The Free Press · October 9, 2026 · By River Page

Phillip Picardi, 35, Is Editor in Chief of Playboy

• Phillip Picardi, 35, is the editor in chief of Playboy; the piece reports he has held the job since March. Picardi is identified as gay and a Christian graduate of Harvard Divinity School.
• On the magazine’s direction, Picardi says he is trying to “make something that does not feel like pornography, but feels like something else.” He is the author of a forthcoming book, Is Jesus Kinda Hot? The interview took place over drinks at a bar in Hell’s Kitchen, Manhattan.

Role, tenure, age, education, and the book title as reported in the interview; the quoted statements are Picardi’s own words to the interviewer. The Free Press is not affiliated with the Detroit Free Press. Original headline: "Two Drinks with . . . the Gay Christian Who’s Running ‘Playboy’".