HARD LAUNCH with Dan and Phil – Episode 1: “Do we regret revealing our relationship?”

Date: October 20, 2025
Hosts: Dan Howell & Phil Lester
(Studio71)

Episode Overview

In this lively and unfiltered kickoff to their new podcast, Dan and Phil dive head-first into life after "hard launching" their long-speculated relationship. They embrace oversharing, discuss their fears and relief post-reveal, explore the response from their fanbase and the internet, and test out their new freeform, anything-goes format. This episode is marked by self-deprecating humor, affectionate bickering, and stories they “could never share before,” setting the stage for a new era of openness and community involvement.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Opening Chaos & Newfound Authenticity

• Nightmare Antics: Phil shares a sleepless night caused by Dan having a nightmare and yelling about an “intruder” in the room, leading into the need for real, uncensored storytelling.
  • “I'm fast asleep. What do I hear next to me? ‘There's a man in the room.’” (00:12 – Phil)
  • “It was terrifying. I literally thought we were gonna die.” (00:40 – Phil)
  • “Wow, Phil looks rough in the first episode… My bad. That's why.” (00:59 – Dan)
• Cozy, Squeaky Podcast Setup: Amusing banter about Phil’s decision to buy inflatable chairs for the podcast and the perils of possible deflation, leading to running jokes about inflation fetishes and wardrobe malfunctions.
  • “One day I just collected the mail, and I was like, what the hell is this? Oh, it's an inflatable armchair.” (02:34 – Dan)

2. Relationship "Reveal": Feelings & Internet Impact

• The Hard Launch: Discussing the global response to their reveal (“fan is real!”) and surreal moments seeing themselves on news outlets.
  • "I thought that we were just saying something potentially obvious. Oh, yeah. The two homosexuals that have lived together for 16 years, they're gay and people are really like, breaking news." (05:46 – Dan)
  • “Are you saying you're surprised by how relevant you are?” (05:37 – Dan)
• Relief and Vulnerability: Expressing relief and a sense of liberation, but also noting initial anxiety about making a "huge mistake" by going public.
  • “Posting that video felt like a huge relief. I was scared we were gonna feel… like a weight had been lifted.” (06:25 – Phil)
  • “We want to say thank you to everybody for supporting us and enabling this new era of bullshit.” (11:00 – Dan)

3. Fan (and Internet) Reactions

Reading and responding to hilarious, heartfelt, and outlandish comments:

• Meme Highlights:
  • "They hit the fucking Fentagon." (07:17 – Phil, reading a YouTube comment)
  • "Dan’s therapist is gonna take the fattest bong, rip and ascend into the sky like Mufasa." (07:23 – Dan)
  • "They waited for our frontal lobes to develop with this." (08:01 – Phil)
  • "My ex broke a decade long, no contact over this." (08:24 – Dan)
• Fanbase Reflection: Remembering forming their fandom on Tumblr, and affectionately comparing it to “fermented kombucha.”
  • “Our first fandom kind of curated itself, even before Twitter.” (09:23 – Phil)
  • “Like the kombucha that was the Dan and Phil audience… ferment, the bacteria came from Tumblr.” (09:27 – Dan)
• Acknowledging Support:
  • “Such a nice reaction. I feel heartwarmed and not scared anymore. So thank you anyone that gave us encouragement.” (10:42 – Phil)

4. New Freedom: Stories They Couldn't Share Before

• Sugar Daddy Misadventure: Phil recounts a hilarious story about unwittingly being courted by a “European sugar daddy” under the guise of a job offer.
  • “He wanted us to come out, do a test recording to see if …they wanted to hire us.” (13:06 – Dan)
  • “In hindsight, doing a camera test, was that a red flag?” (14:14 – Dan)
  • “He was treating us the whole time. He never said it was for the company. We just assumed.” (17:26 – Phil)
  • Both realize, in classic Dan and Phil fashion, they were oblivious to the true “nature” of all the wining, dining, and DMing—ending with heartfelt, comic missed connections and a formal podcast apology to the sugar daddy.
    • “We had missed every kind of hint.” (17:09 – Phil)
    • “Are we the assholes? Yes.” (18:56 – Dan)

