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Mo-Mintt of Truth
Mo-Mintt of Truth
Episode 4: Maxxx Pleasure
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This week we sit down with 2018 Brooklyn Drag King of the Year, Maxxx Pleasure!
Hello, and welcome back to another episode of The moment of truth podcast with the one and only me the incomparable Junior Mintt. I am so excited for this episode, I think it is going to be one of the best because this episode, I get to sit down and have an amazing conversation with the amazing, amazing max pleasure is someone who I've known for basically most of my career, honestly, because it still is hitting me that I will have only been doing drag for three years this summer. And so I've know max from I think about six months into doing drag. And we have a beautiful discussion in this podcast about community identity, being yourself trying to be yourself to the fullest, trying to also build your career and yourself off of the amazing building blocks that black trans people and other queer and trans leaders in our community have laid for us. So I really hope that you stick around for that conversation. But first, of course, we need to start with our affirmations because we need to be reminding ourselves of why we are amazing why we shine why we are fantastic. And why we deserve to take on this day. And why this day is built for us in this day is going to only add more positivity to our life. Okay. And so let's start off with this affirmation. And remember, say it with me say it out loud, I'm going to be giving you moments in order to repeat it. So make sure you're saying it out loud. Say it like you mean it. And on top of it, feel free to replay this if you need to repeat it again. Because there's no such thing as too many positive affirmations. There's no such thing as reminding yourself that you are beautiful and amazing. Too many times, there is no such thing. So please, if you need to repeat it, go for it. But let's take this in. Okay, here we go. I believe in myself and my capabilities. Every day, I am becoming a better version of myself. I radiate with self confidence and self esteem. I will be a better version of myself today. And I will make the most of this day. I am aligned with my higher self, I manifest abundance easily. I am surrounded by beautiful things. And abundance of wealth comes naturally to me. And that wealth is both physical, emotional, mental, and all around you. All of my relationships are healthy and loving. But most importantly, my relationship to myself is healthy and loving. And that is our affirmation for today. It is so nice to be able to get it out. And literally as soon as it's over, I immediately feel an uptick in my energy and my positive thinking and it just, it feels really good to do it. And then it is well feels good to know that people are doing it with you. Because then you know that on top of it. Not only you're working on yourself, but as well, your community and people around this world are as well working on themselves to be the better versions of themselves. And that is something that always makes me so happy about getting to sit down and record these podcast episodes is because every time when I see that you all are downloading them and you're sharing them and you're listening to them every single time. It always reminds me that all of the internal work that I'm doing, other people are doing as well. And it's so amazing to be able to have a community that is being built around being a better version of yourself and loving yourself more fiercely, and loving your community more fiercely. Which, funnily enough, loving yourself and your community fiercely takes us perfectly to my rose and my thought of this week. My rose Being that this week has been a monumental positive week for my mental health. Because for the first time in months since the beginning of this pandemic, I can truly say that I actually feel like myself. And I would say around like November when I was really beginning to really heal some old trauma that I really was beginning to begin to feel like myself and I could feel like I was coming out of the depression toggle, I like to call it and I'm just so thankful that I can say now that I actually like, Okay, wow, I haven't felt like jr in a really long time. And I can say it and it feels fantastic. And for the first time in a really, really long time, I'm actually, I'm being nice to myself again, which feels weird because when I'm in my depressive holes, and I'm in my depressive tunnels, it really is like, the only person that I am not nice to as myself. And I am so happy that I've gained a lot of new tools to use. The next time I find myself in one of those depressive tunnels, I am patting myself on the back for the courage it took to get here, I am just so thankful for every single person who helped in any way shape or form, Linden ear, sent me a Venmo asked me how I'm doing. Honestly, every single one of those people as well are the reason why I'm able to reflect in as well, on top of it, take that reflection and turn it into wisdom that I can use moving forward. Now for not only for myself, but also for every single person listening, because yet depression is difficult depression, does it look the same for every person. And overcoming depression is really just all about taking it at whatever pace that you need to take it at. Because you cannot rush getting better, you cannot rush your mental health. And so it really does come down to taking it at your own pace, and prioritizing your own mental health, doing what you need to do to get better. Because I can guarantee you that no one else will be able to tell you what you need, especially when you are in depression all around in life. That's true. But as well on top of it in a depression, you really, really need to listen to yourself more than you've ever listened to yourself. And truly, truly take in how you feel what you're thinking and do some deep diving because you have to sit with yourself through it all. And you have to be there for yourself. And that was probably one of the hardest things for me was just sitting there and being there for myself when there were so many other things and people vying for my attention, my energy. And it truly was every single person who took the time out to try to refill my energy bucket, or to just meet me where I'm at and help to take care of me and help to raise my energy and just take care of me it was just a real moment of like, being seen by your community at a time where you really, really, really need it to be seen, which is throughout this whole time of this pandemic in this quarantine and going through depression. It was all of my friends who tried to raise me up and lift me up and make me see how beautiful and amazing I was. That really got me through it. And I'm just so thankful. Yeah, I'm so thankful because yeah, I wouldn't be here without you. Depression is difficult. Depression is hard as hell, in the love that everyone showed me in my community and my friends and in my loved ones, is the exact same reason why I fight so hard for my community, every single chance that I get the fire of my activism and my love for community enrichment. it all stems from the fact that without my community, I would not even be Junior Mintt because my community are the people that really, really made me