My Big Gay Podcast
My Big Gay Podcast is the ultimate LGBTQ+ comedy show, diving headfirst into the highs, lows, and LOLs of gay life in London and beyond... (wait, did somebody just say head?!).
Hosted by your new gay BFFs, Benji and Brad, this podcast spills all the tea on their adventures as two gay guys in their 30s, juggling careers, chasing love, and living their best big gay lives in the greatest city in the world.
Now in its sixth fabulous season and recently crowned the TOP 3 LGBTQ+ podcast in the UK and a TOP 20 Comedy Podcast worldwide, My Big Gay Podcast is your backstage pass to hilarious celebrity interviews, outrageous games, epic competitions and heartwarming listener stories. It's been called “Bridget Jones’s Diary meets Sex and the City—but way gayer!”
So, if you’re up for a good time (and maybe some mischief), join Benji and Brad as they navigate the wild world of love, laughter, and life. Want to play along or get in touch? Slide into their DMs on Instagram: @BigGayPodcast, or hit up their website at www.MyBigGayPodcast.com.
My Big Gay Podcast
S6. Ep 0. Two Gays and the New Daddy
Get in touch! Drop Benji and Brad a text message by clicking on this link.
Season 6: Episode 0.
Benji and Brad are back with a brand new season of My Big Gay Podcast! Join the boys in their new studio where they reveal what they’ve been up to so far this year.
Benji and Brad share the highs and lows of adulting in the bustling city of London. From the glitter-filled fun of London Pride and Mighty Hoopla (the largest queer festival in the UK) to the daunting task of buying property. Expect candid confessions about managing finances, dealing with mortgages, and of course still finding time to have a party.
To top it all off, (cheeky…), Benji and Brad dive into experiences had by the queer community including hooking up at festivals and figuring out the dating apps.
Buckle up for a season opener teeming with laughter, genuine reflections, and a whole lot of fabulousness!
Get to know us more personally!
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www.instagram.com/biggaypodcast
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hello@mybiggaypodcast.com
Website
www.MyBigGayPodcast.com
Gosh, I feel a bit nervous.
Speaker 2:Oh, my goodness, it's been a little while, hasn't it? But I'm so excited, me too. Right you ready? Yeah, yeah, I'm ready. I've got my tinny, and have you got your phone switched off?
Speaker 1:Oh no, let me just check. Turn the grind notifications off. Oh, for fuck's sake, I also can't read the notes. But you don, all right, you ready I'm ready. You said there was some determination. I'm ready. Oh, I'm gonna say press, play, hello and welcome to my big gay Podcast with me.
Speaker 2:Benji and me, Brad, giving you the life, the loves and lols of living in London.
Speaker 1:Two gays one city.
Speaker 2:What could possibly?
Speaker 1:go wrong. We're back. Oh my goodness, I know crazy.
Speaker 2:We are back Back, back back Time, six Time, six Season, six Season six here we go, we're back, oh my goodness, I know crazy.
Speaker 1:We are back, back, back, back time, six time, six season, six season six. Here we go, no, not the musical theatre references already and here we are, and I think now's a good time to mention that we are in a brand new recording studio.
Speaker 2:I heard that they made this studio just for my big gay podcast you heard wrong.
Speaker 1:they did not make this just for us. However, what is really lovely is it's this beautiful green which is very on brand for us Green, green, green. It's giving Wicked the movie. It's giving like a froggy furby cabbage this baby is unnaturally green. I mean the notes are somewhere around there. Who's this an impression of You're green? I mean the notes are somewhere around there. Who's this an impression of You're green? No, if you're going to do that, you have to get the right intonation.
Speaker 2:She goes you're green, that is so good.
Speaker 1:Yeah, how many times have you watched that bloody advert Too many times? Those of you that don't know what we're talking about, you shouldn't be listening to this book.
Speaker 2:We're talking about the Wicked trailer, the Wicked movie which comes out later this year with Ariana Grande and, yeah, she's playing Glinda love it and Cynthia Erivo, which is very, very exciting.
Speaker 1:But it's just part one. Did you know it's in two parts?
Speaker 2:I knew it was in two parts.
Speaker 1:Well, we know, because, well, we're stagey one more than the other, but I don't think a lot of people know that because they're not. I feel like people are going to go to the cinema to watch it and it's going to stop at the pinnacle moment we don't know what moment that is, we're not going to spoil it for you and then there could be like part two in six years time yeah, and I'm like great I've got to go and sit for another like two and a half hours of this.
Speaker 2:Yeah, I mean.
Speaker 1:I'm okay. Are the rumours? Yeah, I feel like I might.
Speaker 2:I feel like you're the sort of person that would do that.
Speaker 1:I feel like you invited me to do that with you, so I don't know why you're saying that to me.
Speaker 2:Trying to throw you under the bus.
Speaker 1:You've led me down this yellow brick road of a trap. Yeah, yes, we're going, we're going.
Speaker 2:Am I going to be painted green? Okay, wearing green, wearing green.
Speaker 1:You are wearing green. I am, yeah, and whose green outfit is that?
Speaker 2:These are your dungarees.
