Into The Mud Podcast

Into The Mud Podcast
  • 4.9 (21)
  • SELF-IMPROVEMENT
  • UPDATED DAILY

Into the Mud Podcast delves into the messy and uncertain junctures of life, exploring the transitional spaces where growth and self-discovery occur. Inspired by the wisdom of “no mud, no lotus,” this show fearlessly tackles the mayhem of growth. While others only celebrate the "wins", we want to celebrate your mud! Join us (Drew King and Alex Kumin!) every week as we dive deep into topics like major life transitions, navigating grief, parenting, taking the scary step into the unknown, and much more. Come get muddy with us!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)www.IntoTheMudPodcast.com

  1. 1D AGO

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

    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

    58 min

  2. FEB 26

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

    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

    45 min

  3. FEB 21

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

    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

    42 min

  4. FEB 12

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

    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

    45 min

  5. JAN 29

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

    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

    46 min

  6. JAN 26

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

    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

    51 min

  7. JAN 15

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

    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

    48 min

  8. JAN 8

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

    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

    57 min
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Ratings & Reviews

4.9
out of 5
21 Ratings

About

Into the Mud Podcast delves into the messy and uncertain junctures of life, exploring the transitional spaces where growth and self-discovery occur. Inspired by the wisdom of “no mud, no lotus,” this show fearlessly tackles the mayhem of growth. While others only celebrate the "wins", we want to celebrate your mud! Join us (Drew King and Alex Kumin!) every week as we dive deep into topics like major life transitions, navigating grief, parenting, taking the scary step into the unknown, and much more. Come get muddy with us!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)www.IntoTheMudPodcast.com

Information

  • Creator
    Into The Mud Podcast
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2026
  • Episodes
    77
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Into The Mud Podcast
  • Show Website
    Into The Mud Podcast

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