hold in my voice and understand who I was, and the impact that I had on my community on a daily basis. It was when I finally got the opportunity to be surrounded by black trans people, black queer people, and truly got an opportunity to see what my community could be like when it reflected what I looked like in the way that I thought and the love and care that I thought my community deserved. And for the roles to then be reversed on me and to get to see people fighting for me and my family's well being firsthand. And for me to see the love firsthand when I most needed was more love more powerful and more impactful than I've ever experienced in my life. And I just want to say thank you to my community. This depressive few months is really I can say gave me the tools to really stand up in define and declare what I need for me without shame or guilt because yeah, I've I think that this time, it's really taught me as well how to put up a lot of amazing boundaries that I need it and it has helped to reinforce something that I've told a lot of other people to do, which is to care enough about yourself to let other people know how you will and will not be treated because Every single second you spend, appeasing somebody else's opinion, or trying to make someone else happy is another second that you're not listening to your own self and what you want. It's another second of you not listening to your own advice. And that's exactly what was happening to me. And so I would definitely say, yeah, that is for sure. My rose this week, I have come through the tunnel of depression. I will probably at some point again in my life be going back in the tunnel. But I definitely got the tools this time around to help battle it even stronger next time. And so yes, that is my rose. And to anyone out there with depression, just know you are seen. You are heard. And you are not alone in this because depression is a bitch. But when it comes to my thorn, now, I don't have one this week, I am thankful as hell to say that. I don't have something that stuck out so much that I had to really think about it and ponder how horrible it was. So I thought that this week for my thought, what I can do is tackle my minty Monday topic, which is fulfillment. If you're listening to this, and you don't know what my minty Mondays are, every Monday on my Instagram, and on my Patreon, I go in depth into a topic. And each topic, I like to consider a family member to me. So I'm Junior Mintt. There's abandonment, embarrassment, all of the different words that end in MIT. And so I go in depth into each of the topics. It gets a little bit social commentary, a little bit of political commentary, but all around, again, me commentary. And so this week, I dived into the topic of fulfillment. And I often find that for me, I'm fighting to make sure that fulfillment for me is defined by my connections to people, because I find that when we find fulfilment, in physical objects, money, well, things like that, I often find that we end up empty at the end in our souls, because, mentally for me, I like to think that we are filling our souls up with whatever we find fulfillment in. Because at the end of the day, if your only goal in life is to turn a profit, that's not really what human beings are set out to do. I think that when we truly look at nature, we can see that every living thing thrives off of community in some capacity. Even when we look at nature, every single living thing needs some form of connection to another living thing to survive. And in my opinion, what makes human beings feel good at the end of the day, is building upon that connection. And to even route it back to my depression. I just think about how much I want to be alone in my depression, the moment every single time I'm about to go into that depression tunnel, the moment I know that I turned off the highway and it's about to hit the tunnel is the exact moment that I begin to thrive off of not being around people. Because for me, my first symptom of my depression is me becoming a recluse, and me needing more me time, when in reality, it's just simply my anxiety, making me think that I am horrible to other people that I'm not even fun to be around that I'm annoying all of these different things that I would say to myself as a child. And I would always hold so close to my heart, because I thought I was such an annoying to the child, I thought that I was getting on peoples nerves, my brothers would like very much bully me. And that's really the root cause of it all. But at the end of the day, it's the same thing that I do to myself. Now as an adult, when I go into depression, it's so for me, it's really opening up, I've been really just sitting and thinking about my connection to myself, by connecting to my community and the connection to my loved ones. Because the smile that my family gets from a gift that I give to them is worth more than any paycheck, I could get from a company the same way that me taking a self care day to go get my nails done and get a massage that is worth more than anything I could get from a job. And of course, I'm not doing that in this pandemic that was before and it's well will be after. But that self care time is something that I treasure, the connection to myself and to my community and my loved ones are something that I would not give up for the world. And I find that oftentimes, people talk about how you get higher up in white collar offices and in white collar spaces and you lose more and more of your humanity. And it only makes so much sense to me mainly because the higher up you go in an organization based around something that is man made like money is never going to give you something that is going to make your soul feel fulfilled. Our souls are fulfilled by the simplest of things in life. At the end of the day. Human beings are just another animal on this planet and we must understand that the same way that Birds get joy from just being a frickin bird, they don't need to make profit or, or clock into work, they just are birds the same way that we are just human beings, I'm going to leave you with one piece of advice before we get to sit down with the one and only max pleasure. And that is relationships are in fact a living things, they must be nurtured and taken care of in order to continue to grow. They are not stationary, stagnant things that you can just claim without putting any energy into taken care of. And so make sure that you are nurturing the relationship between you and yourself, you in your community and you and your loved ones, okay? Because those relationships need to be nurtured. They need to be pruned. They need love and attention. Okay. Now let's get into introducing a one of a kind performer, and amazing person, an amazing community member, and an amazing friend, I am so excited to get to introduce 2018, Brooklyn, drag king of the year, the one and only max pleasure, and that is Max with three axes. Okay, Max, pleasure, I am just beyond happy to get to sit down and have this conversation with you for this podcast. Because, for me the true concept and the true thesis statement behind what the podcast is, is that the bravest and the strongest thing that anyone can do is stand in the truth of who they are in front of everyone. And so yeah, I'm so excited for people to get to know the truth of Mac's pleasure. So how are you doing?
