The Young Turks Grace Baldridge talks, Pop Trigger, Murder with Friends, and LGBT issues

By: Daniel Hoyos | PHOTOS COURTESY TYTnetwork.com/Youtube
​- Los Angeles, California

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The Young Turks Grace Baldridge talks about co-hosting Pop Trigger, creating Murder with Friends, and LGBT issues in the mainstream media. The Belgium native also discusses a typical day on the set of Pop Trigger.  

Pop Trigger is a very popular show on the The Young Turks, network that mixes entertainment and, political topics. Can you tell us how you became one of the co-hosts?

It was just a case of being in the right place at the right time. I had recently quit my office job to pursue comedy right around the time Pop Trigger was looking for a third host. I knew the executive producer through a mutual friend who was kind enough to recommend me for an audition.

In addition to co-hosting Pop Trigger we, can watch you on the main channel of “The Young Turks”. Can you tell us where your interest in politics started?

American history and politics were fairly common dinner conversations when I was growing up, so I think that cultivated a general curiosity that persisted as I got older.

Most people don’t know Grace Baldridge, is also a hilarious stand-up comedian. What is a typical set-list look like for you?

I don’t know that there’s a typical set list, I try to change up my material depending on where I am and who’s watching. That said, I tend to talk a lot about queer culture. 

Hollywood has come a long way to bring LGBT issues into the forefront, but it’s still a taboo subject. What do you think Hollywood has to do in order for us to see more gay roles in the mainstream media?

I think it comes down to opportunity and visibility. I would like to see more queer projects get sufficient funding and distribution from major networks and studios and I would like to see more queer faces included in the mainstream media.

Pop Trigger has become one of the most popular shows on TYT with over 400,000 subscribers. What does a typical workday look like for you?

We get our Pop Trigger stories the night before, so on the morning of a taping I like to wake up early and see if there have been any developments to those stories. Then I think of my “Five Words Or Less” while walking my dog. After that I drive over to the studio and catch up with our team over coffee.

You created another popular TYT show “Murder with Friends”, that deals with unsolved mysteries. How did you come-up with the idea?

"Murder With Friends” is a show where friends get together and discuss the darker sides of history. I wanted to create an informal, yet informed show about true crime cases and figures. I have a longstanding fascination with the macabre so this show is an extension of that bizarre interest.

If one of our LGBT readers wanted to get in front of the camera and start their own Youtube show, but was afraid. What would you tell them? 

I would say, go for it! I know Youtube can be intimidating, but people will surprise you with their kindness and encouragement. Work hard, be creative, and be proud of who you are. Now more than ever we need to empower queer voices - so raise yours!

Follow Grace on Twitter and Instagram.