In The Passenger Seat with Alethea Crimmins
From the front seat of her car, Alethea has motivated millions—reaching hearts around the world and even catching the attention of icons like Rihanna, Kesha, Madonna, and Viola Davis. Now, she’s bringing that same energy, wisdom, and unshakable confidence to the podcast realm—inviting special guests to ride along and share their own journeys of resilience, purpose, and self-discovery.
No scripts, no filters—just raw, powerful conversations filled with gems, laughter, and the kind of motivation that makes you sit up a little straighter. You never know who will be in the passenger seat next, but one thing’s for sure: every ride is a step toward something greater.
So buckle up, tune in, and let’s take this journey together. 🎙️🚗✨
In The Passenger Seat with Alethea Crimmins
Royale Tea with Latrice Royale
The world comes to a standstill when royalty enters the room. Latrice Royale—"large and in charge, chunky and funky"—brings her formidable presence to a conversation that transcends drag entertainment and dives deep into the soul of authenticity, self-love, and purposeful living.
This raw, emotional exchange peels back the sequins and reveals Timothy—the resilient human behind the iconic Latrice Royale persona. With breathtaking candor, Latrice traces her journey from being "different" and not fitting any mold to deliberately transforming perceived weaknesses into superpowers. "If the skinny is doing it, I'm gonna work ten times harder to do the same things," she shares, revealing the determination that propelled her to legendary status.
The conversation takes unexpected emotional turns as both Latrice and host Alethea Crimmins recognize their profound impact on each other's journeys toward self-acceptance. Latrice vulnerably discusses her mental health struggles, including a recent birthday where depression prevented her from receiving love from thousands of well-wishers. Her practical approach to recharging—surrounding herself with inspiring people who "make me love what I do again"—offers wisdom for anyone navigating similar challenges.
Beyond personal revelation, Latrice delivers mic-drop insights about criticism ("I am living rent-free, doing laps inside of your mind"), chosen family ("I have chosen you"), and the deeper purpose of drag ("It shows you that you can be any and everything that you want to be"). Her message to her younger self brings tears: recognizing that being different would ultimately become her greatest strength.
Whether you're a longtime fan or meeting Latrice for the first time, this conversation will leave you changed—inspired to stand in your truth, embrace your uniqueness, and as Alethea says, "have a good day on purpose." What parts of yourself have you been dimming? It's time to let that light shine.
Have a Good Day On Purpose...
YA' Welcome
Welcome back to In the Passenger Seat with your positivity, queen alicia cremin. Listen, baby, I need y'all to buckle up. I need y'all to put your wigs in your gloves. Baby, I need you listen, get out your good wig, okay, get out your good gloss, put on your good beat because, baby, we have royalty in the building. Okay, we have royalty in the building, and I do not say that lightly. This queen is not just giving drag honey, she's giving legacy, she's giving power, she's giving broadway, she is giving bold truth. If you do not know who I am talking about, watch this my name is atrice royale.
Speaker 2:I'm the large and the charge, chunky and funky. What excites me most about joining this season is working with my drag children, ha, ha. And so here we are. My pronouns are like bitch, honey, bitch, miss mama girl, just don't call me late for dinner girl.
Speaker 2:I started doing drag on a day. My friends thought it would be a good idea, but I didn't. But I did anyway, because it was Halloween. I was Wanda from the Living Color Heart. And so here we are, 30 years later.
Speaker 2:My get ready routine is pretty standard. Anyone who knows me knows that I have to watch the Golden Girls as I'm getting ready. If the dressing room is not filled with Golden Girls, the pump is off. What's going on? Where are the Golden Girls? I'm an open book, so everybody know everything I do. I love to cook. I love going jet skiing because I love to be on the water. Everybody's known as the color guard queen I twirl. What I'm best known for performing-wise is being high energy. If you're not screaming and yelling, whether I'm doing a power ballad or dancing you're going to feel something. Let's rip the roof off this cabin, guys. This season I just wanted to make sure that I made a mark To me. It is my mission, it is my ministry, it is what I do is inspire and motivate people to be their authentic selves, for them to live freely and happily and love.
Speaker 1:Baby listen, she's off her third residency one, two, three at the flamingo hotel in las vegas, with rupaul drag race live. I mean, she's slept toward all over, slayed the west in death. Drop appeared on netflix. But this congeniality. The list goes on and on and on and on. She's miss. Don't play with me if you cannot take the heat and if you still do not know who I am talking about. Introducing l-a-t-r-I-C-E Latrice, my love, I can't remember. I'm healthy.
Speaker 1:I'm Latrice, my love, I'm crying. Yes, baby, taylor, you are here. You are here with me in the passage to see women going on, latrice.
Speaker 2:When I tell you, girl, look, I'm going to give you your flowers, virtually Because let me tell you what you have done and are doing is so necessary and it is literally the Lord's work and you are saving lives, you are changing lives, you are giving affirmation and confirmation to people who never hear it, and that needs to be noticed and appreciated, because it is not gone unseen. Darling, you have a fan in me, you have a support in me. I love you, I love what you do, I love what you stand for and I have great days on purpose because of you.
Speaker 1:I love what you do, I love what you stand for and I have great days on purpose because of you. You're welcome. Yes, listen, oh my God, like I receive it, because I'm learning how to receive and not just give, how to receive and not just give. I'm learning how to take in these, my flowers, because usually I am the giver of and um, I think I still have a slight bit of imposter syndrome I get it so. So it's like I'm like I'm really humble when it comes to me, so I'm just like thank you.
