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John Salomone(a.k.a. dudeneedaeaseonup)…The Cutest Most Un-Sexiest Nerd

On an almost daily basis we get asked how we pick who we interview.  The answer is simple.  We attempt to interview people who we feel are contributing to the world around us.  Those individuals, for whatever reason, who make us feel better about ourselves, give us hope and make our lives just a little bit better.  More definitively, those individuals who, although we’re a little embarrassed to admit, we find ourselves absolutely intrigued.  Whether they’re reality stars like Lauren Conrad or the cast of RuPaul’s Drag Race, Chelsea Lately comediennes Sarah Colonna and Heather McDonald, DJ’s like Kaskade or YouTubers like Tyler Oakley and Joseph Birdsong, we have to know what magic they posses that makes them different than everyone else and makes them entertaining.  Don’t we all wish we had that juice flowing through our veins?

John Salomone just happens to be one of those people.  The star of his YouTube channel dudeneedsaeaseonup probably wouldn’t consider himself a star at all.  In fact, in looking back at his very first video, “John’s Intro”, we were surprised that he questioned the possibility for success on YouTube and he even stated he couldn’t imagine meeting people who wanted to me him because of his videos.  Five years later and he’s receiving 10,000 views a video, has over 60,000 subscribers and we’ve received tons of messages from his fans suggesting we interview him.  Maybe it’s because he’s undeniably cute or humble or humbly cute.   Or maybe its because he gives such incredible and relatable advice. as seen in his video “Be Yourself“, where he suggests, “If someone ever tries to change you for them…drop them! No friend should ever manipulate another friend into doing and being the person they want you to be.” Whatever the reason, we’ve been watching consistently for over the last year and we love him so much we wish he was one of our best friends!

We think we have it figured out.  We think we know what makes John Salomone irresistible to watch.  If you go back to his very first video and watch closely he tells us warns us, “I’m real, by the way.  I’m 100% authentic.” And he has proven this.  He is so absolutely genuine and comedic that we felt compelled to interview him and find out how he became so confident and been able to be himself and make no apologies.

1.    Define yourself using only 8 words.

“No, I’m not wearing these pokemon badges ironically.”

2.    What are three things about you we wouldn’t know by looking at you?

– I’m 23 (because I look like I’m 18)
– I own 12 tamagotchis, 2 digimon, and 1 gigapet (and have loved all of them)
– I’m a giant nerd

3.    What inspired you to make your first YouTube video?

I was watching a lot of other videobloggers at the time and it seemed like something fun to do! These were first-generation vloggers; people like boh3m3, renetto, zipster08, filthywhore, lonelygirl15, and a bunch of others I can’t remember right now. I guess I just felt like I had something to say and back when I started in 2006 I didn’t have too many people in my life to say it to. Basically I wanted an excuse to talk to myself.

4.    Why do you think you have such a large following?

Sometimes I ask myself that question, especially when looking at how many people can’t even pronounce my username (and I don’t blame them). I think I’m just really good at talking and holding people’s attention. When I make a vlog I really feel like I’m speaking to an audience sitting in front of me and I think my viewers can sense that.

5.    What are three opportunities you’ve had as a result of your videos?

In 2008 me and 4 of my friends made a collab channel called VlogCandy and most of my opportunities have come as a result of that. We were invited to perform at Playlist Live in 2011 and did a live game show where we had people come up onstage and do trivia, improv, and even a physical challenge! The summer before that we held a VlogCandy “beach bash” and met a bunch of our subscribers in California where we played games, made s’mores, and sang by a campfire. It’s a huge highlight of my YouTube “career” because we met so many great people and had so much fun. I guess we always just wanted our subscribers to have fun and not have a normal gathering where people just awkwardly stand around signing things or a normal Q&A onstage because those can get really boring. We always wanted to keep our viewers entertained because we owed so much to them. I guess my last “opportunities” have been making friends all over the world and having an audience to share my artwork with. Without YouTube I don’t think too many people would know about my drawings, so it’s nice that it’s easier to get my work out there! 

6.    Tell us about your art work and illustrations.

Was that not the perfect segue? I’ve been doing art my entire life and am currently focusing on illustration and pixel art, but I’m also really interested in photography and stop-motion animation. As a kid I always loved drawing comics, so my ultimate goal is to create my own graphic novel. I’ve always been drawn to monsters so they’re involved in a lot of my artwork. In fact, monsters are a main focus in both of my graphic novel ideas! I’m currently scripting out one of them and will hopefully have a lot of the artwork done by the end of the year.

7.    How does your artwork interact or affect your videos or vice versa?

I’ve had a few stop-motion animations on my channel (and my fave would be Stitched: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zLx3qsdcqsc ) and I’ve also experimented with combining animation with video : http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=Jif-EJB5v8g#t=129s ) Most importantly I was able to document my monster-themed art show at my school! (http://youtu.be/DCV5fZ7J73Y)

8.    Who are your three favorite YouTubers of all time?

Oh god, honestly I don’t think I could choose just 3. I might cheat a little here. Actually I’m going to cheat a LOT here. So I love everybody from my current (though slightly inactive) collab channel http://www.youtube.com/okaysaturday. As far as collab channels go I’m also really into http://www.youtube.com/AGayADay. Anything http://www.youtube.com/josephbirdsong and http://www.youtube.com/tyleroakley post is pure gold (and if you’re a reader of this website, you already know all about them :D) and you also NEED to be watching http://www.youtube.com/justaddtommy and http://www.youtube.com/haltiamava, who are both hilarious. Oh, and Johneepixels7 (though not as active as he used to be) is absolutely adorable, go check him out too. Okay, I cheated REALLY BAD don’t be mad at me!

9.    Do you think there is arrogance from the original YouTubers about being the first?

Well, I think there might be some kind of animosity there but it’s not because they’re the first, it’s because they were able to witness the drastic change youtube has made since the website started. I think the community is more divided over the way things used to be when the YOU in youtube was more important, and the way things are now, with tons of ads and commercialization. Everything on youtube now is about high production value and money and advertising and networking, which is perfectly fine if you’re into that, but a lot of people including myself are way more interested in the community and just doing videos for fun.

10.    How do you define sexy? What is the sexiest city? Song to have sex to? Song to kiss to? Sexiest YouTuber?

HA! You are speaking to the un-sexiest guy ever right here so I’m going to have fun with these questions:

-I think it’s a kind of attitude. There are people who I haven’t been attracted to physically but who I still thought were “sexy” because of the way they carried themselves. Confidence is super attractive.
-New York City (where I live), of course
-Pokemon battle music
-The Benny Hill theme
-Oh my god I can’t say that here! All of the dudes I end up liking tend to be youtubers I meet in real life. I seriously need to cut that out.

11.    If you could only listen to three CD’s for the rest of your life and they couldn’t be mixed what would they be?

-Electra Heart by Marina and the Diamonds, which I have been listening to almost every day for about 2 or 3 months now and have yet to get tired of it
-Would It Kill You? by Hellogoodbye, which is just really cute and folkie pop indie feeling
-Frengers by Mew, which is one of the first bands I ever fell in love with back when I was a freshman in high school and I still love EVERY track from that album

12.    What advice would you give someone wanting to make videos and gain some kind of following?

I’m the wrong person to ask because I firmly believe in making videos for fun, not for money or popularity. Unfortunately with how big YouTube has become there are some things you NEED to do to gain a following and it no longer relies entirely on video content, but I’m not going to talk about that stuff. My number one bit of advice is to make sure that no matter what you do YOU’RE HAVING FUN! Don’t get obsessed with numbers! Don’t count every single one of your subscribers! Don’t compare how many subs you and all your friends have! Don’t feel pressured to do something for popularity! Just make videos you enjoy making and I think it will be way more satisfying in the end.

13.    Do you ever receive hate messages as a result of your videos and if so how do you respond?

Every now and then I’ll get a negative comment (my favorites are ones like “U R GAY”, which is simply factual and not offensive) and while in the past I would get pissed off and have arguments with people in the comments section I’ve learned to not really care anymore. It’s not always necessary to defend myself because 99% of the comments I get are positive ones, so why let just one or two jerks ruin my day? If I ever do respond I usually just try to troll them back, but it’s all in good fun.

14.    What are your five greatest weaknesses?

-I’m so cool it makes everyone around me jealous and sometimes I can’t find an appropriate pair of sunglasses to wear so it takes me like hours before I leave the house
-My arms are so strong that sometimes I accidentally break things without trying
-My hair is so shiny it blinds anybody who sees me and sometimes helicopters try to land on my roof because they think I’m shining a distress signal at them from my window
-My voice is so soothing that people fall asleep while I’m talking to them
-I smell so good that I attract swarms of bees

15.     Murder, marry, fuck? Daniel Craig. Darren Criss.  Adam Levine?

Murder Daniel Craig, EFF Adam Levine, and marry Darren Criss. Then I can do it with him for the rest of my life. Livin da dream~*

16.    Murder, marry, fuck? Tyler Oakley. Joe Birdsong. Chris Crocker?

HAHAHA! You’re bringing my friends into this! Okay, fine. I think I’d murder Chris Crocker only because I don’t know him, EFF Tyler Oakley, and marry Joe~

17.     Are you currently in a relationship? If not, what’s your type and what’s important to you in a partner?

I am currently QUITE single. I don’t think I have a particular type physically but I think I’m realizing now that I just want somebody with a really positive attitude. I’ve been interested in the deep & brooding and pessimistic & cynical types before, and it gets exhausting after a while. I’m down for being sarcastic and making fun of each other and being serious every now and then, but overall I just want someone who smiles and laughs a lot

18.     Are YouTubers really able to make a living from just doing videos?

Absolutely! I’m not one of those people, but there’s a lot of youtubers who make a living off their videos who I really respect. If you get a big enough following and devote a LOT of time to it, it’s totally possible.

19.     What are five goals you’d like to achieve by the time you’re 30?

-Publish a graphic novel (or two…or three)
-Travel more
-Fall in love
-GET IN SHAPE (summer beach bod…2013? Ugh.)
-Be even more open about my sexual orientation on youtube (hopefully helping others in the process) and apologize to no one for it

20.     What are your 3 simple luxuries?

-Spending a night cooking dinner with my friends
-Frozen yogurt anytime anywhere
-Long talks at ungodly hours of the night/morning that remind me why I love my friends so much

Thanks Buddy!

Be Yourself.  Be Fearless.  Be Your Own Unexpected Luxury!

Check out John’s videos and all his links on his YouTube channel dudeneedaeaseonup!

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And check out our interviews with YouTubers Tyler Oakley, Joseph Birdsong, Will and RJ, Glozell, JohnnyBoy and Gregory Gorgeous!

 

Images provided by John Salomone

WARNING: We allow 100 words or less of content per interview to be taken, with a link to our original interview, and used without our authorization. Content larger than 100 words or copying our entire interview without our authorization to be used in ANY manner will result in our taking legal action per copyright infringement.

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Will and RJ…YouTube’s Most Adorable Couple!

