Hello, I'm Zeke, and welcome to The Zekely Podcast. Let's talk, Pennsylvania.

The guest I have today lives in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, and is a content creator with over 300,000 followers across social media platforms. When not focusing on beauty, modern culture, and self acceptance, he's showcasing the importance of political awareness and engagement. Thank you so much for being here, Kenny Screven.

I’m Zeke, a doctor, a Pennsylvanian and unapologetic supporter of Democratic values. You might have seen me on social media working my ass off for Democrats and meeting some pretty amazing people along the way - like President Barack Obama and Governor Josh Shapiro.

For years, I’ve knocked thousands of doors all over Pennsylvania and poured my heart and soul into supporting candidates and causes that make a difference—from local school board races to national elections. The personal is political, and I take every election in Pennsylvania personally.

Where the mainstream media has failed you, I will give you truth and independence. You’ll hear from Democratic leaders, candidates, and change-makers who are working to improve the health of the Commonwealth, and it won’t be boring as hell.

No matter where you are, I’ll meet you with hope and a plan to make your community better one day at a time. Welcome to the Zekely Podcast. Let’s talk Pennsylvania.

Hi, welcome. I'm excited to be here.

It's so good to see you. I mean, I don't know if you remember this, but the first time that I met you was at Josh Shapiro's social media boot camp. Remember that back in the day?

Yes. my god, that was like two years ago, maybe. Wow, time is flying.

Yeah, yeah.

I

know. But it was really great to see all these, you know, social media influencers all in one place helping the governor and we've really maintained those relationships over time.

Yeah, I've met some of my closest friends from that event actually, which is really amazing. And I know a lot of times you can feel kinda like isolated and alone, but I I really love and appreciate those events because it like brings us together and you just feel like a community. and sometimes that could be hard to find, you know, when you're online.

Yeah.

I know, I know. And I know like me, we're chronically online, right? We're just all we're just chronically online. But we're gonna play some games, learn about you and have some fun. Are you ready? All right,

Yeah.

I'm excited. Let's do it.

Kenny. the majority of your content is not at all political. but you do choose to make some political content at times. So I wanted to know what made you want to get involved politically.

Mm mm.

So I feel like my existence is political. And I feel like a lot of people that look like me aren't necessarily in, you know, some of the rooms we should be in often. So I felt like, why not? And in college my major was criminal justice. So I always kind of had like a little bit of interest in it. I even contemplated going to law school. That was like my goal for a really long time. But I guess to sum it up, I just feel like there's not enough representation for people that like me, queer black people.

Mm-hmm.

So why not, you know, be that person in these spaces, you know, advocating for my community?

I'm glad that you do it. I mean, I think that there's this line that sometimes, you know, influencers draw and that they're just not gonna cross into the political space. And honestly, I think if you don't know enough about a topic, you probably shouldn't cross into that space, right? Like if you if you can't speak about a topic, you shouldn't talk about it. But I I do think it's important when you feel empowered and you know the issues that you do cross that line because

Yeah.

Yeah.

You know, representation matters and there's a lot of misinformation going around and you have a lot of listeners and and viewers. And so you have a lot of power to give them the right information and get involved in Pennsylvania. So I am very grateful that you're doing that. You're welcome.

Thank you.

Kenny, you are also a big foodie. And I love I love watching your videos of you trying new restaurants in the area. So I have some restaurant questions for you. Okay.

I am

Okay.

If you want, you can go from the beginning or like the last six months or a year, but I want to know where would I go tomorrow for the best appetizers?

Ooh, this is a hard one. So I'm obsessed with mozzarella sticks. So if you like mozzarella sticks, definitely Copperhead. But then I also feel like there's this place, it's newer, it's called Broken Record They have really good appetizers. They have these like Calibrian wings and they are so good. Like bomb.

Mm-hmm.

okay. And what's the what's the

general area of where we're going? Allentown. Okay.

Allentown actually. Yeah. Lehigh

valley.

how far do you travel from where you live to go to these restaurants? Is it like anywhere in the southeastern Pennsylvania?

focused on Lehigh Valley. But if I'm visiting like Harrisburg or if I'm in Philly, like I'll kinda do whatever. But I do most of them in the Lehigh Valley, whether it's Allentown, Bethlehem. I need to do more Easton videos, but pretty much Lehigh Valley, but I will venture out if I'm on like a vacation or something like that.

Mm-hmm.

Okay.

Mm-hmm.

Sounds good. I have a couple more. What about best drinks?

The Shelby has really good drinks. I love their drinks. They're also in Allentown.

The Shelby.

What's your drink of choice?

So I'm a retired Long Island addict. They're extremely strong. So usually when I go to like any restaurant, I'll I'll ask them like what is your prettiest drink? Literally, I'll just say what is your prettiest drink? I'll drink it.

Okay. Uh-huh.

Uh-huh. The prettiest drink. That's it. That that's the that's the bar.

or if it has a really cute name. Like there's this one place, I think it's I think it's Brew Works They have a drink called the Diva.

Uh-huh.

And I love it 'cause I feel like I'm a diva. So I'm like, Why wouldn't I get that?

You are

you are definitely a diva, Kenny. I I love it. All right, I have two more. Which restaurant has had the best service in your recent memory?

Yeah.

It really knocked your socks off. Like you're like, wow, that service was next level.

That is a really good one. my God. I gotta think about this one. Where have I gone recently? Brewworks, actually. Brewworks in Bethlehem. That was like last week. I remember my server's name, Philip. He was amazing. And he was just on it. And there was like a group of us. And I feel like usually when there's like a group of people and then people start splitting checks, it's kind of like can be kind of annoying and like exhausting. But he did everything perfectly. So I was I was a happy camper. Yes.

