#51 - Jai Rodriguez: An Original 'Queer Eye' Guy Who Won't Punch Down

Explicit content warning

10/17/23 • 72 min

You might recognize him as the original 'Culture Vulture' from the groundbreaking show “Queer Eye For The Straight Guy,” but there's so much more to this incredible soul. Meet Jai Rodriguez, a force of creativity and passion who has been shaping American culture for nearly two decades. Jai is most well known for his role as a member of the original Fab Five in Queer Eye For The Straight Guy and we get so many great stories from his time on Queer Eye in this conversation but his journey is rich and beautiful.

This is such an inspiring, heart-centered conversation that is sure to fill your emotional cup!

Jai's journey began at the young age of 12 when he embraced chance and went to his first audition, followed by performing arts high school. Then at only 18, Jai graced the Broadway stage as 'Angel' in the critically acclaimed musical “RENT.” From there, he took the theater world by storm, appearing in iconic productions like “The Producers” and creating the unforgettable role of ‘Zanna’ in the off-Broadway sensation “Zanna, Don’t!”. But that's not all - he even headlined a Las Vegas residency with the hit show “Sex Tips For Straight Women From A Gay Man.” Jai shares behind the scenes from many of his theatre adventures in this episode.

Set to make his debut at 54/Below on Oct 26-28, for his latest cabaret show “A Thousand Sweet Kisses” which promises an unforgettable performance filled with love, laughter, and personal stories, and it’s a little bit naughty in all the right ways.

Get your tickets to Jai’s show “A Thousand Sweet Kisses” at 54/Below (there is even a virtual option!) and be sure to connect with Jai on Instagram, Threads, TikTok, Website.

Make sure to follow this podcast everywhere you find podcasts, leave a rating and a review, and slip into our Instagram DMs at @wasitchance.
More about Heather via @heather_vic keryandco on Instagram and Threads, @Braveheather on TikTok, and listen to The Brave Files
More about Alan via @theatre_podcast on Instagram and listen to The Theatre Podcast with Alan Seales

EPISODE TAKEAWAYS:

Jai has a theatre career that’s spanned over two decades!
A precious kid who was always finding a way to perform, Jai was always a theatre kid.
12-year-old Jai took intentional risk and called the first casting director to see if he had been cast in his first show. He was!
After attending a performing arts high school, his mother refused to support a performing arts education for college.
He snuck into the city to audition for an agent and instantly got signed to play Angel in RENT!
You may never be the best at something but it’s your uniqueness that sets you apart. Always be yourself and believe in yourself.
RENT was Jai’s “Waiter gig” in NYC.
Jai took a 6-month leave of absence to do Zanna Don’t and only making $400 a week (which was a massive pay cut) when he was asked to audition for Queer Eye For The Straight Guy.
He was instructed to fabricate his backstory in order to be cast in Queer Eye. They aged him up and gave him a degree!
This is the 20th anniversary of the original The Fab Five
Jai’s approach is to never punch down.
Queer Eye was originally intended to be a comedy, no one expected it to be so heart-centered.
Jai’s show “A Thousand Sweet Kisses” at 54/Below is funny, honest, and racy! Audience members will include Queer Eye cast members and other celebrities.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This is such an inspiring, heart-centered conversation that is sure to fill your emotional cup!

Get your tickets to Jai’s show “A Thousand Sweet Kisses” at 54/Below (there is even a virtual option!) and be sure to connect with Jai on Instagram, Threads, TikTok, Website.

Make sure to follow this podcast everywhere you find podcasts, leave a rating and a review, and slip into our Instagram DMs at @wasitchance.
More about Heather via @heather_vic keryandco on Instagram and Threads, @Braveheather on TikTok, and listen to The Brave Files
More about Alan via @theatre_podcast on Instagram and listen to The Theatre Podcast with Alan Seales

EPISODE TAKEAWAYS:

Jai has a theatre career that’s spanned over two decades!
A precious kid who was always finding a way to perform, Jai was always a theatre kid.
12-year-old Jai took intentional risk and called the first casting director to see if he had been cast in his first show. He was!
After attending a performing arts high school, his mother refused to support a performing arts education for college.
He snuck into the city to audition for an agent and instantly got signed to play Angel in RENT!
You may never be the best at something but it’s your uniqueness that sets you apart. Always be yourself and believe in yourself.
RENT was Jai’s “Waiter gig” in NYC.
Jai took a 6-month leave of absence to do Zanna Don’t and only making $400 a week (which was a massive pay cut) when he was asked to audition for Queer Eye For The Straight Guy.
He was instructed to fabricate his backstory in order to be cast in Queer Eye. They aged him up and gave him a degree!
This is the 20th anniversary of the original The Fab Five
Jai’s approach is to never punch down.
Queer Eye was originally intended to be a comedy, no one expected it to be so heart-centered.
Jai’s show “A Thousand Sweet Kisses” at 54/Below is funny, honest, and racy! Audience members will include Queer Eye cast members and other celebrities.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Previous Episode

#50 - Drew Stern: Creating Theater's First Digital Collectible Marketplace

Like all good 80’s kids, Drew Stern loves a good Choose Your Own Adventure story. In fact, it’s this approach that has led this former musical theater actor turned award-winning technology CEO to such great success. With three high-growth tech exits in the last decade, Drew's innovative spirit and passion for creative success have made him a trailblazer in the world of technology and the performing arts.

