The Rumor Mill: September 21, 2026

Joe and Nathan are back with updates from the Afterthought Media universe, including what’s coming up on Drag Race Recap and some early talk about the new season of Dragula. Then, a check-in with the live chat somehow turns into an extended investigation of hookups, jockstraps, Isaac’s hole, and whether there are some things you simply don’t need to know about someone you’re sleeping with. Later, Joe and Nathan dive into the week’s Ed Sheeran and Macklemore controversy before turning to your voicemails, with conversations about aggressive Australian wildlife, Tears of the Kingdom, vacation adventures, clothing-optional resorts, body confidence, and embracing your inner daddy. Plus: Nathan worries about the things he says on the internet, Joe reveals more than he probably intended about his sex life, and “Big Apple, eat some hole” becomes a sentence that unfortunately now exists. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Joe and Nathan are back at the Rumor Mill, and this week they’re digging into TikTok drama, revisiting some old Afterthought grudges, and somehow spending an alarming amount of time discussing other people’s asses. Joe examines his long and storied history of being ghosted. That leads to memories of Robert, Joey Carlisle, Evan Markson and Daniel Brewer — plus plans for the upcoming “Carlisle Accords,” where Joe and Daniel will finally attempt to hash things out. Then it’s time for TikTok drama as Joe breaks down the controversy surrounding creator Jesus Nalgas, his budding coffee business, accusations of doxxing and the internet pile-on that followed. Are younger generations obsessed with justice — or are they really obsessed with punishment? Nathan has some celebrity sightings and entertainment updates, Joe shares the story of a mother who charged her 10-year-old for gas on his birthday, and the conversation takes several increasingly inappropriate detours involving coffee scrubs, nude beaches and the hypothetical Michelin Guide to assholes. The voicemails bring listener reactions to the latest All Stars 1 recap, some very welcome praise for Afterthought Media’s audio quality, another bizarre development in the ongoing Tom Bombs saga, and an update from a listener preparing to explore opening up his 27-year relationship. Plus: Practical Magic 2, The Wiggles, Dollywood plans, the empowering side of taking sexy photos, and Joe and Nathan finish things off by deciding which Afterthought members they would — or would not — rim. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Joe and Nathan are back at the Rumor Mill, and this week there’s plenty to discuss. Joe shares an unexpected update about the Activities Director job, while Nathan reveals that the play he spent weeks complaining about ended with a surprising honor — and an official relationship status update. Then it’s time for the celebrity news, including the shocking death of Hayden Panettiere and the controversy surrounding her estranged mother’s response, plus rumors about Prince Harry and Meghan Markle reportedly heading back to the UK. Joe has theories about what the move could mean — including one that involves a possible royal reconciliation and another that could spell trouble for the Sussex marriage. Later, a listener revisits an infamous Drag Race Recap episode Joe didn’t appear on, leading to a plan to finally correct a decade-old Afterthought injustice. Plus, the mailbag brings questions about Little Delicious, Wollongong’s proximity to saltwater crocodiles, and whether one listener is actually just Lord Newton in medical drag. And finally, Nathan heads to the zoo — but not before assigning Australian animals to the expensive-tier patrons. It’s another trip through celebrity gossip, Afterthought history, listener shenanigans, and wildly unnecessary speculation on the Rumor Mill. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Joe and Nathan are back at the RMZ news desk, and this week the rumors range from the very demure to the deeply Disney Adult. First, Joe recaps his less-than-magical D23 Day at Disneyland, including the impossible-to-get princess concert, the Cavalcade of Legends, some questionable Disney fashion choices, and a vintage piece of Disneyland history that immediately has Nathan asking about Joe’s will. Then it’s time for the internet drama. Jools Lebron is facing backlash after asking fans to help fund her dental work, leading Joe and Nathan into a conversation about internet fame, getting a regular job, and what happens when your viral moment doesn’t last forever. Next, they dive into the viral “Peter Pan Girl” and the internet’s fascination with her Disneyland character interactions. Is she cringey? Absolutely. But is she really the worst Disney Adult wandering around the parks? Joe has thoughts—and firsthand evidence that things can get much, much weirder. Plus: Nathan’s play limps toward the finish line, the Secret Show inspires some nostalgia, Gus Kenworthy continues existing, Nathan clears up once again that he did NOT live in New Zealand, and Joe delivers his definitive dissertation on why Stop That Train fundamentally misunderstands what made Airplane! work. All that, your voicemails, Q&A, and the usual nonsense on this week’s Rumor Mill. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Joe and Nathan are back with another Rumor Mill, and this week they’re diving into internet scandals, drag drama, questionable Australian cuisine, and some deeply irresponsible fortune-telling. First, Joe catches Nathan up on the disturbing Perez Hilton incident that unfolded on TikTok Live, before they turn to the latest rumors surrounding Maddy Morphosis and the controversy over Kennedy Davenport booking Shangela for her anniversary show. That leads to a bigger conversation about friendship, accountability, cancel culture, and whether people should ever be allowed to screw up, make amends, and move forward. Then it’s time for your voicemails! The Velvet Detective continues his increasingly convoluted investigation, April needs Nathan to explain whether Australians actually eat kangaroos and crocodiles, and a listener makes a request involving one of Afterthought’s long-lost shows. Nathan also reports back from opening night of Arsenic and Old Lace, complete with sick cast members, forgotten lines, questionable accents, and some pre-show panic. And finally, Joe breaks out the tarot cards to predict the futures of the Expensive Tier members while Nathan provides his own completely unqualified interpretations. Expect impending doom, religious conversions, polygamy, doll diddling, murder accusations, and an alarming number of wands. It’s another perfectly responsible edition of The Rumor Mill. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Joe and Nathan weigh in on Alaska taking the national tour of Oh, Mary!, Raven’s brief appearance on Drag Race Down Under vs. the World, and Selena EsTitties’ Big Brother eviction. They also revisit a classic Afterthought mystery, announce the winner of Joe’s $75 contest, and discuss Nathan’s possible podcast collaboration with Christian. Then, listener voicemails inspire conversations about Joe and Nathan’s alternate-universe marriage, Nathan’s fellow Afterthought crushes, celebrity scandals, Broadway’s most affordable seats, and the lasting effects of Joe’s experiences with sexual assault. Plus: Nathan prepares to attend a costume party as Dobby, Joe connects a college student with the Lord Mayor of Wollongong, and the Patreon supporters are sorted according to the week’s most important criterion: bald or not bald. Leave us a voicemail at speakpipe.com/afterthoughtmedia. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Joe and Nathan are back live, and this week they cover everything from a heated debate over Studio Ghibli to an unexpected visit to the set of Extraction 3. Nathan explains why he just can't get into Hayao Miyazaki's films, Joe shares his experience seeing Christopher Nolan's The Odyssey in IMAX 70mm, and the two compare notes on Hollywood, Australian celebrities, and moviegoing etiquette. Plus, Nathan meets Chris Hemsworth, Joe recounts a very eventful trip to Universal CityWalk, the Rumor Mill Mailbag debuts with a brand-new theme song, and listeners send in voicemails, updates, and one unforgettable email that takes the conversation in a completely unexpected direction. In this episode: Nathan's controversial Miyazaki hot take Joe's Hollywood Bowl and The Odyssey adventures Behind the scenes on the set of Extraction 3 Meeting Chris Hemsworth (and almost Idris Elba) Australia's celebrity Mount Rushmore The debut of the Rumor Mill Mailbag Listener voicemails and star ratings Updates on the ongoing Lord Newton mystery Plus plenty of tangents, laughs, and Afterthought Media lore. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars 11, Episode 12 – "Disco SmackDown for the Crown" It's finale time! Joe and Taylor break down the epic lip sync SmackDown for the crown as the Top 4 battle it out to become the newest member of the Drag Race Hall of Fame. The boys discuss the strengths and weaknesses of the All Stars bracket format, debate whether the point system has run its course, and examine how strategy, alliances, and social politics shaped the season. They also weigh in on Joey J's surprising run to the finale, Crystal Methyd's dominant season, Jasmine Kennedy's controversial gameplay, and whether the final lip sync actually determined the winner. Plus: The fallout from the Rate-a-Queen reveal The queens answer each other's toughest questions A breakdown of every lip sync in the Disco SmackDown The return of iconic disco classics, including "The Main Event" and "MacArthur Park" Joe and Taylor reveal what they'd change about the All Stars format going forward Final thoughts on the season—and whether the right queen took the crown Join us as we close the book on All Stars 11 and look ahead to what's next for Drag Race. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Rumor Mill is back with another week of Drag Race chatter, pop culture detours, and the kind of conversations that somehow only get weirder as the episode goes on. This week, Joe and Nathan dive into Disney pin collecting, a surprising engineering adventure beneath an Australian mountain, podcast comments that spark a larger discussion about authenticity, and the strange ways listeners keep crossing paths in the real world. Along the way, they tackle the latest Drag Race headlines, share updates from the Afterthought community, answer listener voicemails, and somehow end up talking rugby, Broadway, Zelda, and much more. As always, expect plenty of laughs, a few hot takes, and absolutely no guarantee that the conversation will stay on track. Follow us on social media and join the conversation on Patreon for bonus episodes, live recordings, and more from the Afterthought Media family. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Joe and Taylor recap RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars 11, Episode 11: "Tournament of All Stars Rumble." The queens battle it out in the season's talent show, but was Crystal Methyd the right winner? The hosts debate the judging, break down every performance, and discuss Jasmine Kennedie's emotional reaction after the results. They also dive into the ongoing tension between A'Keria C. Davenport and Silky Nutmeg Ganache, analyze the runway looks, and react to a lip sync that sends one more queen home just before the finale. As always, expect plenty of hot takes, laughs, and unapologetic opinions as the race for the crown reaches its final stretch. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices