Episode 6: Mthr Trsa

This week we sit down with a TRUE ICON, and community leader! Prepare for the one and only Mthr Trsa

Transcript

Junior Mintt: 0:00

Hello, and welcome back to the moment of truth podcast. This is the show where I invite you to take a moment to reflect and be proud of how far that we have come as individuals and as a community, but also honest about where we still have to go and our growth as supporters and protectors of black trans power, through personal testimony and honest conversation with community leaders, we will recognize the power we all have lurking within ourselves to not only impact our lives in a positive way, but also keep pushing black trans power forward. Okay, I'm your host, Junior Mintt. And let's get into this gig, okay, because I am so excited to sit down and share with you not only the conversation that I had with our amazing guests, Mother Teresa this week, but as well, the amazing reflections that I've been able to have over this past week just because, you know, when you're kicking depressions, and you're actually beginning to find the beautiful, beautiful positivity and life that is in life, it really just hits different, you know, you know, when you out that depressive funk, and you actually like, food tastes better, you smoke less weed, because you're not actually depressed or anxious all the time. It's like, it's all the weird things that I'm like, Oh, I haven't felt this way in over a year. So I'm excited to share all of that with you. But before we get into that, you know how we have to start this off the same way we always do, we need to begin with our positive affirmations. Okay. So if you're new to this, what we are going to do, we are going to repeat the phrases that I'm saying, but it's more than just repeating them, I need you to say these out loud, I need you to say them like you mean them. And if you don't believe the words, I need you to put on your motherfucking Viola Davis acting cap and emote so strongly that you all of a sudden begin to believe these things. Because even in my deepest bouts of depression, even when I do these affirmations, I don't necessarily always feel them believe them immediately. But it's really is through the repetition and taking it seriously, that just the seeds are planted with the words because we all believe words are powerful. So let's use those words to empower ourselves, and to allow ourselves to access pieces of ourselves that we can't really get access to unless we believe in ourselves. And so let's begin. Okay, so repeat after me. I am a bad bitch. And I have the power to not only make positive change in my own life, but also in other's lives. I woke up today, and that is a blessing because I am a blessing. I am a blessing to this world, to my loved ones, but most importantly to myself. I am deserving of love, even when I don't think that I am, and I am deserving of happiness, even when I don't think that I am. I am beautiful. And I have worth and I won't let anyone including myself, make me think differently. And so with that, we have just completed our positive affirmations. And if you need to run it back as many times as you need until you believe those words because they are true, it's just a matter of you having to believe them. Because you are always a bad bitch even when you don't think that you are just because you don't realize that something is a bird or a dog or a cat doesn't mean that it's not, it just means that you didn't realize what it is yet. And you just haven't realized the true beauty of the power, the majesty that's within you until you begin to believe it. Because if you don't believe in your beauty, wash anybody else. And so be the first person to plant the seed of truth in you water it, treat it with love and watch it grow. And now we can get into our rows and our thought of this week. Because again, as per usual, we need to be processing this day, we need to be processing our weeks, we need to be processing our months. Because truly, if you're not processing what is going on in your life, what is going on in the world, if you are not reflecting and understanding how these events and all of these moments in your life are actually affecting you and changing you and shifting the way you view the world shifting the way you view yourself and shifting The way you value yourself. So it is so integral to everyone's growth that we keep processing what we are going through. And that means true, honest and deep reflection, not reflection, it just stays on the surface, it needs to go deep. You need to get uncomfortable with this reflection. Because if you're not asking yourself uncomfortable questions about yourself, then you're not actually doing the heavy lifting in the work. Because if you're doing something that feels comfortable, it's comfortable because you've done it before. You don't know pieces of yourself that you haven't discovered until you ask questions you haven't asked before. And always those questions are going to make us uncomfortable. The moment that I began to question my gender, and I started to ask myself, am I trans? Have I not realized that I was trans? The most uncomfortable question in the world because not only did I place myself into a space of feeling like, I don't even understand who I am, which makes you feel very uncomfortable, because the one person you feel like you do know is yourself. And so they placed me in an uncomfortable place. But that but it also placed me in an uncomfortable position of, Okay, well, if I'm trans, and I haven't even realized it, it opens up a whole new chapter that I have to explore, and it leaves you very uncomfortable. But the beautiful thing is uncomfortability is what builds life. Literally, every single moment of comfortability, you have in your life, there is a moment of uncomfortability waiting for you right after to teach you something to help you grow. Because every single day is going to be different and leave you with a new piece of information or something that should inform your world. And so end of rant about why we all need to be processing because, you know, I've been doing a lot of processing ever since coming back from my grandmother's funeral. And it's been just even more weight off of my shoulders. Because the more that I process, the more that I become comfortable with this uncomfortability of this next chapter in my life, it is the type of thing that only kind of makes me more excited. And so that is kind of been my rose for this week is actually it's been just it's been an interesting week, waking up without anxiety. Like I realized for the first time in 10 years waking up without anxiety, like I was like, is this what it's like to actually be rested? To not like, feel like I'm just consistently worried about someone's health or how somebody's doing or someone Okay, it was such a weight off of my chest. And I've just been actually. So yeah, it feels like the old junior and I know, I touched on this in the last podcast episode. But it's just, it's even come deeper into fruition because I have literally not experienced the amount of creative excitement that I have been about projects about ideas about all of these different pieces of myself that have just been dis interesting to myself. So like even getting into drag makeup some days felt like it was just a weight. And it