Call-In Ep w/ George and Sam

StraightioLab – "Call-In Ep w/ George and Sam" November 4, 2025 | Big Money Players Network & iHeartPodcasts

Episode Overview

In this dynamic call-in episode, comedians George Civeris and Sam Taggart field voicemails from listeners on their characteristically playful and intellectual podcast, StraightioLab. Broadcasting from opposite coasts, the pair embark on a loosely-structured journey through straight and queer culture, pop stardom, personal neuroses, and the quest for meaning—often filtered through a haze of seasonal malaise and self-deprecating humor. With topics ranging from Halloween costumes and the nuances of pop diva status to protein powder, dumb boyfriends, and why hot ice cream might exist, this episode is a vibrant, meandering conversation about culture and community through a queer lens.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

Setting the Mood (04:06–11:18)

Bi-coastal Check-in: Sam and George reflect on ending their run of upbeat New York recordings and settling into gloomier energy: “I have what is known in the medical community as brain fog. It is absolutely kicking my ass.” (George, 04:40)
Seasonal depression, LA vs. NY weather, and the peculiar self-pitying joys of bad moods.
Sam and Misha’s Halloween costume journey morphing into an existential search for sock garters—“They don’t have, like, there are none in Los Angeles that I can find. And Amazon, sorry, is not delivering until Saturday.” (Sam, 08:55)

Call-In Segment: Hot Topics & Listener Quandaries

1. Lily Allen, David Harbour, and the Evolving Sex Symbol (17:05–27:21)

Listener asks about the fallout from Lily Allen’s breakup album and its effect on David Harbour’s status—especially among gay fans.
Sam: “David Harbour is a huge sex symbol in the bear community…[this] is not gonna make a splash. I think everyone will still want to have sex with him.” (18:00)
George and Sam: Analyze shifts in ‘cancellation’ culture, how Allen’s personality resists victim framing, and the shifting meaning of public catharsis.
“She is a bad girl. She’s a psycho. She’s done insane things in the past…she, I would say, partially owns it.” (George, 23:16)
Overall consensus: Allen’s messiness is on brand, neither artist is truly 'canceled,' and the album’s relentless confessional tone is both compelling and exhausting.

2. Performing for Hot People—Does It Help or Hinder? (27:42–31:13)

Q: Does a hot audience member improve a stand-up’s act—or lead to a flop?
Sam: “It does distract me...I try to remain professional for the most part, but it does distract me.”
George: “I’m thinking the exact opposite...I’m the theater kid, loser on stage, and this person is sitting there with their arms crossed being like, what the hell does this idiot have to say?” (30:11)
Both agree the true thrill is post-show validation—a hot person saying they enjoyed the gig.

3. Media You Loved, Now Hate (31:18–31:52)

George confesses to no longer loving Austin Powers and Rat Race.
Sam is viscerally offended: “Such a bitch. You knew that would hurt my feelings and you're saying that to hurt my feelings.” (31:33)

4. Is Lorde a "Gay Pop Diva"? The Taxonomy of Pop Stardom (35:02–43:10)

Heated debate on the criteria for 'gay pop diva' status, spurred by detailed listener taxonomies.
George: “Being a gay pop diva...you have this narrative of being the underdog and then persevering; you have gone through, and I understand that.”
Sam: Doesn't accept Dua Lipa's exclusion from 'diva' status—“If she’s not a gay pop diva, then what is she?” (36:04)
They introduce the “bachelor’s-master’s-PhD” escalator of pop stardom, with ‘diva’ as the terminal degree.

5. The Protein Discourse—Straight or Gay? (44:16–52:22)

Listener asks: Is the “protein everywhere” trend straight?
Sam: Protein “ten years ago…was very straight...the straightest guy in the world” (45:10), but now is “becoming queer for yoga girls.”
George: “Capitalism works is that one market was cornered...how do we expand this market? We feminize protein and make it also for women.” (46:33)
They muse on the strange omnipresence of protein and the need for new nutritional institutions (“the food pyramid has fallen and we need to rebuild it.”, 49:36)

