Advertise on podcast: The It Girl Podcast with Britney Shields

This week on The It Girl Podcast, Britney Shields is joined by the original It Girl in her life: Mother Shields. In a rare and deeply personal episode, the two sit down to reflect on what it was like to grow up alongside a kid who was always performing, producing, experimenting, and dreaming — sometimes loudly, sometimes awkwardly, always creatively. They reminisce about years of projects, shows, and schemes, and about all those unforgettable nights shutting down West Hollywood clubs, dancing through history, and celebrating the passing of marriage equality. Mother Shields shares her wisdom for moms of gay children and drag artists, offering reassurance, encouragement, and hard-earned perspective for families navigating unfamiliar terrain. She also speaks to her broader philosophy on life — why strangers are always drawn to open up to her and Britney, and how listening can be one of the most radical acts of care. The conversation turns to her vocation as a theatre teacher: ·      What it means to feel called to teach ·      The rewards and challenges of guiding young people through creativity ·      Advice for new teachers just starting out ·      How society can better support educators in meaningful, material ways She also reflects on teaching through the pandemic, the toll it took on students’ mental health, and the lasting effects educators are still grappling with today. It’s a warm, grounding, and honest episode about creativity, parenting, education, and showing up — for your kids, your students, and your community.

For the season finale, The It Girl Podcast transforms into a full-blown awards show with a special episode celebrating the inaugural It Girl Awards — a chaotic, heartfelt, and highly opinionated tribute to the people, moments, and cultural obsessions that shaped the year. Every category was born organically from conversations on the podcast, evolving into a sprawling awards universe that spans pop culture, drag, politics, media, music, and the local LA nightlife ecosystem. These aren’t industry awards — they’re It Girl canon. Across the episode, we honor: ✨ The figures who dominated discourse — from undeniable It Girls to Niche Girls, ones who slipped away too soon, and those who found themselves… controversially discussed✨ Drag artists across every lane — queens, kings, parents, pioneers, producers, and rising stars who carried the scene night after night✨ Cultural moments in film, television, comedy, and performance that made us feel something — whether that was joy, obsession, or full-body cringe✨ Political figures, public scandals, and media moments that seeped into our timelines whether we asked for them or not✨ The music that defined the year — from pop supremacy and viral anthems to albums and performances that lived rent-free in our heads✨ And the local heroes — venues, parties, photographers, gogo dancers, and nightlife staples that keep the culture alive on the ground Nominees range from global icons to deeply niche favorites, from household names to community legends — all without revealing who takes home the titles. The joy is in the celebration, the recognition, and the shared language built over a season of listening together. This finale is less about winners and more about witnessing the culture as it actually exists — messy, interconnected, and shaped by conversation. Thank you to everyone who tuned in, debated, voted, screenshotted, and cared this season. The It Girl Awards are the capstone, not the conclusion. Big announcements coming soon. Same delusion. Next season.

This week on The It Girl Podcast, Britney Shields is joined by the luminous Gia Giselle for a powerful, wide-ranging conversation about visibility, survival, and stepping fully into your era. Gia opens up about traveling across America on the Taylor Swift Eras Drag Brunch Tour as a trans woman of color — what it meant to take up space in unfamiliar cities, the joy of performing for new audiences, and the realities of safety on the road. We talk about Gia’s transformative year, including accessing gender-affirming care that has profoundly increased her sense of safety and confidence in public spaces. She shares how she found her political voice, built an online platform, and learned to speak with clarity and conviction in a moment when visibility truly matters. Gia also reflects on her path before drag — earning her master’s degree, becoming a teacher, dabbling in marketing and digital media, and eventually finding drag as the place where all her skills, passions, and purpose finally aligned. Then we get into the It Girls of the week: ·      Heated Rivalry reaching a new temperature with its “All the Things She Said” needle drop — an instant gay canon moment — and Jordan Firstman calling out the show’s authenticity, creating the perfect storm of controversy that only makes an It Girl stronger ·      The state of the U.S. economy and the very real struggle so many people are facing just to get by ·      Tyra Banks’ off-the-rails Sydney club appearance, sending the gays into a collective spiral ·      The endless entertainment of Smize & Dream Ice Cream and Tyra’s lasting cultural contribution, from business ventures to Life-Size ·      The tragic loss of Rob Reiner and his wife Michele, and the disturbing response from the president that has even longtime allies recoiling ·      Tinashe and her pursuit to break ground and create opportunities in the music industry that seems intent on shutting her out ·      Taylor Swift, and the important distinction between calling her a MAGA Barbie versus a capitalist queen ·      Zohran Mamdani’s epic year, and the hope he represents for progressives and democratic socialists Finally, we close with something special: the announcement of the It Girl nominations for the LA drag community. Gia joins Britney to reveal the nominees for: ✨ It Girl Categories (Cultural): ·       It Girl of the Year ·       Niche Girl of the Year ·       It Girl Who Got Away ·       Cancelled Queen ✨ Niche Girl Categories (Local Awards): ·       Drag Queen of the Year ·       Drag King of the Year ·       Drag Parent of the Year ·       Pioneer of the Year ·       Rising Star of the Year ·       Ingenue of the Year It’s a conversation about movement — across cities, identities, careers, and culture — and what it means to claim your space unapologetically.  

