Joel Kim Booster: KPop Demon Twink

Summary

---

Podcast Summary: DisGRACEful with Grace O’Malley

Episode: Joel Kim Booster: KPop Demon Twink

Date: November 6, 2025
Host: Grace O’Malley
Guest: Joel Kim Booster

---

Episode Overview

This high-energy episode of DisGRACEful features host Grace O’Malley and multi-hyphenate comedian/actor Joel Kim Booster. The two dive into Joel’s comedic journey, his recent projects including the viral hit “KPop Demon Hunters,” the reality of coming up in comedy, and the absurdities of adulthood, all interspersed with games, pop culture hot takes, and plenty of witty banter. From tales of odd jobs to advice on squashing beef, and even a segment analyzing old internet “receipts,” the conversation is equal parts hilarious and revealing.

---

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Housewife Taglines and Joel’s Signature Wit

• Tagline Brainstorm: The episode opens with a riff on Real Housewives taglines, with Joel sharing and inventing new ones.

  • “They say money is the root of all evil and I’m the tallest tree in the forest.”
    — Joel Kim Booster [00:30]

• Oncoming Full Circle: Joel discusses the pressure of coming up with fresh catchphrases, referencing past podcast appearances.

  • “Matt Rogers and Bowen Yang, they both come up with new ones every day...It’s really fantastic of them.”
    — Joel Kim Booster [00:55]

2. Joel’s Southern Roots & Adoption

• Family Accents: Joel, adopted into a white southern family, recounts his inherited southern accent and familial quirks.
  • “I am famously adopted. My entire family is white and my mom’s side...all from Alabama, Tennessee, South Carolina.”
    — Joel Kim Booster [02:13]

3. Game: Joel or Kim?

• Celebrity Quote Guessing: In “Joel or Kim,” Grace quizzes Joel on quotes from him vs. Real Housewife Kim Richards.

  • “You know what a girl’s best friend is? Not diamonds. Her lawyers.”
    — Joel, channeling Southern drama [03:06]
  • “I don’t know why everyone expects me to learn things now. It’s not my brand.”
    — Joel Kim Booster [06:13]

• Joel aces the game, but reflects, “I was like, certainly I’ll remember everything I’ve ever said, and clearly that’s not what I was thinking.” [05:35]

4. On “KPop Demon Hunters” Phenomenon

• Family-Friendly Hit: Joel voices several minor but beloved characters in what’s become a major Netflix success.
  • “It’s the first thing I’ve ever done in my career that is child appropriate.”
    — Joel Kim Booster [07:46]
  • On fans: “There are full fan accounts...devoted specifically to my four-line character, like fanfiction, like, all of this stuff.”
    — [09:55]

5. Comedic Work, Voice Acting, and Villains

• Voiceover Credits: Joel waxes nostalgic about voicing on shows like American Dad and Bob’s Burgers.
• Being the Villain: On being compared to Floop from Spy Kids:
  • “I was right at the age where I was like, that’s for babies. I’m not gonna watch that movie. I’m 13 years old or 14 years old.”
    — Joel [10:50]

6. Upcoming Wedding & New Year’s Eve Anxiety

• Joel is getting married the night before New Year’s Eve. They exchange horror stories about New Year’s Eve pressures.
  • “If you’d rather be getting your back blown in Rio, then fucking go to Rio. I don’t need to spend $150 on a plate of food for you.”
    — Joel Kim Booster [11:45]

7. Roast or Toast Game: Celebrity Lightning Round

• Joel delivers rapid, razor-sharp “roasts/toasts” to images of Madonna, Mariah Carey, Wendy Williams, Lorde, Tom Cruise, Cheryl Hines, and Kim Zolciak.

  • “Say what you want about Madonna and her work. No one in the world looks like Madonna now.” [14:44]
  • On Mariah: “She’s given us so much. To even think about speaking ill of her in this moment in her life is unconscionable.” [16:16]
  • On Tom Cruise: “It’s incredible when a short king does his own stunts, including diving off an airplane and getting something off a high shelf.” [17:33]

• Joel jokes about political savvy: “I think you could run for office the way you handled that.”
  — Grace [18:17]

  • “Now it’s becoming a point where I’m gonna meet some of these people eventually."
    — Joel [18:24]

8. Navigating Beef Online and Off

• Celebrity Spats: Joel recounts a public spat with Drag Race’s Monet X Change.

  • “Most beefs are about nothing in my opinion. If you can take a step back...the beef cannot be that important.”
    — Joel Kim Booster [19:23-19:51]

• The Value in Reconciliation:

  • "Weigh how much you need this person in your life to begin with." [20:00]

• Internet Negativity:

  • “You didn’t think I was a human being on the other side of that message... That’s so telling.”
    — Joel [21:06]
  • On Internet disengagement: “It’s so much easier to be an asshole when you can disengage by saying, oh, this is just a bot.” [22:52]

9. On “Groomers,” Glam Squads, and Shout-Outs

• Clarifying “Groomer”: Joel jokes about the double-meaning, affirming he does not travel with a “groomer,” but has a team for professional styling.

  • “Shout out to every person who has done my makeup because adult acne is real.”
    — Joel [24:40]

• Rapidfire Shout-Outs:

  • “Shout out to bullies… it’s character building.”
    — Joel [25:18]

10. Loot on Apple TV, TV Talk, and Cancellation Grievances

• Apple TV Praise:

  • “They make TV shows like movies. There’s so much less to choose from, it’s so much more manageable.”
    — Joel [26:39-27:09]

• Canceled Shows: Both mourn the axing of “The OA.”

  • “I watched the OA finally, and I was like, no, they were right. I’d be out there doing my little dances on the street, too.”
    — Joel [27:57]

11. Kesha and Set Tales

• Kesha on Set: Joel sets the record straight: Kesha was professional, punctual, and “sounded incredible live.”

  • “That isn’t the Kesha I asked for. You’re being nice and responsible. Who are you?”
    — Joel [31:10]

• Rap Party Policy: “If Kesha had the time to do that, that would really shatter my image of Kesha’s life.”
  — Joel [31:42]

12. Coming Up: Odd Jobs, Chicago Roots, Comedy Advice

• Early Gigs: Quiznos, Subway, Cold Stone, Dippin’ Dots, and early grind at Groupon (“It’s a mom aphrodisiac for sure.” [34:16])

• Imposter Syndrome: Only creeps in for creative pursuits, not day jobs. [35:28]

  • “The stakes weren’t high enough for me to ever care that much to feel impostor syndrome.”
    — Joel [35:28]

• Chicago vs. New York Comedy:

  • “Chicago is the perfect place to start comedy. There’s not very many eyes on you…. New York, the stakes feel a little higher.”
    — Joel [38:05–39:43]

• Advice for Aspiring Comics: Move before you think you’re ready; credits don’t transfer between cities. [40:21]

13. Roommates, Manhattan Life, and City Swap

• Classic NYC Disasters: From bodega cats in heat (“All the neighborhood male bodega cats would come to the window desperately trying to get to her.” [43:03]) to rats that trip you and bedbug-infested lofts.

• Transition to LA:

  • “New York requires energy but is rewarding. LA is dangerous because you can get complacent.”
    — Joel [45:51–46:15]

• Roommate Horror: “Boy would he take a bath. Boy would he call his mom and grandma in the bath. And boy did I pee in many pots and dump them out my window into the Chase parking lot.”
  — Joel [46:53]

14. Reality TV Obsessions

• Bravo Completist: Joel is up to date on all Housewives, with Salt Lake City as the current favorite.

  • “Salt Lake is probably the crown jewel right now…women really understand the assignment.”
    — Joel [48:02]

• Love for Project Runway and Peacock:

  • “If you have a show you need to put on while cleaning...let it be Project Runway. You’ll not be disappointed.”
    — Joel [49:28-49:34]

15. Money, Debt, and Financial Independence

• Student Loans & Debt: Joel didn’t reach “stable” until age 32:

  • “I haven’t taken a dime of my parents’ money since I was 17...I think right around then, 2019, is when I paid off all my student loans.”
    — Joel [53:06-53:44]
  • “For you to come in having done that work...and being bitter because someone else might not have to go through that—it's so insane to me.“
    — Joel [54:26]

• Gap Year Reflection: “I wish gap years were more accessible...you’re supposed to make this huge investment in yourself at the age of 18…” [56:00]

16. Discount Superlatives & Being “Unremarkable”

• “I was completely unremarkable, I think, to most the people...No one saw this coming.”
  — Joel [57:11]

• Encouraging message: “It really just goes to show...none of this matters.”
  — Joel [57:48]

17. Disgraceful Receipts: The “Explain This Photo” Game [60:23–70:19]

• Run through of Joel’s old photos:

  • Fire Island baby-in-a-flowerpot: “It’s adorable.”
  • Disaster-era Zooey Deschanel-inspired headshot: “So 2012.”
  • Eating Doritos on the toilet: “Guess I saved myself a trip. That’s comedy.”
  • Watch What Happens Live with Luann: "An object lesson in [ass-kissing]."
  • Family photo-memes: “I brutalized my family in the first three or four years I did stand up.”
  • Scruff convo: “Into having sex in cam with guys watching." Joel: “What channel?”
  • Earliest drag experience as "Mulana Del Rey": “I won.” And suffered nerve damage from heels!
  • Money clip made from a binder clip: “My wallet got pickpocketed on the dance floor.”
  • Old “lesbian shift manager at the Starbucks” haircut headshot.
  • “Best gays in NY” also being a college Republican (with George W. Bush).

• Joel’s bonus: Photo rolling on Molly while hugging Joe Biden at a friend’s wedding: “It would take a lot of Molly for me to embrace any president...It would take a lot of serotonin.” [70:47]

18. Touring and The Ridiculousness of Riders [71:49]

• Green Room Demands: Early rider accidentally required two full-length mirrors (“so you can see front and back”).
  • “I must have looked like a lunatic for God knows how long.”
    — Joel [72:41]
• Now, he keeps his requests simple: “Sugar free Red Bull and Diet Coke and maybe...candy if you got it.” [72:49]

19. Best (Worst) Date Ever

• “Worst” Date:
  • Hookup thwarted: “My husband is home, so we have to hook up in the living room because he’s, like, pretty racist.”
    — Joel [76:47]
  • “Unfortunately...if that’s the person you’ve chosen...you’re complicit in his racism.” [77:02]

---

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “We put too much pressure on New Year’s to be a thing. It’s just another fudgeing night.”
  — Joel Kim Booster [12:30]
• “Shout out to bullies in high school. You're putting in the work. You're. It’s character building.”
  — Joel [25:10]
• “Chicago is the perfect place to start comedy—you can take some big swings and fail hard.”
  — Joel [38:05]
• “It’s so much easier to be an asshole when you can disengage by saying, oh, this is just a bot.”
  — Joel [22:52]
• “Look at this house you’re in. It’s because I was most funny and most likely to succeed even if these bitches didn’t see it.”
  — Joel [58:06]

---

Important Timestamps

• 00:30: Joel’s Real Housewives tagline riff
• 05:03–07:20: Joel or Kim game
• 07:46–09:55: KPop Demon Hunters discussion
• 14:24–18:16: Roast or Toast game
• 19:21–22:19: On “squashing beef” and public feuds
• 24:40–25:45: Shout-out segment (makeup artists, bullies, Grindr stories)
• 26:39–27:56: Apple TV+ & streamer woes
• 30:06–31:57: Kesha on set stories
• 38:05–41:17: Chicago vs. NY comedy wisdom
• 48:02–49:49: Reality TV obsessions
• 53:06–54:26: Financial independence and student debt
• 60:23–70:19: Disgraceful Receipts/Explaining old photos
• 71:49–74:31: Standup touring and rider confusion
• 76:16–77:54: Worst date (“My husband is home and he’s pretty racist…”)

---

Tone & Style

The tone is comedic, sharp, and self-aware, blending pop culture snark with personal vulnerability in classic Joel Kim Booster fashion. Grace fosters an upbeat, riff-heavy environment, encouraging both self-roast and earnest reflection.

---

For Listeners Who Missed the Episode

This episode offers a revealing and hilarious portrait of Joel Kim Booster—a performer as incisive in self-deprecation as he is in his comic observations. The episode delivers not just giggles, but also genuine reflection on career, community, and the realities of adulthood and “making it” in entertainment. Even non-comedy fans will find plenty to love in the pop culture riffs, tales from the comedy trenches, and the irresistible warmth between Grace and Joel.

---

Summary written in the speakers’ lively, irreverent tones, with careful attention to accuracy and detail.

Transcript

[Sponsor/Ad Voice]

Your home should show off who you are, telling your story in every detail, meeting you where you are. Ashley has styles that balance timeless appeal and modern trends to bring your personal look home. Pairing eye catching design with features like stain resistant performance fabric, Ashley offers well crafted, affordable pieces built to stand up to real life. Plus they provide fast, reliable white glove delivery right to your door. Visit your local Ashley store or head to Ashley.com to find your style.

[Joel Kim Booster]

My like go to answer to this question. What my tagline would be is they say money is the root of all evil and I'm the tallest tree in the forest.

[Podcast Host (possibly Jocelyn or Grace)]

That's good.

[Joel Kim Booster]

That's good. I think it's pretty good.