Unknown:I'm doing well,
Maxxx Pleasure:thank you for having me on this podcast, I'm very excited.
Junior Mintt:I couldn't have imagined doing this without you. Because you're one of those people who I've seen beautifully and fiercely be themselves and fight for themselves. And on top of it, leave my jaw on the ground when you perform to. So it's like one of those things where you're just, I'm just so thankful that you're in not only the drag community, but also my Brooklyn community, because you're unnecessary an integral piece of what our community is. And so I guess the first question I could even possibly ask you is, who is Mac's pleasure? Who is my pleasure?
Unknown:My cheeks hurt from smiling from that intro that you just gave me. Um, um, Max pleasure is my drag persona, but has become so much more than that more than I could have ever expected. I mean, my first time in drag was in 2014. I've been doing it consistently, like in Brooklyn since late 2016, early 2017. And yeah, and it's become so much more of my drug persona. And my drug experience has become such an important part of my life. I mean, it was always important. But I never knew that most of my friends would call me Max, most people would refer to me with he him pronouns, like, all the selfies in my phone, I have a mustache, like, I never thought it would be like that.
Junior Mintt:When every single photo, like, if I scroll through my phone, I can't find photos of me out of drag at all. Like, it's fully just me when I'm feeling the most myself, which is when I put on the full regalia of drag
Unknown:lagree lagree.
Junior Mintt:That's one of the things that I truly love the most about drag is that there is zero, like limitations or boundaries to it. And it really is like, even when you can only go to rainbow and the only issues you have are the ones your friends gave you. And the only makeup skills you have is what you saw on a 32nd tutorial. It's like that is still such high drag to me. And for me, I treasured the beginning years, so much of my drag career because I've been I've truly been blessed to have only been doing this for two years now. And it has been a whirlwind and just like you like it's become such an integral piece of me even though I never could have expected it. And so with you having honestly like you have a bit of a history and drag, and that's what I love the most. So where did you start? Did you did you like start in Brooklyn?
Unknown:No, I didn't I I went to SUNY Purchase. And yeah, SUNY Purchase has a very big drag scene for a very small school. So that's where I started with Christ with a cue with Mary Poppins with gender role. Ms. Jade also went to purchase
Junior Mintt:like this, like this is one of those like moments where I'm like, this is a thing that I feel like no one knows. But like you, you all came from like the same garden. You came from the same garden of queer people.
Unknown:Yep, we did.
Junior Mintt:Wow. And so SUNY purchases in upstate New York, right?
Maxxx Pleasure:It's what's really upsetting is, it's right near White Plains.
Junior Mintt:Okay, that gives me some good direction. Okay. Okay. I have zero idea of anything outside of weird like New York is I'm like, I know where Westchester is. And I know where Long Island is. And everything that's just like the first few stops on the path. I'm like, Okay, okay, I kind of know where that is. So when you were at SUNY Purchase, Did, did you know any of them, like, were you in like, the same year? Oh,
Maxxx Pleasure:so here we go. Sherry was in my orientation group, which was led by Ms. Jade. Isn't that crazy?
Junior Mintt:You need to recreate that that needs to be a photoshoot.
Unknown:That actually would be really cute.
Junior Mintt:Oh, my God. The universe knew what it was doing.
Unknown:Yeah. And that's what's so it's interesting looking back on, and how you just said, you really cherish the beginning years. I've been thinking a lot about that as well. And it's, it's interesting to go all the way back and think about I mean, we were all doing drag. There was a there's an annual drag competition that the school does every year. That was like the big thing. But then Sherry really took the reigns and did like events throughout the year, like there started being parties on at the campus housing, the campus apartments, which were not allowed. But it's so interesting, looking back because I was one of two kings. Um, writer, do you know writer lacor?
Junior Mintt:I've heard of them.
Unknown:Yeah. also went to purchase. Yeah, actually writer, i o writer, the beginning of my drag journey, technically, because I was one of his sexy femme backup dancers. Oh, competition,
Junior Mintt:the history. What? Yeah, it is. So it like when you said that, like Sherry began to organize things. It really is like, it saves me so much. Because one of the first like, actual shows that I heard about where they were talking about, like young performers get an opportunity on the stage was straight to DVD. And now knowing that Christ and Sherry went to the same school, I'm like, Oh, this is add so many layers to every joke. I've heard them say together on stage.
