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[title]In an era where podcasts have become so popular that many prefer them to music, listeners can find YouTube channels on almost any topic often just a click away. But amid this flood of content, it’s still rare to find platforms that openly address drug addiction and the difficult road to recovery. That’s where ‘House of TayTay’ makes its mark, giving a voice to those who feel unseen, unheard or unworthy.
The voice behind the channel is Taylor Srirat, a 35-year-old Bangkok-born Columbia graduate and former fashion insider. With ‘House of TayTay’, Taylor opens up conversations that remain taboo across Asia’s conservative cultures.
Now sober for over eight years, he uses his platform not only to share his story but to amplify the voices of others navigating similar struggles.
A safe space built on truth
When Taylor Srirat began writing Stardust… Memoirs of an Imperfect Gaysian, he quickly learned that publishing a book internationally required more than just words on a page. ‘You need a platform,’ he recalls. ‘A digital presence. Social media. An audience.’
At first, the idea to create that platform felt like a marketing move. But the deeper he went, the clearer it became. It wasn’t about promoting a book only. It was about creating a space. A safe space. A space built on truth.
That realisation sparked what would become House of TayTay. ‘I wanted to become the voice I didn’t have growing up,’ Taylor explains.
As a queer person navigating addiction, trauma and cultural pressure in silence, he knew how isolating it felt to have no place to turn. ‘I wanted to talk openly about the subjects that still feel taboo in much of Asia including addiction, identity, abuse, mental health and show what healing actually looks like.’
The podcast became his way of doing just that: raw, unfiltered and honest. Through his YouTube channel, Taylor offers a look at recovery without shame and in doing so, extends an invitation to others. Whether you are in recovery, wrestling with cultural identity, working through trauma or simply trying to heal at your own pace, your story belongs here.
When silence turns to strength
Taylor Srirat’s story doesn’t begin with drugs – it begins with silence. Growing up in Bangkok, he faced abuse from his father and neglect from his mother, learning early on to disappear rather than speak.
At 12, he left for boarding school in the UK, later graduating from Columbia University. On the surface, he was thriving. Inside, unhealed trauma weighed him down. Returning to Thailand in his twenties, he realised the family he longed to impress still couldn’t see him, especially as a queer, sensitive person. ‘There was no real love in my family,’ he says. ‘Just pressure and neglect.’
That heartbreak drove him to meth – not for thrill, but for escape. It made him feel invincible when he felt invisible. Behind the polished fashion persona, he was spiralling, relapsing and breaking down. ‘Addiction wasn’t the root of my pain,’ Taylor reflects. ‘It was a symptom.’
Recovery meant accountability. He cut ties with users, turned to therapy and spiritual work and leaned on the love of his boyfriend and true friends who refused to let him drown. And through it all, he found strength in music or what he calls ‘Mariah power.’
‘Her voice reminded me I was worthy of love, even in my most broken moments,’ he expresses.
For Taylor, healing wasn’t about being fixed. It was about showing up, facing the pain and finding purpose in helping others do the same.
Pop icons, personal power and the journey to self-expression
Taylor Srirat credits music with helping him navigate some of his darkest moments, especially the power of Mariah Carey. ‘I call it Mariah Power,’ he says. For him, she’s more than a pop icon – she’s a higher power. Songs like ‘Through the Rain’ and ‘Can’t Take That Away’ spoke directly to his soul, offering strength when he felt completely alone.
Her story, her resilience and her voice reminded him that no matter what he had endured, there was still a light inside him and that he wouldn’t let anyone take it away. Mariah’s music helped him hold on when he was ready to let go.
Fashion is another form of self-expression that has shaped Taylor’s journey. His trademark glasses and bold style are rooted in family influence: his mother and maternal grandmother both had a love for fashion. They love wearing brands as well as creating unique, eye-catching looks. ‘I definitely got that creativity from her,’ he says.
Yet it was Lady Gaga who truly taught him how to harness fashion as a statement. Through her, he learned that style isn’t purely about looking good – it’s art, freedom, and a way to own who you are. ‘She helped me become the queen I am today,’ he reflects.
