What if joy is the most radical form of resistance we have? In this deeply moving episode of Into the Mud, Drew and Alex welcome Mila Jam, recording artist, activist, author, and self-described “pretty pop artivist,” for a conversation about choosing joy in a world that often tries to erase it. Mila opens up about growing up Southern Baptist, finding refuge in theatre, and becoming a proud trans woman who leads with joy as both a personal practice and a political act. Together, they explore trans visibility, pronouns, burnout, rest as resistance, and the daily rituals that help Mila protect her light during an increasingly hostile cultural moment. With honesty, humor, and heart, this episode is a reminder that standing in your truth and doing so joyfully is itself an act of defiance. Bio: Mila Jam is an American trans singer, songwriter, dancer, actress, and LGBTQ+ activist. Best known for her powerful blend of pop music and advocacy, Mila first gained attention through her viral YouTube performances and later toured internationally with Broadway’s Rent. Her discography includes singles like Faces, Twilight Zone, and Eye on You, and her work centers on themes of self-acceptance, identity, and queer empowerment. A celebrated performer on stages from BBC to MTV, Mila uses her art to elevate trans visibility and celebrate radical joy in the face of societal barriers. Mila’s Social Media: @TheMilaJam Follow along at @IntoTheMudPodcast on all platforms! For the visual version, follow along on YouTube! Your Hosts: Alex Kumin (@Alex.Kumin) and Drew King (@DrewKingNYC). Audio mixed by Sarah Webb (@SWAudioPost) and Drew King. Filmed and recorded in the Barrow Lounge at @TheMalin West Village. www.IntoTheMudPodcast.com #IntoTheMudPodcast #MilaJam #JoyIsResistance #TransJoy #QueerJoy #Artivism #PopArtivist #TransVisibility #LGBTQPodcast #QueerVoices #RadicalJoy #TransRights #QueerCommunity #ChosenFamily #HealingThroughArt #JoyAsResistance #SelfLoveJourney #SpiritualPractice #MicroJoy #RestIsResistance #TransWomen #QueerArtists #RepresentationMatters #JoyfulLiving #CreativeActivism #QueerStorytelling #NoMudNoLotus #PodcastInterview #NYCPodcast #Broadway

Marc Shaiman, the legendary composer and lyricist behind Hairspray, Mary Poppins Returns, When Harry Met Sally…, Sister Act, and countless other cultural touchstones, gets deeply muddy about the whiplash of success, the grief that shaped his artistry, and why even a dream career does not protect you from disappointment. From Marie’s Crisis to the AIDS crisis, from Bette Midler to Broadway, this conversation is raw, hilarious, and profoundly moving. The episode features unforgettable snippets and wild stories pulled straight from Marc’s new memoir, Never Mind the Happy: Showbiz Stories from a Sore Winner, available everywhere January 27, but to hear the full stories, you'll just have to read the book. Bio: Marc Shaiman is a Tony, Grammy, and Emmy-winning American composer, lyricist, arranger, and music producer known for his vast body of work in film, television, and theater. He began his career as a musical director and arranger for Bette Midler before rising to prominence with scores for iconic films such as When Harry Met Sally…, The Addams Family, Sister Act, City Slickers, Sleepless in Seattle, The American President, South Park: Bigger, Longer & Uncut, and Mary Poppins Returns. On Broadway, he co-wrote the music and lyrics for Hairspray and collaborated with Scott Wittman on Catch Me If You Can, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Some Like It Hot, and the stage adaptation of Smash. Shaiman has been nominated for multiple Academy Awards and has won a Tony, two Emmys, and two Grammys for his prolific and emotionally resonant work. His career also spans celebrated television work and creative partnerships with some of entertainment’s biggest names. In television he has contributed to Saturday Night Live, multiple Academy Awards broadcasts, and shows like Only Murders in the Building, and he has produced and arranged for artists including Harry Connick Jr., Mariah Carey, and more. Born in New Jersey, Shaiman continues to shape the sound of American entertainment with a blend of musical theater sensibility and cinematic storytelling. Marc's Social Media: @Marc_Shaiman Follow along at @IntoTheMudPodcast on all platforms! For the visual version, follow along on YouTube! Your Hosts: Alex Kumin (@Alex.Kumin) and Drew King (@DrewKingNYC). Audio mixed by Sarah Webb (@SWAudioPost) and Drew King. Filmed and recorded in the Barrow Lounge at @TheMalin West Village. www.IntoTheMudPodcast.com #IntoTheMudPodcast #MarcShaiman #BroadwayPodcast #ShowbizStories #CreativeCareers #GriefAndArt #MaryPoppinsReturns #HairsprayMusical #ComposerLife #SongwriterLife #HollywoodStories #BroadwayComposer #CreativeProcess #JewishJoy #NeverMindTheHappy #LifeInTheArts #LegacyAndLoss #ArtistsOnArtists #QueerHistory #AIDSCrisis #ChosenFamily #CreativeLongevity #DreamCareers #EntertainmentIndustry #BehindTheMusic #BroadwayLife #FilmMusic #MusicalTheatre #PodcastInterview #ArtistJourney #StorytellingPodcast #GayIcons #ShowbizTruth #SuccessAndFailure #GratitudeAndGrief #CreativeCommunity #IntoTheMud #NoMudNoLotus #NYCArtists #CulturalIcons

