Season five of LEGO Masters is underway and the duo of John Walls and Justin Brady-Joyner are still in the running for the LEGO trophy and $100,000! Hosted by Will Arnett and featuring judges Amy Corbett and Jamie Berard, Walls and Brady-Joyner compete alongside eight of the remaining teams this week in a challenge dedicated to the highly anticipated feature sequel Wicked: For Good.
Debuting Monday, June 9, the challenge gives each team a mystical spell to inspire their build. They must skillfully hide the spell-related elements within their creation — and each builders theme will align either with their good or wicked side.
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Representing Texas and the LGBTQ community, Team John & Justin have been bringing their full selves to every fast-paced, fun challenge every week. John works in PR and Justin works as an organizational consultant, but when they aren’t at their day jobs, they have a passion for LEGO.
GLAAD had an opportunity to talk to John and Justin about their Wicked build on tonight’s episode, their love for LEGO, and what it means to them representing the LGBTQ community on a show like LEGO Masters.
Where did your love for LEGO come from?
JOHN: I first fell in love with LEGO in second grade. That Christmas, I asked Santa for this massive pirate ship set. The one with fabric sails, cannonballs, an anchor, and all these wild little details. As soon as I started building it, I was hooked. Over time, I started tossing all my pieces into a big bin and just built whatever came to mind. Like a lot of people, I went through what fans call the “dark ages,” starting around middle school and lasting well into adulthood. About a decade after college, I started noticing LEGO sets that were themed around my childhood nostalgia. And it pulled me right back in. But I had a new appreciation for what LEGO could do. As an adult, you approach building differently. You’re more spatially aware, you problem-solve, and you use storytelling and structure in ways your younger self couldn’t. That’s when I joined the DFWLUG and realized this wasn’t just a toy I loved as a kid. It was still something that brought me joy and challenged me creatively.
JUSTIN: I have really fond memories of building LEGO as a kid, but like many, I went through the “Dark Ages” and stepped away from it in my teens. That changed in 2009 when I moved to Austin and stumbled upon a LEGO store while holiday shopping. I was drawn in by the winter village sets and ended up buying one as décor, then quickly fell back in love! At first, I stuck to sets. But in 2017, my husband Phillip and I started creating our own builds (MOCs), and in 2018, I joined TexLUG Austin, which really opened the doors to a whole new level of creativity and connection.
What was your first reaction when you found out you were going to be on LEGO Masters?
JOHN: Shock, disbelief, joy! I had so many emotions all at once. I’ll never forget it. I was sitting in my car outside my alma mater, TCU, about to walk into a meeting for Schieffer College. Just as I was about to switch into professional mode, I got the call. Justin and I got separate calls, and I remember jumping on the phone with them right after. We were laughing, screaming, and totally losing our minds. It felt like my inner 12-year-old had just won the LEGO lottery. Here I was about to step into a board meeting, and suddenly, I was going to be on a reality TV show. Life is wild sometimes.
JUSTIN: I was completely over the moon! Ever since Season 1, especially watching our friends Flynn and Richard compete, I’ve dreamed of this moment. That said, it was a little bittersweet; my husband and I had planned a trip to the Albuquerque Balloon Festival, and it meant he had to go without me. Still, being on the show was absolutely worth it.
What does it mean to you representing the LGBTQ community on a show like LEGO Masters?
JOHN: Representing the LGBTQ+ community on LEGO Masters means everything to me. To be on national TV as your full, authentic self and to do it while building LEGO is a dream. There’s something powerful about queerness and creativity coexisting on screen that’s so amazing. Growing up, I didn’t see many people like me on TV. So the thought of a young queer kid watching this season and seeing two adults having fun, working hard, and being completely themselves? That’s the real win. Aside from being a builder, I run my own PR consultancy, I serve on the Board for Dallas Hope Charities, a nonprofit that provides food, shelter, and services for LGBTQ+ youth experiencing homelessness, and I’m also a proud co-founder of an LGBTQ+-owned company called Sēkwl Beverage House, which makes adaptogenic sparkling waters with functional mushrooms. Being an LGBTQ+ entrepreneur, builder, and advocate… it’s all connected. Representation absolutely matters, no matter where or how it shows up.
JUSTIN: I believe firmly that representation matters! If you can see it, you can be it! Watching the first season and seeing queer competitors made me feel like, “That could be me someday.” Now I get to be that person for someone else! John and I are proud to show the joy and value of queer friendship on national TV, and how uplifting one another can be powerful. We’re also proud members of GayFOLs (https://gayfols.com/), an online LEGO club that gives LGBTQ+ fans and allies a safe, welcoming space to connect and build community. It’s been amazing to have that kind of support network, especially when we show up at conventions or events and know we’re among friends. My queerness fuels my creativity, courage, and compassion, and my hope is that this shines through the show!
What did you learn about yourself that surprised you while on LEGO Masters?
JOHN: I learned that I could actually build and create under extreme pressure, and honestly thrive doing it. At home, I’d spend days or even weeks perfecting a MOC [“My Own Creation”]. On the show, we had 10, four, or six hours, a vague idea, and that big clock ticking down. What surprised me most was how creative and resourceful Justin and I became in those conditions. I look back at what Justin and I built together and feel incredibly proud. We pushed ourselves, learned new skills on the fly, and built things we never thought possible.
