Everybody Wants To Be My Friend

Ái Vy welcomes the vivacious, hilarious, talented Southern Beau J.W. CRUMP to the pod **(Brandon will be back next week, don't worry kitten)**J.W. gabs about winning an apple pie making contest at his Southern Baptist church, admiring your friends who are more talented than you, and why absurdist comedy does not age !!!J.W. Crump is a writer, comedian, game show designer, and host of "POD LEDOM: That's TOP MODEL PODCAST Spelled Backwards" !!!! To be frank, he's a STAR ... find him on Instagram @jw_crump and listen to his (now completed) podcast POD LEDOM.

Musician and comedian Ian Lockwood joins Ái Vy in studio fresh off a successful year of performing "Ian Lockwood: The Farewell Tour." Ian won the Best Newcomer, Comedians' Choice Award at the 2024 Edinburgh Fringe Festival, and performed his FINAL SHOW EVER in at Red Eye NY in June 2025. Sucks for you if you missed it!!Ian has been featured in TimeOut New York, Vulture, and Paste Magazine. You can find his music wherever you streeaaammm and watch his music videos on YouTube. Follow him on IG @mrianlockwood . You can also see him as a panelist on SINGLE RELEASE SINGLES PAGEANT at Empire Stage on Sat, February 7th. ________Notes & References...- Good Ol Days Diner in Bed Stuy- "Sarah, Plain and Tall" novel by Patricia MacLachlan (1985)

This week the pod welcomes New York darliiiiing comedian (by way of Burlington, Vermont) ... MAX HIGGINS !! (everyone say "hi Max!") Max sits down with Ái Vy (as Brandon races against the clock on an Amtrak back from a family trip) and they discuss the gamification of dating in NYC, mushroom foraging in Vermont, and loving a group project! You can find Max on Instagram @max_headgear or rocking out in the audience at a Phish concert. He is hosting COMEDY WOLF on January 25th (7PM) at QED in Astoria, Queens -- LINK FOR TICKETS !! ______Notes & references:- Jam band culture including PHISH (originally formed in Burlington, VT) and LOTUS.- "She-Ra & the Princesses of Power" animated series (2018) showrunner ND Stevenson- "The Breakfast Club" (1985) dir. John Hughes- Tae Bo workout videos by Billy Blanks- "Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow" by Carole King (writers Carole King & Gerry Goffin)

Pop Music Fever Dream bassist and girl-you-saw-at-the-door-at-Elsewhere-and-envied-her-vibe CARMEN CASTILLO is in studio with Ái Vy & Brandon this week to discuss coming up in the Brooklyn post-punk scene, her music & style inspirations, and why "Black Christmas" (1974) is a subversive feminist classic !!!!!!! You can find Carmen on IG @carmenesperanza_ along with her band, POP MUSIC FEVER DREAM @pmfd.nyc -- their EP "Songs for Emotion" is NOW ON VINYL - LINK HERE OKAYYY???!!!!!!PMFD also features our gorgeous stellar rock n' roll audio editor Nicole Harwayne on guitar xoxo --------Sampled in this episode:- "Me and My Friends" by STAR'S REVENGE (writers Olive Faber & Emily Green)- "Elegy for Memory" by POP MUSIC FEVER DREAM (writer Tim Seeberger)- Cardi B on "Love & Hip Hop: New York"_________Since the topic of show notes is discussed WITH FERVOR in this episode, please enjoy this not-quite-exhaustive list of references:- "Every Al Pacino Movie is Gay" by Drew Burnett Gregory- "Jennifer's Body" (2009) dir. Karyn Kusama- "Black Christmas" (1974) dir. Bob Clark- "Scarecrow" (1973) dir. Jerry Schatzberg- "Together" (2025) dir. Michael Shanks- "Weapons" (2025) dir. Zach Cregger- “The Red Shoes” (1948) dir. Emeric Pressburger & Michael Powell- “Superstar: The Karen Carpenter Story” (1987) dir. Todd Haynes- “May December” (2023) dir. Todd Haynes- Laura Jane Grace of Against Me! / “Transgender Dysphoria Blues”- Brody Dalle of The Distillers- "We Are Sex Bob-Omb" from "Scott Pilgrim Vs. The World" OMPS (writer Beck Hansen)- "Summertime Sadness" by Lana Del Rey (writers Rick Nowels & Lana Del Rey) - The Lana & Ethel feud- RIPPERS burger shack, Rockaway Beach, NY