Tony Award winner Julie Halston joins Into the Mud for a deeply moving and hilarious conversation about grief, caregiving, and turning loss into lasting advocacy. From surviving the AIDS crisis and losing her husband to pulmonary fibrosis to founding Broadway Belts and raising millions for research, Julie reflects on how comedy, community, and purpose carried her through life’s darkest chapters. This episode is a powerful reminder that even in grief, connection can save your life. Bio: Julie Halston is a celebrated actress and comedian whose career spans Broadway, television, and film. Her Broadway credits include Tootsie, Hairspray, Gypsy, Anything Goes, On the Town, Twentieth Century, and more, and she is widely known to TV audiences for her iconic role as Bitsy von Muffling on Sex and the City and And Just Like That… Beyond the stage and screen, Julie is a dedicated advocate and humanitarian. She is the co-founder of Broadway Belts for PFF!, an annual event that has raised millions of dollars for the Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation following the loss of her husband, Ralph Howard, to the disease. For her extraordinary advocacy and service to the theatre community, she was honored with the Isabelle Stevenson Tony Award, joining the ranks with such acclaimed artists as Bernadette Peters, Stephen Schwartz, Brian Stokes Mitchell, Rosie O’Donnell, Eve Ensler, and David Hyde Pierce. Julie’s Social Media: @ActressJulieHalston Follow along at @IntoTheMudPodcast on all platforms! For the visual version, follow along on YouTube! Your Hosts: Alex Kumin (@Alex.Kumin) and Drew King (@DrewKingNYC). Audio mixed by Sarah Webb (@SWAudioPost) and Drew King. Filmed and recorded in the Barrow Lounge at @TheMalin West Village. www.IntoTheMudPodcast.com #IntoTheMudPodcast #JulieHalston #BroadwayCommunity #GriefAndHealing #GriefToAdvocacy #ChosenFamily #BroadwayBelts #PulmonaryFibrosis #CaregivingJourney #LGBTQHistory #AIDSCrisis #QueerHistory #TonyAwards #ComedyAndGrief #DarkHumor #TheatreLife #BroadwayStories #ArtistLife #CommunityCare #Widowhood #LossAndLove #HealingThroughLaughter #QueerIcons #NonprofitWork #TheatrePodcast #CreativeResilience #LifeAfterLoss #GriefSupport #FoundFamily #AdvocacyWork #WomenInTheatre #LGBTQPodcast #BroadwayPodcast #StorytellingPodcast #HealingConversations #GriefJourney #ArtAndActivism #LivingWithPurpose #CelebratingTheMud

Rev. Micah Bucey, senior minister of Judson Memorial Church, joins Into the Mud for a deeply expansive conversation as Drew and Alex, who do not identify as religious, bring genuine curiosity to the roots of Christianity and spirituality and how they’ve been distorted by MAGA Christianity and white Christian nationalism. Together, they explore how faith has been weaponized in America, how it can also be reclaimed as a force for justice and repair, and why humility and wonder matter more than rigid belief. This episode is ultimately about protecting the most endangered among us without letting our hearts rot. Bio: Be the glitter you wish to see in the world. Rev. Micah Bucey is a passionately progressive faith leader, writer, and minister at Judson Memorial Church in Greenwich Village. A regular contributor to Spirituality & Practice, Micah is the author of The Book of Tiny Prayer(Fordham University Press) and is widely known for exploring the intersections of expansive spirituality, radical social justice, and unfettered creativity. Ordained in the Christian tradition but grounded in an interspiritual approach, Micah’s work centers artists as modern-day prophets, embraces curiosity over certainty, and boldly reclaims the revolutionary, inherently queer roots of Christianity. Micah’s Social Media: @RevMicahB, www.MicahBucey.com, www.Judson.org Follow along at @IntoTheMudPodcast on all platforms! For the visual version, follow along on YouTube! Your Hosts: Alex Kumin (@Alex.Kumin) and Drew King (@DrewKingNYC). Audio mixed by Sarah Webb (@SWAudioPost) and Drew King. Filmed and recorded in the Barrow Lounge at @TheMalin West Village. www.IntoTheMudPodcast.com #IntoTheMudPodcast #QueerFaith #ProgressiveChristianity #LiberationTheology #SpiritualDeconstruction #FaithAndJustice #QueerJoy #RadicalLove #ChristianNationalism #ReligiousTrauma #ChurchAndState #SocialJustice #FaithWithoutFear #QueerTheology #ModernSpirituality #FaithInCrisis #LoveThyNeighbor #DeconstructingReligion #QueerVoices #ReligiousHealing #JusticeWork #SpiritualGrowth #ActivismAndFaith #HopeInHardTimes #FaithReimagined #LGBTQFaith #ChurchReimagined #MuddyConversations #QueerClergy #FaithAndPolitics #CollectiveLiberation #ProgressiveFaith #SpiritualCuriosity #HumanFirst #ReligionAndResistance #FaithAndJoy #RadicalEmpathy #QueerStories #JusticeAndJoy #HopeIsAPractice

Dating is hard enough, but for drag queens, finding love comes with an entirely different set of challenges. In this episode of Into the Mud, Pixie Aventura (aka Cesar Villavicencio) gets honest about what it’s actually like to date as a drag queen. He walks through the six biggest obstacles he’s encountered in relationships, including fetishization, intimidation, internalized homophobia, and the challenge of being seen as a persona instead of a person. This conversation is funny, vulnerable, and deeply real, touching on the struggles of queer dating, intimacy, and how to stay open to love in a dating culture that feels impossible. Bio: Pixie Aventura (aka Cesar Villavicencio) is a Miami-raised and New York City–based drag performer, host, and nightlife fixture with more than a decade of experience in the NYC drag scene. Pixie is a longtime staple at iconic venues including Barracuda, Industry, Therapy (RIP), and on Fire Island, and currently hosts weekly and recurring shows at Industry and G Lounge. During the pandemic, Pixie created and produced the digital series Drag Me Out, which reached a wide online audience and spotlighted drag artists during COVID. Known for high-energy performances that blend comedy, music, and audience interaction, Pixie continues to be a leading presence in New York nightlife. Pixie’s Social Media: @PixieAventura Follow along at @IntoTheMudPodcast on all platforms! For the visual version, follow along on YouTube! Your Hosts: Alex Kumin (@Alex.Kumin) and Drew King (@DrewKingNYC). Audio mixed by Sarah Webb (@SWAudioPost) and Drew King. Filmed and recorded in the Barrow Lounge at @TheMalin West Village. www.IntoTheMudPodcast.com #IntoTheMudPodcast #PixieAventura #DragQueen #QueerPodcast #LGBTQPodcast #QueerDating #DatingInNYC #DragCulture #GayDating #ModernDating #QueerLove #DragLife #ChosenFamily #ToxicMasculinity #InternalizedHomophobia #QueerVoices #LGBTQStories #DragArtist #DatingStruggles #QueerCommunity #GayCulture #DragIsArt #GenderExpression #QueerVisibility #PodcastRecommendations #PodcastLife #NYCPodcast #LGBTQCreators #QueerCreatives #DatingTalk #RelationshipPodcast #AuthenticConversations #QueerStories #DragQueenLife #PodcastEpisode #LoveAndDating #QueerPerspective #Vulnerability #CreativeCommunity

