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Juno Birch Is a Little Less Blue with Trixie

59m 47s

Juno Birch Is a Little Less Blue with Trixie

Juno Birch reflects on her evolution from a flamboyant, blue-dyed drag persona to a more authentic stand-up comedian grounded in her real self. Drawing on personal experiences—such as hair bleaching, dental surgery, and health struggles—she shares how these events shaped her identity and resilience. Her transition from drag to stand-up was driven by a desire to avoid explaining her alter ego and to connect with audiences on a deeper, more genuine level. A pivotal moment came when she performed in extreme heat without air conditioning, forcing her to do a show out of drag and re-embracing her true self. She also discusses the emotional impact of medical procedures, including her gender-affirming surgery and long wait for NHS treatment, highlighting both pain and empowerment. Creatively, she shares her work in art and merchandise, emphasizing ownership of her visual identity. Juno contrasts her experience in the UK, where she feels overlooked, with her reception in America, where she is seen as a more iconic, colorful figure. She critiques reality TV for depicting characters as financially struggling, while celebrating personal growth, like her improved self-worth after surgeries. Ultimately, her journey reflects a deep commitment to self-expression, authenticity, and resilience in the face of both personal and societal challenges.

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[MUSIC] >> Girl, I have been trying to go. By the way, Juno Birch is here today. >> Wow. >> We recording. >> We all are. >> Wow, this is your camera, this is your people. >> Hello. >> It's me, Katya. I have transitioned my pronouns and now she, her. >> I've lost some shrubbery on my head just in honor for Katya. >> She fucking wishes she looked like this. Honestly, she might wear this outfit. She would definitely wear, Queen, the unprofessionalism. >> I'm sorry, I don't, she might wear this up to, but she'd need how many pieces is this? >> This is about five. >> Okay, she might need eight. >> Yeah, but what's she gonna stick it onto? >> That's a really good one. >> These are like scrunchies, you know, when the hair wraps around the bubble and you tie hair up with it, she's gonna have to glue them up. >> Well, we were talking about, we were talking about your hair bleaching journey and you were saying that the stylus was trying to convince you to go natural for a while? >> I went into Tony and Guy many years ago when I was in university and I thought I'm gonna treat myself. I've never been in the salon before. I'd never been in the salon. I always boxed at home. >> Lociens and potions and experiments. >> Lociens and sizzling and bubbling and snapping. >> It's burning. >> I am burning, yes, all that jazz. >> Do you forget the burn on the scalp from the bleach? >> No, I've never had that. And I think I've never had that because I've been bleaching my hair for so long. >> What do you want? >> Who was that twink? >> I think that was Darby. >> I'm having dinner with her tonight. >> With her? >> Yeah. God. >> I know. >> That's sick. What about Alexis? >> Yes, she's coming as well. >> I just didn't know what did it, is there only ever one trans woman at once in any public setting? >> Yes, when the smaller than one, they have to start putting in deposits. >> Special bathrooms. >> But no, I've been bleaching my hair for so many years. I went into Tony and Guy. And my hair was very thin because it, and the hair's naturally thin anyway. But it was bleaching it so much at that time. And they said, you're gonna have to grow out your hair or you're gonna be bald and keep bleaching it. And I said, I'm gonna keep bleaching it. Because at the time I was watching that movie tank girl, have you ever seen the movie tank girl? >> With Laurie Petty? >> Yes. And that switched out. >> She's like shaved bits, stringy bits. And I was like, I'll just rock that. >> I'm just seeing that. >> Post-apocalyptic hair, head explosion. >> Yes, and I think over the years wearing wig so much, I just, I get getting like a little bald spot here. >> Oh, from like the cage pressure. >> Yeah, of the wig cage. It would kill the half holicles. And you just got a little one hole. >> One slot of no hair. >> Yeah. >> And now you'll see. >> Yeah, I think maybe I had one big cage on one day, and then it was just all gone. Would you ever do bald? Would you ever do head shaved bald fantasies? >> I have a little bit one. >> Did you feel glam? >> What did you feel? >> Did you feel, I was, I was smoking a lot of weed when I was younger and I was, I was just a bit, I don't remember a lot of my life when I was about 17. But I shaved the whole entire back of my head and left a little bang. >> No, you fucking didn't. >> I did. >> So what did you do, curl this? >> Yeah. >> I didn't feel like you were eating? >> I felt like I was eating. I had like, I shadowed down to my cheekbones. >> Maybe you were eating. >> I was, I would sometimes do a tear. >> Okay, it sounds very Hollywood Boulevard? >> Yes. >> It sounds very-- >> It was very Hollywood Boulevard. I just walked round with a shopping trolley. >> Good. >> Yeah. >> You're on the stand up tour right now. Have you been playing out Los Angeles a little bit? >> I'm on a, I'm not on a proper tour, but I'm on a bit of a tour. >> You're on a kind of self-appointed tour. >> Yes, so it's a secret tour. >> I'm in a, yeah, I'm in a bit of a midlife crisis era. >> I know. >> So I've kind of quit drag. >> Well, I started to see this drag. >> No. >> I don't know. >> I don't know anymore. >> As long as you stay away from your kids. >> Yeah, they keep away from me. >> Just disgusting. >> I will say this, we were hanging out two weeks ago. I told people on this pod that we want to see Lee Cronin's the mummy. >> Oh, yeah. And I, do you know, before we watched that movie together, I had never tried a devil deck. And I don't think I want it anymore. >> Do you not remember the bit with the devil decks? >> Oh, now I do. >> When the possessed girl is crawling out of the damp ceiling. >> Yeah. >> And then this woman and she just decides to go into a wine glass of devil decks. >> That was also the grandma when she pulls her skirt up and goes like this. I was sitting next to her and she goes, it was like the best part of the movie for you. >> We were gripping each other's knees through the movie. So we were standing, remember there was a debauches in front of us and those seats were like this. >> There was people that got up out of the seats because I thought they were broken. >> Yeah, they started moving and the people were like no, and just left. >> And all of us just went, should we go and, should we just go and replace those seats? Do they cost more than the normal seats? >> I think they do. I got them for another movie and I didn't like it. >> I wouldn't like that. >> It just is like, we were talking about like if something in the movie happens like a gunshot, I don't need the seat to go like, no public place. >> I remember I went to see like a Ratatouille 3D 4D movie once and when the rats were all- >> Ratatouille 4D. >> I love Ratatouille, it's my favorite film. >> I watched it for the first time recently. I went to Disney and I watched it because when you go to Disney and you stay at the hotel, they have channels that just show Disney movies or whatever. >> Yeah. >> So I watched Ratatouille. It was fine, I don't know why people are so obsessed with it. >> But I did like- >> It was so hungry. There's something about the cartoon food in Ratatouille. >> Oh yeah. >> It makes the music as well. >> The music. >> Just we Le Bonbon, just we le don't twire. >> I like the French TV. You know what your hair probably looked like? It looked like one of those rats was pulling it out when you had that ball spot. >> Yes. No, we're more of a business, I'd say. >> Yeah. >> But anyway, I went to these 4D movie of Ratatouille and there was like a weird pipe underneath the seat and they shoot air through the pipe. So it goes. >> Oh my god. >> When the rats were running underneath, but it didn't feel like rats, it just felt like a pipe smacking my ankles. >> And it wasn't very nice and I don't think I'd do that again. Also, it's stunk. >> It's stunk. >> Smelling AAC, you know, stuffy sort of old machinery. >> Yeah, I don't know. I just want to watch the movie, but I don't even like movie theaters that much. Do you? When we were going to hang out and you were like, let's go see Lee Kronas and