Speaker 1:thank you so much, yeah, and you've ruined them with whatever you've washed them with, so I don't want them back. Have you taken your shoes off?
Speaker 2:I thought I'd get comfy in the podcast. It's like we're at home chit-chatting Bloody, this is a lot cleaner than your home.
Speaker 1:No my home is very clean.
Speaker 2:Shall we talk about the stains on your sofa. Okay, okay, on with the podcast. What have we got to say?
Speaker 1:No, before we start, come on, let's get our tinny. Oh my goodness, I don't actually know if we're allowed to drink in here, but oh well, enjoy. Here we go For those of you that enjoy ASMR. You are welcome, Right? Cheers, mate.
Speaker 2:Cheers. Here we go, season six.
Speaker 1:Well, season six Now. We have been away for a while. Now's a good time to mention that we I don't think we actually have had an episode out since Christmas.
Speaker 2:Yeah, we did the Christmas special and then we started planning season six at the start of the year. We did, we had your birthday, didn't we? We celebrated hard in January and then like, right, season six, let's get planning.
Speaker 1:Six months later, I'm still hungover. Did you survive? That day I did survive, just about yeah, I actually don't even remember what happened, but yeah, it was. It was a good one, it was a mad one messy, yeah, messy, but um, yeah, then life just sort of took a different turn, didn't I?
Speaker 2:let you sort of talk about that yeah, I mean, I don't know if anyone else can relate to this, but you know, sometimes things just like get thrown in your face, yeah, sort of life things, and then you, everything changes right sometimes I love it when things I was thinking when I said that I was like why am I, why am I going dirty already?
Speaker 1:throw it on my face, sit on my face slap my face with it.
Speaker 2:I don't mind all the things um, so yeah, you may may not have seen online, but um, unfortunately my nan was really ill at the start of the year and uh, ends up going to hospital and unfortunately she didn't make it and she did pass.
Speaker 2:So that sort of dominated we dominated where um yeah, that kind of like took over my life a little bit, because I was back home quite a lot seeing the family. I then was involved with planning the funeral. I read a eulogy at my nan's funeral as well, so that sort of took me out of life for a few months, whilst I was doing that, yeah, so eulogy for those that might not know what that is what exactly is it?
Speaker 2:uh, it's like a little speech where you talk about that person and all the wonderful things they have done and all the lovely things they have left as a lasting impression I see.
Speaker 1:So not that I'm planning'm planning to. But if I wasn't here and you were, I don't know why my family would ask you to read one. But if you were to read a eulogy, what would you say about me?
Speaker 2:A eulogy at your funeral. Absolutely Well, it depends who's at the funeral. Assuming all your family right?
Speaker 1:Yeah.
Speaker 2:So I'd have to have like a family-friendly eulogy. Oh my goodness.
Speaker 1:I'd have to have like two funerals. Hello, how do you know, Benji, you are a twink. Take the door to the left, please. And are you related? You are related. Door to the right, please.
Speaker 2:Yeah, two separate funerals. I'll do the nice PC, family-friendly one and then hop next door and do the real one. Wow yeah, hi, everyone, welcome. I've got some lines that I wanted to share with you all but unfortunately Benji did them all before he passed.
Speaker 1:Oh my gosh, imagine if you read that the wrong way and my mum like what's a line? She doesn't speak like that, she's actually very well educated, but she would not know what that meant. It would go right over her head actually. Bless her heart, her heart.
Speaker 2:Yeah, she wouldn't understand that joke. No, I'd be like. One of my favorite memories of benji was at a house party once and he had passed out and someone got a plate and made lines of cocaine on this plate and did them off your teeth.
Speaker 1:Okay, first of all, passed out, I went for a nap because I was tired. B that someone was you. And C yes, I woke up, starred out on your bed with everyone doing lines off my chest. Yeah, to be fair, when I tell that story, people are like oh, that sounds quite sexy.
Speaker 2:Actually, I'm like if you, if you were only there it was not sexy and I remember I woke up.
Speaker 1:I was like what's happening? And then you just like patted my head, you're like it's all fine, okay, I was like yeah I feel safe and I went back to bed oh, good times, good memory.
Speaker 2:So yeah, that would make the uh unity as well. That memory wow, people are gonna have such a lovely lasting memory of me.
Speaker 1:But um no, I'm really sorry that you went through that. I know obviously we have kept in touch this whole time and it was very difficult, difficult time. So I'm very sorry, but I'm pleased that you've sort of feeling better about it all now.
Speaker 2:Thank you, yeah, yeah. And also you know, when I then was back to London and we started to plan season six again and then you had to be taken off because you've been busy at home, you had to be taken off. Sounds like I was arrested for something. You've been in and out of court, you know I mean wouldn't be surprised.
Speaker 1:Oh my goodness, no, we're not going down the lawsuit, but um, yeah, I do. You know what, though? To change the subject, I can't believe that it was almost a year ago that we marched in london pride.
Speaker 2:Because it is june, we are back in pride month we are happy, pride to everyone, listening you fabulous people, you, yeah and um, yeah, it was a year ago.
Speaker 1:And it keeps popping up like, oh, a year ago you were doing this. And it's like pictures of us like getting our t-shirts ready, getting the speaker ready, catching the music, getting the dancers like to choreograph. Because those of you that haven't seen the video on our instagram or didn't see us at london pride, we put on a show we did.
