a queer composer, lyricist, and songwriter whose work spans Broadway development, off-Broadway productions, pop, and cabaret. He's a two-time MAC Award winner, Jonathan Larson Grant finalist, and William Finn Award winner — and his songs have been performed by Bernadette Peters, Mandy Patinkin, Tituss Burgess, and Rachel Dratch, among others. In this episode, Zach and Billy cover: How Billy started writing musicals in spiral notebooks during third-grade math class and got his first major production as the youngest writer in the NY Musical Theater Festival with Balloon Boy His new single "Wanted to Believe" from Big Man — an original musical about Alzheimer's, dementia caregiving, and a character whose condition leads him to believe he's close friends with the Rat Pack. The single is performed by Tony nominee Ramin Karimloo and 100% of proceeds benefit the Alzheimer's Association (alz.org) Foul Play — a queer musical comedy about two theater writers hired to create an apology musical for Chick-fil-A, exploring rainbow capitalism and queer identity, directed by Ty Defoe (Titanic) Little Black Book — Billy's one-woman musical about Heidi Fleiss living in the Nevada desert with 40 parrots, starring Broadway's Orfe, developed through a 2021 concept album and now heading toward a new production What it actually takes to develop a musical — the seven-year journey, packaging, concept albums as momentum-builders, and keeping 18 projects in the fire at once His long-term vision: queering the musical theater canon and telling stories across theater, film, and TV Advice for young queer artists: get your work out, cold email everyone, find your performers, and use every platform available His annual collaboration with P-Town drag performer Paige Turner, writing original songs for her yearly show at the Post Office Café Listen to "Wanted to Believe" https://open.spotify.com/track/0BvwefSfeKbHvBVtV8YNbP on all streaming and digital platforms — and stream it knowing your listen supports the Alzheimer's Association.  Follow Billy: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thebillyrecce/ Website: https://www.billyrecce.com/ Everything & Anything…and a Bit Gay is hosted by Zach Randles-Friedman. If this episode resonated with you, share it — and share Billy's single. Subscribe, rate, and review wherever you listen.     Podcast song by SIXFOOT 5: https://www.sixfoot5prod.com Apple: https://music.apple.com/us/artist/sixfoot-5/1551774977 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/5rHMzoU0G0fLhaBsrQiOOY?si=laSZ5hiKTYubJJyhrzf2JQ Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Episode Notes: David's coming-out episode remains one of the most talked-about on the show — and it's still changing lives. David came out to his family at 52 and hasn't looked back. Sherry, one of Andrew's lifelong friends from Long Island, calls herself "the queen of gays" and is fully here for David living his truth. So is Kim. The whole crew showed up for him. David is now dating someone with deep roots in Boston's gay social scene, which has opened up a whole new world for him — but it also highlighted something real: when you come out later in life, you missed decades of gay bar culture, queer friendships, and community, and navigating that for the first time at 52 is its own experience. Zach's Club Cafe history is legendary. The $250 Uber ride home after one particularly chaotic night — including a very unfortunate moment on Route 90 West — is a tale for the ages. The throuple breakup outside the bar, and the guy's absolute audacity to seek comfort from Zach minutes after being cold to him inside, is a masterclass in what not to do. Zach's podcast advisor gave him a note this week: stop reading comments. Stop clapping back in public. The show is growing, people are recognizing him, and one clip out of context can become a whole thing. Zach is working on it. He will, however, always step in when someone posts something harmful about a guest from a marginalized community. That line doesn't move. Provincetown update: Crown & Anchor has been sold and redone. Governor Bradford's situation is still evolving. Lots of change happening in P-Town. Zach is going in August for a short stay and is now actually excited about it. If you've never been to Provincetown and you're part of the LGBTQ+ community — go. Budget accordingly. Tea dance alone is worth it The Gay Bit drops every Friday on Everything & Anything…and a Bit Gay. New guest episode Sunday. Podcast song by SIXFOOT 5: https://www.sixfoot5prod.com Apple: https://music.apple.com/us/artist/sixfoot-5/1551774977 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/5rHMzoU0G0fLhaBsrQiOOY?si=laSZ5hiKTYubJJyhrzf2JQ Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Dr. Lee Phillips has built a wildly unique career sitting at the intersection of clinical expertise and comedy. With a doctorate in psychology, a master's in social work, and a growing social media following fueled by his razor-sharp takes on gay dating and public confrontations, Dr. Lee is a voice the LGBTQ+ community didn't know it needed — until now. In this episode, Zach and Dr. Lee cover: How Dr. Lee went from a kid in Chesapeake, Virginia dreaming of Broadway to becoming a licensed sex therapist and viral comedian in New York City What ethical non-monogamy (ENM) actually means — and the very real jealousy that can hit even a therapist when his husband downloads Scruff first Why some couples thrive in open relationships while others absolutely do not — and the red flags to watch for The "intimacy desire paradox" and the sweatpants phase: what happens to desire in long-term relationships and how couples can reclaim their erotic connection Why Somerville, Massachusetts is apparently the polyamory capital of the United States (Zach has receipts) The viral coffee shop reel that got 1.3 million views, caught the attention of A-list celebrities, and launched Dr. Lee's comedy career Boston gays vs. New York gays vs. DC gays — an honest, hilarious breakdown What it felt like to be recognized in a restaurant and a gym locker room for cursing someone out on camera Two books in the works: an academic text on sex, disability, and chronic illness — and Queering Desire, a comedy-infused guide to queer sex, dating, and relationships The comedians Dr. Lee admires most (Matteo Lane and Jessie Kersen get major shoutouts) Salmon sperm microneedling, skincare obsessions, and why Dr. Lee's husband is now going through their face soap "like crazy" Whether you're in a monogamous relationship, an open one, or somewhere in between, this conversation will make you laugh, think, and probably text your partner something interesting. Follow Dr. Lee Phillips: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drleephillips/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@drleephillips5 Greenwich Village Comedy Club Pride Show: June 24 — https://www.greenwichvillagecomedyclub.com/ Podcast song by SIXFOOT 5: https://www.sixfoot5prod.com Apple: https://music.apple.com/us/artist/sixfoot-5/1551774977 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/5rHMzoU0G0fLhaBsrQiOOY?si=laSZ5hiKTYubJJyhrzf2JQ Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Doreen Mary Bray is a psychic medium, herbalist, therapist, mystical guide, and spirit communicator who has been in contact with the spirit world since birth — literally since the moment she was delivered. In this episode, Doreen shares stories spanning decades of work: freeing earthbound spirits, performing exorcisms, healing through herbs, and teaching thousands of students to access deeper states of consciousness. She explains the fundamental difference between a soul (embodied), a spirit (bodiless), and a ghost (earthbound, unresolved), and walks through the 10-day process she believes the soul experiences after death — including how even those who committed great harm eventually move through a form of penance and release. Doreen recounts one of her most memorable experiences: dematerializing mid-meditation class, traveling to another time and place, inhabiting the body of a Jewish man teaching spiritual wisdom in Hebrew (a language she doesn't speak), and reappearing in her chair 20 minutes later — while her students searched the building for her. We also get into herbal healing, the karmic reasons we reincarnate, the soul groups we return to life after life, the 250,000+ inhabited planets she believes exist, and her core message: get out of your head and into your body. That's where truth lives. To work with Doreen — whether for healing, spirit communication, or her online and in-person classes — visit https://www.doreenmarybray.com/ Podcast song by SIXFOOT 5: https://www.sixfoot5prod.com Apple: https://music.apple.com/us/artist/sixfoot-5/1551774977 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/5rHMzoU0G0fLhaBsrQiOOY?si=laSZ5hiKTYubJJyhrzf2JQ Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Episode: