💸 January only: Get 40% off your first month on Premium or Executive tiers Offer code: 16C85

👉 Sign up at ⁠patreon.com/AfterthoughtMedia⁠ or subscribe directly through Apple Podcasts.

RuPaul’s Drag Race – Season 18, Episode 1
“You Can’t Keep a Good Drag Queen Down”

The Season 18 premiere is here, and we’re kicking off a brand-new Drag Race show. On the very first episode of The Big Takeaway, Joe and Lauri deliver their immediate, gut-level reactions to the premiere—no deep dive, no minute-by-minute breakdown, just the big opinions that hit right after the credits roll.

Whether the right queens landed in the top and bottom

The design challenge results and which looks worked (and didn’t)

That Cardi B lip sync and whether the right queen took the win

Early standouts, early red flags, and first-episode energy

Why sewing skills still matter on Drag Race—18 seasons in

First impressions that may (or may not) hold up as the season unfolds

Insecurity is already running high—and that may say more about the modern Drag Race ecosystem than the queens themselves. With so many alumni and so few opportunities at the top, staying longer than week one feels more important than ever.

The Big Takeaway is our first-response Drag Race show, recorded right after each episode airs. It’s where we react, debate, and land on our immediate opinions.

If you’re looking for the full, moment-by-moment breakdown, that lives on our Drag Race Recap show.

Patreon & Apple Podcasts Subscriptions

Full Drag Race Recap episodes

Ad-free

Entire season available to paid members

Free Patreon Members

Get the full recap one week later

Join us next week—and every week—as Joe and Lauri continue breaking down RuPaul’s Drag Race Season 18, starting with the big picture before diving deeper everywhere else.

Sashay away until next week.

What We Talk About This EpisodeThe Big TakeawayAbout This ShowWhere to Get the Full Recap

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices