Everything & Anything...and a bit gay Podcast

Zach Randles-Friedman
  • 4.8 (55)
  • Relationships
  • Updated Daily

Queer-hosted and unapologetically curious. We cover everything and anything — and yes, it's a bit gay.

  1. 4h ago

    Ep. 272: The Friend Who Knows Everyone, Lies About Everything | The Gay Bit

    It's Friday, and that means it's The Gay Bit — where Zach makes sure the week ends as gay as possible. This week, Zach takes us on a tour of a very specific type of friend: the one who knows every owner, attended every opening, and has somehow been to every event before you even finish your sentence. You know the type. Zach does too — and he's got receipts. He also flashes back to a wild chapter from his Chase Manhattan Bank days, featuring a coworker who claimed she dumped LL Cool J because he got too famous, and whose daughter allegedly went from zero piano lessons to a Carnegie Hall solo in two weeks flat. Two weeks. Plus: what happens when someone lets a corporate promotion go completely to their head, a red Australian clay mask prank that did NOT go according to plan (Andrew remains unbothered), and the big news — Zach got his ears pierced again at 53 and has zero regrets. In this episode: The "I know the owner" friend and what the psychology might be behind it A corporate crash course in how not to act after a promotion The Chase Manhattan coworker who dated LL Cool J (allegedly) Carnegie Hall: two weeks of piano lessons, one impossible story Andrew vs. the red clay mask prank Ear piercing, belly buttons, and doing whatever you want at 53 New episodes drop daily. Subscribe so you never miss a Gay Bit — or the guests coming your way every Sunday. 📲 Follow Zach on Instagram: @TheRealZachRE 🎙️ Leave a rating and review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify — it helps more people find the show. Podcast song by SIXFOOT 5: https://www.sixfoot5prod.com  Apple: https://music.apple.com/us/artist/sixfoot-5/1551774977  Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/5rHMzoU0G0fLhaBsrQiOOY?si=laSZ5hiKTYubJJyhrzf2JQ Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

    Ep. 272: The Friend Who Knows Everyone, Lies About Everything | The Gay Bit

  2. 1d ago

    Ep. 271: Surviving Cancer Sucks — But So Does Pretending You're Back to Normal | Edward Miskie

    What happens after the cancer is gone? For actor, filmmaker, author, and cancer survivor Edward Miskie, the answer is: the hardest part. In this raw, deeply honest, and at times hilarious conversation, Edward joins Zach to talk about being diagnosed with lymphoma at 24 while performing in Hairspray in Reno, Nevada — a tumor the size of a grapefruit growing under his arm, costumes being let out to fit around it — and what came after surviving the unsurvivable. Edward pulls zero punches. He talks about drinking his way through chemo, swimming in the ocean during radiation and getting a parasite, and the moment he thought his life was actually over. But the conversation goes even deeper into what he calls surviving cancer sucks — that devastating, disorienting realization that "back to normal" is a lie. That the person you were before cancer is gone. That while you were in treatment fighting to stay alive, the rest of the world just... kept going. Edward also shares the story behind his acclaimed documentary short Back to Normal, which has won Best Story at the Toronto and Los Angeles Documentary Short Film Festival, and why he made it — to finally have the conversation no one was having about life after cancer. He talks about the Remission Film Festival he founded in New York City (the only film festival of its kind, focused on creators impacted by cancer), his book Cancer, Musical Theater, and Other Chronic Illnesses, and what he tells anyone who's still pretending they're fine: stop it and swing for the fences. This is one of those conversations where Zach forgot he was even recording a podcast. Episode Notes: 🎬 About Edward Miskie: Edward Miskie is a New York-based actor, filmmaker, author, and cancer survivor. Diagnosed with lymphoma in 2011 while performing in regional theater, he went on to build a second life defined by radical honesty, creative audacity, and a refusal to pretend everything is fine. 📽️ Back to Normal — Edward's documentary short film, currently on the film festival circuit. Watch for upcoming screenings and future distribution. Keep up with Edward on social media for details. 🎟️ Remission Film Festival — The only film festival focused on creators impacted by cancer. Held annually in New York City, with live streaming available. This past April featured 14 films, 35 submissions from across the globe, and raised money for Blood Cancer United. remissionfilmfestival.com (confirm URL with Edward) 📚 Cancer, Musical Theater, and Other Chronic Illnesses — Edward's book about diagnosis, survivorship, and coming out the other side — set against the backdrop of musical theater. Available on Amazon and Barnes & Noble. Learn more about Edward https://www.edwardmiskie.com/ https://www.instagram.com/edwardmiskie Podcast song by SIXFOOT 5: https://www.sixfoot5prod.com  Apple: https://music.apple.com/us/artist/sixfoot-5/1551774977  Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/5rHMzoU0G0fLhaBsrQiOOY?si=laSZ5hiKTYubJJyhrzf2JQ Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