[Podcast Host (possibly Jocelyn or Grace)]

But you did, you did have you had a little bit of a hesitant of the finalization of debt when you said it on Los Culturistas. So you've came full circle with your new one.

[Joel Kim Booster]

Yeah, well, because I wanted, I had said the original that one tree one before and so when I was reposited because Matt Rogers and Bowen Yang, they both come up with new ones every day. You know, like it's really fantastic of them.

[Podcast Host (possibly Jocelyn or Grace)]

They're great at what they do.

[Joel Kim Booster]

I was on the spot and I didn't want to go back to my answer that I had said on numerous other podcasts and watch what happens live and whatnot. So I in the spot came up with that one and it was not my proudest moment.

[Podcast Host (possibly Jocelyn or Grace)]

I'm gonna ask you to come up with one more.

[Joel Kim Booster]

Oh, wow. Some people may call me a bitch, but I'm here to show them who the top dog is.

[Podcast Host (possibly Jocelyn or Grace)]

Oh yes. Coming at you live from a shady Manhattan studio. It's Disgraceful. Featuring your gracious ginger host. Hey, watch yourself. Only I can say that. Okay, boss, whatever you say. You pay my bills. Give it up for Grace o'.

[Joel Kim Booster]

Malley.

[Podcast Host (possibly Jocelyn or Grace)]

Hi guys. Welcome back to another episode of Disgraceful. I am here with comedian, actor, producer, writer and my new friend, Joel Kim Booster.

[Joel Kim Booster]

Bring it in. Hello. Thank you so much for having me.

[Podcast Host (possibly Jocelyn or Grace)]

Thanks so much for coming on. I don't know why I just did a southern accent, but it's like, I think it's like the doubled up names.

[Joel Kim Booster]

Yeah, no, you get over here. Joel Kim Booster. I get that and I will say so. I am famously adopted. My entire family is white and my mom's side of the family in particular is all from Alabama.

[Podcast Host (possibly Jocelyn or Grace)]

Oh no.

[Joel Kim Booster]

Tennessee, South Carolina. That's where they all live now. And so I. There are so many southern accents in my family. Really spend any time around them. I will start being like, and did you know, like, contagious, really?

[Podcast Host (possibly Jocelyn or Grace)]

Like, so can you do a good Southern accent for that?

[Joel Kim Booster]

I don't know if I can do like a regionally specific Southern accent. Yeah, like when I imitate my mom, sometimes I'll, like, it comes out. It doesn't come out much with her anymore because we've been in the Midwest for so long. But like, it will, like, if I'm saying, like, I'll be like, mama, why did you have to. You know? And like, it's just like whoever's come. Yeah, exactly.

[Podcast Host (possibly Jocelyn or Grace)]

Mama, Mama left me.

[Joel Kim Booster]

You know what a girl's best friend is not diamonds. Her lawyers. From executive producer Ryan Murphy comes a.

[Podcast Host (possibly Jocelyn or Grace)]

Fiery new legal drama.

[Sponsor/Ad Voice]

It's our own boutique women representing women.

[Podcast Host (possibly Jocelyn or Grace)]

You can't afford to miss.

[Sponsor/Ad Voice]

Make it rave.

[Podcast Host (possibly Jocelyn or Grace)]

Showtime, ladies. Stand up straight then breeze into that room like a storm no one saw coming.

[Joel Kim Booster]

Hulu Original Series All's fair now streaming on Hulu and Hulu on Disney plus.

[Podcast Host (possibly Jocelyn or Grace)]

For bundle subscribers terms apply. When's the last time you had a real crush? I'm talking a check your phone every three seconds or getting butterflies in your stomach when you get a Tinder notification from them kind of crush. Those crush feelings are happening on Tinder. There's no pressure to take things too seriously. Just like flirt and vibe with people who actually get you. There are so many heart melting, stomach fluttering potential matches on Tinder waiting for you. Explore all the possibilities for yourself. Tinder. It starts with a swipe. Download Tinder today looking for a running shoe that does it all. The New Balance 1080 is your ultimate go to Blending comfort, performance and undeniable style. Whether you're clocking miles or grabbing coffee, it seamlessly transitions from your morning run to your everyday life. They just sent me a pair. I'm not going to lie to you guys. I've switched my regular shoe. I am now all in on The New Balance 1080. I wouldn't lie to you guys. With plush cushion support, your feet stay secure and comfortable. Run after run while you're running around doing errands. I'm not much of a runner for exercise per se, but I'm running around the city day to day. So thanks to the lightweight, breathable materials, you'll stay cool and fresh no matter how far you go. From race day to rest day, The New Balance 1080 delivers the versatility and and comfort serious athletes and everyday movers demand. Slip them on and experience what performance really feels like. Shop the [e-mail] okay, so I thought it Would be fun as an icebreaker to play a little game.

[Joel Kim Booster]

Oh, let's do that. Yeah. I love games.

[Podcast Host (possibly Jocelyn or Grace)]

All right, this game is called Joel or Kim. So here's where we decide if you said this or Kim Richards has said this.

[Joel Kim Booster]

Oh, I love this one.

[Podcast Host (possibly Jocelyn or Grace)]

Why don't you have a piece of bread or maybe calm down.

[Joel Kim Booster]

That is famous. Famously, Kim Richards. I'm very familiar with her oeuvre.

[Podcast Host (possibly Jocelyn or Grace)]

Correct. Up next, we've got. I'm not a drama queen. I'm a drama empress.

[Joel Kim Booster]

Oh, wow. That seems like something I could have tweeted, but I'm gonna say Kim Richards again.

[Podcast Host (possibly Jocelyn or Grace)]

Correct. Oh, wow.

[Joel Kim Booster]

Okay. Wow. Go with your guy. I'm really, like, now I'm, like, scared because I was like, certainly I'll remember everything I've ever said. And clearly that's what I was thinking.

[Podcast Host (possibly Jocelyn or Grace)]

I'm like, you know what? I feel like you remember the things you say. So this is going to be too easy. But we have to.

[Joel Kim Booster]

If you pulled old tweets, then it's over for me because.

[Podcast Host (possibly Jocelyn or Grace)]

And for me too.

[Joel Kim Booster]

I don't remember, for different reasons any of the crazy things I ever said on that website.

[Podcast Host (possibly Jocelyn or Grace)]

So. Okay, up next, you asked me specifically what I was taught. Now what I believe.

[Joel Kim Booster]

Oh, that's me. That's me.

[Podcast Host (possibly Jocelyn or Grace)]

Not what I believe.

[Joel Kim Booster]

That's me. That's me. That's me on Z way.

[Podcast Host (possibly Jocelyn or Grace)]

Yes.

[Joel Kim Booster]

That's me on Z way. Yeah.

[Podcast Host (possibly Jocelyn or Grace)]

I don't know why everyone expects me to learn things now. It's not my brand.

[Joel Kim Booster]

That's me as well.

[Podcast Host (possibly Jocelyn or Grace)]

Yes. Correct. Wow, this is good. You're really good. And we got. You stole my goddamn house, Kim Richards.

[Joel Kim Booster]

For sure.

[Podcast Host (possibly Jocelyn or Grace)]

Correct. Okay. My favorite race would be the Amazing Race.

[Joel Kim Booster]

I. I want to say that's me, but I don't know if I'm that funny. I guess I'll say, yes, I am.

[Podcast Host (possibly Jocelyn or Grace)]

You are that funny. Up next, we've got. I'm the queen of this castle.

[Joel Kim Booster]

That's Kim.

[Podcast Host (possibly Jocelyn or Grace)]

That's Kim.

[Joel Kim Booster]

Yeah.

[Podcast Host (possibly Jocelyn or Grace)]

Correct. I don't think she has it in her to be a housewife.

[Joel Kim Booster]

Wow, that's a real toss up. That's stumper. I have some opinions and so does Kim about these women, so I am gonna venture to guess that that was probably me on either a podcast or watch what happens live.

[Podcast Host (possibly Jocelyn or Grace)]

That is correct. Yes. You're really going with your gut. I like this. This is good. I don't know what I go through at night. And scene.

[Joel Kim Booster]

Again, this is a tougher one. I think that's Kim.

[Podcast Host (possibly Jocelyn or Grace)]

Correct.

[Joel Kim Booster]

Yeah.

[Podcast Host (possibly Jocelyn or Grace)]

Wow. And you've won Kim versus Jocelyn. That's great.

[Joel Kim Booster]

Hell yeah.

[Podcast Host (possibly Jocelyn or Grace)]

Hell, yeah.

[Joel Kim Booster]

Only. Only, I think two that I was, like, genuinely stoked by and guessed.

[Podcast Host (possibly Jocelyn or Grace)]

Yes.

[Joel Kim Booster]

So.

[Podcast Host (possibly Jocelyn or Grace)]

But you could correct.

[Joel Kim Booster]

Yeah, yeah.

[Podcast Host (possibly Jocelyn or Grace)]

Wow. Well, that's been that game. Up next, we've got questions like, you're in K Pop Demon Hunters. So they did that on Saturday Night Live the other day, and I was like, I guess I'm not a kid, so I don't know that it's the new craze. You're part of the new craze.

[Joel Kim Booster]

Yeah, it's. It's. I think it's the most watched Netflix movie of all time at this point. It is an insane phenomenon. I like. It's nice, though, because it's finally. All my friends with kids are sending me, like, texts that their kids love it. And it's like the first thing I've ever done in my career that is child appropriate.

[Podcast Host (possibly Jocelyn or Grace)]

Oh, yeah.

[Joel Kim Booster]

That is fun for the whole family. It is nice in that way. But it's so funny because, like, I have such a small part of that movie. Like, I. I'm three different voices in the movie. I know of two. I don't know what the third one is, and I could look it up, but I don't want to. Well, no, because my. My partner and I, we want to try and figure it out organically.

[Podcast Host (possibly Jocelyn or Grace)]

Okay.

[Joel Kim Booster]

It's like I recognize my voice in two of them, but whatever the last one was, I don't know what choice I was making. And I recorded it so long ago.

[Podcast Host (possibly Jocelyn or Grace)]

Ye. How long ago do you think?

[Joel Kim Booster]

Like, two years maybe. And it was just like a very quick in and out session because, again, had very few lines in the movie. And so I. And it was just all ran together, basically, because I was just boom, boom, boom. I did all of them. And so I don't. But I don't remember what the third one was. And so I'm really excited to figure it out.

[Podcast Host (possibly Jocelyn or Grace)]

Oh, interesting. It's like a fun little game for just yourself.

[Joel Kim Booster]

Yeah, exactly.

[Podcast Host (possibly Jocelyn or Grace)]

That's great.

[Joel Kim Booster]

But it is. It's. It's funny because, like, the Saja boy. The boy. The demon boy band in the movie are called the Saja Boys. And I'm one of the demon boy band members, of course. And I have roughly, like, four lines as that character. But when I tell you. When I tell you, the fans of this movie are so, like, just invested in the movie. There are full fan accounts on social media and, like, subreddits on Reddit devoted specifically to my four Line, character, like, fan fiction, like, all of this stuff. Like, people, like, people debate whether he's bad or good. And I'm like, how would you even know? He's barely in the movie. And like. But I'm so grateful for it. It really does make me feel really like a part of it in a very special way. And I'm obviously honored to even have a small part in the movie because I think it's great and I think it's so cool. That is resonated with so many people. The music is dope.

[Podcast Host (possibly Jocelyn or Grace)]

Yeah. We've got it going on.

[Joel Kim Booster]

Yeah, it's. It's so random.

[Podcast Host (possibly Jocelyn or Grace)]

Yeah, it's so awesome. So do you usually do voiceover?

[Joel Kim Booster]

Yeah, I've done a ton of voiceover.

[Podcast Host (possibly Jocelyn or Grace)]

Okay.

[Joel Kim Booster]

Co. Yeah, it's one of my, like, low key, most favorite things. But I've done, like, I've been a voice on American dad and BoJack Horseman burgers. Like, those are like, some of the most fun and some, the most proud, like, jobs that I've done. Like, like, I'm such a huge fan of, like, Bob's Burgers when I got that call.

[Podcast Host (possibly Jocelyn or Grace)]

Oh, yeah. So sick. Yeah. And you're right. That's like, that's not one of them that your, your friends. Kids can sit down and watch. Yeah. Oh, so that's awesome. So this is, this is a question, a follow up here I have for you. Does playing a villain in the most popular children's movie of 2025 make you feel like Floop from Spy Kids? He's a bad man. No, no, no.

[Joel Kim Booster]

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

[Podcast Host (possibly Jocelyn or Grace)]

Just a refresh.

[Joel Kim Booster]

I, you know, I never made that connection myself. That is not something I'd ever thought about, but I'll say. Sure.

[Podcast Host (possibly Jocelyn or Grace)]

It had to be, you know, alley oop to you. Yeah, yeah. Just to think about, I think you're.

[Joel Kim Booster]

Slightly younger than me too, and Spy Kids. I think I was right at the age where I was, like, not old enough to, like, circle back and watch it ironically, but too old to watch it earnestly and thought that I was like, that's for babies. I'm not gonna watch that movie. I'm 13 years old or 14 years old.

[Podcast Host (possibly Jocelyn or Grace)]

Yeah, totally.

[Joel Kim Booster]

Yeah.

[Podcast Host (possibly Jocelyn or Grace)]

And those are Spy Kids, Not Spy Teens exactly. It would have been a whole different thing. Congratulations. You're getting married.

