Call-In Ep w/ George and Sam

Summary

Podcast Summary: StraightioLab – "Call-In Ep w/ George and Sam" (March 17, 2026)

Hosts: George Civeris & Sam Taggart
Network: Big Money Players Network & iHeartPodcasts
Episode Theme: A call-in extravaganza where listeners pose their dilemmas and queries to George and Sam, resulting in hilariously incisive takes on straight, queer, and adjacent culture—with a recurring reflection on the nature of the show, its audience, and its own meta-identity.

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Episode Overview

This "Call-In" episode rounds up George and Sam’s last LA-based recording. Listeners weigh in with questions covering everything from the protocol of saving nudes to bachelorette parties, wedding band aesthetics, and the straight-to-gay spectrum of protest forms. The episode is shot through with the hosts’ signature irony-wrapped warmth, self-referential humor, queer theorizing, and topical detours. This installment especially foregrounds earnest listener interaction and the hosts' reflections on fandom, celebrity, and the very structure of their show.

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Major Themes & Recurring Motifs

• Meta-podcasting & Self-awareness: Ongoing jokes about recording episodes out of sync with current events, and playful comments on podcast personas (e.g., “fully scripted” like "Lady Gaga and Joe Calderon").
• Queer Cultural Critique: Deep dives into queerness not just in sexuality but in social customs and pop culture hierarchies (film festivals, protest styles, etc.).
• Generational & Identity Cross-sections: Calls and commentary highlight shifting dynamics between gay men, lesbians, and straight women, and the porousness of those cultural boundaries.
• Earnestness & Fun: Multiple conversations toggle between irony, sincerity, and the tension between “being mean” for comedy’s sake vs actual warmth.

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Key Discussion Points, Insights & Quotes

1. Kicking Off: Pop Culture, Political Cynicism, and Ann Lee (03:38–12:55)

• Hosts briefly reminisce about the era of forced optimism during Kamala Harris’ rise (“We did it, Joe”) and transition into a tongue-in-cheek segment about preparing podcast intros for potential celebrity assassinations.
• Both discuss the movie "Testament of Ann Lee" and the Shaker movement’s celibacy, drawing parallels with contemporary tender queer politics:

  "There's something so funny as a gay guy, hearing a movie where they say the word ‘mother’ that much. It's like sometimes it feels like they’re baiting you into making a meme." (George, 12:01)

2. Call 1: Should You Save Old Nudes? (13:13–16:13)

• Q: What should you do with a collection of nudes from ex-friends and lovers?
• A: Both hosts say "keep them" (as long as you’re not sharing):

  "You never know when you might need them." (Sam, 15:00) "Maybe even journal about them...track your own evolving tastes in dicks." (George, 15:10)

• Nudes likened to old songs or photos that serve as potent memory triggers.

3. Call 2: Was My Son Hit on At Omakase? (16:17–21:40)

• Parent describes an older man buying sake and propositioning their adult son for coke after a straight omakase dinner in NYC.
• A: George and Sam confirm: yes, he was being hit on, and riff on the hidden queerness of the omakase setting.

  "Part of the curse of being a straight guy having a Mikaze with your boy is that you are two men having a date." (George, 19:48) "It's a great learning experience for a young straight man to have someone think he’s gay." (George, 20:04)

4. Call 3: Julio, Glasses, and Identity (26:10–32:26)

• A fan asks if George was genuinely rattled when another comic questioned his glasses.
• A: George genuinely was, leading to an identity spiral about choices. Both discuss the power of indirect overheard criticism and how glasses can become tied to self-image.

  "I was very taken aback by that interaction. It felt like a rip in reality." (George, 30:07) "Sometimes it's more powerful to overhear a conversation that pertains to you than have someone directly tell you." (Sam, 28:21)

5. Call 4: Lesbians, Gay Guy BFFs, and Cross-Identity Friendships (32:27–35:24)

• Q: Should a lesbian seek a "gay guy BFF"? How to do it?
• A: Both advocate for friendship across queer lines:

  "I really think friendships between lesbians and gay guys are so important...there needs to be more reaching across the aisle." (George, 34:41)

6. Call 5: Athena Dion's Greek Representation on Drag Race (35:27–40:06)

• George analyzes Athena Dion’s performance as Greek goddess/host and the semiotics of ethnic drag personas.
• Key insight: Pageant professionalism is good representation, but lean harder into the goddess theme.

  "She always splitting the difference between host and goddess...she has to get more in touch with her goddess and leave the host behind, because a host is not a winner of Drag Race." (George, 38:14)

7. Call 6: Lesbian Bachelorette Party = Straight Camp? (40:22–50:21)

• A straight-identifying woman is going to her lesbian bestie's Miami bachelorette party, wonders if bachelorettes are still "the straightest thing."
• Hosts discuss the evolution: bachelorette parties are inherently straight, even when queered/camped up.

  "When you see a group of blonde women at a bachelorette party, they are evil. There is something in their eyes. They are out for blood." (George, 49:20)

8. Call 7: Did George Get a Hair Transplant? (54:34–58:46)

• George has not had a transplant; discusses normalization of hair procedures and the emotional impact of growing out hair.

  "I did not get a hair transplant. I was never stealing bald valor because I was never bald. I had a buzz cut." (George, 56:00)

9. Call 8: Predicted Discourse Comebacks—Is Zendaya in Too Many Movies? (59:24–66:23)

• The predicted "Zendaya fatigue" prompts a wider discussion of social media discourse cycles.

  "A lot of people are predicting there is going to be discourse about Zendaya being in too many movies is one of the most amazing gay guy sentences I've heard in my life." (George, 59:48)

• They lament the endless recycling of "who’s posting enough," pin-wearing at awards, and the impossible contradictions of online activism.

10. Call 9: Wedding Bands for Gay Guys (66:30–71:45)

• Duluth caller wants advice on wedding band traditions for two men.
• Both agree: traditional bands are the way, and both wax poetic on the social power and the swagger of wearing a band as a gay man.

  "There's more gravitas to a thicker band." (George, 70:52)
  "Don't get a steampunk one." (Sam, 71:02)

11. Call 10: Standup’s Lessons for Other Mediums (75:27–79:53)

• Stand-up uniquely egalitarian (no outsider art, no MFA). Other mediums could borrow standup’s improvisational/completion-in-public attitude, while stand-up could learn to value "editing" and a "finished product."

  "There's no such thing as legitimate standup and outsider art standup...any standup you see, counts as standup." (George, 75:42)

12. Call 11: The Straight-Gay Spectrum of Protest (80:00–91:51)

• A couple asks the hosts to classify activist tactics by orientation. George lists: marches (straight), community organizing (gay), domestic terrorism (straight), radical self-care (gay), infographics (straight women/LGBT), GoFundMe (gay), and academic conferences (LGBT).

  "Domestic terrorism is straight because gay people, like, it’s...all talk." (Sam, 83:14)

13. Call 12: Lizzo’s Path for Actresses (93:07–99:57)

• Inquiry into whether actresses have a Lizzo-style "commercialization path" like musicians. Ex: Sydney Sweeney and Kristen Bell.

  "Lizzo's path is more complicated for them [actors]." (Sam, 94:17) "It's easier for your artistic output to be different than your pop culture celebrity output as an actor than it is as a musician." (George, 95:15)

14. Call 13: Film Festivals—Straightest to Gayest (103:39–107:23)

• Venice = gayest (because of boats/fashion), Cannes = straightest (default/prestige), TIFF and Sundance are “indie darling” and nuanced.

  "Venice is gayest because of the boat and because it's a place for literally actresses to wear fun outfits, arrive on a boat, and get photographed." (Sam, 104:50)

15. Call 14: George Caught in a Gym Towel Scandal (107:44–111:57)

• A listener describes witnessing George perform “straight behavior” (wrapping in a towel in the gym after pathologizing it on-air).

  "The call is coming from inside the locker room." (Caller, 109:11) "Depending on my mood, how good I feel, how horny I am, whatever, I am doing various different kinds of performances in the locker room." (George, 109:11)

16. Call 15: Is Dick Talk with Friends a Straight Women Thing? (112:15–115:27)

• Do gay men share as much about their partners’ genitals as straight women?

  "With gay men, I would much more freely discuss non-partner men I hooked up with... it does seem weirdly way more private or sacred to discuss partners." (George, 114:19; paraphrased)

17. Call 16: Show Structure—Topic Deep Dives vs Tangents (115:44–124:43)

• Listener asks: do episodes work better when the topic is closely theorized, or when it’s an excuse to riff? Both hosts prefer when the topic leads to deep theorizing (especially if the guest is passionate), but admit politeness sometimes leads to tangents when guests aren’t engaged.

  "In my dream world, every episode would be mostly theorizing about a topic... comedic, idiotic philosophizing." (George, 117:44) "We're wondering how pushy to be and how almost rude to be." (Sam, 118:50)

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments (with Timestamps)

• “It’s something that the Testament of Ann Lee didn’t quite hit—why the connection between celibacy and social justice?” (George, 10:44)
• “I like kind of taking the culture of legal representation into your social life...” (George, 10:17)
• “She was a woke diva.” (Sam, 11:26)
• “My friend loves you and he wonders… then why can’t he pick up the damn phone and call himself?” (Sam, 10:09)
• “If you were Frida Kahlo, and that’s your thing—do the eyebrow, go Frida Kahlo. If your thing is Greek goddess, really commit.” (George, 37:13)
• “When you see a group of blonde women at a bachelorette party, they are evil… there is something in their eyes.” (George, 49:20)

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Important Timestamps for Listeners

• First major call & advice on saving nudes: 13:13–16:13
• Omokase/NYC hit-on analysis: 16:17–21:40
• Response to Julio/glasses identity crisis: 26:10–32:26
• Lesbian/gay guy BFF friendships: 32:27–35:24
• Drag Race Greek representation: 35:27–40:06
• Bachelorette parties’ evolution and queerness: 40:22–50:21
• Hair transplant speculation, normalization: 54:34–58:46
• Predicted pop culture “discourse” comebacks: 59:24–66:23
• Wedding band choices for gay guys: 66:30–71:45
• What can stand-up teach art (and vice versa): 75:27–79:53
• Straight-to-gay protest spectrum: 80:00–91:51
• Lizzo’s Path for actresses: 93:07–99:57
• Film festival orientation: 103:39–107:23
• George’s locker room hypocrisy: 107:44–111:57
• Dick talk among friends by gender/identity: 112:15–115:27
• Meta reflection on show structure: 115:44–124:43

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Tone & Language

The episode brims with self-aware, archly campy queer humor, rapid-fire banter, and playful bursts of theorizing. George and Sam deftly toggle between high irony (postmodern cultural diagnosis) and earnestness, creating a communal space where both hosts and listeners are in on the joke—even as they gently roast themselves and their audience.

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In Conclusion

This call-in episode exemplifies the warm, cerebral, and archly observant heart of StraightioLab. George and Sam fuse sharp social commentary with genuine affection for their audience, slice through queer and straight culture alike, and reflect openly on both their format and the ways their fandom shapes (and is shaped by) the show.

For your next call-in episode question:
Sam would love some attention, too! Maybe ask him if he's top, bottom, or verse—or just what his favorite color is.

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“We no longer call these shows earnestness bonanzas, but they are earnestness bonanzas.” (George, 124:52)

Transcript

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[Sam Taggart]

Foreign. What's up everybody? It's Sam here with a quick little show announcement and that is that we have a Street Lab live show in New York City at our home away from home, the bell House, on March 13th. That is, I'm being told, close to selling out. So get those tickets quick. We're going to have Joe Firestone and Patty Harrison and potentially another person there as special guests. And then I'm doing an hour at Union hall in New York City on March 18, and I also hear tickets are low for that, so move quick. And then I'm doing my hour two more times in Los Angeles, California, on March 24 and April 1, and there's actually quite a few tickets available for those, even though they're intimate little shows. So I would love if you guys got tickets to those that would make my life much less humiliating. So see you there. Enjoy the episode. Bye. Podcast starts now. What is up, everyone around the globe? We are at the final George in LA recording.

[George Severis]

We did it. We did it, folks. We did it, Joe.

[Sam Taggart]

We did it, Joe. One time.

[George Severis]

Remember that, Y' all remember that, y'? All. Remember? We did it, Joe.

[Sam Taggart]

Simpler times.

[George Severis]

Ugh. Take me back.

[Sam Taggart]

Take me back. What a day.

[George Severis]

Take me back to just having, like, a knot in my stomach that told me that it wasn't gonna be okay, but then at the surface being like, well, what if it is where it's now? It's surface all the way down to the knot.

[Sam Taggart]

Yeah. Now it sucks to be like, damn. So we're just going to be sort of in a nightmare for the foreseeable future.

[George Severis]

It's sort of interesting how the Charlie Brat era reflects our political optimism then and also now. What's happening with the Charlie movie?

[Sam Taggart]

Explain.

[George Severis]

So Charlie Bratsommer coincided with this forced optimism about Kamala Harris.

[Sam Taggart]

Yes.

[George Severis]

Now Charlie's doing her movie, which is like Brad Sommerbird through a lens of even more sarcasm and irony. While we are all in the most cynical, scared, angry place we've ever been.

[Sam Taggart]

Yeah.

[George Severis]

And I don't think it's intentional. And I also think people are. People don't want to think back to the optimism of Brad Summer. So they're sort of like, rejecting the film.

[Sam Taggart]

So she's getting ahead of it and being like, that was weird.

[George Severis]

I hope she's getting ahead of it, but I worry about that. I'm not sure film yet.

[Sam Taggart]

Yeah, me either.

[George Severis]

But I hope that she can pull it off. If she can pull it off, it would be a generational accomplishment.

[Sam Taggart]

I got to say, I believe there's something about. I mean, obviously when she said Kamala is brat, that was like the furthest she's gone into, like, quote, unquote, cringe. But it was like. But then she, like, immediately was like, what am I doing? I'm not gonna.

[George Severis]

I maintain that that was, like, a funny, stupid thing to say. I really reject people. Really reject people that, like, somehow believe that that was her being like, pussy hat. Women's March. Yeah, like, come on. Everything she says is, like, through 15 layers of irony.

[Sam Taggart]

No, it was funny.

[George Severis]

Seven of which she doesn't even. She's not even fully aware.

[Sam Taggart]

I think. I think she's gonna pull it off. Um, but of course, this is amazing to batch episodes in a time when, you know, the news changes so quickly. I mean, at this rate, Charlie could be assassinated by the time this episode comes out.

[George Severis]

So let's hope not.

[Sam Taggart]

Let's hope not.

[George Severis]

But of course, we will prepare a separate intro for if she's assassinated and it's going to be saved as Intro Charlie assassination version MP4.

