The Queer Stuff Pod

In this Q&A-style episode, I answer your questions about the wild start to my 2025—from losing my home in a fire to unexpectedly moving to Switzerland and starting a new chapter as head of media at an aid organization.

I’m covering everything: how I ended up here, what life near Lake Lucerne is really like, and the ups and downs of adjusting to a new country and culture, and what’s next for me and the podcast.

Timestamps: 

00:00:00 - Introduction 

00:01:09 - Podcast break 

00:03:13 - Switzerland job 

00:04:04 - Permanent move

00:04:39 - Swiss men & relationships 

00:05:55 - Swiss visa & yodeling 

00:06:51 - Sarge 

00:08:03 - Favorite country

00:09:02 - Finding a job in europe 

00:10:40 - Haircut 

00:11:20 - Swiss living expenses 

00:12:09 - Andrés update 

00:12:25 - Swiss language barrier 

00:13:41 - Adoption update 

00:14:42 - Favorite food 

00:15:40 - Culture shock 

00:17:16 - Learning German 

00:17:40 - What’s next? 

Sponsored By:

Manscaped | Visit http://Manscaped.com and use code MAXEMERSON to get 20% off plus free shipping. Or if you need it today, you can find MANSCAPED® at a store near you. Stay fresh this season—for everyone's sake. Level up your grooming game today!

Check Out Max: 

Instagram

YouTube

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Thank you to all my patreon subscribers! 

Nate Heffel, Tobin Schiller ,James M, Christopher Neefus, Heskel, Michael Carpentiere, Timothy Cardoso, Shane Ouyang, Brian Joaquin, Carabalda, Brendan Saunders, Jeff Jay, James LEE, Andy, 正 , George Acosta, Michael Rice, Nathan Filip, Linda Johnson, Stephen Weathers, Kean Phan, James Powell, Landy Manderson

On this episode of Queer Stuff Pod, I’m joined by the brilliant Brandon Kyle Goodman—actor, writer, and all-around icon—who never shies away from life’s messiest moments. Brandon talks about identity, career ups and downs, and what it means to embrace every part of yourself, even the chaotic ones.

From making it in Hollywood to cutting off toxic people, Brandon gets into the highs and lows of life with humor and honesty. Nothing is off-limits in this conversation about identity, boundaries, and finding joy in the mess.

Topics Discussed:

How do you set boundaries and go no-contact with toxic people?

How do humor and vulnerability help in discussing serious topics?

What’s the messiest story Brandon has ever heard

What advice does Brandon have for folks entering the entertainment industry

Timestamps: 

00:00:00 - Introduction 

00:01:08 - Who The Hell Are You! 

00:04:27 - Tell Me Something Messy

00:06:18 - Sex positivity 

00:08:33 - Most memorable interview 

00:09:43 - We contain multitudes 

00:10:52 - Navigating challenges with humor 

00:13:51 - Messiest story 

00:14:46 - Going no contact

00:19:51 - Identifying with suffering 

00:22:57 - You can do hard things 

00:24:51 - Making time for yourself 

00:28:49 - From Queens to Georgia  

00:31:20 - Max’s expulsion 

00:32:34 - NYU Tisch

00:35:30 - DEI 

00:38:11 - Recession core & stand up 

00:40:01 - Sketch vs standup comedy   

00:42:05 - Job security

00:43:01 - Message for marginalized folks 

00:46:17 - Fight Me! Clone f*cking

Sponsored By:

Manscaped | Visit Manscaped.com and use code MAXEMERSON to get 20% off plus free shipping. Or if you need it today, you can find MANSCAPED® at a store near you. Stay fresh this season—for everyone's sake. Level up your grooming game today!

Check Out Brandon: 

Instagram 

Podcast 

More Brandon 

Check Out Max: 

Instagram

YouTube

TikTok

Thank you to all my patreon subscribers! 

