Episode 21 of The Gay Rugby Podcast - “When Did Pool Parties Become Boring? | Andrés Rigal & Summertramp” - finds us sitting down with longtime nightlife & event-producer Andrés Rigal, founder of SummerTramp and a co-organizer of DTLA Proud, to talk about the arc of queer pool parties in Los Angeles. Rigal reflects on the early days of SummerTramp, the gaps he saw in Los Angeles’s summer event landscape, and how those ideas shaped what SummerTramp was trying to build. We explore what has changed, crowd expectations, venue availability, creative ambition, and whether pool parties have lost their luster. We also dig into how SummerTramp has responded: its vibe, its message, and how authenticity and community stay central even as the scene evolves.You’ll hear about the history of SummerTramp parties: how in 2010 Andrés Rigal noticed that pool events in DTLA weren’t delivering the joy or inclusivity he wanted, and how that prompted him to create something different. The landscape of queer nights, poolside spectacles, and summer culture has shifted since then, and this episode asks: do we need to do more than resurrect nostalgia—do we need to reshape what a queer summer party can be in 2025?

Episode 20 of The Gay Rugby Podcast drops us right into the middle of DTLA Proud Festival 2025, recorded on August 24 at Placita Olvera in downtown Los Angeles. The episode features Richard Suarez-Tascon of Rebellion Rugby, where he helps lead alumni and RugBAE engagement, and the conversation zeroes in on the rivalry and shared DNA between rugby culture in New York City and Los Angeles.With the festival celebrating its tenth year of LGBTQ+ community and pride in Los Angeles, the setting underscores the larger conversation: why inclusive rugby matters, how grassroots clubs in LA have taken shape, and what lessons can be learned from New York’s long-standing tradition of gay rugby. Richard speaks from his perspective with Rebellion Rugby about the challenges of building visibility in sports and the opportunities for connection across cities and communities.The episode captures the energy of two different rugby worlds colliding, one built in the intensity of New York, the other shaped by the laid-back sprawl of Los Angeles, while tying it back to the bigger picture of representation and belonging in the game.

Episode 19 of The Gay Rugby Podcast features Lauren Doyle, a former USA Women’s Rugby Sevens star and three-time Olympian who represented Team USA in Rio, Tokyo, and Paris. Doyle opens up about what happens when the Olympic dream ends, the adrenaline fades, the medals go into storage, and suddenly you’re left facing the world outside of sport. She speaks openly about the post-Olympic blues, the mental health struggles athletes face after retirement, and the disorienting shift of entering the workforce with no experience beyond the game.But this is also the story of Doyle’s life beyond rugby. She reflects on coming out as a lesbian athlete, how she told her family, and what it meant to compete as a gay woman in rugby at the highest level. Doyle shares her connection with teammate Ilona Maher, the power of LGBTQ+ visibility in sport, and the way identity off the field can be just as defining as performance on it.This conversation isn’t just about rugby, it’s about resilience, identity, and the cost of chasing greatness. If you’ve ever wondered what life after the Olympics really looks like, or how athletes navigate the intersection of mental health, sexuality, and elite sport, Lauren Doyle offers a rare, unfiltered look.