Most pop stars don’t drop their debut album at 42. Then again, most pop stars aren’t Frankie Grande.After years in the spotlight—on Broadway, on Big Brother, and all over social media—Frankie Grande is finally introducing us to who he really is. This week on Pride, Caitlynn McDaniel sits down with Frankie to talk about Hotel Rock Bottom, a bold, unfiltered debut album that weaves together decades of heartbreak, addiction, love, joy, and queer self-discovery.He shares the very gay inspiration behind his new single Boys (spoiler: it involves a steam room at Equinox), opens up about the mental toll of reality TV, and explains how sobriety gave him the clarity to step into his full, authentic self. This is Frankie, no filter, no character—just the real thing, and he’s never sounded better.Here’s what we get into:

• Why Hotel Rock Bottom tells the story he’s never shared before
• The unexpectedly raw, hilarious, and sexy inspiration for Boys
• What reality TV got wrong about queer representation (and how to fix it)
• His journey through addiction, recovery, and finding love
• And the pop wedding anthem he’s been waiting his whole life to write
  
  

Follow Frankie:
Instagram: @frankiejgrande
Listen to Boys and Hotel Rock Bottom wherever you stream music.

Cornelius Versa grew up loving country music — but it took years (and a few sparkly cowboy hats) to finally claim his place in it. This week on Pride, he joins host Caitlynn McDaniel for a conversation about finding identity, building community, and stepping into the spotlight on his own terms.

Cornelius — also known as the Crystal Cowboy — opens up about his experience on The Voice, the personal story behind his new single Pull the Trigger, and how TikTok (including a viral Wicked country cover!) helped him connect with LA’s queer country scene. He also shares the story of meeting his husband in college, why taking risks changed his career, and gives Caitlynn a hilarious (and slightly chaotic) lesson in yodeling.

Cornelius’s new single Pull the Trigger is available now on all streaming platforms.
🎶 Follow Cornelius Versa everywhere @CorneliusVersa.

She’s smart, sharp, and stylish—and in The Recruit, Kaylah Xander Nuñez keeps Noah Centineo from totally unraveling.

On this episode of Pride, host Caitlynn McDaniel sits down with Kaylah to talk about her role as CIA lawyer Amelia Salazar in the hit Netflix series The Recruit. They chat about chosen family on set, Latine representation in Hollywood, and the kind of roles Kaylah’s ready to say “no” to now.

Plus, she shares details about her upcoming passion projects—including a short film about estranged sisters, and her very first solo film about Vancouver’s beloved last video store, Black Dog Video.
Whether you're here for CIA drama, Shania Twain dreams, or just missing the days of picking out VHS tapes with your family—this one’s for you.

What do you think season three of The Recruit should look like—and should Kaylah play Shania Twain next? Let us know by tagging @pride on social.

What do you get when you combine a teen on a mission, a sweet robot named Cosmo, and a smuggler with a heart of gold? Netflix’s The Electric State. On this episode of Pride, host Caitlynn sits down with the star-studded cast—including Millie Bobby Brown, Chris Pratt, Giancarlo Esposito, and directors Joe and Anthony Russo—to talk robots, relationships, and the unexpected emotional gut punches in this futuristic action-adventure.Caitlynn also gets personal—revealing her phobia of underwater robots—and winds up in what might be the most unexpected therapy session ever... with Millie and Chris offering some exposure therapy advice of their own.🎙️ In this episode:

• Millie Bobby Brown and Chris Pratt bond with their robotic co-stars—and Caitlynn
• Giancarlo Esposito drops wisdom on love, loss, and the hero’s journey
• The Russo brothers reveal how they crafted a heartfelt ensemble story (and made robots feel real)
• A surprise dive into submechanophobia (yes, it's a thing)
• Plus: What grounds the cast when they’re not facing cinematic chaos

And while the bots might steal the show, this cast also includes LGBTQ+ icon Coleman Domingo—reminding us that queer representation lives even in the most unexpected of sci-fi worlds. Add in themes of chosen family, emotional connection, and embracing your weird little fears? It’s giving Pride, honestly.📺 The Electric State is streaming now on Netflix.🎧 Subscribe to Pride wherever you get your podcasts, and follow us @pride on socials for all the latest.

Michelle Buteau and Peppermint join us this week to talk about Survival of the Thickest Season 2 — a show filled with queer joy, chosen family, body positivity, and… a surprise wedding!

Michelle is a comedian, writer, and star of the series. She shares how her essays became a Netflix series and why every detail, from the fashion to the background actors, is intentional. Peppermint is a performer, activist, and trailblazer in trans visibility. And she opens up about bringing authenticity to her character and the power of trans representation onscreen.

Plus: the love language of letting someone else carry your dresser.

Survival of the Thickest season 2 is now streaming on Netflix!