Into The Mud Podcast

Ep. 87: When "Queer Belonging" Doesn't Feel Like Belonging with Gray West

Thu, 16 Jul 2026 11:00:00 -0400

Coming out is often portrayed as the moment everything falls into place, but for many LGBTQ+ people, it's only the beginning of a much more complicated search for belonging. Comedian Gray West joins Drew and Alex to unpack body image, beauty standards, queer community, comedy, tokenism, Fire Island culture, and why finding "your people" isn't always as easy as it looks. Together they explore the pressure to fit in, the loneliness that can exist even within your own community, and how authentic friendship is often found in the most unexpected places.

Bio: Gray West is a New York City based stand-up comedian, writer, and host originally from Alabama. He is a regular at the Comedy Cellar and has performed at clubs and theaters across the country, touring alongside nationally touring headliners while building a following for his sharp observational comedy. Gray has appeared on festivals and showcases throughout the United States and has been featured on podcasts and digital platforms highlighting emerging voices in stand-up. His comedy draws from his experiences growing up in the South, navigating queer identity, and life in New York City.

Gray's Social Media: @GrayWest.

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).

Contributing Editors: Manthan Baldha, Sarah Webb (@SWAudioPost) and Drew King.

Filmed and recorded at @TheMalin in New York City.

www.IntoTheMudPodcast.com

Ep. 86: The Fabulous and Chaotic Life of Dog Influencing with @LavenderAndLatte

Thu, 02 Jul 2026 06:00:00 -0400

What happens when your pets accidentally become internet celebrities?

This week, we're joined by Kaylin Bergeson and her famous French Bulldogs, Lavender and Latte, to talk about the surprising reality of life as a dog influencer. From negotiating brand deals and writing children's books to navigating internet fame, ethical breeding, creator burnout, and whether influencers have a responsibility to speak out politically, this conversation explores the unexpected business and emotional realities behind one of social media's happiest corners

Lavender and Latte's Social Media: @LavenderAndLatte (Instagram), @LavenderLatteKaylin (TikTok), www.LavenderLatteKaylin.com.

Bio: Kaylin Bergeson is a filmmaker, producer, entrepreneur, and the co-owner of an Orlando based video production company. She is the creator behind the internationally recognized French Bulldog brand Lavender & Latte, whose content has amassed millions of views across social media and led to partnerships with major pet and consumer brands.

Alongside her two French Bulldogs, Lavender and Latte, Bergeson has expanded the brand into live appearances, a children's book, podcast content, and national brand collaborations, while continuing to produce commercial video content through her production company. Her work sits at the intersection of digital storytelling, content strategy, influencer marketing, and pet media.

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).

Contributing Editors: Manthan Baldha, Sarah Webb (@SWAudioPost) and Drew King.

Filmed and recorded at @TheMalin in New York City.

www.IntoTheMudPodcast.com

Ep. 85: Embracing Kink and Fetish with David Lauterstein

Thu, 25 Jun 2026 18:00:00 -0400

What if the parts of yourself you've been taught to hide became the very things that changed your life?

This week, we're joined by David Lauterstein, CEO and co-founder of Nasty Pig, who opens up about letting go of shame, embracing kink and fetish as a core part of his identity, and building one of the world's most iconic queer fashion brands alongside his husband and co-founder, Frederick Kearney. Their decades-long love story is also the heart of David's memoir, Sodomy Gods.

Together, we explore queer identity, sex positivity, the lasting impact of the AIDS crisis, entrepreneurship, spirituality, and what it means to build a life rooted in authenticity instead of fear.

This isn't just a conversation about sex. It's about authenticity. Identity. Community. And what happens when you stop apologizing for who you are.

Bio: David Lauterstein is the CEO and co-founder of Nasty Pig, the internationally recognized New York City based queer fashion brand he founded with his husband, Frederick Kearney, in 1994. He has been recognized in the OUT100 for his impact on LGBTQ+ culture and was honored at the Las Culturistas Culture Awards, celebrating his influence on queer fashion and culture.

Over the past three decades, Nasty Pig has become one of the most influential names in queer fashion, blending streetwear, underwear, and fetish-inspired design while helping redefine LGBTQ+ visibility and self expression.

David is also the author of the memoir Sodomy Gods, an intimate love story chronicling his relationship with Kearney, the creation of Nasty Pig, and his journey through queer identity, spirituality, and entrepreneurship. The book received a starred review from Kirkus Reviews and was praised by The New York Times. His work has been featured by major media outlets for its impact on queer culture, fashion, and LGBTQ+ history.

David's Social Media: @David_Lauterstein, @NastyPig, www.NastyPig.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).

Contributing Editors: Manthan Baldha, Sarah Webb (@SWAudioPost) and Drew King.

Filmed and recorded at @TheMalin in New York City.

www.IntoTheMudPodcast.com

Ep. 84: The Art of Giving (and Ignoring) Advice with Jenny Hagel

Mon, 15 Jun 2026 07:00:00 -0400

Emmy-winning comedy writer Jenny Hagel joins Into the Mud to talk about her new book, Advice No One Asked For, and the strange art of giving advice when nobody wants it.

A writer for Late Night with Seth Meyers, Jenny tackles a plethora of muddy topics and imparts some great advice that we never even asked for: from rejection in comedy writing and perfectionism to grief, aging, procrastination, self-worth, and learning when to trust your instincts, Jenny shares the lessons she's collected from a lifetime of experiences. Along the way, we explore why going to the funeral matters, why your value is not your productivity, and how sometimes the best advice helps you discover what you already knew all along.

Bio: Jenny Hagel is an Emmy-nominated TV writer and comedy performer in New York City. She is a writer/performer on Late Night with Seth Meyers, where she created the recurring segment "Jokes Seth Can't Tell." She was also head writer and executive producer of The Amber Ruffin Show.

Other writing credits include the Golden Globe Awards, Impractical Jokers, and Big Gay Sketch Show. Jenny has an MFA in Writing for the Screen and Stage from Northwestern University, and has been nominated for two GLAAD Awards for her work addressing LGBTQ issues on TV.

Jenny's Social Media: @JennyHagel, www.JennyHagel.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).

Contributing Editors: Manthan Baldha, Sarah Webb (@SWAudioPost) and Drew King.

Filmed and recorded at @TheMalin in New York City.

www.IntoTheMudPodcast.com

Ep. 83: Therapist Breakup & Learning to Trust Yourself with Liz Glazer

Thu, 04 Jun 2026 02:00:00 -0400

Liz Glazer spent years doing everything right: law school, a philosophy degree, a tenured law professorship, and a stable career path. Then she discovered stand-up comedy and began questioning whether success and fulfillment were actually the same thing.

In this episode, Liz shares how therapy, sobriety, recovery programs, and nearly two decades of self-reflection helped her learn to trust her own judgment. Together, we explore intuition, major life pivots, ending a 19-year therapy relationship, and how to know when it's finally time to choose a different path.

Bio: Liz Glazer is an award-winning standup comedian, actor, and writer known for her smart, personal comedy. Her new special, Do You Know Who I’m Not?, is streaming on YouTube. She has appeared on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, Don’t Tell Comedy, and The Showcase, and opened for Maria Bamford and Judy Gold. Liz won first place at the Boston Comedy Festival and Ladies of Laughter, and was profiled in The Wall Street Journal.

As an actor, Liz has appeared on ABC's For Life and CBS's BULL, and teaches at Lesly Kahn & Co. She is currently developing a TV pilot based on her life, which was a Stage 32 semi-finalist. Before comedy, Liz was a tenured law professor at Hofstra Law. She earned her BA/MA from UPenn, her JD from the University of Chicago Law School (serving on Law Review), practiced real estate law at Fried Frank, and published scholarship in top journals like the Georgetown Law Journal.

Liz's Social Media: @LizGlazer

Liz's Website: https://www.dearlizglazer.com/

00:00 Into the Mud: Intro
01:09 Comedy, Academia, and Netflix
02:23 Law Professor to Stand-Up: The Not-So-Classic Route
05:22 Finding Comedy in Chicago
08:23 Standup for Lawyers and Sex Educators
09:43 Coming Out & Discovering Comedy's Call
10:03 The Knowing: Trusting Yourself with Big Decisions
12:13 Signs, Journals, and When to Leap
14:04 The Nine-Year Exit: Quitting with a Plan
18:11 Buffers, Health Insurance, and Rolling into Standup
21:38 Supporting Your Craft without Starving
22:48 The Voice Inside: Intuition, Timing & Feeling
25:11 Buffer Time: Therapy, Debt, and Getting Better
27:27 Sobriety, Self-Trust, and Program Life
30:29 Dropping Bad Habits: From Stalking Instagrams to Small Choices
32:08 Sober Decisions: Controlled Experiments and Instinct
38:07 Ending Therapy: Tennis, Growth, and Letting Go
44:00 Facing the Last Session: Nerves and Readiness
46:02 What Happens When Therapy Ends?
49:07 85% Over the Net: Trust, Growth, and Mystery
50:17 Wrapping Up: Mutual Admiration and Tennis Jokes
51:06 Final Credits & Where to Follow

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).

Contributing Editors: Manthan Baldha, Sarah Webb (@SWAudioPost) and Drew King.

Filmed and recorded at @TheMalin in New York City.

www.IntoTheMudPodcast.com

Ep. 82: Getting Older Is Actually the Best Part with Emil Cohen

Fri, 22 May 2026 09:00:00 -0400

DJ, photographer, and Mother Disco co-creator Emil Cohen joins Into the Mud for a conversation about aging, queer joy, disco culture, chosen family, and why getting older might actually be the best part. From body image, therapy, nightlife, and nostalgia to queer history, community building, parenting, and the pressure to stay young, this episode explores what it means to grow older as a queer person while creating spaces rooted in music, connection, and joy.

Bio: Emil Cohen is a New York-based artist, photographer, DJ, and co-creator of Mother Disco, the beloved queer dance party celebrating disco and community. Born and raised in Canada and the United States, Emil holds an MFA in fine arts from the School of the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston at Tufts University. He is a staff photographer for the New York City Council.

As an artist, his photographs have been featured in group exhibitions across the United States and in solo exhibitions. Most recently, he was named by Logo TV as one of their 2022 Logo30 Honorees. Selected clients and publications include Todd Snyder, The New York Times, Town and Country, People Magazine, The Hollywood Reporter, Out Magazine and many more.

He is a proud New York, Queer, Jew.

Emil's Social Media: www.EmilCohenPhotography.com, @EmilCohen.

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).

Contributing Editors: Manthan Baldha, Sarah Webb (@SWAudioPost) and Drew King.

Filmed and recorded at @TheMalin in New York City.

www.IntoTheMudPodcast.com

Ep. 81: The Superpower of Feeling Alien with Project Hail Mary's James Ortiz

Sat, 09 May 2026 17:00:00 -0400

James Ortiz, the actor and puppeteer behind Rocky in Project Hail Mary alongside Ryan Gosling, joins Into the Mud for a conversation about identity, creativity, and what it means to feel “alien” in your own life. From queer identity and imposter syndrome to artistry, puppetry, belonging, and the pressure to fit into society’s expectations, James opens up about embracing the parts of himself that once made him feel different.

The conversation explores creative insecurity, authenticity, feeling out of place in your career or community, and why “weird” people often become the most fully realized versions of themselves. Plus: behind-the-scenes stories from Project Hail Mary, working with Ryan Gosling, building Rocky through puppetry and improv, and why worrying about being “cringe” might be holding you back from your real life.

Bio: Based in New York City, James Ortiz is a designer, performer, playwright, and director best known for his award-winning puppetry work. He won the 2022 Drama Desk Award for the massive dinosaur puppets in The Skin of Our Teeth at Lincoln Center, and stars as Rocky in the blockbuster film Project Hail Mary from Amazon MGM Studios. His interpretation of Milky White in the 2022 Broadway revival of Into the Woods became a viral fan favorite.

James is also widely recognized for creating The Woodsman, which earned him a 2016 OBIE Award for puppet design and was later filmed for PBS and released on BroadwayHD. His work has appeared at major institutions including The Public Theater, Hartford Stage, Paper Mill Playhouse, Yale Repertory Theatre, The Kennedy Center, and Ars Nova.

A recipient of the 2017 Eugene O’Neill residency and multiple Jim Henson Foundation grants, James is also the co-founder and co-artistic director of Strangemen & Co.. His work continues to blend movement, theatricality, and innovative puppetry across stage and screen.

James' Social Media: @JortFace, www.JamesOrtiz.co

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).

Contributing Editors: Manthan Baldha, Sarah Webb (@SWAudioPost) and Drew King.

Filmed and recorded at @TheMalin in New York City.

www.IntoTheMudPodcast.com

Ep. 80: The Exhaustion of 'Taking the High Road' with Mykal Kilgore

Thu, 30 Apr 2026 08:00:00 -0400

Emmy-nominated artist Mykal Kilgore joins Into the Mud for a raw, unfiltered conversation about the emotional toll of always taking the high road. From growing up in a strict religious environment to navigating Broadway, the music industry, and public scrutiny, Mykal unpacks the pressure to be exceptional, likable, and silent in the face of disrespect.