[Joel Kim Booster]

Thank you. I thought that was like a general congratulations for the state of my life, which I was like, we have that too, as well. Congratulations on. Yes, I am getting married. New Year' Eve, technically, the day before New Year's Eve.

[Podcast Host (possibly Jocelyn or Grace)]

But yes, the day before New Year's Eve. Okay. All right. Because then New Year's Eve comes into some tricky territory.

[Joel Kim Booster]

For sure. I want to allow people to, you know, celebrate that awful, awful holiday however they want.

[Podcast Host (possibly Jocelyn or Grace)]

Yeah. Yeah, it is awful. I really don't like it. I've never liked it ever.

[Joel Kim Booster]

I forget, like, there were certain people who were like, oh, you're having your wedding on New Year's. But like, I wanted to go to Rio and I'm like, then fucking go to Rio. Go to fucking Rio. I do not need to spend $150 on a plate of food for you if you'd rather be getting your back blown in Rio.

[Podcast Host (possibly Jocelyn or Grace)]

Okay. And also, who has. I have to go to Rio.

[Joel Kim Booster]

No, I mean, gay guys. That's. But the thing is, it's like, it is like, I thought it would like. People forget though, that like planning a New Year's, like, event, excursion, weekend away, whatever, is a nightmare. Corralling 12 people into a house in, in Miami, trying to figure out the tickets to all the different events you want to go to, parties you want to go to. I mean, this is probably like, I'm speaking as like, this is very specific to my community, but even for anybody.

[Podcast Host (possibly Jocelyn or Grace)]

Else, like going on a trip, we.

[Joel Kim Booster]

Put too much pressure on New Year's to be a thing.

[Podcast Host (possibly Jocelyn or Grace)]

Yeah.

[Joel Kim Booster]

It's just another night. It's just another fudgeing night.

[Podcast Host (possibly Jocelyn or Grace)]

And I've never gotten a kiss, so it's never really been my favorite.

[Joel Kim Booster]

I know. I know gay men who are pushing 40 who have cried at midnight because they didn't have someone to kiss.

[Podcast Host (possibly Jocelyn or Grace)]

And that's going to be me. Me. It's actually always me and a gay man being like, again, it's like, we'll go for it.

[Joel Kim Booster]

We wouldn't have even left the pregame at this point hour in a normal night.

[Podcast Host (possibly Jocelyn or Grace)]

That's.

[Joel Kim Booster]

So why does this midnight mean anything? You know, it's just, you know, I say this as a person of privilege who does have someone to kiss at midnight for forever.

[Podcast Host (possibly Jocelyn or Grace)]

And that's why I hit it with the random congrats, the out of nowhere congrats. Well, I gotta ask, who's in the wedding party?

[Joel Kim Booster]

The wedding party for me is my friend's Matt Rogers Bonyang. My former. That was my follow up podcast co host Johari is also in the wedding party. And then my friends Kevin and Jared, who are normal people.

[Podcast Host (possibly Jocelyn or Grace)]

Oh, that's whatever. Ever since K Pop Demon Twink. What's it called?

[Joel Kim Booster]

K Pop Demon Twink. That's the sequel. Cast me in that sequel. Please. I want to do that movie.

[Podcast Host (possibly Jocelyn or Grace)]

Yes, that's exactly.

[Joel Kim Booster]

That is the gay porn parody of k pop Demon Hunters. I cannot believe you did that Freudian slip.

[Podcast Host (possibly Jocelyn or Grace)]

Yeah, that's.

[Joel Kim Booster]

That was. That was almost as good as that news anchor who was like. And he climbed the mountain and he's gay. I mean, gay. I mean blind. Sorry, Blind.

[Podcast Host (possibly Jocelyn or Grace)]

Oh, that was classic. That was a classically whoopsie doops.

[Joel Kim Booster]

Yeah, I love that one.

[Podcast Host (possibly Jocelyn or Grace)]

Oh, yeah. So diva Twinks is out now and do we have another game? Okay, perfect. We've got roast or toast. So I'm learning with you. I'm going to show you a photo of a celebrity, and you have to give them one sentence. It could be a roast or it could be a toast.

[Joel Kim Booster]

Okay? And I'm not gonna say. I'm just gonna say the sentence. And I'll leave it up to the people at home to decide if what I just said was a roast or a toast.

[Podcast Host (possibly Jocelyn or Grace)]

All right, starting off strong.

[Joel Kim Booster]

Who is that? I don't know who that is.

[Podcast Host (possibly Jocelyn or Grace)]

Okay.

[Joel Kim Booster]

Okay. So that's Madonna. And here's what I'll say. Say what you want about Madonna and her work. No one in the world looks like Madonna now. Okay? And isn't that what you want from Madonna? Like, I'm sorry, you can't, like, say. You could try to make fun of her all you want, but she is a singular looking human being on this planet, and that is something that we'll never be able to take away from her. And she should be.

[Podcast Host (possibly Jocelyn or Grace)]

She's Madonna, bitch. She's Madonna.

[Joel Kim Booster]

I want to say that this person is probably well known amongst the incel community. The thing about love about this person is it does look like if she tripped, she would break every bone in her body. All star queen. Give me ten more lifetime movies. Knew it. Sort of unimpeachably cool. And no matter what kind, like anytime someone tries to diss her, they seem really pathetic. Mariah is a person that can show up anytime she wants.

[Podcast Host (possibly Jocelyn or Grace)]

Not anytime.

[Joel Kim Booster]

Perfectly on time.

[Podcast Host (possibly Jocelyn or Grace)]

I was gonna say she's really only allowed to show up November through December.

[Joel Kim Booster]

Yeah, she's given us so much. To even think about speaking ill of her in this moment in her life is unconscionable. And I will not be doing it.

[Podcast Host (possibly Jocelyn or Grace)]

As I've just realized, for those of you listening at home and not watching, I should be saying the answers. That was Wendy Williams, everybody.

[Joel Kim Booster]

So this is Lorde, and she is, or rather they are, my ultimate queen. I have seen them and That's a gender neutral queen because I'm gay, and it means there is no gender for queen.

[Podcast Host (possibly Jocelyn or Grace)]

I saw someone say, I'm sorry, I'm glitching. Somebody said, monarch, monarch, monarch instead of queen.

[Joel Kim Booster]

They are the monarch of the.

[Podcast Host (possibly Jocelyn or Grace)]

And they said, oh, oh, monarch, monarch.

[Joel Kim Booster]

Royalty can do no wrong in my eyes. And give solar power another. Listen, you were wrong. This is Bryn from the Real Housewives of New York City. So pretty. And in the transcript for that one, I need you to include the beat of silence.

[Podcast Host (possibly Jocelyn or Grace)]

Click, pause.

[Joel Kim Booster]

I think it's incredible when a short king does his own stunts, including, you know, diving off of an airplane and getting something off of a high shelf.

[Podcast Host (possibly Jocelyn or Grace)]

Tom Cruise, everyone.

[Joel Kim Booster]

Is that the mom from Modern Family? Oh, it's Cheryl Hines. Well, all I can say about Cheryl Hines is she looks like the mom from Modern Family, Kim Zolciak. I would be more on board for Kim if I didn't at all times worry that she is extorting one of her children.

[Podcast Host (possibly Jocelyn or Grace)]

Yeah. And that's been the game.

[Joel Kim Booster]

Yeah.

[Podcast Host (possibly Jocelyn or Grace)]

Thank you so much for playing. I think you took a very. I think you could run for office the way you handled that.

[Joel Kim Booster]

Yeah. You know, I'm starting to understand the scope of my platform and trying to get into less trouble because now. Now it's becoming a point where I'm gonna meet some of these people eventually. I don't need them saying, you said I looked like a burn victim post.

[Podcast Host (possibly Jocelyn or Grace)]

Plastic surgery, and that is Madonna you're referencing or. Oh, okay, gotcha. Absolutely not. Have you ever been called out for speaking on someone's behalf in the sense of your own behalf, and you're just talking about them?

[Joel Kim Booster]

Oh, you know, I had a drag race recap podcast for a while with Nicole Byer, and I talked some shit about Monet X Change on that podcast, who then we had a very public beef because of that. For one brief minute. I think during pandemic, that was the primary time it happened, but now we're great friends.

[Podcast Host (possibly Jocelyn or Grace)]

Okay. How do you squash. How do you squash beef?

[Joel Kim Booster]

I think for viewers at home, by examining the stakes of what was said and the stakes of the situation. Because for us, it was like such an. Like, most beefs are about nothing, in my opinion. And if you can take a step back and realize that no one was killed, if no one was hurt, maimed, or killed, the beef cannot be that important. So I think perspective is the thing that you need to have for most beefs.

[Podcast Host (possibly Jocelyn or Grace)]

So, yeah, I guess perspective. Yeah, that helps. You hear that, kids. You go home you squash that beef. You see it from another person's perspective.

[Joel Kim Booster]

But you also have to take into account how much value does this person add to your life is. Is like, they're out of your life and you're. You'll be better for it. So I think, like, part of the perspective aspect of it is seeing, like, first of all, how. How much damage was done by what was said, but also weighing how much you need this person in your life to begin with.

[Podcast Host (possibly Jocelyn or Grace)]

And when it came with your beef that you were in, how much did you weigh that you needed them in your life?

[Joel Kim Booster]

It's not that I needed them in my life, but I also weighed, like, this is a cool person who I said something thoughtless about that was not ever intended to be heard by them, even though it was on a publicly available podcast about them. And it's just like, I think both of us had to realize, yeah, we've both popped off and mouthed off about. It's hard with celebrities because it's so easy to be like, well, that's not a real person.

[Podcast Host (possibly Jocelyn or Grace)]

Yeah, yeah. I've said a few things about a few celebrities where I'm like, eh, I wish I could retract it. It's not like they've ever heard it. But I just, you know, I learned more about the person.

[Joel Kim Booster]

No, definitely feel bad. It's so funny too. Cause, like, sometimes I'll get a really nasty, like, DM in response to one of my stories, and I have a pretty good do not Engage policy, but sometimes I am a little fucked up in line for the bathroom at 3am at a party, and I'm on my phone and I'll go through the filtered messages and I'll, you know, engage. And I say about seven times out of 10, if I respond to the nasty message, they go, oh, my God, oh my God, oh my God. I didn't think you'd actually see this. And, like, really backtrack. And it's just like. And that's so telling because it's like, you don't. You didn't think I was a human being on the other side of that message because you just assumed that I would never see it. And I think that's. I mean, that's true of every awful thing I ever tweeted about an actress on Twitter. You know, like, I. No way ever thought they'd see it and certainly didn't mean it. Yeah.

[Podcast Host (possibly Jocelyn or Grace)]

Like, after all these times of like, literally, literally saying that out loud of like, you know, these people, they didn't think that someone else was on the other side of it. Yeah, it kind of makes you on. On, at least for your own bad messages. Makes you kind of realize, like, oh, like they truly didn't think that I would ever see this. It was just like a void for them.

[Joel Kim Booster]

And I think that's true even for non celebrities. When you're talking to somebody on the others in the, if you're jumping in the comments, arguing with someone, that you do not conceptualize them as a real three dimensional, living, breathing human being. And I think it's so funny that, like, the Internet was this thing that was supposed to connect us. And I think it's done. I think it's blunted the connection in a lot of ways because you're connecting with people that you don't actually see as humans.

[Podcast Host (possibly Jocelyn or Grace)]

Yeah, yeah, that is true. And then it's like everyone throws out the word bot. Like, oh, you're just a bot.

[Joel Kim Booster]

And it's so much easier, it's so much easier to be an asshole when you can disengage by saying, oh, this is just a bot.

[Podcast Host (possibly Jocelyn or Grace)]

It's easy, honey, they're not trying to.

[Joel Kim Booster]

Sell you an iPad right now. They have a salient point. And so I don't think they're a.

[Podcast Host (possibly Jocelyn or Grace)]

Bot unless they've got, you know, a profile picture of a literal robot. Yeah, yeah, I suppose. Okay, so my question to you is, you travel with a groomer, question mark.

[Joel Kim Booster]

I don't like groomers. I try to stay away from them. When I hear that someone is grooming, I say, that is not okay. Leave those children alone.

[Podcast Host (possibly Jocelyn or Grace)]

I agree.

[Joel Kim Booster]

Of course, I would never invite one to go on a trip with me.

[Podcast Host (possibly Jocelyn or Grace)]

Okay, but now how do I rephrase this? You travel with a person who makes you look nice.

[Joel Kim Booster]

I usually don't travel with them. Like, I, I'm not a real housewife. I don't bring the glam squad with me on the trips. But if it's like a, if I'm doing something like this, like, I'm fully stamped right now, like the mug is painted. And I do have an incredible, like, team of people that cycles through and does all that for me.

[Podcast Host (possibly Jocelyn or Grace)]

So name them.

[Joel Kim Booster]

Kimmy Duncan.

[Podcast Host (possibly Jocelyn or Grace)]

Kimmy Duncan. Yes, Kimmy Duncan.

[Joel Kim Booster]

And then my, my LA girl is Tracy Raffleson. And. But I, you know, I have deep spiritual connection with both of these women. Heidi Packdal in New York as well. I love, I have a very deep spiritual connection with every woman who's ever done my makeup.

