There’s a moment in life where everything feels uncertain - and then something small shifts. For Kiki, aka Kaizer, that moment came while watching Queers of Joy from their backyard. Not on stage. Not in the spotlight. Just a quiet decision to say yes. What followed wasn’t just a performance. It was a return to creativity, connection, and self-expression after heartbreak, relocation, and a period of feeling lost.

In this conversation, we trace how that one decision led to becoming a Drag King, finding community through Kings of Joy, and stepping into a version of self that had always been there - just waiting for space to emerge.

In This Episode

• Discovering Queers of Joy during a time of uncertainty

• Starting Drag Kinging through lockdown experimentation

• Finding community and friendship through Kings of Joy

• Creating the Drag King persona Kaizer

• First time performing on stage and what shifted

• Moving from group performance into solo gigs

• Exploring gender and sexuality without needing labels

• The impact of being seen and expressing your full self

Watch the Episode

Watch the full episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/33zXN67GnQo

Start Your Own Drag King Journey

If you’re feeling the pull to explore Drag Kinging yourself, begin here: https://www.danicalani.com/dragkingname

Kings of Joy is a global Drag King community helping LGBTQIA+ people break free from constraints around gender, sexuality and self-expression.

Danielle Cormack is a multi-award-winning actor known for playing Bea Smith in Wentworth and Kate Leigh in Underbelly: Razor. She's worked in film, television, and theatre for over 35 years. And at nearly 55, going through menopause, she decided it was time to fuck shit up.

So she became PonyBoi - a naughty teenage boy whose balls haven't dropped yet, a wannabe Hollywood actor gunning to be a stunt double, full of drive and ambition and absolutely zero self-doubt.

In this episode, Danielle talks about finding PonyBoi through Kings of Joy, bringing a friend along for the ride, and why performing as a Drag King felt like coming home to the part of herself she's always identified with most. We talk about the blue glitter beard, the mesh tank tops, the voice that was born on stage at the Red Rattler, and what it's like when your teenage son introduces you to his mate's dad while you're running out the door as PonyBoi.

This is about play. Permission. And refusing to behave the way society thinks you should at any age.

In This Episode:

Why Danielle reached out to Kings of Joy after seeing me on social media and thinking, "Who is that person? They're amazing"

How performing with first-time Drag Kings brings the purest joy - even for someone with 35 years of professional performance experience

The moment PonyBoi's voice was born on stage at the Red Rattler - and why his balls clearly haven't dropped yet

Why PonyBoi was inspired by teenage boy movies like The Outsiders and the phrase "Stay gold"

Performing as PonyBoi at Wentworth conventions in the States - hosting sexy bingo, judging costume competitions, and loving the camera

What it's like when your son introduces you to his mate's dad while you're running out the door in full PonyBoi get-up

Why Danielle wants to see a Drag King film, a Drag race for only Drag Kings, and every musical ever made performed only by Drag Kings

The advice for aspiring Drag Kings: do it. Tap into the community. No time like now.

Watch the Episode

Watch the full episode on YouTube 

Start Your Own Drag King Journey

If you're feeling the pull to explore Drag Kinging yourself, begin here  

Kings of Joy is a global Drag King community helping LGBTQIA+ people break free from constraints around gender, sexuality, and self-expression - so we can be 100% at home in our own skin.

This season of The Kings of Joy Show is recorded and produced at Bambuddha Studios in Sydney. Thank you for supporting independent queer creators and community storytelling.

Kit went to Queers of Joy for the first time, was blown away by the energy, and their friend Laura grabbed them and said, "You must do this with me." Kit signed up for Kings of Joy with no idea who their Drag King persona would be.

Then lockdown hit. Seven aspiring Drag Kings met on Zoom for weeks, not knowing when they'd ever get on stage. They became a support group. They leaned on each other. And Kit spent months in their bedroom exploring YouTube makeup tutorials, learning both feminine and masculine Drag makeup, and discovering Slaychuan Peppa - a gender-fluid, beautiful boy inspired by Asian pop culture.

When they finally got on stage in December 2021, it was Kit's first time in the spotlight. Ever. The adrenaline was so intense, they can't even remember if there was a standing ovation. But Slay was born. And the journey had begun.

