Welcome!

Dakota is one of our newest co-hosts—and honey, she’s a walking Drag Race encyclopedia. If it sashayed, lip-synced, or left Ru gagged, she’s got the receipts. When she’s not schooling the children on Drag Race herstory, she’s binging The Traitors, House of Villains, and The Real Housewives like it’s her cardio. Born in Tampa and raised near Birmingham, Alabama, she’s the oldest of five—and the only girl in a family of siblings all named after cities and states. Dakota brings warmth, wit, and a unique perspective to The Couch Potato Queens Podcast.

Her career path is as colorful as her personality. From cosmetology in high school to CNA certification, retail management, pharmacy tech work during the pandemic, dental assisting, and eyelash and brow specialization, Dakota’s love of beauty and glamour has been a constant through every chapter of her life.

In 2020, she and her husband built their home, where they live with their miniature dachshund, Bentley. Proudly embracing her “trophy wife” era, Dakota centers her life around family, connection, and the little luxuries that bring her joy.

A true social butterfly, Dakota thrives in spring and summer, loving beach trips, lake weekends, pool days, travel, and shopping—but she’s just as happy with cozy nights in, binging her favorite shows.

Fun facts: coffee addict, animal lover, Taurus to the core, and famously late—but she lives by Queen Clarisse Renaldi: “A queen is never late; everyone else is simply early.” Memoir title? Always Late, but Always Fabulous.

Frank Williams is a Detroit-born, Brooklyn-based producer, filmmaker, and storyteller with a BA in Theatre from Western Michigan University. His original play The Options Game sold out its Off-Off-Broadway run and recently secured a feature film partnership with Panavision. Frank produced the docuseries Club Heads, now streaming on Broadstream, and created the web series Too Be Frank. He also served as producer for the multi-city screening tour of the award-winning documentary Black As U R.

As a CBS Press Affiliate, Frank co-hosts Couch Potato Queens, covering major reality TV series. His digital media and production background spans film, editing, content creation, and large-scale live events. Blending creative vision with technical versatility, Frank’s work highlights queer and Black narratives while pushing storytelling across theater, film, and digital platforms.

Joseph is the newest Queen to join the Couch Potato Queens co-host lineup, though he’s been tuning in since nearly the very beginning. Over the past year, he’s stepped into the co-host seat full-time, bringing a deep love, encyclopedic knowledge, and uniquely sharp insights to every discussion. Whether he’s breaking down strategies, calling out shady moves, or just serving the perfect hot take, Joey’s contributions are always on point—and always a delight for the tater tots.

Josh Mendelson is the founder and visionary behind Couch Potato Queens, where his lifelong love of reality TV blossomed into a full-blown community of chaos-loving superfans. Whether it’s strategy, shade, scandals, or showmances, Josh lives for every twist and meltdown—from competition classics to the messiest guilty-pleasure franchises.

Recently, Josh brought his quick wit and pop-culture brainpower to national TV on Name That Tune, where he snagged an impressive $32,000. When he’s not breaking down reality TV’s wildest moments or serving up hot takes with the Queens, you can bet he’s watching, analyzing, or evangelizing his latest obsession.

The drama, the humor, the iconic moments—Josh is here for all of it, and he’s ready to bring you along for the binge.

Mackenzie Gray brings over 20 years of experience in broadcasting, radio, and storytelling. Originally from the New Orleans area, she has spent most of her life in media and journalism, earning recognition as an award-winning Producer and a dynamic on-air personality.

On screen, Mackenzie has appeared in several films—including the recent feature The Shift—and popped up as an extra in beloved TV staples like Nashville, True Blood. She has also appeared on Jerry Springer and Jerry Springer: Wild & Uncut. A true reality TV veteran herself, she competed as a houseguest on Season 1 of Sequester and The Estate.

She has been featured in several documentaries, including the Showtime film Rainbows Over Mississippi, 3 Generations and the Rabbi, and Small Town Gay Bar.

Beyond the camera, Mackenzie was coronated as Queen XI (11) for the Mystic Krewe of Caritas in 2019. She’s also the proud recipient of the 2020 Central Alabama Pride Ally of the Year Award and the 2013 HRC Advocate of the Year Award.

A storyteller, producer, advocate, and queen in every sense—Mackenzie brings heart, humor, and a whole lot of sparkle to every project she touches.

Vee has been part of the Couch Potato Queens family nearly from the very beginning, bringing sharp humor, sharp opinions, and even sharper scissors—they were voted Best Barber in Detroit, after all! A die-hard reality TV fan, Vee devours everything from The Bachelor to Secret Lives of Mormon Wives to RuPaul’s Drag Race, and they never shy away from spilling the tea. Quick-witted, opinionated, and endlessly entertaining, Vee keeps the Queens—and the audience—laughing, gasping, and coming back for more.