Happy New Year! Cooking Healthy, LGBTQ Headlines, and Hope for 2026
Happy New Year! On the first show of the year, we’re starting exactly where so many of us want to be: healthier, grounded, and informed. I’ll show you how to make an easy, delicious lentil pasta dish that’s packed with protein, full of flavor, and simple enough for anyone to cook—perfect for easing into better habits without guilt or extremes.
Then Scott Jacobson joins me for This Gay Week, breaking down the LGBTQ stories that are already shaping the start of the new year—from politics to culture to what our community should be watching closely right now.
And of course, we’ll take a moment to reflect on what we hope this new year can bring: more health, more honesty, more joy, and more room to just breathe.
📌 The Karel Cast is supported by viewer donations at patreon.com/reallykarel
👍 Please watch, like, and subscribe at youtube.com/reallykarel
🎧 Available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, iHeartMedia, Spreaker, and more.
📺 Live Monday–Thursday at 10:30am PT, with clips on TikTok and Instagram.
Karel is a history-making broadcaster and entertainer, reporting from Las Vegas with his service dog Ember.
#HappyNewYear, #NewYearShow, #HealthyCooking, #LentilPasta, #PlantBasedEating, #EasyRecipes, #HealthyHabits, #LGBTQNews, #ThisGayWeek, #QueerVoices, #ProgressiveMedia, #NewsPodcast, #KarelCast, #PodcastClips, #LasVegas, #NewYearReflection, #WellnessJourney, #FoodAndTalk, #LGBTQCommunity, #EmberTheServiceDog
https://youtube.com/live/Q1JtTF6GUh4



Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-karel-cast--1368295/support.

The Karel Cast is supported by your donations at patreon.com/reallykarel and streams live Monday–Thursday at 10:30am PST. Available on YouTube, TikTok, Instagram, Apple Music, Spotify, iHeart Media, Spreaker, and all major platforms.

Goodbye 2025: The Year That Changed Everything
As 2025 comes to a close, it’s time to pause—and take one last, honest look at a year that often felt overwhelming. The first year of Trump’s return to power reshaped politics almost daily, while breakthroughs and breakdowns across science, health, entertainment, and pop culture competed for our attention nonstop.
Some stories inspired hope. Others shocked, exhausted, or divided us. And many lived somewhere in the uncomfortable middle. This episode of The Karel Cast puts 2025 into a time capsule—connecting the dots between the moments that defined the year and asking what they mean as we step into the future.
If you felt like 2025 was a lot… you weren’t wrong. Let’s talk about the year that was.
📌 The Karel Cast is supported by viewer donations at patreon.com/reallykarel
👍 Please watch, like, and subscribe at youtube.com/reallykarel
🎧 Available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, iHeartMedia, Spreaker, and more.
📺 Live Monday–Thursday at 10:30am PT, with clips on TikTok and Instagram.
Karel is a history-making broadcaster and entertainer, reporting from Las Vegas with his service dog Ember.
#Goodbye2025, #YearInReview, #2025Recap, #Politics2025, #TrumpEra, #PopCulture2025, #ScienceNews, #EntertainmentNews, #CurrentEvents, #MediaAnalysis, #ProgressiveMedia, #NewsPodcast, #KarelCast, #LGBTQVoices, #EndOfYearReflection, #LookingAhead, #LasVegas, #PodcastClips, #CulturalMoment, #EmberTheServiceDog
https://youtube.com/live/76i0vSN39JY


Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-karel-cast--1368295/support.

The Karel Cast is supported by your donations at patreon.com/reallykarel and streams live Monday–Thursday at 10:30am PST. Available on YouTube, TikTok, Instagram, Apple Music, Spotify, iHeart Media, Spreaker, and all major platforms.

