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In this episode, Dennis shares the latest installment of his Patreon/Substack spin-off podcast Dennis Hensley's Happy & Gay. He talks about adjusting to life after finishing his 8-month contract at Disney, wants to change the world but first he has to go through the pile of papers on his desk and clean his garage, decides he wants to smell like Jonathan Bailey, writes postcards for the mid-term elections and goes to a live taping of Dancing with the Stars. He catches three documentaries; Musk, You Can See Everything and HBO's My Mom Jayne, as well as the new gay indie Club Kid. In the happiness chunk, he talks about the concept of Mono No Aware and how he came to learn about it because of a song he's obsessed with, "Summer's Ending Soon" by The Midnight. And he decides to see if he can be happy about getting a parking ticket. If you enjoy this, subscribe on Patreon or Substack.

Introducing Oprah Looks Back at Her Best Surprises from The Oprah Podcast. Follow the show: The Oprah Podcast Surprise! Oprah is looking back on some of her favorite surprises from 25 years of The Oprah Winfrey Show. Oprah shares how when she was surprised by her idol Mary Tyler Moore it sent her into the ugly cry. The time she’ll never forget surprising Tom Cruise’s biggest fan while standing in her robe, no makeup and her hair soaking wet from the shower. More surprises include Mariah Carey’s biggest fans, the iconic car giveaway - “you get a car, you get a car” - and the moment she surprised an entire audience they were all “going to Australia!” When The Oprah Show ended in 2011 she allowed her staff to surprise her over and over again at a star-studded event at the United Center in Chicago. 00:00:00 - Oprah on loving to surprise people on The Oprah Winfrey Show 00:02:15 - Oprah was surprised by Mary Tyler Moore 00:08:14 - The Tom Cruise Surprise 00:12:49 - The Weight Loss Surprise 00:16:10 - The Will and Grace surprise 00:18:36 - The Family surprise 00:20:50 - The Mariah surprise 00:24:00 - The You Get a Car surprise 00:29:20 - The biggest fans surprise 00:33:58 - The Surprise Trip 00:39:30 - Oprah’s 25 year surprise show Follow Oprah Winfrey on Social: https://www.instagram.com/oprahpodcast/ https://www.facebook.com/oprahpodcast/ https://www.instagram.com/oprah/?hl=en https://www.facebook.com/oprahwinfrey/ Listen to the full podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/0tEVrfNp92a7lbjDe6GMLI https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-oprah-podcast/id1782960381 DISCLAIMER: Please note, this is an independent podcast episode not affiliated with, endorsed by, or produced in conjunction with the host podcast feed or any of its media entities. The views and opinions expressed in this episode are solely those of the creators and guests. For any concerns, please reach out to [email protected].

In this episode, Dennis is joined via Zoom by actors Kasey Mahaffy & and Nathan Mohebbi who play gay couple Kevin and Kevin, as well as other roles, in A Noise Within's production of the Tony-winning musical Come From Away. The show is set on 9-11 and the days following in a small Canadian town called Gander where scores of airplanes had to be diverted in the wake of the attack. Kasey and Nathan talk about creating a lived-in relationship when the fast-moving script doesn't give them a lot of dialogue, rolling around on numbered chairs they throughout the show and the way the show hits different during Trump 2.0 than before. Dennis also brings up two of their previous roles; Kasey in A Man of No Importance and Nathan in Afterglow and talks about why both performances have stayed with him. Other topics include: doing nudity on stage, the role of social media in creating an acting career, performing for student matinees and discovering they really care about what happens to the Kevins and the movies they saw when they were way too young to see them. www.anoisewithin.org

In this episode, Dennis is joined by Jaxx Theatricals co-founder Jeremy Lucas to talk about the company's new musical Club 27, which Jeremy conceived, co-wrote, choreographed and directed. The show is inspired by the mythic "27 Club," which consists of iconic musicians like Amy Winehouse, Kurt Cobain, Jim Morrison, Janice Joplin and others who all died when they were 27. Jeremy talks about where he got the idea from, the themes of addiction and recovery and how they resonate in his own life and the reactions he's gotten from people so far. He also talks about how Jaxx is able to mount such big, splashy musicals in such a modest space, why he likes to really challenge his cast dance-wise, casting a wide variety of types of performers in his shows and the alphabetized wall of Broadway Playbills that greet visitors when then arrive at Jaxx. Other topics include: falling in love with theater by playing Shepherd #3 in a Christmas pageant, dealing with imposter syndrome, why he loves getting notes, living his Theater Kid adult dream through Jaxx, how he makes Jaxx work as a business and that time he took one look at the costumes in Bette Midler's "Hello Dolly" and burst into tears. https://jaxxtheatricals.org/