was only a job when like this was the thing that brought me so much joy, so much relief, and to have that joy and that relief again, and to see the value of myself again, is amazing. And that is why it's my biggest rose because even down to you'll hear us talk about this on the podcast episode. But Mother Teresa literally helped me to get Medicaid because literally she was like, just go here, do this, like do it. Like it's easy. And she's the person who recommended exactly the site to go to and everything. If anybody needs help with it, it is health first, like literally, it will take 20 minutes. I know I said literally like 15 times, but it really was just so easy. I got Medicaid in exactly 25 minutes on the phone like it was just call up person answers, ask you some questions about your income, which we all broke, all unemployed. So like, it was easy. And so I recommend to anybody and I'm really currently in the process of finding a primary care provider and I'm like, this is a new thing literally never gone to a dentist before. Never had health insurance like what it's so that's amazing too. And me realizing that I wasn't getting the paperwork done because of anxiety, like all those simple things that can easily be done in 2530 minutes. I literally was just sabotaging myself for a lot of things that I needed. And honestly, it's one of those things that I'm really always going to carry with me that even when depression comes back and it hits again, because such as life, that's gonna be one of those little nuggets I keep in the back of my mind and hold that wisdom very close that I still have the power to overcome a lot of things even in depression, and realizing my strength in all of my states has been another rows of this week, truly sitting there and realizing that Okay, so we have learned from the Last experience that we just had. And when this experience comes back, we know that we have the strength and the power to persevere through it stronger than we ever have before. And so I just, I feel empowered. I feel strong. I'm excited about life. I've been literally just everything has been so much easier and lighter and more fun. And I hate the fucking reference repulse drag race, but the inner saboteur for me was just jumping out. And um, so just, yeah, things are good again. Mm hmm. When food tastes good, I made some mac and cheese recently, like, life is a blessing. And I'm feeling bad again. And so yep, that's my roses. That's a whole bushel of roses. But I mean, for depression, and a funeral and all those things. I'm like, life better. motherfucking give me some roses this week. But I am hoping that every single other person out there is getting some roses to this week. And if not, I am sending up love energy and prayers for you. And I'm hoping that the roses come next week, but But either way, you know that we'll be here together to talk about it to process it. Now, we do have to get into the store, which I'm still even like, while I'm talking I'm still Toronto finger what a thorn would be. And I don't really have a thorn because it in my opinion for my depression, the moment I start to feel lighter, and it feels like I'm coming out of this depression about it just nothing seems as bad. So comparatively, just being able to feel like you have the energy and the excitement to do things in life makes literally any inconvenience. Not that bad. Like, even with the blizzard that just happened in the snow coming down and everything and like, I had to go out in the real cold before go grocery shopping all of that get food, and then even run into the bodega, like after the snow fell and everything and it being freezing. Like even those little things were like, Oh, this knows a bit annoying. It's like, honestly, having the energy to go outside go to the bodega comparatively to literally two three weeks ago where I would have felt like going to the bodega would have actually taken all of my energy for the day, I wouldn't have felt like doing nothing else afterwards. So yeah, I think that all of the same thorns that I've talked about before, all the things in life for the world that's happening still thorny, but I guess I'm just my eyesight is covered by roses right now. So I can't even see the thorns. And so I'm just yeah, I'm very thankful I'm very happy. And also, I guess, let me add another rose in there. Another Rose is absolutely getting to have dinner with Mother Teresa because in this interview, you'll hear as a reference having to record this podcast episode multiple times because the program that I use to record through webcam that gives you like high quality audio, it for some reason has not had any issues with any of the interviews before, but for some reason for Mother Teresa's, it literally had all of my audio all hour and some change of that audio for me. But for Mother Teresa's It was literally like nothing. And so all I hear when I listened to it back is me cackling a jokes or asking questions and just silence. So we had to record this again. And we decided to end up having dinner and do it in person because she doesn't live too far away from me. And so she had her mic we set up it was such a beautiful, beautiful, like, getting to hang out getting to chat. And on top of it was like if you all had listened to that conversation, like the whole dinner cooked and the whole night could have honestly been like a whole podcast episode. So it was really amazing. And Mother Teresa and I have not gotten an actual chance to like hang out even before the pandemic so it was just so nice. And on top of it. Shout out to her amazing roommate and just an amazing fucking person Yannick their roommate literally like Angel, beautiful, stunning and on top of it, like when I tell you is like the kindest soul just so much kindness that oozes out of them that you just feel it when you walk into a space. You walk into a space and you just are enveloped by their kindness. And so yeah, shout out to Yannick. But I think bringing up Mother Teresa is the perfect segue into this interview because you all are going to fall in love. I'm really happy that I got to sit down with Mother Teresa and do this interview because it really it hit home in a different way when we chatted in person as opposed through webcam because sitting there and getting to talk to her. It feels like she has lived so many lives while still at the same time like being 2526. I am just so thankful to have got her story. And as well the story of someone who I really, really respect Like, Mother Teresa is someone who is a performer who will perform the house down, she will give you comedy looks everything that you're looking for. And on top of it, getting to hear her story, it makes me so happy that she is someone who is within my community. She is someone who as well produces such amazing work that uplifts so many amazing people within this community, it is an honor to talk to her. And on top of it, it's an honor to get to call her a friend. Because above all of her accomplishments, she is most importantly, a lamb she is in the lamb alley. She is in the fan base of the one and only Mariah Carey. So without further ado, let's get into this kagerou this Giga Rama. And let's welcome to this podcast. The one the only Mother Teresa, this is now the 18th time. And the best part about it is that the 18th time's the charm.

