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Hella Chisme Podcast

Hella Chisme Podcast is where unfiltered storytelling meets bold conversation. This show serves up juicy chisme while diving deep into the chaos and beauty of everyday life. From sex, dating, and marriage to pop culture, spirituality, and everything in between — no topic is off-limits.

Through a strong lens on identity, culture, and connection, Dana and friends keep it real for a community of listeners who are curious, culturally fluent, and down for the ride.

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#113
Yesterday · 1 hr 58 min
Hairy Butts, Bad Breath, And The Dating Truth Ft Rico Prada
Join in the conversation! Welcome back to another episode of the Hella Chisme Podcast! Rico Prada went on a reality dating show to find love — and came home with receipts on colorism, masculinity, and what dating as an Afro-Latino gay man actually costs. The Afro-Cuban mechanic, model, and dancer from For the Love of Dills Season 2 sits down with Dana for one of the rawest Hella Chisme conversations yet: hairy butts, bad breath, dark rooms, and the gay dating truths nobody says out loud. Rico breaks down growing up between his African American and Cuban sides, why he identifies as Afro first and Cubano second, and what it took to leave LA for San Diego and finally slow down. He gets honest about the colorism he's navigated in go-go dancing and gay nightlife, the stranger who demanded a Spanish voice note to "prove" he was really Latino, and why he's tired of auditioning for his own identity. Then it goes behind the scenes of For the Love of Dills: the 24/7 filming, the 12-hour shoot days, the two-drink limit before confessionals, and why he says his relationship with Nigel Battle was 100% real. Plus his take on masculinity as both "the prize" and "the most toxic," the pressure he felt to be a pure top, and the day he cried trying on a corset. Then we play Would You Rather — gay dating edition. The hot takes get spicy: body hair, bad breath, ashy skin, dark rooms, and whether he'd rather know every person who wants his man or every person his man ever wanted. Stick around to the end for Rico's unfiltered dating hot takes and the affirmation he leaves for anybody still learning how to let themselves be loved. Follow Rico Prada: Instagram: @rico.prada17 Linktree Got a dating truth of your own? Drop it in the comments — Dana reads every single one. New episodes of Hella Chisme every other week. Like, comment, subscribe, and tell a friend. LINK: https://linktr.ee/hellachismepodcast Topics to include: afro latino, colorism, gay dating, gay dating advice, gay dating show, dating podcast, dating advice, dating advice for men, masculinity, lgbtq, queer, gay men, sexuality, relationships, relationship advice, dating, social commentary, black history, afro latino identity, reality tv dating show, gay dating stories, dating hot takes, black men dating, self love, queer dating, dating preferences, gay culture, body hair, reciprocity in dating, San Diego Support the show Follow Hella Chisme for more culture, conversation, and creative storytelling. Subscribe on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube, and keep up with us on Instagram, Threads, and TikTok at @hellachismepod. Join the chisme, share the episode, and leave a review or comment to support the show.
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#112
October 9 · 1 hr 39 min
Keiynan Lonsdale on Being Fully Seen, Vulnerability & Body High
Join in the conversation! Welcome back to another episode of the Hella Chisme Podcast This week join Dana on Hella Chisme Podcast for a soulful conversation with actor, dancer & musician Keiynan Lonsdale about giving yourself permission to be fully seen creatively, personally and unapologetically. Keiynan opens up about growing up in Western Sydney finding safety in dance and music, how his big diverse family shaped his worldview, and how Michael Jackson shaped his commitment to excellence. He traces his evolution since Rainbow Boy, confronting his shadows, learning vulnerability as strength, and redefining masculinity on his own terms: true masculinity is graceful. We get into his intentional creative process from gibberish to polished visuals, the business of being an independent artist, and his new single Body High — a grounded, physical feeling of peace that opens his upcoming slower R&B project about navigating relationships and finding peace after the storm. Tap in for storytelling, legacy, queer culture, community care and what it really takes to keep it moving forward. Connect with Keiynan Lonsdale: Instagram: @keiynanlonsdale Stream Body High on all platforms Connect with Hella Chisme Podcast: Hosted by Dana Subscribe for queer culture, pride, reality checks & community care Instagram / TikTok: @hellachisme LINK: https://linktr.ee/hellachismepodcast Topics to include: Keiynan Lonsdale interview, Keiynan Lonsdale Body High, Rainbow Boy evolution, queer masculinity, true masculinity is graceful, vulnerability as strength, being fully seen, queer podcast, LGBTQ storytelling, independent artist journey, R&B new music, Michael Jackson influence, Western Sydney origin story, diverse family acceptance, creative process directing choreography, soulful intentional artistry, queer culture community care Support the show Follow Hella Chisme for more culture, conversation, and creative storytelling. Subscribe on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube, and keep up with us on Instagram, Threads, and TikTok at @hellachismepod. Join the chisme, share the episode, and leave a review or comment to support the show.
