‘The way I am translates easily to the podcast format’: Drag queen Art Simone on how to make audio work

While one may think a podcast is the last place you’d find a content creator who has traditionally relied on visuals, drag queen and podcast host Art Simone begs to differ.

Simone launched a podcast in 2023 – Concealed with Art Simone – despite being known for her colourful, eccentric visual aesthetics.

Speaking at the IAB Audio Summit on Wednesday, she said the beauty of being a drag queen was so much more than just the look.

“Art Simone is a fully formed person, personality, creature of the night, whatever you want to call it,” she said. “The drag and the visuals are just a tiny little bit of who I am.

“What makes me is my humour, my life experience, my knowledge, my connections, the way I talk, and all that easily translates to the podcast format, so I really don’t think it was that much of a stretch or issue.”

Aspects of her visual style have successfully translated to audio.

“That being said, whenever I do my podcast I am in full drag, because then people can hear the jewellery clanging around the nails, they can visualise it. I even had one person tell me ‘I can hear your eyelashes when you blink’.”

While drag has traditionally been live entertainment, Simone was inspired to start a podcast because she’s “all about reaching people”.

“I’m always looking for new ways to connect with people and this platform allowed me to do that,” she said.

“It’s a place for people to go and escape, to be with community. Actually, in that sense, it feels really intimate as well, which I also love, because that feels authentic to me.”

Art Simone at the IAB Summit on Wednesday

She said she wanted to create a format that could stand on its own, and that just happens to be hosted by a drag queen.

“And that worked,” she said. “I meet people out in the wild who would never interact with me in any other form, but they know me from the podcast.”

Any brand sponsorship or partnership should be seamlessly integrated.

“It’s always got to be authentic,” Simone said. “Of course there are some things I’ve said no to, things that don’t align with my personal brand or my audience, but if I can see myself or my audience engaging with the brand, then instantly, it can become part of what we do on Concealed.”

Got a tip?

Lauren McNamara

Lauren McNamara is a freelance journalist contributing to Mumbrella. She previously spent three years at the publication, most recently as the associate editor. She first joined in 2022 after completing a Bachelor of Communications (Journalism) at UTS. She left her staff role at Mumbrella in August 2025.

Linkedin

topics Art Simone audio authenticity Concealed Concealed with Art Simone drag IAB IAB audio summit podcast visual

Share Tweet Share