Mm-hmm. Yeah.

That's awesome. Shout out to Phillip. I mean, I used to be a waiter back

in the day. I was a waiter at at Friendly's. Remember Friendly's restaurant? Mm-hmm.

Thing.

My God, I love friends friendlies. They're

freaking my god, is it the honey melt barbecue? Something honey melt, but it's so good. Their chicken honey melt salamid. my god. It's so good.

Yeah. Yeah. Their honey mustard sauce

is the best honey mustard sauce I've ever had in my life still to this day. So yeah, that mhm. Mm-hmm.

And I like their little mini like mozzarella sticks. They're so good.

All right. Here's

Yeah.

the last one. best dessert. Give me something good.

So I would say Copperhead has a pretty good apple crisp I'm not gonna lie, that's a pretty good one.

I guess you may.

I I'm kinda surprised that you don't go into the restaurants and ask for the fanciest dessert. The drink, it's the fanciest, but not the fanciest dessert, Kenny. What's going on?

Yeah.

I know. Maybe I should do that. I'm thinking about making that a series actually.

I think you should. Yeah. I'm just

go in and say, give me the fanciest X and whatever you get, you rate it. I love it.

Yeah.

Kenny, while you lived in Delaware, you attended high school at Archmere Academy, which is the same high school that Joe Biden went to growing up. That's pretty awesome.

Yeah.

Mm-hmm. Yeah.

Yeah, it's pretty insane. It was a very prestigious school.

Mm-hmm.

I guess prior to high school I was really smart. I guess you could say my parents were like, You're really smart, which I am really smart. But there it was a little challenging because it was just like pretty much if you didn't go to college in that school, you were considered kind of like a disappointment. So ninety nine percent of my class went to like a really like good,

Yeah, obviously.

Okay.

college or university. So it was a very college preparatory school. And I mean, it makes sense. Biden went there. I think a few of his kids went there. It's

Yeah.

if you want to learn and get the best education, go to Archmir Academy.

Archmair.

That's awesome. I mean, what a legacy to say you went to the high school that Joe Biden went to. I mean, I'm jealous. I'm real jealous.

Insane. I was actually

there.

came, I think it was Obama's first election and he came, him and Obama came

and it was insane. It was insane. Yeah.

That is crazy. Well, that is a great memory to have.

Kenny, before you became a social media beauty superstar, as you said, you majored in criminal justice at DeSelles University. how did you land on criminal justice?

So growing up, I I remember my fourth grade teacher, his name was Mr. Belera, shout out to him. I was just r he got me really into reading.

I was always obsessed with like documentaries and like

Why do criminals think the way they think? I was just always intrigued. It was just something that always intrigued me. I'm not sure why, but now I'm a little bit more anxious and a little scary when I'm watching like a terrifying documentary. I'm like, okay, let me go lock my doors. Like, you know, this is kind of spooky. But yeah, I just always thought I would be a really good lawyer.

huh. Mm-hmm.

And I do feel as though that could possibly happen at some point. I just feel like not right now. No.

I think you should never rule that out. I mean, obviously

you can th you can always go back to school anytime or, you know, restart a career. I I knew some people in medical school, you know, I think I was, gosh, twenty three, twenty-two at the time starting medical school, but I knew forty year olds who were going back to school. And like that's a big commitment to start in medical school at forty, because you're gonna be in school for eight years, you know, going forward after that. So it's it's a it's a big commitment. So don't rule that out, Kenny.

Yeah, literally. Wow.

beauty right now.

But you still got the brains in there 'cause of the high school you went to and so make Joe Biden proud, okay?

Yeah.

Kenny, we're gonna play a game called Guilty as Charged, okay, since you enjoyed the law. I have a couple questions for you. Do you ever tell people it's your birthday at restaurants to get a free dessert?

Okay.

I think I've done it once and it wasn't for me, it was for a friend, and I think it was more like a prank.

Yeah. I

no judgment here. No judgment here. Honestly, like I think the only time I've done it is when they ask me. Like, is it something s is it something special? Like, well, now that you're asking, it's my birthday. I mean, 'cause they c they can't check. I mean, I was I think I was too young at the time to get alcohol or something, but they didn't card me, so they couldn't check and see, you know, if it was really my birthday. So I got away with it. That's fine. No, this is a judgment free zone here. do you eavesdrop?

Okay.

Yeah.

On other conversations while out at a restaurant.

Sometimes. I'm honestly I love the people watch. I love to just like look around and just like I don't know, something about everyone being like humans is just interesting to me. I'm like, what is their thought process? Like how did they wind up here? Or like other couples, I'm always just like so curious, like how did you guys like wind up together?

Yeah. Mm-hmm.

Yeah.

Yeah.

Yeah, my

my wife does that a lot and I can pick up now when she's doing it because I get when I I love food so much. I just get so focused on what I'm eating and the smell and everything. And I'll look at her and she'll kind of have this like distant look in her eyes. And I'll start talking like and she'll put her hand up and she'll like kind of motion over to a side, like, you're listening to that conversation, are you? And she'll like tell me about it later. But she loves to do it. She'll be like, Did you hear what they were talking about? I was like, No, I was enjoying my burger. I had no idea what they were talking about.

Yeah.

But she does that a lot. It is so funny. But she does hear some cr pretty crazy stuff. She can be a spy in another life. I truly believe that about my wife.

I here

here's the last one. do you put items from your table onto other empty tables if it feels too congested?

