Drag Time with Heklina

Actor, writer, producer and drag artist John Epperson joins us to discuss the genesis of the singular Lypsinka. The multi-talented John Epperson is known for his meticulously rehearsed and performed works featuring the Dolores Gray inspired Lypsinka shows -- first workshopped and debuted in San Francisco at Josie's Cabaret & Juice Joint. John gives us just a glimpse of the process involved in researching, writing, and producing the mixed media elements featuring, oftentimes, the voice of Barbara Feldon. Then we discuss his work on many performances of stage and film, including his experiences working with George Michael, Thierry Mugler, Joel Schumacher, and Charles Busch - to name just a few. We love you and we love Lypsinka! Episode Artwork by Nancy French. Photo of Lypsinka by Steven Menendez. Support Drag Time with Heklina by contributing to their tip jar: https://tips.pinecast.com/jar/drag-time-with-heklina

D’Arcy Drollinger is back and right away we get real about the HBO mini-series “And Just Like That…”. Then we find out what’s going on in San Francisco, including the 23rd Annual Mother Star Search Competition, Mothership to Reno, and my very own one-woman show which debuted to sold out crowds at Oasis this weekend. We talk about D’Arcy’s film Shit & Champagne (2021), which is streaming practically everywhere, and she tells us all about the sequel in the works, Shit & Champagne: Temple of Poon. Then we remember the genius of Betty Davis (July 26, 1945 – February 9, 2022), the controversial and groundbreaking singer, songwriter, and model. This episode was recorded in February 2022. Support Drag Time with Heklina by contributing to their Tip Jar: https://tips.pinecast.com/jar/drag-time-with-heklina

We are back for a new season of Drag Time with Heklina! We have Monique Fauxnique! Fauxnique is an artist, a performer, a choreographer and a writer. You might know her as the first cis-woman to win a major drag queen pageant. Justin Vivian Bond calls her ‘the Jane Goodall of drag’ and you have never heard a Lady Bunny impression as good as Fauxnique's. She has a new book which literally will not stay on the shelves at City Lights Books, which examines a life of performance and recalls some of the more indelible moments of Trannyshack. It’s called “Fauxqueen: A Life in Drag by Monique Jenkinson” available January 25th, 2022 from Amble press or wherever you get fine books, and we love it! Listen in to this episode to Drag Time to find out why! Support Drag Time with Heklina by contributing to their Tip Jar: https://tips.pinecast.com/jar/drag-time-with-heklina

Drag Time with Heklina is back! Our very special guest is an author, journalist, model, cultural curator, and glam icon Angie Bowie! We ask her about her legendary work as an image maker, including 7 years of training in couture, followed by the fashioning of David Bowie with designer Freddie Burretti. She tells us about making the deals and getting the means to build the team to make the shows look the way they wanted them to look in those early days, including David Bowie’s transformation from folk strummer to glam superstar. We wanted to know about her 1982 appearance on The Old Grey Whistle Test, with Mick Karn from the English new wave band Japan and she tells us everything! Nerd Alert! Marc had to know all about Angie’s interest in Marvel and DC comics, including her role in visioning Wonder Woman (as we know her). It turns out to be one of those fascinating show-business gotcha stories. She and Stan Lee were both ahead of their time. We get to find out what they might have done together if only they had access to the technology of computers at the time…but you really have to hear her tell it. You can also check out all of her books on her website www.AngieBowie.net, which is a great place to pick up a gift for that special someone such as an autographed copy Backstage Passes, Lipstick Legends, POP.SEX and more! Listen in to this episode where we learn all about “bad hype”, Magic Fingers, and “getting to the nook!” with Angie Bowie! Support Drag Time with Heklina by contributing to their Tip Jar: https://tips.pinecast.com/jar/drag-time-with-heklina

We are back with a brand new episode of Drag Time with Heklina! This time our very special guest is none other than the artist, poet, and total rocker Debora Iyall. She tells us all about the genesis of her post-punk/new wave band Romeo Void which formed at San Francisco Arts Institute in 1979. Debora is a member of the Cowlitz Indian Tribe, a tribe of Southwestern Coast Salish and Sahaptan indigenous people of the Pacific Northwest located in Washington. She tells us a little about her time with Occupy Alcatraz at just 16 years old. Debora has some great stories, including the time that Miss X (Vegas in Space) did her makeup when Romeo Void opened for the Jim Carroll Band on NYE. It turns out, she was in the music video for “Brand New Dance” by our friend Timmy Spence! She is still performing but now spends most of her time helping high school kids learn about creating visual art. Don’t forget to find us on TikTok @DragTimeWithHeklina This episode was recorded in October 2021. Support Drag Time with Heklina by contributing to their Tip Jar: https://tips.pinecast.com/jar/drag-time-with-heklina

