Concealed with Art Simone · iHeart Podcasts Australia

Call Me Mother 👠

·33 min·2 clips

A lecturer allegedly told Art, 'this is not art. That'll never be art.'

1. Concealed with Art Simone centers on Sue, Art Simone's mother, explaining the origin story of Art Simone. 2. Sue matters because she is described as Art's mother, merch manager, house cleaner, confidant, driving instructor, and an off-duty police officer. 3. The episode asks how 'Art Simone became Art Simone' from 'the very beginning.' 4. Sue says an ultrasound scan showed the baby moving its jaw nonstop, and the sonographer called the child 'a little jabber jaw.' 5. Art links that prenatal story to 'the art of lip syncing' and names Cyndi Lauper and Elton John in the exchange. 6. Sue says Art performed as Clarence the Clown at age three, wearing a purple curly wig from The Melbourne Show. 7. Sue remembers finding Art in the bathroom at 5 a.m. with an unzipped makeup case, foundation, mascara, and lipstick everywhere. 8. Sue says the kindergarten teacher called her in because Art was 'too hard on themselves' and 'too competitive.' 9. Art wanted to read the kindergarten story from the teacher's chair, but another child could read from start to finish. 10. Sue says Art was shaped by watching dance classes, costume work, and sewing sessions, even though formal jazz lessons were unaffordable. 11. Art says Rocky Horror opened a space where 'there is a place for me' and where she could 'be proud of who I am.' 12. The episode links that show to Art coming out as gay at secondary school on celebration day while dressed in drag. 13. Sue describes a science-track detour that included work experience at Cabrini Hospital's pathology lab and a Science Forum Camp in Perth. 14. At the Perth camp, Art performs a full drag reveal as Frankenfurter at the end-of-week disco and wears size 13 ladies' shoes. 15. Sue says Art switched year 11 subjects from chemistry to studio art after showing photography to an art teacher and getting a recommendation. 16. The drag-name story runs through 'Count Dracula,' 'Scabitha,' and 'Art' after a lecturer said the work was not art. 17. Art says a local drag competition and a RuPaul warmup catwalk helped shape the final stage name 'Art Simone.' 18. The interview style is affectionate, fast, and highly theatrical, with Sue and Art interrupting each other and trading jokes about wigs, pies, and props. 19. Fans of drag backstory, family anecdotes, and queer performance history would like this episode. 20. Listeners wanting a straight interview with no camp banter might skip it.

As heard by us

A playful family reveal that turns banter, memory, and a little detective work into an affectionate finale.

The season finale plays like a cheerful guessing game, anchored by Art Simone and her mum, Sue, who opens with a wink about being the Martha Stewart of Melbourne and loving art and crafts.

Read the full review in PlayNext →

Why you'd press play

You want a mystery reveal that turns into family tea and laughs.

Read the full recommendation in PlayNext →

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