Podcast Summary: StraightioLab — "Awards Shows" w/ Peaches
Released: February 17, 2026 | Hosts: George Civeris & Sam Taggart | Guest: Peaches
Overview
In this lively and irreverent episode, hosts George Civeris and Sam Taggart welcome iconic musician and performance artist, Peaches, to dissect the straight cultural behemoth that is Awards Shows. Together, they tackle the glitz, the artifice, the underlying straightness, and the camp potential of the Hollywood awards-industrial complex – all while discussing Peaches' new album No Lube So Rude, queerness in pop, body shame and celebration, and the balancing act of being funny and political in an increasingly absurd world.
The episode is full of sharp cultural criticism, filthy irreverence, and plenty of laughs as Peaches offers insights on creative rebellion, being a straight outsider, and the revolutionary potential of humor and dance.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. Post-Golden Globes Reflections & Celebrity Ennui (04:08–09:09)
- George recounts his experience attending the Golden Globes overflow room for work, mingling with publicists and producers and feeling “legitimately invisible” in a room of “vultures and vampires.”
- On feeling pitiful in celebrity spaces:
- Sam: “Whenever I’m in a space like that and working, I get pitiful.”
- George: “My plan is, act like you belong, but don’t make yourself known... I’m power walking.”
- Starstruck moments: George is more starstruck meeting Peaches than seeing major celebrities (“Finally an artist. All these losers...’” [06:05])
- Actors are “normal people”; contrast with “bad musicians” from TikTok who lack “star power.”
2. Peaches Joins: Gossip & Behind-the-Scenes at Celebrity Events (09:09–13:26)
- A-lister gossip: George shares a story about an A-list actress calling another celebrity “gay,” sparking discussion about gossip, identity, and the insecurity beneath casual celebrity shade.
- Peaches: “What does that mean? What does that mean?” [09:35]
- Sam: “It shows a weird immaturity.” [11:02]
- Party subcultures:
- The group discusses how, with cell phones everywhere, celeb parties are now less wild and more controlled.
- Peaches: “It was better when people just made lines on the table... I care that they try and make it so secretive, that’s gonna bring us together.” [12:26]
- Drugs and exclusion in clubs and parties—the “extra VIP” bathroom scene.
3. Peaches on Berlin & Humor Gaps (13:26–16:10)
- On Germans and humor:
- Peaches, living in Berlin, reflects on the famously literal and slapstick German sense of humor versus North American wordplay and double entendre.
- Peaches: “They love, like, slapstick humor... which is so funny because they pride themselves in intellectual...” [14:55]
- George: “With slapstick you can’t accidentally say the wrong thing. It’s as non-problematic as possible.” [15:25]
4. The New Album: No Lube So Rude – Humor, Sexuality, and Politics (17:02–24:11)
- Album vibes:
- Hosts praise the audacity, danceability, humor, and depth of Peaches’ new work.
- Sam: “You’re so good at toeing that line of abrasive and then being sweet.” [17:11]
- George: “Double entendre, lube, sex, hole... then suddenly it’s a profound statement. Almost feels like a culmination.” [17:25]
- Peaches on process:
- “The revolution needs joy. The revolution needs humor.” [18:37, Peaches]
- “It’s not easy...but I wanted emotion, vulnerability, but also power.”
- Standout lyric—anti-capitalist and funny:
- George: “‘Technocrats eat a jock strap.’” [21:48]
- Peaches explains her method: using humor to strip fascist topics of seriousness and highlight absurdity.
- “If you switch it, people find it more absurd, but it’s actually the same thing.” [22:58]
5. Comedy Influences and the "Prolapse Era" (24:11–27:54)
- Influences:
- Peaches—Maria Bamford, South Park, John Waters, Sarah Squirm.
- Peaches: “The main theme for my live show is prolapse. Used to be dick ho, now let’s be more inclusive.” [25:23]
- Prolapse as a metaphor for our chaotic, excessive cultural moment.
- “You live your whole life with a tight asshole... suddenly it’s prolapsed. How can we work with this? It’s about resetting your expectations, because we live in a prolapse world.” [26:17, George]
6. Embodiment, Shame, Sex, and Reclaiming the Body (27:57–29:41)
- On performing sexual material:
- Peaches feels no shame performatively—calls it a manifestation and setting free.
- “All the swear words are parts of your body... We are born and bred to be shameful of our bodies.” [28:56, Peaches]
7. Politics of Pop and the New Wave of Explicitness (29:41–35:36)
- Kim Petras & “Slut Pop”:
- The new album is part of a new wave of unapologetically sexual pop, but Peaches uses sexuality as metaphor and politics.
- Sex, trans issues, and political hypocrisy:
- Peaches skewers the hypocrisy of obsessing over minor “cultural issues” while bigger traumas go hidden.
- “It doesn’t make any sense why the Epstein stuff is secret... it’s all about our bodies and letting us be us.” [31:32, Peaches]
- Writing focused, funny political music:
- “I want people to dance, and then go—‘What did I just sing along with?’” [33:16, Peaches]
- Younger inspirations:
- Peaches shouts out Cortez Estar (avant-garde hip hop), Pixel Grip (electro), Brutalismos 3000, Dornica (Bring Back the Bush)—praising stylistic freedom and genre-blending in today’s scene.