Mommy. I said sure. And Kati was really pissed that we didn't invite her. >> I know. I saw her last week. She was a bit annoyed. She was like, no, I've not seen it. Do you want to see it? No. >> She said, and then she was hospitalized. >> But I do like. >> And what if she almost died and you could have included her and you didn't? >> Well, I got to be here today. So. >> You're kind of the her. I think if people squint and they're scrolling really quickly, they could think that you're her. Would you take that as a compliment? >> A compliment. Yeah, you know, I went to Turkey recently and got my teeth done and I showed them a picture of Kati's teeth. And I said, I want these. >> Girl. >> I know. I did it. >> She, how was it going? >> Last time I talked to you, you said they were hurting. >> So, I don't know if I'm supposed to be in this much pain this far down the line. >> Oh, that's good. >> It's so sensitive. >> Did you think you're just so British that your body's rejecting perfect teeth? >> Yeah, I think so. >> Your bodies are like these week-ons are never going to be. >> But they look incredible, because you used to wear the flipper. >> Every time I was on camera, I even started wearing them just. >> To the market. >> And- >> Ladies, do you ever clip in your six hair scrunchies and put in your flipper and go down to the Tesco? >> I listen. Do you know what this is? Do you watch really embarrassing? I'm actually 32. People think I'm so much older than I am. >> I didn't say that. >> No, I know. >> Who thinks you're old? >> Everybody. But I think it's my voice because I sound a lot older than I am. >> Also your dress? >> Yeah. >> I do dress a lot older. >> I guess what I listened to today on the way in here, because I knew you were going to be here. >> Well. >> I love your purse, by the way. That is so cute. >> Isn't it gorgeous? >> It's so cute. >> Isn't that the most gorgeous, perfect color of purple you've seen? >> That is the color. >> And how monochromatic it is. >> I like a periwinkle mixed with like a lavendery purple. >> It looks like a purse in like a video game or a cartoon purse. >> I want to buy it. >> Yeah. I want to buy it too. >> It's like a great flavor. >> Yeah. >> It's Luffy, Tappy Bives. I was driving it today and I've been trying to relax more so my assistant, you know, Brandon, he listens to classical music in his car and I always think it's so funny that he drives around listening to classical music, but he loves it. And I was like, I want something instrumental in calm. I put on the Sims one soundtrack in the car, it's so good. >> I was going to come here and talk to you and I was like, what am I listening to? And I just thought it was so funny because I know you love that music as much as I do. >> Yes. >> Just to you. >> Wait. [MUSIC] >> Okay, here we go. >> Driving through Burbank. [MUSIC] >> Rihanna. [MUSIC] >> Here we go. Here we go. Here we go. It's going to kick in now. [MUSIC] (upbeat music) - And the buddy, pop your hand. (upbeat music) - It's so good. - I wanna merge with someone one day to that song. (laughing) - That song, it's called "Mall Rat." It's from the Sims 1 soundtrack. - It's so good. - And the string start and you go, how could this get better? - I know. - And then the flute happens and you're like, oh my God. - Do you know that they use a lot of Sims 3 soundtrack in reality TV? - What? - Yes. I will sit there and watch Mama June up from not to heart or I will watch something like reality TV. It's usually those like, you know, when people talk like that, that kind of reality TV. - 'Cause you love "Thousand Ponsisters." - I love "Thousand Ponsisters." - I love "Thousand Ponsisters." - Amy's eyes are looking forward once more. - Girl, Amy, you wanna talk, can I say, I have a lot of feelings about this. - Okay. - Because I don't wanna get in trouble from TLC, bravo, bravo, bravo. Six seasons into a hit show and the storyline is that none of them have money. (laughing) - I know. - Can we get the girls paid? It feels like a human rights violation. - It's the same with a lot of reality TV. It's the same on Mama June. - And on "How So I've Snown?" - Yeah. - Everyone's broke. - Everyone's broke. - Yes. - But I just feel like once they fixed her eye, I was like, wait a minute. Five seasons into this. It's dawning on her now, that she could get her eye fixed. - Well, she was told when she was younger, that she could never get it fixed. - Yeah, I remember that. - And wasn't it something to do with, like, catch it in utero? - Yes. - In utero? - Yeah. - I believe it had something to do with exposure to cat feces in utero. Let's take a break. - I know. - You know, I'm not gonna, listen. Cat is hospitalized. - Yeah, catch it in the eyes. - In the eyes. - She's done. - They fixed Amy's eyes. She looks amazing. And now looks, I never thought she looked that much like, Tammy, and now I'm like, oh, they are sisters. - Yeah, I got so used to looking like a little baby chick. - Yeah. - I kind of just like, did she push her neck? - It changed her look so much. - She looks fabulous. - She looks amazing. - My bills are paid. - She looks great. Congratulations. And she got married. - Oh. - The spooky wedding. - Oh yeah, the spooky wedding. I saw the episode. - I didn't think Tammy was gonna show up to that. - Yeah, I feel like they had, they, I don't know. I know that sometimes she gets a little, she's the cryer of the family, Amy for sure. And she always feels like none of them support her. - Yeah. - And sometimes I'm like, they don't. They're not supportive enough to her. - No, I think they just sort of, I can kind of relate with that a little bit because not in necessarily in my family, but in my sort of friend group. No one tells me anything because they know I'm in La La Land. Like I'm kind of, we'll say something stupid. I'm a bit like dumb in that way. So I kind of relate with her a bit 'cause she kind of, she doesn't get told things are the, oh, I'm just doing this again. - Do you know what I mean? - I was like Kelly, Kelly Mantle. (laughing) Like touring with Kelly Mantle was like, oh, it's like me and Katia. And then that's our, that's our parakeet over there. Like she just, why tell her, she's not gonna, you know what I mean? - You know, we were talking the other day me and Kelly about sounds that we really don't like. And one of mine was that I cannot stand it on British Airways when they serve the rice pudding and everyone wakes up from a nap and they start eating it with like congested industrials. And I was doing an impression of it and she just started launching wet wipes at me. I feel like that's her thing when she doesn't like what you say. And she just throws wet wipes at you. - Yeah, or she just, gluggs, gluggs, gluggs, gluggs, yeah. - You still off the sauce kind of, right? You're on a, you're on a light drinking reprieve. - I didn't intentionally stop drinking, but I, I can't casually drink. - Me neither. That's the problem. - Yes. - And, well, I don't want to say drinking problem. But I'm saying, if we're gonna go, I'm not that bitch who's like, should we just go for one? That's not gonna happen. - No, no, no, no, no. If I'm going to a restaurant for a gorgeous carbonara, I'm not gonna order a white wine with it. I'm gonna have a Coca-Cola. But if we do go onto the white wines, we need to go out to a club. I mean, we will be out all night. - We went to eat together and we went to an Italian restaurant and I will say, maybe I'm getting to an age where, I don't want the alcohol with, I don't want alcohol with dinner. - No. - Not really. - I don't want a full belly. - I'll have an alcohol before dinner. But for the meal, I want like die coke or something. - Yes, I'm exactly the same. - And if I'm going to drink, I'm like that, then we're not gonna go to a restaurant. - Yeah. - Then we can maybe go to something and get like a french fry or a finger food. - But we're here to drink. - Yes, exactly. I'm exactly the same. I used to drink quite a lot when I would work on stage. - You really did. - I would pound the fireball before I went on. Because I didn't need to be switched on as much. - Sure. - On stage because it was like lip syncing or you know that sort of stuff. Now that I do stand up comedy only, I cannot have a drink before I go on stage. I agree because I feel like comedy is all about being faster than the audience. And you're still on your self-down. - Yeah. - But I will say when I was lip syncing, sometimes a little bit of alcohol gets me in the zone where I genuinely do a better job. - Yeah, no, absolutely. A few couple of Pinot