Building Pride, Brick by Brick: Meet John & Justin from FOX’s LEGO Masters
When it comes to building dreams — one colorful brick at a time — John Walls and Justin Brady-Joyner know how to rise to the challenge. As one of eleven pairs competing on FOX’s hit series LEGO Masters, this dynamic duo isn’t just chasing the $100,000 grand prize — they’re proudly representing the Texas creative scene and the LGBTQ+ community on national television. John (he/him) and Justin (he/they) are bringing their full authentic selves to every high-stakes challenge, proving that teamwork, creativity, and a little bit of pride can build just about anything.
Outside the world of LEGO, John runs Dallas-based PR consultancy JWPR and serves as Chief Storyteller for queer-owned beverage brand Sēkwl, while Justin, based in Austin with their husband Phillip, works as an organizational consultant and LEGO Fan Media Ambassador. Together, they’re showing that representation — and resilience — can be as rewarding as any trophy.
As a sometimes Lego builder, and former avid kid builder, I was so thrilled to get the opportunity to chat to them both and find out all about who they are and what it’s like to be on a National TV show and get some tips for getting back into Lego building!
Richard Jones: Hi John and Justin, it’s amazing to meet you! We are truly enjoying seeing you on LEGO Masters! What made you sign up to be on the show?
JOHN: Thank you, Richard! I’ve been a LEGO fan since I was a kid, but I never imagined I’d be building on national TV. When Justin called and asked if I’d be interested in auditioning and teaming up with them, I didn’t even hesitate. I said yes before they could finish the question. I love a challenge, and LEGO Masters is the ultimate one. Timed builds, unexpected twists, giant brick pit. It’s like summer camp for adults who love LEGO.
JUSTIN: SO nice to meet you as well! Thanks for this opportunity to chat! LEGO Masters is the ultimate competition for LEGO fans, and we’ve cheered on friends who’ve been in past seasons for years! What better way to push ourselves than to dive into this ridiculously cool experience? The competition in the show forces you to stretch your creativity and develop new skills, and it’s been a fantastic experience so far!
RJ: We love that you are championing Texas and the LGBTQ+ community. What does visibility in this type of show mean to you?
JUSTIN: I believe firmly that representation matters! If you can see it, you can be it! Watching past seasons with queer competitors gave me the confidence that someday, that could be me — and now we have that opportunity to provide visibility for others, which is such an exciting honor and something I never want to take for granted. I know that my nonbinary identity represents how I experience life and doesn’t match others’ experiences, and that’s so important that we continue to see multitudes of queer stories so each person has a chance to feel seen. Queer visibility matters more now than ever, as it helps people within the community be seen, and helps others learn about our community and develop empathy through understanding others’ experiences. My queerness fuels my creativity, courage, and compassion, and my hope is that this shines through the show!
JOHN: Visibility is everything, especially now. For two LGBTQ+ builders from Texas to be on national TV, unapologetically ourselves, and building our hearts out? That matters. Growing up, I didn’t see people like me in this kind of space. And now, we get to show the joy, creativity, and connection that queer friendship can bring to something as universally loved as LEGO. Justin and I are both proud members of GayFOLs, an online LEGO club for LGBTQ+ fans and allies. It’s a vibrant, supportive space that’s been a game-changer for both of us. Being a part of that kind of community, whether in person or online, is what keeps you building and showing up fully as yourself.
RJ. How did you both get to know each other and how did you start building LEGO creations together?
JUSTIN: Believe it or not, our first time building together was for the show! John and I met through Instagram a few years ago and started chatting virtually. Through our conversations, we realized that John previously lived in Austin and knew my husband back when he lived here! The world (and the queer community in particular) is so small! I had originally planned to audition with my husband, but the reality of us both being able to be away from work at that same time for filming made that challenging. With his blessing, I reached out to John, and thankfully he was on board!
JOHN: Believe it or not, our first time building together was during our LEGO Masters audition, which was wild! We had connected through Instagram years ago and started chatting through the GayFOLs community. Then one day, Justin reached out and was like, “Sooo… heyyy… would you want to audition with me?” I thought they were kidding, and when I realized you weren’t, I said, “You have to ask?!?” I think Justin and I have great chemistry as teammates. We’re collaborative, respectful, and full of chaotic creativity. Also, small world moment: I used to live in Austin, and it turns out I knew Justin’s husband, Phillip, from way back in the day when I used to date one of his best friends. So yeah, the queer community is wonderfully interconnected. It all just felt meant to be… or at least serendipitously well-timed.
RJ. So far we have seen Star Wars, Wedding Cakes, Over the Falls, and I’m just catching up with Wicked — so many things I already love! So far, what has been your favorite?
JOHN: Oh, Wicked. I think we’re both going to answer Wicked. First of all, the drama of it all — our Emerald City with Elphaba’s hat levitating just behind the gates? What’s not to love? And to be given the spell “Defiance,” which just felt so powerful to build around during Pride Month and in today’s social climate.
