Eric Sedeño, the Brooklyn-based creator known to his followers as @ricotaquito, is stepping into the podcast world with Wild Wild Web, debuting Sept. 4. The new series lives on the premier LGBTQ+ podcast network that’s home to hits like The Bald and the Beautiful with Trixie Mattel and Katya, and Sibling Rivalry with Bob the Drag Queen and Monét X Change.
Sedeño describes the show as a mix of humor, nostalgia, and queer perspective on all things online. “It’s like two friends kind of talking about the internet and then kind of talking about their lives,” he told Gayety. “I wanted people to come to this podcast to get a specific POV from their favorite creator: how they got their start online, what their digital footprint looks like, or what their favorite internet moment is.”
A New Kind of Internet Talk Show
While many internet shows dissect the latest viral moment, Sedeño says Wild Wild Web is built to last. “I was really trying to do less trend-based and more evergreen,” he explained. “I don’t want to only be talking about the Sydney Sweeney jeans ad and then three weeks later nobody cares. I want people to walk away with something special about their favorite creator that they wouldn’t have gotten anywhere else.”
Recurring segments like “Meme of the Day” and “Wild Ride” help set the tone. Each guest is asked to share a wild personal story, with Sedeño joining in. “They’re adding a story to their digital footprint, and it’s such a fun opportunity to just hear someone tell it really well,” he said. “I didn’t expect to love that part as much as I do.”
A Visual Experience
For Sedeño, Wild Wild Web is as much about the visuals as the audio. “This has been 100% my vision, from the graphics to the set design,” he said. The set features leather western chairs, an old TV looping memes, and a cowboy aesthetic that plays on the title.
“When I’m talking about a meme, it goes on the screen, or if we play a TikTok, it plays through the old TV,” he explained. “I know it’s way more visual than a normal podcast, but I wanted that. I wanted it to feel cohesive and intentional.”
Queer Roots and Digital Eras
For Sedeño, this project is also about highlighting the queer community’s relationship with online spaces. From MySpace and Tumblr to TikTok and YouTube, these platforms offered refuge and discovery for LGBTQ+ youth, himself included.
He revealed that Katya will be among the first wave of guests, a full-circle moment since queer YouTube shows helped him explore his identity growing up in Texas. “It feels surreal to be in conversation with people I once saw as untouchable,” he said.
Sedeño also plans to revisit different internet eras, from the golden age of YouTube comedy to the chaos of early Twitter.
A Project with Staying Power
As for what internet eras he’s most excited to revisit, Sedeño doesn’t hesitate. “YouTube was my era, I didn’t even watch TV, I just watched YouTubers,” he said. “Vine was huge for me too, and I can’t wait to crack open that door. And I miss old Twitter so much. It was the best platform to make a joke on.”
The nostalgia doesn’t stop there. He recently found himself watching clips from MTV’s Next. “I was like, oh my god, the internet cracked open a part of my brain I forgot about,” he laughed. “Shows like that don’t exist anymore, but because of the internet, they live forever.”
A Labor of Love
Sedeño has been developing Wild Wild Web since late 2023, calling it “a labor of love.” He hopes it becomes a long-running staple in his creative career. “I’m hoping it’s an opportunity for people to get to know me a lot better,” he said. “TikTok will always be the centerpiece, but this feels like the right addition. It makes sense with who I am online and who I am in real life.”
And above all, Sedeño wants Wild Wild Web to reflect the joy he’s had in creating it. “I didn’t even know I could try this hard anymore,” he admitted. “But I’ve put so much effort and thought into it, and it feels really special. I think people are going to connect with it in a whole new way.”
Wild Wild Web premieres Sept. 4, aka Beyonce’s birthday, a launch date Sedeño jokes feels “legendary by association.”
