Conversations about the LGBTQIA+ community are evolving and creating an impact — extending from our screens to podcast platforms. Case in point, local podcasts BEKENEMEN and Queerfully Yours have both made significant strides on Spotify, becoming powerful avenues that give voice to and celebrate the LGBTQIA+ community. What do the content creators behind these two up-and-coming podcasts have to say about their work?

Queerfully Yours provides a safe space

Queerfully Yours, hosted by Steven, Miss Deliciousness, Poca, and Chardie, was recently crowned Spotify’s Top New Podcast of 2023 in the Philippines, recognizing its commitment to amplifying queer voices and providing an authentic platform for storytelling. More than being a funny conversation between friends, the podcast hosts talk about thought-provoking insights that provide a safe space for their listeners. Five months into starting their podcast, what do the hosts think about it?

What does this recognition mean for you as emerging podcasters?

Queerfully Yours hosts: “We wanted to be able to share a different side of us, one that not a lot of people get to see. We were hoping that our stories and insights would allow people to understand better what it was like for 4 queer guys growing up. With all the love and support we’ve gotten thus far, we feel seen which truly means the world to all of us.”

What advice would you give to aspiring podcasters who look up to your success?

QY: “Know your truth and live it. Accept that not everyone will understand off the bat nor will everyone agree to everything you say and that’s okay. As long as you’re true to yourself, your work will find its way to people who need it.”

The Birth of BEKENEMEN

Meanwhile, Spotify and HBO Go’s collaboration brings bonus Drag Race Philippines content to fans on Spotify, championing the diverse voices of the LGBTQIA+ community all year long. We can never recommend BEKENEMEN enough for fans of Drag Race Philippines who want to immerse themselves into longer conversations about the show.

Here’s an exclusive insight from Baus Rufo and Myx Chanel, host of the BEKENEMEN podcast, as they share more insights about how intimate conversations through podcasting on Spotify have uplifted the community and promoted allyship.

What inspired you to create BEKENEMEN?

Baus: “RuPaul’s Drag Race was a show that kept both of us sane during lockdown and we were just at home. With so much pent-up energy, we were kind of desperate to have some creative outlet. So at that time, the idea of podcasting about our favorite show seemed like the easiest and most fun thing to do.”

Myx: “Baus and I are both huge fans of Drag Race and the “Race Chaser” podcast by Drag Race US alumnus Alaska and Willam that recaps episodes of the show. One day, Baus pitched the idea of doing “Race Chaser” but from a Pinoy queer lens, and the rest is history. I guess our insightful conversations about our love for Drag Race and the transformative experience of the art of drag made this possible.”

How has Spotify helped in raising the voices of the LGBTQIA+ community and giving them a platform to share their stories?

B: “The validity and legitimacy of queer voices have just been more palpable thanks to Spotify. There’s a certain vulnerability and gravitas when you speak your truth on a podcast.”

M: “Spotify made creating a podcast so accessible, that we were still able to successfully create a podcast despite venturing into it pretty blindly. Our podcast was – if not still – just a recorded baklava-clash-chikahan session on our favorite LGBTQIA+ reality show. In two years, we’ve grown our listenership and our brand beyond what either of us ever really expected. It has significantly positively impacted our careers as creators and lives as queer people, helped us to more visibly celebrate our queerness, uplift the local drag industry, and create safe spaces for the community.”

How has the Drag Race franchise helped in spreading the celebration of the art of drag?

B: The celebration of local drag gave recognition to other forms of queer creative expression. Because drag is a happy intersection of beauty, fashion, music, comedy, and many other things, and as a stand-up comedian, I have felt a significant shift in the way people listen to our stories. I feel safer and more confident to share my truth and I thank local drag for that.

M: Personally, as a Filipino drag artist, I witnessed how much drag in the Philippines struggled to survive with the lack of a nightlife scene during the lockdowns. But now, with a Drag Race franchise on our shores, we’re witnessing a kind of renaissance for drag locally. It has now become more viable to have a career as a drag artist because there is more demand for spaces to see performers outside of bars and nightclubs, which has created more jobs for queer people even in other countries.

What is the importance of sharing modern-day Pinoy queer experiences and stories?

B: It’s important to tell these stories because you never know who might need it. Some need it to cap off a tiring day, while others might need it to feel seen and heard. Hearing these stories can give a sense of community and all we want in this lifetime is to belong.

M: I think ultimately queer people just really want to feel seen, heard, safe, and feel less alone. It’s very important to make it accessible, where they can express themselves and relate to one another. Beyond just “fun,” maybe for someone this podcast may be their solace.

What are your hopes for BEKENEMEN in the future?

B: We hope to feature more of our queer brothers and sisters’ inspiring drag journeys.

M: We’re focused on taking the brand from being just a podcast into an experience. We just want to make more spaces where queer Filipinos and our allies can celebrate their love for Drag Race and the art of drag unapologetically. We want to bring the BEKENEMEN experience to more people through more platforms.

The electrifying sophomore season of Drag Race Philippines may have ended, but fans can still tune in to the teas and recap episodes on the BEKENEMEN podcast on Spotify.

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