Speaker 2:I said to you when we got offered london pride last year, I was like benji, am I doing it? If we can put on a big show, yeah, I'm not just walking down like I want confetti, I want glitter, I want dancers, I want music, I want the whole shebang right and I said I want a different podcast host no, but was I right to push you in that direction?
Speaker 1:you were, I had to keep those purse strings tight. Mama, you know how much I like things tight.
Speaker 2:Because you are spenny, spenny, spenny.
Speaker 1:But no, actually the end effect was amazing. It was a really good day, I think one of the best things actually I've ever done.
Speaker 2:I loved it. I loved it and it was just so nice to be involved with all the other groups as well in the parade, and everyone was just there for a great time and to spread the love and just be loud and proud. Right, it was, oh god, what a time to be alive.
Speaker 1:I know it was mad, and we kind of had a conversation, didn't we? And we said look, we're either going to have to try and do London Pride again and push back releasing episodes or let's just focus back on the episodes. And we decided, well as you can tell, to come back and do the episodes, so we hope that's the right choice. We're very sorry for anyone at London Pride this year. We won't be there, but we will be celebrating in our own very gay, frivolous way. Always Do I mean frivolous? What does that mean?
Speaker 2:Frivolous? Does that mean like carefree?
Speaker 1:I think it does.
Speaker 2:Yeah, let's go with that.
Speaker 1:Let's go with that. That is what.
Speaker 2:Before we carry on chatting all things big and gay and podcast, let's take a little break.
Speaker 1:Podcast is in the break. I did actually ask Brad to put his shoes back on, because he has the smelliest feet you have ever had to stand.
Speaker 2:I'm looking at you and I'm staring at you because that conversation didn't happen. You're a liar.
Speaker 1:Oh my gosh, I've never had someone look at me so hard and hope that I just stop breathing. That was hilarious, no of course I'm only joking. They don't really smell.
Speaker 2:Thank you. These are brand new shoes as well. They look brand new.
Speaker 1:You were that kid at school, weren't you, that turned up after a break and you had brands spanking you and everything.
Speaker 2:New haircut, new trainers? Yeah, I mean, we can talk about your hair if you want to.
Speaker 1:I don't know if you're ready for that today, Mama.
Speaker 2:Anyway, going back to talking about all things tight, yes, you have my attention. So you have also been keeping the purse strings a bit tight recently as well.
Speaker 1:Yes, that is true.
Speaker 2:Yeah, because you, as I said, I came back to London and then you were then out of London because you've been buying a bloody house.
Speaker 1:This is true. It's such a crazy thing. I thought I was quite. I like to think that I've got a good idea about, like business and you know, saving money etc. Purchasing whatever. Buying a house is a completely different kettle of fish, different ballgame, and everybody wants your money. Everybody will charge you to buy a property. So to give you a breakdown, obviously, as we've discussed briefly before, I have a business in the Channel Islands and this new property that I'm buying is on the ground floor is a second shop and then above it is a really lovely flat and the sale hasn't gone through yet, but the process of it is mind-blowing.
Speaker 2:When you told me you're buying a house, my mind was like that is very adult. I can't. My mind's not even there yet. Okay, I just have something to tell you. Go on, we are adults, I know, but sometimes I don't like to think of that.
Speaker 1:I just like to. Is that why you're sat there, no shoes on, in a pair of dungarees, correct?
Speaker 2:sucking your thumb, this one, she's always sucking something um no, just the thought of buying property really scares me. I'll be honest with you because I don't know.
Speaker 2:You don't get taught that at school, do you? You only find out from doing. Yeah, and it is a lot of money and obviously the way the market is at the moment is also very scary. Yeah, um. So there's just so many factors. I'm like do you know what? I don't want the hat or the headache, but you have gone ahead and pursued this, which is amazing. So you can be like my guinea pig, okay, and then when I'm ready to buy somewhere, you can talk me through it all because you've done it.
Speaker 1:Yeah, and that'd be like 50 years down the line. Do you know what? It is crazy? And you're not taught these things at school. And I think now this might be a slight conspiracy I don't mean it to be but I think you're not taught about things at school which people like the government and big companies, companies, corporations, can capitalize off right. So you're not talking. Talk about necessarily buying house and mortgages and lawyers fees, because they don't want you to find out, they want you to slip up because they make more money that way right so little fun fact.
Speaker 1:Now, this is very naive and I can't believe I'm gonna admit this, because it doesn't sound like an idiot when you look up mortgages and it says the interest rate is xyz, right. So let's say, to keep the maths easy, you're borrowing 100 pounds, yeah, and it says that the interest is again to keep it easy five percent, five pound, right, yeah. It doesn't say that it's five pounds every month on what you still owe. So in my head I I know people at home will be absolutely laughing like benji, you're a dumbass bitch. But I just didn't really think about it too much. So I thought, well, if you're bringing all that, like, obviously it's not a hundred pounds, it's thousands that's gonna say yeah, so you're literally paying five percent every month and what is left to pay back?