There’s nothing extraordinary about Will and RJ.  Well, other than the fact that they’re both handsome, intellectual, respectful, caring and concerned about equality.  In a world full of selfishness, lack of concern for others, intolerable cruelty and arrogance, Will and RJ are literally two of the nicest guys you will ever meet.  Fortunately, you don’t have to go very far to meet them.  Turn on your computer every day about 1pm, go to Will’s YouTube channel, Shep689, and he’s probably uploaded the newest installment of their year-long, daily video log.  We’re absolutely obsessed! If by 5pm their newest video hasn’t been uploaded, we’re panicking and wondering...is something wrong with Will and RJ?

So what makes them so entertaining to watch? Who knows.  It’s not exactly always a thrill a minute. Yet there we are, everyday, watching their lives unfold.   A typical day in their lives consists of getting up, driving to their separate jobs, Will showing us around his office for the umpteenth time, RJ playing name that tune to some song no one’s ever heard of before, dinner at Chipotle(which we’ve now grown accustomed to again because of you!), drinking margarita’s or wine, being cute before bed and, of course, saying good night.  Although this may all seem rather mundane they may just be the new pioneers of the entertainment world today.  In a world obsessed with reality television, they have done the unthinkable by bringing the viewer into their lives 24 hours a day for 365 days of the year!  Although this isn’t the first time it’s been done on YouTube, they are just interesting and adorable enough to make it work.  Without even thinking about it they have created the perfect show with an enticing main cast, secondary characters, main plots and subplots.

Oh, and let’s not forget Will’s obsession with watching Desperate Housewives. This is very, very important because we believe Will is a little too analytical to miss the ironic resemblance between their life and Desperate Housewives, especially his idol Bree Van De Kamp.  In an interesting twist, while Will’s favorite show lingers in the background, Will and RJ have composed the most intriguing reality show…where art doesn’t necessarily imitate life, but instead presents a mirror reflection.   One to us that is definitely more interesting than anything found on Wisteria Lane.  One that made us thirsty to find out what beats beneath the chests of these two kind geniuses. Other than our pop culture fascination to find out more about them personally, it was truly an honor to be allowed to dig deep into the minds of another gay couple who represents, without fear, the message that love is love.

1. How long have you been together and how did you meet?

W – We’ve been together since October 2009 (so about 2.5 years), a month after we met at the LGBTQ student resource center at FSU. I was a volunteer and RJ walked in working on a documentary for one of his film classes.  I said hello and then proceeded to interrogate everyone else in the center trying to get information on him. I told everyone there “That is MINE.”

R – Note that he said “that is mine”, not “HE is mine”…

W – People kept trying to tell me not to waste my time because he was straight, but you see how much that meant to me haha.

R – Mind you, I had only told people that so that they would leave me alone and let me do my work. But Will was obviously undeterred.  A day or two later he finds me on Facebook and starts messaging me. We went on a date shortly thereafter. The rest is pretty much history.

2. How did you each get started making YouTube videos?

W – Way back in 2008, I think, my friend Alex posted video and linked them on Facebook. I checked out some of his stuff and it seemed pretty funny. Then I saw that he was subscribed to particular channels, like 5awesomegays and Tyler Oakley, and that’s when I discovered what vlogging really was. I thought to myself as I watched these videos, “I could totally do this,” and here we are.

R – I got started on YouTube because of Will. Before we started dating, I didn’t even have an account, much less any desire to participate in the whole vlogging thing. I got all my introductions to it through being around Will and watching him do what he does. Meanwhile, I was getting my degrees in media production and writing so I constantly found myself helping him out with editing or lighting or shot composition. At first, I was doing my best to be a good boyfriend and be supportive, but it didn’t take long for me to start enjoying it. It was shortly thereafter that I had the epiphany: “wait a minute, if I’m putting all this effort into making YouTube videos, why don’t I start vlogging on my own channel?” The rest of the story is on YouTube.

3. What inspired you to make a video a day for a year?

R – Our subscribers, hands down. Every so often we would do day-in-the-life videos whenever we would do fun stuff like Disney or Universal Studios. Will had offered up the idea of doing a daily vlog much in the same fashion as another famous couple on YouTube, Charles and Alli Trippy. But we never thought that people would want to just watch us go about our daily routine. But more and more subscribers kept asking us to vlog every day so we decided to try it for just a month. The response was very positive, so we decided to go for another month. Finally, we made a wager with the subscribers, get Will to 10,000 subscribers and we would vlog for every single day in 2012. They delivered and then some, so now we’re making good on our promise.

4. What are the most gratifying and most difficult parts of making a video every day for a year?

W – The most gratifying is definitely to read the comments made on each video and see how appreciative our subscribers are of the amount of time we spend making our videos. The most difficult part would probably be finding the time/internet connection to upload our videos. Editing takes about 15 minutes, but the importing, exporting, and uploading is about another hour, so it can get pretty time-consuming.

R – Yeah, I would have to agree when I say that the most gratifying part would be the comments, messages, emails, letters, and so on telling us how much we’ve helped them through a rough time or how much we’ve given them hope that they’ll find their perfect match some day. Since Will pretty much does the editing, the hardest part for me is always remembering to bring the camera whenever we go somewhere and not leaving it there when we come back.

5. What has been the best opportunity that has come as a result of these videos?

R – Well, having Chipotle’s corporate headquarters send us gift certificate for free food was pretty awesome. Doing this interview is pretty sweet as well. But really, since we’ve only been doing the everyday vlogs for a few months now, it’s still pretty early in determining what sort of professional opportunities might arise. More so, it’s been about having the opportunity to interact with so many different people all around the world. Getting the chance to touch their lives and having them do the same to us.

6. Do you believe there are things too personal to discuss or display in your videos?

W – What’s funny is that we recently had a serious discussion about this. I think that’s it’s important for us to have some semblance of privacy, for the sake of our own sanity, but also try to portray our lives together as honestly as possible. It’s impossible to put everything in the videos, that much is true, but there are things that we make sure to not include due to legal ramifications or the possibility of it putting strain on our relationship.

R – The good news is that we’re the ones shooting the footage and doing the editing, so we control what goes in the videos and what doesn’t. But when it comes to boundaries, most of what gets left out is stuff that involves our interactions with people who don’t feel comfortable being on camera. As far as Will and I are concerned, it’s just about making judgment calls whenever the question pops up.

7. Who are your top 5 Favorite YouTubers? What is your all-time favorite video by someone else and by you?

W – Let’s see…Tyler Oakley would definitely be one. So would our friends Andrew (lepreas) and Simon (sighmoansays). Natalie Tran has been one of my favorites from the very beginning.

R – I have to add Charles and Alli to the list (CTFxC) just because they are a big inspiration for us. I also have to throw out honorable mentions to Nicola Foti (soudlyawake), Grace Helbig (dailygrace), Michael Buckley (WHATTHEBUCKSHOW), Louis Virtel (louisvirtel), and Smosh.

8. Can you explain VidCon? What are you most excited about experiencing?(They have since been to VidCon and have uploaded videos of their experiences)

R – Good question. I’ve never been to VidCon or any sort of YouTube gathering. Care to explain, dear?

W – Well I haven’t been to VidCon either but I know that it’s the be all end all of YouTube gatherings. It’s a convention for YouTube creators and fans. If you’re a fan, it’s a great place to go and try to meet your favorite Youtubers and interact with them. If you’re a Youtuber yourself, it’s a great place to network and hang out in person with some of the people you normally only interact with online.

R – What he said.

W – I’d say that I’m most looking forward to having drinks with a few of my favorite Youtubers and possibly meeting some that I’ve never had the chance to meet before. Oh, and meeting up with subscribers, of course!

R – Three words: Drunken Youtuber Karaoke. I don’t know if that’s already on the agenda but I am going to make it happen somehow.

9. Do you receive any hate mail or comments and if so how does it affect you? How do you respond?

W – Oh my God, yes. And I love them. I would much rather them come to my channel than to go to someone else’s channel because they don’t affect me.

R – Yeah, I generally try not to feed the trolls, especially the ones who use the word “fag”. There’s no talking to those people. But every so often someone will come along and make some sort of self-entitled, bitchy, condescending comment and I will always feel compelled to put those people in their place. It’s like “I’m sorry, just because you’re entitled to your opinion doesn’t mean you’re entitled to share it or that it counts for anything.”

10. What advice would you give new YouTubers who want to become well followed YouTubers?

W – I would tell them to watch other Youtubers to get a sense of what works in terms of shooting styles, lighting, editing, that sort of thing. As far as content goes, I’d say just be yourself.

R – I say give us something we haven’t seen before. There are literally millions of others out there trying to do the exact same thing, so what do you have to offer that others don’t? Or, if you’re in good shape, you can just go the cheap route like Davey Wavey and just make all of your videos half naked. Just don’t expect anyone to take you seriously…

W – Right.

11. What are three things about the other person that we wouldn’t know by looking at them?

R – Let’s see… I’d say the first thing is that Will stops at nothing to get what he wants. Seriously, it doesn’t matter what the thing is or what gets in his way. If he wants queso dip, we’ll be at a Mexican restaurant by the end of the day. If we’re watching Desperate Housewives on DVD, and the season ends, we’ll have three more seasons bought by the end of the week. Will also has the capacity to be extremely, unbearably cute, usually whenever he knows he’s in trouble or whenever he wants me to pay attention to him. Finally, I’d say it’s that Will is the most fabulous drunk I have ever seen. He’s like a cross between Audrey Hepburn and Beyonce…but with a little bit more leaning. Just don’t leave him alone anywhere or try to get him to say the phrase “honey butter chicken biscuit”.

W – First and foremost is how intense he is. Nothing is ever mitigated or simple. Everything is just such a big deal. When it comes to how devoted he is, he is absolutely 140% devoted to everything. When it comes to his relationships with friends or family, he is always 140% involved. In this way, it’s hard to get him to relax. Another aspect would be how he in the most honest person on this planet. I’ve yet to meet someone who has taught me more about truth and honesty than him, and he’s shown me how much a couple can benefit from honesty. Lastly, I’d have to say is that you’d never guess how great in the sack he is. Cuz he’s perfect. (Sorry, I had to.)

12. Ok…so what’s the deal with Chipotle?

W – <Gasp> I’m almost offended. It’s just the best thing ever!

R – Yeah, it’s really not that complicated. We both love food, especially Mexican food, and Chipotle is good enough that we don’t mind eating it two/three/four/seven times a week.

13. To each of you: What are your three favorite books, movies, television shows and stores?

R – Gosh, so many favorites to list. Alright…books would have to be Chronicle of a Death Foretold, then Slaughterhouse Five, and I have to list a graphic novel too, so I might as well go with Watchmen, because it’s pretty much the greatest one ever written (but there’s a lot of competition). Movies would be, first, Fight Club, then probably Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, and I have to list our couple’s favorite, The Birdcage. TV shows are tricky since we’ve gotten each other hooked on our favorites, but I’d say first is House, then Inside the Actors Studio, and I have to say The Daily Show, if for no other reason than I’ve written paper after paper about it. What’s funny about my favorite stores is that none of them are in the city where we live. I absolutely adore Zara and everything in it. As much as it pains me, I admit that I’m always buying assorted stuff in Urban Outfitters. Finally, I’m not sure if this counts, but I’m always throwing away money on nice underwear at Freshpair.com. It’s kind of unhealthy…

W – Okay, I’m not like RJ, I’m just going to list stuff.  Books: Life of Pi, the Harry Potter series, and I really liked One Hundred Years of Solitude. Movies: The Birdcage, The Devil Wears Prada, Matilda. TV Shows: Desperate Housewives, Six Feet Under, Brothers and Sisters. Stores: H&M, Urban Outfitters, Williams Sonoma. See, that was much easier, right?