This Is Everything — Queer People Contain Multitudes Welcome to the first installment of This Is Everything — Zach's new weekly segment on Everything & Anything…and a Bit Gay that goes a little deeper, a little wider, and a lot more personal than the Friday A Bit Gay episodes. This week, Zach opens with a thesis he's been carrying for a long time: queer people contain multitudes. Not groundbreaking on the surface — but Zach argues the world hasn't actually caught up to it yet. We are not a demographic. We are not a checkbox on a marketing brief. And every June when brands slap a rainbow on their logo and then quietly walk it back by July, it's a reminder of exactly that. In this episode, Zach talks about: The difference between A Bit Gay (campy, fun, Fridays) and This Is Everything (this new, deeper weekly segment) Why queer people think about identity more than almost anyone else — and why that depth is a gift, not a burden His own coming out story and what it meant to come out at 20, when so many kids today are out in junior high The corporate Pride rollback — brands pulling merchandise and rainbow logos after political pressure What Everything & Anything…and a Bit Gay actually is: not a news show, not a comedy show, not a gossip show — but a genuine, sometimes profound, sometimes ridiculous conversation about being alive right now, through a queer lens Spirituality without religion: how so many queer people had their faith broken by institutions that told them God didn't love them, and why that journey of finding your own sacred is worth talking about Consciousness, simulation theory, past lives, and what happens after we die — topics coming soon to the show Pop culture (yes, the Housewives), trans rights, and the stories that shape how the world sees us A direct message to new listeners: straight, queer, questioning, or just someone who loves a real conversation — you are welcome here Zach's promise: He'll always be honest, always be curious, and always show up as the real version of himself — not the polished, brand-managed one. Podcast song by SIXFOOT 5: https://www.sixfoot5prod.com Apple: https://music.apple.com/us/artist/sixfoot-5/1551774977 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/5rHMzoU0G0fLhaBsrQiOOY?si=laSZ5hiKTYubJJyhrzf2JQ Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Dr. Bradley Nelson — chiropractor, author, and founder of Discover Healing — joins Zach to reveal how trapped emotions silently sabotage our health, relationships, and ability to love. From crushing chest pain that vanished in seconds to a woman who found her childhood sweetheart living around the corner for eight years, Dr. Nelson shares remarkable stories that will completely change the way you think about your body. In this episode: What the Emotion Code is and how it works Why 93% of people have a "heart wall" — and don't know it How a 9-year-old's clinical depression was resolved in 30 minutes The science of cellular memory and heart transplant recipients who inherit their donor's cravings, memories, and even helped solve a murder Why Einstein and Tesla's ideas about energy, frequency, and vibration are the future of medicine Inherited trapped emotions — and how trauma passes down 20+ generations The three books that teach you to do this work yourself Resources: Dr. Bradley Nelson's website + free Heart Wall session: drbradleynelson.com Find a certified practitioner worldwide: discoverhealing.com Books: The Emotion Code, The Heart Code, The Body Code — available on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and Audible  https://www.amazon.com/stores/Dr.-Bradley-Nelson/author/B0FNYPNSY9?ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1&qid=1781137653&sr=8-1&shoppingPortalEnabled=true&ccs_id=deaccce2-7c3d-4f0d-93bb-907e3e2ff00c The Body Code app — available on the App Store and Google Play https://apps.apple.com/us/app/the-body-code-system/id1495849195 Everything & Anything…and a Bit Gay is hosted by Zach Randles-Friedman. New episodes weekly. Follow, subscribe, and leave a review wherever you listen. Podcast song by SIXFOOT 5: https://www.sixfoot5prod.com Apple: https://music.apple.com/us/artist/sixfoot-5/1551774977 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/5rHMzoU0G0fLhaBsrQiOOY?si=laSZ5hiKTYubJJyhrzf2JQ Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Are you actually happy — or just really good at staying distracted? In this week's Gay Bit, Zach gets real about the difference between being busy and being fulfilled, the noise we use to drown out our own thoughts, and why slowing down might be the most radical thing you can do right now. Zach explores how full calendars, constant plans, and social media highlight reels can mask a deeper emptiness — and shares his own honest self-audit, from skipping concerts he bought tickets for months ago to his husband Andrew calling him "busy drag queen" for building a cat scratcher mid-episode of Euphoria. In this episode:   The viral "are you happy?" TikTok format — and why the answers hit so hard Why busyness is easy, and fulfillment takes actual intention Social life in the LGBTQ+ community vs. straight couples with kids The friend who can't sit in silence — and what she said that stuck with Zach Andrew's "activity vs. dinner" divide and their new rule about buying local concert tickets FOMO, overthinking, and the song that won't leave your head at 2am Dr. Bradley Nelson's work on emotional energy and trauma What it actually means to come back to yourself   Connect with Zach: 🌐 everythinganyanythingpodcast.com 📸 Instagram: @TheRealZachRe Everything & Anything…and a Bit Gay — new episodes weekly. Subscribe so you never miss a Gay Bit Friday. Podcast song by SIXFOOT 5: https://www.sixfoot5prod.com Apple: https://music.apple.com/us/artist/sixfoot-5/1551774977 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/5rHMzoU0G0fLhaBsrQiOOY?si=laSZ5hiKTYubJJyhrzf2JQ Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Tim Bair is the author of Ever Near, a memoir and spiritual account of his ongoing relationship with his late wife Marilyn, who passed away from gastric cancer in 2017. Beginning just one week after her death, Tim began hearing Marilyn's voice — first audibly during a walk, then through what became a practice of writing letters together. That collection of letters, now numbering over 400, forms the foundation of his book series. In this episode, Tim talks about how their bond transcended physical life, how Marilyn helped him through years of chronic pain from a spinal injury, and what she has shared about her experience on the other side — including teaching classes in the spirit realm on how to communicate with living loved ones. Tim also offers a gentle framework for anyone who has lost someone: starting with grief, moving toward nostalgia, and simply allowing the possibility that connection might continue. Ever Near is available on Amazon. Tim is currently working on his second book in the series. https://a.co/d/08eLmOkq Podcast song by SIXFOOT 5: https://www.sixfoot5prod.com Apple: https://music.apple.com/us/artist/sixfoot-5/1551774977 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/5rHMzoU0G0fLhaBsrQiOOY?si=laSZ5hiKTYubJJyhrzf2JQ Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Peggy is the author of Surviving the Family Kingdom: A Memoir of Growing Up in a Mom's Cult, Escaping and Reclaiming a Life, available now on Amazon. A psychotherapist of more than 20 years specializing in trauma, she sat down with Zach to talk through her extraordinary story — from the violent men and instability of her early childhood, to the gradual systematic indoctrination that began around age 11, to the "domino effect" that finally collapsed the kingdom when she walked away. We get into the four trauma responses (and why children most often "fawn"), the lasting toll of chronic cortisol stress on the body, deprogramming from beliefs about destiny and demons, radical acceptance, forgiveness, and what it meant for Peggy to raise her own children with a voice she was never allowed to have. If you've ever survived a controlling environment — a cult, an abusive relationship, a toxic family — this one is for you. 