THYRST

Actor, musician and artist Jade Hassouné joins Aneal Joshua on THYRST for a conversation that starts with Drag Race and pop culture and somehow ends up questioning everything we know about success, self worth and manifestation.

Best known as Meliorn on Shadowhunters, Jade opens up about what happens when the attention from a hit television show starts to disappear and why he had to learn to separate his value from followers, numbers, money and external validation.

We get into Shadowhunters, his music career as J4DE, building an identity as an artist, social media, finding your creative point of view and why Jade believes talent will eventually find its way to the right opportunity.

Of course, we also talk Canada’s Drag Race, Drag Race UK, reality TV and why shows like Love Is Blind and The Real Housewives might actually teach us more about human relationships than we give them credit for.

Then Jade reveals he would 100% do Big Brother, The Traitors and even Survivor, including his dream of competing on Big Brother Québec Celebrity and why the social game terrifies and excites him.

And things get unexpectedly spiritual as Jade breaks down limiting beliefs, manifestation, prayer, abundance and why getting everything you want means nothing if you haven't become the person capable of holding onto it.

From Shadowhunters and Drag Race to reality TV, music, spirituality and finding your worth beyond the numbers, this is Jade Hassouné in 2026.

Follow Jade Hassouné on Instagram @jadehassoune and find his music on Spotify as J4DE.

Follow THYRST for more LGBTQ+ culture, reality TV, Drag Race, pop culture and queer conversations.

The THYRST is real.

Owen Unruh on Addiction, Healing, Indigenous Identity & Starting Over

Content creator Owen Unruh joins Aneal Joshua on THYRST for an honest, hilarious and unexpectedly deep conversation about addiction recovery, healing, Indigenous identity, social media, reality TV and finding a new home in Montreal.

Owen opens up about his journey from addiction and experiencing homelessness to building an online community around vulnerability, authenticity and helping others feel less alone. His philosophy? “Turn your mess into your message.”

We talk about reconnecting with his Cree identity, growing up on a farm in Northern British Columbia, preserving childhood memories, leaving Vancouver for Montreal and learning when sharing your life online can be healing and when some things are better processed offline.

Then things get very THYRST.

Owen takes on Montreal Fetish Week trivia, explains why authenticity beats chasing TikTok trends, gives his take on Leah Remini joining The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills and reveals why he wants another shot at reality TV. We also get into Big Brother Canada, the pressure cooker of reality television and whether Owen could survive Big Brother or The Traitors.

🎙️ THYRST is a queer culture and pop culture podcast hosted by Aneal Joshua, covering LGBTQ+ life, reality TV, relationships, identity, nightlife and the conversations happening in the group chat.

Follow Owen Unruh on Instagram at @owen.unruhhh

Subscribe and follow THYRST for more queer culture, reality TV and unfiltered conversations.

The THYRST is real.

Content creator Marcus McNeil joins Aneal Joshua on THYRST for an unfiltered conversation about gay culture, dating, social media, reality TV and life in Montreal.

After RuPaul’s Drag Race star Naomi Smalls revealed Marcus was her Instagram crush, we obviously had to ask the important question: would he couple up with Naomi on a gay Love Island? Spoiler alert: the answer is looking promising. 👀

Marcus gets candid about being desired versus being respected, validation online versus fulfillment offline, dating while building a career, his relationship with social media and why Montreal has become home.

We also get into Big Brother 28, our mutual appreciation for Daddy Drew, what it’s actually like living inside the Big Brother house and whether Marcus could survive the game himself. Plus, Aneal reflects on his own Big Brother Canada experience and the mental warfare of being watched 24/7.

And because this is THYRST, things naturally get chaotic with the THYRST 30 Second Tantrum, dating red flags, Naomi Smalls, queer nightlife, family, content creation and some very questionable rapid fire answers.

Come for the THYRST. Stay for the surprisingly wholesome conversation.

🎙️ THYRST is a queer culture and pop culture podcast hosted by Aneal Joshua, covering LGBTQ+ life, reality TV, Drag Race, Big Brother, dating, nightlife and the conversations happening in the group chat.

Follow Marcus McNeil at @MarcusMcNeilX.

Follow THYRST for more queer culture, reality TV and pop culture conversations.

The THYRST is real.

Toronto photographer and creative force Jam Like Jelli joins Aneal Joshua on THYRST for a chaotic dive into queer culture, pop music and the internet.

From photographing some of Canada’s fiercest drag queens and Gossip Girl star Jordan Alexander to going viral for his circuit party takes and getting noticed by Lana Del Rey, Jampol knows how to make an impact.

We get into Canada’s Drag Race All Stars, Toronto drag history, KATSEYE and the Manon discourse, the state of circuit parties, going viral online, pop music nostalgia and what it actually takes to build a creative identity people remember.

Plus, Jampol faces the THYRST 13, evil Canada’s Drag Race trivia and the ultimate question: love or leverage?

Follow THYRST for more conversations at the intersection of LGBTQ+ culture, Drag Race, pop culture, reality TV, queer nightlife and creative life in Toronto and Canada.

The THYRST is real.

Who should win Canada’s Drag Race All Stars? And what does a Survivor Québec player think of the new All Stars format? 👀

This week on THYRST, Aneal sits down with Benjamin Parry, gay Montreal creator, flight attendant and Survivor Québec contestant, for a chaotic deep dive into Canadian reality TV, drag, dating and queer life in Montreal.

