Hullabaloo Podcast

Nikolai Phalen
  • 0.0 (0)
  • Society & Culture

We come bearing electrifying news! We're here today to announce Hullabaloo: A cross-generational media consumption podcast from us, @its.k0lya and @beyondborderswithchad. We have been working towards its launch since the beginning of fall and there is a lot we have to share with you! For a little background, we're well aware that the podcast space is bloated, but we are really confident that we have something special. Both of us, Chad and Nikolai, are members of the LGBTQIA community from two different races and two different generations with an incredible friendship. As writing partners of many years with a great mutual appreciation for art, literature, music, and film, we realized that instead of just a book club or movie night podcast, or a podcast only exploring the generational divide, we would use media and our consumption of it as a way of understanding the unique perspectives we each hold and share. The media is a bridge between Generation X and Generation Z—and by the way, all the stuff we consume is KUNT! What you have to look forward to in upcoming episodes: Texas Chainsaw Massacre Rob Reiner and Being Charlie Tokyo Story A political podcast about the current American administration (Not a Fan!) Jonathan Livingston Seagull Rosalía's Lux Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown The Birdcage The Joy Luck Club Beach Boys — Pet Sounds Ordinary People Personal story episodes about bad bosses Personal story episodes about travel experiences and culture Kathy Griffin and Friends Joan Didion's The White Album And much, much more! So without further ado, from us to you, it's Hullabaloo. First episode drops February 11th. See you then! Artwork from @mariiiinamares Follow us: Instagram: @HullabalooPodcast TikTok: @hullabaloopodcast

Episodes

  1. 3 days ago

    Kathy Griffin Threw the First Brick at Trump Wall| Comedy & Culture | Hullabaloo

    This episode is a deep dive into Kathy Griffin’s comedy legacy, her rise as a D-List icon, her controversial Trump photo scandal, and why her cultural impact has only grown stronger with time. Nikolai and Chad break down Kathy Griffin’s specials, her connection to Joan Rivers, and why she remains one of the most important “filterless truth-tellers” in modern comedy and pop culture. But it doesn’t stop there. The episode also explores chaotic modern pop culture moments, including a surreal encounter with Timothée Chalamet, a fake Instagram catfish situation, and a debate on Call Me By Your Name, queer representation, and generational perspectives on LGBTQ media. We also discuss Candace Owens, cultural outrage cycles, and why certain voices stay relevant even when the internet tries to erase them. Topics include: Kathy Griffin D-List era Trump photo controversy Joan Rivers & female comedy legacy Timothée Chalamet stories Call Me By Your Name analysis Queer culture & generational gaps Cancel culture & cultural memory Subscribe for new episodes weekly. Hullabaloo, chaotic, honest, and unfiltered cultural commentary. 0:00 — Hullabaloo intro & podcast origin story explained 0:52 — Kathy Griffin vs Kathy Lee Gifford confusion + Gen X smoking culture nostalgia 1:40 — Gen X childhood: drinking from garden hoses & survival memories 2:31 — NYC rent crisis, Evian culture & Gen Z healthcare frustrations 4:48 — Viral TikTok gay couple story that triggered Gen Z emotional spiral 6:17 — LGBTQ community impact on Nikolai’s personal identity & growth 8:45 — Call Me By Your Name analysis: queer coding vs “diva culture” debate 10:36 — Luca Guadagnino refuses to label Call Me By Your Name as gay film 11:22 — Chad’s Italy retirement fantasy & artistic pottery lifestyle discussion 13:58 — Call Me By Your Name age gap controversy explained (ethical debate) 17:20 — Joyce Carol Oates, taboo storytelling & what defines good writing 19:27 — Timothée Chalamet encounter at Metrograph film premiere (storytime) 22:08 — Fake Timothée Chalamet Instagram catfish story & emotional fallout 26:01 — Kathy Griffin retrospective begins: D-List era explained 28:19 — Kathy Griffin’s impact on gay culture & LGBTQ fanbase loyalty 29:34 — Candace Owens analysis: “broken clock” cultural debate discussion 36:10 — Kathy Griffin D-List era explained & career positioning in comedy history 38:00 — Why Kathy Griffin’s comedy became more important over time (cultural shift) 40:24 — Kathy Griffin “It’s a Hell of a Story” Trump photo controversy breakdown 42:50 — Anderson Cooper & celebrity abandonment during Kathy Griffin backlash 44:42 — Hollywood blacklist, no-fly list rumor & industry consequences explained 45:21 — “She threw the first brick at Stonewall” cultural statement explained 47:35 — Would Kathy Griffin survive in today’s cancel culture? modern comparison 49:03 — Role of filterless truth-tellers in modern media & culture influence 50:44 — Final ratings: Kathy Griffin retrospective review (5 stars, no notes) 51:11 — Kathy Griffin “My Life on the PTSD List” YouTube special recommendation #KathyGriffin #ComedyPodcast #PopCulturePodcast #Hulabaloo #JoanRivers #CallMeByYourName #TimotheeChalamet #LGBTQPodcast #StandUpComedy

