Proudly Said

John Hyland
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Proudly Said is about being LGBTQ+ in the UK without compromise. Hosted by John Hyland (he/they), a Liverpool-born activist and advocate, the show brings real conversations to the forefront. No studios, no scripts - just people, where they’re most at home, speaking in their own words. Each episode centres voices you don’t hear enough, talking about what it means to live out loud, hold space, and just live. There’s no performance. Just queer stories, proudly said.

  1. 6d ago

    Ep 58: Lizzy Maginness said

    🎙️ What’s This Episode About? Lizzy Maginness joins John from the top floor of Gaydio Towers (really the Manchester One buildings, but Gaydio Towers sounds so much better!), looking out across Manchester… and reflecting on a career that’s taken her from rural Lincolnshire to the heart of the UK’s media and LGBTQ+ landscape. Now Commercial Manager at Gaydio, Lizzy shares her journey through some of the country’s biggest radio brands, from early marketing roles to leading major campaigns, live events, and national partnerships. She talks about helping bring Pride into the mainstream spotlight, including her role in building one of the first major media partnerships with Manchester Pride, and what it meant to broadcast those celebrations to audiences across the UK. But this conversation goes far beyond career highlights. Lizzy opens up about coming out later in life, the experience of growing up without visible queer representation, and how moving to Manchester helped shape her understanding of identity. From “Lesbian TikTok” moments to meeting her now wife just weeks after coming out, her story is honest, funny, and quietly powerful. Together, John and Lizzy explore the balance between grassroots and large-scale Pride, the importance of authentic representation in marketing, and what it really means to connect with LGBTQ+ audiences in a way that goes beyond surface-level visibility. It’s a conversation about timing, identity, and finding your place… even if it takes a little longer than expected. 🗣️ Why Listen? If you’re seeking genuine conversations that reflect the diverse experiences within the LGBTQ+ community, Proudly Said offers a platform for those narratives. 📣 Connect with Us – ProudlySaid.co.uk Subscribe: Stay updated with new episodes. Share: If this resonates with you, share it with others who might find it meaningful. Feedback: We value your thoughts. Reach out with comments or suggestions. Support: Join The Front Row for less than £3 a month, supporting a local queer creator, or buy us a bespoke coffee or three! :)

    28 min

  2. Jul 2

    Ep 57: Dan (Proud Readers Book Club) said

    🎙️ What’s This Episode About? Dan Roberts is a Liverpool librarian and the founder of the Proud Readers Book Club, an LGBTQ+ reading group that meets monthly in the Hornby Reading Room at Liverpool Central Library. In less than a year it has grown from a nerve-wracking first night where Dan wasn't sure anyone would show up, to a thriving community of 25 to 30 members and a shortlisting for a national Libraries Connected Award. Filmed in the stunning Oak Room at Central Library, Dan joins John to talk about how the book club came to be, why it quickly became about much more than books, and what it means to create a space where queer people can show up as themselves without performing for anyone. They get into the reading list, from Oscar Wilde to contemporary queer fiction, and why being pushed outside your comfort zone is half the point. The conversation also covers the bigger picture of what Dan is building: partnerships with Homotopia Festival, the LGBT Foundation, and upcoming outreach workshops across Liverpool and Manchester. The Proud Readers Book Club is quietly becoming a serious force for queer culture and community in the city. There's also a very honest and very funny thread running through it all about the pressure queer people feel to be performative, why Dan's ideal weekend involves Miss Marple and two dogs, and why he is absolutely, unapologetically a Golden Girl at heart. It's warm, funny, and quietly inspiring, a conversation about the power of creating something from nothing and watching it become exactly what your community needed. 🗣️ Why Listen? If you’re seeking genuine conversations that reflect the diverse experiences within the LGBTQ+ community, Proudly Said offers a platform for those narratives. 📣 Connect with Us – ProudlySaid.co.uk Subscribe: Stay updated with new episodes. Share: If this resonates with you, share it with others who might find it meaningful. Feedback: We value your thoughts. Reach out with comments or suggestions. Support: Join The Front Row for less than £3 a month, supporting a local queer creator, or buy us a bespoke coffee or three! :)

