"Hometown Pride" w/ Skyler Higley

Summary

StraightioLab Episode Summary: "Hometown Pride" with Skyler Higley

Introduction

In the February 4, 2025 episode of StraightioLab, hosted by George Taveras and Sam Taggart from the Big Money Players Network and iHeartPodcasts, the dynamic duo delves deep into the concept of hometown pride. Joined by guest Skyler Higley, the discussion navigates the intricate relationship between individuals and their places of origin, particularly within the context of straight culture. The episode blends personal anecdotes, cultural analysis, and sharp humor to unpack how hometown pride shapes identity, community ties, and societal perceptions.

Personal Experiences and Narratives

The episode kicks off with George sharing an amusing yet revealing story about his visit to a nude gay resort in Palm Springs. He humorously recounts interactions with elderly patrons who lacked the expected permissiveness, highlighting a disconnect between the resort's image and reality.

George Taveras [03:12]: "I wasn't... the only guy I'm rarely in a space where I am the youngest by two generations."

Skyler Higley empathizes with George’s experience, prompting reflections on how personal environments can drastically differ from societal expectations.

Analyzing Hometown Pride in Straight Culture

As the conversation shifts to the main topic, Sam introduces the idea of hometown pride as a predominantly straight phenomenon, often laden with jingoistic undertones. The trio explores how pride in one's hometown can sometimes stem from a lack of other defining identity factors or as a reaction to past traumas associated with the place.

Sam Taggart [43:51]: "I think that the idea of a great feeling about your hometown or a strong hometown pride, it feels so... jingoistic."

Skyler adds depth by comparing hometown pride to ethnic identity, emphasizing how pride in one's origins can both connect individuals to their communities and isolate them from broader societal interactions.

Impact of Mobility and Identity Formation

George and Sam discuss their frequent relocations, pondering how moving across various regions—Midwest, Southern, East Coast—has influenced their sense of hometown pride. They contend that transient lifestyles can dilute the intensity of hometown pride or transform it into a more nuanced form of identity.

George Taveras [47:23]: "I moved around a lot... I always had too much global knowledge."

Skyler reflects on her upbringing between Greece and New Jersey, highlighting the stark contrasts and the challenge of forming a coherent identity when oscillating between distinct cultural landscapes.

Individualism vs. Collectivism

A significant portion of the discussion centers on the balance between individualism and collectivism in the context of hometown pride. The hosts argue that excessive attachment to one's hometown can foster tribalism, leading to exclusionary attitudes towards those from different backgrounds.

Skyler Higley [55:50]: "It's tribalism."

Sam underscores the psychological aspects, noting how individuals may use hometown pride as a means to bolster their ego or validate their place within a larger collective, often at the expense of recognizing diversity and individuality.

Media Influence and Cultural Perceptions

The conversation also touches on the role of media and popular culture in shaping perceptions of hometowns. They critique how certain cities become emblematic of specific stereotypes, influencing both residents' pride and outsiders' prejudices.

George Taveras [60:15]: "When people say they're from LA, don't even get me started."

Skyler discusses how media portrayals can romanticize or vilify hometowns, affecting how individuals relate to their origins and how they perceive others from different places.

Guest Insights: Skyler Higley

Skyler Higley brings a unique perspective as someone who has navigated multiple cultural identities. She emphasizes the importance of chosen communities over inherited ones and questions the validity of unexamined hometown pride.

Skyler Higley [55:59]: "How happy you are at any given time has to do largely with how you have chosen to incorporate your past with your present."

Her insights challenge the hosts to reconsider how deeply hometown pride should influence one’s sense of self and community engagement.

Conclusion and Takeaways

As the episode wraps up, George, Sam, and Skyler synthesize their discussions, acknowledging the complexity of hometown pride. They advocate for a balanced approach—recognizing the role of one's origins in shaping identity while remaining open to personal growth and broader societal connections.

Sam Taggart [70:36]: "It's impossible. Cause it's like... culture is still devolving anyway."

The trio concludes by highlighting the necessity of introspection in understanding and redefining hometown pride, encouraging listeners to critically evaluate their attachments to their places of origin.

Notable Quotes

• George Taveras [03:12]: "I have been sitting on this story in such an insane way."
• Sam Taggart [43:51]: "It feels very straight. It just feels very... jingoistic."
• Skyler Higley [55:50]: "It's tribalism."
• Sam Taggart [70:36]: "It's impossible. Cause it's like, well, that's also a third party."

Final Thoughts

"Hometown Pride" offers a candid and thought-provoking exploration of how our roots shape us within straight culture. Through engaging dialogue and personal storytelling, George, Sam, and Skyler invite listeners to reflect on their own relationships with their hometowns, fostering a deeper understanding of identity and community in contemporary society.

Transcript

[Sam Taggart]

Where'd you get those shoes? Easy.

[George Taveras]

They're from dsw. Because DSW has the exact right shoes.

[Sam Taggart]

For whatever you're into right now. You know, like the sneakers that make.

[George Taveras]

Office hours feel like happy hour, the.

[Sam Taggart]

Boots that turn grocery aisles into runways, and all the styles that show off.

[George Taveras]

The many sides of you, from daydreamer to multitasker, and everything in between. Because you do it all in really great shoes. Find a shoe for every you at your DSW store or dsw.com Tired of restless nights?

[Skyler Higley]

At Leesa, they know good sleep is essential for mental, physical and emotional health. From memory foam mattresses to hybrids that.

[Sam Taggart]

Keep you cool all night long, Lisa's.

[Skyler Higley]

Mattresses offer exceptional comfort and support with.

[Sam Taggart]

Free delivery and a hundred nights.

[Skyler Higley]

To try out your mattress in the comfort of your home, go to leesa.com.

[Sam Taggart]

Today and get 20% off all mattresses and two free pillows.

[Skyler Higley]

That's L E-E-S-A.com and use code iheartrade.

[Sam Taggart]

An extra $50 off your purchase.

[Skyler Higley]

Remember, no matter who you are, there's.

[Sam Taggart]

A Lisa just for you. Whether you're ordering wings for the game, whipping up a seven layer dip, or ordering pizza, there's something about football that makes you want to eat. And this football season, UberEats has the best deals on game day food no matter what you're craving, from two for one pizza. To buy one, get one Wings. Uber Eats will be dropping new deals each week all all season long. Uber Eats official on demand delivery partner of the NFL. Order now. Terms and conditions apply. See app for details.

[Ryan Seacrest]

Hello iheart listener. We have a confession to make. Both Iheart and this commercial you're listening to right now would probably sound a heck of a lot better on the new Roku Pro Series tv. It's got side firing speakers that fill your room with sound, Dolby Atmos audio that puts you right in the middle of the entertainment, and the ability to pair seamlessly with your home theater sound systems that already have surround sound and booming bass. If all that sounds too good to be true, it'll sound even better on the new Roku Pro series. Your hearing isn't better. Your TV is.

[George Taveras]

Okay. Podcast starts now. What is up everyone around the globe? You're listening to Stradia Lab and I have a story to tell. George, are you prepared for my story?

[Skyler Higley]

I am so prepared you have no.

[George Taveras]

Idea because I have been sitting on this story in such an insane way. We went to San Francisco and I.

[Skyler Higley]

Said we have talked multiple times in multiple cities, both virtually and in person. And you keep being like, I went to Palm Springs. And I'm like, how was it? And you're like, nuh.

[George Taveras]

I've been like, I'll tell you when the cameras are on. Okay, so first of all, Palm Springs kind of sucks. Can we start there? So I went to one of those, like, nude gay resorts. It was called Indulge, which is obviously so embarrassing whenever you say it. I didn't choose the place. Let's just start. I didn't choose it.

[Skyler Higley]

I have a question. Is this a pun? Is it called in I n n dolge like correct? Wow.

[George Taveras]

And I'm glad you could hear me pronounce it that way.

[Skyler Higley]

You know, of course, what I would have done, taking it one step further in bulge.

[Sam Taggart]

Whoa.

[George Taveras]

You know, I think you're right. But the problem is, I think with it being clothing optional, you know, the bulges aren't always there because they're not always wearing bathing suits.

[Skyler Higley]

That's true.

[George Taveras]

Maybe in balls.

[Skyler Higley]

Oh, that's good.

[George Taveras]

Anyway, so everyone there is elderly. It's sort of a world for grandparents, grandpas in particular to go to. And I wasn't. I'm rarely in a space where I am the youngest by two generations. And this was the case here. So first of all, it's just like you're sitting around the pool and you're naked and you're only hearing conversations about taxes and credit card points and condo renovations. And to hear this guy being, well, we sold our condo in St. Louis and then we bought a condo in Florida, but the taxes were horrible in St. Louis. But if we do the returns and he can go on for hours about this fucking condo and these taxes. And it was driving me insane in a way where I was like, please be lecherous. Why aren't you trying to have sex with someone? It was disgusting. But then the real thing that was funny to me is we were there with a friend and we went out that night and we came back and we're all going in the pool and we were sort of drunk and being crazy and we were taking turns carrying each other like babies. So we were.

[Skyler Higley]

Sorry, were you with a big group?

[George Taveras]

It was like this particular night, there was just one person I'm friends with from New York and we were all carrying each other like babies. Ha ha, ha, ha ha. And then there was this one like 55 year old sort of stiff businessman who like, you know, just kind of talked like this. And we were like, oh, let's bring him into the fun. And I went up to this man. And I was like, do you want to be baby? And he was like, yes. Then I carried this random 55 year old man naked around the pool as if he was baby. And I literally think he's like, never had so much fun in his life.

[Skyler Higley]

Oh my God. Wait, so then did he sort of like, loosen up?

[George Taveras]

I think he loosened up. He was like having fun and I think to swim. I was swimming him around the pool. Like, baby, was it sexual?

[Sam Taggart]

Non.

[George Taveras]

Sexually.

[Skyler Higley]

Was he there with a partner?

[George Taveras]

No, he was there. I mean, he might have wanted to have sex, to be honest, but wow.

[Skyler Higley]

So you are fully teasing this poor, introverted, single bachelor businessman who is there. He's like, all I want is some hot young guy with a mustache to come and be my, you know, be my one final. My one final swing before I finally die of old age. And then you come up to him, you say, oh, do you wanna be baby?

[Sam Taggart]

Hee hee hee.

[Skyler Higley]

Here are my balls. And then he's like, finally my dreams are coming true. You take him, you humiliate him in front of everyone. You're literally doing like a humiliation ritual, even in front of your drunk New York, cool New York friends. And you put him down and say, that's enough, grandpa. And then you go to your room.

[George Taveras]

No, I. I think he had the time of his life. And I really made me be like, damn. It was an amazing feeling of like, gay guys are so crazy.

[Skyler Higley]

Yeah.

[George Taveras]

Like, like the fact that I'm essentially picking up my dad. Like, like this is so weird. And, and, and like to hold a naked man in the water is so like, what are we doing? Like, it's literally like, what is this? I was blown away by the whole experience. And the next day I woke up and I was like half embarrassed then to see him again and to be like, hi. And he was like, hi. It was really, really more intimate than if we had hooked up.

[Skyler Higley]

Yes. I would say picking someone up, swimming around with him and then putting him back down is 100% more intimate than hooking. Hooking up.

[George Taveras]

So you know anybody out there? If you're ever at a pool and really want to shake things up, start carrying people like, baby, I think you'll have a blast.

[Skyler Higley]

That is very sweet.

[George Taveras]

Yeah.

[Skyler Higley]

So I want to go on vacation.

[George Taveras]

You deserve it.

[Skyler Higley]

But don't I literally deserve it?

[George Taveras]

I will say we need to talk. The. The. The PR around Palm Springs is too good. Like, this place is flop.

[Skyler Higley]

Yeah, I've always sort of suspected that.

[George Taveras]

It's so weird. And people are like, oh, it's just like West Coast Fire Island. No, it's not. What are you talking about? Do you hear yourself? It makes no sense.

[Skyler Higley]

It has always reeked of desperation to me, I'm sorry to say.

