Joey Arias Unfiltered: Nightlife, Mugler & a Legendary Downtown Life

This week on The Cutting Up, Connie and I are kiki‑ing in Washington Heights like it’s a downtown séance — and our guest? Only a living, breathing piece of NYC nightlife history: the one and only Joey Arias. Yes. That Joey Arias. Performance art legend. Mugler muse. Warhol era mischief-maker. Billie Holiday channeler. Downtown royalty. We kick off doing what we do best: manifesting peace on earth, success, spiritual elevation… and obviously a hot man. Priorities. From there? Chaos. Glamour. History. Joey and I reminisce about decades of friendship, fashion, and the golden age of New York City nightlife — when the clubs were dangerous, the looks were illegal, and everyone was either famous or about to be. We talk Mugler, Montreal nights, downtown club kid origins, and the kind of stories you cannot Google. And then — because icons don’t retire — Joey drops updates: A book coming A documentary is in progress And his album “Past Present Future” is on Spotify, born from intense studio sessions that were equal parts magic and madness We also get real. Joey opens up about his sobriety journey after an intervention and detox — and how recovery reshaped his body, mind, and art. We talk reinvention, weight loss, body procedures, maturity, dating standards (they’re high, darling), and what it means to survive yourself. And because this is Joey Arias, the conversation floats effortlessly into: Higher consciousness Politics and energy Past lives and ghosts Curses (yes, curses) Spiritual awakenings Channeling Billie Holiday Stories about Andy Warhol, Paul Mooney, Keith Haring And an unearthed Basquiat found in a closet like it’s casual This episode is part New York nightlife documentary, part spiritual fishbowl, part fast-food-fueled kiki, and fully unfiltered. If you love: Joey Arias Downtown NYC legends Fashion history and Mugler LGBTQ nightlife culture Sobriety and reinvention stories Art world icons like Basquiat and Warhol Billie Holiday energy Or just wildly glamorous storytelling Welcome to the coven. Light a candle. Manifest something reckless. And press play. Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-cutting-up-a-kiki-with-connie-lina/id1849020008 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/200MOk48TaLRPLQvzx2UK0?si=6499dd094f704a10 iHeart: https://www.iheart.com/podcast/1333-the-cutting-up-a-kiki-wit-303161901 Write to us at [email protected] And follow us on instagram: @TheLinaBradford @TheRealConnieGirl @PrideHouseMedia The Cutting Up: A Kiki with Connie & Lina is a Pride House Media production. Producers: Josh Rosenzweig & Matthew Breen. Graphic Design by Daryl Raymond. Original Music by 808 BEACH (John “J-C” Carr & Bill Coleman), courtesy of Peace Bisquit. Production Design by Darryl Dickens. Our very special thanks to Jason Kanner for all your support.