#537 - The New Drag Queens

Summary of #537 - The New Drag Queens

by Santagato Studios

1h 24m•January 12, 2026
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Overview of #537 - The New Drag Queens (The Basement Yard)

This episode of The Basement Yard (#537 — "The New Drag Queens") is a loose, freewheeling conversation between Joe, Ant, and Frank. It mixes playful banter (Eurotrip impressions, snow stories, near-falls), a long drag-name generator bit, personal anecdotes (running in snow, playing with kids, getting dressed for drag), a reflective New‑Year’s-ish theme about intention ("If you're going to do something, do it well"), a money-vs-happiness discussion, drink/party memories (jello shots, bottomless brunch, power hours), and several sponsor and Patreon plugs.

Main topics & flow

  • Opening banter and impressions

    • Joe and Ant riff on a Eurotrip clip, Scotty Doesn’t Know, and 90s/2000s nostalgia.
    • Casual insults and shower-of-gags set the episode’s informal tone.

  • Winter / snow stories

    • Frank and Joe compare snow/ice experiences, running in snow, near-slips, and Frank finding $20.
    • Short safety/joking notes about falling as you age.

  • Parent moment: “Destroyers”

    • Frank describes a cute physical-play game with his daughter Ruby (they call it “destroyers” / "Stroyless" in the transcript).

  • Drag-name generator segment (long, playful)

    • The group uses an online drag-name generator and invents many comedic names:
      • Notable picks: Venoma Vesper (Ant), Mira Heat (Joe/Frank's choices), Yolanda Dumpster (Frank — crowd favorite), Brielle St. James, Paige Turner, Vivi Weiss, Booty Jones, Rum Bucket, Sea Drag(n), Rum Bucket.
    • Talk about past drag/drag-king performances and makeup experiences (tight wigs, professional makeup artist).

  • Sponsors and plugs

    • Squarespace — promo code: basement (10% off).
    • Zocdoc — zocdoc.com/basement.
    • Skims — mention of men’s underwear and selection; pick podcast in survey after ordering.
    • Rocket Money — rocketmoney.com/basement.
    • Patreon plug: patreon.com/thebasementyard (two tiers, early episodes + exclusive episodes).
    • Merch: tbytourmerch.com

  • Manifesto / reflection: “If you’re going to do something, do it well”

    • Frank explains a New Year / birthday reflection that led him to the line and the mindset of committing to quality in 2026.
    • The hosts lightly argue about tone (sincere vs. trolling) but mostly endorse the idea.

  • Money hypotheticals and money vs. happiness

    • Choices debated: $1,000 per second (≈ $86.4M/day) vs. $1M/day vs. $100M instantly, etc.
    • General consensus: money helps (financial security, access to treatment/services) but doesn’t fix every deep personal problem. Discussion on how happiness depends on what you have vs. what you want.

  • Drinks, party culture, and gym music

    • Talk about drink preferences (Jameson + ginger/seltzer, Guinness, Miller Light, Corona Light), bottomless brunch stories, Malört, jello shots and power hours, rainbow-layered shots and gummy-shot memories.
    • Music for working out: early 2000s hip-hop, 50 Cent, Eminem, Billy Joel anecdotes (Allentown/Vienna), and workout playlists.

  • Miscellaneous tangents

    • Old bars and local neighborhood references, memory reminiscence, quick thoughts on flowers (tulips, peonies, orchids), and banter about being “trolled” when expressing genuine thoughts.

Notable quotes & lines

  • “If you’re going to do something, do it well.” — Frank (episode’s principal takeaway / manifesto)
  • Comic highlights: Yolanda Dumpster; Venoma Vesper; Sea Drag-N / Booty Jones (funny drag-name inventions)
  • Money takeaway: “You’d rather be broke with problems than rich with problems” debated — hosts agree money solves many problems but doesn’t fix everything.

Key takeaways

  • The tone is conversational and comedic; listeners should expect long tangents and improvisational humor more than structured segments.
  • Main philosophical takeaway: commit to quality — if you commit to something next year, aim to do it well.
  • Practical takeaway: money brings access and security (helpful for solving many problems), but it isn’t a universal cure—happiness depends on expectations and priorities.
  • Entertainment takeaway: the drag-name segment and the affectionate parent anecdote (“destroyers” with Ruby) are episode highlights.

Sponsors & links mentioned (as discussed on the show)

  • Squarespace — squarespace.com (use code “basement” for 10% off).
  • Zocdoc — zocdoc.com/basement.
  • Skims — skims.com (select podcast in survey).
  • Rocket Money — rocketmoney.com/basement.
  • Patreon — patreon.com/thebasementyard.
  • Merch — tbytourmerch.com

Episode highlights / listening pointers

  • Drag-name generator bit — a long, funny stretch you can jump to for comedic payoff (many memorable names).
  • Frank’s “do it well” reflection — short, sincere moment in the middle of the episode (good for a quick pick-me-up).
  • Money hypotheticals and debate — for listeners who like thought experiments about wealth and happiness.
  • Drink / party nostalgia (jello shots, power hour) — full of lineup’s personal stories and visual humor.

Action items / recommendations for listeners

  • If you enjoyed the show and want early/exclusive episodes, check patreon.com/thebasementyard.
  • If you’re launching a site or need a domain, consider Squarespace (offer code: basement).
  • Try the drag-name generator for fun — it’s a great, silly icebreaker for friends.
  • Quick safety reminder (from the snow banter): when running in winter conditions, wear proper footwear.

If you want a shorter TL;DR: it’s a goofy, rambling episode with a standout drag-name game, some sincere New‑Year reflection (“do it well”), a money-vs-happiness debate, multiple sponsor plugs, and lots of classic Basement Yard banter.