We have the very cute Frankie Sharp! Frankie has nightlife in his DNA and we ask him all about his San Francisco start back in 1998, his influences like Trannyshack, spending time at The Stud, and throwing parties with Oakland-based writer, performer, and director Brontez Purnell at The Gangway. This episode is a masterclass for any of you P.T. Barnum hopefuls lurking out there. Frankie tells us about growing into the New York nightlife impresario he is today. Frankie is known for hosting popular NY parties such as Westgay at Westway and he loves bizarre and beautiful. He is now the owner/operator of New York’s brand new four-story nightclub “The Q” along with Jake Shears, Billy Porter, Charlie Carver, Zachary Quinto, Bob Fluet, and Alan Picus. We find out everything you need to know about the vibes, the programming, and the queer world created by Frankie and his supporters. Frankie Sharp says we’re entering a queer nightlife renaissance and The Q is the slightly seedy, very chic, towering enclave that is equal parts theater and club house, and 100% Frankie’s love-letter to New York. Frankie tells it all on this episode of Drag Time with Heklina!

Við elskum þig, Raja! It means ‘We Love You, Raja!’ in Icelandic and we really do love her. She’s the winner of Season 3 of RuPaul’s Drag Race, and the very first Asian American to win a Drag Race franchise title in 2011. We discuss Asian representation on Drag Race and the big changes that television brought to her career. Raja is kind of a big deal and has even guest starred as herself on The Simpsons. Because she is so iconic, we had to ask her about her influences including her time working as a fashion forward makeup artist for industry giants such as Iman, Twiggy, Adam Lambert, Tyra Banks, and more! These days she’s got her very own podcast with Delta Work in which they discuss beauty, culture, and the most unforgettable moments from their club days. Don’t miss this episode of Drag Time with Heklina! Support Drag Time with Heklina by contributing to their Tip Jar: https://tips.pinecast.com/jar/drag-time-with-heklina

Our San Francisco Hometown Heroine Rock M. Sakura is here! She helps us get into the real and imagined history of our popular theme song Live My Life. The votes are in and counted and we are keeping the song! Rock M. competed on Season 12 of RuPaul’s Drag Race and she tells us all about the inspiration behind their costumes and performances. We ask Rock M if they think there really is a “San Francisco curse” on Drag Race. After being sent home second they are still serving encouragement and advice for any queen from San Francisco who wants to compete on Drag Race. Then they tell us why it was important for them to acknowledge their own history of sex work, following a series of attacks on Asian American sex workers. You can find their animated documentary series “Rock M Sakura Sexy Superhero Sickening Spectacular” on WOW Presents, in which Rock M glows up into her super powers — and you can find her right now on Drag Time with Heklina. Support Drag Time with Heklina by contributing to their Tip Jar: https://tips.pinecast.com/jar/drag-time-with-heklina

We’re back with another episode of Drag Time with Heklina! This week we have Jackie Cox and she is here to tell you all about JackieVision! her all-new solo tour, premiering this weekend (September 4th and 5th) and inspired by the Emmy-nominated Disney+ series, WandaVision. You can get your show and meet and greet tickets for this weekend at SFOasis.com! Jackie used to live in San Francisco and she takes us down memory lane and we talk about Cookie Dough and her days performing at The Edge. She catches us up on her podcast, “It Do Take Nerd” brought to you by World of Wonder, and how a nerd identity can be healthy and inclusive for queer people. Then we talked about our shared love of classic television, including how she grew up on Nick at Nite reruns like Bewitched, I Dream of Jeannie, and Brady Bunch. We find out exactly what kind of nerd Jackie and I are… and it turns out that Marc is a Murder She Wrote nerd! Jackie tell us all about working with Lisa Rinna and bringing back her RPDR S.12 “Snatch Game" Lisa Rinna to the new Days of Our Lives miniseries! You can catch Jackie in the 6 episode miniseries premiering on Peacock on September 6th. Finally, we discuss Jackie’s runway looks from RPDR S.12, including her decision to pay homage to a patriotic look featuring a hijab to bring attention to the injustice of former President Trump’s Muslim travel ban. Then and now, the message is clear. We must keep supporting refugees and those seeking asylum in the United States, especially for our trans-siblings. Listen-in to this moving episode of Drag Time with Heklina to hear all about it from Jackie Cox! Support Drag Time with Heklina by contributing to their Tip Jar: https://tips.pinecast.com/jar/drag-time-with-heklina