[George Taveras]

Yeah, it's just not right. And it's like, so you're in a pool. Like, they also have all these rules about being really quiet. Like, so all the music is really quiet everywhere you go. And everyone's like. Like, if you're in a house, they'll call the police on you. If your music is, like, audible from the other houses, it's like, what is this?

[Skyler Higley]

Here's what I think about Palm Springs. I sort of think Palm Springs. It's like, what if debaucherous gay men became WASPs in Connecticut? It's like, the ethos is very sort of nimby, but then you are in a gay destination with palm trees. Which makes it worse because I'm like, well, if I'm gonna be wasp nimby woman named Carol and her mother Muffy, at least let's. In Connecticut, let's have, like, a dry steak, you know, let's go all the way. But if you're gonna, you know, tease me with the promise of sexual debauchery and a pool and picking people up, then at least, like, let's go there.

[George Taveras]

I was genuinely surprised at how unsexual the whole place was. I've never been in a place, like, catered to gay men that was this unsexual. Like, I'm. I'm actually kind of blown away by it. Something's in the air there.

[Skyler Higley]

Yeah. Well, did you ultimately have a good time?

[George Taveras]

No, it was fine. Ultimately, it was fine. I read my book, you know, I learned a lot about taxes.

[Skyler Higley]

Are you still reading still?

[George Taveras]

I mean, it was a damn week ago.

[Skyler Higley]

Wait, you're reading Didion or.

[George Taveras]

No, no, no, no, no. I'm reading our dear friend Dan Daddario's book.

[Sam Taggart]

Oh.

[Skyler Higley]

Oh, that's right. Then I take back the still. Did you finish it?

[George Taveras]

No.

[Skyler Higley]

Oh, my God.

[George Taveras]

I have a job, George. I have a job.

[Skyler Higley]

Speaking of job.

[George Taveras]

Oh, speaking of job, let's bring in our guest. We have the same job. But not right now.

[Sam Taggart]

But not right now.

[Skyler Higley]

Wow, that is such a good intro.

[George Taveras]

Please welcome to the podcast, Skyler Higley.

[Sam Taggart]

Hello. Great transition, guys. That was really seamless. That was one of the most beautiful stories I've ever heard.

[George Taveras]

Thank you.

[Sam Taggart]

Also, as your co worker, it's so funny to know that you were just sort of babying a man.

[Skyler Higley]

How do you feel about actually harassing a coworker by telling a story of you, of what you do naked in Palm Bridge?

[George Taveras]

Oh, God. We're not coworkers currently, right this moment. Because I'm allowed to say that.

[Sam Taggart]

Yeah. Now we can say whatever we want.

[George Taveras]

Yeah.

[Sam Taggart]

It's. No, it was inspiring, I would say. And I also feel like every time I see you outside of work, I see a whole different side of you. You're a different guy.

[George Taveras]

Yeah.

[Sam Taggart]

In and out of work.

[George Taveras]

It's definitely severance vibe.

[Skyler Higley]

I need to know what Sam is like at an office job. It has always been. Cause I get peeks of it, you know, because obviously Sam and I, we'll be in that contract negotiation room. We'll be talking to. We'll be talking to bookers, we'll be on calls together and I get a peek of it. But I want to know what it's like at the water cooler.

[Sam Taggart]

It's very much like. I feel like Sam will never fully tell you exactly what you really feel like. There's a certain wall that's up that I can tell that you're in a little bit of a business mode where I know you're going to now go home and carry around a 50 year old man in the water like baby. But if you're at work, you're not. Like, this guy likes doing baby with people.

[George Taveras]

Yeah, no, that's true. I don't even think about the wall. But it's definitely. It is there.

[Sam Taggart]

It's there. I feel it palpably because I sit next to you or sat next to you and I felt the wall. And we have a lot of fun and we riff and whatever.

[Skyler Higley]

But like, you do have.

[George Taveras]

Yeah, we're riffing.

[Skyler Higley]

You also have, if you don't mind me saying, sometimes Sam will get panic in his eyes.

[Sam Taggart]

Yeah.

[George Taveras]

Okay.

[Skyler Higley]

Do you know what I mean? Skyler?

[Sam Taggart]

Yes, there's a. No. I've seen the panic. We flame through things.

[Skyler Higley]

Yeah. It's like if. And I actually. I also have a very bad poker face. So this is in no way. I'm not criticizing it. But sometimes if it's like a social situation that is a little bit awkward or it's unclear what the next step in an interaction is, I'll look at Sam and he'll truly look like, you know, Daniel Kaluuya. In, get out.

[Sam Taggart]

Yeah, this is my Sam. Dismount for any conversation. That's awkward. Well, you know, that's it.

[George Taveras]

That's true. I've adopted C'est la vie.

[Sam Taggart]

Oh, C'est la vie's a lot.

[George Taveras]

Yeah, it's pretty awesome. Yeah. Do you think you have a wall at work?

[Sam Taggart]

No, I think I have too little of a wall at work. I feel like I'm too much of just like, whatever I think I get. So I think I could be a little bit more professional. I feel like I'm so, like, amped up and like, whatever, and I don't care what I say to whoever. And then I feel like that will get me in trouble.

[George Taveras]

Yeah, I think it's good, though. It loosens everybody else up.

[Sam Taggart]

Right. But that's. See, that's the other thing is because I know that everybody is sort of projecting this like, oh, we're in a work environment thing and every. Oh, and there's famous people around, so I have to, like, try to be co. And I feel just generally this whole apparatus that we're in, be it Hollywood or industry or whatever, it forces you to sort of just be fake in certain ways. And I just want to be like, hey, everybody, we're chilling. I'll say things in meetings that people are like, I can't believe you said that in the meeting. And I'm like, well, what we were thinking it. We don't care. I don't. What's the problem? I'm a comedy writer. You know, what you hired me for?

[George Taveras]

I'm always, like, doing math of like, should I speak up? Like, is it, like, worth it to speak up about this thing I disagree with? And then usually I'm like, no, you're right.

[Sam Taggart]

I mean, yeah, I don't have that calculus. And I just kind of say whatever. And I should be a lot better about just, you know, guarding myself. Because you never know who really hates you.

[George Taveras]

Yeah. But c'est la vie.

[Skyler Higley]

There's a sort of currency, like when I'm at a non. When I have a non comedy job, like, you know, an office job, the best thing you can be is like, the funny one, the class clown in that office. But when you have a comedy job, it's almost like the way to set yourself apart is being the professional one. And everyone's like, wow. He's like, really, like, put together in this, like, sea of clowns.

[Sam Taggart]

It's true.

[Skyler Higley]

That's actually great for me. I feel like every writing job that I've had, it's sort of like I'm actually much more rewarded when I act normal because people are, like, grateful that someone is being the adult in the room. Whereas when I have an non comedy job, everyone's like, George is crazy. He changed his slack avatar to Amelia Perez.

[Sam Taggart]

Oh, you. Those slack bits really hit with, you know, office.

[Skyler Higley]

Talk about a straight topic. Actually, this is something I need to really, like, go long on. But slack bits, like when someone says one mildly thing on a slack, mildly funny thing on a slack, and then it is a full 45 minutes of people just posting cry laughing emoji. And then like one, one, like tiny. Yes. And it's like someone will be like, ugh, lunch ran long today. And then someone be like, what is this, Italy? And then someone's like, oh, my God, Mamma mia. And then someone is like, Ms. Signore. And then everyone is just like commenting with like Italian flags and like crying laughing emoji. And then everyone at the end of the week has a meeting where they're like, what were the best things that happened this week? And someone's like, well, when George said that thing about Italy that was so great for morale. And everyone's like, you know, we should maybe do an Italy themed birthday for Marcia, whose birthday is next week. And everyone's like, oh, my God, that's such a good idea. Italian flag. Italian flag. Crying emoji. Crying emoji.

[Sam Taggart]

Yeah. When I worked in the Onion, we had slack and I did this thing where I changed my avatar to the CEO who we all hated. Jim Spamfeller. I'll say it publicly. We all hated him.

[George Taveras]

Go off.

[Skyler Higley]

Oh, my God, the worst.

[Sam Taggart]

He's a really bad guy. I changed my profile picture to him and, like, my name to his. And I would just like start dming people that they were fired and people would genuinely freak out. And I'm just like. And people are like, you can't. Cause they, you know, your bosses. For everybody out there who uses slack, your bosses can see it. People probably know that. And they're like, you could get in trouble for this. And then I'm like, yeah, but there's no way anybody really cares that much. And also if I do whatever, I kind of have that because it's like my aspiration is to not ever have a job, even though I always want money. But like, oh, yeah, freedom sounds so awful.

[George Taveras]

Yeah.

[Skyler Higley]

I think the secret is consistency. I think if you're like, if your sort of thing is that, you know, you like, doing like, trollish slack bits and everything, people like, get used to that. And then they're like, oh, that's classic Skyler. The issue is if Sam or I one day wake up and do that right. Without having set the expectations that, like, that's our vibe.

[George Taveras]

It would simply not go well. I'm not. I cannot do a prank in any way, shape or form.

[Sam Taggart]

Wow.

[George Taveras]

Which is weird. There's almost a part of me now where I'm like, I do see the joy in it.

[Sam Taggart]

It's fun.

[George Taveras]

It's fun.

[Sam Taggart]

If you're not genuinely. Also, people have to know that you have a good heart about and it comes from a good place and you're not really gonna hurt anybody's feelings. So there's a lot. Like, I don't consider myself a prank guy, quote unquote, But I do like introducing chaos to what could otherwise be monotony.

[Skyler Higley]

Yeah, no, I get that.

[George Taveras]

Yeah.

[Sam Taggart]

You also wanna project a little bit of fear around you a little bit. Just so people aren't entirely sure what you're gonna do or say.

[George Taveras]

You heard it here first. F. Fear.

[Sam Taggart]

That's my advice. Anybody who's trying to break into the industry, make people fear you. Fear.

[Skyler Higley]

I do think. I think my version of that is, like, in a social setting, I will suddenly say something incredibly biting about a mutual friend. I'll just be like, we love that. Yeah. She's always struck me as pretty stupid. And then everyone will be, like, really taken aback by it.

[Sam Taggart]

Yeah.

[George Taveras]

Yeah, it's tough. I'm actually now thinking about the wall again. And I'm like. I'm surprised because when I'm in a non comedy job, the wall is crazy. I almost go into those and be like, how can I literally not let them know a single thing about me? Almost like a challenge.

[Sam Taggart]

It's true. No, it's true. I mean, at a non comedy job, I will do minimal work and not care about anything. And I don't care if you like me or not. I'm not enjoying my time. And so I will be like, well, whatever. I'm a bad employee here because this means absolutely nothing. I work this shipping job where they were like, it was all just numbers and I was data refining, like, severance, and I was like, I don't care at all. How could you make me care about this? This is just a waste of everybody's time.

[George Taveras]

I've had two jobs where I was closeted at. Because I was like, what if they just don't need to know?

[Skyler Higley]

When you say closeted, are you actively talking about having a girlfriend or just not mentioning anything?

[George Taveras]

Just not talking about anything about it.

[Sam Taggart]

Yeah.

[George Taveras]

And if like. So one of them was like, the moving job. I was at this moving company that a lot of comedians in New York and like. But like, comedians that don't know me. Like, you know what I mean?

[Sam Taggart]

Right.

[George Taveras]

And so. And it was like, either comedians or, like, psychopaths, and they were all, like, real horny straight guys, like, like. And, like, always being, like, nice. Like.

[Sam Taggart]

Wait, nice about what?

[George Taveras]

Like, as they're moving, like an ass walking by.

[Sam Taggart]

Oh, yeah. When an ass walks. Yeah, yeah. Okay.

[George Taveras]

They'll be like, look at that fucking ass.

[Sam Taggart]

It's so crazy that guys actually. Dude. Because. Yeah, I have. I. I just don't get why we need to. Sure. You notice an ass. I don't get why it needs to be communicated about in such a way. Is sort of absurd to me.