This week on The It Girl Podcast, Britney Shields is joined by her drag sister, her confidante, and one of the hardest-working, kindest queens in the Los Angeles scene — the one and only Icon Lewis. We get into the audacity, delusion, and manifestation required to name yourself Icon, and how she more than lives up to it. Icon opens up about her beginnings as a songwriter and singer, and her early days gogo dancing at Precinct, before she became a drag queen that would live up to her name. We talk drag, destiny, and doing the work… And then— 🚨 SPOILER ALERT: The rest of this description discusses topics from the episode that are even more chaotic and delightful when discovered in real time. Proceed with caution! 🚨 From here, we dive into the It Girls of the moment: ·      Sarah Paulson in All’s Fair and her beautiful tribute to her late friend Diane Keaton ·      Spotify Wrapped, and why everyone still needs to switch to Apple Music until Spotify stops running ICE ads ·      Britney’s top artist of the year: Rose Gray, and Icon’s top: Lady Gaga, returning triumphantly to form ·      The cast announcement of RuPaul’s Drag Race Season 18, including the sole LA queen Darlene Mitchell, who once gifted Icon some of her old wigs ·      Miss Maamshe’s Mall Drag at Precinct — and why recession-era Mall Drag is the culture reset we needed ·      The viral thirst traps infiltrating our feeds at alarming (and appreciated) rates ·      The impossibly steamy Actors on Actors interview between Jonathan Bailey and David Corenswet, brimming with homoerotic tension ·      The continued rise of Heated Rivalry, whose backlash is only solidifying its status as an It Girl ·      A call to resurrect lost pop icon Natalia Kills (Teddi Sinclair) ·      A lamentation over Survivor losing the ruthless competitive edge that once made it legendary It’s an episode full of sisterhood, storytelling, industry tea, cultural obsession, and the kind of laughter that only happens when you sit down with the girls who know you best.  