great shows. She's just working. - You will go out there and feel that music in a way that actually helps the performance. - You get goose pimples on stage as you're lip syncing. - From your own performance. - From your own fucking show. - I love that. - We were talking about your creative pivot a little bit because you've gone from being blue and touring this like concept space creature to doing stand up kind of closer to yourself. What has happened like? - It's been really strange. I've been wanting to do that for such a long time. - Right. - But I was scared to do it because I built this sort of branded face, the alien face of the glasses and the wig and the marigolds and all that sort of thing. And I was scared to sort of step away with it because I felt people would be disappointed. And then there was one show that I did on the UK tour last year and they had no AC. It was 30 degrees Celsius, which is boiling hot inside the room. And I just turned around. I said, I'm not doing it. I can't get in drag. So I did the whole show out of drag. - People don't love it. - People don't realize when you do these special effects or colors, you can't sweat as an option. Oh my God, you and I did a shoot for YouTube for Pride the two years ago. - Oh my God. - And the air conditioning was like non-existent. - I know. - And I will try to be cool about it. And I was like, you guys, I'm fine. And you, I don't know how to say this, but they were maybe more scared of me on set. - Oh, yeah. - So I turned to them and was just like, she's not going to say this because she's too nice. She's like special effects blue. You can't even sweat. If she sweats, she'll probably have to wipe it off and start over. - You can't, when you put towel compound on top of that blue makeup. If there is a slight bit of wet or anything cracks, you can't redo it. - It like freckles. - Yes, it does. - It congeals. - And if you're blending it on and you're already sweating through the pores, it takes it off. - It takes it off. Whereas when it's skin colored, well also the stuff you were making, you were using foundations mixed with pigment to make the foundation. It's not like you go backstage and have a jar of it. - No, but I did do that once and that was a mistake. - Oh really? - 'Cause it's strong. - You pre-mixed it. - I pre-mixed it. I melted it into a topperware and then like put it in the fridge to like set it like butter for tall. This was the first tall that I did. And the smell that came off, it was just like- - The wax. - It's like bleachy mushroomy. (laughing) - Seamony. - It was just like an every show. This is back when I was drinking on tour as well. I'd be like putting it on the floor, like dry heaving put it on. (laughing) - Yeah. - And on that tour, this is like five years ago now. I was performing in venues that barely had an AAC, like rock clubs. And I was in corsets, pads and everything. - Yeah. - And I was on my death bed. - Well, you're also wearing 'cause your blue, your costumes were, it's sort of like the wig, not with the wiggles. It's Sesame Street where it's full body fabric coverage. - Yes, but this was- - Like wicket. - This was like, this was like during the attack of the stunning tour. So this was like the space, the alien space age era, whereas in spacesuits. - Like PVC. - PVC. - Yeah. - Fully, I would have tights on underneath a full foil fabric cat suit that was also lined with glass soaked pad. - 'Cause it was like new delusion, so you would see the skin through the PVC. - Mm-hmm. - And your wigs are huge. - Yeah. - How do I always wonder how you function with the glasses on? 'Cause we dressed up as you once together. You were working at Fubar. - Yes. - She did it. You did get a Fubar. - And Lady Red was on the door. - Yeah, was it pre-COVID or was it- - It was pre-COVID, it was 2019. - Yeah, I was like, it was maybe right before COVID or something. - Yeah. - Yeah. - Yeah, Lady Red was on the door, and I think Mario was DJing, and you were Ray Latresho? - Ray Latresho, yes. - And I was dressed as you 'cause we did a video together. So then we went together. And I remember I was standing there in your outfit and like the headwrap and everything. And do you remember this? The guy came up to me, the stage manager and said, "Hey, just so you know, we're starting a file." and I said, okay. And then they walked away and I was like, I guess I'll go tell her because he thinks I'm you. Yeah. So then I went up to you. And I had no idea what time stage time was at that point. So I was like, woo, Phil was going, there was like this weird, there wasn't a stage, it had like a, it was like a step up platform. Yeah, it was not like proper stage. Phil kept going to be careful of the set, be careful of the set because I was already a little bit tipsy anyway. Right. And I was, I'm going to be fine. I'm going to be fine. And I went straight of that and completely put on. Do you remember me falling over there? Oh, yeah. There's something very, I always feel like as a performer, if you warm me about a step on stage, I get really defensive, like you think I'm an idiot. And then you fall over and I fall. Like there's always some part of me that's like, you don't have to tell me, I've been doing this 17 years ago. Yeah. Fall on the floor. It must be nice not painting blue because the times I've done that, you have blue earhors. I know blue nail beds. Well, the thing is the amount of hotels and Airbnb's, I must have stayed in and left blue on everything. The thing is that when you, when you shower it off, it doesn't, there's not really blue water everywhere. It's more the towels. You think you've got it off, but you don't. And then you'll scrub with a towel and you're like, oops, you know, but I don't miss it at the moment. I'm enjoying being able to write comedy for as me. Yeah. Rather than as like, she's an alien from, you know what I mean? I know, I totally get it. And I just feel a little bit like when I started that so many years ago, I felt like I was just in my own lane. And now when you go to drag con, there's so many pastel blue alien 60s drag queens I'm just kind of like, they really are out there. Yeah. It's fine. I mean, I'm sure it doesn't bother you, doesn't know, not at all. Let him live. No, I don't really feel precious about people when they have like a big black and white eyes or something. And you say it's like me, I'm like, I don't think that. No, I don't see myself with anyone else. No, you will never be me. They'll never be you. But what where's it going to say then? I was going to say, um, I the only thing that does bother me is when somebody copies my drawings or artwork. Oh, yeah. Are you doing illustrations again? I'm on a, I kind of go through phases of in and out doing artwork because I feel like when I'm doing stage work, it's a different person to when I'm sat at home and don't want to talk to anybody and just draw a picture. Do you know what I mean? Watch TV. Yeah. I'm comfy. I don't answer my phone. And also, I can't sculpt with them. Oh my God. Do you miss doing your sculptures? Yeah. I think, you know, David, my ex David is, I think the world's premier collector of general bird sculptures. He probably has like eight of them. I know. They're amazing. Thank you. So cute. How did you ship those all over the world? They look so fragile. This was, this was going back even before I started doing drag. I think yeah. This was like cause that was how I paid my rent was big. He's cultures was making sculptures because I would, I would spend like seven days just locked in my bedroom, making miniatures that were in little baggies. Which is a sign of mental illness? Yes, I know. When you say it like that, when you say it like that, I'm like, is she okay? No, I'm not okay. I've never been okay. But do you know what? It's, it's, it makes me monies. Yeah. You did really, it was very exclusive. I feel like you would put one out like monthly. And David would buy it. Yes. It's like always him. I know. But I, I remember seeing his name on so many receipts. I was like, here the fuck is David silver? Yeah, he loves your, I knew sugar daddy. Yeah, totally, totally. But no, I, I, I used to sell them quite a lot of money. And I know David bought quite a few, but like there was, they sold really quickly. And I know I've always, I, what I've, I've launched a new merch website junoberchlive.com. Junoberchlive.com. And people, it is solely just my artwork. I'm merchandise. That's great. I'm, I'm not doing like as much like drag merch, you know, where fans make art and put it on shirts until I'm just doing