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PODCAST

Proudly Said

Proudly Said is about being LGBTQ+ in the UK without compromise. Hosted by John Hyland (he/they), a Liverpool-born activist and advocate, the show brings real conversations to the forefront. No studios, no scripts - just people, where they’re most at home, speaking in their own words. Each episode centres voices you don’t hear enough, talking about what it means to live out loud, hold space, and just live. There’s no performance. Just queer stories, proudly said.

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All Episodes

37:26

Ep 30: Tracy Wilder said

Proudly Said ·

2025/12/09

🎙️ What’s This Episode About?Tracy Wilder, better known to the dancefloors asDJ Silk Tray, is a Liverpool legend, who’s been spinning tunes, turning looks, and shaping queer nightlife in the city for over 30 years.Tracy joins John to reflect on her incredible journey, from the heyday of Garlands, to being behind the decks the nightSuperstar Boudoirfirst opened its doors, to her current residency atSonic Yootha, the monthly queer dance party keeping Liverpool funky and fearless.They talk about how

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33:30

Ep 29: Robyn Renee said

Proudly Said ·

2025/12/02

🎙️ What’s This Episode About?Robyn Renée is an AFAB drag queen based in Liverpool, part party animal, part comedy performer, and full-time advocate for giving it a go (even if you’re terrified).Robyn joins John to talk about what it’s like stepping into drag as a woman, navigating a scene that has so many different kinds of queen, and how she’s found her rhythm through DJing, performing, and just saying “yes” more often than “no.”They talk about the power of putting yourself out there, building

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35:33

Ep 28: Mahito Thee Cosplayer said

Proudly Said ·

2025/11/25

🎙️ What’s This Episode About?Mahito Thee Cosplayer is best known for their jaw-dropping horror looks and viral cosplay content - but behind the masks is a story just as powerful.Mahito joins John to share their journey as a queer, Black, Nigerian creative navigating identity across continents. From growing up between cultures, to living in the US during the Trump era, to arriving in the UK and unpacking what it means to be “British”; Mahito speaks candidly about displacement, poverty, survival, and

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37:57

Ep 27: Noel Hughes said

Proudly Said ·

2025/11/18

🎙️ What’s This Episode About?Noel Hughes is a third-year Veterinary Science student and the president of the University of Liverpool’s Queer Vet Society, proudly flying the flag for queer visibility in a field that’s not always known for it.Noel joins John to talk about what it’s like moving to a big city as a young queer person, navigating uni life, and finding community in unexpected places (like the vet school corridors). They chat about queerness in science, the power of student societies, and

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36:02

Ep 26: Niall O'Callaghan said

Proudly Said ·

2025/11/11

🎙️ What’s This Episode About?Niall O’Callaghan is a content creator, entertainer, and all-round online personality who’s made a name for himself by making people laugh, and making it look effortless.Niall joins John to talk about the real story behind the reels, from first nights out at Liverpool’s iconicSuperstar Boudoir, to building a following on TikTok and Instagram by simply being himself (and about ten different characters).They chat about finding confidence as a queer man, the thrill of

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38:11

Ep 25: Alabama Whirley said

Proudly Said ·

2025/11/04

🎙️ What’s This Episode About?Alabama Whirley is a fat-positive burlesque dancer, cabaret producer, and walking middle finger to society’s obsession with shrinking.Alabama joins John to talk about performing with power, living visibly in a body-conscious world, and challenging stigma, both on stage and off. They explore the language we use around bodies, how it shapes our confidence (or chips away at it), and what it means to be both fat and fearless in spaces that often try to make you feel like

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36:35

Ep 24: Natasha Von Spirit said

Proudly Said ·

2025/10/28

🎙️ What’s This Episode About?Natasha Von Spirit is a drag artist, DJ, comedian, and all-round scene staple, known for her quick wit, bold looks, and ability to keep it chaoticandcaring.Natasha joins John to talk about her route into drag, training in technical theatre in Wales, and how performance became both a creative outlet and a form of survival. She speaks candidly about her experiences with alcoholism, recovery, and learning to sit with herself outside of the spotlight.Of course, there are

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38:28

Ep 23: Precious (from Koko Kollective) said

Proudly Said ·

2025/10/21

🎙️ What’s This Episode About?Precious is a Liverpool-based storyteller, creative, and the founder ofKoko Kollective: an Afro-inclusive community platform centring BIPOC and queer joy through art, conversation and celebration.Precious joins John to talk about living out loud, building spaces that feel like home, and the intention behind everything she creates, from content to community events. They chat about growing up, identity, softness, and the need for spaces where Black and brown queer people

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36:29

Ep 22: Keri Stanistreet said

Proudly Said ·

2025/10/14

🎙️ What’s This Episode About?Keri Stanistreet is the founder ofSapphic Socials- a Liverpool-based group creating space for women and femme-identifying people to connect, laugh, and just be themselves.Keri joins John to talk about building community from the ground up, and why queer women need spaces that aren’t centred around nightlife, dating apps, or needing to explain yourself. She shares the story behind Sapphic Socials, the challenges of carving out something new, and the joy that comes from

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31:24

Ep 21: Lianne Terry said

Proudly Said ·

2025/10/07

🎙️ What’s This Episode About?Lianne Terry is a Liverpool-based psychotherapist, writer, and wellbeing advocate whose practice is rooted in empathy, honesty, and the power of personal growth.Lianne joins John to talk about her work as a counsellor, her own journey through healing, and what it really means to support others in finding happiness. They explore the impact of childhood wounds, the complexity of relationships, and how tools like CBT and person-centred therapy can help people move forward,