6. Rapid-Fire Calls: Books, Oscars for Charli XCX, Hot Pop Girl Demographics, and More

What Are You Reading? (52:35)
- Sam finished The Shards: “I felt like a little kid again, kind of glued to the book...didn’t end as satisfyingly as I had hoped.” (52:43)
- George is rereading Satin Island and pitches Brideshead Revisited as a “Secret History adjacent” classic. (54:57)
Charli XCX: What Role Wins Her an Oscar? (55:38–61:27)
- Sam: “She would have to play like a dowdy mother who was like dealing with intergenerational trauma…maybe it's even in the Victorian era.” (56:54)
- George: “Charlie could be the new M in James Bond.” (59:56)
Dating Someone Hot but a Little Dumb (61:50–71:06)
- Is 'lack of general knowledge’ a dealbreaker?
- George: “Intelligence is a tough one.” (63:14); distinguishes “dumb” from uninformed, and worries about social embarrassment.
- Sam: “There are metrics in which I am dumb…but being able to win at Trivial Pursuit is not necessarily intelligent.” (63:49)
- Both confess to lacking spatial awareness/sense of direction (George), and inefficiency (Sam).
Pop Girl Appeal: Who Has All Three Fanbases? (74:16–78:54)
- Who appeals simultaneously to straight women, gay men, and lesbians?
- Sam: “Gaga” and (briefly) Kacey Musgraves.
- George: “Taylor Swift...has all three and has them bad.” (75:54), also Beyoncé and possibly Demi Lovato or Miley Cyrus (to a lesser but passionate degree).
Heimlich Game: Boygenius, MUNA, and Haim (79:52–84:19)
- Assign Haim “roles” to MUNA and Boygenius; deep-dive into girl-band personalities via social media output.
- “Muna is part of the comedy community,” (83:00) while Haim “is going esti mode” with viral dances (82:44).
Miscellaneous Quick Hits
- Do you like penises? (“It’s a yes for me.” – George, 84:22)
- Tyra Banks’ “hot ice cream” – Sam’s lifelong wish for “lukewarm ice cream that still has its texture” not fulfilled by this invention (86:46+).
- Top a twink/stop and think meme: “We have seen it, and we think it's hilarious.” (88:56)
Context vs. Content (84:38–86:35)
- “We are going from an era of content to an era of context. What's more valuable now is not more content, it's more context.” (84:38)
- Critique of pop anniversaries and commemorative content as ‘slow news’ filler.
Vocal Inspirations for Voice Training (89:43–95:27)
- Sam’s history with speech therapy and regional accent drift; George aspires for “a neutral voice that only sounds slightly sophisticated.” (91:26)
- Both reflect on what it means to have an audio identity as a podcaster and comedian.
Being a Gay Guy Who Likes Indie Rock (96:10–97:49)
- Callers worry they must give up indie rock for pop—Sam: “You have to let go of indie rock for five years…then you have to find your way back home once you've fully immersed yourself.” (96:44)
- George disagrees, finding it “one of the most ethical things you can be.”

7. Closing Bits: Absurdist Questions and Ending on a Whimper (98:50–105:16)

The Zach Braff Concussion Thought Experiment
- “If Zach Braff died of 35 million concussions tomorrow, there would be so much in his obit.” (99:43)
Media Once Loved, Now Hated (again)
- Sam: “I never liked Flubber. I was gaslit into having to tell people that I liked Flubber.” (102:59)
- Take: “Those actors are not safe for children...should be for adults.” (George, 104:11)
- Spice World: “When you rewatch it, it is long as fuck...make a compilation of all the amazing bits in it and cut out all that fucking filler.” (Sam, 104:41)
The episode closes with congratulations to the editor for handling the chaos, thanks to callers/listeners, and the classic “get back to work” sign-off.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments (with Timestamps)

“There is a toxic desire among all to pit gay podcasters against each other.”
— Sam Taggart (18:17)
“Lily Allen is a bad girl. She’s a psycho…She is not some innocent wifey…”
— George Civeris (23:16)
“If you’re just pop singer, you have a bachelor’s. Girly is your master’s, and diva is your PhD.”
— George (43:00)
“Protein is something that is so classic, it's like seeing the American flag is trending.”
— George (51:29)
“That feeling when general knowledge is not one of the skills.”
— Sam (62:15)
“It’s true. That was the original Girlboss. You know, they keep inventing archetypes so they can tear women down.”
— George (100:43)
“I never liked Flubber. I was gaslit into having to tell people that I liked Flubber.”
— Sam (102:59)
“Those actors are not safe for children. Those actors should be for adults.”
— George (104:11)

