Mackenzie Wofford, Staff Writer

(Image from Trustarts.org) 

The ending of the Frenemies podcast in 2021 marked an exceptionally low point in Trisha’s career. Fans of the podcast turned against her, ultimately siding with co-host Ethan Klein as the show ended. This shift is due to videos made by Trisha calling out Ethan and the Frenemies crew for their behavior towards her behind the scenes. Listeners have long discussed the dynamic between Trisha and Ethan on the podcast due to its sometimes-volatile nature. Listeners of the podcast had two very distinct opinions on the dynamic of Trisha and Ethan’s friendship, neither of which is particularly positive. Half of the listeners believe the podcast deeply damaged Trisha’s mental health as Ethan would continuously push her boundaries, resulting in blow-up fights. Throughout the podcast, Ethan often pressed Trisha for personal details despite her discomfort, used triggering language, and criticized her relationship with Moses. 

On the other hand, some listeners argue that Ethan isn’t responsible for Trisha’s triggers and shouldn’t be expected to walk on eggshells around them constantly. This dynamic ultimately proved harmful for both parties, as Trisha and Ethan have publicly acknowledged the podcast’s negative impact on their personal lives. Ethan and Trisha now have children who are close in age, cousins through Trisha’s marriage to Moses, but the children have never met due to the harmfulness of the podcast. After this fallout, Trisha pivoted to creating content centered around her wedding and first pregnancy.  

Following her pregnancy announcement on YouTube, Trisha faced intense online criticism. Many questioned her mental stability and expressed concern for the well-being of her future child and home environment. However, after the birth of her daughter, Trisha’s mental health showed significant improvement, reassuring many fans of her capability as a mother. Motherhood marked a turning point in public perception, offering her a rare break from the backlash. 

Following this, Trisha began a podcast with YouTuber Colleen Ballinger, focusing on motherhood and marriage. Colleen was made famous on YouTube by creating the character Miranda Sings, a woman who dreams of being a famous vocalist despite her lack of talent. The podcast Oversharing debuted in May of 2023 with the episode “Trisha and Colleen Won’t Shut Up!” Oversharing ended after three episodes due to a conflict between Trisha and Colleen in June 2023. Young fans of Colleen alleged that she had shared personal photos of Trisha without her consent, which they viewed as both inappropriate and a violation of Trisha’s privacy. After these claims were brought to Trisha’s attention, the podcast ended. While Colleen initially denied the allegations in her conversation with Trisha, she later apologized after fans presented evidence of her inappropriate behavior, which resulted in one of YouTube’s most infamous apology videos. Colleen sits on the floor playing the ukulele, singing about the internet’s “Toxic Gossip Train.” While Colleen’s reputation never recovered from this, Trisha left victorious with the creation of the Just Trish podcast. 

The Just Trish podcast premiered in June 2023, just days after the final episode of Oversharing aired. The show focuses on “hot topics,” paying homage to The Wendy Williams Show, and features Trisha alongside her co-hosts Oscar Gracey and her husband, Moses Hacmon. This podcast would become Trisha’s most successful venture, with fans tuning in twice weekly to hear her and her co-hosts’ takes on celebrity gossip. Trisha would go on to announce her second and third pregnancies on the podcast, guest star on Saturday Night Live!, and gain almost 50,000 paid subscribers to her Just Trish Patreon account. Trisha would face little to no backlash from the internet for the first time in her career due to the Just Trish podcast. 

Through motherhood and sobriety, Trisha began to show herself as a positive, uplifting 

influencer on the podcast. She avoids drama and the trolling that once made her famous, 

focusing instead on lighthearted topics and her life as a married mother of three. 

Trisha has accomplished her life-long goals and overcome years of criticism through this dedication to change. This past year, Trisha starred in an original Broadway show alongside stars Rachel Zegler, Ben Platt, and Sutton Foster and has since begun a sold-out nationwide tour performing all of her original hits. Trisha’s resilience and ability to pivot have opened the doors to these opportunities. Her continued belief in herself and her ability to be a star sets her apart from her peers. Many YouTubers have faced similar waves of hate and criticism, but few have recovered as masterfully as Trisha. Through her ability to successfully pivot, time and time again, Trisha has solidified herself as a forever relevant, dynamic force in the influencer space.