[George Taveras]

No, the moving vibe, it was obviously. It's like, a little. It's very homoerotic because they're all getting each other horny and being like, I was fucking this girl last night, and it was, like, fucking awesome. And, like, this is like, Sam, you.

[Skyler Higley]

Need to expand this character.

[Sam Taggart]

There's, like, the clitoris and the labia majora and the minora. All the parts.

[George Taveras]

Every part was working.

[Skyler Higley]

Yeah, that's. That guy's doing an impression of a. Oh, the labia minora. Yeah, dude.

[George Taveras]

But they would literally do that all the time because it was like, the only way to pass the day was like, I guess we can make each other horny by.

[Skyler Higley]

Well, here's the other thing, though, is that actually among a group of straight movers, I think talking about women is actually one of the few things that can connect everyone, because what are you gonna do? Like, you don't wanna bring up politics. You don't wanna bring up what you're doing outside of work. You don't wanna bring up your family life. So I think it's actually the equivalent of talking about top 40 music or.

[George Taveras]

Like, yeah, drag race or something.

[Skyler Higley]

Or. Yes. Actually, drag race is too close to politics, even, I would say.

[George Taveras]

Well, it did feel like, okay, I'm, like, in their space, and I don't want to be like, I'm actually gay.

[Sam Taggart]

Right?

[George Taveras]

So I'd just be like, yeah, look at that.

[Sam Taggart]

Look.

[Skyler Higley]

Yeah. They'd be like, yeah.

[Sam Taggart]

Was there any ever. Was there ever any, like, hint of anybody being like, hey, you don't seem to call out the asses like we do.

[George Taveras]

There was never a call out like that because I also was, like, very quiet and weird because I was also a bad mover. Like, it's not something I'm good at. It's not in my skill set. I was always like, I can't lift really heavy things. I was like, I can run. I'll run the stairs. Like, there's. It's New York.

[Sam Taggart]

I'm mostly into cardio. Does that help?

[George Taveras]

And so I was like, doing this. I would bring the boxes up the stairs. That was like my deal. But, like, I was like, very much like the dumb weird boy.

[Sam Taggart]

Okay.

[George Taveras]

So it was okay that I was quiet.

[Sam Taggart]

They were like, I don't know what's going on with him. That guy does stares and he doesn't like ass.

[George Taveras]

Essentially. And then it was always kind of weird.

[Skyler Higley]

Is actually being quiet is one of the biggest kept secrets. Like, I used to think that being quiet would make people think I was weird or something. When you just get used to someone being quiet, you're like, oh, he's the quiet one.

[George Taveras]

Yeah, it's kind of awesome to be the quiet one.

[Skyler Higley]

And you can go unnoticed so easily. Like, it's so much better than trying to fit in.

[Sam Taggart]

Also when you're quiet, because my partner's very quiet in social situations or can everybody gets to project their own thing onto you and will be like, oh, my God, Sam's such a nice guy. He's just so quiet. Totally. And he likes birds and he grew up in Maine. It's just like, they'll just make up shit about you. And it's just like, I haven't said any of this. You just filled what you assumed I was for no reason.

[Skyler Higley]

Also, I used to think my default used to be like, oh, someone's being quiet. They must be boring or have nothing to say. I don't know. Especially being in spaces in New York or whatever where people are also dressed well and look cool. If someone like that is being quiet, then I'm immediately like, oh, they think I'm stupid. They actually are so cool and sophisticated that they have nothing to say to me because I'm such a loser. So if you just go in quiet and smoldering, maybe with a nice jacket, you're upset. I always have to try to do.

[Sam Taggart]

That and I feel like it doesn't track. Sometimes I try to go like, oh, if I'm in a situation where I feel uncomfortable or whatever, I try to go like, I'll just. Just be quiet and then I'll seem cool. And I feel like it's not working and everybody can just tell I'm like, uncomfortable. I'm not cool enough. You know what I mean? Like, I haven't crossed the threshold where I'm like, oh, people are just going to think I'm cool if I'm just not talking. But I Think everybody's detecting that I'm feeling social anxiety.

[George Taveras]

Yeah, I think, you know, one thing that I was surprised with about you is I feel like you're in, like, life and at work you're very. You're like. Like, you're talking a lot, you're big. And then I actually think on stage you get like. You do kind of do like the cool, quiet.

[Sam Taggart]

Oh, wow, Interesting. I feel like, honestly, it changes night to night, but, well. Cause on stage, sometimes I'm like, oh, I'm just, like, really tired because it'll be the end of the day.

[Skyler Higley]

Sure, sure.

[Sam Taggart]

But like, yeah, I can play big and small on stage. It just depends on the stage, I guess, because I was in Chicago over the weekend at Laugh Factory, I was screaming. You know what I mean?

[George Taveras]

Really?

[Sam Taggart]

Yeah, it helps. It's a big room.

[Skyler Higley]

Oh, my God. There is nothing better than going big on. Like, if it's not your default. Like, sometimes you're like, oh, this is my night. I'm really gonna become like, you know Rory Scoville, right? Like, I'm just gonna start screaming.

[George Taveras]

Well, it's like, George.

[Skyler Higley]

I love when you respond to it.

[George Taveras]

Go into accents or something. Like, I'm like, I love it. A character. George.

[Skyler Higley]

Oh, my. Yeah, when I. Oh, my God. Yeah.

[Sam Taggart]

I think also, Sam, what you're. I think the time that you saw me do a set, it was literally two people in the audience.

[George Taveras]

Oh, is that the only time?

[Sam Taggart]

I feel like in person, I believe. I think it was just a two person.

[George Taveras]

Is that the only time?

[Sam Taggart]

And I was just like, oh, I have nothing for these people.

[George Taveras]

Well, that was a nightmare.

[Sam Taggart]

Yeah. So I think that's what it was. I was like, oh, I don't really have. I think that I'm always exactly what the energy of the crowd is. So if they're.

[George Taveras]

Well, you're a mirror.

[Sam Taggart]

I'm a mirror.

[George Taveras]

I. That we did a show where there were only two people.

[Sam Taggart]

Yeah, it's fun.

[Skyler Higley]

Really. Like, actually two people.

[George Taveras]

Like, actually two people. And it was actually one of those things where I was like this. Like, I was so mad and it was like a Sunday night.

[Skyler Higley]

Did you think they were maybe gonna cancel? Because I get so angry when people don't cancel shows.

[George Taveras]

I was so. I was like, clearly, this is. Cancel this, cancel this. And they were like, let's start. Woo. And I was like, what year is it? What. How. How far we've come? And, yeah, yet this is still happening.

[Sam Taggart]

Sort of back down to earth In a. Such a humbling city La.

[George Taveras]

Such a Humbling city.

[Sam Taggart]

Like, I'm not a big deal.

[Skyler Higley]

But you know what, though? What you realize is, like, that never ends. I have been on shows with literal celebrities that are, like, dropping it or something, and they will perform in front of seven people. And that actually is liberating. To be like, this is not. This doesn't mean I'm a loser. It just means I'm in community with, you know, Janine Garofalo. Right.

[Sam Taggart]

It means that the whole. This whole community and everything that we do is for losers.

[Skyler Higley]

Yes, exactly. Exactly.

[George Taveras]

Well, I even. I mean, even our show, sometimes I see people come on that I'm like, you're, like, very successful.

[Sam Taggart]

Yeah.

[George Taveras]

And now we're making you do this.

[Sam Taggart]

Yeah. Oh, yeah. And it's just like, yeah, crawl on the floor and bark like a dog and eat this, like, slop from the ground. You know, fucking whoever's the most famous person. And they're like.

[Skyler Higley]

I have to say, I feel that way about literally actors doing press. Like, you're telling me Meryl Streep still has to do a roundtable?

[Sam Taggart]

This is actually something that I've been thinking about a lot lately. The idea that now, if you used to wanna be famous, you'd have to go on a show with a guy who was on cocaine and it'd be a big band there and blah, blah, blah. And then you talk about your thing and you maybe do a little bit or whatever. And now it's like, oh, you want your movie? You better eat hot wings with this white boy. Like, you have to.

[George Taveras]

You have to.

[Sam Taggart]

All this, like, crazy bullshit that nobody. You're like, are you gonna talk about the role at all? How did you prepare? How did you get into character? It's like, no. Like, I'm gonna throw hot wings at you and you have to eat. It's insane.

[Skyler Higley]

No, I actually think it's one of the ways that, like, comedy has won, but in a bad way. Every single thing now is like, retweet, retweet. Like, everything is. Is comedy. Everything is, like, a sketch or a bit.

[George Taveras]

And even on top of that, alt's comedy has won.

[Skyler Higley]

Yes, alt comedy has won. Because guess what's completely alt comedy. Making Viola Davis eat hot wings. The idea that she. That anyone has to do that, well.

[Sam Taggart]

It'S of a larger, greater issue where every, like, even, you know, not to get too serious, but, like, culture itself, our politics itself, all of it, like, nothing's taking itself seriously anymore. This whole country is just like, yeah, we're just a big joke. Doesn't matter. Who cares? Said that doesn't matter. It's like, well, no, you can't be comedy. We can be comedy. We can't have everything be comedy, because then nothing matters at all.

[George Taveras]

Everything's irony pilled. George, are you watching the season of Drag Race?

[Skyler Higley]

Yes.

[George Taveras]

I want to explain. So there's this queen right now named Joella, and she is, like, really, really not doing well, but she is so, so confident. And she keeps. She'll literally tell other girls to their face, like, I hope you're not lip syncing against me because I'm gonna fucking beat your ass. But meanwhile, she's like, can barely, like, dance or turn or whatever. Like, she told girls their talent was bad, but she did, like, the most basic, like, I'm the queen. I snatched the crown song you've ever heard. And so I've, like, she makes me feel a rage that is, like, unhealthy. But I've been going to Reddit to be like, okay, let's see. Let's see what other people are saying.

[Sam Taggart]

Can't do that.

[George Taveras]

And people are like, finally, TV is back.

[Skyler Higley]

What?

[George Taveras]

Finally reality shows are realitying again. And I'm like, not everything's a bit, oh, right.

[Sam Taggart]

They're just like, oh, well, it's bad and. And it's good. And I like that it's bad.

[George Taveras]

Yeah, it's bad and it's crazy. And it's good tv. And I'm like, it's not good tv. Like, I mean, in the sense it's, like, comedic, but it's like, these girls work their whole fucking lives to get here. This is, like their big moment. I don't know. It bums me out in a weird way. I don't know how they have that distance. Like, they're not real housewives. They're, like, trying to do something. They're trying to do something.

[Skyler Higley]

And I do wonder if it's like, is our only form of resistance to be the most humorless version of ourselves? It's like, if everything is a joke, then is the most radical thing you can do to, like, wear a black turtleneck and a scarf and walk into a room and be like, Well, I thought that was absolute. You know, I thought that production of the Seagull was middlebrow drek.

[George Taveras]

Then you'll be Jeremy Strong and.

[Skyler Higley]

Yeah, but no, because Jeremy Strong, it becomes a meme. That's Jeremy Schneider.

[George Taveras]

You can't. You can't.

[Sam Taggart]

Yes. Yeah.

[Skyler Higley]

It, like, goes into the comedy machine and you're just spat out and you're a joke again?

[George Taveras]

Yeah, yeah.

[Sam Taggart]

Either you're in control of the joke or you're not. Like, yeah, it's really, it's fucked up.

[Skyler Higley]

No, it's very impossible.

[Sam Taggart]

Cause it's like. Cause the way even like the literal like evil people that we have seen in the news lately are still just like, well, haha, it's ironic. I don't know. I don't know. When I was being a Nazi, I was being random. It's like, what is that? No.

[Skyler Higley]

And it's one thing to make those jokes in public and to be like, okay, I'm trying to, you know, trying to get my reposts for the day, but it actually has now I've internalized that mode so much that I can't watch the inauguration without being like Melania slaying with that hat.

[Sam Taggart]

Yeah, exactly.

[Skyler Higley]

It's not like I'm thinking, oh God, everything is so depressing. How do I make it funny? And then I like spit out some joke. It's like my default mode is chicken shop date. Right.