In this raw and unfiltered episode of Into the Mud, Alex opens up about her fresh two-day-old breakup and the emotional whiplash of grieving a future she thought she had. Drew and Alex break down heartbreak in real time — confusion, somatics, rejection spirals, coping strategies, and the messy, human work of choosing yourself when everything hurts. Bio: Alex is a New York based comedian by way of Chicago and Boston whose bold and whip smart standup delights crowds across the US. Credits: The Comedy Cellar, New York Comedy Club, NBC’s "That Clip Show: Holiday Edition”, 2021 season of Comedy Central Standup Featuring. Bio: Originally from Massachusetts, Drew is a Broadway dancer, actor and writer living in New York City. Credits: Broadway’s “Tootsie” and “On the 20th Century”, "The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel”, Ryan Murphy’s “Feud: Capote VS The Swans”, The Tony Awards, Good Morning America, The Today Show, Saturday Night Live, and the 2021 Met Gala. Follow along at @IntoTheMudPodcast on all platforms! For the visual version, follow along on YouTube! Your Hosts: Alex Kumin (@Alex.Kumin) and Drew King (@DrewKingNYC). Filmed and recorded in @TheMalin West Village. www.IntoTheMudPodcast.com #Breakup #Heartbreak #HealingJourney #BreakupRecovery #BreakupSupport #HeartbreakHealing #Somatics #SomaticHealing #GriefJourney #RelationshipGrief #RelationshipTalk #DatingInYour30s #DatingPodcast #EmotionalHealing #EmotionalHealth #MentalHealthPodcast #Vulnerability #VulnerableConversations #RawConversations #IntoTheMudPodcast #AlexKumin #DrewKing #SelfWorth #SelfCompassion #PersonalGrowth #GrowthJourney #MessyMiddle #AuthenticLiving #AuthenticConversations #PodcastCommunity #StorytellingPodcast #WomenInComedy #NYCPodcast #BreakupAdvice #RelationshipAdvice #HealingAfterHeartbreak #MindBodyConnection #CopingWithGrief #BreakupProcessing #LettingGo #RebuildingYourself

In this deeply honest conversation, singer-songwriter Ben Abraham opens up about the highs and lows of his career — from major-label deals, Grammy-stage moments, and writing with artists like Kesha, to getting dropped, starting over at 40, and redefining what artistic success means. Together, Ben, Drew, and Alex get muddy about the tender work of finding joy again when the industry breaks your heart — and how returning to the purity of making art can reshape everything. Bio: Ben Abraham is an award-winning Australian singer-songwriter celebrated for his emotive vocals, cinematic songwriting, and cross-genre collaborations. Originally from Melbourne, he first emerged on the international scene with his debut album released through Secretly Canadian—the influential indie label behind artists such as Bon Iver and Phoebe Bridgers. His songwriting quickly attracted industry attention, leading to a major-label deal with Atlantic Records and the release of Friendly Fire, a critically acclaimed and deeply personal sophomore album. Abraham’s work includes high-profile collaborations with global artists, most notably co-writing Kesha’s Grammy-nominated hit “Praying” and performing with her at the Grammy Awards. Now based in Los Angeles, he continues to compose, record, and perform worldwide. Ben’s Social Media: @BenBenAbraham, www.BenAbrahamMusic.com Follow along at @IntoTheMudPodcast on all platforms! For the visual version, follow along on YouTube! Your Hosts: Alex Kumin (@Alex.Kumin) and Drew King (@DrewKingNYC). Audio mixed by Sarah Webb (@SWAudioPost). Filmed and recorded in the Barrow Lounge at @TheMalin West Village. www.IntoTheMudPodcast.com #IntoTheMudPodcast #BenAbraham #CreativeFailure #ArtistJourney #MusicIndustry #CareerReinvention #CreativeBurnout #MakingArt #SongwriterLife #MuddyMoments #FailureAndGrowth #IndieArtist #CreativeLife #PodcastInterview #careerpivot

Hugh Nini and Neal Treadwell, authors of acclaimed photography books Loving and Loving II, get muddy about what it means to build visibility when your history was never written. They have spent more than 25 years excavating and reconstructing a queer past the world tried to erase. Through 4000+ intimate photographs of men in love from 1850–1950, they’ve pieced together a lineage that proves queer love has always existed — even when it wasn’t documented. This episode is a conversation about erasure, resilience, and the power of finding yourself in the eyes of people who lived even a century ago. Bio: Hugh Nini and Neal Treadwell are the couple behind the internationally celebrated Nini-Treadwell Collection, a 25-year archive of more than 4,000 photographs documenting romantic love between men from the 1850s to the 1950s. Texas natives who met in 1992, Hugh—formerly a longtime ballet academy owner and artistic director—and Neal—an art-trained creative with a career spanning apparel, cattle, and cosmetics—accidentally began collecting after discovering a single 1927 photo in a Dallas antique shop. Their groundbreaking books Loving and Loving 2 have reframed how queer history is seen and understood, revealing a lineage of tenderness, partnership, and resilience long erased from public record. Through exhibitions, talks, and their ongoing archival work, Hugh and Neal are committed to rescuing overlooked stories and proving what has always been true: queer love has existed everywhere, across every era, even when the world refused to acknowledge it. Hugh and Neal’s Social Media: @LovingByNealAndHugh, www.Loving1000.org Follow along at @IntoTheMudPodcast on all platforms! For the visual version, follow along on YouTube! Your Hosts: Alex Kumin (@Alex.Kumin) and Drew King (@DrewKingNYC). Filmed and recorded in @TheMalin West Village. www.IntoTheMudPodcast.com #IntoTheMud #LGBTQHistory #QueerHistory #GayHistory #HiddenHistory #LovingBook #LovingTwo #QueerLove #MenInLove #QueerStories #LGBTQLove #QueerArchive #LGBTQPodcast #LGBTQCreators #PodcastInterview #GayCouples #QueerRepresentation

