The Karel Show

Karel
  • 4.4 (39)
  • News Commentary
  • Updated Daily

The Karel Show delivers bold commentary from Karel, an openly gay entertainer, author, and nationally syndicated talk show host known for saying what others won’t. With humor, heart, and zero patience for nonsense, Karel takes listeners on a fast-paced, no-filter journey through politics, culture, and modern American life—hilarious, incisive, and always honest. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-karel-show--1368295/support.

  1. 4d ago

    I Know Why Democrats Seem Powerless

    I Know Why Democrats Seem PowerlessYesterdayI Know Why Democrats Seem PowerlessI know what Democrats seem powerless in the USA right now, and why so many non-MAGA people feel frustrated, afraid, anxious. I get it now more than ever.It's like a cancer diagnosis; when you first get it you feel powerless, depressed, like you want to just give up. You feel like you have no control and are facing insurmountable odds. Then, for many, the F*ck cancer mode kicks in and they begin to fight, even against the odds. They take their power back.Democrats have not reclaimed their power, because I'm not sure they ever really felt they had or deserved it. MAGA felt powerful from day one; they felt they were unbeatable, and have been. The act like they are untouchable, and so they are. And they act like are always going to win at all cost, and so they do.And why? Because the other side doesn't have that same belief. Because Democrats, and 260 million Americans have forgotten who they are, they've lost themselves in the struggle. A drowning person can't see the horizon, doesn't see the stars. They are fighting for their lives and only see water. Maybe we all need a reminder of who we are, what we have done, and what we can do. And then we need to make the hard choices. Are we not doing what we need to because it's harder now, and we just don't want to fight that much for the reward we'd get. Does the cost outweigh the benefit?We are powerful beings, each of us. And we can face big odds, and win. It's time we start swinging at windmills again, it's time we start taking back our power, our country and our lives. How? Well, it starts by realizing we can.#KarelShow, #LasVegas, #Vegan, #LGBTQ, #TheKarelCast, #Democrats, #MAGA, #AmericanPolitics, #PoliticalCommentary, #PoliticalPower, #Democracy, #CivicEngagement, #PoliticalFrustration, #FindingYourPower, #CurrentEventshttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kq8doFweQGU Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-karel-show--1368295/support. The Karel Show is supported by your donations at patreon.com/reallykarel and streams live Monday–Thursday at 10:30am PST. Available on YouTube, TikTok, Instagram, Apple Music, Spotify, iHeart Media, Spreaker, and all major platforms.

    I Know Why Democrats Seem Powerless

  2. 5d ago

    The Straw that Broke Me

    The Straw that Broke Me Saturday was day one of voting in Nevada, so I went. I was greeted by a woman with a bull horn, who proceeded to berate me, call me homophobic slurs and then literally committed battery on my person. Why? Because she supports Trump and MAGA. And she was allowed because she was more than 100 feet from the doors. I literally had to call the police on her after she bloodied my lip with her bullhorn.  To vote. In America. I was disgusted. But I'm not alone, a news NBC poll has 71% of the nation saying Trumpism has gone in the wrong direction, and his overall approval rating below 30%. People are anxious, fedup an afraid. But the interaction said far more about me, and my state of mind than the MAGA assailant. And I don't like what it said. America is irrevocably broken, the midterms are a myth we tell ourselves to feel better after. Will the Democrats get the homeless off the streets, lower gas prices within months? Restore order and put the guardrails back on the USA? Will they impeach and remove Trump and cabinet? As he wonders aimlessly after rallies, no one will even admit he's demented. Our fate in the hands of a demented zealot. So the question becomes, is this all window dressing for a country beyond repair? As France explodes in protests, why aren't we?  #KarelShow, #LGBTQ, #Vegan, #LasVegas, #TheStrawThatBrokeMe, #VoterIntimidation, #NevadaVoting, #VotingRights, #DemocracyUnderThreat, #PoliticalViolence, #StopTheHate, #Trumpism, #AmericaInCrisis, #IndependentMedia, #SpeakOut https://youtube.com/live/4l4PNjHHen0 Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-karel-show--1368295/support. The Karel Show is supported by your donations at patreon.com/reallykarel and streams live Monday–Thursday at 10:30am PST. Available on YouTube, TikTok, Instagram, Apple Music, Spotify, iHeart Media, Spreaker, and all major platforms.

