Grizzly Kiki | Pop Culture & Interviews With Queer Artists
Summary: Grizzly Kiki began in April 2014 as a pop culture and drag-centric podcast hosted by Robert Lechuga & Daniel Silva. We launched with recaps of RuPaul’s Drag Race and other reality programming. Shortly after releasing the first few episodes, we narrowed our focus to create a podcast that was unique in concept and would serve a community near and dear to us: DRAG QUEENS!!!!!!!!!!!!! The podcast is equal parts oral history and good old-fashioned kiki. We found that there were few platforms where Drag and Nightlife Artists could talk about their art and themselves in an open and honest way. Most of what is known about these artists comes from videos posted on the Internet or what they experience in bars and clubs. It was clear that there were stories to be told and shared with the world. Our mission is to create a comfortable and safe environment, where these artists can share their histories and experiences. Ours is a podcast that is meant to serve the drag and nightlife community by capturing the artists’ voices and making them available to the public. Grizzly Kiki is a program for drag enthusiasts, Drag Artists, and everyone in between. Listen and Join the Party!!
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- Artist: Robert & Daniel
- Copyright: 2014
Podcasts:
Hello Kitty Gurl! Listen as Robert, Daniel, and Miz Jade have a very long synaptic misfire. (As far as they’re concerned, this season is over.)
Part Two of our epic interview with Hamm Samwich, where we talk about Pearl, Social Media, and Pie.
It’s time to DANCE! Listen as Robert, Daniel, and Miz Jade talk about lackluster queens, Showgirls-style sabotage, and our fantasy picks for an all NYC season of Drag Race.
On this episode, Robert and Daniel interview Hamm Samwich, a Brooklyn Drag Queen who is taking over social media and podcasting with her biting commentary and wit. Oh, and she also hosts Hamm Radio Karaoke on Sundays at TNT (108 N 6th Street, Brooklyn.) A native of Portland, Oregon, Hamm moved to New York for college and decided to stay on after she graduated. She started doing drag as a vehicle for her music, which consisted of raps she would put together and perform at local Brooklyn bars. However, she soon realized that her talents were not exactly suited to audiences who preferred to see queens lip synch instead of listen to their original material. As a result, Hamm turned to the world of Social Media and has become a presence that can always be counted on for thought-provoking and hilarious posts. Most recently, Hamm began recording a weekly recap podcast about RuPaul's Drag Race. Our conversation with Hamm covered a range of topics, from her views on Drag Identity, music, and performing, to her upbringing in Portland, which according to her was just peachy. This is one episode that truly defied description. Once you've listened to our interview with Hamm, head over to her SoundCloud Page and Listen to Race Riot, her weekly RuPaul's Drag Race recap podcast. We had such a good time with Hamm that we have decided to release her interview in two parts, so STAY TUNED NEXT WEEK FOR PART II OF OUR INTERVIEW WITH HAMM!!!
RuPaul’s jokes are being manufactured in a sweat shop in Malaysia! Listen as Robert, Daniel, and Miz Jade talk about sleeping pills, reading, and Tamar Braxton’s indelible mark on their lives.
On this episode, Robert and Daniel interview New York Drag Queen, Aja. A native of Brooklyn, Aja grew up with the city as her playground and inspiration. As a result, her drag aesthetic can best described as Urban Female Alien Warrior. Although young, she has been at the forefront of the changing drag landscape of New York and, since first doing drag at the age of 16 five years ago, has been consistently evolving and maturing as a performer. Joined by her partner Momoshade, Aja talks to us about drag, growing up as a person of color in Brooklyn, gender, identity, and the love of her craft.
RuPaul brings back an eliminated queen! Listen as Robert, Daniel, and Miz Jade talk about favoritism, RuPaul’s nostalgia, and Miss Fame’s performing skills.
