What is a “Side” | Gay dating terminology explained by gay rugby playersThis episode starts with a question that’s been showing up more in dating conversations and apps lately: what does it actually mean to be a “side”? We break down the basics of “top,” “bottom,” and the newer term “side,” which refers to guys who are into intimacy, but don’t include bottom or top in what they want.We talk about labels, communication, and where preference ends and misunderstanding begins.Is being a side selfish? Or is that just what it looks like when people aren’t familiar with the term yet? At the end of the day, it’s about how people define themselves—and how we talk about what we want without judgment.
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Michael Henry on why Gay Culture is a delicate ecosystemSubscribe to the Gay Rugby Podcast! https://shorturl.at/OztS0What happens if you try to delete part of gay culture and who actually gets to decide what stays?In Episode 47 of the Gay Rugby Podcast, recorded in Los Angeles, we sit down with comedian Michael Henry and pull on that thread. What starts as a simple question turns into a wide-open conversation about how gay culture actually works right now, less like a clean narrative and more like a living ecosystem, where everything from gay dating apps to nightlife, from therapy language to hookup culture, is connected whether people like it or not.We talk about what’s shaping modern gay relationships in 2026, and why gay dating culture still revolves around apps like Grindr even as more people burn out on them. Grindr culture has made connection instant, but also disposable, and that tension shows up in everything from how people present themselves to the biggest unspoken lies people tell on dating apps. At the same time, there’s a quiet shift happening; cruising culture and real-life interaction are creeping back in, as people start looking for something that feels less curated and more immediate.Language plays its own role in all of this. Gay slang evolves fast, and terms like “trade” don’t mean what they used to. What once described a specific type now floats somewhere between identity and attraction, reflecting how fluid gay identity has become. That same fluidity shows up in how people think about themselves, especially with the rise of therapy culture in the LGBTQ community, where self-awareness, boundaries, and “doing the work” are part of everyday conversation, for better or worse.Then there’s the visual side of it. Body image in gay culture is still front and center, especially in cities like LA, where the pressure to look a certain way hasn’t gone anywhere; it’s just evolved. Whether it’s gym culture, cosmetic tweaks, or the way people curate themselves online, there’s a constant push and pull between authenticity and performance.All of it feeds into a bigger question about cancel culture in LGBTQ spaces. If something feels toxic, outdated, or fake, should it be removed? Or does taking one piece out of the equation change everything else? The more we dig into it, the clearer it becomes that gay culture isn’t built to be simplified. It’s messy, contradictory, and constantly evolving—and that might be the point.Empowered by Friend of Dorothy: https://friend-of-dorothy.com/Elevate your well-being with our thoughtfully curated range of products designed specifically for gay men.New episodes every week.Filmed, edited and produced by Jack HigginsExecutive Producer Ozzie LunaConnect with The Gay Rugby Podcast on social media! Instagram https://www.instagram.com/gayrugbypodcast/Tik Tokhttps://www.tiktok.com/@gayrugbypodcast?lang=enYouTubehttps://shorturl.at/OztS0Views and opinions in the podcast do not reflect the views and opinions of the Los Angeles Rebellion Rugby Club

What does it mean when you don’t believe in God, but still find yourself asking for forgiveness anyway? In this episode of The Gay Rugby Podcast, comedian Matt LeGrand joins the conversation to talk about spending 20 years as a missionary, unpacking religion, identity, and what happens when belief systems start to fall apart but the habits remain.They get into religious conditioning, guilt, sexuality, and the strange ways those early teachings stick with you long after you’ve moved on. It’s a conversation about faith, deconstruction, and the lingering voice of conscience that doesn’t always match what you believe anymore. And what does rugby have to do with spirituality? A mix of comedy and honesty about where you come from, and what it takes to unlearn it.

Episode 45 of the Gay Rugby Podcast gets into a side of queer culture that people see online all the time but rarely hear explained by the people actually living it.

We sat down with Pup Odie and Pup Hex, both rugby players, to talk about what pup play really is and how they found their way into the pup community. The conversation starts simple — what is pup play, what does puppy play actually mean — but it quickly turns into something more personal. They talk about the first time putting on a pup mask, the confidence that can come with it, and why anonymity can feel freeing instead of hiding.

We also get into how someone new might approach it. What “pup play for beginners” actually looks like, how people find others, and what it means to be part of a gay pup community in real life, not just online. There’s a lot of misunderstanding around it, especially when people compare pup play vs furry, so we take the time to break that down in a way that actually makes sense.

Like most things we talk about on the podcast, it’s less about labels and more about why people are drawn to it. For some it’s about identity, for others it’s about connection, and for a lot of guys it’s just a way to step out of their own head for a bit.

If you’ve ever searched what is puppy play, been curious about pup hoods, or wondered how people get involved in the pup community, this is a real conversation with people who are actually in it.

The Gay Rugby Podcast is Empowered by Friend of Dorothy: Elevate your well-being with our thoughtfully curated range of products designed specifically for gay men.

A year ago, we sat down to record the first episode of the Gay Rugby Podcast without really knowing what it would become.Twelve months later, we found ourselves in Boston for the NORAM Cup, in New Orleans for Swamp Romp, at LA 7s during Pride weekend, and in Palm Springs with a camera bag, a couple microphones, and a growing list of people we were lucky enough to meet along the way.Episode 44 is us looking back at that first year. We talk about the weekends that got out of hand, the interviews we still can’t believe happened, the people who started as guests and ended up as friends, and the strange reality that this little rugby podcast somehow turned into a reason to travel, meet people from around the world, and keep saying yes to things.There are stories from Boston bars after the NORAM Cup, late nights in New Orleans during Swamp Romp, and the chaos of trying to cover LA 7s while everybody we knew seemed to be there at once. Somewhere between all of that, the podcast stopped being just about rugby and became a record of the people, places, and community that came with it.Thanks for being part of the first year.New episodes every week.

