🎙️ What’s This Episode About?

Toni, also known as Hennessy XX, is a queer pole dancer, dance instructor, and performer who has turned movement into both power and protest.

Toni joins John for an open conversation about her journey into pole, from first stepping into a studio to becoming Xpert qualified in Pole Fitness Levels 1 & 2, and performing under the name Hennessy. She talks about the discipline behind the glamour, the bruises behind the confidence, and the work it takes to build strength in a world that constantly critiques bodies.

They unpack the stigma that still surrounds pole dancing, especially for queer women – from fitness to performance pieces, she reflects on how pole has allowed her to explore sensuality, queerness, control and vulnerability on her own terms.

There’s also honest discussion about teaching: what it means to hold space for beginners, to help others feel safe in their bodies, and to create an environment where strength and softness can co-exist. Toni speaks about community, self-belief, and how pole gave her not just confidence… but ownership.

It’s thoughtful, empowering and refreshingly real, a reminder that movement can be healing, and that taking up space isn’t something you have to earn.

🗣️ 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

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🎙️ What’s This Episode About?

Shania Pain is a Manchester-based drag queen with Scouse, theatre-kid roots, big pop energy, and a healthy sense of humour about the expectations placed on her.

Shania joins John to talk about her early ambitions of being a full-on musical theatre boy… followed by the realisation that drag let her do all of that… and more. They chat about finding her feet on the Liverpool scene, the running joke of being “The Vivienne’s replacement” when she moved to Gran Canaria, and what it actually means to carve out your own lane in a city that loves its legends.

From relocating to Manchester to thinking about what’s next, this is a conversation about ambition, identity, and allowing yourself to evolve without losing your sparkle.

It’s funny, reflective, and full of future-facing energy, just like Shania.

🗣️ 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

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🎙️ What’s This Episode About?

Dr Rory McGill is the Director of Public Health for Sefton Council, as well as a lifelong horror nerd who grew up in Derry idolising Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Resident Evil’s Jill Valentine, and Kitana from Mortal Kombat.

Rory joins John to talk about the journey from small-city childhood (an actual Derry Girl) to senior leadership in public health, and how queerness, resilience, and a love of powerful women shaped the man he became. They chat about navigating identity in Northern Ireland, finding your tribe (or his own Scooby gang!), and building a career dedicated to improving people’s lives, very often behind the scenes.

Rory reflects on the path that led to him being recognised with a Lifetime Achievement Award at the 2025 LGBTQ+ FLOWERS Awards, and what it means to lead with empathy in a world that doesn’t always make that easy.

It’s thoughtful, funny, and occasionally geeky; a reminder that the kids who grew up obsessed with slaying monsters sometimes end up tackling the real ones.

🗣️ 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! 🙂

🎙️ What’s This Episode About?

Divina De Campo is a singer, Drag Race UK legend, producer, activist, and all-round powerhouse.

John and Divina sit down for a brilliantly chaotic chat that veers between heartfelt and hilarious, from their shared history on the queer scene to what it’s like balancing visibility, creativity, and exhaustion in a career that doesn’t slow down. Divina opens up about her current vocal concerns and what it means when your voice, quite literally, starts to feel fragile. They also dive into her role as producer for the upcoming Drag Race UK Series 7 tour, and the realities of making queer work happen on a big scale (spoiler: it’s not all rhinestones and rapture).

Of course, this wouldn’t be a Divina conversation without tangents: from opera and northern drag politics to burnout, biscuits, and backstaging a wig line.

It’s honest, messy, smart, and deeply human, exactly like the queen at the centre of it all.

🗣️ 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! 🙂

🎙️ What’s This Episode About?

Jayy Dring is a young Scouse lad with a big personality, a sharp (sometimes dark… lol) sense of humour, and a story that deserves to be heard.

Jayy joins John to talk about life behind the bar at Superstar Boudoir, navigating Liverpool’s queer nightlife scene, and some of the unexpected turns along the way… including a brief foray into adult work.