No. What I usually do actually since I was a server, sometimes I'll stack up the plates and stuff for the server. So it's just easier for them to kind of like grab and they're not like, you know, grabbing everywhere. It's like, okay, I I stacked up the little tray for you, there you go. So it makes it kinda easier for them and usually they're pretty appreciative. So and I feel like I'm doing like, you know, a good thing.

You don't do that?

Yeah.

Mm-hmm.

I am guilty

I'm guilty when it comes to this, but I wouldn't say actually the

plates. Sometimes you sit down at these cute little tables and you've got the salt, the pepper, the flowers, the candle, the the you know, the menu, the dessert menu, and like the divider. It's just like I have no room to put anything down. So I'll look around and I'll just like shift the candle over a different table. I'll put the salt and pepper because I'm not gonna use it, and like I'll just kind of make space because I I just feel crowded and cramped. So I I'm guilty for that.

Yeah.

do, Kenny. I

Have you ever gotten caught?

I think that probably they give me the side eye, but they've never said anything. Like they and I wouldn't do it like if it's an empty table, like nobody's sitting there, right? And I it's I'll just be like, look, nobody's gonna mind this. And then honestly, sometimes I look over and it'll just disappear. Like they'll just come and take it and it won't be there anymore. But I just feel like, you know, I feel weird asking to take it away. I just put it someplace else. That's the diva, that's as diva as I get, Kenny. Okay. I I decongest my table when I

Like mm, okay.

Yeah, no, I get that.

Hey, thank you so much for listening to this episode of The Zekely Podcast. And if you're enjoying yourself, please take a moment to rate my Podcast. Five stars would be great and leave a comment as well. And if you're watching this on YouTube, please hit follow. OK, back to the show.

Kenny, what are you going to do to help get more Democrats elected up and down the ballot this November third?

I am just gonna keep advocating and talking to my community, letting them know what's happening in Pennsylvania because that is so important. And there's a huge disconnect too because a lot of people don't watch the news. so they are more trusting of, you know, people that they follow and feel like they can relate to. So I feel like that is so important, to me and my platform.

Yeah.

something big is gonna happen this year, Kenny, in Pennsylvania. And it rhymes with Schnehmekta. Okay, to the trifecta. Okay, we're gonna get it. We're gonna get it this year. It's been what over thirty years since we've had a democratic governor, democratic state house, democratic state senate. I was eleven years old, Kenny. Like I can't take it anymore. Yeah.

Wow. So

it hasn't even been in my lifetime, literally. 'Cause I'm thirty one.

Yeah, you're making me Yeah,

it hasn't been in your lifetime that we have had a trifecta in Pennsylvania and I am super jealous of Virginia. You know, when they got the trifecta, they're just crushing it right now, passing like great legislation, maternity leave, raising the minimum wage. I mean, just just come at it. So this is gonna be our year, and I hope you're gonna tell all of your listeners and viewers this information because they're gonna listen to you, Kenny. They but they trust you. They trust you. So I'm glad I'm grateful that you're gonna put that out there to all your

And he has

Listeners and viewers, because we need the trifecta this year in Pennsylvania.

Kenny, how difficult was it for you to put yourself out there on social media?

it depends on what. So I have different things that I'm like more comfortable sharing and things that I'm not as comfortable sharing. But as far as like the makeup and beauty goes, it was kind of hard at first because I technically started doing that before I came out. So it was kind of like, is he gay? Is he this? Is he that? Because I never fully like said that online. I just kind of started wearing makeup.

Okay.

Mm-hmm. Right.

And then, you know, typically people just assume, you know, I'm wearing makeup, okay, he's probably this. I mean, I'm sure some people thought I was like gonna transition or something.

really just comes down. I've always kind of told myself I don't wanna live for other people and I don't want to have any regrets when I'm like 50 or 60 or 70. I don't wanna be like, my God, I didn't do this because of this person, or I didn't do this because I was afraid to do it because this person was judging me. So I just kind of like.

Yeah.

Like to live life with no regrets.

you're living your truth. Absolutely. That's what you should be doing. Well, do you remember your first video, like your very first post on social media? I remember mine. Do you remember yours?

Mm-hmm.

So I remember it was a makeup routine. I remember that. it was a makeup routine at my ex boyfriend's house. I remember that. And it was really funny. I remember exactly what I wore. I wore a backwards hat, it was black, I had like a tan jacket on, a black collar. Yeah, I remember that video. I remember all the products I use, like everything. Yeah.

Okay.

That's awesome. How ma How man how how

many years ago was that?

That's I think it's probably like what year are we in twenty twenty six? Probably nine years ago, I wanna say. Yeah. Probably nine years ago, yeah.

Yeah.

my gosh. Yeah. That's awesome. My

first one was one of those like, This is me. Like I'm Zeke and I'm a doctor and I'm gonna go out and help Democrats get elected in Pennsylvania. I mean, it must have been back in twenty twenty two, or twenty twenty two, twenty twenty one is about when I first started. Yeah, on TikTok. TikTok w yeah.

Yeah.

Wow. And what made you decide? Cause

you're growing like really fast. So like what made you just decide to just like do it?

I mean, honestly,

my wife Jess is always like two steps ahead of me. I will not I won't forget. She it was probably during the mid it was when Governor Josh Shapiro was running for his first term. And Jess was like, You need to be on social media. I was already on Twitter a lot. And she's like, No, you need to be on TikTok. I was like, TikTok, what is this TikTok? And like Instagram, all this. And she's like begging me, you have to do it. You have to do it. You know, you've got you just got you have to. So I started like messing around and

Okay.

posting these stupid Canva videos. Like remember that the money don't jiggle jiggle it folds. Remember that song? Yeah. I made a stupid like like John Fetterman, Josh Shapiro video with that. And then I file I was like, okay, I'm gonna do it. I went all in and it was the best decision. You know, I just really dove into it and she's right. You have to meet people where they are. And so you c I ha I have to credit Jess for getting me on social media. It was not my own personal intention, but I certainly have

Yeah.