[Podcast Host (possibly Jocelyn or Grace)]

This is a segment that we like to call Shout Out. So basically you get to. That was like the pre warmup. And now it's time for you to shout out whoever you want, rapid fire style, for as long as you want, right here into this camera.

[Joel Kim Booster]

Well, I guess shout out to every person who has done my makeup because adult acne is real. Shout out to everyone with adult acne. I know what you're going through. It is a struggle every day and I think you are brave for stepping foot out the door. Shout out to the 24 year old I was talking to on Grindr, who I jokingly said I looked younger than at the age of pushing 40. And he fired back with, yeah, well, adult acne scars will do that for a person. So shout out to your entire generation. You were not bullied enough. Shout out to bullies in high school. You're putting in the work. You're. It's character building. I wouldn't be person I am today without my bullies. And I guess finally shout out to the hotel staff at the hotel that I'm staying on who turn a blind eye every single time a Grinder hookup comes through their doors. And they. They will believe that it's just quote, unquote, a friend or quote, unquote, my publicist who's coming to Visit me at 1am Your.

[Podcast Host (possibly Jocelyn or Grace)]

Your hotel.

[Joel Kim Booster]

They're chill. They're chill about. They keep it chill.

[Podcast Host (possibly Jocelyn or Grace)]

The person in the lobby, they're just Biz Markey. Ew. You say he's just a friend. You say he's just a friend. Oh, bribery. Okay, so Lute's coming out.

[Joel Kim Booster]

Yeah.

[Podcast Host (possibly Jocelyn or Grace)]

Lute, congratulations.

[Joel Kim Booster]

The whole reason I'm here, very fun stuff. Finally got to it.

[Podcast Host (possibly Jocelyn or Grace)]

Yeah. It doesn't fuck with me, but, you know, you gotta get the word out about the show. And so Apple tv. So here's my thing about Apple tv. I love it. I tricked you to that. You did.

[Joel Kim Booster]

You did. Cause I have notes.

[Podcast Host (possibly Jocelyn or Grace)]

Oh, you do?

[Joel Kim Booster]

Well, no, I'm not gonna.

[Podcast Host (possibly Jocelyn or Grace)]

No, definitely not. That's.

[Joel Kim Booster]

Yeah, no notes. No notes. My only note is I don't get to spend enough time on set.

[Podcast Host (possibly Jocelyn or Grace)]

There it is. No, but Apple tv, they do it exactly the way it should be done. I think they make TV shows like movies.

[Joel Kim Booster]

Yeah. And it's awesome. Yeah.

[Podcast Host (possibly Jocelyn or Grace)]

And I'm sure you hopefully have a different outlook on it, but I love Apple tv.

[Joel Kim Booster]

No, I genuinely do really love Apple tv. I think it's the streamer, I think with some of the best content on it. And I think part of that is, is that Apple tv, they only release like one or Two shows in a cycle at a time. Like, they only have, like, one or two things that is in a new season at any given point in time. Which I think makes it a lot easier because you go on some of these other streamers who I also love to be employed by me as well.

[Podcast Host (possibly Jocelyn or Grace)]

Throw me in.

[Joel Kim Booster]

There is a little bit more like, what? There's so just almost too much to choose from. Yeah. And I think, like, like, Apple's very smart about choosing, like, these two or three things to, like, promote at a time. So I appreciate that about them as well. And they. They're the only streamer that really lets shows run for C. Like the fact that we got a third season in this climate. Funny.

[Podcast Host (possibly Jocelyn or Grace)]

It's a hilarious show.

[Joel Kim Booster]

I know. But it doesn't matter. They, you know, some of these places are canceling popular shows because it doesn't make sense financially to keep them for more than two seasons.

[Podcast Host (possibly Jocelyn or Grace)]

What's a show that got canceled that you'll never. You'll never stop about? What was it?

[Joel Kim Booster]

The oa.

[Podcast Host (possibly Jocelyn or Grace)]

That's everyone's response.

[Joel Kim Booster]

Yeah.

[Podcast Host (possibly Jocelyn or Grace)]

Doa. I gotta watch it.

[Joel Kim Booster]

You gotta check it out.

[Podcast Host (possibly Jocelyn or Grace)]

Wow.

[Joel Kim Booster]

Listen, I was making fun of all those protesters outside the Netflix building who were doing the movement.

[Podcast Host (possibly Jocelyn or Grace)]

I didn't know that.

[Joel Kim Booster]

Movements outside the Netflix building to try and get the OA back. And then I watched the OA finally, and I was like, no, they were right. I'd be out there doing my little dances on the street too, if I were. If I were. If I had known at the time what I was missing.

[Podcast Host (possibly Jocelyn or Grace)]

I'm outside the Netflix office for a different reason. I'm like, yeah, they're processing. I need to. To see someone.

[Joel Kim Booster]

Ted Sarandos, you are my real father. I have the paternity test. Come out and face me.

[Podcast Host (possibly Jocelyn or Grace)]

I'm a goddamn star. Don't you know? Ever spend $200 on a fragrance only to realize you hate it? Micro Perfumes fixes that.

[Sponsor/Ad Voice]

Now you can try luxury scents without the luxury price.

[Podcast Host (possibly Jocelyn or Grace)]

Pick from real designer fragrances like Gucci, Chanel, and Versace. It's the real deal. Authentic scents starting at just a few bucks. They come in sleek, travel sprays, ship fast, and there's no subscription required. Why gamble on a full bottle? Go to microperfumes.com podcast for up to 60% off. That's microperfumes.com podcast for up to 60% off.

[Sponsor/Ad Voice]

Cash flow crunch on deck's small business line of credit gives your business immediate access to funds up to $200,000. Right when you need it. Cover seasonal dips, manage payroll, restock inventory, or tackle unexpected expenses without missing a beat. With flexible draws, transparent pricing and control over repayment, get quickly and confidently. Apply [e-mail] funds could be available as soon as tomorrow. Depending on certain loan attributes. Your business loan may be issued by Ondeck or Celtic Bank. Ondeck does not lend in North Dakota. All loans, an amount subject to lender approval. At 1800-flowers.com we know that connections are at the heart of being human. Whether celebrating life's joys or comforting during tough times, 1-800-FLowers helps you express what words can't. For nearly 50 years, millions have trusted 1-800-FLowers to deliver thoughtful gifts that help create lasting bonds. Because it's more than just a gift. It's your way of showing you care. Visit 1-800-flowers.com sxm and connect today. That's 1-800-flowers. Com sxm.

[Podcast Host (possibly Jocelyn or Grace)]

Okay, so I saw. I've seen the show. Of course. I love it. It's amazing. I've got a few questions.

[Joel Kim Booster]

Okay.

[Podcast Host (possibly Jocelyn or Grace)]

Kesha's on the show.

[Joel Kim Booster]

Kesha's on the show. And literally, I know. I. People always ask me about Kesha being on the show, and they want, like, tea, and I'm like, I'm so sorry, but the tea is freezing cold. Does. She was lovely. Showed up on time, knew her lines, hit her marks, sang her beautiful song many, many, many, many times. And it was like an incredible live Kesha concert of just one song over and over and over again. But we are all happy to listen to it because she sounds incredible live, too.

[Podcast Host (possibly Jocelyn or Grace)]

She was live.

[Joel Kim Booster]

Yeah, she was live singing. She's really doing it, you know? And, like, there are moments there were certain shots where she was live singing and then, like, certain shots that, like, it was over a track, but she would still sing over the track because, like, like, you know, whatever. And so. And she sounded incredible. I think, like, people have this image, like, and this is a lesson for all of us. Like, I think 2009, Kesha is, like, permanently in our brains of, like, tick tock. And, you know, oh, she's such a mess. She's, you know, using whiskey as mouthwash.

[Podcast Host (possibly Jocelyn or Grace)]

Well, the first line is, she does feel like P. Diddy.

[Joel Kim Booster]

Yeah.

[Podcast Host (possibly Jocelyn or Grace)]

So I'm a little concerned on that.

[Joel Kim Booster]

So I think, like, that's the brand she sold. And then she showed up to set, like, like, and I was like, oh, you're on time and you're not, like, being a diva. Like, this isn't the Kesha I asked for. You're being nice and responsible. Who, who are you selling with?

[Podcast Host (possibly Jocelyn or Grace)]

Tik Tok, Then, you know, you've, you've really changed.

[Joel Kim Booster]

Positive way. You've grown up and mature at a reasonable rate. How dare you, Kesha.

[Podcast Host (possibly Jocelyn or Grace)]

You used to be fun.

[Joel Kim Booster]

Yeah.

[Podcast Host (possibly Jocelyn or Grace)]

And now you're a blast. Well, okay, so does someone. Does Kesha show up at the rap party?

[Joel Kim Booster]

Probably not. No.

[Podcast Host (possibly Jocelyn or Grace)]

No.

[Joel Kim Booster]

And that's the thing. I'm glad she didn't, because. Not that I didn't want to spend more time with Kesha, but, like, if Kesha had the time to do that, that would really shatter my image of Kesha's life. And I don't want Kesha to have the time to show up to our rap party.

[Podcast Host (possibly Jocelyn or Grace)]

Absolutely.

[Joel Kim Booster]

I want her in the recording studio.

[Podcast Host (possibly Jocelyn or Grace)]

Yeah, we got to get her back in the studio asap. Asap. I, I, I was gonna say we could kidnap her, but let's move on. You play Maya Rudolph's assist. What were some odd jobs that you did while coming up?

[Joel Kim Booster]

Yeah, I mean, I've had, I've been employed consistently since I was 14.

[Podcast Host (possibly Jocelyn or Grace)]

Me too.

[Joel Kim Booster]

Never not had a Gap. Really? And not a ton of weird jobs. I mean, I worked at a Quiznos and a Subway at the same time. Cold Stone Creamery, sang for tips.

[Podcast Host (possibly Jocelyn or Grace)]

Oh, my God. That was my dream job in high school. And I love singing for tips. It sounds like fun.

[Joel Kim Booster]

It was a lot of fun. And I also worked at a Dip in Dots store. Dipping. That's kiosk. I should say a Dippin Dots store. Imagine.

[Podcast Host (possibly Jocelyn or Grace)]

Yeah, I got, I got all jazzed. Yeah, that's not a thing. Wait, so what do you mean you worked at the, at the kiosk? Like, you refilled.

[Joel Kim Booster]

I was in the mall. There was like a stand more so.

[Podcast Host (possibly Jocelyn or Grace)]

Okay, gotcha.

[Joel Kim Booster]

And I was in the mall, and I got fired from that job because the manager was hiding in the Verizon store observing all of us. He, like, over hired all these high school kids and myself included, and then, then would sit in the Verizon store catty corner from the kiosk and watch us all. And I got fired because when there were no customers, I wasn't doing enough work. Which, I got to tell you, if there's not a lot of work to be done at the Dippin Dots stand when there weren't customers, what are you.

[Podcast Host (possibly Jocelyn or Grace)]

Supposed to turn yourself into nitrous gas? Like, I don't understand.

[Joel Kim Booster]

I still don't understand.

[Podcast Host (possibly Jocelyn or Grace)]

Well, I used to have a boss when I was 14 that said if there's a time to lean, there's a time to clean. I hate that phrase. And that was my mom's best friend from growing up. So I couldn't even, I couldn't even make fun of him because he would do it a lot and everybody else would make fun of him and I wouldn't.

[Joel Kim Booster]

That is the problem with this country encapsulated in like one phrase. Because it's like sometimes you need time.

[Podcast Host (possibly Jocelyn or Grace)]

To lean to sometimes so that there could be a time to clean.

[Joel Kim Booster]

Yeah. So you have the energy to clean.

[Podcast Host (possibly Jocelyn or Grace)]

It was literally a hot dog stand though, so it didn't really matter all that much. We're all going to be all right. Any other odd jobs? Oh, my first. Really bad.

[Joel Kim Booster]

Yeah, I worked at Groupon. I was like the 76th employee of Groupon. Yeah, my mom loves Groupon.

[Podcast Host (possibly Jocelyn or Grace)]

She's the last one using it.

[Joel Kim Booster]

It's a mom aphrodisiac for sure.

[Podcast Host (possibly Jocelyn or Grace)]

Yeah, she got me hooked for a little bit too, because I'm happy to.

[Joel Kim Booster]

Hear that people are still using it. I did not know she's a big fan. But yeah, I was very early in on Groupon and like, I rose rapidly through the ranks of Groupon because when you started a startup of that size, like, like it's like if you've been around then you get the promotion. And like by the time I left that job, I was managing like three different call centers remotely from Chicago in three different states at 24. And I had no business doing that.

[Podcast Host (possibly Jocelyn or Grace)]

Oh, goodness. Wow. Yeah, you're 24.

[Joel Kim Booster]

I would like show up at these call centers every quarter to like check in on them. And like the 40 something year old men who ran the floor of these call centers, they hated me. They were like, who is this fucking twink coming in being like, did you meet your numbers this month? You know, and it was like, no. I had no, no gravitas, no authority. They did not want me to lead.

[Podcast Host (possibly Jocelyn or Grace)]

Yeah. And so did that. Did you find yourself in some conversations of feeling when you're feeling out of place in, in a, in a workplace and you feel like not an imposter, but. Oh, imposter syndrome.