Speaker 1:so if you take a mortgage out for like, let's say, 200,000 pounds, by the time you've paid it off over like 30 years, you've actually paid back like 450 grand does that not make you feel a bit sick?
Speaker 1:in the stomach. Yes, and this is why everyone always says the bank always wins, and I always just thought that was a monopoly term and it's not. It literally is true. The bank always wins. Wow, yeah, crazy. But um, yeah, there's those things going on like then you have to get surveys done. You have to try and haggle the the haggling is the bit that I am good at but you have to haggle the price and if you get someone else to come look at the property, you have to pay them and they're not cheap like surveys like 300 pound an hour and it could take them like two days. It's like I was quoted over like five grand just for a survey oh my god, I was like this is pride month and I'm gay.
Speaker 2:I deserve a discount. It's the gay discount, I think everywhere should give gay discount personally.
Speaker 1:But um, yeah, it just a. It's a bit of a terrifying concept and then you're locked into that for 30 years.
Speaker 2:That's what's scary, right, and you don't like commitment? I whoa, whoa.
Speaker 1:I don't like commitment.
Speaker 2:No.
Speaker 1:Especially not for 30 years.
Speaker 2:Yeah.
Speaker 1:But do you know what? It's just one of those things. You have to make a decision. And you have to make the decision now because in like not meaning to like be rude, but in like 10 years time they might not give you a mortgage because you're too old.
Speaker 2:Is that how?
Speaker 1:it works. Yeah, because if you're say you did get at 40 and the mortgage is 30 years, you've got to be able to be in a career where, from 40, 50 till you're 70, that you're still earning.
Speaker 2:See what I mean Goodness, yeah, because a friend of mine has bought a flat as well and she was saying that one mistake that she made was put all of her money on the deposit, but then obviously afterwards like, oh god, pay for all these extra fees and things they don't tell you about, yeah. And then it's like, oh well, I'd like to buy a new sofa for my flat and now you can't marry, yeah, basically yeah, it is.
Speaker 2:Yeah. On the paper it's like, oh, let's say, 10 000 pound deposit, but it's not. It's all the others, all the extras, and this is where I'm like I'm not ready for that in my life so much, and then, as soon as something goes wrong, you've got to pay for it. I've got no, calling landlord being like honey. My washing machine's broke. Can you get me a new washing machine?
Speaker 1:no, buzz, buzz, you are the landlord yeah I know, oh, it is scary, but that's why you go in and whatever the prices they want, you knock them down and you have to factor in what needs to be spent on it. Like I know this property, I'm going to have to spend at least 70K on it when I buy it. Yeah, but I've knocked that off the asking price, so technically they're paying for it.
Speaker 2:Yeah, yeah, makes sense. You know what?
Speaker 1:I mean, but anyway, boring, boring, boring. But yeah, it's scary, money bags. Wow, daddy's in the house, let's flip this on its head. You don't have £79,000. Wow.
Speaker 2:Someone's been doing a tax dodge Listen. I'm from Jersey.
Speaker 1:No, it's just a part of it's going through the business. And do you know what the reason I'm going through all this stress and paying all these fees is? For me it's right because there's a commercial premises underneath which I can rent out before I start to use it whilst I renovate the residential upstairs, and then, if I choose to live there, I can or I can rent out, and it's basically two properties in one. So for me it makes sense. But yeah, it's just so expensive. Everybody wants your money as soon as you like. Call someone.
Speaker 1:I'm like could you send this email? They're like, yeah, but it costs this. I'm in the wrong business. I mean, I think these people are quite smart.
Speaker 2:I don't know how to take that. I think that's a read, I think you're good at taking it. And there it is, we're back again.
Speaker 1:I was about to say something so inappropriate. But podcast, this isn't even the first episode. This is just like an episode back into season six. So we'll keep it tame. But I was going to say pound my whole daddy. Oh, my goodness, speaking of daddy, actually can I tell you how many times all of a sudden in the last six months since we've been away I have been called daddy in an actual not even like as a joke actually called?
Speaker 2:daddy? Do you mean in like the gay daddy terms or like people think you're an actual daddy?
Speaker 1:No gay terms. Gay terms, yeah, literally just calling me daddy.
Speaker 2:But is that the people that you go after? It's probably they're into that.
Speaker 1:Possibly. But like before, like literally six months ago, it rarely happened. This last six months, all of a sudden, daddy.
Speaker 2:Is this because you look a bit older In six months? How dare you? Okay, okay, daddy. Is this because you look a bit older in six?
Speaker 1:months. How dare you? Yeah, daddy, this daddy, that I don't really mind it. I'm kind of starting to embrace it. I'm thinking maybe I should go out and buy a chunky neck cardigan and I've started wearing glasses like do you have daddy on your grinder profile? I actually don't know. Should I have a look? Yeah, go on. Should I read you my?
Speaker 2:tags. Yeah, go on all right. But question is we all know you like the younger clientele, the twinks. So as you're getting older, you still fancy the younger twinks, right? So the difference, the age difference, is bigger. Like when you were 27, you probably were attracted to the 21, 22 year olds, right?