Discover how Drew embraced chance and combined his two passions—performing and tech—to create Stageyo AI, the world's 1st digital marketplace and AI engine connecting stage performers with their supporters. Learn how he envisions using technology responsibly to foster authentic connections between performers, their art, and their patrons. Don't miss this inspiring story of intentional risk-taking and leadership that has earned Drew recognition as an influential CEO and celebrated entrepreneur.

Connect with Drew and Stageyo AI on Instagram and on the web.

Make sure to follow this podcast everywhere you find podcasts, leave a rating and a review, and slip into our Instagram DMs at @wasitchance.
More about Heather via @heather_vic keryandco on Instagram and Threads, @Braveheather on TikTok, and listen to The Brave Files
More about Alan via @theatre_podcast on Instagram and listen to The Theatre Podcast with Alan Seales

EPISODE TAKEAWAYS:

Drew’s career had two phases. He grew up the youngest of 5 and everyone performed constantly. Tech was unexpected.
Tech was a chance Drew embraced.
If you want to be a great leader, go put on a play - this creates trust, creativity, team player, and being a great listener.
No entrepreneur can do anything on their own. It has to always be a team effort.
Getting venture capital investment is like auditioning, frustrating, scary, difficult and most of them don’t book.
You need to be able to see the future, then make it happen (manifest it), and then move on. Sometimes you have to close a great show.
Growth is a combo of intentionality and embracing chance.
You have to have the confidence to take the chance.
Drew created his own Machine Learning AI platform well before AI was a household name.
Stageyo was born from a desire to build things more emotionally aligned for Drew and allowed him to blend his two passions: Performing and Tech.
Stageyo is about creatine agency, equity, and access around performing arts.
It answers a need for authentic connection between performers, their art, and their patrons.
Technology is the great equalizer between agency, equity, and access.
Envision, trust, and know your capabilities.
Past successes allow Drew to play, test things out and really explore possibilities.
There are two sides to the AI coin. There are great challenges to using it responsibly.
How can you use technology to enable people to enjoy things in real life - this is one of Drew’s goals.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Next Episode

#52 - Rashan Brown: Allowing Us to Feel All the Feels

We talk with Spoken-Word Poet, Rashan Brown, or you may know him by his stage name, Rush (The Mic). Rashan is the brilliant mind behind "Poetry Me, Please" – a vibrant community platform and event series that serves as a global stage for poets to let their creativity flow through the power of words. With showcases in NYC drawing in a whopping 500 people on an average night. Rashan has created something really extraordinary not only for the artists but also for audience members.

Rashan has been featured in PIX11, NBC, Ebony, REVOLT & The Grio. Rashan's voice and brand have partnered with LLoyd Banks, Harlem's Fashion Row, NY Independent Schools, Accenture, Columbia Business School, Republic Records, Rupi Kaur, TIER, AfroFuture, City Winery, The Cutting Room & SOBs.

Connect with Rashan and Poetry, Me Please on their website, Instagram, YouTube and TikTok. Don’t forget to book your tickets for the November Showcase at The Apollo on Saturday, November 25th

Make sure to follow this podcast everywhere you find podcasts, leave a rating and a review, and slip into our Instagram DMs at @wasitchance.
More about Heather via @heather_vickeryandco on Instagram and Threads, @Braveheather on TikTok, and listen to The Brave Files
More about Alan via @theatre_podcast on Instagram and listen to The Theatre Podcast with Alan Seales

EPISODE TAKEAWAYS

Poetry Me is a digital and physical platform for Poets all over the world.
Rashan started writing poetry during High School Heartbreak
After being a teacher for several years, Rashan found himself back in the spoken word world for a friend's Showcase.
He was drawn to recreating this wonderful feeling but not charging the artists for performing.
Poetry is a style of a collective of words you’re putting together - in a “poetic style.”
Spoken Word is the passion that you put behind the poetic style. It’s tone, volume, body involvement.
The intentional risk was in marketing himself and Poetry Me, Please.
Rush (The Mic) is a performer who does all sorts of spoken word with corporations as well as showcases.
Community is for poets in general but specific for Black and Brown poets.
The crowd has a deep experience by hearing these spoken-word poets share their experiences on stage.
Rashan is always focused on pouring back into the community.
Poetry Me, Please is fully funded through ticket sales.