Benjamin takes us behind the scenes of Survivor Québec, from applying four times to finally getting cast, navigating alliances, embracing his villain edit and discovering just how quickly the game can change. Then, we get into Canada’s Drag Race All Stars: why Benjamin thinks the format makes it easier to eliminate strong queens, his case for Sammy Landry and Aurora Matrix, and our predictions for who could take the crown.

We also talk about the rise of Canadian drag queens as mainstream celebrities, international Drag Race franchises, queer nightlife, Montreal Pride and whether dating apps have broken gay dating. Benjamin even compares dating apps to a casino, where constantly searching for the next jackpot can make it harder to recognize something real when you actually find it.

And, of course, Benjamin enters the 30 Second Tantrum to deliver his Pride hot take: less circuit music, more Britney and Gaga.

In this episode: Canada’s Drag Race All Stars • Survivor Québec • Sammy Landry • Aurora Matrix • Canadian Drag Race • Montreal Pride • gay dating • queer nightlife • LGBTQ+ creators • Canadian reality TV • Montreal gay culture

Scarlett Bobo joins Aneal for an unfiltered conversation about life after Canada's Drag Race, moving to Los Angeles, breaking into DJing, and why success doesn't always come from getting the call you expected.

From reacting to the Canada's Drag Race: All Stars cast to candidly discussing why she thinks she was overlooked, Scarlett opens up about navigating fan expectations, building a career beyond reality TV, and creating opportunities on her own terms. They dive into Toronto's changing drag scene, Big Brother and Traitors dreams, the evolution of queer nightlife, and why camp, competition, and confidence still matter.

Plus: rapid-fire questions, behind-the-scenes Drag Race opinions, ranking the All Stars cast, judging Canada's biggest runway looks, messy reality TV hot takes, and why Scarlett believes she's winning at life

Canada's Drag Race Season 6's Paolo Perfección joins THYRST to break down Canada's Drag Race All Stars premiere — entrance looks, alliances, evening gowns, and the all-drag judging panel. Plus if she would do Big Brother Canada story and a spicy rapid-fire round.

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This week on THYRST, the Canadian queer pop culture podcast, host sits down with Season 6's Paolo Perfección

Paolo breaks down her top entrance looks, why alliances on Drag Race are "lowkey not real," what she'd do for a Miss Continental-style talent, and her take on the show's first-ever all-drag judging panel. She also opens up about being an early out on her own season, competing on Big Brother Canada, and the advice she says changed her life: "closed mouth doesn't get fed."

Rounding out the episode: a rapid-fire this-or-that round, favorite emojis, her Frank Sinatra obsession, and why she's terrified of movie theaters.

If you're into Canadian reality TV, Canada's Drag Race recaps, and queer creator interviews, hit subscribe — new episodes of THYRST drop weekly.

Aneal sits down with the final winner of Big Brother Canada, Bayleigh Pelham, for an unfiltered conversation about reality TV, queer love, Bravo addiction, and planning the wedding of her dreams.

Bayleigh opens up about almost being cast a season earlier alongside her ex, how losing her spot on the show ultimately led her to meeting her fiancée, and the emotional strategy behind one of the most shocking finale moments in Big Brother Canada history. They talk jury management, Ty’s influence on her game, iconic BB moments, dream crossover casts, and why older reality TV felt so much messier — and better.

Plus: deep dives into The Valley, The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills, Summer House, and the chaotic rise of The Real Housewives of Rhode Island. Bayleigh gives her takes on the West & Amanda scandal, Dorit’s spiral, queer relationships on Bravo, and why Housewives women always glow up after divorce.

They also get personal about Bayleigh’s queer awakening, falling in love with her fiancée after dating men, navigating intimacy in a completely different way, and building a future family together. From wedding planning and custom suits to black-tie Twilight energy and lesbian U-Haul stereotypes — nothing is off limits.

Funny, emotional, chaotic, and deeply honest.
The THYRST is real.

Aneal Joshua sits down with Hollywood Jade. Canada’s Drag Race choreographer, Starry Night creative force, and historic winner of The Traitors Canada. This is a sharp, funny, and deeply honest conversation about reality TV, queer culture, and winning on your own terms.

From Toronto dating being “futile” to the evolution of the city’s nightlife, Jade opens up about pride, performance, community, and what it means to create spaces where queer people can actually live their fantasy. They also get into Real Housewives of Atlanta, dream RHOA casts, why NeNe is supreme, and the duo fights about Kenya Moore.

Plus: Jade breaks down his Traitors Canada win with Dom, the historic weight of two Black men winning as Faithfuls, Drag Race crowning decisions, Canada’s Drag Race winners, All Stars 11 brackets, and why everything counts when you’re competing.

Unfiltered, insightful, and very cuckoo...bonsoir!

Tapping into the Vegas chaos for a spontaneous, in-person conversation with Siren Santiago! A Puerto Rican creator with strong opinions, stronger boundaries, and a clear sense of self.

From navigating breakups and choosing solitude to unpacking confidence, validation, and the psychology of attraction, Siren gets honest about what it means to grow up, glow up, and not lose yourself in the process. They talk hot vs. toxic, actions vs. words, why social media personas don’t always match reality, and how learning to slow down in dating might actually be the real power move.

Plus: Florida trauma bonding, Bad Girls Club energy, the Gigi Hadid posing method, Charli XCX obsession, and a THYRST Tantrum about entitlement, rejection, and why attention is not access.

This episode is reflective, self-aware, and a little chaotic. A gay conversation about identity, confidence, and protecting your peace in a hyper-visible world.

Raw, funny, and grounded.
The #THYRST is real.