    The Straw that Broke Me

  3. Oct 15

    LGBTQ+ Rights: Hungary Advances, The World Retreats | The Karel Cast

    LGBTQ+ Rights: Hungary Advances, The World Retreats | The Karel Cast LGBTQ+ rights are advancing in Hungary while crackdowns and threats elsewhere show how fragile equality remains. From harsher prison sentences in Senegal to a fight over LGBTQ+ youth protections in Washington state, Karel connects the headlines—and asks what real freedom requires. This episode of The Karel Cast examines the gap between promises of acceptance and the reality of living openly: - Hungary: The repeal of anti-LGBTQI “propaganda” provisions marks progress, but barriers affecting trans people and rainbow families remain. ILGA-Europe - Senegal: Human Rights Watch documents a crackdown as tougher legislation doubles the maximum prison sentence for consensual same-sex conduct to 10 years. Human Rights Watch - Taiwan and Japan: A controversial gay-bar raid raises questions about police accountability, while Japan’s LGBTQ+ policy faces criticism over the gap between awareness and legal protection. The Diplomat, East Asia Forum - Washington state: GLAAD warns that two ballot measures threaten transgender students’ participation in school sports and vulnerable students’ privacy. GLAAD - Berlin: Reporting on a deadly vehicle incident at a Pride celebration raises urgent questions about community safety and the ongoing investigation. ABC7 There is hope, too: Zara Larsson’s support for LGBTQ+ young people, recognized by The Trevor Project, and the community celebrated at the Los Angeles LGBT Center’s Models of Pride show why visibility, belonging and outspoken allies matter. The Trevor Project, LA Times High School Insider Which story deserves more attention—and what would meaningful equality look like where you live? Join the conversation in the comments, share this episode and subscribe for independent commentary. Support independent media: Patreon Watch and subscribe: YouTube LIVE Monday–Thursday at 10:00 a.m. Pacific. Listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, iHeartRadio, Spreaker and other major platforms. Follow along on TikTok and Instagram. Karel is a history-making broadcaster, entertainer and commentator based in Las Vegas, joined by his little service dog, Ember. #TheKarelCast, #Karel, #LGBTQNews, #LGBTQRights, #HumanRights, #TransRights, #Equality, #Hungary, #Senegal, #Taiwan, #Japan, #LGBTQYouth, #ZaraLarsson, #Pride, #IndependentMedia https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hLVlGbiVaeo Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-karel-show--1368295/support. The Karel Show is supported by your donations at patreon.com/reallykarel and streams live Monday–Thursday at 10:30am PST. Available on YouTube, TikTok, Instagram, Apple Music, Spotify, iHeart Media, Spreaker, and all major platforms.

    LGBTQ+ Rights: Hungary Advances, The World Retreats | The Karel Cast

  4. Oct 14

    The Lost American Value: The Truth

    The Lost American Value: The Truth We live in a country where the most controversial thing you can do is tell the pure, unvarnished truth. Why? Because many think the truth is relative, that the truth changes, and that the truth can be argued and debated. Take the recent weather issues all across our country and our globe, from Long Beach to Long Island. The truth? We did it to ourselves, we were warned, we ignored it. All of us. Oh, I went vegan for the planet. And I drive a 70 mpg motorscooter. But I still have a 2001 Lexus SUV that take 17 gallons of gas. I blame not being to afford electric, I blame the oil companies, I blame government for not making cities more walkable. But the truth? I know driving it kills the planet every single time I drive, but I still do it. It's convenient. It's necessary. And it's killing my home. I could take busses. Walk, Bike. But I don't. And my home is not solar. I blame the HOA. But I could move to where I could be solar. But doing the right thing takes sacrifice, and myself, and others, will only do so much. The truth? Donald Trump should have been removed the first time around, and then jailed. He wasn't. MAGA is an infestation that started during the civil war, because we never dealt with the South properly, just like we didn't deal with the J-6ers properly. They should have been tried, and capital punishment for treason dished out. But nope. Here's the truth. Most of this is because we won't face the truth. Because it's often uncomfortable, and ugly. And that goes for me like anybody else. #TheKarelCast, #Karel, #TheTruth, #UncomfortableTruths, #AmericanValues, #ClimateChange, #ClimateCrisis, #ExtremeWeather, #PersonalResponsibility, #ClimateAccountability, #PoliticalAccountability, #Trump, #MAGA, #LGBTQ, #vegan https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pYDASEDLXVg Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-karel-show--1368295/support. The Karel Show is supported by your donations at patreon.com/reallykarel and streams live Monday–Thursday at 10:30am PST. Available on YouTube, TikTok, Instagram, Apple Music, Spotify, iHeart Media, Spreaker, and all major platforms.