[Joel Kim Booster]

Yeah, yeah, yeah, Imposter syndrome.

[Podcast Host (possibly Jocelyn or Grace)]

I feel like I've, I've caught that right now, actually.

[Joel Kim Booster]

You know, I feel that a lot actually these days in my creative work. I never once felt that working any of these day jobs. And I think because like the stakes weren't high enough for me to ever care that much to feel Imposter syndrome. I was like, yeah, no shit, I Don't belong here. I belong on the stage, you know.

[Podcast Host (possibly Jocelyn or Grace)]

So you did start in Chicago though, correct? Yeah. Okay, so in the 2010. So that was the. Or that was the boom. That was boom time.

[Joel Kim Booster]

That was boom time.

[Podcast Host (possibly Jocelyn or Grace)]

How do you. How different do you think the comedy scene is from. From then to now?

[Joel Kim Booster]

It's very, very different. In fact, like, I am so glad I'm not coming up now. I think that TikTok and social media is such a bigger. So much a bigger part of coming up as a standup now. And I'm so glad that I am in a position where I don't feel beholden to release a shitty crowd work clip every single week on my TikTok. Oh, was that. Oh, I, I said. I said shitty, though. Yeah, yeah, you're releasing good ones. No, yours are all, first of all, groundbreaking.

[Podcast Host (possibly Jocelyn or Grace)]

We're working on it. You know what? That's actually my thing. I. I have so many that I are ready to put on and I'm like, I'm. I'm too scared because I don't want it to be another shitty crowd.

[Joel Kim Booster]

No, here's the thing. Here's the thing is I have a lot of sympathy for comics because you do have to be releasing content at a rate that I never had to when I was in your position. And like, so, yeah, you don't. You can't burn your material on these clips, so you have to do something. And crowd work is always new. But my thing about crowd work clips is, no matter what, when I'm doing crowd work, I'm still the funny one. I'm still the one who. My responses to whatever they say are the joke. And I see so many crowd work clips that get uploaded where the only laughter is coming from what the person in the audience is saying. And it's like, baby, you're posting an L on your timeline right now. You're saying this person, do your job. Like, don't post that. Like, unless you have a funny, like, comeback or rejoinder or something or POV on what they've just said, then you're not doing your job as a comic and you're just posting like an example of someone else being funnier than you. And why do you want to do that?

[Podcast Host (possibly Jocelyn or Grace)]

What it is, is improv. Yeah, you're. Yes. Anding and your and is not to their. Yes, you know, exactly. Yeah, you're right. You're right. And you are lucky that you don't have to post these. Jesus Christ. Oh, but this, this is a follow up from what we Were just talking about. People talk a lot about LA versus New York. But what's your take on New York versus Chicago?

[Joel Kim Booster]

Oh, I mean the, they're, they're actually like pretty similar in a lot of ways. In a lot of ways that matter because there's so much stage time. It's a very like community based scene. But the thing, the big difference between New York and Chicago is I, when I was in Chicago coming up, it was, it's the perfect place to start comedy, I think, because for one, there's not very few eyes on you in Chicago. You can take some big swings and fail hard because there's not someone important in the audience who's going to have a lasting impression of you that you worry you don't want a bomb in front of. Once you move to New York, it can be a little bit more intense because a. Of all, it's like, you know, you're from junior varsity to varsity, like some of the best com. You're, you're fighting for stage time with some of the best comics who are working now.

[Podcast Host (possibly Jocelyn or Grace)]

Yeah.

[Joel Kim Booster]

And you never. I, I can't count the number of shows that I'd be on where I'd be like planning on doing new material and then someone comes back to the green room is like, oh, the booker for Fallon is in the audience.

[Podcast Host (possibly Jocelyn or Grace)]

Yeah.

[Joel Kim Booster]

And it's like, well, now this show became really important and it was just supposed to be like, you know, a fun time now. And so like it's, it's. The stakes feel a little bit higher in New York, I think. And so I'm so grateful that I started in Chicago where I could take those big swings, really figure out myself a little bit more. Not to the extent that I, when I was in New York, but I came to New York with a strong set and like, you know, a strong sense of who I was as a comic. And I think that if I'd started in New York, it would have been a little bit harder because I would have been triangulating based on like what people wanted from me rather than what I wanted to do.

[Podcast Host (possibly Jocelyn or Grace)]

Yeah, it's like helps you grow, I guess, and then you take the leap to the bigger palm.

[Joel Kim Booster]

I will say though too, this is the other thing. I moved out of the Chicago scene to York, New York, well before everyone thought I should. Before I felt ready to, in fact.

[Podcast Host (possibly Jocelyn or Grace)]

And did you have to do that for work or you just decided?

[Joel Kim Booster]

I just decided I wanted to take the plunge. I had come to New York on a trip and done a bunch of Bar shows and, like, felt really, like the energy of New York is really intoxicating. Yeah, I hate saying that.

[Podcast Host (possibly Jocelyn or Grace)]

I know. You can't help it.

[Joel Kim Booster]

It's true. And so I got back to Chicago and put in a transfer at work to be transferred to our New York offices. And within a month, I was in New York.

[Podcast Host (possibly Jocelyn or Grace)]

Oh, that's lucky that you were able to do that too, with your job.

[Joel Kim Booster]

I know. I was very lucky. I don't know what I would have done if that wasn't the case. But all the comics in. In Chicago were like, oh, but you haven't done this room yet. You haven't done this show. You haven't done this enough. Like, it's too soon. It's too soon. You'll get swallowed up. And, like, my thing is, is I always tell people, move a little bit before you think you're ready to, because I got to New York. And the thing they don't tell you is no one gives a shit what you did in Chicago once you get to New York. No, it just doesn't matter. The tr. The credits do not transfer. You are starting from zero. And so I moved with a bunch of Chicago comics who were, you know, classes above me, who had been doing it for longer and were sort of the kings and queens of the Chicago scene. But then we got moved there at the same time, and we were all last at the open mics together. Wow. You know, and it was a much harder transition for them to go back to zero. I was much closer to zero when I moved. So I was like, oh, yeah, this is basically my life in Chicago now anyway. So this isn't. This doesn't hurt as much.

[Podcast Host (possibly Jocelyn or Grace)]

Yeah, but. But personally, you have. You're a lot more developed than you thought you, like, than you would have.

[Joel Kim Booster]

Been if you didn't. I was developed that I could. There was still a lot of room for growth. I had a good enough handle that I could move to New York and not lose myself. Because that's the thing I think about New York, is that if you don't have a handle on who you are, this city will swallow you up and spit you out like it is. Yeah. You gotta know yourself.

[Podcast Host (possibly Jocelyn or Grace)]

Even when I first moved here, I wasn't. I didn't initially start doing standup right away. I, like, waited a couple months, but to start for the first time. But even what I was wearing was I was trying to be someone I wasn't.

[Joel Kim Booster]

Yeah.

[Podcast Host (possibly Jocelyn or Grace)]

Because I was like, I'm moving to New York. You know, I was wearing a beret I was like, I don't know what I'm doing. Everything's from Shein. Because I'm so poor and, like, I'm wearing, like, a. A beret that's, like, falling apart because it's made of.

[Joel Kim Booster]

Yeah, yeah.

[Podcast Host (possibly Jocelyn or Grace)]

Papier mache.

[Joel Kim Booster]

Yeah.

[Podcast Host (possibly Jocelyn or Grace)]

It's like.

[Joel Kim Booster]

I don't know.

[Podcast Host (possibly Jocelyn or Grace)]

It's so funny. Like, what you. You. When you. What you do when you move to New York, it's like how you. How you act. Where did you move to?

[Joel Kim Booster]

I moved to Bushwick with seven roommates.

[Podcast Host (possibly Jocelyn or Grace)]

Okay. That's the artist's way.

[Joel Kim Booster]

Yeah.

[Podcast Host (possibly Jocelyn or Grace)]

Yeah. That's what they say. You have to do that.

[Joel Kim Booster]

It was tough.

[Podcast Host (possibly Jocelyn or Grace)]

It's a chapter.

[Joel Kim Booster]

And did my roommate pick up a cat off the street that was likely a bodega cat, and bring it into the house and name it isis to destroy the cat? No, because I'm destroyed as, like, Egyptian mythology. Oh. You know, the terror organization was already in existence at this time.

[Podcast Host (possibly Jocelyn or Grace)]

I'm not an asshole for immediately thinking that.

[Joel Kim Booster]

Right. And this cat that was not fixed. And so when she would go in heat, we were on the ground floor and we had windows that were facing the street. All the neighborhood male bodega cats would come to the window desperately trying to get to her.

[Podcast Host (possibly Jocelyn or Grace)]

Oh, wow.

[Joel Kim Booster]

Through the windows, they could sense it. It was a nightmare situation. I lived in the McKibben Lofts. Shout out if you were familiar. Bedbug Factory.

[Podcast Host (possibly Jocelyn or Grace)]

Oh, my God.

[Joel Kim Booster]

Allegedly.

[Podcast Host (possibly Jocelyn or Grace)]

Oh, my God.

[Joel Kim Booster]

Allegedly.

[Podcast Host (possibly Jocelyn or Grace)]

So did you deal with bed bugs?

[Joel Kim Booster]

I'm not going to talk about that.

[Podcast Host (possibly Jocelyn or Grace)]

Okay. Yeah, that's the plea. The fifth. That's totally fair. I've dealt with cockroaches. Did you have cockroaches?

[Joel Kim Booster]

Oh, yeah, but that's, like a New York staple.

[Podcast Host (possibly Jocelyn or Grace)]

I'm still not over my staple. It turned me into somebody I don't even know. Even in my new apartment, I'm, like, looking over my shoulder every two seconds. It's just my own hair. Rats, even.

[Joel Kim Booster]

Oh. One time I was walking down the street street, and a rat so large ran out from the side. It tripped me. It, like, ran between my legs mid walk. And I tr. I thought it was like a dog. It was so big and so scary. It was so. I'll never forget that. Tripping over a rat at nighttime. At nighttime that was so large, I thought it was like a raccoon or a larger animal until I literally saw Caught in the street under the street lamp, and I was like, no, that's a rat.

[Podcast Host (possibly Jocelyn or Grace)]

Good grief. Charlie Brown. That's Yeah, that's, that's never good. Yeah, New York is beautiful.

[Joel Kim Booster]

Greatest city in the world, baby.

[Podcast Host (possibly Jocelyn or Grace)]

Is this where you are currently?

[Joel Kim Booster]

No, I'm. I'm in LA now.

[Podcast Host (possibly Jocelyn or Grace)]

Okay. I figured things are, Things are good. When things are good, you go to la. That's what, that's what happens. You do Chicago, you figure things out, you go to New York, you get rats up your ass, and then, yeah, la, you earn it.

[Joel Kim Booster]

I'm lucky. I get to come back here all the time, though, you know? Like, I think like last this year I've been to New York probably every month, except for like two or three. And it's, it's the best because I get to come, I get to ride the ride and then I get to get off the ride and go back to my west coast, weed on my couch with my boyfriend and like, you know, just bedrock.

[Podcast Host (possibly Jocelyn or Grace)]

Yeah, I mean, that's the thing about la. When you're in la, I feel like you can get a lot more stuff done because there's less distraction, as New York is just one big giant distraction.

[Joel Kim Booster]

Absolutely. Yeah.

[Podcast Host (possibly Jocelyn or Grace)]

Yeah. What's one thing you miss from New York, though?

[Joel Kim Booster]

Public transit.

[Podcast Host (possibly Jocelyn or Grace)]

For sure.

[Joel Kim Booster]

For sure. Public transit. I, I hate driving. Yeah, I hate that.

[Podcast Host (possibly Jocelyn or Grace)]

Everything, la, traffic, the city, slow.

[Joel Kim Booster]

No, it really sucks. And like, I just miss. I would much rather be stuck in between stations for 20 minutes at my destination in LA, but driving around the block for 20 minutes trying to find parking, I find that so much more infuriating than being stuck on a. A subway train.

[Podcast Host (possibly Jocelyn or Grace)]

Like, sometimes you forget, though. Sometimes you forget what it's like to be in, in the subway when it's like in the summertime and you sweat in your balls. Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah.

[Joel Kim Booster]

I remember the soup.

[Podcast Host (possibly Jocelyn or Grace)]

Yeah, it's. It gets to be a little squishy, squashy and you. And you sneak us.

[Joel Kim Booster]

But this is. The thing about New York versus la, ultimately, is that New York requires a lot of energy to live here, but is very rewarding when you put in that energy. But LA is so easy to live, live. And it's dangerous because you can get really complacent about seeing people about going out. Because it's like here, everybody's desperate to go out because they want to get out of their shitty apartments, away from their shitty roommates.

[Podcast Host (possibly Jocelyn or Grace)]

That's true.

[Joel Kim Booster]

In la, everyone, like, is just like, no, I. I live in so much. I have a yard. Like, I'm gonna stay, you know, like.

[Podcast Host (possibly Jocelyn or Grace)]

If you want to come see me, come to me.

[Joel Kim Booster]

Yeah.

[Podcast Host (possibly Jocelyn or Grace)]

You know, we have plenty of room yeah, but that's not the case in New York because like you said, some people have seven roommates. Roommates. Yeah. So what? Do you have any roommates? Horror stories. Not with them specifically, but we can keep it more ambiguous.