R – Shut up.

14. You have established yourselves as gay role models and activists, maybe without even realizing it.  What message to do you think is important to carry to gay teens and what do you believe are the biggest LGBT issues in our country?

W – First of all is the importance of self worth, and knowing that, even if people may treat you poorly, it doesn’t mean that you are any less than them. To me, marriage equality is important, but dealing with bullying is a much bigger issue for me.

R – I don’t think there are multiple issues so much as one issue—equality. We deserve to be treated equally, whether we’re at work or at school or in church or just minding our own business trying to live our lives. We deserve the same treatment as anyone and everyone else, and if you’re gay (aged 6 or 16 or 60), you shouldn’t settle for anything less than that. Period.

15. With the exception of saying “I love you”, in the past, you have both shown very little physical affection towards each other in the videos. Has this been a conscience decision?

R – Well, I wouldn’t say that it’s a conscious decision. Will and I were never big on PDA in the first place. It’s just something that we’ve always felt was best suited for when we’re at home. We were both raised in pretty conservative households.

W – Not to mention that, whenever we do display or affection, it’s usually not something that’s appropriate for YouTube…

16. Will, you have shared a very moving coming out story on video.  Based on your experience, what advice would you give to people, no matter their age, who are wanting or planning to come out?

W – It’s a constant balancing act of being yourself and not upsetting those closest to you. When it comes to coming out, timing is everything, and every situation is different. If I had to give any advice, I’d say make sure that coming out doesn’t do more harm than good.

R – Coming out is a process. It’s not like getting knighted where one person anoints you and then you’re that way for the rest of your life. Every time you meet someone new, the question arises about how to best address the subject. It’s my opinion that the only thing that should keep you from coming out is safety. Unless coming out carries the real possibility of physical or mental harm, I say that there’s never going to be a perfect time to do it, so why waste time agonizing over it? Also, I’d say that, in most situations, especially when dealing with the subject in your day-to-day interaction with people, treat it like a non-issue, because it is. Once people see that it’s not a big deal, then they won’t be so freaked out about it.

17. How do you define sexy?  What do you believe is the sexiest city in the world? Sexiest thing about Florida? Sexiest song? Sexiest YouTuber? Sexiest pair of RJ’s underwear?

R – I guess sexy is all about owning what you’ve got. For me, it’s not about any particular type of guy. I’ve seen blonde, brunette, even redhead guys who were sexy. Different body types, different degrees of body hair… it’s just about owning what you’ve got and not being afraid to get what you want. It’s kind of a slippery slope, though, since arrogance is extremely off-putting.

W – I’m the same in that sexy changes from guy to guy. The least common factor, for me, would be Hispanics.

R – Sure, whatever. So I guess that would be the sexiest thing about Florida: the Hispanics. So is there any particularly Hispanic city?

W – I don’t know. I feel like it would be really sexy to go to a city in Brazil.

R – Yeah, or Australia. I dunno, we haven’t really gotten to travel outside the country just yet. Sexiest music for me? I dunno, I have playlists. But my favorite would probably be “What Goes Around…Comes Around”. That song makes me want to make a baby.

W – I dunno why, Deadmau5 is so hot to me. Like, if they were to play that in a club, I would make out with everyone. Sexiest YouTuber would be Anthony Padilla from Smosh. What would I do to him, let me count the ways…

R – Yeah he’s definitely attractive. Him and Michael Aranda. He’s pretty. So what’s my sexiest pair of underwear?

W – Easy, that red and black pair of Gregg Homme briefs that make your package look really good.

R – Oh yeah, those. They’re red and black and they cradle your package in this lovely hammock of microfiber and put everything on display.

18. You are planning on launching a website and have asked viewers for donations to achieve this goal.  Can you discuss your plan for your website and where you would like to see your YouTube presence take you in the next five years?

R – One of the great things that’s happened as a result of this everyday vlog, sort of by accident, is the community that’s evolved around it. So we wanted to create something that will allow it to expand beyond the confines of YouTube. So we explored a bunch of different options and we decided that the only way that we could do what we wanted on our terms was to create a website.

W – Yeah the main purpose of the website was to create an “advice column” of sorts to allow us to answer the hundreds of messages we get from viewers in an organized fashion. We would allow them to submit the questions/messages anonymously and we would post them for everyone to see and learn from the experience. We’re hoping to get questions about everything from relationship advice (because there aren’t that many advice columns for gay relationships out there) to coming out advice and everything in between.

R – But there’s more to the site than just that. We felt like we’ve created a community so we wanted to create a space where the viewers could interact with us on a more personal level and vise versa. As for the donations, we were already planning on doing this by ourselves, but it’s a difficult task to accomplish with the time and resources available to us. So, we’ve given people an opportunity to help us out if they wanna see this move along quicker. And we’ve been SO overwhelmed at the response already. We truly have the best subscribers out there.

W – It’s true. I couldn’t believe the amount of support we were receiving – we’ve even had to say no at times! But as for our presence in 5 years, I would like for the channel to gain popularity with the It Gets Better Project as proof that it does get better. The movement has been instrumental in showing troubled teens to tough it out, but there are few instances where there’s proof. That’s what our channel is all about. And of course we would like more subscribers and all that jazz haha.

19. You often discuss getting married in your videos.  Are there any plans in the future and will we get to see an engagement?

W – Actually, yes to both questions. We’ve been to so many weddings this year and we also work wedding as cater-waiters, so we’ve already determined what we want for our wedding. As for the engagement, RJ will be proposing to me since I gave RJ a promise ring near the beginning of our relationship when I decided to really give our relationship a shot.

R – Yeah, so no pressure, right? Well there’s still the problem of it being outlawed here in Florida, which has kinda put the brakes on things. But we do plan on moving to LA next year so hopefully there will be legal groundwork for us to do that by the time we arrive. Thing is, though, as far as getting hitched and getting engaged goes, we’re already pretty certain that it’s going to happen. So, for me at least, there’s no point in rushing. I’d much rather take some time and really do everything right. After all, we really only get one shot at this, so I want things to be special. But it would be cruel, though, to include subscribers in our relationship thus far and then leave them out of the engagement and ceremony. So don’t worry. No matter what happens, we will try everything we can to bring you guys along for the ride. I can promise that.

20. What are your three simple luxuries?

R – For me, “simple luxuries” are all about giving yourself that little something extra from day to day. There’s the stuff you need to get through the day, and there’s the extra things that make life enjoyable. Anyone who knows me knows that I have a thing for wearing nice underwear. It’s one way to spoil yourself (and your boyfriend) in the most intimate way. Beyond that, it’s all about sharing good meals with good company, whether we’re out or cooking at home. Oh, and there must always be a stash of great wine on hand.

W – See, I take a much less materialistic approach. After spending a majority of my life with some people that didn’t appreciate me, I like the ability to decide my company and be with people that I actually give a damn about. Another luxury would be taking naps. I fucking love naps. My life would be so much less worth living without naps. Third luxury… would be time spent with RJ. I feel like RJ has been the answer to why my life was so difficult in the beginning. I always told myself that there was a reason, and RJ is that reason. Any and all time spent with him is more than I could have ever asked for. Okay, now I’m done being sappy.

R – Yeah, way to make me sound like a douche…

Thanks boys!

Be Yourself.  Be Fearless.  Be Your Own Unexpected Luxury!

Visit Will’s YouTube Channel Shep689 to find all of their links to Twitter, Facebook and where to buy merchandise!

 

 

 

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“Best new gay young adult love story of 2014 that’s relatable at any age!”

the before now and after then official cover_peter monn

 

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Justin Utley…Out of Isolation with an Ex-Mormon, Gay, Country Music Singer!