Unknown: 16:10

And we're live.

Junior Mintt: 16:12

Well, I am honored to have you here Mother Teresa for the 13th time recording man,

Mthr Trsa: 16:18

I am honored to be here for the 18th time.

Junior Mintt: 16:22

Oh my god. When I tell you I opened that audio file and I was pissed. Because it was literally just me responding to everything or like me talking but it was just like we have because as well when we recorded the last session, there was literally like three different snippets that we got recorded because we got cut off because of my Wi Fi and everything. And so literally at one small snippet at a second small snippet and I was like, why do I have an hour and six minutes of me talking? But none of it. I was like this is homophobic

Mthr Trsa: 16:55

That is insane.

Junior Mintt: 16:57

Honestly, it was the universe being like you have to hang out with Mother Teresa again,

Mthr Trsa: 17:00

literally. But since then we've like I feel like I've seen you like multiple times and I enjoy See I also really love our like group chat situation where we just talk about like trans healthcare.

Junior Mintt: 17:12

That's honest.

Mthr Trsa: 17:15

That's all we talk about. Any like trans healthcare like topic of conversation like it's thrown in that group chat.

Junior Mintt: 17:25

Yeah. And I I am so gagged with the fact that you're the reason I have Medicaid right now.

Mthr Trsa: 17:32

I am also gagged that that is that I'm the reason

Junior Mintt: 17:35

first calm. It takes literally 20 minutes. Are they really calm though? They are calm? I think so Google Health first. If you live in New York, at least I'm sorry if you don't live in New York. I don't know what insurance is like anywhere else. But it's a mess everywhere, but it's a little bit less of a mess.

Mthr Trsa: 17:55

That's awesome, though. I'm glad that you were able to get on it. You're actually the first the second person that I'm putting on because the first person is someone who works at the gym that I work at. And she always spills tea with me and she had some medical issues that she needs to take care of. And I was like, do you have insurance? And she's like, no, and then I literally pulled up health first website on the blink fitness computers that call I was Alright, here we go. We're signing you up. You're getting a phone call tomorrow. Like don't fuck this up. You're gonna get free healthcare. Like, your options are gonna be a little weird. I promise you like you're gonna be in a very weird dentist at some point. But you know what? You're gonna do it babe, you're a rock star that

Junior Mintt: 18:41

most excited about the dentist. I've never seen a dentist before. Oh, mama, I needed to take a look at these choppers because I'm dying. I know I grind my teeth at night because life is stressful and it makes me grab my teeth. And so I am like really excited about getting a mouth guard. I'm like, I've never been so excited for a mouth accessory before Well, except the partner you know, I like to call all of my partners mount accessories,

Mthr Trsa: 19:08

because you know my math accessory.

Junior Mintt: 19:10

Let's talk about your Mother Teresa. Okay, how are you doing?

Mthr Trsa: 19:15

I am great. I had a very productive day.

Junior Mintt: 19:21

What was productive about it?

Mthr Trsa: 19:23

I got tested with Brenda and we're COVID we love Are you serious? Yeah, actually,

Junior Mintt: 19:30

you'd like to see v Brenda.

Mthr Trsa: 19:31

I got to see the Brenda.

Junior Mintt: 19:33

When I think about Brenda ish. She just makes me so happy.

Mthr Trsa: 19:37

When I think about Brenda I think about having a kombucha in one hand. an iced oatmilk latte on the other hand, and a literal gallon of water in my purse. Really, always has so many liquids on her and anytime I think about her I think about her like aesthetically and I view her honestly as like someone who Just carries around like a copious amounts of liquids at all time

Junior Mintt: 20:05

she is just brimming with liquids Yeah,

Mthr Trsa: 20:08

and she's also that bitch to be like I'm sorry I have to pee again. Like has like wants to carry all these liquids but then like insists on having the smallest bladder like a dime like can

Junior Mintt: 20:21

I actually read it from every angle? It's so funny the barbecue said it was the moment that I realized that because I was like every single experience with her I specifically remember her at some point being like, I'm sorry I just have to find a bathroom right now. Yeah, cuz you'll be out walking. Oh my god, it just makes me sad because I'm thinking about out walking with her But that was before quarantine. So I'm like God I just want to go on a walk with Brenda Can

Mthr Trsa: 20:47

I say I kind of lived for it because it brings me back to like just like my hometown like being back in like Boca Raton like probably thought that was a such a dominantly like very much like Jewish grandmas who like get cold really easily and like have to pee like every five minutes like that's honestly the like Boca Raton vibe I mean that and like wanting to like egg Ariana Grande is house but

Junior Mintt: 21:14

what do you do for entertainment? Because in my head there's so many old people that I'm like, I they're like clubs

Mthr Trsa: 21:26

Okay, so there are there's like I mean, Florida Atlantic University is in Boca Raton and like so there is like this like quote unquote college town but it's hey this like, like the worst kind of people like obviously mostly all straight cisgendered like white people who are just like wearing just they it's just like jersey, the Jersey Shore essentially like what the vibe was? Which is great. I mean, I would go out sometimes with my like straight ish friends like we're adjacent like we're all dancers like we're all faggot so we would go out to like those gigs which was like really interesting that was like my intro to nightlife honestly and I really I didn't like go to drag shows like that wasn't like really a thing. And then I just started to venture out like out of Boca Raton laid the like older I got obviously like, you know, we went to Fort Lauderdale we got our like, Wilton Manors just like we like waves high to like a few like silver daddy bears that we like may or may not have thought to be a Growler all back like yes, I drove 20 minutes like on some highway to like literally penetrate you on your like, literally leather fucking one Zener I don't even know. So, but then from there, like I started venturing out into Miami, which was like an hour drive from where I was. So I was like, going to the gigs. Like when I actually ended up doing gigs in Miami. I would literally like be my face before loco drank the Four Loko on the way to the gig, the whole like speeding down I 95 with one Four Loko in one hand and my hand and the wheel in my hands essentially. And I honestly, I don't condone that. And I don't suggest anyone does that. I actually have a tattoo to remind me specifically not to drink and drive because it's the name of my car that I hide your planes in and taught hydro plane, not hydro plane in platforms in a mesh dress with red stiletto nails and the middle part.

Junior Mintt: 23:38

Why does this sound like the next challenge or drag race?

Mthr Trsa: 23:41

I literally when I tell you the cops did not come for like two hours I sobered up by then obviously because yes, I was drinking. And I showed up and I was just like, what the fuck? Like, we've been sitting here like, for two whole hours. It was like 6am at this point. And the cop all she had to say Thank God it was a woman by the way. All she had to say was baby I love your nails. And I was like,

Unknown: 24:09

I'm not getting a ticket tonight.

Junior Mintt: 24:11

Do you know who I saw it by hand saying it to you? Who did you watch Reno? 911 Yes, raineesha

Unknown: 24:18

stop. That's

Junior Mintt: 24:19

all I just imagined was ready to go. Baby. Okay, can I just okay, we just need to have a quick tangent about the fact that one. Do you see NASA's happiness is my happiness. And I physically get emotional to her finding her happiness with that beautiful woman and her having her happiness because on top of it. I was like I would fuck both of you. Wait, isn't she also

Mthr Trsa: 24:48

the host of clean house to do want to clean house? I have so many questions. I grew up on that show.

Junior Mintt: 24:54

Are we all borderline hoarders for a moment? Speak for yourself? Oh Baba. Okay,

Mthr Trsa: 25:00

I'm ready to throw up my belongings at any given moment.

Junior Mintt: 25:03

I'm like, Mama, we do want to step into your room right now. Let's see if you have Marie Kondo Obama. Have you Marie Kondo.

Mthr Trsa: 25:10

I don't know what that means.

Unknown: 25:13

That's my favorite.

Junior Mintt: 25:16

My favorite thing in the world is when people don't know about Netflix things, because I'm like, that is my favorite. Like, I'm so indoctrinated Netflix, but Netflix dropped a thing I'm not gonna lie about click on it, but when it comes to Netflix, I always think I'm wasting my time on here, but when will they get bored? How would you watch Netflix? If it had porn?

Mthr Trsa: 25:36

It depends what that entails. Like, what kind of porn Am I am I stuck watching like to white muscle like Shaun Cody gays like fucking or do I have the option for like, you know, maybe amateur? Maybe like, you know, a job like, fucking like, some like, you know, preferably like, not a white sis male.

Junior Mintt: 26:01

The most boring of the porn.

Mthr Trsa: 26:03

Can we like what whatever. Where are we giving? Are we giving queer porn? I haven't seen that.

Unknown: 26:07

I would.

Mthr Trsa: 26:08

I've seen it once on Twitter. But does that count? It wasn't like a production. Like I want to see like a Shawn Cody. But it's like Dave Adams, you know?

Junior Mintt: 26:16

Give them the production value.

Mthr Trsa: 26:18

Where are the babies? I want to see the baby's getting down and dirty.

Junior Mintt: 26:25

Like, I'm like, I'm not pleased.

Unknown: 26:27

I'm not even kidding.

Junior Mintt: 26:28

I think that's gonna be the promo for this episode. Just you say I want to get I want to see the baby's getting down and dirty.

Mthr Trsa: 26:37

I'm just really true. I've yet

Junior Mintt: 26:39

to see porn that is from the perspective of a trans person. Do you make porn?

Mthr Trsa: 26:46

Define make porn.

Junior Mintt: 26:50

I guess? That's a good question. I guess it's Oh, okay. I have a very good definition. I think do you record your sex work?

Mthr Trsa: 26:58

Um, no. Yeah, honestly. No. I mean, I have like, some videos. But honestly, I'm really not trying. I mean, it's not that I like I'm very much tempted to upload videos. Don't get me wrong. There's like this, like, thing of like, exposing yourself as like, you know, a raunchy, dumb sex idiot.

Unknown: 27:24

Yeah.

Mthr Trsa: 27:25

But at the same time, I'm like, we're, we're gonna hold back on that for a second. Because I really don't know what's in my cards. And real. I just,

Junior Mintt: 27:36

yeah, what are you seeing in your cards right now?

Mthr Trsa: 27:39

What's in my cards?

Unknown: 27:42

Just some were just like putting in some work. Just, you know, paying the bills, right? Just like putting it somewhere. Okay, barely.

Mthr Trsa: 27:52

I don't know, I wanted my cards, honestly, just working and collaborating with as many queer people as possible. And like, still cultivating my community in the best way, shape and form. While like, also, just having fun and not trying to overanalyze everything.

Junior Mintt: 28:10

Were you at the same space? Is that at the beginning of the pandemic? Or is that in the post pandemic? Like attitude?

Mthr Trsa: 28:19

I think my sense of community has definitely strengthened, obviously, like, post pandemic. But I think even before that, I mean, you know, in our other 13 interviews that we podcast, I said in it, I believe that there are two types of Queens, there is a bitch who's in it for the community, and there's a bitch who's in it for the fame. And I really don't think I mean, there might be obviously some like sub categories of different queens and performers, etc, etc. But like, realistically, like that, is that and I think, even before the pandemic, I was still very much like, thinking in terms of the community and not really like, you know what I mean? Don't get me wrong, I need coin and like, fully, we're gonna get the gig but like, also, like, I'm booking the girls like, I don't know what you thought this was. The lineup is not gonna be a cock fest. And I can tell you that one. That part, that part.

Junior Mintt: 29:21

Yeah, it's an interesting balance between getting your coin, while also making sure that you're like art. And you're like, all of my creations are impacting people in a positive way. So oftentimes faces that are requiring you giving you enough coins to like actually really impact your life or the places that really try to regiment what you're actually doing right, who you're booking. And you're one of those people who every single time I see a cast lineup, or I see a show produced, or I see an event produced, it's always something we're out. I know that I can see myself represented in it, and it's something that I always think is it when it impacts The most is usually when it's the most authentic. Like usually you can read when it's inauthentic, that it's somebody who's like, using a black or brown body or a trans body for just some coin. And it always is so like, so genuine, so genuine. And so with someone, the Oh, that's a great word. So intentional as well, because there's something to be said for someone who has not only the motivation, but the intention to do good. Because what you create with the spaces that you create are spaces that I, as a black trans person, learn so much when I go into the spaces, because there's so many varieties of people that I didn't ever get the chance to be in community with and in fellowship with, that's the old black Baptist route, they always call it in fellowship with people and I love that, like we are in fellowship right now in this conversation. And so you've introduced me to so many different corners of not only the drag community, but the queer community that I haven't, that I'm just not a part of that like I would never see unless someone is truly presenting their community. It is truly giving it something of reverence that I can actually connect to because there's been plenty of spaces where like, the producer may even be a trans person or a black person, but I go in and the people who are booked for it are sis white girls from Manhattan, who like I don't need to hear another Ariana Grande a break free number where I'm not seeing somebody getting douche. I'll never forget some moments where like in the Brooklyn feed with like community members who like would not get a platform just simply because they're being who they are. And you're like, bitch, I saw somebody douche into a kitty litter box in Brooklyn. Yeah, it's like even the things that I'm like, and I said that gag did had to go to the ATM to get out cash. I was like, This bitch needs more buddy

Unknown: 31:51

should eat about No, of

Junior Mintt: 31:53

course you need about a Cat. Cat well, but of course, into the litter

Mthr Trsa: 31:58

box. into the into the

Junior Mintt: 32:00

litter box. It was iconic moments. And if I think that's my favorite city, but bobet cuz that was the moment where I was literally like, you know,

Mthr Trsa: 32:09

I miss them. They also at Whole pigs literally, like stirred cereal on their body. That's iconic. That month was called scary Mary.