Tony Award–winning writer Robert Horn (Tootsie, Shucked, Hercules) gets muddy about aging, later-in-life success, and staying funny through rejection. In this candid and hilarious conversation, Robert opens up about his wild journey from an orphanage to Broadway, turning trauma into comedy, navigating fame in the social-media era, and learning to embrace getting older with humor and grace. Equal parts heart and hysteria, this one’s a masterclass in creative resilience. Bio: Robert Horn is an American playwright, screenwriter, and producer whose career spans television, film, and Broadway. A New York native, he studied theatre at the New York University Tisch School of the Arts and at the Circle in the Square Theatre School, then relocated to Los Angeles where he launched his industry career with writing and producing roles on shows like Designing Women and Living Single. Over time he expanded into film and musicals, contributing to popular projects including Disney Channel’s Teen Beach Movie franchise. On Broadway, Horn truly made his mark as the book writer for the hit musical Tootsie, which earned him the 2019 Tony Award for Best Book of a Musical. He also wrote for musicals such as Shucked and 13, collaborating with composers and artists to bring bold stories to the stage. His trajectory—from television comedy writer to celebrated Broadway storyteller—highlights his versatility, wit, and commitment to blending humor with real emotional stakes in every medium. Robert’s Social Media: @RHorn1 Follow along at @IntoTheMudPodcast on all platforms! For the visual version, follow along on YouTube! Your Hosts: Alex Kumin (@Alex.Kumin) and Drew King (@DrewKingNYC). Filmed and recorded in @TheMalin West Village. www.IntoTheMudPodcast.com #RobertHorn #Broadway #Tootsie #Shucked #HerculesMusical #TonyAwardWinner #BroadwayWriter #ComedyWriting #AgingGracefully #LaterInLifeSuccess #CreativeResilience #Rejection #LGBTQCreatives #IntoTheMudPodcast #DrewKing #AlexKumin #BroadwayPodcast #ArtAndAging #TurningPainIntoComedy #HumorAndHealing #StayFunny #FindingYourVoice #CreativeJourney #BehindTheScenesBroadway #TheatreLife #Inspiration #NoMudNoLotus #PodcastInterview

When the government pulls Jimmy Kimmel off the air, what does that mean for comedy — and for free speech? In this raw and fiery episode, comedian Jay Jurden (The Problem with Jon Stewart, The Tonight Show) joins Drew and Alex to get muddy about censorship, courage, and comedy’s role in calling out power. From Lenny Bruce to late-night, this conversation proves that laughter is still one of the loudest forms of resistance. Bio: Jay Jurden is a New York–based comedian, writer, and actor originally from Jackson, Mississippi. A graduate of the University of Mississippi and the University of Alabama’s MFA Acting program, Jay has become one of the sharpest voices in stand-up today, known for his fearless wit and incisive takes on identity, politics, and power. He’s appeared on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, The Late Late Show with James Corden, After Midnight, and HBO’s High Maintenance, and currently serves as a staff writer for The Problem with Jon Stewart on Apple TV+. Named one of Variety’s “10 Comics to Watch,” Jay’s writing has been featured in The New Yorker, Vulture, McSweeney’s, and Teen Vogue, and his debut comedy album Jay Jurden, Y’all hit #1 on iTunes. His highly anticipated first comedy special, Yes, Ma’am, premieres November 7 on Hulu, showcasing his signature blend of razor-sharp humor, vulnerability, and unapologetic truth-telling. Follow Jay @jayjurden across platforms for tour dates, new work, and daily doses of brilliance. Jay’s Social Media: @JayJurden, www.JayJurden.com Follow along at @IntoTheMudPodcast on all platforms! For the visual version, follow along on YouTube! Your Hosts: Alex Kumin (@Alex.Kumin) and Drew King (@DrewKingNYC). Audio mixed by Sarah Webb (@SWAudioPost). Filmed and recorded in the Barrow Lounge at @TheMalin West Village. www.IntoTheMudPodcast.com #JayJurden #IntoTheMudPodcast #DrewKing #AlexKumin #ComedyPodcast #FreeSpeech #JimmyKimmel #Censorship #LateNightComedy #StandUpComedy #QueerComedian #ComediansOfInstagram #PodcastLife #ComedyTalks #PoliticalComedy #CancelCulture #LennyBruce #YesMaam #HuluComedy #HuluSpecial #TheProblemWithJonStewart #AfterMidnight #TheTonightShow #ComedyRevolution #ArtAsResistance #ComedyUnderAttack #SpeakTruthToPower #QueerVoices #ComedyCommunity #Satire #CurrentEventsPodcast #LaughThroughIt #ComediansUnite #TruthInComedy #ComedyNews #ModernComedy #VarietyComicsToWatch #FreedomOfSpeech #CreativeCourage #QueerRepresentation

