Haliey Welch, the woman who became famous on the internet this summer for her sexually explicit catchphrase “hawk tuah,” has successfully transitioned her viral moment into a popular podcast called “Talk Tuah,” which currently ranks among the top five on Spotify’s podcast chart. The podcast has garnered attention for surpassing well-known shows like “The Daily” and “Call Her Daddy,” and ranks just behind Joe Rogan’s “Joe Rogan Experience.” Welch, a 21-year-old from Belfast, Tennessee, launched the podcast on Sept. 10 under Betr, a media company founded by Jake Paul.
The “hawk tuah” phrase took the internet by storm in June when Welch was interviewed by TikTok user @DMarloww, who asked her what “move in bed makes a man go crazy.” Welch’s response of “You gotta give him that ‘hawk tuah'” quickly spread as a viral meme, leading to thousands of hat sales with the phrase. Since then, Welch has kept her internet fame going by making high-profile appearances, growing her social media following to 2.6 million on Instagram, and trademarking merchandise under her company, 16 Minutes LLC. Welch has also launched a foundation called Paws Across America to support animal welfare charities.
In addition to her podcast success, Welch has maintained her fame through various media appearances and collaborations with celebrities. She has appeared onstage with Zach Bryan, thrown out the first pitch at a New York Mets game, and was even parodied on Saturday Night Live by Chloe Fineman. Welch’s podcast features discussions about her rise to fame and interviews with famous guests such as country singer Dasha and “The Bachelor” star Kaitlyn Bristowe. Despite not discussing politics on her podcast, Welch’s southern belle persona has resonated with some conservatives, leading to speculation about her potential appeal in the conservative podcasting space.
As Welch continues to capitalize on her viral moment and build her brand, she remains a prominent figure in the world of internet fame and podcasting. With her podcast “Talk Tuah” already achieving success in a short amount of time, Welch’s future looks promising as she expands her media presence and establishes herself as a multi-faceted influencer. Whether she will continue to attract conservative audiences or branch out into new ventures remains to be seen, but one thing is for certain – Haliey Welch’s journey from internet meme to podcast host is just getting started.
