Into The Mud Podcast

• Episode 51: Aidan Wharton Gets Muddy About Pride

  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 the beauty of queer joy to the anxiety of not fitting into “the right kind” of Pride, this episode honors the messy, personal journey of discovering what Pride looks like for you. Whether you're partying in Fire Island or quietly walking Christopher Street alone, you're not doing it wrong as long as it brings you joy and hope. Bio: Aidan is an actor, writer, and the creator of Gay Buffet, a popular Substack newsletter serving up thoughtful Queer takes on sex, culture, and self-improvement. Though technically born in Seattle, his family relocated to a yurt in rural Hawaii when he was six months old, and he spent his childhood running through the jungle, reading, and cultivating a wildly active imagination.After earning a degree in Musical Theatre from Penn State, Aidan performed on Broadway, in national tours, and on regional stages across the country in Girl From the North Country, Wicked, Footloose, and more. He also appeared in films such as Fire Island and Bros. During this time, he also worked with the NYC Pride March and then launched Gay Buffet as a way to raise awareness and funds for LGBTQ+ nonprofits while building Queer community. What began as a creative outlet has since grown into a robust community rooted in kindness, critical thinking, and unapologetic Queer joy. Aidan’s Social Media: gaybuffet.substack.com or follow along on IG: @aidanwhartonFollow along at @IntoTheMudPodcast on all platforms!For the visual version, follow along on YouTube!Your Hosts: Alex Kumin (@Alex.Kumin) and Drew King (@DrewKingNYC). Audio mixed by Sarah Webb (@SWAudioPost). Filmed and recorded in the Barrow Lounge at @TheMalin West Village.www.IntoTheMudPodcast.com

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• Episode 50: Justine Ang Fonte Gets Muddy About Egg Freezing and Reproduction Pitfalls

  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 Ang 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 hope this episode offers clarity and community for anyone considering—or currently in—the egg freezing process. If you’ve ever felt like reproduction is a race against time with no clear rules, this one's for you.Bio: Justine Ang Fonte, M.Ed, MPH is the child of Philippine immigrants and award-winning sex educator, consultant, and professor. Justine has been featured in The NYTimes, The Atlantic, Glamour, and Hulu docuseries, Planet Sex. On Instagram, she's "Your Friendly Ghostwriter" composing the texts you avoid sending about setting your boundaries. She is the author and voice of the Audible Original, "How To Talk To Your Kids About Sex."Justine’s Social Media: @ImJustineAF, www.JustineFonte.comFollow along at @IntoTheMudPodcast on all platforms!For the visual version, follow along on YouTube!Your Hosts: Alex Kumin (@Alex.Kumin) and Drew King (@DrewKingNYC). Audio mixed by Sarah Webb (@SWAudioPost). Filmed and recorded in the Barrow Lounge at @TheMalin West Village.www.IntoTheMudPodcast.com

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• Episode 49: ‘Well…Adjusting Podcast’ x ‘Into the Mud’ Get Muddy About Anxiety