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October 2 · 5 min
Creative Permission
Join in the conversation! Enjoy the clip of this episode. The year is flying, the to-do list is loud, and burnout can sneak up until you feel fried, flipped, and stuck. I start by telling the truth about that feeling and why naming it matters. Sometimes the most productive thing a creative can do is admit they’re tired, give themselves a moment to check out, and come back ready to make something real again. From there, we set the table for a conversation I think every artist, writer, filmmaker, and musician will recognise: the search for permission to create. Before we find our voice, we usually meet it through someone else’s work. We talk about how inspiration isn’t just a vibe, it’s a blueprint, and how the right reference can give you permission to be ambitious, to get experimental, to tell the messy truth, or to stop apologising for the story you’re here to tell. We also preview the influences behind Seraphim, pulling threads from Janet Jackson’s Rhythm Nation 1814, Purple Rain, Moonlight, and Noah’s Ark. These titles live in different worlds, but they each carry lessons about identity, Blackness, queerness, community, and the art of blending music and film into something unforgettable. If you’ve been trying to get unstuck, this one is your reminder that the art you love can be the spark that unlocks your next move. Subscribe so you don’t miss the full conversation, share the episode with a creative friend who needs a push, and leave a rating or review to help more people find the show. What piece of art gave you permission to create? Support the show Follow Hella Chisme for more culture, conversation, and creative storytelling. Subscribe on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube, and keep up with us on Instagram, Threads, and TikTok at @hellachismepod. Join the chisme, share the episode, and leave a review or comment to support the show.
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#111
September 25 · 1 hr 28 min
Making 'Seraphim': How We Built a Black Queer Musical in Brooklyn Ft. Marck Angel
Join in the conversation! Welcome back to another episode of the Hella Chisme Podcast. Join Dana on the Hella Chisme Podcast for an inspiring conversation with filmmaker and recording artist Mark Angel about Seraphim a 72-minute Black queer musical drama love story set in Brooklyn. Mark breaks down how he wrote, produced, composed, edited, starred in, and grassroots-toured the film through COVID delays, running out of money, and learning to edit and color from scratch. We talk DIY, independent filmmaking, queer representation, inspiration from Janet Jackson's Rhythm Nation, Prince's Purple Rain, Moonlight and Noah's Ark, audience reactions at in-person screenings, his mantra "Light Up the Darkness," and where to watch Seraphim now on Deku (Apple TV, Amazon Prime, Roku). Plus: Dana opens on Hispanic Heritage Month and remembering 9/11 with community care. LINK: https://linktr.ee/hellachismepodcast 🔔 Subscribe for more queer culture, pride coverage, and reality checks: New episodes weekly from Hella Chisme Podcast 🎬 Watch Seraphim on Dekoo Follow Marck Angel Topics to include: Seraphim film interview, Mark Angel DIY queer musical Brooklyn, Black queer love story Brooklyn 2020, independent filmmaking journey, socially conscious musical drama, LGBTQ representation in film, queer musical, DIY filmmaker story, Janet Jackson Rhythm Nation inspiration, Noah's Ark queer representation, Light Up the Darkness mantra, Hispanic Heritage Month reflection, 9/11 remembrance and community care, Hella Chisme Podcast Dana interview Support the show Follow Hella Chisme for more culture, conversation, and creative storytelling. Subscribe on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube, and keep up with us on Instagram, Threads, and TikTok at @hellachismepod. Join the chisme, share the episode, and leave a review or comment to support the show.
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#110
September 11 · 49 min
From Layoff to Legacy: How I Built a Queer Podcast Community in 3 Years
Join in the conversation! Welcome back to another episode of the Hella Chisme Podcast. From layoff to legacy...how do you build a queer podcast community from scratch? In this special Queer News Live crossover, Dana from Hella Chisme Podcast joins E3 Radio to talk 3 years of building community through authentic conversation. 🎙️ New to Hella Chisme Podcast? Subscribe for queer culture, pride celebrations, community care, and real talk every week. In this episode: what Hispanic Heritage Month really celebrates beyond food and flags, why true remembrance for 9/11 must hold space for Muslim, Arab, and South Asian communities too, Dana’s journey from layoff to 3-year podcast host, favorite guests like Julian Winters, Shea Ryan and Mike Brown, and what’s next — live experiences, fashion, and bigger community events. LINK: https://linktr.ee/hellachismepodcast Learn more about E3 Radio’s Purple Tie Affair on October 3rd and join us every December for our Annual Live reflection show. E3 radio Topics to include: hispanic heritage month celebration, september 11 remembrance and reflection, queer podcast community building, amplifying Black queer and Latino voices, intersectionality and Afro-Latino identity, E3 Radio Queer News Live interview, Dana Hella Chisme origin story from layoff to podcast, San Diego Black Pride takeover, Juneteenth Black-owned business event, Sam Nordquist case and queer safety, Julian Winters queer love stories, live podcast events and vendor markets, fashion and creative purpose, storytelling for underrepresented communities Support the show Follow Hella Chisme for more culture, conversation, and creative storytelling. Subscribe on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube, and keep up with us on Instagram, Threads, and TikTok at @hellachismepod. Join the chisme, share the episode, and leave a review or comment to support the show.
