Ep. 189: Justin Thomson – Drag Queen Culture, Food Industry, Weight Loss Surgery

Justin Thomson has been a good friend of my wife since middle school, and I’ve had the privilege of knowing him for the last few years. Every time we got together, he always had the best and most interesting stories to tell, so when I saw him again after a bit at my wife’s high school reunion, I knew I had to have him on my show. Thankfully, he agreed. Here’s what we cover:

  1. Justin was a drag queen from the age of 19 until he was about 30. This is how he made his living, which is not a profession I realized one could support themselves on in Denver. He gives me a sneak peek into drag culture which has way more depth, nuance, and hierarchy than I ever imagined. Admittedly, I’m a total ignoramus when it comes to this culture, but Justin provides a great primer. He assures me it’s just the tip of the iceberg, but if you’re new to this like I am, you won’t want to miss it.
  2. A self-admitted “big boy,” Justin gets real candid about his need to lose weight and what the process of having weight loss surgery is like. For those who think it’s the “easy way out,” see if you feel the same way after listening to Justin’s account.
  3. Growing up, Justin had access to the best food around, so it’s not surprising he made it his career. He talks about going to culinary school, spending time in France (where one dishwasher came up with an interesting solution to get out of all the scrubbing), and his current role in recipe development. It’s an interesting snapshot of the work that goes into something we all experience.

It’s like three episodes in one! And it’s all incredibly fascinating told in an engaging manner by one of the sweetest dudes I know.

You can find it for download on iTunes, streaming on Stitcher, or at the Jon of All Trades homepage.

The Jon of All Trades Podcast is a proud member of the Denver Podcast Network.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.