Speaker 2:Let's be real, though it is a little weird when people that don't know you come up and tell you oh my God, I love you, yes, and you inspire me. It is a lot to take on. And then you do realize that you are walking and working in your purpose, and that is a huge responsibility. And, like you said, sometimes the motivator needs motivating, and I am one for sure who has to take a step back, recharge or go, do and surround myself with the right energy so that I can get my cup refilled, because we can't on empty. And so, for all that you're pouring out, I want to pour into you, to let you know that you are heaven sent and thank you so much for all that you're doing.
Speaker 1:So what we're not going to do because I put my good makeup on, okay, so. So what we're not going to do today, bitch is Drew, because I put my good makeup on, okay, so, um. So what we're not gonna do today, bitch, is make me sweat this up, because you see my eyes, how they pretty you are being.
Speaker 1:Okay, and we gonna stay that way. Ha ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha ha, we gonna stay. What you not gonna do, ha ha, and we're going to stay. That way, we're going to stay.
Speaker 2:What you not going to do. You just receive it and save it when you're out of makeup girl there you go Because.
Speaker 1:Shaw as soon as I get off of here I'm going to cry oh my goodness, listen you. Let me tell you what you have done for me now. I have been a rupaul's drag race girl for the longest. When you came out, when they said Latrice Royale and you were unapologetic about who you were as a plus-size Black woman, when I tell you, that did something to my soul, like I'm going to tell you to your face that you kick-started my journey to loving myself in my body more, because I didn't love myself in my body.
Speaker 1:The way that you came out and you was like I'm chunky, I'm funky, I'm in charge, I don't give a fuck because, baby, I was like I want to be Latrice. My ass, I want to be Latrice. And it was like man, just to see how beautiful that was, just you loving you just as as you are, with no permission needed. That was all I needed to see to know that this is who I want to be Like. I want to embody this. I want to be this. I loved drag, but I never wanted to be a. Now, I loved drag, but I never wanted to be a drag queen so bad. Until I saw you, I was like, if ever, if I was to be a drag queen, I am going to be Latrice, because of this?
Speaker 1:Where did all this come from, and were you always just like? Were you always that?
Speaker 2:no, it took me a long time to love myself the right. You know, um, I, I would say, growing up I was always different. I was always the bigger kid, awkward, like you know what I mean. I'm just, I didn't fit into any mold, um, and so, like people didn't know what to do with me, I was charismatic, always the life of the party. Funny, you know. That got me friends. I didn't have a problem with friends, you know, but loving myself wholeheartedly never was a thing to later, in adulthood. You know it took me a long time to get to the point where, um, I embraced my size. I, always, because I danced and do did color guard, I'll never let my size be a hindrance okay never let I.
Speaker 2:If the skinny is doing it, I'm gonna work 10 times harder to do the same things and then it'll be more impressive because my big ass is doing it.
Speaker 2:You know what I mean. So that's how I learned how to turn the party. So you take that and you take your power, your superpowers that you thought were weaknesses, and turn them into superpowers, and that's how I learned how to really hone into what I had. I knew I had something special and something different and unique that separated me from the rest of the pack. And then, once I learned that you can call me whatever you want to call me bitch, that's what your answer to.
Speaker 1:That part. That part, because I don't care what you call me at all, like I don't care what you say about me. It's the fact that I am so important that you are talking about me, bitch.
Speaker 2:So you ain't got nothing else going on in your life, okay.
Speaker 1:Got it. So, therefore, I am living rent-free. I am doing laps inside of your mind.
Speaker 2:Disrupting your whole world. Yeah, absolutely.
Speaker 1:And I love that.
Speaker 2:You're bothered. I am completely unbothered.
Speaker 1:And I mean unbothered, to the epitome of unbotheredness, like I do not care and watching you help me get to this. I don't care. Y'all think I'm fat. That's on you. I think I am fine.
Speaker 2:Trust and believe, Trust and believe. And then once I realized, like you know, like let's just be real, Like you know, you would think it's going to be a hard time. People are like, oh, I can't find it, David, but I have no problems in that department.
Speaker 1:I need people to know and understand. People think, oh, you must have Baby. Let me tell you something I never had a problem. I never had an issue with anybody loving my plus size of the thigh foopaliciousness. I never had an issue with it because, baby, I will always find me a fooper mechanic that will lift this fish up. Lift it up.
Speaker 2:You gotta lift up that hood baby and let it work, baby.
Speaker 1:They will lift up this fooper and eat it like a ch that hood baby. And let it work, baby. They will lift up this fupa and eat it like a chalupa bitch. I'm trying to tell you I'm trying to Baby, my size ain't Because my wife love it.
Speaker 2:Happily married.
Speaker 1:For 11 years, bitch, you better testify. 11 years, bitch, you better testify.
Speaker 2:Tell them, honey. 11. 13 years married for seven, going on our seventh.
Speaker 1:And we have been together for 16 years and she ain't going nowhere and neither am I why. And she loved me when I was almost 400 pounds. She loved me then and she loved me now. So I mean, it's not about the outside, it's what's inside. And if people would just stop looking at the outside and letting that hinder you, making you think that because because I look like this, because I look like that, what you cannot do, baby, you can do anything you set your mind to. It don't matter how you look. One person may not like it, but there is somebody out there who's going to love it and love it right honey.
Speaker 2:Love it the right way, the right way. Love me in that special way, honey.
Speaker 1:You better bring back that old school. You better bring back that old school. You better catch it Just now. It has been caught. It has been caught, oh my God. Okay, so you said that drag was not even supposed to happen. Like this wasn't even your ministry, Like this is what you wouldn't even think about no makeup, no lip, no wig, no breastplate, no, nothing bitch.
Speaker 2:No, especially because back then I was never seeing a queen that looked like me.
Speaker 1:Facts. Like you, came on that scene and shattered it, and I don't care who hit me. That's it. I thought there would never be and quote me, there will never be another Latrice, motherfucking Royale.