just things that I've done on my iPad or sculpted or whatever. And you know, I'm working on it at the moment. Tell me, bag charms, bag charms. You know, like, you know, like that little vinyl plushie that you get, like a libyoo, like a, something like that. I want to do my sculpture heads, but in like a little furry. Oh, like a flight. Oh, they all have their little bios and little characters. Three lines. Yes. That's fine. I'm working on that at the moment. And just looking for like manufacturers and stuff like that. So I have a piece of merchandise to me that I love. It's your white shirt and it's a black illustration. It has you on it, but it's a lot of other stuff too. I remember when I first came to stay with you in L.A. in 2019 and you had that shirt on. It was a really, really old shirt. And I remember looking it like how the hell is that? So white and you would say that you put bleach in the washing machine. Girl, you got to get into it. When I tell you about bleach, let's take a break. Okay. Are you like, you kind of like Danny DeVito and always sunny when he goes through the quarantine? And he just bothers himself in bleach. I'm like Danny DeVito and everything. Okay. When you have white clothes and you put bleach in the wash, those clothes will come out wider than you've ever imagined, going white. What about the ink in the rest of the fabric? Does the bleach not make the black ink? No, no, it'll just do the, again, the natural fabric. I should be a bleach expert at this point. I don't know. Oh my god. But I mean, like my white socks, and I wear a lot of plain white t-shirts because I dress like a sim. I dress like a, yeah, like too normal. You're a randomized button. Totally. And my white t-shirts, you got to use bleach, white sheets, your white pillowcases, and stuff. You probably don't wear white pillowcases. Why? Well, blue. I don't know. It'll that since September last year, maybe now, but and maybe not anymore because I had to wash the sheets and the Airbnb because I shot myself in the bed the other day. Do you feel a couple of weeks ago? Yeah. And it got on Phil's leg as well. He's in here. I have to make it come in here watching. He said, no, listen, no, no, Phil can answer. He's probably actually really feeling that I tell you, but it was it was that kind of. Did you know shit on you? Okay. So never mind. It was I, I was very, very ill. I was drinking pep de bismol like so much. And it was just horrible, but it was leaking out of me. Sure. I was I was after the watermelon incident. Oh, wait, you got food poisoning. I got food poisoning from the sesame chicken. That's right. I've been says me. I know this pep de bismol makes your shit. It does. It's the brief. I thought I was internally bleeding. No, the active ingredient is like bismith something that makes your poop black. Pepp de bismol's amazing. I did save my life. I like the little tablets that you got. The tablets for for tour are fierce. I sent some your way the other night. It's good. The tablets taste kind of good. Yeah. Pepp de bismol's is different here than in the UK, though. In the UK, I think it's more minty. You got to mix it with a little bit of gin. Ooh, oh, oh, love the color on top. The colors beautiful. Yeah. The colors really. Whenever I did pink make up, that was my inspiration. It's a great color. It's very blue. Blue pink. Yes, pink. Yes. It's very bubble gum. Where's the lipstick? Because your teeth will look yellow. Not you anymore. Not anymore. The teeth look incredible. You're just in constant pain. I'm on a diet of Tylenol right now. How many did you take a day? Paracetamol. Maybe like four doses at three doses a day. Maybe how many you're allowed to. But you know, I think it is. I grind. When I'm on stage or I'm doing something I clunch my teeth. I think that pushes the crowns a little bit, maybe. Think of all the gender-affirming participations in medical field you've experienced and teeth was the one that got you. I know it hurt worse than getting my dick turned into a vagina. That didn't hurt that much actually. That's a credit. That's a credit to your surgeon. I know, Dr. Bellringer. That's right. That's right. You were telling me his name. His name is Dr. Bellringer. Dr. Bellringer. He's a sweetheart. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Joy, he said to me. He said, "I remember I went in for a check-up because you go, I had to go back down to London, you know they check your woman." He said, "Do you know what? You make a really great woman." And it first I was like, "Is this pervy? Oh, it's this nice." But I thought it was a fly. I think I'm sure after the experience you had with him there's a high level of intimacy. He probably just feels very comfortable with you. He's seen me inside out. I don't know how much more familiar you can get with somebody. I know. Do you have a video of the surgery? No. Okay. Well, whenever I have a surgery, I always like weirdly go home and wish I could watch a video of it. No, no. I wouldn't want to see that. No. Even when I had my teeth shaved down, I didn't want to see what they looked like. Oh, yeah. People tell me they go in the mirror and they like in the middle of their teeth surgery, they go look they go to the bathroom and see their teeth and freak out. I did do that. Did you remember it? I don't remember it. I was that trauma from the pain. I don't remember looking in the mirror. But I had this, they send you home with like a, um, a temp in. And then they make them overnight or whatever. Yeah. And then during that wait of two days with the temp in, was the, oh my God, the worst fear I've had. I'm like, I had this fear that there was going to be like a hurricane or like a, an earthquake or something. And I was going to have to go home with sharp teeth. Sammy apocalypse. And then you have, you have little nubs for the zombie apocalypse. I don't know if I died and I had to haunt like with sharp teeth. Oh, yeah. Well, but you don't have as many more. No, that's kind of nice. Right. Listen, NHS, I've got something to tell you. I was diagnosed with the asthma many, many years ago. Why is it easier to get a pussy at the NHS than to get an accurate. Not easy. It is not easy. I was on that waiting list for like five years from the age of 16 onwards. Yeah. And I, I, I was waiting so long and then they cancelled my surgery on the day of the surgery and postponed it a year heartbreaking because my surgeon had left the NHS and gone privately. That was a, we upset. Oh, I was devastated. This is me in the hotel that we booked in London, like just lying there, stirring at the wall, like because I waited my whole life for it and everything. Sorry. But sounds like everything worked out. Guess it did. It absolutely did. I always was laughing because we would make fun of you for smoking cigarettes and having an asthma inhaler. And maybe some of the counterintuitive process there. Yeah. And then you're finding out magically you don't have asthma. Yes. So I went, got diagnosed at asthma when I was maybe like 23. Okay. And I had a really bad chest infection. So I went to the doctors and they just were like, we're going to do an asthma test on you. My lungs was so weak from the chest infection that you know, you breathe into the tube, you're like this and cause my lungs will weak. She just went, okay, you've got asthma. Is this a thing where they try to make, is it the ball? You know, when you blow on that thing and the people, yeah, it was like that. Yeah, I've seen that on television. And then I got the steroid inhaler and the blue inhaler. And I used that for many, many, many years. And my chest was always just wheezy and shit. And I'll, I'll be the raw is that what it's called? What do they call? I don't know. Is it steroid? I don't know. So, so then you were telling me the other day that the, the, the, the inhaler was essentially keeping you needing the inhaler at a certain point. I think so. Psychological warfare. I think so. And they kept doing asthma checkups and they were like, you need to use your inhalers. I'm like, I've not used my inhaler in five months. And this is the best my lungs have ever felt. Right. And they were like, okay, stop using it then. Also, I went on mangyro. Okay. And apparently that reduces inflammation in your lungs. It does. I am on some kind of one of those because rheumatologists are using it for arthritis. My rheumatologist said that people who are on it are going off their, some people are going off their arthritis medicine because the anti inflammatory side effects are so profound. Yeah. It's pretty