📖 Get the book: Surviving the Family Kingdom on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Surviving-Family-Kingdom-Escaping-Reclaiming-ebook/dp/B0GMKLM4FW  💬 Leave a comment and tell us what you think — and please leave Peggy a review on Amazon. Podcast song by SIXFOOT 5: https://www.sixfoot5prod.com Apple: https://music.apple.com/us/artist/sixfoot-5/1551774977 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/5rHMzoU0G0fLhaBsrQiOOY?si=laSZ5hiKTYubJJyhrzf2JQ Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Grant Ginder is the author of six novels, including The People We Hate at Weddings (adapted into the 2024 film starring Kristen Bell and Ben Platt) and his latest, So Old, So Young — a story that drops in on six college friends across five parties over twenty years. A University of Pennsylvania grad and former Washington speechwriter, Grant now teaches in the MFA program at NYU. In this episode: Welcoming baby Celia via surrogacy — and the woman who made it possible How Frankie the dog became the world's gentlest big… er, little-sister supervisor The So Old, So Young structure: five parties, twenty years, six friends Writing (and wanting to burn) his first novel at 23 after a brutal breakup The millennial reckoning with homeownership, kids, and the markers of "real" adulthood Sipping gin and tonics through a Watch What Happens Live taping with Erika Jayne and Elizabeth Perkins The Long Island Railroad wine binge that birthed The People We Hate at Weddings Meeting husband Mac (and the handshake that almost killed it) Phones, performance culture, and why we were "so lucky" to grow up offline 📚 Grab So Old, So Young — https://www.grantginder.com  🏳️‍🌈 Catch Grant at East End Books in Provincetown this September, including an event with John Glenn for his queer Arthurian retelling The Lost Book of Lancelot. Chapter Markers / Timestamps 00:00  Welcome — meet author Grant Ginder 00:30  Surprise! A brand-new baby (not a horse) 02:58  The surrogacy journey & their "hero" surrogate 05:31  So Old, So Young — the book 06:00  Getting tipsy on Watch What Happens Live 08:45  Five parties, twenty years: the book's structure 11:35  Laguna Beach to UPenn to speechwriting 13:00  Writing a novel at 23 after his first heartbreak 14:41  "How did I get to 40?" — the passage of time 17:50  Why millennials hit adulthood differently 20:36  The People We Hate at Weddings 21:55  Four bottles of wine & the train ride that started it all 23:48  The 2024 movie (Kristen Bell & Ben Platt) 24:08  Meeting husband Mac — and the dreaded handshake 29:11  Phones, performance & a Swedish Lapland digital detox 31:40  How Frankie the dog took to baby Celia 32:54  What's next: new book + a September in P-Town Podcast song by SIXFOOT 5: https://www.sixfoot5prod.com Apple: https://music.apple.com/us/artist/sixfoot-5/1551774977 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/5rHMzoU0G0fLhaBsrQiOOY?si=laSZ5hiKTYubJJyhrzf2JQ Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The rainbow flags are missing this June — and the silence is telling. In this Pride Month episode, Zach goes deep on rainbow washing (a.k.a. rainbow capitalism): what it is, where it came from, how it took over Pride, and why corporations are now retreating in record numbers. From the 1969 Stonewall riots to Subaru's coded 1990s lesbian marketing, from the Bud Light and Target blowups of 2023 to the six-figure sponsorship shortfalls hitting New York, San Francisco, and Seattle Pride right now — this is the honest conversation about what corporate Pride was really about, what we lose when it leaves, and why this painful moment might be the most clarifying one our community has had in decades. Because Pride didn't start as a party. It started as a protest. And it's finding its way back. ⏱️ Chapters  00:00 Where did all the rainbow flags go?  02:00 Stonewall: Pride started as a riot, not a party  03:30 How corporate America got into Pride  07:00 What rainbow washing actually is  09:30 The 2023 turning point: Bud Light & Target  13:00 The 2026 numbers: a staggering corporate retreat  15:00 The community fights back: Twin Cities Pride  18:00 What real allyship actually looks like  19:00 Where this leaves us Podcast song by SIXFOOT 5: https://www.sixfoot5prod.com Apple: https://music.apple.com/us/artist/sixfoot-5/1551774977 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/5rHMzoU0G0fLhaBsrQiOOY?si=laSZ5hiKTYubJJyhrzf2JQ Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Are we losing LGBTQ+ unity — or do we just need to rebuild what it looks like? In this Friday's Gay Bit, Zach digs into the division he's been watching play out inside the community: gay men turning on trans folks, bisexual and pansexual people getting invalidated, non-binary identities misunderstood, and comment sections full of people who'd rather criticize than get curious. He reflects on the incredible bravery of the people he's interviewed — including a friend who came out at 52 to his wife and three sons, and trans women who transitioned later in life after decades of feeling something was missing. He gets real about why he struggles to ignore the trolls, what this podcast has taught him about respecting trans experiences, and the 650+ anti-trans bills moving through government right now. The big idea: the world still sees us as one community. When we divide internally, we hand our opponents the cracks they're looking for. Unity in 2026 isn't about ignoring our differences — it's about choosing understanding, one conversation at a time. This Pride Month, Zach's challenge is simple: you don't have to be best friends with everyone in the alphabet. Just respect them. Just be kind. In this episode: The bravery of coming out — and transitioning — later in life Why Zach can't stop reading (and fighting) the comments Gay men vs. trans folks, and where the real division is coming from Bisexual, pansexual, and non-binary identities under the same umbrella The 650+ anti-trans bills and why "it doesn't affect me" doesn't fly Hope on the horizon: Hungary, Stonewall, and the moments that prove we can come together 🎧 Listen to Everything & Anything…and a Bit Gay wherever you get your podcasts 🌐 everythingandanythingpodcast.com Podcast song by SIXFOOT 5: https://www.sixfoot5prod.com Apple: https://music.apple.com/us/artist/sixfoot-5/1551774977 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/5rHMzoU0G0fLhaBsrQiOOY?si=laSZ5hiKTYubJJyhrzf2JQ Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Episode Title: The Hyphenated Life — Dr. Han on Intersectional Identity, Queer Mental Health, and Surviving the In-Between Guest: Dr. Han (drhanren.com) Zach sits down with Dr. Han — psychologist, author, and TikTok creator — who specializes in liberation psychology and anti-oppressive care for children of immigrants, queer people, and Asian Americans. Dr. Han grew up as a 1.5 generation immigrant, born in China and raised in Michigan, and came to her queerness later in life. That lived experience of never quite fitting in any one box is exactly what her upcoming book is about. In this conversation, they get into: What it means to be a "hyphenate" — someone who holds multiple marginalized identities and refuses to collapse into just one The psychology behind queer and immigrant overachieving and perfectionism — and when ambition becomes burnout How Trump 1.0 shaped the demand for specialized mental health care — and what Trump 2.0 is doing to the communities Dr. Han serves The numbing out, dissociation, and nihilism she's seeing in clients right now Trans and non-binary clients in Texas: the painful reality of going back into hiding or planning to leave the state The DEI rollback and what the defunding of Pride events and corporate ERG programs actually costs marginalized communities How Dr. Han built her TikTok presence during the pandemic — and the exhaustion of staying on that hamster wheel Managing her own mental health while absorbing the weight of other people's trauma Dr. Han's new book, The Hyphenated Life: Bridging the In-Between Spaces of Intersectional Identities, is out June 16th and available for pre-order now. 📖 Pre-order: drhanren.com 🛒 Also available on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and Bookshop Podcast song by SIXFOOT 5: https://www.sixfoot5prod.com Apple: https://music.apple.com/us/artist/sixfoot-5/1551774977 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/5rHMzoU0G0fLhaBsrQiOOY?si=laSZ5hiKTYubJJyhrzf2JQ Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Everything & Anything…and a Bit Gay David Archuleta: Devout, Coming Out, and Owning Your Sexual Health Zach sits down with David Archuleta — the beloved American Idol runner-up, recording artist, and now New York Times bestselling author — for a conversation that is equal parts honest, hopeful, and necessary. David opens up about his debut memoir Devout, the immediate bestseller that explores what it means to grow up queer inside the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, why he left the church, and what he hopes readers — especially those still inside religious communities — take away from his story. They also get into David's work with Gilead as an HIV prevention advocate, why he's talking openly about PrEP, and what he'd say directly to a young Latino man who's never had that conversation with a doctor. In this episode: What it felt like the moment Devout hit the New York Times bestseller list How coming out changed the way David makes music — and the creative relief that followed Growing up in a Latino household where sex was never discussed, and