Long before Justin Utley was known as an out, gay ex-Mormon country singer he was a celebrity within the Mormon community itself.  In a previous interview he stated, “I was the Prince of Mormon pop with a couple of albums that did pretty well when I was 15.”  He also explained that he wrote several songs for movies in the Mormon film industry.  Today, he has no ties with the Mormon church, having written his own ex-communication letter and being known also for being outspoken against the Mormon church’s use of conversion therapy, which he endured for two years. He is a renown country music singer in the gay community and his music and activism have been nominated for many awards in the LGBT community including 4 OutMusic Awards, including Best Songwriter and Artist of the Year and winning Best Country/Folk Song of the Year.
All of this makes for a perfectly sound biography attached to the home page of a singer’s website, but that wasn’t what interested us.  Honestly, his music isn’t necessarily what we would pump through our speakers while headed out on a Saturday night.  While watching a video of one of his live performances of his single Stand for Something, we began talking about the difficulties he had faced in his life that got him to the point where he was how headlining at Pride events, winning awards and releasing full albums of music.  If he only spoke out about the Mormon church, that alone would be enough to garner him some recognition from being an activist.  And then we realized what made him different…what made him a star.  Justin Utley wasn’t simply a survivor.  He wasn’t simply an activist or a gay, country singer.  Justin Utley, while singing and smiling to thousands of gay youth, represented hope.
1. Introduce us to Justin Utley and tell us why we should fall in love with you?
I’m 5’10”, brown eyes, 1/2 Sicilian (thanks mom), play guitar and piano, am just as passionate about life and equality as I am about my music, and I speak English and enough Spanish to say “hello I am a missionary from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints”, “where is the bathroom” and “no, mister, I do not want tickets to see the donkey show”. (all phrases I used while a Mormon missionary).
2. When did you first realize you wanted to become a musician? And how would you define your sound?
I started writing my own music while I was in junior high.. It seemed to be my artistic outlet (my brothers and father are all very talented painters).  A lot of what I was experiencing and feeling was reflected in the music I was writing.
As for my “sound”… Some rock/pop, country (but never full ho-down), contemporary, inspirational. Alt Country Rock seems to be the genre that sticks the most. People suggest that if the latter-career Dixie Chicks went Big Love on Daughtry, and their son was raised by Sheryl Crow, Melissa Etheridge, with Rob Thomas as a babysitter…..then you have me.
3. Tell us about your religious experience growing up and how this translates into your music today.
I was raised in a devout Mormon home, baptized at age 8, served my 2 year mission, the works.  I was even on the religion council for my high school and college.  During all this, I was writing my religious-based music, and there are definitely some recurring themes as far as life, the ups and downs, and finding strength that have carried over into my music today.  I think those experiences and emotions are pretty universal.
4. Tell us about your experience with ex-gay therapy.  Do you believe it is a reliable form of therapy?
Ex-gay therapy was the first step in my coming-to-terms with myself so-to-speak.  For the first time I didn’t feel as alone and as isolated as before.  However, the tenets and doctrines of the church also dictate its social science, which on many counts can be severely the opposite of what is emotionally, spiritually, and psychologically sound.  At first, I believed in their therapy (or treatment rather, since they don’t actually call it ex-gay therapy. Its a “condition” called “same gender attraction”.  Its “treated” much like a disorder.. that its a learned behavior or a symptom of a failed childhood).  So, no, not reliable, to say the least.  However, I guess I could say it worked for me.. I realized after 2 years of it that my mom was right.  You can’t fix what isn’t broken.  (Thanks mom)
5. How is your relationship with your family today?
It was shaky at first.. both in my perception of how they would react to me both coming out and being so outspoken about my experiences.  But for the most part, my family has been very accepting and supportive.  My dad tells me almost every time we talk that he’s proud of me and what I’m doing.  And that feeling is about as amazing as winning a Grammy. Though, I wouldn’t object if I got one.  No offense Dad.
Though I still have some push back from some of my orthodox Mormon family (who supported Prop 8).  They seem to think its ok to “hate the sin and not the sinner”.  And I have to keep reminding them that phrase isn’t found anywhere in their scriptures, and secondly, the message of Christianity was about love.  Its unfortunate that this “love, live, and let live” belief system only applies within the confines of their own minds and existence and not for the other few billion others on the earth.
6. How does a Mormon boy from Utah end up in New York City?
Great Escape.  Its song #2 on the new album.
7. Why do you believe you receive most of your inspiration, as you’ve stated, from “highly emotional states” and how did this play out in the development of your newest album, “Nothing This Real“?
Some of the best work done by Van Gogh was through tragedy.  Melissa Etheridge’s best work, in my opinion, was her Skin album.  I think when emotions run high, some of the best art is born.  For me, I think some of my best work materialized within that same margin.  For instance, Goodbye Goodbye, from my first album Runaway, was written in about 10 minutes after I’d realized I was being played (by a woman in fact.. yes, this was one of my experiments while in ex-gay therapy).
8. As a songwriter, do you only write for yourself or do you write for other musicians as well?  Who would be your dream musician to write a song for and why?
For the most part, I write for myself.  I’ve collaborated on few occasions with musicians I really connect with musically.  If I could, I would love to write a song for Rob Thomas, the Black Crows, or Gavin Degraw..  (and I know that’s three, and you only asked for one, but variety is good)
9. Are you currently in a relationship? What are three “deal breakers” a potential partner must have or not have in order to be with you?
I am currently and unabashedly not single.   He’s a wonderful guy.  Three deal breakers include:
must be: spontaneous (I’m a Sagittarius)
must have: patience (see answer #1)
must have: knowledge of at least five B-52s songs previous to 1989
10. How would you feel about one of your songs being mixed into a dance mix and played in a club?
Did that.  It was ok.. but then I was asked to PERFORM it.  I didn’t go over well (for me at least).
11. If you could collaborate with any three artists alive today, who would you pick?
Dixie Chicks
Tears For Fears  (either Roland and/or Curt)
Muse
12. What advice would you give a Mormon, gay teenager who is afraid of coming out or addressing his or her sexuality?
Your local LGBT center has so many answers and support than you currently have or are even aware exists, and there are people that are going through (and have gone through) exactly the same struggle.
13. What would you tell a non-Mormon to help them understand the struggle a Mormon suffers in deciding to leave the church?
That once you realize your self worth and value isn’t determined by a book of rules or standards, life will become richer, better, and you’ll realize nothing is as real as living life on your own terms.
14. If you carried a purse, what five things would we always find in your purse?
HaHa.  Can I just say this is a kick ass interview!  Lets see..
1. My smartphone
2. Purell (its NYC)
3. My metrocard
4. My passport
5. Guitar picks (I’m always leaving them behind at gigs)
15. How do you define SEXY?
Confidence
16. What is the sexiest city? Sexiest hotel? Sexiest place to play live? Sexiest place to kiss? Sexiest musical artist?
Sexiest city?  New York
Sexiest place to play live?  As of today, my gig in Stockholm Sweden last year tops that list.
Sexiest place to kiss?  watching the sunset at Shirley Heights, Antigua
Sexiest musical artist?  Meatloaf.  Makes me hungry.
17. What is some random detail we wouldn’t know by looking at you?
I was an accomplished ventriloquist in elementary school.
18. What are your three simple luxuries?
spending a weekend at home in NYC with Joe
19. What is next for Justin Utley?
more gigs, a music video or two, and a new single out at the end of the year. Bring it.
20. Boxers, briefs, jockstrap…or nothing at all?

boxer briefs. Its all about having coverage and support at gigs.

Thanks Justin!

Be Yourself.  Be Fearless.  Be Your Own Unexpected Luxury!

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For more info on Justin Utley visit his website HERE!

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Joseph Birdsong…THE Interview

He is probably one of the most naturally, hilarious people on YouTube.  We literally cannot get through one of his videos in its entirety without laughing our asses off.  Maybe its because you wouldn’t expect him to be as funny or forthright by looking at him, but he continues to surprise us time after time.  Whether he’s talking about his tattoos or bedazzling a vibrator, he is uniformly himself…undeniably.  We love this guy.  Not only has his podcast on iTunes made it to the #4 slot but he’s also had an internship at Allure magazine and had highly successful personal and collaboration channels on YouTube.  His writing, which we hope to find layered between the pages of his book someday, is just as honest and amusing as his videos and podcast.  Actually, his writing, found on his blog Cup of Joe, is so good it might qualify him to be the next David Sedaris or Augusten Burroughs.  If his answer to our first question doesn’t quench your thirst for all that he is, keep reading…Joseph Birdsong never ceases to amaze.

1. Describe yourself using 7 words and your age?

I’ll take another bottle of Boone’s Farm. And I’m 24.

2. How did you get started making YouTube videos?

I started college in 2006 and had no friends, so I started watching some vloggers. It all sounds pretty depressing, actually. I decided to start making my own videos in early 2007 and it kinda just took off from there.

3. Explain the difference between your personal YouTube videos and your participation in the collab channel “5awesomegays”?

5awesomegays was a channel I did with four other guys that was more about our friendship and interaction with each other. We usually had a theme each week or else caught up with what we were all doing in life.

My own channel is more of a free-for-all. I mostly do little comedy videos, but sometimes there are musical things or artsy things. This past week I rolled around in a pile of cardigans and sang a parody of Shakira’s “She Wolf.” I think that should sum things up pretty well.

4. What opportunities have come from your making YouTube videos?

I guess most people want to hear about the financial and job opportunities—and those have been great—but the most important opportunities I’ve found are the ones that include making great friends. Most of my best friends in life have been linked in some way with the work I’ve done online. There are so many exciting people out there. Without the online stuff, I never would’ve gotten to move to Philly or work in NY or travel all over the country. Right now I’m enjoying working with My Damn Channel for Answerly, which is an opportunity I don’t think I’d have had otherwise.

5. What advice would you give to a new YouTuber who wants to become a well-followed YouTuber?

Turn the other direction and run away as fast as you can. No, but really, I think that’s the problem now. Most people start now because they want to be well-followed and well-known. People use to want to be part of a community and find friends and express themselves through videos. Now that people have seen how it can be beneficial in other ways, everyone wants a piece of the action, and it’s just totally changed the dynamics of everything. It’s not all necessarily a bad thing, but if you’re really gonna go for it, find a nice brand of alcohol to keep you company along the way and start planning the funeral for your social life.

6. Tell us about your podcast and how it began.

The podcast started as a separate outlet to share the personal humor essays that I write about my life or daily observations. I didn’t really expect much to come from it, but I think it eventually peaked at #4 on the iTunes comedy chart and just became sort of its own monster. I don’t think I really ever intended for it to go on forever, so it ended after about twenty episodes or so. I’d like to include a lot of those short essays in a book someday, along with some other ones I never published.

7. Describe your experience having an internship at Allure magazine.

Working at Allure was terrifying and a lot of hard work, but I think an internship should be a lot of work. I steamed a dress for Taylor Swift once, but I never got to see her. And then one time I got to go on a photoshoot and worked for so long there was blood in my shoes that night. One time I got to photograph some male models in their underwear. That was a pretty awesome day, except it made me feel a little bit like a troll.

8. What are five things we wouldn’t know by looking at you?

I love reading manga, my favorite Pokemon is Staryu, my favorite color is purple, my favorite food is black olives, and I guess you wouldn’t be able to tell that I’m probably wearing granny panties.

9. Are you currently in a relationship? What are you attracted to in a partner?

I’m currently dating a couple people, but am not in a relationship. Gotta keep things spicy, you know?

I don’t think I really have a type of guy I’m always attracted to. Personality-wise, I prefer someone who doesn’t take himself seriously. Ever. Physically, I generally go for guys who are taller than me, but it’s the same with my friends, too. All of my best friends are taller than me, which isn’t that hard to do. I’m only 5’7”. And then, of course, I’m always on the lookout for a rich, older person who is about to peace out that I can marry. But hey, aren’t we all?

10. One of your projects is giving sex and relationship advice.  What things are you most asked and do any of the questions surprise you?

Yes! I am the sex and relationships guru for My Damn Channel’s Answerly page. It’s probably my favorite thing to do.

Surprisingly, a lot of the questions are about long-distance relationships. I think there are a lot more of those going on these days now that we’re in the Age of the Online Dating. It’s really interesting to see. And then a lot of people want advice on coming out or sex tips.

Of course, some people just go all out and ask about S&M or bondage or anal beads. One guy wanted to know how to introduce bacon into the bedroom. Actually, they’re all (for the most part) pretty valid questions, and I’m glad people feel comfortable enough to ask me. It’s a good mix between serious and not-so-serious. It’s the best job in the world.

11. What is too serious to joke about? What is something too personal to talk about in a YouTube video?

I believe that nothing is off limits when it comes to jokes. I’m not a very serious person. Whenever I find myself getting a bit too serious, I step back and am like “You know, you’ll be dead someday.” And that just makes me laugh, which is a little morbid I guess.

There are definitely some things I wouldn’t joke about in videos or on my site, but it’s usually because I know people will take it wrong, and not because I don’t think it’s funny. I think we’d all be a lot happier if we just lightened up a bit. Live your life like you’re on a crazy reality show. Sing loudly with the windows down. Wear a few wigs and take on a few different personas. Scream your own name during sex. (I learned that last tip from Tumblr.) Mix it up a little!

12. What is your favorite hat? Cardigan? Object that is bedazzled? Favorite movie? Favorite book? Favorite band or musician?

Well, I just retired my favorite Pokemon cap and bought a new one. But that old one was with me for many years. When I pick my favorite cardigan, I feel like Angelina Jolie having to pick her favorite kid. I’d have to say just my oversized, heather grey cardigan from AA. As far as bedazzling goes, I’m really into these phone cases I’ve been bedazzling recently, but I also enjoy bedazzling sunglasses, wine bottles, shoes…and, of course, there’s my bedazzled ukulele, which is pretty damn glamourous. My favorite movies are The Lizzie McGuire Movie and Drop Dead Gorgeous, and I’ll read anything written by David Sedaris and Chelsea Handler. My favorite musicians are Robyn and Hilary Duff, and I’m currently really into One Direction, too. I just put up a poster of them in my closet. It’s out of control.

13. Who are your five favorite YouTubers? What is your all-time favorite video by someone else? What are your three favorite videos you have made?