Junior Mintt: 32:23

And why don't you try

Mthr Trsa: 32:24

to I believe so. There was a lot of looks happening. Do

Junior Mintt: 32:28

you have a favorite whole pics moment? Oh.

Mthr Trsa: 32:34

Well, I actually honestly the first one was kind of iconic because I was holding on to this like idea of a show for a very long time. And it actually wasn't until the show with pinwheel was in it. It was mostly pinnules production God complex was an unforgettable something carnivora I'm literally blanking. If they're listening to this, I'm literally so sorry. They're the format of their show.

Junior Mintt: 33:05

So like we

Mthr Trsa: 33:06

can be I know, I can't that's a dark horse.

Junior Mintt: 33:09

If the dark if the wide of the week

Mthr Trsa: 33:12

stay the show, which is very experimental. And it was literally like the crowd was obviously just like small and intimate. But it was like it made it the show like the show was great. So I really enjoyed their format and I basically like kind of was inspired by them. And that's kind of how the format of whole pigs went work because instead of like inter instead of like introducing one by one having separate numbers, I basically was like we're gonna have like a choreographed group number. We're gonna go on with like little segments from each performer and larger numbers from each number and it's just gonna be a one gradual production and I think that that was like, unique for Brooklyn, because no one really was like giving like production tease even though even though like you know it was Yannick my roommate with a flashlight like projecting onto us and like the lights at the in the bar like I don't even think we're on at that point like oh, but I don't know it was the first one was like really magical because it was actually for my birthday and I split it with Robin wood because Robin wood and I have the same day malarious so um, and then i don't know i think i think i think i liked the Halloween one to be on this one I like really can't I don't know I would have to like look at all of them to be honest.

Junior Mintt: 34:34

There's a lot of whole picks like moments to pick from is the fairly almost

Mthr Trsa: 34:39

hit an entire year.

Junior Mintt: 34:40

See this quarantines so deeply it really fully put like a full stop on things which is the most annoying thing

Mthr Trsa: 34:48

to like, and then we just started to do like online but that was like a little weird with Instagram. Also my my phone connection everyone kept commenting. Specifically Coons from Miami was like, are you streaming this From a tuna can and like my connection was so bad on Instagram Live, it was so embarrassing to say

Junior Mintt: 35:05

like, I was in the exact same but like I had the iPhone seven at the time. And so it was like one of those things where it was every five seconds in the live, it would drop the fuck out. Speaking of OPEX hoping is one of those shows that when I think about it as a show, it is one that like, I don't know how much time or energy goes into it, like you know what I mean? It's the type of thing where I'm like, Did y'all have five rehearsals? Like Like in your head you don't know like you're like the girls like know their entrances know their exits. The girls are like, Oh, we we like know what's happening back. Literally, it shows within the physical setlist with exactly what's happening, but you still don't know what's going on. I'm dying. So I am like, what is the process of even putting together a whole pics because I'm like, do you just rehearse before everyone gets there? Or is there like, okay, we're setting that like for rehearsal days.

Mthr Trsa: 36:09

There's only one rehearsal. Only one, there's only one. I'm like, if we if something goes wrong, then we're just going to turn it out. Like it's not really it shouldn't be overthinking. I mean, also like, the way the budget was set out, especially like when I was producing the show at the ball, like I really was already asking a lot from these performers to show up like willingly to a rehearsal. And like it was in my friends like really boozy, gentrified, like apartment building complex that has like a yoga room in the bottom of it, you know, so we're going there, and it had speakers and the setup was, like, really convenient for everyone, basically. So that's where I was like, holding most of the rehearsals. But honestly, yeah, we do one rehearsal, I make sure like, everyone has their music, like prior and that everyone's like, cool with the day and the time for the rehearsal. And I like also kind of like, help and inspire people for their performance ideas, or like, because I do a thing where it's like a give me a solo and an interlude. an interlude basically is like something that's thrown in between someone else's two solos. So I did that essentially, to like, change up the crowds like attention, because our show was like, at night, obviously, and like most people were drunk. And at the end of the day, I would rather see a chaotic show than like, you know, just like a casual, like, low energy show. So that's why I kind of like made sure that like, the entire time, the energy was constantly changing within seconds, because it was just like funny to have like, I mean, you know, like, the vote was really weirdly shaped. So we would be like on the mainstage and then five seconds later, someone would pop up on the stairs. And then five seconds later

Junior Mintt: 37:53

he's for us break

Mthr Trsa: 37:54

that vote is literally like in a basement of this like, also gentrified apartment building like mckibbon la Brodie's, like everyone has some weird like ketamine dealer who lives there and like, with some fucking like

Junior Mintt: 38:10

artistic people in California being like,

Mthr Trsa: 38:14

these, like artists that I don't know, it used to be a coffee shop. When I was visiting New York, in Brooklyn, someone one of my friends lived there. And at the time, it was a coffee shop and I believe it. The vote was actually called tilt. And it had it was a street space and they had like, EDM events and actually, EDM events like raves essentially. I am so stupid So basically, the first time I went there was a party called bound there like a collective I think, and they they were throwing like a fetish party went down into the bowl. Literally, that place was so fogged out. I could not see anything. It was so chaotic. I was like, get me out of here.

Unknown: 39:00

Can we just talk like

Mthr Trsa: 39:02

going down the staircase heinous.

Junior Mintt: 39:04

The fact that this should, it should be physically illegal to have any club that has more than three steps in the building

Mthr Trsa: 39:11

with no elevator,

Junior Mintt: 39:13

no elevator, it it's like, it's like

Mthr Trsa: 39:15

testability is garbage.