    The Lost American Value: The Truth

  5. Oct 13

    Kelly Clarkson’s “Pretty Woman” Store Clash: Who’s Telling the Truth? | The Karel Cast

    Kelly Clarkson’s “Pretty Woman” Store Clash: Who’s Telling the Truth? | The Karel Cast Kelly Clarkson says a Brooklyn store gave her the “Pretty Woman” treatment—assuming she couldn’t afford an item and steering her toward something cheaper. The store denies her account. What happened, and why does this story strike such a nerve? On this episode of The Karel Cast, Karel examines the dispute and the bigger conversation about classism, prejudice and belonging. How often do retail workers judge customers by their appearance—and what happens when the customer turns out to be famous? Plus: GLP-1 safety concerns and Meta’s AI privacy trade-off. A new lawsuit raises questions about serious side effects associated with GLP-1 medications. Karel discusses concerns about how those effects are tracked and why uncertainty has shaped his own decision about taking them. Then, Meta’s Muse raises another question: how much access to your personal life would you give an AI assistant in exchange for convenience? Helpful technology deserves scrutiny—especially when your information is part of the bargain. Have you ever been treated like you didn’t belong in a store? Share your experience in the comments. Support independent media: https://patreon.com/reallykarel Watch and subscribe: https://youtube.com/reallykarel Watch LIVE Monday–Thursday at 10:00 a.m. Pacific. Listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, iHeartRadio, Spreaker and other major podcast platforms. Follow Karel on TikTok and Instagram. Karel is a history-making broadcaster, entertainer and commentator based in Las Vegas, joined by his service dog, Ember. #KellyClarkson, #PrettyWoman, #TheKarelCast, #Karel, #Classism, #RetailDiscrimination, #CelebrityNews, #GLP1, #GLP1SideEffects, #DrugSafety, #MetaAI, #ArtificialIntelligence, #DataPrivacy, #IndependentMedia, #CurrentEvents https://youtube.com/live/v5oW4remP_M Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-karel-show--1368295/support. The Karel Show is supported by your donations at patreon.com/reallykarel and streams live Monday–Thursday at 10:30am PST. Available on YouTube, TikTok, Instagram, Apple Music, Spotify, iHeart Media, Spreaker, and all major platforms.

    Kelly Clarkson’s “Pretty Woman” Store Clash: Who’s Telling the Truth? | The Karel Cast

  6. Oct 12

    California Floods: A Tragedy—or a Warning We Ignored? | The Karel Cast

    California Floods: A Tragedy—or a Warning We Ignored? | The Karel Cast Long Beach suffers coastal destruction. Newport Beach’s Balboa Island floods. Las Vegas faces heavy rain it wasn’t built to handle. When communities are warned about climate risks and fail to prepare, how should we react when disaster strikes? Karel shares the response that drew backlash—and asks where sympathy, accountability and climate preparedness meet. Rebuilding matters. But are we rebuilding for the conditions ahead, or repeating the same mistakes? Plus, Below and The Swarm imagine Mother Nature fighting back. Is environmental fiction tapping into fears we’re struggling to confront? A new survey explores what Americans fear most. Where does death rank—and what do our fears reveal about us? And Kelly Clarkson has a “Pretty Woman” moment, opening a conversation about prejudice, belonging and how America treats people who are Black, gay or different. When a disaster was foreseeable, does that change how we should respond? Share your thoughts in the comments. Support independent media: https://patreon.com/reallykarel Subscribe to The Karel Cast: https://youtube.com/reallykarel Watch LIVE Monday–Thursday at 10:00 a.m. Pacific. Listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, iHeartRadio, Spreaker and other major podcast platforms. Follow Karel on TikTok and Instagram. Karel is a history-making broadcaster, entertainer and commentator based in Las Vegas, joined by his service dog, Ember. #TheKarelCast, #Karel, #CaliforniaFlooding, #LongBeach, #BalboaIsland, #NewportBeach, #LasVegasFlooding, #ClimateChange, #ExtremeWeather, #ClimatePreparedness, #KellyClarkson, #Discrimination, #LGBTQ, #IndependentMedia, #CurrentEvents https://youtube.com/live/9PKwHfhag8k Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-karel-show--1368295/support. The Karel Show is supported by your donations at patreon.com/reallykarel and streams live Monday–Thursday at 10:30am PST. Available on YouTube, TikTok, Instagram, Apple Music, Spotify, iHeart Media, Spreaker, and all major platforms.

