Just Trish Podcast – December 9, 2025

Host: Trisha Paytas
Co-host: Oscar Gracey
Special Guests: Dr. Evan Anton (veterinarian, wildlife conservationist), Moses, Reptile Family (local animal educators)

Episode Overview

This episode of "Just Trish" is equal parts hilarious pop culture rundown and enlightening animal conservation class. Trisha, Oscar, and Moses swap takes on celebrity headlines, streaming drama, viral internet moments, and awards season chaos. Then, the mood shifts: Dr. Evan Anton and the Reptile Family bring a menagerie of live animals into the studio, using the second hour for hands-on animal education—from snakes to tarantulas, tortoises, and lizards. The discussion covers topics like rhino conservation, overconsumption, influencer culture’s effect on the environment, and deep dives on animal welfare, all delivered in Trish’s signature unfiltered, comedic voice.

Key Topics and Discussion Points

1. Pop Culture & Internet Drama

• Awards Season & Snubs (10:00–18:00; 55:00–59:00)
  • Recap of recent award nominations (Golden Globes, Critics Choice) and the “Grindr” end-of-year winners.
  • Trisha laments not being nominated for podcast awards while Oscar predicts "2026 is a Trisha sweep" because "you'll have Euphoria under your belt" (09:02).
  • Commentary on Zendaya's award history and potential for more wins.
• Celebrity Gossip & Viral Moments
  • Actors on Actors: Clumsy interview moment between David Corenswet & Jonathan Bailey, with a discussion of masculinity in media (10:44–15:37).
  • Quentin Tarantino's "things I hate" podcast tirade: Criticism of Matthew Lillard, Paul Dano, Owen Wilson, and Hunger Games vs. Battle Royale (46:53–54:10).
• Streaming and Podcast Culture
  • Dissection of the Streamer Awards—hosted by QT Cinderella—and its awkward moments, production chaos, and industry significance (61:44–72:25).
  • Reflections on the evolution of internet creators, “old” vs. “new” YouTube/Twitch personalities, and the economics of live-streaming as a business.

2. Culture of Overconsumption & Influencer Critique (75:41–90:00)

• Trisha gets candid about her own history with “overconsuming” (bling cups, luxury bags), then deep-dives why influencer excess—like Michaela’s Chanel bag wall or Jaclyn Hill’s Stanley cup collection—hits differently in today’s economy.
  • “I think we just also need to stop showing wealth…even spending money now on things that are just on me and not for the greater good, it feels weird.” (77:24)
• Discussion on the environmental impact of influencer-driven consumption and landfill waste.
• A plea for “conscious consuming,” supporting local businesses, and being more mindful, especially as economic and climate realities worsen.
  • “Conscious consuming. That was beautiful, you guys.” (97:14)
• Commentary on the practical implications: rising inflation, food insecurity, and how social media algorithms further disconnect influencers from these realities.

3. Guest Segment: Dr. Evan Anton & Live Animal Education (102:27–169:46)

(Segment starts ~1:42:00)

• Meet Dr. Evan Anton
  • Instagram-famous veterinarian, three-time People Magazine's "Sexiest Vet Alive," and host of Evan Goes Wild on Animal Planet.
  • Shares journey into vet medicine, wildlife fieldwork, and celebrity via viral social outreach.
• Wildlife Conservation
  • Deep dive into rhino conservation, explaining rhino dehorning’s role in anti-poaching strategies.
    • “We trim the horns...it’s a bummer, but it’s proven to be so successful compared to anything else.” (123:04)
  • The multi-million dollar black market for rhino horn; politics and danger of anti-poaching work.
    • “[Poaching] is a war in Africa…more people have died in the poaching war than Americans did in the Iraq war.” (126:03)
• Live Animal Experience
  • Tarantulas: “There’s no tarantula that’s dangerously venomous…they’re really neat animals, they play their role.” (127:53)
  • Snakes: Sheds myths about aggression, demonstrates safe snake handling—"When a snake’s just casually exploring, they're not backing away from you.” (134:46)
  • Lizards (Red Tegu): Proper handling; evolutionary insights; alligator/crocodile encounters.
  • Tortoises and Turtles: Animal lifespans, habitats, importance of ethical education, and how to encourage respect rather than fear for misunderstood creatures.
• Ethical Wildlife Encounters
  • Clear distinction between responsible, accredited zoos and exploitative roadside or foreign animal encounters.
  • Explanation of why most wildlife tourism (e.g., elephant rides, animal selfies abroad) is unethical.
    • “For the most part…it’s not the best interest of the animals or the species as a whole.” (115:58)
• Adoption over Shopping for Exotic Pets
  • “Do your research…the patients I see as a vet are often because people weren’t doing something they should have been doing.” (168:32)
• Engagement & Accessibility
  • Both Trish and Oscar face animal-handling fears, encourage normalizing comfort with animals for kids and adults.
  • Importance of exposure during childhood: “The more you expose them at younger ages, it can play such a big role in their life.” (131:29)

