EP 41 Stephen Land – Mr Nu Towne Phoenix 2026
Here’s this week’s podcast description, keeping our established GayPHX style: a strong opening hook, a focus on Stephen’s story, Brian’s Hot 3, the Pride weekend recap, and our community updates. I’ve also included the Top Host contest and some love for the Amory Pack without letting the promotions overshadow the interview.
What does it take to create a space where people can truly be themselves — without judgment, expectations, or having to explain who they are?
This week on the GayPHX Podcast, Bily sits down at the Rainbow Tinted Microphone with Stephen Land, Mr. Nu Towne 2026, for a conversation about LGBTQ+ nightlife, leather, kink, consent, community, and the importance of creating spaces where everyone feels welcome.
With nearly two decades of experience in nightlife, Stephen has performed and produced events across the country and around the world. Now back in Arizona, he’s bringing that experience home, helping create the kind of nightlife and community experiences he believes Phoenix deserves.
But Stephen’s story goes much deeper than parties and dance floors.
He shares why competing for leather and community titles has always been about representation, what earning the title of Mr. Nu Towne means to him, and how he’s preparing to represent Arizona on the road to International Mr. Leather.
Bily and Stephen also explore the importance of trust and consent within the leather and kink communities, why giving yourself permission to explore can be empowering, and how finding the right community can help someone discover confidence they didn’t know they had.
And of course, there’s Nightburn — Stephen’s warehouse party experience designed around music, freedom of expression, and creating memorable nights where people can leave their worries at the door.
Because as Stephen reminds us, people might not remember every song played at an event, but they’ll remember how they felt while they were there.
Phoenix Pride & Leather Pride — What a Weekend!
We’re recording this episode in the middle of Pride weekend, but by the time you’re listening, the celebrations will have wrapped up.
And what a weekend it’s already been!
Wednesday kicked things off with Roll Call, Thursday brought Harness Your Inner Rock Star, and Friday night took us from The Mickey DelRio Show at Kobalt to Glow Job, finally getting home at almost 3 AM!
And that was just the beginning.
Want to hear how the rest of Pride weekend turned out?
📻 Catch Bily LIVE Monday through Friday from 11 AM to 5 PM at GayPHX.com, where we’ll be sharing our adventures, community updates, music, and everything happening next around the Valley.
Plus, This Week on GayPHX
🐻 Brian, our Desert Den Daddy, brings us another Hot 3, highlighting what’s happening around Phoenix.
🐾 We’re sending some love to our friends at the Amory Pack! The pups couldn’t join us behind the microphones this week, so Bily is handling the opening and closing. Keep up with the pack at AmoryPack.com.
🏆 Bily is competing in the Top Host competition! If you’d like to support him, visit GayPHX.com/vote to cast your vote. If he wins, the prize money will be reinvested into GayPHX and the work we’re doing for our community. Win or lose, it’s another opportunity to introduce GayPHX to a wider audience.
🏳️🌈 Discover more of your community at GayPHX.com. Find LGBTQ+ events, business listings, community news, interviews, and the livestream.
📞 Know about an event we’re missing or someone Bily should interview? Call 602-GAY-9482 and leave a message, or use the feedback form at GayPHX.com.
And Finally, Thank You.
If you’ve made it to the end of another GayPHX Podcast, we have one small favor to ask.
Help us get these stories in front of more people.
Leave us a review on your favorite podcast platform, give the episode a like wherever possible, and share GayPHX with someone who might not know we’re here.
We’re boots-on-the-ground in Phoenix, sharing the people, organizations, businesses, and stories that make our LGBTQ+ community what it is — including conversations that don’t always make it into mainstream media.
The bigger our audience becomes, the more voices we can bring behind the Rainbow Tinted Microphone.
And none of that happens without you.
Thank you for listening, sharing, and being part of our community.
This is the GayPHX Podcast.