We’re back with another episode of Drag Time with Heklina — and we want to know what you think about our theme song so be sure to give us a listen and chime in with your thoughts on our Facebook page “Drag Time with Heklina”! GGGGG! We have Latrice Royale! She tells us all about what’s going on in South Florida. She’s a QVC mogul now so we get an update on Latrice products. Spirituality, growth, and life experiences are topics of interest and we hear a little about Latrice’s life and personal accomplishments and we love her for sharing. We ask her all about what it was like to be on Celebrity Family Feud (S6, Ep.3) with RuPaul, Carson Kressley, Latrice Royale, Michelle Visage, and Raven-David Petruschin. She has her own podcast! We had to ask about The Chop with Manila Luzon, a twice weekly critique of Drag Race (International) where you can catch the run-down, who did cute, and hear from the contestant queens in Holland and Spain. We have a lot of questions about Drag Tots (back for another season) and Lady Liber T herself is here to explain. Marc’s (Now Adult) High School Drama Club is back and Latrice gives us a lesson in the theatre! Make sure you listen-in and find out how to make an audience lose their minds and what she wants to see in the future of drag. Support Drag Time with Heklina by contributing to their Tip Jar: https://tips.pinecast.com/jar/drag-time-with-heklina

We are back with another episode of Drag Time with Heklina the podcast! This time we got a chance to catch up with New York nightlife impresario and maestro of legends, Daniel Nardicio! He tells us all about working with Carol Channing, Chita Rivera, and Nina Hagen. He shares about producing ‘Love Letter to Liza, Celebrating Liza Minnelli's 75th Birthday’ with appearances by Parker Posey, Sandra Bernhard, John Cameron Mitchell, Coco Peru, Nathan Lane, and more! Then we get Daniel to spill the shocking secret of getting a good Liza story. We had to ask Daniel about working with Levi Johnston for Playgirl (that’s the former GOP-candidate for Vice President Sarah Palin’s twice-former future son-in-law? we think we got that right…) What matters is whether or not Levi is potentially gay-for-pay? Asked and answered. We find out what Daniel is most looking forward to when we finally go “post-COVID” — spoiler alert, it’s listening to Drag Time with Heklina! Don’t miss this episode. Support Drag Time with Heklina by contributing to their Tip Jar: https://tips.pinecast.com/jar/drag-time-with-heklina

Hello from Iceland! Our very special guest this week is none other than celebutante-turned-celebrated author James St. James! He is bringing us real life behind-the-scenes story time about the New York Club Kids scene of the late 1980’s-1990’s. We find out all about the inspiration behind some of his fascinating looks including Leigh Bowery, Divine, John Sex, Diane Brill, John Waters, Billy Beyond, Sister Dimension, to name a few. As it turns out, James St. James is the originator of the indelible lunch box as an accessory….so thank you James. We ask him all about his book Disco Bloodbath, which became the movie Party Monster (2003) starring Macaulay Culkin as Club Kid King Michael Alig… and Seth Green portraying James St. James. The book and film are all about James’ relationship with Michael, and the culmination of Michael’s undoing resulting in the death of his roommate and drug supplier, Angel Melendez. Listen in to find out all about Culkin and Green’s process in the making of Party Monster (2003) and get a master class from James St. James on authoring your own great works! We love James St. James!