Yeah.

you know, really taking the reins and go full court press with it.

Thanks,

Jess

Yeah, thank you, Jess.

well we're gonna play a little social media quiz. Okay. So I'm gonna ask you some questions, see if you know. which social media platform generates the most revenue?

Okay.

TikTok.

Facebook. Yeah, Facebook

is it because

they own Instagram and like or meta?

So f

I think it's j well, it's meta, but Facebook itself, not even with Instagram. So Facebook generates the most overall revenue, generating over a hundred and fifty billion dollars annually,

Yeah.

through targeted advertising. Yeah, so they're advertising. I know. It's crazy, right? Crazy. No.

I would have thought it was TikTok on on because

all the ads on TikTok, I'm like every three strolls is an ad. So I'm shocked by that.

There's a lot. Yeah,

Facebook, I know. I have a couple more. which

social media platform has the most engagement?

gonna say TikTok.

You're right. Yeah. TikTok is currently the most engaged social media platform globally, boasting the highest average daily time spent per user, one hour and thirty-seven minutes. That's the that's yeah, I know. It's crazy, right?

No

who is the wealthiest social media influencer?

Is it Mr Beast? I feel like it is ham okay. I like, I feel like it's Mr. Beast.

It is. It is. Yeah. Yeah. Jimmy

Jimmy Donaldson, widely known as Mr. Beast, is the richest. He generates an estimated eighty five million dollars a year and has an empire of over six hundred million followers across platforms. Six hundred million. That's crazy, right?

That's insane.

But then like wow. Like whoa.

I know. A diva can dream, Kenny. A diva can dream. All

Larely.

Pink yo.

Is well.

Yeah, I've definitely lost a few friends because of it.

Yeah.

it's a crappy space to be in, especially when a lot of people don't try to understand. they don't want to understand, and they think we're just like these like freaks of nature or just like, you know, just like not human beings and it drives me insane because I'm like literally, I'm like so normal. The only difference is

My partner is a man. That's like literally like it.

So yeah, it sucks.

I mean, I just think it's crazy. I I empathize enormously for the LGBTQ community and I I can't imagine having my life politicized so much, especially in this administration right now. And I'm just grateful, as I'm sure you are, that Josh Shapir was our governor and that we have democratic control of the state house, because as long as we have that, you know, they're not going to try and erode marriage equality in Pennsylvania. In fact, if we get the trifecta

Yeah.

We are going to pass an Equality Act in Pennsylvania. I mean, that's that's gonna happen. It's gonna happen.

Mazel Tub again to your marriage. I'm super happy for you. And many, many wonderful years to come.

Kenny, you have been stating recently you are currently in your gay housewife era. So I would like you to explain to me what this era consists of.

Okay. So so I've been watching Real Housewives a lot lately. So one of my best friends actually recommended it to me because he was like, You're literally like a housewife. and prior to being in my housewife era, I was actually working for a LGBT center, a nonprofit, for like the last like seven years, which is crazy. And we recently closed down, in November twenty twenty five.

Mm-hmm.

Mm-hmm.

yeah, so now I'm just in my like gay housewife era, as I would call it, because I feel as though being a housewife is like a lifestyle. I know it's like controversial, but based on watching the show, I'm like, this is a lifestyle, you know? And like I'm gay and I'm a housewife, like literally.

And your housewife.

But I'm also just like making fun of it 'cause it is funny, but I do feel as though

my lifestyle is pretty pretty similar to a housewife. Yeah.

That's pretty amazing. I mean, look,

having kids is a full time job. Okay. So even if you're home being a housewife and a diva that you are, when you have those kids, that job is the hardest job in the world. I mean, my job as a doctor is really hard. I have really hard days. But my wife raising three kids, It is a crazy hard. So

Literally

Yeah.

there's no amount of money in the world you could make that would make that job any easier. Okay. So I'm just putting that out there.

right, we're gonna play the real housewives of Bethlehem, okay? So I wanna know, I wanna know when this starts, okay, and you're on the show, what's your tagline, guys?

Ha ha ha.

my god. I

actually wrote a few down.

Let's go. And you did not know that these games were coming, so I'm glad you prepared.

No. Actually

I know one off the top of my head.

Okay.

I've always had a little sugar in my tank, but guess what? Life's sweet. There's some other ones, but I'll give you that one.

I like that. I like it. And you have you have a little you have the look, you

have to have the look, you know, after you say it in the pose. I love it.

I feel like mine would be I'm an anesthesiologist. I'd be like, you know, I always bring the drugs to the party, you know? Something like that. what restaurant would be the the go to place for gossip on the Real Housewives of Bethlehem? Yeah. You know, they always have like that one or two places that they go to, so where would it be?

I think.

I feel like it would probably be the Shelby or Zest.

Yeah, I could see Zest actually. I'm gonna see Zest. Yeah. Yep.

Zest. Okay, that's that's where all the drama is gonna unfold. Okay,

would your husband do the show with you?

He would. He would be a house husband. But he would only show up if he's like cooking me dinner, you know, taking me on a shopping spree, you know, something like that. He's a physician assistant.

House I've been.

Okay. Okay. And what does he do for a living?

very nice. Very nice. Well, from one person in the medical field to another, tell him he's doing a great job. We need more, we need more APPs in the world.

okay, here's the last one. If you could recruit one person for the show, okay, who would it be?

