The Tea

About The Tea

Welcome to 'The Tea'—your hilarious rendezvous with Joe Betance, Jay Ellis, and Lauri Roggenkamp, where queer comedy reigns supreme! Join this dynamic trio from sunny LA as they spill the tea on their lives, dissect the hottest pop culture moments, and serve up sassy commentary with a side of laughter. Whether you're part of the LGBTQ+ community or just love a good laugh, get ready for a podcast that's bold, witty, and fabulously entertaining.

Publisher

Afterthought Media

Category

comedy · society & culture

Language

en

Explicit

Yes

First episode

15 Apr 2020

Latest episode

6 May 2026

Latest episodes

89 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   6 May 2026

   S7EP08 - Lauri adopts a 40 year-old Russian orphan

   The Tea returns with digital picture frame warfare, musical theater arguments, therapy talk, jury duty panic, and a major life update from Lauri and Star. Joe announces a possible release schedule shakeup for the network before the conversation immediately derails into stories about Aura Frames, family photo sabotage, and relatives secretly re-uploading pictures to each other’s digital displays. Joe also tells the story of his mom accidentally setting a screenshot of her phone as her lock screen and becoming convinced her phone had stopped turning off. Later, Joe shares how he used AI to edit a family baseball photo by adding a giant beer in front of his mom — who famously doesn’t drink — and then convinced her to send the picture to friends anyway. The group also spirals into a full conversation about RENT, Chicago, movie musicals, “singing-through” theater productions, and which celebrities somehow became lifelong obsessions after one good performance. Jay opens up about starting therapy again following a recent death in the family, leading to a surprisingly sincere conversation about anxiety, coping mechanisms, mental health, and the strange ways people process trauma. Meanwhile, Lauri gives an update on her ongoing jury duty saga and reveals that she and Star are officially beginning the adoption process, including attending orientation and discussing what kind of child they may eventually adopt. The episode also includes: Joe panicking over a handicap placard investigation at Angel Stadium A fake cop car causing freeway paranoia Stories about old coworkers and former Redline regulars A deeply cursed discussion involving sperm donation A possible ghost encounter involving a little girl sneezing in an empty house Plus: Russian orphan jokes, AI trolling, baseball stories, and the usual chaos. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

2. 

   22 Apr 2026

   S7EP07 - Lauri contemplates an offensive tattoo

   Good morning, good afternoon, and good evening. Wherever you are, we’re glad you’re here. This week on The Tea, the conversation goes everywhere. Joe, Jay, and Laurian catch up on Vegas trips, weddings, commercial shoots, and the ongoing challenge of making friends as adults. Along the way, stories spiral into high school memories, family moments, and a few situations that are almost too ridiculous to believe. Jay shares highlights from a bachelor party in Vegas, working on a commercial with a very well-trained beagle, and unexpectedly making a new friend on set. The group reflects on how hard it is to build new friendships outside of work and what that looked like back in high school. Joe recounts a memorable (and slightly traumatic) experience volunteering as a “patient” for medical students, where he had to lie still while being evaluated in ways he definitely did not expect. A simple Starbucks order turns into a full breakdown when “venti” becomes confused for the name of a drink, leading to one of the episode’s most absurd and relatable moments. Laurian gives an update on writing a TV pilot with her dad, including a creative process that raises some serious questions about how scripts are actually supposed to be written. The conversation turns to how long it really takes to write something good and what it means to just start creating. The episode also includes a tattoo dilemma involving a baby portrait and whether to update it to better reflect reality, sparking a surprisingly thoughtful discussion. Jay is now on the hunt for a new car after learning his current one may not be worth repairing, while Laurian enjoys a low-key spring break focused on rest and recovery. From awkward memories to completely chaotic misunderstandings, this episode is classic The Tea: loose, funny, and full of moments that somehow feel both ridiculous and familiar. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

3. 

   8 Apr 2026

   S7EP06 - Lauri fights a Dairy Queen employee

   This week on The Tea, Joe, Lauri, and Jay cover everything from questionable hotel hygiene to Dairy Queen disasters, with plenty of detours into pop culture, fast food, and DMV chaos along the way. What starts as a simple catch-up quickly spirals into stories about bachelor parties, emotional support furniture, and a truly unhinged Blizzard experience. Jay’s Vegas Bachelor Party Recap Jay shares highlights from a surprisingly low-key bachelor weekend in Las Vegas, including a glowing recommendation for Cirque du Soleil’s O—and a not-so-glowing review of the El Cortez hotel, complete with toenails and mystery grime. The Great Chair Debate Jay attempts to offload a luxurious leather chair, sparking a surprisingly intense discussion about furniture, comfort, and whether a chair needs to “go to a good home.” DMV Meltdown Story Jay recounts a wild encounter at the DMV involving a customer disputing her listed weight on her license, leaving the employee visibly shaken—and raising the question: when is honesty worth the drama? Justin Timberlake & Celebrity Downfall The hosts react to newly released body cam footage from Justin Timberlake’s DUI, focusing less on the scandal and more on how unexpectedly uncool it all feels. Dairy Queen Deep Dive A full conversation unfolds about Blizzards, dipped cones, and the iconic upside-down test—culminating in Lauri’s chaotic drive-thru story where she grabs the ice cream instead of the cup. Fast Food & Regional Favorites The group debates Farmer Boys, Dutch Bros, Jack in the Box, and the strange cultural crossover between Morrissey fandom and Mexican communities in LA. TV Talk: Will & Grace, Reboots & Sitcom Logic Lauri leads a passionate discussion about Will & Grace, including the reboot, character dynamics, and sitcoms that bend reality for comedic effect. Life Updates & Feeling Stuck Joe opens up about feeling isolated and stuck in a routine, leading to a conversation about getting out of the house, reconnecting, and breaking out of a funk. This episode is classic The Tea: loose, conversational, and full of unexpected tangents that somehow all connect. Whether it’s DMV drama, fast food nostalgia, or sitcom deep dives, the chaos feels right at home—and proves that sometimes the best stories come from the most random places. If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to subscribe, rate, and review The Tea wherever you listen to podcasts. For bonus content, extended conversations, and exclusive episodes, check out our Patreon. Stay connected and keep sipping ☕ Episode HighlightsFinal ThoughtsFollow & Support Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Reach and audience

Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.

YouTube views

21,118

Score snapshot 15 Sept 2025

Apple Podcasts (US)

4.9 / 5

31 ratings

Spotify

4.8 / 5

22 ratings

Podcast Authority Score: 29 / 100

A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.

Quality

7

Social presence

0

YouTube

76

Engagement

51

Contact The Tea

Guest appearances

Books guests

Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.