4. Memorable Quotes & Notable Moments

On Awards & Pop Culture

• Oscar: “2026 is our year. It’s a Tricia sweep. Because you’ll have Euphoria under your belt as well. So you can sneak into the acting categories.” (09:02)
• Trish (on Gaga): “I’m not in my Gaga phase yet, but I do know I’m gonna. It’s too soon for me to like her.” (06:47)
• Trish: “We weren’t even close [to a podcast award].” (05:44)

On Overconsumption & Influencer Culture

• Trish: “Even seeing Michaela’s black…all those black Chanels. I paused. I had to show Moses. 30 quilted black Chanels…It made me feel bad, and I…You know what I mean?” (84:42)
• Oscar, on Jaclyn Hill: “When she’s asking, ‘Why aren’t I getting views?’, it’s like, well, we just don’t relate to your content anymore.” (87:01)

On Rhino Conservation

• Dr. Evan Anton: “One horn could be like upwards of a million dollars…And it’s just keratin, same material as fingernails and hair.” (121:04)
• Dr. Evan Anton: “More people have died in the poaching war in Africa than Americans did in the Iraq war.” (126:03)

On Handling Animals and Overcoming Fear

• Trish: “We rescue spiders in this house. If there’s a spider, we take them outside.” (130:37)
• Dr. Evan Anton: “I have a soft spot for misunderstood animals…These are really neat animals, and they have their role.” (136:43)
• Trish: “Well, you’re really comfortable. You’re not showing any outward signs that you’re scared.” (152:44)

Notable Segments with Timestamps

• Awards/Social Media Culture: 05:04–18:00; 55:00–59:00
• Tarantino Takedowns: 46:53–54:10
• Discussing Overconsumption & Consumerism: 75:41–90:00
• Dr. Evan Anton Interview / Animal Education Hour: 102:27–169:46
  • Rhino Conservation Deep Dive: 120:08–126:57
  • Handing Tarantulas: 127:29–131:45
  • Handling Snakes: 133:43–137:17
  • Handling Red Tegu/Komodo lizard: 142:30–150:00
  • Handling Tortoises/Turtles: 155:53–165:48

Tone & Style

• Classic Trish: Unfiltered, self-deprecating, and unexpectedly heartfelt—balancing viral gossip with sincere lessons.
• Oscar: Dry wit, deep pop knowledge, and journalistic insight; comfortable with both shade and sincerity.
• Animal hour: Enthusiastic, detailed, optimistic, with a focus on education and real-world actionable takeaways.

Conclusion

This "Just Trish" episode is a perfect microcosm of modern internet culture: rapid-fire gossip, award show drama, biting influencer critique, and a pivot to thoughtful, real-world education. Beyond its laughs, it delivers clear takeaways on mindful consumption, animal welfare, and personal growth—from pop culture’s frontlines to the wilds of animal conservation. Dr. Evan Anton’s passionate, engaging presence (accompanied by live snakes, tarantulas, and tortoises) turns what could have been a meme episode into something unexpectedly informative and inspiring.

Listener Tip:

• If you want more in-depth animal stories and conservation talk, jump to [1:42:00] (Dr. Evan arrives).
• For the best cringe/funny pop culture moments, see [10:00–18:00, 46:53–54:10, 61:44–72:25].
• The conversation on influencer overconsumption and environmental fallout is at [75:41–90:00].

Final Takeaway:
Be more mindful—about what you buy, post, and promote—and remember, “conscious consuming” is always in style. And if you meet Trish, let her hold your tortoise.