[Joel Kim Booster]

I had a roommate. This is a different apartment in New York. And it was a three bedroom, one bathroom. And this roommate on a Sunday afternoon, boy, would he take a bath.

[Podcast Host (possibly Jocelyn or Grace)]

A bath.

[Joel Kim Booster]

Boy, would he call his mom and grand grandma in the bath. And boy, did I pee in many pots and dump them out my window into the Chase parking lot.

[Podcast Host (possibly Jocelyn or Grace)]

Good grief. Yeah, you gotta do what you gotta do.

[Joel Kim Booster]

Gotta do what you gotta do.

[Podcast Host (possibly Jocelyn or Grace)]

Well, bath. Really?

[Joel Kim Booster]

Yeah.

[Podcast Host (possibly Jocelyn or Grace)]

Wow.

[Joel Kim Booster]

He was a good. Like, he was a southern, like, gay guy who, like, luxuriated, you know, I can't. I can't fault him.

[Podcast Host (possibly Jocelyn or Grace)]

Like, that dad that went to jail. What's his name? Oh, the Chrisleys.

[Joel Kim Booster]

Yeah, the Chrisleys. Yeah, that guy. No, actually very, very.

[Podcast Host (possibly Jocelyn or Grace)]

He seems to be like. Yes, that's kind of what comes to mind.

[Joel Kim Booster]

Wow. I. So such a rough day for him to find out that in his. In your mind, he is dad who went to jail.

[Podcast Host (possibly Jocelyn or Grace)]

Yeah, dad who went to jail.

[Joel Kim Booster]

That's his legacy. That's his legacy.

[Podcast Host (possibly Jocelyn or Grace)]

But he's southern, you know, the one.

[Joel Kim Booster]

Person, of all the dads that have gone to jail, he's my dad. He's the one who is the dad who went to jail.

[Podcast Host (possibly Jocelyn or Grace)]

Who's your dad that went to jail?

[Joel Kim Booster]

My own dad.

[Podcast Host (possibly Jocelyn or Grace)]

Wouldn't that be a fun alley? I guess. Who else went to jail? Is Diddy a dad?

[Joel Kim Booster]

I'm sure.

[Podcast Host (possibly Jocelyn or Grace)]

Let's move on. I need to hear about what Bravo shows are your faves.

[Joel Kim Booster]

Oh, I mean, I'm a housewives completist. I watched them all completest. I think Salt Lake is probably the crown jewel right now of the franchise. Yeah. It's just the one that's firing on all cylinders. And the women really understand the assignment and are all playing ball.

[Podcast Host (possibly Jocelyn or Grace)]

Yeah, it's when you get into multiple. Like it was past season five. They're like, we are. Are royalty, so we're not gonna be. We're not gonna be dancing around like we were for you.

[Joel Kim Booster]

Yeah.

[Podcast Host (possibly Jocelyn or Grace)]

These girls, they're right at that cusp, I think.

[Joel Kim Booster]

Yeah, yeah, yeah. And so it's just a lot of fun and people keep getting arrested and, like, you know, just so many iconic lines and. Yeah, so that one's probably my favorite right now, as I noticed.

[Podcast Host (possibly Jocelyn or Grace)]

I see how you did it. Or you didn't say Love Hotel.

[Joel Kim Booster]

Well, that's I'm not a narcissist. I wouldn't say. I wouldn't say my own show. I. I think Love Hotel is actually really excellent. As someone who worked on it, and there's no neutrality on it at all. But I think there are some really incredible moments on Love Hotel. And if you haven't checked it out, it's available on Peacock.

[Podcast Host (possibly Jocelyn or Grace)]

Peacock. And Peacock is actually. I just realized the one app I. I paid to not have any ads.

[Joel Kim Booster]

Peacock, low key is. Has become the one that I use the most. It really has, like, it is that girl. Mostly because of the Bravo thing, but, like. Yeah. Oh, also, Project Runway. We just. Just ran through almost every season of Project Runway.

[Podcast Host (possibly Jocelyn or Grace)]

Project Runway is a great one, top.

[Joel Kim Booster]

To bottom, and what a delight.

[Podcast Host (possibly Jocelyn or Grace)]

That's a great one.

[Joel Kim Booster]

If you have a show that you need to put on while you're cleaning the house or folding your laundry, let it be Project Runway.

[Podcast Host (possibly Jocelyn or Grace)]

Yeah. Cause that's a good one.

[Joel Kim Booster]

You'll not be disappointed.

[Podcast Host (possibly Jocelyn or Grace)]

That's like. That's one where you're. You could be folding, and then all of a sudden, you hear.

[Joel Kim Booster]

You just. You just need to look up for the Runway.

[Podcast Host (possibly Jocelyn or Grace)]

That's it. That's all you need.

[Joel Kim Booster]

You can absorb everything they're saying. Look up occasionally, but then you just. The only time I put it down is for the Runway.

[Podcast Host (possibly Jocelyn or Grace)]

Yeah.

[Joel Kim Booster]

I give it my full attention for the Runway, and then I'm, you know, back to be business.

[Podcast Host (possibly Jocelyn or Grace)]

That's a. That's a really great way. I think I would have cleaned my house in that way today. That's what we're going to do. Yes. Is there anything that didn't make the cut that you wish had on the. On the show?

[Joel Kim Booster]

Unlove Hotel?

[Podcast Host (possibly Jocelyn or Grace)]

Yes. Yeah, I'm.

[Joel Kim Booster]

I had sit downs with each of the ladies that were. That ended up being pretty, like, fun, and in some cases, meaningful conversations. And I. I wish they would have included those moments.

[Podcast Host (possibly Jocelyn or Grace)]

Why would we humanize these women, though? Come on, now.

[Joel Kim Booster]

I know. I know.

[Podcast Host (possibly Jocelyn or Grace)]

That's why Andy's a smart man. I'm sure he executive produce, right?

[Joel Kim Booster]

Yeah.

[Podcast Host (possibly Jocelyn or Grace)]

Yeah. So you said your ideal housewife tagline was, I'm from Chicago, so, you know I know how to ride the brown line.

[Joel Kim Booster]

That is not my idea. That was, like, a new one I came up with because my. My, like, go to answer to this question. What my tagline would be is, they say money is the root of all evil, and I'm the tallest tree in the forest.

[Podcast Host (possibly Jocelyn or Grace)]

That's good. That's good.

[Joel Kim Booster]

I think it's pretty good.

[Podcast Host (possibly Jocelyn or Grace)]

But you did. You did have. You had a little bit of a hesitant of the finalization of that when you said it on Los Culturistas. So you've came full circle with your new one.

[Joel Kim Booster]

Yeah, well, because I wanted. I had said the original that one, the tree one before. And so when I was reposited because Matt Rogers and Bowen Yang, they both come up up with new ones every day. You know, like, it's really fantastic of them.

[Podcast Host (possibly Jocelyn or Grace)]

They're great.

[Joel Kim Booster]

I was on the spot and I didn't want to go back to my answer that I had said on numerous other podcasts and watch what happens live and whatnot. So I in the spot came up with that one. It was not my proudest moment.

[Podcast Host (possibly Jocelyn or Grace)]

I'm gonna ask you to come up with one more.

[Joel Kim Booster]

Oh, wow. Some people may call me a, but I'm here to show them who the top dog is.

[Podcast Host (possibly Jocelyn or Grace)]

Oh, yes. Yeah. A bitch is a dog. Roof girl. I didn't set myself up to try one, but I want to try one.

[Joel Kim Booster]

Yeah.

[Podcast Host (possibly Jocelyn or Grace)]

I think they say I'm disgraceful, but I'm never full. That could be one.

[Joel Kim Booster]

I guess the setup for mine is actually pretty good because it's like you can go a lot of different directions with that one. You can go like, people call me a. So don't give this dog a bone. You know, like, it's really. There's a lot of avenues and it's.

[Podcast Host (possibly Jocelyn or Grace)]

Always, it's always so funny to see whatever. Like, because every season the women.

[Joel Kim Booster]

Lake Salt Lake has. This is the first season in a long time where every tagline is almost is a banger. Like, every single one, like, Mary's is like, I'm just here to eat, drink and be married. Which I think is so good.

[Podcast Host (possibly Jocelyn or Grace)]

And also, no, she's not married at all. She's actually kind of a being married. Yeah, she. She's just being married.

[Joel Kim Booster]

Maryam Cosby.

[Podcast Host (possibly Jocelyn or Grace)]

Mary. Yeah. Oh, I'm gonna be Mary. Yeah, but not Mary. She's not that Mary. I will say.

[Joel Kim Booster]

No.

[Podcast Host (possibly Jocelyn or Grace)]

She's kind of a sinist. Is that a word? I'm not sure. I don't think so. No. Are you quick now?

[Joel Kim Booster]

But it is now.

[Podcast Host (possibly Jocelyn or Grace)]

It is now. I've never really been well read up. So you said before that you were couch surfing after your parents read your diary that outed us gay. Do you remember, Remember the first time feeling financially independent? What a segue, huh?

[Joel Kim Booster]

Like, there's the thing. There's like a. There's a distinction between being financially independent and Financially stable. And I would say I was financially independent at 17 for the most part because I had, you know, those aforementioned jobs. I was not getting very much. I. I haven't taken a dime of my parents money since I was 17, which is the cornerstone of my personality now.

[Podcast Host (possibly Jocelyn or Grace)]

Yeah, it.

[Joel Kim Booster]

And put it on your back, but. And so I felt independent since I was 17, but I don't know that I would say I was stable until probably 32. You know, that I think right around then 2019 is when I paid off all my student loans.

[Podcast Host (possibly Jocelyn or Grace)]

Hell yeah.

[Joel Kim Booster]

Congrats. And after that happened, because I was paying more in student loan payments than rent for over 10 years. Oh, wow.

[Podcast Host (possibly Jocelyn or Grace)]

And I didn't ever thought to like, refinance.

[Joel Kim Booster]

Oh, this is after refinancing, after deferment.

[Podcast Host (possibly Jocelyn or Grace)]

I had to figure all that stuff out because my parents didn't. They didn't go to college, so they were so confused.

[Joel Kim Booster]

Well, I took out so many loans because I went to college before. We had the discussions as a community about how bad student loans can be and private student loans especially.

[Podcast Host (possibly Jocelyn or Grace)]

And like, where'd you go to school?

[Joel Kim Booster]

I went to a school called Milliken University, Downstate Illinois.

[Podcast Host (possibly Jocelyn or Grace)]

This is so close to military.

[Joel Kim Booster]

Yeah, yeah. And it was a great school. I had a great experience. Was it worth putting myself in that amount of debt for a theater degree? Absolutely not.

[Podcast Host (possibly Jocelyn or Grace)]

Yeah. You can ask a lot of people in Brooklyn if they regret their theater.

[Joel Kim Booster]

And I essentially, I was only able to pay them off because I won the fucking lottery. I got cast on an NBC show which is like, you can't plan for that. Like, I would have been paying those off until well into my 60s if I didn't get. And I never would have bought a house. I never would have had anything. I have now because I was so saddled with this debt. And it's. This is the thing that pisses me off when we talk about forgiving student loan debt. And all these people who come in, chime in and are like, well, I had to pay off mine. And how is that fair that these people. And it's like, okay, my perspective on that is I know what hell student loan payments were and how much it ruined my fucking life for a while and how much stress I was under having it. And I would never wish that on anybody. On a stranger, on a friend, on an enemy. I would never wish that on anybody. And for you to come in having done that work and knowing how miserable it is and being bitter because somebody else might not have to go through that, it's so insane to me.

[Podcast Host (possibly Jocelyn or Grace)]

What did, yeah, whatever happened to we want a better tomorrow?

[Joel Kim Booster]

Yeah.

[Podcast Host (possibly Jocelyn or Grace)]

You know, I just don't, I don't understand it. I, I, I will say I went to community college for a couple years and pay out of pocket for that bad boy. And it did teach me, and I don't, I, I don't mean for other people to have to go through what I went through, like you said, but it did teach me that those bills need to be paid and they need to be paid on time. And that was like, that's being 18 year old, 18 years old being like, I got like every month I have to pay this outright and if I don't, I can't go back.

[Joel Kim Booster]

Well, you also, like, did the smart thing of going to community college first. Like the fact that we expect kids, 18 year olds and younger to know what they want to do for the rest of their life and then go sink an insane amount of money into learning about that field. And then for a lot of people grow up to do something completely different from that. And also college in our country is so much more about learning how to be an adult than it is about learning whatever you're there to learn. And so it just, it sucks. Like, I wish people, I wish gap years were more accessible and like, culturally like a part of our culture, you know, because I just think it's insane that you're supposed to know, you're supposed to make this huge investment in yourself at the age of 18 when you have not seen the world, you have not experienced the world for the most part. I mean, there are kids who that, but you know, it's just, ah, yeah.

[Podcast Host (possibly Jocelyn or Grace)]

What did you want to be when you were 18?

[Joel Kim Booster]

An actor.

[Podcast Host (possibly Jocelyn or Grace)]

An actor. Yeah, that was, that was, Yeah. I mean they had the theater degree. It totally checks out. So you live in your dream.

[Joel Kim Booster]

Yeah.

[Podcast Host (possibly Jocelyn or Grace)]

That's a beautiful thing. That's amazing.