Ooh. Like a celebrity or like a

Mm-hmm. Anyb I

anyone, like someone that like either like the villain or someone like who's gonna be your bestie to really spice up the show, you pick one person. Only rule is it has to be in Pennsylvania. Okay, is we're a Pennsylvania show. So one person in Pennsylvania, who could it be to be on the show with you? The real housewives of Bethlehem.

Since I'm watching Love Island right now, I think I know Melanie, she's one of the people from Pennsylvania. She would be really funny on there. She's from I believe Philly actually, but she would be really funny. She brings the drama, but she's also love petted, and I think she'd be a really good household, Melanie.

Mm-hmm, mm-hmm, mm-hmm.

Okay. Okay.

Melanie. Mm-hmm. Okay. My I'm pretty

sure Jess is watching Love Island now. She that's one of her guilty pleasures. so she would probably know. I don't know who that is. Sometimes I'll like walk in and she'll be watching it and I'll just I don't know who they are, but it's funny. So I guarantee she would know who those people are. She would so she would certainly know. Okay, well, bravo. If you're listening or watching the real housewives of Bethlehem, let's get it going.

Whoa.

Yeah, she'll know Melanie for sure.

And Kenny Scrabbin is gonna be your first hire, okay?

Alright.

I'm manifesting it. I think it'll be I think it'll happen. I feel like I'll be the first. I think I'll be the first male housewife. I do. I don't know. Talk to me in ten years. I can see it happening.

see it. I c I can see

it clearly.

since twenty nineteen,

you were the coordinator of House of Shades, which is part of the the Valley Youth House, Bethlehem based nonprofit that serves the vulnerable youth. And I know they have an LGBTQ plus youth ally section, but it closed because of the Trump administration, is that correct? That's just terrible. It's just absolutely terrible.

Mm-hmm.

Mm, yep. Yeah.

Really sad.

I mean how

I

how'd you get that news?

we went into work one day. So there was, I would say, since Trump has been president, we've been already kind of like we were already kind of on high alert, we were already kind of nervous. let's just say we're pre we were preparing for the worst. However, we found out in like October, I think it was like the second week of October. I remember it was like right before.

Halloween. It was right before my Halloween party. No, it was actually right after my Halloween party. I had a fun weekend and I came back and I got the news. So I was really like sad. But I thought we were at least gonna have until probably like now, to be honest. I thought I would at least be there until like August of this year. So when that happened, it was very out of left field, completely caught off guard. And then we were told we had to be pretty much done in like I think it was like a month to give or take.

But that was like a sad month because we were pretty much just like letting all like the youth know. We were letting all of our clients know. And we were such, you know, a safe space and a safe haven for almost a decade for a lot of LGBTQ plus youth. And honestly not just LGBTQ plus youth, but you know, hetero youth, just like anyone. We were just such a safe haven.

Because we were essentially like an aftercare program,

So youth came at their own will and it was ages fourteen to twenty nine. So Mondays and Fridays were adults eighteen to twenty-nine, and then Tuesday to Thursday was like fourteen to like eighteen. So

Okay.

Through there, a lot of, you know, our clients were able to find support, suff find friends, find community, learn new skills, you know. we also offered HIV STI testing. We were a health clinic. we did a lot of gardening activities, like just so much stuff that it it it it truly is like a piece of my heart is missing. And it is something I've been kind of

Not avoiding talking about, but kind of like putting it off because I like don't really know. It's still a sore of subject, you know. I'm still like kind of dealing with the emotions behind it. but yeah, it was just very it was just one day we were here, one day we were gone. It was literally that fast. And it's really sad because we had a beautiful space. Like the space was so gorgeous. And then I didn't really share a lot of it online because it was a sacred space for me, also. So I really wanted to protect.

Yeah.

You know, the clients we serve, you know, staff and like myself, 'cause it was just such a sacred, you know, place. And now it's gone, literally. Yeah.

Yeah.

So sad, Kenny. it's just terrible.

I mean the elections have consequences and I just I feel so terrible that these children, these young adults in your area just don't have that safe place anymore. I do you think that if the funding came back in a couple of years that they could get it going again, or is it just like what do you think?

We've talked about it. I know there's things in the works and so actually I'm still running House of Shades, but right now it's kinda volunteer based, I would say, 'cause I was like I am one of the founders of it.

Yeah.

and actually last week for Juneteenth, we partnered with Allentown Art Museum to, you know, help run like a freedom runway walk. And that was really fun. But we're kind of just zooming things here and there. I w I do want to pick up the pace on it a bit.

Okay.

I mean the c the LGBT community everywhere, but

specifically in the Lehigh Valley because it truly felt like home to me, you know, and like the fact that such a beautiful thing was just taken away, literally in just like a snap of a finger, it's just so hard to, you know, digest it all. But I'm working to get it back on its feet

Yeah.

Yeah.

You're such a good person, Kenny. I mean I mean it's just so lovely that you offer that to your community. And I believe since you're doing this in a volunteer capacity, that as soon as you see a a window to bring it back, you're gonna do it. And and I just I am so grateful that people like you exist in these communities because people don't always have that support and you provided that support and those resources. And so I I'm just so grateful that you're still doing this on a volunteer basis.

Yeah.

Mm-hmm.

Thank you.

Kenny, I read on your blog that despite your parents initially initially cutting you off for being gay, I'm happy to know that you are now very close with your mom. but your dad is still kind of a work in progress, correct?

Yeah.

Mm-hmm.

Yeah. He is I don't wanna say he doesn't accept me because I feel like he no, I don't know. I feel like he's like seventy percent there, you know? Like he doesn't like he'll always love me because I'm his child, like you know, he's like with the best dad ever. I'll never take that away from him. But I just think him being like your typical like macho man, this just isn't what he saw for his son, I guess you could say. We have the same name.