    Ep. 271: Surviving Cancer Sucks — But So Does Pretending You're Back to Normal | Edward Miskie

  3. 3d ago

    Ep. 270: Why Gay People Have Attitude — And We've Earned Every Bit of It | This Is Everything

    Gay people have attitude. It's a stereotype — and it's also true. But the question was never why are gay people bitchy? The real question is: what did the world do to create that? In this episode of This Is Everything, Zach gets personal about the armor that LGBTQ+ people build just to survive — the thick skin, the shade, the sharp wit, the hypervigilance about who's safe in the room. It's not a personality flaw. It's scar tissue. From six months of silence in his childhood home after coming out to his father, to guests who were beaten, threatened, and tortured just for existing — Zach traces the real origin of gay attitude. He talks about ballroom culture as an act of pure defiance, the 700+ anti-LGBTQ legislative bills moving through government right now, and why a quiet, apologetic gay person is easier to ignore — and why that's exactly the problem. This one hits. In this episode: The stereotype that's actually true — and why it exists Guests who were beaten, threatened, and left death threats in their lockers just for being LGBTQ+ Six months of silence: Zach's father not speaking to him after he came out — and what happened after Why gay attitude is scar tissue, not personality Andrew's grandfather and mother, and what unconditional acceptance actually looks like Reading the room at work: the survival skill every LGBTQ+ person develops Ballroom culture, voguing, and building a family out of defiance Transgender guests at 50, 60, and 66 — and what choosing your authentic self actually costs Over 700 anti-LGBTQ bills in the United States right now The AIDS crisis, Stonewall, police raids, and why older generations carry what they carry A message to every LGBTQ+ person still standing: you are f*****g incredible Connect with Zach: 🌐 everythingandanythingpodcast.com 📸 Instagram: @TheRealZachRE Everything & Anything…and a Bit Gay — new episodes weekly. Subscribe, rate, and share if this one hit home. Podcast song by SIXFOOT 5: https://www.sixfoot5prod.com  Apple: https://music.apple.com/us/artist/sixfoot-5/1551774977  Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/5rHMzoU0G0fLhaBsrQiOOY?si=laSZ5hiKTYubJJyhrzf2JQ Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

    Ep. 270: Why Gay People Have Attitude — And We've Earned Every Bit of It | This Is Everything

  4. 4d ago

    Ep. 269: Chaz Dean on WEN, Celebrity Clients, Giving Back & His Secret Skincare Routine

