Porn Star Tea with Down Home Southern Charmer, Ryan St. Michael
A honeyed voice with just the right amount of Southern lilt. A tall and fit body that strikes the perfect balance—lean and toned, but not so much that it feels unattainable. He has timeless gentleman-next-door good looks paired with the wide-eyed innocence of the boy next door. Bright, sharp, and smart, with the social graces and romantic skills of a modern-day Captain Wentworth from Austen’s classic “Persuasion.” Ryan St. Michael is a lust-worthy member of the adult content creator landscape, and it was a pleasure to interview him, and an even greater pleasure being his IRL coffee buddy. Read, share, and enjoy.
Photo: @willallenportraits
Let’s get the big question out of the way right from the jump, I know that you are also an attorney – how did you make the transition from law to porn?
Well, it wasn’t exactly a linear move. After growing up and attending college in South Carolina, I moved to Texas in 2002 to go to law school at the University of Houston Law Center. After graduating and passing the bar in 2005, I worked for four years at a boutique family law firm before resigning to go into full-time business with my ex, an artist. So, for the next dozen years I owned and operated an art gallery selling his artwork, co-founded an artist nonprofit with him and in general helped to grow his career. When we divorced in 2021, by agreement, he got my shares in the art business. I then had to make a decision on what I wanted to do with the rest of my life career-wise. I had gotten in the best shape of my life when I turned 40 and did a photoshoot that was all of the things: challenging, affirming and fun. At this time the thing that was giving me the most joy was my fitness journey, modeling and posting pics to Instagram. I had big ideas to launch a brand, build a website and create a YouTube series. So, when the ink was barely dry on my divorce decree, I announced to the world that I was becoming a content creator. I had no clue what I was doing. The porn part wasn’t there from the onset. I started an OnlyFans six months later. Six months after that I did my first collaboration. And then in June of 2022 I got an agent and did my first professional studio work. And now here we are more than three years later and I’m still finding my way and enjoying myself.
Talk us through your first scene, were you nervous and if so, how did you handle that?
My first scene was with Jonah Wheeler (@ShowOffJonah). He was my dream collaboration…I’d had a massive online crush on him for many years. We were introduced by a mutual photographer friend named Austin Ruffer and I filmed with him in New York City in March of 2022. Even though I’d had an OnlyFans for six months prior, it was just a solo page. The act of recording sex and sharing it would be entirely new for me. Yes, I was nervous. The day prior to filming, Jonah invited me out to Brooklyn for coffee. We sat on a bench in Prospect Park and talked. Kissed. Discussed business. It was a phenomenal way to break the ice and I’m forever grateful to him for that. To this day we remain very close friends, and, he’s served as an amazing mentor for me in the industry.
Photo: @ivanavilaphotography
You started in porn at age 43. From that perspective, what advice do you have for those considering getting into the industry?
First off, I love my career and have no regrets. But because I started in the industry at an older age, I entered from a place of privilege. I had some money in the bank. I could make choices, select roles and do scenes that always felt comfortable for me without a pressure that I had to earn money to make ends meet. I would tell any person that has a passion to enter the porn industry to go for it. At the same time, I would couple that positive push with a few considerations: 1.) They might be excluded from certain careers because of a history in porn and 2.) Some people might not want to be in a relationship with them because of their porn career. Sure, those careers and persons might not be right for you, but you should have your eyes wide open of those undeniable realities.
Since we know you as a mature content creator, you’ve been labeled a “Daddy.” How do you feel about that?
I fully embrace it. But there are nuances with the term “daddy” and the authentic one for me is the “dad next door.” Naughty behind a nice exterior. Good looking but not an Adonis. I’m definitely not a “dom” daddy. Rough and aggressive are not a part of my MO. If you watch my content, you’ll see that I’m caring and considerate. It’s hot for me to communicate with my scene partner to ensure that they are comfortable. One component of my content that’s a bit rare is that I post foreplay videos. I let the camera roll and post unedited footage of us undressing, kissing, talking and laughing
before the sex. To be honest these videos get some of the best engagement from my subscribers as the appreciate truly “exclusive” content that they wouldn’t find anywhere else.
What is a misconception that people have about porn stars?
That they are broken in some way or so desperate for money that they’ve arrived at porn as a last resort. I have no judgment on any reason someone has for doing porn, but it’s an unfair and untrue stereotype that porn stars have been forced into it because they don’t have the mind or skill set to do something else. The men that I’ve had the great privilege to work with in this industry have been intelligent, savvy businesspersons that are also kind, funny and (for the most part) don’t take themselves too seriously.
How do you establish a connection on set, and is it all acting or is there usually a bit of genuine attraction?
Fortunately for me I normally have genuine attraction. I’m fortunate to be at a point in my career where I can film with guys I want to and I don’t necessarily have to try and link up with guys that have a huge following. For me, it begins in the early planning stages. From my DMs to try and set a collaboration, I infuse a little flirtation alongside the professionalism necessary to make a plan. How that person responds gives me a great indicator of their energy and enthusiasm for getting together. My best scene partners and I have been dirty-flirting for weeks if not months prior to filming. The attraction becomes very real and that comes across on camera. It’s certainly a bit different with studio porn where sometimes I don’t know my scene partner until a few days prior. But even then, I always try to get some alone-time with the other actor in advance of being before the bright lights and big crew. Intimacy is a huge turn on for me and so if I can establish even a bit of that before the shoot, it sparks an attraction that definitely improves results.
