At thirty years old, Riley walked into his first gay bar—and began the coming-of-age story he thought he had missed.
What followed was a summer of first heartbreaks, unexpected attention, questionable decisions, and one very delayed attempt at figuring out how to be gay.
Part memoir, part coming-of-age comedy, First Gay Summer is an audio series about growing up religious, coming out later than expected, and trying to distinguish desire from connection when both are completely new.
Funny, intimate, and painfully honest, the series follows Riley through gay bars, hookups, friendships, rejection, insecurity, and the growing realization that freedom doesn’t automatically teach you how to love yourself.
Because sometimes coming out isn’t the end of the story.
Sometimes it's where you finally meet yourself.
Follow @firstgaysummer on Instagram for episode quotes, behind-the-scenes content, and series updates.
The beautiful thing about traveling alone is that nobody knows who you are. The dangerous thing is... nobody knows who you are. In Episode 3 of First Gay Summer, Riley heads to South Florida chasing adventure, freedom, and the version of himself he calls "Ry Solo." But somewhere between the beaches, nightlife, and unforgettable hookups, he discovers that the most meaningful connections are rarely the ones he expected.
5 Jul 2026
Episode 4: How to Be a Fake Ass Bitch
The more versions of himself Riley became, the harder it was to remember which one was real. In Episode 4 of First Gay Summer, curiosity leads Riley into new cities, new experiences, and unfamiliar corners of gay culture. But after chasing labels, confidence, and connection, he begins asking a far more difficult question: Who am I when nobody else gets to decide?
5 Jul 2026
Episode 2: The New Gay Smell
The thing nobody warned Riley about was how quickly attention becomes addictive. In Episode 2 of First Gay Summer, what begins as the excitement of finally being seen soon becomes something more complicated. As Riley searches for friendship, connection, and a place to belong, he finds himself chasing something he never expected to crave: validation.
5 Jul 2026
Episode 5: Hurricane Riley
Sometimes the hardest person to choose... is yourself. In the season finale of First Gay Summer, heartbreak, hope, faith, and self-discovery collide as Riley's search for love, validation, and belonging reaches its breaking point. Looking back on the summer that changed everything, he realizes the person he'd been searching for all along wasn't another boy... it was himself.
5 Jul 2026
Episode 1: The Summer I Turned Pretty... Gay
Riley always thought coming out would be the hardest part. He was wrong. In Episode 1 of First Gay Summer, Riley shares what it was like growing up closeted in the early 2000s and the unforgettable night he finally walked into a gay bar at thirty years old—terrified, hopeful, and completely unprepared for what came next.
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Apple Podcasts (US)
5.0 / 5
1 ratings
Spotify
5.0 / 5
2 ratings
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