    39 min

  3. Jun 25

    Ep 56: Kyle Clarke said

    🎙️ What’s This Episode About? Kyle Clarke is a talent manager, producer, and the founder of DFIU Events, a drag and entertainment events company that has been putting on shows across the UK for five years. Kyle joins John to tell the story of how DFIU came to be: born in lockdown, built on relationships forged through interviewing RuPaul's Drag Race queens online, and grown into a touring events business with genuine industry clout. He talks about what it actually takes to run shows, the logistics, the contracts, the stress behind the sequins, and why the nighttime economy is in a more fragile state than audiences realise. They get into the realities of the drag events world: last-minute ticket buying culture, the financial risks promoters carry, and what it means to rebuild audience trust in an industry that's taken knocks. Kyle is candid about the hard moments too, including the times he's had to cancel shows and why protecting the business is what keeps it going. There's also the personal story: a wee gay boy from North Belfast, now two years into life in Manchester, with a coming-out story that wasn't his to control and a family that surprised him. Kyle reflects on identity, ambition, and what it means to build something on your own terms, with the chaos, the laughs, and the receipts to prove it. It's sharp, funny, and refreshingly no-nonsense, a conversation about what it really takes to put queer joy on a stage and keep it there. 🗣️ Why Listen? If you’re seeking genuine conversations that reflect the diverse experiences within the LGBTQ+ community, Proudly Said offers a platform for those narratives. 📣 Connect with Us – ProudlySaid.co.uk Subscribe: Stay updated with new episodes. Share: If this resonates with you, share it with others who might find it meaningful. Feedback: We value your thoughts. Reach out with comments or suggestions. Support: Join The Front Row for less than £3 a month, supporting a local queer creator, or buy us a bespoke coffee or three! :)

    38 min

  4. Jun 18

    Ep 55: Jeneen Lilith said

    🎙️ What’s This Episode About? Jeneen Lilith is a former nurse, queer activist, artist, and the mum of Luna, a transgender teenager known within Liverpool's LGBTQ+ community. John has known them both for ten years, and this conversation has been a long time coming. Jeneen joins John to talk honestly about what it has meant to raise a trans child, from the fear and paralysis of those first early days, knowing nobody in the trans community and not knowing how to help her daughter, through to the joy, the fight, and the version of herself she found along the way. She talks about the people who gave her hope when she needed it most, and how she now finds herself being that person for other families starting the same journey. They cover the political reality of being a trans parent right now, the protest song Jeneen wrote and performed at a Liverpool demonstration in response to the Supreme Court's ruling on trans rights, and what it means to channel anger into something that connects people rather than just exhausts them. Jeneen is candid about the complexity of her own position, holding cis privilege while being utterly woven into her daughter's lived experience. There's also a deeply personal thread running through it all: how supporting Luna led Jeneen to question everything she had assumed about her own identity, and the unexpected but entirely her own conclusion she arrived at. Warm, sharp, funny, and at times genuinely moving, it's a conversation about love as an act of courage. 🗣️ Why Listen? If you’re seeking genuine conversations that reflect the diverse experiences within the LGBTQ+ community, Proudly Said offers a platform for those narratives. 📣 Connect with Us – ProudlySaid.co.uk Subscribe: Stay updated with new episodes. Share: If this resonates with you, share it with others who might find it meaningful. Feedback: We value your thoughts. Reach out with comments or suggestions. Support: Join The Front Row for less than £3 a month, supporting a local queer creator, or buy us a bespoke coffee or three! :)

    45 min

  5. Jun 11

    Ep 54: Jodi Fox said

    🎙️ What’s This Episode About? Jodi Fox is a creative director, brand consultant, trustee of The Proud Trust, and founder of Studio Zenko, but more than that, she’s someone who understands how identity, creativity and leadership can all shape one another. In this episode, Jodi joins John at The Proud Place in Manchester for a conversation about the power of queer spaces, the importance of giving young LGBTQ+ people the support she never had growing up, and why organisations like The Proud Trust matter so much right now. They talk about Jodi’s journey as a trans woman, from knowing from a young age that something felt different, to not coming out until later in life, and what changed when she finally allowed herself to live more openly. She reflects on confidence, visibility, privilege, and the reality of navigating both personal and professional life while transitioning. Alongside that, they dive into her creative career - from years spent working with major brands in fashion, retail and advertising, to launching Studio Zenko and shifting towards more purpose-led work with charities, ethical businesses and organisations trying to make a real difference. It’s a thoughtful conversation about creativity as expression, branding as storytelling, and what happens when you stop just making things look good and start making them mean something too. It’s reflective, warm and quietly powerful — a conversation about finding your people, backing yourself, and using your skills to help build something better for those coming next. 🗣️ Why Listen? If you’re seeking genuine conversations that reflect the diverse experiences within the LGBTQ+ community, Proudly Said offers a platform for those narratives. 📣 Connect with Us – ProudlySaid.co.uk Subscribe: Stay updated with new episodes. Share: If this resonates with you, share it with others who might find it meaningful. Feedback: We value your thoughts. Reach out with comments or suggestions. Support: Join The Front Row for less than £3 a month, supporting a local queer creator, or buy us a bespoke coffee or three! :)

