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A
This is an I Heart podcast. Guaranteed human Looking for something sweet and satisfying? Meet Wonderful Pistachios, Chocolate Sea Salt and Chocolate Toffee. Your new Go to Treats. Each pistachio is thinly dipped in dark chocolate, antioxidant goodness and let's talk flavor. Whether it's the sweet meets salty vibe of chocolate sea salt or the irresistible crunch of chocolate toffee, every bite here hits the perfect balance. Snack time never tasted so good. Treat yourself to Wonderful Pistachios, Chocolate Sea Salt and Chocolate Toffee for a snack that's better for you. Indulgence with the protein power of pistachios and a sweet punch. Check out wonderful pistachios.com to learn more about Wonderful Pistachios, Chocolate Sea Salt and Chocolate Toffee pistachios. Check out wonderfulpistachios.com to learn more. Longevity is getting a lot of attention right now, especially when it comes to what we put into our bodies. But one of the most visible signs of aging shows up on the skin and it's associated with a decline in cellular energy. That's why Obagi Medical approaches longevity skin care differently. As skin loses energy over time, it doesn't regenerate or renew itself as efficiently and that's when you start to see changes like dullness, fine lines and loss of firmness. Trusted by dermatologists for over 35 years, Obagi is innovating with skin longevity at the skin cell level. Their Breakthrough New Gen Cellular Renewal Serum is formulated with their proprietary Age Control Complex and powered by NAD to support skin's natural renewal processes and help address multiple visible signs of aging. Ooh la la. In clinical testing, skin appeared up to six years younger after 12 weeks of use. If you're looking to support skin longevity with a clin approach, learn more@obagi.com and new customers can use code Chelsea15 for 15% off qualifying orders. Terms apply. Let's be honest, most dogs are eating ultra processed food every day and we just accept it. Doug eats just food for dogs. Real 100% human grade food and the number one vet recommended fresh dog food. And yes, the difference is obvious. But better digestion, more energy, way more excitement about dinner. If your dog deserves better and they do, just try it. Go to justfoodfordogs.com and get 50% off your first order. No code needed. And now a quick break from our sponsor, Vital Proteins. And it is Vital Collagen Peptides is a wellness supplement that supports healthy hair, skin, nails, bones and joints. When we hit 30, our body's collagen production starts to drop, and that's when vital proteins step in. Their iconic blue tub is everywhere. People love vital proteins, in part because it's so easy. Just mix it into your coffee, tea, or smoothie, and you're good to go. And now you can get 20% off your next order at vitalproteins.com by using promo code Chelsea20 at checkout. These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Okay, guys, here are my dates for the High and Mighty tour. In June, I will be in Hyannis, Massachusetts, and then two shows in Nantucket. In August, you can find me in Red Bank, New Jersey, Montclair, New Jersey, and Calgary. That's Canada. And September, I will be in Santa Barbara, San Diego, New York City, Philly, and New Haven, Connecticut. October is Atlanta, Baltimore, Saginaw, Michigan, Pittsburgh, Toronto, Boise, Idaho, and Spokane. And then in November, I'll be in San Francisco. I'm coming to Salt Lake City, Austin, Houston, Dallas, babies. I'll be there. And then in December, I am closing out my tour in Denver and Vancouver. So get your tickets@chelsea handler.com for the high and Mighty Tour. Hello, Katherine. Hi, Chelsea.
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B
You're about to be traveling. You are traveling.
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A
I am traveling. I have just left Nantucket. Oh, yes. Yamaneka and I were in Nantucket. We had two shows here. We had a show at the Comedy Melody Tent, and now I'm off to Wimbledon.
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B
That's very exciting.
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A
Where I will be performing tennis.
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B
Oh, you're gonna do the first serve.
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A
Serena Williams is returning to the singles tennis, and I am too amazing. I mean, not returning. I'm debuting at 51. I figured, why not?
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B
Listen, Challenge yourself.