Dennis is joined by Heather Wake, Nicole Pacent and Dulce Valencia to talk about the unique and delightful play they're currently starring in, David Mamet's Victoria Era sex farce Boston Marriage. The trio talk about how they first came across the play, why they chose to perform it in private home--the Victorian-style "European House" in Studio City--as opposed to a traditional theater, and why one of the plays most memorable lines, "The point, my dear, is not to believe but to decide," resonates with all of them. Heather and Nicole talk about their decision to produce the play themselves, the fact that they're switching parts every night and the challenges and delights of playing such broad, go-for-broke physical comedy. Dulce talks about her role as the dutiful maid, her manifesting more theatrical opportunities for herself and the enchanting mouse-like squeaks she's incorporated as part of her character. Other topics include: the pleasure of doing and relief of live theater when AI seems to be disrupting every other medium, rehearsing in front of your five year-old kid, flipping a coin before some shows to see who plays what role that night and why it's good to insert the gay agenda into your work whenever possible.

In this episode, Dennis is joined by playwright Janine Nabers and director Michelle Bossy to talk about their world premier play The Peterson Show, which is about five adult actors who played siblings on a Cosby-like TV show back in the day and what happens in their lives when a Cosby-like sexual abuse scandal gets exposed. Janine talks about why she wanted to write the play, the scandal-tarnished sitcoms besides Cosby that she took inspiration from like Martin, Family Matters and The Fresh Prince of Belair, and why it was important for the matriarch in the play's sitcom family to be dark-skinned. Michelle talks about her longtime friendship with Janine, the challenges of putting up a show with such a powerhouse, in-demand cast and the timeliness of the piece. Other topics include: the friendship dynamics between the famous and the less famous, why sometimes a moment in a script is so important the type has to be bigger on the page, the gay brother-straight brother dynamic in the play and why they keep returning to the theater. https://www.echotheatercompany.com/peterson-show

In this episode, Dennis is joined by his friend playwright and director Howard Skora to talk about his new play Texas Sodomy, which tells the incredible true story of the landmark Supreme Court case Lawrence v. Texas. Howard talks about his extensive research process, including interviews with real people involved in the case like Lane Lewis, Mitch Katin, and Paul Smith, and how he worked to stay faithful to the facts while creating compelling drama. He also explains the historical significance of the 1999 case, which challenged Texas's law criminalizing gay sex and ultimately led to the overturning of similar laws across the country, paving the way for gay marriage. Howard also talks about his collaborative approach to directing, working closely with actors like Drew Droege to refine the script and bring authentic details to life, including matching real photos and bar logos from the era. Other topics include: what's cool about writing plays as opposed to film and TV scripts, dealing with imposter syndrome, the pros and cons of self-producing, unlikely heroism and the moment in the Texas Sodomy journey that he'll never forget. www.texassodomy.com

In this episode, Dennis is joined by filmmaker Darren Stein & performer AJ Paramo to talk about Jawbreaker: The Musical, which is running at the Hudson Theater in Hollywood through September 27. Darren wrote and directed the 1999 cult classic film that the musical is based on and he also wrote the book for the musical. AJ stars as Fern Mayo / Vylette, the role originally played by Judy Greer in the film. But in the musical, unlike the movie, Fern is trans. Darren talks about the long development of the musical and how coming up with the idea of making Fern trans gave the story new urgency. AJ talks about auditioning for the show over Zoom from Chicago and what it's like to act alongside one of the film's original stars, Rebecca Gayheart-Dane, who plays Principal Sherwood in the show. The pair both talk about their own high school experiences, why they love musicals and how excited they are that Judy Greer is coming to see the show soon. Other topics include: the deliciousness of makeover scenes in movies and shows, fans of the film showing up to the show in costume, that time in 1999 when Dennis interviewed 26-year old Darren for Instinct magazine, and the unforgettable moments in the rehearsal process when they were both moved to tears.

Dennis is joined by his friend and playwriting classmate Christopher Moncayo-Torres to talk about his unique and wonderful show Before It's Too Late, which is an autobiographical storytelling show about his family...that features his actual family in major roles. He somehow got his two elderly parents, who are long divorced, and his two sisters to appear (two on stage and two via Zoom) for an entire 3-week run! Christopher talks about growing up a lonely latchkey kid in Queens and how that loneliness led to create this show. He also talks about how paying his dad to do the show, what it's like to play out his family drama in front of an audience, and his desire to spend time with his family and also make them famous. He also talks about his dear friend Esther, who he lost in June, who inspired him to get into storytelling in the first place. Other topics include: the storytelling nights he hosts through The Moth as well as his own production company, Fail Better Arts, the importance of mentors, his desire for community, his connection with the Hollywood Fringe Festival and why it's important to fail, get up and then fail again. https://outsideintheatre.org/