Speaker 1:Yeah, I guess that is a good point, but I don't think. I think now, the difference for me is I mean, the term twink is so vague and so vile and delicious, but it's for me it's more about their personality than their actual looks. I like someone who's quite like youthful and sprightly enough for fun, yeah, whereas a lot of people my age, such as yourself, are boring.
Speaker 2:Well, we know that's not true, because you know that I'm the life and soul of the party are boring. Well, we know that's not true because you know I'm the life and self of the party and every time you're in london my phone doesn't stop buzzing, with you saying when we're going out, I want to go out. When are you free? I want to take you out. We want to have a massive night out.
Speaker 1:That's only because I feel sorry for you, because your nan just died right.
Speaker 2:Read out your bloody grinder profile, please. I'm actually crying.
Speaker 1:Okay, my tags are oh gosh, I don't know if I want to read these out. Oh wait, I don't. I do not. Did you put these on here?
Speaker 2:I have not looked at your grinder.
Speaker 1:Okay, my tags are Anon. Well, we've discussed that, yeah, ws.
Speaker 2:WS Water sports, yeah, oh wow, water sports yeah. Oh wow Group. Yeah, ff, what's?
Speaker 1:FF, I don't think you want to know what that is. Fist in fun Sure Kink yeah. Friends and benefits. Yeah, Hosting discreet and daddy.
Speaker 2:So that's why he's like why are all these twinkers calling me daddy on Grindr I?
Speaker 1:don't understand.
Speaker 2:No, but daddy on Grindr, I don't understand. No, but I didn't say just on Grindr.
Speaker 1:I just mean like in general, but are you embracing the daddy vibe? I don't think so, like as an example, not on Grindr. I was at a bar fine, it was a gay bar younger guy behind the bar, really cute, gave me the eye, had a little laugh back and forth, bounce, bounce, bounce. He was like what do you want? Yes, daddy. And I was like what do I respond? Does he want me to say good boy you like saying that.
Speaker 1:I was like anyway, I didn't say anything. And then he came back with it and I was like oh, can I get some lime?
Speaker 2:and again he went yes, daddy, he was, but he was serious, it wasn't just like being a joke he wants to go courted with you he was like looking down eyes, the kira knightley eyes, that cheryl cole nation's sweetheart, uh, yeah.
Speaker 1:So apparently I'm missing my daddy era and I've got to embrace it wow, how do you feel? About that? I don't know yet I don't know. I feel like once I've really like given into it, there's no going back, but then I don't really know what era I'm in otherwise, because I'm I'm obviously not a twink anymore, I'm not a twunk. Like what am I, if not a daddy?
Speaker 2:I think you are a daddy it's like pokemon in evolution you've gone from being bulbasaur to now charizard. What are the names? Do you not know, your pokemon? That's embarrassing there are some really cool people at home screaming at you right now charmander, charmillion and charizard yes you're a charizard.
Speaker 1:you know what? Know what? I'll take that Charizard. I would take that For the first time ever. I will take that. Anyway, I feel like we've really gone off topic, so I need to go back to our notes and we'll be back after this very short break. So an event that we both attended in the last couple of weeks was, I think you said it's been called the largest queer festival in the uk that's it.
Speaker 1:Yeah, it is it was of course mighty hoopla. Yeah, it was um, but I I did not manage the two days, I just did one day.
Speaker 2:I mean I barely managed the two days as well, you did one and a half. Mean, I barely managed the two days as well, you did one and a half. Yeah, if that, if that. Because I went hard on day one, which was the Saturday. You went there on Saturday. I just didn't feel it.
Speaker 1:It was the mud. It was the mud. People of London and beyond. Mighty hoopla. How much anxiety did you have about the mud pit? Like people were calling it. Um like tough mudder hoopla, um like muddy hoopla yeah um, and I just I know it makes me sound really prissy, but I just I couldn't be doing it yeah, I'm not a huge fan of rolling around in the mud either, to be honest.
Speaker 2:Oh well that I can get on board, um, but yeah, I went quite hard on day one. So on sunday you came, came to mind, didn't you, in the afternoon, to be like Brad, come on up, it's time to go? And I was in bed like I need a few more hours.
Speaker 1:I'll see you later. We were all in his room like tap dancing trying to wake him up and he was not okay.
Speaker 2:Not okay. I was like I need a few more hours to be alive.
Speaker 1:I don't believe that's actually what you said. What you said was yeah, yeah, I'm getting up. I'm getting up, you start walking, I'll catch you up four hours later. I'm just leaving mine. Luckily you live nearby, but um no, so I mean, if you want to talk about the saturday, you can the mud, it wasn't actually a problem. No, it was a fun day.
Speaker 2:It was really good fun and shout out to the mighty hoopla team as well, for because they had, if you weren't aware, loads of rain leading up to it, hence all the mud, and so there was a moment like, is it going to happen this year? And it's a one-year event, isn't it? And, as benji said, it is the largest queer festival in the uk, so it's a real safe space for not only just all the lgbt family, but all the allies as well.
Speaker 1:Yeah, for sure, and by the sunday as well. Like you could tell, all the precautions they'd put in were working, and the mighty hoopla team, because if they had to cancel that, I directly think how much money they would have lost and they've just stopped doing their, was it butlins? Yeah, the weekend, yeah, so that's a shame. And so they put all their money and effort into the brockwell park one in london.