[Sam Taggart]

We record over 100 versions of our intro for any public figure that we discuss is assassinated within the next month. Just because we can't know, because we're releasing this a month from. Or two, like a month and a half from now.

[George Severis]

I just want to say if any of our last eight to 10 episodes, none of them coincide with the time period in which we're listening to them. So everyone just has to sort of be chill about it. If you think. We're not commenting on any political events, that's why we don't know they haven't happened yet. Don't know about them.

[Sam Taggart]

And I just want to say that it's actually sad that you guys won't hear the version of this intro in which Amanda Seyfried got assassinated because we both cry. It's very emotional.

[George Severis]

I really felt it.

[Sam Taggart]

I felt it so hard. Obviously, we were. It was an acting exercise because we don't know what the future holds. But we both got to a place that was pretty real and grounded.

[George Severis]

Well, I think we accessed our feelings about her being snubbed for the Oscar and said, okay, that's how you're feeling now. Already on the verge of tears. Of course.

[Sam Taggart]

Of course.

[George Severis]

I mean, after learning the teachings of

[Sam Taggart]

Ann Lee, after I learned the Teaches

[George Severis]

of Ann Lee, Straight Shooter Teaches of Peaches or Testament of Anlee. I'm going to have to go with Testament of Ann Lee.

[Sam Taggart]

I'm going with Testament of Anlee. No. I'm so inspired by. By the Shaker movement. I have not had sex since I've seen the movie, and I plan on Continuing that run or else God will not come through me.

[George Severis]

Something interesting about me is that I actually, no joke, have not had sex since seeing that movie. And so, I mean, a big part of it is that I am. I have been away from my husband in a different city. But you know, I'm allowed to if I want to.

[Sam Taggart]

Oh, and honey, I haven't.

[George Severis]

I've chosen not to. And it's because of Anley.

[Sam Taggart]

A gay guy saying he's away from his husband in a different city is not an excuse for not having sex.

[George Severis]

You know what it is? I wanted to say that just so people think I'm not in a sexless marriage, but not as a justification for not having sex.

[Sam Taggart]

You know what I mean? Sure, that's a interesting.

[George Severis]

To be clear, it's my choice that I'm not having sex.

[Sam Taggart]

Yeah.

[George Severis]

So anyway, I think we had a really big realization. Did I forward you this? Oh, no, we talked about it. How Ann Lee herself was actually fugly as hell.

[Sam Taggart]

Everyone, if you're near a phone or computer or home tablet, Google and Lee,

[George Severis]

go to Wikipedia, Wikipedia for Ann Lee. And look at the gorgeous illustration.

[Sam Taggart]

The amazing sketch.

[George Severis]

Absolutely. This like, it's made by like the most cruel Coney island sketch artist. Caricature artist.

[Sam Taggart]

You've heard of a five head when your forehead is too big? Well, honey, this is like a 10 head.

[George Severis]

This is like.

[Sam Taggart]

This is so gigantic. I've never seen anything like it. And it's, you know, it's pretty easy to understand why she could forego sex. And in the film it was like, oh, but she's married to the hot guy from Girls. Why wouldn't she want to blow him as he so insists he wants? And then now you see the Wikipedia drawing and you say, oh, I get it.

[George Severis]

Yeah, you're saying I don't think she would have dated Charlie from Girls.

[Public Investing Advertiser]

I don't think she would.

[George Severis]

I don't necessarily think. I don't even think she would have dated Rey from Girls, to be honest.

[Sam Taggart]

Honey, she wishes.

[George Severis]

No, but of course the forehead, you know why it's so big? So you can project the testament of Van Lee on it and do a big movie night with the gang after everyone is tired from a day of blue balls again themselves. For the Lord.

[Sam Taggart]

For the Lord, everyone.

[George Severis]

So what we're doing today is a good old fashioned call in episode. This is like one of my favorite batch of calls we've gotten. I think.

[Sam Taggart]

Wow. I don't rank them. I love all batches of calls equally.

[George Severis]

Well, something happens without us Planning it, which is that there's a certain identity that shines through with each batch. And I think this batch was much more queer woman oriented. There was a batch recently that was like, gay guy, gay guy, gay guy, gay guy. This batch was much more like, we just got back from a big potluck dinner. We made an amazing white bean stew. And my girlfriend, who I'm ethically non monogamous with, has a question for you guys. And we love the pod.

[Sam Taggart]

Well, there was a lot of, like, representation. And not in the, like, identity way. Like, in the way that, like, someone is speaking for someone else. Yes. Someone represents someone else.

[George Severis]

I love that.

[Sam Taggart]

It was like, my friend loves you and he wonders. And it was sort of like, well, then why can't he pick up the damn phone and call himself?

[George Severis]

Well, I sort of like. I like kind of taking the culture of legal representation into the social. Into your social life and just be like, you know, we should be able to be like, I have a dinner with an acquaintance I don't really want to see. I'm going to send my friend. And then she can kind of be like, yeah. So this is like, mostly what George wanted to say. And I'll relay back anything you have.

[Sam Taggart]

George is loving the testament of Van Lee. He has been celibate ever since watching, and he still loved Diet Coke.

[George Severis]

It's something that the testament of Annalee didn't quite hit was like, why the connection between celibacy and social justice? Because her two big views were social justice and celibacy.

[Sam Taggart]

Yeah.

[George Severis]

Who could forget? She was the only white person in America against slavery.

[Sam Taggart]

She literally saw slaves happening. And she was like, I don't like this.

[George Severis]

I do not like this. She was like, what?

[Sam Taggart]

She was like, hold on, I'm gonna call somebody.

[George Severis]

But then she didn't really call somebody.

[Sam Taggart]

No. She was like, I'm actually gonna go to the woods.

[George Severis]

She sort of just like, protested very briefly on the street and then was like, it is time for us to set up camp.

[Sam Taggart]

No. And she was nice to the Native Americans. That's true. She was a woke diva.

[George Severis]

She was a woke diva.

[Sam Taggart]

But it is very. She's very. I think I said after we saw the movie, she's very tender queer.

[George Severis]

Oh, definitely.

[Sam Taggart]

Where it's like, very sex negative, but very social justice forward.

[George Severis]

Oh, that's a really interesting point. Yes. She's sex negative.

[Sam Taggart]

She's like, no kink at pride. Actually. No kink at all.

[George Severis]

No kink at all. And no sex at all.

[Sam Taggart]

No sex at all.

[George Severis]

But everyone gets But. But this is. I'm running my business. Like a co op.

[Sam Taggart]

Yeah.

[George Severis]

Like I'm running.

[Sam Taggart]

Everyone's a co owner.

[George Severis]

Yes. Everyone is a co owner of the Social Justice Coffee shop. And we do, we have like a prayer, A non denominational prayer room.

[Sam Taggart]

Yeah.

[George Severis]

As long as no one hooks up in there, you're fine.

[Sam Taggart]

Yeah, yeah. I also just. It was so funny how much it's like as a gay guy to hear a movie where they say the word mother that much. It was like. It's like sometimes it feels like they're baiting you into making a meme.

[George Severis]

I know. And I. Well, this goes back to the. To the Searchlight pictures conversation. So much of the movie is begging to be memed and only now are people catching up to that. We're recording January 28th. I just want you know, she's been snubbed for the Oscar. No one has seen this film yet. I think now it's getting some traction. But the fact that there was no meme about Mother. No meme about the dance that they do. No meme about, you know, Charlie from Girls. No meme about the fact that she's like serving the entire time but playing someone who has, you know, a horrible forehead.

[Sam Taggart]

No. It's weird. It's weird.

[George Severis]

We've made memes about much less memeable things is all I'm saying.

[Sam Taggart]

Maybe they were just too heavy handed with the memeability. They didn't let you have a sense of discovery.

[George Severis]

That's right. That's true. They were too heated rivalry with it.

[Sam Taggart]

They went a bit heated rivalry. That's what I'm saying about Ann Lee. Should we get into our calls?

[George Severis]

Let's get into our calls.

[Sam Taggart]

So we have a million amazing calls. Kick us off.

[Caller]

Hey, Sam and George. Hootie who? Note here that I did have to pause Lady Gaga's gui to leave this message. Gaga question here. I'm going through my photos on my phone and in icloud I've got all these pictures of hot men, I don't know, dick pics that I don't know for sure who they belong to and even friends and lovers that I'm no longer close with. What would you glamorous gay guys do? Would you keep these photos or would you delete them? What? What should I do? I'm just curious. Also, I want to thank and give a big shout out to George for his stand up special. I watched it while I was sick with the flu, so thank you so much. Bye.

[George Severis]

You're saying you watched it when you were sick with the flu, not saying whether you enjoyed it or not, just saying, thank you for providing something for me to look at.

[Sam Taggart]

That is so classic.

[George Severis]

But, you know, often something you can do is rent my special. A Sense of Urgency on Amazon or Apple if you have the flu or even if you're healthy, no matter what

[Sam Taggart]

state of mind you're in. Rent Georgia's special.

[George Severis]

That's right. Okay, so this is an interesting question, and I'm gonna actually take a step back. What is your stance on saving other people's nudes?

[Sam Taggart]

So this is interesting. The context was a bit unclear to me. Is he saying he's saving them from Twitter? They're not sent to him directly.

[George Severis]

Oh, no, I'm pretty sure they're sent to him directly. And I think he has a spank bank folder where he puts them. He's. He's acquired them consensually, I guess.

[Sam Taggart]

I say, go off.

[George Severis]

You say, just keep them.

[Sam Taggart]

Keep. I mean, as long as you're not, like, sharing them abroad. Like, I think if you're.

[George Severis]

You never know when you might need them.

[Sam Taggart]

I think it's, like, sometimes it's fun when you're, like, thinking back on your life. Imagine it's the Notebook.

[George Severis]

Yeah.

[Sam Taggart]

And you're like, what's my life been? And then you can be like, actually remember that guy's dick.

[George Severis]

That's very true. And actually, I would even go so far as to say, you should go through them and maybe even journal about them. Like, write notes about each one, see how you feel, and then do that again once a year and sort of track your own evolving tastes in dicks. And maybe something will bring up a memory and you'll remember who a specific person was.

[Sam Taggart]

That would be nice. I mean, I have dick pics that I treasure. Dick pics from, like, 10 years ago where I'm like, isn't it so weird that I can just look at this whenever I want? And I like that I'm not sharing it, but I'm saying that's nice to be able to access that. It makes me feel like, in the same way, when you hear a song from elementary school and you're like, whoa, I'm taken back. I'm back in the backseat of the car.

[George Severis]

Or even looking at an old photo of yourself and seeing something you were wearing that is so of the times in terms of the style and styling, even you can look back and say, oh, that's what I liked then. This was my favorite one. This dick was my favorite one. Now not doing Much for me.

[Sam Taggart]

It doesn't do anything for me. But it's nice to know that I can look at it.

[George Severis]

Next question.

[Sam Taggart]

Okay, I think I have this one.

[Caller]

Okay.

Hey, Sam and George. I called before from going to Chicago to see George's first show, but I had something happen that is so stratio lab or it happened to my son that I had to call and ask this question. My son is 25 or one of my sons is 25. And he went to New York City to visit former college roommate who lives in Manhattan the week after Christmas. And to thank him for hosting him, he set up a sushi restaurant, omakase meal. So while they were there, an older man in his 40s sent them some sake. And they thought that was really nice. And then my son's friend went to the bathroom towards the end of the meal and the man came over to my son and was like, you know, introducing himself and saying hey. And then the man said to my son, like it, let's go after this and do a bunch of cocaine or a bunch of coke.

[George Severis]

Or a bunch of coke.

[Sam Taggart]

Oh, okay. I.

[Caller]

No, thank you, but thank you for the sake. So when my son told me this, he was just kind of like, oh, New York wild and crazy. And I was like, I'm pretty sure that guy was hitting on you guys. So you two would be the experts in New York and gay guys. Was my son and his friend getting hit on. Thanks so much.

Bye.

[George Severis]

Okay, so off the bat, I want to say a couple. First of all, I really enjoyed the scene setting in this call. Yeah, like I think there was. It was not necessary to know that it was the week after Christmas that he was staying with a friend. And this was like a thank you dinner. But I really appreciated that we did know that because it actually painted a picture. And the thing that I most appreciated was that it was a two straight guy omakase dinner. Because there's actually nothing straighter in New York right now than omakase. I think this even happened after you left. If you go on resi New York right now, all you get is omakaze in Union Square. Wow, they are multiplying like an std. It is crazy. There is just our omakaze places opening left and right. And all of them inside are sort of like solitary foodie types and or like office like co workers.

[Sam Taggart]

Interesting.

[George Severis]

And so it's a very. It's very like 25 year old in the straight guy in the city who wants to have a nice dinner and don't get Me wrong.

[Caller]

I love her.

[George Severis]

Go to Mikasa.

[Sam Taggart]

I love it.

[George Severis]

But I like that that's the environment we are navigating here.

[Sam Taggart]

So this could go either way. But what I think is very telling is that the time of day it was. Which is dinner time.

[George Severis]

Yes.

[Sam Taggart]

And I think your son was being hit on hard.

[George Severis]

I think so as well.

[Sam Taggart]

By a chem queen, no less.

[George Severis]

Yes, by a chem queen.

[Sam Taggart]

Um, I like, because in New York, like, I have had an experience where, like, I've been at, say, a bar in Bushwick, and it's like 2am and I'm waiting in line for the bathroom. Like, this guy started talking to me once and he was like, you know, it was his birthday and he was like, just. It's tough, you know, I'm really stressed out. I've got, like, a kid at home, and I never even thought I'd be a dad. And like, this is so, like, life is so hard. And, like, you know, marriage is already hard and so much harder with a kid. And, like, this is so common. We're like, wait for. Finally, it's our turn to go in. And then he was like, by the way, do you want to go in with me and do cocaine? And I was like, no, no, no, no. See, he was not hitting on me. He wanted a friend. And this, on the other hand, because the guy is so sober and so with it, and it's dinner time, he was trying to hit on him.

[George Severis]

I think so, too. And I also just think, you know, listen, part of the curse of being a straight guy, having a Mikaze with your boy is that you are two men having a date. And so it's gonna. Maybe if someone doesn't know about the cultural significance of omakaze that I just described, if someone is not familiar with the kind of semiotics of Union Square omakaze in New York City in 2025, because this was after Christmas, then they might misread it. And I think that is a really great learning experience for a young straight man to have is like, how do I act when someone thinks I'm gay? Because I think it's a sign of maturity to not resort to, oh, no, dude, I would never do that. I'm not gay. And to just sort of be like, oh, that's sweet, but I'm straight.

