Alexander Rodriguez will get actual on the daring new Bear World TV – Socialite Life

Leisure journalist, queer tradition skilled, and pop-savvy provocateur Alexander Rodriguez is bringing his signature wit and depth to the display screen as one of many vibrant hosts of Bear World TV, a brand-new video platform from Bear World Journal launching August 7 and can stream on Bear World Journal’s web site, YouTube channel, and social media platforms. Recognized for his sharp interviews and unapologetically enjoyable method to LGBTQ+ media, Alexander leads the “Alexander on Display screen” phase, a weekly dose of superstar chats, cultural commentary, and moments that matter to the bear group and past.

As Bear World Journal celebrates 13 years of body-positive, queer-centric storytelling, Bear World TV marks a daring evolution – amplifying underrepresented voices and redefining what inclusive media appears to be like (and sounds) like.

Alexander is a fast-talking, cocktail-sipping, suit-wearing power of nature usually described because the love baby of Joan Rivers, Johnny Carson, and Judy Garland. Because the host of the nationally syndicated radio present On The Rocks with Alexander on iHeartRadio, Pandora, and Spotify, he mixes Hollywood glam with unfiltered wit, interviewing celebs from throughout the leisure spectrum. A celebrated author for Metrosource and GED Journal, Alexander additionally cohosts a number of podcasts and lends his signature sparkle to purple carpets, pleasure phases, and cabaret spots throughout the nation. Whether or not he’s belting out present tunes, reviewing the most recent movies, or preserving actuality stars on their toes, Alexander brings coronary heart, humor, and unapologetic aptitude to every thing he does.

We caught up with Alexander to speak bear visibility, popular culture with objective, and why smarter questions can nonetheless include a punchline.

 Bear World TV is all about elevating numerous, bear voices. What drew you to the challenge?

You already know, I’ve been thought-about a part of the bear group for a really very long time now. We all know the bear group tends to be a little bit husky, a little bit hairier, a little bit fuller – and one thing that I’ve fought with my complete life has been my points with my weight and a part of that’s being labeled as a part of the bear group. It’s not a group that I got here to immediately. It’s actually come over the previous few years the place I’ve gained a sure confidence in myself and who I’m and I finished attempting to be one thing that I’m not and I’m by no means going to be and that has actually drawn me to the bear group as a result of the entire basis is about self-acceptance and coming to a protected area nonetheless you’re, nonetheless you look, nonetheless you act.

It truly is a protected area and we all know proper now it’s a turbulent time for the queer group. So having a household just like the bear group is so essential. And , I feel as a complete the queer group is embracing physique picture, physique variety as a result of it comes with confidence and I feel we’re focusing extra on that and the significance of our tales, moderately the significance of our appears to be like.

Now, describe to me like your phase, “Alexander On Display screen”. What can we count on from that?

So, fasten your seatbelts. I are usually very outspoken. I normally have a martini in my hand and I’m very outspoken about all issues leisure, so I’m going to be speaking about leisure, scorching subjects. I’m going to be speaking to some celebrities from the queer group and we’re simply going to handle among the issues that we’re speaking about as a complete, particularly what’s taking place with arts and leisure and the queer group. It’s going to be outspoken, it’s going to be sassy, and it’s going to be enjoyable.

You’ve constructed a repute for asking good and sudden questions. What’s your secret to a fantastic interview?

Analysis, analysis, analysis. It’s not going to a Wikipedia web page and getting the highlights _ and a part of that analysis is different interviews that different individuals have finished. It’s not asking the identical questions, it’s considering just a few steps forward, and it’s getting the particular person’s belief immediately. So, when you can carry up little-known information or actually show to them that you’re a fan of theirs, that you simply’ve checked out their materials, that who they’re. They hand over all of the belief and that makes for a very good interview as a result of you may dive deeper into points and themes that their followers need to know. Additionally, if I serve a little bit vodka, that at all times helps – a little bit liquid braveness.

Who’s one queer icon or an unsung hero that you’d like to function on the present?

Harvey Guillén. His profession has simply finished so nicely. He began in Disney programming and he’s actually blown up. He’s on What We Do within the Shadows. He’s from the Latin group. He’s from the queer group. His physique kind may not match the Hollywood archetype and he doesn’t care and he’s made his profession explode over the previous few years due to his charisma, his attraction and his performing capability. He’s proven that aptitude on the purple carpet and he embraces it and I feel he’s a fantastic spokesperson for a lot of completely different communities. And his story, , he needed to do performing and he needed to make it work on his personal from laborious work. And I, and I simply love that. Yeah, so he’s positively any individual I need to incorporate.

The bear group is extremely numerous. How do you method creating content material that feels each private and universally resonant?

Oh, that’s a superb query. I feel a part of the range that now we have on Bear World TV, there’s 5 of us and we’re so completely different from one another, and I feel that’s going to include quite a lot of completely different viewpoints. However personally, to include that, I prefer to hold my finger on the heartbeat of what’s occurring in the neighborhood. In order that’s scrolling round on social media, that’s what’s taking place news-wise, what’s taking place entertainment-wise, and seeing what individuals are responding to. So, that in itself, that’s analysis too. You need to perceive what the group is speaking about and what they need to handle however make it honest to me. I’m not going to take a false platform. I’m not going to discover a perception that I don’t imagine in. If I feel one thing is wonky, I’m going to name it out and that’s a part of my private, outspoken attraction, I assume.