Speaker 1:If they cancelled that, but yeah, they must have worked around the clock yeah, to sort that part, because I I had a friend actually who was at the festival, because they do like a season of festivals there. I didn't realize it's not just mighty hoopla correct yeah yeah, I guess you would if you spent.
Speaker 1:You know, if you're you're gonna ruin the grass, you may as well ruin it for lots of different festivals. But, um, they were at the festival a few days before and people were literally like walking around the edges holding the fence, yeah, because it was so muddy. They were slipping everywhere. Yeah, yeah, yeah, um, and that's actually one of the reasons I don't think I would have made it through saturday personally. Um, but yeah, good, shout out to them because it is an important festival for a lot of people coming from all around the country.
Speaker 1:This could be their one like proper, like blowout of the year to feel themselves, to feel accepted and to be around like-minded people. And what I will say about hoopla is because I feel like I'm very much one of these, to really get on the whole, like it's the wrong aesthetic for gay people like I get really angry when we walk past sex shops and all the models and pictures are like muscle mary's which which they have, a body image which is just not really accessible for a lot of people and it's not realistic either.
Speaker 2:Let's be honest, it's not sustainable.
Speaker 1:It's not realistic. They're most likely on taking harmful, let's say, substances to maintain these muscles and whatever. And there is so much more to being gay than that aesthetic.
Speaker 1:Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah so at Hoopla as much as you do have people walk around who obviously go to the gym and are very comfortable in their body, you actually have a little bit of all the community and that is actually one thing that Hoopla has, that a lot of other festivals that I've been to, including a lot of other festivals that I've been to, including a lot of prides. If I'm honest, they don't find that balance. So if you haven't been to Mighty Hoopla, definitely check it out. I think tickets are already out for next year.
Speaker 2:It's just yeah, it's so. It's a good vibe, isn't it? And?
Speaker 1:it's safe and, like you said, there's loads of allies there. There are loads of straight people there. It's for you, but it is a only come if you're accepting of everyone for sure, like it is a very loving, loving festival. I'm not.
Speaker 2:I haven't been paid by hoopla to say any of this.
Speaker 1:By the way, I, just I am I am that bitch that will drag someone, and I think hoopla really smashed it.
Speaker 2:So yeah, agreed, and talking about it being a loving festival, you put a thing on the old instagram saying what did you guys get up to at hooplala? Any fun stories? And someone wrote in to say that they got fisted in a port-a-loo. Ff, yeah, ff in a port-a-loo.
Speaker 1:What does FF?
Speaker 2:stand for Fist in fun.
Speaker 1:The second word is not fun, but I'm not sure if we're allowed to say it on the podcast Fist in.
Speaker 2:Fingering.
Speaker 1:Fuck. Oh, I said you can't say it.
Speaker 2:Goodness sake you were acting out doing charades yes, fist in fuck, fist fuck, yeah, fist fuck.
Speaker 1:Oh goodness me you're right, you've gone a bit pale. For those of you who don't know, brad is just not for him no, not for me, not for me, but yeah, that happened in a portaloo. Now I use these portaloos and A I don't know how they found the space. And b why, just why?
Speaker 2:I'm pulling a face. I wish you could see it. Um, I'm just my mind is trying to figure it all out, because obviously we'll be into portaloo tiny. But also, don't you need to have like special gloves and special like gel?
Speaker 1:lube. So there is a thing about no glove, no love. Not everyone does that, although what I will say is a lot of a lot of the costumes at hoopla, if you hadn't noticed, did involve wearing gloves. But you don't have to have. You don't have to have a glove. You would normally have like a particular type of lube. Yeah and it's. You can't leave that for safety because a lot could go wrong. You could really damage yourself.
Speaker 2:Oh my, it's the doubt. Oh my god. The damage actually makes me sick thinking about it.
Speaker 1:The worry of getting damaged or damaging someone else, okay we should change that.
Speaker 2:Brad has got a very different colour.
Speaker 1:Right now I need a sip of martini. I think he's gone the colour of his new shoes? He is, yeah, white white and white, yeah.
Speaker 2:So yeah, getting fisted at a festival yeah, did not have that on the cards for 2024.
Speaker 1:I mean, I have so many questions Actually. If the person who wrote this in could actually get in touch with us, because I do have some questions, not tips, but I have questions about it and maybe we can go into it deeper. But, to be fair, a lot of the responses that we got on the Instagram were quite, were, quite well, the stuff you'd expect, apparently, oh rumor. Oh, go on yeah it didn't happen on the Instagram, but apparently on the Sunday during I think it was during Jesse. No, it was during Rita Ora.
Speaker 2:Oh yes.
Speaker 1:Yeah, so obviously you've got the portaloos, then you've got the men's urinals, which essentially you go around a corner. It's a bit more private and it's like plastic sheets into the ground. Yeah Well, you know. Fine, apparently in there there was a massive orgy going on and the security went in, saw it, realised there wasn't enough security to stop it and just let it happen. Let there be love. Did you start that orgy, guys?
Speaker 2:I was in the middle.
Speaker 1:Peggy in the middle Because I did not see you during retail.