    52 min

  2. 13 May ·  Bonus

    Bad Bosses & Bad Jobs, Story Time | Hullabaloo

    Bad Bosses & Bad Jobs, Story Time | Hullabaloo This one had us crying. In this episode of Hula Baloo, Nikolai and Chad sit down to trade war stories about their absolute worst jobs and most unhinged bosses, and neither of them disappoints. Nikolai gets Shanghai'd into washing dishes at Denny's against his will, survives a summer at Build-A-Bear where he named a T-Rex in a wedding dress T. Ranny, sang London Bridge with two lesbians over a Meowth Pokemon, roasted high school girls until there was a line out the door, and finally quit by telling his wig-wearing manager she should consider a lace front. Chad, meanwhile, gets fired from a record store after running a weekly free-for-all with his crew, then drives a 1984 Audi from New Mexico to Alaska to work at a fish cannery ,arriving in penny loafers and a Ralph Lauren sweater, and ends up squishing six inches of fish guts into a drain for the summer. Two gay men, two generations, two absolutely unhinged career origin stories. "You are inebriated." Allison, manager of Strawberries Records & Tapes, probably 1994. Subscribe for new episodes every week. From us to you at Hullbaloo we love you. #Hullabaloo, #WorstJobsEver, #BadBoss, #FunnyPodcast, #QueerPodcast, #GayPodcast, #LGBTQPodcast, #StorytimePodcast, #BuildABear, #Dennys, #AlaskaLife, #FishCannery, #WorkStories, #CrossGenerational, #GayMen, #ComedyPodcast, #PopCulturePodcast, #CareerFails, #TrueStories, #FunnyStories

    1hr 10min

  3. 7 May

    Hullabaloo Reviews The Little Prince | Hullabaloo Podcast | Chad & Nikolai

    Hullabaloo Reviews The Little Prince | Hullabaloo Podcast | Chad & Nikolai Some books find you at exactly the right moment. That's what happened to Nikolai and Chad this week. In this episode of Hula Baloo, the boys sit down with Antoine de Saint-Exupéry's The Little Prince, one of the best-selling books in human history, and neither of them was prepared for how hard it would hit. Chad called it a 10 out of 10 from the first page. Nikolai gives it a five-star, no-notes, A+. They're both reading it again. They get into everything: the fox and what taming really means, the rose as ego and vulnerability, the snake as the death of childhood, why the book was banned by the Nazis, and the line that stopped them both cold, "What is essential is invisible to the eye." Plus, Nikolai shares the story of his stepmom letting him be a detective as a kid, complete with a hat, a coat, and decaffeinated coffee. It might be the sweetest thing ever said on this podcast. Also: Chad's Italian property drama, Nikolai preparing to live out of a suitcase in Barcelona, and the two of them accidentally walking into a Little Prince hater forum on Goodreads. A reminder that childlike wonder is not something to grow out of, it's something to protect. Subscribe for new episodes every week. From us to you at Hullabaloo, we love you. #HulaBaloopodcast #TheLittlePrince #Podcast #Chad&Nikolai

    53 min

  4. 22 Apr

    HullabaLUX | Hullabaloo weighs in on Rosalia’s modern masterpiece!