Erik Dane on ALS, Disability Visibility, and Refusing to Give Up
Erik Dane—forever remembered by many as “McSteamy” from Grey’s Anatomy—has lived much of his career in the spotlight. From blockbuster films to hit television shows, and more recently capturing a new generation on Euphoria, his career has continued to evolve. But in April 2025, at the height of renewed success, Dane was diagnosed with ALS—a devastating disease with no cure.
Now using a wheelchair, Erik Dane is still acting, still creating, and still showing up. He recently appeared on Brilliant Minds and participated in a powerful media panel discussing the role, disability visibility, and what it means to continue working in an industry that rarely makes space for visible illness. We bring you that panel—and the conversation it sparked.
As we look ahead to the new year, Erik Dane’s story is a profound reminder of two essential truths: nothing matters more than your health, and even when your body isn’t cooperating, your dreams don’t have to end.
📌 The Karel Cast is supported by viewer donations at patreon.com/reallykarel
👍 Please watch, like, and subscribe at youtube.com/reallykarel
🎧 Available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, iHeartMedia, Spreaker, and more.
📺 Live Monday–Thursday at 10:30am PT, with clips on TikTok and Instagram.
Karel is a history-making broadcaster and entertainer, reporting from Las Vegas with his service dog Ember.
#ErikDane, #ALS, #DisabilityVisibility, #GreysAnatomy, #McSteamy, #Euphoria, #HollywoodNews, #HealthAwareness, #ChronicIllness, #DisabilityRights, #Inspiration, #NeverGiveUp, #EntertainmentNews, #KarelCast, #LGBTQVoices, #PodcastClips, #LasVegas, #CurrentEvents, #MentalHealth, #EmberTheServiceDog
https://youtube.com/live/RNxrJZohY8E


Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-karel-cast--1368295/support.

The Karel Cast is supported by your donations at patreon.com/reallykarel and streams live Monday–Thursday at 10:30am PST. Available on YouTube, TikTok, Instagram, Apple Music, Spotify, iHeart Media, Spreaker, and all major platforms.

Why New Year’s Resolutions Fail, SF Takes on Junk Food, and This Gay Week
It’s New Year’s resolution season—but what if making resolutions is actually setting yourself up to fail? As millions promise dramatic life changes, we take a hard look at why New Year’s resolutions often backfire, fuel shame, and create unrealistic expectations instead of real growth.
Plus, San Francisco is taking an aggressive stand against junk food, filing lawsuits aimed at companies that profit from unhealthy products. Is this smart public health policy—or government overreach into what we eat?
And Scott Jacobson joins me for This Gay Week, breaking down the latest LGBTQ news, culture, and political developments you need to know as we head into the new year.
📌 The Karel Cast is supported by viewer donations at patreon.com/reallykarel
👍 Please watch, like, and subscribe at youtube.com/reallykarel
🎧 Available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, iHeartMedia, Spreaker, and more.
📺 Live Monday–Thursday at 10:30am PT, with clips on TikTok and Instagram.
Karel is a history-making broadcaster and entertainer, reporting from Las Vegas with his service dog Ember.
#NewYearsResolutions, #MentalHealth, #HealthyLiving, #NewYearMindset, #SelfImprovement, #WellnessCulture, #FoodPolitics, #JunkFood, #SanFrancisco, #PublicHealth, #LGBTQNews, #ThisGayWeek, #ProgressiveMedia, #KarelCast, #NewsPodcast, #EndOfYearReflection, #LasVegas, #CurrentEvents, #LGBTQVoices, #EmberTheServiceDog
https://youtube.com/live/UlwnHzE2WL8


Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-karel-cast--1368295/support.

The Karel Cast is supported by your donations at patreon.com/reallykarel and streams live Monday–Thursday at 10:30am PST. Available on YouTube, TikTok, Instagram, Apple Music, Spotify, iHeart Media, Spreaker, and all major platforms.