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August 28 · 8 min
Burnout Reset
Join in the conversation! Enjoy this clip of this episode. Welcome back to another episode of the Hella Chisme Podcast This week we diver bak into a conversation with Ryan and Mike Brown. The dream you're chasing shouldn't cost you your peace or your rent. On our 100th episode, we sat down with multidisciplinary creatives Ryan (visibility coach, founder of Get a Grip, host of Lion Ryan) and Mike Brown (award-winning podcast producer, creator of The Art of Letting Go) for the conversation most creatives avoid: how to keep making art when the algorithm, the bills, and the burnout all want a piece of you. LINK: https://linktr.ee/hellachismepodcast Follow She's Ryan: IG: https://instagram.com/shesRYAN TikTok: https://Tiktok.com/shesRYAN Youtube: https://Youtube.com/@RYANVIBES Follow Mike Brown: https://linktr.ee/theartoflettinggo Insta: https://www.instagram.com/theartoflettinggopodcast/ The Art of Letting Go Topics to include: creative burnout, balancing passion and career, redefining success, financial freedom for creatives, charging your worth, freelance pricing, imposter syndrome, self doubt, comparison, social media algorithm pressure, detaching from metrics, journaling for mental health, content batching, creative block, unlearning societal expectations, queer creators, queer podcast, lgbtq community, mental health for creatives, work life balance Support the show Follow Hella Chisme for more culture, conversation, and creative storytelling. Subscribe on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube, and keep up with us on Instagram, Threads, and TikTok at @hellachismepod. Join the chisme, share the episode, and leave a review or comment to support the show.
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#109
August 21 · 2 hr 30 min
You Can't Pour From an Empty Cup: Creative Burnout & the Real Cost of Chasing Viral Ft. Ryan & Mike Brown
Join in the conversation! Welcome back to another episode of the Hella Chisme Podcast This week we diver bak into a conversation with Ryan and Mike Brown. The dream you're chasing shouldn't cost you your peace or your rent. On our 100th episode, we sat down with multidisciplinary creatives Ryan (visibility coach, founder of Get a Grip, host of Lion Ryan) and Mike Brown (award-winning podcast producer, creator of The Art of Letting Go) for the conversation most creatives avoid: how to keep making art when the algorithm, the bills, and the burnout all want a piece of you. LINK: https://linktr.ee/hellachismepodcast Follow She's Ryan: IG: https://instagram.com/shesRYAN TikTok: https://Tiktok.com/shesRYAN Youtube: https://Youtube.com/@RYANVIBES Follow Mike Brown: https://linktr.ee/theartoflettinggo Insta: https://www.instagram.com/theartoflettinggopodcast/ The Art of Letting Go Topics to include: creative burnout, balancing passion and career, redefining success, financial freedom for creatives, charging your worth, freelance pricing, imposter syndrome, self doubt, comparison, social media algorithm pressure, detaching from metrics, journaling for mental health, content batching, creative block, unlearning societal expectations, queer creators, queer podcast, lgbtq community, mental health for creatives, work life balance Support the show Follow Hella Chisme for more culture, conversation, and creative storytelling. Subscribe on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube, and keep up with us on Instagram, Threads, and TikTok at @hellachismepod. Join the chisme, share the episode, and leave a review or comment to support the show.
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August 14 · 8 min
The Quiet Car Problem
Join in the conversation! Enjoy the clip of this episode. Welcome back to another episode of the Hella Chisme Podcast! The show where culture, community, and real conversation live. This is a space where we celebrate and uplift the voices and stories that don’t get told enough, and have honest conversations about the things that actually matter. Also… maybe sometimes the things that don’t. And depending on the day? I might be getting into some foolishness. And in those moments, you are more than welcome to come check me on it in the comments. Respectfully! Whatever it is we’re doing over here, we show up real. And I love that y’all continue to come back each time to listen, laugh, chime in, and be part of this community. This week, we are reaching into the Hella Chisme vault. Why do some friendships last decades while others fade without explanation? Dr. Marcus C. Shepard, tenured professor of communication and host of Off the Data Provided, breaks down his Friendship Formula: investment, emotional closeness, trust, and support. If any one of those is missing, the relationship starts to crumble. We also get into dating apps and why people stay stuck on them, whether texting and DMs count as real communication (spoiler: they do), and why great communicators actually fight MORE they just know how to resolve it. 🔗 LINKS: Dr. Marcus Shepard: Connect with Dr. Marcus Shepard: "Meet Dr. Marcus C. Shepard a tenured professor in communication who studies communication, identity and diversity as they are heard within soul music, discussed by multiracial communities, and within interpersonal relationships." https://www.marcusshepard.com/ Julian Winters New Book! Hella Chisme: https://linktr.ee/hellachismepodcast Topics to include: friendship formula, how to keep friends, interpersonal communication, dr marcus shepard, conflict resolution, hard conversations, communication skills, dating apps, ghosting, emotional closeness, active listening, building relationships, queer friendships, setting boundaries, trust and support, hella chisme podcast, queer podcast, communication tips, friendship advice, relationship building Support the show Follow Hella Chisme for more culture, conversation, and creative storytelling. Subscribe on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube, and keep up with us on Instagram, Threads, and TikTok at @hellachismepod. Join the chisme, share the episode, and leave a review or comment to support the show.