My five favorite YouTubers are probably TheHill88, paperlilies, mememolly, communitychannel, and MelissaJenna. I say those because they were some of the first people I watched and I still love them, but I also currently watch a ton of different channels.

My favorite video is actually just some interviewer asking Britney Spears if she’s ever licked a battery. I swear it’s the best thing ever. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7sk3eemlFQQ)

I generally hate all my own videos, but there are a few I’m a little proud of:

“Look Who’s Laughing Now” Definitely my favorite video I’ve ever made. – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wx8HuHXD9D4

“I’ll be your sea” This is a compilation video of vacation footage. It takes me back to some good times. – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gmhZBZlY1HQ

“The Cardigan Song” This is one of my most recent videos. I think it came together decently. – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r-TZCabINUs

14. What do you think are the three most important lgbt issues in our country today?

I think all of them are the most important. I think it’s an issue in itself that we have to refer to them as “issues” when it’s just basic human rights. The biggest issue is just treating everyone like a human.

15. If you could be invisible for an entire day, what would you do?

I actually just asked this question in a video and got some amazing responses. I think someone said they’d wait until Scarlett Johansson was in the shower and then flush her toilet. I’d probably do something like that except with Zac Efron. That way I’d get to see him in the shower and hear him scream, so everybody wins.

16. What does your family think of your videos and podcasts?

People actually ask me this a lot. I think they think my parents would disapprove of the things I say and some of the stories I tell, when actually they’re very proud of me. I’m sure my family doesn’t agree 100% with everything I do, but they understand why I do it. I try to be myself in videos so other people feel comfortable being themselves. I talk about sex and relationships because I feel like there are so many people who still think it’s such a taboo thing. I mean, I don’t think you should walk down the street shouting about how you just had sex, but I do think a lot of people grow up quite sexually repressed or sexually shamed, and that’s not good. Those are the people who grow up really confused about everything and end up having sex with goats or something. If I can save just one person from goat sex, then I’ll consider myself a success in life.

17. How often do you get noticed and what do people usually say?

I don’t get noticed too much now that I’m in Arkansas. When I was living in Philly or working in NYC, it happened every once in a while. And it only happens when I look my worst, like if I have a cold and boogers are everywhere. People usually say something like, “Oh! I watch your videos!” and then I stumble around awkwardly and turn red. But it’s fun!

18. Do you ever receive hate mail or comments and if so how do you respond?

Yes, and it’s quite fun sometimes. Occasionally, I read through them on the phone with my best friend. I try not to respond to them, but sometimes there will just be that one that really gets to you or you’re in a bad mood and just use it as an outlet to take out your frustrations. We’re all human and deserve to go a little crazy sometimes.

19. Where do you hope to be in five years?

Living in the English countryside and running a cat farm. Hopefully I’ll have a book out by then.

20. What are your three simple luxuries?

Playing the ukulele, obsessively replaying Tomb Raider games, and buying new cardigans.

Thanks Buddy!

Click HERE to visit Joseph Birdsong’s Website: Cup of Joe Show(Links to ALL his stuff!)

Click HERE for his YouTube channel Disneykid1

Check out our YouTube channel HERE!

Check out Peter’s YouTube channel HERE!

Check out all of our other INTERVIEWS including Tyler Oakley, Glozell & Johnnyboyxo!

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Kaskade…THE Interview

How do you even begin to write an introduction for the man named “Amercica’s Best DJ” in 2011 by Pioneer DJ and DJ Times? Although the New York Times recently referred to him as the “new face of electronic dance music“, Ryan Raddon, better known as Kaskade, has been around for more than a decade.  His accolades within the EDM movement, electronic dance music, include amazing remixes for everyone from Lady Gaga to Beyonce, 7 studio albums, headlining at 150-200 shows a year for the last ten years and playing at every major summer dance music festival including Coachella and EDC(Electric Daisy Carnival).  The press release bio we received was three pages of every contribution he has made to the EDM movement.  In a word…he is phenomenal.  He has defined his technique by stating, “The first thing I think about when making music is the melody and the lyrics.  Production styles come and go, but good songs can stand the test of time.” He has just released his newest album Fire & Ice and has just embarked on his summer tour, Freaks of Nature(find the most recent tour dates HERE).  His bio goes on and on but the bottom line is that when we listen to his music…we are elated.  His beats transcend us to a world where, for awhile, we don’t have to worry about every day problems and are able to be present in the moment…dancing…losing ourselves and smiling.

1.  Define Kaskade using 6 words.

Melodic, Euphoric, Shining, Floating, Serene, Escape

 

2.  How were you introduced to the Music industry? EDM music industry?

I grew up in the suburbs of Chicago, which is the birthplace of this sound.  I heard it when I was young and was hooked.

 

3.  Who are three non-electronic musicians who inspire you?

Robert Smith of The Cure.  Morrissey.  Sting.

 

4. If you had to listen to one CD, and it couldn’t be a mixed CD, for the rest of your life, which one would it be and why?

Daft Punk – Homework

 

5. You’re  participating EDC in Las Vegas this year. What are you looking forward to the most?

Just seeing the sheer size of that crowd is an experience in itself.

 

6.  Tell us what to expect out of your Freaks of Nature tour this summer?

Massive production and a show that has been thoroughly thought through. It’s about the experience and how it relates to my music.  Sound and visuals merging together to make something special.

 

 

7.  Will you be introducing new tracks in this summer tour?

Yes.

 

8.   How do you define sexy? What’s the sexiest City?

LOL! Um yeah not sure how to define that.  But Barcelona has to be up there or maybe even Ibiza.  Seems like in Spain they ooze sexiness.

 

9.  What’s next after the summer tour?

I plan on going back into the studio once I am fully rested after this tour.  I am always excited to get some studio time in.

 

10. What are three of your simple luxuries?

Mac Book Pro, iPhone and Sony MDR 7506 headphones.

 

Thanks buddy!

Be Yourself.  Be Fearless.  Be Your Own Unexpected Luxury. 

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Image Credit: Mark Owens courtesy of Kaskade and Rogers & Cowan.

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More Than Just a Crown! Behind the Miss USA Pageant with Former Contestant Brittany Mason!

Every year we get super excited about THE Miss USA Pageant! It doesn’t hurt that several of our friends have been contestants in the pageant and for years we’ve been privy to all of the inside scoop behind the stage.  We thought it would be fun to catch up with one of our best friends, Brittany Mason, who is now modeling and acting full time.  Recently she was in an episode of Two and a Half Men as well as being on the cover of the May 2012 issue of Las Vegas Magazine! And she’s also pretty progressive.  This supermodel married us in Las Vegas last year, making her the first model, and Miss USA title holder, to marry a gay couple!  How’s that for supporting same sex marriage! We called her up and asked her a few questions about those final moments of the pageant and what really goes on behind the scenes!

1. What year were you in the Miss USA pageant? What state were you from? Did you place and if so what place?

I had the honor of representing the great state of Indiana! I ended up finished in 7th place at Miss USA.

 

2. What were you thinking minutes before you walked on stage that day?

I spoke to my family before I went backstage to get ready…we prayed together. I just wanted peace of mind before I went out there. Before I went on stage I just kept thinking over and over…”This is it. This is what I have been working towards and preparing for, for so many years. I know I sincerely want the job as Miss USA for the right reasons…and now it’s time to show the world why. I am ready to be Miss USA”

 

3. What are 4 fun facts people don’t typically know about the pageant?

1.) You only get ONE free day with your family and friends! You are competing for nearly three weeks before final night…and your schedule is completely jam packed. Usually you have to wake up at 6 or 7am and you don’t get to bed until midnight! 2.) A lot of the fun activities they show during the telecast that the girls did….like a day at the spa, or a day at a water park, isn’t all actually real. I never got a facial or a massage…that was all just for the camera. The pageant has sponsors and they have to show highlights of the host city for visitors. 3.) Your personal interview with the prelim judges is literally only 4 minutes. The judges really don’t have much time to actually get to know you…4.) Miss Delaware USA has never placed in finals, back in 2009 Miss Delaware USA Katie Banaszak pointed this fact out…I was really hoping she would be the first to break that!

4. What are some swimsuit tricks only pageant girls know?

We glue our swimsuit bottoms to our butts!!!! Nobody wants a wedgie on live television! Also bronzer, a little bit of shimmer in the right areas to show more muscle tone and what I like to call…”chicken filets” for some extra cleavage.

 

5. What was your favorite prelim event that week?

It’s hard….I love every part of competing. I love rocking out in a swimsuit onstage, I love the elegance of evening gown, and I love personal interview because it’s your chance to really win them over.

 

6. What hotel was it hosted in and did they do any fun activities for you?

When I competed it was also at Planet Hollywood. I really enjoyed a lot of the events. I loved dinner at KOI and going to see Le Reve at the Wynn. I also really enjoyed the Best Buddies night. I wanted to do more stuff like that and for some reason the Miss Universe Organization did not assign me a buddy…

 

7. If you could go back and do it over again, would you?

Hm… I am glad I competed. I wish I could go back in time and compete again with all the life experience I’ve had and knowing what I do now. I am more proud of my work as Miss Indiana USA and all of charity organizations I worked with. I believe in bringing a purpose to the crown. Too many people get caught up in the glamour and glory that they forget about the important things that should never be forgotten and always taken into consideration when choosing a titleholder. While it was a wonderful experience at Miss USA that I wouldn’t trade for anything, I see the Miss Universe Organization since competing.  Although I am grateful for the opportunity I now understand the organization is a business just like any other business.  I would recommend girls see this as a stepping stone rather than the end goal. 

8. What advice would you give the girls in the pageant tonight?

Don’t focus on all the rumors or gossip of who’s going to win, who will make finals, or it’s rigged. Don’t allow this to affect your performance. ENJOY EVERY MOMENT! It goes so fast so the most important thing is to savor every moment of the entire experience. I’ve made friends and created so many opportunities through people and experiences I’ve had from Miss USA. If you apply yourself, use this experience, and remember that once the Miss USA competition is over, it is not the end. It is only the beginning.

 

9. What advice would you give to girls wanting to be pageant queens someday?

BE YOURSELF!!! You do not have to spend insane amounts of money on training, gowns,shoes, etc. Once you get to the Miss USA or Miss America level all of that becomesimportant…but find sponsors, and when you win state sponsors will be provided.However when I first started competing in pageants, I won with a bridesmaids gown and an old used swimsuit. I never had any training, that’s something I couldn’t afford. I was competing against girls who had all of that and I still won. The key is to really own who you are with confidence.

I always say, bring a purpose to the crown! I competed for a few different reasons, but my main focus to win was so I could spread more awareness on bullying (which was rarely talked about at the time). I wanted to work with kids and teach them to really embrace being unique or different, and that everyone deserves respect. Find a cause that means something to you. As a title holder people will be listening to what you have to say…don’t do it in vain.  With a crown you have an even larger opportunity to make a difference! The possibilities are endless!

 

Thanks darling!

Be Yourself.  Be Fearless.  Be Your Own Unexpected Luxury!

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*Photographs courtesy of Brittany Mason.

WARNING: We allow 100 words or less of content per interview to be taken, with a link to our original interview, and used without our authorization. Content larger than 100 words or copying our entire interview without our authorization to be used in ANY manner will result in our taking legal action per copyright infringement.

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Tyler Oakley…THE Interview!

We adore Tyler Oakley.  No…seriously.  We love him.  We’ve been watching his videos on YouTube for so long now that we feel like he’s one of our best friends.  If you watch his videos, you know what we mean.  If you don’t, its time to get with the program.  Tyler is endearing, adorable, sweet, stylish, hilarious and nice.  In fact…he’s reinvented “nice”.  In a world where someone’s lack of good looks would prompt characteristics of being “nice”, Tyler has made being “nice” super, super attractive.  But let’s be honest…he’s super attractive too.  Whether he’s drooling over Darren Criss, Blaine from Glee, or frolicking through Thailand, the stories and anecdotes in his videos make him an internet phenomenon, or YouTube celebrity(with over 150,000 dedicated subscribers and over 22million video views), who would probably blush and say, “Oh, girl” if complimented.  Nonetheless, he is a strong voice of gay youth, making everyone, young or old, wishing they were his close friend.

1. What motivated you to begin making videos on YouTube?

When I was a freshman in college in 2007, I saw a video by a guy named William Sledd… and he was just talking into his camera about his life. I started browsing around and saw that he had tons of videos, and there were other people on YouTube that were also doing what he was doing. I had just gotten my laptop (and it had it’s own webcam built in), and my friends had all moved all around the country to go to their own schools, so I figured, why not keep in touch with them through video-blogging? Back then, I had no intention of having people who didn’t know me watch my videos, and my videos were NOTHING like how they are today.

 

2. What was the moment you knew you had made it big on YouTube and how long did it take to get there?

I remember seeing I had 100 views on a video, and I knew… I did NOT have 100 friends. From there, it kind of felt like… okay, I guess people are watching, why not put out more stuff for them to enjoy? The first moment I made it “big” on YouTube I’d say is when I got a post-card from The Trevor Project thanking me for a video I made about them. That was a really sweet moment where I realized that what I did on here could make an impact in the real world.

 

3. What are three opportunities you cherish which have come as a result of your videos?

I’ve gotten so many opportunities from making videos, it’s really hard to pick just three! For starters, I got to meet Lady Gaga, because Perez Hilton was one of my subscribers and gave me a hookup (video here). I also got to co-host The Trevor Project’s red carpet event Trevor Live (video here). One of my absolute favorite things that has come out of my time making YouTube is all the friends I’ve been able to make from the YouTube community – even my best friend that I live with now, we met 5 years ago while making videos together in the dorms while we were in college (video here).

 

4. What is it like to have a huge gay following and fan base?

It’s an amazing opportunity! I wouldn’t necessarily call it huge, but I think of it as potentially very powerful – in the sense that the people who follow me have the power to change the world – and if I influence them to do something positive for the gay community, they could influence five other people and create a snow-ball effect. It’s a great feeling! Also, the thought of younger gay kids following me is really inspiring, because I didn’t have someone to watch while I was younger. I hope to not necessarily be a role-model, because I do make lots of mistakes… but instead, be an inspiration – to learn from your mistakes and to take charge of your own potential and do something with it.

5. Who are your 5 favorite YouTubers to watch?

I watch so many people! Truly, I probably am subscribed to over 100 people that I regularly watch. It’s weird, but these are like my friends! A few of my favorites include: milesjaiproductions, justaddtommy, dudeneedaeaseonup, italktosnakes, tonjesml

 

6. What kind of camera and editing software do you use for your videos?

I use a Canon Vixia HF S21 to film, and edit in iMovie.

 

7. How did your obsession with having your hair look perfect begin?

LOL! Well, starting with 5th grade when I had a bowl cut parted in the middle!

 

8. What’s a topic too personal to discuss on YouTube? What embarrasses you to talk about?

I don’t think I’d ever talk my sex life… just seems tacky!

 

9. What do you think are the 3 most profound YouTube videos ever made?

So You Got Dumped – it’s a video I often send to people who ask me for relationship advice. Fairy Doors & Wanderlust – a video I made about my hometown in Michigan as a reminder to myself to always explore. How to Pray the Gay Away – it was a response to my homophobic aunt who posted that she was praying for me on Facebook.

10.What are your 3 favorite videos you’ve made on YouTube?

How to Put on a Condom – was just super silly, fun and goofy. Me & my Boyfriend – it was right after I broke up with a long-term relationship, and EVERYONE was asking questions about it, it was my way of saying, “No, I won’t comment on it, and yes, you will click this video.” My last would have to be a tie for my traveling videos: Taking over Tokyo and Taking over Thailand – I watch them all the time to relive my adventures traveling abroad.

 

11. What are 3 things we wouldn’t know by looking at you?

I have 12 brothers and sisters, I make the best guacamole in San Francisco, I can rap any Nicki Minaj lyric.

 

12. If you could only listen to 3 CD’s for the rest of your life and they couldn’t be mixed, what would they be?

Born this Way by Lady Gaga, Body Talk by Robyn, All I Ever Wanted by Kelly Clarkson.

 

13. Have you ever received any fan male or hate male which really changed your perspective on the impact you have through your videos?

I try my hardest to not let hate mail influence me – because anybody can put out hate, it takes a much stronger person to put out themselves. I will say I got some criticism regarding language I used in the past about cultural appropriation and gender/trans issues that made me reconsider my approach to the topics. As far as positivity in fan mail, everything people send me pushes me to continue – I read every fan message and letter I get, and everything encourages me to continue, even when people are sometimes jerks.

14. How do you define sexy? Who is the sexiest celebrity?  Where is the sexiest place to kiss? Sexiest YouTuber? Sexiest song?

Sexy to me is the ability to keep me attracted to you while keeping me guessing. I’m currently obsessed with Darren Criss, who plays Blaine on Glee. I got to interview him at Trevor Live and I fell in love, and since then I’ve been obsessed (video here). Sexiest place to kiss would probably be a subtle kiss in public – it tells me that you’re not showy, but you’re also not afraid to be yourself. Sexiest YouTuber would have to be corporalcadet – I’ve had a crush on him for years. Sexiest song? That’s too hard!

 

15. What are 3 books you would suggest to a stranger?

“I Am Not Myself These Days” by Josh Kilmer Purcell (all time favorite book – funny, sad, heart-warming, inspiring), “Dry” by Augusten Burroughs (gives perspective, makes you reconsider your addictions in your own life), “The Fault in Our Stars” by John Green (helped me reconsider priorities, death and love).

 

16. Let’s play murder, marry, fuck: Darren Criss, Neil Patrick Harris and Ricky Martin?

Sorry Neil! I’ve got to murder you. I’m marrying Darren and fucking Ricky!

 

17. We adore your boyish innocence, but on an adult note, tell us your thoughts about Grindr, gay porn and gay clubs?

I think I’ve got a pretty interesting perspective on this, as I come from a small mid-west town and now live in San Francisco. In Michigan, you could see people in the entire state on Grindr, there were only a few gay bars, and back when I lived there, gay porn was my introduction to what gay sex would be like. Since then, I’ve moved to San Francisco, where the closest person to you on Grindr is 10 feet away, I live between 10 gay bars where I can be picky and choosey, and not only do I see the fantasy in gay porn, I can now meet the stars of it in my local gay bar every weekend. Grindr: it is what you make of it. I’d never hook up with someone off of it, but I have gotten dates from it (I have one this Friday – that’s weird.) No judgment, but I just am scared of the possibilities, which I think is more than justifiable. Gay porn, I don’t really have much of an opinion on… I approve! Gay clubs can get exhausting, as the people in there can sometimes be the most judgmental people around. I’ve luckily gotten into a good group of friends here in San Francisco where we are able to always go to new bars and always have fun – and it’s not all about finding someone to have sex with that night.

18. What do you think is the most important gay issue today and what do you think should be done about it?

I mean, there are tons of gay issues that are important, from gay marriage to adoption rights to work-place discrimination and more… but I think the biggest gay issue is the level of involvement of the gay community to demand change. So many gays think that other gays will take care of it. People don’t march in the streets, they don’t want to miss an episode of Glee. To fix this, people need to realize that they CAN make a change, but no one person can do it alone.

 

19. What 3 things would you like to have accomplished in the next 10 years?

By the time I’m 33, I want to have met my (first) husband, have a job that doesn’t have to make a difference for the gay community (because full equality will have already been achieved), and be able to look back at tons of adventures in traveling. I’m a pretty simple guy with simple pleasures!

 

20. What are your three simple luxuries?

Three things that always bring a smile to my face: making guacamole for my friends, getting pedicures with my mom, exploring an airport I’ve never been in.

 

Thanks Buddy!

Be Yourself.  Be Fearless.  Be Your Own Unexpected Luxury!

See all of Tyler’s videos on his YouTube channel HERE!

Follow Tyler on Twitter HERE!

Become Tyler’s fan on Facebook HERE!

Buy Tyler’s merchandise HERE! 

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“Best new gay young adult love story of 2014! Relatable at any age!”

the before now and after then official cover_peter monn

 

*Photographs courtesy of Tyler Oakley

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Ricardo Laguna…THE Interview!

While planning this interview, we thought about titling it “Ricardo Laguna…The Sexy Latino Racer Masters the Old Dirt Road“, but after having interviewed him, we’re not sure that title fits appropriately.  Sure, he’s sexy, he’s Latino and he’s mastered the “old dirt road”…but all together, it sounds a little cliched.  Definitely more cliched than his response to what he hopes to achieve in the next ten years; “I hate to sound cliche, but as long as I get to ride my bike, have my family and good health, and hopefully find true love with a special lady, I don’t think I could ask for much more than that!”  At 30, he appears to have it all: a successful career as a BMX pro, his own television show on MTV’s tr3s bi-cultural station and good looks…all of which make him one of the most eligible bachelors…not to mention Latino bachelors…in the country! But we wanted to find out what makes him tick as he tricks and jumps over tracks…and in his own backyard!

1. Introduce us to Ricardo Laguna.

Ricardo Laguna is a 30 year old kid that came from La Paz, Mexico and used to be a baseball player until his whole family moved to Las Vegas, NV when he was 13 years old. He first picked up a BMX bike for fun and never knew he could make it into a career.

2. You were born and raised in Mexico.  What was your experience like moving to the United States?

It was possibly one of the most difficult things I’ve been through in my life, but at the same time, it was possibly one of the best things that ever happened to me. What I mean by that is – I didn’t speak any English or know the American culture, but I learned about a new lifestyle that I would never have known thanks to moving to Las Vegas.

3. Would you ever move away from Las Vegas?

I don’t see myself moving anytime soon. This city always has something to offer! I can ride my bike year round plus have the winter activities and summer activities, and better yet – who can take a girl on a date to get pizza in New York, go to the top of the Eiffel Tower, and see one of the most amazing water shows at Bellagio all in one night? So far, no city has given Vegas a run for its money.

4. What has been the biggest challenge as an immigrant throughout your career and life in the US?

As I mentioned earlier, I think the language barrier was the biggest challenge first and foremost. To this day, I’m still trying to master the English language. But I think being bilingual has made my life more interesting!

5. You’re very proud of your background and upbringings.  What are some advices you would give to young Hispanic children trying to accomplish their dreams while living in the US?