This week on The It Girl Podcast, Britney Shields sits down with the ever-evolving, ever-elevating Suadé, a queen who refuses to stay in one lane. From her early days as a performer to becoming a sought-after host and now a full-fledged producer, Suadé is crafting the future of LA drag one show at a time. Whether it’s Spotlight Competition, her Drag Race viewing parties, the beloved Hot Chocolate revue, or her upcoming Hairspray Drag Show at Precinct on 12/13, Suadé is a one-woman innovation engine. We talk about her experience in Project Drag, and how she learned to pivot after that loss — a skill she honed long before drag, when her pre-pandemic esthetician training became unusable overnight and she had to reinvent herself. Suadé opens up about drawing inspiration from her mother, and how her drag is grounded in her roots: beauty, dance, and the vibrant musical scene of New York. We reminisce on the post-pandemic West Hollywood era — Stache, the nights that defined a community, and how Kisoand Precinct continue to hold it down for DTLA culture. Then it’s time for the IT GIRLS of the week: ·      The Madame Morrible Wicked Witch memes, celebrating Michelle Yeoh’s Oscar-winning commitment to the bit ·      Megan Thee Stallion spending Thanksgiving with new man Klay Thompson, all while securing her win against that foolish blogger ·      Rehashing Cardi B’s court case from earlier this year ·      The tragic, spiraling descent of Nicki Minaj into MAGA-land and away from reality We also dive into the niche girls: ·      HBO & Crave’s new series Heated Rivalry — the gay sports drama that has queer men and women downright feral ·      Brownwyn Newport (RHOSLC) and Stacey Rusch (RHOP) thriving in their sophomore seasons now that they fully understand the game ·      Shaiie Food (@shaiie_food), whose chaotic food reviews have us screaming ·      Elton John attempting to trick Donald Trump into funding AIDS research — and Trump refusing to even acknowledge World AIDS Day for the first time in 40 years ·      We honor those lost to the AIDS epidemic and stress the importance of being loud, organized, and unrelenting in the fight to protect queer life ·      Robert Irwin following in his sister’s footsteps and winning Dancing with the Stars ·      Legally Blonde, Hairspray, Dream Girls and all the musicals that we can’t get out of our heads ·      And finally — a plea for our listeners to run for office. If we want a future, we have to help build one. It’s reinvention and real talk — Suadé brings all of it.

This week on The It Girl Podcast, Britney Shields welcomes back one of our most beloved guests — the unstoppable Seven, returning for her second appearance after snatching victory at the Henny Games: Victors Quarter Quell. Since then, she’s been everywhere, serving as the host and producer of her own hit pre-show at Micky’s: Seven’s Heaven. We break down her winning strategy, her growth since season one, and the art of doing drag right — from respecting your elders to honoring the steps of the ladder before taking the crown. Seven gives us a masterclass on the many corners of the drag universe:  ·      The bar scene ·      The ballroom scene ·      The dance and competition scenes ·      The pageant scene …and all the microcultures that make LA drag a sprawling, interconnected ecosystem and how Seven has her fingers in so many of the pots. Then we enter full It Girl Mode: ·      Miss Mexico’s Miss Universe 2025 win and the controversy shaking the global pageant world ·      Wicked 2, which is already rewriting the culture before it even drops ·      Morgan McMichaels, fresh off being crowned Entertainer of the Year — we honor her legacy, her influence, and the blueprint she created for all of us to follow ·      Aaron Parnas, the young independent progressive journalist keeping us informed (and occasionally unwell) with the real-time scoop on social media Seven also takes a victory lap for predicting the rise of the K-Pop Demon Hunters trend earlier this summer — just another reminder that drag queens are the true cultural forecasters of our generation. We close with impassioned pleas for “Wheel of Time” and “Pushing Daisies” — two shows that deserve their Renaissance now. It’s a reunion, a revelation, and a reminder that Seven is always seven steps ahead of the culture.  

This week on The It Girl Podcast, Britney Shields (@itsbritneyshields) is joined by the radiant, relentless, and newly crowned champion of The Real It Girls of West Hollywood, Starra D’Show (@thee_starradshow). We break down her full hero’s journey: clawing her way up from the bottom two against her drag mother Iridessa Van Cartier (@wowiridessa), absolutely devouring the Celebrity It Girl Game, and sealing the deal with a final lip-sync victory against Mary Kate Lohan (@marykatelohan). A star was born, and her name is in the title. Starra opens up about where her powerhouse work ethic comes from, the strength she draws from her tight-knit biological and drag families, and how being a self-proclaimed theatre kid shaped her worldview. She reflects on experiencing the pandemic while in college — and how that isolation deepened her hunger for community, connection, and collective joy. Then the girls get into the cultural soup: ·      The It Girl of the Week: the mysterious “Bubba”, who (allegedly! allegedly!) received oral favors from Donald Trump, and Putin supposedly has the pictures to prove it — courtesy of the Epstein estate’s emails. ·      BravoCon and Andy Cohen suddenly giving Bowen Yang & Matt Rogers energy — is this a collaboration or a textbook case of “inspiration”? ·      Speaking of: Matt Rogers going official with Fraser Olender (sorry babe, we blanked on your name mid-recording) ·      Set It Off (one of Starra’s favorite bands!) has a new album out, and she is so obsessed she went to their concert by herself and fell in love with moshing culture even more ·      A celebration of Amerie, Slayyyter, and all the It Girls who slipped through mainstream fingers but remain legendary in the queer hall of fame ·      And yes, we even dip into the Oscars: “Everything Everywhere All at Once” and Stephanie Hsu’s breakout brilliance and Brendan Fraser’s emotional return with “The Whale” It’s a full spectrum episode — drag duels, family bonds, chaotic pop culture, queer niche excellence, and scandal that feels too wild to be real (but somehow is).  

