A queen turned rising podcast star, New York-based Joey “Bhadddbhussy” Geballa is introducing us to his fellow nightlife stars of today and tomorrow care of “Me, Myself And…”!
Thotyssey: Why, hello there! Thanks for finding this time for us, I’m sure you’re busy, busy, busy as usual… how did September treat you?
Bhadddbhussy: September has been truly everything, everywhere, all at once! At this time, I find myself (hopefully) getting towards the clear end of some totally unexpected health issues I was faced with at the end of August. While nothing life-threatening, I am a very melodramatic person that likes to take anything resembling [a crisis] as a challenge to my life as a lesson. And the lesson is (responsibly) spend the money, go to the concert, see your friends, fall in love even if it may not love you back (hopefully it does!), stay out late, stay in and overload on SATC. Let life be your summer. September was great… 10/10.
These are all good life plans for all of us! Were you one of the many, many folks who had challenges getting back into the groove of the things in the months or even years post-lockdown?
Honestly… no! As a true Taurus, I love being lazy… but I also love to work my ass off. With that being said, during lockdown I knew it was gonna be the most rest I could possibly get while I moved back home temporarily to my mother’s, while working any shift I can at my father’s dentist office to stay productive.
But in May 2021, I got scooped back up by my former employment / internship at “The Breakfast Club” and iHeartMedia (it was originally furloughed March 2020) as a full time producer, so I had no second to adjust; I just had to make do and “make it work.” I kinda work best that way–under pressure and spontaneously.
Before we get into the professional life, can you tell us a bit about where you’re originally from, and what your interests were while growing up?
So I was born in Silver Spring, Maryland and raised between Washington DC and primarily Crofton, Maryland, a little suburb only 20 minutes down the highway from the Capitol. I’m a first generation citizen, born from two of the best Egyptian parents there are. Strict upbringing? Absolutely. But am I grateful, and a better person because of them? Absolutely x 10,000.
Despite having a bigger build as a kid, sports were not my thing. I did slay at basketball a bit, I’m not gonna lie… and think about joining a queer team one day. From the moment I saw Britney’s “Oops” video, I was hooked–and I kid you not it, was life-changing. My whole life became her. That CD was my third birthday gift, too! TRL (RIP) became my CNN. So the pop culture nerd you see today is because of the kid I was growing up, and I’m grateful for him.
How did you get into the world of pop culture critique and podcasting?
So thankfully, I grew up and got into pop culture early–at the peak of 2000’s “pop culture meets the digital world”–so it was quite seamless. And where most kids and classmates would stop at what they see on TV, I’d be picking up National inquirer, J14, Tiger Beat, People–and, shit, grab some of my mom’s Woman’s World mags while I was at it–and used those as my summer reading (do not ask my English teachers about the grades on my summer assignments, oops!) And once we got the family desktop (a moment for any family in the 2000’s), my research went deeper into pop culture blogs… and here we are! Thirst trapping on Twitter and Instagram, while chatting about Kylie Minogue, Paramore and Doja Cat…. who needs a BA degree?
Speaking of music, I see you just went to the Maneskin show at Madison Square Garden… how was it?
Oh my gosh, you are asking this as I’m in between sets at the gym blasting their whole setlist and practically recreating their show in my head. It was easily one of the best shows I’ve ever been to. Beyonce and Paramore being my pillar of live acts–Maneskin sits right there in that top three for me! A lot of people don’t know that I’m a huge rock head (I thank my two straight older brothers), so to see Maneskin take rock and mold it back into rock’s originally gender fluid, punk nature makes me so happy. Each and every single member is so talented, and inspires me so much with their effortlessness (yet really their hard work) and talent; I’m blessed to be able to have met them at my last job.
I always have this reoccurring dream that somewhere, somehow, I may just end up being the biggest pop punk star alive. But make it Arab–like, an amalgamation of Freddie, Prince and Damiano David!
Love that! Can Britney reinvent herself as a Pat Benatar-type rock vixen at this point, lol?
She absolutely can! She’s a southern girl after all, so she’s got the spirit for sure. Real Britney fans know that she’s a huge rock fan too, and has covered multiple rock classics at her shows like “You Outta Know,” “Something to Talk About” and “Satisfaction.” Matter of fact, Britney going rock would probably be thee thing to project me right into heaven. Rock is climbing it’s way back up into being my fave genre, and to see my favorite artist put her take on it… whew, I would die.
Tell us more about how you got in with iHeart!
So, iHeart was total stars aligning moment for me. At the time, I was in what I thought was my senior year of college at FIU in Miami… but turns out those math classes I did not pass did not think so. So from there, I begged my advisor to get me into the online program for my major (pre-Covid, always ahead of my time) so I could move back up to New York or DC for an “internship at a radio station.” Mind you, I had no idea Breakfast Club was hiring or needed another new intern. I just truthfully was lying my way out of a place and state I did not want to be in anymore.
So the transfer was successful, and the next week I’m back home in Maryland applying to jobs and planning my move back to the city (2019). I apply for what the listing said was an “Elvis Duran internship,” and I got called back for an interview the next week as I was moving into my NYC apartment. As I’m getting walked into the interview, the HR lets me know “you’ll actually be interviewing for “The Breakfast Club,” not Elvis Duran,” which to me was music to my ears as BFC was one of the shows I grew up with every morning. Truthfully, I nailed the interview and next week I was in. The intern I was replacing was going back to school, so the listing was looking for one new intern, and I was that.