Speaker 2:You can take that to the bank. You can take that to the bank that's going to cash 100% Quickly. Baby, the coins are there.
Speaker 1:You didn't have to worry about my coins. Bitch, you didn't have to worry about it.
Speaker 2:Yeah, no, it was not my ministry, or I didn't see it for me, because I look at my stature. I was like baby, I'm way too big. I stand six foot four. Then I was like at my thinnest, which I was like around 265, which is thin. I was in a 34 waist and I still was just like this head and shoulders baby, ain't trying to fool nobody Like come on now, you've got to build. Whatever's going on here, I can't shop off the rack and I couldn't sell. So I never just saw it for myself. But then I started seeing ways that it could happen and got a little bit of a tinge of an applause and won the second contest. The first contest I did I didn't go to. I didn't have no drag Girl, I didn't have no drag. There was no Amazon Prime.
Speaker 1:You got like clips of this.
Speaker 2:No there was no camera. We were talking 1993. There was no cameras, we are talking 1993. Baby, no man. No, there was no cameras, no film. So thank goodness, thank goodness there's no pictures, even Thank goodness, wasn't that bad. Yeah, girl, I got a fashion citation. She told me don't ever wear that again. I got a fashion citation.
Speaker 2:She told me don't ever wear that again not a fashion citation that's what you know when you got a ticket bitch for what you got on, baby. Look, here's a fine. You gonna pay this at the office, at the desk number 11. See the clerk on your way out, cause you ain't getting the prize tonight. Yeah, in fact you will be.
Speaker 2:Yeah, I was there with that. But then the next week I came back and won the contest, got some shoes, some hair and a dress and all of a sudden, baby, I had a new attitude. I did Patti LaBelle new attitude and won. And that was the beginning of the never-ending story. And so here we are.
Speaker 1:People like people all and only see the like glitz, the glam, the like gowns, the like beauty, but they don't always see the like grind behind what you do. What is something that people would be shocked to know about what it really takes to do what you do um that we carry our own bags and luggage just like you.
Speaker 2:But no, like there is so much that goes into the art. Like coming from my era where you had to be a designer. You had to learn how to sew, you had to do hair, you had to learn how to do your own makeup. Obviously, you had to be a self-sufficient queen to even be able to be a working queen, because you have to have new looks every week. You're in, you know, you're in the club environment, so you have to come up with a new concept, new songs, new everything, and so you are always creating and being creative and doing work outside of the actual glitz and glam of the show. So you know they don't see the feathers and the stones and the glue all over your house and glitter all over your house and it's a big old mess. And then you got to clean that shit up, and so that's why I don't have it in my house in my garage because you don't bring that faggoty ass shit up in here.
Speaker 2:You get that when she get her ass outside in the garage, okay, I come up in my house. She got a room upstairs that's wardrobe, wardrobe to the garage. Baby, don't even stop, don't even pause.
Speaker 1:See, what I'm gonna need you to do is I'm gonna need you to teach a class, because you said that this should be common knowledge to know how to sew and know how to do things Like this should be common knowledge. If this is your career and this is your profession, I'm gonna need you to teach. Teach this class, because some of these queens be on and they don't. Um, I didn't see the 17,. All-star 23.
Speaker 2:Girl, look, let me tell you something.
Speaker 1:You still can't do this shit.
Speaker 2:The guy for me is that, like these girls, a lot of them don't know that struggle. Everything has been at their fingertips. They can order it, they have access to designers, wig, hair, makeup people. You don't have to do nothing but learn how to put some makeup on, and that you can find on the tutorial. We didn't have tutorials, we had trial and error. Yes, baby, we had to take a picture, wait for it, go to the little drugstore to get it developed on film and then look at it back and be like, ooh, girl, let's highlight.
Speaker 1:Let me put some more contour here, let me put some more in my nose, let me put some highlight.
Speaker 2:You had the physical evidence back then. Now, baby, the delusion is real. These girls really think they're drag queens, and they're not. You're not a queen until you can be self-sufficient. You're drag princesses.
Speaker 1:You can stand on your own.
Speaker 2:A queen can stand on their own. They're rulers.
Speaker 1:They're most Not them being Miss Chi-Chi, just a boy in a dress, not Miss.
Speaker 2:Chi-Chi, not this boy in a dress, not this Chi-Chi vibe baby, you better get off, my Get off. Baby, princess point.
Speaker 1:Get off.
Speaker 2:Baby Princess. Point Back to that movie. That was real talk.
Speaker 1:There are just things that if you want to do a job like me I said, I want to do a podcast there's shit that it takes to do it, because if, if I want to do it the right way, if I want to do it the right way, so I don't want just smoking mirrors no that's that's not my manager said that is like going on American Idol and not knowing how to sing like why are you there?
Speaker 1:we see you on the blooper tape but some, like some, just want, and that's what bothers me it's more about getting known than the actual craft. Yeah, like this is an art form yeah, so the era of producing entertainers.
Speaker 2:I feel like Blackie, yeah, like we've really lost that part of the drag, like we've produced a lot of personalities and girls who can move their mouth around to other people's songs. Bitch, that's what that is. But, like Girl, ain't nobody feeling nothing. You look cute, you look cute. It's a cute little look, but girl, miss Dean beautiful gowns, beautiful gowns. Girl no substance, though. You know what I mean. I want some substance, I want drag. I want some substance, I want drag, I do.
Speaker 2:I want a bitch that don't make me lose my shit and start screaming and hollering in the eye yes, Pay her money, Take all my money. That's the kind of queen I respect. The rest are just like. I'm glad you have a job.
Speaker 1:For now. Block out. Just leave now, because I can't.
Speaker 2:You have a job for now.