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#108
August 7 · 1 hr 27 min
Why You Keep Losing People Ft. Dr. Marcus Shepard
Join in the conversation! Welcome back to another episode of the Hella Chisme Podcast! The show where culture, community, and real conversation live. This is a space where we celebrate and uplift the voices and stories that don’t get told enough, and have honest conversations about the things that actually matter. Also… maybe sometimes the things that don’t. And depending on the day? I might be getting into some foolishness. And in those moments, you are more than welcome to come check me on it in the comments. Respectfully! Whatever it is we’re doing over here, we show up real. And I love that y’all continue to come back each time to listen, laugh, chime in, and be part of this community. This week, we are reaching into the Hella Chisme vault. Why do some friendships last decades while others fade without explanation? Dr. Marcus C. Shepard, tenured professor of communication and host of Off the Data Provided, breaks down his Friendship Formula: investment, emotional closeness, trust, and support. If any one of those is missing, the relationship starts to crumble. We also get into dating apps and why people stay stuck on them, whether texting and DMs count as real communication (spoiler: they do), and why great communicators actually fight MORE they just know how to resolve it. 🔗 LINKS: Dr. Marcus Shepard: Connect with Dr. Marcus Shepard: "Meet Dr. Marcus C. Shepard a tenured professor in communication who studies communication, identity and diversity as they are heard within soul music, discussed by multiracial communities, and within interpersonal relationships." https://www.marcusshepard.com/ Julian Winters New Book! Hella Chisme: https://linktr.ee/hellachismepodcast Topics to include: friendship formula, how to keep friends, interpersonal communication, dr marcus shepard, conflict resolution, hard conversations, communication skills, dating apps, ghosting, emotional closeness, active listening, building relationships, queer friendships, setting boundaries, trust and support, hella chisme podcast, queer podcast, communication tips, friendship advice, relationship building Support the show Follow Hella Chisme for more culture, conversation, and creative storytelling. Subscribe on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube, and keep up with us on Instagram, Threads, and TikTok at @hellachismepod. Join the chisme, share the episode, and leave a review or comment to support the show.
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#107
July 31 · 1 hr 9 min
BONUS!!! "Being Black & Queer Is a Superpower" - San Diego Black Pride Leaders Speak
Join in the conversation! "Being Black and queer is actually a superpower — and a lot of people don't talk about it." This week on Hella Chisme Podcast, Dana sits down with Jordan Daniels (President) and Yinka Freeman (Vice President) of San Diego Black Pride for an unfiltered conversation about building spaces where Black queer and trans joy comes first. We dig into the upcoming San Diego Black Pride weekend — from the Legacy Ball to the sold-out yacht party to Sunday Service — but this episode goes way deeper than event promos. Jordan and Yinka get real about losing and reclaiming Black identity, why 60% of Black-led organizations receive less funding than white-led ones, and what it means to build a whole different table instead of just asking for a seat at theirs. If you've ever felt unseen in queer spaces, this one's for you. Topics to include: San Diego Black Pride, Black queer joy, Black queer superpower, San Diego Pride weekend 2026, Legacy Ball, Black queer spaces, Black-led organizations funding gap, Jordan Daniels, Yinka Freeman, Triple Pocket Events, reclaiming Black identity, building community, Black trans joy, Sunday Service festival, queer event production, LGBTQ San Diego, BFF Black Fat and Femme podcast, giving flowers, authentic storytelling, queer culture, community care 🔗 Get info: sdblackpride.org 📲 Follow SD Black Pride: @SDBlackPride on Instagram & Facebook Subscribe for new episodes every week. Like, comment, and share if this resonated. 🏳️‍🌈✊🏾 📸 Instagram: @HellaChismePod 🎵 TikTok: @HellaChisme ▶️ YouTube: Hella Chisme Podcast 📩 Collabs: chismehellapod@gmail.com https://linktr.ee/hellachismepodcast Support the show Follow Hella Chisme for more culture, conversation, and creative storytelling. Subscribe on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube, and keep up with us on Instagram, Threads, and TikTok at @hellachismepod. Join the chisme, share the episode, and leave a review or comment to support the show.
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July 30 · 8 min
He Sniffed His Roommate's Underwear Every Day & Now We Can't Stop Laughing 🔞
Join in the conversation! Enjoy this clip of the most recent episode. Dana reads the wildest gay Reddit confession we've ever covered "Dorm Room Secrets." A "full-blooded straight" college football bro discovers he can't stop sniffing his roommate Chris's sweaty underwear after workouts. And it only gets more unhinged from there. Lo is in the background losing it the entire time. This is a clip from Hella Chisme Podcast Episode 106, catch the full episode for two more Reddit stories, Pride Month catch-up, and the great mushroom vs avocado debate. 🔞 Explicit episode — listener discretion advised. 📸 Instagram: @HellaChismePod 🎵 TikTok: @HellaChisme ▶️ YouTube: Hella Chisme Podcast 📩 Collabs: chismehellapod@gmail.com Topics to include: gay reddit confessions, dorm room secrets reddit, reddit stories reaction, spicy gay reddit, queer podcast clip, reddit storytime, gay podcast, lgbtq podcast, reddit confessions, funny reddit reaction, spicy storytelling, hella chisme podcast, reddit readings, gay content, queer storytelling https://linktr.ee/hellachismepodcast Support the show Follow Hella Chisme for more culture, conversation, and creative storytelling. Subscribe on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube, and keep up with us on Instagram, Threads, and TikTok at @hellachismepod. Join the chisme, share the episode, and leave a review or comment to support the show.