This episode dives into identity, power dynamics, systemic inequality, and the breaking point of “being the bigger person” in a world that doesn’t always reward integrity. If you’ve ever felt exhausted from doing the right thing while others get away with everything, this one hits deep.

Bio: Mykal Kilgore is an Emmy-nominated and Grammy-nominated singer, songwriter, and Broadway performer known for his powerhouse vocals and dynamic stage presence. He made history as the first openly gay artist nominated in the Traditional R&B Performance category at the Grammys and has appeared in major productions including Motown: The Musical, Hair, and The Book of Mormon, as well as NBC’s The Wiz Live!. A sought-after live performer, he has taken the stage at events like the Met Gala and continues to build a multifaceted career across music, theater, and television. Mykal is celebrated not only for his talent, but for his fearless voice, advocacy, and commitment to truth both on and off stage.

Mykal's Social Media: @MykalKilgore.

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).

Contributing Editors: Manthan Baldha, Sarah Webb (@SWAudioPost) and Drew King.

Filmed and recorded at @TheMalin in New York City.

www.IntoTheMudPodcast.com

Ep. 79: Addicted to Escapism with Ren McAslan

Fri, 17 Apr 2026 11:00:00 -0400

What does it actually mean to be addicted to escapism? Writer and Emmy-nominated storyteller Ren McAslan breaks down the nine types of escapism, from work and relationships to media, sex, and substance use, and how constant distraction is reshaping our ability to sit with ourselves. This episode explores trauma, shame, addiction, and the uncomfortable truth that the things we use to cope might be keeping us disconnected from our own lives.

Bio: Renwick McAslan is an Emmy-nominated, London-born, NYC-based writer.

By day, the 36 year old works as a Creative Director in Ad-Land but works on numerous creative projects on the side, including film / TV and has recently-finished his first novel, Come Undone.

This August he’s also taking his debut solo-written, one-woman show, Woman Seeking Cuddles to the world-renowned Edinburgh Fringe Festival.

His hobbies include getting punched in the face (he’s a keen boxer).

Ren's Social Media: @RenwMcas, www.RenMcAslan.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).

Contributing Editors: Manthan Baldha, Sarah Webb (@SWAudioPost) and Drew King.

Filmed and recorded at @TheMalin in New York City.

www.IntoTheMudPodcast.com

Ep. 78: When 'Blind Faith' Becomes Uncertainty

Thu, 09 Apr 2026 06:00:00 -0400

What if certainty or uncertainty isn’t a strength… but a trap?

On this week's episode, comedian AJ Marroquin joins Drew and Alex to unpack growing up as a Jehovah’s Witness, walking away from blind faith, and how that early conditioning shaped his identity, relationships, and career working inside dating apps. From door-to-door evangelizing to decoding modern dating behavior, this episode explores the tension between knowing exactly what you want and realizing you might not know yourself at all.

Bio: AJ Marroquin is a New York-based comedian and writer. Originally from Chicago, he performs stand-up and has worked in the dating app industry for several years, focusing on trust and safety, user behavior, and online interactions.

AJ's Social Media: @AJDeluxe

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).

Contributing Editors: Manthan Baldha, Sarah Webb (@SWAudioPost) and Drew King.

Filmed and recorded at @TheMalin in New York City.

www.IntoTheMudPodcast.com

Ep. 77: The Price of "Transactional Intimacy" with Isaac Oliver

Thu, 02 Apr 2026 12:00:00 -0400

What if intimacy isn’t one-size-fits-all, and never was? What if it doesn’t have to come from love or even from a relationship? And what is the price, literally and figuratively?

Award-winning writer, performer, and Intimacy Idiot author Isaac Oliver joins Into the Mud to get honest about “transactional intimacy”… the kind we’re taught to judge, but rarely investigate. From his work on GLOW, The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel to his own deeply personal experiences, Isaac explores how paying for connection can feel safer, more controlled, and sometimes even more honest than traditional dating.

If intimacy can be paid for, performed, withheld, or earned… who actually gets to decide what counts? And when those lines start to blur, what are we really protecting ourselves from and who gets left out entirely?

Bio: Isaac Oliver is an award-winning playwright, author, and performer known for his sharp wit and deeply human explorations of intimacy, identity, and connection. He is the author of the acclaimed essay collection Intimacy Idiot, which chronicles his experiences navigating love, sex, and loneliness in New York City. Isaac has written for television, including HBO’s High Maintenance, Netflix’s GLOW, and Amazon’s The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, and his work extends to the stage, including Just in Time, currently playing on Broadway starring Jonathan Groff. His work has been celebrated across theater and literary spaces for its humor, vulnerability, and emotional precision, and as both a storyteller and performer, he continues to challenge how we think about relationships, desire, and what it means to truly connect.

Isaac’s Social Media: @MrIsaacOliver

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).

Contributing Editors: Manthan Baldha, Sarah Webb (@SWAudioPost) and Drew King.

Filmed and recorded at @TheMalin in New York City.

www.IntoTheMudPodcast.com

Ep. 76: The Discipline of Gratitude (Even When Life Is Hard) with Jenifer Foote

Thu, 19 Mar 2026 03:00:00 -0400

What if gratitude isn’t a feeling… but a discipline you have to practice every single day? Broadway performer turned licensed therapist Jenifer Foote joins Drew and Alex to unpack what gratitude actually looks like in real life. Not the Instagram version, but the messy, intentional practice of staying present when the mind is spiraling and life feels out of control.

Together, they explore interrupting negative self-talk, building self-worth beyond career validation, and using gratitude as a tool for resilience through rejection, insecurity, and uncertainty. This conversation is not about pretending everything is fine. It is about meeting life as it is and finding a way to move through it with clarity, humor, and just enough grace to keep going.

Bio: Jenifer Foote is a licensed marriage and family therapist and former Broadway performer with an extraordinary career spanning over a dozen Broadway productions, including Tootsie and On the Twentieth Century. A former Radio City Rockette, she has built a reputation as both a dynamic performer and a deeply grounded mental health professional.

Now the founder of Spotlight on Therapy, Jenifer integrates her background in performance with evidence-based therapeutic practices to help clients build resilience, self-awareness, and emotional clarity. Her work includes a strong commitment to supporting LGBTQ+ clients, creating an affirming space for identity exploration, healing, and growth. Known for her warmth, insight, and unwavering optimism, she brings a uniquely holistic perspective to conversations around mental health and personal development.

Jenifer’s Website: www.SpotlightOnTherapy.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).

Contributing Editors: Manthan Baldha, Sarah Webb (@SWAudioPost) and Drew King.

Filmed and recorded at @TheMalin in New York City.

www.IntoTheMudPodcast.com

Ep. 75: The Responsibility of Being Political with Your Platform with Marcus Monroe

Thu, 12 Mar 2026 01:00:00 -0400

Comedian and viral subway performer Marcus Monroe joins Drew and Alex to unpack the messy question facing many creators today: if you have a platform, do you have a responsibility to use it politically? From navigating backlash online to dressing as controversial characters on the NYC subway, Marcus shares how comedians balance humor, ethics, and audience expectations in a world where everything feels political. Together they explore cancel culture, protest culture, and why comedy might be one of the last spaces where difficult conversations can still happen.

Bio: Marcus Monroe is a New York based stand up comedian and performer known for blending comedy, physical performance, and viral social media content. An Andy Kaufman Award winner, Marcus has appeared on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, MTV, HBO, and Comedy Central, and has toured internationally with his high energy comedy and variety performances. He gained a massive online following through his viral subway comedy videos, where he performs absurd character driven stand up routines for unsuspecting NYC commuters. Combining sharp writing with playful physical comedy rooted in juggling and clowning traditions, Marcus has built a unique voice that bridges traditional stand up, performance art, and digital comedy. He continues to tour nationally while growing a large audience across Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube.

Marcus' Social Media: @MArcusJMonroe, https://marcusmonroe.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).

Contributing Editors: Manthan Baldha, Sarah Webb (@SWAudioPost) and Drew King.

Filmed and recorded at @TheMalin in New York City.

www.IntoTheMudPodcast.com

Ep. 74: F*ck Diet Culture: @GrossyPelosi on Food as a Tool for Joy and Community

Thu, 05 Mar 2026 01:00:00 -0500

What if food never had to be about shame, restriction, or diet culture at all? On this week's episode, 2x NYTimes bestselling cookbook author and celebrated food blogger Dan Pelosi (@grossypelosi) joins Drew and Alex for a joyful, unfiltered conversation about telling diet culture to f*ck off, setting boundaries with internet haters, and reclaiming cooking and hosting as powerful tools for joy, community, and chosen family. From the comfort food that helped people through the pandemic to the radical act of gathering friends around a table, Dan shares how food can bring people together in the most meaningful ways. And yes, he does walk us through his dream 24 hours with Ina Garten.

Bio: Dan Pelosi, known online as @grossypelosi, is a food creator, host, and 2x New York Times bestselling cookbook author celebrated for his joyful, nostalgic approach to cooking and entertaining. His cookbooks Let’s Eat: 101 Recipes to Fill Your Heart and Home and Let’s Party: Recipes and Menus for Celebrating Every Day encourage readers to gather loved ones around the table and celebrate everyday life through food. Pelosi first gained a devoted following during the pandemic by sharing comforting Italian-American and Portuguese-American recipes on Instagram, quickly becoming one of the internet’s most beloved food personalities. A contributor to New York Times Cooking and frequent guest on Good Morning America, Pelosi is known for his philosophy that food should be shared without shame and always enjoyed in community.

Dan's Social Media: @GrossyPelosi, www.DanPelosi.com, www.GrossyWorld.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).

Contributing Editors: Manthan Baldha, Sarah Webb (@SWAudioPost) and Drew King.

Filmed and recorded at @TheMalin in New York City.

www.IntoTheMudPodcast.com

Ep. 73: Sexologist Natassia Miller on Pleasure and the 'Desire Gap'

Thu, 26 Feb 2026 06:00:00 -0500

What if intimacy isn’t about getting off, but about getting honest? Sexologist Natassia Miller joins Drew and Alex to unpack the “desire gap,” long-term intimacy, and why erotic energy goes far beyond sex itself. Through candid conversation and practical insight, they explore how intentional connection, curiosity, and emotional presence can transform relationships from the inside out. From communication blocks and shame to playful tools for reconnecting with pleasure, Natassia shares how couples can rediscover passion, reclaim agency, and rethink what great sex actually means.

Bio: Natassia Miller is a Brazilian-American certified sexologist and intimacy coach based in New York City, accredited by the American Association of Sexuality Educators, Counselors and Therapists (AASECT). A Columbia University graduate and former finance professional turned entrepreneur, she is the founder of Wonderlust, a sexual wellness brand focused on helping couples reconnect with pleasure, communication, and erotic energy. Her work centers on long-term relationships, the desire gap, and empowering women to reclaim their sexuality, and she has been featured in major publications including GQ, Cosmopolitan, and Glamour.

Natassia's Social Media: @NatassiaMiller, www.WonderLust.co

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).

Contributing Editors: Manthan Baldha, Sarah Webb (@SWAudioPost) and Drew King.

Filmed and recorded at @TheMalin in New York City.

www.IntoTheMudPodcast.com

Ep. 72: The Death of the Hobby with the @CraftyLumberjacks

Sat, 21 Feb 2026 15:00:00 -0500

Drew and Alex sit down with viral crafting duo the Crafty Lumberjacks to unpack the “death of the hobby” and what happens when passion turns into content. From Broadway tours to national TV appearances, Dennis and Andrew share the joy, burnout, comparison culture, and identity struggles that come with turning creativity into a career. Together, they explore how to reclaim play, reconnect with artistry, and stop monetizing every moment. If you're craving a reconnection to hobbies and actual down time, this episode is for you.

Bio: The Crafty Lumberjacks, also known as Dennis Setteducati and Andrew Boza, are a crafting and DIY duo who turned a backstage hobby into a nationally recognized brand. After meeting on the national tour of Fiddler on the Roof, the couple began sharing handmade projects online, eventually gaining attention from HGTV and major media outlets. Their colorful, approachable crafting style has led to appearances on shows like The Today Show, The Rachael Ray Show, Live with Kelly & Ryan, The Drew Barrymore Show, Tamron Hall, and more, along with live crafting classes and brand collaborations. Known for blending humor, theater roots, and hands-on creativity, they continue inspiring audiences to rediscover play and artistic expression beyond the pressure of social media.

Social Media: @CraftyLumberjacks, https://craftylumberjacks.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).

Contributing Editors: Manthan Baldha, Sarah Webb (@SWAudioPost) and Drew King.