Speaker 1:Stop, stop, stop. But how, how, how has this, like this art form, this career, this amazing career that you have made for yourself, how has this changed you, shaped, you made you to who you are right now?
Speaker 2:that is such a great question. Like I come from the school of hard knocks, so everything that I've learned is self-taught and self-learned. My mother taught me bought sense is the best sense in the world, and that does not mean like what you pay for with money is what you pay for with your experience and pain. Yes, so those lessons are the ones that are going to affect you and mold you and shape you the most. So it's not really a failure, it's an opportunity for growth. And so once I learned how to take those lessons and apply them to success, I was able to flourish and it's made me become more accountable person, because you have to be honest with yourself, you have to be really, like as much as we are in the fantasy and delusion, you got to be real with yourself and know what's good for you and what's not, and where your lane is. And because there's not exactly a lane for me, I created my own. It's double wide, but I created my own, and so that's how I was able, and I am able, to sustain and flourish and thrive and have longevity because I apply those tools and I'm always working for the next thing that's going to elevate me.
Speaker 2:I can't ever like it's okay to go back to your roots, like I'm in this era right now where I'm in my roots, because I feel like in this administration I need to pour into my community more and do our queer spaces are safe. So my shows are back in the clubs and making sure that I'm doing pride and I'm visible for my community and the other stuff is fine and dandy Theater is wonderful and great and grand and doing my solos One woman shows was great and grand and doing my solo one woman shows was great and grand, but it's not doing what it needs to do for my community and we need to pour into that and so those kind of steps I do, I like I never forget where I come from and that's why I'm still here. You know you gotta like pick and choose what's important and your priorities, and so here I am, 33, I love it and you, you, you have been through a lot of pain in your life.
Speaker 1:you've talked openly about you being in prison and like pressure and all these other things, and the way you turned it around and turned all that into purpose is why I love you so fucking much. Because because a whole lot of people would have had this oh well, I've been through this, I've been through that, I've been through that, I've been through that and even though you've gone through pain you did not like, even though it happened to you, it did not become you.
Speaker 2:No, and you know, the thing about the system is that it is designed for you to submit and you to be institutionalized and become a part of the system. It is not like the rehabilitation part of the system is really broken because they don't do that, they don't, they don't. They promise you that they're going to have programs but you can't get a job as a felon. What? No, nobody's hiring you. I mean, you can become president of the United States, but you can't get a job. At this point, now more than ever, you have to take that shit off the application. Like, don't ask that question anymore. It is no longer valid. It doesn't matter If you're a resident of the United States. I can work at McDonald's bitch.
Speaker 1:Right now.
Speaker 2:Without a background check.
Speaker 1:Right. Do not ask me for a background check anymore, because I'm not giving you one. What for?
Speaker 2:It doesn't matter, for it does not matter.
Speaker 1:So, guess what? I will no longer be doing that. Because, why? Because, for what I'm, I'm, listen. I have been trying to figure this shit out for the longest time, like wait. So that means that I can just go and get. So so if I go apply at Wells Fargo, bitch, do not ask me if I ever robbed a bank. That's, that's not your fucking business. Just hire me, bitch, do not ask me if I ever robbed a bank. That's not your fucking business. Just hire me, I'm here today.
Speaker 2:You find out we're all in the F around and find out phase you need to just go ahead and join on in baby.
Speaker 1:F around and find out. As long as I look the part, it's just on my mind I'm coming in, greg, I'm coming in, I'm going to it's going to matter.
Speaker 2:I'm coming in, greg. I'm coming in, I'm going to give you corporate realness.
Speaker 1:I'm going to show up With my pants on. With my pants on, I'm going to make you look good and fresh. Yes, ma'am, listen, I'm not even even gonna lie to you. I had this list of questions that that like I was gonna ask about about your career and all your accounts but I feel like all this shit has been asked and answered. I the reason why I have you here is because I want to know you and I want other people to know you outside of all of this, I love that.
Speaker 2:I love that Because you're right, because it has been asked and answered.
Speaker 1:You know what, if y'all want to know everything that Latrice has done, google it.
Speaker 2:Okay, okay okay, it really is what you talking about. What you talking about?
Speaker 1:because baby, listen. This is why my I say podcast, but I'm going to start speaking truth and speaking life into it. My show, your show, my show is different because I don't want to know what everybody else knows. I want to know what's inside of you.
Speaker 2:It's common knowledge right.
Speaker 1:We don't want that common knowledge bullshit, like I know because I don't watch Tamron Hall, right, I don't want to be that, I want to be the real ratchet me.
Speaker 2:Okay, and I receive it, honey, I'll meet you. We're going to be together. I'll meet you when you're back, girl, that's a good job.
Speaker 1:So I know that you said that one of the videos of mine that touched you was and it's like it's so many people, so many, and I've got so many dms from people that said you you've done the exact same thing for me and I didn't realize that, like I, like I am pro everybody, like I don't care who you are black, white, green, red, trans, black, white, green, red, trans, bi, lesbian yeah, like I do not care, like I love people, just because they're people. But what I didn't realize was the people that that affected and the lives that that changed. And when that girl walked up to me, I like I like I couldn't even finish shopping, like I just walked out you're like I am done and I mean done, done, done, done.
Speaker 1:Has that ever like I? I know, but I just want to ask like, has that ever happened to you? Like has has? Has anyone walked up to you and said Latrice, you have saved my life because I know that you have that power. Like you, you have that power in what you do. So what was one moment that happened like that? That just stuck with you and you will never forget it.
