Ryan-Louis McNeil (Rian-Louis on the pod and after hours) is a Pittsburgh-based cultural curator, creative, and community advocate. He is the creator and host of “RIANOUTLOUD!” McNeil amplifies Black LGBTQ+ voices through podcasting and live events.
McNeil was born in Washington, D.C., but moved to Monessen, PA, at an early age. He is an Outreach Specialist at Amachi Pittsburgh, where he supports youth and families of incarcerated individuals and has contributed to initiatives. One of them is HERE4U, a bus that delivers Amachi Pittsburgh’s social services directly to impacted neighborhoods. McNeil was named an Allies for Health + Wellbeing 2024 Bright Young Person for his leadership, representation, and community impact. This year, he was nominated to be one of the New Pittsburgh Courier’s Fab Forty Under Forty, alongside Brittany L. Ezell, President & CEO of The Pittsburgh Foundation, Ross Marlin Johnson, Vice President, Business Banking Recruiting Manager, PNC Bank, Jatara McGee, Anchor, and Investigative Reporter, WPXI, and thirty-six other prominent professionals in the Black community.
McNeil went from a Bright Young Person in 2024 to a Fab Forty in 2026 in two years. McNeil said, “I was still processing Bright Young Person when I got on the Fab Forty nomination. I’m incredibly grateful.”
On the podcast, which has over one hundred episodes in six years, Rian has interviewed artists, musicians, and filmmakers.
In 2025, McNeil hosted a live event, “RIANOUTLOUD: Live Experience” at TLC Libations, Pittsburgh’s first Black woman-owned distillery, 7800 Susquehanna Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15208. His guests for the live recording of the podcast included Catherine “CC” Calhoun, an educator and creative; Miracle Jones, an advocate and organizer; and Manny Dibiachi, a rapper, curator, and sonic visionary.
Catherine C.C. Calhoun, Director of Education and Community Engagement, August Wilson African American Cultural Center, and the creator of Pride & Joy, a celebration that honors the unique experiences, identities, and contributions of the Black LGBTQIA+ community, which is held annually at the August Wilson African American Cultural Center, said, “Rian is a pillar of the Black LGBTQIA+ community. He is working to change the narrative in Pittsburgh.”
Calhoun listed a series of traits that she admires about McNeil. She said, “He’s kind, generous, and big-hearted. He is full of joy and full of life. Even when he’s having a bad day, he makes sure that you are taken care of.”
Calhoun and McNeil serve on the Urban League of Young Professionals Greater Pittsburgh, a networking organization dedicated to empowering communities and changing lives.
McNeil has been a guest on other podcasts, including ThatBlackBoyJoy with cohosts Lord Devery and Derwin King, and the Masters of Creation (MIC) podcast with Tre Tipton.
McNeil is an author and podcast host working on his novel, “Flawsome,” about a New York City DJ returning to Pittsburgh after a family tragedy. Describing it as a blend of friendship, music, love, and family, he hopes to engage readers’ curiosity and excitement about his expanding media projects.
McNeil had a Wattpad series called “Forever Young,” about young gay Black men navigating their lives. The series garnered 45,000 views on the platform.
McNeil described the qualities that make him an ideal podcaster and Emcee. He said, “My empathy is my mutant superpower.”
The congenial host can get his guests to feel comfortable revealing themselves.
The name, RIANOUTLOUD, comes from an incident with his grandfather. McNeil said, “The first iteration of the show was called ‘Drinks and Conversations,’ but morphed into ‘RianOutLoud’ after his grandfather stubbed his toe and called out, ‘Oh, for crying out loud!’”
It was a spark of inspiration.
McNeil has spoken with LGBTQIA+ queer artists across America. He said, “I started it because of my love of music.” McNeil expanded the pod to include actors, writers, performers, and every stripe of LGBTQIA+ performer, amplifying underrepresented voices, particularly Black Queer creatives.
McNeil beamed, “I had a Grammy winner on the podcast,” explaining that one guest, Durand Bernar, won a 2026 Grammy for Best Progressive R&B album for “Bloom,” beating out Coco Jones, Teyana Taylor, Lucky Daye, and Mahalia.
He said, “RIANOUTLOUD! grew into something bigger than me.” The podcaster has emceed several local events, including Pittsburgh Pride.
McNeil is expanding Out Loud Productions. The podcaster is hoping to leverage additional media platforms, expanding into books and film. He and author Donnie Love are planning another podcast celebrating friendship, tentatively titled “But Mind You..,” an expression he and Love lob around when chatting.
McNeil is a proud Pittsburgher, but admits, “There’s so much more work to be done, but the city is bursting with possibilities.” McNeil is a self-proclaimed doer. When he sees that something needs to be done, he gets in there and does it.
He hasn’t had much time for romance lately. The Pride emcee and podcaster admitted, “I’m as single as a one-dollar bill!”
“RIANOUTLOUD!” can be found on most podcast platforms, including Spotify and Apple Podcasts.