Speaker 2:Okay, well, we all know that I do not go to urinals. I cannot use them. I get wee shy.
Speaker 1:Yeah, I can't get my knob out with everyone, just looking the word knob, you wouldn't be into water sports then no, not for me I'd get shy.
Speaker 2:So, vanilla, I know, I do think, as we've done the podcast, I thought I was a little bit kinky and outrageous, but since, obviously, chatting to you and getting to, know your stories. A leather paddle and a jockstrap a kink does not make, see, I think in my mind there's nothing wrong with wanting to be this is brand new information with you know, just being a bit more passionate and a bit more love making, that's my vibe, yeah that's not your vibe.
Speaker 1:That is why we did not work. Yeah, oh yeah, let's shower and turn the lights off my favorite oh my gosh but, yes, mighty hoopla another year done.
Speaker 2:It was amazing. Um, hopefully we'll see some more of you there again next year, if you're going to come down, and those that were there this year that we saw, lovely to bump into you and put a? Uh, a face to the names that we see on the old social media and, uh, have some pictures yeah, I'm just very sorry that.
Speaker 1:Well for me, anyway, the people that came up to have pictures. You were nowhere to to be found, so it was just of me. I was busy in the orgy in the urinals, oh my goodness. Anyway, I can't even stomach thinking about you in that urinals.
Speaker 1:Well, bogart says, whilst I leave you with that beautiful imagery in your head, we're going to take a very little break. Actually, brad, that reminds me of something that did happen in our sort of downtime in the last six months I haven't told you about. Oh, go on, yeah, and it is. Uh, it actually happened at the gym. Now, listen, this is gonna sound very I don't want this to sound like arrogant or weird, like it's like oh, people always come up to us and spot us. No disaster, that's not really a thing that happens like daily, but it has does happen normally in very gay, queer friendly areas such as like clapham and, you know, pride, etc.
Speaker 1:However, it did happen to me at my gym. Oh yeah, now you might think. Oh, it was whilst benji was like killing it on the cross trainer, or it's whilst benji was dead lifting a ridiculous amount, or it's whilst benji was doing like squats and showing off his ass to all the boys. That cannot touch my ass. No, it wasn't. It was actually in the changing room.
Speaker 1:So you were butt naked getting changed. Well, here we go. So I was completely naked. Now I was kind of like hiding my modesty just out of politeness. This flower is not on show today. A bit of voyeurism, hello boys. Um, yeah, I was. I was wearing absolutely nothing but a towel. I just got out of the pool and somebody came up to me, was like I'm really sorry. Like, are you benji from my big podcast? I was, oh yeah, like nice to meet you. And then I, yeah, you just say I'm just passing, but just want to say I really enjoy the podcast. Um, particularly particularly enjoyed that the episode about the breakup that you know, that everyone knows about. That.
Speaker 1:You went on for about six episodes don't bring it up again, bloody hell, still cries himself to sleep. He's like, oh, that really helped me. I was like, oh, I'm really pleased, that's really nice. That's why we do it blah blah, sharing all our embarrassing stories for everyone to sort. That was me thinking the conversation is over, so I sort of carry on like getting ready, carried on drying your ass crack. Sure, I really hope nobody's having dinner right now. What?
Speaker 2:a lovely image for you. It's a lovely ass. The towel between the legs, you know doing that. Yeah, more than that, Like yo-yo.
Speaker 1:Have you tried to do that before, because that's actually really painful. They do it in cartoons and I tried it once and I got friction burn. Maybe it was a cheap towel, yeah, anyway, he went.
Speaker 2:Oh, before I go, I'll really kick myself if I don't ask for a picture. Picture of you in the towel in the gym.
Speaker 1:Yeah, I don't know if anyone thought it through not only was I basically naked, I just had a towel, a very revealing towel as well, because, did you know, at the gyms I've overhe, overheard this. I think maybe I've told you at reception they change the towel size throughout the year to make you feel like you're getting bigger. You have said this before. That is mad Vile, right. And they normally do it in January. So you come back after Christmas like, oh my goodness, the towel doesn't fit as well as it used to.
Speaker 2:Right, yeah, I mean, that is what business 101, whatever, oh.
Speaker 1:I don't know, I don't like it. So anyway, I've got to take my own towel now. Keep an eye on my measurements. Thank you, a Zen pic? Yeah, ask for a picture. Now. I was like I'm not wearing any clothes. I also don't look great. Also, I don't think it's okay to whip out your phone in the middle of a changing room with other naked men and start men, yeah, I start taking pictures, yeah, um.
Speaker 1:So I felt really rude, but I did say no, but did you say let's get a picture outside? I said I don't think now is a good time and he then was obviously embarrassed.
Speaker 1:I was like oh no that's absolutely fine, like I understand. I was like no, no, I like I normally would say yes, but I feel very like exposed, very exposed, a little bit insecure right now and other people may wonder what's happening. I said, but I'll be really quick getting changed and I'll whack on a hat like a cap and I'll kill you. We did get a picture in the end, but I just thought, oh, I never can you imagine that picture going. I just I can't. What would be in the background as well, all these naked men.