Speaker 2:Well, the most memorable and I got to tell you it sticks out at the top most emotional meet and greet I've ever had in my life, in my career, was in Brazil. I think we're in Sao Paulo, either Sao Paulo or Rio, brazil. And you know, I thought that there would be some kind of language barrier based on where I was and the kind of thing that I chose to do. I chose to do so at that time. I always did like an upbeat house anthem, you know, dancing, kicking and splitting. But I'm always going to either go to church with Aretha or encourage yourself. Particular day it was on my heart to do encourage yourself because they were going through a, were going through a real rough time politically and so I wanted to like I had a message for them, baby, when I tell you we turned that club into a sanctuary and I don't know what came over me, sometimes I feel like my mother embodies me. She's a minister and she's passed on Obviously, like I always feel her presence. I was feeling her a lot when I was in Brazil present. I was feeling her a lot when I was in Brazil and at the end of that performance I gave my minister benediction speeches. I do.
Speaker 2:And the meet and greet was after the show and I cannot tell you how many people were coming up and just pouring out their hearts and it was so emotional and how I've touched and saved them and give them hope and why they keep moving and keep moving on because they can Latrice can do it, I can do it and it was just just heart wrenching to the point where we are all crying. We had to take a break so much we had to take a break. We're like everybody. Let's take 10 and let's regroup. I got to fix my makeup because baby lashes was gone off my face, but to receive all that was so overwhelming and it's hard to process because you're just like, I'm just being me. I'm just doing what it is on my heart to do and I don't feel like I'm doing anything special. But there's an anointing over you as me that you can't deny that and it's infectious.
Speaker 2:And when you speak and when you talk to people, you are speaking from your heart, the rest of their hearts, and that's the main line and I do the same thing. That's why it resonated to me and you were speaking from your heart and it was a main line to me and I was just like I can't hold this anymore. I've been wanting to just be, but like I feel weird. I gotta tell you I anymore. I've been wanting to just be, but like I feel weird. I gotta tell you I feel weird slipping into people's DMs. I like I'm like I'm being one of them people, but here I go.
Speaker 1:No, but I'm, I'm. I'm so glad that that you did, because I mean, I'm, I'm. I'm the kind of person that I feel like I'm just me, and I never thought that what I do like I know that, I know that, I know that I know that God has called me to do this. Like I know that I know have my voice, like my, like my too loud too much, too extra voice reach somebody like you, millions, millions of people like around the world, literally around the world world. It touches my soul.
Speaker 2:Yeah, it's next level. It's next level and you will continue to be blessed, because that's one thing about it. God takes care of his own and so it doesn't matter. This is why I get so mad. I ain't going to go there with the church, but they piss me off. They piss me off but because if you're trying to be Christ-like, this is what God does he meets. Christ meets you where you are, in the streets, in the club. That's why I was able to turn that club into a sanctuary and we forgot that we were in a nightclub for a moment and everybody was connected on a different level that was greater than us.
Speaker 1:Because church is where you are.
Speaker 2:It's not a building. It's not a building.
Speaker 1:It is wherever you are, where two or three are gathered together. Come on come on, don't tell me somebody. I mean we are gathered, we are a multitude we have a church right now. Right now, this is the gospel.
Speaker 2:This is the truth. Praise Rick, praise Rick.
Speaker 1:That's how you know when you go to church, when you get that church clap yes, ma'am, oh, my goodness, oh, that's what it's about.
Speaker 2:Yes, yeah, it's overwhelming and it took me a while to, like you know, live in that and and just receive it. And you gotta take a deep breath and sometimes, like you were overwhelmed in that store.
Speaker 1:It's overwhelming, like so when, when, when, that, when that happens, like speaking from a mental health standpoint especially, especially doing what you do, especially you being known as a Black queer icon, like everybody knows who you are what do you do when it gets like that and when this world feels so heavy but you still have to show up as Latrice, like still have to show up as Latrice, like you can't show up as nobody else? What do you do when it's just like it's heavy, but I still gotta go out there and do it.
Speaker 2:That is real baby. That is real Like I'm human. I'm human and as much love and positivity that I put out, there is darkness within me as well, that I have to battle and shout down voices in my head and old ways, because I'm constantly working on myself, same, to be a better version of myself. Same, there's a lot of releasing and forgiveness and, like you, have to dig deep and back and things that you have suppressed to a level of love and acceptance that you have suppressed, to get to a level of love and acceptance that you are worthy of everything that is coming to you. And so I had a moment around my birthday where it was the darkest birthday I've ever had. I couldn't even get out of bed, girl.
Speaker 2:February 12th 2025 was a dark day for me. I had a loving husband. I had thousands and thousands of well wishes from all over the world that I could not even look at to receive because I couldn't take it in. I was not in a place to receive it and that was concerning for me. But at that moment, I had to think that this is not me. This is not healthy. I definitely don't like this place. I know where it's headed. What do I need to do to get me back.
Speaker 2:So I needed a recharge. I needed be around people that were going to inspire me, that was going to keep me like a good kiki and, at the same time, give me some good drag and make me love what I do again. And so I booked a trip to LA. I booked a whole tour to LA so I can be around my sisters and do a trip for me that was going to inspire me and be around the fans and reconnect with the community and all that love that I got. When I tell you, my cup was overflowing the first three days, I was overflowing, and so you just have to find what it is that recharges you and put yourself there and, thank God, I'm in a position to say, well, if it's LA, it is LA, I go. You know what I mean. Wherever it is. If I need to go to wherever, I will go, Whatever that is.
Speaker 1:when you need to come to Louisiana so I can cook for you, then you're going to cook.
Speaker 2:What part of Louisiana are you in?
Speaker 1:Lafayette, louisiana. Lafayette, where the best food at.
Speaker 2:Where the best food at. I'm not that far to get to. I can get to Lafayette.
Speaker 1:Do not, do not threaten me with a good time, because, baby, I will go get my Magna light pots out right now. I will get my Magna and I will smother you something serious.
Speaker 2:Oh yeah.
