Podcast Summary: "It’s a Newlywed New Year with Adult Film Stars Johnny (aka Deacon) & Ricky Donovan"

Podcast: Detox Retox with Tom Schwartz
Host: Tom Schwartz
Date: January 6, 2026
Location: Chongqing, China (recorded New Year’s Eve)

Episode Overview

In this episode, Tom Schwartz sits down in Chongqing, China with newlywed adult film stars Johnny (aka Deacon) and Ricky Donovan to celebrate their recent marriage and discuss life, love, and work in the adult entertainment industry. The conversation explores the realities and misconceptions around being a "porn star," balancing relationships, destigmatization, the business side of adult entertainment, and the day-to-day challenges (and perks) of their profession. The tone is warm, candid, and often humorous, with an emphasis on humanizing adult performers and highlighting the positives in the current state of the industry.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Travel, New Beginnings & Setting the Scene

• Chongqing as a Backdrop: Tom describes Chongqing’s vibrant energy, food culture, and “sensory overload,” setting a celebratory, open-minded tone for the episode.
  • “Chongqing, we're gonna drink some baiju. What is baijiu? Only the world's most consumed spirit by volume that you've probably never heard of.” [02:04]
• Celebrating the Newlyweds: Johnny and Ricky are 30 days past their Hawaii wedding, riding high in their honeymoon phase.
  • “It feels so great. It's like a rejuvenation of a relationship... like a new chapter.” – Ricky [15:30]

2. De-stigmatizing the Adult Entertainment Industry

• Positive Shift: The trio discusses how social attitudes have become more positive, with greater acceptance and self-advocacy among performers.
  • “I love how de-stigmatized the industry is as a whole...I feel like it's a better time than ever to be a porn star.” – Tom [17:47]
• Performer Empowerment: Johnny highlights how performers now control their brands and personal safety, earning more via their own platforms.
  • “People are now in charge of their own careers and advocating for their own safety and health in the industry.” – Johnny [18:03]

3. The Business Side: Branding, Merch, and OnlyFans

• Owning Content & Merch: The importance of owning your own content and considering merchandise; studios typically own studio-filmed scenes, but not personal site content.
  • “I own all my own content for OnlyFans...The studios film, you sign a contract saying they own that completely outright and you don't make royalties off any of that.” – Johnny [19:48, 19:59]
• Income Streams: Studio day rates have dropped (now ~$1,000 for new models, used to be $2,000–$2,500), making personal branding and supplementary work critical.
  • “From what I'm seeing, it seems like the average starting is like people are making about a thousand a day.” – Johnny [28:19]
• Merit or Marketing?: Social media presence heavily influences booking and popularity. The rise of 'gay baiters' (straight guys playing to gay male audiences) is noted.
  • “Studios would book them just because they had those followers...It shifted in 2020.” – Johnny [27:04]

4. Performing: The Physical and Emotional Demands

• Athletic Demands: Performers are likened to athletes, with detailed regimens (weightlifting, HIIT, yoga, sports) to maintain stamina and looks.
  • “For me, it takes about five days...real heavy lifting...then HIIT days...yoga four times a week to keep myself limber. And I'm a cyclist, a snowboarder, and I play soccer.” – Johnny [31:06]
• Performance Aids: Most rely on legal or prescription supplements (Viagra, Cialis, injections like Trimix/Bimix) to maintain performance, though some young performers abstain.
  • “Most guys do at least like a supplement...and some sites will have Viagra and Cialis on-site so you can take those if you want...a lot of guys don't like Viagra, ‘cause it stuffs you up...” – Johnny [32:24]
  • “A lot of times guys will do Trimix or Bimix. Those two are both an injection...You have a solid boner for three to four hours...There’s an antidote.” – Johnny [33:17, 33:52]
• Chemistry and Consent: Generally, performers meet their scene partners on set. Some companies allow input or veto power. Pre-scene 'chemistry reads' are rare but ideal.
  • “I would prefer to have some chemistry with the person before...but it's not realistic.” – Johnny [35:11]

5. A Day In the Life: On Set Realities

• Routine & Prep: Early-morning workouts ("pump routines"), stretching, personal hygiene (“polite douche”), and then a standard call time.
  • “First thing in the morning, I have a pump routine...a whole arm workout and then an ab or a whole core workout...” – Johnny [35:21]
• Filming Structure: Photos (safe & explicit) first, sex scenes next, then acting/B-roll last; film days can last 6–8 hours, with the actual sex 2–3 hours.
• Choreography vs. Improv: Less creative choreography today—many scenes default to the same sequence, with some models seeking more variety and fun.
  • “Some people kind of lose the creativity...film is more—porn is leaning towards more like, trying to get it done as quickly as possible.” – Ricky [38:41–38:43]