crazy. I had to stop taking it because it made me so sick. Really? The shots made me so sick. I was the same. I kind of went on. I kind of did it because when you take a lot of hormones, you put on weight so quickly. Yeah. So I did it because of that, but I kind of like a bit of a booby and a bit of a bum bum. And it was making me dad skinny in the waistline, in the, in the hit line. Oh, yeah. It's a trade-off, right? It's like, yeah, I feel like, and also the face, like I feel like most people's faces look really pretty with something, little something. Yeah. I look like I've had cheek filler. You do? Oh, yeah. You were telling me that people are thinking, I've never had a cheek filler. When I saw you for the first time, a couple of weeks ago, I asked if you had maybe had a special trip to the dentist or something because you looked so, maybe it's the last drinking. No, it was the sesame chicken. I, that I'd come off the ozm pick because of the sesame chicken. I was like, this has snatched me so good. That I, I should see the restaurant, not for food poisoning, but for a realistic body standards. Yeah, I went off when, I went off the one going to the manjar on. I just started having sesame chicken once a week, blowing my ass out, black diarrhea, black diarrhea, bling. I have a question about doing stand-up. Okay. You go out there and do I'm trying to think one of the reasons you pivoted to your, like normal look is because the audience, if they know nothing about you, if you have to explain, you have to kind of explain or you just make a joke of it. Like you just be like, you're all like, what the fuck is that kind of thing? But I didn't like doing that because I felt like, I felt like when I was dressed as the big alien costume, I needed a big performance with it. So to just sit there and just do stand-up comedy, just felt a bit like I'm doing all of this look just to chat, you know, I currently relate to that. Um, I felt like I needed a song. I needed a number. I needed something, some a bit of Liza Manelli. Yeah. I think we all need a little bit of Liza Manelli. Yeah. Do you know what we're going to do when she dies? I don't know what we're going to do. Well, we're going to do what we do and got you guys just hang just celebrate. Yeah, ding dong, the witch's dad. I have a question. We have all these things clipped on your head. You call him bird nest, right? Yeah. Do you ever, and then they just fly off? You don't have to, but I mean, are they expensive? No, five pounds from Amazon. Good deal. I know. I've got, I've probably got about 35. No, I'm not joking. Yeah, but just keep putting them on. Oh, yeah, but they start to discolour. Oh, from like where? No, I think when it easy's hairspray dry shampoo cigarettes. It's a good shit. You know, right. Like I feel like they start discoloring because somebody was around my house recently. And they were like, oh my god, you have so many because I had them all lined up. I was about to give them all a bath and dunk them all in. And what do you clean up with? Oxyclean. Now just shampoo and oh, like a, yeah, are they human here? No, okay. I like plastic animals and human hats. It's easier and they, they came around. They looked at the line up of all the birds nest. They went, oh, oh my god, you got them all different shades. Well, because they were just dirty. It's not a gradient on a purpose. No, yeah. This one's gray because, you know, I went out partying in this one. This one's green because, you know, it fell off in a pond. I don't know what you used to do this thing. When I first met you, you had like a, you did like the scarf wrap around the head? Out of drag. Yeah. Yes, I, that was kind of your day look vibe. Yeah, I like doing it with this a bit, you know, sometimes if he's a bit too, too crusty, I'll just wrap a big turban around it. Yeah, I, please be careful. Do you ever remember when I first ever walked into the trixi motel? Oh, when you broke something, I smashed the bedside table lamp. You did first thing, first thing. No, what was I going to say then? And I feel like I've got this thing that I've diagnosed myself with. Oh, great. Called small transgendarism. Maybe I go back. I'm just kidding. I know it's like a small head insecurity. You think you have a small head? You've probably never seen me with like wet, flat hair. Oh, is it like a juawa? But it's like at the back of my head, it's like so small. It's like pepper from American homies. It's really. Oh, wow. Yeah, where's your brain? I know. It's in my nose crazy. But I hate it. So I feel like I have to always have something, something big on the head. I remember many, many years ago, I tried doing like a long straight. Did you feel it? No, I hated it. I hated it. I felt like my face looked too big for my head. Yeah. You could do the Amanda thing where you kind of, she wears like a lot of half, half hair as I think. Who's Amanda? Middle of poor, because she's also that super high lift blonde. Oh my God. Yeah. Was she, does she use some of her natural hair in the park? Yeah. I think she wears it because I read her book, doll parts and she was like, I don't even go get the mail in my building without sunglasses, lipstick and a head scarf. Yeah. Well, I heard a story about her in Birmingham. Somebody who booked her in the UK, decided to put her on a mega bus. Amanda Lapura on the mega bus. You do not put Amanda Lapura on the mega bus. No. The private jet people like that that just should not be on set public transport. It's criminal. See, that sounds kind of discriminatory when you say it like that. People like that shouldn't be on public transit. What do you mean by that? What do you mean by that exactly? Friends, gender, women, ew, ew. You know what? You want to go in the girls bathroom? Oh, I think, I think I'll, I'll, I'll do you one better. All queer people should be exempt from public transit, right? Yeah, I'm happy with that. I used to take the bus all the time in drag because it was just like, I never car. I needed to get around here. When you're the biggest freak on the bus, people mostly leave you alone. You got the bus in drag. I used to all the time to go to hamburger marries in what city? Milwaukee girl, be on that bus in full drag with my suitcase with my stuff for the show. Nah. People would, when you're that on the bus in Milwaukee, people wouldn't even take eye contact with me. - I was probably probably scared of you in a way. - Oh my god. - Like, yeah. - Nobody would see, they seats by me. - No. - Yeah. And it was nice 'cause I could just, usually what I would do is, I'll get myself to the gig. And then once you're in drag and the bartenders are closing up and stuff, you're like, can somebody try me home? You can sucker off a ride home. You could, you could leach off a ride home, but I would get myself to the gig. - Yeah. - Like in the UK, we all sort of don't get ready at the venue. No one gets ready at the venue. - That's, yes, I noticed that. And people, I noticed people kind of go out and one look and one hair too, that's kind of the vibe. - Yeah, so we do one look for the whole thing. - Well, I know there's a lot of queens that do variations, if they're doing different numbers, they'll make a change, but I feel like UK in a nutshell, drag is just sort of, we just live in it. - Yeah, it feels more like New York drag in that way. - Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. - Or like you leave the house in character and you commit to the look till you go home. - Yeah. - I think that's fine. I mean, UK must be so proud of you. You've gotten so famous and I feel like you feel so British and they must feel so like, into you. - Maybe, the thing is what it is. - Like gay people, I'm not saying you're, you know, I'm gonna be on the next, you know, pound coin, but I'm saying like, the gay people there must be like, you must be like there, I don't know what you would have. - Are you looking up, I read there kind of? - Yeah, maybe, can't, like a mascot. - Yeah. - Yeah, but I kind of, I get, so I get recognized on the street now, but people don't shout certain things. - Pause. - No, now it's Mac. - Oh, for my videos, that's kind of scary. - Because I started doing little makeup tutorials and somebody said to me, when Juno Birch says Mac, she sounds like a duck quacking. - Oh, yeah, I hear that. - So I've just sort of ran with it and they, - And they, - Well, you're also yelling Mac and then slamming your face and, - Well, I've gotta get away, there's gotta be a way for people to watch my videos. You know, it's like, who is these ridiculous tranny, so