Leo Vice: Asian Male Pornstar

Explicit content warning

12/07/21 • 84 min

Leo Vice was working a regular 9-5 in the corporate world, before entering the porn industry in his mid 30s - becoming one of the very few mainstream Asian male pornstars in the US. Why are there so few Asian men in porn? Why are there barely any in media in the US in general? What is “pretty privilege?” Is “paying your dues” in porn via blowbangs a thing of the past? Do all male performers take performance enhancing drugs? It was interesting for me to talk to someone who was BRAND new in the business, I feel like I haven’t done that in a while and it made me remember the excitement that comes with starting a career in porn. Also... Leo tells me the story of when we first met. Which I have zero recollection of.

Previous Episode

Robin Tran Does Not Want to be Your Trans Hero

Robin Tran just emerged from a lifelong depression, and her career EXPLODED during the pandemic. She’s my favorite person I’ve met recently; She’s hilarious, smart as fuck, irreverent yet profound, cocky yet devastatingly introspective, and has so many of the strangest obsessions yet is oddly... one of the most relatable people I have ever come across. I feel like I discovered her comedy and within a week she was just everywhere I turned. Needless to say, I HAD to interview her. She was gracious enough to dive into any and every topic that came up. I laughed SO MUCH throughout this interview, Robin is the kind of girl I walked away from the interview feeling like... I’m desperate to be her friend. We hit so many topics: Are we five years away from a gay pro wrestling storyline? What does a manic episode look like when you’re bipolar - does it feel amazing? Is this the greatest time to be in comedy for a nerd? What is an Asian person through the “white gaze?” Is it possible to be a good comic without overcoming obstacles? What was it like to come out as transgender as a public figure? Have porn and comedy changed forever since the pandemic? Is it possible to have a career in comedy without standup? Whats the difference between sadness and depression? Are human beings capable of being logical, or are we inherently illogical? Also: similarities between stand up and stripping. Also also: major Eminem rant included.

Next Episode

Sean Baker, Director of Red Rocket: On Suitcase Pimps and Anti-heroes

Today’s guest is Sean Baker, director of The Florida Project, Tangerine, Starlet, and most recently, Red Rocket. Red Rocket is a movie about a retired male pornstar (played by Simon Rex) who has returned to his small hometown - and it's literally the best movie I have ever seen about our industry, ever. You MUST go watch it immediately. I talked to Sean about what it was like to shoot a movie about porn, what it was like to shoot a movie during covid, and what it was like to shoot on film rather than digital. We talked about why he always makes movies about the unconventional, grittier side of life. We discussed open-ended endings, finding actors in unlikely places, and we talked about unlikable characters and what makes them likable. This was a really enlightening conversation and I learned so much about the OTHER side of Hollywood and how a mainstream movie is made. Oh also, we talked a lot about porn. Obviously. Enjoy!