Drag Queen La Mama Dora opens up about her past playing rugby, long before she was going viral on TikTok as a chaotic, hilarious take on Dora the Explorer. In this episode, La Mama Dora tells the story of how a former club rugby player became one of the internet’s favorite drag queens, building an audience through drag TikTok, LGBTQ comedy, and her now-iconic Dora impression.We talk about what it was like growing up, finding confidence through rugby, and eventually finding her real community through queer nightlife and drag culture. La Mama Dora explains how she started making TikTok videos, why her Dora character took off, and how going viral changed her life. Along the way, we get into drag queen origin stories, coming out, queer friendship, chosen family, and meeting Ozzy for the first time.Of course, we also settle the debate nobody saw coming: is rugby actually safer than drag? After years of playing club rugby, La Mama Dora says the only thing that ever seriously injured her was performing in drag. She opens up about breaking her shoulder, why drag performance can be more intense than people think, and why she still believes rugby is less dangerous than a night in heels.If you’re into drag queens, rugby stories, TikTok creators, queer podcasts, LGBTQ interviews, viral internet personalities, club rugby, gay athletes, drag culture, coming out stories, queer comedy, Los Angeles drag, gay sports, or behind-the-scenes stories about going viral on TikTok, this episode is for you.Filmed, edited and produced by Jack HigginsExecutive Producer Ozzie LunaEmpowered by Friend of Dorothy:Elevate your well-being with our thoughtfully curated range of products designed specifically for gay men.Connect with The Gay Rugby Podcast on social media! Instagram https://www.instagram.com/gayrugbypodcast/Tik Tokhttps://www.tiktok.com/@gayrugbypodcast?lang=enYouTubehttps://shorturl.at/OztS0Follow and support La Mama Dora: https://linktr.ee/LaMamaDoraxViews and opinions in the podcast do not reflect the views and opinions of the Los Angeles Rebellion Rugby Club

Bradley Johnson is about to have a very public week. With Hulu’s new reality dating show Love Overboard set to drop, his audience is getting a lot bigger and a lot more curious about what he’s been posting online.In this episode, we sit down with Bradley in the middle of that moment. What starts as a conversation about fitness content quickly turns into something else: a look at how certain audiences find creators, and what happens when those creators realize exactly who’s watching. The “gainer community” has been showing up in his comments, his DMs, and his numbers. The question is whether that’s coincidence, algorithm, or something more intentional.We get into where people draw the line between queerbaiting and just playing the game, and whether that line even exists anymore. Bradley talks about going viral, what kind of attention actually translates into money, and how aware you have to be of your audience once things start to take off. It’s messy in a way that feels honest less about calling anyone out, more about understanding how the internet works when it’s at its most specific.There’s also the reality TV angle. Love Overboard: Hulu’s new dating show set on a yacht, somewhere between chaos and strategy adds another layer to all of this. Timing matters, and right now Bradley’s at the intersection of online attention and mainstream exposure.If you’ve been seeing this kind of content pop up more and more, you’re not imagining it. The internet is getting more targeted, more self-aware, and harder to separate from the people trying to figure it out in real time.Watch Love Overboard on Hulu and decide for yourself.

Every gay guy who’s spent time on Grindr has seen it, the bios that immediately make you pause, laugh, or close the app. In this episode of the Gay Rugby Podcast, Jack Higgins and Ozzie Luna talk through some of the worst things people put in their Grindr bios, the profile lines that have somehow become normal on gay dating apps, and the small details that turn a profile into an instant red flag.The conversation drifts into catfish scams on Grindr and other dating apps, something both of them say they’re seeing more often. Fake profiles, strange messages, and the moment when a normal conversation suddenly turns into someone asking for money. If you’ve spent time on gay hookup apps or dating apps for gay men, you’ve probably seen the pattern.The episode also includes a recap of Swamp Romp 2026 in New Orleans, a weekend that brings together teams from across the gay rugby community for a tournament and a lot of time off the field. While in New Orleans, Jack and Ozzie linked up with players from Round Rock Rugby, Austin’s LGBTQ-inclusive rugby team, and spent the weekend around the broader inclusive rugby scene.New Orleans has its own inclusive rugby presence as well with teams like the Crescent City Rougaroux, an LGBTQ-inclusive rugby club founded in 2017 that focuses on building community through the sport.The episode moves between tournament stories, travel, dating app culture, and the overlap between gay sports culture and the realities of modern gay dating. It’s a mix of rugby stories, Grindr observations, and the kind of conversations that happen after a tournament weekend when everyone’s back from the pitch and scrolling their phones again.Empowered by Friend of Dorothyhttps://www.friendofdorothy.comSubscribe for more episodes of the Gay Rugby Podcast covering gay rugby, LGBTQ athletes, gay sports culture, and the conversations that happen around the sport.Filmed, edited and produced by Jack HigginsExecutive Producer Ozzie LunaConnect with The Gay Rugby Podcast on social media! Instagram https://www.instagram.com/gayrugbypodcast/Tik Tokhttps://www.tiktok.com/@gayrugbypodcast?lang=enYouTubehttps://shorturl.at/OztS0Views and opinions in the podcast do not reflect the views and opinions of the Los Angeles Rebellion Rugby Club