why he's changing that His partnership with Gilead and the healthysexuals.com resource for LGBTQ+ sexual health Why HIV infection rates in the Latino community rising 12% makes this conversation urgent The Shawn Mendes collaboration we are now officially manifesting What keeps David grounded when faith, identity, art, and advocacy all pull at once Links & Resources: Devout by David Archuleta — available wherever books are sold https://a.co/d/0djdKJYr David's music: davidarchuleta.com Sexual health resources: healthysexuals.com (Gilead) Follow David: https://www.instagram.com/davidarchie/ Podcast song by SIXFOOT 5: https://www.sixfoot5prod.com Apple: https://music.apple.com/us/artist/sixfoot-5/1551774977 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/5rHMzoU0G0fLhaBsrQiOOY?si=laSZ5hiKTYubJJyhrzf2JQ Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Episode Title: Kevin James Thornton on Big Baby, Coming Out Late & Finding Fame at 50 Episode Summary: Zach sits down with Kevin James Thornton — author, comedian, musician, and TikTok sensation — for a candid, warm, and hilarious conversation about his upcoming memoir Big Baby, out June 2, 2026. From growing up in Indiana and getting swept into a church youth group to spending two decades chasing a record deal in Nashville, Kevin's life story is equal parts heartbreaking and absurdly funny. He and Zach bond over shared experiences: the AIDS-era fear that shaped their coming-of-age, sneaky JCPenney catalog moments, sleeping with girls in high school, and the long, winding road to finally living as yourself. Kevin gets candid about living in his car at 40, waiting tables to get back on his feet, an abusive relationship he kept secret for years, the unexpected viral TikTok fame that changed everything around age 50, touring 10 cities across Europe, going through a gay divorce after a decade-long relationship, and recording an audiobook that brought him to tears in a New York recording studio. Episode Notes: Kevin grew up in Indiana and joined a church youth group in high school — not from a religious family, but because it was the only thing to do in his small town He knew he was gay but had deeply partitioned it off, coming out gradually through college His parents' reaction when he finally told them: "We know this already, but thanks for telling us" He spent roughly two decades in Nashville trying to get a record deal — bands from his scene included Kings of Leon and Kacey Musgraves When the band fell apart, he moved to LA on a whim to become a standup comedian with zero experience He toured a one-man comedy show about growing up religious and coming out at fringe festivals for four years After burning out and returning to Nashville, he was briefly living in his 1997 Chevy Beretta — at age 40 He rebuilt his life waitressing, saved money, moved in with a friend, and eventually entered a 10-year relationship During the pandemic, his TikTok blew up — nearly a million followers in six months, people recognizing him at the grocery store He went back on the road with actual support and audiences: 200 people in Helsinki, Finland, had no idea who he was A literary agency approached him after his TikTok success; Big Baby is the result — a full memoir divided into three parts The book includes: a pregnancy scandal from his teenage years, an abusive relationship in LA, and living in his car — all told with humor alongside the pain Kevin recorded the audiobook himself and got choked up multiple times in the recording booth — he describes it as unexpectedly healing He recently went through a gay divorce after 10+ years together; the breakup is woven into the third section of the book He and Zach connect over the Gen X / 50-ish life reset — both left stable careers to pursue creative work full-time Buy the Book: Big Baby by Kevin James Thornton — available for pre-order now on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and everywhere books are sold. Audiobook available same day, June 2, 2026. 👉 https://www.hachettebookgroup.com/titles/kevin-james-thornton/big-baby/9780306836763/ Amazon: https://a.co/d/0arD5BXd   Follow Kevin: TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@kevinjamesthornton Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kevinjamesthornton/ Website: https://www.kevinjamesthornton.com/ Podcast song by SIXFOOT 5: https://www.sixfoot5prod.com Apple: https://music.apple.com/us/artist/sixfoot-5/1551774977 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/5rHMzoU0G0fLhaBsrQiOOY?si=laSZ5hiKTYubJJyhrzf2JQ Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Episode Summary It's Pride Month, and Zach is getting into all of it — the joy, the history, the politics, and the very real threats facing the LGBTQ+ community in 2026. This isn't just a celebration episode; it's a call to remember why Pride exists in the first place. In This Episode The magic of NYC Pride and what makes it unlike anything else Why Pride started — the Stonewall riots, Marsha P. Johnson, Sylvia Rivera, and the raw resistance that launched a movement Why Pride still matters: 650+ anti-LGBTQ+ bills introduced in 2026, trans people targeted despite being less than 1% of the population, and rising visibility bans The corporate retreat from DEI and Pride sponsorships — and what it means for community funding Counter-pride events: straight pride nights, "traditional family" campaigns, and what's happening in Tennessee Why the answer to "why do you still need a Pride month?" is: visibility, community, and protection Where Pride goes from here — and why returning to its grassroots roots might be exactly what's needed Zach's best (and most memorable) NYC Pride stories Resources & References Mentioned Listen Up Girl podcast — daily LGBTQ+ news in 10 minutes or less Marsha P. Johnson & Sylvia Rivera — Stonewall-era activists and trans rights pioneers Stonewall Riots, 1969 Share This Episode If this episode resonated with you, share it with someone who needs a reminder of why Pride matters. And please leave a review on your favorite podcast platform — it helps more people find the show. Podcast song by SIXFOOT 5: https://www.sixfoot5prod.com Apple: https://music.apple.com/us/artist/sixfoot-5/1551774977 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/5rHMzoU0G0fLhaBsrQiOOY?si=laSZ5hiKTYubJJyhrzf2JQ Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Episode Title: From Small-Town Connecticut to 200K Followers — Spencer Thomas Gets Bit Gay Episode Summary: Spencer Thomas is a 23-year-old NYC-based TikTok creator, writer, and author of Goodbye to Boyhood — a self-published collection of short stories about queer identity, solitude, and growing up. He's amassed over 200K followers on TikTok by doing exactly what he set out to do: more gay shit. In this episode, Zach and Spencer go deep on coming out in a conservative Connecticut town, the community and chaos of gay bar culture in New York and Boston, queer spaces being colonized by straight crowds, his solo trip to Peru, and what it really means to find your people. Episode Notes: Spencer grew up in Redding, Connecticut — a small town with little more than trees and a church — where boredom led him to writing and creativity. He came out at 16 after years of suspecting something was "different," including a pivotal moment watching The Goonies at age five. A memorable summer camp kiss with a girl was the final confirmation: not the path for him. He came out as bisexual first (a common gateway, as he notes with love), then didn't look back. After dreaming of New York City through childhood visits to his grandmother on the Upper West Side, Spencer enrolled at NYU, double-majored in journalism and English, minored in creative writing, and wrote his first book while still in school. Goodbye to Boyhood — 10 chronological short stories spanning birthday parties, father relationships, first hookups, and grief — was self-published on his own terms at 21. He paid for the editor and cover designer himself, kept the rights, and used his platform to get it into readers' hands. Signed copies with handwritten letters are available via his TikTok Shop. Zach and Spencer swap gay bar origin stories — Boiler Room in its decrepit, beloved old form, Playhouse before the TSA scanners, Flaming Saddles pre-bachelor-party invasion — and have a frank conversation about the state of Boston's queer nightlife. Spencer visited Club Cafe and found it overrun with bachelorette parties and straight couples, which turned into a viral video and a Queerness article that his grandfather called him about from Miami. Zach recommends Trophy Room, Danny's Queer Bar, Blend in Dorchester, and D-Bar as better options — and promises Spencer a proper Boston gay bar tour on his next visit. The conversation turns to community: why queer spaces carry historical weight, what gets lost when those spaces are colonized by people detached from the