Filmed and recorded at @TheMalin in New York City.

www.IntoTheMudPodcast.com

Ep. 71: When Home Stops Being Home with Max Chernin

Thu, 12 Feb 2026 06:00:00 -0500

Accomplished Broadway actor Max Chernin gets muddy about what happens after you achieve "the dream". From starring in the critically acclaimed national tour of Broadway's Parade to landing back in New York on the unemployment line, Max unpacks the ache of outgrowing old versions of yourself, redefining what home can look like, and granting yourself the grace to change direction without naming it "giving up". This episode is for anyone standing in that uncomfortable liminal space, where the next chapter hasn’t quite revealed itself but you know the old one no longer fits.

Bio: Max Chernin was most recently seen starring in the National Tour of the Tony Award-winning Broadway revival of Parade. Hailing from Shaker Heights, Ohio, Max made his Broadway debut in Steve Martin & Edie Brickell’s Bright Star and went on to join the Broadway revival of Sunday in the Park with George starring Jake Gyllenhaal and Annaleigh Ashford. In New York, Max has appeared in Brooklynite (Vineyard Theatre), Bernstein’s Mass (Lincoln Center), and The Golden Apple (New York City Center). Other recent stage credits include Andrew in the world premiere of Passing Through (Goodspeed Opera House), Motel in Fiddler on the Roof (St. Louis MUNY), Buddy in Elf (Pioneer Theatre Company/North Carolina Theater), and Jervis in Daddy Long Legs (Theatre Raleigh). On camera, Max recurred on the second and third seasons of Dickinson, and also appeared on The Blacklist, The Family, Mozart in the Jungle, and in Adam Sandler’s The Week Of. BFA: University of Cincinnati’s College-Conservatory of Music (CCM) Awards: 2024 American Traditions Competition’s Silver Medal, 2021 Lotte Lenya Foundation’s Carolyn Weber Award.

Max's Social Media: @maxcherns

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).

Contributing Editors: Manthan Baldha, Sarah Webb (@SWAudioPost) and Drew King.

Filmed and recorded at @TheMalin in New York City.

www.IntoTheMudPodcast.com

Ep. 70: Radical Joy as Resistance and Activism with Mila Jam

Thu, 29 Jan 2026 07:00:00 -0500

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).

Contributing Editors: Manthan Baldha, Sarah Webb (@SWAudioPost) and Drew King.

Filmed and recorded at @TheMalin in New York City.

www.IntoTheMudPodcast.com

Ep. 69: Showbiz Whiplash: Success & Sore Winning with Marc Shaiman

Mon, 26 Jan 2026 12:00:00 -0500

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).

Contributing Editors: Manthan Baldha, Sarah Webb (@SWAudioPost) and Drew King.

Filmed and recorded at @TheMalin in New York City.

www.IntoTheMudPodcast.com

Ep. 68: Turning Grief Into Advocacy with Broadway’s Julie Halston

Thu, 15 Jan 2026 06:00:00 -0500

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).

Contributing Editors: Manthan Baldha, Sarah Webb (@SWAudioPost) and Drew King.

Filmed and recorded at @TheMalin in New York City.

www.IntoTheMudPodcast.com

Ep. 67: Glitter, God, and Justice: A Queer Minister on Faith and Spirituality

Thu, 08 Jan 2026 06:00:00 -0500

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).

Contributing Editors: Manthan Baldha, Sarah Webb (@SWAudioPost) and Drew King.

Filmed and recorded at @TheMalin in New York City.

www.IntoTheMudPodcast.com

Ep. 66: When Drag Muddies the Dating Game with Pixie Aventura

Fri, 26 Dec 2025 14:00:00 -0500

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).

Contributing Editors: Manthan Baldha, Sarah Webb (@SWAudioPost) and Drew King.

Filmed and recorded at @TheMalin in New York City.

www.IntoTheMudPodcast.com

Ep. 65: Breakup Tales for the Recently Dumped

Thu, 11 Dec 2025 08:00:00 -0500

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).

Contributing Editors: Manthan Baldha, Sarah Webb (@SWAudioPost) and Drew King.

Filmed and recorded at @TheMalin in New York City.

www.IntoTheMudPodcast.com

Ep. 64: Ben Abraham Gets Muddy About “Failure”

Thu, 20 Nov 2025 07:00:00 -0500

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).

Contributing Editors: Manthan Baldha, Sarah Webb (@SWAudioPost) and Drew King.

Filmed and recorded at @TheMalin in New York City.

www.IntoTheMudPodcast.com

Ep. 63: Rewriting Queer History and Love with Hugh Nini and Neal Treadwell

Thu, 13 Nov 2025 07:00:00 -0500

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).

Contributing Editors: Manthan Baldha, Sarah Webb (@SWAudioPost) and Drew King.

Filmed and recorded at @TheMalin in New York City.

www.IntoTheMudPodcast.com

Ep. 62: Robert Horn: The Comedy of Getting Older

Thu, 23 Oct 2025 01:00:00 -0400

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).

Contributing Editors: Manthan Baldha, Sarah Webb (@SWAudioPost) and Drew King.

Filmed and recorded at @TheMalin in New York City.

www.IntoTheMudPodcast.com

Ep. 61: Jay Jurden Gets Muddy About Censorship

Thu, 09 Oct 2025 02:00:00 -0400

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).

Contributing Editors: Manthan Baldha, Sarah Webb (@SWAudioPost) and Drew King.

Filmed and recorded at @TheMalin in New York City.

www.IntoTheMudPodcast.com

Ep. 60: Josh Gondelman Gets Muddy About Followers VS Résumé

Thu, 02 Oct 2025 01:00:00 -0400

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).

Contributing Editors: Manthan Baldha, Sarah Webb (@SWAudioPost) and Drew King.

Filmed and recorded at @TheMalin in New York City.

www.IntoTheMudPodcast.com

Episode 59: Jonah Wheeler Gets Muddy About Sex Work, OnlyFans and Sexploration

Thu, 25 Sep 2025 14:00:00 -0400

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).

Contributing Editors: Manthan Baldha, Sarah Webb (@SWAudioPost) and Drew King.

Filmed and recorded at @TheMalin in New York City.

www.IntoTheMudPodcast.com

Episode 58: Matthew Anchel Gets Muddy About Fat Shaming and Body Positivity

Thu, 18 Sep 2025 01:00:00 -0400

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).

Contributing Editors: Manthan Baldha, Sarah Webb (@SWAudioPost) and Drew King.

Filmed and recorded at @TheMalin in New York City.

www.IntoTheMudPodcast.com

Episode 57: Lisa Helmi Johanson Gets Muddy About Postpartum and Traumatic Birth PTSD

Thu, 04 Sep 2025 13:00:00 -0400

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).

Contributing Editors: Manthan Baldha, Sarah Webb (@SWAudioPost) and Drew King.

Filmed and recorded at @TheMalin in New York City.

www.IntoTheMudPodcast.com

Episode 56: Zahid Dewji Gets Muddy About Vibes, Vibration, and Vibing Too Hard

Thu, 21 Aug 2025 00:00:00 -0400

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).

Contributing Editors: Manthan Baldha, Sarah Webb (@SWAudioPost) and Drew King.

Filmed and recorded at @TheMalin in New York City.

www.IntoTheMudPodcast.com

Episode 55: Darren Biggart Gets Muddy About “Doing the Work”

Thu, 14 Aug 2025 01:00:00 -0400

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).

Contributing Editors: Manthan Baldha, Sarah Webb (@SWAudioPost) and Drew King.

Filmed and recorded at @TheMalin in New York City.

www.IntoTheMudPodcast.com

Episode 54: Elle Orlando Gets Muddy About Loneliness

Thu, 07 Aug 2025 01:00:00 -0400

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).

Contributing Editors: Manthan Baldha, Sarah Webb (@SWAudioPost) and Drew King.

Filmed and recorded at @TheMalin in New York City.

www.IntoTheMudPodcast.com

Episode 53: Natalie Diaz Live Coaching on Time Management & Perfectionism (Part 2)

Thu, 31 Jul 2025 00:00:00 -0400

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).

Contributing Editors: Manthan Baldha, Sarah Webb (@SWAudioPost) and Drew King.

Filmed and recorded at @TheMalin in New York City.

www.IntoTheMudPodcast.com

Episode 53: Natalie Diaz On Unlearning Corporate Hustle Culture (Part 1)

Thu, 24 Jul 2025 01:00:00 -0400

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.

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).

Contributing Editors: Manthan Baldha, Sarah Webb (@SWAudioPost) and Drew King.

Filmed and recorded at @TheMalin in New York City.

www.IntoTheMudPodcast.com

Episode 52: Alex Wong Gets Muddy About…Not Being That Muddy

Thu, 10 Jul 2025 01:00:00 -0400

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).

Contributing Editors: Manthan Baldha, Sarah Webb (@SWAudioPost) and Drew King.

Filmed and recorded at @TheMalin in New York City.

www.IntoTheMudPodcast.com

Episode 51: Aidan Wharton Gets Muddy About Pride

Thu, 26 Jun 2025 00:00:00 -0400

Pride means something different to everyone—and sometimes, figuring out what it means to you can feel a little messy. On this week’s episode, Aidan Wharton gets muddy about what Pride really means—outside of corporate floats, circuit parties, and Instagram carousels. As a Broadway actor, writer, and founder of the popular Substack "Gay Buffet," Aidan brings humor and heart to a thoughtful conversation about identity, community friction, and finding your own way to celebrate queerness. From the beauty of queer joy to the anxiety of not fitting into “the right kind” of Pride, this episode honors the messy, personal journey of discovering what Pride looks like for you. Whether you're partying in Fire Island or quietly walking Christopher Street alone, you're not doing it wrong as long as it brings you joy and hope.

Bio: Aidan is an actor, writer, and the creator of Gay Buffet, a popular Substack newsletter serving up thoughtful Queer takes on sex, culture, and self-improvement. Though technically born in Seattle, his family relocated to a yurt in rural Hawaii when he was six months old, and he spent his childhood running through the jungle, reading, and cultivating a wildly active imagination.

After earning a degree in Musical Theatre from Penn State, Aidan performed on Broadway, in national tours, and on regional stages across the country in Girl From the North Country, Wicked, Footloose, and more. He also appeared in films such as Fire Island and Bros. During this time, he also worked with the NYC Pride March and then launched Gay Buffet as a way to raise awareness and funds for LGBTQ+ nonprofits while building Queer community. What began as a creative outlet has since grown into a robust community rooted in kindness, critical thinking, and unapologetic Queer joy.

Aidan’s Social Media: gaybuffet.substack.com or follow along on IG: @aidanwharton

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).

Contributing Editors: Manthan Baldha, Sarah Webb (@SWAudioPost) and Drew King.

Filmed and recorded at @TheMalin in New York City.

www.IntoTheMudPodcast.com

Episode 50: Justine Ang Fonte Gets Muddy About Egg Freezing and Reproduction Pitfalls

Thu, 19 Jun 2025 00:00:00 -0400

When it comes to fertility, the fine print is often emotional, financial, and painfully unclear. This week on Into the Mud intersectional health educator, Justine Ang Fonte, gets muddy about the murky world of egg freezing—where empowerment meets confusion, hope meets debt, and no one tells you the full story. In this honest and detailed conversation, Justine breaks down her emotionally and financially taxing experience navigating the so-called "insurance policy" of fertility preservation. We hope this episode offers clarity and community for anyone considering—or currently in—the egg freezing process. If you’ve ever felt like reproduction is a race against time with no clear rules, this one's for you.

Bio: Justine Ang Fonte, M.Ed, MPH is the child of Philippine immigrants and award-winning sex educator, consultant, and professor. Justine has been featured in The NYTimes, The Atlantic, Glamour, and Hulu docuseries, Planet Sex. On Instagram, she's "Your Friendly Ghostwriter" composing the texts you avoid sending about setting your boundaries. She is the author and voice of the Audible Original, "How To Talk To Your Kids About Sex."

Justine’s Social Media: @ImJustineAF, www.JustineFonte.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).

Contributing Editors: Manthan Baldha, Sarah Webb (@SWAudioPost) and Drew King.

Filmed and recorded at @TheMalin in New York City.

www.IntoTheMudPodcast.com

Episode 49: ‘Well…Adjusting Podcast’ x ‘Into the Mud’ Get Muddy About Anxiety

Thu, 12 Jun 2025 03:00:00 -0400

In this special crossover episode between Into the Mud and Well… Adjusting, anxiety takes center stage—and everyone brings their own flavor. Robin's spiraling about parenting. Steph’s contemplating the apocalypse. Drew’s afraid of gay men (yes, really). And Alex feels like she's waiting on biopsy results. From identity crises to career meltdowns, parenting panic to the soul-crushing anxiety of an underwear party, this group therapy session dives deep—and comes up laughing. It's gay panic meets emotional survival, and nobody leaves un-muddied.

Well…Adjusting Podcast: Join author, actor, and unapologetically funny lady Robin Hopkins as she guides guests through setting boundaries, managing stress, scoring a new apartment, or just saving a buck for retirement (if that’s even still a thing). With her disarming wit and candid approach, Robin gets to the heart of what’s really behind all that self-sabotaging. Well…Adjusting isn’t NPR, and it’s not here to fix your life with credentials. It’s honest, relatable talk about the real issues Gen Z’ers and Millennials face today—and did we mention it’s funny?