[Sam Taggart]

Yeah, yeah, yeah. I also, like, God, I remember being, like, so excited when, like, random old guys would hit on me even if I was never going to sleep with them in a million years. Of course I was like, this is so fun. Like this is such a natural relationship. Like old guy hits on me. I'm so much younger. I'm 30 years younger than him. 40 years younger than him.

[George Severis]

No, it's amazing. It's one of the best feelings in the world. And if you can, if the, you know, age gap Flirtation can be one of the most beautiful things in the entire universe.

[Sam Taggart]

Yes, absolutely.

[George Severis]

As long as there is an unspoken agreement that no one that everyone is actually in touch with the signs being sent both ways. Because you can even enjoy a flirtation with no desire to do anything after. Of course, even if you are literally attracted to the person, it has nothing to do with that. It just has to do with what's appropriate at any given time. And I think knowing that is one of the biggest parts of being gay.

[Sam Taggart]

And you know what? While we're at it, bosses should be able to hit on assistants.

[George Severis]

Okay, next question, next question.

[Sam Taggart]

Before we go to the next question, something I realized and we can keep this in it's going to be really funny to have the video of this where we're both holding up our laptops through the microphone at every call.

[George Severis]

I actually think it'll be fun.

[Sam Taggart]

I think it'll be funny.

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[Caller]

Hi there. This is for George. Listening to that with Julio. I wanted to know has your life been affected outside of the podcast? Of course. But when Julio asked you or I don't even know if he asked or

[Sam Taggart]

told you, I think he told better

[Caller]

without glasses or like, why don't you not wear glasses? I just wanted to know if that like completely. I know your podcast Personas. You know, I, I appreciate the you are separate from who you are on this podcast, but did that like rattle you or impact your day to day being? I felt like stripped about myself and I've been constantly thinking like, do I need to get contact? But I absolutely love my glasses. But I am like, I mean, they are just naturally an obstruction of my face and not to make it all about me, I just, I did want to know, like that felt so real. And I wanted to know if you like in your day to day kind of think of that now. Are you seeing yourself wear glasses last or do you just not give a fuck? Okay. Anyways, love you too, Sam. And maybe just give me your thoughts as well.

[George Severis]

First of all, I just want to say I appreciate that this caller recognizes that we play characters on the podcast much like Lady Gaga and Joe Calderon or Beyonce and Sasha Fierce. And it is all fully scripted. We have a lot of script meetings with the execs beforehand and I think we've been doing a really good job with the storylines recently.

[Sam Taggart]

Never dropped character. It's been so amazing to see our characters grow and change.

[George Severis]

I also love that Julio. Julio's criticism is so powerful that this listener who has never met Julio, I assume is having a full on identity crisis about whether or not you should keep wearing glasses.

[Sam Taggart]

Sometimes I actually think it's more powerful to overhear a conversation that like somewhat pertains to you than have someone directly tell you.

[George Severis]

Well, undoubtedly, because it is completely unfiltered. Like you hear someone, it's like something simple as hearing someone being like, I mean, one of the most tragic things you can do is wear a green polo, which for those not watching is what I'm wearing now. And you're like, oh my God, what? No one would ever say that to my face. But that is just like suddenly you're

[Sam Taggart]

like, oh, I'm naked. Suddenly it's like, oh, I have to change fast before anyone notices. Whereas if you're already being seen wearing the green polo, you're sort of like, oh, it's no big deal. The worst has happened. I'm wearing it. That is really tough.

[George Severis]

So to answer this question, you are correct to point out that it felt like a pretty real moment at the time. And I must say, in the spirit of earnestness, which is what these call in shows were originally designed to be, I was very taken aback by that interaction. And I felt like when I was trying to sort of, like, lobby it back to Hulu and be like, have you ever considered not dyeing your hair? He wasn't exactly engaging in the same way that I was engaging in a sort of comedic commentary about my Persona. Would you agree?

[Sam Taggart]

Well, it's so complex. That interaction is obviously so complex because, yes, like, Julio is being so direct and somewhat toxically direct, but at the same time, he thinks he's giving you, like, a compliment almost. And he's, like, thrown off that you think it's not a compliment, but I

[George Severis]

think it's an insult.

[Sam Taggart]

Yeah. And so he doesn't even know how to process what you're saying. It was like watching it. I was like, I'm watching a fundamental disagreement that is like the disagreement of

[George Severis]

worldview rather than, like, opinions.

[Sam Taggart]

Yes. And so I was like, huh, this is so interesting.

[George Severis]

I know. It really felt like a rip in reality where I was like, oh, no, we are. We have fundamentally different ways of viewing the world.

[Sam Taggart]

I always think, like, I somewhat wrongly am. Like, we're all relatively the same.

[George Severis]

Yeah.

[Sam Taggart]

No matter our backgrounds. Like, no matter. Like, I'm sort of like. I'm like, well, we're all brought together through comedy, and especially comedy in New York City. We all know a similar worldview. Whatever. And then it's like, nope, not even close.

[George Severis]

I mean, this is now not even about Julio. But to your point about comedy, there's something about comedy, stand up comedy, where you can come at it from completely different entry points. So you can come at it through wanting to be an actor and taking acting classes and discovering this different role route of performance. You can come at it because you want to be a writer and you feel like this is a way to get your writing out there. You can now, especially in this town, people come at it through clowning.

[Sam Taggart]

Oh, brother.

[George Severis]

Through clowning. And sort of like, you can come at it through the art world and being essentially doing performance art. And I think that's not true of many. That's not true of painters or sculptors or, honestly, even playwrights. There is something specific. It brings such a diverse group of people together. Anyway. Has my interaction with Julio changed my view of my glasses? I'm certainly more open to not wearing glasses after that interaction.

[Sam Taggart]

I will Say interesting.

[George Severis]

Yeah. And the other reason I got so defensive about that is because specifically with these glasses, I've been wanting to replace them for a while and have been like, you know when you are overwhelmed with choices and you don't know which one to pick? And it's now been fully like years of being like, okay, it's time to change it. Time to change them. So to be, for them to be pointed out as a flaw, I was like, oh, so everyone else sees this as well.

[Sam Taggart]

That makes sense.

[George Severis]

That is, that was a big part of that interaction.

[Sam Taggart]

That makes sense. I will say glasses because they do become part of one's identity. It's a very difficult thing to switch up.

[George Severis]

I know.

[Sam Taggart]

I even find with sunglasses, I'm like, I get like, I don't want to switch it up too much because I'm like, well, people won't know who I am because those are my sunglasses. But it's tough. It's tough. I'll play the next one.

[George Severis]

Okay.

[Caller]

Hi, Sam and George. Love the pod. First I want to say was the girl who dragged my whole family around the Las Vegas strip to see the meat dress. And it was so worth it. Thanks for putting me on. So my question is as a lesbian, when I realized I was a lesbian, I figured I had no more use for men in my life in any sort of way. But now I'm kind of in the market for a gay guy BFF One, do I really need one? And two, how do I get one? Thanks, bye.

[Sam Taggart]

Wow, what a powerful call. We talked sort of about the, the lesbian who goes to the gay guy trips and like, sort of is like, I need gay guys to like actually fucking lose my mind with.

[George Severis]

It's the lesbian. It's a specific kind of lesbian archetype. And I feel comfortable theorizing about it because I know multiple of these lesbians and it is, it's sort of the equivalent of a lesbian being like, I was born in the wrong body, but only party wise. Like, she's like, I love women. I'm like, I'm not like a self hating lesbian, but I just simply have the stamina of a gay guy when it comes to drugs and alcohol and staying out late.

[Sam Taggart]

It's so I've become friends with a lesbian of this ill. Oh yes, I've met her and she is so to die for. And it's such a nice respite because you get the like, hard party. I'm being crazy, I'm being fun. And you get like, lesbian like, groundedness completely and I'm like. It's like every time I see her at a party, I'm like, thank God I can, like, take a breath.

[George Severis]

It's incredible to see her at a party after having, like, 15 interactions in a row that have felt like everyone is, like, looking you up and down and trying to, like, decide what they want from you.

[Sam Taggart]

Yeah.

[George Severis]

And then suddenly you're having a genuine interaction with someone that's like, asking about your day. You're like, oh, I didn't know that was an option.

[Sam Taggart]

It's so nice. So I think you should get a gay guy BFF or even just find sort of a gay guy friend squad that you can hop into.

[George Severis]

Yeah, I can hop into the friend squad and then hang out with them and then find the one you like most. Ask him to, like, a solo omakase even, or, you know, just like a solo drink at a gay bar.

[Sam Taggart]

Yes.

[George Severis]

And I think it could be really huge. And I also. I really think friendships between lesbians and gay guys are so important. Of course, some of my most foundational and valuable friendships are with lesbians. And I think that there needs to be more reaching across the aisle, especially in an era where gay guys are getting more and more isolated in their own groups because it's easier than ever for them to meet.

[Sam Taggart]

Yeah. Very, very insular. Yeah. It's nice to see, you know, what fundamental differences are true and which ones are not true.

[George Severis]

And the give and take of, like, having an alternative perspective on. On relationships, on sex, on culture, on politics, you know, it makes a difference.

[Sam Taggart]

Folks, reach across the aisle.

[Caller]

Hey, gay guys, this is Ray from Seattle. I want to get George's official on the record comment on Athena Dion and her Greek representation this season on the RuPaul's Drag Race. Okay, love you guys. Bye.

[George Severis]

So my thoughts on Athena Dion, broadly

[Sam Taggart]

speaking, because again, this will come out in a month or longer.

[George Severis]

Yeah. So I just don't. I have no idea if she's already been eliminated. I have no idea if she's already won the whole season. I gotta say, I'm imagining the answer to the second one is no. But my thoughts on her are that I think she is literally in like a pageant type way, amazing representation of Greek people. Because she is clearly, you know, very sweet and professional and, you know, wears her heart on her sleeve and is not evil. And so I'm like, wow. Like, she is. This is in the most literal way, good representation where you're like, wow, Greek people are nice.

[Sam Taggart]

That's good.

[George Severis]

But I think my issue with her Is if you're going to be Athena Dion, if you're going to be, you know, Athena is the goddess of wisdom. There's so much imagery that has to, you know, there's, you know, there's the owl, there's the armor. There's a, you know, sort of a toga thing you could do. I'm like, if your thing is Greek goddess, really commit to Greek goddess. Like, have it be in the same way that if you were. I don't know, let's say if you were. Oh, God. Oh, God. What's like another trope tied to an ethnicity that I am allowed to talk about? Like, you know what I mean?

[Sam Taggart]

French. Do French. Yeah.

[George Severis]

Like, if you were Fre, you were Joan of Arc. Sure, go Joan of Arc.

[Sam Taggart]

Go Joan of Arc.

[George Severis]

If you were, you know, Mexican and you are Frida Kahlo, and that's your thing. Do the eyebrow. Go Frida Kahlo. Like, you're clearly playing with your own ethnic background and doing this kind of, like, this. This kind of Greek thing. So, like, really go full toga. Really go, like, big, costumey. Like, that's sort of what I'm. Or if you want to go the opposite direction, go super elegant and draping toga.

[Sam Taggart]

That'd be nice. That'd be nice.

[George Severis]

And I'm sort of. I'm like, you're halfway between Greek goddess and super professional host of the Big Drag brunch.

[Sam Taggart]

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

[George Severis]

Which I know she's known for hosting,

[Sam Taggart]

so that's maybe exactly where she wants to be.

[George Severis]

I think she needs to. She needs to split. She's always splitting. The difference between host and goddess.

[Sam Taggart]

Yeah, that's a tough.

[George Severis]

And it's a tough binding.

[Sam Taggart]

I mean, talk about a demigod. Is that where you're half human?

[George Severis]

Oh, my God. She's very demigoddess.

[Sam Taggart]

She's a demigoddess.

[George Severis]

I think that's the issue with her. She's a demigoddess because she's half host, half goddess. And I think. Hercules. I know. Yeah. I'm sorry to say, but I think she has to get more in touch with her goddess and leave the host identity behind, because a host is not a winner of Drag Race.

[Sam Taggart]

That is one of the toughest things, is when you're in a career and you're like, well, to start, I need to be a host.

[George Severis]

I know.

[Sam Taggart]

And then she's like, now she's ascending to literally the TV heavens, and it's like, oh, you have to leave that part of you behind. But it's so hard because it's so trained.

[George Severis]

Yeah. But I think that she seems really lovely. I love that her thing is being in Mykonos. I think the Mykonos girls have such a difficult task because they are dealing with the most annoying and rancid gay guys 24 7. Like, I know where she. I know the club where she hosts in Mykonos. It is so expensive and overpriced. It is like, it is evil gay guys on vacation to deal with those and maintain your cool and host a show. My heart goes out to her.

[Sam Taggart]

Well, I also wonder if when you are a Greek queen, is it like in Greece, hack to be like, I'm doing Athena, I'm doing the Goddesses, I'm doing.

[George Severis]

Well, the thing is, she's not performing for Greek people when she's in Mykonos.

[Sam Taggart]

She's doing.

[George Severis]

She's basically the equivalent of like, going to, you know, like a Revolutionary war reenactment and having people dressed as Revolutionary War soldiers. Like, she is.

[Sam Taggart]

She's performing Greek for non Greek people.

[George Severis]

It's cruise ship.

[Sam Taggart]

It's cruise ship.

[George Severis]

Got it. It's like going to a Broadway themed drag show and someone who's dressed as Elphaba. And so because otherwise she's based in, like, Florida, I think she's not like, she's not like, from Greece.

[Sam Taggart]

Yeah.

[George Severis]

But I really want to say that I support her and it's a joy to have her on my television and I'm excited to see what she does at All Stars.

[Sam Taggart]

Okay, next question.

[Caller]

Hooty Hoo. I'm a longtime listener. First time caller, My name is Molly and I'm calling because my childhood best friend, bestie Ray. Shout out Ray, who is a huge fan, long time glamour girl. I've actually, we went to see you guys live together in Somerville. Loved it. She's getting lesbian married soon and we're having her bachelorette party coming up in like a week or so. I scoured all your episodes and I didn't see, like, bachelor bachelor parties as a straight topic. So if I missed it, I'm sorry, but to me it feels so straight. However, at this batch, both brides will be going together and everyone there is basically a lesbian besides me. And we're Eve, but, like, we're also doing one of the straightest things one can even do, aka a PowerPoint party. And I say this as a consultant, but, like, are bachelor parties still the straightest thing one can do? Have we gone full circle? Are they so straight in the past and now they're kind of camp and it's fun. Again, what's the verdict here? Just curious what your guys thoughts are. If this was a topic that's come up and I missed it, I'm so sorry. But yes, going to a lesbian bachelorette party in Miami, by the way, and doing a bunch of really traditional hetero, in my opinion, batch things. So just thinking about it. Okay, Love you all. Hope everything's going well. Bye.

