Tony Award–winning writer Robert Horn (Tootsie, Shucked, Hercules) gets muddy about aging, later-in-life success, and staying funny through rejection. In this candid and hilarious conversation, Robert opens up about his wild journey from an orphanage to Broadway, turning trauma into comedy, navigating fame in the social-media era, and learning to embrace getting older with humor and grace. Equal parts heart and hysteria, this one’s a masterclass in creative resilience. Bio: Robert Horn ...

When the government pulls Jimmy Kimmel off the air, what does that mean for comedy — and for free speech? In this raw and fiery episode, comedian Jay Jurden (The Problem with Jon Stewart, The Tonight Show) joins Drew and Alex to get muddy about censorship, courage, and comedy’s role in calling out power. From Lenny Bruce to late-night, this conversation proves that laughter is still one of the loudest forms of resistance. Bio: Jay Jurden is a New York–based comedian, writer, and actor origina...

Comedian and Emmy-winning writer Josh Gondelman (Last Week Tonight, Desus & Mero, The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel) joins Into the Mud to get candid about the messy gap between impressive résumés and follower counts. We dig into how social media has reshaped comedy, the pressure of clout-chasing, and whether quality or quantity really wins in today’s entertainment industry. Plus, Josh shares hilarious “muddy moments” from high school drama competitions to life on the comedy stage. Bio: Josh Gond...

Porn star and former Broadway music director Jonah Wheeler (aka @ShowoffJonah) joins Into the Mud for an unfiltered deep dive into sex work, kink, and intimacy. From his career pivot out of theater to the realities of OnlyFans, public sex, radical queer spaces, and even the lessons learned from butthole surgery, Jonah gets real about the liberating power of body acceptance, confidence, shame, and the joy of sexual exploration. Bio: Jonah Wheeler is an adult performer, musician, and general go...

Opera singer and voice teacher Matthew Anchel joins Into the Mud to get real about body positivity, plus-size shaming, and queer representation in entertainment. From his time at the Met Opera to competing on Worst Cooks in America, Matthew opens up about navigating diet culture, Ozempic, fatphobia, and dating—all with humor, honesty, and heart. Bio: Bass Matthew Anchel, hailed as “a voice to watch” by The Wall Street Journal, has appeared with many of the world’s leading opera companies and ...

Actor and musician Lisa Helmi Johanson gets deeply vulnerable about her harrowing experience with postpartum PTSD following a traumatic 68-hour labor and emergency C-section. In this cathartic, tender, and surprisingly funny conversation, Lisa opens up about brainspotting therapy, intrusive thoughts, identity loss, and what it means to slowly piece yourself back together while parenting in a world that doesn’t prioritize maternal mental health. This is an essential listen for anyone who’s fel...

This week, Into the Mud goes gloriously off the rails with stand-up comedian Zahid Dewji. What starts as a conversation about outgrowing people and places quickly spirals into an unexpectedly hilarious and heartfelt deep-dive into spiritual growth, vibrational energy, comedy burnout, porn bans in Texas, regrets, and the cosmic chaos of being human. Equal parts wild and wise, this episode is a chaotic gem about letting go, laughing through the spiral, and trusting the double helix of life to b...

What does it really mean to “do the work”? In this wildly thoughtful and hilarious conversation, producer and social justice advocate Darren Biggart unpacks his viral essay on the quiet, lifelong practice of disrupting internalized systems of power. Together, we explore the murky territory between growth and guilt, comfort and courage, and being seen as “good” versus actually doing good. Bio: Darren is the Director of Civic Programs at The Shed, where he develops artistic work, social impact ...

Comedian Elle Orlando joins Into the Mud for a refreshingly honest and beautiful conversation about the kind of loneliness that lingers—even when you're surrounded by people. From the isolating pursuit of stand-up to the heartbreak of lost friendships and the double-edged sword of social media, Elle unpacks what it means to feel alone in a hyperconnected world. Together, Alex, Drew and Elle explore introversion, gender dynamics in comedy, and the longing for deep connection in a culture of cu...

In Part 2 of this special two-part episode, Maui-based therapist and career coach Natalie Diaz returns—this time to coach the hosts. After diving into her own journey from corporate hustle to purposeful living in Part 1, Natalie guides Drew and Alex through some of their own muddy challenges. With Alex exploring time management and Drew confronting perfectionism, this real-time coaching session offers practical tools, emotional insight, and a gentle reminder that growth often begins in the me...