JUSTIN: Competing on the show was transformative! I gained so much more confidence and learned to advocate for myself in new ways. I’ve always been someone who speaks up for others, but it’s been harder to speak up for myself. Partnering with John helped me see that self-advocacy isn’t selfish. It’s necessary and can be done with kindness and grace. I am beyond impressed with what we were able to achieve, and building under the pressure of the show pushed us to do things I had never done before. It is powerful to see how these things have shaped my personal and professional life since the show. I developed the courage to open my own business as an organizational leadership coach and consultant, and to embrace myself as a LEGO artist, leading to commissions opportunities that previously I only dreamed of!
When you found out that the challenge was Wicked-themed. The “spell” you picked in the challenge was “defiance”, and it’s PRIDE month. What kind of weight does that word hold for you considering our current social landscape for the LGBTQ community?
JOHN: I think the word “defiance” hits hard, especially during Pride. For so many of us, just existing is an act of defiance. It’s about standing tall when the world tells you to shrink. In the Wicked challenge, we thought about Elphaba’s transformation. The moment she puts on the hat and finally claims her space. That’s a moment that so many queer people know deeply. And we tried to channel that into our build. PRIDE isn’t just about rainbows and parties. It’s also a protest. It’s resilience. It’s about publicly declaring that we were born to be different, and we’re proud of it. Like Justin said, “Why blend in when you can stand out?”
JUSTIN: As a theatre kid, walking into the build room and seeing the Wicked challenge was “thrillifying”! Theater plays a huge role in my life and love story. My husband proposed to me on a Broadway stage, with the cast cheering us on! And the themes of Wicked are so connected to the current political and social landscape. The queer community, especially our trans and nonbinary siblings, is under serious attack. “Defiance” is about standing up, yes, but it can also look like joy, visibility, and celebration. Pride started as a protest, and moments like this remind us why. I remember marching in the LA Resist March in 2017 with my husband. It felt meaningful, powerful, and deeply connected to our history. That experience shifted how I think about PRIDE, and I hope this moment helps spark the next generation of bold, compassionate leaders.
How do you manage to keep cool under the high-pressure environment of building something from scratch in a limited amount of time knowing that there is so much on the line?
JOHN: The LEGO Masters build room is incredible and intense. There’s pressure from the clock, the cameras, the expectations. But what got us through was our friendship. There were moments when one of us would hit a creative wall or feel totally overwhelmed, and the other would step in, sometimes with ideas and sometimes just with support. We were constantly tuning into each other’s energy and figuring out what was needed in the moment. Both of us have lived through personal challenges, self-doubt, and all kinds of life pressures. That real-world resilience definitely helped us stay grounded and focused and allowed us to really enjoy every part of the competition.
Of the two of you, which one of you is more of a Glinda, and which one is a Elphaba?
JOHN: I had a feeling this one was coming! Even though I think we all have a bit of Glinda and Elphaba in us, if I had to choose, I’d say Justin is a bit more like Elphaba. And yes, even though I want to say I’m more like Elphaba, I’m definitely more Glinda, but not just because I’m blond. But that’s why we work so well together. Justin is absolutely like Elphaba because they have a quiet strength, resilience, and unapologetic authenticity. They’re deeply empathetic, courageous, and fiercely committed to advocating for others. Elphaba’s story is about someone who doesn’t fit the mold, and neither does Justin. That’s what makes them powerful and an amazing teammate.
JUSTIN: John is definitely the Glinda, though I know he’d argue he’s Elphaba! 🙂 Both characters go through epic transformations and show defiance in their own way. Glinda is known for her charm, intelligence, and social skills. She has a knack for winning people over and honing her strengths for good. She becomes a fiercely loyal and supportive friend to Elphie. All of these are qualities I value and see in John! I connect more with Elphaba’s journey, having navigated my fair share of exclusion and being misunderstood for much of my early years. This led me to develop a deep empathy for others on the margins, and fueled my passion for advocating for those who are often excluded.
What would it have meant to you to see someone like yourselves on a TV show like LEGO Masters when you were younger?
JOHN: Growing up, I was always looking for role models. Someone who looked or felt like me. To see two LGBTQ+ adults on national TV, building cool things, fully being themselves, and surrounded by love? That would’ve told me that I wasn’t alone. That a life full of creativity, friendship, and joy was absolutely possible. I’ve been lucky to have an incredibly supportive family. My family has always shown up for me with love, encouragement, and acceptance. That foundation really gave me the confidence to be fully myself, and it’s something I carry into everything I do. Justin, his husband Phillip, and I aren’t just teammates. We’re chosen family. I wouldn’t trade that for anything. Not even the chance to win a LEGO Masters title and trophy.
JUSTIN: It would’ve meant everything. Nonbinary representation is still so rare in media, and when we filmed, I wasn’t yet ready to share that part of myself publicly. Since then, I’ve come out as nonbinary, and that’s been thanks in part to seeing others live their truth. Representation helps us see all the different, valid ways to be part of the queer community. It’s not ‘one size fits all’. I hope we keep seeing more diverse stories, especially from BIPOC, trans, and nonbinary folks, because every one of those voices expands what’s possible, and shows how we’re not a monolith.
LEGO Masters airs Mondays (8:00 pm ET/PT) on FOX, streaming next day on Hulu.