Audio mixed by Maria Passingham: @m.passingham

Robin Hopkins (@RealRobHops): is a published writer, actress, podcast host, and former stand-up comic known for her mix of brutal honesty and big laughs. She’s the author of the award-winning book If These Ovaries Could Talk, and her work has appeared in The New York Times, HuffPost, and Mother Mag. Robin currently hosts Well... Adjusting and Dear Headspace.

Steph Colbourn (@StephColbourn): is the founder and CEO of Edit Audio, a global podcast production company led by women, trans, and non-binary creatives. A champion for equity in audio, Steph produces acclaimed shows, leads industry trainings, and volunteers with community-based justice initiatives—all while hanging out with their dog, Chef.

Edit Audio (@EditAud.io): is a women-, trans-, and non-binary-led podcast production company creating smart, inclusive audio across the US, Canada, and the UK. With clients like GitHub, Harper’s Bazaar, and the Google News Initiative, Edit Audio also produces original series, including the Ambie-nominated Date With Daddy.

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).

Contributing Editors: Manthan Baldha, Sarah Webb (@SWAudioPost) and Drew King.

Filmed and recorded at @TheMalin in New York City.

www.IntoTheMudPodcast.com

Episode 48: Queer Loneliness & Outdoor Community with @GaysOfNationalParks

Thu, 05 Jun 2025 01:00:00 -0400

Happy Pride! To kick off their Pride Month celebration, Into the Mud sits down with Hitesh Tolani and Matt Atkins from the viral social movement @GaysOfNationalParks — a community where queer folks are finding friendship, healing, and love in nature. From loneliness and late bloomers to sweaty mountaintop revelations, this convo is everything listeners didn’t know they needed. Grab your boots, ditch the apps, and take a hike — literally.

Gays of National Parks (GONP) is a grassroots storytelling collective and outdoor community dedicated to creating safe, joyful, and inclusive spaces for LGBTQIA+ individuals in nature. Originally launched as an Instagram page for queer hikers to share their personal stories, the platform has grown into a vibrant, real-world movement—hosting group trips to national parks, collaborating with queer artists, and building lasting connections across identities and geographies. With a focus on vulnerability, visibility, and belonging, GONP helps reclaim the outdoors as a third space for queer joy, healing, and community.

Social Media: @GaysOfNationalParks, www.GaysOfNationalParks.com

Personal Social Media: @HiteshTolani and @MattB.Atkins

Trips: In addition to sharing powerful community stories online, Gays of National Parks also organizes real-life group trips to national parks across the U.S. — including Yosemite, Big Bend, and Joshua Tree. These trips are open to LGBTQ+ participants from all walks of life and are designed to foster deep connection, self-exploration, and queer joy in the wild. Some spots are paid, while others are stipend-funded for those in need. Upcoming trips and applications are available at gaysnationalparks.com (or their IG bio!).

Merch: The stunning GONP T-shirts (featured in this episode!) are designed by a queer California-based artist named Ross, who brings LGBTQ+ history to life through wearable art. Each design reflects the spirit and story of historic queer spaces — like Marshall’s Beach, a famously gay site in San Francisco that helped inspire the rainbow flag. Proceeds from merch support both the artist and grants for trip participants. Shop the collection at gaysnationalparks.com/merch.

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).

Contributing Editors: Manthan Baldha, Sarah Webb (@SWAudioPost) and Drew King.

Filmed and recorded at @TheMalin in New York City.

www.IntoTheMudPodcast.com

Episode 00: Drew and Alex Get Muddy About Not Having an Episode Today

Thu, 29 May 2025 01:00:00 -0400

Don’t worry—we didn’t ghost you. We're just stuck in a chaotic love triangle with corrupted audio files and a cursed laptop. So this week, instead of our usual muddy deep dive, you’re getting a quick little check-in from the swamp. Updates, teasers, a dash of chaos, and a gentle plea to show us some love on socials while we get our mud together. Stay strong, #MuddyBuddies!

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).

Contributing Editors: Manthan Baldha, Sarah Webb (@SWAudioPost) and Drew King.

Filmed and recorded at @TheMalin in New York City.

www.IntoTheMudPodcast.com

Episode 47: Lesli Margherita Gets Muddy About Turning Rejection into Comedy Gold

Thu, 15 May 2025 02:00:00 -0400

Broadway star, Olivier Award winner and Drama Desk nominee Lesli Margherita joins Into the Mud for a hilarious and heartfelt conversation about rejection—and how she’s turned it into a superpower. With her signature wit and unfiltered honesty, Lesli shares how comedy has helped her survive (and thrive) in one of the most brutal industries out there. It’s a masterclass in resilience, delivered with a wink, a stunning Italian smile, and a perfectly timed punchline.

Bio: Lesli Margherita is an Olivier Award winner for her West End debut as Inez in Zorro the Musical. She made her Broadway debut originating the role of Mrs. Wormwood in Matilda the Musical, performing over 1,000 shows before returning to close out its Broadway run. She also starred as diva Mona Kent in Dames at Sea at the Helen Hayes.

Off-Broadway, Lesli earned critical acclaim for her performances in Emojiland and the one-woman holiday comedy Who’s Holiday, which earned her Drama Desk, Lortel, and Off-Broadway Alliance nominations.

On screen, she has appeared in “Homeland” (Showtime), “Transparent” (Amazon), “Seven Seconds” (Netflix), “Instinct” (CBS), and “The Crew” (Netflix), as well as the film The Many Saints of Newark and Opening Night. Her voice work includes Cinderella III (Disney) and “SpongeBob SquarePants” (Nickelodeon).

Her regional theater credits span Guys & Dolls, Hunchback of Notre Dame, Kiss Me Kate, Spamalot, Little Shop of Horrors, and Show Boat, among others.

Lesli is the creator of Broadway.com’s “Looks Not Books” and “Ship Happens,” and the digital short series Sparklepuff. Her solo shows Rule, Broad, and This Broad’s Way continue to tour nationally, and her debut live album Rule Your Kingdom is available on all digital platforms.

Lesli’s Social Media: @QueenLesli and www.LesliMargherita.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).

Contributing Editors: Manthan Baldha, Sarah Webb (@SWAudioPost) and Drew King.

Filmed and recorded at @TheMalin in New York City.

www.IntoTheMudPodcast.com

Episode 46: Douglas Lyons Gets Muddy About Breaking Out of Limiting Boxes

Thu, 08 May 2025 02:00:00 -0400

Broadway actor, composer and playwright Douglas Lyons joins Drew and Alex for a conversation about breaking out of boxes—both the ones that life puts us in and the ones we create for ourselves. From actor to writer to full creative force, Douglas shares how career expansion starts with reclaiming autonomy, building your own voice, and refusing to wait for permission. If you've ever felt stuck, overlooked, or underestimated—this one’s for you.

Bio: Douglas is a multi-hyphenated Emmy and GLAAD nominated artist. His Broadway and Touring acting credits include: The revival of Parade, Beautiful, The Book of Mormon, Dreamgirls and Rent. He made his Broadway playwriting debut in 2021 with Chicken and Biscuits and his most recent work, Table 17, will head to Los Angeles’ Geffen Playhouse this Fall - after winning two Audelco awards and earning multiple Lucille Lortel, Drama League and Outer Critics nominations for it's Off-Broadway premiere at MCC. His TV/film work includes two seasons as a writer on Apple TV’s Fraggle Rock. And he’s currently penning the film adaptation of the Broadway classic Big River.

Douglas’ Social Media: Douglaslyons.net @Chocolatehipster.

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).

Contributing Editors: Manthan Baldha, Sarah Webb (@SWAudioPost) and Drew King.

Filmed and recorded at @TheMalin in New York City.

www.IntoTheMudPodcast.com

Episode 45: Drew and Alex Trip Into the Mud for Psychedelics

Thu, 01 May 2025 00:00:00 -0400

Why do we glorify alcohol but demonize mushrooms? This week, Drew and Alex get muddy about psychedelics—sharing the highs, the lows, and the life-changing lessons learned from their groovy trips. From laughing fits to ego deaths, they explore how psilocybin has helped them heal, and why it’s time we rethink the stigma around this powerful, natural medicine. What if Nixon hadn’t shut it all down with the war on drugs? Where would the invaluable research on psychedelic mental health have taken us to today?

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).

Contributing Editors: Manthan Baldha, Sarah Webb (@SWAudioPost) and Drew King.

Filmed and recorded at @TheMalin in New York City.

www.IntoTheMudPodcast.com

Episode 44: Ben Russell Lynch Gets Muddy About BALD Confidence

Thu, 24 Apr 2025 00:00:00 -0400

What happens when your hairline fades but your confidence levels rise? This week, Drew and Alex sit down with viral sensation and bald baddy Ben Russell Lynch to get muddy about vanity, aging, and self-image in a world obsessed with youth. Ben opens up about his journey with alopecia, the creation of his online persona, and how embracing his baldness turned into a movement. From pop songs to punchlines, Ben proves that being BALD—Baddie Addie Little Diva—isn’t a flaw, it’s a flex.

Bio: Ben Russell-Lynch, originally from Midland, MI moved to NYC with a B.A. in Musical Theatre, from Oakland University, to pursue his dream of being a performer. While there he worked on National Tours, Cruise Ships, and Regional Theater stages. Much like many performers, the pandemic shifted Ben's attention to TikTok as a new creative outlet. He soon realized that embracing his hair loss with humor—through silly, sassy, and playful content—could bring smiles to millions! As @b.e.n_rl on TikTok, Instagram, YouTube, and Snapchat, he’s amassed over 5 million followers and garners 90 million views each month. These days, the show must go on in front of a ring light instead of a spotlight with hair transformations, role-play livestreams, and never ending hair flips!

Ben’s Social Media: @b.e.n_rl, www.BaldBRL.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).

Contributing Editors: Manthan Baldha, Sarah Webb (@SWAudioPost) and Drew King.

Filmed and recorded at @TheMalin in New York City.

www.IntoTheMudPodcast.com

Episode 43: “Let’s Talk About Sex, Baby!” with Kinsey Institute’s Rebecca Fasman

Thu, 17 Apr 2025 02:00:00 -0400

It’s getting steamy and political this week when Drew and Alex sit down with Rebecca Fasman, curator at the Kinsey Institute, to talk about sex, sexuality, and the decrepit state of sexual education in America. From the ongoing attacks on Planned Parenthood to the dismantling of the Department of Education, it’s a bleak time for reproductive rights and comprehensive sex ed—and the hosts aren't afraid to say so. But through shared stories, laughter, and a conversation with one of the most respected sex-positive institutions in the country, this episode offers both catharsis and clarity. Let’s talk about sex, baby!

Bio: Rebecca Fasman is the Curator for the Kinsey Institute, Indiana University, Bloomington. She holds an MA in Museum Studies from New York University and a BA in Visual and Critical Studies from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. Rebecca has spent the last 20 years working in museums and art institutions, including but not limited to the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum (New York City), the National Gallery of Art (Washington, DC),

Deutsche Bank (New York City), and the Museum of Contemporary Art, Chicago. Her curatorial practice views art, creativity, sex, and sexuality as lenses through which we can understand more about the nature of humanity, with the ultimate goal of wanting everyone to live the happiest, healthiest, most connected, and opportunity-filled lives they can.

Rebecca’s Social Media: @RFasman, www.KinseyInstitute.org

Crash Course: @CrashCourse (YouTube), www.TheCrashCourse.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).

Contributing Editors: Manthan Baldha, Sarah Webb (@SWAudioPost) and Drew King.

Filmed and recorded at @TheMalin in New York City.

www.IntoTheMudPodcast.com

Episode 42: Sarp Kerem Yavuz Gets Muddy About AI Art and Community Backlash

Thu, 10 Apr 2025 03:00:00 -0400

This week, Drew and Alex get messy with a topic stirring up muddy waters all across the art world: AI-generated art. Their guest, Turkish-American artist Sarp Kerem Yavuz, helps unpack the fear, fascination, and controversy surrounding this new medium. The hosts come in skeptical—concerned about creativity, ethics, and artistic integrity—but Sarp brings some wildly compelling analogies that start to shift their perspective. Is AI art a threat, or just another tool in the artist’s ever-evolving toolkit?

Bio: The works of Sarp Kerem Yavuz reclaim Orientalist imagery and bring the visual legacy of the Middle East into the present. Through photography, sculpture, and digital art, he creates visually provocative works of art in pursuit of peaceful coexistence.

Born in Paris in 1991 and raised in Istanbul, his works explore gender, politics, religion, and violence. In 2013, he became the youngest artist to exhibit and be included in the permanent collection of the Istanbul Modern Museum. His artworks are published in Turkey: Istanbul CODEX, and the Boys! book benefitting the Elton John AIDS Foundation.

His works are also included in The Luciano Benetton Collection as part of Imago Mundi, the permanent collections of the CICA Museum in South Korea, the Norton Museum in Florida, the Allen Memorial Art Museum and the Transformer Station in Ohio, the Polaroid (Impossible Project) Collection in Berlin, the Leslie Lohman Museum of Art in New York, and the Soho House Collection. He lives and works in New York.