Comedian and Emmy-winning writer Josh Gondelman (Last Week Tonight, Desus & Mero, The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel) joins Into the Mud to get candid about the messy gap between impressive résumés and follower counts. We dig into how social media has reshaped comedy, the pressure of clout-chasing, and whether quality or quantity really wins in today’s entertainment industry. Plus, Josh shares hilarious “muddy moments” from high school drama competitions to life on the comedy stage. Bio: Josh Gondelman is a comedian and writer based in New York City. He was head writer and executive producer for Desus & Mero on Showtime, contributed to the final season of The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, and spent five years at Last Week Tonight with John Oliver, where he won four Emmy Awards, two Peabody Awards, and three WGA Awards. His standup specials People Pleaser (2022) and Positive Reinforcement (2025) are streaming now. Gondelman’s comedy has been featured on Conan, Late Night with Seth Meyers, The Late Late Show with James Corden, and NPR’s Wait Wait…Don’t Tell Me. He is also the author of the essay collection Nice Try and co-creator of the viral “Modern Seinfeld” Twitter account. Josh’s Social Media: @JoshGondelman, www.JoshGondelman.com, and www.ThatsMarvelousNewsletter.com . Follow along at @IntoTheMudPodcast on all platforms! For the visual version, follow along on YouTube! Your Hosts: Alex Kumin (@Alex.Kumin) and Drew King (@DrewKingNYC). Audio mixed by Sarah Webb (@SWAudioPost). Filmed and recorded in the Barrow Lounge at @TheMalin West Village. www.IntoTheMudPodcast.com #IntoTheMudPodcast #JoshGondelman #ComedyPodcast #ComedyLife #ComedyWriting #LastWeekTonight #DesusAndMero #MarvelousMrsMaisel #StandUpComedy #ComedyCommunity #EmmyWinner #PeabodyWinner #ComedyClubs #ComedyCareer #ComedyIndustry #ComedyStruggles #WriterLife #ComedyTruths #FollowerCounts #CloutChasing #SocialMediaPressure #AlgorithmCulture #ComedyInsights #ComedyVsClout #CreativeJourneys #MuddyMoments #ComedyConversation #CareerTransitions #ComedyCurrency #ComedyWorld #ComedyAlgorithms #ComedyAndClout #ComedyFollowers #ComedyCreators #ComedyTalks #ComedianStories #ComedyRealTalk #ComedySpecials #PositiveReinforcement #ThatsMarvelous #NewsletterLife

Porn star and former Broadway music director Jonah Wheeler (aka @ShowoffJonah) joins Into the Mud for an unfiltered deep dive into sex work, kink, and intimacy. From his career pivot out of theater to the realities of OnlyFans, public sex, radical queer spaces, and even the lessons learned from butthole surgery, Jonah gets real about the liberating power of body acceptance, confidence, shame, and the joy of sexual exploration. Bio: Jonah Wheeler is an adult performer, musician, and general goofball based in New York City. His videos center around authentic connection, self discovery, and roleplay, and his social media work is known for meticulous explications of queer kink. A former Broadway pianist, he performs live with his partner in life and in comedy John Coons. Jonah’s Social Media: @ShowOffJonah, www.ShowOffJonah.com Follow along at @IntoTheMudPodcast on all platforms! For the visual version, follow along on YouTube! Your Hosts: Alex Kumin (@Alex.Kumin) and Drew King (@DrewKingNYC). Audio mixed by Sarah Webb (@SWAudioPost). Filmed and recorded in the Barrow Lounge at @TheMalin West Village. www.IntoTheMudPodcast.com #IntoTheMudPodcast #ShowoffJonah #JonahWheeler #SexWorkStories #OnlyFansLife #QueerVoices #SexPositivity #PublicSex #KinkCommunity #BodyAcceptance #RadicalQueer #BroadwayToPorn #EmbarrassingStories #MuddyMoments #PodcastConversation #CreativeJourneys #QueerExploration #PornStar #IntimacyTalk #SexualFreedom #PornLife #QueerCreatives #OnlyFansCreator #JustForFans #NSFWPodcast #QueerIntimacy #KinkTalk #OpenRelationships #LGBTQPodcast #UnfilteredConversations #GayPornStar #OnlyFansModel #SexWorkPositive #AdultIndustry #PleasurePolitics #ExplicitTalks #QueerCulture #BodyConfidence #RadicalHonesty #RawConversations #GayOnlyFans

Opera singer and voice teacher Matthew Anchel joins Into the Mud to get real about body positivity, plus-size shaming, and queer representation in entertainment. From his time at the Met Opera to competing on Worst Cooks in America, Matthew opens up about navigating diet culture, Ozempic, fatphobia, and dating—all with humor, honesty, and heart. Bio: Bass Matthew Anchel, hailed as “a voice to watch” by The Wall Street Journal, has appeared with many of the world’s leading opera companies and orchestras, including the Metropolitan Opera, Lyric Opera of Chicago, Santa Fe Opera, Glyndebourne Festival, and Carnegie Hall. A frequent presence at the Met, he has sung the Master of Ceremonies in Cinderella and the Jailer in Tosca, and covered roles in new productions of Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg, Don Carlos, Fedora, Dialogues des Carmélites, The Exterminating Angel, and Cendrillon. Other recent highlights include Bartolo in Le nozze di Figaro with Opera San José, Sarastro in Die Zauberflöte with Arizona Opera, Banquo in Macbeth at Stadttheater Giessen, Lamberto in Pia de’ Tolomei at Spoleto Festival USA, Vanuzzi in Die Schweigsame Frau at Bard Summerscape, and solo appearances in Mahler’s Eighth Symphony at Carnegie Hall and Mozart’s Requiem with Stiftsmusik Stuttgart. Earlier in his career, Mr. Anchel was a member of the ensembles at Oper Stuttgart and Oper Leipzig, performing roles in Il barbiere di Siviglia, La bohème, Les Contes d’Hoffmann, Eugene Onegin, Der Rosenkavalier, and more. He has also been heard with Opera Theatre of Saint Louis, Opera San Antonio, Anchorage Opera, St. Petersburg Opera, and the Los Angeles Opera’s Young Artist Program, where he appeared under the baton of James Conlon. An accomplished competition singer, he was a Grand Finalist in the Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions and has received prizes from Palm Beach Opera, Opera Index, the George London Foundation, and the Loren L. Zachary Competition. A New York City native, Mr. Anchel holds a Bachelor of Music in Vocal Performance from the Manhattan School of Music. Matthew’s Social Media: @MatthewAnchel, www.MatthewAnchel.com Follow along at @IntoTheMudPodcast on all platforms! For the visual version, follow along on YouTube! Your Hosts: Alex Kumin (@Alex.Kumin) and Drew King (@DrewKingNYC). Audio mixed by Sarah Webb (@SWAudioPost). Filmed and recorded in the Barrow Lounge at @TheMalin West Village. www.IntoTheMudPodcast.com #IntoTheMudPodcast #MatthewAnchel #BodyPositivity #QueerVoices #PlusSizeRepresentation #OperaSinger #MetOpera #WorstCooksInAmerica #OzempicJourney #FatPhobia #GayCommunity #DatingStories #QueerRepresentation #SelfAcceptance #BodyInclusion #PodcastConversation #CreativeJourneys #OperaLife #EmbarrassingStories #MuddyMoments