What does bear illustration within the media appear to be to you in 2025 and what’s nonetheless lacking?

I feel lots of people have excessive platitudes by way of speaking about being supportive of physique variety and physique points. We’re seeing curvier individuals on display screen in mainstream and queer programming, which is superb. Our heroes usually are not simply the all- American guys anymore. We’re seeing that illustration actually change and it’s actors like Harvey Guillén which can be actually serving to with that.

However I feel what’s nonetheless missing is we nonetheless are fascinated and applaud those who undergo physique transformations. John Goodman simply hit the purple carpet and everyone went loopy and Lizzo. Then from our personal queer group, now we have drag queens like Ginger Minj, who simply received All Stars and everyone’s going gaga over her weight reduction and physique transformation. You already know, now we have drag queen Selena Es Titties, the identical factor. So, what’s that message that we’re sending? We’re so excited when any individual loses weight and transforms their physique however then what’s the counterpoint there once we respect these which can be fuller and are nonetheless making it? I feel there’s nonetheless a division. I feel now we have a protracted technique to go, however we’re, we’re doing it.

Bear World TV blends, popular culture, humor and activism. How do you steadiness leisure with significant storytelling?

I’m fascinated by all features of leisure, whether or not it’s traditional Hollywood, actuality television, discuss exhibits or documentaries. I like all types of leisure however every thing that I discover and speak about has to return from a honest place that I react to personally. We have now lots of people from the queer group that make quite a lot of platitudes, they make quite a lot of daring statements, however it’s the place is their activism behind their phrases? So, I’m concerned in many alternative tasks that help our group, and I feel that that’s needed, particularly in at this time’s given occasions, so every thing has to return from a honest place.

What popular culture is in your radar proper now?

I’m a sucker for horror movies and queer themes have been popping up in horror movies left and proper, which I completely love, however I’m a horror movie fanatic. On the opposite aspect of that, I like actuality TV, Actual Housewives of something I will probably be watching. And I feel that tradition has type of modified too, and I feel what audiences need to see on TV by way of actuality TV has modified. In order that’s an fascinating type of twist. And I’m nonetheless a fan of traditional Hollywood. Give me a Bette Davis movie anytime. So, , all these varieties of various features type of hold me contemporary.

I do know you could have a podcast, On The Rocks. Is your Bear World TV phase an offshoot of that?

One hundred percent. I’ve had On the Rocks for 14 years now, and that began when no person even knew what a podcast was. I’ve had the good thing about so a few years within the style – Academy Award, Tony Award, Grammy Award, Emmy Award winners. I’ve sipped with all of them and I’ve spilled the tea. And so yeah, that positively fuels all my different completely different tasks, however it’s positively a by-product of that vitality.

What conversations are you most excited to start out or fire up on Bear World TV?

I feel what I need to fire up is our division inside our personal group, which is the queer group at giant. I feel there’s nonetheless a resistance to the bear group motion. I feel there’s resistance to a few of our trans brothers and sisters and so a part of my dialog is all about inclusion and calling individuals on their BS. We as a group want to return collectively to help everyone inside our group, not simply chosen ones or not simply who the favored ones are. That’s not only a good factor to do. I feel that that’s a necessity proper now.

I interviewed Tom Goss about his bear-positive music. Do you assume it’s been useful to the group?

Sure, 100%. You already know, Tom Goss is a fairly boy and his attraction to bears is perhaps stunning to some, however his music incorporates everyone. Take a look at his music movies, he actually incorporates everyone. I’ve had the profit to interview Tom and hang around with Tom. We’ve finished some Satisfaction occasions collectively. He will get the entire crowd going. And once more, every thing that he does comes from a spot of affection and sincerity, and he really cares about all members of the group and his efficiency and his music is ready to carry everyone collectively, which is highly effective.

What are you hoping that audiences are going to remove from Bear World TV?

I’m hoping that audiences be taught a little bit bit extra in regards to the completely different personalities that exist with the bear group. I nonetheless assume lots of people assume it’s the shirtless, big-bellied guys with quite a lot of hair which can be leaping right into a pool occasion. We’re much more than that. We’re much more lively within the political aspect. And now we have completely different variations of bears – there’s no proper or improper bear and I hope audiences get to know us personally and get to understand the completely different features that we carry. “Bear” is only one of our many labels that we carry to the desk.

And so far as personally, what else is within the works for you moreover Bear World TV?

Extra podcasting. I’ve been doing Satisfaction occasions across the nation, which has been fascinating this 12 months as a result of the local weather has definitely modified by way of among the organizations that might rent me for sure issues. Some Satisfaction occasions had been canceled this 12 months and it was blatantly due to conservative opposition – which we’ve by no means needed to take care of earlier than. So, I’m hoping to nonetheless improve my visibility. I simply grew to become writer of the Los Angeles Blade, which is the SoCal LGBTQ newsroom, which is an enormous honor as a result of that identify, that newspaper comes with quite a lot of legacy. So, I’m working full power on that too.

Bear World TV debuts on August 7 on Bear World’s web site, YouTube channel, Instagram and Fb. Take a look at Alexander’s podcast On the Rocks and observe him on YouTube and Instagram.