[Joel Kim Booster]

No, it's crazy.

[Podcast Host (possibly Jocelyn or Grace)]

Did you make any superlatives in your school?

[Joel Kim Booster]

Nope.

[Podcast Host (possibly Jocelyn or Grace)]

No.

[Joel Kim Booster]

Nope. I was completely unremarkable, I think, to most the people that went to college with me and went to high school with me. I don't think anyone saw this coming. Not a single person in my life, except for a very, very, like small handful of people that I was really close to, really thought that this would happen for me.

[Podcast Host (possibly Jocelyn or Grace)]

Oh, wow, that's so crazy. So you really.

[Joel Kim Booster]

I, I, I auditioned for the comedy troupe on my, at my college like three times. Didn't make it in. I didn't get, no one saw me as like the Funniest in high school or the most, like, likely to succeed. None of that, you know?

[Podcast Host (possibly Jocelyn or Grace)]

Like, I lost class clown to someone who dropped out, so I was pretty bullshit at that.

[Joel Kim Booster]

That's fucking ridiculous.

[Podcast Host (possibly Jocelyn or Grace)]

Yeah, I know. Well, did he do.

[Joel Kim Booster]

And it just goes. I. I like. But I'm so grateful that all of this. That was the case because it really just goes to show. And it's, like, going to be a really nice lesson for my kids when I have them to be like, none of this matters.

[Podcast Host (possibly Jocelyn or Grace)]

Yeah. But here's the thing. Like, an adult can tell you that.

[Joel Kim Booster]

And you won't believe it. You won't believe it.

[Podcast Host (possibly Jocelyn or Grace)]

You will believe it.

[Joel Kim Booster]

But at least I have like, a, like, tangible example to show them of, like, hey, kids, look at this house you're in. It's because I was most funny and most likely to succeed even if these bitches didn't see it.

[Podcast Host (possibly Jocelyn or Grace)]

That's so true. But it is. But again, you just don't listen to your parents.

[Joel Kim Booster]

Nope.

[Podcast Host (possibly Jocelyn or Grace)]

You just won't.

[Joel Kim Booster]

No, no, no.

[Podcast Host (possibly Jocelyn or Grace)]

You refuse to. I. I also. I'm glad I didn't listen to my guidance counselor. My guidance counselor told me I needed to either learn a trade or go into the military. Those were my options. That was what I was born to do because I had a 1.1.59 GPA. My mom still plays it on keno. That's why I know it's the numbers game in Massachusetts. Shout out Keno. She hates every time. Yeah, well.

[Joel Kim Booster]

And listen, look at you now.

[Podcast Host (possibly Jocelyn or Grace)]

Yeah, I mean, I'm. I'm.

[Joel Kim Booster]

No one's checking your high school transcript when you get a podcast, baby.

[Podcast Host (possibly Jocelyn or Grace)]

Yeah, that's even. But. And you know what? Maybe they should. It's like, I. I trust those little food boys rather than myself to give an interview. I mean, how's it going so far? Yeah. Yeah, yeah.

[Joel Kim Booster]

Ever spend $200 on a fragrance only to realize you hate it? Micro Perfumes fixes the that. Now you can try luxury scents without the luxury price. Pick from real designer fragrances like Dior, Tom Ford and Creed. It's the real deal. Authentic scents starting at just a few bucks. They come in sleek, travel sprays, ship fast, and there's no subscription required. Why gamble on a full bottle? Go to microperfumes.com podcast for up to 60% off. That's microperfumes.com podcast for up to 60%.

[Sponsor/Ad Voice]

Off when it comes to delivering flowers for life's special occasions. Trust the name that's been setting the standard for nearly 50 years. 1-800-flowers.com from breathtaking bouquets to one of a kind arrangements, 1-800-flowers is your authority on quality blooms. Always fresh, always stunning, always delivered with care. And right now, for a limited time, you can save up to 40% off your bouquet and make someone's day. Save up to 40% off today at 1-800-flowers.com sxm. That's 1-800-flowers. Com sxm.

[Podcast Host (possibly Jocelyn or Grace)]

Okay, my next question to you is, will you please explain a couple things?

[Joel Kim Booster]

Oh, sure.

[Podcast Host (possibly Jocelyn or Grace)]

We've got a new game. It's called, well, it's not new here, but it's new for you. So we do this every week. It's called disgraceful receipts. And this is where we pull things from the Internet. My sister does it every week and a lot of people are very confused of how she's found a lot of these things. And.

[Joel Kim Booster]

Wow.

[Podcast Host (possibly Jocelyn or Grace)]

Some people, maybe like yourself, have done a little scrubbing. So that doesn't make this game all that much fun. But we'll see. We'll see. So I would like you to please describe everything I show, starting now.

[Joel Kim Booster]

Okay. This is actually a really cute photo of me in a very large flower pot wrapped in a pride themed rainbow towel with just my little face sticking out. And it does, it looks, it's very much reminiscent of an Ann Geddes photo of a baby. And this is on Fire Island. Just feeling a little silly. And I think it's adorable. I don't think there's any explanation needed. I think the picture speaks for itself.

[Podcast Host (possibly Jocelyn or Grace)]

Absolutely. Fire island seems like a blast.

[Joel Kim Booster]

Oh, you should come.

[Podcast Host (possibly Jocelyn or Grace)]

I would love to. There we go.

[Joel Kim Booster]

This is a very old headshot of mine. The only way I can describe it is the face and the, and the, the action that I'm taking in. This photo is so 2012. Zooey Deschanel Cody.

[Podcast Host (possibly Jocelyn or Grace)]

Yeah.

[Joel Kim Booster]

Like a little quirky. Yeah. She's like, oh, I'm just being quirky. I have a bow tie on.

[Podcast Host (possibly Jocelyn or Grace)]

I have a bow tie. Remember those?

[Joel Kim Booster]

Yeah. Yeah. I'm a little different. What's going on? So this is me in a pleather tank top sitting on a toilet with my hand in the Doritos bag.

[Podcast Host (possibly Jocelyn or Grace)]

Thank you for giving the visual.

[Joel Kim Booster]

Yeah. And this was. I, you know, I have a passion for taking photos and I think there has to be some visual interest. And I, I think, you know, it's funny. I'm, I'm, I'm eating junk food on the toilet. Guess I saved myself a trip. Yeah. So, you know, that's comedy.

[Podcast Host (possibly Jocelyn or Grace)]

I don't think Again, classic comedy.

[Joel Kim Booster]

Yeah. Wow. This is me holding Luann, Countess Luann's hand on Watch what Happens Live recently and giving her a very loving look. And I will say that, like, being a guest on Watch what Happens Live with a housewife is an object lesson in, like, how do you kiss the ass of someone you've talked so much about in the past?

[Podcast Host (possibly Jocelyn or Grace)]

She. So the best part about Luan is she doesn't know exactly. She thinks it's gold. Everything that comes out of anyone's mouth about her is gold. And she pisses and shits gold. And so with her, you have no problem.

[Joel Kim Booster]

No, exactly. It was easy breezy. That. That experience was easy breezy for sure.

[Podcast Host (possibly Jocelyn or Grace)]

Any little tidbits with her? Any. Any off camera?

[Joel Kim Booster]

None that I'm willing to share.

[Podcast Host (possibly Jocelyn or Grace)]

Fair enough. Fair enough.

[Joel Kim Booster]

But I'll tell you off.

[Podcast Host (possibly Jocelyn or Grace)]

M.

[Joel Kim Booster]

This is a photo, a black and white photo of my sister on her wedding day with text on the photo that says, nope, not Asian. And I. This was, you know, this is 2013text on photos was bigger, I guess, back then.

[Podcast Host (possibly Jocelyn or Grace)]

And it's coming back around.

[Joel Kim Booster]

And, you know, this was before, you know, I just letting my followers know that I'm adopted, that my sister, who I'd been speaking about going to her wedding for a minute, is, in fact, not Asian.

[Podcast Host (possibly Jocelyn or Grace)]

Was your family any part of the jokes you were telling at the time?

[Joel Kim Booster]

Oh, yeah, I would say I brutalized my family in the first three or four years that I did stand up.

[Podcast Host (possibly Jocelyn or Grace)]

The first three or four. Really? Just you doing.

[Joel Kim Booster]

My entire first Comedy Central special was really largely biographical about my family, about my life. And so, yeah, I've moved on now.

[Podcast Host (possibly Jocelyn or Grace)]

From your family?

[Joel Kim Booster]

Yeah, I try not to. Now that the platform's a little bit bigger, I am trying to, like, pull back a little bit in part because I've already. I've done it. I've talked about everything that's interesting about them now.

[Podcast Host (possibly Jocelyn or Grace)]

And, yeah, so this was just like, maybe like, if you've seen my stuff, this is what I'm talking about.

[Joel Kim Booster]

Exactly.

[Podcast Host (possibly Jocelyn or Grace)]

Exactly.

[Joel Kim Booster]

Oh, my God.

[Podcast Host (possibly Jocelyn or Grace)]

Is this one of those rabid kitties?

[Joel Kim Booster]

No.

[Podcast Host (possibly Jocelyn or Grace)]

Or the ones that walk?

[Joel Kim Booster]

No, these were. These were cats that I shared custody with with my lesbian college roommate.

[Podcast Host (possibly Jocelyn or Grace)]

And it's always a lesbian.

[Joel Kim Booster]

This is a period of time when they were living with me in Chicago. And their names are Little Richard and Leah Michelle.

[Podcast Host (possibly Jocelyn or Grace)]

Little Dicky.

[Joel Kim Booster]

Little Richard because he's a small miniature cat, and Lea Michelle because she looks exactly like Lea Michelle.

[Podcast Host (possibly Jocelyn or Grace)]

And she can't read.

[Joel Kim Booster]

She can't read. I wasn't gonna say it. I. You know, is the joke played out? I don't know. Or do we still laugh? I don't know. But no, this was me. Yeah. With my two lovely cats that I do miss very deeply.

[Podcast Host (possibly Jocelyn or Grace)]

I thought you're gonna say kinda.

[Joel Kim Booster]

Okay, this is a screenshot of a screen Scruff conversation.

[Podcast Host (possibly Jocelyn or Grace)]

Now, what's scruff?

[Joel Kim Booster]

Scruff is a Grinder. Everyone knows what Grindr is at this point is a Grinder competitor that is marketed more towards, like, hairy. Like. Like, it's just like more like grungy.

[Podcast Host (possibly Jocelyn or Grace)]

Like it's in the name.

[Joel Kim Booster]

Yeah, it's right there in the name.

[Podcast Host (possibly Jocelyn or Grace)]

Bear Finder.

[Joel Kim Booster]

Yeah. In my experience, though, the grids look almost identical. Like, you're. You're getting the same audience in both places.

[Podcast Host (possibly Jocelyn or Grace)]

So my question is, does it still have a fun little thing?

[Joel Kim Booster]

Yes. It has its own thing, though. I wish. I wish. But no, I can't. I can't remember. It's not as distinct or as iconic as the. The Grindr one, but this. The message says from the other person into having sex in cam with guys watching. And my response is, what channel? Which I thought was pretty good. And this was like, this was what, 2014? So. So this was pre Onlyfans. Pre. Like, yeah, like, this is a pretty common question. I think that I get asked a lot on Grindr suit, but back then that was unusual and I thought that was a pretty good response. Good enough that I posted it on Instagram.

[Podcast Host (possibly Jocelyn or Grace)]

Pretty damn good. My first TV credit, you guys. That's the caption. Here we are.

[Joel Kim Booster]

Oh, okay. So this is the one and only time I did drag in Chicago. Good on you for finding this photo. It's not easy to find.

[Podcast Host (possibly Jocelyn or Grace)]

She's really good.

[Joel Kim Booster]

I've often looked for this photo and can't find it to show people this was my drag Persona, Mulana Del Rey. And this was a part of a.

[Podcast Host (possibly Jocelyn or Grace)]

Now I have to give it a double look.

[Joel Kim Booster]

Now it's a conversation or it was a competition where comedians did drag for the first time and then competed in, like a drag race.

[Podcast Host (possibly Jocelyn or Grace)]

Oh, that's a fun concept.

[Joel Kim Booster]

Yeah.

[Podcast Host (possibly Jocelyn or Grace)]

They still do that, do you know?

[Joel Kim Booster]

I don't think they still do that, but I'm sure somebody in the country, what with the population, but I won.

[Podcast Host (possibly Jocelyn or Grace)]

Oh, that's awesome. Wow. So.

[Joel Kim Booster]

And I lost feeling and I had nerve damage in both my toes for weeks after this because I was wearing like 7 inch stiletto heels that were too small for my feet, and I took them off at the end of the night. And I was like, my God, they say walk a mile in someone else's shoes. I walked a lot more than a mile. And I have all respect, mad respect for women and drag queens and anyone in between. Truly wear that shit for extended periods of time. Because, my God, it's.

[Podcast Host (possibly Jocelyn or Grace)]

You have to practice around the house.

[Joel Kim Booster]

You have to. And you gotta have core strength, you gotta have leg, you gotta have it all.

[Podcast Host (possibly Jocelyn or Grace)]

Yeah, I bet your legs look. Looks damn fantastic in them. But the nerve damage, that's. Yeah, it's tough. You know, you don't hear that very often. That's me after one wedding a year.