Nate Heffel, Tobin Schiller ,James M, Christopher Neefus, Heskel, Michael Carpentiere, Timothy Cardoso, Shane Ouyang, Brian Joaquin, Carabalda, Brendan Saunders, Jeff Jay, James LEE, Andy, 正 , George Acosta, Michael Rice, Nathan Filip, Linda Johnson, Stephen Weathers, Kean Phan, James Powell, Landy Manderson

26: Comedian and fitness pro Raneir Pollard joins the show to share his journey from college friend to Guinness World Record holder. He talks about breaking a burpee record while wearing stilettos, his work as a celebrity trainer, and his unique approach to fitness with humor.
We explore his worst performances, balancing comedy and fitness, and his thoughts on body positivity and the fitness influencer culture. Raneir also discusses how virtual reality is revolutionizing workouts and the importance of staying motivated in both comedy and fitness.

Topics Discussed:

How did Raneir Pollard become a Guinness World Record holder?

What challenges did Raneir face during his worst performances?

How does Raneir balance comedy with fitness?

What is Supernatural VR Fitness, and how does it relate to fitness?

How does body positivity affect Raneir’s approach to fitness?

What are common scams in the fitness industry and how to spot them?

How does Raneir stay motivated in his comedy and fitness careers?

Timestamps:

00:00:00 - Introduction

00:01:57 - Who Is Raneir Pollard?

00:05:40 - How Raneir Realized He Was Funny

00:09:13 - Raneir’s Worst Shows

00:13:12 - Pre-Show Rituals

00:14:59 - Earning a Guinness World Record

00:16:28 - Teaching 20 Fitness Classes a Week

00:19:18 - Fitness Influencers & Parasocial Relationships

00:21:33 - Supernatural VR Fitness

00:24:59 - Cardio & Comedy

00:25:36 - Fitness Instructor Challenges

00:26:47 - Body Positivity in Fitness

00:28:58 - Spotting Fitness Scams

00:31:21 - Advice for Beginners in Fitness

00:34:59 - Structuring Your Workouts

00:36:47 - Intensity of VR Workouts

00:37:58 - Staying Motivated

00:40:19 - Best Raneir Workout

00:41:32 - FIGHT ME! - Vampirism?

  
Show Links: 

The Burpees Video 

BRANDON KYLE GOODMAN COMING SOON

Sponsored By: 

Manscaped | Visit Manscaped.com and use code MAXEMERSON to get 20% off plus free shipping. Or if you need it today, you can find MANSCAPED® at a store near you. Stay fresh this season—for everyone's sake. Level up your grooming game today!

Puori | Go to Puori.com/maxemerson and use code maxemerson

Check Out Ranier: 

Instagram

Youtube

Website

Check Out Max: 

Instagram

YouTube

TikTok

Thank you to all my patreon subscribers! 

Nate Heffel, Tobin Schiller ,James M, Christopher Neefus, Heskel, Michael Carpentiere, Timothy Cardoso, Shane Ouyang, Brian Joaquin, Carabalda, Brendan Saunders, Jeff Jay, James LEE, Andy, 正 , George Acosta, Michael Rice, Nathan Filip, Linda Johnson, Stephen Weathers, Kean Phan, James Powell, Landy Manderson

TV presenter, style expert, and entrepreneur Darren Kennedy joins me to share his journey from radio to television, his most disastrous interviews, and how he found his place in the fashion industry. We also explore the inspiration behind his podcast The Number, his approach to personal style, and his documentary Gay Daddy. 

Topics Discussed:

Darren Kennedy’s journey from radio to TV and fashion

His most memorable and disastrous celebrity interviews

The inspiration behind his podcast The Number

The Gay Daddy documentary and LGBTQ+ representation in media

Tips on personal style and men’s grooming with Kennedy & Co

Timestamps: 

00:00:00 - Introduction

00:01:37 - Who is Darren Kennedy?

