Podcast Summary: So True with Caleb Hearon

Episode: "Anania Loves Anime"
Release Date: October 16, 2025
Host: Caleb Hearon
Guest: Ananiah (comedian, drag performer, and creator of "Gaydar")

Episode Overview

This episode of So True with Caleb Hearon features a lively, irreverent, and thoughtful conversation between host Caleb Hearon and multifaceted guest Ananiah. Together, they reflect on Midwestern roots, the ins and outs of queer identity, finding one’s place in performance and comedy, creative ambitions, and the joy and catharsis of anime and drag. The tone is playful and open, with plenty of banter, candid admissions, and a willingness to engage with thorny or outright silly topics (with a healthy dose of queerness throughout).

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Queer Representation and Wikipedia Bios

[01:18]

Ananiah pokes fun at Caleb's succinct Wikipedia entry:
- “I go to personal life. It’s three sentences. The first one is, ‘he is gay.’” – Ananiah
- This sparks jokes about representation, visibility, and the irreducibility of queer experience.

2. Spiritual Exhaustion, Busy Lives, and Moving to NYC

[02:07]

Ananiah discusses recent life changes, including moving to a new apartment and feeling spiritually “exhausted for three months now.”
- On adjusting to New York: “The juxtaposition of what’s in my fridge versus what’s in my closet is crazy… there’s nothing in there that could actually sustain me. But I do look cunt.” – Ananiah [08:07]

3. Midwestern Roots & the Move to City Life

[06:07], [09:29]

Reflections on growing up in Davenport, Iowa, moments of “homesickness” triggered by tractors in NYC, and the alternate reality of small-town queer life.
- “I could have been working, like, mid-level John Deere and sucking dick in a bathroom. You know what I mean?” – Ananiah [06:32]
College at Emerson in Boston, dabbling in Chicago lesbian life, and ultimately settling in New York:
- “Davenport, New York. In between… For college, I went to Emerson… Then toured in North Carolina… then Chicago… then NYC.” – Ananiah [09:50]

4. Identity, Coming Out, and the “Pronoun Pipeline”

[16:02]

Ananiah reflects on coming out in college after growing up in a small conservative environment, and the journey from living as a “straight man” to embracing non-binary and trans woman identities.
- “Once you turn 26, you’re kind of dead [as a queer person]… it only gets better.” – Ananiah [40:04]
On dating: Ananiah is in a “really serious adult relationship” for the first time [04:45].

5. Drag Beginnings & Chicago’s Queer Scene

[13:13]

Ananiah’s drag debut at Roscoe’s in Chicago, performing “Warning” by Fantasia.
- “Probably the worst I’ve ever done in drag, but honestly, some of the most fun.” – Ananiah [14:26]
Chicago’s queer community described as less “contentious” and more encouraging compared to New York [13:27].

6. Artistic Growth, Careers, and Ambition

[21:48], [23:05]

Caleb and Ananiah discuss breaking into entertainment, persistence in the face of industry adversity, and mixing stand-up with other creative work.
- “There were many years where it was not going… You try to make the case all the time… And then it starts going and you’re like, oh, they figured it out.” – Caleb [22:12]
On big ambitions:
- “I always had this thought that I’d have an EGOT by 30. So I’m making good…” – Ananiah [23:05] (Ananiah is 25 at recording.)

7. Travel Dreams & Life Curiosities

[23:41]

Dream destinations include Tokyo and Venice (“I want to figure out what’s going on with those aqueducts… I want to dip my toe in that water” – Ananiah [24:12]).
Spirals into an amusing, slightly baffled exploration of Venice’s architecture [25:04–25:20].

8. Phobias

[25:31]

Heights and bridges for Caleb; snakes, trypophobia, and bridges for Ananiah.
- “There’s no way you can save yourself if a bridge were to collapse and you’re on it.” – Ananiah [27:08]

9. Community, Boundaries, and Saying No

[39:25]

Discussion about the importance of boundaries, the power of saying no, and relief in learning to only do what feels right:
- “If it’s like I have to extend myself in a way that I don’t want to in this moment, I’m going to say no.” – Ananiah [39:40]
- “No’s powerful. I’ve been on no for years.” – Caleb [39:46]

