Podcast Summary: Sibling Rivalry — "The One About Libraries"
Date: October 22, 2025
Hosts: Monét X Change & Bob the Drag Queen
Guest: Kim Chi
Episode Overview
In this lively and laugh-filled episode, Monét X Change and Bob the Drag Queen are joined by the ever-charming Kim Chi (RuPaul’s Drag Race Season 8 finalist) to chat about libraries, public transit, memorable gigs, the joy and complications of travel, library advocacy, food, and behind-the-scenes drag touring stories. The discussion winds through nostalgia about public libraries, the meaning of community resources, driving adventures in LA, Kim Chi’s new books, and hilarious tales from the road. True to their signature style, the trio mixes real-life insight with drag wit and abundant laughter.
Main Discussion Points & Insights
1. Catching Up and Drag Queen Memories
[02:30–05:06]
- Warm welcome to Kim Chi, who reminisces about shared gigs and formative years in drag.
- Discussion of quirky dressing room moments — like Chanel Hunter's impromptu jewelry sales at Necto in Michigan.
- Kim Chi: “She’d be like, hey, everybody, close the door. Then she’d open up the briefcase and be like, shop my…” [03:08]
- Bonds formed on the road and at clubs (Roscoe’s in Chicago, Machine, Necto, etc.)
2. Life in Chicago vs. LA: Biking, Driving, and Public Transit
[05:38–09:16]
- Kim expresses nostalgia for Chicago’s bike and transit-friendly setup compared to LA’s car-dependency.
- Kim Chi: “I’m nostalgic about Chicago… I miss the city, I miss the food, I miss the culture. I miss you could bike everywhere.” [05:40]
- Bob and Monét discuss LA’s reckless driving culture, speeding, and new phone “no touch” law.
- Bob: “You cannot touch your phone. It has to be mounted and you can only touch it at a red light.” [08:25]
- Kim Chi: “Does anyone follow the law anymore?” [08:38]
- Car accident stories and learning to drive late in life; waiting for Ubers 40–50 min during the pandemic forced Kim to finally learn.
3. Drag Queens on the Road: Airport Pickups and Travel Pet Peeves
[09:14–16:51]
- Who’s a better driver? Both Bob and Monét receive Kim’s stamp of approval, but Bob is deemed more cautious.
- Kim Chi: “You guys are both really good drivers.” [13:41]
- Monét: “Bob is a way more cautious driver than me, though.” [13:53]
- Airport pickup etiquette (picking someone up at LAX = true love), Uber Black price hikes, and nightmare “gypsy cab” stories.
- Kim Chi: “They quoted me $400 to Brooklyn… That’s crazy.” [16:20]
4. Big-City Flat-Rate Cabs, Cost of Living, and Chicago Life
[20:19–22:10]
- Stories about getting overcharged by cab drivers in NYC and lamenting how much more affordable Chicago is.
- Kim Chi: “If you’re an up-and-coming artist, Chicago is probably the best city to live in… but living costs is so much slower, easier to get around.” [21:04]
- Chicago beaches explained (yes, they’re real, but man-made sand and themed: dog beach, gay beach, etc.)
5. Dog Parenting and Drag Queen Backstories
[22:29–24:40]
- Kim raves about her dog Butter (well-behaved, crate-trained, “best dog in the world”), hired a professional trainer.
- The trio discusses phone backgrounds: pets, partners, or League of Legends characters; whether it’s self-love or narcissism for a drag queen to set their own photo as wallpaper.
6. Kim Chi’s Books and the Story of Donatella Hamachi: Library Avengers
[24:54–29:43]
- Kim reveals her two new books: a YA novel, Donatella Hamachi and the Library Avengers, and a cookbook, Kimchi Eats the World.
- The “Library Avengers” book was inspired by Kim’s viral tweet about public library defunding and love for libraries.
- Kim Chi: “People… don’t care about the library.”
- Kim Chi: “The villain in the book is actually inspired by Bob Blob, the Draxing — this evil villain that wants to tear down the library to build a mall.” [26:49]
- Bob: “It was a bit, it was not a bit to abolish libraries. I was joking.” [26:44]
- Both Bob and Kim share childhood memories of libraries — checking out books, pirating CDs, earning free bagels for reading.
7. Libraries as Community Resources and Library Nostalgia
[28:27–29:48]
- Kim was deeply engaged in her library as a kid: “I was in the young adult advisory board… organized the library’s anime festival.”
- Libraries: Not just about books, but ESL resources, job application help, and more.
8. Culinary Chat: Food, Rice Wars, and Kimchi Eats the World
[35:25–44:01]
- Kim’s new cookbook is a love letter to her favorite global dishes reimagined at home during the pandemic, with every recipe tied to a story.