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34:53

Ep 20: Darren Suarez said

Proudly Said ·

2025/09/30

🎙️ What’s This Episode About?Darren Suarez is the founder of House of Suarez and the force behind Liverpool’s annual Vogue Ball - an icon and trailblazer who’s been shaping queer dance culture in the North for over two decades.Darren joins John to reflect on growing up gay in 80s and 90s Liverpool, discovering the world of dance, and falling in love with the art of vogue. They trace the journey from underground club nights to sold-out theatre stages, and how the Vogue Ball became one of the most

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31:40

Ep 19: Athena Barbital said

Proudly Said ·

2025/09/23

🎙️ What’s This Episode About?Athena Barbital is a Liverpool-based alternative drag queen with a look that could kill — and a voice that just might heal you first.Athena joins John to talk about their journey from PhD researcher to spiked-out, sci-fi drag siren, and how creating their own looks became a form of self-expression and survival. They chat about the origin of the name ‘Athena Barbital’ (yes, it’s pharmaceutical), their place in the alt-drag and club kid scene, and why singing torch

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35:41

Ep 18: Anthony Proctor said

Proudly Said ·

2025/09/16

🎙️ What’s This Episode About?Anthony Proctor is the General Manager of Liverpool’s iconic Epstein Theatre - and a lifelong lover of all things theatrical.Anthony joins John to talk about his journey from student, wanting to be a vet, to panto regular, to running one of the city’s most beloved stages. They chat about the magic (and madness) of live theatre, his time working onFarmaggedonand fringe shows, and the importance of keeping spaces like the Epstein alive - not just for performers, but for

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33:04

Ep 17: Eddie Fortune said

Proudly Said ·

2025/09/09

🎙️ What’s This Episode About?Eddie Fortune is a Scouse comedian, writer, and actor with a gift for making people laugh... often about the things we’re not supposed to.Eddie joins John for a conversation that’s full of sharp wit (kind of), big heart (er...), and a healthy amount of camp chaos (absolutely). They talk about being gay in Liverpool, finding humour in dark places (usually Basement Sauna in Manchester), and how comedy can be both a coping mechanism and a form of entertainment.From stage

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34:32

Ep 16: Carmen Sutra said

Proudly Said ·

2025/09/02

🎙️ What’s This Episode About?Carmen Sutra is a Liverpool drag queen known for her fierce stage presence, sharp aesthetic, and love of bringing people together through performance.Carmen sits down with John to talk about the evolution of her drag - from picking a name that turns heads to building a persona that gives her life. They talk about how drag brings her joy, the freedom it offers, and the community she’s helped shape by producing shows that centre creativity, fun, and fairness.Whether she’s

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32:24

Ep 15: TylerdaClaire said

Proudly Said ·

2025/08/26

🎙️ What’s This Episode About?TylerdaClaire is a non-binary Scouse content creator, fashion icon, and online disruptor - known for bold looks, louder opinions, and a fierce commitment to showing up exactly as they are.Tyler joins John to talk about carving out space in a digital world that doesn’t always know what to do with unapologetic queerness - especially when it’s coming from a Scouse accent in a full beat. They chat about identity, influence, and how being visibly non-binary online is both a

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35:23

Ep 14: Genevieve Renée said

Proudly Said ·

2025/08/19

🎙️ What’s This Episode About?Genevieve Renée is a Liverpool drag queen, community organiser, and certified fundraising powerhouse - known not just for turning looks, but for turning the city’s drag scene into a force for good.Genevieve sits down with John to talk about using drag to do more than entertain - from the chaos ofSnatch GameandEurovision AllStarsto the cutting brilliance of thePride Roast. She shares her journey from hosting cabaret nights in ICON to becoming a Tuesday night staple at

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31:33

Ep 13: Iwan Steffan said

Proudly Said ·

2025/08/12

🎙️ What’s This Episode About?Iwan Steffan is a Welsh content creator and storyteller best known for his spine-tingling paranormal videos - mixing folklore, personal experience, and a healthy dose of dry humour.Iwan joins John to talk about his experience with social media, his interest in all things spooky, and growing up in Wales where the line between myth and memory was always a bit blurry. They explore how storytelling - whether about haunted houses or hidden identities - can be a way of making

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35:37

Ep 12: Ripley (from Queer Agenda) said

Proudly Said ·

2025/08/05

🎙️ What’s This Episode About?Ripley is nothing short of a powerhouse in recent times within Liverpol's queer community. They are a founding member of the now well over subscribed Board Gaymes group, which is now expanding to have monthly groups over on the Wirral; and has recently launched Queer Agenda Merseyside.Queer Agenda acts as a directory of what's going on within Liverpool's queer community - events, groups and outings - which Ripley puts together manually themselves! It's not an easy task,

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34:06

Ep 11: The Butch Qween said

Proudly Said ·

2025/07/29

🎙️What’s This Episode About?John Bridson, aka TheButchQween, is part queer meme lord, part cultural critic, and 100% done with your tired binary takes.Talking social media, looking out from behind the curtain, as well as their own mental health challenges, John brings a real sense of authenticity to this episode of Proudly Said - highlighting where his humour comes from, and how he uses the creative process to centre himself.There’s sass, sincerity and a few tangents that somehow loop back to

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