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

On drag as liberation:
- “I felt so, like, liberated to do so. It was crazy.” – Ananiah [13:55]
On the endurance of Midwestern roots:
- “You in a pair of overalls, up on a tractor.” – Samantha [06:38]
On the universality of loving Paramore:
- “First of all, every black person you know likes Paramore… whether they know it or not.” – Ananiah [32:41]
- “All my black friends love Paramore.” – Samantha [33:48]
On the catharsis of anime & Paramore:
- “There’s a certain level of catharsis in the music… same as anime. The message, the tone, the animation, the characters all come together for something that’s cathartic.” – Ananiah [34:14, 34:37]
On creative advice:
- “Here’s the advice I’d give you or anyone… There’s always room for more of us… Get booked on some low-stakes friends shows… If you want to test new stuff, do a 70/30, 60/40 – open and close with strong material, try new stuff in between.” – Caleb [44:40–46:01]
On comedy heroes:
- “Bob [the Drag Queen]… such a big inspiration. Do you know who Ali Sadiq is?… The way he navigates through a story, his timing is perfect. I love Ali Sadiq.” – Ananiah [47:33–47:48]
- “[Monique’s] Queens of Comedy set… the most iconic sets of all time to me…” – Caleb [49:15–49:29]
On favorite TV:
- “My instinct is to say Naruto, but just because it’s what I grew up on… If I had to pick a western… Interview with the Vampire is probably one of my favorite TV shows ever.” – Ananiah [53:11, 54:08]
On “So True” moment:
- “Not to be on some Alpha Beta Omega Dynamics shit… I think men should get pregnant… I can’t speak to the logistics or the physiology, I just think we’d be in a completely different position globally.” – Ananiah [54:49–55:27]

Important Segments & Timestamps

[01:18] – Ananiah pokes fun at Wikipedia bios
[06:07] – Rural roots, nostalgia, queer life in Iowa
[09:29] – Life path: Boston, North Carolina, Chicago, NYC
[13:13] – First drag performance at Roscoe’s, Chicago queer scene
[16:02] – Coming out, pronouns journey, community
[17:26] – Current show: “Saturday Church” off-Broadway explained
[23:05] – Ambitions: EGOT and goals at 25
[25:31] – Fears and phobias: heights, bridges, trypophobia
[34:14, 34:37] – Paramore and the catharsis of anime
[44:40–46:31] – Stand-up comedy advice from Caleb
[47:33–47:48] – Comedy inspirations: Bob the Drag Queen, Ali Sadiq, Monique
[54:49] – “So True” moment: men should get pregnant
[59:45] – On being fat and mean, fatness and boundaries
[60:34–63:36] – “True or False” game segment (Ananiah scores 9/15)
[63:36] – Episode wrap-up and where to follow Ananiah

Thematic Highlights

Midwestern Queer Nostalgia: The unique rite of passage for queer folks moving from small rural communities to cities, and the perpetual humor and longing involved.
Queer Community Across Cities: Chicago vs. New York – the differences in queer nightlife, support, and collaboration.
Performance, Drag, and Stand-Up Fusion: Blurring boundaries between drag, online comedy, and live performance; intergenerational inspirations in comedy.
Anime & Black Culture: The surprising intersection of black affinity for Paramore and anime, explored as a cathartic refuge.
Creative Boundaries: Navigating burnout, the power of "no," and the quest for purposeful, contained output in the age of constant connectivity.
Visible, Joyful Nonbinary Trans Existence: Ananiah’s story arc from closeted small-town kid to visible, joyful, thriving drag performer and queer creative in New York.

For New Listeners

This episode is a great entry point to So True's blend of queer humor, honest self-exploration, pop-culture critique, and friendship. Caleb Hearon and Ananiah’s rapport is effortless and infectious, handling both vulnerable personal reflection and playful nonsense with equal ease. Even if you aren’t deeply familiar with drag, anime, or the Midwestern queer experience, you’ll find a lot to relate to—and plenty to laugh about.

Find Ananiah:

Instagram & TikTok: @ananiah00 (A N A N I A 0 0)
Watch Gaydar
See Saturday Church at New York Theatre Workshop (if still running)

Memorable sign-off:

“I want everyone to come.” – Samantha Irby [57:37]
“You may say that I’m a dreamer, but I’m not the only one.” – Caleb [57:59]

Podcast Summary: So True with Caleb Hearon

Episode: "Anania Loves Anime"
Release Date: October 16, 2025
Host: Caleb Hearon
Guest: Ananiah (comedian, drag performer, and creator of "Gaydar")

Episode Overview

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Queer Representation and Wikipedia Bios

[01:18]

Ananiah pokes fun at Caleb's succinct Wikipedia entry:
- “I go to personal life. It’s three sentences. The first one is, ‘he is gay.’” – Ananiah
- This sparks jokes about representation, visibility, and the irreducibility of queer experience.