- Kim Chi: “It’s basically like a love letter. I’m not trying to colonize any dishes… introducing everyone to some of my favorite global cuisine.” [35:57]
- Kim’s “last meal” would be crispy spam, three sunny-side eggs, fresh rice, and kimchi.
- Kim Chi: “Very simple, but it’s my ultimate comfort food.” [37:12]
- The trio riff on “rice wars” (do you wash it? how?), pre-cooked rice hacks, and the finer points of Korean and Caribbean comfort foods.
- Homemade protein-rich ranch recipes, the beauty of blue cheese vs ranch, and a mini-debate on wing preferences.
- Bob: “Ranch belongs for dipping.” [49:07]
- Kim Chi: “Blue cheese is where it’s at for me.” [49:02]
9. Behind the Scenes: Drag Tours and Hilariously Bad Shows
[53:32–63:55]
- Kim is unofficially crowned queen of “Work the World” tours — “I’ve done [it] since day one. I’ve witnessed every single down. I’ve witnessed every drama.” [53:39]
- Stories of drag queens refusing to get dressed early, questionable professionalism, drag bus drama (Shangela incident), and wig queens gaming the system.
- Legendary Valentina stories: private meet and greets, surprise numbers, meet-and-greet mayhem, fans breaking into dressing rooms, and “Baby, we’re all Madrid!” drama.
- Kim Chi: “Backstage… was the most intense. Everyone was screaming at Valentina for all the shenanigans. Then the fans broke into the dressing room.” [62:43]
10. Book Launch & Movie Option
[64:06–64:36]
- Both books release in October 2025; Kim invites pre-orders, mentions that a streaming service has already optioned “Donatella Hamachi” film rights.
- Kim Chi: “Even if it’s early, please pre-order because it helps us, you know, small authors a lot.” [64:06]
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
-
On the driving law absurdity:
Kim Chi: “Does anyone follow the law anymore?” [08:38] -
On LA speeders and driving culture:
Kim Chi: “So many people on the highway that do not put the blinkers on when they suddenly change lanes. That is so crazy.” [09:33] -
On the library villain based on Bob:
Kim Chi: “The villain in the book is actually inspired by Bob Blob, the Draxing — this evil villain that wants to tear down the library to build a mall.” [26:49] -
On the nostalgia of public libraries:
Kim Chi: “If you read five books, you get a voucher for like a bagel and cream cheese from a bagel shop next door. So I would read so many books, and that’s how I filled myself.” [28:53] -
About the Work the World drama:
Bob the Drag Queen: “So Shangela was like, baby, I’m taking this bus. And then he was like, well, he said, well, bitch… I don’t know how the you gonna get this bus there if you don’t know how to drive!” [55:07] -
On book publishing as a drag queen:
Kim Chi: “…two different book deals at two different times… it just ended up coming at the same time… people are like, what kind of book did you release? I’m like, well, there’s two books!” [24:58] -
On food and comfort:
Kim Chi: “My last meal? Fresh cooked rice, spam, grilled crispy, three sunny side eggs and a bowl of kimchi. Very simple, but it’s like my ultimate comfort food.” [37:04]
Key Timestamps
- 02:30 — Kim Chi joins, gig/jewelry stories
- 05:38 — Chicago nostalgia; biking & public transit
- 08:25 — New LA “no touch” law explained
- 13:41 — Who’s a better driver?
- 16:06 — Kim’s $400 gypsy cab story
- 21:04 — Advocating Chicago for new artists
- 22:29 — Kim’s perfect dog Butter
- 24:54 — Kim’s two books, writing process
- 26:49 — Bob inspired the villain in Kim’s library novel
- 28:27 — Libraries + community resources
- 35:25 — Kimchi Eats the World and food culture talk
- 37:12 — Kim’s “last meal”
- 49:07 — Ranch vs blue cheese debate
- 53:32 — Work the World tour stories
- 62:43 — The legendary Valentina meet and greet
- 64:06 — Kim Chi’s book launch / movie rights
Conclusion
This episode is a rollercoaster of shared memories, irreverent humor, and real love for libraries and community spaces. Bob and Monét’s signature rapport blends perfectly with Kim Chi’s dry wit and candor, offering both belly laughs and genuine advocacy — for public libraries, Chicago, and a good wing dipped in ranch. The dynamic veers from insightful (library importance) to zany (origami challenges, backstage drag politics), giving listeners an entertaining, personal, and surprisingly moving case for why libraries — and queens — matter.
Books Mentioned:
- Donatella Hamachi and the Library Avengers (Kim Chi) — YA novel about rising up to save beloved libraries.
- Kimchi Eats the World (Kim Chi) — Cookbook inspired by global travel and pandemic creativity.
Final Thought:
Support your local libraries and pre-order Kim Chi’s books — or just take a friend to the airport to show you really care.