    California Floods: A Tragedy—or a Warning We Ignored? | The Karel Cast

  7. Oct 8

    This Gay Week: LGBTQ Rights Under Pressure Worldwide

    This Gay Week: LGBTQ Rights Under Pressure Worldwide It’s This Gay Week, and Karel and Scott Jacobsen are taking a trip around the world to see where LGBTQ+ rights are advancing, where they’re retreating—and why the same political patterns keep appearing in very different countries. This week, there’s some genuinely welcome news: specialized 988 crisis services for LGBTQ+ young people have returned in the United States, while educators in Ireland are working to make schools safer and more welcoming for LGBTQ+ students and teachers. But elsewhere, the picture is far more troubling. Australia is being criticized for rejecting UN recommendations on LGBTQI+ human rights. Turkey has shut down an independent news outlet after prosecutors accused it of publishing “LGBT propaganda.” In Ghana, a Catholic bishop is pushing back against acceptance of LGBTQ+ people. And the International Criminal Court is pursuing senior Taliban leaders over alleged gender persecution involving women, girls and LGBTQI+ people in Afghanistan. Scott also brings us an important historical question: How much of the world's criminalization of homosexuality is actually a legacy of colonialism? Many countries that still criminalize same-sex relationships inherited those laws from colonial powers. And that leads to perhaps the biggest question of the week: Why have LGBTQ+ people—particularly transgender people—become such frequent political targets? A UN LGBTQ+ rights expert points to the rise of authoritarian populism and the political usefulness of turning vulnerable minorities into convenient targets. Plus, we remember Dr. Robert Coles and the profound difference a great teacher and mentor can make in someone's life. There’s a lot happening—but there’s also a lot worth fighting for, celebrating and talking about. Join Karel and Scott for This Gay Week. Tell us what you think in the comments, LIKE the video, SUBSCRIBE to The Karel Cast, and SHARE the show. Support independent media on Patreon: patreon.com/reallykarel Watch and subscribe: youtube.com/reallykarel The Karel Cast is available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, iHeartRadio, Spreaker and other major platforms, plus TikTok and Instagram. #ThisGayWeek, #LGBTQ, #LGBTQNews, #GayNews, #LGBTQRights, #HumanRights, #TransRights, #GayRights, #Pride, #988Lifeline, #WorldNews, #Equality, #TheKarelCast, #KarelCast, #ScottJacobsen https://youtube.com/live/BFN1oK3RI2E Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-karel-show--1368295/support. The Karel Show is supported by your donations at patreon.com/reallykarel and streams live Monday–Thursday at 10:30am PST. Available on YouTube, TikTok, Instagram, Apple Music, Spotify, iHeart Media, Spreaker, and all major platforms.

    This Gay Week: LGBTQ Rights Under Pressure Worldwide

  8. Oct 7

    THE NEXT PANDEMIC IS COMING: Are We Ready—or Making the Same Mistakes Again?

    THE NEXT PANDEMIC IS COMING: Are We Ready—or Making the Same Mistakes Again? Plague. Measles. Ebola. COVID taught us what a global outbreak can do—but did we actually learn anything from it? In this episode of The Karel Cast, Karel looks at alarming infectious-disease headlines around the world, including reports involving plague, the resurgence of measles in the United States, and Ebola outbreaks in Africa. The bigger question isn't whether humanity will face another dangerous outbreak. It's whether our governments, public-health systems and communities will be prepared when it happens. And in the United States, politics has become inseparable from public health. Karel examines the Trump administration's approach to health policy and asks whether America is strengthening its ability to confront the next crisis—or weakening it. Then, there's another kind of contagion: cruelty. A new television adaptation of Stephen King's Carrie puts bullying back in the spotlight at a moment when cruelty—particularly online—can seem increasingly normalized. From social media pile-ons to public humiliation and political rhetoric, have we created a culture that rewards people for being cruel? Are we becoming a nation of bullies? And if so, can we reverse it? Join the conversation in the comments. LIKE the video, SUBSCRIBE to The Karel Cast, and SHARE this episode with someone who has an opinion. Support independent media on Patreon: patreon.com/reallykarel Watch and subscribe on YouTube: youtube.com/reallykarel The Karel Cast is available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, iHeartRadio, Spreaker and other major podcast platforms, plus TikTok and Instagram. LIVE Monday–Thursday at 10:00 a.m. Pacific. Karel is a history-making broadcaster, entertainer and commentator based in Las Vegas, joined by his little service dog, Ember. #Pandemic, #Measles, #Ebola, #Plague, #PublicHealth, #HealthNews, #Trump, #Politics, #BreakingNews, #StephenKing, #Carrie, #Bullying, #SocialMedia, #TheKarelCast, #KarelCast https://youtube.com/live/T5vcKuqx81I Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-karel-show--1368295/support. The Karel Show is supported by your donations at patreon.com/reallykarel and streams live Monday–Thursday at 10:30am PST. Available on YouTube, TikTok, Instagram, Apple Music, Spotify, iHeart Media, Spreaker, and all major platforms.

    THE NEXT PANDEMIC IS COMING: Are We Ready—or Making the Same Mistakes Again?
See All (174)

4.4
out of 5
39 Ratings

About

The Karel Show delivers bold commentary from Karel, an openly gay entertainer, author, and nationally syndicated talk show host known for saying what others won’t. With humor, heart, and zero patience for nonsense, Karel takes listeners on a fast-paced, no-filter journey through politics, culture, and modern American life—hilarious, incisive, and always honest. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-karel-show--1368295/support.

Information

  • Creator
    Karel
  • Years Active
    2020 - 2026
  • Episodes
    174
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Copyright karel.media
  • Show Website
    The Karel Show

You Might Also Like