RING RING SKRRRT **DIAL-UP SOUND** RING **CUE SOFT TINNY JAZZ** We're along for the ride with comedian & themme fatale EDSON MONTENEGRO as they're on hold with a bus company, trying to change a ticket for their beloved BF.Brandon is holding down the fort solo this week to gab with his good friend about playing Plinko, being in "competitive yearbook," Greek life Dinosaurs & Sluts (?!) parties, and how Edson discovered comedy thanks to getting sober. TUNE IN TO FIND OUT IF EDSON'S BOYFRIEND MADE IT HOME!!!!!Edson is an actor, writer, comedian, and an alum of UCB Theatre NY. Follow them on Instagram & Tik Tok @edsonmountaineggroll and their new sketch comedy page @nocontactsketch

Brooklyn-native, Moth StorySLAM winner, and fibroid-whisperer Sheria Mattis is in the studio with Brandon and Ái Vy to talk about blaming Ronald Reagan for cinema's lack of Black lesbian rom-coms!!!!!!!!!!Writer & comedian Sheria Mattis is co-host of @thestrapdown podcast, producer of @gayshamecomedy, and writer of "Fibroids: A Love Story." Sheria discusses being a lazy bottom, her favorite Queen Latifah roles, and how she would want (?) to die in a "Final Destination" movie.Follow Sheria Mattis @sheriamattiscomedy & @thestrapdown on Instagram & Tik Tok.

While Brandon is out of town making money FOR THIS FAMILY, Ái Vy welcomes the ECCENTRIC, DELICIOUS, and EFFERVESCENT performers Cosimo Pori & Travis Amiel. Known also as DAS BESTIES -- the moniker of their experimental theatre duo. DAS BESTIES ARE BACK AND BETTER THAN EVER with their new show, DAS RAUSCHGIFT, created in collaboration with performers Nina Rodriguez & Arzu Salman. You can see Das Rauschgift NOW (!!!) at Box of Moonlight Theater. It runs December 4 - 21st. Listen and giggle along as Ái Vy (briefly joined by her sexyyyy producer Ally Murfey) chats with Travis & Cosimo about their incandescent new show, having exclusively hot friends, and the gay guy mycelial network that connects us all.You can purchase DAS RAUSCHGIFT tickets AT THIS LINKFollow Das Besties @das_besties (and @cosimopolitan & @heytravistravis)This episode was edited by Nicole Harwayne, and recorded at P&T Knitwear studio in NYC.

We're walking it back this week with a very special, iiiiintimate, cozyyyy conversation between our co-hosts BRANDON FOLLICK & ÁI VY LUU. It's the hosts episode, y'all!!Brandon & Ái Vy discuss their deep friendship that bloomed on "Gay Guy Island," getting cancelled on Twitter, the intimidating skill you need to be in a lesbian relationship, and having your custody decided by Judge Judy.You can find them on Instagram @poisonaivy69 & @brandon_follick ... & of course @everybodywantstobemyfriendpod !!!

WE'RE BACK WITH OUR FIRST DUO !! Creative collaborators and best friends Sunny Laprade & Rose Tablizo are in the studio!Sunny and Rose produce and co-host T4T Comedy (@T4Tcomedy on Instagram), a live show held monthly at Metropolitan Bar. Sunny is a comedian and staff writer for "Going Down with Ella Yurman." Rose is a stage manager, writer, and social media manager for "Going Down." Together, they discuss boob sweat, being from a town with one stop light, and the importance of making bad art!!!You can find Sunny & Rose on Instagram (@sunnylcomedy and @tabliz0). And follow T4T Comedy, you cowards!! (@t4tcomedy)