Junior Mintt: 39:17

Literally, it could it's three steps down, turn to the left. Okay, here's the grand staircase. So you can make a grand ask fall of yourself. And it's like, I want to say one

Unknown: 39:28

eight staff knees buckling

Junior Mintt: 39:29

knees buckle every single time I had to grandma down the stairs. You got it, you got to turn sideways to do one step at a time. Cuz we're looking good. The last few way to do it for the trade is fall down.

Mthr Trsa: 39:42

So the volt in the basement was kind of divided by like the bar space and then like the stage space with more stairs that leads up to the DJ booth. And it's just very dark. There's mirrors around and there's like a little platform on one side and then it's supposed to be like seating but it's like a little platform. We would perform on and then there was like another smaller stage on the other side. Very weird, very unhinged parka and B York actually had an after party there like a day after we had a whole pics there and extremely pissed because some of the girls got into the volt when that happened, and it was just like ARCA and Bjork apparently just like carrying like in the in the bowl for I believe arkose birthday.

Junior Mintt: 40:24

That's disrespect. I

Mthr Trsa: 40:26

now will be York has actually like kind of showed up a few times in Brooklyn before like she showed up at the Rosemont ones and just DJ like really randomly, and she also showed up. SNL che told me that she showed up at bath salts like years ago with Macy Rodman and in the interview that I think sn oj did, she says that somebody played Bjork when bjarke showed up and Bjork left to somebody was Macy Rodman who had the party bath salts she liked. She played beer. I thought this was the funniest thing I ever heard honestly, like, I was cackling when I when I found this out like so funny. Imagine you're like you played New York, New York who's like, got to go.

Junior Mintt: 41:15

But honestly, though, I would be basically at the same spot where like, walk the fuck in.

Mthr Trsa: 41:22

I will also like that was I feel like that's salts energy. Like when I got into drag it was because I was watching videos of Brooklyn, Queens like I was in Florida on YouTube literally watching Brooklyn nightlife single handedly like explode. And I was like, This is the craziest set of performance artists like I've ever seen in my entire life. Like, that's dead ass how I got into performing

Junior Mintt: 41:48

favors save.

Mthr Trsa: 41:51

So I knew about bath salts and I just knew that it was like the party like it was at some like random Mexican bar somewhere here in Bushwick. And like it was it was so stupid. Someone told me that. I don't know if it was Macy or someone else. But apparently, one of them got their wisdom teeth removed or something and they like showed up. They still showed up because it was a weekly and they like said that they would show up every Monday.

Unknown: 42:19

They're like fully like, zoned Jeep.

Junior Mintt: 42:22

Still got the gauze and everything on cheek swollen. Literally, like can't even drink because of the medication. Oh,

Mthr Trsa: 42:29

but here probably is. Oh,

Junior Mintt: 42:31

honestly, at this point in the game, if you're not drinking on your medication, are you really doing drag? As my prep practitioner once

Mthr Trsa: 42:38

said when she when she when she insisted that I got on Discovery after telling her about a orangey experience. She I was like, Wait, can I drink on just go V and she said, You think the gays are not drinking crap. And I was like, okay, you have a point.

Junior Mintt: 42:58

But I just get read that I

Mthr Trsa: 43:00

read well, actually my same. This is the same practitioner who literally I come into her office once and she's like, so I was listening to a podcast and I'm like, okay, like, a drag podcast. I'm like, okay, and she's like, Yeah, and it's so weird because one of them. One of the Queens brought up a Brooklyn Queen named Mother Teresa, who she referred to as a scat queen. And then looks at me and I am like

Unknown: 43:29

oh,

Mthr Trsa: 43:31

I honestly like fell out of the chair like onto the office floor and I was like, like to imagine your own fucking doctor like appalled. Anyways, let's just say I kept her

Junior Mintt: 43:47

job was the best I will ever get recorded ever in life.

Mthr Trsa: 43:53

You know whose fault is fucking meatballs follow she was listening to fucking meatballs podcast, which behind you meatball has my name in her mouth all the goddamn time on her podcast when any public play poopy piss or anything just like really gross comes up she brings up my goddamn Nina and yes asked me if I had a slot on her podcast yet.

Junior Mintt: 44:17

She needs to put not only her name out of your mouth but some coin in your wallet.

Mthr Trsa: 44:22

She I feel like she does know me though. We're like we're each we're on each other's close friends.

Junior Mintt: 44:27

Requests right now I'm

Mthr Trsa: 44:29

dying. I'm not gonna Venmo her she deserves

Junior Mintt: 44:32

to be loved me ball users

Mthr Trsa: 44:33

every right to have my name in her mouth. But also, I'm still waiting on that podcast. So if you're listening By any chance, like Hey, girl, like put me on your podcast like I have a lot to say.

Junior Mintt: 44:46

Okay, question then answer. Define Mother Teresa.

Mthr Trsa: 44:51

Wow. Well, Mother Teresa is the freshman gay who literally after me Giving him advice on how to bottom and prep for Angel. He said that I'm the mother teresa to the gays. I feel like Mother Teresa is that bitch who really goes out of her way to book to book people who she knows will serve the house down but also maybe an unknown name someone who is not necessarily always booked. Mother Teresa is a good host. I mean, at least I like to think so. And Mother Teresa is that like overpriced shag rug that you purchase on like some boutique store online. And like even though you regret it, your living room still looks really good.

Junior Mintt: 45:47

As we sit in a living room on top of a shag rug that looks very expensive.

Mthr Trsa: 45:51

Mother Teresa is clown makeup, but like in a fashion editorial standpoint with breaking gender binary, and fucking the patriarchy while also getting money and fucking bitches. And so meatball. You're listening to this?

Junior Mintt: 46:15

Mama, you just got a resume. Okay.

Mthr Trsa: 46:19

That is actually exactly word for word. What's on my artists? CV?

Junior Mintt: 46:23

period? period. Okay. Two final questions for you. Well, I think you already know what the last question. But second to last question is, as a drag artist, as a drag performer. We carry around a lot of things with us on a daily basis that are our drag personas, our life outside of it, and a blend of it all inside of us, when you walk around every day as Mother Teresa, and then on top of it out of drag. For me, what I want to ask you is where do you draw the line between Mother Teresa and Dylan? And on top of it, is there a line at all period?