Actor and musician Lisa Helmi Johanson gets deeply vulnerable about her harrowing experience with postpartum PTSD following a traumatic 68-hour labor and emergency C-section. In this cathartic, tender, and surprisingly funny conversation, Lisa opens up about brainspotting therapy, intrusive thoughts, identity loss, and what it means to slowly piece yourself back together while parenting in a world that doesn’t prioritize maternal mental health. This is an essential listen for anyone who’s felt broken, gaslit, or utterly alone in early motherhood. Bio: Lisa Helmi Johanson is a biracial, multi-hyphenate artist whose work spans acting, music, writing, and activism. A classically trained violinist and vocalist, she made her Off-Broadway debut soon after moving to NYC and went on to star as Christmas Eve in the national tour of Avenue Q, later appearing on Broadway, Off-Broadway, on tour, and in TV and film (Law & Order, Hallmark). During the pandemic, Lisa became a community organizer and turned to writing to explore her identity as a Korean-Finnish American woman and mother. Her plays—including The Porch on Windy Hill and Kim Loo Gets a Redo—have been staged regionally and in NYC, with new projects in development including Zitkala-Sa’s Astonishing Wild West and Aigoo, Jinjja?. At her core, Lisa is a storyteller committed to making the world more just and beautiful—for her audience, and for her child. Lisa's Social Media: @Hurricane_Helmi, www.LisaHelmiJohanson.com Follow along at @IntoTheMudPodcast on all platforms! For the visual version, follow along on YouTube! Your Hosts: Alex Kumin (@Alex.Kumin) and Drew King (@DrewKingNYC). Audio mixed by Sarah Webb (@SWAudioPost). Filmed and recorded in the Barrow Lounge at @TheMalin West Village. www.IntoTheMudPodcast.com #PostpartumPTSD #MaternalMentalHealth #IntoTheMudPodcast #LisaHelmiJohanson #BrainspottingTherapy #PostpartumAwareness #TraumaticBirth #MotherhoodUnfiltered #MentalHealthMatters #AsianMoms #BiracialMoms #CSectionRecovery #VulnerableConversations #BreakingTheStigma #TherapyTalk #WomenSupportingWomen #MothersMentalHealth #PerinatalHealth #HealingJourney #ParentingAndPTSD

This week, Into the Mud goes gloriously off the rails with stand-up comedian Zahid Dewji. What starts as a conversation about outgrowing people and places quickly spirals into an unexpectedly hilarious and heartfelt deep-dive into spiritual growth, vibrational energy, comedy burnout, porn bans in Texas, regrets, and the cosmic chaos of being human. Equal parts wild and wise, this episode is a chaotic gem about letting go, laughing through the spiral, and trusting the double helix of life to bring you exactly where you need to be. Bio: Zahid Dewji is an NYC based comedian and former staff writer on NBC’s The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon. He was previously the head writer of OFTV’s Roast of Bert Kreischer & The Roast of Whitney Cummings. Born in Queens, NY to East African Indian immigrants, the Z-man was raised in Houston, where he began his comedy career and quickly became a Texas favorite. Zahid has toured the country with comedy icon Whitney Cummings as well as viral sensation Noel Miller and has been featured on countless comedy festivals including Oddball Comedy Fest, Laughing Skull and Moontower Comedy Festival. His debut special “Where is God?” was released in 2023 with Don’t Tell Comedy. He also has a set filmed with OFTV available to stream exclusively on Only Fans (yes, really). Zahid’s Social Media: @ZahidDewji, www.ZahidDewji.com Follow along at @IntoTheMudPodcast on all platforms! For the visual version, follow along on YouTube! Your Hosts: Alex Kumin (@Alex.Kumin) and Drew King (@DrewKingNYC). Filmed and recorded in the Barrow Lounge at @TheMalin West Village. www.IntoTheMudPodcast.com #ZahidDewji #IntoTheMudPodcast #ComedyPodcast #StandupComedy #PodcastGuest #SpiritualAwakening #VibrationalEnergy #OutgrowingPeople #FriendshipBreakups #LettingGo #NYCComedians #TexasComedians #BurnoutRecovery #ComedianLife #PodcastLaughs #ComedyBurnout #CosmicTiming #SelfHelpFunny #PhilosophicalComedy #ExistentialCrisis #TheAlchemist #AlanWatts #PodcastVibes #GriefAndGrowth #HealingThroughHumor #BroadwayToPodcast #NYUPodcast #FunnyTraumaStories #PornBanTexas #PlayboyChannel #LowVibeHighVibe #EnergyHealing #SelfDiscoveryJourney #FindingYourPeople #CreativeBurnout #LetTheUniverseCook #PodcastChaos #DeepTalksFunnyGuests #ChaosMeetsClarity #ComedySpirituality

