Proudly Said

🎙️ What’s This Episode About? Joey is the frontman of Liverpool queer party band  Joey & The Hot Tub Boys  — bringing glitter, chaos and genuine heart to every stage they hit. Joey joins John to talk about making music that’s unapologetically queer, fun, and loud in all the right ways. From more intimate gigs to sold-out sweaty nights, they dive into what it means to hold space for s...

🎙️ What’s This Episode About? Regina McQueen is a Wirral-born drag queen with a big personality, a sharp wit, and a soft spot for repainting dolls - literally. Regina joins John for a chat that’s as full of heart as it is humour. They talk about growing up queer in Birkenhead, building a name for herself on the Liverpool drag scene, and how painting dolls in her spare time helps her stay grounded...

🎙️ What’s This Episode About? Braidy Maloney is a proud queer woman, business owner, and quiet force (sometimes not so quiet) - running both  Five Café  and  Solomon’s Tap Room  in Garston. Braidy sits down with John to talk about building community from the ground up. Not with big speeches or rainbow branding, but by creating real, local spaces where all people feel seen and s...

🎙️ What’s This Episode About? Franz Genau is a drag king, host and chaos-stirrer - better known to some as Queer Artisan . Franz joins John to talk about what it means to perform masculinity not just for laughs, but to shake things up. As Queer Artisan, Franz has carved out space in Liverpool’s cabaret and DIY drag scene — running events, creating platforms, and making room for other queer artists...

🎙️ What’s This Episode About? Gary Harper is a contemporary artist whose work hits harder than most – abstract, emotional, and unapologetically honest. Known for his landscapes and visual storytelling, Gary brings mental health, queerness and working-class identity into all he does. In this episode, Gary joins John for a conversation that’s equal parts art school, therapy session and Scouse defian...

🎙️ What’s This Episode About? Ketona Madrave is Liverpool's DJ Drag Queen, hitting the decks across multiple LGBTQ+ venues in the city. John and Ketona sat down and talked about how she came into drag, her musical background, and also the potential issues around misunderstanding her namesake in light of recent events within the local community. 🗣️ Why Listen? If you’re seeking genuine conversation...

🎙️ What’s This Episode About? Connie Frankish is a transgender woman and proud activist for the last 18, no 12, wait actually 9 months - and has quickly become a powerhouse within the community of Liverpool. She reflected on her time as a teacher, and how her being openly trans had an impact on both the young people she taught, and the adults around her. Please note: this episode was filmed prior...

🎙️ What’s This Episode About? Sarah Lovelock is one of the ultimate LGBTQ+ allies in Liverpool. Owner of Lovelocks Coffee Shop , she has, without intention, created the only daytime queer safe space for the community; with the vast majority of her regulars being from the community. Sarah talks about the origins of Lovelocks, why it's important to 'not be d*ck', and demonstrating why she's so fabul...

🎙️ What’s This Episode About? In this short introduction, host John Hyland shares the motivation behind launching Proudly Said - a podcast that amplifies LGBTQ+ voices, especially those often unheard. John discusses the importance of creating spaces where queer individuals can share their stories authentically, without filters or apologies. 🔑 Episode Highlights 00:00 – Welcome and purpo...