culture, and why Spencer believes most gay cattiness comes from scarcity of safe space, not character. Spencer also talks about his solo trip to Peru — sand dunes, Nazca lines, altitude sickness in Cusco, a yoga retreat he worked for free, and why he left his phone behind for five days in the desert. Spencer is currently deep in writing his debut novel (title under wraps, publication a couple years out) and planning interview-style video content with queer author Edward Schmidt, whose novel An Open Era drops June 2nd. His next TikTok series is still TBD — he invites listeners to tell him what they want to see. Guest Links: Spencer Thomas on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@byspencerthomas Spencer Thomas on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/byspencerthomas/ Goodbye to Boyhood on Amazon: https://a.co/d/08y8sXw6 Mentioned in This Episode: Club Cafe, Boston Trophy Room, Boston Danny's Queer Bar, Boston Blend, Dorchester D-Bar, Boston Boiler Room, NYC (new location on 2nd Ave & 3rd St) Playhouse, NYC Flaming Saddles, NYC Atlas Social Club, NYC Holiday Bar, NYC Montauk (now in the old Boiler Room space on 4th St) NYU, double major journalism/English An Open Era by Edward Schmidt Podcast song by SIXFOOT 5: https://www.sixfoot5prod.com Apple: https://music.apple.com/us/artist/sixfoot-5/1551774977 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/5rHMzoU0G0fLhaBsrQiOOY?si=laSZ5hiKTYubJJyhrzf2JQ Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Episode Summary: Zach recaps his Memorial Day Weekend trip to Provincetown during Baby Dyke Week — and officially walks back his short-lived "Boston gays aren't so bad" take. Spoiler: they are. In This Episode: The last-minute ferry trip to P-Town with friends from New York and a 3-day Airbnb right on Commercial Street Tea dance at the Boat Slip, strong drinks, gummies, and a lesson Zach apparently keeps having to relearn Boston gays spotted forming impenetrable circles at tea — and why every friendly person in the crowd was from literally anywhere else The full Boston gay history: Benjamin Smith, Instagram comment sections, multiple guests saying the same thing, and now this weekend cementing it A specific run-in with a Boston guy who had energy — and Zach's very detailed response to said energy Baby Dyke Week lesbians: friendly, fun, rowdy by Sunday, and absolutely not eating dinner past 7:15 Zach's Provincetown tier list: when to go, when to skip (Family Week, Carnival, Leather Weekend — noted) A late-summer return to P-Town is already planned — solo trip during the week, no crowds, very much looking forward to it The rapid development happening in Provincetown and what the town might look like in five years Connect with Zach: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/therealzachre/ Let me know if you want me to adjust the tone, add timestamps, or pull a quote for an Instagram caption! Podcast song by SIXFOOT 5: https://www.sixfoot5prod.com Apple: https://music.apple.com/us/artist/sixfoot-5/1551774977 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/5rHMzoU0G0fLhaBsrQiOOY?si=laSZ5hiKTYubJJyhrzf2JQ Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The Gay Bit | Hookup Apps vs. Real Connection In this week's episode of The Gay Bit, Zach gets into one of the most talked-about (and exhausting) topics in gay culture right now: dating apps and whether they're actually helping anyone find what they're looking for. Zach runs through the full landscape — from the gay-specific apps like Grindr, Scruff, Jacked, Hornet, Growlr, Her, and Sniffies, to mainstream platforms like Tinder, Hinge, Bumble, and OkCupid — and shares his honest (and very funny) take on all of it. He reflects on why so many of his friends are struggling despite having more options than ever, and whether apps are to blame for the slow disappearance of real gay social culture. He also gets personal — sharing how he met his husband Andrew in an AOL chat room in 1998, why 27+ years of monogamy is genuinely rare, and what he thinks it actually takes to build a lasting connection. And of course, the DC hungry story makes an appearance. In this episode: A full breakdown of gay and mainstream dating/hookup apps Why Zach thinks apps are like gambling — and just as addictive The ghosting epidemic and why it keeps happening Is gay bar culture disappearing? What monogamy looks like in 2025 (spoiler: it's rare) How Zach met Andrew — and why AOL deserves more credit The vacation test: the real way to know if someone's a keeper "DC hungry" — and what it reveals about relationships Want to share your own story? DM Zach on Instagram at @therealizachari — he's looking for guests to come on and talk about their dating, hookup, and connection experiences. 🎙️ Also subscribe to Listen Up Girl — your daily LGBTQ+ news podcast, 10 minutes or less, 6–7 days a week. Podcast song by SIXFOOT 5: https://www.sixfoot5prod.com Apple: https://music.apple.com/us/artist/sixfoot-5/1551774977 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/5rHMzoU0G0fLhaBsrQiOOY?si=laSZ5hiKTYubJJyhrzf2JQ Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Zach sits down with the electric Dani Kelly — Brazilian dancer, entrepreneur, podcast host, and force of nature who traded Rio de Janeiro for Los Angeles over 25 years ago and never looked back. Dani's story starts at age five, watching Bolshoi ballerinas on Brazilian TV and dragging her mom to audition after audition. She trained at one of Brazil's most prestigious ballet schools, mastered everything from jazz to Afro to hip hop — and then at 16, saw her first samba show, and everything changed. From there, Dani built Oya Brasil Samba Show, touring the world and bringing Brazilian carnival culture to stages in Las Vegas, Hong Kong, and beyond — all before social media existed. She shares what it was like to hustle in a pre-Instagram world and why she eventually stepped away from performing to protect her joy. Today, Dani runs Creation Studios in LA — a space for podcasters, content creators, and events — and hosts her own podcast, Be Live with Dani Ke'lly, where she spotlights immigrant stories, artists, and the people who inspire her. Her advice for aspiring podcasters? Two words: be real. In this episode: Growing up in Rio and training at Brazil's top ballet school Falling in love with samba at 16 and founding Oya Brasil Samba Show Touring the world before social media — and how she made it work Why she stepped away from professional dancing (and why it was the right call) Creation Studios: building a home for podcasters and creators in LA Be Live with Dani Ke'lly and the big guests she's keeping secret for now Her no-BS advice for anyone starting a podcast Connect with Dani Ke'lly: Be Live with Dani Kelly —https://www.instagram.com/belivewithdanikellyy/  Podcast song by SIXFOOT 5: https://www.sixfoot5prod.com Apple: https://music.apple.com/us/artist/sixfoot-5/1551774977 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/5rHMzoU0G0fLhaBsrQiOOY?si=laSZ5hiKTYubJJyhrzf2JQ Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

What if you could heal almost anything — without surgery, without meds — just by mastering your mind? That's exactly what Max Reader did. After leaving the Navy at 22, Max was dealing with a reverse cervical curve, sciatica, narcolepsy, severe depression, an ACL/PCL tear, tinnitus, crippling social anxiety, and an astigmatism so bad he couldn't read words on a page. Doctors said most of it would never change without surgery. He was handed antidepressants and nearly gave up on life entirely. Instead, he decided to master consciousness. In this episode, Max shares how he healed himself through meditation, Qigong, and what he calls "quantum mind" work — and how he's now helping thousands of people do the same. He has over 600,000 TikTok followers and runs a free community called Quantum Mind where he teaches internal alchemy, holistic healing, and total life transformation. We talk about: His darkest moment leaving the Navy — and the decision that changed everything What Qigong is and how it differs from Tai Chi How he healed his eyesight naturally (yes, really) Why mental tension creates physical dysfunction The Quantum Mind community and his 3-month transformation program Follow Max https://www.instagram.com/maxreeder/ Check out his websites: https://www.maxreeder.com/ Podcast song by SIXFOOT 5: https://www.sixfoot5prod.com Apple: https://music.apple.com/us/artist/sixfoot-5/1551774977 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/5rHMzoU0G0fLhaBsrQiOOY?si=laSZ5hiKTYubJJyhrzf2JQ Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Justin Elizabeth Sayer has been called "Oscar Wilde meets Whoopi Goldberg" by legendary columnist Michael Musto — and after this conversation, you'll understand exactly why. A novelist, playwright, television writer, and cabaret performer, Justin brings a depth of queer cultural