Pride This Way: New Vodcast Promises Unfiltered Look at Global Queer Culture

LONDON, UK – January 29, 2026 – A new global travel and culture series is set to redefine how audiences experience LGBTQ+ Pride, moving beyond the familiar spectacle of parades to explore the raw, resilient, and joyous heart of the queer community. Pillars of Change Media today announced the launch of Pride This Way, an immersive vodcast and podcast hosted by celebrated UK Pride icon and vocalist Soraya Vivian.

The series promises viewers a "plus-one" to the world's biggest kiki, leveraging Vivian's decades of VIP access to offer an unfiltered look at Pride celebrations from her hometown in Yorkshire to the sun-drenched shores of Maspalomas. Produced in partnership with the UK agency Horlock House, Ltd., Pride This Way aims to document both the "glitter and the grit," celebrating club-ready joy while unflinchingly examining what Pride costs its community.

Beyond the Rainbow Parade

In a media landscape often focused on the festive surface of Pride, Pride This Way sets out to tell a deeper, more textured story. The show's mission is to capture the multifaceted reality of queer life by exploring the history, personal struggles, and unwavering strength that underpin the global movement.

"We're going a lot deeper than just parades with Pride This Way," host Soraya Vivian stated in the announcement. "You'll meet the fam, the history, and the sheer strength that ties us together. Every episode doesn't just throw you into the noise and colour—it shows you the heart underneath all that sparkle."

This approach positions the series as a significant evolution in LGBTQ+ media. While numerous podcasts and travel blogs cater to queer audiences, few have attempted such a globally ambitious project that explicitly balances celebration with critical examination. By promising to share "backstage tea and unfiltered moments," the show aims to disrupt the standard travelogue format, offering instead a "direct transmission from the heart of the global scene," according to producer Mandy Goldberg, whose background includes work with The Washington Post and The Economist.

An Icon with Unrivaled Access

Central to the show's promise of authenticity is its host, Soraya Vivian. A powerhouse vocalist and tireless advocate, Vivian is a revered figure who has spent over two decades performing on the world's biggest Pride stages. Her status as a "UK Pride icon" is not merely a title but a reflection of a career deeply intertwined with the community she represents. From headlining stages at Antwerp Pride and European Gay Ski Week to leading the Pride in London parade for an audience of 1.7 million, Vivian's presence is a staple of the international circuit.

Her advocacy, however, extends far beyond the stage. As a passionate HIV activist and an Honorary Member of the sexual well-being association Checkpoint, Vivian has consistently used her platform to address difficult issues. Her commitment was starkly illustrated when she recorded "Colours Of Love," the official Kyiv Pride anthem, with all profits supporting humanitarian aid for the LGBTQ+ community in Ukraine. It is this history of blending performance with purpose that lends credibility to the show's promise to explore the "grit." Her personal journey and connections are the key that unlocks the intimate stories and unfiltered conversations at the core of Pride This Way.

A Global Stage for Local Stories

The inaugural 2026 season of Pride This Way boasts a formidable international itinerary, demonstrating the show's ambitious scale. The tour is scheduled to make stops in major hubs across the United States, including Miami Beach, New York City, Los Angeles, and Provincetown. In the United Kingdom, the series will visit London, Manchester, and Leeds, among others. The European leg is equally comprehensive, with broadcasts planned from Ibiza, Madrid, Berlin, Amsterdam, Reykjavik, and a season finale at Winter Pride in Maspalomas.

This globe-trotting schedule is designed to capture the "unique frequency" of the LGBTQ+ movement in diverse cultural contexts. Rather than presenting a monolithic view of Pride, the series intends to highlight the local flavors, challenges, and triumphs that define each celebration. By embedding itself within these communities, the show aims to provide a platform for local activists, artists, and everyday individuals whose stories collectively form the rich tapestry of global queer identity.

A New Model for Purpose-Driven Media

Behind the scenes, Pride This Way represents an intriguing fusion of media production, brand partnership, and social impact. The series is a collaboration between Pillars of Change Media, a company founded on a philanthropic business model, and Horlock House, a UK agency specializing in creating authentic connections between brands and the LGBTQ+ community.

Pillars of Change Media states its mission is to turn audience engagement into "essential resources for the communities and organizations at the heart of social movements." While the precise mechanics of this model are new, its ambition signals a shift toward more integrated forms of media-driven philanthropy. The partnership with Horlock House, led by cultural ambassador Jack Horlock, is key to this strategy. Horlock House has built a reputation for helping major brands like Coca-Cola, L'Oréal, and Jean Paul Gaultier move beyond superficial "rainbow washing" toward meaningful, year-round support.

"I founded Horlock House to bring together brands, talent and festivals that actively support and celebrate the LGBTQ+ community," said Horlock. "We are committed to authenticity and driving positive awareness." This partnership aims to scale that advocacy, using immersive storytelling as a vehicle for tangible support. As brands face increasing scrutiny over their corporate social responsibility, this model of authentic, purpose-aligned content may represent a new frontier in ethical marketing and social impact, turning the visibility generated by the vodcast into a sustainable resource for change.