We look pretty similar. It's just not what it's just not the path he would have chosen for me. which, you know, sucks. I've dealt with a lot of shame with that. for a really long time, actually. I would say honestly recently, like probably within like the last year or so, I've really been kind of just like whatever I'm gonna do, me. And I I always go back to that headspace, like, whatever I'm gonna do me. But, you know, I feel like kids wanna make their parents happy, you know, at the end of the day, like.

Okay.

Yeah.

I feel like that's not what you were made to do, but like, you know, when you're born, you want to make sure, you know, your parents love you and accept you. But he has his own working journey. There's been a lot of growth. He's not where I think he should be, or he's not where I want him to be quite yet. That's not saying he'll never get there. But I don't know, I still think there's a lot of work that could be done. Like I've had multiple homes and he hasn't been to any of my houses.

So I I don't know, I'm like, okay. Like there's just like little things like that. It's like you kind of accept me, but you don't. whereas my mom has helped me move into like all my places. yeah, like she loves Rob and she I don't know, she's just so accepting. Like we'll talk to each other for hours. Like I can call her and we'll be on the phone like six, seven hours. Like it's crazy. So we're like actually like best friends now. And believe it or not, she was more difficult than my dad in the beginning. So when I first came out

Yeah, yeah.

Yay, mom.

Really?

My dad was actually nicer and my mom was kind of a little bit more she took it harder than my dad, I would say. And it always like surprised me. And then boom, all of a sudden it was just like a switch.

Interesting.

I mean, look, I I have three kids. There is nothing I wouldn't do for my kids. Nothing. And that includes loving and affirming them for whoever they turn out to be, you know, now and in the future. So I I'm so grateful that your mom is where she always needed to be. And I just hope that your dad can get there. Because I I get it. You know, you want your parents to accept you and love you. Espe I mean

Great.

Mm-hmm.

The people who brought you into the world. Like I i the rest of the world is against you, that's one thing, but like your family, your direct bloodline to not have that, that that does hurt. It hurts it hurts a lot deeper.

Yeah.

Literally.

don't know. I feel like a lot of it came down, they were afraid for me because there's so much.

you know, hate for the LGBT community. At least from their day and age, they felt like, you know, we were typically bullied and harassed, killed even. So they were more so afraid for my safety. So I think that was kind of like the like that was their reasoning for being very like, I guess, upset and kind of like anxious in the beginning about it, 'cause they're like, my God, my our son, like what's gonna happen to him? Like more so just concerned for my safety.

Yeah.

Yeah.

Yeah.

Especially me being like a public figure online, that doesn't help because that puts a target on my back at times. So that on top of that, on top of me being, you know, more feminine presenting at times, like that also doesn't help my case. So there was just a lot of things that were kind of like adding up that kind of just like made them a little bit more, you know, nervous for my safety. now, I think they both feel a lot better about it. They feel, you know.

Yeah. Yeah, yeah, yeah.

Yeah.

They feel like I'm pretty safe. They still worry I'm their child, but

Yeah.

it's better. It's definitely better than it was.

Well, Daddy Kenny, let's come on. Let's go. It's twenty twenty six. Let's go. It's time to catch up to the Diva, okay? The D.Va's not waiting for you anymore.

What's happening?

Okay.

Wow, you're still listening. Thank you so much. I want to make sure as many people in Pennsylvania as possible get to experience The Zekely Podcast. So to help spread the word, please take a moment to rate my podcast. Five stars would be great. Leave a comment as well. And if you're watching this on YouTube, please hit follow. Enjoy the rest of the show.

well, we kinda talked about this already, Kenny. You love reality TV. I mean it's it is it is obvious. is your favorite show right now, Love Island? Is that what you're doing right now?

That's what I'm tuning into right now. Yes. Definitely.

Okay. Okay. But the but

the real housewives is like a close second.

Yeah, like the Rhode Island one. I just finished that one last week. So I'm waiting for the reunion.

Nice. Uh-huh.

if you get bored of Love Island or The Real Housewives you must watch Love is Blind. Okay.

I've watched

It's my new up. No, I'm I'm not talking about just America. I'm talking about other countries, Kenny. There are other countries. Okay. I just finished Germany. So good. So good. Okay. And now I'm doing Italy. All right. And then I.

Okay.

I like the

highlight.

I would

say my favorite season was probably Sweden. Okay, actually. Sweden was super good because the women there don't put up with shit. Like in a ma in America, the women, at least in Ohio, that was the last one. You know, there was like all of them were MAGA and except for that one couple that ended up getting married. But in Sweden, they were like, if you're giving me shit, we're done. Like I'm not, I'm shutting this stuff down. No, it was it was so good. No, Love is Blind is my new binge-worthy show.

Really?

What?

And it's there's so many different countries. It's so much so much fun to see like what it what the culture is like in all these different places.

Stop.

Yeah.

yeah. I guess that is interesting. I never thought of that.

I've watched a handful of seasons. I've definitely skipped a few seasons from like the USA one. I love the first season. Lauren and Cameron. Ugh. Obsessed. And I actually met Marshall. I would say we're pretty friendly from I don't know what season he was on though. But we went to like Vegas together. That was fun. Yeah,

Mm-hmm.

Yeah, yeah. Mm-hmm.

Really?

That's so cool.

Yeah.

No, that's

that's fun. I'm saying one you need to see the other countries. And it's all on Netflix. Okay. So you just like start going through, and some of them have like two seasons, some just one season, but it is just so interesting. And I would say probably the most interesting thing that I've learned from watching other countries Love is Blind is how much they emulate and use American culture in their countries. Like they'll have.

