iHEART PODCASTS & TS MADISON HEADLINE UNLEASHED LGBTQ+ 2026

Unleashed LGBTQ+ Expands Its Mission Through Live Events, Media and Unleashed Vodka

Dallas-based Unleashed continues to bring together entertainment, media, business and nonprofit leaders while expanding into original podcasts, consumer products and new live experiences.

DALLAS, TEXAS — What began as an ambitious idea to create an interactive space connecting LGBTQ+ voices with entertainment, business, media and nonprofit leadership has evolved into a growing platform encompassing live events, original media and consumer products. Founded by Wesley Smoot, Unleashed LGBTQ, LLC has worked to bring nationally recognized talent and influential leaders to Dallas, creating opportunities for artists, brands, media professionals, businesses and nonprofit organizations to exchange ideas, introduce new projects and initiatives, and build meaningful relationships in an environment designed to be both substantive and entertaining.

Since its inception, Unleashed has welcomed talent associated with major entertainment companies including Disney, Hulu and Netflix. Its inaugural event featured names including Antoni Porowski, Billy Eichner and Indya Moore, alongside prominent business and nonprofit leaders. In the years since, Unleashed has continued to grow its reach, welcoming influential figures including legendary filmmaker John Waters, Human Rights Campaign President Kelley Robinson and The Trevor Project CEO Jaymes Black. “Having the president of HRC, the CEO of The Trevor Project, movie stars and someone as legendary as John Waters participate in something we created brings me a level of gratitude and humility that is difficult to explain,” says Smoot. “Mark Cuban even accepted an award from us. There are moments when I look at what this has become and I’m simply beside myself.”

From Conference to Consumer Brand

Smoot’s vision for Unleashed has expanded far beyond the company’s conference and festival programming. Unleashed has moved into consumer products, including merchandise and its own spirits brand, Unleashed Vodka. The decision to launch a vodka brand came, in part, from a desire to create a more self-sustaining business model at a time when the political and corporate landscape surrounding LGBTQ+ initiatives was changing. “The political climate shifted to a point where some businesses—including alcohol brands—were no longer as interested in supporting what we were doing,” Smoot says. “My response was basically, ‘Screw it. I’ll make my own.’ If we can sell Unleashed Vodka and use that success to help fund our own events, produce our own content and market our own brand, then we’re building something that can support itself.”

Smoot credits organizations including Visit Dallas, Dallas Voice and the Mark Cuban Foundation with helping Unleashed continue its efforts to build a platform where individuals can tell their stories, showcase new projects and connect with other professionals who may ultimately become collaborators. The expansion has also created opportunities for Unleashed to give back. Through its various ventures and partnerships, Unleashed has provided more than $10,000 in support to Pride in Dallas Parade and has helped provide nationally recognized talent for community events through relationships developed by the company.

Locally, Unleashed Vodka can now be found throughout many of the bars and venues along Dallas’ Cedar Springs corridor, further connecting the consumer brand with the community in which Unleashed was built.

Unleashed Moves Into Original Media

Media has become another major component of the company’s evolution, with Unleashed developing original podcast programming designed to entertain audiences while exploring subjects and perspectives that may not typically receive a platform. Among its newest projects is Coffins and Cocktails, a podcast created in partnership with Dallas Voice and hosted by Todd Interiano-Shifflett, a funeral director and licensed embalmer with more than 20 years of experience in the death-care industry.The concept takes a subject everyone eventually encounters—death—and approaches it through conversation, curiosity, humor and, occasionally, a cocktail, promoting Unleashed Vodka.Guests bring dramatically different perspectives to the discussion, ranging from entertainers such as Elliott with 2 Ts of RuPaul’s Drag Race Season 13, to horror enthusiasts, members of Dallas’ Cedar Springs community and even devoted members of the Mormon faith. “Perspective is valuable,” says Todd Interiano-Shifflett. “We find interesting people to explore these topics with. Would you rather be buried or cremated? Do you want your passing to be sad, or do you want it to be a celebration?” Some conversations are educational. Some are hilarious. And some can get a little morbid. Consider yourself, warned.

Unleashed Sets Its Sights on a Major Dallas Media Event

For 2026, Smoot says Unleashed is putting an even greater emphasis on media, original content and experiences that give journalists, creators and entertainment professionals opportunities to connect. “We want to make a splash with media,” says Smoot. “We want to bring great personalities to Dallas and create an environment where media can connect with them, interview them and walk away with incredible content.” That effort will take center stage on September 19 from 6:00–9:00 p.m. at Dallas’ world-famous Rose Room, where Unleashed will host a special live event featuring the incomparable TS Madison, in partnership with iHeartMedia and Dallas Voice. TS Madison will record live in front of an audience, joined by very special guests to be announced in the weeks leading up to the event. For Smoot, the evening represents the next evolution of the original Unleashed concept: bringing compelling people together, creating conversations worth hearing and giving media, brands and professionals a place to make connections that extend beyond the event itself. “We hope to bring as much media into this event as possible and give them opportunities to connect, conduct interviews and create content with the amazing guests we bring to Dallas,” Smoot says. “We want people outside of Texas to see what is happening here and recognize Dallas as a city where entertainment, business, media and LGBTQ+ culture can come together in a really exciting way.” From nationally recognized speakers and entertainers to podcasts, consumer products and live media experiences, Unleashed continues to build an ecosystem in which each part of the company supports the next.

And for Smoot, the mission remains much the same as when Unleashed began: create the platform, bring interesting people together, amplify their voices—and see what happens when they connect.