Pumpkin spice at the wrong time, giga yachts, Ozempic, and Christmas trees in October - this one is pure chaotic gay energy in the best possible way. Ben McDonnell joins Bryan and Jon for a brutally funny catch-up that starts with The Traitors and somehow ends with elite-level holiday planning, reality TV fantasies, and a conversation about what we’re actually putting in our bodies.

Ben, who’s currently on The Traitors, opens up about life as a faithful, what he’d do on the show, and why he’s absolutely here for strategy, drama, and the wardrobe. The trio also gets candid about GLP-1 shots, body image, trainer culture, and the very gay math of time vs. money when it comes to fitness.

You'll also hear about Ben’s summer on a “giga yacht” with a helicopter, Bryan and Jon’s 10-year anniversary in Spain, their glamorous villa in the hills of Barcelona, and the not-so-glamorous reality of keeping kids believing in Santa. Along the way, they get into fake meat, chicken trauma, reality competition shows, and why Vanna White may have the easiest job in America.

This episode is equal parts hilarious, unfiltered, and weirdly wholesome. If you love pop culture, queer banter, reality TV, and conversations that bounce from nonsense to sincerity without warning, this is your sign to hit play.

Ben McDonnell is the host of It's Been a Week and a contestant on The Traitors, known for his sharp humor and effortlessly chaotic energy.

Bryan and Jon are the hosts of Out Loud and Laughing, bringing the quick wit, relationship banter, and community-centered perspective that makes this episode feel like catching up with your funniest friends.Perfect for listeners who love messy group chat energy, gay pop culture commentary, and the kind of episode that makes a Friday feel like a vacation.

YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@OutLoudAndLaughing?sub_confirmation=1

Chapters

00:00 Introduction and Guest Welcome

01:18 Ben's Reality TV Experience and Show Involvement

02:39 Favorite Shows and Watching Strategies

04:00 Ozempic and Weight Loss Stories

05:12 Medical Trends and Body Image

06:55 Farm Life and Ethical Eating

09:01 Travel Adventures in Greece and Europe

12:40 Summer Vacation and Greek Islands

14:59 Luxury Yacht Experiences and Family Connections

16:58 Wedding Anniversary and Celebrations

22:01 Upcoming Projects and Industry Events

23:30 Voting for Podcast Competition and Community Engagement

25:00 Holiday Preparations and Family Traditions

28:01 Elf on the Shelf and Holiday Magic

29:58 Favorite Game Shows and Celebrity Hosts

33:00 Legacy Hosts and TV Careers

36:00 Closing Remarks and Future Plans

Out Loud and Laughing, Ben McDonnell, The Traitors, The Traitors contestant, LGBTQ podcast, gay podcast, queer pop culture, LGBTQ conversation, reality TV, reality competition shows, celebrity podcast interview, gay friends podcast, Ozempic conversation, GLP-1 weight loss, body image, fitness culture, giga yacht, luxury yacht vacation, Greece and Italy travel, Spain anniversary trip, holiday traditions, Elf on the Shelf, pumpkin spice season, funny podcast conversation

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Visit us at www.OutLoudAndLaughing.com

Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7obVHRF8knOr0WUMOZLJnM

Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLvTk63DP29cMR3QjT_xkkHygIX2MZi1c9

Hollywood producer Dan Jinks joins us to share how he built an Oscar-winning career by championing original stories—and why he never saw being gay as a limitation in an industry full of gatekeepers.From a theater-obsessed kid dreaming of show business to producing films that made a lasting cultural impact, Dan reflects on the experiences that shaped his career and his creative instincts. He takes us behind the scenes of Milk, including the challenges of getting the film made, why Sean Penn was pivotal to the project, and how the cast came together.Dan also shares a memorable moment from the set of American Beauty, what he looks for in a script today, and why originality and characters that move him still matter. We talk about the challenges facing LGBTQ+ stories in Hollywood, the audience response to Heated Rivalry, and the movie musical Dan still hopes to bring to life.Plus, Dan joins us for a playful round of “This or That: The Producer’s Cut.”

In this episode:

• Dan’s path from theater kid to Oscar-winning producer
• The story behind making Milk
• LGBTQ+ visibility and belonging in Hollywood
• What makes a script stand out
• A behind-the-scenes moment from American Beauty
• Dan’s dream of producing a big-screen musical

If you love filmmaking, queer representation, and the stories behind iconic movies, this conversation is for you. Dan also recommends checking out Down with Love.

Dan Jinks Instagram: @danjinks

YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@OutLoudAndLaughing?sub_confirmation=1

Chapters:

00:00 Introduction to Dan Jinks and his career

01:55 Dan's early passion for theater and show business

03:51 Hiding and discovering his sexuality through acting

05:37 Making Milk and the challenges of bringing LGBTQ+ stories to the screen

09:00 Navigating Hollywood as an out gay producer

11:10 Representation and casting in Hollywood

13:57 The artistry behind American Beauty and memorable scenes

16:59 What drives Dan to choose projects

19:03 Obstacles for LGBTQ+ stories in mainstream cinema

22:09 Future projects and the desire for original storytelling

23:30 Fun rapid-fire questions: preferences and personal insights

28:04 Closing thoughts and where to follow Dan Jinks

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Visit us at www.OutLoudAndLaughing.com

Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7obVHRF8knOr0WUMOZLJnM

Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLvTk63DP29cMR3QjT_xkkHygIX2MZi1c9

What does it take to build a life, a relationship, and a creative empire together? On and Dave join us for a candid conversation about queer love, entrepreneurship, and staying unapologetically themselves.The couple shares how they balance working and living together, what they’ve learned from building their apparel brand, and why patience matters when growing a business. They also talk about turning real-life experiences into music, their podcast Boys Bear Talk, and the story of how they first met.In this episode, we get into:

• How On and Dave keep their relationship strong while collaborating on multiple projects
• The evolution of their apparel brand and the customer feedback shaping its designs
• Why building a business takes patience, persistence, and confidence
• How Dave’s songwriting helps On bring personal, lived experiences to his music
• The conversations about queer masculinity, body image, and relationships behind Boys Bear Talk
• Why they hope to be remembered first for their love story

From business lessons to playful “This or That” questions, On and Dave bring honesty, humor, and plenty of chemistry to the conversation.

Boys Bare Talk: https://open.spotify.com/show/7L5aN0YxdTxz0ySjbUj5LV

David Mekahel Instagram: @davemekahel

On Mekahel Instagram:@iamonmekahel

YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@OutLoudAndLaughing?sub_confirmation=1

Chapters:

00:00 Introduction to On and Dave's Creative Partnership

01:11 Getting Personal: Off-Clock Life and Routines

03:11 On Growing Up Independent and Building Grit

04:30 The Secret to Working Together and Maintaining Love

05:42 Launching Mounderware and Evolving the Brand

08:12 Surprising Discoveries in Apparel Design

11:14 Vulnerability and Authenticity in Podcasting

15:21 How They Met and Their Love Story

17:44 Overcoming Boundaries as Queer Entrepreneurs

22:25 Future Plans: Fashion Shoots and Brand Vision

23:21 Legacy: Love Story or Empire?

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Visit us at www.OutLoudAndLaughing.com

Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7obVHRF8knOr0WUMOZLJnM

Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLvTk63DP29cMR3QjT_xkkHygIX2MZi1c9