Topic Timestamps

[04:06] - Setting the mood, weather, Halloween costumes
[17:05] - Lily Allen/David Harbour breakup discussion
[27:42] - Performing in front of hot audience members
[31:18] - Media formerly loved, now hated
[35:02] - Is Lorde a gay pop diva? Pop taxonomy
[44:16] - Protein: straight or gay?
[52:35] - What are you reading?
[55:38] - Charli XCX’s hypothetical Oscar role
[61:50] - Dating someone hot but dumb
[74:16] - Pop girls with cross-demographic appeal
[79:52] - Heimlich/Muna/Boygenius “triads”
[84:38] - Content vs. context
[86:46] - Tyra Banks' "hot ice cream"/repetitive memes
[89:43] - Vocal inspirations and voice training
[96:10] - Indie rock vs. pop for gay men
[98:50] - Zach Braff concussions
[102:59] - Flubber, Spice World, media reconsidered

Tone & Style

Fast-paced, banter-driven, highly self-aware, and reflexively meta.
A blend of high-camp and academic rigor, filtered through dry, resigned millennial humor.
Willingness to get personal, admit to pet peeves, and acknowledge their own performance in real-time.
Frequent callbacks and in-jokes (“content vs. context,” “do you like penises?”).

For New Listeners

This episode is quintessential StraightioLab: irreverent, tangential, emotionally honest, and deeply plugged into queer and pop cultural currents. With their trademark blend of first-person candor and withering critique, George and Sam turn even the simplest listener questions into far-reaching, hilarious mini-essays about what it means to move through culture as a not-totally-straight person in 2025.

StraightioLab – "Call-In Ep w/ George and Sam" November 4, 2025 | Big Money Players Network & iHeartPodcasts

Episode Overview

Key Discussion Points & Insights

Setting the Mood (04:06–11:18)

Bi-coastal Check-in: Sam and George reflect on ending their run of upbeat New York recordings and settling into gloomier energy: “I have what is known in the medical community as brain fog. It is absolutely kicking my ass.” (George, 04:40)
Seasonal depression, LA vs. NY weather, and the peculiar self-pitying joys of bad moods.
Sam and Misha’s Halloween costume journey morphing into an existential search for sock garters—“They don’t have, like, there are none in Los Angeles that I can find. And Amazon, sorry, is not delivering until Saturday.” (Sam, 08:55)

Call-In Segment: Hot Topics & Listener Quandaries

1. Lily Allen, David Harbour, and the Evolving Sex Symbol (17:05–27:21)

Listener asks about the fallout from Lily Allen’s breakup album and its effect on David Harbour’s status—especially among gay fans.
Sam: “David Harbour is a huge sex symbol in the bear community…[this] is not gonna make a splash. I think everyone will still want to have sex with him.” (18:00)
George and Sam: Analyze shifts in ‘cancellation’ culture, how Allen’s personality resists victim framing, and the shifting meaning of public catharsis.
“She is a bad girl. She’s a psycho. She’s done insane things in the past…she, I would say, partially owns it.” (George, 23:16)
Overall consensus: Allen’s messiness is on brand, neither artist is truly 'canceled,' and the album’s relentless confessional tone is both compelling and exhausting.

2. Performing for Hot People—Does It Help or Hinder? (27:42–31:13)

Q: Does a hot audience member improve a stand-up’s act—or lead to a flop?
Sam: “It does distract me...I try to remain professional for the most part, but it does distract me.”
George: “I’m thinking the exact opposite...I’m the theater kid, loser on stage, and this person is sitting there with their arms crossed being like, what the hell does this idiot have to say?” (30:11)
Both agree the true thrill is post-show validation—a hot person saying they enjoyed the gig.

3. Media You Loved, Now Hate (31:18–31:52)

George confesses to no longer loving Austin Powers and Rat Race.
Sam is viscerally offended: “Such a bitch. You knew that would hurt my feelings and you're saying that to hurt my feelings.” (31:33)

4. Is Lorde a "Gay Pop Diva"? The Taxonomy of Pop Stardom (35:02–43:10)

Heated debate on the criteria for 'gay pop diva' status, spurred by detailed listener taxonomies.
George: “Being a gay pop diva...you have this narrative of being the underdog and then persevering; you have gone through, and I understand that.”
Sam: Doesn't accept Dua Lipa's exclusion from 'diva' status—“If she’s not a gay pop diva, then what is she?” (36:04)
They introduce the “bachelor’s-master’s-PhD” escalator of pop stardom, with ‘diva’ as the terminal degree.