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#106
July 24 · 1 hr 29 min
Goose Egg Testicles & Mushroom Cum?! Reacting to Unhinged Reddit Stories Ft. Lo
Join in the conversation! Welcome back to another episode of the Hella Chisme Podcast. Pull up, pour something, and get comfortable because this week on Hella Chisme, Dana and returning guest Lo are reading Reddit stories. And not just any Reddit stories. We're talking the kind of stories that make you put your phone down, pick it back up, and immediately send them to your group chat with absolutely no context. This episode is 18+ and exactly what it sounds like: two people with opinions, drinks, and zero chill reacting in real time to some of the wildest, most unhinged, and surprisingly well-written anonymous queer stories the internet has to offer. We're talking college dorm confessions, the kind of sexual awakenings nobody talks about openly, and a multi-part saga that apparently has 21 installments and counting with fans asking the author to start a Substack. We get it. Lo was last on the show for Episode 101, where we talked about social media authenticity and how people show up online versus in real life. This time? We left all that thoughtfulness at the door. This one is for adults. The ones who like their podcasts are a little unfiltered, a little chaotic, and a whole lot of fun. You already know what it is. 🔞 Explicit episode — listener discretion advised. 📸 Instagram: @HellaChismePod 🎵 TikTok: @HellaChisme ▶️ YouTube: Hella Chisme Podcast 📩 Collabs: chismehellapod@gmail.com Topics to include: spicy gay stories podcast, Reddit story reaction podcast, gay Reddit stories, queer Reddit reactions, explicit gay podcast, adult LGBTQ podcast, unhinged podcast episode, gay sexual awakening stories, anonymous queer stories, funny gay podcast, gay storytelling podcast, queer adult content podcast, shoot the shit podcast, returning guest podcast, gay podcast friends reacting, LGBTQ explicit podcast, Hella Chisme Podcast, adult queer podcast 2026, Lo guest Hella Chisme, queer podcast 18 plus, gay college stories, Reddit gay fiction, gay dorm stories Reddit, queer story time podcast https://linktr.ee/hellachismepodcast Support the show Follow Hella Chisme for more culture, conversation, and creative storytelling. Subscribe on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube, and keep up with us on Instagram, Threads, and TikTok at @hellachismepod. Join the chisme, share the episode, and leave a review or comment to support the show.
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July 17 · 8 min
Second Chances In Love
Join in the conversation! Enjoy this clip of the most recent episode. Best-selling YA author Julian Winters on writing joyful queer romances, the mess of creative beginnings & why LGBTQ+ characters deserve stories that aren't defined by trauma. This week on Hella Chisme, we sit down with award-winning and USA Today bestselling author Julian Winters — the voice behind Running With Lions, Right Where I Left You, Prince of the Palisades, and the upcoming Find My Way Down to You. Julian opens up about his journey from Thundercats fan fiction to publishing queer romances that center joy, community, and hope for young readers. We unpack his creative process (spoiler: it starts messy), how rom-coms shaped his worldview before he ever saw himself in books, and why he refuses to write the trauma narrative — choosing instead to show queer kids that they deserve happily-ever-afters without having to earn them first. This one's for writers, readers, and anyone who believes stories can save lives. 📚 Find Julian Winters: julianwinters.com https://www.instagram.com/wintersjulian 🎙️ Hella Chisme Podcast: 📸 Instagram: @HellaChismePod 🎵 TikTok: @HellaChisme ▶️ YouTube: Hella Chisme Podcast chismehellapod@gmail.com https://linktr.ee/hellachismepodcast Support the show Follow Hella Chisme for more culture, conversation, and creative storytelling. Subscribe on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube, and keep up with us on Instagram, Threads, and TikTok at @hellachismepod. Join the chisme, share the episode, and leave a review or comment to support the show.
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#105
July 10 · 1 hr 21 min
Queer Kids Deserve Happily-Ever-Afters — Julian Winters on Writing Love That Heals
Join in the conversation! Welcome back to another episode of the Hella Chisme Podcast! Best-selling YA author Julian Winters on writing joyful queer romances, the mess of creative beginnings & why LGBTQ+ characters deserve stories that aren't defined by trauma. This week on Hella Chisme, we sit down with award-winning and USA Today bestselling author Julian Winters — the voice behind Running With Lions, Right Where I Left You, Prince of the Palisades, and the upcoming Find My Way Down to You. Julian opens up about his journey from Thundercats fan fiction to publishing queer romances that center joy, community, and hope for young readers. We unpack his creative process (spoiler: it starts messy), how rom-coms shaped his worldview before he ever saw himself in books, and why he refuses to write the trauma narrative — choosing instead to show queer kids that they deserve happily-ever-afters without having to earn them first. This one's for writers, readers, and anyone who believes stories can save lives. Topics to include: Julian Winters author interview, queer YA fiction, queer romance books, LGBTQ authors, Black queer authors, diverse queer representation, joyful queer storytelling, queer joy vs queer trauma narrative, writing queer characters, fan fiction to published author, Thundercats fan fiction origin, rewriting endings creative practice, alternate universe fan fiction, marginalized voices in publishing, creative writing process, storyboarding and mood boards, fighting perfectionism as a writer, starting a book messy first draft, rom-coms as inspiration, Prince of the Palisades book, royal romance YA, Black Panther inspiration T'Challa Nakia, Red White and Royal Blue influence, Young Royals Netflix inspiration, The Princess Diaries influence, Tokyo Ever After book, social media scrutiny marginalized individuals, young adult perspective queer youth, healthy intimacy in YA fiction, consent comfort protection in romance, hypersexualization of young characters critique, I Think They Love You book, second chances in love trope, fake dating romance trope, emotional vulnerability in romance, multi-layered queer characters, authenticity in romance novels, Fire Island rom-com, Always Be My Maybe underrated rom-com, rom-com pet peeves wedding objection amnesia trope, rom-com casting Justice Smith Tessa Thompson, Find My Way Down to You book, Orpheus and Eurydice retelling, Greek mythology YA romance, speculative YA fiction, Charon ferryman of souls character, queer book recommendations, YA romance novels 2026, reading preferences ebooks audiobooks physical books, creative process anxiety new releases, journaling shadow work therapy, prosperity mantras Queen of Pentacles, Hella Chisme Podcast, LGBTQ+ podcast 2026, queer podcast crossover, author interview podcast, book podcast, writing community podcast 📚 Find Julian Winters: julianwinters.com https://www.instagram.com/wintersjulian 🎙️ Hella Chisme Podcast: 📸 Instagram: @HellaChismePod 🎵 TikTok: @HellaChisme ▶️ YouTube: Hella Chisme Podcast chismehellapod@gmail.com https://linktr.ee/hellachismepodcast Support the show Follow Hella Chisme for more culture, conversation, and creative storytelling. Subscribe on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube, and keep up with us on Instagram, Threads, and TikTok at @hellachismepod. Join the chisme, share the episode, and leave a review or comment to support the show.