[George Severis]

By the way, I just want to say, like, when I think of the straight or loud listener, it is a straight woman who works in consulting, who's friends with all lesbians, and going to a lesbian bachelorette party and then is overanalyzing, despite the fact that she's the only non lesbian, she's the one overanalyzing how heteronormative the bachelorette party is. I'm like, I could cry thinking about the fact that she can get entertainment from us talking. Can you imagine how difficult it is to find something she likes in the pop culture landscape?

[Sam Taggart]

Yeah. Those interests are completely insane.

[George Severis]

It makes me so happy that we have found the people that we are meant to be talking to and it's her.

[Sam Taggart]

She's doing an amazing job. So we have never discussed bachelor or bachelorette parties. Is that true?

[George Severis]

We have had an episode with Natalie Rotter Laitman about penis straws. Her topic was penis straws. I must admit, it was years ago and I don't remember how much we really got into the meat of the topic, but I imagine that since the topic was penis straws, bachelorette parties were mentioned.

[Sam Taggart]

Of course.

[George Severis]

But no, we've never done an episode about bachelorette parties, which, it's funny. It's one of those things much like, I don't know, various sports, like, sports we haven't discussed. That is so obviously straight that it seems a bit on the nose. But I would be down to have a real town hall about the state of bachelorette parties.

[Sam Taggart]

I find it so complicated because, you know, sometimes I'm worried I'm literally Ann Lee, where I'm like, you have a

[George Severis]

syndrome, a new syndrome where the patient thinks that he's Ann Lee, where I'm

[Sam Taggart]

literally like, well, don't celebrate that. Like, I'm sort of like, like I get like weirdly anti, like superfluous celebrations.

[George Severis]

Yeah.

[Sam Taggart]

And I'm like, well, that is not like, it's sort of my, like, want to suffer. Where I'm like, that is nothing to celebrate until you've earned it.

[George Severis]

Well, we both have this in common. It's like how we. It's like how we're uncomfortable with birthdays because we're like, I haven't earned this.

[Sam Taggart]

Yeah. And so I'm like, I'm really surprised when LGBTQ people do a bachelor or bachelorette party.

[George Severis]

Yeah.

[Sam Taggart]

Because I'm like, like in the straight narrative, it makes sense to me. Because you are like, in theory, by default, we're monogamous. This is like our last wild night as single people. And then we are like, locked up. My pathetic cock is in a cage. And this is not, like, for gay people. It's so, like, everything is a conversation. Like, we can be having new partners two years from now or ten years from now. We're just sort of like, building our own relationship structure at all points. And I'm sort of like, so why keep this one traditional thing?

[George Severis]

I know.

[Sam Taggart]

And I get partying. That's fun. But I'm like, but I don't need a reason necessarily.

[George Severis]

I know. It makes me think if there's a way to rebrand bachelorette parties as, like, I don't know, in the same way that you would rebrand, like a funeral as a celebration of life or something.

[Sam Taggart]

Yeah.

[George Severis]

Like, if there's a way to rebrand it where it's not about chastity and it's not about your last chance to see boobs or your last chance to see a cock. Like, if it's just.

[Sam Taggart]

It's like friendship.

[George Severis]

Yes. And I think people do that with. When people have joint bachelor parties, like a couple has joint bachelor party or joint bachelorette party. I think that is a step towards that where it's like more of a celebration of community than a celebration of, you know, chastity.

[Sam Taggart]

But that, to me, is the wedding.

[George Severis]

I know it's tough. I think that what happens is because of the wedding industrial complex, people try to fit in as much around the wedding as possible. Whereas I actually think what we need more of is anniversary traditions.

[Sam Taggart]

Yes.

[George Severis]

Like, it would be so fun if there was a specific five year anniversary party or a specific ten year anniversary thing, or even like one year after a thing where you get a bunch of friends together and get dinner. I'm trying to think. I just think there's a way to decouple all the wedding events. And that way you're also not spending so much money, all in the span of a couple of months. You're not asking everyone to do all these favors for you, because then by

[Sam Taggart]

the time it's the wedding, everyone's sick of your shit. I know.

[George Severis]

Well, this is my Big thing with bachelor and bachelorette parties. And of course, this is not about anyone I know that has had them. And it's been a joy to attend everyone that I have attended. But I would feel so guilty asking people to do something for me.

[Sam Taggart]

They also come from a time when people would get married earlier. So it was like, in theory, I think you're like, even if they're college, you met your partner in college and it's two years out of college. So then all your friends get together again and it's like you all kind of live in the same place still. I think there's like. But when everyone's fully spread out across the country, no one's in the same place to travel twice in one year. For a friend, I'm like, this is crazy to me.

[George Severis]

You know what's funny actually?

[Sam Taggart]

Am I a grump?

[George Severis]

No, you're not a grump. And this is what I'll say about it. I. And I mean this genuinely. I have never, not. I have never begrudgingly attended a bachelorette party. And personally speaking as a guest, I'm always excited that I get to take a trip. However, if I were to do one, my guilt that someone is begrudgingly attending would be so great that I could not enjoy myself. It is much more self inflicted than speaking from my own experience as an attendee. You know what I mean? I can't think of a bachelor or bachelorette party I've been to where I've been like, I can't believe this bitch is making me do this. I have to take off of work. Usually it's actually like a nice break. But again, if I did it, I would be legitimately constantly apologizing in a way that would annoy everyone. I'd be like, and thank you. I know that everyone has a lot to do. And thank you so much for being here. And oh, no, of course I'll just foot this bill. No need to pay. And then I would just make things awkward for everyone.

[Sam Taggart]

Yeah, yeah. I'm very like, I'm just gonna go by myself. I'm gonna go to the beach and read a book and you guys have fun.

[George Severis]

Or combine it. For example, let's say you're already going to a p town trip and you have it every year. Let's say it's the year that you're getting married, do a big dinner, and that's the bachelor dinner. Or let's say you are going to a music festival. Make that the bachelor party. Take something that's already celebratory. And just put a little sash on, have a nice dinner. Because it does make a difference.

[Sam Taggart]

Yeah. With this call in particular, I do hope I don't know how much lesbians like, fetishize straight culture, because I do know how much gay guys do. And I, like, could think it's funny for gay guys to, like, you know, go golfing or something. Like, something like, really straight guy. I could see how that would be sort of erotically charged, even, and fun. But I don't know if that's what this lesbian is getting around.

[George Severis]

I don't know if that's what this lesbian is doing. But I do think lesbians fetishize straight culture. Not in. Fetishize is the wrong word. I don't think it's erotic for them. I think it is, like, funny. In camp. I could imagine lesbians I know being like, how funny would it be to literally have a penis straw at my bachelorette party and to have a sash that says bride in Pinterest font? And to answer the question about whether bachelorette parties are still straight or if they're camping, they're still straight.

[Sam Taggart]

Yeah, they're still straight.

[George Severis]

Like, they're obviously camp, viewed from a distance. But, like, I hate to say this, like, when you see a group of, you know, blonde women that are at a bachelorette party, they are evil. Like, there's something in their eyes. They are out for blood.

[Sam Taggart]

It's scary.

[George Severis]

It's scary. And it's honestly scarier than men at a bachelor party.

[Sam Taggart]

I agree.

[George Severis]

Like, a group of lightly drunk women in a limo that are going from one event to another in Nashville, they will murder you. And it's very rare that women are more evil than men.

[Sam Taggart]

And they'll never find your body.

[George Severis]

They'll never find your. They are organized, by the way, because they're one of them. It's like Rebecca, and she's the one with the spreadsheet, and she's like, okay, so we did murder someone. Here's step one. And she's like, just cut up the arms and legs.

[Sam Taggart]

The ravine is on the way to the club. So we can just drop it in the water.

[George Severis]

We can just drop it off. Meanwhile, the limo driver is right there, but all of them are like, he's not going to say anything, right? No, I. I think that it's really scary what happens. It's really scary what happens psychically. And it's also. It makes you think, what if women were able to channel that into, like, maybe assassinating a political figure?

[Sam Taggart]

Well, we need more female assassins. I've always said this is true. Just don't assassinate Amanda Sifri.

[George Severis]

No stick to like evil guys evil guys Go Kill Bill mode. Although I have to say she was not a girl's girl. She assassinated all her female friends as well.

[Sam Taggart]

Maybe she's an equal opportunity offender.

[George Severis]

That's right, Kill Bill. Beatrice Kiddo was the first equal opportunity offender.

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[Caller]

So what's going on with George's hair? Did he get hair transplant or has he just been doing bald guy swim valor for like all this time? We need to know. Bye bye.

[Sam Taggart]

Okay, I love this call.

[George Severis]

I just want to say I did not get a hair transplant but I have absolutely no judgment to those who do. Some of my best friends legitimately have gotten them in the recent past and actually someone I know, and I won't say who went to Greece to get one recently, which I didn't even know it was discounted in Greece. I had heard of Turkey, but I had never heard of Greece.

[Sam Taggart]

Of course I knew Turkey and I've even heard South Korea.

[George Severis]

Oh, that's interesting. What about North Korea? I've also now heard through. No, through someone else who I'm not going to mention. There is a person in LA that three people we know have gone to.

[Sam Taggart]

Really?

[George Severis]

Yes.

[Sam Taggart]

Wow.

[George Severis]

Two of them have been on this podcast.

[Sam Taggart]

What? Yeah, I love that. I First of all, I love you being accused of this. I also think it does speak to the like normalizing of it. I think it used to be such a weird, crazy thing and now it's like people. Everyone I know is a hair transplant influencer.

[George Severis]

I love that it's normalized.

[Sam Taggart]

Yeah, me too. It's Cool.

[George Severis]

I think I worry sometimes about some of the results that I'm seeing.

[Sam Taggart]

Really.

[George Severis]

There are some hairlines. I think people are getting a little too confident and being like, what if the hairline is like an inch from my eyebrows? It's like, well, you have to. It has to still look normal.

[Sam Taggart]

Stick to the rivers and the lakes that you're used to.

[George Severis]

That's correct.

[Sam Taggart]

Yeah.

[George Severis]

So I did not get a hair transplant. And I would. You know, I would assume that would be obvious based on the fact that it has happened gradually,

[Sam Taggart]

sort of.

[George Severis]

Not all at once, but yeah, I just sort of. And by the way, I was never stealing Bald Valor because I was never bald. It was a. I had a buzz cut. I was a buzz cut. And it. And you could see the hair on top. It was just buzzed.

[Sam Taggart]

It is interesting. I think maybe you're underestimating, like, the way it was short, like, the way it was buzzed. It did look like. Maybe it's like a balding thing and you're just, like, getting ahead of it.

[George Severis]

I must say one thing, which is that already I look at photos of myself from the last eight years, and I'm like, I can't believe I looked like that for eight years. I feel so much. I actually think I look so much better with long hair. And it's crazy that for whatever reason, I decided for eight years, it was like inertia. It was just kind of like, okay, well, this is what I do. This is what I ask for when I get a haircut. It seems like such an ordeal to grow it out. And I'm like, why the fuck was I doing that?

[Sam Taggart]

I mean, it looked good, for the record.

[George Severis]

Well, I think day to day, I felt like I looked fine. But even now, I mean, I'm forced to constantly watch clips of myself because I'm promoting the special. And I'm like, that looks like I should have hair.

[Sam Taggart]

I mean, it wasn't seeing your hair. Now I'm like, it was an interesting choice, but I knew you had hair. But I was like. But maybe I was like. Cause you would describe it like, oh, you know, it's so difficult. Cause it's so thick. And now I'm seeing it. I'm like, it's not that difficult.

[George Severis]

It's literally fine.

[Sam Taggart]

It's normal hair.

[George Severis]

I know. I think I. I think what it was is the last time I really had longer hair, I was younger and more insecure in general, and every little thing that was imperfect, I was like, oh, well, I look bad. Like, this looks bad. I need to figure out the right haircut. And now I'm kind of like, I'm aware that it's sort of uneven and I don't have product in it and I don't, I don't care.

[Sam Taggart]

Yeah.

[George Severis]

And no one is. No one notices. I mean, and it's more affordable, by the way. I was getting haircuts every two weeks.

[Sam Taggart]

Oh, and I know you weren't going cheap. I've had this happen before where someone who is bald presenting suddenly just grows their hair out. And it does freak me out. I get why people are like, wait, what?

[George Severis]

It's also, I have to say, hair in general is something that makes people excited. I've never gotten. Every single time I post anything, I get 15 DMS that are like, okay, hair, hair, okay, hair. What's going on with your hair? Hair looks. Hair looks fab. Hair looks amazing, by the way. And I think the same thing would happen if I were to go the other way around. If, if you were to buzz your head, people be like, okay, love the buzz.

[Sam Taggart]

Interesting.

[George Severis]

It's like, because you know what it is? I'm having this realization. It's one of the few appearance based things that is morally neutral.

[Sam Taggart]

We're still allowed to comment on.

[George Severis]

Literally. You can't talk about someone losing or gaining weight. You can't talk about someone getting plastic surgery. You can't talk about like, it really is one of the very, very few things that is safe.

[Sam Taggart]

Yeah, if only we could get taller and shorter, then we could talk about that.

[George Severis]

Well, stream materialists. Wow.

[Sam Taggart]

Okay, okay.

[Caller]

So I already sent another one, but I stuttered and I hung up. And I don't know if you actually got it, and I'm scared, but I'm going to ask the same question. So Zendaya is going to be in a lot of movies this year, and a lot of people are already predicting that there's going to be discourse asking why she's in every movie. Is there any conversation that's already happened in the past that you see making a comeback this year?

[George Severis]

Sorry. A lot of people, a lot of people are predicting there is going to be discourse about Zendaya being in too many movies is one of the most amazing gay guy sentences I've heard in my life. It's like I'm monitoring the situation and the markets are saying that there is going to be discourse. I repeat, there's going to be discourse about Zendaya being in too many movies.

[Sam Taggart]

It's also Trump. It's gay guy Trump. A lot of people Are saying there's going to be a lot of predict.

[George Severis]

So amazing to confidently be like, a lot of people. Just, I want everyone to be prepared. A lot of people are saying there's going to be discourse about Zendaya being in too many movies. That aside, what discourse do you think is going to make a comeback?

[Sam Taggart]

I mean, it's all dark.

[George Severis]

Sure.

[Sam Taggart]

Like, discourse is never fun.