Do you have a preference between amateur productions for your fans sites or working with professional porn studios?
I don’t have a preference – I honestly love them both. With studio porn, I just show up, do the work and then get a big check for a few days of performing. It’s lovely – but, it’s totally out of my control when that business will come. My primary purpose for doing
studio porn has always been to increase my name recognition and drive traffic to my personal subscription platforms, OnlyFans and JustFor.Fans. With those platforms I’m
in total control of the content. I love being an entrepreneur and in charge of my financial destiny. Sure, it’s a hustle – but it’s also unbelievably rewarding to see the fruits of my labor after so much hard work.
Personal choice, full length features with some acting or just a good ol’ filthy fuck scene?
Full length features! If I flip to a scene where they’re already fucking, I keep scrolling. It does almost nothing for me. If I start watching a scene in the doctor’s office, for example, I want the doctor to take his time. Measure his height. Weigh him. Get out the stethoscope, ask the patient questions…the anticipation of what “might” happen is unbelievably stimulating to me. I’m also a big fan of erotic fiction. Imagining the scene in my head can be as hot if not hotter than actually watching xxx porn.
After living in Houston, Texas for the last 22 years you’ve very recently moved to Palm Springs, California. What was the reason for the move, and, what’s it like living in the desert?
Houston was incredibly good to me but I needed a fresh start. For a dozen years, almost my entire social life revolved around the art business and our collectors. We hosted events constantly in our home and art gallery. When I divorced, all of that went away. I then selected a career that was essentially work-from-home – and sometimes in a week the only person I’d see in-real-life was my trainer. As an extrovert, I felt isolated and needed a kick-start socially. Palm Springs has been a dream in that sense. People have been unbelievably kind and welcoming…and there’s always something going on. It’s a small community and I like that. I feel like I can really wrap my hands around it and get involved. In addition to the social aspects, for my career it’s also been amazing. There’s a huge number of content creators that either live here or visit and that’s made for some insanely hot filming in a short period of time.
Your social feeds are full of pics of you and your mom, you can tell you are very close – how does your mom feel about your current career?
She’s cool. She knows “enough.” She knows that I have a subscription page where guys pay to see exclusive, mature content. When I travel, she’ll ask “how were your shoots?” I’ll reply, “awesome / fun / tiring” or some such answer and then we’ll move
on to other topics. She does see my TikToks where I do a series called “OF 101” and many times I’ll allude to my porn career in humorous ways. I almost died when we were on a phone call and she told me that she had nominated me for a “Gabby.” She had seen a funny little campaign video I’d done that first year to try and get nominated for Best Newcomer. So, that meant she had to scroll through all of the categories that include “Hottest Cock,” “Best Threesome,” etc. I almost died. But I thought it was so sweet that she’d do that. She’s an amazing mom and just wants me to be happy.
Photo: @ivanavilaphotography
LOVE that she was willing to scroll the categories to support you full stop! It’s amazing that in just a few short years, you’ve been nominated for seven Grabby Awards. What have those nominations meant to you?
It’s insane. I’m unbelievably flattered, honored, grateful and amazed. I know that awards and accolades don’t define a person, but it definitely feels good to have positive affirmation from the industry. I’m not entirely sure how nominations work, but according to the Grabby’s it’s by the voting public. I have unbelievably loyal fans – many of which have been subscribers to my OnlyFans since Day 1. Those award nominations are truly thanks to them. When they’ve happened, I’ve sung their praises and teased them that “it looks like they made a good investment on me.” I currently don’t have the big name, following or studio backing to win those awards, but I assure you no one appreciates the nominations more than me.
Even the most casual outside observer knows that porn is very much under attack. Your thoughts on that, and, how do you engage as an activist to protect the industry?
I can’t say that it surprises me. It’s just unfortunate that the industry is so stigmatized that for the most part only the individuals within the industry can be vocal. Even “progressive” leaders aren’t going to stick their neck out for the porn industry, you know? I do have faith that porn will persist based on the freedom of speech guarantees in our Constitution, but we in the industry must remain vigilant in advocacy to protect it. For a very long time I’ve had a passion for politics. I was on the national Victory Campaign Board for the Victory Fund, co-hosting the Houston Champagne Brunch twice. (It is the mission of the Victory Fund to get openly LGBTQ+ candidates elected to public office at all levels of government). I was a very active volunteer and sustaining member of the Houston LGBTQ Political Caucus – working the polls and handing out push cards to promote their pro-equality slate of endorsed candidates. I’ve yet to get involved in helping with progressive politics in Palm Springs but I look forward to it.
Lastly, since we are a very sexy maker of gentleman’s undergarments here at Andrew Christian… Boxers / Briefs / Commando – where are you on underwear?
I’m a briefs guy day in and day out. I generally go with classic white jockeys. I do love jockstraps – especially when I’m dressed up. I feel incredibly sexy in a custom suit or tuxedo with a jock on underneath.
There you have it, babes! Is your interest in Mr. St. Michael piqued? We hope it is! If you need much, much more, you can check out the naughtier platforms like the Fans sites under @RyanStMichael or the more tame IG under @RyanSaintMichael. Feel free to share this with all your hott, Southern daddy-loving friends! They’ll thank you for it, we’re sure. Xoxo.