Sarp’s Social Media: @SarpKeremYavuz and www.Sarp.info

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).

Contributing Editors: Manthan Baldha, Sarah Webb (@SWAudioPost) and Drew King.

Filmed and recorded at @TheMalin in New York City.

www.IntoTheMudPodcast.com

Episode 41: Alex Gets Muddy About Career Plateau

Thu, 03 Apr 2025 02:00:00 -0400

There’s a moment in every go-getter’s life when the spark dims, the path forward feels foggy, and everything feels stale. As Steven Pressfield says, “Resistance will tell you anything to keep you from doing your work. It will perjure, fabricate… it will assume any form.” But, try not to give in!

This week on Into the Mud, Alex sits in the thick of her career plateau—frustrated, questioning, but still searching. What does it look like to stay open when everything feels stagnant? And how do you keep going when you’re not sure what “going” even means?

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).

Contributing Editors: Manthan Baldha, Sarah Webb (@SWAudioPost) and Drew King.

Filmed and recorded at @TheMalin in New York City.

www.IntoTheMudPodcast.com

Episode 40: Cacophony Daniels Gets Muddy About Drag Bans

Thu, 27 Mar 2025 01:00:00 -0400

The heels are high and the stakes are higher. On this week of Into the Mud, we're joined by drag queen and activist Cacophony Daniels (also known as Broadway performer, Courter Simmons) to talk about drag bans, rising anti-LGBTQ legislation, and the fight to stay visible and vocal in a shifting political climate. From challenging toxic masculinity to pushing back against the new wave of Trump-era censorship, Cacophony gets loud, proud, and unapologetically muddy.

Bio: Cacophony Daniels (aka Courter Simmons) performs internationally as an actor, singer, and drag queen. Broadway credits include Jersey Boys (Bob Crewe, Frankie Valli Standby Final Company)). Off-Broadway credits include Jersey Boys (Frankie Valli). Television credits include Last Week Tonight and Mysteries of Laura, and film credits include The Producers. His live-singing drag alter-ego, Cacophony Daniels, has been seen in Provincetown, Fire Island, New York, and all over the world with Atlantis Cruises. Drag is not a crime!

Cacophony’s Social Media: @cacophonydaniels

Courter’s Social Media: @courtersimmons, www.CourterSimmons.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).

Contributing Editors: Manthan Baldha, Sarah Webb (@SWAudioPost) and Drew King.

Filmed and recorded at @TheMalin in New York City.

www.IntoTheMudPodcast.com

Episode 39: Mike Lemire Gets Muddy About Leaving Corporate America

Thu, 20 Mar 2025 01:00:00 -0400

What happens when you reach the top of the corporate ladder, only to realize it’s leaning against the wrong wall? Mike Lemire — Drew’s childhood friend who crushed it in the corporate tech world — realized that success at the top wasn’t all it was cracked up to be. Mike walked away from the corporate hustle at the height of his career and now runs his own consulting firm, Harmonic Leadership, hoping to redefine success on his own terms. It’s a deep dive into the messy, scary, and ultimately liberating process of letting go when the big fancy gigs stop serving your soul.

Bio: Mike Lemire is the founder of Harmonic Leadership, with over 15 years of experience in leadership roles within tech and SaaS companies. He specializes in helping leaders improve their executive presence, decision-making, and team dynamics.

Mike started his career in the music industry. After studying music at Berklee College of Music, he began working with the marketing team at Blue Note Records. From there, he worked with an impressive slate of entertainment industry clients, ranging from EMI Classics to Focus Features and the Florida Panthers. He then went on to run Account Management programs for Yahoo!, overseeing the launch of Yahoo India in Bangalore and developing policy around political advertising during the 2008 election.

HubSpot is truly where Mike grew up professionally. While there, he launched the Professional Services team, working with executives from small businesses to Fortune 100 enterprises. After HubSpot's IPO, Mike went on to launch the Customer Success, Support, and Onboarding teams at Notarize.

In 2018, Mike joined the leadership team at Toast, tasked with creating a more scalable customer success team. He focused on data, operational excellence, and culture to help Toast scale from 10,000 customers to over 100,000. After Toast's IPO, he explored the world of AI in the healthcare space by joining Overjet as their VP of Customer Success. While there, he found his passion and skill for coaching and launched Harmonic Leadership in 2024.

Mike’s Social Media: www.HarmonicLeadership.co, @BiggestMike.

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).

Contributing Editors: Manthan Baldha, Sarah Webb (@SWAudioPost) and Drew King.

Filmed and recorded at @TheMalin in New York City.

www.IntoTheMudPodcast.com

Episode 38: Emma Willmann Gets Muddy About Learning to Trust Yourself

Thu, 13 Mar 2025 00:00:00 -0400

How do you learn to trust yourself — especially when your brain won’t sit still? This week on Into the Mud, comedian Emma Willmann gets muddy about learning to trust yourself — and maybe starting an underground peptide ring? Emma’s hysterical tangents take Drew and Alex on a wild ride, but between the black-market schemes and nonstop laughs, there’s some real wisdom about listening to your gut and trusting your intuition.

Bio: Emma Willmann is one of New York City’s top comedians, and perhaps one of the only dyslexic-gender-wiggly-comics-with-ADHD from Blue Hill, Maine. Emma gets to tell jokes nightly at The Comedy Cellar, on Netflix’s: The Comedy Line Up, Comedy Central, and is one of the few comics ever to have multiple appearances onThe Late Show with Stephan Colbert. All of which has earned Emma a spot on Caroline’s 10 Funniest Comics, Just For Laughs: New Faces, and TimeOut’s 10 Funniest Women in NYC. Emma’s mom is “really proud of all of this but doesn’t like comedy.”

Emma’s Social Media: @EmmaWillmann, www.IAmEmmaWillmann.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).

Contributing Editors: Manthan Baldha, Sarah Webb (@SWAudioPost) and Drew King.

Filmed and recorded at @TheMalin in New York City.

www.IntoTheMudPodcast.com

Episode 37: Alex and Drew Get Muddy About Avoiding Conflict

Thu, 06 Mar 2025 01:00:00 -0500

Time to get muddy with another “Drew and Alex” episode—no guests, no distractions, just two people avoiding conflict by… talking about conflict avoidance.

Do you ghost instead of confront? Apologize when you’re not sorry? Pretend everything’s fine while your eye twitches? Same, same. This week, Drew and Alex are diving into why we do this, how it messes us up, and maybe—just maybe—how to do better. Or at least how to fake it more convincingly.

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).

Contributing Editors: Manthan Baldha, Sarah Webb (@SWAudioPost) and Drew King.

Filmed and recorded at @TheMalin in New York City.

www.IntoTheMudPodcast.com

Episode 36: Caitlin Peluffo Gets Muddy About Long Term Relationship Breakups

Thu, 27 Feb 2025 01:00:00 -0500

What happens when you call off a long-term engagement, abandon your comforts and have to start all over again? That's right; this week we're getting muddy about breakups with stand-up comedian, Caitlin Peluffo. Join us as we talk about the messy, uncomfortable, and oddly invigorating experience of embracing singlehood post-partnership.

Bio: Originally hailing from San Francisco, Caitlin Peluffo is a stand up comedian living in New York City. This lovable loose cannon made her network television debut on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, was featured on the Late Late Show with James Corden, and has been seen on CBS's After Midnight, as well as Comedy Central's 'Featuring' series.' She was named a 2022 Just for Laughs New Face and appeared on the JFL Network. She opens regularly for Matteo Lane and Fortune Feimster and is a regular in the NYC comedy scene performing in clubs like The Comedy Cellar, New York Comedy Club, and Gotham Comedy Clubs. Her debut album, Dirty Bird, hit number one on the Comedy charts 3 days in a row and can be heard on Spotify, and Sirius XM.

Caitlin’s Social Media: @CaitlinPeluffo, www.CaitlinPeluffo.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).

Contributing Editors: Manthan Baldha, Sarah Webb (@SWAudioPost) and Drew King.

Filmed and recorded at @TheMalin in New York City.

www.IntoTheMudPodcast.com

Episode 35: Gus Constantellis Gets Muddy About Dating

Thu, 20 Feb 2025 01:00:00 -0500

Dating in your 30s and 40s: a battleground where red flags wave like carnival banners, self-love battles with self-sabotage, and the phrase ‘I know what I want’ gets tested daily. Now, imagine navigating all of that while grieving the loss of your mother. This week, we’re diving into the wild, heartfelt, and sometimes deeply chaotic world of love, loss, and gooning (yes, we go there) with comedian Gus Constantellis. He’s a first-gen Greek-American figuring out what he wants while holding space for both laughter and grief. So buckle up, grab your emotional support tzatziki, and get ready to wade Into the Mud.

Bio: Gus Constantellis (he/they) is a gay, first generation Greek-American stand up comedian and writer. His material deals heavily with his large immigrant family, his Greek heritage, raunchy yet relatable dating stories, and his unique perspective on growing up in Brooklyn. He regularly tours across the country and internationally and recently released a Comedy Central featuring set. He's written for several children's shows on Disney Channel, Nickelodeon and Netflix, including THE LION GUARD, RAINBOW RANGERS, ABBY HATCHER and GABBY'S DOLLHOUSE.

Gus’ Social Media: @ConstantlyGus

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).

Contributing Editors: Manthan Baldha, Sarah Webb (@SWAudioPost) and Drew King.

Filmed and recorded at @TheMalin in New York City.

www.IntoTheMudPodcast.com

Episode 34: Casey Balsham Gets Muddy About Being a “Good” Person

Thu, 13 Feb 2025 01:00:00 -0500

This week, comedian Casey Balsham wades into the existential muck of morality, asking the age-old question: Am I a good person? Spoiler alert: the answer is as messy, hilarious, and debatable as you'd expect.

Bio: Casey Balsham is a stand-up comedian living and breathing in New York City.

You’ve seen her at various clubs all over the country and as a regular at New York Comedy Club and Gotham. You've heard her as the host of the Shady Shit Podcast on Dear Media. Casey has also been featured on Gotham Comedy Live, Lifetime, Tidal's No Small Talk Series and in a Monistat commercial you can only find online. Her debut album "Son of a Barb" hit number one on the iTunes charts and can be streamed on Spotify and Pandora.

Casey’s Social Media: @CaseFaceB, www.CaseyBalsham.com

Casey’s Podcasts: Never Not Tired, It's Broadway, Bitch

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).

Contributing Editors: Manthan Baldha, Sarah Webb (@SWAudioPost) and Drew King.

Filmed and recorded at @TheMalin in New York City.

www.IntoTheMudPodcast.com

Episode 33: Khori Petinaud Gets Muddy About Creativity, Success and Impact

Thu, 06 Feb 2025 01:00:00 -0500

This week on Into the Mud, we dive into the messy intersection of creativity and commercial art with accomplished Broadway performer, Khori Michelle Petinaud. While questioning the industry’s grip on her artistry and creativity, Khori finds a way to beautifully navigate the tension between financial stability and genuine creative fulfillment. We are thrilled to have this conversation with Khori as she actively redefines what “success” in a brutal industry means on her own terms. Join us for an honest, thought-provoking conversation about art, ambition, and staying true to what moves you.

Bio: Khori Petinaud is a NYC based performer, educator, wife, mama and lover of all things dance! Credits include Aladdin the Musical (OBC), Moulin Rouge the Musical (OBC), Chicago the Musical, Lempicka (OBC) and her principal debut in the company of Bob Fosse’s Dancin’ where she landed a Chita Rivera Award nomination (Outstanding Dancer in a Broadway show) as well as a win (Outstanding Ensemble in a Bway show)!

Some other credits include Black Swan, In the Heights (Kennedy Center), The Color Purple (Nat. Tour), King Kong, American Dance Machine, and Freddie Falls in Love ( Signature Theater: Al Blackstone). Tv credits include: Up Here (Hulu), Rent: Live (FOX) , The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel (Amazon) ,Vinyl (HBO), The Knick (Cinemax), and Z:The Beginning of Everything (Amazon).

Khori’s Social Media: @Kmr8787 (Insta) and @Khori_Petinaud (TikTok)

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).

Contributing Editors: Manthan Baldha, Sarah Webb (@SWAudioPost) and Drew King.

Filmed and recorded at @TheMalin in New York City.

www.IntoTheMudPodcast.com

Episode 32: Drew and Alex Get Muddy About the Next Four Years...

Thu, 30 Jan 2025 01:00:00 -0500

This week, we’re getting muddy about the next four years—because, let’s be real, the political forecast is looking pretty swampy. As “hippy dippy socially conscious NYC” Democrats, we’re grappling with what a second Trump term could mean and how to stay engaged without losing our minds. Grab your boots—it’s about to get messy.

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, 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).

Contributing Editors: Manthan Baldha, Sarah Webb (@SWAudioPost) and Drew King.

