In this episode of The Pokes and Jokes Podcast, Grace Neutral and Jen Nolan are joined by drag artist and visual creator Charity Kase for an open and deeply honest conversation about identity, drag, HIV, gender, and learning when to let go of something that once saved you.

Charity talks about losing the spark for drag, the pressure of making creativity pay the bills, and the reality of burnout after Drag Race. They reflect on British drag culture, camp, femininity, and how mainstream success can smooth the edges off something that was never meant to be polished.

The conversation moves into Charity’s experience of being diagnosed with HIV at 18, the stigma that still exists today, and why modern treatment has completely changed what living with HIV looks like. Charity speaks openly about shame, survival, chosen family, and why education matters more than fear.

There is also a candid discussion about gender expression, masculinity, body image, relationships, marriage, and learning not to make yourself smaller just to be accepted.

Funny, raw, uncomfortable, and affirming in equal measure, this is a powerful episode about being unapologetically yourself and knowing when it is time to evolve.

💍 This episode is sponsored by @regalrose — deadly detailed jewellery with a dark & dreamy twist. Use code JOKES20 for 20% off → regalrose.co.uk

Chapters

00:00:00 Cold open

00:01:41 Meeting Charity

00:03:52 Burnout and drag

00:05:10 British drag culture

00:06:13 Drag as therapy

00:07:44 HIV diagnosis

00:09:55 Chosen family

00:11:26 365 days drag

00:13:35 Going viral

00:14:25 Circus work

00:15:40 HIV stigma

00:16:48 Living with HIV

00:17:55 Education and pride

00:22:43 Drag Race reality

00:23:53 Being boxed in

00:29:50 What drag is

00:32:29 Where is the camp

00:34:30 Charity and Harry

00:38:03 Gender expression

00:41:40 Breaking binaries

00:45:28 Being palatable

00:46:24 Marriage regret

00:54:07 Health and insecurity

01:04:33 Future projects

01:09:17 Piercings and body mods

01:10:21 Sponsor shoutout

01:10:59 Final thoughts

#PokesAndJokesPodcast #CharityKase #BritishDrag #DragPodcast #QueerVoices #DragCulture #GenderExpression #LGBTQPodcast #HonestConversations

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