knowledge that is as entertaining as it is essential. In this episode, Zach and Justin cover: The 14th annual Night of a Thousand Judys at Joe's Pub (June 1st, 7pm) and why it's unlike any other tribute show — performers don't do "their Judy," they have a conversation with Judy Garland as an artist The Ali Forney Center and why Justin has partnered with them since the very beginning — and why investing in LGBTQ+ youth is so critical right now Justin's queer culture encyclopedia From Gay to Z — what made the cut, who didn't (Trixie Mattel was not thrilled), and whether an addendum is coming Writing for The Comeback with Lisa Kudrow — how Bridget Everett connected them, a makeup artist who hated him on sight, and what it was like to work with Lisa The Sony Television project that was derailed by the pandemic — a dark, funny vampire series that RuPaul was involved in producing His upcoming Edinburgh Fringe solo show: Just Notice the Sayers: A 40-Year-Old Woman — a comedy and a tribute to his late friend, podcaster Katie Lazarus Growing up in Forty Fort, Pennsylvania, discovering performance at age 13 during a blackout, and how queer sensibility was always there before he had the language for it The New York downtown cabaret scene — how Justin Vivian Bond, Joey Arias, Bridget Everett, Taylor Mac, Cole Escola, Erin Markey, and others built something irreplaceable Why LGBTQ+ queer spaces are disappearing as younger generations retreat to apps — and why that matters What it means to carry queer history as a shield in this political moment, including the Oscar Wilde cell number tattoo Justin got after the first Trump election Two dream collaborators: Dawn French and Melissa McCarthy Also coming up for Justin: a new production of his play Three Little Girls and a Well (early 2027) and a commissioned play for the New York Public Library about Ray Bergen, a drag performer who played Carnegie Hall in the 1950s. Links: 🎟️ Tickets for Night of a Thousand Judys: thousandjudys.com 🏠 Ali Forney Center: aliforneycenter.org 📖 From Gay to Z — available wherever books are sold Podcast song by SIXFOOT 5: https://www.sixfoot5prod.com Apple: https://music.apple.com/us/artist/sixfoot-5/1551774977 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/5rHMzoU0G0fLhaBsrQiOOY?si=laSZ5hiKTYubJJyhrzf2JQ Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Show Notes: Guest: Con Chapman, author and attorney based in the greater Boston area Book: Queer Street: The Curious Connections Between Boxing and the Homoerotic — available for pre-order on Amazon and at lutterworth.com. Publishing April 30. Episode Summary: Con Chapman spent over a decade researching the parallel histories of boxing rules and laws governing consensual sex between men — and the result is Queer Street, a book that took 30+ publisher rejections before landing with Lutterworth Press, an 18th-century religious tract society (yes, really). In this conversation, Zach and Con trace the unexpected threads connecting ancient Greek gymnasiums, the Sacred Band of Thebes, Oscar Wilde, the Marquess of Queensbury, the etymology of the words "gay" and "queer," and the hypermasculinity of modern sports. Topics Covered: How the book came together and why Con describes it as "a double helix" Ancient Greek gymnasiums as spaces of both athletic training and homoeroticism The Sacred Band of Thebes — the first all-gay military unit to defeat the Spartans The Marquess of Queensbury: boxing rules reformer and raging homophobe — and how those two things connect St. Bernardino of Italy: a 15th-century boxing advocate who was also violently anti-gay (and whose enemies once sawed through his pulpit) The surprising etymological origins of the words "gay" and "queer" in boxing culture Oscar Wilde, Lord Alfred Douglas, and how their story intersects with the Queensbury rules Bisexual boxing legend Emil Griffith and the "down low" phenomenon in sports Homoeroticism in spectator sports — and why some men are, as Zach puts it, basically "in love with Tom Brady" How masculinity and sexuality have blurred throughout history — and where things might be headed Links: Queer Street on Amazon:https://www.amazon.com/Queer-Street-Curious-Connections-Homoerotic/dp/0718898516/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1ZYYFQ9ZIII59&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.1x0uzZKPViBwsAGHnUe-r5q6L_NkfkqQ5BkL1XnSycJwfhmig_CchSH4HSe6wtnUzYk956EKu_QFQxIAtuFcetAdy5BxAR3oHcDGcGsGK7MxfMz9y3l29Qm0MWfqPP0d12z1_YSItrEVgtNMgr1OE8ENF9fZY7il22mMpFi9EuQW8RpdfmEjOFQAEmvGbIVTV49Lyrrp0BUsgOHbmk1rkKkKEBcFYd3m31AJO-i8xiI.qyDQsDG0EUud7xIhOq5O6V40Bz13-ep1WXriYySTeyI&dib_tag=se&keywords=queer+street&qid=1779403387&sprefix=queer+stree%2Caps%2C203&sr=8-1 Publisher website: lutterworth.com Podcast song by SIXFOOT 5: https://www.sixfoot5prod.com Apple: https://music.apple.com/us/artist/sixfoot-5/1551774977 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/5rHMzoU0G0fLhaBsrQiOOY?si=laSZ5hiKTYubJJyhrzf2JQ Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Show Notes: Title: The Skincare Secret You're Missing: Why Glow Starts from the Inside with Francois Vix Episode Summary: Zach sits down with Francois Vix, a veteran of L'Oreal and Johnson & Johnson who spent 18 years leading skincare and dermatology brands around the world — then left it all at 40 to co-found ISOCELL. Francois breaks down the science behind Superoxide Dismutase (SOD), why your internal antioxidant defense is the real driver of skin health, and how his product Glisodin is backed by over 40 published clinical studies across 50 countries. Episode Notes: Francois's 18-year global career at L'Oreal (Australia, Asia, UK, France) and Johnson & Johnson (Neutrogena international) How cultural approaches to skincare differ — Korean and French women vs. American beauty routines What SOD (Superoxide Dismutase) is and why it's called "the enzyme of life" How the mad cow disease crisis in the 1990s shifted SOD research from animal-based injectables to orally bioactive botanical forms Why oral SOD is typically destroyed by stomach acid — and how ISOCELL's patented protective matrix solves that The connection between oxidative stress, free radicals, and skin aging Clinical results: improved skin elasticity, reduced photo damage, better hydration, and enhanced energy — seen as early as 30 days How Glisodin doubles the effectiveness of topical retinoids when combined Why Glisodin is distributed through 10,000+ dermatologists in Latin America, Asia, and Europe How the product supports recovery from laser treatments and reduces inflammation from hyperpigmentation procedures Where to find Glisodin in the US and Canada: Amazon (search "Glisodin Skin Nutrients") and select dermatology/aesthetic clinics Find Glisodin: 🛒 Amazon US/Canada: https://www.amazon.com/GliSODin-Antioxidant-Enzyme-Capsules-Supply/dp/B07FPP838D/ref=sr_1_1?crid=TBMGWQZPG9LW&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.8pqoEp1EsrkywxfZKKq5GpQVLUIKYD4cb1LlqmN1OgPd_bdczBofzM68gAMUReAU-35x4-lx9Ld7sz-XFvy-60i-HfCpSsf2vVK2G6sLaylGEAMoo4apw7iyKpxmMaci8dWQShVLGs77mRaOONGcIG6GL78R8SOf9mQAy-7Nsxt9-3f19rFTKNqII_cUJkhsbUCg72hrILbPP513aJErvD9BgoVtIeS5SGun3_ApkinhR25iiQHNxmAh5U5uvCyizH6Oc6uGHffzSm212M9T5etYd9h88u-QHi668Ox2WpM.2iyJ15AdQO1PD3QK0ZtN60eSo3W8byxCtcdX_72dgG0&dib_tag=se&keywords=Glisodin&qid=1779403102&sprefix=glisodin%2Caps%2C163&sr=8-1 🌐 glisodin.com  Podcast song by SIXFOOT 5: https://www.sixfoot5prod.com Apple: https://music.apple.com/us/artist/sixfoot-5/1551774977 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/5rHMzoU0G0fLhaBsrQiOOY?si=laSZ5hiKTYubJJyhrzf2JQ Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Episode Summary Zach opens with some personal reflection — starting with a story about getting a facial and hearing his husband called exactly that: his husband. It's a small moment that lands big. He also unpacks a news story about a civil engineer suing his employer over a Pride flag, and shares a conversation with a dinner guest who said he didn't "understand" transgender people — and what Zach told him that just might stick. Then, Zach sits down with Barbra Banner, a psychic evidential trance medium who discovered her gift during the pandemic when Spirit literally would not stop knocking. Barbra is also certified through Helping Parents Heal and brings a rare combination of humor, warmth, and jaw-dropping evidence to her readings. Episode Notes • Barbra describes how she went from never having meditated to booking six practice sessions a day on Very Soul — and hanging a shingle within seven months of her first class. • She explains the difference between psychic readings and trance mediumship — and how she learned to "get out of the way" and let Spirit take over completely. • Barbra shares the stories that stopped her in her tracks: the husband who knew his wife watched Outlander during the pandemic, the skeptic whose father-in-law had just invented a bagel scooper, and the boy in heaven riding a giant butterfly. • She and Zach talk reincarnation, past life regression, soul pods, and why "home base" is on the other side — not here. • Zach shares his own past life regression experience: a 1940s farmer with a wife and two sons, and a second life on a planet where the water was pinkish purple. • Barbra reflects on ego, gratitude, and why she credits her guides — not herself — for every message she delivers. • She explains why she doesn't maintain a waiting list: if you need a reading, you should be able to get one now.  