Comedian and Podcaster Alise Morales joins us today to talk about AIM away messages, making friends with her neighbor, and publicly distancing ourselves from JK Rowling (while still lowkey having love for Harry Potter, sorry!!!!!!!)You can find Alise on Instagram @pandalise and listen to Alise hosting her own podcast, Go Touch Grass, wherever you listen to podcasts! New episodes every Wednesday

Writer, Comedian, and Popping Legend(TM) Sabrina Wu (@asabrinawu⁠) joins us on today's episode to talk about the pickleball group chat, a deleted scene from "JOY RIDE," and HOW PATRONIZING ÁI VY IS, APPARENTLY!!!! Sabrina's next show, "HANDSOME JR.," will be a part of New York Comedy Festival -- November 7th at the Bell House! (https://www.ticketmaster.com/event/30006304C56040C7)

Landmark episode alert! Today we've got BROADWAY DIVA HANNAH SOLOW on the pod here to talk about being the star at the stagedoor, seeing Bad Cinderella on mushrooms, and the cultural impact of "Well, We Could See Boop!" Hannah will be playing the title role in "Oh, Mary!" Tuesday, September 30 through Sunday, October 12 ON BROADWAY! BITCH!!!

It's the beautiful girl convention!! This week we have the creator and host of "Going Down With Ella Yurman," ELLA YURMANNNNN talking with us about being Brandon's boss, vaginoplasty, and Cheat On Your Boyfriend Summer. You can find Ella on Instagram @ella.yurman⁠ and keep up with new episodes of Going Down on YouTube!

Did you miss us darlingggg??? This week we have BESTIEEE Dylan Adler on to talk about poop humor, Zohran Mamdani, and getting turned away at a Fire Island orgy. You can find Dylan on Instagram (@dylanadler_) and TikTok (@dylanadler7) and in person at his upcoming NYC show at the Gramercy Theater on October 15th!!!!! https://www.livenation.com/event/k7vGFbR1BzzMD/dylan-adler-presents-haus-of-dy-lan

Today we've got "Girls Rewatch Podcast" and "Is This Gay?" host EVAN LAZARUS with us chatting about being vulnerable at the party, size gap relationships, and making your own kombucha.You can keep up with Evan on instagram @elazie, & check out their projects @girlsrewatchpodcast and @isthisgaymic. Enjoy!!

Happy BOYSOBER x EWTBMF CROSSOVER WEEK to all who celebrate!! We have Hope Woodard in the studio to gab with Brandon and Ai Vy about putting all your eggs in someone's basket, fighting with your friends (positive), and the Williamsburg yoga studio that everyone apparently goes to WITHOUT AI VY!!!You can find Hope Woodard on instagram ⁠@justhopinalong, ⁠ and listen to her podcast ⁠Boysober⁠ anywhere you get podcasts! Listen to Brandon and Ai Vy on the new Boysober episode "Rom-Com Roundtable: How To Lose A Guy In 10 Days" IF YOU EVEN CARE!!!!!

Musical Comedienne EXTRAORDINAIRE Marcia Belsky joins us to chat about having conversations with people you disagree with, meeting boys at socialist parties, and making it to the New York years of "Glee" You can catch Marcia online @marciasky and her upcoming show, Unregulated: A One Act Musical at Littlefield on Sunday, September 28th! (https://littlefieldnyc.com/event/?wfea_eb_id=1554921394749)

IT'S OUR VERY FIRST EPISODE! This week we're talking to Trans Royalty and Japanese-American Civil Rights nepo-baby James Tom (@jamestomxo) about his Bluesky fans, receiving care after gender affirming surgery, and listening to "Juno" by Sabrina Carpenter with Elliot Page. ** This episode was recorded in the spring before James' May tour, so please forgive any reference to his "upcoming" shows that have now passed. You can find James on Instagram and Bluesky @jamestomxo, and you can catch him live August 8th 9:00 at Little Island in NYC (https://littleisland.org/event/james-tom/ BY THE WAY THIS SHOW IS FREEEEEEE) and August 28th 7:30 at Punch Line Philly in Philadelphia (https://www.ticketmaster.com/james-tom-philadelphia-pennsylvania-08-28-2025/event/020062E88B2D1778)