Filmed and recorded at @TheMalin in New York City.

www.IntoTheMudPodcast.com

Episode 31: John Lagucki Gets Muddy About HIV & AIDS Stigma

Thu, 23 Jan 2025 04:00:00 -0500

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), an estimated 39.9 million people worldwide are currently living with HIV and a rough estimate of 1.5 million new cases are reported each year. With such high numbers , how is there still so much stigma and misinformation surrounding the topic of HIV and AIDS? On this week’s episode, queer nightlife and portrait photographer, John Lagucki, shares their journey of breaking down fear and misinformation, leaning into empathy, and the truth about what it means to live with or support someone affected by HIV.

Bio: John Lagucki is a New York City based fundraiser and portrait photographer. Working at nonprofit organizations around NYC, John is driven by sustaining the arts and helping organizations reach their fullest potential supporting diverse communities. As a photographer, John recently received a Glam Award nomination for Best Nightlife Photographer. Inspired by photographers from the 80s and 90s, John's photography has been described as "timeless gay photography". You can find his work on Instagram: @johnlagucki.

John’s Social Media: @JohnLagucki and www.JohnLagucki.com

Resource: for free and/ or affordable STI testing and PREP (pre-exposure prophylaxis), text TESTNYC to 55676.

Resource: Broadway Cares Equity Fights AIDS (BCEFA), www.BroadwayCares.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).

Contributing Editors: Manthan Baldha, Sarah Webb (@SWAudioPost) and Drew King.

Filmed and recorded at @TheMalin in New York City.

www.IntoTheMudPodcast.com

Episode 30: Mamie Parris Gets Muddy About Bell's Palsy

Thu, 16 Jan 2025 01:00:00 -0500

Imagine waking up one morning, looking at yourself in the mirror, and suddenly noticing that one side of your face is paralyzed. Is it a stroke? Is this permanent? Why do I not look like myself? How terrifying and shocking.

This is the exact circumstance that has fallen on Broadway actress, Mamie Parris, and unfortunately, this is not her first rodeo with the medical phenomenon known as Bell’s palsy. Most cases of this temporary facial paralysis can resolve itself within a few short weeks, but for Mamie, she is approaching a year. Tune in this week to hear her remarkable story of resilience, patience and strength while confronting this challenging chapter of her life.

Bio: Mamie Parris has developed a diverse and unique body of work throughout her extensive career. Best known on Broadway for her one-of-a-kind rendition of the iconic “Memory” she is no stranger to the work of Sir Andrew Lloyd Webber, having starred as Grizabella in the Broadway revival of Cats, as Rosalie (closing cast) and Patty (opening cast) in Broadway’s School of Rock, and- most recently- in the US Premier of the Lloyd Webber retrospective Unmasked. Other Broadway appearances include the Tony-nominated revivals of Ragtime, 110 In The Shade, and On The 20th Century, as well as the Tony winning musical The Drowsy Chaperone. Her film and television credits include The Blacklist, State of Affairs, A Standup Guy and PBS Great Performances "50 Years of Broadway's Best".

Across the country, she appeared as Elphaba in the First National Tour of fan-favorite Wicked, as well as performing with the touring companies of Legally Blonde and Dolly Parton’s 9 To 5. A native of Fort Worth, Texas, Mamie attended the Paseo Academy of the Arts in Kansas City, Missouri, before graduating from the American Musical and Dramatic academy in New York City. She resides in New York City with her husband, Johnathan, and shih tsu mix, Cookie.

Mamie’s Social Media: @MamieParrisOfficial, www.MamieParris.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).

Contributing Editors: Manthan Baldha, Sarah Webb (@SWAudioPost) and Drew King.

Filmed and recorded at @TheMalin in New York City.

www.IntoTheMudPodcast.com

Episode 29: Carmen Lagala Gets Muddy About Sleep Paralysis Demons and Exhaustion

Thu, 09 Jan 2025 01:00:00 -0500

Have you ever woken up in the middle of the night, frozen in place, and wondering why there's a shadowy figure hiding in the corner like it pays rent? On this week’s episode, comedian Carmen Lagala dives into the bizarre, creepy, and oddly theatrical world of sleep paralysis demons. Are they real? Or are they just a bad dream pretending to be a roommate? Tune in to find out!

Bio: Carmen is a formerly shy Vermont collegiate hall of fame athlete who moved to New York City a decade ago to pursue stand-up comedy full time. Her debut full special "Sweet Batch" (2024) is on YouTube @carmenlagalacomedy, SiriusXM, and all audio platforms. You may have seen her on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, from her viral Don't Tell Comedy set, or headlining clubs and festivals across the country. She has opened for Hari Kondabolu, Sam Morrill, and Dan Soder. Check her out on instagram @carmstagrams and her podcast "In Cahoots."

Carmen's Social Media: @Carmstagrams, www.CarmenLagala.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).

Contributing Editors: Manthan Baldha, Sarah Webb (@SWAudioPost) and Drew King.

Filmed and recorded at @TheMalin in New York City.

www.IntoTheMudPodcast.com

Episode 28: Alex Gets Muddy About Sexual Assault Trauma

Thu, 02 Jan 2025 00:00:00 -0500

Disclaimer: This episode contains sensitive discussions about sexual assault and trauma, which may be triggering for some listeners—please take care while listening.

Acclaimed physician and writer, Gabor Maté, has a dedicated career in working with survivors of trauma. He says, “Trauma splits us from our true selves and disconnects us from our emotions…What happened to you can never have un-happened, but you can heal trauma just like you heal a physical wound; it is not the event that happened to you, but the harm you suffered due to a particular circumstance and it can be healed at any time.”

For many, simply speaking their trauma out loud can be a source of healing and catharsis. On this week’s episode, Alex bravely opens about for the first time about childhood sexual trauma she has carried for decades now, and gets painfully muddy about her journey to find healing, release and self-love.

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).

Contributing Editors: Manthan Baldha, Sarah Webb (@SWAudioPost) and Drew King.

Filmed and recorded at @TheMalin in New York City.

www.IntoTheMudPodcast.com

Episode 27: Drew and Alex Get Muddy About "Being Enough"

Thu, 19 Dec 2024 00:00:00 -0500

Do you ever feel like you're "falling short" in a certain area of your life, no matter how much work or effort you put in? Does your inner monologue occasionally gravitate toward the "I'm never enough" narrative? If so, you're not alone. Dating, career, family, finances, health; many factors poke at our self-esteem and self-worth on a daily basis. On this week's episode, Drew and Alex jump right in to discuss the frustrations (as well as some helpful tools) that come with never feeling "enough".

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, 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).

Contributing Editors: Manthan Baldha, Sarah Webb (@SWAudioPost) and Drew King.

Filmed and recorded at @TheMalin in New York City.

www.IntoTheMudPodcast.com

Episode 26: Mike Timlin Gets Muddy About Sobriety, Masculinity and Asking "What's Next?"

Thu, 12 Dec 2024 00:00:00 -0500

For many, big life changes tend to follow chapters of euphoria and hyperbolic proclamations such as "my life changed forever and I've never been happier". But, what happens when that isn't the case? On this week's episode, lifelong butcher and comedian, Mike Timlin, dives into the messy process of recalibrating expectations after transformative life changes (i.e. getting sober or leaving a toxic work environment). He shares the highs, the lows, and some surprising lessons he learned along the way. Join us as we explore what it takes to rebuild and redefine success in the muddy aftermath of big life decisions.

Bio: A graduate of the Chicago comedy scene, now based in New York, Michael is a comedian and actor who has been in a two or three things. His credits include a show on Showtime, an A24 film, and an award-winning independent film that was recently acquired by Starz. And 3 different Italian-American butcher shops.

Mike's Social Media: @YoungTimlin

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).

Contributing Editors: Manthan Baldha, Sarah Webb (@SWAudioPost) and Drew King.

Filmed and recorded at @TheMalin in New York City.

www.IntoTheMudPodcast.com

Episode 25: Alison Leiby Gets Muddy About Redefining Home and Career

Thu, 05 Dec 2024 00:00:00 -0500

As careers evolve, the concept of home and community can shift, shaped by new opportunities and changing priorities. Redefining these foundations can be challenging, and this territory is not unfamiliar to stand-up comedian and successful television writer, Alison Leiby. An east coast woman at heart, Alison grapples with the pros and cons of building a home in different cities and trying to understand just what the word “home” means to her.

Bio: Alison Leiby is a NY-based comedian, who, most recently, was a producer on Season 2 of Hulu's LIFE & BETH. Prior to that, Alison was a co-producer on Amazon's THE MARVELOUS MRS MAISEL and she executive produced Ilana Glazer's comedy central show COMEDY TIME CAPSULE. Previous credits include, Adult Swim's animated show TEENAGE EUTHANASIA, Comedy Central's THE PRESIDENT SHOW, THE OPPOSITION, Hulu's TRIUMPH ELECTION SPECIAL and she executive produced Ilana Glazer's Amazon stand up special, THE PLANET IS BURNING.

Alison’s Social Media: @AlisonLeiby and @RuinedPodcast

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).

Contributing Editors: Manthan Baldha, Sarah Webb (@SWAudioPost) and Drew King.

Filmed and recorded at @TheMalin in New York City.

www.IntoTheMudPodcast.com

Episode 24: Kyle Taylor Parker Explores the Muddy Space Between Greatness and Mundanity

Thu, 21 Nov 2024 01:00:00 -0500

The journey of a creative performer is a rollercoaster of triumphs matched with challenges, where moments of applause and recognition often intertwine with periods of doubt and reinvention. Success can feel fleeting, while rejection sharpens resilience and fuels growth. It's a path of constant evolution, and on this week’s episode, Broadway actor Kyle Taylor Parker beautifully discusses the ups and downs that accompany creative passions and the pursuit of authentic expression.

Bio: KTP is a Broadway actor and musician who made his Broadway debut in the Tony Award-winning smash hit musical, Kinky Boots. He later earned rave reviews across the country by originating the role of "Lola" in the musical's first national tour before returning to Broadway to replace Billy Porter in 2015.

He was in the original cast of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory on Broadway and starred in Smokey Joe's Café (Chita Rivera Award) and Finian's Rainbow Off-Broadway. KTP also appeared in Jesus Christ SuperstarLive in Concert on NBC alongside John Legend and Sara Bareilles.

Kyle’s Social Media: @KTPway, www.KyleTaylorParkerOnline.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).

Contributing Editors: Manthan Baldha, Sarah Webb (@SWAudioPost) and Drew King.

Filmed and recorded at @TheMalin in New York City.

www.IntoTheMudPodcast.com

Episode 23: Sarah Jenkins Gets Muddy About Forced Retirement and Permanent Injury

Thu, 14 Nov 2024 00:00:00 -0500

Career transitions are painful, scary, confusing and disorienting, especially if it’s not your choice; dancers face many challenges as they age into their careers, and permanent injury is potentially one of them. This is exactly what Broadway performer and television choreographer, Sarah Jenkins, was forced to confront after a herniated disk led to three major surgeries in 5 months. So much of our identities are wrapped up in our careers, but what happens when that gets taken away? Tune in this week to hear Sarah’s inspiring story of transition, acceptance and perseverance.

Bio: Sarah Jenkins is a multi-faceted actor and choreographer whose vast on-stage career, wicked sense of humor, and artistic eye behind the lens, found her at home in the world of film and tv. She’s choreographed for “Girls5Eva”, “Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt”, “Mr. Mayor,” and “The Tonight Show” with Jimmy Fallon. Sarah’s credits as a performer include starring as Jennyanydots, the tap dancing cat in CATS revival on Broadway, and as Peter Pan in the recent remounting of Jerome Robbins Broadway, as well as in Cathy Rigby’s iconic version of the show, as her successor.

She hails from San Diego, and began working professionally at age 15. Sarah has been fortunate to travel the world as a performer, but prefers staying on the couch with her husband and two children. (They're dogs.)

Sarah’s Social Media: @SarahMJenkins, www.SarahMJenkins.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).

Contributing Editors: Manthan Baldha, Sarah Webb (@SWAudioPost) and Drew King.

Filmed and recorded at @TheMalin in New York City.

www.IntoTheMudPodcast.com

Episode 22: Henry Sir Gets Muddy About the Fear of Happiness

Thu, 07 Nov 2024 00:00:00 -0500

Formally known as “cherophobia”, this lesser-known phobia (the fear of happiness) tends to coincide with OCD and depression; and these accompanying symptoms are no stranger to accomplished Canadian-American basketball player and comedian, Henry Sir. On this week’s episode, Henry beautifully opens up about his “fear of happiness”, his challenges with mental health, and grief from the recent passing his brother, Ben. Henry dives headfirst in the deep-end of a vulnerability pool, and Drew and Alex feel honored to sit by him and listen to his story.

Bio: Henry Sir is an All-Canadian basketball player turned comedian and writer. Born and raised in Edmonton, Alberta, he now lives in New York where he performs at the top clubs throughout the city. He's been featured on Comedy Central, Just For Laughs New Faces, The CBC, and his upcoming album, 'Mr. Sir', will be released in 2025.