[Sam Taggart]

It's like I'm not even internalizing anything emotionally. But then it's also then you feel, then I feel like a deep emptiness inside of me. And then it's like, well, what am I then going to, as you said, be serious? Because that nobody likes that. Everybody's like, that's so annoying. And then everybody will be like, well that person thinks they're so self important and pretty pretentious and I don't want that either. And I'm just trying to live, man.

[George Taveras]

Wait, this is okay, this is exactly. I'm realized I'm being the quiet kid on social media. Like I'm literally, I'm like being quiet.

[Skyler Higley]

Yeah.

[George Taveras]

Because I'm like, this is, this is too much like like everyone being super ironic and like gay guy about like serious things and everyone being like really sincere about serious things. I'm like, both are right.

[Sam Taggart]

How do you do both?

[George Taveras]

Yeah, I'll be quiet.

[Skyler Higley]

I'm gonna start. I'm gonna take a video of myself rolling my eyes and then saying shut up and just post it whenever I see anything on social media.

[George Taveras]

That is gonna be my new George. I know we can't necessarily get into it, but you had a screed this week that was so juicy.

[Skyler Higley]

What was my screed?

[George Taveras]

When you posted about everyone sharing misinformation.

[Skyler Higley]

And oh God, moment of weakness.

[George Taveras]

It was so good actually. I was glad.

[Skyler Higley]

I want everyone to know I am on the verge of posting a screen every moment of my life. I Am in manifesto mode. And everyone is lucky that I have some level of self control and I only do it once a year.

[Sam Taggart]

George, I feel you so much, man. Every.

[Skyler Higley]

No, like, it's crazy how I feel like a guy in the basement watching everyone a voiceover of American Psycho or something, and just being like, these people walking around me don't know anything. That's how I feel every day. And you have to be like, let.

[Sam Taggart]

Me ask you, do you feel unknowable to your fellow man?

[Skyler Higley]

Yes.

[Sam Taggart]

Yeah.

[Skyler Higley]

And guess what? They are unknowable to me. I'm literally like, how you see you interact with someone in real life, and you're like, we're friends. I've known you forever, blah, blah. And then it's like, wait a minute, you fell for, you know, like, what the. Essentially, what is the equivalent of a viral post that's like, if I post this, I don't grant Mark Zuckerberg the right to my. And this is happening just, like, on a daily basis. And I just have to scroll past that and be like, hey, want to get a drink later? Meanwhile, I know that this person is a complete moron, right?

[George Taveras]

Oh, God.

[Sam Taggart]

But then to stay engaged with it, because I have, you know, we have Internet job, and I also am just addicted to Twitter and stuff to stay engaged with it. You go, well, this is bad for me, so I should be off of it. And then also you go, yeah, it's bad. Whatever on an individual level. But this is what is happening with everybody. So what am I supposed to do? Just be like, oh, well, I don't even engage with that. I don't care. Whatever. It's like, well, it doesn't matter whether you do or don't. Culture is still, like, devolving anyway, and you can just be not aware of it, and you're still going down that toilet drain. Man, I am so fun to hang out with, having such a fun conversation.

[George Taveras]

It's awesome. George. I just have to say the sentence where you were like, you're in your 30s. Like, you are not young enough to be stupid, and you're not old enough to be stupid about the Internet.

[Skyler Higley]

Well, I did say. Sorry. I do stand by this. I. I'm like, it's genius if you're like, let's say 27 through 40. Okay? You are like, at this point, you should know how the media ecosystem works. You are not a teen who grew up with it and doesn't know any different and can't remember newspapers. And you're also not a boomer. Who is confused by it all because it's so new. How have you not developed media literacy? How do you literally see. I mean, like a post that is an anonymous. The one that I sent you, Sam, that's like about the air quality in la. And it's a post that is an anonymous text message where someone is saying, lung doctors I know are saying you should do this. Like, lung doctors. You are someone with a bachelor's degree.

[George Taveras]

Lung doctors. You know the way that this image deteriorated as it got screenshotted and shared and it's like, what are we doing? Yeah, that was fucking crazy.

[Sam Taggart]

One time my friend shared a post, just the same thing that was one of these, you know, that sort of holistic to alt right pipeline that's like, oh, we're so the rfk. He's the king of these people.

[George Taveras]

Yeah.

[Sam Taggart]

My friends one time shared a post that was like things that they. That hurt your body that they like don't want you to know about. And it was just like, you know, prescription medications, you know, fast food, blah is like a long list of actual stuff. And then in like, sort of close to the bottom of the list, one of them was legitimately feminism was one of the things. And this is. This was a feminist person that like believes, like, just shared it. And I replied being like, feminism? Wtf? Like, what the fuck? And then she was like, oh, I didn't read the whole thing.

[George Taveras]

And I'm like, oh, my God.

[Sam Taggart]

And I love. I love her very much. But I'm also like, what are you.

[George Taveras]

What is going.

[Sam Taggart]

We gotta do better.

[Skyler Higley]

This is. Oh, God. Well, here's the. Okay, we do need to. I want to do our first segment and I want to get into your topic. But one last thing I want to say. I was talking to Sam about this. Like, I think a lot of this boils down to people thinking everything needs to be done publicly. It's like you can read something and then not also tell everyone you read it. We read things all the time. I consume things all the time. I consume TV shows, books, articles, whatever. Just because you read something doesn't mean you then have to repost it, right?

[George Taveras]

Yeah.

[Skyler Higley]

If you're a little unsure about it, just take a beat.

[George Taveras]

Take a beat.

[Skyler Higley]

There's this idea that something is more legitimate or real if it's done in public. Whether it's reading, learning, having a conversation, shouting out your friend. It's just like, it's fine to not have everything be in public, right?

[Sam Taggart]

I mean, and obviously it makes it less legitimate, right? Because it's like yes, well, you're also performing, right?

[George Taveras]

Exactly. Well, we took down Culture. That was easy.

[Sam Taggart]

We fixed it.

[George Taveras]

That was awesome.

[Sam Taggart]

That's what we do.

[Skyler Higley]

See you in 2028.

[George Taveras]

Okay, let's do our first segment.

[Lifelock]

During tax season, your sensitive info does a lot of traveling to places you can't control, stopping off at payroll, your accountant or tax preparer, and countless other data centers on its way to the irs. Any of them can expose you to identity theft because they all have the info on your W2. Just the ticket for criminals to steal your identity. No wonder the IRS reported tax fraud due to identity theft went up 20% last year. You need Lifelock. They monitor millions of data points per second and alert you to threats you could miss if your identity is stolen. LifeLock's US based restoration specialists will fix it, backed by the million dollar protection pact package and restoration is guaranteed or your money back. Don't let identity thieves take you for a ride. Get Lifelock protection for tax season and beyond. Join now and save up to 40% your first year. Call 1-800-LIFELOCK and use promo code iheart or go to lifelock.com iheart for 40% off. Terms apply.

[Lenovo]

Stop hitting snooze on new tech Upgrade the whole [e-mail] Unlock AI experience with the ThinkPad X1 Carbon powered by Intel Core Ultra processors so you can work, create and boost productivity all on one device. Win the tech search for business PCs at lenovo.com lenovo Lenovo.

[Ryan Seacrest]

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to have supervision, enhanced hearing, extraordinary reflex to be, dare we say, superhuman? Well, Roku's new Pro Series TV can't do any of that for you, but with a 4K screen, side firing speakers and a blazing fast refresh rate, it'll sure feel like it. Elevate your entertainment using all your favorite apps like Iheart and play all your music, radio and podcasts with the new Roku Pro series. Your senses aren't better. Your TV is.

[Sam Taggart]

Every day our world gets a little more connected, but a little further apart. But then there are moments that remind us to be more human.

[Lenovo]

Thank you for calling Amica Insurance.

[George Taveras]

Hey, I was just in an accident.

[Skyler Higley]

Don't worry, we'll get you taken care of.

[Sam Taggart]

At Ameca, we understand that looking out for each other isn't new or groundbreaking. It's human. Amica Empathy is our best policy.

[George Taveras]

Skylar Our first segment is called Straight Shooters and in this segment we're going to ask you a series of rapid fire questions to gauge Your familiarity with and complicity in straight culture. It's basically this thing or this other thing. And the only rule is you can't ask a single follow up question or we will post about it.

[Sam Taggart]

Okay, I agree to your terms.

[George Taveras]

Okay, Skyler. A novella or a Nobel? La Peace Prize?

[Sam Taggart]

Nobel Prize Press.

[Skyler Higley]

Guitar Hero or Inbox Zero?

[Sam Taggart]

Guitar Hero.

[George Taveras]

Okay, y'all. You guys folks or comrades?

[Sam Taggart]

Comrades.

[Skyler Higley]

The US Open or the UPS is closed?

[Sam Taggart]

UPS is closed.

[George Taveras]

Luca Guadagnino or San Pellegrino?

[Sam Taggart]

San Pellegrino because I don't know what the first one was.

[Skyler Higley]

Oh, oh, wow. Let's return to that.

[George Taveras]

We're returning to that.

[Sam Taggart]

Yeah.

[George Taveras]

Circle back.

[Skyler Higley]

French kiss or the stench of piss?

[Sam Taggart]

French kiss.

[George Taveras]

Wow. Okay. Sipping Lacroix or kissing a boy.

[Sam Taggart]

Kissing a boy.

[George Taveras]

There you go.

[Skyler Higley]

My book is out in paperback or my tooth is full of dental plaque.

[Sam Taggart]

Oh, God. My tooth is full of dental plaque. Wow. Yeah. Yeah.

[George Taveras]

Well, we rate our guests on a scale of 1 to 1000. And I think there was a real confidence. And it's your first time on the podcast and yet you were considering you weren't just guessing blindly. I'm gonna go 912 dubs.

[Sam Taggart]

Wow, nice.

[George Taveras]

Almost 9 11.

[Sam Taggart]

Damn.

[George Taveras]

Which I know you would have really liked.

[Sam Taggart]

I really would have loved if it was 9 11. But that's okay. No, it's like one more. It's like the day after, so.

[George Taveras]

He loves 9 11, George. I don't know.

[Sam Taggart]

I don't know.

[Skyler Higley]

Is this like to say more?

[Sam Taggart]

I love 9 11. I was, you know, I was in the towers.

[George Taveras]

He was in the towers.

[Skyler Higley]

Oh, that's fun.

[George Taveras]

Yeah, he loves it.

[Sam Taggart]

It's.

[George Taveras]

Oh, let's spread that.

[Sam Taggart]

That I was in the towers. Yeah, yeah, I could. I could probably tour off that.

[George Taveras]

Who was that one guy who. Who was the comedian?

[Sam Taggart]

Steve Ran.

[Skyler Higley]

Steve.

[Sam Taggart]

Yeah.

[George Taveras]

Yeah, yeah.

[Sam Taggart]

I don't know why he said. I would have just kept at that point.

[George Taveras]

Oh, honey, keep it up. No one's fact checking.

[Sam Taggart]

I mean, it's eating away at him.

[George Taveras]

Whatever he really messed up.

[Sam Taggart]

I have a question about. I can't ask questions about the game.

[George Taveras]

Yeah, now you can.

[Skyler Higley]

Now it's over.

[Sam Taggart]

Oh, now I can't.

[George Taveras]

Now it's over.

[Sam Taggart]

Well, I feel like I got like blade running, like where I got. Intake form. Was this a psychological test?

[George Taveras]

Yes, that's exactly what it is. It's sort of a Rorschach test.

[Skyler Higley]

It's a Rorschach test. It's sort of like only we know what your answers say about you. We would never make that public. That would be against hipaa.

[Sam Taggart]

Okay.

[Skyler Higley]

But it's. You know, it's sort of. If you think too hard about it, then you can't trust the results anymore. It's like hitting your knee with that little thing that the doctor has and then testing your reflexes.

[Sam Taggart]

So I feel like it was like a. Yeah. A deep peek into my subconscious, but we'll never truly know what it means because it can't be translated into words that humans understand.