Unknown:Yes, yes. We've seen each other at quite interesting times in our lives. I saw Sherry one time in a poncho, she drank a whole bottle of wine. And then everyone showed up to her apartment for the after party, which was immediately cancelled because she was vomiting everywhere. That was after Christ's senior project, they did a drag show for their senior project. And that's where I first did my rock lobster number. Remember?
Junior Mintt:I love love that rock lobster number.
Unknown:Thank you. It's my favorites.
Junior Mintt:The like the two numbers that I remembered the most from you is the rock lobster number. And, okay, I can I want I don't want to mess up the thought is it? Hey there sunshine, or, okay, because I don't want to give it away. So I can describe it. Because no one's watching the video. It's the one we're like, you're like this the whole time. But then at the end, you're like,
Unknown:oh, with the flowers on the back. Oh, that's, um, um, oh my god, it's the Beatles. I've only ever done that number once. Um,
Junior Mintt:I'll switch and play it with that switch and play to where I was the first show I saw there. And I was first row. I was like, front row. I was like, I think that may have been the first time I saw you perform to actually and really, and I remembered that number made me cry. That number made me cry. It was just one of those numbers that your presence on the stage carries such an energy with it. And then the number just follow through with that comforting energy. It was a comforting loving, kind, beautiful energy that you brought into the space. And I remember it was one of those moments where like, I just for the first time like, actually had like a very difficult conversation with my mom on the phone about like, a boundary I needed. And it was like I did I just needed a bit of like, Oh my god, I need someone to just like fill me up with the love and you did it that night. You did it.
Unknown:I'm so glad to hear that because there's like I there are some numbers. I do them once I do them forever. That number I only did that one time because something about it. Like I felt like it didn't click but I'm happy that it clicked for you.
Junior Mintt:Ding dong Ding I'm always so amazed by your energy on stage. Because, honestly, when it comes when I think about dragons, I always think of such a hyper masculine energy. And you do such a beautiful job of bringing every energy imaginable to the drag King arena. And every single fucking time. The thing that makes me love it so much is it feels like I'm looking at Mac's like, you know what I mean? Yeah, wow, you're
Unknown:like, You're making me smile, you're making me sweat. You're making me blush.
Junior Mintt:All of this is the reasons why I had to have you here. Because, for me, the things that like, always impressed me Are people being themselves and people refusing to lock themselves in or limit themselves because of what a societal expectation is, what a club wants a view what an audience wants a view, like bringing your true beautiful, natural self to the stage. And I guess my next question for you is, do you have any clue of where that comes from? Like, is it something that you always had? Or is that something you really had to like, grow yourself? Well,
Unknown:so that's in the beginning days, in the early days, I like why didn't have a handle on like a firm understanding of masculinity and what that meant and what I wanted to portray. I didn't have a handle on that. And when I first started performing, I like really went in for the spoofs first, which is crazy, because I don't do that anymore. You know, and I kind of think I want to give it a shot again. But when I first started, I had a toy story woody asked. I like did Kylo Ren from Star Wars. A very good Beetlejuice number, like fantastic, like, oh, but so I like, because I didn't have my own masculinity figured out. I really kind of leaned into these characters that were already created. And now actually, I feel kind of a little I mean, of course, I feel stuck right now because you know, everything that's going on, but I almost feel that I'm kind of stuck. I'm too stuck in myself now. Oh, let me answer your question.
Junior Mintt:I would also just like to say what you just said, I really connect with it. I just say, you know, I really connect with it.
Unknown:Yeah, and it's so well, so I started I found my own, I fleshed out the character of Max pleasure I found in masculinity or femininity, or whatever that is, like, I really found that through performing in Brooklyn, because there are so many other kinds of performers who don't box themselves into misogynistic hyper masculinity, who, like Beatty, was so special for me to I actually, I met them, actually to DVD. Um, yeah, before they had renamed themselves baby bedbug. It's really yeah. And I remember they were like, hey, like, introduce themselves. And I was like, Wow, cool person from Brooklyn like is being so nice.
Junior Mintt:As I say, back to spirits with Beatty, when I first met them at primal scream, it's just like one of those moments for you. Like I was used to walk into a space and like, as a black drag queen, as a trans drag queen. There's a lot of different hoops. I feel like I had to jump through at the very early parts of my career. And I could only imagine I can only imagine the hoops you had to jump through from like, 2014. Like, please tell me what it was like to be a drag performer in that time, as a young drag King
Unknown:when I was in school and first starting, I definitely felt that I had to constantly prove myself, um, because Sherry And Christ and I, we don't have we didn't have the relationship that we do now. And I wanted to make sure that I got booked. And Sherry's shows I couldn't just ask to be in it. Like there were a few shows of Sherry's when I did ask to be a part of it. And once she said, Yeah, sure, you can be in the show. I was like, Oh my god, okay, I have to hit it out of the park. Because I feel that if I am not fantastic, I won't be asked again. And that, um, in my first few gigs when I first started performing in other spaces, that's like the energy that I had. I was like, I got a fucking murder, right? Because if I don't, it's done. And that little fire under my ass. Yeah, but I'm really lucky that there was already kings that were active. I didn't have to explain what I was doing. I didn't have to define Dr. King for people watching. Because they already knew. Mm hmm. So I'm really fortunate with that. But there were still you know, you'll run into, or run into spaces where, where people assume like, I like this is my first gig. Once I, I performed that straight acting, which doesn't book, just anyone. And it was the same night as aquaria. So the place was packed, packed, lots of drag race fans there. And I did a really great number. I think there's a video of it, Cameron co recorded it.
Junior Mintt:And what's the song I'm gonna look it up trust.
Unknown:The song is called my dreams or televisions by kissing her little sister, which I might have performed in living color. It has like kind of a creepy vibe to it. But it works with like my weird facial expressions that I have to want to act. But so I performed that night. And it was a pretty good performance. I didn't look that bad. I also didn't look that great. I wasn't. It wasn't a good time for me. I actually almost fainted. What's it called? Alright, so maybe maybe I didn't perform my math. But somebody came up to me and was like, you're so great. You have the foundation. Just keep going. And I was like I said, I said, I was like, thank you. Thank you so much. And then I think this happened while I was crouched on the ground next to shiny Penny, who had just given me a glass of water because it almost fainted. So okay, now that I've reviewed this story, it wasn't my best moment. But it also wasn't my worst.
Junior Mintt:Just so happy we're recording. That was like the most. I'm googling it as soon as we're done here.
Unknown:Yeah, let me know what you think.
Junior Mintt:Honestly, I imagine Tinder across the board because I truly like I know every single person is if you went out there, and you were yourself. And you were true to yourself on that stage, you slayed it.
Unknown:Yeah, that same night, actually, um, before the show started, someone was like, Oh, are you performing tonight? And I was like, Yeah, like,
Junior Mintt:I just came for funding this whole thing. Yeah, I just thought I, you know, put on the makeup, do the whole thing. And just show up just to show my support to aquaria. She needs it.
Unknown:Yeah, I've had like some weird comments that was at Metro and Metro people that Metro always have something weird to say to me, you're not wrong.
Junior Mintt:Yes. Yes. Metro is the place where literally, somebody came up to me and told me they saw one of my numbers that was like Taylor Swift should be in this light. And then they were like, No, no, you need to collaborate with it in the music. And I was like, so me dragging white people in this number would be perfect for what our song is the slamming screen door. Like people at Metro every single day, there was never a single time where I didn't leave without a story. And never part of the fun of it.
Unknown:That is so I like I'm a huge Taylor Swift Fan actually,
Junior Mintt:like I'm not gonna lie the first two albums Taylor Swift trust they played or repeats on my iPod. That's what our song is still my favorite like Taylor Swift. Famous creadores you get out late tapping on your window. Like, huh? Who would not want that? Hey, hey, I'm here.
Unknown:Honestly, like racking my brain like Dude, this was discography the calm down was a very polarizing, which, which album was that? That was lover That was last August. This was um,
Junior Mintt:actually I think, cuz they sent it to me that summer, so like it easily could have been. Okay.
Unknown:Kind of makes sense. There's a little bit of a I can see the train of thought that went off the rails
Junior Mintt:somewhere. We filed it because when when they're those mysterious cases, you got to get to the bottom of them, you got to get to the bottom of it. And okay, this is a very weird crossroads. But this does bring me to another topic, because I always like the x file thing. And I love The X Files like sculptor and Molly are like, if I could have been Gillian Anderson in that series, give me a boxy pantsuit and a gun like, let me go find these aliens. Let's go get these aliens. Okay. And so it's like all of those science fiction shows plays such a deep role and who Junior Mintt And I wonder, are there any like fictional characters or real life characters who you drew inspiration or love or anything from to build Max,
Unknown:the look was informed by Johnny Depp rip. This was back in the day. But so my mom loved Johnny Depp. Okay, so he was, at the time a positive representation of masculinity. I also was really drawn to the fact that he was a character actor. So I was like, that's kind of like what I'm trying to do. Also, I like, I Oh, I've had such an aversion to wearing wigs. In my drag career. Yeah, I don't. For me, I've always thought that I take myself too seriously. But plenty of other drag performers also don't wear wigs. So maybe I have to be nicer to myself. Um,
Junior Mintt:I mean, cuz this hairs drag my hair is drag you,
Unknown:I really was drawn to Johnny Depp's look and like his persona. Um, I kind of navigated from there. Like I definitely wanted to go with the rocker type, except as I've gotten to work with really intelligent people and people who have not only really great ideas about navigating masculinity, but also navigate it in a way that's admirable. I've kind of been like, Alright, it's the rock star. There are some elements of the rock star persona, that I definitely don't want to embody, embody and encourage and put on the stage. Like the misogyny aspects and stuff, how many styles This is what I love Harry Styles, because he is the modern rock star. He plays with femininity. She's a sex symbol, He's talented, but he leaves behind being feminine, or wearing dresses for shock factor. He doesn't partake in misogyny. Like he's actually very like watermelon sugar, for example. Like That song is about going down on his girlfriend, like in the most respectable fun way,
Junior Mintt:it was all about going down on me. Yep.