Henry’s Social Media: @HenrySirComedy, www.HenrySirComedy.com

Show References: @WorstDaysDown, www.WorstDaysDown.Bandcamp.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).

Contributing Editors: Manthan Baldha, Sarah Webb (@SWAudioPost) and Drew King.

Filmed and recorded at @TheMalin in New York City.

www.IntoTheMudPodcast.com

Episode 21: Drew and Alex Get Muddy About Rejection

Thu, 31 Oct 2024 01:00:00 -0400

Regardless of age, career or degrees of therapization, rejection is a deeply uncomfortable experience. Sure, as we grow and evolve, we build armor and coping mechanisms that help us navigate the sting more gracefully; but, sometimes, it simply burns like hell. This week, Drew and Alex get muddy about their complicated relationships with rejection, the tools that help mitigate emotional pain, and the tools that don’t.

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).

Contributing Editors: Manthan Baldha, Sarah Webb (@SWAudioPost) and Drew King.

Filmed and recorded at @TheMalin in New York City.

www.IntoTheMudPodcast.com

Episode 20: Cécilia Jourdan Gets Muddy About Boundaries with Social Media

Thu, 24 Oct 2024 01:00:00 -0400

Social media is a double-edged sword, offering creators a platform to celebrate creativity, build community, and connect with audiences in meaningful ways. However, it also opens the door to privacy violations and unchecked access, blurring the lines between personal and public life. French-American creator, Cécilia Jourdan, knows about this experience intimately. Rapidly rising to social media fame with her Instagram page @HelloFrenchNYC during the pandemic has proven to be a great challenge for Cécilia. The past four years have brought many remarkable gifts, but she has since been trying to find a balance between authentic engagement while also protecting her well-being in an environment where boundaries are easily crossed.

Bio: Cécilia Jourdan co-founded Hello French with her wife, which started as an Instagram account during the pandemic in 2020 (@hellofrenchnyc, with an audience of 1.4 million followers). She makes learning French engaging and fun, but what sets her apart is her commitment to authenticity and inclusivity. She addresses essential topics - often with humor, such as mental health and women’s rights, ensuring that her approach to learning French is not just about language but also about fostering a more inclusive and empathetic society.

Cécilia’s Social Media: @HelloFrenchNYC and www.HelloFrenchNYC.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).

Contributing Editors: Manthan Baldha, Sarah Webb (@SWAudioPost) and Drew King.

Filmed and recorded at @TheMalin in New York City.

www.IntoTheMudPodcast.com

Episode 19: Julia Shiplett Gets Muddy About the Fear of Wasted Time

Thu, 17 Oct 2024 02:00:00 -0400

Tick-tock, tick-tock. As time slips by, have you ever wondered if you’re “too late”? Do you worry about wasted time, elusive life milestones, deadlines, struggles with time management? If so, this episode is for you. This week, comedian and actress Julia Shiplett gets muddy about the fear of wasted time.

Bio: Julia Shiplett is a comedian, writer, and actor in New York by way of Chicago. Since finding her own distinct voice in comedy over the years, she was named a TBS “Comic To Watch” and a “Vulture Comedian You Should Know”. She has performed standup on Comedy Central and SHOWTIME and appeared on television series like Love Life (HBO Max), High Maintenance (HBO) and Crashing (HBO).

Julia’s Social Media: @JuliaShiplett and www.JuliaShiplett.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).

Contributing Editors: Manthan Baldha, Sarah Webb (@SWAudioPost) and Drew King.

Filmed and recorded at @TheMalin in New York City.

www.IntoTheMudPodcast.com

Episode 18: Kristin Dodson Gets Muddy About Making and Losing Friends as an Adult

Thu, 10 Oct 2024 01:00:00 -0400

As we grow older, friendship dynamics can shift in many different and unexpected ways. Making new friends becomes more difficult, and often, old friends are lost along the way. On today’s episode, actress and Brooklyn native, Kristin Dodson, gets muddy about the complexities of adult friendships—the ones we choose to keep, and the ones we learn to say goodbye to.

Bio: Kristin is a Brooklyn native from East New York and a Columbia MFA Acting Alumni. She boasts a solid track record in television, voiceover and film, with credits including Chicago PD, 1266, Flatbush Misdemeanors, Big Bruh and The Loud House.

In addition to her screen work, Kristin is an accomplished theatre actor, recently seen in the off-Broadway production of Bernarda's Daughter at Signature Theater. She is represented by Framework Entertainment and Kohner Agency.

Kristin’s Social Media: @KristinDanielleDodson (Instagram) and @KDoddy7182 (TikTok)

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).

Contributing Editors: Manthan Baldha, Sarah Webb (@SWAudioPost) and Drew King.

Filmed and recorded at @TheMalin in New York City.

www.IntoTheMudPodcast.com

Episode 17: Donnie Kehr Gets Muddy About Adjusting to New Norms Post-Heart Attack

Thu, 03 Oct 2024 00:00:00 -0400

What happens when a medical crisis puts your life on hold and forces you to stop? For busybodies and doers, this is a brutal challenge; the root of which is a deep identity crisis. On this week’s episode, Broadway’s Donnie Kehr gets muddy about the multiple times his health has compromised his independence and forced him to slow down and “smell the roses”.

Bio: Donnie Kehr is an American actor, musician, director and producer. He has originated roles in Broadway's Jersey Boys, Billy Elliot, The Who's Tommy, The Mystery of Edwin Drood, The Human Comedy and many others. His film credits include Jersey Boys directed by Clint Eastwood, Wall Street, Chaplin with Robert Downey JI and more. Television credits include House of Cards, Gotham, Quantico, Tales of The City, Z-The Beginning of Everything and Inventing Anna. He has performed on the Tonight Show, David Letterman, Good Morning America, Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade and the Oscars.

Donnie’s Social Media: @DonnieKehr, www.DonnieKehr.com, www.TheGreatestPianoMen.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).

Contributing Editors: Manthan Baldha, Sarah Webb (@SWAudioPost) and Drew King.

Filmed and recorded at @TheMalin in New York City.

www.IntoTheMudPodcast.com

Episode 16: Drew and Alex Get Muddy About Alcohol

Thu, 26 Sep 2024 00:00:00 -0400

Alcohol consumption is deeply embedded in the fabric of our daily lives: dates, social gatherings, birthdays, bad days, good days, pandemic hobbies. Many people have a healthy relationship with alcohol. And, many do not. According to the NIAA (National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism), a reported 15 million Americans struggle with alcohol consumption on a regular basis. It is a deeply muddy relationship, and on this week's episode, Drew and Alex dive deep into the muddy waters of their personal struggles, victories and humiliations with alcohol. If you are also challenged to find a healthy balance with alcohol, you are not alone.

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, 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).

Contributing Editors: Manthan Baldha, Sarah Webb (@SWAudioPost) and Drew King.

Filmed and recorded at @TheMalin in New York City.

www.IntoTheMudPodcast.com

Episode 15: Judson Morrow Gets Muddy About Crystal Meth Addiction and Recovery

Thu, 19 Sep 2024 00:00:00 -0400

Conversations on addiction and recovery are not new to "Into the Mud", and this week's episode is not to be missed. Podcast host, comedian and corporate American "Daddy" Judson Morrow dives headfirst into the mud with Drew and Alex to discuss his dark and life-threatening history with crystal methamphetamine. Dark humored, intellectual, and admirably self-aware, Judson lays it all on the table. Tune in to hear this incredibly inspiring story. "Into the Mud" is deeply proud of Judson's sobriety and honored to share his journey. You can get even more of Judson by giving him a listen, follow, and subscribe on his hit podcast, "Dads and Daddies", available everywhere you choose to listen.

Bio: Judson Morrow, who lived recklessly from a young age, embraced a rebellious lifestyle and came out as gay at 15 in 1998. By his early 30s, he was struggling with alcoholism and crystal meth addiction, despite achieving a Master’s Degree and maintaining a job.

Now sober at 41, he has a successful career in Sales and Training, a loving husband, and enjoys a balanced life, embodying the role of "Daddy" with a positive outlook. Residing in Brooklyn, New York, Judson continues to mentor others and brings wisdom from his 26 years as an out gay man to the "Dads and Daddies" podcast.

Judson's Social Media: @DadsAndDaddiesPod, @GuncleJudson
www.DadsAndDaddies.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).

Contributing Editors: Manthan Baldha, Sarah Webb (@SWAudioPost) and Drew King.

Filmed and recorded at @TheMalin in New York City.

www.IntoTheMudPodcast.com

Episode 14: Vasthy Mompoint Gets Muddy About Divorce, ADHD and Mental Health

Thu, 12 Sep 2024 01:00:00 -0400

Bessel van der Kolk's popular book, "The Body Keeps the Score", tackles the heavy repercussions that emotional trauma and stress leave on the physical body. Actress Vasthy Mompoint is no stranger to this phenomenon. Battling a crippling divorce, an ADHD diagnosis, lifesaving fibroid surgery, and even early menopause, Vasthy and her body have been to hell and back again the last eight years. If you want a story filled with strength, resilience, and comedic bits, look no further and tune into this week's remarkable episode with a truly remarkable human.

Bio: Vasthy is the daughter of Haitian immigrants and was raised in Hoover, Alabama. Vasthy went on to do 8 original Broadway shows including The Prom, The SpongeBob SquarePants Musical, Mary Poppins.Recent credits include: High School Musical: the Musical: the Series (Krystal), Briny the Whale in Baby Shark’s Big Show! on Nick Jr. She served as choreographer for films WEIRD: The Al Yankovic Story, Cursed Friends, The Prom, and Miracle Workers.

In 2020, Vasthy launched a virtual children’s entertainment business, Vasthy & Friends, in the hope of bringing joy during difficult times, and now performs all over the US. V & F released an original children’s music album: “Sing, Dance, Play” available on all music streaming platforms.

Vasthy currently resides in LA, but continues to work in New York City and at theaters and schools across the United States.

Vasthy's Social Media: @Vasthyandfriends and @frostyvasthy

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).

Contributing Editors: Manthan Baldha, Sarah Webb (@SWAudioPost) and Drew King.

Filmed and recorded at @TheMalin in New York City.

www.IntoTheMudPodcast.com

Episode 13: Harris Milgrim Gets Muddy About His Unhealthy Relationship to Work

Thu, 29 Aug 2024 03:00:00 -0400

We all need to pay the bills, but where do we draw the line and learn when to establish boundaries? This can be an overwhelming challenge for workaholics; especially freelancers who live in the constant state of "feast or famine". On this week's episode Broadway actor, Harris Milgrim, attempts to reconcile his unhealthy relationship to work with his core values, relationships and future career goals.

Bio: Harris Milgrim is an actor and singer who grew up in Miami, FL and was raised on food stamps and Frasier. He was in the Broadway productions of Tootsie and Cats, the national tour of West Side Story, Off-Broadway's Piece of My Heart, the world premieres of Secondhand Lions and The Honeymooners (among others), and has played many roles in regional theatres across the country.

No stranger to the hustle, Harris is also the owner of Milgrim Design Studio, a boutique graphic design firm with a portfolio that includes package design for national brands like BD Dog Health to logo design and branding consultation for small businesses.

He lives in New York City with his fiancé, Blanton.

Harris' Social Media: @HarrisMilgrim
Harris' Website: www.HarrisMilgrim.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).

Contributing Editors: Manthan Baldha, Sarah Webb (@SWAudioPost) and Drew King.

Filmed and recorded at @TheMalin in New York City.

www.IntoTheMudPodcast.com

Episode 12: Mehran Khaghani Gets Muddy (and Hysterically Funny) About Grief

Fri, 23 Aug 2024 17:00:00 -0400

Grief sucks. Period. But, grief stacked on top of a complicated relationship with the deceased can be even more devastating. On this week’s episode, stand-up comedian, Mehran Khaghani, embraces his dark sense of humor as well as his deep well of compassion in the wake of losing his both mother AND mother-in-law in the span of three months.

Bio: Mehran Khaghani is a stand up comedian, emcee and actor living in New York City. His stand up has been featured on NBC, Comedy Central and IFC and he performs regularly at the world famous Comedy Cellar. His acting credits include HBO’s High Maintenance, Search Party and an off-Broadway run in Steven Soderbergh’s The Fears.

Mehran's Social Media: @TheMehran

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).

Contributing Editors: Manthan Baldha, Sarah Webb (@SWAudioPost) and Drew King.

Filmed and recorded at @TheMalin in New York City.

www.IntoTheMudPodcast.com

Episode 11: Drew and Alex Get Muddy About the Struggles of Being a Beginner

Thu, 15 Aug 2024 03:00:00 -0400

You know what is equally inspiring and horrible? Being a beginner! On today's episode, Drew and Alex Get a little meta and a lot muddy about the painful learning curves of creating a podcast, as well as the challenges of embracing a "beginner's mindset" later on in life.

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, 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).

Contributing Editors: Manthan Baldha, Sarah Webb (@SWAudioPost) and Drew King.

