Kings of Joy Podcast
Kings of Joy Podcast
Podcast Description
The Kings of Joy Podcast takes you behind the scenes of Kings of Joy, a thriving Drag King community. Hosted by Danica Lani, The King Coach, this podcast features interviews with Kings of Joy as they share their experiences in Drag Kinging, performance, and gender expression. From first-time performers to seasoned Kings, we dive into personal journeys, masculinity on stage, and the impact of queer artistry. Whether you’re a Drag King, a fan, or curious about gender performance, this is your go-to podcast for all things Drag Kings, LGBTQIA+ performance, and queer creativity—inside one of the most vibrant Drag King communities worldwide.
Podcast Insights
Content Themes
The podcast showcases themes surrounding Drag King culture, gender expression, and LGBTQIA+ performance. Episodes include discussions on personal journeys, such as the transition from a novice performer to a seasoned Drag King, and explore topics like the influence of queer artistry in live performances. Specific episodes discuss shows like 'I Want It That Gay,' a cabaret that reclaims queer stories through nostalgic pop music, and 'They Will Be Kings,' a documentary theatre piece focusing on gender and visibility.
“What is a Drag King?”
“How do I start Drag Kinging?”
“Where can I explore gender without toxic masculinity?”
“Can I really feel at home in my own skin?”
If these are your questions, you’ve just found the podcast you didn’t know you were looking for.
Welcome to Kings of Joy, the Drag King podcast hosted by The King Coach, Danica Lani. Each episode is a deep dive into gender expression, queer identity, and the transformational power of performance. You’ll hear real, unfiltered interviews with emerging Drag Kings from the Kings of Joy community—alongside solo episodes where Danica shares tools, stories, and insight to help you explore your own masculinity, express your truth, and step into your power.
Whether you’re dreaming of getting on stage or just curious about playing with gender, this podcast is your invitation to feel 100% at home in your own skin.
👑 https://kingsofjoy.com | https://instagram.com/kings.of.joy | Show notes: https://www.danicalani.com/blog?tag=podcast
In this episode of The Kings of Joy Show, I’m joined by Toby aka Martin Van Tasmal, a Drag King, illustrator, and deeply creative soul whose journey into Kings of Joy began with searching for queer community in a new city.
What unfolds in this conversation is a story about more than getting on stage. It is about finding people who speak the same language of gender exploration, joy, and self-expression, then discovering what becomes possible from there. We also go behind the scenes of the Kings of Joy merchandise artwork Toby created, exploring how queer identity, transformation, iconography, and community values were translated into visual form.
In This Episode
- How Toby found Queers of Joy and Kings of Joy after moving to Sydney
- What it meant to meet other gender fluid and trans masc people
- The moment Toby saw Kings of Joy perform and signed up straight away
- Creating Martin Van Tasmal as a wizard, princely Drag King persona
- Bringing fantasy and niche artistry into the Kings of Joy space Toby’s work as an illustrator and storyboard artist
- The creative process behind the Kings of Joy merchandise design
- How joy, gender affirmation, and inclusivity were turned into artwork
Watch the Episode
Watch the full episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/FF_Wbioeq9A
Notable Quotes
“I hadn’t found my community yet.” Toby aka Martin Van Tasmal
“We just want to dress up like boys and have a good time.” Toby aka Martin Van Tasmal
“I want to be a wizard.” Toby aka Martin Van Tasmal
“It was really lovely being part of this community.” Toby aka Martin Van Tasmal
“I really loved seeing you come alive on stage and shine.” Danica Lani, The King Coach
“The world is a better place because you’re in it and because of your art.” Danica Lani, The King Coach
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.
Disclaimer
This podcast’s information is provided for general reference and was obtained from publicly accessible sources. The Podcast Collaborative neither produces nor verifies the content, accuracy, or suitability of this podcast. Views and opinions belong solely to the podcast creators and guests.
For a complete disclaimer, please see our Full Disclaimer on the archive page. The Podcast Collaborative bears no responsibility for the podcast’s themes, language, or overall content. Listener discretion is advised. Read our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy for more details.