Taylor has also crossed paths with countless celebrities including Kim Kardashian, Kanye West and Lady Gaga but one person that stands out is Lindsay Lohan. ‘She’s not just a celebrity I met. She’s someone I’d actually call a friend,’ he states. Lohan’s down-to-earth nature, openness and quiet strength resonate deeply with him. Like many of us, she has faced struggles and Taylor admires the grace with which she carries herself.
The power of love
For Taylor Srirat, love is essential. ‘How could I live without it?’ he asks. Love is what transforms pain into purpose, darkness into light and gives strength when everything else falls apart.
He sees love as both a feeling and a force. ‘It’s positive, healing and transformative. It pushes you to do things you never thought possible.’ Through love for himself, from others and in the community, Taylor found the strength to survive addiction and trauma. ‘Love carried me when I couldn’t carry myself,’ he says.
That force of love is also the heart of his new book. ‘The core message is this: there is a power within you,’ he explains. Even if you feel broken, ashamed or lost, that power – whether self-love, spiritual love or the support of community – is still there. ‘That love saved me and I believe it can save others too.’
No matter what challenges you face: addiction, trauma, identity struggles or rejection, you have the strength to survive. You don’t need to be perfect; you just need to keep showing up for yourself. For Taylor, if his book helps even one person realise they are not alone, that they have worth and that healing is possible, it has done its job.
Breaking stigma, inspiring healing
The response to Taylor Srirat’s podcast has been deeply humbling. Strangers slide into his Instagram DMs to say his work matters, that his voice has reached them in ways they didn’t expect. Some are still struggling with addiction or feeling lost and they tell him the podcast gave them hope. A few have even checked themselves into rehab after hearing the interviews, while others have sought therapy for the first time, finally feeling seen and understood.
Even in everyday life, people approach him to say they love the podcast. ‘That kind of connection feels like heaven,’ he reflects. ‘It makes all the pain and struggle feel worth it.’ But for Taylor, this is just the beginning. His goal is to reach an international audience, grow the community, break stigma and inspire healing on a larger scale.
Guests are chosen not only for their expertise but for their lived experience on topics often considered taboo: addiction, abuse, identity, sex work, HIV stigma and mental health. ‘Every story brings something valuable,’ he remarks. Recovering addicts, in particular, inspire him with their resilience and transformation, while charity advocates impress him with their dedication and fire, often working against the odds to make a difference.
One guest, however, left a lasting impression: a trans mamasan. Smart, real, and fiercely feminist, she protects her kids in ways Taylor’s own mother never could. ‘She showed me what real strength and love look like,’ he reflects. In a world that often tries to erase people like her, she stood unapologetically in her truth, teaching him the power of courage, protection and authenticity.
A journey to wellness in Thailand
Taylor Srirat sees a persistent stigma around addiction in Thai society. ‘Even today, it is treated like a taboo, something people do not talk about openly,’ he says. Shame and silence make things worse for those struggling. Many fail to realise that addiction is not rare. It is a mental health issue and often a coping mechanism for deeper pain, trauma or disconnection. ‘Instead of support, people are judged,’ he adds. ‘It is time to break the silence, have open conversations and approach addiction with empathy and understanding.’
When it comes to cannabis, Taylor approaches the topic with caution. ‘As someone who has been to the darkest corners of addiction, I know how easy it is to lose control,’ he explains. Even substances considered milder can become a slippery slope, especially when used to escape pain. In Thailand, the lack of education, regulation and awareness makes legalisation risky. ‘I see 10-year-olds smoking weed on the street with no guidance or understanding of the risks. Until there is proper drug education, mental health support and community awareness, legalisation without education creates chaos.’
On a brighter note, Taylor is excited about Bangkok’s evolving wellness scene. ‘It is booming more than ever before,’ he mentions. Over the past year, he has explored practices such as crystal healing and sound baths, which have helped calm his mind, improve sleep and shift his energy. What excites him most is how wellness is becoming inclusive. Group yoga, meditation, breathwork and community sound baths are appearing across parks and studios, fostering connection and healing. ‘Wellness is no longer about perfection or performance. It is about being present and taking care of yourself,’ he reflects.
As our conversation winds down, he leaves us with some advice: ‘Be anything you want to be. Follow your dreams, even the ones that scare you. Let love guide you, not fear. You can do amazing things if you put your heart and mind into it. Don’t let anyone or anything dim your light. You are powerful. You are worthy. You are your own hero.’