2. Spiritual Exhaustion, Busy Lives, and Moving to NYC

[02:07]

Ananiah discusses recent life changes, including moving to a new apartment and feeling spiritually “exhausted for three months now.”
- On adjusting to New York: “The juxtaposition of what’s in my fridge versus what’s in my closet is crazy… there’s nothing in there that could actually sustain me. But I do look cunt.” – Ananiah [08:07]

3. Midwestern Roots & the Move to City Life

[06:07], [09:29]

Reflections on growing up in Davenport, Iowa, moments of “homesickness” triggered by tractors in NYC, and the alternate reality of small-town queer life.
- “I could have been working, like, mid-level John Deere and sucking dick in a bathroom. You know what I mean?” – Ananiah [06:32]
College at Emerson in Boston, dabbling in Chicago lesbian life, and ultimately settling in New York:
- “Davenport, New York. In between… For college, I went to Emerson… Then toured in North Carolina… then Chicago… then NYC.” – Ananiah [09:50]

4. Identity, Coming Out, and the “Pronoun Pipeline”

[16:02]

Ananiah reflects on coming out in college after growing up in a small conservative environment, and the journey from living as a “straight man” to embracing non-binary and trans woman identities.
- “Once you turn 26, you’re kind of dead [as a queer person]… it only gets better.” – Ananiah [40:04]
On dating: Ananiah is in a “really serious adult relationship” for the first time [04:45].

5. Drag Beginnings & Chicago’s Queer Scene

[13:13]

Ananiah’s drag debut at Roscoe’s in Chicago, performing “Warning” by Fantasia.
- “Probably the worst I’ve ever done in drag, but honestly, some of the most fun.” – Ananiah [14:26]
Chicago’s queer community described as less “contentious” and more encouraging compared to New York [13:27].

6. Artistic Growth, Careers, and Ambition

[21:48], [23:05]

Caleb and Ananiah discuss breaking into entertainment, persistence in the face of industry adversity, and mixing stand-up with other creative work.
- “There were many years where it was not going… You try to make the case all the time… And then it starts going and you’re like, oh, they figured it out.” – Caleb [22:12]
On big ambitions:
- “I always had this thought that I’d have an EGOT by 30. So I’m making good…” – Ananiah [23:05] (Ananiah is 25 at recording.)

7. Travel Dreams & Life Curiosities

[23:41]

Dream destinations include Tokyo and Venice (“I want to figure out what’s going on with those aqueducts… I want to dip my toe in that water” – Ananiah [24:12]).
Spirals into an amusing, slightly baffled exploration of Venice’s architecture [25:04–25:20].

8. Phobias

[25:31]

Heights and bridges for Caleb; snakes, trypophobia, and bridges for Ananiah.
- “There’s no way you can save yourself if a bridge were to collapse and you’re on it.” – Ananiah [27:08]

9. Community, Boundaries, and Saying No

[39:25]

Discussion about the importance of boundaries, the power of saying no, and relief in learning to only do what feels right:
- “If it’s like I have to extend myself in a way that I don’t want to in this moment, I’m going to say no.” – Ananiah [39:40]
- “No’s powerful. I’ve been on no for years.” – Caleb [39:46]