[Skyler Higley]

No, correct.

[George Taveras]

But people will see something in you.

[Sam Taggart]

You guys are doing big work here.

[Skyler Higley]

Some people will see.

[Sam Taggart]

Don't say that.

[George Taveras]

Thank you. Should we get into the topic, George?

[Skyler Higley]

I would adore that.

[George Taveras]

So, Skylar, you texted me this morning two topics, and I don't know which one you've landed on or if there's a secret third one that you've changed your mind and gone to. But I would love to hear what your topic is.

[Sam Taggart]

Okay, here's the secret third one that it's speaking to me the most. Hometown pride.

[Skyler Higley]

Ooh, I love that.

[George Taveras]

Hometown pride. And what speaks to you as straight about that?

[Sam Taggart]

I think that the. The idea of a great feeling about your hometown or, like, a strong hometown pride, it feels so. For lack of a better term, Normie pilled, where you don't have anything else to. To build your pride or identity off of, or if it's like, a big portion of your identity that's not from one of these cities that already have a big amount of pride. The Chicago, New York, whatever I'm talking, like, anywhere else. It feels like very. Like, a lot of people, I think, myself included, have certain traumas directly associated with where they're from because it can be some, like, whatever place. And I feel like hometown pride is just this, like, thing that sort of means nothing and also feels a little, like, jingoistic. A little.

[Skyler Higley]

100%. Yeah.

[Sam Taggart]

And so it just feels very straight. It just feels very, like. I have not actually made that much analysis of why I feel the way I feel, and I just am gonna be into fucking, you know, wherever. Oh, I'm from Boston. Okay. Okay.

[George Taveras]

Yeah. There is something where it, like, very quickly turns to anger or something. Yeah, that really. Well, it's defensive. Yeah.

[Skyler Higley]

You're not. I mean, obviously, people in big cities also have pride. I'm not saying. If you're a New Yorker, you don't say, like, I'm from New York, but. But there's something about the. The hometown pride of smaller places that is, like, you are ready to fight.

[Sam Taggart]

Right?

[George Taveras]

Yeah.

[Sam Taggart]

Jord. Where are you from? Where'd you grow up?

[Skyler Higley]

So I mostly.

[George Taveras]

It's.

[Skyler Higley]

I mostly grew up in Greece, but then I spent seven years or like six and a half years in America, in New Jersey, in a very sort of. Of, like, middle of the road, suburbia and New Jersey. And so hometown pride was always very interesting to me because in my mind, I was like, okay, well, the years I spent in New Jersey, that could have literally been anywhere. Like, it had no defining elements. And then when we moved back to Greece when I was in high school, and that was genuinely such a big difference in my life. And I was speaking a different language, and I was so aware of, like, my Greek heritage everywhere. And it's drilled into you that we came from the ancient Greeks and, like, modern and democracy was invented in Greece and. And blah, blah. And so it was so shocking to me when I moved back to America to see people be proud of Wisconsin. No offense, but I was just like, wait. But to me, I would never think of if my two hometowns are Greece and New Jersey. Like, New Jersey was just sort of like a waiting room.

[Sam Taggart]

Right.

[Skyler Higley]

You know what I mean?

[Sam Taggart]

No, exactly. Well, and that's also, you know, there's ethnic identity and ancient history involved in that and all of the.

[Skyler Higley]

And by the way, being proud of being from Greece is also reactionary and also quasi racist if done the wrong way. Like, I'm not saying, like, literally being proud of, like, Greek statues and like, the Adonis is. You know, it's skip hopping away to being alt. Right. I get that. But there's something about, like. Okay, let's think of this one thing that I. That is a completely random fact about myself that it just so happened that this is where my parents gave birth to me and have that be the number one thing about myself that's almost like. It's almost like giving up before you can even make an effort to do something.

[Sam Taggart]

Right.

[George Taveras]

Yeah.

[Sam Taggart]

And, Sam, you're from Missouri.

[George Taveras]

I moved around a lot. Like, Michigan, like, Virginia, Michigan, Indiana, Ohio.

[Sam Taggart]

So just Midwest generally.

[George Taveras]

Yeah, Midwest generally with a little bit of Southern.

[Sam Taggart]

Do you feel pride?

[George Taveras]

Never. Because I moved so much that it was always, like, everywhere I went, people would be like, well, this is how we do things. And I was like, not everywhere. Like, I, like, had too much, you know, for a small town in Indiana. I had too much global knowledge.

[Sam Taggart]

Right.

[George Taveras]

Where I was like, well, I've seen a place with a mall in Virginia, and actually they, like, there are whole new stores you haven't even heard of.

[Sam Taggart]

Right. Everybody who lives In a place. They do think that that place is. That they're like, it's the best mall. Like, oh, we have the local joint, like, Freddy's. Oh, my God, the food at Freddy's. The best sauce you've ever tasted. You go, there's a million Freddy's and you don't even know.

[George Taveras]

I think also the moving Skyler is like, part of the wall.

[Sam Taggart]

Yeah.

[George Taveras]

Where I, like, would go and be like. Because I was sort of taught, like, when you move, you are wrong. Like, they are right. Because you'll be like, that's not really how things work. And it's like, no, no, no. They are right. Like, you are joining their town. So I would be quiet until you figure out what's going on and then just sort of be like, yes. I also love to go to that coffee shop after school or whatever. Like, there was something about, like, they are always in the right. The customer is always right.

[Sam Taggart]

Right.

[Skyler Higley]

I also think it's like, I know that people who, you know, move somewhere as adults and then pretend they're from there get a bad rap. Like, it would be like me pretending I'm like a New Yorker and wearing and being like, so. Hometown Pride on 9 11. Yeah, obviously. However, I actually think there's something to having hometown pride for a place you actively chose to live in because it says more about your personality. Like, I remember after moving around as a kid, the first place I lived as an adult was the Bay Area, which I have. I have no, like, personal connection to, but I did feel like it was where I made my first, like, sort of chosen community is where I had my first, like, I really felt kind of like an ownership over the neighborhood I lived in, the places that I frequented, the people that I knew. And so I felt like I was. If I were ever to, like, let's say, root for a sports team or something, I would be much more likely to root for, like, a San Francisco based team than like a New Jersey based one. Because that was just where my parents happened to live at the time. I was, like, happy to live in San Francisco. I chose it and I, like. So obviously I'm, like, more happy.

[George Taveras]

You're saying biological family versus chosen family.

[Sam Taggart]

There's your family and chosen city. I feel the same way about Chicago. I grew up in Salt Lake City. I moved to Chicago. I have way, way more pride for Chicago than I would of Salt Lake City. Because that, I mean, cultural differences aside, I still. I chose here, and I moved here at 20 and I became a person in this City, City. And it feels like a much more real city where people are sort of intended to live and try to be their own person. Where, like, where I grew up is just like, this is what is. So it's the most. This is what we do here. City of anywhere in the United States. I would say.

[George Taveras]

Yeah.

[Skyler Higley]

You're also pointing to an important thing, which is like, the idea of having hometown pride is almost like saying, that was the real me there. And so, like, that. That's. It's like, those are my roots. That's what I'm proud of. Whereas I'm like, no, this is the real me. I've worked very hard to pass as normal in New York.

[Sam Taggart]

You know what? I think it is, too? I think it's also the same thing of being like, well, I'm a Severus and I'm a Taggart. Just being all about lineage, which is like, yeah, but you are. As an. And now I'm thinking of about it individualism versus collectivism and changing my tune a little bit. But you as an individual, you as an individual, that doesn't mean anything. Like, being like, what. This is what we've done. This is who we are. This is what I. It's like, that is true on a certain level, but on another level, it's just like, you. You are not a part of any of that. That had nothing to do with you. You're a result of it totally. And you can acknowledge that. But it just, you know. But I also. I don't care about family. I'm adopted, so I don't have any sort of. I don't have any like, specific, like, oh, my name, my family name, my blood, whatever. I don't give a fuck about any of that.

[George Taveras]

I'm like, I think the weirdest something happens also as you age that I've noticed among peers where it's like, even the people that were like, I fucking hate my hometown. You give them eight years, and they're like, I actually love this town in Michigan. And they're like, actually, it's a really nice place to raise children. And it becomes this thing where, like, don't get me wrong, like, where my parents live in Michigan now is very nice. Cause it's like on the water and blah, blah, blah, that you're like, oh, this is cute. And I see it now, but I still would never live there. Like, I couldn't. Like, what would I do?

[Sam Taggart]

Right? I mean, there's more to life. We've chased. I think we're also. I don't know, from being ostracized in one way or another, moving around or whatever. We're like chasing a certain high that you just cannot get in Michigan on the lake. Unless you like jet ski a lot or something.

[George Taveras]

Yeah, it's tough. I don't know, George, how do you feel about that?

[Skyler Higley]

No, I was struck by what Skyler said about individualism versus collectivism. Because I do agree that that sort of complicates the argument that we're making that it's like, well, yes, we can't completely leave behind who we are and only be this like, you know, the architect and the Fountainhead making his way. Like, yes, we are all part of the community we came from. We are all part of our family in some way. Everywhere we've lived stays with us. So, okay, what is the right amount to respect your past? That's the big question.

[Sam Taggart]

This is like my main struggle in life.

[Skyler Higley]

No, truly, genuinely, I was about to be like, it's what makes you you. But it's not. It's not, but it is. I think how happy you are at any given time has to do largely with how you have chosen to incorporate your past with your present. Because you can get way caught up in nostalgia of what has come before or you can ignore it so much that you. That it's almost like a trauma that you've severed and then you're being this dead eyed forward looking person.

[Sam Taggart]

Well, I have a lot of thoughts about this because I also think that this is sort of. I think the whole past present thing is, is, is sort of the definition of like what I have been creatively or whatever. Because like, you know, all my standup is about Mormon adoption, whatever, all that bullshit. So all of that I have very complicated feelings about and trauma around. And so you want to sort of like decry that and go, I'm not, I'm not these things or whatever, I'm not fully defined by, by them. And at the same time it's like, well, everything that I have done is either a reaction to this or not either it is a reaction to this. So you have to respect the things that have defined you. But I also don't know if you get so bogged down in them where it's just like, I don't know, you can only be who you are and you can only be where you're from and you can acknowledge that you didn't have a choice in that and then take agency, but then also can't just be like, fuck it, like, I don't give A shit about any of this.

[George Taveras]

This is so. Like, something about. This is Carrie Bradshaw. To me, there's something like, really something about it is like, well, talk about.

[Skyler Higley]

Someone who doesn't have a past. Where is she from, meanwhile?

[Sam Taggart]

Across town.

[George Taveras]

Well, it's sort of like, is it possible to have a future without a past? Like, there's something so, like, is it possible to look at where you've been from and felt and feel nothing about it? Like, can I ever forgive Big?

[Sam Taggart]

Yeah.

[Skyler Higley]

Well, this is interesting, though. Like, the idea that there is being defined by your past in a hometown pride way, and there's being defined by your past in a resentment way. Like, there are.

[Sam Taggart]

It's.

[Skyler Higley]

It's. You can also be so driven by your grievances about your past that that also defines you. And so is that, like, is that straight or gay? And also. And is being neutral about your past like. Like, basically a rank from gay to straight, Being attached to your past in a hometown pride way, being attached to your past in a resentment way, and having completely neutral feelings about your past in a Carrie Bradshaw way?

[George Taveras]

Well, obviously, it's straight to care, like, to love your past.

[Skyler Higley]

Yes.

[George Taveras]

It's gay to hate your past.

[Skyler Higley]

Gay to hate your past. And then neutral is bi. I've never met a bi person who's neutral about anything.

[George Taveras]

I don't know if anyone is neutral.

[Skyler Higley]

I guess neutral is the wrong word, I think. I mean more like acceptance, Stunted. No, it's the opposite of acceptance. It's like having a block. Sure, you know what I mean. But it also traumatized responsiveness.