Drag Time with Heklina is back! I’m on my way to Reykjavík for Pride but we spent some time with producer, actress, vocalist, musician, and author Calpernia Addams! We get into the weeds about how language can change, casual activism, and reflect on fighting and surviving the queer liberation. Calpernia shares some of her experiences growing up in a strict fundamentalist Christian cult and her journey coming to adulthood serving in the military as a combat medic in Saudi Arabia during the Gulf War. Then she tells us all about how Navy lesbians contributed to her post-service glow up! Calpernia gives us an insider perspective on Hollywood casting of transgender, gay, and lesbian roles and she tell us about the work of her production company Deep Stealth Productions with Andrea James. We ask her about the film Soldier’s Girl (2003) which portrayed the 1999 hate crime murder of her real life boyfriend PFC Barry Winchell at Ft. Campbell, Kentucky, USA. We ask her all about her very fun and irreverent podcast with Alec Mapa and Rachel True called Nooner. The podcast is on a hiatus but you can still catch the gang dishing with some of Hollywood’s most interesting people in all of the past episodes! But you will have to listen-in to this very sweet episode of Drag Time with Heklina to find out what’s next from Calpernia Addams! Support Drag Time with Heklina by contributing to their Tip Jar: https://tips.pinecast.com/jar/drag-time-with-heklina

Episode Notes This episode has it all: sex, murder, splatter, gore… and Hollywood lore! We ask Bruce all about Death Book, a shocking selection of LaBruce's performances, actions, film production stills and photography. He tells us about a new retrospective he has in the works. We discuss several of Bruce’s films including his new release “Saint-Narcisse” (2020), and spoiler alert, it’s a twincest re-telling of the Narcissus myth, with very recent showings in Berlin and Munich and we can’t wait to see it. We find out more about the vision and process behind Hustler White (1996), a film co-created with Rick Castro which explores the seedy underbelly of the world of sex for hire and taboo fetish, or what Bruce calls a cut rate version of Sunset Boulevard. We talk about the origin of the queercore movement and the punk zine “J.D.’s” and the queer zine scene. Bruce shares some hot inspirational memories from The Stud and Club Uranus days. This episode is not to be missed! Support Drag Time with Heklina by contributing to their Tip Jar: https://tips.pinecast.com/jar/drag-time-with-heklina

Episode Notes We’re back in Palm Springs and bringing you Deven Green! She tells us all about working with her partner Ned Douglas to keep people connected and entertained bringing live streaming shows to the public during the pandemic. Deven and Ned are high-end smartypants funny-people and they have a TV show on Revery called “Versus: The Gameshow” - a lighthearted but hilarious show that pits two celebrity contestants against one another in a series of mini-games as they square off on trivia skills, memory, and knowledge of their own social media content. We find out all about their Supper Club Music show coming up on July 30th at Wilma & Frieda’s in Palm Springs, CA. Deven gets us up to date on her new comedy music show with Handsome Ned, “WATCH THIN PEOPLE EAT - Tasty Songs of Food and Drink” which you can catch on August 6th and 7th at the Art House Theater in Provincetown, MA. Marc has to find out...what’s going on with Deven Green and Andrew Bradley’s “Mrs. Betty Bowers” and it turns out the Tr*mp years have been kind of intense for ‘America’s Best Christian’. Heklina and Deven theorize about how the pandemic has changed our wants, needs, and focus… and what kind of new revelations the future has in store for us after what has frankly been a really weird time! You can find out all about how to see Deven and Ned by visiting DevenGreen.com! Don’t miss this episode of Drag Time! Support Drag Time with Heklina by contributing to their Tip Jar: https://tips.pinecast.com/jar/drag-time-with-heklina

Episode Notes We caught up with Chi Chi LaRue for a very special Pride episode. Chi Chi is coming out to California for a special residency engagement DJ’s at Palm Springs’ own Oscar’s. She’ll be playing her own style mix of disco, pop, 80’s, women vocalists, and more! “Chi Chi’s T” will be (mostly) held the first Sunday of every month but be sure to check Oscar’s event page for details. We ask Chi Chi all about her assent to greatness in the porn industry over the past 38 years, including her first lesbian sex inquiry and her secret process for the difficult work of capturing boners on film long before computers OR Viagra! We spend some time talking about those we have loved and those we have lost, including Joey Stefano and his lasting resonance and the sheer obsession that many still hold for the beauty boy. This episode is a bit of a sweet tribute to our loved ones in the adult film industry and to the future of porn! Chi Chi tells us about her recovery and we find out what Heklina would do for $2,000,000. This is an episode not to be missed. Happy Pride! TW: this episode contains discussion of weight loss. BarryManilow #BellaThorne #Calpernia #Catalina #CherieCurrie #CoCoPeru #CrystalCrawford #DannySummers #DavidGeffen #EddyStone #ErikRhodes #Falcon #Foxes #Hand-in-Hand #Heklina #JeannaFine #JeffStyrker #JoanJett #JoeyStefano #JohnEnos #JohnRutherford #JohnnyDeppClones #JoshWeston #KarenDior #KimFowley #LadyGaga #LannyBarby #LenaFord #LucaDiCorso #Madonna #MarilynKagenShow #MoniqueAlexander #NakedSword #OnlyFans #RomanHeart #Roxbury #SandyWest #SexBook #SharonKane #TheFluffer #TheRunaways #TimValenti #TomFord #TraciLords #VividGirls #WonderBread&Ecstasy Support Drag Time with Heklina by contributing to their Tip Jar: https://tips.pinecast.com/jar/drag-time-with-heklina