In This Episode:

How Kit got taken to Queers of Joy and signed up on the spot - with no Drag King persona in mind

The lockdown Kings of Joy group that became a support group when no one knew when they'd get on stage

Practicing alone in a bedroom for months, exploring makeup tutorials and gender fluidity

The realisation that Slay wasn't a switch to flick - Slay was just a different combination of aspects of Kit

How Asian pop culture and standards of beauty for men shaped Slaychuan Peppa as a beautiful boy, not a man

Debuting solo at The Bearded Tit with Worship Collective - a queer Asian performance platform

Why the spotlight blinds you and the memory plays a different game when adrenaline takes over

How Drag has integrated into Kit's art practice and everyday life

Watch the Episode

Watch the full episode on YouTube

Start Your Own Drag King Journey

If you're feeling the pull to explore Drag Kinging yourself, begin here.

Kings of Joy is a global Drag King community helping LGBTQIA+ people break free from constraints around gender, sexuality, and self-expression - so we can be 100% at home in our own skin.

Chris McAllister, aka Chase Cocks, walked past a mirror after performing as George Michael and thought, "Who's that handsome guy?" That moment cracked something open. Neural pathways shifted. And a gender journey that wasn't available before suddenly became possible.

In this episode, I sit down with my spouse - yes, my actual spouse - to talk about how we met through Drag Kinging, what it was like witnessing Chris's gender exploration unfold, and how we built Kings of Joy and Queers of Joy together as a way of giving back what we'd found: community, belonging, and permission to become.

Chris is The Trans Comedian, the founder and host of Queers of Joy, and the person behind the viral "I Can Tell" allyship campaign that's now reached over 4 million people worldwide. This conversation goes deep into the sliding doors moments, the top surgery fundraiser that raised $6,000, and what it means to build a community where people don't just feel included - they actually belong.

In This Episode:

How Chris and I met as backup dancers for a Drag King parody of "September Morn" (yes, really)

The George Michael performance that unlocked Chris's gender journey - and the moment in the mirror that changed everything

What it was like for Chris to explore gender with a completely safe person to talk to

The top surgery fundraiser Bye Bye Bye and what it felt like to get a standing ovation from 120 people

How the viral "I Can Tell" campaign reclaimed three words that once triggered dysphoria and turned them into allyship

Why participation is the source of vitality - and what that means for aspiring Drag Kings

Building a community where people belong, not just where they're included

What it's like performing in They Will Be Kings at Qtopia for Mardi Gras 2026

Watch the Episode Watch the full episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/5KkFT1_WxJY

Start Your Own Drag King Journey If you're feeling the pull to explore Drag Kinging yourself, begin here: https://www.danicalani.com/dragkingname

Kings of Joy is a global Drag King community helping LGBTQIA+ people break free from constraints around gender, sexuality, and self-expression - so we can be 100% at home in our own skin.

This season of The Kings of Joy Show is recorded and produced at Bambuddha Studios in Sydney. Thank you for supporting independent queer creators and community storytelling.

Rory went to Queers of Joy, saw a group of Drag Kings on stage, and thought, "I really want to do that." Their friend said, "If you do it, I'll be in the front row." Their son asked, "Why don't you do it?" And that was it. Rory signed up for Kings of Joy. A year later, JSTARR - the loveable tradie with a signature black cap, a dad bod six-pack, and a Human Sundae act - is performing at venues up and down the coast. Cis het men love him. Queer crowds scream for him. And Rory's processing what it means to have built something this big, this fast. In this episode, we talk about sliding into DMs, backing yourself, reclaiming songs from a former life, and what it feels like when your Drag King persona is just the unfiltered, ADHD hyper version of you - but with a moustache. In This Episode: * How Rory's son gave them the final push to sign up for Kings of Joy * The six-month Zoom rehearsal process during lockdown - and what it felt like to finally hit the stage * JSTARR's secret to getting gig after gig: show up, make connections, and slide into DMs * Why cis het men love JSTARR as much as JSTARR loves cis het men * The Human Sundae act, Magic Mike energy, and reclaiming songs from the sex industry * The homoerotic tradie chemistry between JSTARR and Night Shift that writes itself * Why chronic health issues and invisible disability don't stop JSTARR from performing - and the messages Rory receives because of it * Advice for aspiring Drag Kings: do it now, back yourself, and don't wait another day Watch the Episode Watch the full episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/cOL3bTjWbe0 Start Your Own Drag King Journey If you're feeling the pull to explore Drag Kinging yourself, begin here: danicalani.com/dragkingname Kings of Joy is a global Drag King community helping LGBTQIA+ people break free from constraints around gender, sexuality, and self-expression - so we can be 100% at home in our own skin.