Speaker 1:Just let me know, done and done.
Speaker 2:Consider yourself a little bit.
Speaker 1:Y'all heard, y'all heard it. So when y'all see Latrice at my house just finger licking good. Because that's what's going to happen. That's snoring on her couch.
Speaker 2:Girl. You know how we do Get the itis girl? Yeah.
Speaker 1:Listen, I love how you said okay, listen, I, I, I am a queen, but I'm human, like I'm, I'm, I'm being real, so as a human. And I love how you say that you had to surround yourself with people. So let's talk about family, because this is a topic. Especially when I talk about boundaries, it's like what, what, what if they family, so, but let's talk about chosen family versus blood family. How has that journey shaped the way that you love, how you live, how you lead?
Speaker 2:Chosen family has way more weight than my blood. Family, yes, 100%, that relationship has so much more weight. It means it is so much more than my blood because I have chosen you. Yes, I have chosen you. I can't help what I got, I'm like that ain't my fault. But I have chosen you and if we're going to be family, then we're going to operate as such, you know. And so my chosen family we are. We are tight niche when I tell you that is how I got to where I am, because, um, I wasn't. I was on the outs of my regular family. Now my relationship with my family is gorgeous and golden because I had to go on TV to tell people who the fuck I am. You know what I mean.
Speaker 1:Sometimes you gotta put them on blast.
Speaker 2:And then when they saw it, they're like oh yeah, but gorgeous. Now. Like I was just talking to my brother yesterday, I just saw them. Last month, we all were together for the first time since my wedding. I was just talking to my brother yesterday, I just saw them. Last month, we all were together for the first time since my wedding. It was great. But my chosen family, you're my rock, you are Everything, you're my everything, you're my emergency contact.
Speaker 1:Everything Same, just real.
Speaker 2:You're my emergency contact because that's it's just you've earned that.
Speaker 1:I mean because, if, because blood to for me and and and I say this all the time yeah, well, that's, that's your blood. But if the blood is toxic, then it becomes blood poisoning, and I don't want that around me.
Speaker 2:So what we're going to do is a transfusion, because we can't have that.
Speaker 1:We don't want it spreading through the rest of my body okay, so I have to cut it off, gotta I, I have to. What's the hand? These holes and cup it's you like you.
Speaker 2:There's a way in which you know, my mother told me a long time ago you gotta treat people, teach people how to treat you and like, yes, for everybody. You don't get a pass because you're you, don't get to disrespect me because you're family. You don't get to call me out my name because you're family.
Speaker 1:Facts Like you just feel, how you want to feel but your feelings are not facts. Because I am not responsible for how you feel.
Speaker 2:Or your triggers or insecurities that they might bring up because you might be feeling some type of way really inside.
Speaker 1:It's get out them, people business.
Speaker 2:That's the whole thing, because you couldn't express yourself the way you could because of the way you came up and the time you came up. That don't mean that this is a different time, different day, baby, and so what I'm not about to do is live inauthentically.
Speaker 1:Speaking of living inauthentically, this is the perfect time to bring up my favorite portion of the show. This is where you guys send me your questions and we answer them on the show. I always allow my guests to answer first. So this is the Ask Alethea question. Alethea, I've always felt like I was too much, too loud, too extra, too different. People tell me to dim it down, soften it up, make myself more palatable, but I don't want to live in hiding. How do I walk in my truth when the world keeps handing me shame? Oh baby, how do I walk in my truth when the world keeps handing me shame? Latrice, I will give you that one first baby. Come on now with the come on now don't you ever dim your light for nobody.
Speaker 2:Baby, tell them to get some sunglasses or umbrella or a blindfold because, baby, what they're about to see might hurt their eyes.
Speaker 1:Okay.
Speaker 2:But the rest of the world is ready for you. So don't ever dim your light, honey. These small-minded people that are telling you that are jealous number one because they feel like they can't be you. They can't be as outgoing as you, so that's why they would prefer you not to, because you're holding up a mirror to what they can't do, and that's just real you got a priest.
Speaker 2:Don't ever dim your light for anybody, baby. I mean, obviously there's time and place for everything. So you know, be purposeful in where you shine your light. You know what I mean and intentional about it. But don't ever dim it, baby, Because you are and you're never too much, they're too little and you're never too much, they're too little.
Speaker 1:I was just picking back off for you because, baby, you just said everything that needed to be said, which needed to be done. Okay, but listen, your existence is not a problem to be solved, it's not. You are not too much, you're just surrounded by people that are not enough that part that you're surrounded by people who are not enough.
Speaker 1:This world is trying to convince you that you have to shrink in order to be accepted. But here is the gag whether you shrink or shine, they're going to talk about you anyway, baby. So just be you. Just be you. You do not need anybody's permission to shine. Because what I always say is if the sun does not need permission to shine, why should you shine? Why should you? You don't need it. The the ones who do not get it were never meant to sit at your table anyway, because you are the table. You are the table. Do not let anybody ask you what you bring to the table. I am the table, baby. I am the table, baby. What?
Speaker 2:do you mean what?
Speaker 1:do you mean? So be you out loud, be you out loud, love you out loud, out loud, and let them pull up a seat and watch, or not, and take notes, period, listen. If you want your question answered on Ask Alethea, dm me or send me an email at pimpingpositivity at gmailcom, and your question just may be answered on our next show. Okay, all right, with all that being said about living out loud and loving yourself out loud, I just want to get back to what you do, your art form, which is drag. Right now, it is under attack Period, yeah, but we also know that drag is not entertainment. It's expression. Yeah, entertainment, it's expression. Yeah, so it's. It's. To some people, it's survival, like that's all they know, like this, this, this is why they wake up every morning, this is how they get through the day. It's it's how they protest. This is not just entertainment. So what do you want people to finally understand about drag?