It’s Christmas — Let’s Dance! 🎄💃 | Karel Cast
No politics. No heavy headlines. No big debates.
It’s Christmas Day — a day for joy, memories, music, and movement. And today on The Karel Cast, we’re doing exactly that: dancing through decades of stories, songs, and survival.
I’ve been making music professionally since the late 1980s, and on this special Christmas episode, I’m sharing the stories behind the songs — and playing some of the music videos I’ve created over the years, including:
🎶 “Everybody Get On Up” — big hair, fake music, real dancing, and one unforgettable outfit straight from the hood.
🎶 My first “big” record with Jellybean Benitez — how we met, where it was recorded, and why we ended up in the desert… in a trailer… with 200 pieces of fried chicken.
🎶 “Don’t Stop” — my first Sylvester cover, featuring Thea Austin and Jeanie Tracy (who sang on the original), plus incredible studio stories.
🎶 “Stronger Together” — written after Michelle Obama’s “when they go low…” moment, and how Daniel, Thea, Morgan, and I came together in my TuffStudio.
🎶 “Married Men” — why that song had to be written.
🎶 “We’re Not Going Back” — an anthem that hit Top 4 in the UK.
🎶 “Do You Wanna Funk” — another Sylvester classic with a very unique backstory.
This episode is about music as memory, movement as survival, and dancing because we’re still here.
It’s Christmas.
Let’s dance. 🕺✨
The Karel Cast is supported by your donations at patreon.com/reallykarel.
Please watch, like, and subscribe at youtube.com/reallykarel.
The Karel Cast is heard on all major platforms from Apple Music to iHeart, Spotify to Spreaker.
Live Monday through Thursday at 10:30 AM PST, and also streaming on TikTok and Instagram.
Karel is a history-making broadcaster, songwriter, and entertainer, currently in Las Vegas with his little service girl, Ember.
#ItsChristmasLetsDance, #ChristmasDayPodcast, #DanceMusicHistory, #KarelCast, #HolidayMusicSpecial, #ClassicDanceMusic, #SylvesterTribute, #LGBTQMusicHistory, #ChristmasVibes, #MusicStorytelling, #HouseMusicRoots, #QueerJoy, #HolidayJoy, #DanceBecause, #MusicMemories, #LasVegasCreator, #ChristmasPodcast, #EmberTheServiceDog, #UKDanceCharts, #MusicAsSurvival
https://youtube.com/live/o2KdTIQHTlU


Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-karel-cast--1368295/support.

The Karel Cast is supported by your donations at patreon.com/reallykarel and streams live Monday–Thursday at 10:30am PST. Available on YouTube, TikTok, Instagram, Apple Music, Spotify, iHeart Media, Spreaker, and all major platforms.

The True Meaning of Christmas (It’s Not What You Think) | Karel Cast
Every year we decorate the tree, exchange gifts, sing the songs, and gather with loved ones — but do we ever stop to ask why we do any of it? On this Christmas Eve episode of The Karel Cast, we take a deeper look at the true meaning of Christmas: where the traditions came from, what they were meant to symbolize, and how the holiday has evolved into what it is today.
We’ll also talk honestly about why Christmas can feel magical for some — and painfully lonely or depressing for others. From nostalgia and loss to hope and connection, this is a reflective, thoughtful conversation about what this night really represents in our modern world.
Whether Christmas fills you with joy, sadness, or a mix of both, this episode is for you.
The Karel Cast is supported by your donations at patreon.com/reallykarel.
Please watch, like, comment, and subscribe at youtube.com/reallykarel.
The Karel Cast is heard on all major streaming platforms — from Apple Music to iHeartRadio, Spotify to Spreaker.
Live Monday through Thursday at 10:30 AM PST, and streaming on TikTok and Instagram.
Karel is a history-making broadcaster and entertainer broadcasting from Las Vegas with his little service girl, Ember.
#ChristmasEve, #TrueMeaningOfChristmas, #HolidayReflection, #ChristmasTraditions, #HolidayMentalHealth, #ChristmasSadness, #HolidayJoy, #ChristmasThoughts, #KarelCast, #HolidayDepression, #ChristmasSpirit, #HolidayEmotions, #SeasonOfHope, #ModernChristmas, #LGBTQVoices, #HolidayPodcast, #ChristmasPodcast, #EndOfYearReflection, #LasVegas, #EmberTheServiceDog
https://youtube.com/live/x8-698BCM9I


Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-karel-cast--1368295/support.