    She sang in 13 languages, broke streaming records in a single day, and got best new music from Pitchfork for the third time. Rosalía is doing something that shouldn't be possible — and Hullabaloo finally sat down to talk about it. In this episode, Nikolai and Chad review LLLUX, Rosalía's fourth album and arguably her most ambitious yet — a sweeping, ethereal meditation on the divine, surrender, and what it means to reach for something transcendental. Chad calls it a 10 out of 10 from the very first listen. Nico gives it a 9.5 and cries every single time track five comes on. They get into how she went from getting booed on a Spanish reality show at 16 to becoming one of the most important artists alive, why LLLUX is the sister album to Björk's Vespertine, the Burghain music video that left Nico and his friend completely speechless, and what it actually means to be a pop artist who refuses to make pop music. Also: Prague, edibles that were basically hallucinogens, Taylor Swift's alleged bot farms, and Chad's S550 Mercedes having a very bad month. Subscribe for new episodes every week. From us to you at Hullabaloo we love you.

    51 min

  5. 4 Apr ·  Bonus

    Whatever Happened to Baby Jane | Niko gets into Berghain | Hullabaloo Podcast

    Nikolai is calling in live from Berlin — and she is bewitched. In this episode of Hula Baloo, Nico walks Chad through the full Berlin experience: crashing industry parties at the Berlinale, falling in love with a city that "f***s better than Prague," and finally getting into Berghain — the most exclusive club in the world — after getting turned away the first time in the freezing cold. Then the boys sit down to review Whatever Happened to Baby Jane? — both the legendary 1962 Bette Davis & Joan Crawford original AND the forgotten 1991 remake with the Redgrave sisters. One is a psychological masterpiece. The other... they made a movie. Also on the table: what makes a great adaptation, the claustrophobia of great storytelling, why Misery owes everything to Baby Jane, the uncomfortable racial politics hiding in plain sight, and why good art always picks a side. Chad gives the original a 5/5. Nikolai gives it a 4.5. The remake gets a 2 and a 2.7 respectively. Somebody had to say it. Subscribe for new episodes every week. From us to you at Hula Baloo — we love you.

    1hr 3min

  6. 2 Apr

    It's Hockey. Fucking. Love. | Our Heated Rivalry Review | Hullabaloo

    We watched all of Heated Rivalry — and Nikolai barely dried his eyes before we hit record. In this episode of Hula Baloo, a cross-generational podcast hosted by two gay men from Gen X and Gen Z, Chad and Nikolai break down everything: the hockey, the love, the explicit amounts of sex, and why this show — against all odds — has a genuine healing frequency. We get into the power dynamics from episode one, the fantasy aesthetics (those apartments are NOT the apartments of closeted men, honey), the music that made us want to scream, and that final kiss that stuck the landing in a way we weren't expecting. Plus: a deep dive into gay sexuality as connection, the silence from the NHL, yaoi manga, water buffaloes jumping off cliffs, and why the Queer as Folk comparison both holds up and falls short. 10 out of 10. No notes. Well, maybe one note about the smoothie subplot. 🎭 Nikolai is also performing his solo show Fever Dream TV in NYC this April — dates and tickets in the comments! Subscribe for new episodes every week. From us to you at Hula Baloo — we love you. Follow the Chaos: 📸 Instagram: / hullabaloopodcast 🎵 TikTok: / hullabaloopodcast Nikolai :https://www.instagram.com/its.k0lya/ Chad:https://www.instagram.com/beyondborderswithchad/ 🎨 Artwork by: @mariiiinamares Music from #InAudio: https://inaudio.org/ Track Name : Upbeat Funk Jazz by Infraction