Speaker 2:Drag is purposeful. It brings people together, it builds community. It shows you that you can be any and everything that you want to be and you don't have to conform to what social construct has designed. And that is the beauty of drag, it's expression. You can be a goddess, you can be a butterfly. You can be a butterfly. You can be whatever inspires you and dream it. And that's the fantasy of it all. And what's wrong with having dreams and fantasy?
Speaker 1:Nothing at all.
Speaker 2:If it makes you happy, darling, then do it.
Speaker 1:Glitter ain't never hurt nobody, unless you choke on it. Please do not put glitter into your mouth, because we don't want that. You're going to be shitting glitter for a week, girl.
Speaker 2:Okay, thank you so much.
Speaker 1:Okay, see, I was gonna come back with a serious question. Let me put my serious face on my serious face on Wait let me put my serious face on.
Speaker 1:Okay, amen, okay, okay, okay, okay, okay. This is what I want you to do for me, right, quick. I want you to close your eyes and think about one of the darkest times in your life. Like, just close your eyes and just think, whatever, go way back, however far you, you, you gotta be. Think of that version of yourself. Okay, if you were talking to that version of you right now, what would you tell that version of you? What would you whisper to that version of you? What would you whisper to that version of you and what truth would you give to that baby queen before the world tried to dim your light?
Speaker 2:Wow, you're doing that. You're doing the. You're doing the. You're doing the thing. You're doing the thing. Girl, you're doing the thing. You're doing the thing. Girl, you're doing the thing. Okay, okay, no-transcript what people call you and tell you that you are. You're going to learn how to come to peace with the fact that you are different and you beat your own drum, and that is going to be your superpower. That's going to make you stand out among the regular people, and people are going to see a shine and a glow about you that they can't explain but they're attracted to, and that's how the whole world is going to fall in love with you and you're going to be just fine.
Speaker 1:Baby, if I could just reach through this. If I could just reach through this, I just want to hug you so bad. My life manager is sitting there like this, yeah.
Speaker 2:Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, I got me down.
Speaker 1:Yeah, can I just tell you from my heart, like from my heart, from my heart, like from my heart, that I am so proud of you, like, from from from my heart, like this this we're not even on this podcast right now, like we're not even like I'm talking to you.
Speaker 2:I'm so proud of you thank you, and I am proud of you as well like I'm proud.
Speaker 1:I'm proud of every time that you put yourself together after you've been broken. I'm proud of every time that you got up after you fell. I'm proud of every time that you turn dust into diamonds. I'm just proud of you and I think that you are the most beautiful human being and I hope that you never, ever, ever, ever, ever change Ever.
Speaker 2:Thank you. I Thank you. I love you too, Girl. You got Miguel. You said we weren't doing this.
Speaker 1:Shut up, shut up, yolly. I'm sorry, y'all, y'all no, but I just feel like you need to know this from a genuine place, not from a place of Latrice Royale, like it's outside of it. It's so much bigger, it's you, it's you Like Latrice is just secondary.
Speaker 2:Yeah, Like Latrice is just secondary. Yeah, yeah.
Speaker 1:It's you and I'm proud of you, so I just need you to know this.
Speaker 2:Oh well, thank you, my love. I'm very proud of you too and I'm just, I feel like I'm really blessed and we are blessed, and you know I this motivates me and this is what keeps me fueled to keep on keeping on. It ain't easy all the time. Moments like this that you, like I've connected with a soul that you know you can't deny that. You can't deny that connection once you do that mainline thing, heart to heart and um, yeah, you tapped into mine and you're, you're definitely a part of me. Uh, I love you, I love you, I'm a part of Latrice.
Speaker 1:See, y'all keep hearing Latrice, latrice, latrice, latrice. Right now I'm not talking to Latrice, I'm talking to Timothy. We're going to use your government name. What's wrong with my government name? But I wanted you on this show because that's who I wanted people to know. We all know who Latrice is, we know and love, but the world needs to also know who Timothy is, so we can know and love him too, because I do, I do, I do you have to.
Speaker 2:You can't love one without the other, I mean hello, but yeah, it's important you have to you can't love one without the other. Hello, it's important.
Speaker 1:Love you, love you. Okay, so, real quick, we're going to bring this mood up. We're going to stop crying. We're going to stop doing mood up real, real quick. We're going to stop crying. We're going to stop doing all this. Come on, come on, get back in gangster mode.
Speaker 2:All right, here we go, thud them out Rapid fire.
Speaker 1:All your answer can be is bad bitch bullshit oh.
Speaker 2:This looks girl, the shade, the shade. I wore the right shirt for this segment.
Speaker 1:Here we go. Okay, so we're going to start with an easy one. People who say that you're too much, like it's an insult, bad bitch or bullshit. Okay, a man who can't dress, can't dance, can't communicate, but he thinks that he is a prize. Okay, um, okay, who is that? Don't know their words but still want to book his feet?
Speaker 2:bullshit bullshit. We ain't got no bad bitches in the house yet. You just bringing me all this bullshit Bullshit.
Speaker 1:Baby, I need this charge. I need this charge right now because I need to listen to you, baby, okay, okay, okay, lord, where the bad bitch is at, okay, that's what I want to know. Okay, okay, okay, okay. Hauling out toxic family and blocking them, with peace in your heart. I just froze up.
Speaker 2:That's a bad bitch Wait what, what it is. That's a bad bitch.
Speaker 1:So, baby, falling out toxic family members and blocking them with a heart With peace in, is it a what Peace? What With a good heart and peace in their heart is called a what?
Speaker 2:Bad bitch.
Speaker 1:You heard it here first, baby. That's a bad bitch. That's a bad bitch right there. Okay, wigs so high that they need their own zip code.
