Everything & Anything...and a bit gay Podcast

Ep. 229: Boston Gays Are STILL Clique-y & My Wild P-Town Memorial Day Weekend

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/ [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 [https://www.sixfoot5prod.com]  Apple: https://music.apple.com/us/artist/sixfoot-5/1551774977  [https://music.apple.com/us/artist/sixfoot-5/1551774977 ] Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/5rHMzoU0G0fLhaBsrQiOOY?si=laSZ5hiKTYubJJyhrzf2JQ [https://open.spotify.com/artist/5rHMzoU0G0fLhaBsrQiOOY?si=laSZ5hiKTYubJJyhrzf2JQ] Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com [https://pcm.adswizz.com] for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Ep. 228: The Gay Bit: Take 8 - Hookup Apps vs. Real Connection

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 [https://www.sixfoot5prod.com]  Apple: https://music.apple.com/us/artist/sixfoot-5/1551774977  [https://music.apple.com/us/artist/sixfoot-5/1551774977 ] Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/5rHMzoU0G0fLhaBsrQiOOY?si=laSZ5hiKTYubJJyhrzf2JQ [https://open.spotify.com/artist/5rHMzoU0G0fLhaBsrQiOOY?si=laSZ5hiKTYubJJyhrzf2JQ] Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com [https://pcm.adswizz.com] for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Ep. 227: From Rio to LA: Brazilian Dancer Dani Ke'lly on Samba, Survival & Reinvention

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/  [https://www.instagram.com/belivewithdanikellyy/] Podcast song by SIXFOOT 5: https://www.sixfoot5prod.com [https://www.sixfoot5prod.com]  Apple: https://music.apple.com/us/artist/sixfoot-5/1551774977  [https://music.apple.com/us/artist/sixfoot-5/1551774977 ] Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/5rHMzoU0G0fLhaBsrQiOOY?si=laSZ5hiKTYubJJyhrzf2JQ [https://open.spotify.com/artist/5rHMzoU0G0fLhaBsrQiOOY?si=laSZ5hiKTYubJJyhrzf2JQ] Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com [https://pcm.adswizz.com] for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Ep. 226: He Healed His Body With His Mind — Navy Vet Max Reeder on Quantum Healing

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/ [https://www.instagram.com/maxreeder/] Check out his websites: https://www.maxreeder.com/ [https://www.maxreeder.com/] Podcast song by SIXFOOT 5: https://www.sixfoot5prod.com [https://www.sixfoot5prod.com]  Apple: https://music.apple.com/us/artist/sixfoot-5/1551774977  [https://music.apple.com/us/artist/sixfoot-5/1551774977 ] Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/5rHMzoU0G0fLhaBsrQiOOY?si=laSZ5hiKTYubJJyhrzf2JQ [https://open.spotify.com/artist/5rHMzoU0G0fLhaBsrQiOOY?si=laSZ5hiKTYubJJyhrzf2JQ] Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com [https://pcm.adswizz.com] for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Ep. 225: Night of a Thousand Judys | Justin Elizabeth Sayer on Judy Garland, Queer History & Cabaret NYC

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 [http://thousandjudys.com] * 🏠 Ali Forney Center: aliforneycenter.org [http://aliforneycenter.org] * 📖 From Gay to Z — available wherever books are sold Podcast song by SIXFOOT 5: https://www.sixfoot5prod.com [https://www.sixfoot5prod.com]  Apple: https://music.apple.com/us/artist/sixfoot-5/1551774977  [https://music.apple.com/us/artist/sixfoot-5/1551774977 ] Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/5rHMzoU0G0fLhaBsrQiOOY?si=laSZ5hiKTYubJJyhrzf2JQ [https://open.spotify.com/artist/5rHMzoU0G0fLhaBsrQiOOY?si=laSZ5hiKTYubJJyhrzf2JQ] Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com [https://pcm.adswizz.com] for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.