Join in the conversation!

Welcome back to another episode of the Hella Chisme Podcast

This week join Dana on Hella Chisme Podcast for a soulful conversation with actor, dancer & musician Keiynan Lonsdale about giving yourself permission to be fully seen creatively, personally and unapologetically.

Keiynan opens up about growing up in Western Sydney finding safety in dance and music, how his big diverse family shaped his worldview, and how Michael Jackson shaped his commitment to excellence. He traces his evolution since Rainbow Boy, confronting his shadows, learning vulnerability as strength, and redefining masculinity on his own terms: true masculinity is graceful.

We get into his intentional creative process from gibberish to polished visuals, the business of being an independent artist, and his new single Body High — a grounded, physical feeling of peace that opens his upcoming slower R&B project about navigating relationships and finding peace after the storm.

Tap in for storytelling, legacy, queer culture, community care and what it really takes to keep it moving forward.

Connect with Keiynan Lonsdale:

Instagram: @keiynanlonsdale

Stream Body High on all platforms

Connect with Hella Chisme Podcast:

Hosted by Dana

Subscribe for queer culture, pride, reality checks & community care Instagram / TikTok: @hellachisme

LINK: https://linktr.ee/hellachismepodcast

Topics to include: Keiynan Lonsdale interview, Keiynan Lonsdale Body High, Rainbow Boy evolution, queer masculinity, true masculinity is graceful, vulnerability as strength, being fully seen, queer podcast, LGBTQ storytelling, independent artist journey, R&B new music, Michael Jackson influence, Western Sydney origin story, diverse family acceptance, creative process directing choreography, soulful intentional artistry, queer culture community care

Support the show

Follow Hella Chisme for more culture, conversation, and creative storytelling. Subscribe on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube, and keep up with us on Instagram, Threads, and TikTok at @hellachismepod.

Join the chisme, share the episode, and leave a review or comment to support the show.

Join in the conversation!

Enjoy the clip of this episode.

The year is flying, the to-do list is loud, and burnout can sneak up until you feel fried, flipped, and stuck. I start by telling the truth about that feeling and why naming it matters. Sometimes the most productive thing a creative can do is admit they’re tired, give themselves a moment to check out, and come back ready to make something real again.

From there, we set the table for a conversation I think every artist, writer, filmmaker, and musician will recognise: the search for permission to create. Before we find our voice, we usually meet it through someone else’s work. We talk about how inspiration isn’t just a vibe, it’s a blueprint, and how the right reference can give you permission to be ambitious, to get experimental, to tell the messy truth, or to stop apologising for the story you’re here to tell.

We also preview the influences behind Seraphim, pulling threads from Janet Jackson’s Rhythm Nation 1814, Purple Rain, Moonlight, and Noah’s Ark. These titles live in different worlds, but they each carry lessons about identity, Blackness, queerness, community, and the art of blending music and film into something unforgettable. If you’ve been trying to get unstuck, this one is your reminder that the art you love can be the spark that unlocks your next move.

Subscribe so you don’t miss the full conversation, share the episode with a creative friend who needs a push, and leave a rating or review to help more people find the show. What piece of art gave you permission to create?

Support the show

Follow Hella Chisme for more culture, conversation, and creative storytelling. Subscribe on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube, and keep up with us on Instagram, Threads, and TikTok at @hellachismepod.

Join the chisme, share the episode, and leave a review or comment to support the show.

Join in the conversation!

Welcome back to another episode of the Hella Chisme Podcast.

Join Dana on the Hella Chisme Podcast for an inspiring conversation with filmmaker and recording artist Mark Angel about Seraphim a 72-minute Black queer musical drama love story set in Brooklyn. Mark breaks down how he wrote, produced, composed, edited, starred in, and grassroots-toured the film through COVID delays, running out of money, and learning to edit and color from scratch.

We talk DIY, independent filmmaking, queer representation, inspiration from Janet Jackson's Rhythm Nation, Prince's Purple Rain, Moonlight and Noah's Ark, audience reactions at in-person screenings, his mantra "Light Up the Darkness," and where to watch Seraphim now on Deku (Apple TV, Amazon Prime, Roku).

Plus: Dana opens on Hispanic Heritage Month and remembering 9/11 with community care.

🔔 Subscribe for more queer culture, pride coverage, and reality checks: New episodes weekly from Hella Chisme Podcast

🎬 Watch Seraphim on Dekoo

Follow Marck Angel

Topics to include: Seraphim film interview, Mark Angel DIY queer musical Brooklyn, Black queer love story Brooklyn 2020, independent filmmaking journey, socially conscious musical drama, LGBTQ representation in film, queer musical, DIY filmmaker story, Janet Jackson Rhythm Nation inspiration, Noah's Ark queer representation, Light Up the Darkness mantra, Hispanic Heritage Month reflection, 9/11 remembrance and community care, Hella Chisme Podcast Dana interview

Support the show

Follow Hella Chisme for more culture, conversation, and creative storytelling. Subscribe on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube, and keep up with us on Instagram, Threads, and TikTok at @hellachismepod.

Join the chisme, share the episode, and leave a review or comment to support the show.