5. The Protein Discourse—Straight or Gay? (44:16–52:22)

Listener asks: Is the “protein everywhere” trend straight?
Sam: Protein “ten years ago…was very straight...the straightest guy in the world” (45:10), but now is “becoming queer for yoga girls.”
George: “Capitalism works is that one market was cornered...how do we expand this market? We feminize protein and make it also for women.” (46:33)
They muse on the strange omnipresence of protein and the need for new nutritional institutions (“the food pyramid has fallen and we need to rebuild it.”, 49:36)

6. Rapid-Fire Calls: Books, Oscars for Charli XCX, Hot Pop Girl Demographics, and More

What Are You Reading? (52:35)
- Sam finished The Shards: “I felt like a little kid again, kind of glued to the book...didn’t end as satisfyingly as I had hoped.” (52:43)
- George is rereading Satin Island and pitches Brideshead Revisited as a “Secret History adjacent” classic. (54:57)
Charli XCX: What Role Wins Her an Oscar? (55:38–61:27)
- Sam: “She would have to play like a dowdy mother who was like dealing with intergenerational trauma…maybe it's even in the Victorian era.” (56:54)
- George: “Charlie could be the new M in James Bond.” (59:56)
Dating Someone Hot but a Little Dumb (61:50–71:06)
- Is 'lack of general knowledge’ a dealbreaker?
- George: “Intelligence is a tough one.” (63:14); distinguishes “dumb” from uninformed, and worries about social embarrassment.
- Sam: “There are metrics in which I am dumb…but being able to win at Trivial Pursuit is not necessarily intelligent.” (63:49)
- Both confess to lacking spatial awareness/sense of direction (George), and inefficiency (Sam).
Pop Girl Appeal: Who Has All Three Fanbases? (74:16–78:54)
- Who appeals simultaneously to straight women, gay men, and lesbians?
- Sam: “Gaga” and (briefly) Kacey Musgraves.
- George: “Taylor Swift...has all three and has them bad.” (75:54), also Beyoncé and possibly Demi Lovato or Miley Cyrus (to a lesser but passionate degree).
Heimlich Game: Boygenius, MUNA, and Haim (79:52–84:19)
- Assign Haim “roles” to MUNA and Boygenius; deep-dive into girl-band personalities via social media output.
- “Muna is part of the comedy community,” (83:00) while Haim “is going esti mode” with viral dances (82:44).
Miscellaneous Quick Hits
- Do you like penises? (“It’s a yes for me.” – George, 84:22)
- Tyra Banks’ “hot ice cream” – Sam’s lifelong wish for “lukewarm ice cream that still has its texture” not fulfilled by this invention (86:46+).
- Top a twink/stop and think meme: “We have seen it, and we think it's hilarious.” (88:56)
Context vs. Content (84:38–86:35)
- “We are going from an era of content to an era of context. What's more valuable now is not more content, it's more context.” (84:38)
- Critique of pop anniversaries and commemorative content as ‘slow news’ filler.
Vocal Inspirations for Voice Training (89:43–95:27)
- Sam’s history with speech therapy and regional accent drift; George aspires for “a neutral voice that only sounds slightly sophisticated.” (91:26)
- Both reflect on what it means to have an audio identity as a podcaster and comedian.
Being a Gay Guy Who Likes Indie Rock (96:10–97:49)
- Callers worry they must give up indie rock for pop—Sam: “You have to let go of indie rock for five years…then you have to find your way back home once you've fully immersed yourself.” (96:44)
- George disagrees, finding it “one of the most ethical things you can be.”