No matter what you want to achieve in your life – whether it’s being a doctor or a baseball player or even a bike rider – just keep working hard and don’t give up on your goals. Just like any Hispanic person trying to live the American dream, I’m working towards my goals every day. And if I can do it with a little kid’s bike, I know there are plenty of other Latinos who can do the same and more!

6. How were you introduced to the world of BMX?

When I first moved to Las Vegas, I lived in this trailer park and was trying to meet other kids in the neighborhood, so I picked up a mountain bike (not a BMX bike) and I came across these kids who were jumping out of a hole in the desert. Despite the language barrier, I managed to ask them what they were doing and they explained it to me with hand gestures. Little did I know there was more to BMXing than just jumping out of a hole onto flat ground. Later, they took me to a BMX track and explained that it was a legitimate sport and there was a national competition happening that weekend. I don’t remember why, but I never made it. A week or two later, I was coming back from dinner with my family and I saw the lights and I asked my parents to take me there. Once we pulled in to the track, I was like a little kid in a candy store. I saw people in uniforms, lights, music, the crowd, a crazy BMX track where they had obstacles and eight people who raced to the finish. After taking it all in, I looked up at my mom and said “Yo quiero una bici!” The rest is history!

7. What must every dirt bike course have to make it successful?

Ultimately it should be open minded and to come up with creative lines. What I mean by that is – sometimes in dirt jumping math, 2 + 2 doesn’t equal 4, and a jump that seemed impossible at first could turn out to be the most fun! That’s just one of the many reasons why I love riding my bike.

8. You have your own show on MTV Tr3s. Tell us about the show and what is different from other television shows.

I still can’t believe I have my own TV show so please don’t wake me up from this amazing dream! Once I met Wilmer and we were talking about my life, how I never had a hero my family scenario, he pointed out that so many Latino families have dealt with similar challenges and there aren’t too many shows that cater to a bicultural family audience. At first I thought there was no way someone would be interested in what I do since I just ride little kids bikes, but then he mentioned all the things I’ve been through with my family, learning the language, living in a city that everyone wants to visit, trying to have a balance between my American upbringing and my family’s traditional Mexican values, it’s the same issues a lot of Hispanic people in the United States deal with every day.

9. Walk us through a regular day of taping.  How do you start the day and how do you like to finish it?

No day is ever the same besides the fact that I know I’ll be filming anywhere from 12-15 hours a day, just going about my life and living in a city that never sleeps, so that should give you a pretty good idea! You can always tune into the show on MTV Tr3s or watch it online on the tr3s website page for The Ricardo Laguna Project!

10. Since we don’t know much about the BMX world, tell us what we would love about it.

New tricks, bigger jumps, all over the world, and it keeps growing!

11. How does one train for BMX challenges?

The beauty of being in a non-team sport is the more you practice, the more chances you will have to be rewarded. The more riding I do, the more creative I can get at the contests.

12. What’s the one thing that keeps you away from training?

I’m very much a homebody, so Vegas has yet to sidetrack me!

13. You recently just turned 30. What goals would you like to achieve before you turn 40?

I hate to sound cliche, but as long as I get to ride my bike, have my family and good health, and hopefully find true love with a special lady, I don’t think I could ask for much more than that!

14. What is something we wouldn’t know by looking at you?

I love playing the piano, but I don’t know how! I can play a few songs right now, but one day I plan to conquer it!

15. You currently live in Las Vegas.  What are some of the hidden gems the city has?

Not a lot of people know that 20 minutes away from my house I have the lake where I can go wake boarding, cliff jumping and work on my tan! Then in the winter, I only have to drive an hour to be able to snowboard. Plus, Vegas is the city with the most skate parks not only in the United States, but the world. There’s also great hiking at Red Rock. For someone like myself who is an outdoor person, Vegas is the perfect place to be!

16. How do you define sexy?

Fun, outgoing, and positive! Looks don’t last forever, so that’s what’s sexy to me.

17. What do you think is the sexiest City? Hotel? Club? Place to kiss? Place to ride your bike?

If it’s not Vegas, the next best city would be Sydney, Australia. For hotel, I’d say Fontainebleau in Miami. For club, TAO, without a doubt! For place to kiss, there are so many options because Vegas has so many great views – anywhere from the Eiffel Tower to the Stratosphere – but I have yet to try it for myself. For place to ride, that’s a no brainer – definitely my back yard!

18. What was it like going back to the where you were born, La Paz, Mexico?

I’m bummed I don’t get the opportunity to visit La Paz as much as I would like, but I was honored that the government sent me out there to open a dirt park named after me. They had a huge grand opening ceremony and even gave me the key to the city – something I’m still mind blown about. Now I have even more reasons to go back to one of the safest cities in North America that still has a piece of my heart.

19. What’s next for Ricardo Laguna?

The possibilities are endless! And I can tell you – being at the start of my 30s, I’ve got even more that I want to accomplish!

20. What are your three simple luxuries?

Walking out of my door and riding in BMX paradise, year-round activities in Las Vegas and having my family, and not to mention my mom’s amazing cooking only 3 miles away from my doorstep.

Thanks buddy!

Be Yourself.  Be Fearless.  Be Your Own Unexpected Luxury!

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Photos courtesy of Ricardo Laguna.

WARNING: We allow 100 words or less of content per interview to be taken, with a link to our original interview, and used without our authorization. Content larger than 100 words or copying our entire interview without our authorization to be used in ANY manner will result in our taking legal action per copyright infringement.

 

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Johnny Boy…THE Interview!

By far, one of the most hilarious people on YouTube, JohnnyBoyxo has a humor so raw and a vulnerability so rare, she is easily at the top of the list of our favorite sensations on YouTube.  With over 29 Million video views, we’re obviously not the only ones in love with Johnny Boy! Her videos range from her discussing the hilarious behaviors of her family members to social commentary on celebrities. In her video Kim Kardashian: I HATE YOU & YOUR FAKE “MARRIAGE”(which just happens to be the video which won us over) she says, “So guys, Kim Kardashian is single again and the McRib is back at McDonalds.  Black men all over the US Fucking A are having the best week of their lives.” We’re not really sure what we expected before we interviewed her.  Like we said, she seems so undeniably raw that we assumed she would snap back at all of our questions with some witty response.  Needless to say, we were pleasantly surprised when she answered our questions honestly and seriously and welcomed our every request…every bit the perfect lady.  Even more endearing than her absolute professionalism and her kind words was the extent to how she views the world.  After reading some of the harsh comments mixed in with the overwhelming praise she receives from her fans, we sent her a message explaining the sadness we felt in people’s ignorance.  Her response: “The love outweighs the hate.”  We found that behind the camera allowing us into her world is a woman with much more wisdom than humor…a true inspiration to us all.  Aces Johnny Boy…you’re one fine bitch!

1. Who exactly is Johnny Boy? Tell us about yourself.

I’m 21.  I’m a singer, comedian, model and I do whatever I want when I want. I don’t let anyone tell me how to live my life and  I just live life on the edge and I like to have fun.

2. What inspired you to do your first YouTube video?

I had been going thru alot of personal stuff in high school and YouTube was a way for me to give my opinions on things and people would actually listen to me.

3. Why do you think, out of the millions of people who post videos on YouTube that you have received so much recognition?

I honestly don’t know… I never thought I’d be a “YouTube celebrity” or whatever people wanna call it.  I just turned on my camera and whether I acted like a mess or was showing people my personal (serious) side people seemed to want more. It’s really weird.

4. What does it take to be successful on YouTube?

Being yourself.. I think that if you try too hard at something it shows. Real recognizes real. 

5. Tell us about your music career.

Well I’ve been singing since I was 5 years old.  I was in my school’s church choir growing up and everything. I’ve recorded a bunch of singles and an album EP called “Trannylicious” It’s mostly what I’m known for… but I’ve been trying newer things lately and I’m excited for my new album “Trannylicious 2.0” to come out and show everyone a different side of me.

6. Is there anything too private to discuss on YouTube?

Definately. I try to keep my personal life as personal as possible. Not everyone needs to know who I’m dating or what I’m doing everyday. Some things should stay private. (Although in her newest video I’m Transgender…And That’s Okay she gets a little bit more personal.)

7. How old were you when you began transitioning and can you tell us a little bit about that process for you?

Well… I knew this is what I always wanted to be and I started pretty young around 16/17.  I’m happy with everything i’ve done thus far.

8. How do you define yourself by society’s terms? Transsexual, transgendered, tranny, female?

Female. Definately. 

9. How important do you believe it is to be politically correct regarding these terms?

Eh, I feel like sometimes its funny when people make the ’tranny’ jokes about me but other times it’s really annoying because I’m more of a woman than most of the girls I know! Even my mother and sister say they’re jealous of my boobs and legs. It’s hilarious actually.

10. If JohnnyBoy was the next President of the United States, what 3 things would you put into effect immediately?

Gay marriage, legalizing marijuana and I’d paint the White House pink.

11. Do you have a boyfriend? What is your type?

No I do not at the moment.. My type is anyone who isn’t an asshole and doesn’t wanna only bang me and actually wants to get to know me. Hahaha!

12. What are five things you ALWAYS carry in your purse? And do you have a favorite purse?

Lip gloss, bronzer, debit card, mace and a pair of underwear. My favorite purse would have to be my new Louis Vuitton silver bag. I have an obsession with LV.

13. Do you get hate mail or comments? How do you respond to these?

Actually not as many as people would think.  As I’ve gotten older it’s gotten better. Theres the occasional hater but I feel like any person with success has a pack of haters. It’s life. You just have to keep your head up and live your life for you not anybody else.

14. If you could only listen to three CD’s for the rest of your life and they couldn’t be mixed, what would they be?

Lana Del Rey – Born to Die. Britney Spears – Hit Me Baby One More Time. And I’m really feeling Drake’s first album right now.

15. Tell us something about you we wouldn’t know by looking at you?

I’m a really good soccer player. Not many people know I used to play on a team and everything. I guess thats why I’m so good at kicking guys in (their) balls now that I’m older. Hahaha!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

16. You’ve talked about your mom and even had her in at least one of your videos.  How supportive is she of you?

My mom is one of my best friends. She’s always been supportive of my lifestyle and never doubts what I do. I’m lucky in that aspect. 

17. What advice would you give parents of transgendered teens?

Support your kids because you never know when you’ll lose them forever. It’s not worth it. 

18. How do you define SEXY? And what is the…Sexiest Movie? Sexiest Song? Sexiest Brand? Sexiest Celebrity?

I feel like the sexiest thing a person can be is confident. If you’re not comfortable with yourself how do you expect other people to be? Sexiest movie: Cruel Intentions (Ryan Philippe can GET IT!)  Sexiest song: anything by Drake is so sexy! Sexiest brand: Victoria’s Secret is one of my obsessions.  I own practically EVERYTHING! Haha my family hates it. Sexiest celebrity: I’m gonna haveto say Ryan Phillipe.  He’s just so sexy all the time!

19. What are your three simple luxuries?

I take at least one bubble bath a day. People think I’m crazy but it’s my way of escaping reality for a little bit. I love going out and clubbing with my friends (another thing I get called out on).  People seem to think I party too much but I just like to have fun. Lastly, I love writing music.  It’s therapeudic.  Even if I’m writing a rap about busting a ho’s head in. For me it’s just really fun.