Most importantly, Jayy speaks openly about living with HIV: from diagnosis and stigma to self-worth, community, and learning to live with pride again.

It’s a conversation full of honesty, laughter, and strength, about the realities queer people still face, and the importance of speaking up so others don’t feel alone.

🗣️ 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! 🙂

🎙️ What’s This Episode About?

Kiki Pain is a fierce AFAB drag queen, singer and content creator making waves both on stage and online – and she’s not afraid to speak up for herself, or others.

Kiki joins John to talk about growing up surrounded by music, finding her way into drag, and the reality of being a woman in a world that still questions who “should” be doing drag. They chat about the joy of performing, the hate she’s faced (especially online), and how her drag has become a way of taking up space, loudly and proudly.

From gigging across the North West to going viral on TikTok, Kiki proves that talent and tenacity always speak louder than trolls.

Expect humour, heart, a few diva notes… and an unfiltered reminder that drag is for everyone.

🗣️ 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! 🙂

🎙️ What’s This Episode About?

Thomas Hartley is known to many from Married at First Sight UK, but these days, you’re just as likely to find him onstage as his drag alter ego, Pam Sandwich.

Tom joins John to talk about his early days on the gay scene, what life was really like after the cameras stopped rolling on MAFSUK, and how drag became a way to reconnect with who he really is. They chat about confidence, identity, starting over, and the birth of Pam; a performer who’s as bold, brash and brilliant as the person behind her.

From reality TV to real-life reinvention, it’s a conversation about making space for yourself, one platform (and one performance) at a time.

Funny, open and full of heart.

🗣️ 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! 🙂

🎙️ What’s This Episode About?

David Watson is a creative producer, cultural curator and one of the key figures behind some of Liverpool’s boldest, most visible moments in recent years; including making Eurovision 2023 extra special..

David joins John to talk about his creative journey, how he found himself in Liverpool, and why collaboration and community are at the heart of everything he does. They chat about his background in the arts, the scale (and stress) of supporting the city’s delivery of Eurovision, and his recent work with photographer Magnus Hastings – spotlighting Liverpool’s drag scene in a stunning public exhibition that brought queer art right into the centre of the city.

It’s thoughtful, inspiring and full of insight into what happens when creativity, queerness and pride collide.

🗣️ 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! 🙂

🎙️ What’s This Episode About?

Ste Hulme, known to some as Weavin’ Steven, known to others as Tanya Cope, joins John for one of the most open and important conversations on Proudly Said to date.

Ste speaks honestly about his journey through ketamine addiction, what that period of his life looked like, and how finding support through the newly formed House of The Vivienne charity helped him begin to rebuild. He reflects on how addiction crept in, the impact it had, and the realities of recovery.

Alongside this, Ste shares stories from his early days on Liverpool’s gay scene, meeting James Lee Williams (The Vivienne), and how their friendship grew into a bond that shaped his life in ways he’s still unpacking. We also talked about Ste’s professional work, creativity, and what moving forward looks like now.

It’s raw and reflective,, a conversation about friendship, grief, accountability, and choosing to keep going.

🗣️ 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! 🙂

🎙️ What’s This Episode About?

Shuv Barbital, the self-proclaimed Goth Mom of Liverpool, is a drag artist, host, costumer and chaos curator, known for bringing dark glamour, camp filth and fierce intelligence to every stage she haunts.

Shuv joins John for a gloriously unfiltered chat about alternative drag, the politics of performance, and why drag should never be confined to sequins and safe choices. They dive into feminism, visibility, creative autonomy, and take a few ADHD-fuelled tangents along the way.

Whether she’s lip-syncing in latex or building a space for queer outsiders, Shuv is as sharp as she is spooky… and not afraid to say exactly what she means.

It’s layered, loud, and perfectly off-track in all the right ways.

🗣️ 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! 🙂