Okay.

Mm.

hoodies and shirts on with American sayings and they'll use American catchphrases in their language. Like we we like we don't use German phrases in America. We don't use Swedish phrases or or you know Spanish might be the most common like Spanglish or whatever. But it is so interesting to see how prevalent American culture is in other countries. That was very interesting to me. Yeah. It's crazy. They'll like switch up to English all of a sudden. Like what's happening? Like we're we're

Mm.

No.

Yeah.

Ha ha

ha.

Like

we're in Sweden right now. Why are these why are they talking English? I don't get it. But yeah, it is you're gonna love it. So check out Love is Blind, okay?

I will. I'm excited. I need a new show.

Yeah,

you're gonna love it. You know, you won't regret it, I promise.

Kenny, you said recently on YouTube,

unfortunately, that you haven't been wearing makeup as much recently due to the craziness of what's happening in the world. does your husband share the same fear for you in terms of how you present yourself in public?

I mean

No

Z

No, he doesn't actually. And sometimes I wish he did. But then I'm like, maybe it's just a me thing and maybe I need to get out of my head. So when I first started wearing wearing makeup, I really like I did it in doses. Like I would just wear foundation so it wasn't like obvious to people. And then I guess the more comfortable I got in my sexuality, I started wearing like more. Like I would wear concealer, then lipstick, then blush. Pretty much the more comfortable I got with myself, the more makeup I added on. But

Yeah. Yeah.

During that whole process, I never I never questioned who I was. I never I was never afraid for my safety. But I think it was because I was in college doing all this. I had a great support system. I had really great friends. And I never really ran into any issues. And I I was like a party boy in college. I was like everywhere. I went to pretty much all the straight bars. Like, so I just I never had an issue. So I felt accepted very early on in my journey. And I know that's not.

Common for a lot of queer people, but I felt a lot of love and support. But now, seeing how the world has changed so much, and like my comment section has changed, and just like the DMs I get, I'm like, okay, it is actually kind of scary out here. I need to be a little bit more careful. But then I'm like, do I need to be more careful? Because me, you know, living in my truth will motivate and inspire someone else to do the same even during difficult times. But then I'm also like,

Is this worth my life? You know what I mean? So I'm constantly just going back and forth with like how I want to present and how I don't want to present. And I notice it depends on where I'm going, where I'm headed. You know, if I'm going somewhere like the governor's mansion, I'm more than likely to show up, you know, wearing makeup and, you know, feeling like myself. But if I were to go somewhere like Cabela's or, you know, shopping alone at night, I probably wouldn't just because I'm like.

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

Oftentimes people spot me before I spot them. I feel like I'm very much like someone you notice right away, you know what I mean? Versus I'm not always, you know, looking to my left, looking to my right. Because, you know, sometimes when I wear makeup, I'm like,

Yeah.

just walk with purpose and like don't, you know, let some of the glances or like the dirty looks kind of get you down. So by looking straight ahead, I'm not worried about everyone else.

But because I'm doing that, that's also can make me a target because I'm not paying attention to my surroundings.

So I have to be a little bit more careful, you know, on how I present and how I show up. Or do I? Or do I just show up and deal with whatever happens? It's just Yeah.

Yeah.

Yeah. I mean I

th these are things that so many people don't have to even think about. I mean, you know, Pulse Nightclub happened, right? Like these these things happen where marginalized communities get attacked and sometimes in a very fatal, real way. And I again I I I have to pour on the empathy because I don't think about those things. Like I don't think about

Mm-hmm.

what time of day I pump my gas. I don't think about what I'm gonna wear or do when I go out to a concert or when I'm going to a restaurant or go to Cabela's. I mean, the fact that you have to think about this is not a gaslighting phenomenon, like it's because you read the news, you know the stories, you you you see things in real time of what your community has to deal with. And that to me is a huge reason why I'm so into politics is because I know that the policies that are passed, the people who are elected, the people who have power over us set the tone.

And we are currently in administration that sets a verb a very negative tone and attitude towards the LGBTQ plus community. And I I there there are no words to say. Like I just I really look forward to a day where you can do everything that you wanna do and be who you wanna be and not have these negative thoughts in your head. And whether the I know.

Mm-hmm. And it's weird because I felt like we were there at one point. And like

we weren't fully there, but we were getting there. Like where I liked when I tell you I've never had an issue and I've been going to like bars and clubs since I was like 21, 20, you know? And like I've never had a problem. I've never had anyone harass me. I've never had anyone bully me. Nothing. So I was always kinda like I don't wanna say rose-colored glasses, but I was always kinda like, you know, we're in a great place, you know?

Yeah.

Yeah.

And now it feels like we're backtracking so much that the hate and like the just the negativity and like just the pure just grossness is just kept pouring out of people. And it is insane. I've lost so many friends because of it. yeah, it's just it's insane.

I know. I know what

Yeah, one of the worst things that's happened is just, you know, Trump and Republican politicians have made it normal for bigots to get comfortable, to be comfortable with showcasing their bigotry. and so that's just unfortunate. And I I hope that America and Pennsylvania this November third will show that we are not gonna tolerate this anymore, that we need to start showing people that we need to respect everyone's dignity.

Yeah.

No.

and pursuit of happiness. And so I I'm gonna fight for you and and all and everyone in Pennsylvania that they can exist and not have to fear the fear that you've been feeling since Trump got elected.

Thank you.

Kenny, you have been invited to be a panelist at PIMCon, the Philly Influencer Mixer Conference this October 10th. That's super exciting. What's your panel gonna be about?

