The Gay Rugby Podcast

Michael Henry on why Gay Culture is a delicate ecosystemSubscribe to the Gay Rugby Podcast! https://shorturl.at/OztS0What happens if you try to delete part of gay culture and who actually gets to decide what stays?In Episode 47 of the Gay Rugby Podcast, recorded in Los Angeles, we sit down with comedian Michael Henry and pull on that thread. What starts as a simple question turns into a wide-open conversation about how gay culture actually works right now, less like a clean narrative and more like a living ecosystem, where everything from gay dating apps to nightlife, from therapy language to hookup culture, is connected whether people like it or not.We talk about what’s shaping modern gay relationships in 2026, and why gay dating culture still revolves around apps like Grindr even as more people burn out on them. Grindr culture has made connection instant, but also disposable, and that tension shows up in everything from how people present themselves to the biggest unspoken lies people tell on dating apps. At the same time, there’s a quiet shift happening; cruising culture and real-life interaction are creeping back in, as people start looking for something that feels less curated and more immediate.Language plays its own role in all of this. Gay slang evolves fast, and terms like “trade” don’t mean what they used to. What once described a specific type now floats somewhere between identity and attraction, reflecting how fluid gay identity has become. That same fluidity shows up in how people think about themselves, especially with the rise of therapy culture in the LGBTQ community, where self-awareness, boundaries, and “doing the work” are part of everyday conversation, for better or worse.Then there’s the visual side of it. Body image in gay culture is still front and center, especially in cities like LA, where the pressure to look a certain way hasn’t gone anywhere; it’s just evolved. Whether it’s gym culture, cosmetic tweaks, or the way people curate themselves online, there’s a constant push and pull between authenticity and performance.All of it feeds into a bigger question about cancel culture in LGBTQ spaces. If something feels toxic, outdated, or fake, should it be removed? Or does taking one piece out of the equation change everything else? The more we dig into it, the clearer it becomes that gay culture isn’t built to be simplified. It’s messy, contradictory, and constantly evolving—and that might be the point.Empowered by Friend of Dorothy: https://friend-of-dorothy.com/Elevate your well-being with our thoughtfully curated range of products designed specifically for gay men.New episodes every week.Filmed, edited and produced by Jack HigginsExecutive Producer Ozzie LunaConnect with The Gay Rugby Podcast on social media! Instagram https://www.instagram.com/gayrugbypodcast/Tik Tokhttps://www.tiktok.com/@gayrugbypodcast?lang=enYouTubehttps://shorturl.at/OztS0Views and opinions in the podcast do not reflect the views and opinions of the Los Angeles Rebellion Rugby Club

In Episode 35 of The Gay Rugby Podcast, we sit down with Gabe Garcia (they/them), a former ballerina who walked away from the studio and into the chaos of rugby. Trained in classical dance, Gabe spent years chasing perfection before discovering rugby for beginners - a sport that values presence, teamwork, and showing up exactly as you are.Gabe talks about joining the Phoenix Storm Rugby Club, learning the game from scratch, and finding their footing inside a gay rugby team built on trust and shared effort. We get into the physical shock of contact, how a dance background translates (and sometimes doesn’t), and what makes rugby culture feel different from other sports.The episode also touches on a trans-inclusive rugby match, treated not as a spectacle but as a normal day on the pitch: scrums, tackles, mistakes, and momentum. It’s a small but telling example of why inclusive rugby and LGBTQ rugby clubs have become real entry points for players who never felt welcome elsewhere.This conversation lives at the intersection of rugby podcasts and LGBTQ sports podcasts, offering an honest athlete interview about switching disciplines, starting rugby later in life, and building community through sport. It’s a grounded look at queer athletes in sports, the reality of learning how to start playing rugby, and why rugby keeps pulling in people from unexpected places.

Rugby has a way of taking more than it gives. In Episode 33 of the Gay Rugby Podcast, we sit down with Chris Brandenburg of the Portland Lumberjacks Rugby Club on site in Palm Springs, CA during the Rucktacular Rugby Tournament to talk about what happens when the sport you love breaks your body and why you keep coming back anyway.Chris opens up about serious injuries, breaking his leg twice, long recovery stretches, and the mental toll that comes with being sidelined. But this episode isn’t just about rugby injuries or rehab timelines. It’s about showing up, for your teammates, for your city, and for a community that’s been forced to stay resilient whether it wanted to or not.The Portland Lumberjacks are more than a gay rugby team. They’re a fixture of Portland’s LGBTQ sports community and a rare example of inclusive rugby still thriving at the grassroots level. We talk about what it means to play gay rugby in Portland right now, how the team rebuilt itself, and why inclusive sports spaces matter even more when queer communities feel politically targeted.This conversation lives at the intersection of rugby injury recovery, LGBTQ athletics, and community identity. It’s about pain, stubbornness, and the quiet decision to keep showing up when walking away would be easier. If you’re interested in gay rugby, inclusive rugby clubs, Portland sports culture, or the reality behind comeback stories, this episode keeps it honest.

