Call Her Daddy – Jane Fonda: The GOAT (FBF)

Podcast: Call Her Daddy
Host: Alex Cooper
Guest: Jane Fonda
Date: February 1, 2026

Overview

In this special throwback episode, Alex Cooper sits down with legendary actress and activist Jane Fonda for an honest, deeply personal, and at times hilarious conversation. Fonda reflects on her iconic career, her lifelong journey of self-discovery, overcoming struggles, the importance of female friendships, and her tireless commitment to activism. The episode is rich with wisdom, spanning topics from feminism to mental health, relationships, and the power of collective action.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Value and Complexity of Long-Term Friendships

[01:41–03:52]

• Jane and Alex begin by discussing the long-standing friendship between Jane and her "Grace and Frankie" co-star Lily Tomlin.
• Jane emphasizes intentionality in sustaining friendships, sharing:

  "If you want to maintain a friendship, you have to be intentional. You really have to work at it." (Jane Fonda, 02:15)

• She provides a touching anecdote about maintaining connection with a director friend and offers advice about understanding different personalities in relationships.
• Reflecting on her friendship with Sally Field:

  "She tends to be a bit reclusive. ... I have to really coax her out to come to dinner with me... I know that's how she is. I don't take it personally, but I go after her. I love it." (Jane Fonda, 03:14)

2. Asking for Help & the Myth of Independence

[06:22–08:00]

• Jane opens up about her reluctance to seek support during tough times in her youth and how friendship helped her in times of need:

  "Earlier in my life, I never reached out for help. I considered it a big weakness. ... But I remember after my first hip replacement surgery, ... I felt somebody at my feet... and it was Eve Ensler, the playwright, who had flown down to massage my feet and make me feel better ... because I love you. You know, we have to do that for our friends." (Jane Fonda, 06:22)

• Jane explains the gradual process of learning to accept help, saying the cultural shift from "rugged individualism" to valuing "interdependence" mirrored her own journey:

  "I wanted to be like a guy, you know, I don't need anybody kind of thing ... but that began to change. My change also corresponded to a broader societal change." (Jane Fonda, 08:00)

3. Activism: Personal Awakening and Courage

[10:11–12:28]

• Jane discusses the moment she became politicized and involved in activism, crediting Vietnam veterans for opening her eyes:

  "I was not an activist at all until I met soldiers who'd been fighting in Vietnam... I was horrified ... Everything in my life changed." (Jane Fonda, 10:11)

• She shares that activism gave her purpose and meaning:

  "I went from not very happy, meaningless, aimless woman to somebody who knew why I was on earth and what I was gonna do." (Jane Fonda, 12:19)

4. Using Privilege for Progress

[14:04–16:08]

• Jane recounts grappling with her celebrity status while working alongside activists and marginalized groups:

  "My celebrity would ... create a distance between me and the people that I was working with... It made me more and more uncomfortable, my celebrity and my privilege separating me from the people I wanted to work with." (Jane Fonda, 14:25)

• She shares advice she received:

  "Don't you dare. ... The movement has many organizers. We don't have movie stars. The movement needs you." (Jane Fonda quoting Ken Cockrell, 15:23)

• Alex draws a parallel to using one's own voice/platform for causes that matter.

5. Evolving Feminism and Self-Realization

[16:42–17:32]

• Jane reflects on internalized patriarchal beliefs she only later recognized as anti-feminist:

  "To do whatever will please the man that I'm with, even if it's to despite my own well-being ... It took me into my 60s to know that." (Jane Fonda, 16:59)

6. Relationships, Family, and Patterns

[21:18–26:41]

• Jane candidly discusses being cast as the "girl next door" while struggling internally with an eating disorder:

  "I was miserable. ... I kept wanting to quit. ... I was suffering with an eating disorder. You know, I was bulimic, anorexic." (Jane Fonda, 21:18)

• She openly shares the impact of her famous father, Henry Fonda, on her self-image and relationships:

  "I've overcome the effects that it had on me. ... unconsciously making me feel that I'm not lovable, you know, if I'm not really thin." (Jane Fonda, 22:26)

• Jane connects her choice of romantic partners to her relationship with her father:

  "I was determined that I was going to marry somebody that was the opposite of my father. ... where it mattered, the ability to become intimate... I chose men who weren't that way and weren't going to demand that of me. And I think that's because of my father." (Jane Fonda, 23:12)

• She advises younger women on recognizing and breaking unhealthy relationship patterns—emphasizing self-awareness and responsibility.

Notable Exchange:

“How old are you?”
“I’m 28.”
“Holy mother. God, you’re a genius. 28? I wasn’t even thinking about these things ... You’re so evolved.” (Jane Fonda and Alex Cooper, 25:18–26:44)

7. Advice for Young Women and the Urgency of Climate Activism

[27:06–30:17]

• Jane reassures young listeners that being young is hard and aging brings its own set of freedoms and certainties:

  "It is so hard to be young. ... It gets easier when you get older, believe it or not." (Jane Fonda, 27:06)

• She passionately calls young people to action for the climate:

  “There is a climate crisis and the window to do something is closing. ... Scientists ... are unanimous and they're telling us time is running out, but you still have time to reverse this. ... Become familiar with the climate crisis and join with others in some organization to do something about it.” (Jane Fonda, 28:10–29:37)

8. Struggles with Eating Disorders and Overcoming Them

[30:50–35:19]

• Jane details her experience with bulimia:

  “I suffered from bulimia. Very, very bad. I led a secret life. I was very, very unhappy.” (Jane Fonda, 30:50)