Tariq, transsexual, on these videos, slamming your head on the table. - If you are transphobic, you're like, oh good, violent, you know. - Yes, she's hurting herself. - She hits herself pretty well. - Yeah, you're bringing something to the table for everybody. - That's how I feel when I do stand up comedy as a trans woman, I will bash the shit out of trans women and myself to the point where the transphobes in the audience are like. - Yes. - She gets it. - Yeah. - I always say that gay people and conservatives, what we have in common is that we hate gay people. - Yeah. - That is so true. - It's like so true. - Oh my God. But going back to what you said. - So you're mentally ill, I'm like, I agree. - Going back to what you were saying about being in the UK and being very British. I feel like when I come to America, people want to book me more. And I sell a lot more tickets for shows than I do in the UK. - And I feel like people see me as a bit of a cartoon character here. - I agree. - Compared to like the UK. - Because you're normal there. - I'm kind of normal that. - You're just like a. - In Manchester. - Well, Manchester's a good people place. - I feel like people, when they meet me for the first time, I think it's not a real voice. They kind of are a bit like, is she? - I did get that recently. Somebody went, I didn't. - Juno Birch actually talked like that. I thought it was a character voice. - What did they. - This is the real me. - Yeah. - Like, you have a secret eye, yeah. - But it's an American accent or something. - My name's Juno Birch. I'm from Manchester. - Any relation to Simon Birch? - I don't know who that is. - The movie is Simon Birch with Ashley Judd. - I know Thor a Birch. - Oh, Simon Birch is a film about a little person. - Oh. - Let's take a break. I don't know what happened. I can't do this anymore. I just wonder, in Manchester, are you the Beyoncé at Manchester now? - No, no, no, no. - Okay. - I wouldn't say so. - They don't have like a mural of you in Aflex. They don't have like a something, you know? - No, I don't even get booked for Manchester Pride. - They're embarrassed of you. - Yeah. I don't get booked in Manchester. - But it's not because of you. It's because of your drinking. - Yeah, maybe. - I feel like they see me online. - You're the vanity of the UK. - I don't know whether we have enough carers, like, you know, they probably just think she's too mentally ill to take a big one. - There's an open bar, we can't book her. It's gonna get really ugly. Phil just told us, you got shit on, we can't book her. She's a mess. Have you ever been to Hall? - Hall, yeah. I don't know. - There's a river of mud that goes through Hall. - That sounds about life. - The UK is a mysterious place. - I hate the UK. - Here we go. - I, right, listen. - Listen. - Listen. - Listen, if Kati was here, she would probably high-five you. - She always high-fives me about the UK. - She's the only American I've been able to get on with about hating on the UK, because every time I talk about, oh, I love Manchester. - I do love Manchester. - I try living that bitch. - Okay, okay. I don't live there. - You walk around Hollywood with your Wendy's and your, your fucking life, I don't know. People fucking bag up your groceries for you and say, "Hi, how are you?" - Air conditioning. - Have a great one, have a great one. In the UK, it's like, fuck off. - Yeah, no air conditioning. - No air conditioning. - The air conditioning, well, the UK has the best breakfast. I think the breakfasts are so horny. Delicious, I don't like the eggs, but I don't like the beans. - No, no, no, no. - Have you ever had Dunkin' Donuts in America? - Yes. - I think he would love it. - I like the coffee in Dunkin' Donuts. - Yeah, and the packaging is kind of pink and brown. - I'm not a very sweet person, though. I like salty food. - You do. - I love the salty food. - Like the sesame chicken. - Like the, no, that was sweet. I can't talk about it too much, 'cause I will actually drive me, and I love salty food. - Really? - Yes. - That's like the craving. If you like smoked weed, what's the food you crave? - Oh, for, you know what I had yesterday when I was at the hospital with Katya. - What? - First of all, she like couldn't, because of her treatment, she can't eat right now. So I was like, oh yeah, that sucks. And she like was harassing them for ice chips. Truly being like, how was Katya like? - You mean like an ice cube, just plain. - Yeah, she's not like, they're like, you know, working out, but yes. She literally has like a tube up her nose, and she's just yelling, hello. Hello, oh somebody, hello. - Is she in like a special, her private hospital? - I wish, she was passed out, and I told the nurse she was famous. I was like, they were like, they were like, they were like, how do you know him? And I said, oh, we work together. He said, what do you guys do? I said, we do TV and podcasting stuff. And then I was like, he's really famous, actually. And the nurse was like, he is, I said, yeah. And I pulled up the Instagram show pictures. It was like, they were like, that's her, that's her. It was a picture of catching it together. And they were like, that's her. Who's that? And I was like, that's me. - What, no, they said, what is that? That's me, that's me. - I kind of blew up her spot. And I was like, I bet she doesn't even want people here to know she is, and then I accidentally told on her, but I was like, at this, we're in Los Angeles. Nobody in this gay hospital. - I know, I would have thought you'd have people running around after, like crazy. You have crazy fans. - I know. - I just, I rocked up here today. There was no gate on the car park. The door was swung open. I just walked straight. I went up some random stairs, and I just took a diet coke out of the fridge and made myself at home. - Nothing safe. You just took death from upstairs. - Yeah. - Work. You know what? - I made myself at home. - It's fine, I think you're owed it. Honestly, you came in to cover for Katya. So honestly, she owes you that diet coke. - Yes. I've been here quite a lot since I've been in LA. - This is a, it's definitely a hub. - It's my second home now. I'm, I'm, I'm, I'm, I want to start a podcast. - Oh God. About what? - I want to do the Juno show, but like a series. - Well, well, well, welcome to the Juno show. - I want to, I want to abduct celebrities and probe them for information. - That's a great idea. - I've been wanting to do it for so long, but that's why I've not been doing YouTube that much, because I'm tired of just doing like the little stupid videos and having an excuse to make a video. Like, I were going to do makeup today or whatever. I just want to chat shit 'cause I've got so much to say. - Yeah. - But I didn't start it in the UK because I want to, I'm moving here. So I want to start it here. - Oh yeah, I mean, I don't want to leak the news, but you have been, you've been doing a trial run of staying in LA. What do you think of it? - I love it. I don't want to go home. - You do. - We've already extended our stay for another week. - That's great. I love it here. - And I feel like it's going to get extended and extended. - The only thing stopping me right now from going from, from never leaving here is the cat. - I know. Wasn't Neville or something? What is it? - You're the godmother. How dare you? - Oh, right. - The name of it. - I know it. I know what I know it. It's like Artemis or some weird shit, right? - Uh-uh. - You're just naming the cast of "Always Sunny and Philadelphia" right now. - It's like Cyril. - Cyril. - That is weird. - Cyril. - No, it's cute little old man's face. - Neville, Cyril. - You don't think it's kind of-- - Neville is a cute name. - When I do move here with him, I've got to get in my passport. - How do you move with the cat? - You have to get in my passport. - Shut the fuck up. - You have to have a little picture take. - You are lying. That is so cute. You're going to cry. (laughing) I feel like I'm going to have to go and get him some, like, little. - Maybe like. - How's it going? - How's it going to fly a little bit of LA? - I know, so this is what we've been doing research on it, because I'm so scared about traveling with Cyril. - Is any going to pee on the plane? - So yeah, no, what you do is, you can't. You have to fly with a specific airline. You can't fly with, I think it's Virgin. You can't bring a cat into the cabin. - Certain, I think it's KLM. You can fly with a cat in the cabin. You put the big cat carrier under the seat. And then they have like, it has to be a special one