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July 3 · 8 min
The Monolith Myth
Join in the conversation! Enjoy this clip from episode 104! The discussion centers on the phrase "we are not a monolith" as it's used in online discourse, especially within the Black gay community. Main points: The contradiction: Despite preaching individuality, there's still pressure to fit a specific mold — those who don't match the expected "blueprint" often get pushed aside. What the phrase usually means: It's typically invoked to push back against stereotypes — like the assumption that all Black gay men or POC live the same lifestyle (constant clubbing, socializing, etc.). The critique: One speaker challenges the phrase itself, arguing it should really be "I am not a monolith" rather than "we," since so many people seem to follow the same patterns anyway. They suggest it's become more of an empty buzzword than a reflection of actual diversity. The nuance: The group lands somewhere in between — people can have layers and aren't defined by one experience, but they also acknowledge that certain habits (partying, hookup culture) genuinely are common within the Black gay diaspora, even if not universal or permanent for everyone. Essentially, it's a self-reflective conversation questioning whether a popular phrase about diversity actually holds up against observed community patterns, or if it's become a defensive catchphrase. 🎙️ Hella Chisme Podcast: 📸 Instagram: @HellaChismePod 🎵 TikTok: @HellaChisme ▶️ YouTube: Hella Chisme Podcast 📩 Guest inquiries: chismehellapod@gmail.com LINK: https://linktr.ee/hellachismepodcast Find Just Drawz: Just Drawz Podcast https://www.instagram.com/kklothesminded/ https://www.instagram.com/jefflevelsup/ Topics to include: gay community monolith, LGBTQ conformity, gay male identity, queer individuality, gay masculinity femininity, desirability politics gay men, gay dating culture, gay dating apps, gay relationship patterns, ghosting gay community, gay nightlife culture, gay bar culture, LGBTQ surveillance culture, queer creator expectations, Black gay men podcast, gay men race representation, gay community division, gay social dynamics, Lock Pencil Drop game, crossover podcast episode, Hella Drawz, Hella Chisme Podcast, Just Drawz Podcast, KKlothesminded, LGBTQ+ podcast 2026, queer podcast crossover, gay men talking honestly, queer masculinity, gay hypermasculinity, no fats no fems culture, gay chosen family, queer social media culture, LGBTQ community care, gay validation culture, queer nightlife, circuit parties gay culture, gay men friendship, performative queerness, raw vulnerable podcast Support the show Follow Hella Chisme for more culture, conversation, and creative storytelling. Subscribe on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube, and keep up with us on Instagram, Threads, and TikTok at @hellachismepod. Join the chisme, share the episode, and leave a review or comment to support the show.
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#104
June 26 · 2 hr 27 min
Hella Drawz - Are We REALLY a Monolith? Gay Culture, Conformity & The Unspoken Rules Nobody Talks About ft. Just Drawz
Join in the conversation! Welcome to another episode of the Hella Chisme Podcast… but not just any episode, an episode crossover. Three podcasters. One crossover. Zero safe answers. Dana from the Hella Chisme Podcast, Jeff from Just Drawz, and Darius (DMC) from KKlothesminded come together for Hella Drawz, a raw, unfiltered, family reunion energy crossover episode asking the question the gay community has been dancing around: Are we REALLY not a monolith, or do we just say that? We're getting into all of it. The pressure to conform inside queer spaces. Why masculinity is still prized and femininity is merely tolerated. How race and layered identity shape who gets to feel "seen" in the community. The desirability politics that run gay dating culture. Surveillance culture and what we expect from our queer creators. And the nightlife and social infrastructure that keeps us outside but emotionally exhausted. Then we play Lock, Pencil, Drop, putting dating habits, party culture, social media behavior, and unspoken community rules on the table and deciding what we're keeping, what conditions, and what we're letting go. For good. This is the conversation that happens when people stop performing and start being honest. No perfectly polished takes. Just three queer voices keeping it RVSD, raw, vulnerable, stripped down. Whether you came for the chisme or the Just Drawz… welcome home. 🎙️ Hella Chisme Podcast: 📸 Instagram: @HellaChismePod 🎵 TikTok: @HellaChisme ▶️ YouTube: Hella Chisme Podcast 📩 Guest inquiries: chismehellapod@gmail.com LINK: https://linktr.ee/hellachismepodcast Find Just Drawz: Just Drawz Podcast https://www.instagram.com/kklothesminded/ https://www.instagram.com/jefflevelsup/ Topics to include: gay community monolith, LGBTQ conformity, gay male identity, queer individuality, gay masculinity femininity, desirability politics gay men, gay dating culture, gay dating apps, gay relationship patterns, ghosting gay community, gay nightlife culture, gay bar culture, LGBTQ surveillance culture, queer creator expectations, Black gay men podcast, gay men race representation, gay community division, gay social dynamics, Lock Pencil Drop game, crossover podcast episode, Hella Drawz, Hella Chisme Podcast, Just Drawz Podcast, KKlothesminded, LGBTQ+ podcast 2026, queer podcast crossover, gay men talking honestly, queer masculinity, gay hypermasculinity, no fats no fems culture, gay chosen family, queer social media culture, LGBTQ community care, gay validation culture, queer nightlife, circuit parties gay culture, gay men friendship, performative queerness, raw vulnerable podcast Support the show Follow Hella Chisme for more culture, conversation, and creative storytelling. Subscribe on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube, and keep up with us on Instagram, Threads, and TikTok at @hellachismepod. Join the chisme, share the episode, and leave a review or comment to support the show.
