Podcast Summary

Podcast: All Of It
Host: Alison Stewart (WNYC)
Episode: Ana Gasteyer Brings “Sugar and Booze” to Her Holiday Show
Date: December 5, 2025

Episode Overview

This episode features actress, comedian, and singer Ana Gasteyer, known for her work on Saturday Night Live, Broadway, and her jazz and holiday musical repertoire. She joins host Alison Stewart to offer a lively and comedic preview of her upcoming holiday concert, Sugar and Booze, at Town Hall in New York City. The conversation blends humor, musical insight, and candid reflections on career, holiday traditions, and Gasteyer’s approach to gift giving, all delivered in Gasteyer's signature blend of warmth and wit.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Preview of "Sugar and Booze" Holiday Concert

• Theme & Vibe: The show is described as a joyous, comedic, and musically vibrant celebration of secular holiday favorites—a “holiday party” full of laughter, music, and audience engagement.
  • “It’s a little comed[y], a lot of joy… just a collection of seasonal secular favorites... We're going to celebrate the holiday. We're going to let it rip.” (Ana Gasteyer, 02:50)
• Audience Experience: Attendees are encouraged to dress festively (e.g., Christmas sweaters, tartan, bold bows); audience participation and re-gifting 'white elephant' exchanges will be part of the fun.
  • “If you've got a dud hanging around in the closet and you want to get rid of it, we've got some games we're going to play with it on stage.” (Ana Gasteyer, 03:13)
• Musical Elements: Features a full horn section, beloved bandleader Julian Fleischer, and new songs—including Ana playing the fiddle for the first time publicly.
  • “We've got a full horn section here in New York, which is always my favorite because I have a big, loud, horny voice, if you will.” (Ana Gasteyer, 03:22)
  • “I'm going to bust out the fiddle for the first time in a long time publicly… nothing says holidays like fiddle.” (Ana Gasteyer, 06:17)

2. The Gasteyer-Fleischer Collaboration

• Long-Term Partnership: Julian Fleischer has worked with Gasteyer for 20+ years, helping her blend comedy and music for a “throwbacky” midcentury entertainer vibe.
  • “He hears comedy really well inside of music, which is not the most common thing… Julian helped me tap into that part of myself.” (Ana Gasteyer, 03:46–04:51)
• Holiday Album & Tradition: Sugar and Booze continues to tour and attract new fans each year, capturing a sense of holiday nostalgia.

3. Touring and Regional Audiences

• Audience Differences: Midwest crowds lean heavily into tradition and costumes (“a lot of tartan, there are a lot of bows... hot rollers in the house”), while New Yorkers bring a savvy, party-ready spirit.
  • “There's just a joyous sense of tradition in the Midwest... New York… it's this kind of savvy homecoming and smarty pants in the audiences.” (Ana Gasteyer, 07:35–08:58)
• Merch and Vintage Flair: Ana curates vintage items into her merch, connecting her love for classic style with her audience.

4. Maintaining Vocal Health on Tour

• Gadgets & Routines: Travel with a humidifier, use glycerin sprays and specialty cough drops (Pine Brothers and Grether’s), and minimize drinking until after the show.
  • “I have to travel with a humidifier like a nerd. I have glycerin spray, Entertainer Secret... Mostly just humidity and water. Water, water, water.” (Ana Gasteyer, 10:03–10:44)
  • On show day indulgence: “You can’t really booze it until after you’re done… which kind of sucks because the show’s called Sugar and Booze.” (Ana Gasteyer, 10:45)

5. Musical Education, Growth, and Freedom

• From Northwestern to Broadway: Learned foundational breathing and voice placement in school and stage productions; emphasizes the balance between technical discipline and creative self-expression.
  • “I learned how to breathe. From Broadway, I learned placement and safety... But the legit is just better supported, period.” (Ana Gasteyer, 10:52–12:37)
• Comedy, Character, and Musical Flexibility: Sometimes able to sing notes “in character” that she doubts she could sing as herself—direct result of blending comedy and music.