Licensed therapist and career coach Natalie Diaz joins Into the Mud to share her bold leap from New York’s relentless corporate grind to building a slower, more intentional life and practice in Maui. In this first half of a two-part conversation, Natalie opens up about healing her nervous system, unlearning hustle culture, and creating a career that prioritizes people over profits. Stay tuned for Part 2 next week, when Drew and Alex step into the hot seat for some real-time coaching with Nata...

Alex Wong is a wildly successful performer and an unapologetic optimist—and this week, the hosts try to figure out how he does it. While Into the Mud usually dives headfirst into life’s messes, Alex W. brings a calm, clear-eyed approach that feels like an antidote to the mud. Alex K. and Drew tend to fall into the familiar trap of “compare = despair,” but this week, Alex W. gently flips the script, offering a perspective where comparison becomes a source of inspiration instead of shame. In a ...

Pride means something different to everyone—and sometimes, figuring out what it means to you can feel a little messy. On this week’s episode, Aidan Wharton gets muddy about what Pride really means—outside of corporate floats, circuit parties, and Instagram carousels. As a Broadway actor, writer, and founder of the popular Substack "Gay Buffet," Aidan brings humor and heart to a thoughtful conversation about identity, community friction, and finding your own way to celebrate queerness. From th...

When it comes to fertility, the fine print is often emotional, financial, and painfully unclear. This week on Into the Mud intersectional health educator, Justine Ann Fonte, gets muddy about the murky world of egg freezing—where empowerment meets confusion, hope meets debt, and no one tells you the full story. In this honest and detailed conversation, Justine breaks down her emotionally and financially taxing experience navigating the so-called "insurance policy" of fertility preservation. We...

In this special crossover episode between Into the Mud and Well… Adjusting, anxiety takes center stage—and everyone brings their own flavor. Robin's spiraling about parenting. Steph’s contemplating the apocalypse. Drew’s afraid of gay men (yes, really). And Alex feels like she's waiting on biopsy results. From identity crises to career meltdowns, parenting panic to the soul-crushing anxiety of an underwear party, this group therapy session dives deep—and comes up laughing. It's gay panic meet...

Happy Pride! To kick off their Pride Month celebration, Into the Mud sits down with Hitesh Tolani and Matt Atkins from the viral social movement @GaysOfNationalParks — a community where queer folks are finding friendship, healing, and love in nature. From loneliness and late bloomers to sweaty mountaintop revelations, this convo is everything listeners didn’t know they needed. Grab your boots, ditch the apps, and take a hike — literally. Gays of National Parks (GONP) is a grassroots storytell...

Don’t worry—we didn’t ghost you. We're just stuck in a chaotic love triangle with corrupted audio files and a cursed laptop. So this week, instead of our usual muddy deep dive, you’re getting a quick little check-in from the swamp. Updates, teasers, a dash of chaos, and a gentle plea to show us some love on socials while we get our mud together. Stay strong, #MuddyBuddies! Bio: Alex is a New York based comedian by way of Chicago and Boston whose bold and whip smart standup delights crowds acr...

Broadway star, Olivier Award winner and Drama Desk nominee Lesli Margherita joins Into the Mud for a hilarious and heartfelt conversation about rejection—and how she’s turned it into a superpower. With her signature wit and unfiltered honesty, Lesli shares how comedy has helped her survive (and thrive) in one of the most brutal industries out there. It’s a masterclass in resilience, delivered with a wink, a stunning Italian smile, and a perfectly timed punchline. Bio: Lesli Margherita is an O...

Broadway actor, composer and playwright Douglas Lyons joins Drew and Alex for a conversation about breaking out of boxes—both the ones that life puts us in and the ones we create for ourselves. From actor to writer to full creative force, Douglas shares how career expansion starts with reclaiming autonomy, building your own voice, and refusing to wait for permission. If you've ever felt stuck, overlooked, or underestimated—this one’s for you. Bio: Douglas is a multi-hyphenated Emmy and GLAAD ...

Why do we glorify alcohol but demonize mushrooms? This week, Drew and Alex get muddy about psychedelics—sharing the highs, the lows, and the life-changing lessons learned from their groovy trips. From laughing fits to ego deaths, they explore how psilocybin has helped them heal, and why it’s time we rethink the stigma around this powerful, natural medicine. What if Nixon hadn’t shut it all down with the war on drugs? Where would the invaluable research on psychedelic mental health have taken ...