What’s it actually like to be straight on a gay rugby team? In this episode of the Gay Rugby Podcast, we sit down with Garrett Mack, Vice President of Marketing, and Daniel, Secretary of the San Francisco Fog Rugby Club, to talk about identity, masculinity, and how inclusive sports culture works in real life; not just on paper.Founded in 2000, SF Fog Rugby is the first gay and inclusive rugby team on the West Coast and one of the most established LGBTQ+ rugby clubs in the United States. The Fog welcome players of all sexual orientations, gender identities, and experience levels, creating a team culture built on respect, competition, and community. From beginner-friendly entry points to high-level competitive play, Fog Rugby has become a model for inclusive rugby clubs nationwide and a cornerstone of San Francisco’s LGBTQ sports scene.Garrett and Daniel share how the Fog’s inclusive approach plays out on and off the pitch, including what it means to have straight and queer teammates building trust through full-contact sport. The conversation touches on how inclusive sports teams challenge outdated ideas about masculinity, why representation in rugby matters, and how the Fog continues to grow its reach through community engagement and visibility.The episode also honors the legacy of Mark Kendall Bingham, a Fog Rugby player whose impact extends far beyond rugby. Mark Bingham was one of the passengers who helped stop Flight 93 on September 11, and his legacy lives on through the Bingham Cup, the largest international gay rugby tournament in the world. Hosted every two years, the Bingham Cup brings together LGBTQ+ rugby teams from across the globe and stands as a powerful symbol of courage, inclusion, and rugby for all.Whether you’re searching for a gay rugby team, an inclusive rugby club in San Francisco, or curious about LGBTQ+ rugby history, this episode offers real insight into how inclusive team sports function day to day. If you’ve ever wondered how to join a rugby team, what gay rugby culture is actually like, or how inclusive sports communities thrive, this conversation delivers honest perspective from inside the huddle.Learn more about San Francisco Fog Rugby and how to get involved at fogrugby.com, and explore the global impact of inclusive rugby through International Gay Rugby and the Bingham Cup. Like, subscribe, and share for more conversations about rugby, identity, and community.

In Episode 29 of The Gay Rugby Podcast, hosts Jack Higgins and Ozzie Luna sit down with “Rugby Daddy” himself, longtime New-York City rugby lifer (and Gotham Knights legend) Kevin Healy, for a conversation that pulls back the curtain on the early days of gay and inclusive rugby, when there was no Instagram, no Tinder, just sweaty post-game beers, in-person recruiting, and a handful of shirts passed around the pitch.Over two decades playing for Gotham Knights RFC: one of the founding clubs of International Gay Rugby (IGR) in the United States. Kevin witnessed first-hand how gay rugby went from underground whispers to international tournaments like the Bingham Cup. But this isn’t just nostalgia. As “Rugby Daddy,” Healy turned his love for the sport and his affection for the community into a print-on-demand merch company helping inclusive rugby teams fundraise, build identity, and support players. On this episode he shows us his shirt designs, and talks about how merch became a lifeline for teams across the IGR network.We dig deep into the taboo and the tenderness of dating teammates, a reality some have lived, few have spoken about. We talk love and loyalty, identity and passion, the unspoken rituals of the locker room, and why being on a rugby team can feel like finding a home.Whether you’re a seasoned rucker, a curious newcomer, or someone who just wants to see what happens when toughness meets tenderness; tune in. This isn’t just about sport. It’s about belonging.

Tom Goss brings the room to a hush before he makes it sing. We caught him with the band for a full live set and a wide-ranging interview that cuts under the surface of a queer music career, the songs that make crowds cheer, the parts of gay life only other gay men sing about, and why a single track like Bears can mean more than a chorus. Tom’s been turning honest storytelling into sing-along anthems for years; he’s toured, headlined pride stages, and built a quiet, fierce audience by telling simple truths. This episode moves between performance and conversation: acoustic confessions, band arrangements, and a talk about community; from the bear subculture to how queer musicians carve space on and off stage. If you want notes on how to find queer music near me, Tom Goss live set, or what it’s like to be a gay musician touring, listen for the full performance and the moments where Tom explains why visibility and joy matter. We also dig into practical bits for listeners: where to catch Tom on tour, what tracks to start with if you’re new to his music, and why live queer music scenes still feel like the best kind of resistance. If you searched gay singer songwriter, Tom Goss full set, queer artists live performance, or LGBTQ music podcast, this is the episode that answers those searches with songs and stories from within both the Rugby and Bear communities.

On this week’s Halloween-themed episode of The Gay Rugby Podcast, we’re diving into the ridiculous, creative, and occasionally questionable world of rugby sevens fan costumes. From diehards who commit fully to a theme to those who look like they got dressed in the dark before kickoff, we’re ranking them all; not out of judgment, but appreciation for the spectacle that happens when sport collides with personality.This episode isn’t about who wore it best; it’s about how expression shows up in the stands. Rugby has always been about grit and teamwork, but there’s something special about seeing fans bring humor, camp, and individuality to the sidelines. Whether it’s a full-blown character transformation or a last-minute prop situation, each look tells a story about confidence, identity, and the culture that’s grown within inclusive rugby.We break down how costume can turn a tournament into a performance, how fans use it to subvert expectations, and how the queer rugby community finds joy and freedom in moments that might seem ridiculous to outsiders. This is the kind of episode that reminds you why sport can be more than a game; it’s a stage, a celebration, and sometimes, a drag show with a whistle.Subscribe to The Gay Rugby Podcast for new episodes every week!

Rugby has its own language. Every scrum, ruck, and knock-on carries meaning, rhythm, and history. In this episode of The Gay Rugby Podcast, hosts Jack Higgins and Ozzie Luna from Los Angeles Rebellion Rugby unpack the slang that runs through the sport — and what it says about identity, culture, and belonging.It’s part translation guide, part cultural study. The guys break down how rugby’s coded vocabulary connects players across continents while still leaving outsiders guessing. They look at how queer players make that language their own, and how inclusive rugby communities flip tradition into something more open, and a little more honest.The Gay Rugby Podcast is born from the scrums and sidelines of the Los Angeles Rebellion, an LGBTQ+ team that’s rewriting what toughness and teamwork look like. Each week, Jack and Ozzie talk rugby, queerness, and everything that happens in between; no filters, no PR polish.Stream the full episode on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you listen. Subscribe if you’re into rugby, language, or just good conversation that doesn’t pull its punches.