Episodes

  • Life Update: Fire, Breakup, Switzerland? | Q & A

    Life Update: Fire, Breakup, Switzerland? | Q & A
    Apr 7 2025
    In this Q&A-style episode, I answer your questions about the wild start to my 2025—from losing my home in a fire to unexpectedly moving to Switzerland and starting a new chapter as head of media at an aid organization. I’m covering everything: how I ended up here, what life near Lake Lucerne is really like, and the ups and downs of adjusting to a new country and culture, and what’s next for me and the podcast. Timestamps: 00:00:00 - Introduction 00:01:09 - Podcast break 00:03:13 - Switzerland job 00:04:04 - Permanent move 00:04:39 - Swiss men & relationships 00:05:55 - Swiss visa & yodeling 00:06:51 - Sarge 00:08:03 - Favorite country 00:09:02 - Finding a job in europe 00:10:40 - Haircut 00:11:20 - Swiss living expenses 00:12:09 - Andrés update 00:12:25 - Swiss language barrier 00:13:41 - Adoption update 00:14:42 - Favorite food 00:15:40 - Culture shock 00:17:16 - Learning German 00:17:40 - What’s next? Sponsored By: Manscaped | Visit http://Manscaped.com and use code MAXEMERSON to get 20% off plus free shipping. Or if you need it today, you can find MANSCAPED® at a store near you. Stay fresh this season—for everyone's sake. Level up your grooming game today! Check Out Max: Instagram YouTube TikTok Thank you to all my patreon subscribers! Nate Heffel, Tobin Schiller ,James M, Christopher Neefus, Heskel, Michael Carpentiere, Timothy Cardoso, Shane Ouyang, Brian Joaquin, Carabalda, Brendan Saunders, Jeff Jay, James LEE, Andy, 正 , George Acosta, Michael Rice, Nathan Filip, Linda Johnson, Stephen Weathers, Kean Phan, James Powell, Landy Manderson
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    23 mins
  • Identity, Hollywood, + Embracing the Mess | Brandon Kyle Goodman

    Identity, Hollywood, + Embracing the Mess | Brandon Kyle Goodman
    Mar 31 2025
    On this episode of Queer Stuff Pod, I’m joined by the brilliant Brandon Kyle Goodman—actor, writer, and all-around icon—who never shies away from life’s messiest moments. Brandon talks about identity, career ups and downs, and what it means to embrace every part of yourself, even the chaotic ones. From making it in Hollywood to cutting off toxic people, Brandon gets into the highs and lows of life with humor and honesty. Nothing is off-limits in this conversation about identity, boundaries, and finding joy in the mess. Topics Discussed: How do you set boundaries and go no-contact with toxic people? How do humor and vulnerability help in discussing serious topics? What’s the messiest story Brandon has ever heard What advice does Brandon have for folks entering the entertainment industry Timestamps: 00:00:00 - Introduction 00:01:08 - Who The Hell Are You! 00:04:27 - Tell Me Something Messy 00:06:18 - Sex positivity 00:08:33 - Most memorable interview 00:09:43 - We contain multitudes 00:10:52 - Navigating challenges with humor 00:13:51 - Messiest story 00:14:46 - Going no contact 00:19:51 - Identifying with suffering 00:22:57 - You can do hard things 00:24:51 - Making time for yourself 00:28:49 - From Queens to Georgia 00:31:20 - Max’s expulsion 00:32:34 - NYU Tisch 00:35:30 - DEI 00:38:11 - Recession core & stand up 00:40:01 - Sketch vs standup comedy 00:42:05 - Job security 00:43:01 - Message for marginalized folks 00:46:17 - Fight Me! Clone f*cking Sponsored By: Manscaped | Visit Manscaped.com and use code MAXEMERSON to get 20% off plus free shipping. Or if you need it today, you can find MANSCAPED® at a store near you. Stay fresh this season—for everyone's sake. Level up your grooming game today! Check Out Brandon: Instagram Podcast More Brandon Check Out Max: Instagram YouTube TikTok Thank you to all my patreon subscribers! Nate Heffel, Tobin Schiller ,James M, Christopher Neefus, Heskel, Michael Carpentiere, Timothy Cardoso, Shane Ouyang, Brian Joaquin, Carabalda, Brendan Saunders, Jeff Jay, James LEE, Andy, 正 , George Acosta, Michael Rice, Nathan Filip, Linda Johnson, Stephen Weathers, Kean Phan, James Powell, Landy Manderson
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    51 mins
  • The Funny Side of Fitness | Raneir Pollard