I gotta sit back and take a moment to digest that, and be grateful for that moment. Out of all the thousands of people they could have gone for and that applied, I was that one. It’s not even on any cocky shit. It’s just a sign that what’s for you will be yours. And I know those other applicants are gonna get that moments that are theirs, and I’m so excited for them.
What was the BFC team like to work with?
Little do y’all know, pre-signing to BET the total team was just under ten people including the three hosts, running the nation’s most notorious morning show. So we were all very close, and ran it like a well-oiled machine. I got to know the talent on a very, very well basis. We pretty much became a little family away from home, because we start our days at 3am and them round 3pm. I left in November of 2022, for it was my time… but I’m eternally grateful for every single one of them.
Tell us about the origins of the current podcast you host, “Me Myself And:”!
“MM&” came towards the beginning of the end of my time at iHeart, and truthfully being in the entertainment industry for a while. I was kinda sick, bored and tired of how queer people were being projected as, or just how we’re seen to other people in the industry. We’re not just the on-set makeup artists, and we’re not just easily digestible toys that you can use to host your silly gossip show so we can “spill tea” and “throw shade” at working professionals making a living. We’re more than that. And being someone that’s always had my ear to what’s new or bubbling underneath the surface of pop culture, I see my show as a home for those people–whether they are musicians, drag artists, authors, public speakers, health professionals… even allies! It’s to show how legit us as queer people are, and how dope we are.
Not to sound self-righteous, but I mean even me, for example. I’ve been backstage at MSG on set of an interview… and I can’t count how many times I’ve been asked if I was the makeup artist, or I’ve been disregarded for my age or youthful appearance. But the moment I mention I’m the producer (and now a full-on engineer), the behavior changed. So all goes to say, “MM&” is literally just saying “Hi! Queer people exist on the most technicolor scale. And we’re all so fucking dope in all our ways, whether we’re talking about what we do professionally or what kinda lifesaver gummies I’m sneaking into the club!
I’ve had the pleasure of being a recent podcast guest of yours, and had a great time. You have a wonderfully professional setup!
Aw, thank you! Yeah, my setup is actually the studio I work as an engineer at, WTF Media Studios. It’s the It Girl for podcast studios in the city, and I see why.
You also have a very friendly and conversational interviewing style. Do you have any sort of inner barometer about what makes a successful interview?
So for me, especially as Season 2 approaches, I like to think of my chats with guests as chats with my friends. Being a student of journalists professionally and recreationally, I do naturally and consciously implement journalistic techniques into my style of conversation. After all, you need someone to steer the ship… and the show is my ship we’re all riding around in.
To me, honestly, what makes a successful interview is someone who is just themself. My show isn’t scripted, and my biggest pet peeve in people is someone who “puts on.” A persona can be one thing for professional reasons, sure. But maybe we can reallocate that to a better medium suited for that persona. My studio is like a second living room. So with that being said, despite having crazy days and schedules, it’s my time to unwind and dive into the life of someone else. All I ask and hope for is that they feel comfortable enough to reveal themselves to our conversation, and to the show.
I guess I coulda just said “be authentic and be yourself!” But I’m allergic to sentences under 400 words.
Same! You’ve spoken to many people in the local nightlife scene… are there specific things you’ve learned about that world through your interviews, and does that affect the way you might watch a drag show or listen to a DJ set, etc?
Hmm, that’s a really good question. I’ve been involved in nightlife for a minute, especially with my previous experience as a drag entertainer back in my Miami days. But I think what my show teaches me about nightlife is that, yes, what we can bring to “the stage” and stages of all kind (a literal stage, a podcast, our work, our thing) is dope. But honestly, getting to know the people behind the stage–superheroes we know and love–is sometimes just as powerful as the art they showcase for us, and we’re lucky enough to witness at such an abundance.
Hold on there! Tell me about your drag self, and might we see her in NYC someday?
Sooo her name is Daphne Lux! I started drag 2016, so this was before I was aware of the Olivia Luxes and Luxx Noir Londons. Who knows? Maybe we’ll see her at the Met Gala one day.
So you’re working on the podcast’s second season now… what can we expect this time around, and when might we hear it?
Yesssss! So “Me, Myself, And;” Season 2 has plenty more amazing guests, and my mission is to keep this next rotation of guests as different from the last as possible. I got some of my favorite photographers, comedians, artists… and yes, drag entertainers, on this season! We’ve been doing the show for a year now too, so I’m just doing a lot of backend work on how we can make it bigger and put more money into it. And more importantly, I feel so comfortable on camera now, and with my guests… so expect me at my most pure and chaotic self. The second season is coming in the fall!
Very exciting! Last question: what’s your favorite last question to ask people?
This is such a good question! Honestly, it depends on the guest. But usually, I always tend to end the interview on a very random note. So I’ll ask, “what’s your favorite candy and why?” Or something like that. Contrary to most interviews where we end with “plugging the project.” I’m not getting paid enough for that shit. Let’s talk about stuff that’ll make us giggle!
Bonus question: what’s your favorite candy, and why?
Lifesavers gummies. They weren’t kidding when they called them Lifesavers.
Thanks, Joey!
Check Thotyssey’s calendar for Bhadddbhussy’s upcoming appearances, and follow him on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. Watch his podcast “Me Myself &” on YouTube, or download / stream it on all available platforms.
Thotyssey 