    56 min

  7. 27 Mar

    Why The Simpsons Predicted Everything | And SNL Is Still Trying to Catch Up

    "The whole damn system is wrong." That line from The Simpsons' "Mr. Lisa Goes to Washington" (1991) has become a Gen Z meme, a t-shirt, a rallying cry. But what did it mean when it first aired? And what does it mean now? In this episode of Hullabaloo, Chad (Gen X) and Nikolai (Gen Z) compare two pieces of political satire made 35 years apart: 📺 The Simpsons — "Mr. Lisa Goes to Washington" (Season 3, 1991) 🎭 SNL — "Mom Confession" sketch (2026) What they explore: - The innocence of 90s political satire vs. the exhaustion of today - How The Simpsons became a comfort text for Gen Z - Why SNL's Ashley Padilla is channeling old-school brilliance - The "different internet" phenomenon — how algorithms create alternate realities - Whether morality is objective or subjective (a 2,000-year-old debate) - Tracy Ullman's bitterness over The Simpsons (and what it teaches us about ego) - Epstein conspiracy theories (yes, Chad went there) - Why Lisa Simpson is the ultimate Gen Z icon - The "Red Queen Effect" and why everyone is on Ozempic, Botox, and testosterone Plus: Chad's Top Cat obsession, Nikolai's Simpsons-as-therapy confession, and why being wrong might be the most important thing you can learn. 🎙️ About Hullabaloo: A Gen Xer and a Gen Zer — both from the queer community — bridge generations through classic films, new music, and the cultural conversations nobody else is having. Sometimes movies. Sometimes cartoons. Always real. #TheSimpsons #SNL #PoliticalSatire #GenX #GenZ #Hullabaloo #MrLisaGoesToWashington #SNLMomConfession #LisaSimpson #PoliticalHumor

    1hr 14min

  8. 26 Mar

    "Overcome Space, Overcome Time" | Jonathan Livingston Seagull Why This Tiny Book Changed Everything

    Overcome Space, Overcome Time" Why This Tiny Book Changed Everything | Hullabaloo Podcast If our friendship depends on things like space and time, then when we finally overcome space and time, we've destroyed our own brotherhood. But overcome space and all we have left is here. Overcome time and all we have left is now." Jonathan Livingston Seagull is a 112-page book about a bird who wanted to fly faster than any seagull before him. It's also a meditation on perfection, ostracism, enlightenment, and the responsibility of the liberated to liberate others. In this episode of Hullabaloo, Chad (Gen X) and Nikolai (Gen Z) explore: - Why Chad has returned to this book for over 40 years - How a dyslexic Black kid in a predominantly white town found himself in a seagull - The teachers (one of them a lesbian in the 1970s) who placed this book in his hands - Whether "striving for perfection" is noble or self-defeating - The difference between Buddhist letting-go and Christian fear-based morality - How pronoun politics became a manufactured wedge issue - The "Red Queen effect" and why everyone is on Ozempic, Botox, and testosterone - Why freedom means nothing if you don't bring others with you Plus: Chad's sumo wrestler Halloween costume, Abraham Hicks' they/them pronouns, and why "garbage chowder" is the perfect metaphor for modern discourse. 🎙️ About Hullabaloo: A Gen Xer and a Gen Zer , both from the queer community — bridge generations through classic films, new music, and the cultural conversations nobody else is having. Sometimes movies. Sometimes books. Always real. Follow the Chaos: 📸 Instagram: / hullabaloopodcast 🎵 TikTok: / hullabaloopodcast 🎨 Artwork by: @mariiiinamares Music from #InAudio: https://inaudio.org/ Track Name : Upbeat Funk Jazz by Infraction #JonathanLivingstonSeagull #GenX #GenZ #BookReview #Spirituality #Freedom #Hullabaloo