6. Addressing Taboos: Bodies, Boundaries, and 'Finishing'

• Size Matters (Sometimes): Studios have minimum size preferences (“under 6 inches,” less likely to get work), especially for top roles, but there’s room for variety.
  • “Most studios won't bring on a new model who is under 6 inches...to be a top you have to be at least 7 inches.” – Johnny [26:24]
• If You Can't Finish: Productions are patient, wait hours; if still unsuccessful, they’ll “fake it” with cutaways.
  • “I'd say after...almost three hours of trying to come before they'll be like, let's fake it.” – Johnny [40:18]
• Respecting Boundaries: Consent is paramount, with detailed on-camera consent forms, discussion of safe words (usually “pineapple” or “donut”), and even gestures for scenes where speaking isn’t possible.
  • “You talk about safe words. And not only a safe word, but a safe gesture, because sometimes your mouth is full...” – Johnny [43:28]
  • “Usually it's pineapple or donut...clap loud three times if you can't speak.” – Johnny [43:33]

7. Modern Adult Industry: Safety, Testing, and Community

• Stringent Testing: Full STD panels (including newer infections), every 14 days maximum, with multi-site testing (throat, urine, rectal). Modern porn is considered safer than ever for performers.
  • “Everybody has to be tested 14 days...full panel...they’re very thorough.” – Johnny [41:55]
• Community & Collaboration: The industry fosters creativity, entrepreneurship, and supportive collaboration. The best part for Johnny is “the people I work with...everybody is...passionate, creative-minded, entrepreneurial.” [24:02]

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Career Titles:
  “At first we said adult entertainer until I started winning awards, and then I said, I’m a porn star.” – Johnny [16:48]

• On Awards:
  “The Avian Awards...it’s pretty much like the Oscars for porn.” – Tom [17:05]

• On Acting in Porn:
  “I want there to be a scenario, even if it's cheesy and they're not doing a good job acting it. Like I need to know that...that's the player and that's the coach, and this is why they're in the locker room.” – Johnny [20:42]

• On Preparation:
  “First thing in the morning, I always try to get—I call it a pump routine. “ – Johnny [35:21]

• On Industry Evolution:
  “You’re the CEO of your own business…and now it’s about creating your own brand.” – Tom [18:41]

• On Size Standards:
  “Most studios won’t...bring on a new model who is under 6 inches.” – Johnny [26:24]

• On On-Set Support:
  “They'll do pretty much anything to make the models happy.” – Johnny [41:38]

• On Consent:
  “You have to be on camera with the whole crew and the model going over all the things you're okay with, all the things you're not okay with.” – Johnny [42:31]

Cultural & Travel Nuggets

• Chongqing:
  Highest population of any city in the world (~35 million), famed for hot pot and sensory overload. Tom gushes about its affordability and vibrancy.
  • “Chongqing is a food mecca. If you like spicy food, hot pots, this is your promised land.” [02:03]
• Baijiu:
  The most-consumed spirit in the world by volume; Tom and guests toast with it in celebration.
  • “Baiju, you guys.” [45:05]

Timestamps of Important Segments

• [02:03] – Tom introduces Chongqing; initial reflections on porn industry and adult entertainers
• [14:53] – Start of the main interview with Johnny & Ricky
• [15:26] – Newlywed honeymoon phase, wedding in Hawaii
• [16:48] – Discussing titles: “porn star” vs. “adult entertainer”
• [17:47] – Current acceptance and destigmatization of the industry
• [18:03] – The empowered performer; business self-ownership
• [19:48] – Who owns the content? Merch talk
• [26:24] – Industry standards for performers
• [31:06] – Training and prep (athletic regimen)
• [32:24 – 33:58] – Performance enhancers and injecions
• [35:21] – Walkthrough of a typical shoot day ("Day in the Life")
• [41:55] – Discussion of testing and health protocols
• [43:28] – Consent, safe words, and gestures
• [44:48] – Chongqing as the world's largest city
• [45:05] – Baijiu appreciation, toast to the newlyweds

Final Thoughts

Tom emphasizes the importance of open-mindedness, humanizing people in the adult business, and challenging both stereotypes and the idea that their relationships are somehow less genuine. The episode is light-hearted, intelligent, sometimes raucously funny, and throughout, incredibly candid.

This summary captures the main themes, insights, and most memorable lines from a lively and illuminating conversation celebrating love, authenticity, and the complexity of modern adult entertainment.