00:06:08 - The power of work ethic

00:08:40 - Breaking into radio

00:10:10 - Darren’s worst interviews

00:11:45 - Shifting from radio to TV

00:12:53 - Entering the fashion world

00:16:53 - Irish vs. American TV

00:19:14 - Creating unscripted shows

00:22:10 - The story behind The Number podcast

00:25:22 - Darren’s lucky numbers and their meaning

00:28:39 - How to make people feel comfortable

00:32:45 - Inside the Gay Daddy documentary

00:35:25 - Being a “family-friendly” gay

00:35:52 - Mastering personal style

00:37:15 - The story behind Kennedy & Co

00:40:16 - Where to find Darren

00:41:22 - What happened to Darren’s foot?

00:43:45 - FIGHT ME: Handwashing 

Sponsored By:

Manscaped | Visit Manscaped.com and use code MAXEMERSON to get 20% off plus free shipping. Or if you need it today, you can find MANSCAPED® at a store near you. Stay fresh this season—for everyone's sake. Level up your grooming game today!

Puori | Go to Puori.com/maxemerson and use code maxemerson

Check Out Darren:

Instagram 

Website 

More Darren 

Check Out Max: 

Instagram

YouTube

TikTok

Thank you to all my patreon subscribers! 

Nate Heffel, Tobin Schiller ,James M, Christopher Neefus, Heskel, Michael Carpentiere, Timothy Cardoso, Shane Ouyang, Brian Joaquin, Carabalda, Brendan Saunders, Jeff Jay, James LEE, Andy, 正 , George Acosta, Michael Rice, Nathan Filip, Linda Johnson, Stephen Weathers, Kean Phan, James Powell, Landy Manderson

24: I sit down with Alex Hall, co-founder and host of The Bottom’s Digest, to talk all things bottoming. As a sexual health educator and body autonomy activist, Alex is on a mission to make sex education accessible, no matter where you’re from or what you’re into.  

We get into the biggest bottoming barriers, from physical challenges to common myths. Alex shares expert tips on safe douching, trigger foods, and his signature "butt clock technique."  

Topics Discussed:  

The origins of The Bottom’s Digest  

Common bottoming myths and misconceptions  

Preventing and healing from anal fissures  

Diet, digestion, and trigger foods  

Safe douching and timing techniques  

The "butt clock technique" explained  

Challenges in sex education and advocacy  

Why humor is key in talking about sexual health  

Timestamps:

00:00:00 - Introduction 

00:02:20 - Who The Hell Are You? 

00:08:25 - Starting Bottom’s Digest 

00:11:45 - Bottoming barriers 

00:13:33 - Anyone can bottom! 

00:15:17 - Sex education 

00:19:49 - Anal fissures & healing from injury 

00:21:39 - Staying humorous  

00:26:49 - Trigger foods 

00:28:32 - Douching guide 

00:32:40 - Platinum/gold stars & bisexuality  

00:35:01 - Douche timing 

00:36:25 - The butt clock technique 

00:37:48 - Don’t douche too far!! 

00:42:02 - Challenges to sex education and advocacy 

00:45:17 - Fight me 

Further Listening: 

Alex Hall Fisting Interview 

Sponsored By:

Scandinavian Biolabs

Start today with 20% off the Hair Activation Routine and any other products from Scandinavian Biolabs using code MAXEMERSON. Go to ScandinavianBiolabs.com 

Puori 

Go to Puori.com/maxemerson and use code maxemerson

Check Out Alex Hall:

Website

Instagram

Tik Tok 

Check Out Max: 

Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/maxisms

TikTok | https://www.tiktok.com/@themaxisms

Thank you to all my patreon subscribers! 

Nate Heffel, Tobin Schiller ,James M, Christopher Neefus, Heskel, Michael Carpentiere, Timothy Cardoso, Shane Ouyang, Brian Joaquin, Carabalda, Brendan Saunders, Jeff Jay, James LEE, Andy, 正 , George Acosta, Michael Rice, Nathan Filip, Linda Johnson, Stephen Weathers, Kean Phan, James Powell, Landy Manderson