    One of the most recognizable names in beauty joins us for a deeply personal, wide-ranging conversation. Chaz Dean — the creator of WEN Cleansing Conditioner, with over 100 million bottles sold — sits down with Zach to talk about far more than hair. This is a conversation about following your instincts, building a legacy on your own terms, the chosen family that shapes you, and why giving back isn't something you do when you can afford it — it's something you do with whatever you have. Chaz shares the story of how he almost took a job at Vidal Sassoon but walked away when they told him he had to choose between cutting and coloring. He talks about the moments that shaped him: getting exploited early in his career, using those experiences as fuel rather than reasons to quit, and ultimately building one of the most iconic product lines in beauty history. He opens up about his celebrity clients — from Jennie Garth (a friendship of over 30 years) to Tori Spelling and Julianna Margulies — and shares a never-before-told story about asking the universe for Madonna and Pamela Anderson as clients, and the ice-cold lesson that redirected him. Beyond beauty, Chaz talks about the charities that have defined his adult life: 26+ years with the HollyRod Foundation supporting autism and Parkinson's research, nearly 30 years with Project Angel Food (which started with Marianne Williamson cooking meals for people with AIDS), and his deep involvement with Best Friends Animal Society. He reflects on the mentor figures who shaped him — including his minister of 25 years, the late Reverend Della Reese, and a woman named Spirit, a formerly homeless person who lived at his Hollywood salon for 12 years. The conversation also gets beautifully personal — his journey away from Botox and fillers, his natural skincare routine (and why he'll do a half-face challenge with Zach live on camera), the inspiration behind his low-heat hair dryer after watching clients destroy their hair with high-heat tools, and a brand new self-tanner born out of a first-date ultimatum. This is one of those episodes that makes you rethink what it means to build something real. Episode Notes: Chaz's early career: photography school → beauty school → walking away from Vidal Sassoon Being exploited early and using it as a stepping stone instead of a roadblock How WEN changed the haircare industry — and why people still ask "where's the shampoo?" 25 years later The never-told story about asking the universe for celebrity clients — and the lesson that redirected him 30+ year friendship with Jennie Garth His minister for 25 years: the late Reverend Della Reese Spirit — a formerly homeless woman who lived at his Hollywood salon for 12 years Why he stopped Botox and fillers in 2019 — and what his natural skincare routine looks like now Why his hair dryer maxes out at 240°F — and why that matters for your hair health A new self-tanner created from plant-based sugars with no orange, no streak, no smell HollyRod Foundation (26+ years), Project Angel Food (nearly 30 years), Best Friends Animal Society His skincare product recommendations: dry oil, facial cleansing treatment, night cream, body bomb, revitalizing mist The half-face challenge: use your current products on one side, Chaz's on the other for 30 days Links: Chaz Dean website: https://chazdean.com/ WEN Pets Ultra Plush Faux Fur Bed: https://chazdean.com/collections/wen-pets Subscribe to Everything & Anything…and a Bit Gay: [add link]Follow Zach: @TheRealZachRE on Instagram Podcast song by SIXFOOT 5: https://www.sixfoot5prod.com  Apple: https://music.apple.com/us/artist/sixfoot-5/1551774977  Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/5rHMzoU0G0fLhaBsrQiOOY?si=laSZ5hiKTYubJJyhrzf2JQ Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

    Ep. 269: Chaz Dean on WEN, Celebrity Clients, Giving Back & His Secret Skincare Routine

  5. 5d ago

    Ep. 268: Kink, Leather Culture & Sexual Authenticity w/ The Kink Collective

    Kink, Leather Culture & Sexual Authenticity with The Kink Collective What does it really mean to know who you are — and to be brave enough to live it? In this episode of Everything & Anything…and a Bit Gay, Zach sits down with three remarkable people: Cat, Joshua, and Natalie, co-founders and members of the Kink Collective, an organization built on a single radical idea: people before kink. The Kink Collective isn't about teaching people what to do in the bedroom. It's about helping people find the language to describe who they are — and creating a space where they finally feel safe enough to say it out loud. Cat, Joshua, and Natalie share their personal journeys: grief and loss, toxic relationships, reinvention, and ultimately, how they found each other and built something meaningful together. They get into what leather culture actually is (and isn't), the difference between kink as physical and kink as emotional intelligence, and why the people who find them are often the ones who've "done everything right" by society's standards — and still feel completely lost. They also open up about the very real price of authenticity, the risks of oversharing, and why discernment is one of the most undervalued skills in any relationship. Zach and the group also dive into pop culture — including the film Pillion and the show Billions — and how mainstream media is starting (slowly) to reflect these conversations. If you've ever felt like you were living a version of yourself that other people designed for you, this episode is for you. Find the Kink Collective: kinkcollective.net 📱 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kink_collective/ 🎙️ Their podcast: Conscious Kinky Podcast on Spotify & YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@TheKinkCollective https://open.spotify.com/show/3faYv0gsR2G7IeGORwtD3V?si=ca3ef90904f54b5b&nd=1&dlsi=1cfcbb4e606b4698 Everything & Anything…and a Bit Gay is available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, Amazon Music, and iHeartRadio. 🌐 everythingandanythingpodcast.com 📱 Instagram: @TheRealZachRE If this episode resonated with you, share it with someone who needs to hear it — and don't forget to subscribe, rate, and review wherever you listen. Podcast song by SIXFOOT 5: https://www.sixfoot5prod.com  Apple: https://music.apple.com/us/artist/sixfoot-5/1551774977  Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/5rHMzoU0G0fLhaBsrQiOOY?si=laSZ5hiKTYubJJyhrzf2JQ Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