6. The Art of Gift-Giving

• Philosophy: Gasteyer is known for putting thoughtful care into her gifts—favoring practical, slightly elevated versions of everyday items. Strongly pro-gift card for utility, especially with teens.
  • “I'd rather not give a present at all than give a crappy, stupid, just-buy-something-to-have-it… If there's pragmatism at the heart of it, I also love that.” (Ana Gasteyer, 14:01)
  • “I am pro gift card, which people find scandalous. But I would rather someone use the thing and make their life better than regift it at my show.” (Ana Gasteyer, 15:39)
• Memorable (Least Favorite) Gift: Tights as a child—“it was like crotch float.” (Ana Gasteyer, 16:47)

7. Reflections on SNL & Comedy Creation

• SNL Memories: Recalls the creative joy and exhaustion of the weekly schedule, particularly the excitement of writing new sketches and collaborating at the rewrite table.
  • “Every odd… Now and again, you'd write something that you were so excited to bring... That pure, like, just psychotic mirth... was the greatest feeling in the world.” (Ana Gasteyer, 18:44)
• The Culps & Viral Parodies: Discusses performing as the Culps with Will Ferrell (awkward music teachers) at SNL’s 50th, tackling a Kendrick Lamar number at the last minute.
  • On performing Kendrick’s song: “Everything. The rhythm is insanely hard… and you don't know that you're gonna get the rights until the 11th hour…” (Ana Gasteyer, 21:11)

8. Broadway Fandom & Holiday Sentimentality

• Thanksgiving Parade: Gasteyer shares her emotional reaction to hearing “Ragtime” at the parade, underscoring her deep love of Broadway.
  • “[Joshua Henry’s] voice is just… I don’t even know how a person can sing that well… My parents are much older and they're coming… for Christmas… I just bought my holiday tickets to go see Ragtime.” (Ana Gasteyer, 23:03)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On the holiday concert vibe:
  “We're just going to laugh a lot and sing a lot.” (Ana Gasteyer, 03:13)
• On blending comedy and music:
  “I live squarely in the middle of these two Personas that I have. My comedian Persona and my musical Persona… it took me sort of a long time to fuse them.” (04:05)
• On the SNL rewrite table:
  “Writers hate the rewrite table… I could never get over the fact that I was… I’d written something and then I got to have this team… sit and punch up my sketch. I mean, that's like the greatest privilege in the world.” (18:44)
• On the worst gift as a child:
  “It was like crotch float… you all wore tights. They were around your knees.” (16:59)
• On vocal health tips:
  “You can’t really booze it until after you're done… which kind of sucks because the show’s called Sugar and Booze.” (10:45)

Important Timestamps

| Segment Topic | Timestamp | |------------------------------------------------------------------- |:----------:| | Preview: “Sugar and Booze” Concert Vibe, Audience Participation | 02:50–03:42| | Gasteyer’s Musical-Comedic Fusion and Inspiration | 04:02–05:43| | Holiday Album, Touring, and Regional Audience Comparisons | 06:47–09:47| | Voice Care Routine on Tour | 10:00–10:52| | Musical Education & Creative Freedom | 10:52–13:39| | Gift Giving Philosophy & Stories | 13:46–16:28| | SNL Memories and The Culps Performance | 17:58–22:43| | Emotional Broadway Parade Moment | 22:51–24:13|

Conclusion

This episode is a holiday celebration in itself—filled with Ana Gasteyer’s energy, stories, and sharp comedic voice. From the details of her Sugar and Booze concert and holiday traditions to the behind-the-scenes world of SNL and heartfelt Broadway fandom, listeners leave with a sense of joy, nostalgia, and practical gift-giving wisdom.

Listen if:
You love comedy, Broadway, SNL nostalgia, or want inspiration for a festive, laughter-filled holiday season.