Ever looked in the mirror and thought, "I'd make a damn fine Drag King"? Becks did. And then they did something about it. In this episode, I sit down with Becks Blake, aka Jim Junkie - director, producer, and one of Sydney's most beloved Drag Kings.

Becks was part of the very first Kings of Joy cohort and went on to win King of Kings at the 2021 Sydney Mardi Gras Heaps Gay competition. We talk about the London workshop that planted the seed, the "sliding doors" Facebook message that changed everything, and how Jim Junkie - the loveable gym bro with 200 Instagram followers and big dreams - became a persona that explores vulnerability, masculinity, and the quiet heartbreak of just trying to belong.

In This Episode:

How a bra cup and a London workshop sparked confidence Becks had never felt before

The moment Becks said yes to Drag Kinging - and why it was a sliding doors decision

What it felt like coming off stage after that first Kings of Joy performance: "My whole body was humming"

How Jim Junkie was born - from gym culture observation to TAFE student with a heart of gold

Why Jim isn't mocking masculinity - he's exploring the vulnerable side of it

The two non-negotiable rules at Kings of Joy: don’t do anything racially problematic, and you can have a dick, just don't be a dick

What a thriving Drag King scene looks like in Sydney and beyond

About Becks Blake:

Becks is a Sydney-based director, producer, and Drag King. As Jim Junkie, they've performed at Heaps Gay, Queers of Joy, The Drag Kings, The Bearded Tit, and co-produced Bois Night Out - Sydney's regular Drag King night. Becks developed the solo show Jim Junkie: Max Potential at Brand X and co-devised They Will Be Kings, a Werewolf x Kings of Joy collab and a sell-out theatre work returning for Mardi Gras 2026. They've also been a Kings of Joy Deputy Assistant Coach.

Connect: Follow Kings of Joy on Instagram: @kings.of.joy Follow Jim Junkie on Instagram: @king_jimjunkie

Start your Drag King journey: kingsofjoy.com Grab the free resource: Claim Your Drag King Name danicalani.com/dragkingname

Resources & Links: Queers of Joy: @queersofjoy Bois Night Out: @kings.of.joy Hugo Girl Makeup Tutorials Brand X Theatre Qtopia Sydney They Will Be Kings by Werewolf Productions x Kings of Joy

Timestamps:

00:00 Welcome to the Kings of Joy Podcast

01:09 Becks' Origin Story in Drag Kinging

06:12 The Birth of Jim Junkie

12:25 The Journey of Jim Junkie

17:16 Developing Jim's Persona

20:51 Exploring Masculinity in Performance

23:32 The Impact of Jim's Shows

25:30 Advice for Aspiring Drag Kings

30:27 Creating a Thriving Drag King Scene

🎧 Loved this episode? Follow, review & share the show.

👑 Curious about Drag Kinging? Explore free resources and start your journey at kingsofjoy.com

 This season of The Kings of Joy Show is recorded and produced at Bambuddha Studios in Sydney. Thank you for supporting independent queer creators and community storytelling.

In this episode of The Kings of Joy Show, Danica Lani speaks with Kaz Therese - CEO and Artistic Director of WEREWOLF Productions - about their journey into Drag Kinging, coming out as non-binary, and creating their Drag King persona Brad Armpit. Kaz shares what it meant to step into drag as a Gen X artist who initially felt “a bit too old to kind of start the new thing,” and how Drag Kinging became part of rewriting “all the queer narratives that… were lodged in my brain by other people.”

Together, Danica and Kaz unpack the making of They Will Be Kings - a collaboration between Kings of Joy and WEREWOLF Productions - and what it means to create a work Kaz calls “a bloody big political joy.” They also talk about devised theatre versus Drag King culture (“Fast and Furious”), the lack of visible Drag King role models, and why Kaz believes “there’s absolutely no reason why Drag Kings shouldn’t be embraced in the same way as Drag Queens.”

