🎙️ What’s This Episode About?

Violet Pain is a staple drag queen in Liverpool, and a seasoned performer with a quick wit, sharp mug, and a deep love for the stage; whether that’s at Superstar Boudoir, Masquerade, Sparkles in Gran Canaria, or anywhere a mic and a moment are available.

Violet joins John to talk about the journey behind the glamour: from early days navigating queer spaces to becoming a familiar face (and voice) across Liverpool’s drag scene. They chat about what it means to build a drag persona, the wider drag community, and how Violet uses drag to hold space for joy, silliness and honesty.

There’s also talk of friendship, community, and why sometimes the most profound thing you can do… is make someone laugh.

It’s smart, sassy, and full of heart – just like Violet.

🗣️ 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?

Nana Funk is a cabaret queen, burlesque bombshell, and musical mischief-maker; and she’s made it her mission to challenge ageism, celebrate bodies of all kinds, and bring joy wherever she goes.

Nana joins John for a funny, warm and wildly honest conversation about creativity, clowning, and carving out space on her own terms. They chat about how the character of Nana came to life, what it’s like to be a woman in entertainment past the age the industry often tries to ignore, and why ageing doesn’t mean fading into the background.

From improvisation to song to glitter-covered stage antics, Nana Funk proves that fabulous has no expiry date — and neither does fighting for visibility.

It’s full of sparkle, sass, and a proper good cackle. Just how Nana likes it.

🗣️ 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?

Hannah Riley is a full-on powerhouse – working behind the scenes in TV by day, and lighting up stages and arenas as a presenter and host by night.

Hannah joins John to chat about her journey through the world of media, learning the ropes in costume departments and production teams, and how she’s carving out a path in front of the camera, and on stage too. They talk about confidence, hustle, and that surreal moment when she found out she’d been chosen as the roaming reporter for BBC Radio 1’s Big Weekend in Liverpool.

From local theatre stages to national coverage, Hannah brings energy, humour, and a real love for people into everything she does – and she’s just getting started.

It’s fast-paced, full of laughs, and a reminder that when preparation meets opportunity, anything can happen.

🗣️ 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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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?

To welcome in the new year, John reflects on the last 6 months since starting Proudly Said, with 30 episodes posted, and plenty more scheduled.

We want to say a huge thank you to everyone who has supported the podcast since we started, and we really appreciate all the likes, shares, reviews, and wider support.

🗣️ 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?

Tracy Wilder, better known to the dancefloors asDJ Silk Tray, is a Liverpool legend, who’s been spinning tunes, turning looks, and shaping queer nightlife in the city for over 30 years.

Tracy joins John to reflect on her incredible journey, from the heyday of Garlands, to being behind the decks the nightSuperstar Boudoirfirst opened its doors, to her current residency atSonic Yootha, the monthly queer dance party keeping Liverpool funky and fearless.

They talk about how the scene has changed over the decades, how Tracy’s own transition unfolded alongside her career, and how creativity, whether through DJing, acting or storytelling, has always been her anchor.

It’s a story of resilience, rhythm, and real community history; told by someone who helped shape it.

🗣️ 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?

Robyn Renée is an AFAB drag queen based in Liverpool, part party animal, part comedy performer, and full-time advocate for giving it a go (even if you’re terrified).

Robyn joins John to talk about what it’s like stepping into drag as a woman, navigating a scene that has so many different kinds of queen, and how she’s found her rhythm through DJing, performing, and just saying “yes” more often than “no.”

They talk about the power of putting yourself out there, building meaningful relationships in the drag community, and why getting out of your comfort zone can be exactly where the magic happens, even if it starts with a shaky wig and a borrowed pair of heels.

It’s fun, honest, and a reminder that drag is for anyone with the guts to try.

🗣️ 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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Share: If this resonates with you, share it with others who might find it meaningful.

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🎙️ What’s This Episode About?

Mahito Thee Cosplayer is best known for their jaw-dropping horror looks and viral cosplay content – but behind the masks is a story just as powerful.

Mahito joins John to share their journey as a queer, Black, Nigerian creative navigating identity across continents. From growing up between cultures, to living in the US during the Trump era, to arriving in the UK and unpacking what it means to be “British”; Mahito speaks candidly about displacement, poverty, survival, and resilience.

They talk about finding themselves through queerness, navigating race and gender in an often hostile world, and learning how to carve out joy in the shadows.

It’s vulnerable, global, and deeply human – a reminder that behind every strong voice is a story that took strength to tell.

🗣️ 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.

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🎙️ What’s This Episode About?

Noel Hughes is a third-year Veterinary Science student and the president of the University of Liverpool’s Queer Vet Society, proudly flying the flag for queer visibility in a field that’s not always known for it.

Noel joins John to talk about what it’s like moving to a big city as a young queer person, navigating uni life, and finding community in unexpected places (like the vet school corridors). They chat about queerness in science, the power of student societies, and why representation matters, even in wellies and a lab coat.

Plus, there’s a quiz you didn’t know you needed: is it a parasite… or a dinosaur? Noel puts John’s scientific knowledge (and ability to annunciate) to the test.

It’s smart, sincere, and full of student survival energy – proof that queerness belongs in every room, lecture hall, and species classification.

🗣️ 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.

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🎙️ What’s This Episode About?

Niall O’Callaghan is a content creator, entertainer, and all-round online personality who’s made a name for himself by making people laugh, and making it look effortless.

Niall joins John to talk about the real story behind the reels, from first nights out at Liverpool’s iconicSuperstar Boudoir, to building a following on TikTok and Instagram by simply being himself (and about ten different characters).

They chat about finding confidence as a queer man, the thrill of making people laugh, and the reality of putting yourself out there online; including how he handles the negativity that comes with visibility. Niall shares why he truly believes he was born to entertain, and how humour became a bridge between confidence and community.

It’s warm, witty, and just the right amount of chaotic.

🗣️ 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.

🎙️ What’s This Episode About?

Alabama Whirley is a fat-positive burlesque dancer, cabaret producer, and walking middle finger to society’s obsession with shrinking.

Alabama joins John to talk about performing with power, living visibly in a body-conscious world, and challenging stigma, both on stage and off. They explore the language we use around bodies, how it shapes our confidence (or chips away at it), and what it means to be both fat and fearless in spaces that often try to make you feel like you don’t belong.

They also dig into the politics of performance, the rise of fat cabaret, and why representation isn’t enough if it’s notreal.

It’s bold, body-literate, and set in joy, not just defiance.

🗣️ 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.