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David Sedaris is Mostly Bark, Some Bite

Jun 14, 2026

Summary

John Lovett interviews writer David Sedaris about his new essay collection, discussing his father’s Trump support, the evolution of LGBTQ+ terminology, and his views on "punching down." Sedaris shares anecdotes about international McDonald's menus, getting bitten by a dog, and why he prefers the term "gay" over "queer." He also reflects on gender norms, advocating for men to wear skirts while criticizing the narrow definitions of masculinity enforced by conservatives.

Topics discussed

Introduction and guest David Sedaris Relationship with his conservative father Travel habits and comfort in foreign countries Punching down and service industry interactions Sponsors: Armra Colostrum and Smalls Pet Food Dog bites and empathy for owners Pride parades and the Burberry shaving kit Discomfort with the word 'queer' Sponsors: Fast Growing Trees and Jubilee TV Identity labels and LGBTQIA+ acronyms Wearing skirts and masculinity norms Sponsors: Chime and Assembly Required Relationship privacy and bathroom habits Fears of aging and assisted living Linguistic pet peeves and reading Moby Dick Conclusion and final sponsor messages
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