Unknown:Me heavy sales girlfriend. That's me. That's
Junior Mintt:that's literally, I don't know who out there hair you're told was their girlfriend. But
Unknown:like, that's the kind of that's why I'm so drawn to hairstyles, because that's the kind of that's exactly the mark that I want to hit. I want to have that Rockstar persona, that sexy Messi type of thing. But I don't want to like, be misogynistic or gross.
Junior Mintt:Literally, I that's part of why I love Harry Styles so much is because yeah, it feels so not shock value, which is what I so appreciate. Because it's just like I was saying before, it feels like he brings his fully authentic self to the table. And it doesn't feel like did you just do this? Because the style is handed it to you? Or are you actually understanding the gravity of depicting yourself in this dress on this magazine and what it's representing for people and what you could be misrepresenting with your words. And so when I heard Harry Styles actually go in depth, and just kind of talk about, like, what his gender meant to him what wearing the dresses meant to him. It was so vulnerable. It was so honest, and it was just so I don't feel like this is an act.
Unknown:Wow. I actually did not get around to reading the article. Yeah. And but I'm so glad to hear that because sometimes like queer celebrities like Kristen Stewart, for example, I love Kristen. I love her ever since Twilight, but sometimes, like she says shit, and I'm like, oh, like I wish you had. But then again, like, I still I will always love her. And I like and it's so interesting thinking about queer celebrities. Like they're also still celebrities like Kristen Stewart didn't go to high school. Yeah, she like has, she has been an actor traveling the globe doing Chanel and shit. Like she hasn't like, gone to meet all these queer people and hang out at the bar and do a drag performance. You know, like her experience is very different. So I'm really happy to hear that hairstyles, like hmm, talked in a way that felt good to you. And he also like, he leads by example, and embeds these messages. I think like in his music like how his whole There's a song on fine line called to treat people with kindness. And all this merge says that, oh, he always signs off things with TP Wk like, and I think that's the kind of Like I'm happy, he can talk to talk when he needs to talk to talk. But there's so much more influence that can happen when it's just woven in there and just live, you know,
Junior Mintt:oh, that and that's that honestly is like this the summation of how I feel. For me, when someone is truly genuinely being who they are and truly representing exactly who they are, honestly, it's naturally going to be woven. And that's why I fell in love with Gaga, you can see how she truly meant every single thing she said in 2008 from now, and how it's like, she talked about kindness in 2008, and treating people correctly and kind and everyone is equal in all of these things. And to the same day, she is still standing up on the stage saying the same thing. She has been born this way Foundation, all of these different books are everything it it makes me so happy to see people walk the walk, because it means that that's truly who they are. Yes, and there's some business and everything we all got to brand ourselves, if you're an entertainment, all of that. But the fact that you chose to make your brand kindness is like, mm hmm,
Unknown:that's a good point.
Junior Mintt:You made your brand kindness and wow, if you're gonna make any money off of a brand, please make it kindness because then at least there's some more kind people walking around these streets for me. And to bring it back to you. I feel like you do that for this community. I feel like you truly do it for this community. Well, if you had one piece of advice, if you had one thing that you could say to your community, whether it be advice, whether it just be a message, what would you say to your community?
Unknown:I that's a really big question. Because I feel like I have learned so much from the community. And it's interesting to also be like, No wait, but also, I also have a presence and an effect in the community. And that's been shown, you know, I'm crap,
Junior Mintt:what would you say? I always, whenever anybody asked me to say anything to like anything, any someone, I always just immediately think What has my community said to me. And what I always reiterate back to my community is you are valued, you are important. Even when you don't think you have value, you still have value. And on top of it, you hold important not only to your own life, but to your neighbor's life to the homeless person on the streets life, to your cousin's life, to the mayor's life, we are all interconnected in this and every single day that we recognize that and we choose to act in a better sense, whether that be better for ourselves, our community is inevitably doing universal good. And so what I would say is, as you navigate every space that you're in, as you navigate every single situation, you find yourself in, move with kindness, move with empathy, and move with black trans power. Because at the end of the day, no matter what we want to believe your actions do affect people, choosing to sit in your house all day in a depressive hole does affect people, there are people who care about seeing you there, all of these different things. And those are things I had to remind myself in the depressive hole was like, wait, Jr, you have to remember that you mean things to other people, you mean things to other people, and you may at this moment, not care that much about yourself. But you have to care about yourself right now, because other people care about you. And yeah, that's what I was saying about communities. So like, keep that in mind. Whenever you're in your deepest moments, you're in your saddest moments, and when you're in your happiest moments, because so oftentimes, we just revel in the happiness and don't actually think about what it took to get that happiness and who said, whose happiness was sacrificed for me to get this happiness, who's whose sadness was sacrificed, like got some joy out of this. Like, it's just remembering that every single thing you're experiencing, has been affected and will affect someone else. And so keep in mind that when positive things happen to you try to pass out some more positive thing, when something negative happens to you to try to turn it into a positive you can't always but trying is still a thing. Okay, I
Unknown:know what I would say. I would say thank you. That would be I mean, I like cuz I often like for my youtube channel on stuff. I'm like, Alright, what advice do I have? And like, I have plenty of like, pieces of advice. But like, the way you and I are talking now and you say what would you say to your community? I'm thinking of switching play. I'm thinking of untitled. I'm thinking of like, all these people who have made spaces for me on their stage or next to them at the bar, you know, and like, yeah, Joe, thank you.