that has compartments where they can have p-mats, gravel if you need it, anything like that. - You are lying. - No! - I even know about this. - No! And I've even seen, I've been watching a lot of TikToks on it. - Oh, thank God for the internet. I bet you people make it really easy, 'cause I bet you can hear from people who've done it. - Yeah, and people, I think a lot of people do it, not very often long haul, 'cause it's stressful for the animal. But people do it all the time with. - And cats are so routine. - Yeah. - Yeah. - And Cyril is an oriental short hair, so they're very, very, very vocal. So he will scream constantly, even when he doesn't want anything. - I've never seen a cat that looks like him. He looks so different than other cats. It's almost like, is it an exotic species of cat? - Why did he designate him in the Sims 2? And I walked his face. - He does have that very triangle shape. - People say I look like him a little bit. - You know, I think that's kind of a compliment. Do you think? - Yeah, we've got that sort of goddess profile. - Yeah. You also kind of give Madonna, did anybody ever say that? - No, I've never heard that one. - I don't think the. - I've had, I've had who have I had? I had Maddie Morpheus's. - Maddie Morpheus's. - Someone said I look like Maddie Morpheus's. - People say that about me too, so. Well, they say that about you too out of drag. - Out of drag, yeah. - Who else, I got one that was really weird was people kept saying I look like a Dell. But when I was in. - A Dell? - When I was in Blue Makeup. - People just need, people need to. - Do you know what I'm getting at the moment, Lily Savage? - Who is that? - You're drawing Lily Savage's. Lily Savage was an absolute icon in the UK. She was a drag queen in the '80s and '90s. Then became Polo Grady. The Polo Grady show. They've passed away now. But they were from Liverpool and they had this like, they were talk like that. I don't give a fuck. Like, it was like kind of Pete Burns' ask. - I was gonna say Pete Burns' ask. - It sounds like Pete Burns' accent. - Yeah, since I've been doing stand-up out of drag, Lily Savage. Just Lily Savage all the time. - Oh my God, that fierce clip of Pete Burns, which is like, I don't give a flying lump of poop. What is the clip about getting up at five? - So it's the documentary you need to go watch on YouTube. It's called Onspon. And it's post when Pete Burns got bail from prison and had to go and live with a fan who paid for his bail. And that was the terms of conditions. But the fan was a psychopath that lived in this dump. - This really happened? - Yes. And in the documentary, they filmed Michael and Pete. Michael was Pete's boyfriend/assistant. And they're talking about getting Pete on the morning show, this morning or something. And Pete's like, I haven't got up at eight o'clock in the morning since I was five. - Yeah. - And he says something like, I don't give a flying brown lump of poop what they decided. I want the coat back. - Oh, I also like, what am I? - Judy Marsh has got tits like saggy spannules ears. - One of my favorite things is to go watch like super YouTube cuts of Pete Burns on celebrity big brother. 'Cause she really, they didn't know what to do with her. - No. - And then my favorite part is when they do that, they'll do this sometimes a big brother will have like a talent show. My favorite part is she gets up there and sings. And you kind of like, even though she's kind of like the Frankenstein's monster of the house. There's this moment where she kind of serves all of them and it's like, I'm a fucking rock star. - Yes. - And just in case you forgot, I wrote this fucking song. - Yeah, and I think a lot of them in that room didn't realize if they wrote that song. And I remember that performance because Pete struggles to hit the high note. - Oh, I get to know your name. - But then when he goes like, he goes like, he goes, oh yeah, he kind of just goes like. - He's like, fuck it. He really didn't want to be there. He was there just to pay for like a construction on the lip, I think. - Really sounding, sickening face. - So stunning. - And I love the hair. I love the way the hair gets clipped around the face. Like rats nested with straight hair around the face. - Yeah, I wore my head like that for a very long time. - It's a good look. - Yeah. - And it's kind of like, you only have to really groom this and the rest of it, it's like the bigger the better. - It's an easy, easy wig to have on the go because you can have it in a plastic. Like it doesn't have to be real high because you smooth down the sides like that with the clips. - Yeah. - And when you take it off, it kind of stays like that. - Oh yeah. Well, here we go girls. - If people, well, people can't see you now because you're on your little secret, Juno Birch's secret LA living trip, secret stand-up gig tour. - It's not secret. - But if people want to follow your support you, maybe they could go to Juno Birch live and buy some new art. - Yes. - JunoBitchLive.com. Go buy all my artworks, support trans woman. - Jeff, Jeff Prince. - Yes, I'm selling Prince. - Love your Prince. - Do you want some for your house? - Of course. She has wonderful prints. And some of you who are renters of white walls, what you need is cool art. - Yes. - With color and line. - With gorgeous alien transsexuals all over the wall. - You could do, I forgot to ask you, how was Strange Journey? You did the Q&A thing the other night. - Oh, it was really cool. Have you seen it yet? - No, I've watched so many clips of it, but I've not sat through the whole thing yet. But I love Rocky Horror so much. I do too, I saw it when it came out, it's really moving documentary. And like the interviews they have with Richard O'Brien, so crazy and illuminating. And like this person came out as trans like 30 years after Rocky Horror, which is crazy to think about. Strange Journey. And the person who built the documentary and does the interviews is his son Linus. And so his son Linus is the interviewer and like the producer and director of the documentary. And so it's so interesting watching through the eyes of his son, his son asking interviewing his father about like how did you basically change the world of Rocky Horror? It's so interesting. And you have all these shots of Richard O'Brien with his guitar singing the song's acoustic. Like it's so cool. They did such a good job. And I got to be in it, I got to do interviews for it. And I figured they're getting all these super a-list stars, but it's basically just me and Jack Black. Because I think you had to be a certain level obsessed and me and Jack Black are obsessed with that. I love it's, it makes it so such a personal thing to me because when my uncle died, he requested that everybody at the funeral dressed in Rocky Horror outfits. And my grandma was about 70 something and she showed up with stockings on and everything. When they lowered his coffin into the bit, you know, when they have the ceremony, they played on the day, I went away. So that's why it's just such a moving thing for me. Like I just, I wish we could have gone to New York to see the Broadway show while you were here. Well, I, I, I, I, are you whispered? I want to be in it. You could be in it. I want to play friend confess so bad. We have to get beyond the barriers surrounding your paralyzing stage fright, your inability to dance and sing. And frankly, the amount of money you ask for is too much. So those are kind of our very things are completely false. I work for it. I don't get paid. I haven't been paid for any work that I've done here in L.A. And you know what, in order to make Broadway more profitable, we need to transition to actors paying to be in shows. Don't you think? Yeah, I feel like that's actually the content. You could pay your way into it. All you got to do is ask Luke Evans to step down. Yes. Do you know what they never cast? Like, they never cast a feminine person as, as Frank. That's true. They always have to cast like a really botched buff person. You're a shoe in. Thank you. Well, listen, um, I love you. Thank you for coming on and covering for Cartier. You have really shown me that maybe she should be permanently replaced because she brings nothing. I will step in whenever you want me. Look, I even brought a little cap to replace Cartier. Well, hi there. Welcome to bookies. Have you tried our golden nuggets? Beaver nuggets. Beaver nuggets. That's so nice. I love those. Have you been to bookies? Yes. What did you think? It's very maga. It's so maga. Goodbye. Bye. Bye. Bye. [MUSIC PLAYING]