Filmed and recorded at @TheMalin in New York City.

www.IntoTheMudPodcast.com

Episode 10: Floyd Sklaver Gets Muddy About Retirement and Aging

Thu, 08 Aug 2024 00:00:00 -0400

"Age isn't a number, it's an attitude". This adage surrounding aging can apply to many chapters of life, but on this episode of Into the Mud, Drew and Alex sit down with Broadway finance director, Floyd Sklaver, to talk about his fears and anxieties (as well as hopes and desires) bubbling up with his impending retirement.

Bio: Floyd has been the Director of Finance with RCI Theatricals for eight years and an accountant for over twenty. With a BS in economics and an MFA from Columbia University’s Theater Management program, he careered from career to career before finding a very happy home at RCI.

In Portland, OR, where he and his husband lived for 25 years, he started and grew a Fastsigns™ store that was ranked #1 for Customer Service nationwide; he bought apartment buildings and converted them to condos; and he ran a successful bookkeeping business for many years.

During his spare time, Floyd indulges his other passion, which is visual art, by leading tours as a docent at the Whitney Museum of American Art and teaching art history via teleconference to home bound seniors.

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).

Contributing Editors: Manthan Baldha, Sarah Webb (@SWAudioPost) and Drew King.

Filmed and recorded at @TheMalin in New York City.

www.IntoTheMudPodcast.com

Episode 9: Carly Kane Gets Muddy About OCD, Mental Health and Social Media

Thu, 01 Aug 2024 01:00:00 -0400

Social media is a double-edged sword: it blinds us with comparison, but sometimes, it functions as a powerful tool for connection and awareness. On this week of Into the Mud, stand-up comedian and writer, Carly Kane, opens up about this exact duality; specifically, how it brought to light her recent OCD diagnosis (Obsessive Compulsive Disorder). The cons of social media as they weigh against mental health are not to be taken lightly, but, is there a silver lining in there somewhere?

Bio: Carly Kane is a New York City based stand-up comedian and producer. She has been featured on the WOW network and Funny or Die Lab. Her shows have been written up in The Chicago Tribune and LA Times.

You can see Carly on House of Laughs presented by Wow Plus and she runs the monthly standup show "Cherry" at the Sultan Room in New York City.

Carly’s Social Media: @iCarlyKane

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).

Contributing Editors: Manthan Baldha, Sarah Webb (@SWAudioPost) and Drew King.

Filmed and recorded at @TheMalin in New York City.

www.IntoTheMudPodcast.com

Episode 8: Alex Puette Gets Muddy About Addiction, Recovery and Sobriety

Thu, 25 Jul 2024 01:00:00 -0400

On today's episode, Drew and Alex dive deep into the pain and agony of addiction as well as the gifts of recovery with Broadway actor, Alex Puette.

Sobriety is an incredibly challenging path; Drew and Alex are still sitting in deep admiration of Alex's recovery from crystal meth. There is no "one-size-fits-all" solution to addiction; so, join Alex and Drew as they delve into this inspiring story. Into the Mud celebrates Alex's daily commitment to his health and sobriety, offering a sensitive and respectful look at what redefining sobriety means to him.

Bio: Born and raised in a small town in Ohio, Alex made his way to New York to pursue his dream of being a professional actor. He can currently be seen on Broadway in Hadestown, a show he has been honored to be a part of for the last two years.

Other selected credits include the national tours of Legally Blonde and Young Frankenstein, the international tour of West Side Story, and several principal roles at renowned regional theaters across the country. Before moving to New York, Alex received his BFA in Musical Theater from the University of Michigan.

He lives on the Upper West Side with his husband, sweet pup, Archie, and about 200 houseplants.

Alex's Social Media: @APuette
Alex's Website: https://www.alexpuette.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).

Contributing Editors: Manthan Baldha, Sarah Webb (@SWAudioPost) and Drew King.

Filmed and recorded at @TheMalin in New York City.

www.IntoTheMudPodcast.com

Episode 7: Sydney Miller Gets Muddy About Breakups

Thu, 18 Jul 2024 01:00:00 -0400

You know what’s really muddy? Breakups. On Episode 7 of Into the Mud, boxer and personal trainer, Sydney Miller, dives into the grungy swamp of saying goodbye to a “situationship”. We have all been hung up on someone that no longer aligns with our values and goals, but how do you find the strength to say goodbye? And, how do you navigate the messy “breakup” waters that follow soon after? Tune in to hear what Sydney has to say.

Bio: Sydney Rose Miller was born and raised in New York City. She began her career as a high school English teacher before transitioning to full-time fitness. Over the past eight years, she has lived and coached in various locations around the world.

As a lifelong athlete, boxer, and certified personal trainer and nutrition coach, Sydney uses boxing as a tool to reconnect with her body, tap into her inner strength, and clear the path to her personal truth. Her mission is to provide her clients with a sense of safety and courage while helping them strengthen both their bodies and minds.

Sydney's Social Media: @SydFit212
Sydney's Website: www.SBoxTraining.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).

Contributing Editors: Manthan Baldha, Sarah Webb (@SWAudioPost) and Drew King.

Filmed and recorded at @TheMalin in New York City.

www.IntoTheMudPodcast.com

Episode 6: Drew and Alex Get Muddy About Comparison

Thu, 11 Jul 2024 03:00:00 -0400

Do you ever find yourself comparing your life to others? The “comparison monster” rears its ugly head every so often, and it can be a real struggle to keep it in check. Fortunately, you are not alone. In this episode of “Into the Mud”, Drew and Alex dive deep into the discomfort and muddiness of comparison.

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, 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).

Contributing Editors: Manthan Baldha, Sarah Webb (@SWAudioPost) and Drew King.

Filmed and recorded at @TheMalin in New York City.

www.IntoTheMudPodcast.com

Episode 5: Richard Riaz Yoder Gets Muddy About Honoring Their Authenticity Through Career Transition

Thu, 27 Jun 2024 01:00:00 -0400

"Authenticity" is such a buzzword these days, but in this episode of Into the Mud, you will see why Drew and Alex wanted to tackle that very topic with the super talented Broadway dancer and choreographer, Richard Riaz Yoder. Richard shares their journey of transitioning from a celebrated dancer to choreographer, delving into the muddy challenges of staying true to their authentic artistry amidst the rigid norms of commercial theater. Tune in for an inspiring discussion on navigating the messy, yet transformative, spaces of transition within the arts.

Bio: Richard is an award-winning tap dancer, performer, and veteran of 6 Broadway shows. Yoder most recently served as Associate Choreographer for the new Broadway musical, Lempicka, at the Longacre Theatre. They have been seen on Broadway in White Christmas, On the Twentieth Century, Shuffle Along…and all that followed, Hello, Dolly!, My Fair Lady, and most recently in Some Like It Hot at the Shubert Theater.

Richard has worked with nearly every Broadway tap choreographer, including Savion Glover, Randy Skinner, Chris Gattelli, Maurice Hines, and Casey Nicholaw. Drawing on their long history in music theatre and performing arts, Richard has broadened horizons to include choreography, teaching, and solo performing. A quote Richard lives by is, “Joy is your original energy and when you follow it you feel alive. Always follow joy and the rest will follow.”

Richard's Social Media: @RichardRiaz

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).

Contributing Editors: Manthan Baldha, Sarah Webb (@SWAudioPost) and Drew King.

Filmed and recorded at @TheMalin in New York City.

www.IntoTheMudPodcast.com

Episode 4: Shayla Benoit Gets Muddy About Her Battle with Stage 4 Lymphoma

Thu, 20 Jun 2024 00:00:00 -0400

On Episode 4, Drew and Alex sit down with filmmaker and actress, Shayla Benoit, to get muddy about her harrowing and courageous recovery from Stage 4 lymphoma and papillary thyroid cancer. Shayla’s vulnerability and generosity shine through in this inspiring story that is a testament to the resilience of the human spirit.

Bio: Shayla Benoit is a filmmaker and performer who loves to create in a variety of mediums.

Shayla is the President and Founder of Shady Theatrics, an innovative film production company that has produced multiple works for an array of organizations including The Tony Awards, The Actors’ Equity Foundation, The Juilliard School, The Miami Dolphins, and multiple Broadway productions.

Additionally, she has appeared at Radio City Music Hall, 54 Below, and in regional theaters across the country. Shayla can also be seen and heard on television, film, and radio.

Shayla’s Social Media: @ShaylaBenoit

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).

Contributing Editors: Manthan Baldha, Sarah Webb (@SWAudioPost) and Drew King.

Filmed and recorded at @TheMalin in New York City.

www.IntoTheMudPodcast.com

Episode 3: Sasheer Zamata Gets Muddy on Burnout, Creativity, and Writer's Block

Thu, 13 Jun 2024 00:00:00 -0400

With great waves of creativity come great waves of burnout; sometimes the fountain just runs dry. During this episode of "Into the Mud", actress Sasheer Zamata opens up about the muddiness of burnout that accompanies a freelance creative lifestyle.

Bio: Sasheer Zamata is a comedian, actress and writer who can be seen on ABC's Home Economics, Hulu's Woke, Comedy Central's Robbie, the horror comedy film Spree, and Lionsgate's romantic comedy, The Weekend. She was a cast member on Saturday Night Live for four seasons, and has appeared on This American Life and Late Night with Stephen Colbert. Her stand up special, Pizza Mind, is available to stream online and she is one half of the weekly podcast, Best Friends, with her best friend, Nicole Byer.

Sasheer's Social Media: @TheSheerTruth

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).

Contributing Editors: Manthan Baldha, Sarah Webb (@SWAudioPost) and Drew King.

Filmed and recorded at @TheMalin in New York City.

www.IntoTheMudPodcast.com

Episode 2: Lilli Cooper Gets Muddy on Balancing Life as a Parent

Thu, 06 Jun 2024 00:00:00 -0400

Alex and Drew sit down with Tony-Nominated actress, Lilli Cooper, for an intimate and vulnerable conversation about the challenges of parenting, marriage and work-life balance. There is more to life beyond the spotlight, and Lilli delivers us a raw but lighthearted glimpse behind the curtain.

Bio: Lilli Cooper is a Tony nominated actress who is currently starring as Doc in Apple TV’s Fraggle Rock: Back to the Rock. Broadway: Chrisin POTUS: Or, Behind Every Great Dumbass are Seven Women Trying to Keep Him Alive, Julie in Tootsie (Tony Award Nomination), Sandy Cheeks in Spongebob Squarepants (Original Broadway Cast), Elphaba in Wicked, and Martha in Spring Awakening (Original Broadway Cast), and much more. Proud LaGuardia Arts High School and Vassar alumnae. And most gratefully, Bodie and Desi's mom.

Lilli's Social Media: @LilCoopz

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).

Contributing Editors: Manthan Baldha, Sarah Webb (@SWAudioPost) and Drew King.

Filmed and recorded at @TheMalin in New York City.

www.IntoTheMudPodcast.com

Episode 1: David A. Gregory Gets Muddy About Grief

Wed, 29 May 2024 15:00:00 -0400

For their debut episode, Drew and Alex invite accomplished actor and writer, David A. Gregory, to dive headfirst into a muddy conversation about grief. After the passing of David's father from Alzheimer's Disease in November of 2023, David is still wading in the muddy waters of loss.

For those who have lost a family member, friend, sibling, coworker, or someone special, you understand that the stages of grief are non-linear and that every person's journey is different. Tune in as we get muddy and celebrate David's beautiful story.

Bio: Hailing from Fairbanks, Alaska, David is a New York-based actor and writer perhaps best known for playing Robert Ford on the long-running ABC soap opera One Life to Live. On TV, David has played recurring roles on CBS, Netflix, and NBC. Onstage, he's appeared in Breathing Under Dirt (directed by famed acting teacher Larry Moss), Twelve Angry Men, Angels in America, The Tempest, and Hartford Stage's Vanya & Sonia & Masha & Spike, earning a Connecticut Critics Circle Award nomination and the cover of American Theatre magazine.

David's Social Media: @DavidAGreg

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).

Contributing Editors: Manthan Baldha, Sarah Webb (@SWAudioPost) and Drew King.

Filmed and recorded at @TheMalin in New York City.

www.IntoTheMudPodcast.com

Intro: Get to Know Your Hosts, Drew and Alex!

Wed, 29 May 2024 10:00:00 -0400

Alex is a standup comedian. Drew is a Broadway performer. Together, they are your hosts for Into the Mud!

Alex and Drew met a million years ago in 2007 while studying abroad in Spain. They backpacked through Europe together, said farewell at an airport in Dublin in 2008, and didn't reconnect until 2018 while Drew was performing in Alex's then home, Chicago.

One pandemic later, Alex and Drew rekindled their friendship when Alex moved to New York City. After too many cocktails, plenty of trauma bonding, and infinite stomach aches from laughter, Into the Mud Podcast was born!

Enjoy this short and brief introduction of your hosts before diving into Episode 1!

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).

Contributing Editors: Manthan Baldha, Sarah Webb (@SWAudioPost) and Drew King.

Filmed and recorded at @TheMalin in New York City.

www.IntoTheMudPodcast.com