StraightioLab – “Straight Men Acting DL” w/ Ivy Wolk

Release Date: November 11, 2025
Hosts: George Civeris & Sam Taggart
Guest: Ivy Wolk

Main Theme / Purpose

In this raucous, rapid-fire episode, George and Sam welcome comedian-actor Ivy Wolk to dissect the peculiar phenomenon of straight men acting "DL" (down-low), meaning secretive or closeted in their heterosexual relationships—mirroring the behavior of closeted gay men. The episode meanders through Ivy’s one-of-a-kind coming-of-age in Hollywood, the politics of being a public woman in comedy, her experiences with fame and cancellation, and why “acting DL” is straight culture at its most absurd. Pop cultural tangents, stories of industry rejection, and comedic free-association abound, united by a running critique of how shame and concealment manifest differently for straight men, gay men, and women.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Shifting Culture of New York & Election Aftermath [03:48-05:24]

• The episode opens with political satire and riffing on New York’s “new era” post-election.
• Zoran and Sam joke about changes in the city, exaggerating socialist policies (free rent, free childcare) and the resulting culture shock.

2. Introduction of Ivy Wolk and Her Comedy Persona [06:27-09:10]

• Ivy is introduced as a generational comedic talent (“our next Lisa Kudrow”).
• Ivy describes herself humorously: “It feels really great. I’m constantly employed because nobody’d be doing it like me… I really splurged on myself. CVS, Zenni Optical. My name is encrypted on the side.” — Ivy Wolk (07:12)
• She discusses the tedious, unglamorous realities of acting and why she prefers being funny over striving for leading-lady roles.

3. Satire of TV Productions & Comedy Actress Mount Rushmore [09:11-10:58]

• The group skewers the production choices and fashion in Ryan Murphy’s latest TV disaster.
• They compile a living Mount Rushmore of comic actresses:
  • “I think it’s Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Lisa Kudrow, Niecy Nash, Wendy McClendon-Covey...” — Zoran [10:29]
• Ivy explains her affinity for background roles, relating her niche to the “funny waitress number three” trope.

4. Typecasting, Gender, and ‘Stealing’ Gay Guy Roles [12:07-13:32]

• Ivy recognizes she fills roles traditionally written for flamboyant gay men: “I’m the new ‘oh honey, those shoes.’”
• She reflects on the industry’s tendency to pigeonhole women who are odd, brash, or character-driven.

5. Ryan Murphy, Women’s Interiority vs. Exteriority [13:16-15:03]

• Ivy details a career transition from working with female-positive directors (Sean Baker) to craving a “Ryan Murphy phase,” where women are defined by exterior bravado and suffering.
• “Put a lash on that bitch or I’m gonna kill.” – Ivy (on Murphy’s hair/makeup demands) [14:08]

6. Queer Media, Roller Derby, and ‘Not Being a Lesbian’ [19:21-21:43]

• Ivy’s roller derby background is discussed, with jokes about how, in LA, being an athletic girl doesn’t “make you” a lesbian.
• Ivy: “Not being a lesbian is very hard and sad…I leave there [with lesbians], ready to grow my bush down to my ankles and Lilith Fair myself into a field of weeds.” [20:16, 20:37]

7. Gender Dynamics, Mutual Aid, and Landlords [21:43-22:35]

• They riff on the ethics of paying rent to a lesbian landlord, positing it as queer mutual aid—unless landlordism cancels out queerness.

8. Consumer Satire — J.Crew Moms, Cashmere, and ‘The Crew’ [26:09-28:39]

• Tangent about J. Crew as a “predatory lender for suburban white moms.”
• Ivy invents an elaborate tale of J. Crew’s cashmere being made from missing people.

9. Vaping, Arrest, and Abolitionist Prisons [31:06-33:13]

• Ivy’s relationship to vaping mirrors her anti-authoritarian comedy voice: “If you want. If Zoran does anything for Vape, you know what he should do?…Vapes in the checkout line, $10.” [31:15]
• The trio jokes about a legal system where punishments reflect your beliefs (abolitionists get community service, not jail).

10. Underground Raves & Producer Culture [29:29-31:15]

• Ivy expresses a (mock-serious) desire to find “underground raves.”
• Group acknowledges that their off-mic producer looks cooler than they do—a recurring theme of generational/coolness anxiety.