Connect with Barbra Banner Website: bannermedium.com Instagram & TikTok: search Barbra Banner Medium  Mentioned in This Episode • Suzanne Giesemann (Barbra's first teacher) • Very Soul (mediumship practice platform) • Arthur Findlay College • Helping Parents Heal (organization Barbra is certified through) • Maya Roth (past life regression practitioner) • Next Level Soul (podcast where Barbra appeared) • Edgar Cayce quote: "He's not gone. He's just going a little ahead of you." • James Van Praagh quote: "Once you find your purpose in life, you stop aging."  Follow Everything & Anything…and a Bit Gay 🎙️ everythingandanythingpodcast.com 📺 YouTube: Everything and Anything and a Bit Gay 🗞️ Daily LGBTQ+ news: Listen Up Girl podcast Podcast song by SIXFOOT 5: https://www.sixfoot5prod.com Apple: https://music.apple.com/us/artist/sixfoot-5/1551774977 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/5rHMzoU0G0fLhaBsrQiOOY?si=laSZ5hiKTYubJJyhrzf2JQ Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Chosen Family | The Gay Bit Zach opens with a rabbit hole of coming-out videos — and the way they split almost perfectly between parents who said "we love you no matter what" and parents who said "get out." That contrast sent him somewhere deeper: a meditation on chosen family, the strange art of disappearing in rooms where you can't be fully yourself, and the people who have quietly held him together for decades. In this episode: • What those coming-out videos stirred up — joy, heartbreak, and a lot of gratitude • The slow, quiet disappearing act so many LGBTQ+ people learn growing up — adjusting your laugh, your walk, your reaction to things — just to stay safe • His own story: a dad who went silent for six months, a mom who grieved a life she'd imagined, and how both came around • Andrew's grandfather, in his 90s, who loved them both without reservation • His friend Gary — whose grandmother tore a family apart — and who has since vanished entirely • His friend David, who came out at 52 to his wife, kids, and in-laws, and found the courage to start over • What South Beach in the 90s felt like: a whole island where you didn't have to perform • The friends who are his anchors — Jennifer, Mandy, Tony, Gina, Matt — people he could call at 3am with nothing and they'd show up • Getting honest about fear: aging parents, the possibility of illness, the safety net getting smaller • Why chosen family isn't about replacing your biological family — it's about finding people who show up because they want to Zach's takeaway: Be your authentic self. The right people don't need a curated version of you — they just need the real one.  📬 Leave a rating or review on your podcast platform — it helps the show reach more people.  🎙️ Everything & Anything…and a Bit Gay drops new episodes weekly.  📰 Catch Zach's daily LGBTQ+ news podcast, Listen Up Girl, wherever you listen.  🌐 everythingandanythingpodcast.com Podcast song by SIXFOOT 5: https://www.sixfoot5prod.com Apple: https://music.apple.com/us/artist/sixfoot-5/1551774977 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/5rHMzoU0G0fLhaBsrQiOOY?si=laSZ5hiKTYubJJyhrzf2JQ Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Episode Notes: How it started: Dr. Blechman trained at NYU and did a fellowship at MD Anderson Cancer Center, where he focused on breast reconstruction for cancer patients. In 2016, a trans patient came in seeking a mastectomy — and everything shifted. Top surgery isn't one thing: The term is often used to mean chest masculinization, but Dr. Blechman walks through the full range — from complete chest masculinization to gender-affirming radical breast reductions for non-binary patients, to breast augmentation for trans women. Every patient is different, and he starts every consult by asking patients to tell him about their journey with gender. Narcotic-free pain management: Dr. Blechman has developed a protocol using a pre-surgical nerve block (long-acting numbing medicine injected into the rib cage), combined with Advil and Tylenol post-op. Only about 10% of patients need anything beyond that. He draws on his experience running the NYC Marathon to put post-op discomfort in perspective for patients — and credits the psychological framing as part of why it works. Nipple tattooing: Some top surgery patients choose not to keep their nipples. For those who later want one, or for patients who experience asymmetry or color variation after surgery, Dr. Blechman's PAs perform nipple and areola tattooing right in the office. Building a safe space: Dr. Blechman talks about the well-documented reality that many trans people have had negative experiences in healthcare settings. His practice is designed to counter that — respectful care, inclusive intake, and a staff trained to meet patients where they are. Advocacy beyond the OR: Dr. Blechman travels to Albany and Washington twice a year with medical organizations to meet with legislators on gender-affirming care issues. He notes that New York State has written gender identity protections directly into the state constitution. NYC Pride March: For the past three to four years, Dr. Blechman and his team have marched in NYC Pride with a pickup truck and a group of patients they've operated on — sometimes 20–30 people. One former patient is now shadowing in his office, inspired to go to medical school. Grayson: Dr. Blechman mentions operating on Grayson, a trans fitness influencer with hundreds of thousands of followers, whose dressing-removal video got 14 million views on TikTok. Connect with Dr. Blechman: 🌐 blechmanplasticsurgery.com https://www.blechmanplasticsurgery.com/dr-keith-blechman-upper-east-side-plastic-surgeon https://www.instagram.com/dr.blechman/ https://www.instagram.com/breastsurgerygroup/   Podcast song by SIXFOOT 5: https://www.sixfoot5prod.com Apple: https://music.apple.com/us/artist/sixfoot-5/1551774977 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/5rHMzoU0G0fLhaBsrQiOOY?si=laSZ5hiKTYubJJyhrzf2JQ Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

This week, Zach sits down with Justin Alexander — writer, director, and producer — for a wide-ranging conversation about his debut feature film Mean Boys and the raw personal experience behind it. Justin shares how growing up as an outsider, being bullied, and looking up to popular jocks in school became the foundation for a story that's part bisexual love triangle, part cautionary tale about fentanyl addiction. He opens up about losing a friend to fentanyl — a friend who didn't even know what he was taking — and why he felt compelled to tell that story. The conversation gets into the realities of indie filmmaking: shooting Mean Boys in two parts years apart, writing a sudden 60-pound weight gain into the script to explain a returning actor's transformation, and what it actually feels like when your movie comes out and there's no Hollywood Reporter moment waiting for you. From there, Zach and Justin dig into something both of them know well — where you fit in (or don't) in the gay community. They talk about mean gays in West Hollywood and Boston, body image pressure, and the unspoken hierarchies that show up whether you're 17 in high school or 35 at Equinox. Justin also previews two upcoming projects: Video Essay, a parody about the indie film festival circuit shot in New York; and Drive Me to Rap, a motion-capture film about two gay rappers co-starring Melanie Halfkenny from Queen & Slim. Plus: his dream of working with Jodie Foster, his love of Pedro Almodóvar, and Zach's very serious plan to find him a husband in Boston.  Follow Justin on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/iamjustingonzales 🎬 Watch Mean Boys now:  Apple TV: https://tv.apple.com/us/movie/mean-boys/umc.cmc.40dfrljemlixdzx3gubnsy8qf Tubi: https://tubitv.com/movies/100049337/mean-boys And available on Roku and Here TV  Topics covered:  • Mean Boys — the film, its origins, and what it's about  • Bisexuality, bisexual erasure, and queer representation in film  • Fentanyl addiction and the dangers of contaminated drugs  • Gay hierarchies, body image, and outsider identity  • What it's really like to make micro-budget indie films • Justin's upcoming films: Video Essay and Drive Me to Rap  • Pedro Almodóvar, Jodie Foster, and Justin's filmmaking inspirations  • The gay community in West Hollywood vs. Boston Podcast song by SIXFOOT 5: https://www.sixfoot5prod.com Apple: https://music.apple.com/us/artist/sixfoot-5/1551774977 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/5rHMzoU0G0fLhaBsrQiOOY?si=laSZ5hiKTYubJJyhrzf2JQ Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