On our latest episode we talked to Jinkx Monsoon and she tells us all about marrying her very charming sweetheart and living in her forever home of Portland, Oregon. Jinkx recollects our first meeting and explains exactly how I am responsible for her entire drag career! We do actually dig into the creation of Jinkx Monsoon and let me just say it is Absolutely Fabulous! If you were wondering about how Jinkx and Dela came to create the best holiday show of 2020 (in the middle of a pandemic, when we all really needed one) definitely check this one out to hear about the vision and execution of an awesome (independent) movie now under @televisionacad #FYC campaign. We get the whole Jinkx and Dela story including an exciting announcement about the 2021 holidays. Marc nerds out on Jinkx’s voice acting career and he asks her about her work on Steven Universe, Helluva Boss, and more! Listen in because Jinkx Monsoon’s Favorite Memory of Heklina is a classic!

We catch up with Pandora Boxx and give our predictions for the re-opening of drag and the quest for coin! She tells us about her debut on RuPaul’s Drag Race back in 2009 and the popularity of drag then and now. We ask her all about coming out in Rochester, New York — the drag hometown of Miss Darienne Lake and Mrs. Kasha Davis. She tells us all about working Club Marcella and gives us a history lesson on the happenings of Rochester’s Midtown Plaza. We ask her all about her writing including the theatrical fan favorite murder mystery/b-horror comedy, “The Lipstick Massacre” — and we talk about her heartwarming piece “My Queer Trek” recently published by StarTrek.com. We get way into the weeds on what we are watching including some of our favorite horror movies. There are so many that I love, but listen in to find out! We love Pandora Boxx!

We’re back with a new episode of Drag Time with Heklina! Our very special guest this week is Varla Jean Merman, a renown drag performer, a comedienne, and singer who has filled cabarets and concert halls across the world… including the Sydney Opera House and Carnegie Hall! She's appeared on Ugly Betty, Project Runway, All My Children and the feature length independent films Girls Will Be Girls (2003) and Varla Jean and the Mushroomheads (2011)— but today she is all ours! We talk to Varla Jean Merman about her experiences performing drag from the early 1990’s until now, including her unique incorporation of video projections in her shows as well as her legendary use of props of tremendous scale over the years. Now synonymous with drag in Provincetown, we talk to Varla about doing shows today and what it is going to be like as things are beginning to open up in nightlife. She tells us all about living the sweet life of love! Join us for a fun time with Varla Jean Merman! Support Drag Time with Heklina by contributing to their Tip Jar: https://tips.pinecast.com/jar/drag-time-with-heklina

We’re back! And we have someone very special. You might know him from Imperial Teen or Faith No More and he’s been making music during quarantine! Roddy Bottum joins us to tell us all about the new project called Man on Man with his partner Joey Holman and we find out all about the making of their self titled album available May 12th. Roddy explains how he and Joey became “icons of body positivity” with the release of the video for their new song Daddy. There are a ton of super gay songs including one about The Vale of Cashmere in Prospect Park. Along with their album they are launching a project called Chosen Family to create a real world connection with friends and fans and family. You can check out their website ManonManMusic.com and check out the album and join the Chosen Family (including the optional pen pal program) to connect with the music and the love. Then we talk about Roddy’s time recording and touring with Faith No More and the pandemic-delayed reunion tour. We try to make a determination about the term “nu metal” and ask the important questions such as “is Korn is retro now?” Heklina asks him all about opening up for Guns n’ Roses and the debauchery (and mysticism?) on the Use Your Illusions Tour. Marc insists on finding out more about Roddy writing Sasquatch, The Opera and his love for monsters with hearts of gold. We do a quick round of “Who Do You Prefer?” musical edition and we have so much fun! Join us for another episode of Drag Time with Heklina with Roddy Bottum.