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

On drag as liberation:
- “I felt so, like, liberated to do so. It was crazy.” – Ananiah [13:55]
On the endurance of Midwestern roots:
- “You in a pair of overalls, up on a tractor.” – Samantha [06:38]
On the universality of loving Paramore:
- “First of all, every black person you know likes Paramore… whether they know it or not.” – Ananiah [32:41]
- “All my black friends love Paramore.” – Samantha [33:48]
On the catharsis of anime & Paramore:
- “There’s a certain level of catharsis in the music… same as anime. The message, the tone, the animation, the characters all come together for something that’s cathartic.” – Ananiah [34:14, 34:37]
On creative advice:
- “Here’s the advice I’d give you or anyone… There’s always room for more of us… Get booked on some low-stakes friends shows… If you want to test new stuff, do a 70/30, 60/40 – open and close with strong material, try new stuff in between.” – Caleb [44:40–46:01]
On comedy heroes:
- “Bob [the Drag Queen]… such a big inspiration. Do you know who Ali Sadiq is?… The way he navigates through a story, his timing is perfect. I love Ali Sadiq.” – Ananiah [47:33–47:48]
- “[Monique’s] Queens of Comedy set… the most iconic sets of all time to me…” – Caleb [49:15–49:29]
On favorite TV:
- “My instinct is to say Naruto, but just because it’s what I grew up on… If I had to pick a western… Interview with the Vampire is probably one of my favorite TV shows ever.” – Ananiah [53:11, 54:08]
On “So True” moment:
- “Not to be on some Alpha Beta Omega Dynamics shit… I think men should get pregnant… I can’t speak to the logistics or the physiology, I just think we’d be in a completely different position globally.” – Ananiah [54:49–55:27]

Important Segments & Timestamps

[01:18] – Ananiah pokes fun at Wikipedia bios
[06:07] – Rural roots, nostalgia, queer life in Iowa
[09:29] – Life path: Boston, North Carolina, Chicago, NYC
[13:13] – First drag performance at Roscoe’s, Chicago queer scene
[16:02] – Coming out, pronouns journey, community
[17:26] – Current show: “Saturday Church” off-Broadway explained
[23:05] – Ambitions: EGOT and goals at 25
[25:31] – Fears and phobias: heights, bridges, trypophobia
[34:14, 34:37] – Paramore and the catharsis of anime
[44:40–46:31] – Stand-up comedy advice from Caleb
[47:33–47:48] – Comedy inspirations: Bob the Drag Queen, Ali Sadiq, Monique
[54:49] – “So True” moment: men should get pregnant
[59:45] – On being fat and mean, fatness and boundaries
[60:34–63:36] – “True or False” game segment (Ananiah scores 9/15)
[63:36] – Episode wrap-up and where to follow Ananiah

Thematic Highlights

Midwestern Queer Nostalgia: The unique rite of passage for queer folks moving from small rural communities to cities, and the perpetual humor and longing involved.
Queer Community Across Cities: Chicago vs. New York – the differences in queer nightlife, support, and collaboration.
Performance, Drag, and Stand-Up Fusion: Blurring boundaries between drag, online comedy, and live performance; intergenerational inspirations in comedy.
Anime & Black Culture: The surprising intersection of black affinity for Paramore and anime, explored as a cathartic refuge.
Creative Boundaries: Navigating burnout, the power of "no," and the quest for purposeful, contained output in the age of constant connectivity.
Visible, Joyful Nonbinary Trans Existence: Ananiah’s story arc from closeted small-town kid to visible, joyful, thriving drag performer and queer creative in New York.

For New Listeners

Find Ananiah:

Instagram & TikTok: @ananiah00 (A N A N I A 0 0)
Watch Gaydar
See Saturday Church at New York Theatre Workshop (if still running)

Memorable sign-off:

“I want everyone to come.” – Samantha Irby [57:37]
“You may say that I’m a dreamer, but I’m not the only one.” – Caleb [57:59]

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Summary

Podcast Summary: So True with Caleb Hearon

Episode Overview

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Queer Representation and Wikipedia Bios

2. Spiritual Exhaustion, Busy Lives, and Moving to NYC

3. Midwestern Roots & the Move to City Life

4. Identity, Coming Out, and the “Pronoun Pipeline”

5. Drag Beginnings & Chicago’s Queer Scene

6. Artistic Growth, Careers, and Ambition

7. Travel Dreams & Life Curiosities

8. Phobias

9. Community, Boundaries, and Saying No

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

Important Segments & Timestamps

Thematic Highlights

For New Listeners

Summary

Podcast Summary: So True with Caleb Hearon

Episode Overview

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Queer Representation and Wikipedia Bios

2. Spiritual Exhaustion, Busy Lives, and Moving to NYC

3. Midwestern Roots & the Move to City Life

4. Identity, Coming Out, and the “Pronoun Pipeline”

5. Drag Beginnings & Chicago’s Queer Scene

6. Artistic Growth, Careers, and Ambition

7. Travel Dreams & Life Curiosities

8. Phobias

9. Community, Boundaries, and Saying No

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

Important Segments & Timestamps

Thematic Highlights

For New Listeners