Podcast Summary: Bawdy Storytelling – Episode 98: "Tinkle" (featuring Annie Sprinkle)
Release Date: November 21, 2019
Host: Dixie De La Tour
Featured Storyteller: Annie Sprinkle
Episode Overview
This episode of Bawdy Storytelling—the self-described “Moth for pervs”—celebrates the life and legacy of Annie Sprinkle: pioneering sex-positive feminist, performance artist, former porn star, and educator. We journey through Sprinkle’s history with sexuality, performance art, and activism for sexual freedom and sex worker rights. The episode’s central story is Annie’s infamous on-stage ‘Fountain’ performance—an exuberant, revealing, and delightfully messy recounting of sexual self-expression and the unpredictability of live art.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. Dixie De La Tour on Tour Life, Injury, and Gratitude
00:00–07:00
- Tour Recap: Dixie discusses the end of a demanding tour, including a foot injury that turned out to be severe tendonitis, not a break. She reflects on the importance of community, the support she received, and the gratitude for mobility.
- Community Healing: The value of having smart, caring people—like her producer's nurse-wife, April—and the social media concern she received.
- Friendsgiving & Kink Community: Dixie looks forward to holiday gatherings with San Francisco’s kink community.
Memorable Quote
“Mobility is something we take advantage of.” —Dixie De La Tour (08:11)
2. Who is Annie Sprinkle? A Sex-Positive Pioneer
09:50–13:32
- Background: Annie began as a theater popcorn girl, became involved in porn after meeting director Gerard Damiano (Deep Throat), and found power in her own sexual agency on-screen.
- Sex Positivity & Activism: Annie is lauded as a transformative figure—her joy and conscious choice in her work brought sex positivity to visibility long before the term was common.
- Ecosexuality: With partner Beth Stephens, Annie pioneered the “ecosexual” movement, marrying earth objects and expanding the spectrum of meaningful, loving connections.
Memorable Quote
“Her work’s always been about sexuality…but sexuality with a political, spiritual, and artistic bent.” —Dixie De La Tour (11:55)
3. Annie Sprinkle’s Live Story: Owning the Body
13:33–27:02
a) Beginnings: Choosing a Name that Felt Wet
- Annie shares her entry into porn (1973, Manhattan), her love of “wet things,” and how her pseudonym reflects her affinity for water and all body fluids—culminating in the name “Annie Sprinkle.”
b) The Dupont Fountain Performance (1993)
- Invited to perform after the massive gay, lesbian, and bisexual march in Washington, Annie transforms herself into a symbolic fountain at a stage show—by doing a backbend, spreading her legs, and urinating into the air to the audience’s delight. [14:36–16:41]
Notable Quote
“I decided for my performance after the march, I would turn myself into the Dupont Fountain.” —Annie Sprinkle (15:38)
c) Taste of Latex—When Art Gets Real
- At a benefit for the queer magazine Taste of Latex at Manhattan's iconic Clit Club, Annie preps herself to “recycle” the fountain piece—resting, meditating, hydrating, and even taking an enema for “energy.” The room is packed with seasoned kinksters; Annie’s act peaks with an explosive display, showering the magazine and shooting liquid to the club ceiling. [18:50–21:14]
d) The Onstage Surprise (and Artist’s Humiliation → Pride)
- The next day, famed educator Carol Queen and Robert Lawrence gently reveal to Annie she accidentally defecated during the show—something she hadn't realized amid the euphoria and adrenaline. After initial horror, Annie recognizes she’s now joined the ranks of transgressive artists who have gone “all the way” on stage. [22:50–27:02]
Notable Dialogues
“Did you plan to poop?” —Carol Queen, to Annie Sprinkle (23:58)
“No, I didn’t poop. I just squirted.” —Annie Sprinkle (24:04)
“I suddenly felt a rush of pride…I entered that group of artists with no holds barred.” —Annie Sprinkle (25:20)
4. Performance Tribute: The Poetry/Song Segment
27:02–31:09
A performance poet (unidentified, likely Jillian Lewis) delivers a musical/lyrical ode to Annie Sprinkle’s legacy, emphasizing body pride, sexual celebration, and empowerment through masturbation and self-love, echoing Sprinkle’s lifelong messages.
Key recurring mantra:
"Annie said... When you pleasure yourself, you pleasure the world." (multiple times, 29:47–31:04)
Memorable Lines
“Annie introduced me to my goddess and slut. You have them too, inside of you.” —Poetry Performer (30:29)
5. Reflections & Impact
31:09–32:00
- Dixie describes how watching Annie’s films personally changed her perspective on sexuality and agency, recalling the bravery to pursue joy and authenticity in sexual presentation.
Notable Quotes & Timestamps
- “Hey, my vagina is eight miles wide. Absolutely everyone can come inside.” —Annie Sprinkle, singing (00:46)
- “This was clearly her decision. She wanted to be there. I didn’t know the term sex-positive at the time, but it really affected me and it clearly has affected me to this day.” —Dixie De La Tour (12:35)
- “Doing body-based performance art and making porn, you really put your body out there—and we don’t have full control over what our bodies can do. That’s what makes it interesting, and kind of edgy, and exciting.” —Annie Sprinkle (25:35)
Timestamps for Important Segments
| Timestamp | Segment Description | |------------|--------------------------------------------------------| | 00:00–08:10 | Dixie’s tour wrap-up, foot injury, personal anecdotes | | 09:50–13:32 | Annie Sprinkle’s intro and legacy | | 13:33–15:38 | Annie’s early porn career & naming story | | 15:38–16:41 | The Dupont Fountain performance | | 18:50–21:14 | Taste of Latex, gearing up for performance | | 23:58–25:20 | Onstage accident revealed and processed | | 27:02–31:04 | Musical/poetry tribute to Annie Sprinkle |
Overall Tone & Conclusion
Rich with irreverence, candor, and warmth, the episode fearlessly champions sexual self-acceptance and performance art’s unruly power. Annie Sprinkle’s life story, particularly her infamous “fountain” moment, is a gleeful celebration of risk, art, and the liberating unpredictability of being fully embodied in public. Through humility and humor, Sprinkle reframes her “oops” moment as another badge of creative courage. The episode as a whole is a love letter to queer legacy, found family, and the freedom to be unapologetically oneself.
Final Poetry Tribute (30:45):
"When you pleasure yourself, you pleasure the world."
Additional Resources
- Queer Songbook performance video: See show notes for the direct link.
- Learn more: Visit Bawdy Storytelling’s website for live event info and archives.
This summary captures both the spirit and the raw honesty of Annie Sprinkle and Bawdy Storytelling—perfect for listeners old and new who want to embrace the joy, messiness, and radical self-love at the heart of authentic sexual storytelling.