Yeah.

And it's very

so ours is about mental health, like and how mental health challenges and how to overcome, you know, just like how to take care of your mental health being online. That is a whole thing. Especially when you're constantly doom strolling and doom strolling and doom strolling.

Mm-hmm.

I like that. Mm-hmm.

it can be really hard not to compare yourself to others. It can be really hard to not appreciate what you have in front of you and 'cause you're constantly consuming other people's lives and other people's content.

Mm-hmm.

'Cause sometimes you're like, why am I why am I not doing that? Or I should be doing this or I should be doing that when really really your life is fine,

kind of, you know, focused on what's in front of you when focused on your own path. So I'm really excited because I've definitely had some mental health challenges, you know, over the years. So yeah, I'm really excited to be a part of the panel. I attended last year and it was such a good time. So it's gonna be really fun and different to be like a panelist.

That's awesome.

I'm jealous. I mean, I'm I already looked at my schedule and because I make a schedule. And unfortunat and unfortunately I'm on I'm on call that weekend, so I can't even show up and be a a stand for you or anything, but I'm super happy for you. And you know, mental health, I talk a lot on my show about mental health. I have a therapist that I go to every other week and and I'm a firm believer that we should all be taking better care of our mental health. And again, mental health services are not easy to get in America, right? We don't have a lot of support, a lot of it is cash based.

Yeah.

No.

and certainly Democrats want to make it more accessible than the Republican politicians, but I'm really happy that's what you're talking about. Mental health in social media, that's such a great thing. Mazletov, I'm very happy for you.

Yeah.

Kenny, what gives you hope?

I wanna say people like yourself, truly, like seeing the support really makes a difference because a lot of times we do feel alone and you know, we could feel like we're fighting this fight alone and stuff, but you know, when you see like a, you know, says heterogue kind of advocating for your rights and like, you know, it makes you kind of feel like, you know what, I can take a backseat today for an hour. But you do feel as though like there's you know, you have support out there.

Thank you.

And you do have people advocating for you. And a lot of times, you know, people like you are more important in these spaces only because I don't want to say more important, but sometimes they hear it better from people that look like them. You know what I mean? Unfortunately, that's yeah. Unfortunately, that's the case. So allies, LGBTQ plus allies are really, you know, amazing and great. And they help push everything forward. And truly, we wouldn't be able to get

I'm passing, I can pass. Yeah. Mm.

anywhere without LGBTQ plus allies. So yeah, that's what I would have to say.

Kenny, you got me in the feels, man. I'm I thank thank you so much. I mean, you you give me hope that you're living your true authentic self and that you're doing what you can on your platform to promote good democratic values. So that always gives me hope. But yeah, I mean it's just it's not even a question to me to speak up. again, do no harm means so much to me as a doctor. It it can have so many different meanings. And to me.

Mm-hmm.

bad politics that hurts other people, that that to me I feel compelled to speak up and and and you know, help other people no matter what it is, no matter being hurt in the hospital, they're being hurt out, you know, with their loved ones, being hurt trying to get access to food or housing or anything.

So I'm I'm very grateful you feel that way. Thank you very much, Kenny.

Yeah. Mm-hmm.

My last question for you is what are your plans to get you through these next few years? In America. In America, Kenny.

Ha ha.

this is gonna sound a bit selfish. Self-care, truly. Because I realize that I have, you know, a platform, a decent sized platform. So obviously I'm gonna continue to advocate, but with the same token, you know, you're gonna get a lot of pushback, you're gonna get a lot of hate. So I do need to take care of myself mentally if I wanna show up better and advocate for the community at my, you know, full capacity. So self-care for sure.

Yeah. Mm-hmm.

Mm-hmm.

Yeah. Mm-hmm.

I feel like you're doing a lot of self-care through your social media. You know, going to the restaurants and having fun and doing all these reviews. I mean, that looks i I mean, it's a lot of work to edit those videos, I know. but you're having a great time. I'm so happy that you have someone like Rob to take this journey with you. You deserve it. You more than more than deserve it. And I'm chasing that self-care nonstop, Kenny. So I'm gonna I'm gonna keep trying.

Yeah, thank you.

Thank you.

I'm

always worried about like how those videos flick. Yeah, I'm so one thing about me is I'm an overthinker. I overthink everything, which is like a good and bad thing. But sometimes I'm like, How are those videos being perceived? Cause I I don't want people to think I'm out of touch. You know what I mean? Cause it can seem like that.

Uh-huh.

Ye no, they're great.

no, I just want people, you know, that look like me or that are in the community to realize that like you can still

Live a happy life and still take care of yourself, still have fun and still do those things, even though the world sucks right now. you don't feel like you need to just sit in your room and mourn and like, you know, be sad because there is there is a happy ending at some point. You just have to believe it and when you believe it, we'll achieve it and then that's

Yeah.

Yeah. Mm-hmm.

I love it. And there is joy in the resistance. There is joy in the resistance. Well, Kenny Screven social media mogul, Diva, Housewives Era. You're you're so wonderful. I'm so grateful you made time for me. for anyone who doesn't follow Kenny, it's @ kscreven across all media platforms. And there's KennyScreven.com. You have a blog post there, which is wonderful.

Yeah.

Yes.

And I again I'm just so grateful that you use your visibility and your platform to promote democratic values.

I I can't wait to see what you produce next, all the way up to November third of this year.

Thank you. this was so much fun. I had a blast. Thank you for having me. This was amazing. I love chatting. And yeah, this was great.

Thank you.

Well thank you so much for joining me here on The Zekely Podcast.

Stay hopeful and get involved. And until next time, let's keep building a stronger Pennsylvania together.