    The Funny Side of Fitness | Raneir Pollard
    Mar 24 2025
    26: Comedian and fitness pro Raneir Pollard joins the show to share his journey from college friend to Guinness World Record holder. He talks about breaking a burpee record while wearing stilettos, his work as a celebrity trainer, and his unique approach to fitness with humor. We explore his worst performances, balancing comedy and fitness, and his thoughts on body positivity and the fitness influencer culture. Raneir also discusses how virtual reality is revolutionizing workouts and the importance of staying motivated in both comedy and fitness. Topics Discussed: How did Raneir Pollard become a Guinness World Record holder? What challenges did Raneir face during his worst performances? How does Raneir balance comedy with fitness? What is Supernatural VR Fitness, and how does it relate to fitness? How does body positivity affect Raneir’s approach to fitness? What are common scams in the fitness industry and how to spot them? How does Raneir stay motivated in his comedy and fitness careers? Timestamps: 00:00:00 - Introduction 00:01:57 - Who Is Raneir Pollard? 00:05:40 - How Raneir Realized He Was Funny 00:09:13 - Raneir’s Worst Shows 00:13:12 - Pre-Show Rituals 00:14:59 - Earning a Guinness World Record 00:16:28 - Teaching 20 Fitness Classes a Week 00:19:18 - Fitness Influencers & Parasocial Relationships 00:21:33 - Supernatural VR Fitness 00:24:59 - Cardio & Comedy 00:25:36 - Fitness Instructor Challenges 00:26:47 - Body Positivity in Fitness 00:28:58 - Spotting Fitness Scams 00:31:21 - Advice for Beginners in Fitness 00:34:59 - Structuring Your Workouts 00:36:47 - Intensity of VR Workouts 00:37:58 - Staying Motivated 00:40:19 - Best Raneir Workout 00:41:32 - FIGHT ME! - Vampirism? Show Links: The Burpees Video BRANDON KYLE GOODMAN COMING SOON Sponsored By: Manscaped | Visit Manscaped.com and use code MAXEMERSON to get 20% off plus free shipping. Or if you need it today, you can find MANSCAPED® at a store near you. Stay fresh this season—for everyone's sake. Level up your grooming game today! Puori | Go to Puori.com/maxemerson and use code maxemerson Check Out Ranier: Instagram Youtube Website Check Out Max: Instagram YouTube TikTok Thank you to all my patreon subscribers! Nate Heffel, Tobin Schiller ,James M, Christopher Neefus, Heskel, Michael Carpentiere, Timothy Cardoso, Shane Ouyang, Brian Joaquin, Carabalda, Brendan Saunders, Jeff Jay, James LEE, Andy, 正 , George Acosta, Michael Rice, Nathan Filip, Linda Johnson, Stephen Weathers, Kean Phan, James Powell, Landy Manderson
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    47 mins
  • TV, Fashion, and the 7-Year Life Cycle | Darren Kennedy

