Antoni Porowski, beloved food and wine expert from Queer Eye, is peeling back the layers of his personal life in an emotional and deeply honest new interview on the Audible podcast Your Mama’s Kitchen.
Hosted by award-winning journalist Michele Norris and produced by Higher Ground, the media company founded by Barack and Michelle Obama, the episode was released on May 27 and offers a rare glimpse into Porowski’s private world.
In the conversation, Porowski opened up about his complicated family history, including a decade-long estrangement from his mother and the emotional impact of his father’s infidelities on their family dynamic.
The timing of the release is significant, arriving just as the LGBTQ+ community begins its Pride Month celebrations, making Porowski’s story of identity and self-acceptance all the more resonant.
Coming Out via Email and a Father’s Unexpected Reaction
One of the most poignant moments in the interview came when Porowski recounted how a fear of flying prompted him to come out to his father.
“If this plane crashes, he’s not going to know this really important part of my life,” he remembered thinking before a flight.
He sent his father a simple but heartfelt email: “I just want you to know that I love and I am loved.”
Two weeks passed before he heard back, and when his father finally called, his reaction was casually supportive: “I think that’s great. I can’t wait to meet him.”
Porowski described his father as “an onion,” explaining with affection that “it takes a while.”
Related: Queer Eye’s Antoni Porowski Defends Friend Taylor Swift
A Childhood of Chaos and Control
Porowski also shared vivid details of a childhood spent in a perfectionist household, where emotional expression was stifled under a veneer of domestic control.
He described how his mother’s obsession with cleanliness created a home environment that was stressful and isolating.
“It wasn’t a house where I could bring friends over,” he said.
When his parents divorced, Porowski chose not to take sides, a decision that contributed to his estrangement from his mother.
Today, their contact is minimal, limited to brief texts or emails on holidays and birthdays.
Finding Healing Through Therapy and Food
Porowski began therapy at the age of 17 and described it as essential to his personal growth.
In the interview, he shared a realization that took two decades to arrive at: “I didn’t do anything wrong. I’m not a bad person.”
He also talked about his love of cooking as a source of comfort, noting that the kitchen was the only place where his mother, despite her struggles, seemed truly joyful.
Porowski believes her passion for cooking stemmed from unfulfilled dreams, having left medical school in Poland after becoming pregnant at a young age.
Though their relationship remains fractured, Porowski’s empathy shines through as he acknowledges the emotional complexity of his upbringing and the resilience it forged in him.
Antoni Porowski’s full interview is available now on Your Mama’s Kitchen via Audible and other podcast platforms.
His vulnerability serves as a powerful reminder of the importance of self-acceptance, compassion, and the healing power of sharing our stories—especially during Pride Month.
Related: Antoni Porowski’s Love Journey