About Lennon Torres Lennon Torres is a professional dancer, trans activist, and advocate for online safety and social media reform. She is a core voice at the Heat Initiative, an organization fighting to hold Big Tech companies accountable for harms to children and young people. She also writes the Diary of a Palatable Trans Woman on Substack — an honest look at what it's like to navigate spaces that don't fully welcome you while doing work that depends on being in the room. Lennon appeared on Dance Moms beginning in Season 3 as a guest dancer. She has since been featured in documentaries about social media harm and works closely with families who have lost children to platform-facilitated tragedies. Topics Covered Growing up on Dance Moms — the excitement, the exploitation, and the panic attacks on camera How social media shifted from connection to engagement-driven addiction — and when Lennon first felt it happen Why algorithms are engineered to show your content to people who will react most extremely — not your actual audience Meta's internal documents proving they knowingly connected predators to minors Influencers as an unpaid workforce performing for an algorithm, not their followers Sextortion: what it is, how it works, and the story of Jordan DeMay The documentary Can't Look Away (available at joltfilm.com) and the families behind it Mason Edens — a teenager whose TikTok feed shifted from positive affirmations to suicidal ideation in under two weeks Alexander, 14, who was poisoned by fentanyl purchased through a Snapchat-recommended contact Landmark legal victories: Meta and Google found guilty in LA addiction trials; New Mexico awarded $375 million Why queer kids are three times more likely to be harmed online — and why Big Tech lobbies against reform using LGBTQ+ community as cover Tim Cook, tech oligarchs, and what it means when powerful gay men align with power over people Lennon's personal healing journey — deleting social media, switching to a dumb phone, and reclaiming herself The false choice between safe social media and LGBTQ+ community online What Lennon would be doing if social media didn't exist (spoiler: a queer kids outdoor camp) Resources & Links 🔥 Heat Initiative: heatinitiative.org ✍️ Lennon on Substack — Diary of a Palatable Trans Woman: https://substack.com/@lennontorres 🎬 Documentary: Can't Look Away —https://www.jolt.film/watch/cantlookaway Podcast song by SIXFOOT 5: https://www.sixfoot5prod.com Apple: https://music.apple.com/us/artist/sixfoot-5/1551774977 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/5rHMzoU0G0fLhaBsrQiOOY?si=laSZ5hiKTYubJJyhrzf2JQ Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Kelly O'Hearn is back, and this one goes deep. One of Zach's all-time favorite guests — and it's easy to hear why. Their conversation flows like two old friends who can't stop finishing each other's thoughts, covering everything from quarters mysteriously appearing after a loved one's passing to the quantum physics of tarot to what it means when a baby's soul comes through during a reading and changes a woman's entire life. In this episode: How Zach took a 6-week tarot class (with the incredible Amaris in Canada) after Kelly's first reading inspired him — and what he discovered Why tarot is a language, not a fortune-telling trick — and how intuition works like a muscle Quarters, flickering lights, and boxes falling over — signs from Zach's late mother-in-law and what Kelly thinks they mean The global spiritual shift happening right now, the rise of feminine energy, and why people are turning away from rigid religion toward personal faith Kelly's "dark night of the soul" — illness, divorce, and losing her father — and how it led her to tarot in 2014 How she studied secretly for 3.5 years, told no one, and then finally told her very New York, very Wall Street mother — whose first words were "Are you monetizing it?" Past life regression, soul contracts, and why Earth is one of the most desired places to be as a soul (even though it's the hardest) Channeling: archangels, clairvoyance, clairaudience, and what it sounds like when a message isn't your own thought Daryl Anka / Bashar, Lee Harris, and the 2027 predictions that have Zach obsessed The most powerful reading Kelly has ever done — a story that will stop you cold Her Arcanum series: a four-book love story of souls traveling through lifetimes, trying to get it right. Book 3 — Arcanum: Secrets of the Madonna — is set in late 1400s Vatican and comes out June 9th Pre-order Arcanum: Secrets of the Madonna: https://www.amazon.com/Arcanum-Secrets-Madonna-Kelly-OHearn-ebook/dp/B0GY9YRR24?ref_=saga_ast_ss_dsk_dp  Books 1 & 2 on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Kelly-OHearn/author/B0D324YQG5?ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1&qid=1779053698&sr=8-1&shoppingPortalEnabled=true&ccs_id=2b73128c-1cbd-44c3-89f5-75a2571451b2  Follow Kelly: https://www.instagram.com/kellyohearnauthor/ Everything & Anything… and a Bit Gay drops new episodes weekly. Subscribe, leave a review, and tell us what you think about Kelly's books in the comments. Podcast song by SIXFOOT 5: https://www.sixfoot5prod.com Apple: https://music.apple.com/us/artist/sixfoot-5/1551774977 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/5rHMzoU0G0fLhaBsrQiOOY?si=laSZ5hiKTYubJJyhrzf2JQ Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In this episode:  • Isaac's debut novel Six and a Half Days in the City — what's real vs. fictional  • Coming out as bisexual at 17: the notes app, Facebook post, and a very supportive mom  • Growing up Native American and Mexican American with a bisexual mother  • Why people still deny bisexuality exists — and why Isaac no longer cares  • Hookup culture, Grindr, Hinge, and making real friends off dating apps  • Being an EMT in pre-med and balancing school, work, and writing  • Trauma showing up uninvited: a panic attack in Prospect Park  • Isaac's next book: grief, brotherhood, and a bisexual oldest son  • Where to find Isaac: @isaacgrijalvabooks on Instagram, TikTok: @isaactaylorsversion99   Buy Issac's Book: https://www.amazon.com/6-1-2-Days-City-ebook/dp/B0F89S9WSG Podcast song by SIXFOOT 5: https://www.sixfoot5prod.com Apple: https://music.apple.com/us/artist/sixfoot-5/1551774977 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/5rHMzoU0G0fLhaBsrQiOOY?si=laSZ5hiKTYubJJyhrzf2JQ Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The Gay Bit — Cliques, Categories & The Truth About the LGBTQ+ Community In this week's Gay Bit, Zach gets real about something we all see, experience, and — if we're honest — participate in: the silent rules about who belongs where inside the LGBTQ+ community. From twinks and bears to Grindr exclusion lists to fem-on-fem policing to the obsession with masculinity, Zach holds the mirror up to the community he loves — himself very much included — and asks: are we building the inclusive community we say we want, or are we recreating the same hierarchies we're trying to escape? Plus: the time Zach accidentally landed in Provincetown during Bear Week, his habit of borrowing friends' phones to "call his mom," and why the bears might just be the most welcoming group of all. The Gay Bit drops every Friday on Everything & Anything… and a Bit Gay. Podcast song by SIXFOOT 5: https://www.sixfoot5prod.com Apple: https://music.apple.com/us/artist/sixfoot-5/1551774977 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/5rHMzoU0G0fLhaBsrQiOOY?si=laSZ5hiKTYubJJyhrzf2JQ Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Zach sits down with Margot Grant-Witz, third-generation CEO of Elizabeth Grant Skincare, a privately owned brand founded in 1948 by her grandmother — now 103 years young — who developed the world's first at-home serum after suffering bomb blast damage to her skin during WWII. They cover the real reason your neck is sagging (hint: it's your phone), why bar soap is destroying your face, the truth about the vampire facial, how men and gay culture are reshaping the skincare industry, and why 28 days is all it takes to transform your skin. Elizabeth Grant Skincare: https://elizabethgrant.com 📩 DM Zach on Instagram with your results after trying the products! 🎧 Everything & Anything… and a Bit Gay drops new episodes weekly. Follow, subscribe, and leave a review — it helps more than you know. Podcast song by SIXFOOT 5: https://www.sixfoot5prod.com Apple: https://music.apple.com/us/artist/sixfoot-5/1551774977 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/5rHMzoU0G0fLhaBsrQiOOY?si=laSZ5hiKTYubJJyhrzf2JQ Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.