This week on The It Girl Podcast, Britney Shields sits down with the enigmatic Felony Dodger, a queen who clawed her way from the legendary “Learn the Words, Bitch” stage to starring on The Boulet Brothers’ Dragula and now hosting her own smash hit show “She’s in Parties” at Precinct. From local legend to televised terror to nightlife staple — Felony’s trajectory is a masterclass in reinvention and resilience. We dive into the It Girls of the week: • Zohran Mamdani’s mayoral win in New York, and the progressive movement that can’t be stopped even if they try• The devastating and chaotic EBT benefit cuts that are just downright cruel• And then — the messiness we live for:The rising anticipation of Spotify Wrapped season, even though everyone should be switching to Apple Music now that Spotify is running ICE ads (do better!)• Why drag queens’ top songs are never accurate — sometimes you're just learning the damn lyrics• Hilary Duff’s return to music, which has the gays applauding… including an unexpected listener from prison: Joe Exotic• Ryan Murphy’s new series All’s Fair — a ratings flop with just the right amount of bad to maybe become camp• The annual joy of Mariah Carey “defrosting” memes, which somehow get funnier every year• Debra Messing’s unhinged crash-out following Mamdani’s win, and how deeply sad it is to watch someone descend into Islamophobia and misinformation• Finally, we honor three queens gone too soon from our screens: Hershii LiqCour-Jete, Lucky Starzzz, and Felony Dodger of course. It’s counterculture grit and pop culture glitter — served by two queens who see the world from both sides of the stage.

This week on The It Girl Podcast, Britney Shields (@itsbritneyshields) is joined by Downtown LA royalty: Isadora Spreads (@isadoraspreads), the mastermind host behind The Henny Games at Precinct. With the Victors Quarter Quell all-winners showdown coming up next Wednesday, 11/11, we spill all the tea on how Isadora built one of the city’s most iconic drag competitions from the ground up — and why it continues to slay the local scene. Then it’s time to talk all things spooky and stunning: ·      The Halloween looks that shut down the streets, sidewalks, and souls ·      The unhinged drag obsession with Gladys from Weapons ·      Why we’re begging for Lady Gaga to stay in her current Monster Era forever ·      The rising drag superstars: Lushious Massacr and Tiara Skye — and the future of drag outside the game show ·      Diplo, the bisexual king we didn’t see coming, joking about dating Katy Perry and Justin Trudeau (gay chaos!) ·      Trump’s tacky Great Gatsby–themed party, thrown while millions lose SNAP benefits during what’s about to be the longest government shutdown in history ·      A heartfelt plea to save Wendy Williams, the true queen of daytime shade ·      And yes, we are begging Michelle Pfeiffer to return as Catwoman — the slay will be too iconic We also unpack how drag oscillates between escapism and protest, especially in a world balancing survival and sequins. We get deep into gender identity, the evolving language around queer expression, and the double-edged sword of labels — when they liberate, and when they limit. Grab your Henny shots. This one burns so good.