    44 min

  9. 24 Mar ·  Bonus

    Hullabaloo Political Conversation | Chad & Nikolai | Hullabaloo Podcast

    "I don't care if you're Jewish. I'm from Israel." This is the moment Nikolai (Gen Z, Jewish) confronted a group of Zionists in a quiet cafe who were loudly dismissing Palestinian solidarity as "not their business." What happened next? He asked if they served in the IDF. Then he asked: "Are you a war criminal?" The silence was deafening. In this raw, unscripted episode of Hullabaloo, Nikolai shares: - Why he almost didn't speak up - How he flipped a coin to let his ancestors decide - The exact words he used to challenge their complacency - Why he stayed at his table afterward - The 200,000+ views and thousands of thank-yous Chad (Gen X) listens, reflects, and together they explore: - Why silence is complicity - The psychic harm of current events - How to take action without burning out - The "3 in 3 out" method for sustainable activism - Why we must "look the shark in the mouth" This is not a debate. It's a call to courage. 🎙️ About Hullabaloo: A Gen Xer and a Gen Zer — both from the queer community — bridge generations through classic films, new music, and the cultural conversations nobody else is having. Sometimes movies. Sometimes this. ⏱️ Timestamps: 0:00 - Why we hit record 2:30 - The cafe: "I don't wanna see dark stuff" 5:15 - Flipping a coin: Letting ancestors decide 8:40 - "You're about 2 years late" 12:20 - "Are you a war criminal?" 15:45 - The silence that followed 18:30 - Why he stayed 22:10 - 200K views: The response 26:00 - Gen X vs Gen Z on action 32:15 - Luigi Mangione and moral complexity 38:40 - The parade of cruelty 45:00 - Duty, dopamine, and ice showers 52:30 - "No one knows the future" 58:15 - Sustainable activism: 3 in 3 out 1:04:00 - Coming next: Women on the Verge Follow the Chaos: 📸 Instagram: / hullabaloopodcast 🎵 TikTok: / hullabaloopodcast 🎨 Artwork by: @mariiiinamares Music from #InAudio: https://inaudio.org/ Track Name : Upbeat Funk Jazz by Infraction #JewishVoice #Gaza #Israel #Palestine #Confrontation #Courage #Hullabaloo

    59 min

  10. 2 Mar

    "When Love Kills": The Rob Reiner Tragedy & The Danger of Codependency

    Warning: This conversation gets heavy. In this episode of Hullabaloo, Chad (Gen X) and Nikolai (Gen Z) wrestle with Being Charlie—the 2015 Rob Reiner film written by his son Nick Reiner. But what starts as a movie review becomes something much deeper: a raw, honest, and sometimes painful conversation about the Reiner family tragedy, the insidious nature of codependency, and the question every family faces when someone they love is spiraling.When do you hold on? When do you let go? And what happens when love itself becomes the thing that destroys you? Just weeks after this recording, the world learned that Nick Reiner—the son, the writer, the addict—allegedly took the lives of his parents, Rob and Michelle Reiner. This film, meant to be a labor of love, now reads like a warning sign we all missed. Chad shares his own experience with a brother lost to addiction. Nikolai opens up about codependency with his sister. Together, they ask the hard questions: - Can you change someone who doesn't want to change? - Is there a point where enabling becomes lethal? - How do you protect your heart when the person hurting you is family? This is not just a film discussion. It's a conversation about the cycles we repeat, the people we love, and the fine line between help and harm. 🎙️ About Hullabaloo: A Gen Xer and a Gen Zer both from the queer community—bridge generations through classic films, new music, and the cultural conversations nobody else is having. Sometimes funny. Sometimes this. ⏱️ Timestamps: 0:00 - Introduction: Why Being Charlie? 3:15 - Rob Reiner's legacy & the "nepo baby" question 8:45 - The film as an act of codependency 14:20 - Chad's brother: Addiction & family boundaries 22:30 - Nikolai's sister: "Lucy and the football" 31:15 - Can you change people? Aunt Lauren's wisdom 38:40 - The 17 rehabs: When does help become harm? 47:50 - "Spoiled rotten" vs. "mental health crisis" 55:10 - The Conan party: Everyone knew 1:02:30 - The siblings left behind 1:08:15 - Final ratings: 2/5 vs. 2.8/5 1:12:00 - Rest in peace, Rob & Michelle Reiner Follow Us: 📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/HullabalooPodcast 🎵 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@hullabaloopodcast 🎨 Artwork by: @mariiiinamares Music from #InAudio: https://inaudio.org/ Track Name : Upbeat Funk Jazz by Infraction 🔗 Subscribe for more generational debates: https://www.youtube.com/@Hullaballoo2 🎧 Listen on Apple/Spotify: #RobReiner #BeingCharlie #Addiction #Codependency #GenX #GenZ #HullabalooPod