[Sam Taggart]

I also think that is defined by how much did you, for lack of a better term, hate your past, which a lot of people, I think, go through this life experiencing, and they don't have any sort of resentment of where they're from. I've just been, like, saying on stage recently, like, how is everybody's childhood good, bad, or neutral? And a lot of people will just be like, good. And it's like, oh, yeah. So there's not. When there's not something to rappel against in your hometown, Freddy's is the best place. You don't really need anything else. I think that it comes from a lack inside of myself that I felt like I wanted to eschew where I was at and. And get to more. Not that that lack was bad, but I did need to fulfill something.

[George Taveras]

Yeah, it's. It could have been tight to love the hometown.

[Sam Taggart]

Could have been awesome, I think, if we were all in our hometowns, not talking about this at all. I bet there is. And, you know, we're probably all, you know, incels or whatever, but I think maybe we're all a lot happier. Cause we're, like, a little dumber.

[George Taveras]

Little dumber. Probably maybe got a little house.

[Sam Taggart]

Yeah.

[George Taveras]

Who knows?

[Sam Taggart]

Not that you're dumb to love your hometown, but I think a lot of the people who do love their hometown are pretty dumb.

[George Taveras]

There is a correlation, right?

[Sam Taggart]

They, like, have an American flag up.

[Skyler Higley]

I just want to say, I actually. I know that we're generally talking about, like, smaller towns, smaller cities, but I actually would extend that to people that are from, I don't know, New York or Los Angeles or Chicago. Well, like, I actually think it's equally annoying, if not more so, when someone, you know, grew up in the Upper west side and is obsessed with being from New York.

[George Taveras]

No, I'm, like, genuinely so jealous of those people in a way that is, like, kind of unhealthy. Like, it's almost being jealous of someone with, like, really rich parents. Like, I'm like, yeah, I'm so jealous that you got to, like, start fulfilled. Like, you get to love your hometown and you get to be in New York City.

[Sam Taggart]

Right?

[George Taveras]

Like, I'm like, that's not fair.

[Skyler Higley]

But then a lot of those people, it's so difficult to satisfy them. Like, I know so many people that, like, I don't know. I remember, like, going to college and being, like, so enamored with being on a big campus and all this stuff. And then I would meet people that are from Manhattan, and they're like, this is just like my high school. Like, you know, like, there's too much.

[Sam Taggart]

Stimulus out the gate. But I feel similar resentments. I just feel I'm so resentful sometimes of anybody who's not where I'm from. Like, from where I'm from, where I go. Like, you don't know what it was. Like, it's, like, so weird. That is indescribable. Until you go there and then go just like, man, just being from, like, oh, from. I'm from Chicago. And everybody goes there and loves. It's just. Oh, sounds awesome. So much culture, you know, so many things. You're worldly without ever really trying. It's harder for people to be, like, ignorant about the existence of other people. It's ultimately good to be exposed to a lot of people. And if you're not, it's very, like. So that pride is at least warranted. But then it feels like if you're prideful of those places, it kind of feels like you're sort of flashing all the money that you have in my face. Like, oh, yeah, I'm from a great place and I love that.

[George Taveras]

Yeah. And I'm cool and smart.

[Sam Taggart]

Yeah.

[George Taveras]

Yeah, well, right?

[Skyler Higley]

I mean, hometown pride only works if you're at least the underdog, right?

[George Taveras]

Yeah. I mean, and when people say they're from la, don't even get me started. The way that I'm just like, okay, so you have it all. Like when. Especially when people are from LA and then go live in New York and they're like, I love New York. And it's like, so you just grew up sort of knowing about everything and having access to everything and now you still have access to like, I'm like, you have it all.

[Sam Taggart]

Yeah. I don't know the people. I haven't even met that many people who are from la. It seems very. Because everybody we know is from not here. It seems like a lot of those people then are like, yeah, I mean, I didn't need to leave la. This is where everybody ends up eventually. So. So we can all be set on fire. But like, those people seem to have want for nothing as much or just be like, that's true. I'm also thinking of like, probably just rich people. Everybody that I've met that is from LA was pretty rich.

[George Taveras]

Sure.

[Skyler Higley]

Oh, that's so interesting. I've been surprised many times meeting people from. Especially when I was younger. Cause I met a bunch of people from LA when I was in college. Cause I went to college in California. And I initially would think like, wait, why are you not hiding, Montag? Because in my mind, everyone that's from LA is on the hills. And then you realize that, of course, as many viral Instagram posts have reminded us during the wildfires, not everyone in LA is Heidi Montag. And I know so many people that are exceedingly normal, slash middle class, slash whatever that are from la. And it's actually jarring to you because then you actually meet someone who's rich from Dallas and they are so much more weird than someone who's like middle class from la.

[George Taveras]

No, that is true.

[Sam Taggart]

They don't know how to act.

[George Taveras]

Not at all.

[Skyler Higley]

Genuinely.

[George Taveras]

Yeah. Damn. I can't believe you brought up Dallas.

[Sam Taggart]

It's like not real shots fired. No, I feel like I also wasn't trying to claim that everybody from LA is rich, obviously. I just feel like the people that.

[Skyler Higley]

Yes, you were.

[Sam Taggart]

No, I'm saying that everybody from LA is poor and they should get more rich.

[George Taveras]

Everybody from la is perfect.

[Skyler Higley]

That's literally true. Everybody from LA is perfect.

[Sam Taggart]

No, let's be real, though. Let's be real. It's. Well, like, whatever. Rich, poor, perfect, whatever. But everyone who is from LA is going to hell. And we know that.

[George Taveras]

And we know that.

[Skyler Higley]

And everyone from New York is going to heaven.

[George Taveras]

Wow. I love that. Huh?

[Skyler Higley]

Well, I mean, sorry to bring up more serious things, but there is, you know.

[George Taveras]

I know. This is such a serious day.

[Skyler Higley]

Hometown pride. I just wanna say, like, hometown pride taken to its extremes.

[Sam Taggart]

White supremacy, basically.

[George Taveras]

Literally.

[Skyler Higley]

Well, literally. It's like, that's where, like, you know, debates about the Confederate flag come from. It's the people being like, well, we think it's racist. No, we think it's just hometown pride.

[George Taveras]

Well, and even just, like, get out of my town person. I don't know.

[Skyler Higley]

Yeah, exactly.

[George Taveras]

It's very that.

[Sam Taggart]

I mean, it's identity built around, like, externalities that are then taken to the extreme where you don't consider that because you can be like, oh, I am this. And. And then when you push everything else away and being like, I am so that. I'm so happy to be that, then it's like, again, going back to not the individual thing, where you're like. So you think you're this larger thing, but then you think everybody else outside of your collective isn't a part of the collective. So it's like, individuality in this way is good because then you can think of everybody as individuals instead of just your collective being the one individual and everybody else being part of an out group.

[Skyler Higley]

It's tribalism.

[Sam Taggart]

Tribalism makes sense. Yeah. It was a convoluted way to say tribalism.

[Skyler Higley]

And also, I mean, obviously sports fandom is part of this, whatever. But then also being proud of famous people that are from where you are from. Yeah, I mean, obviously when I was in New Jersey, like, Bruce Springsteen was a huge presence. Or like, if you're from Minnesota, you think you have, like, a relationship with Prince. It's like, not really. He probably would have found you, like, pretty boring.

[George Taveras]

But at the same time, you do.

[Sam Taggart]

He's like, prince could have walked where I walked. You don't understand. And that means something for some reason.

[George Taveras]

Well, it's like a. It's almost like a mass hysteria. Like, everyone in Minnesota is like, prince is ours. So Prince is, like, played more, and Prince is, like, posted more, and Prince is, like, just in the culture more. So you're like, I guess I love Prince more. And you kind of do, but you're.

[Sam Taggart]

Also being like, because he's from that same place. We're talking about that collective, like, identity thing. You go, well, that makes me part Prince, you know, if he's from the same place as me, Prince is part me. There's a tiny bit of me in Prince. There's a tiny little bit of Prince in me. And that makes me feel like I can somehow believe in myself more.

[George Taveras]

I mean, the way that Wilco has a hold on Chicago.

[Sam Taggart]

Oh, my God.

[George Taveras]

Needs to be like, when I lived in Chicago, I loved Wilco more than I've loved anything in my life. And in a way that was like. I look back on that and I'm like, who was. I. Don't get me wrong. I still like it, but, like, I'm not, like, fucking crazy about it. Like, I was like, you know, run me over with a truck. Wilco. Like, please.

[Sam Taggart]

It's. I mean, anything, like. And especially because so much has come there, come from there, anything from there. People are going to feel that way about the fact that Michael Jordan, like, the one city with the most pride got to have Michael Jordan. It's like, come on. It's like giving. A person already has adhd, like a bunch of cocaine.

[Skyler Higley]

You also can't help yourself. Like, for example, I came up. I started comedy in Boston. It's not interesting why I was there. I just happened to be living there, and I started comedy there.

[Sam Taggart]

That sounds suspicious. It's not interesting why I was there.

[George Taveras]

Grad.

[Sam Taggart]

Killing him.

[George Taveras]

He was there for grad school.

[Skyler Higley]

Okay, thank you, Sam. And I have no special, I don't know, hometown pride for Boston. But when I hear another comedian started in Boston, I go wild. I'm like, oh, we are part of this. And that's actually a way in which hometown pride, yes, it's biological family, but it also is chosen family because you think you're family members with Prince. Like, it's actually chosen family in this way where you're all in a commune together, raising your children together.

[George Taveras]

Yeah.

[Skyler Higley]

You know what I mean?

[George Taveras]

Totally.

[Sam Taggart]

I think there's also that comedian thing too, of like, yeah, we chose to do the same thing in the same place. So we probably had. And this is the good part about any group. Similar struggles.

[Skyler Higley]

Similar struggles.

[Sam Taggart]

We can relate over this. I'm probably traumatized by this. Similar things. And so you can understand uniquely the contours of what my feelings are. Because you had that experience. And that is what everything creative we do, writing or whatever is trying to get to with other people. And then when somebody has that experience where it's like, well, if you have the same experience as me, I don't need to write a joke explaining what that experience is for you. You just are there with me. So, like, we don't even need that. So the connection that we are trying to make across humans and try to be less knowable, unknowable to our fellow man is, like, already there. So you can be like, oh, yeah. Same place, same people. So I might be coming around on hometown Pride, but I am straight, so whatever.

[George Taveras]

Yeah, no, there's. Well, and it's like our hometown pride is gay. Like, where we're like, it's just pride.

[Sam Taggart]

Yeah.

[Skyler Higley]

We've invented gay pride, literally, because it's.

[George Taveras]

Like, where I'm not gonna be proud of where I'm from. I guess I have to have gay pride.

[Skyler Higley]

Well, okay, but literally, what you're saying, it's true. It's like any kind of cultural pride. Like, if we have pride in the fact that, like, our Bruce Springsteen is Judy Garland, like, it's just because, like, she has been chosen as the saint, literally, of the community.

[George Taveras]

And that's literally why, like, Stan culture fights so hard.

[Sam Taggart]

Oh, yeah. Wow.

[Skyler Higley]

Stan culture is just hometown pride for people who are not from anywhere interesting.

[Sam Taggart]

Right.

[George Taveras]

But I also think that Punktown Pride Without Borders.

[Skyler Higley]

Yeah. Wow.

[Sam Taggart]

Wow. No, it's. I mean, it is like this. I mean, the Stan culture thing does speak to this natural craziness of defending something that is outside yourself, that's not you, that you're building your identity around. And it feels like we can do that for anything where it's like, the way I see people go so hard for Nikki, like, so hard.

[George Taveras]

Ruin their lives.

[Sam Taggart]

The most awful stuff for Nicki Minaj, who is not even for Nicki, who had good hits for, like, a little bit of time a while ago, and people were like, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa. I mean, bleep it out. If the Nicki stands are going to come for me, the bars, because I can't. But it's, like, insane to me, that level. But, like, people will do that for that. Or like, some town in Idaho. Yeah, but at least that's land. At least that's, like, property that you can own. That's different.

[George Taveras]

That's true.