7. Closing Bits: Absurdist Questions and Ending on a Whimper (98:50–105:16)

The Zach Braff Concussion Thought Experiment
- “If Zach Braff died of 35 million concussions tomorrow, there would be so much in his obit.” (99:43)
Media Once Loved, Now Hated (again)
- Sam: “I never liked Flubber. I was gaslit into having to tell people that I liked Flubber.” (102:59)
- Take: “Those actors are not safe for children...should be for adults.” (George, 104:11)
- Spice World: “When you rewatch it, it is long as fuck...make a compilation of all the amazing bits in it and cut out all that fucking filler.” (Sam, 104:41)
The episode closes with congratulations to the editor for handling the chaos, thanks to callers/listeners, and the classic “get back to work” sign-off.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments (with Timestamps)

“There is a toxic desire among all to pit gay podcasters against each other.”
— Sam Taggart (18:17)
“Lily Allen is a bad girl. She’s a psycho…She is not some innocent wifey…”
— George Civeris (23:16)
“If you’re just pop singer, you have a bachelor’s. Girly is your master’s, and diva is your PhD.”
— George (43:00)
“Protein is something that is so classic, it's like seeing the American flag is trending.”
— George (51:29)
“That feeling when general knowledge is not one of the skills.”
— Sam (62:15)
“It’s true. That was the original Girlboss. You know, they keep inventing archetypes so they can tear women down.”
— George (100:43)
“I never liked Flubber. I was gaslit into having to tell people that I liked Flubber.”
— Sam (102:59)
“Those actors are not safe for children. Those actors should be for adults.”
— George (104:11)

Topic Timestamps

[04:06] - Setting the mood, weather, Halloween costumes
[17:05] - Lily Allen/David Harbour breakup discussion
[27:42] - Performing in front of hot audience members
[31:18] - Media formerly loved, now hated
[35:02] - Is Lorde a gay pop diva? Pop taxonomy
[44:16] - Protein: straight or gay?
[52:35] - What are you reading?
[55:38] - Charli XCX’s hypothetical Oscar role
[61:50] - Dating someone hot but dumb
[74:16] - Pop girls with cross-demographic appeal
[79:52] - Heimlich/Muna/Boygenius “triads”
[84:38] - Content vs. context
[86:46] - Tyra Banks' "hot ice cream"/repetitive memes
[89:43] - Vocal inspirations and voice training
[96:10] - Indie rock vs. pop for gay men
[98:50] - Zach Braff concussions
[102:59] - Flubber, Spice World, media reconsidered

Tone & Style

Fast-paced, banter-driven, highly self-aware, and reflexively meta.
A blend of high-camp and academic rigor, filtered through dry, resigned millennial humor.
Willingness to get personal, admit to pet peeves, and acknowledge their own performance in real-time.
Frequent callbacks and in-jokes (“content vs. context,” “do you like penises?”).

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Summary

Episode Overview

Key Discussion Points & Insights

Setting the Mood (04:06–11:18)

Call-In Segment: Hot Topics & Listener Quandaries

1. Lily Allen, David Harbour, and the Evolving Sex Symbol (17:05–27:21)

2. Performing for Hot People—Does It Help or Hinder? (27:42–31:13)

3. Media You Loved, Now Hate (31:18–31:52)

4. Is Lorde a "Gay Pop Diva"? The Taxonomy of Pop Stardom (35:02–43:10)

5. The Protein Discourse—Straight or Gay? (44:16–52:22)

6. Rapid-Fire Calls: Books, Oscars for Charli XCX, Hot Pop Girl Demographics, and More

7. Closing Bits: Absurdist Questions and Ending on a Whimper (98:50–105:16)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments (with Timestamps)

Topic Timestamps

Tone & Style

For New Listeners

Summary

Episode Overview

Key Discussion Points & Insights

Setting the Mood (04:06–11:18)

Call-In Segment: Hot Topics & Listener Quandaries

1. Lily Allen, David Harbour, and the Evolving Sex Symbol (17:05–27:21)

2. Performing for Hot People—Does It Help or Hinder? (27:42–31:13)

3. Media You Loved, Now Hate (31:18–31:52)

4. Is Lorde a "Gay Pop Diva"? The Taxonomy of Pop Stardom (35:02–43:10)

5. The Protein Discourse—Straight or Gay? (44:16–52:22)

6. Rapid-Fire Calls: Books, Oscars for Charli XCX, Hot Pop Girl Demographics, and More

7. Closing Bits: Absurdist Questions and Ending on a Whimper (98:50–105:16)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments (with Timestamps)

Topic Timestamps

Tone & Style

For New Listeners