The Karel Cast is supported by your donations at patreon.com/reallykarel and streams live Monday–Thursday at 10:30am PST. Available on YouTube, TikTok, Instagram, Apple Music, Spotify, iHeart Media, Spreaker, and all major platforms.

These Food & Climate Numbers Will Shock You | Karel Cast 25-167
What would it actually take for your state to be food-self-sufficient?
How much food — and especially meat — would the United States have to produce just to feed itself?
The answers are staggering, and they reveal why climate change, agriculture, and what we eat are deeply connected — whether we want to admit it or not. These numbers don’t just challenge our assumptions, they expose how fragile the food system really is.
So yes, eat, drink, and be merry this holiday season — but understand this: you are not alone, and the choices we make collectively matter more than ever.
Plus, let’s talk about the emotional side of the holidays. They can be joyful… but also stressful. What holiday pet peeves drive you crazy? Crowds? Family drama? Travel chaos? Odds are, we share more than a few.
And to balance it out: what are the things worth loving this season? The moments, the people, the small joys that make it all worthwhile.
The Karel Cast is supported by your donations at patreon.com/reallykarel. Please like, subscribe, and share at youtube.com/reallykarel.
Catch The Karel Cast Monday–Thursday at 10:30am PST on Apple Music, iHeart Media, Spotify, Spreaker, TikTok, and Instagram.
#KarelCast, #FoodSecurity, #ClimateChange, #SustainableFood, #MeatConsumption, #ClimateCrisis, #FoodSystem, #HolidaySeason, #HolidayStress, #HolidayPetPeeves, #FoodProduction, #EnvironmentalImpact, #DietAndClimate, #USFoodSupply, #PopCultureTalk, #ProgressiveVoices, #SocialIssues, #NewsCommentary, #LGBTQCreators, #LasVegasCreator
https://youtube.com/live/gB4ZdO9dlkE


Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-karel-cast--1368295/support.

The Karel Cast is supported by your donations at patreon.com/reallykarel and streams live Monday–Thursday at 10:30am PST. Available on YouTube, TikTok, Instagram, Apple Music, Spotify, iHeart Media, Spreaker, and all major platforms.

Airlines vs. Bigger Bodies: Should Fat Travelers Pay More? | Karel Cast 
Holiday travel is here — and Southwest Airlines is back in the spotlight for its “customer of size” policy. If you’re considered too large for a single seat, they require you to buy two. Sure, you might get a refund later… but will you? And is this policy fair?
Let’s be honest: airplane seats are shrinking while Americans are getting larger. Should heavier passengers be financially penalized — or should airlines be held accountable for designing seats that barely fit anyone? And what does this say about how society treats bigger bodies?
Plus: As we wrap up the year, Karel dives into the best movies, best music, and standout cultural moments of 2024 — the hits, the surprises, and what’s absolutely worth your time this holiday break.
And finally: What would your perfect Christmas gift be this year? Let’s talk joy, wishes, and what really matters as we close out the year.
The Karel Cast is supported by your donations at patreon.com/reallykarel. Please like, subscribe, and share at youtube.com/reallykarel.
Stream The Karel Cast Monday–Thursday at 10:30am PST on Apple Music, iHeart Media, Spotify, Spreaker, TikTok, and Instagram.
#KarelCast, #HolidayTravel, #AirlinePolicies, #SouthwestAirlines, #BodyPositivity, #FatShaming, #TravelNews, #AirlineSeats, #AviationIssues, #HolidaySeason2024, #MovieRecommendations, #BestMusic2024, #PopCultureNews, #Christmas2024, #GiftIdeas2024, #NewsCommentary, #ProgressiveTalk, #SocialIssues, #LGBTQVoices, #LasVegasCreator
https://youtube.com/live/cJnWWycOc_I


Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-karel-cast--1368295/support.

The Karel Cast is supported by your donations at patreon.com/reallykarel and streams live Monday–Thursday at 10:30am PST. Available on YouTube, TikTok, Instagram, Apple Music, Spotify, iHeart Media, Spreaker, and all major platforms.