[Sam Taggart]

Different, but it's, like, primordial. It's just weird. Like, this. Like, this, like, self preservation has then inside, like, what we need to do has then turned into, like, I'm gonna get online and bully somebody for a K pop band.

[Skyler Higley]

Yeah.

[George Taveras]

Yeah. This is why we need to make homes more affordable. Because people can just buy a home. They would defend that and they wouldn't need to defend Nicki Minaj.

[Sam Taggart]

It's true.

[Skyler Higley]

I know.

[Sam Taggart]

It's almost like you're onto something. We take all the housing market get back and then stand culture goes away.

[George Taveras]

Because we all have the need to defend. Unfortunately, humans have a military problem.

[Skyler Higley]

No, we have a need. Yeah. It's a militaristic mindset. It's also an ego based mindset because I think every single thing you are, quote, proud of, it's almost like you are bringing it in. And now this is part of me. And now this is part of me. And now this is part of me. And you are making yourself like, bigger. And it's all feeding into your ego, which then makes you feel more invincible and also more offended when someone. Someone attacks some part of you.

[Sam Taggart]

It's so crazy the way I will get. I don't do it anymore. Cause I'm kind of aware of it. But I feel when somebody really doesn't like something that I like and goes hard at it, and then I start being like, oh, I guess I don't like that person. It's like, well, wait a second. That's not a part of me. I just like it and they hate it. And I go, well, I guess I don't like you. You hate Tyler, the creator. I hate you.

[George Taveras]

I mean, I think it's a good way to sort of wear people out sometimes.

[Sam Taggart]

I mean, it's true and it does work. But it is strange because it's like, well, that's also a third party. That has nothing to do with us, really. So what are we attaching to?

[George Taveras]

Yeah, it's hard to tell. This sucks because I actually had a point and I lost it.

[Sam Taggart]

I'm so sad.

[George Taveras]

And don't you hate that when you're podcasting and you forget what you're gonna say?

[Sam Taggart]

That's why I don't have a podcast.

[George Taveras]

Damn. It really sucks because it was probably the smartest, best point yet.

[Sam Taggart]

You know what? And I knew that. I knew you were gonna cap it off with like the smartest, best point. Because you always do that well.

[George Taveras]

Cause you wait till the end for.

[Sam Taggart]

The best point and then it sort of culminates in.

[Skyler Higley]

Yeah, you're like, we knew that was happening too. We were sort of being like hype meant. We were like, all right, let's keep this going. We're making our B raid points back and forth, back and forth. And Sam is gonna come with the final home run.

[George Taveras]

Yeah. So that's what's really complicated about it? Pretty much. Cause it was gonna be out of the park too.

[Sam Taggart]

What would you say you have the most pride in? Is it just gay? Is it gay? I'm genuinely asking.

[George Taveras]

You know, about yourself. I actually have the point.

[Sam Taggart]

Go.

[George Taveras]

This was part of kind of what was weird when the fires were happening and everyone was like, I fucking love. This is my fucking city. Because I was like, I actually don't have a connection to la and yet I'm living here. And it's confusing as like a. Cause I can't be like, right, yeah. Like, we love you. Because I was. Well, I've spent the last year shit talking la. It would be so insane for me now to be like, I stand. But it's also like, don't burn down. I don't want you to burn down.

[Sam Taggart]

And I don't. Yeah, yeah. It's like, I can't talk shit. Even though I have been like, now that's over. I'm not gonna. If I'm being honest, I still don't love it. But I appreciate the people who do love it. And I think everybody should still have their houses. But it still just kind of like, oh, I guess I'll just like sit back and then sort of just kind of repost gofundmes or whatever. Yeah.

[George Taveras]

I was really like, oh, wow. Egg on my face. Like, the person that you've like, shit talked for the last year gets hit by a car.

[Sam Taggart]

Yeah.

[George Taveras]

And you're like, oh, damn, my bad. Did not intend for that to happen.

[Sam Taggart]

It's like. Well, she's like, I didn't. I didn't hate you like that. And I didn't think anything bad should happen. I just didn't, you know, like, want to hang out.

[George Taveras]

Yeah.

[Sam Taggart]

It's kind of like that.

[George Taveras]

I didn't want you to die.

[Sam Taggart]

Yeah, I didn't feel that way about it.

[George Taveras]

But to answer your question, I think I feel it's somewhere between maybe a mixture of gay and New York.

[Sam Taggart]

Okay. George.

[Skyler Higley]

Yeah. I would say. I mean, I do think ultimately almost in a sort of jokey, ironic way, I do think it is. I love talking about being Greek and it's like a fun thing to talk about. And it sets and it, like, it's fun to almost in the way that I feel like this would also be the case if I was like, Italian or something. Like, it's like I am fully just like a white American person. So it's funny to pretend that I'm foreign.

[Sam Taggart]

Well, you gotta, like, attach yourself to something like, even if it's irony pilled you still.

[Skyler Higley]

I mean, and to be fair, like, I do feel. I mean, that is where I go home. That is where my family lives. Like, I go there. It's like I do feel connected to it, but I certainly am not. I'm not an immigrant or a foreign person in the way that my parents were when they first moved here. Obviously, I pass as American. It almost feels like a betrayal to use very American humor to talk about how different I am and how Greek I am.

[Sam Taggart]

Right. I feel that way. I feel like, yeah, you're sort of resisting the cause. To me, that sounds like you're heading off criticism that nobody's making in your face, but you're thinking that, oh, okay, but Greek people would see it like this. And yet I know who I'm speaking to when I talk about this stuff. And yeah, I feel the same way about being black, obviously, just because it's like a, yes, I am black, and I was raised with that. But also I was adopted and raised by white people. So it was always like in an all white place. So it was always a very outsider thing. It wasn't as much of like, I'm black in a community of black people and all this stuff. It was very like, this is sort of, for most of the time, a problem. And I think I reacted to that as a kid and as a young adult trying to sort of downplay it as much as possible or be tokenized or all this, whatever, and then sort of realizing that, you know, I don't want to have that just be an accessory in this way. And having realized that and understood and respected my past and been like, yes, I am different or whatever to a lot of different people, I feel like my pride sort of centers around, like, understanding who I am with regards to race and culture. And I'm like, yeah, I'm this and I have to be this way. And I think that I understand all the reactions to me from all these different kinds of people. And yet I still am myself. I feel like I have pride in my own blackness and the way I've understood it. And I feel the same way because it's like, well, no, I'm not exactly like, whatever, but like, you know, I'm aware of that and I accept that about myself. And I think it's good. I think it's okay to be prideful about stuff.

[Skyler Higley]

Well, it's also, it's interesting, like, obviously my experience is in no way directly related, but being proud of a marker of difference rather than Something that you are in community rather than something that connects you to community is sort of an interesting point because I remember, like, when we lived in the States, I felt different because, like, my parents had accents. Like they. We didn't know a lot of things about American culture that everyone else around me knew or whatever. And then I thought that I would. When we moved back to Greece, that I would immediately feel an innate part of that community because so far I had felt different. But in fact, then when we moved back to Greece, I felt more American because all my references were American, blah, blah. So all of that is to say, to your point, the thing that, if anything is connected to any kind of natural pride was always like a marker of difference rather than a marker of, like, solidarity.

[Sam Taggart]

Right. And you can still be in solidarity with people, but you also understand how much different you are in no matter where you go. And it can feel really bad sometimes, but I think because it is something that feels bad is something you have to accept about yourself and be prideful in. Otherwise, I think that really sort of will ruin you emotionally.

[Skyler Higley]

Yes.

[Sam Taggart]

So. Amen.

[George Taveras]

Amen. Well, I know we should. We.

[Sam Taggart]

This is such a heavy episode. I'm a very silly man. I want people to know that. Stratio Lab listeners. I like jokes and I'm not always bringing it down by talking about the differences between ourselves in the past and currently.

[George Taveras]

I don't think. I think this was serious, but not too serious.

[Skyler Higley]

I completely agree.

[George Taveras]

I think this was a good level of serious.

[Sam Taggart]

Should have gone with Parkour.

[Skyler Higley]

Wait, I do want to know what your other two were. Parkour and what else it was gonna be?

[Sam Taggart]

Parkour Colts.

[Skyler Higley]

Oh, that's good.

[Sam Taggart]

That's good.

[George Taveras]

Parkour.

[Skyler Higley]

Parkour is really good.

[George Taveras]

It's really juicy.

[Sam Taggart]

Parkour is juicy. But I don't have a lot to say about it. It just feels.

[Skyler Higley]

No, it's. It just feels very.

[George Taveras]

I actually have. Have a lot to say about it.

[Sam Taggart]

Really?

[George Taveras]

I fully.

[Sam Taggart]

Well, because you're a stairs guy, so you were always running up and down the stairs.

[George Taveras]

Oh, I'm doing the stairs. I'm doing all types of shit on those stairs. No, when I was in college, I took a documentary making class and like, they were like, you gotta make a documentary about something. I chose the Parkour club.

[Sam Taggart]

Wow.

[George Taveras]

And I literally, like, followed the Parkour Club. And it was so funny because they were like, not real, but they were like, we're actually going to, like, this other college for, like, a Parkour jam. Jam. And there were like multiple parkour clubs from Multiple colleges. And I was like, this is like one of the weirdest groups of people I've ever been around.

[Sam Taggart]

They gotta be weird.

[George Taveras]

And like, I made this documentary that was like, obviously so embarrassing and I would love to be able to find it again.

[Sam Taggart]

Yeah.

[George Taveras]

And. But the documentary teacher, I saw him like a year later and he was like, hey, like, I actually love your parkour documentary. My two sons watch it all the time and it's like, right? Because they're like eight year old boys who just wanna see a guy do a flip.

[Sam Taggart]

It's so embarrassing how cool I thought it was. It's like such a thing. Cause you're like, this guy's doing so cool. You're amazing. You can be.

[George Taveras]

I've talked about the things George and I talked about the siren song of menswear and how it calls to us, even though we know it's unethical and we think of it sort of like how an evangelical thinks about porn. And that's kind of how. How the siren song of parkour also does call. Like, sometimes when the algorithm takes over, I will start getting a couple more parkour clips in there. Yeah.

[Sam Taggart]

Well, I feel like it's bad. I feel like it was gone and I, you know, I watched as a kid and now I see parkour videos sometimes and I go, oh, this is bad. That's actually kind of how I knew Trump was going to win, because parkour.

[George Taveras]

Yeah, Parkour is back. That's what it is.

[Skyler Higley]

I would rather watch parkour videos than like, most content that serves. Of course.

[George Taveras]

At least I'm a point.

[Sam Taggart]

It's so cool.

[Skyler Higley]

But it's also literally all I get is like, get drag queen. Sorry, no offense to. Wow. Talk about right wing. I'm literally like, give me parkour, not these drag queens. But that is sort of okay.

[Sam Taggart]

But drag parkour.

[George Taveras]

No one's doing that.

[Skyler Higley]

There we go.

[George Taveras]

I'm the parkour queen of Pittsburgh.

[Skyler Higley]

We are like two seasons away from that happening.

[George Taveras]

Of course, everyone's desperate to find anything that makes them unique. That's a good one.

[Skyler Higley]

The parkour queen of pink Pittsburgh. All right, should we do our first or our final segment, Sam?

[George Taveras]

Yeah, let's do our final segment.

[Lenovo]

Stop hitting snooze on new tech. Upgrade the whole [e-mail] Unlock AI experiences with the ThinkPad X1 Carbon powered by Intel Core Ultra processors so you can work, create, and boost productivity all on one device. Win the tech search for business [e-mail].

[Ryan Seacrest]

What are you looking for in a new smart TV 4K picture quality, high quality and immersive sound, a sleek design. All of those are givens. But only the new Roku Pro series has all of those. And the Roku streaming experience, an award winning OS. Get fast easy access to all your apps like iHeart where you can stream all your favorite music, radio and podcasts all day. And regular all inclusive trips to Roku City. The new Roku Pro series, a smart TV built by the streaming pros.

