Can you be a gay actor, a man of faith, and a bold truth-teller in an industry that often expects you to pick one?
This week, John Corella sits down with actor and LGBTQ+ activist Danny Franzese, best known as Damian in Mean Girls. Danny shares what it was like to play an openly gay character while still closeted in real life, and how that disconnect shaped his early career. The conversation pulls back the curtain on what many actors face behind the scenes, especially when their identity challenges what the industry expects or understands.
Danny also introduces a less-talked-about influence in his journey: the Alexander Technique. For him, it wasn’t just a posture tool. It became a way to find alignment, physically and emotionally. How do you carry yourself when no one’s watching? Can you feel present in your own skin, even in chaos? Danny makes a case for the connection between movement, intention, and inner peace.
John and Danny also discuss the ongoing debate around representation in the media. Should gay roles be reserved for gay actors? What does authentic storytelling really require, and who gets to tell which stories?
This episode is part personal story, part thoughtful critique, and part reminder that the body, the voice, and the truth all deserve space. Danny brings depth, humor, and honesty to a conversation that speaks to anyone who’s ever wondered whether they’re “too much” to be fully seen.
Episode Breakdown:
00:00 Introduction
04:44 Alexander Technique
10:53 Stage Performance and Authenticity
14:48 Acting and Being in the Moment
19:29 Past Danny and Future Danny
23:19 Coming Out and Mean Girls Experience
26:40 LGBTQ+ Representation in Media
29:15 Career Challenges Post-Mean Girls
32:14 Becoming an Advocate
34:07 LGBTQ+ Films and Representation
38:55 Wokeness and Diversity
41:14 Realistic Representation in Media
Links
Connect with Danny Franzese: www.instagram.com/whatsupdanny
patreon.com/TheonlyDanceDadwithJohnCorella
@dancedadpodcast.bsky.social
Dance Dad with John Corella on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dancedadwithjohncorella/
John on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/john_corella/
Popular Podcasts
Las Culturistas with Matt Rogers and Bowen Yang
Ding dong! Join your culture consultants, Matt Rogers and Bowen Yang, on an unforgettable journey into the beating heart of CULTURE. Alongside sizzling special guests, they GET INTO the hottest pop-culture moments of the day and the formative cultural experiences that turned them into Culturistas. Produced by the Big Money Players Network and iHeartRadio.
Crime Junkie
Does hearing about a true crime case always leave you scouring the internet for the truth behind the story? Dive into your next mystery with Crime Junkie. Every Monday, join your host Ashley Flowers as she unravels all the details of infamous and underreported true crime cases with her best friend Brit Prawat. From cold cases to missing persons and heroes in our community who seek justice, Crime Junkie is your destination for theories and stories you won’t hear anywhere else. Whether you're a seasoned true crime enthusiast or new to the genre, you'll find yourself on the edge of your seat awaiting a new episode every Monday. If you can never get enough true crime... Congratulations, you’ve found your people. Follow to join a community of Crime Junkies! Crime Junkie is presented by Audiochuck Media Company.
The Brothers Ortiz
The Brothers Ortiz is the story of two brothers–both successful, but in very different ways. Gabe Ortiz becomes a third-highest ranking officer in all of Texas while his younger brother Larry climbs the ranks in Puro Tango Blast, a notorious Texas Prison gang. Gabe doesn’t know all the details of his brother’s nefarious dealings, and he’s made a point not to ask, to protect their relationship. But when Larry is murdered during a home invasion in a rented beach house, Gabe has no choice but to look into what happened that night. To solve Larry’s murder, Gabe, and the whole Ortiz family, must ask each other tough questions.