the UGLY side of Social Media ft. Louie Castro and AdamRayOkay

Episode Overview

• Influencers and friends Louie (Larray) and Adam Ray Okay join the podcast to discuss their friendship, personal stories, and different paths to social media stardom.
• The conversation delves into the importance of gay clubs as safe spaces for self-expression and the growing frustration with straight crowds treating these venues as a novelty.
• The group explores the dual nature of online fame, contrasting the power of social media to build communities and change lives with the pressures of public scrutiny and audience entitlement.
• The episode balances lighthearted banter and personal anecdotes, such as Valentine's Day surprises, with serious discussions about experiencing homophobia and navigating the influencer industry.

Key Concepts

• Friendship and Chemistry: The foundation of Louie and Adam's friendship is their shared, unfiltered sense of humor, which began with Adam being a fan of Louie's early work.
• Safe Spaces: The role of gay clubs (specifically in West Hollywood) as essential safe havens for the LGBTQ+ community to express themselves freely without the judgment often found in mainstream venues.
• The "Straight Invasion" of Gay Spaces: A discussion on the increasing presence of straight people in gay clubs, which can sometimes lead to a disruptive atmosphere, altercations, and even instances of homophobic behavior, undermining the safety of the space.
• Evolution of Social Media Fame: A contrast between the "OG YouTuber" era, where fame was built over time (Louie's experience), and the "COVID explosion" era of TikTok, characterized by rapid, viral growth (Adam's experience).
• The Duality of Influence: Social media's power to change lives overnight and create communities is weighed against the significant downsides, including overwhelming online hate and a sense of ownership or entitlement from followers.
• Authenticity and Humor: The use of personal storytelling and comedy as central elements in both their friendship and their online content, allowing for a deeper connection with their audience.

Quotes

• At 0:56 - "This is our popping the cherry." - Louie, humorously referring to this being his and Adam's first podcast together.
• At 1:45 - "I feel like this is the first time I come on a podcast and I'm not nervous." - Adam, commenting on the comfortable and friendly atmosphere with the hosts.
• At 4:56 - "When I posted it... all my comments were like, 'Bitch, you sent these flowers to yourself.'" - Louie, laughing about his followers' skeptical reactions to his Valentine's Day surprise.
• At 22:27 - "We get drunk as sh*t, full drag show. And I'm talking about I've never even seen men in makeup in like real life probably. Ever." - Laura Lee, describing her awe at seeing a drag show for the first time in Alabama.
• At 23:59 - "I can wear like the most hota outfit and feel comfortable... But bitch, I go to a straight club and if I even probably wearing this... We got denied to getting into a club because of how we were dressed." - Manny MUA, contrasting the freedom of expression in gay clubs versus the judgment in straight clubs.
• At 24:55 - "Can we just have like something? 'Cause a lot of the times, like, they will be like really wild at the clubs or like they're the ones that are causing fights." - Manny MUA, sharing his frustration about straight people disrupting the safe atmosphere of gay spaces.
• At 25:44 - "All I hear is 'f*cking faggot' at WeHo inside of Mickey's." - Adam Ray, recounting an instance of homophobic harassment he experienced inside a gay bar.
• At 47:22 - "I knew Louie before I was on social media. I was always a fan, still am." - Adam, revealing he was a longtime viewer of Louie's content before becoming a creator himself.
• At 58:19 - "I think I had like 20k subscribers and I went up to 100k in like a night. And I was like, oh!" - Louie, recounting how quickly his channel grew after his first viral storytime video.
• At 1:05:03 - "'Well you chose to be on social media, so like you owe us everything.' And that's what scares me." - Louie, sharing one of the most difficult aspects of being a public figure—the sense of ownership some followers feel.
• At 1:05:33 - "The power that social media has to change someone's life… like overnight." - Adam, reflecting on the positive power of social media to elevate someone's entire life in an instant.
• At 1:14:10 - "I'd probably buy like a shit-ton of land...and create like an Addy's World." - Adam, answering the final question about what he would do with a billion dollars.

Takeaways

• Seek out and actively protect environments where you can express yourself authentically and without fear of judgment.
• Allies frequenting LGBTQ+ spaces should do so with respect, recognizing them as community havens rather than just entertainment venues.
• Success in the creator economy has evolved; there is no single formula, with both steady community building and rapid viral moments being viable paths.
• To navigate the pressures of a public-facing career, it is crucial to build a strong support system grounded in genuine friendship and shared humor.
• Even in designated "safe spaces," prejudice can surface, reminding us that constant vigilance and advocacy are necessary to protect these communities.
• For aspiring creators, be prepared for the dual reality of online fame: the opportunity is immense, but so is the potential for public scrutiny and negativity.
• Thoughtful, small gestures of friendship can have a profound impact, helping to combat loneliness and reinforce meaningful connections.