Liverpool podcast Proudly Said champions one year of queer storytelling

The LGBTQ+ video podcast, Proudly Said, reaches it’s one year anniversary today, June 5th, with an impressive 53 episodes and a steadily growing audience.

The platform was introduced in June 2025 by advocate and activist John Hyland, who wanted to offer everyday LGBTQ+ individuals a dedicated space to open up about their lives. The show’s raw, conversational style has also attracted various well-known personalities.

Over the past twelve months, the podcast has generated more than two million views across TikTok and Instagram. With guests frequently pitching themselves or being discovered by John, the engagement highlights a real public demand for the grassroots, community-driven narratives that define the show.

This milestone comes at a challenging time for mainstream LGBTQ+ representation. The BBC recently pulled the plug on I Kissed a Boy and I Kissed a Girl—the UK’s pioneering queer dating series—blaming budget constraints and effectively removing the only major franchises of their kind from British TV. Globally, shifting political climates, especially in the US, have resulted in a roll-back of hard-earned rights.

On a local level, recent Home Office data reveals that over 18,000 sexual orientation hate crimes and more than 3,000 trans-related hate crimes were logged between March 2024 and March 2025. This marks a troubling five-year upward trend, with sexual orientation offences up 20% and transphobic offences climbing by 50%.

In this environment, Proudly Said serves an intentional purpose: it creates a safe environment where LGBTQ+ creators can control their own narratives without institutional oversight. The core belief driving the project is simple—if the community doesn’t document its own history, those stories risk being lost entirely.

The impact of the podcast’s debut year hasn’t been missed by the wider industry. Proudly Said recently secured a nod for LGBTQ+ Podcast of the Year at the 2026 Gaydio Awards.

John’s personal efforts have been highlighted too; he took home the Diversity Champion title at the 2025 LGBTQ+ Flowers Awards and is currently shortlisted for a 2026 BBC Radio Merseyside Make a Difference Award, with the final results dropping later this summer.

John Hyland, founder and host, said:

“Back when I made the decision to pursue a new podcast, I wasn’t sure how it would go, as it had been ten years since I dipped my toe in that world. But I’ve been so appreciative of the interest, both from audiences and guests alike.

“Which absolutely demonstrates why queer storytelling is incredibly important in this day and age, when the world feels so dark and bleak for the LGBTQ+ community. This is my passion, and no story will go untold if I have anything to say about it.”

Proudly Said posts new episodes on a weekly basis, which can be found across all major podcast platforms. They are always looking out for new guests to tell their story on their platform.