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#103
June 12 · 1 hr 45 min
Queer Pride Parade - Community Care, Trans Advocacy & What Real Allyship Looks Like ft. Ben Greene
Join in the conversation! Welcome back to another episode of the Hella Chisme Podcast. Happy Pride Month, Cheese Mates. This one is for the community, all of it. This week, host Dana sits down with internationally recognized transgender advocate, educator, and storyteller Ben Greene for a deep, honest, and joy-filled conversation about what it really means to show up for one another, especially right now. We talk about community care beyond the buzzword. We talk about the very real divide happening inside the LGBTQIA+ community between the gay community and the trans community and why that conversation is long overdue. We talk about advocacy fatigue, what it feels like to be the only person speaking up in a room, and how queer people keep finding ways to heal collectively even when the world keeps making it harder. We play "Who's In Your Chosen Family?" a love letter to all the roles queer people play for each other. We built the Official Queer Survival Kit for 2026. And we close with a community check-in that asks the questions we need to sit with after the parades are over. Ben Greene is the author of My Child is Trans, Now What? A Joy-Centered Approach to Support, creator of the Substack Good Queer News, a GLAAD Media Award nominee, and a relentless voice for trans youth and their families at the Missouri State Capitol and beyond. Pride is not just visibility. It's protection. It's my responsibility. It's love that refuses to disappear. San Diego Pride is July 17th — let's celebrate all the way there. 📸 Instagram: @HellaChismePod 🎵 TikTok: @HellaChisme ▶️ YouTube: Hella Chisme Podcast 📚 Find Ben Greene: Good Queer News on Substack | My Child is Trans, Now What? 📩 Guest inquiries: chismehellapod@gmail.com LINK: https://linktr.ee/hellachismepodcast Topics to include: LGBTQ+ Pride Month 2026, Pride Month podcast, transgender advocacy, trans rights 2026, community care queer community, Ben Greene transgender educator, My Child is Trans Now What, Good Queer News Substack, GLAAD Media Award nominee, trans allyship, queer chosen family, LGBTQIA+ division, trans community support, advocacy burnout, queer healing, queer joy as resistance, Stonewall history, Pride Month history, San Diego Pride 2026, LGBTQ+ mental health, queer survival, Black queer community, trans youth advocacy, mutual aid LGBTQ, chosen family podcast, intersectionality LGBTQ, queer community care, trans inclusion, real allyship, queer podcast interview, Pride special episode, Hella Chisme Podcast, Dana podcast host, San Diego podcast Support the show Follow Hella Chisme for more culture, conversation, and creative storytelling. Subscribe on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube, and keep up with us on Instagram, Threads, and TikTok at @hellachismepod. Join the chisme, share the episode, and leave a review or comment to support the show.