[Joel Kim Booster]

Okay, this is a photo. Oh, yes. So this was a period of time. This actually. So it's a photo of my id, but it more so is a photo of a giant, like, paperclip thing. Not a paperclip, but it's like the one that has like the wide. It's like wide. And it is used for, like a lot. A huge stack of papers. And I used it as a money clip for, I want to say, four or five years.

[Podcast Host (possibly Jocelyn or Grace)]

Oh, you're like a grandparent.

[Joel Kim Booster]

My. My wallet. I got pickpocketed on the dance floor. Needed on the dance floor, too. Was like kind of too poor for a new wallet or just maybe too lazy. But I got back to my office at work and I saw that thing lying there and I used to. It. It works as a money clip, man. Yeah, it was like a very convenient money clip.

[Podcast Host (possibly Jocelyn or Grace)]

I'm not even going to lie. My grandma literally used to do this. That's the real thing. And she would carry her cash in.

[Joel Kim Booster]

Them and it looks like kind of cool. I'm sorry.

[Podcast Host (possibly Jocelyn or Grace)]

Yeah, it does. It's. It's got it going on. Bring that back. Yeah, I think it's time.

[Joel Kim Booster]

Okay. I knew this one was going to be in there, actually. I knew this one was going to be in there. This is one of my earliest headshots. I have what you could describe as a Justin Bieber haircut, but what actually on me with my cheekbones is giving. Gender non conforming, non binary, tiny. It is giving, which is what we. It is giving. Sort of like. It is giving. Sort of like lesbian shift manager at the Starbucks who runs it. Like the Navy.

[Podcast Host (possibly Jocelyn or Grace)]

The Navy. Yeah.

[Joel Kim Booster]

It's tough. It's a tough.

[Podcast Host (possibly Jocelyn or Grace)]

That's a. That's.

[Joel Kim Booster]

Yeah, it's. I. I will say that it is worth watching the video version of this podcast just to see this photo because it's. It haunts my dreams and it.

[Podcast Host (possibly Jocelyn or Grace)]

And if it is a manager that Smile can go to real quick.

[Joel Kim Booster]

And it's just also the angle of this photo and the way my head is angled is so insane. I cannot believe I use this as a headshot. I was. You'll be shocked to learn, not booking a ton that in that period.

[Podcast Host (possibly Jocelyn or Grace)]

Oh, you know, you live and you learn. And we got this one last one. Caption is one of my best gays in New York also happened to be the president of college Republicans.

[Joel Kim Booster]

Oh, yeah. This is my. A picture of my friend Tommy with George W. Bush.

[Podcast Host (possibly Jocelyn or Grace)]

Bush.

[Joel Kim Booster]

And yeah, I celebrate that. I celebrate that. I celebrate growth. You know, going from college Republicans to a big old f slur is a journey I would like to see for many more college Republicans.

[Podcast Host (possibly Jocelyn or Grace)]

He went and he did that.

[Joel Kim Booster]

Yeah, he was on the. The group chat probably back in the day.

[Podcast Host (possibly Jocelyn or Grace)]

Yeah, yeah, I just saw that. And the picture frame makes me laugh, if anything.

[Joel Kim Booster]

I love Daddy. Yeah, yeah, yeah.

[Podcast Host (possibly Jocelyn or Grace)]

That's good stuff.

[Joel Kim Booster]

Wait, can I show you a really. A sort of related photo?

[Podcast Host (possibly Jocelyn or Grace)]

Yes, of course. Because I was gonna say we're pretty clean over here.

[Joel Kim Booster]

Yeah, pretty clean. This is one of. This is one of the funniest photos, especially if you know me. So I. The context you should know is that I'm rolling my tits off in this.

[Podcast Host (possibly Jocelyn or Grace)]

Oh, my God. You're rolling on this?

[Joel Kim Booster]

Yeah.

[Podcast Host (possibly Jocelyn or Grace)]

Oh, my God.

[Joel Kim Booster]

This is at my friend's wedding.

[Podcast Host (possibly Jocelyn or Grace)]

This is awesome. Yeah, this is really great. This is Joe Biden.

[Joel Kim Booster]

Yeah.

[Podcast Host (possibly Jocelyn or Grace)]

That he's hugging.

[Joel Kim Booster]

Well, the actual, at the time, vice president, President of the United States, Joe Biden, who came to my friend's wedding. I'm, like, holding on to him like he is a lover on the dance floor because I am, once again, I did a lot of Molly that day.

[Podcast Host (possibly Jocelyn or Grace)]

That is awesome. To be on Molly while hugging Joe Biden is very, very funny in itself. I will say my sister wasn't on Molly, but she has the same picture, and he's holding her in his arms. And my dad is a big old Republican, and so my mom was so happy to go home.

[Joel Kim Booster]

And that is so funny, you know, and listen, it would, I think, take a lot of Molly for me to embrace any president or vice president of the United States at this point. It would take a lot of serotonin in my brain just bursting out in order for me to want to hug any elected representative, especially at the national level.

[Podcast Host (possibly Jocelyn or Grace)]

Anywho, I do have a question for you. So when you're doing standup now, are you currently doing standup at the moment?

[Joel Kim Booster]

Yes.

[Podcast Host (possibly Jocelyn or Grace)]

So when you're doing standup do you have a role rider?

[Joel Kim Booster]

Oh, I do. And I. I will say, when I first started headlining clubs, my manager put my rider together and I didn't read it. I didn't really know what was on it. And I was playing a college at one point and they didn't have a real green room for me, so they set up a green room in this classroom. And I noticed that they had two stand up, like full length mirrors on both sides of the room that obviously didn't belong in that room. And after the ship show, they were like picking up the mirrors and like, they're like, oh, we got to move these. Take these back across campus to the theater. And I was like, why did you guys put these in here? And they were like, oh, your writer says that you need two mirrors. One so you can see the front and one so you can see the back of you. And I was like, are you kidding me? And I told my manager, I was like, I must have looked like a lunatic for God knows how long.

[Podcast Host (possibly Jocelyn or Grace)]

Oh, my God.

[Joel Kim Booster]

With all these people, like. And they're just like carrying them back to the drama department. I was like, so in embarrassed, specifically.

[Podcast Host (possibly Jocelyn or Grace)]

So you can see front and back.

[Joel Kim Booster]

And so now all I have on it is sugar free Red Bull and Diet Coke and maybe. And I was like, candy if you got it. Because another thing he put up randomly on. I do remember he texted me out of the blue one day and he was like, what's your favorite fruit? And I was like, pineapple, I guess. And then. Was this a trick question? No, I discovered that for the writer, he also put like, fresh fruit, pineapple preferred on it, which was actually kind of nice. But I went to an Ivy League school to perform sandwich stand up comedy. When I walked in, I'm not gonna say, okay, I walked in to the green room. There was a full pineapple, uncut, sitting on a plate with no knife, no way to cut it. You know, they were technically fulfilling my writer.

[Podcast Host (possibly Jocelyn or Grace)]

Yeah, technically.

[Joel Kim Booster]

But I was like, y' all are in it at this very difficult school to get into. And yet you didn't. You thought this was fulfilling the. The brief.

[Podcast Host (possibly Jocelyn or Grace)]

Well, no. Here's what happened. He wants a pineapple cut. Well, I'm not cutting it. Well, I'm not cutting it. My. My dad. Do you know who my dad is? Yeah. Yeah, it kind of went like that.

[Joel Kim Booster]

Yeah, exactly.

[Podcast Host (possibly Jocelyn or Grace)]

Yeah. So they just kind of want to make you feel like SpongeBob, I guess.

[Joel Kim Booster]

I guess. Yeah.

[Podcast Host (possibly Jocelyn or Grace)]

Just, here's your house. I don't know. I'm not really sure. Well, okay, so your, your writer is very simple. Except for the. The mirror thing. That was. That was funny to hear. That's. So how, how long did it take for you to figure out?

[Joel Kim Booster]

Well, after that it was that moment and I called, but like, how long.

[Podcast Host (possibly Jocelyn or Grace)]

Did you have the mirror?

[Joel Kim Booster]

That was probably a good like six months of my time touring. Looking back, I did notice that, like there, there's usually like a vanity mirror already in the green. Like a traditional green room.

[Podcast Host (possibly Jocelyn or Grace)]

Yeah, yeah.

[Joel Kim Booster]

But yeah, there were definitely moments where I look back and remember some odd setups that now make sense.

[Podcast Host (possibly Jocelyn or Grace)]

Yeah, there's. Oh, it's so funny. And it's always so funny to ask people what's on their Ryder. Like I've had people say that they used to go grocery shopping on their rider. Like they, like they were like, well, it's stuff I need and I don't have time to go get it, so I'm just gonna have them go out and get it. I'm like, yeah, it's always interesting.

[Joel Kim Booster]

I don't eat before shows. I can't eat before shows. But I love a Diet Coke or I love a sugar free Red Bull.

[Podcast Host (possibly Jocelyn or Grace)]

Yeah, that's all I really need. And given the choice, sugar free or sugar, I'm going sugar. I'm going sugar. Every time.

[Joel Kim Booster]

You and my boyfriend both. And I will say, say you're God's bravest warriors.

[Podcast Host (possibly Jocelyn or Grace)]

Yeah. You know, and I'm not drinking right now, so I'm fucking wired off these Red Bulls or any energy drink that wants to sponsor the podcast. I'm also taking a break from like when you, when you're drinking, you. You sometimes do blow. And so I feel more wired on Red Bull than blow is what I've came to. You can stop doing blow. Do Red Bull gives you winks. So that's the show. No, I really appreciate you coming on. This has been fun. Yeah, this has been a fun. Thank you so much. And what we do here is we have you just look right into this camera one last time. Give any more shout outs that you want and give yourself a shout out.

[Joel Kim Booster]

Why don't you shout out to my dealer who confessed to me recently that he has two gay sons and he loves my community. And check out. Check out Loot, Season 3 airing on Apple TV. Plus now new episodes every Wednesday. Check out Bad Dates, my podcast where I talk about, you guessed it, bad dates that comes out every Monday wherever you listen to podcasts. And you can follow me at I hate Joel Kim on Instagram.

[Podcast Host (possibly Jocelyn or Grace)]

Real Quick, can I ask you what's your worst date? You're always asking others.

[Joel Kim Booster]

So I don't have a lot of traditional dates, but hookups, if you count hookups. The worst date I think I had was. I went. It was right when I first moved to New York and I went to go hook up with a guy in an open relationship with his husband, which I was fine with, but whatever. And we go. And I show up and he's like, hey, like, so my husband is home, so we have to hook up in the living room because he's like, pretty racist. And. Yeah, I don't want this. And I was like, well, then I should go.

[Podcast Host (possibly Jocelyn or Grace)]

Yeah, totally.

[Joel Kim Booster]

Because unfortunately, like, it was so interesting that he was like, he's a big racist. And I was like, well, if that's the person you've chosen. Yeah, then Nick, unfortunately, you're. You're complicit in his racism.

[Podcast Host (possibly Jocelyn or Grace)]

Yeah.

[Joel Kim Booster]

What are we doing here? To leave. And that was one of the. The worst almost hookup experiences I've ever had.

[Podcast Host (possibly Jocelyn or Grace)]

Oh, God. Yeah. I don't even have any jokes.

[Joel Kim Booster]

And I was like, this is New York.

[Podcast Host (possibly Jocelyn or Grace)]

Yeah. What the hell? In Brooklyn. Probably correct. Yeah. They're all. They're hiding their racism in Brooklyn. That's what's going on.

[Joel Kim Booster]

Say I met this guy on like a fetishy kink, like, version of Grindr.

[Podcast Host (possibly Jocelyn or Grace)]

He was like, that's ones I'm familiar with Field.

[Joel Kim Booster]

No, this was before Field. This was recon.

[Podcast Host (possibly Jocelyn or Grace)]

Okay.

[Joel Kim Booster]

Which I think still exists.

[Podcast Host (possibly Jocelyn or Grace)]

Which also sounds like exactly what happens.

[Joel Kim Booster]

Yeah, no, exactly. His aesthetic was very like, leather daddy, skinhead, like, biker.

[Podcast Host (possibly Jocelyn or Grace)]

Okay.

[Joel Kim Booster]

And so, like, I think like, that's how he obviously, like, came in contact with this guy that he met. They both were, I guess. And so, yeah, that was the vibe. And it was rough. Yeah. Wow.

[Podcast Host (possibly Jocelyn or Grace)]

Okay. I. I wish I. I wish I had any kind of a follow up for that, but I don't. That's just fucked up. That's just all around fucked up. And I'm so sorry you went through that and I'm sorry you podcast, but thank you so much for coming on. It's been a pleasure. Big fan, and congratulations on Loot.

[Joel Kim Booster]

Yeah.

[Podcast Host (possibly Jocelyn or Grace)]

Yeah, thank you. Give it a loop. I'll play that song copyright. No. Okay. Good night, guys.

[Sponsor/Ad Voice]

Every holiday shopper's got a list, but Ross shoppers, you've got a mission like a gift run that turns into a disco snow globe.

[Podcast Host (possibly Jocelyn or Grace)]

Throw pillows and PJs for the whole family.

[Sponsor/Ad Voice]

Dog is included at Ross holiday magic isn't about spending more. It's about giving more for less. Ross, work your magic.