    1hr 14min

  11. 2 Mar

    Welcome to Hullabaloo: Bridging the Generational Divide Through Media

    Welcome to the very first episode of Hullabaloo! 🎙️✨ Hosted by Chad (@beyondborderswithchad) and Nikolai (@its.k0lya), Hullabaloo is a cross-generational media consumption podcast that bridges the gap between Generation X and Generation Z. In this introductory episode, we explain exactly what you can expect from us this season. As writing partners and members of the LGBTQIA+ community from different races and generations, we realized our friendship offered a unique lens on the world. Instead of a standard movie review show, we use art, literature, music, and film to explore our unique perspectives and shared experiences. Coming up this season: We are diving deep into everything from The Texas Chainsaw Massacre and Tokyo Story to Rosalia’s Lux and The Beach Boys’ Pet Sounds. Plus, expect personal stories about bad bosses, travel disasters, and navigating the current political landscape. If you love media commentary that is insightful, hilarious, and a little bit chaotic, you’re in the right place. Subscribe for new episodes every [Day of Week]! Follow the Chaos: 📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/HullabalooPodcast 🎵 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@hullabaloopodcast 🎨 Artwork by: @mariiiinamares Music from #InAudio: https://inaudio.org/ Track Name : Upbeat Funk Jazz by Infraction #HullabalooPodcast #GenZvsGenX #LGBTQPodcast #PopCultureCommentary #NewPodcast2026

    1hr 4min

  12. 26 Feb

    We Watched BOTH Texas Chainsaw Massacre Movies... (Hullabaloo Ep. 1)

    In our very first episode, Chad (@beyondborderswithchad) and Nikolai (@its.k0lya) kick things off with a scream. We sat down to watch BOTH versions of the horror classic: The Texas Chainsaw Massacre. As a Gen X vs. Gen Z duo, we view horror very differently. Does the 1974 original still hold up as a masterpiece of tension, or does the modern version do it better? We discuss the gore, the family dynamics, the generational trauma, and, of course, Leatherface himself. In this episode: Gen X vs. Gen Z reactions to 70s horror. Comparing the Original vs. the Remake. Why the "Dinner Scene" is pure cinema (or pure nightmare). Is it actually scary, or just disturbing? About Hullabaloo: Hullabaloo is a cross-generational media consumption podcast. We are writing partners, friends, and members of the LGBTQIA+ community exploring the divide between Gen X and Gen Z through art, film, and pop culture. Subscribe for new episodes! Follow Us: 📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/HullabalooPodcast 🎵 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@hullabaloopodcast 🎨 Artwork by: @mariiiinamares Music from #InAudio: https://inaudio.org/ Track Name : Upbeat Funk Jazz by Infraction #HullabalooPodcast #TexasChainsawMassacre #HorrorMovies #GenZvsGenX #Leatherface #MovieReview #FirstEpisode

    1hr 2min
  • 12 Episodes

About

We come bearing electrifying news! We're here today to announce Hullabaloo: A cross-generational media consumption podcast from us, @its.k0lya and @beyondborderswithchad. We have been working towards its launch since the beginning of fall and there is a lot we have to share with you! For a little background, we're well aware that the podcast space is bloated, but we are really confident that we have something special. Both of us, Chad and Nikolai, are members of the LGBTQIA community from two different races and two different generations with an incredible friendship. As writing partners of many years with a great mutual appreciation for art, literature, music, and film, we realized that instead of just a book club or movie night podcast, or a podcast only exploring the generational divide, we would use media and our consumption of it as a way of understanding the unique perspectives we each hold and share. The media is a bridge between Generation X and Generation Z—and by the way, all the stuff we consume is KUNT! What you have to look forward to in upcoming episodes: Texas Chainsaw Massacre Rob Reiner and Being Charlie Tokyo Story A political podcast about the current American administration (Not a Fan!) Jonathan Livingston Seagull Rosalía's Lux Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown The Birdcage The Joy Luck Club Beach Boys — Pet Sounds Ordinary People Personal story episodes about bad bosses Personal story episodes about travel experiences and culture Kathy Griffin and Friends Joan Didion's The White Album And much, much more! So without further ado, from us to you, it's Hullabaloo. First episode drops February 11th. See you then! Artwork from @mariiiinamares Follow us: Instagram: @HullabalooPodcast TikTok: @hullabaloopodcast

Information

  • Creator
    Nikolai Phalen
  • Years Active
    2k
  • Episodes
    12
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Nikolai Phalen
  • Show Website
    Hullabaloo Podcast