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June 12 · 8 min
Good Queer News
Join in the conversation! Enjoy this Clip of the lates episode of the Hella Chisme Podcast. Queer Pride Parade - Community Care, Trans Advocacy & What Real Allyship Looks Like ft. Ben Greene This week, host Dana sits down with internationally recognized transgender advocate, educator, and storyteller Ben Greene for a deep, honest, and joy-filled conversation about what it really means to show up for one another, especially right now. We talk about community care beyond the buzzword. We talk about the very real divide happening inside the LGBTQIA+ community between the gay community and the trans community and why that conversation is long overdue. We talk about advocacy fatigue, what it feels like to be the only person speaking up in a room, and how queer people keep finding ways to heal collectively even when the world keeps making it harder. We play "Who's In Your Chosen Family?" a love letter to all the roles queer people play for each other. We built the Official Queer Survival Kit for 2026. And we close with a community check-in that asks the questions we need to sit with after the parades are over. Ben Greene is the author of My Child is Trans, Now What? A Joy-Centered Approach to Support, creator of the Substack Good Queer News, a GLAAD Media Award nominee, and a relentless voice for trans youth and their families at the Missouri State Capitol and beyond. Pride is not just visibility. It's protection. It's my responsibility. It's love that refuses to disappear. San Diego Pride is July 17th — let's celebrate all the way there. 📸 Instagram: @HellaChismePod 🎵 TikTok: @HellaChisme ▶️ YouTube: Hella Chisme Podcast 📚 Find Ben Greene: Good Queer News on Substack | My Child is Trans, Now What? 📩 Guest inquiries: chismehellapod@gmail.com LINK: https://linktr.ee/hellachismepodcast Topics to include: LGBTQ+ Pride Month 2026, Pride Month podcast, transgender advocacy, trans rights 2026, community care queer community, Ben Greene transgender educator, My Child is Trans Now What, Good Queer News Substack, GLAAD Media Award nominee, trans allyship, queer chosen family, LGBTQIA+ division, trans community support, advocacy burnout, queer healing, queer joy as resistance, Stonewall history, Pride Month history, San Diego Pride 2026, LGBTQ+ mental health, queer survival, Black queer community, trans youth advocacy, mutual aid LGBTQ, chosen family podcast, intersectionality LGBTQ, queer community care, trans inclusion, real allyship, queer podcast interview, Pride special episode, Hella Chisme Podcast, Dana podcast host, San Diego podcast Support the show Follow Hella Chisme for more culture, conversation, and creative storytelling. Subscribe on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube, and keep up with us on Instagram, Threads, and TikTok at @hellachismepod. Join the chisme, share the episode, and leave a review or comment to support the show.
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#102
May 22 · 54 min
Hooking My Bait
Join in the conversation! Welcome back to another episode of the Hella Chisme Podcast This week we're celebrating everything May has to offer: International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia & Transphobia (IDAHOBIT), Harvey Milk Day, Pansexual & Pan-Romantic Awareness Day, AANHPI Heritage Month, and National Military Appreciation Month. We also check in on the reality of Pride Season funding cuts including what happened at Long Beach Pride and hold space for the complicated weight of what's going on in the world right now. Then we switch gears and do what we do best: a free-for-all, shoot-the-sh*t episode with your host sipping a tequila mockingbird, recording live on TikTok for the first time (kind of), and reading the most unhinged, spicy, and absolutely fictional Reddit story you've ever heard featuring a fisherman named Hank, a Christmas tree musk situation, and a hook that gets set in more ways than one. This one's for the homies. The ones who've been riding since day one. Subscribe, follow, comment, and join the Cheese Mate community — because we're building something beautiful over here and we want you in it. 📍 New 2x's a Month | Hella Chisme Podcast 📩 Collabs & Guests: chismehellapod@gmail.com LINK: https://linktr.ee/hellachismepodcast Topics to include: LGBTQ+ podcast, IDAHOBIT 2025, Harvey Milk Day, Pansexual Awareness Day, Pan-Romantic Awareness Day, AANHPI Heritage Month, Asian American Pacific Islander Month, National Military Appreciation Month, Pride Season 2025, Long Beach Pride canceled, San Diego Pride funding cuts, queer podcast for Black women, free-for-all podcast episode, Reddit story reaction, gay fiction, tequila mocktail recipe, going live on TikTok, podcast live recording, shoot the shit episode, queer community podcast, LGBTQ+ awareness month, Bay Area LGBTQ history, support queer creators, Black podcasters, independent podcast Support the show Follow Hella Chisme for more culture, conversation, and creative storytelling. Subscribe on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube, and keep up with us on Instagram, Threads, and TikTok at @hellachismepod. Join the chisme, share the episode, and leave a review or comment to support the show.
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#101
May 8 · 1 hr 34 min
Be Yourself Online? Navigating Social Media & Real Life Ft. Lo
Join in the conversation! Welcome back to another Episode of the Hella Chisme Podcast. This week on the Hella Chisme Podcast, Dana and Lo unpack the complicated reality of who we are online versus who we are in real life. From curated Instagram feeds and influencer culture to comparison burnout, online validation, and the pressure to “perform” for the algorithm, this episode dives deep into the digital personas we create and the emotional toll they can take. The conversation explores everything from social media authenticity and viral culture to content creator burnout, parasocial relationships, online comparison, and the growing pressure to constantly stay visible online. Dana also reflects on podcasting, building Hella Chisme through 100+ episodes, navigating creative consistency, and learning how to create meaningful content without losing yourself in the process. Along the way, the episode blends pop culture commentary, real-life stories, dating conversations, reality TV chaos, and hilarious sibling banter while asking an important question: Are we presenting our real selves online or just the version we think people want to see? If you've ever questioned your worth because of social media, felt burnt out by the algorithm, compared your journey to someone else’s highlight reel, or struggled to balance authenticity with visibility, this conversation is for you. LINK: https://linktr.ee/hellachismepodcast Topics to Include: social media authenticity, digital identity, online personas, influencer culture, algorithm burnout, podcast growth, content creator burnout, social media pressure, online validation, comparison culture, authenticity online, parasocial relationships, creator economy, internet culture, queer podcast, Black queer creatives, mental health and social media, visibility online, social media and self-worth, podcasting journey, algorithm culture, content creation, digital burnout, viral culture, podcast community, creator mindset, online image, authenticity vs performance, Hella Chisme Podcast Support the show Follow Hella Chisme for more culture, conversation, and creative storytelling. Subscribe on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube, and keep up with us on Instagram, Threads, and TikTok at @hellachismepod. Join the chisme, share the episode, and leave a review or comment to support the show.
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