    32 min

  6. Jun 4

    Ep 53: Naya Thorn said

    🎙️ What’s This Episode About? To mark the start of Pride Month, John sits down with Liverpool drag artist Naya Thorn for a conversation that feels honest, grounded, and very real about where she’s at. Naya talks about how drag first came into her world, being around the Liverpool scene, the performers she looked up to, and slowly figuring out what her own version of drag looks like - which takes time, experience, and working it out as you go. They chat about balancing drag with everyday life, the reality of money, gigs, and what it actually takes to keep going creatively when it’s not always glamorous. Naya’s really open about not rushing things, not forcing a version of success, and allowing herself to grow into it properly. There’s also a lot of humour in this one, from side tangents to very blunt takes on the scene, performance, and the fact that… not everyone needs to be doing drag. It’s a conversation about finding your pace, backing yourself, and figuring it out without pretending you’ve got it all sorted. 🗣️ Why Listen? If you’re seeking genuine conversations that reflect the diverse experiences within the LGBTQ+ community, Proudly Said offers a platform for those narratives. 📣 Connect with Us – ProudlySaid.co.uk Subscribe: Stay updated with new episodes. Share: If this resonates with you, share it with others who might find it meaningful. Feedback: We value your thoughts. Reach out with comments or suggestions. Support: Join The Front Row for less than £3 a month, supporting a local queer creator, or buy us a bespoke coffee or three! :)

    39 min

  7. May 28

    Ep 52: Mario Kyriacou said

    🎙️ What’s This Episode About? Mario Kyriacou, the man behind the iconic Cheer Up pop party, joins John for a conversation that goes far beyond the dancefloor. We get into the story behind one of the UK’s most recognisable LGBTQ+ club nights, from its roots in pure pop nostalgia to becoming a full-scale celebration of queer joy, community, and connection. Mario shares how Cheer Up grew into a space where people can escape, express themselves, and feel part of something bigger, whether that’s through a Kylie anthem or a packed-out Pride crowd. But there’s another side to Mario’s story. Before the parties, there was the work. Mario reflects on his time connected to organisations like Liverpool’s Armistead Centre and Sahir House, and the role those spaces have played in supporting LGBTQ+ people through some of the most challenging moments in the community’s history. It’s a reminder that behind the glitter and pop perfection, there’s a deep-rooted understanding of care, responsibility, and showing up for others. The conversation moves between past and present, from the realities of LGBTQ+ support services to the evolution of queer nightlife, and what it means to create spaces that are both fun and meaningful. There’s laughter, nostalgia, and a real appreciation for how far things have come, alongside an honest look at what still needs to change. It’s a conversation about joy, legacy, and the people who build the spaces we often take for granted. 🗣️ Why Listen? If you’re seeking genuine conversations that reflect the diverse experiences within the LGBTQ+ community, Proudly Said offers a platform for those narratives. 📣 Connect with Us – ProudlySaid.co.uk Subscribe: Stay updated with new episodes. Share: If this resonates with you, share it with others who might find it meaningful. Feedback: We value your thoughts. Reach out with comments or suggestions. Support: Join The Front Row for less than £3 a month, supporting a local queer creator, or buy us a bespoke coffee or three! :)

    41 min

  8. May 21

    Ep 51: Alena (The Pole Loft) said

    🎙️ What’s This Episode About? Alena is the owner of The Pole Loft, a Liverpool-based studio built on inclusivity, confidence and creating space for people to move, express and reconnect with themselves. Alena joins John to talk about her journey from the Czech Republic to Liverpool, and how her path into pole fitness began. What started as a personal exploration soon grew into something much bigger: a passion for creating a space where people feel safe, supported and empowered, no matter their experience or background. They chat about the realities of building a business from the ground up, the misconceptions around pole, and why creating an environment that is built on trust and community is just as important as the physical side of the work. Alena also reflects on the responsibility that comes with holding space for others, and how The Pole Loft has become more than just a studio, but a place where people can grow in confidence, find connection, and challenge themselves in new ways. Looking ahead, the conversation turns to what’s next: expanding the space, reaching more people, and continuing to evolve a community that puts wellbeing, inclusivity and joy at its centre. It’s thoughtful, grounding and quietly powerful — a conversation about movement, identity, and building something that truly makes people feel at home. Follow The Pole Loft on Instagram, and check out their website! 🗣️ Why Listen? If you’re seeking genuine conversations that reflect the diverse experiences within the LGBTQ+ community, Proudly Said offers a platform for those narratives. 📣 Connect with Us – ProudlySaid.co.uk Subscribe: Stay updated with new episodes. Share: If this resonates with you, share it with others who might find it meaningful. Feedback: We value your thoughts. Reach out with comments or suggestions. Support: Join The Front Row for less than £3 a month, supporting a local queer creator, or buy us a bespoke coffee or three! :)

    38 min
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About

Proudly Said is about being LGBTQ+ in the UK without compromise. Hosted by John Hyland (he/they), a Liverpool-born activist and advocate, the show brings real conversations to the forefront. No studios, no scripts - just people, where they’re most at home, speaking in their own words. Each episode centres voices you don’t hear enough, talking about what it means to live out loud, hold space, and just live. There’s no performance. Just queer stories, proudly said.

Information

  • Creator
    John Hyland
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    59
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2025 Proudly Said
  • Show Website
    Proudly Said

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