[Sam Taggart]

At Ameca Insurance, we know it's more than just a house. It's your home. The place that's filled with memories. The early days of figuring it out to the later years of still figuring it out. For the place you've put down roots. Trust Amica Home Insurance. Amica empathy is our best policy.

[Albertsons]

Hey, it's Ryan Seacrest for Albertsons and safeway now through February 25th. Stock up on your favorite self care items and save up to $3. Shop in store or online for items like Old Spice Deodorant Always, ultra thin pads, Gillette Fusion razors and refills, Old Spice Total body Spray, Tampax Pearl and Gillette Mach 3 razors and refills and save up to $3. You won't want to miss out on these deals. Offer ends February 25th. Offers may vary. Restrictions apply. Visit albertsons or safeway.com for more details.

[George Taveras]

So, Skyler, Our final segment is called Shout Outs. And in this segment we pay homage to the grand straight tradition of the radio. Shout out to anything that you enjoying. People, places, things, ideas. Imagine 2001, you're at TRL shouting out to your squad back home, but about anything that you like. George and I will go first. George, do you have one?

[Skyler Higley]

I can think of one. I'm not gonna lie. I don't have one right now. Do you?

[George Taveras]

I have one.

[Skyler Higley]

Okay.

[George Taveras]

I came so locked and loaded today.

[Skyler Higley]

Okay, go, go, go.

[George Taveras]

Well, I actually have two, but I'm not sure which one I'm gonna land on. Okay, okay, whatever. This will not be topical by the time this comes out. And that's okay. What's up, freaks, losers and perverts around the globe? I want to give a huge shout out to FKA Twigs Yousexua the album. It came out just last night and I sat up and I listened to it and I said, damn, this is fucking good. Start to finish. I think she's doing something very interesting where her look has never been weirder and her music has never been more accessible to me. It's actually very gaga to be like, look how weird I look, but look how normal I sound. I think it's a fun thing for her. And there's a lot of stuff in there that George specifically, I think you would like. There's a lot of sort of Ray of Light vibes, a lot of, like, interesting niche pop references that I'm like, oh, now this is interesting. When a cool girl does cool pop music, you really do notice a difference. And I am so happy. And it's, you know, every year of my life, I feel like I'm just sort of. I'm like, is this the year that I have nothing to find joy over? And then, boom, something else comes and I say, look at me go. I have reason to live. Thank you, FKA Twigs. I love you, xoxo, Sam.

[Sam Taggart]

Wow, that was great.

[Skyler Higley]

That was really good.

[Sam Taggart]

You had a lot to say about FKA Twigs.

[George Taveras]

I was very blown away.

[Sam Taggart]

Wow.

[Skyler Higley]

I'm really excited to listen. I sort of think she might be the only person that can save us, I think.

[George Taveras]

And not to pit women against each other, but sort of hearing it, I'm like, was the brat thing, like a psychosis?

[Sam Taggart]

Like it was a mass. Well, you know, it's. I listen to it now, honestly, just started actually listening to it now, and I'm like, it's good. But it felt like, so, like it was again, like, with the culture and everything, it was so, like, this is what we are into. And there was a. Where I started listening to it back then, and I. I was just like, okay. But like, you with moving, I was like, I guess I'm just not gonna say anything because if I do, I'll be torn to shreds. And then people will be like, well, then what. What bullshit do you listen to? And I'll be like, I don't know. I'm all over the place and I don't wanna do that.

[George Taveras]

Yeah, I mean, I still, don't get me wrong, I still love Brat. But there's something about this where I'm like, this is like, it's mature. There's really some. Something to it. So, George, what do you think?

[Skyler Higley]

No, I, I do think, unfortunately, even though we all. I, I, I think we all earnestly did like Brad and I, I loved it. I'm on record. I'm. I still listen to it, whatever. Unfortunately, it got so big that when people do look back on it, they will look back on it with embarrassment in the way that we look back on, like, sorry, but, like, the Women's March.

[George Taveras]

That's so truly.

[Skyler Higley]

I went to it And I, and I, of course, everyone needed to march. And like, I don't regret being part of it, but you can't not look back on it and be embarrassed. Like, it just. That is how it is.

[George Taveras]

I think you're 100% right, because that is. I liked it. But then I'm seeing TikToks that are driving me crazy. They're like, quote unquote, analyzing the songs and it's like, you are the dumbest person I've ever heard right now. I don't like it. I don't like. I go like that. There were two people dressed up as apples next to me at the fucking Sweat tour.

[Sam Taggart]

Good Lord.

[George Taveras]

I was furious.

[Sam Taggart]

That's how I feel about Kendrick and Drake's whole beef now is I still get posts of people talking about it in the terms of, oh, the battle. And I'm like, that was. Can we put it down? That was last year. You're still talking about, oh, Drake's goofy ass still. And I don't care anymore. That was fun before then. I don't care now. It's insane how much content I'm still getting about. Oh, you, you know, the, the true hip hop heads know that. I don't care. I'm not a true hip hop head. I liked it at the time. Enough of that.

[George Taveras]

Damn, it's tough. Okay, George, whenever you're ready.

[Skyler Higley]

Okay. Yes, yes, I will go. Okay. What's up, venophiles and wine drinkers? I want to give a shout out to Lambron. First of all, let me just say I think Lambrusco is absolutely disgusting. But what I want to give a shout out to is the confidence with which it presents itself. And even though I know that every time I've tasted it, I haven't liked it, you know, you hear you say, oh, sometimes I want a red wine, sometimes I want it to be cold. Maybe a little sparkle, maybe a little fizz. Oh, that sounds kind of nice. Maybe I will get a glass of Lambrusco each time you want to send it back. And so I sort of. I want to become the Lambrusco of, you know, writer performers where even if people do not like wine, I'm offering, they say, oh, I wonder what that George has to say. And even if each time they keep coming back and keeping like that was honestly kind of a flop, they keep buying tickets. So I think we all need to adopt the Lambrusco mentality. It is much more about ad, about marketing than it is about the essence of it. I think Lambrusco is The defining drink of the. Of the Biden and second Trump era. We all need to channel our inner Lambrusco if we want to be famous in this crazy connected world, you guys. So shout out to Lambrusco.

[George Taveras]

Huge shout out.

[Sam Taggart]

Wow.

[George Taveras]

Okay, Scott Skyler, whenever you are ready.

[Sam Taggart]

Okay. All right.

[George Taveras]

I have.

[Sam Taggart]

Yeah, I have one. Shout out to those really big trucks. The Fords, the F450s, 150s, whatevers. The huge trucks that the white guys with the Oakleys drive. Shout out to those. They're so big. I hope you finally feel secure in your masculinity from driving those. I hope that you find some sort of meaning in driving a truck where you're above everybody, can see everybody. And I hope it makes you feel safe. Hope you feel hugged and safe inside those huge, huge trucks because they guzzle so much gas and it's got to be so expensive for you. But what price is too much to feel like a real man? And I hope you enjoy driving that around and trying to park. And I hope it's all worth it, even though I know you don't have shit to haul. Shout out to those big old trucks.

[Skyler Higley]

Woo. Woo.

[George Taveras]

Damn, those trucks really are fucking big.

[Sam Taggart]

They're so big.

[George Taveras]

Talk about. I mean, I hate to always be this person, but I'm like, when will the government step in? Never ban these fucking trucks.

[Sam Taggart]

The trucks is like, that's second under guns for, like, those people. Literally, they want them in those amendments.

[George Taveras]

Cause I love those, like, little old trucks. I'm like, aw, how cute. Yeah, but those big ones, I'm like, this is fucking ugly. They are huge.

[Sam Taggart]

It's again, hometown stuff. Every time I visit, I will see. Cause you don't really see them out. You'll see them more out out here. You don't see them in New York or Chicago or whatever. I go back to Salt Lake, they're huge. People are driving them around and they look almost like monster trucks. And you're like, why do you need to drive that? What is going on?

[Skyler Higley]

I mean, I do my. The impression I get of Salt Lake City and I've never been there is. There is just so much space that people are like, what if we fill it? Like, it's just. It's crazy. And this is mostly from watching the Real Housewives. This is true. Salt City, I guess it's just.

[Sam Taggart]

It's really, like, weirdly, you know, obviously cultish, but, like, also, like, way more white trash than people think very much. Cause it's, you know, the American West. Shout out to there Shout out.

[George Taveras]

Shout out.

[Sam Taggart]

Shout out to there too.

[George Taveras]

Well, Skyler, thanks for doing the pod. This has been a real treat.

[Sam Taggart]

Thanks for having me. Hope to see you guys again soon.

[George Taveras]

Do you want to plug anything? We're bad at that.

[Sam Taggart]

Oh yeah, yeah. I'm doing a show at Union hall on March 20th.

[George Taveras]

Hey, now our listeners know where that is.

[Sam Taggart]

Y'all know where that is. So if you want to come and see me, make jokes instead of really getting into it about our deep feelings about who we are in the world, then come to that. Yeah, that's it. That's all I'm doing.

[George Taveras]

Perf.

[Sam Taggart]

And watch After Midnight.

[Skyler Higley]

Why not watch After Midnight on CBS.

[George Taveras]

And check out the Oscars?

[Sam Taggart]

Check out the Oscars on abc. They're going to be so mad at me for that.

[George Taveras]

But yeah, okay, bye bye. Podcast ends now.

[Skyler Higley]

Want more? Subscribe to our Patreon for two extra episodes a month, Discord Access and more by heading to patreon.com Stradiolab and for.

[George Taveras]

All our visual learners. Free full length video episodes are available on our YouTube.

[Skyler Higley]

Now get back to work.

[George Taveras]

Stradiolab is a Production by Will Ferrell's Big Money Players Network and iHeart Podcasts.

[Skyler Higley]

Created and hosted by George Taveras and.

[George Taveras]

Sam Taggart, executive produced by Will Ferrell Hansani and Olivia Aguilar co produced by by Bay Wang edited and engineered by.

[Skyler Higley]

Adam Avalos artwork by Michael Fails and.

[George Taveras]

Matt Grubb Theme music by Ben Kling.

[Ryan Seacrest]

Hello iHeart listener. We have a confession to make. Both iHeart and this commercial you're listening to right now would probably sound a heck of a lot better on the new Roku Pro Series tv. It's got side firing speakers that fill your room with sound, Dolby Atmos audio that puts you right in the middle of the entertainment, and the ability to pair seamlessly with your home theater sound systems that already have surround sound and booming bass. If all that sounds too good to be true, it'll sound even better on the new Roku Pro series. Your hearing isn't better, your TV is.

[Albertsons]

Hey, it's Ryan Seacrest for Albertsons and Safeway. February is the month of love. And while you're spending time showing love to your family and friends, make sure you show yourself some love too. Now through February 25, shop in store and online and save on self love items from Dove Like Dove Cucumber and Green Tea Body Wash, Dove Deep Moisture Nourishing Body Wash, Dove Antiperspirants, Dove Shampoos and Dove conditioners offer ends February 25th offers may vary. Restrictions apply. Visit albertsons or safeway.com for more details.

[Lenovo]

Stop HITTING Snooze on new tech Upgrade the whole [e-mail] Unlock AI experiences with the ThinkPad X1 Carbon powered by Intel Core oh your processors so you can work, create and boost productivity all on one device. Win the tech search for business PCs at Lenovo.com Lenovo Lenovo.

[Lifelock]

During tax season, your sensitive info does a lot of traveling to places you can't control, stopping off at payroll, your accountant or tax, tax preparer, and countless other data centers on its way to the irs. Any of them can expose you to identity theft because they all have the info on your W2. Just the ticket for criminals to steal your identity. No wonder the IRS reported tax fraud due to identity theft went up 20% last year. You need Lifelock. They monitor millions of data points per second and alert you to threats you could miss. If your identity is stolen, LifeLock's US based restoration specialists will fix it, backed by the million dollar protection package and restoration is guaranteed or your money back. Don't let identity thieves take you for a ride. Get Lifelock protection for tax season and beyond. Join now and save up to 40% your first year. Call 1-800-LIFELOCK and use promo code iheart or go to lifelock.com iheart for 40% off terms apply.