This week on The It Girl Podcast, Britney Shields (@itsbritneyshields) welcomes the incomparable Mylique E. Fawcett (@2leakyfawcett), a trailblazing queen whose reign stretches across every corner of Los Angeles nightlife — even in spaces that weren’t built to embrace her kind of drag (but now can’t live without it). We trace Mylique’s journey from discovering drag during the pandemic to her meteoric rise in Dragged Out Season 6, where her charisma, authenticity, and artistry made her one of the scene’s defining voices. She opens up about embracing her bisexual identity, her evolution as a recovering people pleaser, and the power in choosing yourself first — both on and off stage. Then, the girls get into the hot topics of the week: ·      The White House being destroyed (and trying to make sense of the Republican “value system”) ·      Lily Allen’s new album “West End Girl” — her divorce from David Harbour and why it’s being hailed as the new “Lemonade” ·      The New York City mayoral debates and Zohran Mamdani’s meteoric rise ·      The ongoing sugar daddy shortage hitting the gay community — and the new, more gender inclusive term coined by Mylique: "Glucose Guardians" ·      Hailey Bieber’s surprising support for the trans community (and why it actually matters) ·      And finally, some real talk about the lack of professionalism in the drag community — and how to raise the standard while keeping the sparkle It’s drag, discourse, and divine chaos — a conversation as smart as it is shady.

This week on The It Girl Podcast, Britney Shields is joined by the moment herself — Gigi DeBussy, the first-ever crowned Real It Girl of West Hollywood. The first one ever! There’s never ever been another It Girl in West Hollywood at all! She’s funny, fearless, and flawlessly unserious in all the right ways. We talk about Gigi’s love of rap, stand-up, and drag, and how she’s blended all three into a signature act that’s as sharp as it is chaotic. She opens up about creating the character of Gigi, what it means to perform authenticity through performance, and what it was like growing up with a dad who came out at the same time she did. Also in this episode: ·      Britney Spears’ ex (must we even say his name?) and why we’re done giving mediocre men microphones ·      Kori King, Susan B. Collins, Plane Jane, and Mistress Isabelle Brooks catching coin without the crown ·      The reveal of the new mega Pokémon in Pokémon Legends: ZA — camp or cringe? ·      The No Kings protests spreading across the country — performative or powerful? ·      Plus: our impassioned pleas to Joanne the Scammer and Marie Antoinette, two chaotic icons who deserved better press It’s a podcast chalked full of queens and absolutely no kings.

This week on The It Girl Podcast, Britney Shields (@itsbritneyshields) sits down with Marta Beatchu (@martabeatchu), a true West Hollywood icon and one of LA’s longest-reigning drag divas. Known for her effortless wit, flawless glamour, and unmatched staying power, Marta opens up about the pride of being a local girl and the secrets behind her longevity in the ever-evolving Los Angeles drag scene. They sit down before Britney hosts the first live show of the Real It Girls of West Hollywood at Beaches Tropicana where Marta’s daughter Cesilia (@the_cesilia) is about to compete. Marta explains the connection she shares with her daughter along with her feelings about some of the other girls in the competition. Together, they dive into the week’s cultural highs and heartbreaks: ·      Mourning the loss of Diane Keaton, a cinematic legend and eternal It Girl ·      The Super Bowl announcement of Bad Bunny, and what it means for queer Latina visibility on the world’s biggest stage ·      The importance of being vocal and speaking up against the injustices of this administration — silence is not an option ·      The triumphant return of recession pop, led by Demi Lovato’s new bangers and pop’s scrappy rebirth ·      Dua Lipa’s surprise performance at The Abbey for MISTR and National PrEP Day — where nightlife meets activism ·      Heartfelt pleas to save Fan Girl Café, a vital queer venue, and yes — to bring back Crocs (because comfort isresistance) It’s a love letter to longevity, local legacy, and the loud, proud spirit of LA drag.