In this episode, Dennis is joined by comedian, writer and author Eliot Glazer to talk about his book The Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Gay, which documents all the various ways Eliot has been doing the gay thing wrong virtually all his life. Eliot talks about his inspiration for writing the book, the decision to be so candid about his sex life, and the positive reception he's gotten from readers so far. He also talks about his high school drama teacher from hell, gays and body image, his complicated relationship with social media, and bachelorette parties in gay bars. Other topics include: the current state of TV comedy writing, Eliot's obsession with The Golden Girls, self-deporting from the musical Cats as a teenager, his early celeb crushes like Matt LeBlanc, Howie D. from the Backstreet Boys and Shawn Wayans, why short shorts and porn-staches are so awesome, naked gay yoga and how social media can somehow be utterly meaningless and all that matters at the same time.  www.eliotglazer.com

This episode features excerpts from the live comedy game show Dennis Hensley's MISMATCH GAME: Totally 80's Edition, which took place on Friday, August 28, 2026 in Hollywood. On the panel were Jackie Beat as Bea Arthur, Julie Brown as Bjork, Danny Casillas as Reba Areba, Rebecca Kochan as Jennifer Coolidge, Dante as Christopher Lloyd and Melissa Peterman as Rena Z. The questions cover such 80's icons as Michael Jackson and Bubbles the Chimp, Cyndi Lauper vs. Madonna, Ronald and Nancy Reagan, Dolly Parton, The Brat Pack, The Golden Girls, Cats the Musical, Back to the Future, Charles and Diana, Donald Trump and Cher. The evening raised over $4,000 for the LA LGBT Center and a totally awesome time was had by all.

In this episode, Dennis is joined via Zoom by David Kittredge the director behind the wonderful new documentary Boorman and the Devil, which is about the legendary director John Boorman and the flop film that nearly killed him, The Exorcist 2: Heretic. David talks about why he felt compelled to make the movie, convincing Boorman to sit for an interview and the thoughtful and inspiring things the director had to say once the cameras were rolling. David also talks about interviewing the film's stars Linda Blair and Louise Fletcher and adoring both of them. Other topics include: David's first time seeing The Exorcist 2: Heretic on home video, the importance of ambitious artists, why Rex Reed needs to suck it, getting awards buzz and how it feels to have made a doc that everyone seems to love.

In this Gay Days Anaheim sneak peak episode, Dennis is joined by the event's producer Eddie Shapiro and drag queen Jackie Cox, a Gay Days veteran who will be performing this year with her Drag Race compatriot Jan in a show called YKJ. Eddie shares the history of Gay Days, which is celebrating its 28th year, while Jackie discusses his personal connection to Disneyland, including working in the parade 20 years ago and having his first kiss on the Pirates of the Caribbean ride as a teenager. The conversation also covers the current political climate, with Eddie noting that corporate sponsorship dried up after the current administration was elected, though the community-driven nature of the event continues to thrive with special activities like the Tiki Room choreography and those 1000-person group photos in front of the castle. Other topics include: their favorite Gay Days memories, Jackie's appearance in the film Song Sung Blue, Dennis's MisMatch Game Gay Days show on September 19th, this year's other celeb guests including Jaclyn Smith and Cheyenne Jackson, what makes the Gay Days audiences special and that time Eddie went on the Peter Pan ride with Carol Channing and her husband. Gay Days Anaheim is happening September 18-20. www.gaydaysanaheim.com

In this episode, Dennis speaks via Zoom with J.P. Batista, co-owner of the relatively new and proudly gay NoHo Gym in North Hollywood. J.P. talks why, after years as a personal trainer, he decided to open his own gym, what has surprised him about the experience and his advice to other entrepreneurs with dreams of starting their own businesses. He also talks about the last-minute Pride Festival he spear-headed in Toluca Lake Pride Festival in June and the overwhelmingly positive response he got from it. Other topics include: why he decided to proudly fly two rainbow flags outside the gym, the gym's official mascot Joe the poodle, gay pool party dynamics, fitness culture in the LGBTQ+ community, the use of GLP-1 medications, the role of social media in building a new business and why he loves folding the gym's towels and refilling the water jugs sooooo much. https://www.nohogym.com/

Dennis is joined via Zoom by playwright, screenwriter, actor and teacher Bernardo Cubria to talk about his hilarious and powerful new "dinner party gone wrong" play The People of Pompeii, which just opened at the Will Geer Theatricum in Topanga Canyon. (This is where Dennis first met Bernardo last fall as a student in his playwriting class.) The People of Pompeii is set in Topanga in the days following the evacuations from the 2025 fires and explores themes of community, climate change, and personal truth. Bernardo discusses his creative process, the importance of brutal honesty in playwriting, and his approach to teaching, which emphasizes finishing work over adhering to strict rules. Bernardo also talks about writing on the TV series Acapulco, why he started a Substack to write about the World Cup, and the influence of his upbringing and family on his work. Other topics include: crying at the drop of a hat, the majestic owl that made a cameo appearance in last Saturday's show, acting in the show opposite his real life wife, his other new play Lauren Sanchez, the power of "pinche" and the righteous outburst he had as a 5 year-old while watching a production of Jesus Christ Superstar.