5. Running In-Jokes, Fact-Checking & Gacha Machine Games

• Faux History with Tablecloths: Phil tries to convince Dan that tablecloths were invented to prevent Victorian men from being aroused by table legs; Dan debunks this live.
  • “Tablecloths were invented to stop people getting boners while they're sat at the dinner table.” (20:25 – Phil; debunked at 21:02 by Dan)
• Emergency Topic Generator: Introduction of a gacha capsule machine to provide random (and sometimes embarrassing) topics to avoid podcast “going off the rails.”
  • “I bought a gacha machine …full of balls… And inside each of them is a life-saving topic for when we need it most.” (21:48 – Dan)
  • Leads to a segment on "laundry," spiraling into revelations about Dan never having used a dryer and Phil possibly weaponizing this for domestic “leverage.”
    • “Phil’s privilege. He had a dryer.” (25:08 – Dan)

6. Listener Hard Launches & Community Engagement

Dan and Phil inaugurate their audience-participation segment, inviting listeners to “hard launch” their own secrets, opinions, or confessions.

• Memorable Submissions:
  • Breaking Up With Both Boyfriends:
    • “I want to hard launch breaking up with both of my boyfriends because I am so done with men.” (30:17 – Listener “Flora”)
    • “Is this because you’ve had a lesbian turn? Congrats. Is it because you’re just done with the current state of men?” (30:47 – Dan)
  • Grower-Not-Shower Grey Sweatpants:
    • “Sweatpants for people who are growers and not showers…” (31:33 – Listener “Dave”)
    • Sparks reflection on male “bulge” expectations in fashion and a revealing (“not mine!”) discussion.
  • Killer Whales – Should We Even Conserve Them?:
    • “They are not cute, they’re not friendly. They’re malevolent bullies of the sea… They don’t need our help. They’re sinking billionaires on yachts.” (33:20 – Unknown Listener)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• "Once you're popped, you just can't stop." (06:44 – Dan, on coming out)
• "Phil, can I ask you a question? How were you DMing this guy before we went on the trip?" (17:30 – Dan, about the sugar daddy story)
• "Are we the assholes? Yes." (18:56 – Dan)
• "Tablecloths were invented to stop people getting boners while they’re sat at the dinner table." (20:25 – Phil, in jest)
• "We have lived a whole life on YouTube. Does it feel like you've lived an entire teen’s life?" (10:04 – Dan)
• "And now we can touch each other without editing it out." (11:05 – Phil)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Nightmare & Opening Chaos – 00:00-03:00
• Podcast Format, Chairs, Drinks & Introductions – 03:00-05:00
• The Hard Launch Reveal and Global Reaction – 05:00-07:00
• Fan Comments, Internet Memes & Fandom Legacy – 07:13-10:30
• On Relief & Emotional Aftermath of Going Public – 10:30-11:30
• Sugar Daddy Story – 12:40-19:13
• Gacha Machine & Emergency Topics (Laundry) – 21:48-26:52
• Listener Hard Launches – 29:47-34:38
• Episode Wrap-Up, Community Prompts & Sign-Off – 34:38-35:33

Tone & Style

The conversation is snappy, chaotic, and unapologetically candid, with the hosts constantly riffing on each other, digressing into PG-13 and R-rated humor, and repeatedly breaking into laughter or mutual roasting (“If I say a tasteful euphemism, Phil, you can’t then just say something disgusting…” – 28:48). Genuine moments of vulnerability and sincerity are interspersed with slapstick, sarcasm, and inside jokes—perfectly reflecting Dan and Phil’s well-loved dynamic.

Final Thoughts

Dan and Phil’s “Hard Launch” debut is a messy, gleeful, and sincere embodiment of their promise to overshare and never “go back in the closet.” It's a celebration of queer liberation, digital culture, and their legion of meme-savvy fans—setting up a weekly tradition of radical honesty, chaotic jokes, and community connection. The episode playfully answers its titular question: No, they don’t regret revealing their relationship—even if they might regret some of the stories they now feel free to tell.

Next week: Expect a spooky/Halloween-themed episode with “mildly horrific seasonal yap,” more emergency topics, and listener hard launches!