Junior Mintt:And honestly, that's perfect. That's perfect. Because Do you know why I love your answer so much. Because it's you. That's the thing, if that's you, and whatever came out of your mouth, right there naturally is what the community needed to hear. That is that there is no wrong when you're when you're truly being yourself. You did everything that you would do. And so you did it right. And I've had to learn that. Is that like, there is no, there is no me doing me wrong. There's only me lying to myself. And when I lie to myself, that's when I get depressed. It's when I truly can say, Oh, no, I was myself fully. And if this is what happens because I myself fully that wasn't meant to happen, then cuz the one thing I'm not gonna change is me.
Unknown:That's, it's funny that you say that. Because that and what I was thinking through when I was like, What would I say to my community, like, the person who started doing drag in 2016 2017, and the end me now, I feel almost are two completely different separate people. And there have definitely been times throughout my job, my drag journey, when I wasn't feeling truthful to myself, and I wasn't, like you saying, like, you can't do you wrong, like they actually do? Sometimes. But that's what's so amazing is that being a part of this community, and the connections that I made, and the people that I've met, all of the steps in the journey have led me to where I am now, which is somebody who has boundaries, and somebody who understands the idea of navigating your life with integrity and with principles. And being an active member of a community. That's something that I never like, understood, you know, and yeah, I hope that makes sense. That made complete
Junior Mintt:sense. That makes complete sense, because there was this meme that I saw that was like, when you look back and cringe, and you look at things that you dating you cringe, that only means you grew. If you look back on something, and you're like, No, that was perfect. Okay, so you're the same person, you see the world the same way you did back then, because whether you love it more or less is like up to you, but like, you should feel differently. And that's a whole nother thing that I consistently remind myself is that like, no one person should be the same by the end of the day. Whether it is you spend time by yourself, you spend time with a roommate, a stranger, whatever it is, whatever you did, you came into contact with something that can inform and educate who you are now the world you live in. And so if you are not changing every day, you're not in taking any information. You're not taking in the fact that like, okay, like even with Coronavirus, I'm like, okay, I still have to like in some way check in on how this is happening. And it makes me more pissed off at the government. And I'm like, Okay, I'm different. At the end of this day, I'm more with the government means I'm living in a community, it means that people's lives are affecting me. And when I don't change, I've realized it's one of those things where I've kind of shelled myself off. And I've kind of like, made an island of one. And I'm not actually in a community anymore. I'm just my own isolated thing not trying to change. And yeah, I've learned to really value and appreciate every change that I have, even when it comes down to like a moment where I'm like, I hate this food now. Appreciate it, you don't have to go back to like it at jr you can now hate this food, if you want to like it later. Okay, but like you can hate it to growth. Growth truly, truly. And I'm gonna hit you with your last question. Okay. Okay, are you ready for this? This is a great question. So, I over this past eight or nine months, I have been getting more and more just in tune with who I am and what my purpose is as a person and what I want to move forward with my energy creating in terms of like, I know when to create more space, I know, I want to create more, more platforms for other people to stand on and use their voice. And I've realized more and more that like, when it comes down to it, if somebody were to be like, put down your job title into one thing, I would definitely say I'm an activist, because even my drag comes down to if it's not uplifting and enriching somebody, I don't really want to be on the stage. Like, I only want to be there somebody can look out and be like, That bitch just says something that I've never heard articulated in a queer space before, and I need to hear it again. And so yeah, that's kind of what I've been realizing. And so I guess, with the rest of this year winding down, and next year being whatever it will be, what energy are you taking into the future? Not necessarily. What you're gonna do. If you have plans, you can share them, but like, just what energy are you planning on moving forward with?