This is a conversation about courage, gender play, community, and the radical act of taking up space. In this episode, we cover:

• Feeling “too old” to start - and doing it anyway

• Coming out as non-binary and finding freedom in gender expression

• Brad Armpit: satire, entitlement, and masculinity

• Why They Will Be Kings exists, and why it matters

• Drag King culture, visibility, and what needs to change • Kaz’s advice for aspiring Drag Kings: “If you’re scared… you should do it.”

Memorable quotes from Kaz: • “I thought that maybe I was a bit too old to kind of start the new thing.”

• “If you’re scared of something, then… you should do it.”

• “The show is just a bloody big political joy.”

• “It’s a radical act… to just do it sober, put on some costume, and just doing it because you want to.”

Resources: Claim Your Drag King Name in 4 Simple Steps (free): https://www.danicalani.com/dragkingname

Connect with Kings of Joy:

Instagram: @kings.of.joy

Website: danicalani.com

This episode was recorded at Bambuddha Studios in Sydney. Thank you to their team for producing and supporting this season of The Kings of Joy Show. Acknowledgement of Country:

Kings of Joy acknowledges and pays respects to the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation, the Traditional Custodians of the land on which we live, work and play. We pay respects to Elders past and present, and acknowledge that sovereignty was never ceded.

In this episode of Kings of Joy, I sit down with Cara Whitehouse, Juliet Hindmarsh, and director Lily Hayman to talk about their fabulous queer cabaret-comedy, I Want It That Gay! Featuring 90s and 00s pop hits with a rainbow twist, this show takes you on a hilarious and heartfelt journey through queer milestones—think discovering sexuality, unraveling gender, and navigating the queer scene, all wrapped up in a nostalgic, musical experience. 🎤

We dive into:

✨ The inspiration behind I Want It That Gay and reclaiming queer stories

✨ The power of satirical rewrites of iconic pop songs

✨ How queer nostalgia shapes our understanding of gender & sexuality

✨ Why this show is a must-see at Qtopia Sydney during Sydney Gay & Lesbian Mardi Gras

🎟️ See I Want It That Gay at Qtopia Sydney!

🗓 Dates: February 18-22, 2025 – 7:00 PM

📍 Venue: Qtopia Sydney – The Loading Dock Theatre

🎟️ Tickets: $49 Full Price | $45 Concession 🔗 Get tickets now https://events.humanitix.com/i-want-it-that-gay

🎧 Listen now & join the conversation!

💡 Connect with Kings of Joy:

🌐 Website: kingsofjoy.com

📲 Instagram: @kings.of.joy

📩 Email: [email protected]

📣 Follow I Want It That Gay

📲 Instagram: @iwantitthatgay

🎭 Show Info: Sydney Mardi Gras Event https://events.humanitix.com/i-want-it-that-gay

🎙️ Don’t forget to subscribe, rate & review the Kings of Joy Podcast!

In this episode of Kings of Joy, I sit down with Kaz Therese—Drag King, artist, and director of WEREWOLF—to talk about their latest show, They Will Be Kings.

Funded by the Australian government, this groundbreaking work blends Drag King culture with documentary theatre, tackling themes of gender, masculinity, and queer visibility.

We dive into:

✨ The journey from joining Kings of Joy to creating They Will Be Kings

✨ How Drag Kings are reshaping conversations on gender and masculinity

✨ Why this show is a must-see for queer visibility

🎟️ See They Will Be Kings at Qtopia Sydney during Mardi Gras!

🗓 Dates: February 25-28, 2025

📍 Venue: Qtopia Sydney – The Loading Dock Theatre

🔗 Get tickets now: https://events.humanitix.com/they-will-be-kings

🎧 Listen now & join the conversation!

💡 Connect with Kings of Joy:

🌐 Website: kingsofjoy.com

📲 Instagram: @kingsofjoy

📩 Email: [email protected]

📣 Follow Kaz Therese & They Will Be Kings

📲 Instagram: @kaztherese | @__thewerewolf__

🎭 They Will Be Kings info: https://events.humanitix.com/they-will-be-kings

🎙️ Don’t forget to subscribe, rate & review the Kings of Joy Podcast!