The Karel Show
The Karel Show delivers bold commentary from Karel, an openly gay entertainer, author, and nationally syndicated talk show host known for saying what others won’t. With humor, heart, and zero patience for nonsense, Karel takes listeners on a fast-paced, no-filter journey through politics, culture, and modern American life—hilarious, incisive, and always honest. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-karel-show--1368295/support.
Episodes
POLICE KILL 10,000 DOGS EVERY YEAR… WHY DOES NOBODY CARE?
A family was celebrating a big Knicks victory when police arrived over a noise complaint. Minutes later, their beloved dog was dead.
The owner sat on the ground sobbing while officers stood nearby. No arrests. No charges. No consequences.
And here’s the shocking part: this isn’t r...
The American West is facing a crisis that could reshape life for millions.
The Colorado River supplies water to nearly 40 million people across the Southwest, but record drought, shrinking snowpack, rising temperatures, and increasing demand have pushed the river to a breaking point. California, Nevada, and Colorado all need the water. None want to give up their sh...
What happens if humanity learns we are not alone?
Steven Spielberg’s upcoming film Disclosure Day raises a question that has fascinated scientists, theologians, and governments for generations: If extraterrestrial life is proven beyond any doubt, what happens next?
Would confirmation of alien civilizations strengthen religious belief—or challenge it? Does the Bi...
It’s Pride Month, but in some parts of the United States, the United Kingdom, and beyond, flying a Pride flag has become a political statement, a cultural battleground, and sometimes even a target.
Why does a rainbow flag generate so much controversy? Is the outrage genuine, or is it being manufactured by politicians, media personalities, and culture-war influencers looking ...
Tomatoes are about to get a lot more expensive, and most Americans have no idea why.
This week, I retreat to the kitchen to make a comforting vegan tomato soup, but even there, politics has a way of finding us. The biggest inflation story in food right now isn’t beef, eggs, or milk—it’s tomatoes. Prices are rising fast, and policy decisions could make them climb even higher....
A simple Pride Month post from HelloFresh sparked outrage, boycotts, angry comments, and endless social media debates. But the real story isn’t HelloFresh. It’s why so many people seem permanently angry about everything.
Why does a Pride post generate thousands of comments demanding a “Straight Pride Month”? Why are immigrants, LGBTQ people, trans people, t...
A Pride Month social media post from HelloFresh has sparked outrage, backlash, boycotts, and endless debate. Was it a bad joke? Probably. But the reaction to it may reveal something much bigger about where we are as a society in 2026.
After spending 30 minutes discussing the controversy on GB News in the UK, one thing became clear: the conversation isn’t really about H...
The economy is supposedly thriving. The stock market is breaking records. Corporate profits are soaring. Yet millions of Americans are struggling to pay rent, buy groceries, fill up their gas tanks, and save for the future.
How can oil companies post enormous profits while gas prices remain painfully high? Why are food giants reporting strong earnings while grocery bills co...
As Pride Month begins, LGBTQ people around the world are asking the same question:
Are things getting better—or getting worse?
This week on This Gay Week, Karel welcomes Scott Jacobsen of The Good Men Project for a wide-ranging conversation on the most important LGBTQ stories making headlines across the globe.
Topics include:
🏳️🌈 The cur...
The political world was focused on Tuesday’s major primary elections, and for good reason. The results could offer an early glimpse into what may become the most important midterm election cycle in decades.
But while everyone was watching politics, another story may have been far more important—and far more frightening.
Climate scientists are warning tha...
Donald Trump keeps taking hits.
His proposed projects are stalling. Legal troubles continue to mount. Poll numbers are sliding. Key initiatives face growing opposition. Even on major international issues, his answers seem increasingly detached from the realities Americans face every day.
By many measures, Donald Trump is losing.
But if Trump is losing, w...
Many people ask: “Why do we still need Pride Month?”
After all, same-sex marriage is legal. LGBTQ people are visible in media, business, and politics. Haven’t we won?
The answer is no.
As Pride Month begins, LGBTQ Americans—especially transgender youth—are facing the most significant legal and political backlash in decades. While marriage...
Pride flags are being ripped down, politicians are fueling outrage, and once again the LGBTQ+ community is at the center of another global culture war. On this episode of Gay Week, Scott Jacobsen and Karel break down the stories everyone will be talking about.
A chilling new true crime series revisits the tragic death of Ale...
America is about to celebrate its 250th birthday… but what exactly are we celebrating?
This week, a massive American flag was draped across Hoover Dam to launch the America 250 festivities. But as drought, climate change, political division, attacks on civil rights, and economic anxiety continue to reshape the country, Karel asks the uncomfortab...
BREAKING NEWS!” Every alert is urgent. Every headline is a crisis. Every story is supposedly the end of the world. But what if the real problem isn’t the news… it’s the way the news is built?
Today on The Karel Show, we dive into the nonstop outrage machine that modern media has become. Fear, anger, panic, urgency—it’s all enginee...
A terrifying chemical tank failure in Garden Grove, California forced the evacuation of more than 40,000 people over Memorial Day weekend—including my friend Brandon and his family. Why? Because a massive industrial tank containing highly toxic chemicals was at risk of catastrophic failure.
Had it exploded, thousands could have been i...
This week on This Gay Week, Karel and journalist Scott Jacobsen report from Kyiv to break down the biggest LGBTQ stories happening around the world — from celebration and visibility to fear and persecution.
In Nigeria and Cameroon, LGBTQ prisoners are still being jailed simply for existing. The organization Project Not Alone is w...
A quarter century ago, a preventable medical mistake took the life of my partner, Andrew Lee Howard. Today, medical errors are considered the third leading cause of death in America — behind only heart disease and cancer. How did we get here? Why are so many families still suffering because of mistakes that should never happen?
...
The headlines sound unbelievable, but they’re real.
Reports now claim DOJ officials told GOP allies that major payouts were coming for January 6 defendants. At the same time, Trump’s Justice Department settlements are reportedly protecting him — and even members of his family — from IRS actions tied to old t...
Two teenagers carried out a horrifying hate crime at a mosque in San Diego, killing three people. But the bigger question is: where does this kind of hatred come from? Children are not born hating Muslims, LGBTQ people, immigrants, or people of color. They learn it — from adults, media, politicians, social media, and the culture aroun...
Popular Podcasts
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
Hey Jonas! The official Jonas Brothers podcast. Hosted by Kevin, Joe, and Nick Jonas. It’s the Jonas Brothers you know... musicians, actors, and well, yes, brothers. Now, they’re sharing another side of themselves in the playful, intimate, and irreverent way only they can. Spend time with the Jonas Brothers here and stay a little bit longer for deep conversations like never before.
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.
Building on the belief that a deeper understanding of the natural world enriches all of our lives, host Steven Rinella brings an in-depth and relevant look at all outdoor topics including hunting, fishing, nature, conservation, and wild foods. Filled with humor, irreverence, and things that will surprise the hell out of you, each episode welcomes a diverse group of guests who add their own expertise to the vast world of the outdoors. Part of The MeatEater Podcast Network.
Where the world and America meet, with episodes each weekday. The world is changing. Decisions made in the US and by the second Trump administration are accelerating that change. But they are also a symptom of it. With Asma Khalid in DC, Tristan Redman in London, and the backing of the BBC’s international newsroom, The Global Story brings clarity to politics, business and foreign policy in a time of connection and disruption. Come and join us our live event. You can register for Castfest tickets here: https://www.bbc.co.uk/showsandtours/shows/castfest-2026