    TV, Fashion, and the 7-Year Life Cycle | Darren Kennedy
    Mar 17 2025
    TV presenter, style expert, and entrepreneur Darren Kennedy joins me to share his journey from radio to television, his most disastrous interviews, and how he found his place in the fashion industry. We also explore the inspiration behind his podcast The Number, his approach to personal style, and his documentary Gay Daddy. Topics Discussed: Darren Kennedy’s journey from radio to TV and fashion His most memorable and disastrous celebrity interviews The inspiration behind his podcast The Number The Gay Daddy documentary and LGBTQ+ representation in media Tips on personal style and men’s grooming with Kennedy & Co Timestamps: 00:00:00 - Introduction 00:01:37 - Who is Darren Kennedy? 00:06:08 - The power of work ethic 00:08:40 - Breaking into radio 00:10:10 - Darren’s worst interviews 00:11:45 - Shifting from radio to TV 00:12:53 - Entering the fashion world 00:16:53 - Irish vs. American TV 00:19:14 - Creating unscripted shows 00:22:10 - The story behind The Number podcast 00:25:22 - Darren’s lucky numbers and their meaning 00:28:39 - How to make people feel comfortable 00:32:45 - Inside the Gay Daddy documentary 00:35:25 - Being a “family-friendly” gay 00:35:52 - Mastering personal style 00:37:15 - The story behind Kennedy & Co 00:40:16 - Where to find Darren 00:41:22 - What happened to Darren’s foot? 00:43:45 - FIGHT ME: Handwashing Sponsored By: Manscaped | Visit Manscaped.com and use code MAXEMERSON to get 20% off plus free shipping. Or if you need it today, you can find MANSCAPED® at a store near you. Stay fresh this season—for everyone's sake. Level up your grooming game today! Puori | Go to Puori.com/maxemerson and use code maxemerson Check Out Darren: Instagram Website More Darren Check Out Max: Instagram YouTube TikTok Thank you to all my patreon subscribers! Nate Heffel, Tobin Schiller ,James M, Christopher Neefus, Heskel, Michael Carpentiere, Timothy Cardoso, Shane Ouyang, Brian Joaquin, Carabalda, Brendan Saunders, Jeff Jay, James LEE, Andy, 正 , George Acosta, Michael Rice, Nathan Filip, Linda Johnson, Stephen Weathers, Kean Phan, James Powell, Landy Manderson
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    49 mins
  • All Things Bottoming | Alex Hall

    All Things Bottoming | Alex Hall
    Mar 10 2025
    24: I sit down with Alex Hall, co-founder and host of The Bottom’s Digest, to talk all things bottoming. As a sexual health educator and body autonomy activist, Alex is on a mission to make sex education accessible, no matter where you’re from or what you’re into. We get into the biggest bottoming barriers, from physical challenges to common myths. Alex shares expert tips on safe douching, trigger foods, and his signature "butt clock technique." Topics Discussed: The origins of The Bottom’s Digest Common bottoming myths and misconceptions Preventing and healing from anal fissures Diet, digestion, and trigger foods Safe douching and timing techniques The "butt clock technique" explained Challenges in sex education and advocacy Why humor is key in talking about sexual health Timestamps: 00:00:00 - Introduction 00:02:20 - Who The Hell Are You? 00:08:25 - Starting Bottom’s Digest 00:11:45 - Bottoming barriers 00:13:33 - Anyone can bottom! 00:15:17 - Sex education 00:19:49 - Anal fissures & healing from injury 00:21:39 - Staying humorous 00:26:49 - Trigger foods 00:28:32 - Douching guide 00:32:40 - Platinum/gold stars & bisexuality 00:35:01 - Douche timing 00:36:25 - The butt clock technique 00:37:48 - Don’t douche too far!! 00:42:02 - Challenges to sex education and advocacy 00:45:17 - Fight me Further Listening: Alex Hall Fisting Interview Sponsored By: Scandinavian Biolabs Start today with 20% off the Hair Activation Routine and any other products from Scandinavian Biolabs using code MAXEMERSON. Go to ScandinavianBiolabs.com Puori Go to Puori.com/maxemerson and use code maxemerson Check Out Alex Hall: Website Instagram Tik Tok Check Out Max: Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/maxisms TikTok | https://www.tiktok.com/@themaxisms Thank you to all my patreon subscribers! Nate Heffel, Tobin Schiller ,James M, Christopher Neefus, Heskel, Michael Carpentiere, Timothy Cardoso, Shane Ouyang, Brian Joaquin, Carabalda, Brendan Saunders, Jeff Jay, James LEE, Andy, 正 , George Acosta, Michael Rice, Nathan Filip, Linda Johnson, Stephen Weathers, Kean Phan, James Powell, Landy Manderson
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    51 mins
  • Out & Proud In Corporate America | Blake Danner

