In this feel-good episode of Hard to Swallow, I’m joined by my cousin and lifelong partner in crime, Gabby, or as I like to call him, my brother from another mother. We’ve been side-by-side since diapers, and today, we’re bringing all that cousin energy straight to your ears.

We’re keeping it light this week, laughing through memories of growing up in the same wild, church-filled, Kool-Aid-soaked childhood. We also get real about modern dating (yes, including the time I thought my boyfriend could see spirits 👀) and our shared weight loss journeys that taught us more than just how to count calories.

Expect laughs, a few hard to swallow truths, and a whole lot of love.

Some stories may be hard to swallow… but they just might be the ones that save.

We’ve all been there, clinging to relationships, jobs, friendships, or dreams that deep down, we know aren’t working. In this episode, I’m getting real about the emotional toll of forcing things to happen that were never meant to be.

From personal stories to honest conversations with friends, I’m talking about the moments we ignore the signs, the red flags, the gut feelings, because we’re chasing the version of a dream we built in our heads.

Letting go can feel like loss. But what if it’s actually the beginning of something better? What if peace, alignment, and joy are on the other side of your release?

This one’s a heart-check for anyone stuck in a cycle of “making it work” when all the signs say “let it go.”

Some stories may be hard to swallow… but they just might be the ones that save.

This week, I’m keeping it real about two very different—but very relatable—things: ghosting and guilt.

First, the oops moment—when my incredible boss (yes, that Amy Porterfield) found out I launched this podcast... and I forgot to tell her. The guilt? Real. The imposter syndrome? Also very real.

Then, we dive into something I think we’ve all dealt with: ghosting. Whether you’ve been ghosted or done the ghosting, this episode is a loving call-out to start showing up with more honesty and clarity in how we connect—and how we let go.

From nervous launches to messy dating, this episode is about learning to use your voice, even when it's scary.

Some stories may be hard to swallow... but they just might be the ones that save us.

This week, I’m keeping it real about two very different—but very relatable—things: ghosting and guilt.

First, the oops moment—when my incredible boss (yes, that Amy Porterfield) found out I launched this podcast... and I forgot to tell her. The guilt? Real. The imposter syndrome? Also very real.

Then, we dive into something I think we’ve all dealt with: ghosting. Whether you’ve been ghosted or done the ghosting, this episode is a loving call-out to start showing up with more honesty and clarity in how we connect—and how we let go.

From nervous launches to messy dating, this episode is about learning to use your voice, even when it's scary.

Some stories may be hard to swallow... but they just might be the ones that save us.

In this episode, Josh gets real about what it means to sit in stillness—and why being alone doesn’t always mean being lonely. He opens up about post-launch nerves, imposter syndrome, and the messy but beautiful process of just doing the thing, scared or not.

Plus, we sprinkle in some pop culture spice:

• A wild CEO affair that allegedly went down at a Coldplay concert 👀
• Tomorrowland’s mainstage literally going up in flames just days before opening 🔥

Whether you’re healing, hiding, or halfway to your next breakthrough, this one’s for you. Come for the honesty, stay for the laughs—and leave with a little more courage to be with yourself.

In this deeply personal episode, Josh unpacks the layers of a life lived in hiding. From his early years of seeking acceptance in the church to suppressing his identity to avoid losing the only community he had, this episode tells the story of a mask worn for survival—and what it took to finally take it off.

Joshie shares how being “found out” led to therapy, how church leadership tried to redirect him to an anti-gay retreat, and the unforgettable night he came out to his girlfriend in the pouring rain. He opens up about the fallout from ministry, the emotional toll of shame, and the grace-filled moment when he came out to his mom while recovering from surgery.

Also in this episode: Jurassic World fangirling, summer surgery recovery, and a quick drag of app-based dating.

Takeaways:

Wearing a mask to belong will eventually cost you your joy.

Love doesn’t begin when you’re perfect—it begins when you’re real.

Your story is sacred, even if it’s messy.

In this powerful premiere episode of Hard to Swallow, host Joshua “Joshie” Palmer invites listeners into his deeply personal journey—from growing up immersed in the church to coming out at 27 and rebuilding life, love, and faith on his own terms.

Fresh out of surgery and full of reflection, Joshie shares how ministry once became a mask, how the LGBTQ+ community saved his spirit, and how dating in your late 30s can be equal parts hilarious and exhausting. From kickball fields to dating apps to pop culture obsessions like Labubu and K-pop Demon Hunters, this episode sets the tone for a podcast that is as real as it is relatable.

Whether you’re in the closet, out and proud, deconstructing faith, or just here for the stories—this one’s for you.

Takeaways:

* You don’t have to choose between faith and identity

* App dating is chaos (and we all know it)

* You are worthy of joy, community, and love

🎧 Subscribe now for weekly episodes that’ll make you laugh, cry, reflect—and maybe feel like you just got a virtual warm hug.