Mthr Trsa: 47:10

Yeah, I was actually literally just thinking if there was even the line and to be honest, I don't think that there is I think it's like literally the same. This the same person to be honest work. Yeah, I mean, I definitely give like a casual like poker face, like in sexual settings possibly like to admit this one, but like, very much like code switching, like, all of a sudden, like using my, like privilege of looking like a fucking bearded man and being like, What's up, bro? You know what I mean? Very much, like, very much doing those especially like, not just in sexual settings, but like also just in like, day to day things where I know that like, unfortunately, navigating as a transform is like not not gonna go the way I want it to. I'm just trying to get from point A to B like, we'll refer a straight man. Like as boss sometimes, you know, very like, Hey, boss, do you think you know what I mean? Like when you're like asking someone to like move or something. Excuse me boss, like,

Unknown: 48:21

very,

Mthr Trsa: 48:22

like, hate it. I hate it so much. I honestly am seeking therapy. Because I'm just like code switching way too much these days. And it's like, really not helping with my trans identity. But you know what? Yeah, I think Mother Teresa is the same honestly. Like, I'm a queen in and out of drag. Like, I still will throw shade. regardless of if I'm wearing like a sickening contour or not. And I'll still give a number even if I'm out of drag.

Junior Mintt: 48:56

How do you define drag?

Mthr Trsa: 49:00

expressive, free? Not competitive.

Junior Mintt: 49:09

Okay, well, I guess I okay. I have a second the last question part three. Because now like you saying that there is no line is it unlocked? Because I'm very, I'm very much the same way when I say that, right. One just asked for a booking fee. When I tell a joke.

Mthr Trsa: 49:23

I know. Literally,

Junior Mintt: 49:26

I'll make you capitalized away or just bother like, Am I getting paid for this gig? What made you discover that there isn't a lie?

Mthr Trsa: 49:38

To be honest, I think I would say it was always like that for me. But I definitely, especially when living in Florida and doing drag. Drag wasn't like as lucrative as it was until I got to New York. And I wasn't doing drag as often until I actually like, got myself going in Brooklyn. So Maybe I always knew it, but it wasn't confirmed until I was like doing a gig from you know 9am to five 6pm in a photo studio and then going right home and getting into drag and just it feeling just like another job another day like just meeting some friends have this like little choreo plan it's like no big deal like just gonna make some more money guys and like, make sure everyone's staying hydrated. That wow concept What

Junior Mintt: 50:34

you said was so beautiful. Thank you. Thank you for sharing that. Oh my god. Now you know this last question. It's my favorite question. Oh, wait, what is your favorite Mariah Carey song?

Mthr Trsa: 50:48

Get the fuck out is definitely hands down like a staple for me. You

Junior Mintt: 50:52

made me cry with it.

Mthr Trsa: 50:53

I'm dying. Well, mainly because it's just really nice to bring that to like a brunch setting or like a Manhattan setting where you know there's gonna be a lot of cisgendered gays who like at the end of the day like if you hit them up on like Growler scruff or grinder like they would ignore your ass. They would give you a view maybe give you a tap but at the end of the day, they would go Stu, let's be honest, these fucking men are trash. Exactly. And there's just something so special about having the spotlight on you and walking up to a fucking faggot and being like,

Unknown: 51:24

how about you get the fuck out?

Mthr Trsa: 51:28

It's so good.

Junior Mintt: 51:30

Have you read? Have you read memorize memoirs? I haven't read now. You need I don't read. She's illiterate Mama. She doesn't get this mama hooked audio audio book.

Mthr Trsa: 51:41

Wait, wait, I didn't even ask our answer. The actual wait. Yeah, no,

Junior Mintt: 51:45

what is your favorite Mariah Carey has

Mthr Trsa: 51:47

got to be from her caution album giving me live produced by dev Hynes. And I feel like I might have said this in the previous recordings. But when that album came out, I was in a very dark place. I had just moved to New York and it was like, maybe my first or second winter and I was watching these dogs in Park Slope. And it was just fucking heinous. And my back hurts so bad. And I what my health was deteriorating, and that album like had gotten me together and through it was insane. Like that fucking album. And the only reason I started listening to it was because I heard dev Hynes had his little hands on it. And I was like, well, he's a musical genius. Like, well, I need to hear what he does with Mariah Carey his fucking voice like, literally, that combo sounds insane. So I ended up giving it a go. And I was like, Okay, wait, this is iconic. The entire album is really good. But giving me life is so good specifically because it's just like super dramatic. And the song I feel like is like very, very extra long for no reason. It's like seven minutes. Yes. And I love a track. That's like over over four minutes.

Junior Mintt: 52:57

Just because I can

Mthr Trsa: 52:58

Exactly. Oh, giving me life.

Junior Mintt: 53:01

Also, I'm really I loved it. Caution does not get enough shine.

Mthr Trsa: 53:06

It does not.

Junior Mintt: 53:07

I am like Mariah is my de but like Mariah is it for me. Like you can't like oh my god. It's so you picked a really amazing song by opinion, because that album of caution was one that it was. It was her highest reviewed album since her debut album.

Mthr Trsa: 53:25

Really?

Junior Mintt: 53:26

We're gonna wrap this episode up and then we're gonna talk about Leslie Jones. When I tell you Mother Teresa, I'm honored to have you. You are a blessing to all and a burden to none. But a Rimmer to all. Okay.

Mthr Trsa: 53:41

Love you. Thank you so much for having me.

Junior Mintt: 53:45

You had me Mama,

Mthr Trsa: 53:46

you have me You had me. Please come over. more often.