    Ep. 268: Kink, Leather Culture & Sexual Authenticity w/ The Kink Collective

  6. 5d ago

    Ep. 267: From Colombia to Netflix: Model, Actress & Beauty Queen Elisa's Incredible Journey

    This week on Everything & Anything…and a Bit Gay, Zach sits down with Colombian actress, model, and former beauty queen Elisa — a woman who has done it all. From winning pageants in Barranquilla (the city that gave the world Shakira and Sofia Vergara), to earning a law degree she never used, to walking runways in Miami and eventually landing roles on Netflix and Starz's Black Mafia Family, Elisa's journey is one of grit, glamour, and genuine heart. In this conversation, Elisa opens up about growing up in Colombia, the magic (and chaos) of Barranquilla's legendary four-day carnival, and how watching Burn Notice as a background extra made her decide she wanted to be the one with the microphone in front of the camera. She also shares the story of how a well-placed string of Spanish curse words in an audition landed her a role on a major Netflix series — and why the producers actually asked her to keep them in. Plus: Hollywood diversity, teenage daughters and screen time, her Hands for Children Foundation that has served kids in Colombia for over 10 years, and her upcoming film RLC Backstage — a scripted drama set behind the scenes of LA's fashion world, premiering at the Chinese Theatre. Topics covered: Growing up in Barranquilla, Colombia — the city of Shakira, Sofia Vergara, and carnival culture From child pageants to Miss World Colombia — and a law degree along the way Modeling in Miami with Elite, working on Burn Notice, and the moment she decided to become an actress Her first acting role: sweet-hearted Rosalita on Telemundo Playing the wife of a drug lord on Black Mafia Family The audition story: how Spanish curse words got her cast on Netflix Hollywood diversity for Latina and LGBTQ+ actors — progress and frustration Dream co-stars: Brad Pitt, Tom Cruise, and an honorable mention for Leonardo DiCaprio Raising a teenage daughter in the age of social media (and enforcing phone-free time) The Hands for Children Foundation — 10+ years of feeding, clothing, and supporting kids in Colombia RLC Backstage — her upcoming scripted film about the fashion world, premiering June 13 at the Chinese Theatre in Los Angeles 🔗 Follow Elisa: https://www.instagram.com/elisae.daily https://www.elisaberdugoactress.com/ 📲 Follow the show: @TheRealZachRE 🎙️ Subscribe, rate, and review wherever you listen!   Podcast song by SIXFOOT 5: https://www.sixfoot5prod.com  Apple: https://music.apple.com/us/artist/sixfoot-5/1551774977  Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/5rHMzoU0G0fLhaBsrQiOOY?si=laSZ5hiKTYubJJyhrzf2JQ Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

    Ep. 267: From Colombia to Netflix: Model, Actress & Beauty Queen Elisa's Incredible Journey

  7. Jul 17

    Ep. 266: Is Your Gaydar Broken? Gay Face, Bears, Twinks & Straight Men Who Confuse Us All

