New podcast from Irish journalist chronicles the making of the world’s longest drag show

Award-winning journalists Eden Dawn and Fiona McCann launched a new audio series Slaying a Drag-a-Thon, a podcast that chronicles the making and behind-the-scenes of the successful attempt to set a new Guinness World Record for the longest drag show in history.

On July 10 this year, several performers teamed up for the Drag-a-Thon in Portland and managed to break the record for longest-running drag show. The event lasted more than 48 hours and raised $250,000 for the Trevor Project.

Northern Irish native Emma McIlroy, CEO of gender-neutral clothing brand Wildfang, spearheaded this incredible attempt alongside fellow producer and journalist Eden Dawn, who is also of Irish descent. They were joined by another award-winning journalist from Ireland, Fiona McCann, who emceed at the event.

After coming together to break a world record, Dawn and McCann have once again joined forces to produce the new podcast Slaying a Drag-a-Thon, which tells “the true, chaotic story of an attempt to break the world record for the longest drag show ever”. With the first of five episodes released on September 28, the audio series features interviews with some of the drag performers who took part in the Drag-a-Thon, including RuPaul’s Drag Race alums Peppermint, Eureka O’Hara and LaLa Ri.

The two journalists also chatted with some of the celebrity emcees of the show, including Fred Armisen, Punkie Johnson, Paula Pell, Cameron Esposito and Frankie Grande. They then put it all together to compile a podcast that explores the wave of anti-LGBTQ+ legislation in the US, the history of drag and what it means to performers, coming out stories from the artists and plenty of backstage shenanigans and production disasters.

Commenting on the show and how it broke the world record, Drag-a-Thon producer Eden Dawn said: “After a lifetime of watching drag and a career of journalism deadlines, I thought I was entirely prepared to produce this event. I was wrong. This was the most stressful 48 hours of my entire life.

“But I’ve also never been prouder of anything I’ve done and getting a world record with your friends and a gaggle of drag queens and celebrities was worth all the ulcers,” Dawn continued.

Fellow podcast producer Fiona McCann similarly shared, “Drag royalty, celebrities, a ticking clock, Dolly Parton songs on blast, and Guinness? I don’t think I’ve had more fun or less sleep in my storytelling life.”

Slaying a Drag-a-Thon is a sidecast of We Can’t Print This, another podcast series produced by Dawn and McCann. You can listen to the Slaying a Drag-a-Thon podcast here.

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