Junior Mintt: 53:52

I promise to come on Brown. I promise. The most iconic bond that's out here. That's gonna be the end of it. Let's back up. And the interview did in fact end with us packing the ball. Would I tell you tell me that wasn't one of the best interviews ever. Mother Teresa is a character. But on top of it a community leader. Like I'm so happy with sitting down with her. And that whole conversation I have to tell you, really. I felt the energy re listening to it to be real. I was sitting there and I was like, I am really shocked at the fact that I could have been having all of these conversations with you for so much longer. Outside of the 18 to 25 times we had to record it. But I'm so excited to say that I have a new friend and I have on top of it. Someone who I'm so excited to have more of these amazing conversations with And so, that brings us to the end of this podcast episode. But first, I'm going to treat you all with another moment to obsess. Okay, I'm about to give you all five things that I am shook about, and so excited about and I'm so excited about it honestly that I need to share it. Okay. But this version is going to be song edition. I'm literally just going to open up my title app. Yes, I have title a black owned business. Oh, yes, like a bad bitch. And I'm going to tell you the five songs that I have been obsessed with recently, okay, because I am really like when I was saying food tastes better. And I was saying that everything just is a lighter music. It hits different when you out of depression. And so here are the five songs that I have been jamming to, ever since I have come out of my depressive hole. Okay, first up you you're going to be surprised it's not Mariah Carey, but she is on the list twice. So this first song is ATM by Bri runway if you do not know ATM, if you just Missy Elliott, and it is probably like, honestly, I want to call it right now as probably one of my favorite songs of 2021. It was released in 2020 with her album, but I believe the visual was was released in 2021. Or I was late to the game. But either way, all you need to know is it is one of the best bops ever. Breathe runway is one of the best producers and lyricists I've ever heard and Missy Elliott is Missy Elliott. That's all you need to know. And so please, and look at the music video. Okay, look at the music videos, she is giving you black, Josephine Baker realness. And on top of it, the whole song is it's called ATM because basically, she's asking this guy to like, push my button again, and it's basically about hit the ATM and give me some money basically. And I was like, This is a song for me. This is a song for me. I want some drag performer to do it in a club when we can all be back there safely and do that and make somebody go out to the ATM and get cash for them. Okay, that's what I want to say. So that's the first tune. I am obsessed with ATM. Okay, and now my second is going to be Mariah Carey. Of course, it is from one of the greatest films ever created in history. It is called glitter. Maybe you've heard of it. If you haven't, you can watch the whole thing on youtube for free because some queer person we can assume they're queer. uploaded the motherfucking fullfilled HD on to YouTube. That's how I watch it every time so educate yourself. But the song I'm referencing is last night a DJ saved my life. If you have not seen this movie, if you have not heard this specific song, you are missing out because most people know the original last night a DJ saved my life. But the thing is Mariah Carey, like takes the whole beat makes it sultry, sexy and hip hop. And you're like, pitch. But mind you The thing about this if you really want to gag, watch her do it live in like the 2000s in the early 2000s. There is this whole performance that she does, where this whole screen lifts up and you just see Mariah Carey sitting on a motorcycle singing and you're like I'm gagged right now I'm goop and then she literally just comes out and does her thing and it's so perfect and it's amazing. And you get to see Beyonce while she's in Destiny's Child looking up at her and are just going off about baby performing. Like it is one of the best performances but on top of it just an amazing song and you will jam out I guarantee you you will love this song. It is phenomenal. Now it's time for my third song, which is a tie between two mega stallion fogs Okay, I could pick because I was like, it's just hard lyricism for me with the beat. It's just perfect. So the two that I'm between right now it's our new album, our circles and go crazy. So there's just two lines or both of us logs that I just get so amped up for wishes even about to say it's just like the songs are perfect. He hits it with the line and in circles she says keep that shit play out like it and personal treat them like a job when I get them I'm working home and I was like that's the mood. I just when she when she drops it in like that. It just hits it hits it it go crazy. She has this line where she says why I gotta prove myself the bitches that I'm bad at and like I wasn't near radio stations going super saying. And I was like, does she really just put Super Saiyan in a rap? Is this the first time I'm hearing Super Saiyan in a rap? Why is it the first time I'm hearing someone say super saved in Iraq? Like I need her to get her Grammys. I need her Chloe x Halle Berry runway. They need all of their flowers. Where are their Grammys? Now, for my fourth song, it definitely has to be Kendrick Lamar has i is probably not the like most played of all Kendrick Lamar songs. But there is just a moment in that song where every single chorus and verse where Kendrick just starts yelling, I love myself. I just lose it a reminds me of when I was in college and the album came out to Pimp A Butterfly like, it is everything. I love that song so much that when it came good, it's like, Huh, huh, huh? Hmm. there's a there's a reason that album got to pull up there. That album for me really did actually shift my life and I'm just I'm thankful to be alive in a time where Kendrick Lamar is alive and is writing music because I'm like, bitch, yo, Pan game. That pin game. Oh, oh, I don't know why I was just realizing I was like Kindred shell pins. Why is no rapper selling pins? It'd be like, get on my pin game. But anyway, let's get on to our final song before we close out this episode. My fifth and favorite, favorite favorite song of this past week has again come from the elusive Shawn tos her name Mariah Carey. The song giving me life. You heard Mother Teresa talk about it as her favorite Mariah Carey song. And I want you to go and listen to it and tell me exactly whether it's your favorite or not. Because as he listened to the album, giving me life is fucking phenomenal. But I must say that when it comes to it, there is this remix of a no no featuring this rapper Shawnee. That is time for me with my favorite from that album with caution. So when you go to listen to giving me life, also listen to caution. And then as well go on YouTube and look up Shawnee on a No, no, you spell Shawnee sh AWS, she literally has only ever done that one song. She has no other music out. And I'm like how to MC find you. But you're going to be the judge of those songs. Thank you so much for listening. I'm honored that you tuned in that you made it this far. And I'm so thankful for you to be listening. I hope that this kind of extra long episode even makes up for that one we got took off because I just I love you all. I'm so thankful for you all. And I will see you next week. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you for being you. Thank you for showing up as you and thank you for taking up space. So keep taking up space Until next week, keep using your voice and keep empowering others and I will see you again with another amazing guest too. I'm not gonna say now because you're just kind of gonna be gagged by who it is. And I'm so excited for you to see it. Thank you again and fending love wha wha wha