  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 meets emotional survival, and nobody leaves un-muddied.Well…Adjusting Podcast: Join author, actor, and unapologetically funny lady Robin Hopkins as she guides guests through setting boundaries, managing stress, scoring a new apartment, or just saving a buck for retirement (if that’s even still a thing). With her disarming wit and candid approach, Robin gets to the heart of what’s really behind all that self-sabotaging. Well…Adjusting isn’t NPR, and it’s not here to fix your life with credentials. It’s honest, relatable talk about the real issues Gen Z’ers and Millennials face today—and did we mention it’s funny?Audio mixed by Maria Passingham: @m.passinghamRobin Hopkins (@RealRobHops): is a published writer, actress, podcast host, and former stand-up comic known for her mix of brutal honesty and big laughs. She’s the author of the award-winning book If These Ovaries Could Talk, and her work has appeared in The New York Times, HuffPost, and Mother Mag. Robin currently hosts Well... Adjusting and Dear Headspace.Steph Colbourn (@StephColbourn): is the founder and CEO of Edit Audio, a global podcast production company led by women, trans, and non-binary creatives. A champion for equity in audio, Steph produces acclaimed shows, leads industry trainings, and volunteers with community-based justice initiatives—all while hanging out with their dog, Chef.Edit Audio (@EditAud.io): is a women-, trans-, and non-binary-led podcast production company creating smart, inclusive audio across the US, Canada, and the UK. With clients like GitHub, Harper’s Bazaar, and the Google News Initiative, Edit Audio also produces original series, including the Ambie-nominated Date With Daddy.Follow along at @IntoTheMudPodcast on all platforms!For the visual version, follow along on YouTube!Your Hosts: Alex Kumin (@Alex.Kumin) and Drew King (@DrewKingNYC). Audio mixed by Sarah Webb (@SWAudioPost). Filmed and recorded in the Barrow Lounge at @TheMalin West Village.www.IntoTheMudPodcast.com

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• Episode 48: Queer Loneliness & Outdoor Community with @GaysOfNationalParks

  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 storytelling collective and outdoor community dedicated to creating safe, joyful, and inclusive spaces for LGBTQIA+ individuals in nature. Originally launched as an Instagram page for queer hikers to share their personal stories, the platform has grown into a vibrant, real-world movement—hosting group trips to national parks, collaborating with queer artists, and building lasting connections across identities and geographies. With a focus on vulnerability, visibility, and belonging, GONP helps reclaim the outdoors as a third space for queer joy, healing, and community.Social Media: @GaysOfNationalParks, www.GaysOfNationalParks.comPersonal Social Media: @HiteshTolani and @MattB.AtkinsTrips: In addition to sharing powerful community stories online, Gays of National Parks also organizes real-life group trips to national parks across the U.S. — including Yosemite, Big Bend, and Joshua Tree. These trips are open to LGBTQ+ participants from all walks of life and are designed to foster deep connection, self-exploration, and queer joy in the wild. Some spots are paid, while others are stipend-funded for those in need. Upcoming trips and applications are available at gaysnationalparks.com (or their IG bio!).Merch: The stunning GONP T-shirts (featured in this episode!) are designed by a queer California-based artist named Ross, who brings LGBTQ+ history to life through wearable art. Each design reflects the spirit and story of historic queer spaces — like Marshall’s Beach, a famously gay site in San Francisco that helped inspire the rainbow flag. Proceeds from merch support both the artist and grants for trip participants. Shop the collection at gaysnationalparks.com/merch.Follow along at @IntoTheMudPodcast on all platforms!For the visual version, follow along on YouTube!Your Hosts: Alex Kumin (@Alex.Kumin) and Drew King (@DrewKingNYC). Audio mixed by Sarah Webb (@SWAudioPost). Filmed and recorded in the Barrow Lounge at @TheMalin West Village.www.IntoTheMudPodcast.com

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• Episode 00: Drew and Alex Get Muddy About Not Having an Episode Today

  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 across the US. Credits: The Comedy Cellar, New York Comedy Club, NBC’s "That Clip Show: Holiday Edition”, 2021 season of Comedy Central Standup Featuring. Bio: Originally from Massachusetts, Drew is a Broadway dancer, actor and writer living in New York City. Credits: Broadway’s “Tootsie” and “On the 20th Century”, "The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel”, Ryan Murphy’s “Feud: Capote VS The Swans”, The Tony Awards, Good Morning America, The Today Show, Saturday Night Live, and the 2021 Met Gala.Follow along at @IntoTheMudPodcast on all platforms!For the visual version, follow along on YouTube!Your Hosts: Alex Kumin (@Alex.Kumin) and Drew King (@DrewKingNYC). Audio mixed by Sarah Webb (@SWAudioPost). Filmed and recorded in the Barrow Lounge at @TheMalin West Village.www.IntoTheMudPodcast.com

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