8. Rapid-Fire “Straight Shooters” Segment (38:16–41:45)
Highlights:
- Sam: “Posting a nude or fisting a dude?”
- Peaches: “Oh, fisting a dude, of course.” [39:35]
- Achieves “1000 Doves”—the pod’s highest score.
9. Art, Award Shows, and the Joys/Pitfalls of Pageantry (43:40–60:20)
- Peaches’ history: Has only attended one awards show—Enemy Awards, where she ironically announced herself as winner.
- “So I don’t know if I’m built for awards shows.” [44:52]
- Perils of corporate gigs/performance art mishaps:
- Tells a story of a period stunt at a “stiff” fundraiser (“blood seeping through the white pants... then I ran after her.” [46:36]).
- Body horror & performance boundary-pushing:
- Discussion of Sarah Squirm, Florentina Holzinger, Folsom Street Fair, and the beauty/hard limits of performance art (“In theory, Gigi Allen shitting on stage is cool, but do I really want to smell that shit?” [50:31, Peaches])
- Art world—insider/outsider status:
- Peaches feels at home among artists but is alienated by the money-laundering, status-y aspects.
10. Straightness and Awards Shows (53:37–61:26)
- Why are award shows so straight?
- They're produced for cameras, not the room; lack of imperfection and spontaneity.
- Sam: “I get annoyed when something is a live event as a performance of what a live event is, and not actually just a live event.” [54:14]
- George: “The straight thing about it is just turning art into competition, which...leads to the camp.” [57:09]
- Outfits, pageantry, and expectations:
- Peaches and hosts consider what would be the most “punk rock” things to wear—either hyper-conventional or defiantly normcore.
- Peaches: “It’s like, show as much skin as possible until someone talks about it negatively...” [58:55]
- Conclusion:
- “No lube, so rude” as a catchphrase and philosophy for a frictionless, more compassionate era.
- “If we’re living in a prolapse era, the antidote is lube. We need to enter a lube mindset.” [61:07]
11. Frauds, AI Dread, and Punk Aftercare (64:26–69:32)
- Peaches as industry outsider:
- Doesn’t feel part of the music industry—pops in and out at will.
- AI conversation:
- “There are also creative uses, but also abuses...entire swaths of knowledge will be forgotten.” [66:13, Peaches]
- Cultural whiplash, American politics, and urgency:
- Peaches expresses anxiety about planning tours amid political chaos.
- Peaches: “I also want to mention a band like the Lambrini Girls—pure punk, but caring, aftercare-focused.”
- Sex culture and consent:
- The group admires how today’s kink/party scenes emphasize aftercare, consent, and non-corny community.
12. Final Questions & Shout Out Segment (69:32–73:22)
- Over-intellectualizing sex vs. nightlife:
- Peaches: “Over-intellectualizing sex [is worse]. It has to be embodied. Lube up and get going.” [69:20]
- Shout outs:
- George: Todd Snyder store and all gay men working in retail/service.
- Sam: RuPaul’s Drag Race as a comforting, non-essential tradition.
- Peaches: All musicians “speaking out and integrating it into their performance—keep doing it, it’s so important!” [72:20]
Notable Quotes
- George: “You live your whole life with a tight asshole... Suddenly it’s prolapsed. How can we work with this? It’s about resetting your expectations because we live in a prolapse world.” (26:17)
- Peaches: “The revolution needs joy. The revolution needs humor.” (18:37)
- George: “You are actually doing what comedians are supposed to do, which is strip fascist topics of their seriousness by making fun of them... and you’re flipping it on its head.” (23:18)
- Peaches: “All the swear words are parts of your body... We are born and bred to be shameful of our bodies.” (28:56)
- George (on award shows): “In the moment it’s very straight—they’re just herding cattle, a lineup of people being judged. It’s turning art into competition.” (56:00)
- Peaches (on embodiment): “Over-intellectualizing sex [is worse]. It has to be embodied. Lube up and get going.” (69:20)
Timestamps for Major Segments
- Golden Globes / Starstruck: 04:08–09:09
- Peaches Joins & Gossip: 09:09–13:26
- Berlin & Humor: 13:26–16:10
- Peaches' New Album: 17:02–24:11
- Comedy Influences / Prolapse Era: 24:11–27:54
- Shame & Embodiment: 27:57–29:41
- Pop Politics & Influences: 29:41–35:36
- Straight Shooters (Rapid Fire): 38:16–41:45
- Art, Performance, and Outrage: 43:40–60:20
- Awards Shows as Straight Institutions: 53:37–61:26
- Frauds, AI, Punk Aftercare: 64:26–69:32
- Shout Outs: 69:32–73:22
Tone
Both playful and incisive, irreverently intellectual, sexually frank, and punk in spirit—very much in keeping with both the hosts and Peaches’ signature styles.
For New Listeners
This episode is a perfect blend of queer critique, hilarious banter, and radical honesty about art, performance, shame, and the fight for joy in an absurd world. Even if you don't usually follow Peaches or awards shows, you'll find this a funny, thoughtful, and illuminating listen.
Peaches' new album No Lube So Rude is out Feb 20, 2026 and touring North America through March.