Unknown:Wow, he really saved the hard question for last. I definitely. I think I want to take on more of a helping kind of role. I, because I've been thinking a lot about the way that I interact with spaces, and how there's a part of me that especially as a performer, when you're constantly looking for new opportunities, new shows, you could be a part of all this stuff, like, I definitely want to enter spaces and take on projects with other people. Were what's in it for me, I don't want that to be the driving factor, I want to take on a helping role, which is like, I'm really happy that I just articulated that the way that I did. But it's definitely something that the way that I've been isolated during this pandemic, and the way that I've been, you know, interacting with people on social media, watching digital shows, and, and also like learning a lot about myself, and like doing a lot of like that self work quotes. It just it, I definitely want to let myself take a backseat and participate in things that aren't about me, and participate in things where I'm behind the scenes, like not even credited, like, you know,
Junior Mintt:I think a lot of people who listen to this will find themselves really relating to what you just said, because I think that this, this time has done nothing but amplified, the power we all carry with us. And I think that a lot of people have been coming to terms with the amount of power that they have, the amount of influence that they have, and what you're saying. It's the type of thing that like, that's how communities continue. Like, that's how communities laughs That's how communities thrive. And it's, it makes, it just makes me so happy to hear that because in my head, you've already been doing it. That's the thing in my head, like you being just like, I always tell people, if you don't have money, still go to the drag show stand to the back would be the loudest cheering, like, I'm like, everyone has something to bring to the community in every aspect. When it comes to producers, when it comes to spaces when it comes to booking. I found that like, I've been able to thrive so much, because when other people are like, No, I want to support you. Like No, I know about I know the owner of this very weird space that would love to do a drag show. And I think you should be the one to talk to them about it. Like all of these very different strange avenues where it's just people saying, this is a connection that I have, and I want you to use it. And it's without that love without that attention without someone wanting to give it no nothing will ever be given. Because at the end of the day, no one can go into your wallet, but you and that's money, resources, everything and your energy, what you have done with your career, the doors you have open, the smiles you have brought to people's faces, every single thing that you do is something that I can only imagine how many queer kids are sitting out in their rooms right now who have seen you in person or through digital drag, who feel comforted who feels seen who feel like they have someone they can look up to. And so just know that you have been helping, like you're a person who you have been doing good. So all I heard was you're trying to do more good in the future. So I want you to know how I heard it.
Unknown:Maybe like tear up a little bit not to be like silly, but you did. It's thank you for saying that. I feel that I want to make sure I play a part in that community magic.
Junior Mintt:You're amazing. You're absolutely amazing. And I am so thankful to have gotten to sit down to talk to you. I am beyond blessed to have got this opportunity. And so before we say our goodbyes and sign off, tell all of the amazing listeners where they can find you where they can support you where they may be able to donate some Venmo cash at PayPal type of action.
Unknown:Um Okay, so I am on Instagram at Mr dot m pleasure Mr dot m pleasure. I'm on YouTube at max pleasure with three exes. There's gonna be new videos up eventually. I'm I'm also on Twitter I'm also on Tumblr.
Junior Mintt:Yes SR an icon for that.
Unknown:I that's that's where I participate in the in the Taylor Swift fandom. So
Junior Mintt:don't even read it is where I'm in the fandom. So like I can't even talk.
Unknown:I was gonna get into Reddit, except I couldn't get the hang of it. We do it
Junior Mintt:when I tell you. I found my social media platform. Okay, I love you, Max. You're amazing. Thank you. I truly hope that you enjoy This interview, I know that I got so much wisdom out of it, I am like bursting at the seams. I am like smiling ear to ear. Because this is exactly why I do this. I know I say it every single episode. But this is exactly why I do this. There's so many beautiful conversations that I get to have with so many fantastic people that I always want so many people to hear the amazing people that are in their community, the people who are literally standing with them at a bus stop at the train station. These are amazing people within your community who deserve your respect, on and off of the stage, our lives matter not only when we're giving you a entertainment, not just when we're performing inside of a bar for you. So that is part of why I'm so excited about this podcast. And when I tell you, I am so excited for some of the editing tips and tricks that I've just picked up that you're going to really see a real like coming of age of this podcast, I'm so excited because it's only growing and it's only. And it's also adding something very amazing to my life. Personally, I can say that this podcast is also what helped to pull me out of my depression because this is honestly been a project that I've been thinking about for a very long time. And it feels so right to be doing this. It feels so right and natural to be speaking with you all this way. And I only want to keep getting better and better. So that way I can keep giving you all more of the wisdom and lessons that I've learned sharing members of my community with you all. And so thank you. And I can only say thank you, Max. Pleasure said it best in the podcast. But thank you. And I hope to continue making you all proud with everything that I create. And as well make you all feel like you have someone who's representing you and fighting for you as well. So sending you all of the love. I'm so excited for you to find out who next week's guest is. They are someone who is very close to my heart. They are stunning. They are amazing. They are the phenomenal Mohawk and if you don't know Mohawk you're about to so get ready for another freakin amazing episode next Wednesday. Thank you for listening. Thank you for tuning in. And as per usual kV Babbage's I love you bye