What does it really mean to “do the work”? In this wildly thoughtful and hilarious conversation, producer and social justice advocate Darren Biggart unpacks his viral essay on the quiet, lifelong practice of disrupting internalized systems of power. Together, we explore the murky territory between growth and guilt, comfort and courage, and being seen as “good” versus actually doing good. Bio: Darren is the Director of Civic Programs at The Shed, where he develops artistic work, social impact initiatives and public programs. Producer: Four seasons of Encores! Off Center, the gala production of Evita, Diary of a Tap Dancer, v. 6, and 40 unique pop-up events for The Lobby Project at New York City Center, where he also co-founded an internship for early-career artists; Ayodele Casel’s While I Have the Floor (Spoleto Arts Festival); To Feel a Thing (Holland Festival, NY Live Arts, The Shed). Founding Program Director: A Broader Way Foundation, an arts-centered leadership program for middle school girls. Assistant Vocal Producer: West Side Story film, dir. Stephen Spielberg; Kimberly Akimbo cast album. Co-Director: Idina Menzel’s World Tour (2017). Director/facilitator: YoungArts, Pace University, Harvard University, & Plymouth State University. Co-founder: tall poPpy, inc, an artist-led social enterprise that develops performance work, educational & advocacy programs, alongside Jeanine Tesori and Torya Beard. M.Ed: Harvard University (Leadership in Education Award Recipient); BFA: University of Michigan. Darren’s Social Media: @LBCNU, www.DarrenBiggart.com Follow along at @IntoTheMudPodcast on all platforms! For the visual version, follow along on YouTube! Your Hosts: Alex Kumin (@Alex.Kumin) and Drew King (@DrewKingNYC). Audio mixed by Sarah Webb (@SWAudioPost). Filmed and recorded in the Barrow Lounge at @TheMalin West Village. www.IntoTheMudPodcast.com #IntoTheMudPodcast #DarrenBiggart #DoTheWork #SocialJustice #ComfortVsGrowth #PerformativeAllyship #RadicalHonesty #BeingGoodVsDoingGood #PodcastLife #LGBTQVoices #TheShedNYC #HealingAndJustice #ModernActivism #PersonalGrowth #HarvardGrad

Comedian Elle Orlando joins Into the Mud for a refreshingly honest and beautiful conversation about the kind of loneliness that lingers—even when you're surrounded by people. From the isolating pursuit of stand-up to the heartbreak of lost friendships and the double-edged sword of social media, Elle unpacks what it means to feel alone in a hyperconnected world. Together, Alex, Drew and Elle explore introversion, gender dynamics in comedy, and the longing for deep connection in a culture of curated personas. It's vulnerable, funny, and all too relatable. Bio: Elle Orlando is an NYC-based stand up comedian originally from Chicago, actor, and Host of (her podcast) The Elle Diablo Show. Elle is currently touring around the country as well as featuring for comedians like Kyle Dunnigan, Ian Lara, Michael Kosta, Rich Voss, & more. Elle has been featured on Sirius XM’s The Bonfire with Big Jay Oakerson and Dan Soder and is passed at clubs such as New York Comedy Club, The Stand, Rodney’s Comedy Club, The Comedy Mothership (ATX), Chicago Zanies & more. Elle wishes she had more credits to offer you but this is pretty much it. Elle’s material is silly, stupid, light and dark and people laugh the entire time during her shows (pretty cool) she has never bombed in her life (lie). Elle’s Social Media: @_ElleOrlando_ , www.ElleOrlandoComedy.com, El Diablo Show Podcast Follow along at @IntoTheMudPodcast on all platforms! For the visual version, follow along on YouTube! Your Hosts: Alex Kumin (@Alex.Kumin) and Drew King (@DrewKingNYC). Audio mixed by Sarah Webb (@SWAudioPost). Filmed and recorded in the Barrow Lounge at @TheMalin West Village. www.IntoTheMudPodcast.com #ElleOrlando #IntoTheMudPodcast #Loneliness #ComedyLife #FemaleComedians #StandUpComedian #SadGirlEra #IntrovertLife #NotAGirlsGirl #FriendshipBreakups #ComedyAndConnection #MentalHealthInComedy #SocialMediaBurnout #VulnerabilityIsStrength #CreativeIsolation #ElDiabloPodcast #ElleOrlandoComedy

In Part 2 of this special two-part episode, Maui-based therapist and career coach Natalie Diaz returns—this time to coach the hosts. After diving into her own journey from corporate hustle to purposeful living in Part 1, Natalie guides Drew and Alex through some of their own muddy challenges. With Alex exploring time management and Drew confronting perfectionism, this real-time coaching session offers practical tools, emotional insight, and a gentle reminder that growth often begins in the mess. Bio: Natalie Diaz is a Maui-based licensed therapist and career coach who helps driven professionals reclaim their time, energy, and clarity—so they can prioritize what matters most: their health, relationships, and creating a life they don’t need a vacation from. Her approach blends strategic planning with deep inner work, guiding clients to unlearn hustle culture, redefine success on their own terms, and design lives rooted in presence, purpose, and peace. Before launching her coaching and mental health practice, Natalie spent over a decade in New York City climbing the corporate ladder as a Chief of Staff and real estate executive. Though outwardly “successful,” she felt burned out and unfulfilled, ultimately leaving behind a lucrative career to pursue work aligned with her values. A graduate of Williams College and NYU’s Master of Social Work program, Natalie’s advocacy and writing have been featured in Forbes, USA Today, and The New York Daily News. Today, she supports clients nationwide through her 1:1 coaching and psychotherapy practice, and when she’s not working, you’ll find her exploring Maui with her dog Franklin or planning her next adventure. Natalie’s Social Media: @NatalieDiazWellness, www.NatalieDiazWellness.com Follow along at @IntoTheMudPodcast on all platforms! For the visual version, follow along on YouTube! Your Hosts: Alex Kumin (@Alex.Kumin) and Drew King (@DrewKingNYC). Audio mixed by Sarah Webb (@SWAudioPost). Filmed and recorded in the Barrow Lounge at @TheMalin West Village. www.IntoTheMudPodcast.com #IntoTheMudPodcast #NatalieDiaz #LiveCoaching #TherapyPodcast #WellnessJourney #CareerCoach #TimeManagement #PerfectionismRecovery #MentalHealthMatters #CoachingSession #Boundaries #HustleCulture #MindsetShift #TherapistTalk #HealingJourney #PodcastEpisode #SelfAwareness #SelfCompassion #EmotionalWellness #RealConversations #CoachingTools #NervousSystemReset #BurnoutRecovery #TherapyTools #PersonalGrowth #PodcastHostsGetCoached #SlowLiving #SelfGrowth #MindfulLiving #TherapyTalk #MuddyConversations #UnlearningPerfectionism #HealingTheHustle