Speaker 1:It was quite busy as well right, yeah, yeah I mean I would have liked a copy of the picture if they did get some of those other men in the background. Share that picture? My gym has so many rugby players.
Speaker 2:Oh really, you're into that at the moment as well, aren't you?
Speaker 1:yeah, well, that's a story for a different time.
Speaker 2:Don't you dare try trickling me down that yeah, but yes, I'm not against that, that's that, but um but yeah anyway.
Speaker 1:And then something else happened this week at the gym. I had a really bad accident, you're not talking about shit, are you? Oh, my gosh, wow. We're straight back with season six. Everyone, we're talking fisting, we're talking portolies, we're talking orgies and shitting yourself at the gym. No, it wasn't that. So I have been really good the last four months. I've been really trying to work on my body and muscles, trimming down and trying to feel good about myself, right.
Speaker 2:Great good for you.
Speaker 1:I fully support that I'm cheerleading you on right now. Thank you, I was expecting some sort of compliment, but no worries at all. Um, there I was, finishing my workout, I went for a swim to sort of relax, as I normally do. I got out the pool. Now, around the pool is, I'd say, like a 40 centimeter vent that goes all the way around the pool and it's the overflow. Yes, right, yeah. So I get out the pool, as I have done. I've been at this gym for like nine years. Every every time, push myself out the gym, put my leg up, stand up, stood up and the vent broke and I fell through it. Oh my god. So it gets so much worse.
Speaker 1:So as I went through, it snapped, cuts my right leg open oh, and my left shin, my left leg because my leg was still bent because I just pulled myself up came down and smacked on the side of the pool and the pool trim is metal. So my shin, which doesn't have any fat on it, like it's just literally skin then bone, um smacked against the whole pool like donged and um yeah, then it was like a shark attack.
Speaker 2:There was blood everywhere that makes me feel sick. I'm really squeamish about blood and guts. Okay, well, no, guts came out, it wasn't actually a shark attack but it was blood everywhere. This guy next to me was like are you okay? And I was like yeah, you're like no, for fuck's sake, I'm bleeding everywhere.
Speaker 1:But I was stuck in the grate and I couldn't move because genuinely, at this moment I've got a really high pain threshold. Genuinely I actually do. I could. I've had my foot run over before and I was like I think I'm fine, like literally my pain threshold is I probably have a problem, but it's it's really good. I was there stuck in this vent Like I've broken my leg. My left leg is broken. I'm going to turn around. It's going to be like bending the wrong way oh my God, that makes me sick.
Speaker 1:So I stood and anyway they had to press the alarm it was a lot of drama now because it was Saturday and I was like, if I go to the hospital, okay we're off topic, but I'll be sat there for years.
Speaker 1:God bless the NHS, but I'll be sat there, for you should be there now. It probably would, but actually now I think about it, maybe in a more fun option, but, uh, um, yeah, crazy. So I can never return to that gym. So if you are the mysterious listener who goes to that gym and you don't see me anymore, it's not because you asked for a nude selfie with me. Uh, it's because I embarrassed myself poolside. So how's your leg now? It's actually really sore and what's really annoying is because it's on your shin. There's not much to bruise, so I have not a lot to show for it for the amount of pain that I have. Oh, yeah, but it did swell up. It was like a golf ball for a while. Um, I twisted my knee, my back went, my neck, my booty, my crap the whole thing was a mess.
Speaker 1:The next day it was like I had whiplash. It was like I'd been in a car accident.
Speaker 2:Yeah, I sat on the sofa like I am old so what I've learnt from this is to not go to the gym, and I'm very happy to abide by that. So thank you for that words of wisdom right there anyway podcast is we to come back?
Speaker 1:and we wanted to say hello, release this episode, particularly it being pride month, and wish you all a very happy pride month yes, and we will be back fully every week, us two in your ears, with season six.
Speaker 2:So this is just a little teaser, just to let you know what we've been up to, let you all know that we are alive and well and we're very, very excited to start recording again full time and, as benji said, have the best best pride.
Speaker 1:Yeah, and the best thing about season six is that one of the main reasons we've come to this studio is, a because we can film in the same room and, b so we can get some video content with our guests. So we have some incredible guests hopefully coming up into season six and, uh, we're very excited to show you what we've got coming up. But, podcasters, that is all we have time for on this week's episode of my big gay podcast. As always, please head over to our instagram it's at big gay podcast, or you can send us an email with your funny stories, especially if you're at hoop and you have more to hello at my big gay podcastcom and wherever you are celebrating pride in the world.
Speaker 2:Happy pride month. Get those pictures, get us tagging in. We want to see what you're up to and we'll be back in your ears. As I say weekly, very, very soon.
Speaker 1:But like I said, that's all we have time for on this week's episode, until next time see you next season so, brad, you know, we've covered a couple of acronyms today, like fwb being friends with benefits yes, and I've learned ff what that means don it again. We know, I've got another one for you. Oh, go on. G-b-m-d-y-b-b.
Speaker 2:Okay, I'm going to have to write this down and figure this out, g-b.
Speaker 1:G-B-M-D-Y-B-B.
Speaker 2:Goodbye, my darling young brat no.
Speaker 1:Give back my dungarees, you basic bitch. I'm serious, thank you.