[George Severis]

Yeah.

[Sam Taggart]

I'm trying to think of a playful discourse.

[George Severis]

Right. Well, I mean, one of the big ones that's making a comeback is like, is racism good or bad?

[Sam Taggart]

One of the big ones that's coming back is, like, not seeing enough people posting about this.

[George Severis]

Oh, true, true, true.

[Sam Taggart]

In a way where I'm like, I cannot believe we're doing that again.

[George Severis]

I know, like, even being like.

[Sam Taggart]

Like, I saw a tweet. This is kind of informed by a tweet. But somebody was, like, shared, like, a Billie Eilish thing where she's, like, looking to my other celebrities. Why aren't people posting? And somebody was like, it's such an American concept for people wanting celebrities specifically, completely to, like, post.

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[Sam Taggart]

Because it's like, obviously this is, like, a very important time and we need to, like, be making our voices heard. But there's more ways to make your voice heard than just posting to stories.

[George Severis]

And

[Sam Taggart]

so it's like such a funny. Like, they didn't post the stories. They don't care. And it's like, we went through this already and it was so clearly the wrong way of thinking.

[George Severis]

Completely.

[Sam Taggart]

And I think we learned that. I thought we did. And it's so back. It's so back.

[George Severis]

You know what's related to that is critiquing wearing a pin to an award show.

[Sam Taggart]

Yeah.

[George Severis]

And I think being like, well, a pin means nothing. Or posting a block of text or something means nothing. It's like, yes, it is a show of solidarity. It's like having a bumper sticker. No one is arguing that a pin is going to make material change.

[Sam Taggart]

Yeah.

[George Severis]

In fact, you're the dumb one for assuming that's what they thought they were doing. If a celebrity is wearing a Ice out pin at Sundance, that is just a small gesture they are doing to show that they care.

[Sam Taggart]

Yeah.

[George Severis]

And that's it. It is not worthy of critique.

[Sam Taggart]

Well, it's sort of like both of the. It's like the conversation around corporate pride, which I do think has, like, very much died down. And part of that is obviously because corporations were like, okay, we're gonna stop. Like, fascism's back. We're not doing pride anymore. And so now it's like this whole thing of, like, now I wonder if the discourse that will come back is being like, we need corporations to support pride again.

[George Severis]

I know.

[Sam Taggart]

Which is like, it is one of those things where it's like both sides of that critique are stupid and I don't know what is right.

[George Severis]

Yeah. In terms of discords coming back, I also want to say I have done something really shocking recently, which is that I joined threads. I'm not posting on it or using it really, but what happens is when you're scrolling on Instagram, you'll get a suggested one and curiosity will get me, and then I'll click on it and then it'll take me to the threads homepage.

[Sam Taggart]

Curiosity has almost gotten me.

[George Severis]

And then I'll scroll for maybe two minutes. And the things that are happening in threads are shocking. I don't know how to even express what I'm seeing. It is like a bacchanal of sort of. It's like cancel culture drag. It's like no one's heart is in it, but every single hour they are canceling a new person. It is so weird. And of course, you know, it's kind of like 50, 50, like 50% of the time I'm like, oh, sure, this person sucks 50% of the time. It's completely random, but the tone is the same. And it's almost like people are ravenous for that kind of gladiator like environment again.

[Sam Taggart]

Yeah, it was like a brain exercise. It was fun to sort of examine why or why not someone should be canceled. It's like freelance lawyering completely. You're like, oh, I can look at this thing they posted in 2017, but then look at what they didn't say this. And it's like so confirmed case they are bad.

[George Severis]

There's also, I don't know how people don't get that they're coming across, even if they are in. In the right morally. The act of, like, making a three minute video explaining why someone is bad. You are engaging in the logics of social media that are ruining the world. Like, you are like, occupying this, like, Real Housewife in a confessional tone. That is quite simply not how anything will be solved.

[Sam Taggart]

Definitionally, it's not how anything will be solved.

[George Severis]

Like, it's. You are. You are succumbing to the kind of behavior that the algorithm wants you to succumb to. And you think you're being the good one.

[Sam Taggart]

Yeah.

[George Severis]

And it, like, is enough to make me like, there was people were Coming for Whitney Cummings because she said something about Ms. Rachel. So that sort of goes to show you where we are time wise right now.

[Sam Taggart]

And to be fair, Whitney Cummings is kind of off the deep end.

[George Severis]

No, no, completely. But that's the thing is like, we know she's off the deep end, okay? She has been off the deep end for years. It is concerning. However, what happens is she'll say something and then people are like, oh, perfect. This is an amazing entryway for me to actually do my big monologue about how Whitney Cummings is off the deep end. But then you're doing a three minute monologue and you sound like a crazy person because you sound like you're hearing voices.

[Sam Taggart]

And then she shares it and is like, actually, that's not what I meant. And you're like, she's like bolstering her fan base. It's just all like, you're all playing

[George Severis]

into the game completely. You can be the good one, but you have to recognize you are still the good one. Within a reality show that is produced by Lucifer.

[Sam Taggart]

His name is Mark Zuckerberg. So that was amazing. But for the record. Post, post, post.

[George Severis]

Everybody, for the record. Post, post, post. Please share our reels.

[Sam Taggart]

Never stop posting.

[George Severis]

Repost our tour dates.

[Sam Taggart]

Yes, yes. Comment.

[George Severis]

Oh my God. Please like and comment.

[Sam Taggart]

Just get our engagement up.

[George Severis]

Yeah, let's. We need to get our engagement up.

[Sam Taggart]

Seriously, you guys, comment. That's why George is growing out his hair to get engagement up.

[Caller]

Hey, George, is Patrick up in Duluth, Minnesota? Got a wedding related question if you feel like you haven't done into that too much. My boyfriend and I have been.

[George Severis]

Is his voice turned out?

[Sam Taggart]

I have a boner.

[Caller]

Did take the plunge recently and buy a house together. So most people assume, or a lot of people assume that wedding is next or even a lot of people assume that we are already married and we're not in a huge hurry. But honestly, when I think about the idea of marriage, getting married, being married, one of the more exciting ideas is the possibility of, you know, incorporating some tasteful jewelry into our respective looks, that is Wedding bands. So I was wondering how you two have navigated that in your respective married lives. Because obviously a wedding band traditionally a symbol of man and a woman being married. And there seems like traditional wedding bands are different for men and women but for gay guys. Or

[Sam Taggart]

is that the end of the call?

[George Severis]

Oh, I think that's the end of the call.

[Sam Taggart]

Huh.

[George Severis]

Well, maybe he got cut off. But first of all, shout out to Duluth, Minnesota. And shout out to Minnesota in general that's all I'll say.

[Sam Taggart]

Yeah, yeah. Shout out to Minneapolis. Of course.

[George Severis]

Maybe. Yeah, we'll cut that. Okay. So basically, what is our relationship to our wedding bands?

[Sam Taggart]

So I. I agree that it is, like, one of the more appealing parts of marriage.

[George Severis]

I love it.

[Sam Taggart]

It's like one of the. It's like, first of all, inherently hot. It implies that you're married.

[George Severis]

It implies that you're married. That's something people don't tell you about wedding bands.

[Sam Taggart]

And when you are a man wearing one, it sort of implies you're straight.

[George Severis]

Yeah.

[Sam Taggart]

So it's sort of like, who's this straight guy touching me?

[George Severis]

It's so, like, I can't describe how much I love wearing a wedding band. It has, like, changed my entire swagger, especially, like, at the gym, taking it on and off and putting it in my locker. I know you're someone who lifts it on.

[Sam Taggart]

Oh, I leave it on.

[George Severis]

But, like, I worry about scratching it. So I'll take it off, and then I'll put it back on in the locker room, and I'll see people being like, oh, what's going on there? I thought he was pretty queeny in the weight room.

[Sam Taggart]

This whole time he's married to a woman.

[George Severis]

This whole time, he's married to a woman. Her name is Amber, and they live in Duluth, Minnesota.

[Sam Taggart]

I love this. I do have to go back. I love that gay guys live in Duluth.

[George Severis]

Oh, my God. It's the biggest dream I can imagine.

[Sam Taggart]

I have my cousins and aunt and uncle live in a suburb of Minneapolis, and one of them went to college in Duluth. And I was always like, duluth, what's going on there? And I've, of course, never been, but I'm like, to hear that gay guys live there.

[George Severis]

Yeah.

[Sam Taggart]

I'm like, I need to go on a vacation there.

[George Severis]

We should go to Duluth. We need to do a mini tour of just different venues in Duluth.

[Sam Taggart]

I absolutely need that. And the way that I want to draw this man. Send us a photo of what you look like. Okay.

[George Severis]

I want to address. I went thin with my wedding band. You went thick. And I think each of them suits us. And there's no. Neither is better. I just think, like, you were meant to go thick, and I was meant to go thin.

[Sam Taggart]

Well, and to be fair, I mean, you probably put more thought into it. I sort of, like, tried on, like,

[George Severis]

two and was like, sure, me too.

[Sam Taggart]

Yeah. And I was like, I. I almost. I mean, I don't think I would make a different decision if I thought about it more, but I Wish I had thought about it more so I could say, like, I thought for weeks about what the right size is.

[George Severis]

No, I thought. To be honest, I almost. I wouldn't say I regret my decision, but I'm. The more time passes, the more I'm like, maybe I should have gone thicker. My thing was like, this is so gay guy insecurity. I was sort of like, if I go too thick, it'll be like, I'm being no homo. It'll be like, I'm being like, I'm gay married, but I'm masculine.

[Sam Taggart]

Yeah.

[George Severis]

And so I have to embrace my femininity and just be comfortable going. Almost like women's thickness.

[Sam Taggart]

Yeah.

[George Severis]

But I do think there's some. There is more gravitas to a thicker band. I will say.

[Sam Taggart]

Say it.

[George Severis]

I don't love non traditional wedding bands.

[Sam Taggart]

If you're gonna do it, get a traditional one. You're gonna regret it. If you get a funky one, don't

[George Severis]

get a steampunk one.

[Sam Taggart]

Don't get a. Don't get like, don't. I'm sorry. The thing that's tough about talking about this.

[Mistr Prep Advertiser]

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[Sam Taggart]

It's sort of the glasses conversation all over again. There's so many people that just do have these, of course.

[George Severis]

And they're listening and they're like, what the fuck?

[Sam Taggart]

And they're like, I'm committed to this for essentially my life completely.

[George Severis]

And also we're doing the thing where they're overhearing a conversation and they're like, oh, that means even more than someone telling me to my face.

[Sam Taggart]

So I'm actually trying to be respectful. But at the same time, if you're starting new, first of all, whatever decision you made is right for you and your family.

[George Severis]

Exactly. Exactly.

[Sam Taggart]

But if you're starting new, I would say go traditional. I think you will not regret it up there in Duluth.

[George Severis]

Yeah, yeah, I agree. That would be my suggestion if you are a gay guy with a really hot voice that lives in Duluth.

[Sam Taggart]

Okay. Put us on the close friends.

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[Caller]

Hey Simon.

George. I'm wondering, what do you think standup can teach other art mediums and what can other art mediums teach? Stand up. Thanks, Bye.

[George Severis]

Okay, I actually have an answer off the top of my head for this.

[Sam Taggart]

Great.

[George Severis]

Something I really like about standup is that there's no such thing as legitimate standup and outsider art. Standup, like any standup you see, counts as standup basically just as much.

[Sam Taggart]

Yeah.

[George Severis]

Whereas if you are a painter, you sort of have to be represented by a gallery and showing at shows that are covered by the art press to be like, okay, well, that's the art world. And then there's outsider art, which is a different thing. And it's like maybe more punk rock and more. You have to really look to find it. And there's a difference. And I think kind of same with theater, where there's theater that's in major theaters and then there's someone doing an underground thing at an event space and their cousin does the lighting or whatever. There's something about standup where even if you're at an open mic in a bar in Queens that legitimately just is standup.

[Sam Taggart]

Yeah.

[George Severis]

There's an egalitarian ethos. And I'm not saying that the people that are successful don't suddenly make a shit ton of money and there's inequality and stuff. But there is something, I think also the lack of training goes into this. There's no such thing as an MFA in standup.

[Sam Taggart]

Yeah, that's cool.

[George Severis]

And so I think the kind of anything goes ethos I think could be useful in other art forms.

[Sam Taggart]

I like the anything goes ethos. I like the. What I think other mediums could learn is the sort of like work in progress ness of stand up, where it's like any night you can be like. And I'm gonna try like these two things and see if there's anything there, like trying things in front of people. And I know you can't paint in front of people, but I do think there's something so freeing about the immediate knowing if it's like expressing the way you thought it would in your mind. And that's my favorite Part. And I wish that other mediums could experience that.

[George Severis]

Yeah. I mean, I also think engaging with your audience in a more direct way is an exciting part of standup that I don't know necessarily if I want every art form to adopt, because I think it's kind of nice to have more timeless art that isn't directly engaging with only the points of view of people present in one room. In terms of things Stand up can learn from other art forms.

[Sam Taggart]

Well, it's kind of the opposite for me, where it's like, edit, edit. And even presenting a finished product. I really do struggle with that myself because it's always so work in progress. Everything is like, well, I could switch this and I could switch this and that. Who knows? In two years, maybe I'll have something for that. And I really respect that. Other art forms go away. They're like, I'm working on this idea for two years, and then I'm putting it out.

[George Severis]

Yes. And now it's the big launch. We're having the opening. There's little glasses of champagne. This is the body of work that I have been working on for the last nine to 18 months.

[Sam Taggart]

And the other thing is sort of ignoring almost audience reaction sometimes and being like, it's more important that I'm expressing myself than that I'm getting a bigger audience. Whereas standup is so not that.

[George Severis]

Yeah, no, I think that's true.

[Sam Taggart]

And you can see it when people get addicted only to audience reactions, they forget who they are.

[George Severis]

By the way, I want to say something about Stand up that I like is unless you're taping a special or something, usually you're not the only person on a lineup. Even if you are touring by yourself, you'll have an opener or there'll be in a comedy club, there'll be a host and then an opener, and then you. And then, of course, in most standup shows, if you're not a big celeb, it's like a lineup that's anywhere between four to seven people. And there is a communal element that I think especially other writers don't have. So many other forms of art are very isolating because you're by yourself creating, and you have no feedback. You have no one backstage. Being like, that bit was really good. What if you added that at the end?

[Sam Taggart]

Yeah.

[George Severis]

So that's kind of nice.

[Sam Taggart]

No, that is nice.

[Caller]

Hey, boys, it's Kevin from San Diego. First, I just want to say that you guys are looking especially hot recently, so congratulations.