For the season 2 premiere of The It Girl Podcast, Britney Shields @itsbritneyshields sits down with West Hollywood comedy queen and nightlife icon Annie Biotixx  ⁨@anniebiotixx⁩   unpack the glitter, grief, and grind of being a drag artist in 2025. We  celebrate Annie's two year anniversary of hosting her weekly drag show “Free Clinic” in West Hollywood, proving that the real gag is endurance.Britney and Annie also reflect on how they first met through The Groundlings, trauma-bonding over one disastrous class that somehow lead to whatever the hell you’re listening to.  From there we get into the culture of it all starting with the album that is diving the internet "The Life of a Showgirl." Then things get real:💄 The state of drag and the economy of Los Angeles — how artists are surviving in a city where glamour costs more than rent⚖️ Doing drag in the rise of fascism — what it means to keep creating joy and community when the world feels unhinged🤖 Tilly Norwood and the growing threat of AI to creative industries🎤 The Britneyssance — a wave of new pop girlies channeling the spirit of the Princess of Pop herself🎶 And a very important shoutout to Michelle Branch, because justice for “Everywhere” is forever It’s wigs, wisdom, and world events — a perfect blend of camp and consciousness with two showgirls refusing to let the curtain fall.

For our season one finale, Britney Shields is joined by none other than her southern sister Sweet Tea, fresh off their show-stopping weekend performing together at Lake Arrowhead Pride alongside legends Mayhem Miller and Jewels from Long Beach. We kiki, we recap the magic of the mountains, and we celebrate a season of It Girl history. What’s the Sweet TEA indeed! Sweet Tea opens up about her powerful journey — from Florida to LA — a path marked by profound personal loss, surviving a hate attack, and ultimately finding community and joy in drag. (You can see more of her story in her must-watch documentary.) And of course, we spiral through the cultural chaos of the week: Miley’s Hannah Montana announcement — she’s just being Miley (again)Gavin Newsom’s parody tweets — what reality are we living in?Nicole Collier’s defiant stand in Texas — again… what is happening?Utica’s success on Project Runway — is another crown in her future?The influencer break-up heard around the gay algorithm – whether we like it or notRelated: Connor Franta and Troye Sivan TBT – the twinks are fightingThe internet’s obsession with the male Vikings cheerleadersSkirt-gate in Atlanta — are the straights coming for our gigs?Thank you to every single listener who tuned in, subscribed, and spread the gospel of It Girl this season. You’ve made this show bigger, gayer, and glossier than we ever dreamed. Stay tuned, babes — big announcements are coming soon. The It Girl era is just getting started. The It Girl Podcast is filmed and produced by Mimi von Schack (@mimi.vonschack), Devin O’Brien (@devinobrien06), and Twenty Beach Productions (@twentybeachproductions)  Like the show? Please leave us a review on Apple Podcasts, or rate and follow us on Spotify! Listen and subscribe to The It Girl Podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, or your favorite podcast platform.

This week on The It Girl Podcast, Britney Shields (@itsbritneyshields) sits down with the fabulous and fearless Cruella Brazil (@cruellabrazil), whose story is as animated as her drag. From leaving Brazil to study animation in Utah to INTENTIONALLY be amongst the Mormons, to getting expelled for hooking up with guys (only to promise she was “reformed” just to graduate) — Cruella proves resilience can be both messy and glamorous. We spiral through: Kim Davis, the four-times-married clerk who is trying to repeal gay marriage (the math ain’t mathing)Taylor Swift announcing her twelfth album — The Life of a Showgirl — on her little boyfriend’s podcast Britney’s bestie Carmen Emmi’s new film Plainclothes, hitting theaters nationwide September 19Brazilian deputy Erika Hilton taking on Trump, Bolsonaro, and the global far-right circusGone-too-soon queer animation classics Q-Force and Super DragOlivia Rodrigo, Renee Rapp, and Beyoncé’s Third ActMeg Stalter and Grace Glukenshmidt — patron saints of unhinged comedyDoja Cat making peace with the fan in the musky-ass t-shirtPlus, Britney shares her excitement about performing at Lake Arrowhead Pride ahead of this past weekend and her plan to honor the late, great, and iconic Lauri Carleton with a heartfelt tribute. It’s international drag drama, camp commentary, and community love — the perfect mix of chaos and catharsis. The It Girl Podcast is filmed and produced by Mimi von Schack (@mimi.vonschack), Devin O’Brien (@devinobrien06), and Twenty Beach Productions (@twentybeachproductions)   Like the show? Please leave us a review on Apple Podcasts, or rate and follow us on Spotify! Listen and subscribe to The It Girl Podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, or your favorite podcast platform.