    Is your gaydar working — or is it completely broken? In this week's Gay Bit, Zach Randles-Friedman gets into one of the most timeless (and hilariously relatable) topics in gay culture: how do you actually spot a gay man in the wild? It all started at a bar when a guy walked in and Zach's friend called "straight" — but was he? Zach breaks down the unscientific but very real phenomenon of "gay face," the rise of the metrosexual, gender-neutral fashion, and why the current generation of guys has absolutely destroyed everyone's gaydar. From bears, twinks, and twunks to those screechy queens with approximately 400 extra S's on every word — Zach covers all the gay archetypes with love, humor, and zero apology. He also digs into the big double standard: why gay people can talk about their own community in ways straight people simply cannot. Plus: the classic gay tropes that ARE true (hello, U-Haul lesbians), how small-town gays are a different species, the Tom Ford rose prick cologne rabbit hole, cargo shorts as a sexuality indicator, and the accidental straight guy who spent an entire week drinking at a gay bar while on a business trip. Funny, self-aware, and unapologetically gay — this is The Gay Bit. Subscribe, follow, and leave a review wherever you listen. Find Zach on Instagram @TheRealZachRE. Podcast song by SIXFOOT 5: https://www.sixfoot5prod.com  Apple: https://music.apple.com/us/artist/sixfoot-5/1551774977  Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/5rHMzoU0G0fLhaBsrQiOOY?si=laSZ5hiKTYubJJyhrzf2JQ Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

    Ep. 266: Is Your Gaydar Broken? Gay Face, Bears, Twinks & Straight Men Who Confuse Us All

  8. Jul 16

    Ep. 265: From Trad Wife to TikTok Truth-Teller: Hope With Holly on Deconstruction & LGBTQ+ Allyship

    She married a man she didn't love because a prophet told her to. She buried her firstborn daughter. She taught abstinence-only education in Ohio while quietly asking questions no one wanted to answer. And now, Hope With Holly has 750,000 followers across platforms — and she's burning down every lie she was handed. In this raw, funny, and deeply moving conversation, Zach sits down with Holly, a former Liberty University-educated pastor, trad wife, and Christian nationalist who spent years inside one of America's most powerful evangelical networks — and found her way out. She opens up about losing her daughter at birth, the grief that cracked her faith wide open, her joyful divorce, buying a 15-acre farm, and building a healing sanctuary for women, LGBTQ+ people, and everyone the church left behind. Holly is the mother of a bisexual daughter and a transgender son — and she'll tell you that her children educated her just as much as she's educated the world. She talks about death threats, dead animals in her driveway, the male DM phenomenon she describes perfectly, and why she still shows up on TikTok every single day. This episode covers religious trauma, nervous system healing, LGBTQ+ allyship, anti-trans legislation, the manufactured fear behind transphobia, homophobic politicians (yes, Lady G gets a mention), and what it really means to love someone unconditionally. 🌿 Find Hope With Holly: Search "Hope With Holly" on any platform or click the link in her bio for retreat info, coaching calls, workbooks, and her free 20-page love letter defending the LGBTQ+ community.  https://www.tiktok.com/@hopewithholly https://www.instagram.com/Hope_with_Holly 📲 Follow Zach: @TheRealZachRE on Instagram 🎙️ Subscribe to Everything & Anything…and a Bit Gay on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, iHeartRadio, and YouTube.   If this episode moved you — share it. Pass it to someone who needs it. That's how healing spreads. Podcast song by SIXFOOT 5: https://www.sixfoot5prod.com  Apple: https://music.apple.com/us/artist/sixfoot-5/1551774977  Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/5rHMzoU0G0fLhaBsrQiOOY?si=laSZ5hiKTYubJJyhrzf2JQ Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

    Ep. 265: From Trad Wife to TikTok Truth-Teller: Hope With Holly on Deconstruction & LGBTQ+ Allyship
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Queer-hosted and unapologetically curious. We cover everything and anything — and yes, it's a bit gay.

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