[George Severis]

Thanks. It's my hair transfer.

[Public Investing Advertiser]

Hey, Wal.

[George Severis]

I Was hoping that you would weigh

[Caller]

in on a prompt. I was disgusting with my boyfriend, which is disgusting. How do we order forms of protest on the spectrum of straight to gay? We decided that signs on a highway overpass are straight. Donations to the ACLU are gay guy. And rest as an act of resistance is and be demisexual.

[Sam Taggart]

What would y' all add?

[George Severis]

Damn, that is their ass.

[Sam Taggart]

Shout out.

[George Severis]

Interestingly, I actually think this hot voice is more George coded and the Duluth hot voice is more Sam coded.

[Sam Taggart]

Well, of course this hot voice is funny because it's one of my favorite types of gay guy, which is, like, exasperated already. And, like, I'm so tired of what I'm saying.

[George Severis]

No, it's also just like, sorry, my brain is going a mile a minute because I'm so smart and, like, I could explain further, but you probably wouldn't get it. But this is, like, kind of the basic level of what I'm saying. And, like, you know, obviously there's like, a lot more going on up there. And it's my curse. It's the reason why I wasn't able to finish grad school, because I thought too much. Okay, so I have this. I made a little list on my Uber on the way here of different forms of protest, and I want to read it and we can. Okay, so this is what I have. This is in no particular order, attending a rally or march, community organizing, domestic terrorism, radical self care, posting an infographic, donating to a nonprofit, donating to a GoFundMe, canvassing for a political candidate, reading a book, sharing a reading list, participating in a boycott, and finally presenting an academic paper at a conference called Subaltern Bodies, Subterranean Spaces. And so maybe we could.

[Sam Taggart]

Well, that's a giant list.

[George Severis]

I know we can't really. I don't want to rank them, but maybe we go one by one and just do like straight, gay, or bi,

[Sam Taggart]

One that jumped out to. Okay, yeah, let's go through them and rank them.

[George Severis]

Okay. Attending a rally or march, to me, that's straight, but not in a bad way. Just like in a 60s, we're protesting the Vietnam War and you're bringing your

[Sam Taggart]

kid, and it's like, this is fun. And the kid is dressed up as.

[George Severis]

I don't know, it's family friendly, it's wholesome. It's also very much like, it is our right as Americans to protest. It's a patriotic duty to protest.

[Sam Taggart]

It's a mini Fourth of July.

[George Severis]

Yes. Okay. Community organizing.

[Sam Taggart]

Gay, gay.

[George Severis]

It's communal. It is like un, non, hierarchical.

[Sam Taggart]

It's also like, first we're gonna all get together and, like, serve soup, then we go to the party.

[George Severis]

Yeah, exactly.

[Sam Taggart]

Yeah.

[George Severis]

Okay. It's also so inclusive.

[Sam Taggart]

Yes.

[George Severis]

Okay. Domestic terrorism. This is a tough one, because I think on the one hand, you have, like, one battle after another. Leo being so kind of, like, toxic guy.

[Sam Taggart]

But then I think domestic terrorism is straight.

[George Severis]

Yeah, I think so, too, because gay people, like, it's.

[Sam Taggart]

They're like all talk. Gay people are like, I'm gonna blow that building up. And then it's like, okay, like, when do you want to do it? And they're like.

[George Severis]

They're like, I have dinner.

[Sam Taggart]

Yeah. They're like, my gym membership actually goes until the end of the year, so I don't want to do it until that's over.

[George Severis]

Get my money's worth before I blow up the big data center. I actually. Yeah. I think.

[Sam Taggart]

I think straight people are kind of willing to throw it all away in a different way.

[George Severis]

Yes. And I also think what we're saying is, like, morally neutral, but I also just simply think thinking about things in a warlike way is straight.

[Sam Taggart]

Yeah.

[George Severis]

Okay. Radical self care. Okay. Obviously, that's gay.

[Sam Taggart]

Well, because gay people have this thing, which I love, where they're like, well, I already came out of the closet. Like, do you know how hard it was for me in high school?

[George Severis]

Completely.

[Sam Taggart]

So now, like, when things are really hard, like, the most radical thing I can do, like, wash my face.

[George Severis]

Yes. And also on the other side of things, of course, there was also the stereotype of, like, I'm sorry, but a liberal white woman reading Audre Lorde and getting all the wrong. Drawing all the wrong conclusions from it and being, like, going to get a massage and then a pedicure and then a facial is basically like blowing up a data center.

[Sam Taggart]

Yeah.

[George Severis]

So it can, you know, it can be straightened that way.

[Sam Taggart]

That's true.

[George Severis]

Okay. Posting an infographic. This is tough.

[Sam Taggart]

This is tough because it's everyone. This is. I'm trying to think who I see do this more.

[George Severis]

I know.

[Sam Taggart]

In the negative way. Who does it wrong?

[George Severis]

I'll tell you who's not posting an infographic. Straight men.

[Sam Taggart]

Yeah.

[George Severis]

It's mostly straight women and the lgbtq. Straight men are posting infographics, but they're about basketball stats. They're like, can you believe this is the first guy to ever have this many blah, blah, blah in the off season?

[Sam Taggart]

Yeah, you're right. I think the infographic doesn't fit with their eyes. In the same way, there's something.

[George Severis]

Even though you would think an infographic because it's data based and numbers based is more masculine because, of course, men can only understand things when they're numbers. But I think what it is is that infographics are always a little misleading.

[Sam Taggart]

They tell a story.

[George Severis]

They tell a story. So it's much more storytelling than just bar chart.

[Sam Taggart]

Yeah.

[George Severis]

So maybe it's straight woman.

[Sam Taggart]

Maybe it's straight woman.

[Caller]

Okay.

[George Severis]

All right. Donating to a nonprofit versus I mean, this is easy. Donating to a nonprofit is straight. Go fund me. Is gay.

[Sam Taggart]

Yes. Yes.

[George Severis]

Canvassing for political candidate.

[Sam Taggart]

That is straighter, I think.

[George Severis]

I think that's straight in the way that attending a rally or march is straight.

[Sam Taggart]

I think it still believes in the system.

[George Severis]

Believes in the system. Which, again, good. You should canvass for a progressive candidate you believe in, but it is a respectable way to get involved.

[Sam Taggart]

Yeah.

[George Severis]

Reading a book. Versus sharing a reading list. Those are sort of the two that we are.

[Sam Taggart]

Sharing a reading list, to me, is actually straighter.

[George Severis]

I agree.

[Sam Taggart]

Because it's Dua Lipa.

[George Severis]

Completely. And reading a book is like reading

[Sam Taggart]

a book with Dua Lipa fan.

[George Severis]

Exactly. Reading a book without posting about it, that's like. That's like tender queer. You know, it's like I'm actually. It's not performative, and I really believe in this, and I want to learn.

[Sam Taggart]

I just want to be better.

[George Severis]

I just want to be better. I'm in grad school. I'm, like, doing my book club. And I've also. The scary thing of I actually saw something on social media, took it to heart, and I'm now going to do the homework.

[Sam Taggart]

Yeah.

[George Severis]

Okay. I'm almost done participating in a boycott.

[Sam Taggart]

This is interesting.

[George Severis]

Yeah, it's tough.

[Sam Taggart]

So at the time we're recording, there's. The boycott is supposed to be on Friday.

[George Severis]

Oh, the general strike.

[Sam Taggart]

General strike.

[George Severis]

Yes, yes, yes.

[Sam Taggart]

Which is different.

[George Severis]

Yeah. I guess maybe we could add, like, yeah, maybe we could add. Participating in a strike boycott is interesting because it's like, the implication is like, put your money where your mouth is. Boycott, to me is. It reminds me of like, for example, gay guys canceling their Equinox subscriptions because the CEO is right wing. Also, it's, you know, in a more meaningful way, it's people participating in bds. It is saying, like, I am making a choice that materially impacts a company that is on the wrong side of things.

[Sam Taggart]

Boycotting at this point, the way that, I mean, part of the issue with our world is the way that it works is that, like, all the Corporations are so gigantic that literally getting, like, let's say 5,000 people to cancel their subscription does not affect them at all. They literally won't notice completely. And so it is confusing because before, like, a boycott is an amazing way. If you're like, this factory in town produces a thing that's bad, we're all gonna boycott it. Now I'm like, so wait, we'd have to get, like, a million people to cancel this for them to notice at all.

[George Severis]

I know. It's funny. One of the elements of the concentration of wealth is that a boycott of a small business works much better than a boycott of a large corporation. So, like, let's say there's a small coffee shop that is being accused of having bad labor practices, but it's owned by three people. And maybe one of them is evil, but, like, ultimately they are doing their best that will be shut down by a boycott.

[Sam Taggart]

Oh, yeah.

[George Severis]

But then, like, Amazon will never be shut down by a boycott.

[Sam Taggart]

It's obviously. And I'm sorry to be, like, cynical, but it's like, this is. It's such a. It's why things are so bad. Like, it's so hard to make an impact. I know, and I think it's good that people are trying, of course, but I'm sort of like.

[George Severis]

And I'll just do anything.

[Sam Taggart]

Well, the other thing is when people are like. I'm sorry. When people are like, we're boycotting on Friday, if not the strike, it. When there was like, we're doing a boycott this day. I'm like, well, who's buying that much every day? Like, I personally, like, every day is a boycott. Like, I shop so little. I'm sort of like. I'm not. Like, it's. It's literally no material sacrifice completely for me to boycott on a given day.

[George Severis]

Yeah, I did have a moment. I was like, during the Starbucks strike, when people were like, boycott Starbucks. During the. During the strike, I was like, well, that's a simple enough thing. And I was really taking it to heart. And then I was at the airport, and there was like, a giant line at Starbucks. I was like, do these people not read the news? But it also. It was like, I was just, like, right there in black and white. I was like, nothing. I'm doing matter. Like, this is. Yeah, there was another coffee shop right next to Starbucks. Like, you could have just gone to that one.

[Sam Taggart]

We live in a damn bubble. It also is like. I thought it was so funny. I mean, this was like, what, two months ago when this was happening?

[George Severis]

Yeah, we were. I think we were on tour or I was on. Like, I was traveling for work and I was like, it was always a struggle not to, you know, martyr myself, but it was always a struggle at every airport because the only thing they have is Starbucks to find, like, a non traditional coffee place.

[Sam Taggart]

I thought it was so funny. People that, like, live in la, we're posting like. Like, their non Starbucks coffee. I mean, like, that, y', all. It's not that easy, y'.

[George Severis]

All.

[Sam Taggart]

Like, we gotta get out there and not buy Starbucks. And I was like, you're living in a city and you're buying Starbucks.

[George Severis]

Like, I'm sorry, but Starbucks is for airport.

[Sam Taggart]

Why did you buy that ever? Like, I was like, this is like, you're actually revealing something deeper and more insidious, which is that you go to Starbucks when you live in your Starbucks.

[George Severis]

Drinking reveals something evil and more sinister. What is the quote from Madam Fall?

[Sam Taggart]

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

[George Severis]

Reveal something selfish. Selfish.

[Sam Taggart]

Oh, I forget. But yeah, exactly.

[George Severis]

We'll put the clip in here. No, I was. I had to really laugh at myself because as this was happening, I was like, well, this is impacting me more than anyone because I'm at airports. Like, if I was at home, I would never be forced to make the choice.

[Sam Taggart]

George should have gotten extra points for boycotting harder.

[George Severis]

Extra Starbucks points. I'll send you my user id. Okay, and then. And last one. Sorry. Last one is, of course, presenting an academic paper at a conference called Subaltern Body, Subterranean Spaces.

[Sam Taggart]

Lgbt.

[George Severis]

That's lgbtq, you guys.

[Sam Taggart]

I'm pro the strike, by the way. I'm pro all of it.

[George Severis]

Yeah. For the record, I sometimes worry that because we like to make fun of people similar to us, we come across as our bubble. Yeah. We come across as somehow rejecting the consensus of the bubble. You will not find two gay guys more pro boycotting and striking than us. We are literally ready to start the revolution at any second. Just let us know. Send the signal and we will be there.

[Sam Taggart]

And just let me know soon because I have to cancel my gym membership before the 15th. Yes.

[George Severis]

And I didn't want to cancel mine because it would have been performative. So I actually am sort of stuck into. I'm stuck in my current plan until the end of the year.

[Sam Taggart]

Maybe you cut this too. But I'm like. But like, with the strike.

[George Severis]

Yes.

[Sam Taggart]

I have to. I have to confess something that I said that was completely insane. Please. But I was like. So we don't. So we're like. It's like, don't Buy anything and don't go to work. And I'm like, so are restaurants open? Like they're not doing anything wrong, right?

[George Severis]

It's. Well, you would hope that they would be closed because all the workers would be strike. Like if enough peop. It's not that, that you're thinking about it as a consumer. You know what I mean? You're thinking like, well that's because I

[Sam Taggart]

can't not go to work. I don't have a job to go to.

[George Severis]

That's an interesting point that I haven't considered. But yeah, I think it's like, it's less like are restaurants open? And more like if it succeeds, no one will go to work, therefore the economy will be shut down. So maybe get a little, get a little ceramic pour over thing for your coffee.

[Sam Taggart]

Because look, I make my own coffee now. It's the food I'm worried about. I'm going to starve to death.

[Caller]

Hi, I was just thinking if you

had ever considered what Lizzo's past is for actresses. And I'm specifically thinking about Sydney Sweeney versus Mikey Monroe. Kind of obvious there and like what that would be. What is, what is this? Those past four actresses?

Okay, love you.

Byeeeee.

[George Severis]

Well, diva, we have some bad news. It's Mikey Madison, not Mikey Monroe. So I think you answered your own question there.

[Sam Taggart]

I wanna say this podcast, you know, on one hand it's about straight culture. On the other hand it's about New York versus la. On a third hand even, it's about not knowing actors and actresses names.

[Mistr Prep Advertiser]

Yes.

[George Severis]

On the fourth level, it's just about Lizzo's pets. Every time we get a lot of Lizzo's past calls. We did get one about whether Cat's Eye is the fastest act ever to choose Target and whether they were ever at Lizzo's Pass. We don't know enough about Cat's Eye to comment on that, but we can comment on whether actresses have Lizzo's Pass. What is your take as the inventor of Lizzo's Pass?

[Sam Taggart]

I think they definitely do, but the thing with, with them is it's confusing because Sydney Sweeney, for example, like, I think it's so easy to be like, she's Target. She's Target. She's Target because she's doing like every ad possible. Like she is doing ads for products I didn't even know existed. And. But then she'll also be in like the weirdest movie where it's like she plays a lesbian wrestler.