JUSTIN: Hands down, the Wicked challenge! As a theatre kid, having a build challenge connected to such a powerful and important story that shaped so much of my identity was mind-blowing! As the show was filmed in late 2023, this was also before any of the marketing hype for the first film, so Wicked was not on my radar as an option that might come up at all, and I was completely floored when we walked into the build room!
RJ: Do you have big LEGO collections yourself? Are you part of a group?
JOHN: Oh yes. My LEGO collection is… let’s call it “extensive” to sound classy. I’ve got bins, shelves, and drawers dedicated to just about every theme you can think of. LEGO storage is basically a full-time job. I’m also a proud member of DFWLUG, the Dallas-Fort Worth LEGO User Group. We host events, share builds, and support each other’s wildest creative ideas. And of course, I’m part of GayFOLs, which has been such an affirming space to grow as both a builder and a queer creative. Between those two groups, I’m never short on inspiration or encouragement to buy just one more set.
JUSTIN: Like John’s group in DFW, I’m also a part of our local LUG, TexLUG Austin, and of course an active member of GayFOLs. Having regular, in-person touchpoints with friends in my community helps stretch my creativity as well, and I really enjoy problem-solving with other builders and learning from and with them. In addition to the in-person fun, I am also a Recognized LEGO Fan Media Ambassador, meaning LEGO recognizes my online social presence on Instagram, YouTube, and TikTok, and provides me with LEGO sets to review and other exciting opportunities to engage my online communities. I LOVE my role as a LEGO Ambassador and have infused my professional background of training and development into my online platforms. My goals here are two-fold: Develop compassionate and creative community, and help other builders strengthen their skills! Because of this role, our house is FULL to the brim with LEGO sets, haha!
RJ: Should you win or even go far in the show, what do you hope to take away from the show?
JUSTIN: Competing on LEGO Masters was transformative! I grew significantly in my confidence and learned to advocate for myself in new ways. I’ve always been one who speaks up for others but have found it harder to speak up for myself. Partnering with John helped me see that self-advocacy isn’t selfish — it’s critical, and can be done with grace and kindness. I am beyond impressed with what we were able to achieve, and building under the show’s pressure pushed us to do things neither of us had 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 commission opportunities that I previously only dreamed of!
JOHN: For me, the biggest win has already happened. I pushed myself harder creatively than I ever thought I could, learned how to build under pressure, and shared this incredible journey with a friend and teammate I now consider chosen family. And I did it all while being my full, authentic self on national television.
That said… if we do win? I’m building a proper LEGO studio at home, treating my nieces and nephews to an epic brick haul, and making a good donation to Dallas Hope Charities, where I serve on the Board. And maybe, I don’t know, a trip to a tropical island where there’s no brick-built countdown clock? Just saying.
RJ: LEGO builders? (The last thing I built was Buckingham Palace!)
JOHN: If you built Buckingham Palace, you’re already doing just fine! But here’s my advice: don’t be afraid to take your time and play. Start small, mess things up, break it down, then rebuild. Every great LEGO builder I know has a partially-exploded or -deconstructed masterpiece sitting on a shelf somewhere. And find your people. Join a LEGO User Group, follow builders online, or connect with a community like GayFOLs. Surrounding yourself with creative and supportive people makes a huge difference. Or just DM me or Justin on Instagram — @brickbuilderjohn and @bradyjoynerbricks. We’d LOVE to chat about LEGO. And we totally understand when you “accidentally” drop $200 at the LEGO store and swear it was all on sale.
JUSTIN: Two things: First, start small, and challenge yourself to continue to grow! One of my favorite things as an ambassador is to see people start by saying, “I could never do that!” when looking at a large LEGO build like my Wicked Playbill tribute, For Good, and then help them break it down into smaller parts so they leave saying, “Maybe someday I COULD build that!” And second, find a community of other builders! You can grow so much more with the help of others, and you’ll find a lot of joy in the process! Shameless plug — find me on Instagram and join my build community! I host a weekly build challenge on Instagram with small prompts to get your creative juices flowing. It’s a super supportive community where you can learn from the other builders! And if you’re not ready to join a build community, try following one of my instructional videos on YouTube, like learning how to build a ball out of LEGO. Everyone has to start somewhere!
Thank you again for chatting with us! Looking forward to connecting with you and your readers further!
So now you have no excuse not to watch, Tune In: LEGO Masters airs Mondays (8:00 PM ET/PT) on FOX, streaming next day on Hulu. And here’s the info on the latest episode which Dropped on Monday (June 23). “Batman” — The remaining teams of LEGO enthusiasts join in on celebrating DC Comics’ 85th anniversary of the Batman franchise by creating their very own Batmobiles! Whether their build is a reboot or a brand-new version, the teams must incorporate one out of the seven iconic Batman eras of their choice into their creations. With only six hours to build, it’s a race to the finish line to craft a thrilling Batmobile that will excite the judges.
