Snowballing with Shih-Ming Yao – the gay podcast we’re always tuning into

Originally from Australia, fitness model Shih-Ming Yao has now embraced his new home in Canada.
Ming has graced our screens as a member of the Pit Crew for Canada’s Drag Race, and he’s also giving us range as he explores his own drag persona.
The podcast
Adding to his skill-set, Ming has recently launched a podcast.
Snowballing is an upbeat look at the queer world of gay men and LGBTQ life.
Covering such topics as dating, health, and personal dilemmas, this is a light-hearted look a how we’re all trying to navigate our day-to-day dramas.
Ming is also working on some erotic gay fiction, and there’s guests!
Snowballing is available on Spotify and Apple podcasts
Latest episodes
In this week’s episode, Ming and Gareth are joined by choreographer to the stars, Jamal Sims. Jamal talks fitness, tattoos, embarrassing medical procedures, and the secret to having an eye-catching chest.
It’s a short and punchy 25 minutes – give it a listen!
In Episode 5, Ming and Gareth discuss turn-ons and turn-offs, celebrate their gayest moments, confess their hate-follow obsessions, and brainstorm things that you say during dinner that you can also say during sex.
It’s a short and punchy 25 minutes – give it a listen!
In Episode 14, Ming and Gareth are joined by Jason Carter – best-known for his role in the Pit Crew on RuPaul’s Drag Race. Jason reflects on how he got his start in the entertainment industry, his move to Miami, and we go deep on underwear, the Wet and Messy fetish – also known as sploshing or gunge, and we find out which member of the Pit Crew Jason wants to be stuck on a deserted island with.
In Episode 13, Ming and Gareth are joined by RuPaul’s Drag Race alum Nicole Paige Brooks – from Atlanta, Georgia. Nicole reflects on how people are feeling in Atlanta, we talk drag families, we test Nicole’s erotica vocabulary, and we find out why Nicole wants to spend the rest of her life with Kelly Clarkson. It’s a short and punchy 25 minutes – give it a listen!
In Episode 12, Ming and Gareth are joined by RuPaul’s Drag Race alum Jessica Wild. Jessica reflects on what she’s been up to since Season 2, we discuss Drag in Puerto Rico, navigating the pandemic, and we workshop some erotic gay fiction and explore some of Jessica’s fantasies. It’s a short and punchy 30 minutes – give it a listen!
In Episode 11, Ming and Gareth share embarrassing stories, debate whether there’s such a thing as too much cum, negotiate embarrassing medical appointments, and test their knowledge of synonyms for penis. It’s a short and punchy 25 minutes – give it a listen!
In Episode 10, Ming and Gareth are joined by songstress, Leah Canali. Leah has got new music out, and the tracks feature collaborations with Drag Race icons Katya Zamolodchikova and Tynomi Banks. We also workshop some erotic gay fiction, debate whether sleeping with Shania Twain is a good option, and realise that “I douched for this?” is the soundtrack to our lives. It’s a short and punchy 25 minutes – give it a listen!
In Episode 9, Ming and Gareth are joined by star of stage and screen, Joven Calloway. Joven is a musical theatre triple-threat, and he’s also fuelling our fantasies with his fan-subscription content. He’s filmed with Sean Cody, and all the big names in the adult entertainment industry. We delve into Joven’s fantasies, he schools us on queer terminology, and we ask him tough questions about the guys he’s filmed with. It’s a short and punchy 45 minutes – give it a listen!
In Episode 8, Ming and Gareth discuss what should be in your bio on a hook-up app, go deep on Mpreg fantasies in their erotic fiction workshop, and they’re joined by Drag Race expert, Rob, to analyse the data and decide which queen you’d want to be stuck on an island with. It’s a short and punchy 30 minutes – give it a listen!
In Episode 7, Ming and Gareth explore the history of darkrooms, debate the merits of a cuckold fantasy, quickly re-cap on Drag Race, and debate which of the Charlie’s Angels would be the most fun to be stranded on an island with. It’s a short and punchy 30 minutes – give it a listen!
In Episode 6, Ming and Gareth discuss the erotic allure of werewolves, this history of drag, the superficiality of judging people on their appearance, the risks of bum cancer, a Drag Race re-cap, and David Luca shares a kinkster’s guide to Valentine’s Day. Fun!
In Episode 5, Ming and Gareth are snowballing about douching (again), BDE, the power of secrets, queer heroes, erotic gay fiction, and an obligatory Drag Race re-cap. Give it a listen!
In Episode 4, Ming and Gareth talk cam-sex, the giveaway that you’re gay, erotic gay fiction, Drag Race, Bob Mackie, and Toronto in the snow.
In Episode 3, Ming and Gareth compare horoscopes, consider whether they should be signing up to OnlyFans, workshop their erotic novel, quickly recap on Drag Race, and learn a bit of gay history about Achilles.
In Episode 2, there’s a discussion about hook-up app etiquette, manscaping and personal hygiene during lockdown, and why gay men should be doing pelvic floor exercises.
In Episode 1, there’s a drag race re-cap, some erotic gay fiction, the origins of the word ‘fapping’, and a discussion about whether you should ever call a grown man ‘baby girl’.
The photo-shoot
Model: Shih-Ming Yao
Photos: Gareth Johnson
Location: Le Stelsia, Saint-Sylvestre-sur-Lot