On this episode, Robert and Daniel interview Brooklyn Drag Artist, Charlene!! As a performance artist, drag queen, and self-proclaimed gender deviant, she builds her performances around gender theory, with a healthy dose of shock value thrown in. One of her most memorable performances involves an act of castration performed to Britney Spears' "Til It's Gone" (see link below.) Charlene grew up in a conservative Christian family from Alabama, which she left behind to come to New York and study at NYU. It was here that she was able to explore the parts of herself that she was forced to hide from her family. Although no longer in contact with her immediate family (a fact which is highlighted via video projections in her "Til It's Gone" performance), she found her tribe in the artists and performers of Brooklyn and has since gathered around her a family who accepts her for who she is. Hers is a story of independence and self-acceptance. We talk with Charlene about her family, high heels, manicures, The RuPaulilama, and the transformative power of drag!
We're now down to 8 Girls, and the season is flying!! Listen as Robert, Daniel, Miz Jade and Lady Quesa’dilla regret loving Kennedy Davenport, discuss Max’s viability as a contestant, and Violet Chachki’s star power!
On this episode, Robert and Daniel interview Drag Queen, Pattaya Hart. A self-trained dancer, aerialist, and drag queen, Pattaya moved to New York City six years ago from Bangkok. Since she arrived in the Big Apple, Pattaya has been pursuing a dual career as a drag queen and dancer. When she's not teaching dance or performing on any number of cruise ships abroad, she can be found turning the party in drag at her weekly show at Boots and Saddle Bar. Our interview with Pattaya gave us insight into not only her journey to becoming a drag queen, but also her journey to the Untied States and her immigrant experience. Having studied in the midwest for a year in High School, Pattaya came to the U.S. with a knowledge of the culture and language. Growing up in a country where drag is not necessarily accepted as performance art, but as a third gender, Pattaya had not been exposed to the art form as she was when she moved to NY. With her experience doing stage makeup and dancing, Pattaya emerged on June 6, 2012 for the first time and has been a presence ever since. Listen to our interview and get to know this Dancing Queen!!!
We're now down to 9 Girls, and the season is flying!! Listen as Robert, Daniel, and Miz Jade try to remember the girls’ names, throw some brutally honest shade, and try to invoke the spirit of Trixie Mattel.
Tina Burner grew up on a Horse Farm --- It'll all make sense later, we promise ;-)...After realizing that she was far too fabulous for the sprawling fields of upstate New York, she packed her bags, saddles, and horseshoes and hitchhiked her way to the big city, where she became the conflagrant queen she is today!! (She made us write this, we promise.) Actually, for all of her comedy and trademark funny faces, Tina Burner is a consummate professional who treats her drag as equal parts art and business. She can sew, dance, produce, and makes her own mixes (she has over 125 of them, and don't you forget it!!) With a career in nightlife that spans over thirteen years, Tina has been a fixture of the drag scene for the past five years. She is the host of Star Search at Barrucada (the longest running drag competition in New York City), was the 2012 Miss Cherry Lane and 2013 Ms. Cherry's on Fire Island, and her photograph once appeared in Vogue Italia. Tina's performance style can best be described as Bombastic, Chaotic, and Manic in the best of ways. She is high energy, high concept and just plain high (JK!)....She is also full of heart and compassion, but don't tell her we let the secret out. Her main goal is to make her audience laugh and be happy. If she's done that by the end of the night, she is the happiest Queen in the world.
We're now down to 10 Girls, and the season is flying!! Listen as Robert and Daniel recap the latest episode, enjoy some delicious awkwardness and throw some brutally honest shade!
On this episode, Robert and Daniel interview the iconic performer, PepperMint. A native of Delaware, PepperMint planned on moving to Philadelphia to pursue a career in drag. However, her path led her straight to New York City, where she has been honing her craft and performing for the past fifteen years. She is a member of NY drag royalty, having established drag at many of the venues in the city where a resident drag queen has become commonplace. PepperMint is a triple threat performer. She can sing, dance, and writes her own music. Oh, and her lip synch isn't too shabby either!
On Episode 4 of Season 7, we're now down to 11 Girls!! Listen as Robert, Daniel, and their special guest, Miz Jade the Queen of Shade, recap the latest episode and throw some brutally honest shade!!!