11. The “Straight Men Acting DL” Phenomenon [70:00–80:00]

• Straight Topic: “My straight topic is being straight but acting hella DL.” — Ivy [69:55]
• DL as a straight cultural trait: Men who are secretive or discreet with their girlfriends in a way that mimics closet-case gay behavior.
• Ivy: “When straight guys act mad coy when it comes to pussy…when straight guys do a sneaky link type of thing…hide a bitch.”
• Zoran reframes: Non-committal straight guys are essentially emulating the secrecy of closeted gay men.
• The group discusses how, for straight men, this is less about shame and more about misogyny or fear of strong-willed women.
• “A DL gay guy has self-hatred. But a fuckboy embarrassed of you is a misogynist…specifically angry that you have personality.” — Zoran [74:10–74:15]
• Ivy: “There’s no way to fetishize concealing a woman with too much personality in a horny way.” [74:37]

12. Ivy Wolk’s Hollywood Origin Story [43:05–57:00]

• Early Acting: Hired at 13 for Freeform sitcom “Everything’s Gonna Be Okay,” fired for controversial online posts.
• Quote: “I made a TikTok when I was 14 or 15, dancing and stomping on top of a graveyard of aborted babies outside a church.” [45:21]
• Ivy’s sitcom downfall led to years of “Hollywood unemployment,” a return via indie projects, and academic pivots.
• Online Fame & Reputation: Ivy chronicles being subjected to cancel campaigns as a young comic online and why she was inspired by maligned Hollywood women.
• Quote: "I have become the kind of people that I have studied and obsessed over and diva-worshipped for so many years. …I can make myself the diva I worship in a way." [57:49]
• Ivy’s anti-“clipification” of comedy: Her standup relies on long, un-clip-able monologue. [82:12]

13. Celebrity Journalism, Media Satire, and the Death of the Middle Ground [59:14–63:45]

• Ivy and the hosts critique clickbait journalism and fan culture for destroying the Barbara Walters–level “middle ground” of critical celebrity interviewing.
• "Now everything will be one TikTok network…asking Malala, ‘Do you want to hit this J with me?’" — Ivy, [62:17]

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Ivy on Being Cast as a Comic Character:
  “I know what my utility is… I am the character that says the chaotic, annoying things that makes the other characters look more like the hero so that people can root for them, root against me, and that propels their narrative.” [11:04]

• Satire on Straight Men Acting DL:
  “You’re not gay and you don’t have a wife. We met on Hinge.” — Ivy [71:01]
  “It’s diva worship that sort of brings shame upon your family.” — Ivy [72:58]
  “A DL gay guy has self-hatred. But a fuckboy embarrassed of you is a misogynist.” — Zoran [74:10]

• On Being a Maligned Female Comedian:
  “I had a lot of men, older than me, telling me, ‘Here’s a tip—try to make the audience like you right away.’ …They were telling me that like they’d just taken the fucking sword out of the stone.” — Ivy [77:19]

• On Art, Cancellation, and Becoming the Diva:
  “It was really painful and difficult at first, but now…it’s like I have become the kind of people that I have studied and obsessed over and, like, diva-worshipped for so many years.” — Ivy [57:49]

• Impromptu, True Chaos:
  Ivy farts during the shout-outs section:
  “I farted. That was crazy.” — Ivy [86:57]
  “That was improv. That was not scripted…That was me genuinely being random and out of character.” — Ivy [87:26]

Important Timestamps

• 00:00–03:47: Ads, show announcements, and cold open
• 03:48–06:27: NYC political satire, banter
• 06:27–09:50: Ivy’s intro, early comedy talk
• 10:11–14:08: TV/film costuming, actress idols
• 19:15–21:43: On lesbian culture, mutual aid, gender
• 29:29–31:15: Underground raves, coolness anxiety
• 31:06–33:13: Vaping jokes, abolitionist law satire
• 43:05–57:00: Ivy’s Hollywood/online origin story
• 69:55–74:53: Straight topic: "Straight Men Acting DL" deep-dive
• 74:53–82:44: Gendered social penalties for honesty, public persona
• 86:31–91:56: Shoutouts — the group gives homages; Ivy surprises with a fart
• 92:27–94:11: Wrap-up, meta-reflection, Adam/final jokes

Episode Tone & Style

• Language: Loose, unfiltered, darkly comic, extremely online, quick-witted, and laden with slang and subcultural references.
• Vibe: Rapid improvisational banter, real talk about showbiz and identity politics, and meta-commentary on podcasting and fame.

Takeaway for First-Time Listeners

This episode is a comedic rollercoaster blending gossip, social satire, pop culture critiques, and confessional storytelling. Ivy Wolk emerges as the embodiment of the “brash, unmanageable, imitable” new generation of female comics—untameable by cancellation, typecasting, or the male gaze. Her signature blend of humor and social critique gives listeners a rare look into the intersection of fame, reputational anxiety, and the weirdness of straight male secrecy. If you want a fast, fearless deconstruction of contemporary straight and queer culture—and to laugh at the culture’s expense—this episode is for you.

Suggested Not-to-Miss Moments

• [69:55–74:53]: Ivy’s explanation of “straight men acting DL” (straight topic proper), including why it’s a uniquely straight neurotic behavior.
• [43:05–57:00]: Ivy’s life story—child actor, cancellation, indie resurgence.
• [86:57]: Live fart — rare proof of total podcast comfort and chaos.
• [77:19–82:00]: On navigating comedy, cancellation, and being “too much” in public as a woman compared to men.

For the full effect, this episode's a must-listen, but this summary captures the standout moments, themes, and Ivy Wolk's wild, funny take on how straight men strive to make being boring into a mysterious art form.