20. Boxers, briefs, jockstraps…or nothing at all.

I don’t wear underwear. I’m classy.

Thanks Johnny Boy!!! We love ya!!

 

Check out JohnnyBoyxo’s video below and visit her site HERE! Check out her music on iTunes HERE!

 

Also check out our interviews of YouTube sensation Gregory Gorgeous and Transsexual Superstar Maria Roman!

 

Be Yourself.  Be Unafraid.  Be Your Own Unexpected Luxury!

 

Also check out our interviews of YouTube sensation Gregory Gorgeous and Transsexual Superstar Maria Roman!

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*Photographs courtesy of Johnny Boy.

WARNING: We allow 100 words or less of content per interview to be taken, with a link to our original interview, and used without our authorization. Content larger than 100 words or copying our entire interview without our authorization to be used in ANY manner will result in our taking legal action per copyright infringement.

 

 

 

 

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Adam Bouska and THE NOH8 Campaign…THE Interview!

Typically we write some purposeful introduction filled with deeply moving adjectives displaying our overwhelming admiration and celebrity awe, but that is not the case with this interview.  Talking to Adam Bouska, the creator and photographer behind the NOH8 campaign, broke down our barriers of celebrity and fan, realizing that we are all just part of the human experience.  In fact, that is exactly what Adam Bouska has accomplished.  By looking through the lens and thematically drawing similarities between his subjects, ironically using duct tape to cover their mouths, he has helped us all to see that no matter who you are, the power of love is universal.

 

1. Tell us a little bit about Adam Bouska, prior to the Hollywood fame, growing up in Decatur, Illinois.

Growing up I was just a regular guy. I wasn’t out in High School. I wasn’t interested in photography yet at the point but I was definitely an artist.  I used to paint and stuff.  Other than that I would say my life was pretty normal.

2. How old were you when you came out to your friends and family?

I came out to my family, I think it was when I turned 19 years old and I came out to my best friend that same year.  I built up a lot in my head that it was going to be this life changing event, which it was, but my family turned out to be extremely accepting. I anticipated for it to be something else, I didn’t know they were pretty open to the idea.

3. Was the process of coming out a difficult experience for you?

I would say that it was definitely a difficult process because I think it was a self-realization.  I had to deal with growing up in a conservative area and there really weren’t many resources out there; not much of a support system.  My parents weren’t really educated on the whole lifestyle.  I was just taking time.  I eventually moved to Chicago. I felt it was the closest city to move to from a central farming community.  Being exposed to different lifestyles and different communities made me feel more comfortable being having to make the leap to come out.

4. Were you bullied during your teenage years?

I feel like I dealt with all kinds of bullying. I definitely saw that other kids were dealing with it much worth than I was.  I feel like everyone dealt with it to some degree or everyone deals with it to some degree. Yeah, I definitely dealt with it.

5. How did your interest in photography begin?

It really was accidental.  I was going to college for computer science and I took part in a few of my friends photo shoots that were photographers.  I just fell in love with the creative aspect and being in that whole setting of the photo shoot.  I just wanted more of a voice and a way to speak out and express myself in my own way.  I ended up getting my own camera and started experimenting and photographing my friends and it just kind of blew up from there.

6. Prior to the NOH8 campaign, what was your area of interest as a photographer?

I enjoyed photography in all aspects.  I just loved photography in general.  Just being a part of any opportunity was great.   Combining it with my abilities of Photoshop was fun in the post production aspect, because I have a lot of experience with computers.  I loved finding different ways to integrate computers and self expression to show a personal image of photography. Today, I love the human aspect of photography and being able to interact with a person.  I started leaning more towards portraiture as I started photographing more.

7. How did the concept for the NOH8 campaign begin?

 That was also another kind of accident in my life.  I call it an accidental activism because I was never an activist prior to the NOH8 campaign.  Essentially when Proposition 8 passed, myself and my partner just partially took part in these rallies and these marches in West Hollywood, and we were really moved by our experience in the marches and by the different people that came out to support that day.  All the different faces of all races and ages; it was just a really moving experience.  We went home that night and had a photo shoot at 4am in my living room.  We started with just the images but ended uploading them online to Myspace.  Other people started to see our images and wanted to be part of it and then it turned into kind of a snow ball effect.  One face after another and now we’re up to, I think, 20,000 photos now.  It’s really growing. It’s really getting an overwhelming response from the community.  Now that we have seen the success of what NOH8 can be, we just want to take it and do as much as we can with it.

8. Who have been the three most profound or personally interesting people you have photographed for the campaign?

            Yeah, that’s always a difficult question because it’s the diversity, the vast amount of different people. The personality we’ve been able to photograph that’s made it such an amazing experience?  If I had to narrow it down I say one of them for me was Jane Lynch and being able to shoot her on the set of Glee was a lot of fun.  She has such a huge personality and is so down to Earth and she’s done so much for the cause and the campaign herself in different ways.  She helped us raise money by getting the word out and stuff like that.  She’s a great person and it was an awesome experience to work with her.   I also ended up doing her book cover too.  It was really honor to be able to work with her on two different occasions.

            Another one, I don’t know his name, but there was this kid at our open shoot in Atlanta who is the son of two moms.  He brought his parents’ marriage certificate as his prop for the photo shoot.  Being able to photograph him in the moment, I feel like it captured what NOH8 is all about.  It was a really moving experience.  After he held the marriage certificate up above his head everyone kind of erupted and applauded and cheered.  I feel like being in the moment and being able to photograph him in that moment, in that experience, is my most memorable experience from the campaign… I don’t know his name though.

            And then I always reference this one; the lead singer of Anthrax, Scott Ian.  It was really awesome to be able to photograph him.  It was really unexpected because he didn’t plan to come in for a photo shoot.  He just jumped in line of an open photo shoot.  It just shows the power of how you do what you do to get involved and how everyone has a voice.  It was really cool to see him do that and support the campaign.  I liked that.

9. Do you believe that “every picture tells a story”?

Yes, definitely. I can’t even count how many stories I’ve heard working on the campaign; some of which we’ve begun chronicling in the BE HEARD section of our website. I think that’s really how the photos stay so fresh for me. Even after 20,000 portraits, each person has their own reason and purpose for posing, and I’m honored to be a part of helping them tell that story.

 

10. What story does your picture tell?

This is a real tough question. I hate to translate a pose into anything too literal, but I actually think mine is probably one of the most straight-forward. In doing these photos, I wanted to use my skills as a photographer to speak past the attempts to silence my rights and those of my community. I think my photo illustrates someone wanting to put something seemingly intangible into perspective – or frame.

11. If you could only listen to one CD for the rest of your life and it couldn’t be a mixed CD what would it be?

            This one is a tough question too! It would probably be, gosh! I mean I really enjoy the Beatles; The White Album, that’s the last CD I remember owning or having.  I really liked it. I can’t even remember the title of the song, because I would just listen to the whole CD.

 

 

12. What are three books you would recommend to a stranger on an airplane?

            Three different books?! I would have to recommend Jane Lynch autobiography “Happy Accidents.” I would recommend Zach Walhs new book that is coming out, he’s a youth activist and he wrote about his two moms.  And then Meghan McCain “Dirty Sexy Politics” I did the cover to that one too so check that out.

13. What do you see when you look through your lens that we don’t see?

            Gosh, I feel like I see beauty in everything. I mean, I don’t know if… I don’t believe that everyone sees that all the time but I believe there’s beauty in everything and everyone.

14. What are three things you’ve learned that you hadn’t expected by doing the NOH8 campaign?

            I’ve learned that there’re so many things going on in the community.  It’s educated me that we’ve come so far but really there is so much more that needs to be done.  Being able to travel all over the nation and to see all these different people come in with their stories and want to tell their stories through the NOH8 photos has really shown us that there’s so much more out there.  I mean the fact that you can still be fired in the majority of the states just for being gay.  The fact that you still can’t adopt in the majority of the states.  There’s just so much more that needs to be done.  That’s probably one of the biggest thing I’ve learned.

15. What is the sexiest city in the world? Hotel? Club? Restaurant? Place to shoot?

            Sexiest Hotel – My favorite have always been W hotel, to narrow it down to one… I really liked D.C.
Sexiest City – Los Angeles no doubt.
Sexiest Club – That’s a tough one.  I don’t know.  I’ll say The Abbey in West Hollywood.
Sexiest Place to shoot – That’s hard to narrow down. It would have to be my studio in Los Angeles.

16. What would you say to a 15 year old who was being bullied about being gay?

Despite how cliché it might sound or hard as it might be to believe, things really can get better. I was born and raised in a small town in the middle of Illinois and never thought it’d be possible for me to live the life I’ve led so far.  But I stayed true to myself and followed my dreams, and that’s really the best thing you can do. Kids at 15 will do anything to feel better about themselves, and that includes picking on people that are different than they are. Sometimes people grow out of it, sometimes they don’t; you can’t control that. What you CAN control is your own actions. Don’t be afraid to stand up for yourself! Being you is the best thing you can be.

17. You’re coming to Indy this month, any expectations?

            I expect a huge turnout.  I’m from the Midwest myself and have a lot of friends in that area.  There’s been a lot of buzz about it so far and we’re really excited to get out there.  A lot of people have been following the campaign for some time and I feel like the energy for the campaign is only growing.  It’s really exponential the amount of faces we’ll be adding to this.  I feel like its growing upward from here and it can only be huge for Indiana.  I’m really excited.

18. Has there been anyone that was politically or personally difficult for you to photograph for the campaign because maybe it just didn’t feel like they should be part of it?

            I mean, working with Cindy McCain was awesome because she showed that it wasn’t a republican or democratic issue.  The fact that the focus on the conversation has always been on marriage equality I think shows the greater good is being done and we’re keeping the focus in the right direction.  

19. What’s next for Adam Bouska?

            I’m always working on something new.  Right now the big focus is on the NOH8 campaign.  We have a lot of things we’ve been working on.  We’re going into a new iPhone app and we’re taking the campaign into new countries.  I’m always going to be photographing regular stuff as well.  I’m working on different book covers and different projects.  The truth of the matter is, for me right now, my priority is the big focus on the NOH8 campaign.  There’s a huge success there and we just want to push that as far as we can.  As long as we have the attention and the support of the community we’ll be doing it and that’s what I’ll be focusing on.

20. What is your greatest simple luxury?

            Being able to work and live with my partner.  Growing up I just never thought that would be possible.  The fact I get to do that every day, I don’t know, it’s a luxury for me.  Something we can’t take for granted and see that we can’t take for granted.

 

Thanks Adam!

Please visit the NOH8 Website for information on the campaign and to find dates for events near you.

Be Yourself.  Be Unafraid.  Be Your Own Unexpected Luxury!

Follow Us:

 

*Photographs courtesy of Adam Bouska.

WARNING: We allow 100 words or less of content per interview to be taken, with a link to our original interview, and used without our authorization. Content larger than 100 words or copying our entire interview without our authorization to be used in ANY manner will result in our taking legal action per copyright infringement.

Please visit the NOH8 Website for information on the campaign and to find dates for events near you.