Licensed therapist and career coach Natalie Diaz joins Into the Mud to share her bold leap from New York’s relentless corporate grind to building a slower, more intentional life and practice in Maui. In this first half of a two-part conversation, Natalie opens up about healing her nervous system, unlearning hustle culture, and creating a career that prioritizes people over profits. Stay tuned for Part 2 next week, when Drew and Alex step into the hot seat for some real-time coaching with Natalie. Bio: Natalie Diaz is a Maui-based licensed therapist and career coach who helps driven professionals reclaim their time, energy, and clarity—so they can prioritize what matters most: their health, relationships, and creating a life they don’t need a vacation from. Her approach blends strategic planning with deep inner work, guiding clients to unlearn hustle culture, redefine success on their own terms, and design lives rooted in presence, purpose, and peace. Before launching her coaching and mental health practice, Natalie spent over a decade in New York City climbing the corporate ladder as a Chief of Staff and real estate executive. Though outwardly “successful,” she felt burned out and unfulfilled, ultimately leaving behind a lucrative career to pursue work aligned with her values. A graduate of Williams College and NYU’s Master of Social Work program, Natalie’s advocacy and writing have been featured in Forbes, USA Today, and The New York Daily News. Today, she supports clients nationwide through her 1:1 coaching and psychotherapy practice, and when she’s not working, you’ll find her exploring Maui with her dog Franklin or planning her next adventure. Natalie’s Social Media: @NatalieDiazWellness, www.NatalieDiazWellness.com Follow along at @IntoTheMudPodcast on all platforms! For the visual version, follow along on YouTube! Your Hosts: Alex Kumin (@Alex.Kumin) and Drew King (@DrewKingNYC). Filmed and recorded in the Barrow Lounge at @TheMalin West Village. www.IntoTheMudPodcast.com #IntoTheMudPodcast #NatalieDiaz #TherapistCoach #MauiLife #GrindCulture #BurnoutRecovery #Mindfulness #WorkLifeBalance #CorporateEscape #MentalHealthMatters #CareerCoach #WellnessCoach #LifeTransitions #NervousSystemReset #HealingJourney #PodcastLife #SelfGrowth #PurposeDriven #StressRelief #MindsetShift #TherapyTools #PodcastInterview #Coaching #WorkStress #SlowLiving #IslandLife #PersonalGrowth #AntiHustle #ResetYourLife #SelfCare #Motivation #CareerChange #HolisticWellness #TherapistTalks #LifeCoaching #AnxietyRelief #SelfDevelopment #FindingBalance #HealingWork #MindfulLiving #TwoPartEpisode

Alex Wong is a wildly successful performer and an unapologetic optimist—and this week, the hosts try to figure out how he does it. While Into the Mud usually dives headfirst into life’s messes, Alex W. brings a calm, clear-eyed approach that feels like an antidote to the mud. Alex K. and Drew tend to fall into the familiar trap of “compare = despair,” but this week, Alex W. gently flips the script, offering a perspective where comparison becomes a source of inspiration instead of shame. In a moment when the world feels like it’s constantly ending, this episode is a much-needed palate cleanser—grounded, joyful, and full of practical wisdom for staying light without floating away. Bio: Born in Canada, Alex Wong began his tap and jazz training at age seven before starting ballet at ten with Vancouver’s Goh Ballet Academy. He quickly made a name for himself—winning two Junior World Titles in Tap and Showdance in 2000, earning the Royal Academy of Dance Solo Seal, and claiming the Bronze Medal and Audience Choice Award at the 2003 Genee Competition. In 2004, he became the first Canadian to win the prestigious Prix de Lausanne, subsequently joining the American Ballet Theatre Studio Company and soon after Miami City Ballet, rising to soloist by 2007. His extensive repertoire includes leading roles in Balanchine’s Symphony in Three Movements, Agon, Western Symphony, The Nutcracker, Twyla Tharp’s Push Comes to Shove and In the Upper Room, Mark Morris’s Silhouettes, Paul Taylor’s Funny Papers, and classic works by Bournonville, Dolin, Mills, and Villela. In 2009, Alex auditioned for So You Think You Can Dance, reaching the Top 20 before contractual issues forced his exit—then returned in 2010 to reach the Top 10, only to be sidelined by a snapped Achilles tendon during a Bollywood routine. After intensive surgery, recovery, and another Achilles injury, he pivoted to commercial and theatrical work—joining NBC’s Smash, Glee, Dancing with the Stars, American Idol (Hollywood semi-finals), and signing with Bloc Talent Agency. He made his Broadway debut in Disney’s Newsies (as “Sniper”), contributed to Emmy-winning routines, released his first dance single “Crave,” and appeared in film/TV (The Greatest Showman, Fosse/Verdon, Marvelous Mrs. Maisel), continued as a recurring SYTYCD All-Star, and remains a major figure in dance and social media. Alex’s Social Media: @AlexDWong, www.TheAlexWong.com Follow along at @IntoTheMudPodcast on all platforms! For the visual version, follow along on YouTube! Your Hosts: Alex Kumin (@Alex.Kumin) and Drew King (@DrewKingNYC). Filmed and recorded in the Barrow Lounge at @TheMalin West Village. www.IntoTheMudPodcast.com #AlexWong #IntoTheMudPodcast #DanceLife #Optimism #JoyfulLiving #BroadwayDancer #SYTYCD #SoYouThinkYouCanDance #DanceInfluencer #LifeAdvice #CreativeLife #PerformersJourney #HappyNotPerfect #EmotionalResilience #CompareInspire #GrowthMindset #PodcastLife #PracticalWisdom #LifeInTheArts #BehindTheScenes #BroadwayLife #MentalHealthMatters #SelfAwareness #WellnessJourney #GratitudePractice #DailyJoy #BalanceNotBurnout #ResilientMindset #DancerLife #Choreography #FromStageToScreen #CreativeOptimism #AlexWongDancer #NewsiesOnBroadway #DanceTips #ArtistPerspective #PositiveEnergyOnly #InspiringConversations #PodcastEpisode #TheCreativeProcess #LiveWithIntention