Speaker 2:Bad bitch.
Speaker 1:Get me out of here.
Speaker 2:That's a bad bitch Bitch. Yes, ma'am.
Speaker 1:This is for somebody who I know, uh-oh.
Speaker 2:All right, let's see who they are. If they're a bad bitch or full of shit, let's see.
Speaker 1:Friendships that only thrive when you're quiet and small.
Speaker 2:That's some bullshit.
Speaker 1:Okay, because, baby, I'm with you. You can't just be a fair weather friend.
Speaker 2:Like you can't just like me when I'm small.
Speaker 1:No, what? No, like me when I'm great Baby. This is for somebody else who I know.
Speaker 2:Know, I'm not, I'm not gonna name, no names but, but if, but, if y'all watching, because?
Speaker 1:because y'all don't listen to me. So therefore, I have to put your business out women, who fits his credits, his mental health and his life, and he still cheats on you and you take him back.
Speaker 2:First of all, that's a bull. Because first of all, like let me tell you where you first lost me you said fix his credit. That's some bullshit. But then, when you said mental health, you can't fix nobody, you can't fix nobody, you can't, baby, you can't, you can't, no, you can't. Jesus can do it, but you can't. Jesus can do it, but you can't.
Speaker 1:But you can't, you can't. What about straight men who secretly love drag but will not admit it?
Speaker 2:Bullshit, I know who you're talking about. I know who you're talking about. Yup, yup, I know who you're talking about Yup Punk ass.
Speaker 1:Yup, I said it. Okay, so now I'm being messy A preacher who praises God on Sunday and trolls drag queens on Monday.
Speaker 2:Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, and guess what? Quiet as it's kept. They was outside at night at the club, but didn't think nobody saw them slip out the back door Baby listen.
Speaker 1:Okay, okay, okay. Whoo see, because, because god didn't want me, okay, last one, please, that don't pat, don't tuck.
Speaker 2:Do I even quantify that? That you said everything? The don't. The don't that means no, no, it's like for me okay, sure, certain queens who have certain body types can get away with it, and I'm like baby, okay, the body is bodying, certain, and there are people guarding the queens, but just because you're skinny don't mean that you shouldn't pay it. Oh bitch. You know, Because you look like a straw that has been flattened. Like what Look, I'm going to need some silhouette Bitch. Like where are the curves? Where is the femininity?
Speaker 2:Even mean girls, even lean girls, lean women, athletic women, they're all kind of women type body type. So I'm not saying that you know it's not valid or whatever, but this is drag, and drag is an exaggerated version of femininity. That's what we're doing. It is, and that's what we're doing it is. I don't care what you try to define it as, and this is my drag and da-da-da-da-da, but that's what it was and that's what it always will be. And on some level, ground level, at the basic level of drag, it's an exaggerated version of femininity. That's what it is.
Speaker 1:So, in other words, bullshit, oh did.
Speaker 2:I say it. I never said it. Oh, I thought that my face had said it or my silence had said it. Oh, I love you, I love you, I love you, I love you, I love my silence that said it. But uh, oh, I love you, I love you, I love you, I love you, I love you, I love you, I love you, I love you.
Speaker 1:Listen, okay, we we gotta, because, because we, we could talk all damn day, we, we, we have to exchange numbers like in real life, because because, yes, baby, listen. You have walked through the fire and hills and you came out shining like a fucking diamond bitch. Let me tell you something. That is who you are. You came out shining okay, because what they don't know about fire is it makes gold, okay. So let me tell you something. And that is exactly what happened to you.
Speaker 2:And then what happens when you put pressure on things on the rock? Baby, Baby.
Speaker 1:I love you, I love you, I love you, I love you. So, before we get to the last segment of the show, where can we find all things? Latrice Royale.
Speaker 2:Really On YouTube? No, no, really. I'm on Facebook. You can follow me on my Facebook page, instagram, at Latrice Royale. I'm on TikTok, but it's Latrice Royale Inc. Somebody thought they were going to be smart and take my name, but what they could not do was take my corporation, because she is what A business person for me. So, Latrice Royale Inc.
Speaker 1:On TikTok Inc. Because Inc, inc, because ink, ink with ink. Yeah, betty, I don't know, I don't know Ink with ink. So our very last segment of this show is called Pass it On, where you pass on a message to either my next guest or just anybody watching. What would be your pass it on message that you want to share with somebody watching?
Speaker 2:Greatness comes from within, darling. So believe in yourself and know that you are great. Walk in your divine destiny and life will be grand.
Speaker 1:Yes, baby, I feel like my soul has been driven. I feel like I have had a sermon. I feel like I have had everything. Oh my God, like you have just this has been divine. This has been this was meant to happen. And listen, please do not let this be your last time being a guest, and hopefully next time you'll be sitting next to me. Yeah, because we can make that happen.
Speaker 2:You heard that this is cute for a taste, but wait, be sitting next to me, yeah, because we can make that happen. You heard that, like this is look, this is cute for a taste, but wait till we get in person. Okay, all right.
Speaker 1:So next time we're not giving pandemic vibes. Ha, she tried to comfort for me on my show. Oh my.
Speaker 2:God, I surely did, but you.
Speaker 1:Okay.
Speaker 2:You appreciate it real. Good girl, I do, I did. Oh, my goodness.
Speaker 1:Let this episode, let this episode be your permission slip to be loud, to be weird, to be what, just to be you unapologetically. Let this be your permission slip. Be you and the rest of the world will catch up. Okay, so, as you go out there and be great in they face, know that you are everything and everything is you. You are the shits, the whole shit, and nothing. But what shit, yeah, baby. So as you be, it's like I know you can be you have a good day on purpose. Huh, you're welcome.