    Out & Proud In Corporate America | Blake Danner
    Mar 3 2025
    23: What does it take to build some of the most talked-about hotels in the world — and do it while proudly representing the LGBTQ+ community at the top levels of corporate leadership? Blake Danner, COO of aka Hotels and Hotel Residences, joins us to share his journey from nightclub-loving hotel rookie to the executive suite, shaping brands like NoMad, The Line, and Freehand along the way. Blake opens up about the risks that shaped his career, the power of mentorship, and what it means to lead authentically — even in industries not always known for diversity. Whether you’re chasing a career in hospitality or just love bold leadership stories, this episode is packed with real talk and hard-earned advice. Topics Discussed: Breaking into hospitality Lessons from building iconic hotel brands Being out in corporate America Mentorship & diversity in leadership Leading teams through crisis Career advice for young professionals Timestamps: 00:00:00 - Introduction 00:01:36 - Who the Hell Are You? 00:05:57 - Why Work in Hotels? 00:08:31 - Blake’s First Job 00:11:33 - Risk-Taking & Delano Hotels 00:13:56 - Dallas vs. New York Nightlife in the 90s 00:15:59 - Coming Out in Corporate America 00:19:59 - Max & Blake’s Friendship 00:22:30 - Leading People in the Corporate World 00:25:06 - Being a Visible Queer Leader 00:29:58 - Advice for Young Professionals 00:33:37 - Biggest Mistakes in Corporate America 00:35:27 - Managing Hotels Through COVID 00:38:24 - Keeping Employees Happy and Motivated 00:40:15 - Why Blake Joined AKA Hotels 00:43:42 - Mentoring & Fostering Growth in Others 00:45:36 - Fight Me! New York vs LA Sponsored By: Scandinavian Bio-Labs | Start today with 20% off the Hair Activation Routine and any other products from Scandinavian Biolabs using code MAXEMERSON. Go to ScandinavianBiolab.com Max’s Patreon | Join today and make the internet more colorful Puori | Go to Puori.com/maxemerson and use code maxemerson Sparkle Club | https://maxismsmedia.com/the-sparkle-club Check Out Blake: Instagram Website Check Out Max: Instagram YouTube TikTok Thank you to all my patreon subscribers! Nate Heffel, Tobin Schiller ,James M, Christopher Neefus, Heskel, Michael Carpentiere, Timothy Cardoso, Shane Ouyang, Brian Joaquin, Carabalda, Brendan Saunders, Jeff Jay, James LEE, Andy, 正 , George Acosta, Michael Rice, Nathan Filip, Linda Johnson, Stephen Weathers, Kean Phan, James Powell, Landy Manderson
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    51 mins
  • Where In The World Is Chris Colfer?

    Where In The World Is Chris Colfer?
    Feb 24 2025
    22: Chris Colfer is a Golden Globe-winning actor, bestselling author, screenwriter, and producer, known for his role as Kurt Hummel on Glee, for which he earned numerous accolades, including a Golden Globe and two Emmy nominations. He is the author of the Land of Stories series, which has sold millions of copies worldwide and spent over 100 weeks on the New York Times bestseller list. In 2024, he launched a new middle grade series, Roswell Johnson Saves the World!, which became an instant bestseller. Colfer is also an award-winning audio narrator and has narrated all of his books, including the bestselling Stranger than Fanfiction. His other projects include Netflix's Ridley Jones and the upcoming animated musical feature The Potters. Based in Los Angeles, Colfer's work spans television, film, and literature, with a unique blend of humor, heart, and imagination. Sponsored By: CLEARSTEM Discover the CLEARSTEM difference and experience clear, healthy skin for life. Go to CLEARSTEM.com/MAX and use code MAX at checkout for 15% off your first order. Max’s Patreon Join today and make the internet more colorful Puori Go to Puori.com/maxemerson and use code maxemerson Timestamps: 00:00:00 - Introduction 00:02:11 - Who The Hell Are You 00:08:24 - Being a baby gay and becoming an actor 00:10:43 - Breaking into television and booking Glee 00:16:20 - Self tapes and auditioning 00:17:32 - Glee and coming out on Chelsea Handler 00:19:53 - Getting outed in a magazine 00:21:14 - Being closeted on television 00:24:47 - Challenges that come with activism 00:28:20 - SNL and bucket list career moments 00:29:18 - Best parts of Glee 00:30:46 - Dating as an out actor 00:34:29 - Slash Fiction 00:36:33 - “The Land of Stories” 00:39:38 - How writing saved his life 00:41:00 - Creative energy and writing strategy 00:44:46 - Most challenging writing project 00:46:50 - Advice regarding social anxiety 00:48:34 - Fight Me! Check Out Chris: https://thelandofstories.com/ Check Out Max: Instagram YouTube TikTok
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    54 mins
  • Dogs, Clout & Coming Out | Joey Graceffa

    Dogs, Clout & Coming Out | Joey Graceffa
    Feb 17 2025
    21: Today, I’m joined by none other than Joey Graceffa. With over 2.9 billion views and a career spanning back to 2007, Joey has built an empire of engaging content, from gaming and vlogs to his hit web series Escape the Night. Joey shares his experience coming out online, his creative inspirations, and his journey as a writer. Episode Highlights: Joey’s rise to YouTube fame & Escape the Night Coming out online & the “Are You Gay” quiz Writing In Real Life & Children of Eden Mental health, self-care & online fame Vlogging, breakups & digital legacy Sponsored By: Scandinavian Bio Labs Start today with 20% off the Hair Activation Routine and any other products from Scandinavian Biolabs using code MAXEMERSON. Go to ScandinavianBiolabs.com. Max’s Patreon Join today and make the internet more colorful Puori Go to Puori.com/maxemerson and use code maxemerson Timestamps: 00:00:00 - Introduction 00:02:09 - Who The Hell Are You? 00:08:04 - Starting youtube 00:09:41 - Escape the night 00:11:59 - How to start a youtube channel 00:13:57 - Coming out on youtube 00:14:51 - Creative inspiration 00:18:57 - Joey’s memoir 00:20:43 - Children Of Eden 00:21:44 - Special Ed & Gifted classes 00:23:41 - The BIG 3 zodiac signs 00:24:16 - Mental health & self care 00:26:51 - Are you gay quiz 00:30:01 - Joey’s coming out journey 00:31:45 - Vlogging & the break up video 00:34:47 - Dream collabs & legacy 00:36:04 - Take doggie supplements 00:37:31 - Fight Me! Check Out Joey: Books Youtube Instagram Tale Pets Check Out Max: Instagram YouTube TikTok Special thank you to the following: Nate Heffel, Tobin Schiller ,James M, Christopher Neefus, Heskel, Michael Carpentiere, Timothy Cardoso, Shane Ouyang, Brian Joaquin, Carabalda, Brendan Saunders, Jeff Jay, James LEE, Andy, 正 , George Acosta, Michael Rice, Nathan Filip, Linda Johnson, Stephen Weathers, Kean Phan, James Powell, Landy Manderson
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    42 mins