Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Steven Peters and Tanner Grefsheim. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Hi Steven and Tanner, thanks for joining us today. We’d love to hear the backstory behind a risk you’ve taken – whether big or small, walk us through what it was like and how it ultimately turned out.

Steven: In October 2022, we decided to take a risk and start our own podcast show “He’s My Girl”, We noticed a lack of LGBTQ+ voices on TV and podcasts and wanted to change that. We had no idea what we were doing or getting ourselves into, but it has been the best decision we could’ve made. Our weekly episodes provide an hour of laughs to our audience, hearing all about our crazy friendship, and interviews with other LGBTQ+ voices that continue to make impacts in our community.

Tanner: There’s always a risk when you put yourself out there, whether it be in a big or small way. Starting a podcast where we put all of ourselves into it – thoughts, feelings, experiences – was a big risk! It requires a ton of vulnerability, and you never know how people will respond or what they’ll think. Especially when everything you say lands on the internet for anyone to come across. Ultimately, our desire to have fun and meaningful conversations that others could resonate with – regardless of your sexual orientation, gender identity, ethnicity, age, or personal interests – outweighed our fear of judgement. It was a risk well worth taking!

Steven and Tanner, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

Steven: I am currently an educator in Chicago but have a communications degree which is code for: I love to talk. I love conversation and grew up watching daytime TV, studying people like the co-hosts of “The View” and Regis and Kelly. I was always fascinated by major interviews by Barbara Walters and Oprah, and told myself one day I’d be apart of something similar. Starting HMG allows that and it’s an added bonus that I get to do it with my best friend! Each episode offers a glimpse into our friendship and explores the ups & downs of dating, open-relationships, and so much more!

Tanner: A midwestern guy with a chronic oversharing problem. By trade, I am a consultant, fitness instructor, and now a podcaster thanks to Steven! We’ve been best friends for years, and have been through so much together navigating the world as gay men. No topic is off limits between us, and our authenticity is what I’m most proud of our show for. From navigating the coming out journey, to friendships, nights out, hookups, relationships, family, and everything in between.

Is there a particular goal or mission driving your creative journey?

Steven: Though we aim to welcome everyone of every walk of life to be a HMG listener, we really want to lean in to the LGBTQ+ community and offer a place where they feel apart of a family and as if they have two more friends in us. We try to focus majority of our episodes theme to center around being part of the LGBTQ+ family and how that looks with dating, family, and friends.

Tanner: Connection and storytelling are at the core of what we do. Whether talking about our own thoughts and experiences, or highlighting those of others particularly within the LGBTQIA+ community. We strive to create a space where people can have fun, let their guard down, and bond. It’s so amazing when people reach out because they relate to something on the show, or find interest in particular topics!

We’d love to hear the story of how you built up your social media audience?

Steven: Tanner is our brilliant social media mastermind. He runs all social platforms and materials. I’m going to let him take this one on his own!

Tanner: Be consistent, engage with your audience, and don’t be afraid of trying new things to see what sticks!

Contact Info:

• Instagram: www.instagram.com/hesmygirlpodcast
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@hesmygirlpodcast
• Other: TikTok: www.tiktok.com/@hesmygirlpodcast