Podcast Summary

Key Points:

  1. Juno Birch shares her journey from a bold, alien drag persona to embracing a more authentic, grounded stand-up identity.
  2. She discusses her long-term hair bleaching habits, leading to thinning and bald spots, influenced by her love of the film *Tank Girl* and a desire for post-apocalyptic, unstructured hair.
  3. She reflects on her transition from drag performance to stand-up, citing discomfort with explaining her past persona and a need for authenticity in live comedy.
  4. The experience of performing in extreme heat (30°C) without AC led her to do a full show out of drag, which helped her reconnect with her real self.
  5. She shares personal health experiences, including dental surgery, which she found painful but transformative, and a long wait for NHS treatment due to systemic delays.
  6. Juno highlights her creative work in art and merchandise, including sculptures and bag charms, and expresses ownership over her visual identity.
  7. She critiques reality TV for showing characters in financial distress, while noting positive changes like her own improved self-worth after personal transformation.
  8. She reflects on her UK vs. US experience, noting that she is seen as a more "cartoonish" or exaggerated figure in America, and less recognized in the UK.
  9. A recurring theme is the importance of self-expression, resilience, and the emotional power of humor in challenging transphobia and societal norms.

Summary:

Juno Birch reflects on her evolution from a flamboyant, blue-dyed drag persona to a more authentic stand-up comedian grounded in her real self. Drawing on personal experiences—such as hair bleaching, dental surgery, and health struggles—she shares how these events shaped her identity and resilience. Her transition from drag to stand-up was driven by a desire to avoid explaining her alter ego and to connect with audiences on a deeper, more genuine level.

A pivotal moment came when she performed in extreme heat without air conditioning, forcing her to do a show out of drag and re-embracing her true self. She also discusses the emotional impact of medical procedures, including her gender-affirming surgery and long wait for NHS treatment, highlighting both pain and empowerment. Creatively, she shares her work in art and merchandise, emphasizing ownership of her visual identity.

Juno contrasts her experience in the UK, where she feels overlooked, with her reception in America, where she is seen as a more iconic, colorful figure. She critiques reality TV for depicting characters as financially struggling, while celebrating personal growth, like her improved self-worth after surgeries. Ultimately, her journey reflects a deep commitment to self-expression, authenticity, and resilience in the face of both personal and societal challenges.

FAQs

She felt that performing in her natural look allowed her to connect more authentically with audiences who didn't know her character. The alien costume required a full performance, and she found standing in her real self felt more genuine and comfortable for comedy.

She couldn't sweat properly due to the makeup, which would crack or degrade if she got wet. This made it difficult to perform in hot environments, and she had to remove the makeup during shows in extreme heat, like during a UK tour with no air conditioning.

She described the surgery as painful and traumatic, and she feared what the outcome would look like. Despite the pain, she felt a sense of relief when her teeth became healthier, and she now celebrates her new appearance with confidence.

Yes, she faced long waiting lists for surgeries, including a five-year wait for a gender-affirming procedure. Her treatment was postponed when her surgeon left the NHS, causing emotional distress and feelings of abandonment.

She creates original artwork and sells it through her website junoberchlive.com, offering fans a way to support her and celebrate trans identity. Her merchandise includes sculptures, bag charms, and illustrations featuring her characters.

She used to travel in drag in the UK, where people often avoided eye contact, but she felt safe and accepted because she was the most noticeable person on the bus. This made her feel both isolated and protected in a unique way.

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