• She describes the isolating nature of the disorder and her eventual recovery:

  “It becomes a terrible addiction that takes over your life ... it harms the way you look ... it becomes impossible to have an authentic relationship ... I went cold turkey ... it was really hard. But the more distance you put between you and the last binge, the better it is. ... I did need Prozac. That was the drug that helped me.” (Jane Fonda, 31:54–34:34)

9. Social Media and Young Women’s Mental Health

[35:19–36:27]

• Jane expresses concern about how social media worsens the pressure on young women:

  “I’m scared for them. It’s much, much worse. ... I don’t know what the cure is. It’s bigger than I can.” (Jane Fonda, 35:42)

10. The Power of Female Solidarity and Therapy

[36:27–40:13]

• Jane advocates for collective healing, sharing lessons from feminist therapists of the 1970s:

  “We can’t do it by ourselves as individuals. I think getting together with other young people ... talk about it ... When you recognize the shared challenge ... It helps ... that’s when you start to become a feminist.” (Jane Fonda, 36:27–37:51)

• She recounts the historical shift in therapy thanks to feminist groups that challenged prevailing psychological beliefs, particularly concerning women and abuse.

11. Friendships On-Screen and Off: The "80 for Brady" Movie

[41:39–43:58]

• Jane describes the unique bond with her real-life friends Sally Field and Lily Tomlin, who also star in the film:

  “Sally and I identify with each other quite a lot ... Lily is a completely different person ... I’m fascinated by her.” (Jane Fonda, 41:48)

• On working with friends:

  "Yeah, very much. ... We've made two movies since we stopped Grace and Frankie." (Jane Fonda, 42:30–42:38)

12. The Health Benefits of Female Friendship

[42:55–44:13]

• Jane shares research on the life-extending effects of women's friendships:

  "Not having women friends is as bad for your health as smoking." (Jane Fonda, 42:55)

• She describes the deeper laughter and support found among female friends.

13. Love, Relationships, and Ghosting

[45:06–46:41]

• Jane admits to never really ghosting lovers, instead typically marrying them:

  "Up until a certain later point in my life, I thought that if I wasn't with an alpha male, that nobody would be interested in me. So I married, I didn't ghost." (Jane Fonda, 45:26)

• Lightheartedly asserts:

  “There will never be a man living in this house ever. So they took both bathrooms for me. ... Three's enough. My father was married five times. I don’t want to go that way.” (Jane Fonda, 46:12–46:34)

14. Meeting Tom Brady

[46:41–47:29]

• Jane shares her starstruck meeting with Tom Brady:

  “My knees started to give away. I’m not kidding ... He’s a goat ... And on top of it, he’s so gorgeous ... I was just overwhelmed.” (Jane Fonda, 46:45–47:29)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Interdependence:
  “We have to understand we have to work together and that we are interdependent.” (Jane Fonda, 08:00)

• On Aging and Self-Acceptance:
  "It gets easier when you get older, believe it or not." (Jane Fonda, 27:07)

• On Using Your Platform:
  "Use whatever privilege you have and maximize on that. Rather than trying to pretend it's not there or wanting it to not be there, use it." (Alex Cooper, 16:08 paraphrased)

• On Overcoming Eating Disorders:
  "When your life is inauthentic ... inauthenticity can cause it... All the trouble that I got in was because of that anger and that hostility. ... If I keep on like this, I'm going to die." (Jane Fonda, 31:54–34:37)

• On Female Friendship:
  "Not having women friends is as bad for your health as smoking." (Jane Fonda, 42:55)

• On Generational Progress:
  “You’re so much more evolved than me. ... The trickle down effect ... it gets a little better each time. ... you’re like supercharged. My god, you’re going to be president.” (Jane Fonda, 26:41)

• Jane Fonda Praising Alex:

  “You’re one of the best interviewers I’ve ever had. You’re really wonderful.” (Jane Fonda, 47:37)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Maintaining Long-Term Friendships: 01:41–03:52
• Asking for Help / Interdependence: 06:22–08:00
• Activism Awakening: 10:11–12:28
• Navigating Celebrity & Activism: 14:04–16:08
• Evolving Views on Feminism: 16:42–17:32
• Family, Self-Image, Romantic Patterns: 21:18–26:41
• Advice for Young Women & Climate Activism: 27:06–30:17
• Secret Life with Eating Disorders & Recovery: 30:50–35:19
• Social Media Pressures: 35:19–36:27
• Group Healing / Therapy Revolution: 36:27–40:13
• Working/Friendship with Sally & Lily, Movie Bond: 41:39–43:58
• Health Benefits of Friendship: 42:55–44:13
• Ghosting & Relationship Choices: 45:06–46:41
• Meeting Tom Brady: 46:41–47:29
• Jane Praises Alex’s Skills: 47:37

Tone & Atmosphere

• The conversation fluidly blends humor, vulnerability, and activism, matching both Alex's empathetic and playful interviewing style and Jane's candid, wise, and unfiltered storytelling.
• The rapport is warm and mutual, with significant moments of laughter and genuine admiration.

Conclusion

Jane Fonda’s interview on "Call Her Daddy" is an inspiring deep dive into the realities of aging, self-growth, female friendship, overcoming hardship, and committed activism. Fonda’s candor about her challenges—and the wisdom she’s gained—is both validating and motivational for listeners of all ages, particularly young women finding their paths.

For further insight, listen to the full episode of "Call Her Daddy" wherever podcasts are available.