[George Severis]

Boxer.

[Sam Taggart]

I think that's it. Boxer. I forget they're different and that no one on earth sees.

[George Severis]

And she was the reality winner.

[Sam Taggart]

Are you kidding? She's a reality winner. Like, I'm sort of like, Lizzo's past is more complicated for them.

[George Severis]

Here's the complicated thing with actresses. It is actually much easier for your artistic output to be completely different than your pop culture celebrity output as an actor than it is as a musician.

[Sam Taggart]

Yes.

[George Severis]

If you're a musician. If you're a chapel roan and you do a Target ad that really is going to affect your brand and how people perceive your music. Every prestige actress that has won an Oscar also does a perfume Lancome campaign, also does a Super bowl commercial where she reunites with someone she was in a teen movie with. I didn't even know this, but I just saw that Kirsten Dunst and Gabriel Union did an ad where they reunited for Bring It On.

[Sam Taggart]

Oh, I didn't know.

[George Severis]

And it was for Google or something. That does not affect either of their brands in any way.

[Mistr Prep Advertiser]

No.

[George Severis]

So I think Sydney Sweeney is someone who flew too close to the sun because she counted on that precedent. She was like, well, I can be a reality winner and be a lesbian boxer and also do nail polish and bath soap. But she did one too many and it fucked her up.

[Sam Taggart]

I mean, she did so many. It even affected her other brand endorsements where I was like, well, you can't love jeans that much because you also love shoes that much. At some point, you're, like, loving too many things and I don't believe you.

[George Severis]

Yeah, it's actually very rare that someone's brand life is coordinated super well with their. I think Gwyneth Paltrow is a really good example of someone who somehow has managed to have a coherent brand and maintain as an actor and as a public figure. But then, of course, the other thing with actors versus musicians is that you don't create your own material as an actor. Right.

[Sam Taggart]

And you almost are lauded for being like, I can't believe they were able to look like this.

[George Severis]

Exactly.

[Sam Taggart]

Like, if you actually look shitty in an ad and you're doing an ad for, like, play DOH or something and you look like a loser, then you're in, like, a prestige movie. People are almost more impressed because they're like, oh, I thought they were a loser. Yeah, they actually are a lesbian boxer.

[George Severis]

There is just way more. There was just much more flexibility. However, that said, that's why it's more shocking when someone manages to fuck it up so much that they choose Target. I'm trying to think of a good example.

[Sam Taggart]

Like, I have a kind of one.

[George Severis]

Okay.

[Sam Taggart]

You know whose target is Kristen Bell. And, you know, I.

[George Severis]

But it works for her.

[Sam Taggart]

It works for her.

[George Severis]

I wouldn't say that's unintentional. I don't think Kristen Bell wants to be a lesbian boxer.

[Sam Taggart]

It's definitely the goal. But it's confusing because at first being Veronica Mars, it was like, wow, this is an interesting character, an interesting show. It's kind of niche, but it's also mainstream. And it's like, wow, how is this happening? And then so quickly it was like, oh, you want to literally be a Target commercial at all times.

[George Severis]

You know who's like that is Mark Wahlberg. He started in Boogie Nights. Like, if he had gone a different direction, he could have been like. I guess the comparison would be like, a Leo, because he wouldn't have been an indie darling. He would have still been mainstream star, but in prestige movies. And he decided because he's so crazy that he's gonna commit to being Target

[Sam Taggart]

and a Pitchfork person who could have gone Target and was almost going Target. Nic Cage.

[George Severis]

Yes.

[Sam Taggart]

He easily could have been like.

[George Severis]

I would even say he chose Target and then went back to Lizzo's past now in Pitchfork. Yeah. I think also Emma Stone did that. I think Emma Stone went full Target with easy A and all her early and crazy stupid love. Are you kidding me? Imagine her doing that now and then just walked right back and said, nevermind. I actually wanted to go this way. She did a quick U turn.

[Sam Taggart]

Yeah.

[George Severis]

Amanda Seyfried. From Ama Mia to Testament of an Lee.

[Sam Taggart]

I mean, amazing point.

[George Severis]

Yeah.

[Sam Taggart]

I think it's just that the path. Lizzo's path for actors is not nearly as icy or treacherous. And you can actually just sort of walk back and forth.

[George Severis]

It's a different, like, part of the game.

[Sam Taggart]

Yeah.

[George Severis]

Like, it's a different video game with musicians. It's like, it really is Chapel Roan in full armor, like, going to get through, and it's hard to get through. And there are, like, snakes, and there are. There's trickster figures that can accidentally, like, give you a stink ball. And then it blows up and suddenly you find yourself at Target.

[Sam Taggart]

Yeah.

[George Severis]

Whereas, you know, with actors, it's much more of, like a sc. Seamless. It's very, like, paved streets. You're in, like, gentrified Williamsburg, and you're kind of like, holding your coffee and on your phone, you took a long turn. You're like, wait, this is not where I was going.

[Sam Taggart]

Yeah, you're like I have to backtrack. It's gonna take me ten minutes.

[George Severis]

Okay, well, all right, whatever. Like it's fine. I'll just be. And then you're texting Yorgos and you're like, Sorry, I'm running 15 minutes late. It's a long story. I'll let you know. Sorry I went the wrong way into crazy stupid love. Isn't that so random? I'm gonna tell you all about it.

[Sam Taggart]

Don't worry. My feet are gonna hurt when I get there, so have a stool for me.

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[Caller]

Hi, George and Sam. Hope you both are doing well. Big fan of the pod George. I was the TIFF guy at the Sketch Fest show last week. If you remember me, the one person who had seen Tessna Van Lee in the crowd. Just want to echo that. Tessa Van Lee was indeed robbed. My question for you guys is of all the film festivals, which are the gayest and which are the straightest in your opinion? Okay, thank you. Love you both. Bye.

[George Severis]

I think for simplicity's sake, let's do Tiff Can, Venice, Sundance.

[Sam Taggart]

Because obviously there's countless film festivals, all of which are beautiful, stunning, perfect. We would love to speak at them.

[George Severis]

I would adore to do a panel to moderate a panel.

[Sam Taggart]

Oh my God. And it's about Lizzo's past, maybe about comedy.

[George Severis]

Ooh, yeah, maybe I can do one about comedy and you can do one about Lizzo's past where it's Amanda Seyfried, Emma Stone, Sydney Sweeney and Zendaya. And then they each talk about their journey with Lizzo's past.

[Sam Taggart]

God, that would be so amazing.

[George Severis]

So I would say, okay, what were your four again? Sundance, Tiff, Can, Venice, Sundance. Venice is gayest.

[Sam Taggart]

Venice is gayest.

[George Severis]

Because of the boat.

[Sam Taggart]

Because of the boat and because it's like a place for literally actresses to wear a fun outfit, arrive on a boat and get photographed.

[George Severis]

And it's also Cannes. Cannes is the Beyonce in. Venice is a Solange. Cannes, yes, people do take fashion risks and look crazy and it is a big thing to win the Palme d' or and all this stuff. But Venice can be a little more unexpected.

[Sam Taggart]

Well, the way it's less prestige, even though it's still very prestigious. But it's like less than Cannes.

[George Severis]

It's like Brooklyn.

[Mistr Prep Advertiser]

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[Sam Taggart]

Whereas I almost want to put can

[George Severis]

straighter because it's the default.

[Sam Taggart]

It's the default. And it's so like they got an eight minute standing ovation, which means it's eight minutes worth of good. That got a 12 minute standing ovation. Like, it's like statistically, like, what's coming out about it?

[George Severis]

Yeah. Let's say can is the straightest. Now, Tiff and Sundance are interesting. Both of them are the indie darlings. Both of them are like Zooey Deschanel.

[Sam Taggart]

Yeah. This is tough. This is Tiff.

[Mistr Prep Advertiser]

This is Tiff.

[Sam Taggart]

I think so. Sundance has an element which I know it's no longer going to be in Park City.

[George Severis]

Yeah.

[Sam Taggart]

But I think the fact that it was. Was pretty gay of it to take over. Like, you're essentially going on a vacation and writing it off completely. Like you're being like. Well, I. It's actually not a vacation because the festival's here. But like, you go there and like theme your outfits, like, ski even though you're not skiing.

[George Severis]

Yeah.

[Sam Taggart]

It's like, it's all very like campy and tongue in cheek. It is.

[George Severis]

It's also very like Sundance is the film festival equivalent of a business that is made to look independent but is actually owned by Amazon.

[Sam Taggart]

Yeah.

[George Severis]

Like, it is. It's like Blank Street Coffee or something. Everyone is self consciously dressed a little more casual and pretending that they just stumbled into there with their hot tea. And then every background, every step and repeat has Dropbox on it.

[Sam Taggart]

Yeah. Yeah.

[George Severis]

And I think there's something about Tiff that's a little more down to earth.

[Sam Taggart]

Yeah. No, I think that's true. Sundance has like a.

[George Severis]

It's neoliberal.

[Sam Taggart]

Yeah.

[George Severis]

You know what I mean?

[Sam Taggart]

Yeah.

[George Severis]

Okay, so does that mean Tiff is gayer?

[Sam Taggart]

I think it would mean Tiff is gayer.

[George Severis]

Yeah. So it Goes from straight to gay. Can Sundance, Tiff Venice. I'm comfortable with that.

[Sam Taggart]

I'm comfortable with that. Okay, okay, this one. I must say that George wanted to play without comment and I said no, it requires a comment.

[Caller]

Hi Jordan, Sam Eamon here and I'm calling in as a literal subject of the discourse. I need to start with a confession. Sam, I believe I am the Takiya Solid bear from the episode Survivor. I was the guy standing right next to you at the good room who ordered that skinny beverage, and this is that bear backlash. However, George, I'm really calling because of a massive lapse in alignment I witnessed back in June. I was listening to the weightlifting episode with Gian Marco on my way to a certain high end eucalyptus scented gym in Brooklyn. I had literally just reached the part where he explained that changing in the locker room with a towel around your waist is inherently straight behavior. As I proceeded into the locker room. Go to my corner. And whom do I find at the very next locker? George. And what is he doing? He is standing there completely shrouded in a towel, actively engaged in the exact straight behavior he had just finished pathologizing in my ear. George, I was a listener trying to live my values and more move toward a more enlightened, towel free existence. And there you were, the architect of the discourse, clinging to your modesty like a suburban dad at a ymca. My question is, was this a one time performance of straightness or do we need to have a serious conversation about the integrity of our values? How can we as a community move forward when the call is coming from inside the locker room? You know, this is also congrats on your gains, George. X.O.X.O.

[George Severis]

oh, thank you. This is so interesting because you think that you are gotcha ing me, but what you're actually doing is making these definitions so rigid, which goes against the entire ethos of the podcast. And saying like you said this, but you did this. That's Hippocratic. I'll have you know that depending on my mood, how like good I feel, you know, how horny I am, whatever. I am doing various different kinds of performances in the locker room. Sometimes I'm towel on, sometimes I'm towel off. Sometimes I even will walk towel off from locker room, from locker to shower. Sometimes I'll put my towel on for the walk, sometimes I'll have two towels.

[Sam Taggart]

George, just face it. You have been exposed as a hypocrite. And in these trying times, it is so important that we live our values. I think this bear is very correctly coming for you. And I cannot believe you wrap a towel around you and then slide the underwear up the towel.

[George Severis]

I. I do not do that always. I sometimes do that depending on how crowded my little corner is. And if I don't want to, like, risk touching someone with my ass.

[Sam Taggart]

I cannot believe it. This is just so shocking.

[George Severis]

And I actually think this is part a general. A more general, like, it's more generally emblematic of me being not 100% at home in a gym setting is that I don't have specific habits. Like, I. I really go back and forth between being, like, completely free and being completely covered. And it's almost a tell. It's like he doesn't belong here because he doesn't know exactly what his. Like, it's the same way. I would never shave in a gym. Cause I'm like, what if I do it wrong? What if I suddenly. It's not allowed.

[Sam Taggart]

I love shaving at the gym. Oh, my God.

[George Severis]

Anyway, but you know what? I am taking your feedback, and I vow from now on to just sort of be cock out constantly at the gym. Maybe even on the weightlifting floor.

[Sam Taggart]

Well, that's what happened to Nicole Byer.

[George Severis]

That's right, it did. And I want to say I appreciate the poetic nature of this call, even if it is attacking me.

[Sam Taggart]

That was an amazing call. I will say this. I think a big theme of this call list is George.

[George Severis]

Well, I didn't want to say anything, but a lot of them are addressing me. Literally none of them are addressing you this time around.

[Sam Taggart]

It's actually very interesting.

[George Severis]

The big challenge for next time is ask, address, Sam. And no worries.

[Sam Taggart]

I'm just feeling so invisible in a way that is interesting.

[George Severis]

Well, you know, I'm sorry to tell you this, but we have more listeners in New York than la, and so they're more likely at this point to see me and think about me.

[Sam Taggart]

Well, also, of course, your hair is growing out. It's like, maybe it's time for me to do a big. Yeah.

[George Severis]

How are you going to keep up?

[Sam Taggart]

I think I have to dye my hair.

[George Severis]

You have to dye your hair and then put your towel all the way up to your boobs.

[Sam Taggart]

Yeah. Yeah. That's what I have to do.

[Caller]

Hi. This is a very PR question. Question. But I feel like you two can speak to it intelligently. Do you think that in a conversation with friends, women were saying that they pretty much tell each other when they're dating someone, dating a man, they tell the other person everything about that gentleman's. Is that. I feel like there's a level of privacy among gay men. Or am I wrong? Is like disclosing all the details about your partner's dick purely straight or doesn't and blur the line? All right, have a good one.

[George Severis]

Well, we were talking about this with them jeans.

[Sam Taggart]

Oh, remind me what we said.

[George Severis]

He was saying how we were talking about straight women versus straight men and how straight women, ironically, even though straight men have the reputation of objectifying women, straight women, ironically, are more likely to talk about specifics of their husbands dick. Whereas a straight man would never be like, this is what my wife's private parts are like.

[Sam Taggart]

Right, right, right, right, right.

[George Severis]

So that's sort of men versus women. But this one is interesting because it's straight v. Gay.

[Sam Taggart]

I think, I think there's something about gay men talking about other men's dicks where there almost is a little bit more empathy in every direction. And I think they will talk about it, but the, the stats they're sharing are different. Like, it's more like, how was sex? Like, I think it's very like, sex was good sex. This was fun. This was the energy.

[George Severis]

This.

[Sam Taggart]

Yeah, this was weird. This blah, blah, blah. But like, I think like, literally just being like dick was this long, this wide is like very not the culture.