ICE Kills an American—Will Anyone Be Held Accountable? | The Karel Cast
The headline no one wanted to read: an American woman is shot and killed by ICE while driving away. Authorities immediately claimed she was attacking agents. She wasn’t. She was fleeing. That’s not enforcement—that’s murder.
The lies came fast. The accountability? Nowhere to be found.
Will the United States do anything about it—or has the bar fallen so low that state violence against civilians is just another news cycle? And Donald Trump’s response says everything about who he is, what he stands for, and how little human life seems to matter to him now.
Also on today’s show:
• SAG Awards nominations are out—are these really the best films of the year, or just the same insiders rewarding each other again?
• I reveal who I voted for—and why the so-called front-runner doesn’t deserve to be in the race at all
• A brawl breaks out at Disney over line cutting—why are people so angry, so tense, and so ready to explode over something so small?
This isn’t outrage for clicks. It’s a reckoning—with power, culture, and a country losing its moral compass.
The Karel Cast is supported by viewer donations at patreon.com/reallykarel
Please watch, like, subscribe, and share at youtube.com/reallykarel
The show streams on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, iHeartRadio, Spreaker, and more—Monday through Thursday at 10:30 AM PT, and on TikTok and Instagram.
Broadcasting from Las Vegas with my service girl Ember—this is The Karel Cast.

#ICE, #Immigration, #PoliceViolence, #GovernmentAccountability, #CivilRights, #Trump, #USPolitics, #BreakingNews, #TheKarelCast, #PoliticalCommentary, #Justice, #HumanRights, #SAGAwards, #Hollywood, #FilmAwards, #Disney, #SocialBreakdown, #AmericanPolitics, #CurrentEvents, #NewsAnalysis
https://youtube.com/live/MSqyaqi61BA


Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-karel-cast--1368295/support.

The Karel Cast is supported by your donations at patreon.com/reallykarel and streams live Monday–Thursday at 10:30am PST. Available on YouTube, TikTok, Instagram, Apple Music, Spotify, iHeart Media, Spreaker, and all major platforms.

What Is Left to Say About America? Politics, Pizza, Prices & a Country at a Breaking Point | The Karel Cast
Every day, I—and countless other hosts—go on air to talk about the state of America. And lately, it feels like the same grim message on repeat: Trump must go. Democracy is strained. The country is slipping.
So the real question becomes: what is left to say?
Has the era of a and warnings passed? If there’s no action—no accountability—are we just talking into the void? Is it time to stop pretending commentary alone can save a nation?
Impeachment talk is growing again, but will leaders ever do what’s best for the country instead of protecting their party and their power?
Also in today’s show:
• Americans are falling out of love with pizza—sales are down, prices are up
• A San Francisco pizza parlor battles DoorDash as a $30 order becomes $50—who can even afford convenience anymore?
• A brawl breaks out on the Indiana Jones ride—isolated incident, or another sign we’re becoming something darker?
This isn’t outrage for clicks. It’s a reckoning—with politics, culture, and ourselves.
The Karel Cast is supported by viewer donations at patreon.com/reallykarel
Please watch, like, subscribe, and share at youtube.com/reallykarel
The show streams on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, iHeartRadio, Spreaker, and more—Monday through Thursday at 10:30 AM PT, and on TikTok and Instagram.
Broadcasting from Las Vegas with my service girl Ember—this is The Karel Cast.
#America, #USPolitics, #Democracy, #Trump, #PoliticalCommentary, #TheKarelCast, #CurrentEvents, #Impeachment, #PoliticalAnalysis, #CostOfLiving, #Inflation, #PizzaPrices, #DoorDash, #ConsumerCosts, #SocialDecline, #CultureShift, #NewsCommentary, #AmericaToday, #LasVegas, #Podcast
https://youtube.com/live/Ztn3FeGcjH0


Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-karel-cast--1368295/support.

The Karel Cast is supported by your donations at patreon.com/reallykarel and streams live Monday–Thursday at 10:30am PST. Available on YouTube, TikTok, Instagram, Apple Music, Spotify, iHeart Media, Spreaker, and all major platforms.