The “LadyGang” podcast’s first-ever LadyWorld festival was a whirlwind weekend for fans of Becca Tobin, Keltie Knight and Jac Vanek.
The trio founded the podcast in 2015, and they never imagined having a three-day festival (which Stassi Schroeder dubbed “podcast Coachella” while on stage) that included tons of supportive women who wanted nothing more than to just have fun.
“The thing that delighted me is how much heart is here,” Knight, 43, told Us Weekly exclusively at LadyWorld, which was hosted in Miramar Beach, Florida. “There are so many brands, there are so many podcasts, there are so many fandoms. To have us all here in this area — girls are meeting each other, hanging out, all the celebs are hanging backstage — that has warmed my heart.”
The “LadyGang” podcast hosts took the stage on Friday, September 26, and spent the rest of the weekend introducing the rest of the special guests, which included the “Chicks in the Office” podcast, E!’s Justin Sylvester and “Higher Learning” podcast cohost Rachel Lindsay, Secret Lives of Mormon Wives star Jessi Ngatikaura and Bachelor Nation alum Kaitlyn Bristowe, among others. Not to mention, there were musical performances from The Maine and Chris Kirkpatrick‘s Pop 2000 tour, which included Ryan Cabrera, LFO, BBMak and O-Town.
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All weekend long guests were spoiled with coffee and refreshers provided by Keurig, celebrating their brand new K-Mini Mate machine. There was also onsite sampling full of e.l.f. products, beach flip flops from DSW, vitamins from Gruns, a Braid Bar from It’s Messy and even a golden porto-palace from GoodWipes.
“I feel like we’re pretty cool, but we’ve cultivated a community of women much cooler than we are,” Tobin, 39, added. “It’s just been weird to see the amount of women who have flown in from three different countries, 39 different states, to come to Miramar Beach, Florida — not an easy place to get to — and they’re having the time of their lives.”
The Glee alum admitted to having “total imposter syndrome” during the entire weekend. And because this was the first year, there were a lot of lessons to learn.
“We were worried about every single thing, but I think it really helped us,” Vanek, 38, explained. “Girls are so stoked, and they’re having so much fun. I think [we’ve learned] not to focus on the minute details, because everybody has the best energy. They’re just here to have a good time. That’s all that really matters.”
Aside from the “LadyGang” hosts themselves, Us also caught up with some other major podcast hosts — who spilled the tea on their dream guests, celebrity crushes and more.
‘LadyGang’
When asked about their dream podcast guests, all three LadyGang members had differing answers. Knight hopes to have Paula Abdul in the near future while Tobin wished for an Andy Cohen appearance. Vanek invited Larry David, because listeners of the podcast know Curb Your Enthusiasm is her favorite show.
Coincidentally, Vanek’s celebrity hall pass was also David, while Knight can’t stop gushing over Dylan Efron and Tobin named Cillian Murphy (“weird, right,” she quipped) as her A-list crush.
As pop culture girls, they are all aware that Taylor Frankie Paul is the new Bachelorette, but revealed which other reality stars they would want to take on the role. On behalf of the whole group, Knight chose Kyle Richards.
Justin Sylvester and Rachel Lindsay
The real-life BFF duo took the stage together at LadyWorld, so Us had to speak with them together — and their energy was electric. Lindsay’s dream podcast guest is Joe Rogan.
“I think people are so afraid to have the conversations where people are challenged or make them feel uncomfortable, but the audience is dying for that,” she explained.
Sylvester explained that he always wanted to interview Sarah Jessica Parker, and that dream came true earlier this year.
“I was raised by this woman,” he gushed. “I literally couldn’t speak.”
Sylvester also went the Real Housewives route when sharing which reality star he thinks would make a good Bachelorette. The former E! News host named former employer Richards (just like the LadyGang) but also name-dropped Luann de Lesseps.
Kaitlyn Bristowe
When it came to her dream “Off the Vine” podcast guest, the former Bachelorette star would die to have Britney Spears on her show.
As for her celebrity crush, Bristowe actually met hers in real life — and told him that he’s her hall pass.
“I love Paul Rudd. I ran into him at the Super Bowl in New Orleans last year,” she told Us. “Then I told him he was my hall pass.”
Bristowe is also a huge Big Brother fan so she also threw season 27 winner Ashley Hollis’ name in the ring for an upcoming Bachelorette.
‘Chicks in the Office’
The podcasting duo made up of Ria Ciuffo and Fran Mariano brought their “friday energy” to the LadyWorld stage and told Us that Miley Cyrus is their dream podcast guest — with no hesitation, we might add.
As for their celebrity hall passes? Mariano went with the classic Nick Jonas (listeners know) and Ciuffo had an early pick with Vince Vaughn before changing it to Martin Short.
As for the reality star they think would make a good Bachelorette? Ciuffo opted for Love Island star JaNa Craig while Mariano noted that Brooks Nader would be an “interesting” season to watch.
“They would have to cast Brooks’ season of The Bachelorette, like they cast Dancing with the Stars,” she quipped.