[George Severis]

Yeah, well, men versus women is much more warlike. It's like, give me. It's like, it's comparison based. It is like, it's very like, okay, this is the biggest dick I've ever seen and the smallest dick I've ever seen. And I also think the specific question was about partners. And I do think what happens with gay men is. I think I will much more freely discuss non partner men. I hooked up with same thing. And I would never, I don't think I. I would never go into super lurid details about me and my partner. I mean, maybe with a close friend, but that does seem weirdly way more private or sacred. Whereas I'm like, if it's a hookup,

[Sam Taggart]

I'm like, well, his cock was this and blah, blah.

[George Severis]

Exactly.

[Sam Taggart]

If it's like Misha, I'm like, only my most trusted friends who I really get into it with, with.

[George Severis]

So I think maybe that's the difference is that if a straight couple is monogamous, that's the one dick she has to talk about. So she's gonna bring it up.

[Sam Taggart]

So she's gonna bring it up. The only time I really bring up size of someone's dick is if it's like, notably large. Where it's just like, I actually haven't seen one that big very often. Like, then I'm sort of like, wow, that was like. That's like seeing the Grand Canyon.

[George Severis]

Hi, Sam and George. I'm Martin, a glamour girl from the Netherlands. I've always wondered that. If your listeners are glamour girls, then your title should be Glamour Divas or something more stupid sounding anywhere. I don't know if you know this, but your podcast has a high listenability quality. I don't know if that's a word. And I often revisit old episodes. Which do you prefer? Episodes where the topic is discussed in length and you go along theorizing tangents and are often creating binaries. Or the episodes where the topic brings up a different conversation and you barely even touch the guest's topic. Love them both. And love you too. Xoxo.

[Sam Taggart]

Love ya.

[George Severis]

Another hot voice. I know something is going on.

[Sam Taggart]

Something's up. Maybe you're just rock hard.

[George Severis]

Yeah, maybe.

[Sam Taggart]

Okay, this is an interesting question. Do we care? Do we prefer to talk about the topic a lot or to just go fully off topic and be crazy? I think it really depends on if the guest actually cares about their topic because there's something that's happening where our guests, if they have never listened to the POD before, will come on. They won't know what we're talking about. They're like, oh, I have to have a straight topic. What do you guys want to. Oh, you know, I've always done. And we're like, like either intimidated or. Or we just don't feel like arguing with them. And they don't seem to care about the topics. We're just like, sure, that works. And then we, like, don't talk about it much because they don't care. And if they don't care, we don't care.

[George Severis]

Yeah.

[Sam Taggart]

And. And we just don't want to, like, argue with them basically beforehand. And I like those episodes to an extent. But when a guest does care about the topic, I really do prefer it because their enthusiasm, I think, leads us and we get to then really dive in and get deeper and deeper. Whereas it's so clear when the guest doesn't care about the topic, we try to go deeper. They're like, okay, moving on. And we're like, no, the point is we kind of dig in.

[George Severis]

Yeah. And to bring ourselves into it a little bit and not to only blame the guest. Not that that's what you were doing, but you're guest blaming. I would say, first of all, definitively, I do prefer episodes where we go into theorizing that is. Is in my dream world, every episode would be mostly theorizing about a topic. And we would get to a point where, like, when we have someone like Theta on who's really smart, where we're like. We're really, like, taking a topic like photography and theorizing about, when is photography gay, when is photography straight? What is the evolution of it? We're doing this kind of comedic, idiotic philosophizing that I just think when we get in that role, it really feels like we're in a flow state, and it feels so fun, and it feels like improv and all this stuff. So, yes, in an ideal world, that is what every episode would be like. But I think both of us are worried about forcing it. So if it's not going there organically, oftentimes we won't push it. And maybe if we were, like, 20% more pushy, we could get it there.

[Sam Taggart]

Yeah. Well, this is the big internal debate to get a peek behind the curtain is we're wondering how pushy to be and how almost rude to be.

[George Severis]

Yes. This is, like, a legitimate not even debate. Because I think neither of us is. It's not like we're each one side and we're arguing. We are both undecided about how much we want to go combative interviewer mode as a bit and, like, alienate the guests for the sake of the audience having a better time, like, perform for the audience rather than performing for the guest.

[Sam Taggart]

And it's tough because we have done that in the past, but only with close friends. And so when it's not someone we know very well, it's always like, well, I'm not gonna be mean to a random person. I don't know. But then it's like, should we. It's an interesting thing. And also, it's just like, it's so easy for us to be mean to our friends, but both of us are polite people, and it's very hard for us to be rude to someone who we barely know.

[George Severis]

I know. It makes me feel like a fraud sometimes. Cause I'm just like. Like, if I was listening to someone else be so deferential. Sure. Is that the right word?

[Sam Taggart]

Yeah, I think so.

[George Severis]

Deferential to a big guess that they're intimidated by. I'd be like, I'm turning this off.

[Caller]

Right.

[Sam Taggart]

I'd be like, grow up.

[George Severis]

But it is difficult in the moment to humiliate yourself and. Or take a risk. And you also do genuinely risk because the other person, if a person is going on the Adam Friedland show. They sort of know that that's what they're in for because they've maybe seen past clips, they know that he plays this character. Whereas I think for us, because we don't necessarily play that character, it would be really jarring to have Jennifer Lopez on and suddenly be like screaming at her.

[Sam Taggart]

I also, this is something. I don't know if this is true, but tell me what you think. Where I think, as gay guys were expected to Stan.

[George Severis]

I know in a different way, and

[Sam Taggart]

I think it's a little bit unfair. And I think our guests come on being like, oh, two gay guys, they're going to love me. And it's like, oh, we kind of want to be able to pretend to be mean to you and you're okay with it. But they're just so used to like everyone. It's just like, well, it's gay guys on a microphone. They're gonna be actually too nice to me. And we're like. And we're like, what we do is like, worse, where we're like, we don't want to be too nice nor do we want to be rude. So we're just like normal down the middle. Yes.

[George Severis]

No, that's. That's exactly it. It's like, I think being down the middle is the worst thing you can do. I would rather just be like, okay, I'm gonna bonk my head and just be Stan mode.

[Sam Taggart]

Yeah, yeah.

[George Severis]

And then it can be fun in a sort of like, you know, Evan Ross Katz interviewing the heated rivalry guy's way.

[Sam Taggart]

Yeah, totally.

[George Severis]

Or, you know, or you go Adam Friedland mode. But like. Yeah, and so I think that's why oftentimes we will not want to have bigger celebs on. Honestly.

[Sam Taggart]

Yeah. But don't worry, we're going to have Amanda Sifrid on and we are gonna tell her that her forehead is too fucking small to play that character and that she was stealing roles from big foreheaded women.

[George Severis]

Yeah. I gotta say, not to bring up my experience at the Golden Globes yet again, but this was something that was very apparent there where it's like we would write questions that are clearly meant in jest and then celebrities wouldn't know how to deal with them. So then you just get like an awkward interaction where we ask Claire Danes, like, you know, you're really smart. Is it hard for you to be the smartest person in the room at these events? Which is like such a layup. And she's just like very sweetly like, oh, I wouldn't say that's what makes it hard. I think it's just more. It's just stressful for everyone.

[Sam Taggart]

There's so many smart, creative people in this field. No, I think I really underestimate PR training.

[George Severis]

Yeah.

[Sam Taggart]

Because, like, there have been some interviews where I'm like, oh, we're gonna ask them, like, a somewhat biting question, and they're gonna, like, get it and run with us. And it's like, no, the PR training is, like, in the bones sometimes.

[George Severis]

You know what else? To be more empathetic to those celebrities, they are forced to do so much stupid bullshit now as part of their press tours, of course, like, they have to eat hot wings. They have to, like, you know, go on some, like, random TikTok show where someone, like, forces them to walk on one leg while touching their head or something. They have to do a lie detector test. They have to be constantly reminded of their movies they made when they were 17. And it's like, unless we're doing something super different, all we're doing is adding to that cacophony.

[Sam Taggart]

Don't say that. We're not doing that. We're not adding to that. I want to say that this is why Jennifer Lawrence gets to be such a star, because it's like when you find someone who is both good at acting, which is a lot of actors, then also has a fun personality and can do hot wings and actually be charming and can do a podcast where people are weird and actually kind of get the bit, you're like, oh, well, you are God now.

[George Severis]

Literally. And we haven't really found one since then.

[Sam Taggart]

We literally haven't. I mean, I think Ivy Woke is obviously going to be that, but she's doing it the opposite way, where she's crushing the comedy podcast circuit and then will win an Oscar by the time she is 27, which is in 15 years. Which is in 15 years.

[George Severis]

Yeah, it's complicated, but I sort of like that the show is always a work in progress.

[Sam Taggart]

Oh, honey, we're growing, we're changing.

[George Severis]

And I'm much more into the idea of being looser and sort of playing it fast and loose with segments and with topics and doing special episodes and things like that.

[Sam Taggart]

Yeah, I like that this is our ending call, actually.

[George Severis]

Me too.

[Sam Taggart]

It's reflective.

[George Severis]

Yeah. Well, you know, we no longer call these shows earnestness bonanzas, but they are earnestness bonanzas.

[Sam Taggart]

I know this ending was. Well, that's because we're just more real. We're more real than we once were.

[George Severis]

I know. It's true. We've dropped the act.

[Sam Taggart]

We should have a year where we're bad.

[George Severis]

I know. I'm ready to be bad.

[Sam Taggart]

To be honest, I'm ready to be bad. We need to be bad.

[George Severis]

You know what's funny? Even with our friends now, we used to be more mean to them. I think the older we get, the more I'm like, well, it seems cruel to ask someone to come on a podcast and then be mean to them.

[Sam Taggart]

I mean, we were mean to Joe Firestone.

[George Severis]

Oh, yeah. That was really good. Yeah. Maybe we should just have Joe Firestone on once a month and just verbally abuse her.

[Sam Taggart]

Yeah. And then maybe we need to have. Yeah, get ready. We're going back to our roots. It's time to be mean. Oh, yeah. Okay.

[George Severis]

I love that. And earnestly thank you, everyone, for calling. We got to a small fraction of the calls. Not to brag, but there are a lot of other ones that I thought were really great. Some very thoughtful calls this time around. I think our audience is growing with us in a very sweet way. Yeah.

[Sam Taggart]

And next time, if you want to maybe ask me about anything that's going on in my life, I wouldn't be opposed. I do have a rich inner life. If you care about.

[George Severis]

What sorts of topics would you like? Questions about.

[Sam Taggart]

About, you know, hair, body, face, you know, dreams, wants, wishes, etc. Yeah. Favorite color, favorite food, vacation destinations in the coming year. Top, bottom, verse. Just questions such as that. Yeah.

[George Severis]

So if you guys could just write in and maybe ask Sam if he's top, bottom, or verse, he would really appreciate that. It's something he's always wanted to answer on air.

[Sam Taggart]

Because I'm currently giving sidekick, and that's a bit tough.

[George Severis]

I do not think you're currently giving sidekick. Oh, my God.

[Sam Taggart]

My Andy Richter ass.

[George Severis]

I cannot believe this.

[Sam Taggart]

No, jk, I don't actually feel that way. Just practicing being bad.

[George Severis]

Well, that's all we have to say. And I just want to say that. But it's time to change things politically

[Sam Taggart]

now, Literally, you guys strike and boycott wherever you can. I will not be going to a restaurant on Friday, even though I don't know if it's allowed or not.

[George Severis]

I'm never eating again.

[Sam Taggart]

That's called a hunger strike.

[George Severis]

Literally, hunger strike until the entire system is dismantled.

[Sam Taggart]

I have been on a hunger strike recently, but only because all my meals have been so small. I keep being like, whatever happened? Into portions.

[George Severis]

Calling dieting a hunger strike. I'm actually. You're just dieting because you're, like, going to the Oscars and you're like, I'm on a hunger strike.

[Sam Taggart]

I feel like every. Every meal I have, I'm like, this is gonna be the big one. It's this big. Yeah, I'm starving.

[George Severis]

I wanna say, it is so stressful when you go out to dinner with a friend and you know they're not a big eater and they refuse to order enough food. I went out to dinner with a friend recently. Actually, I'm gonna. I went out to sit down with my friend April. She initially suggested getting one appetizer and one entree to share. I had to step in. I had to say, april, I know you are a skinnylicious diva who, of course, has a healthy relationship with food, but just, like, doesn't need more than that. I do. And I actually put my foot down and I started ordering another entree, and then we got dessert.

[Sam Taggart]

Well, Misha and I went out for birthday dinner with my brother and his girlfriend, and you better believe we ordered over 100 things. Turns out they're all this big.

[George Severis]

Oh, well, yeah. I mean, the tapas. The tapasification of everything needs to end.

[Sam Taggart]

We are at a steak. They say, how big? It's gonna be in ounces, and then I get the thing, and I say, bring out the scale, because this is

[George Severis]

not that big when they do ounces, but it's bone in. You're saying, oh, so I'm sorry, two thirds of this was bone.

[Sam Taggart]

I'm paying for the bone.

[George Severis]

So I'm paying for the bone.

[Sam Taggart]

Just to be clear, I'm paying for the bone. Unbelievable.

[George Severis]

You tip, but not for the bone fee. And you tip only for the part that isn't bone.

[Sam Taggart]

I mean, the bone. That was insane.

[George Severis]

No. Tip your servers.

[Sam Taggart]

I'm going to Domestic Terrorist, that restaurant.

[George Severis]

Oh, my God. You should.

[Sam Taggart]

And I will.

[George Severis]

As we said, it's easier to take down small businesses than big ones. And so let's start there, and then, you know, maybe in a few years, we'll get to Amazon after there are no small businesses left.

[Sam Taggart]

Okay. Well, I could talk forever, but we. Unfortunately, I have to pee.

[George Severis]

Yeah. And I have to go to the gym fully naked. Goodbye.

[Sam Taggart]

Bye.

[George Severis]

Podcast ends now for our visual learners. You can watch full video episodes on our YouTube channel and subscribe to our

[Sam Taggart]

Patreon for two extra episodes a [e-mail] Stradiolab Stradiolab is a production by Will Ferrell's Big Money players network and iHeart

[George Severis]

podcasts, created and hosted by me, George Severis and Sam Taggart, executive produced by

[Sam Taggart]

Jenna Cagle co produced by Becca Ramos,

[George Severis]

edited by Lauren Stumpf and mixed and mastered by Doug Behm Artwork by Michael

[Sam Taggart]

Fails and Matt Grubb Theme music by Ben Kling

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[George Severis]

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[George Severis]

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