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A
Why not? But I'm bringing Megan Gailey, who's a comedian who opens for me. It's her dream to go to Wimbledon, so I'm bringing her. She's coming for, like, two days, and then I'm going on a. Yeah, I'm gonna be in London for a few days, and then I'm gonna go on a nice boat.
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C
Yeah.
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A
And then I'm gonna go to Spanish immersion school.
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D
Oh.
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B
Oh, in Spain. I'm guessing in Madrid.
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A
Yes. Going to Spanish school. I love it.
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B
I think that's gonna, like, catapult your Spanish.
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A
I know. That's what I'm hoping. I think I might do it for, like, two weeks straight. I mean, we'll see if I can last that long.
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B
You know what I mean?
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A
But it's like six hours a day.
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B
Well, you speak enough, too, that if someone, like, if it's totally immersive and they're just speaking Spanish to you, like, you'll get.
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A
It won't be totally immersive. I'm staying at a nice hotel. I'm not. I looked into. Listen, I looked into the possibilities, and I was like, this is better. If I have my own bar and restaurant every night.
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B
That's okay.
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A
Just in case I want to hook up or, you know, bounce around town. It's Madrid in the summertime, so things are gonna be poppin'.
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B
Get out.
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A
So I'm excited about it. It's gonna be a Chelsea classic Chelsea adventure.
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B
I can already tell, but I agree with that. It's like you can work your brain during the day, and then at night you can party and have fun in
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A
English if you need to. Yes, exactly. Or practice my Spanish. My br. Listen, I've always been looking for a man with a language barrier, so.
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B
Perfect.
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A
Yeah. I think this might be an opportunity for multiple things.
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B
Well, our guest today is a legendary comic and actress. Her new special, Wanda Sykes Legacy is on Netflix now. Okay.
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A
I love it, love it, love it. The woman who has her new stand up special out on Netflix called Legacy, which is a plus plus, is joining us here today. Wanda Sykes is here. Hi, Wanda.
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C
Hi.
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E
Hi.
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C
How you doing?
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A
This is our producer, Katherine.
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C
Hey, Katherine.
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D
Hi.
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B
How are you?
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A
Where are we? Where are you zooming in from? Are you at the opening of the Obama library today in Chicago?
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C
Wanda, I wish. I wish I could have been there, but actually, I was in Costco while that was going on. I was in the middle of Costco, like, just sobbing.
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A
Why? Oh, because of the speeches.
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C
Yeah, Eddie Vedder and the kids took me out.
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A
Oh, I haven't had. I've been recording all day, so we haven't seen. I haven't seen that part, but I saw Michelle Obama's speech, talking to him about how great he is. Cause, you know, throughout all of our time with the Obamas, she's always kind of like, this is a regular guy, you know, Like, I want to make sure he keeps his feet on the ground. Like, she always kind of gives that kind of energy, you know, Like, I'm pissed about being in the White House. You made me do this. And now, you know, now I got to deal with all this shit. So it was so. And of course she loves this man, obviously. But to hear. Obviously, I mean, we all love him, too, but to hear her talk about him in that Way was so beautiful. And honestly, right on fucking time.
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C
Absolutely. Absolutely. It was great. Wait till you see Eddie Vedder and these kids. Oh, man.
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A
Really? What happened? Give us a preview. Tell me.
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C
Yeah, they composed a song, an original song just for the occasion, and. And along with these local kids, and it was just incredible.
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A
Oh, I can't wait to see that. I can't wait to see that. Wanda, I love your new special. You better get an Emmy nomination for it. It's so great. One of the things I admire the most about you, I realize. I know I found out a lot about you doing the research for this, but that I didn't realize. I knew because I've known you for so many years, but I don't really know you well. But one of the things that I've admired about you for as long as I have known you is just how political you are and how you talk about politics in your specials. So many comedians really try to steer clear of that and instead just show up at the White House for a UFC fight and act like they don't know anything about politics. So it's really. What?
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C
Oh, this is the White House. The President lives here. Oh, wow. I didn't know. Who knew?
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A
And I love what you said. I was watching your Vulture interview. I love that interviewer. The guy that interviewed you for Vulture. He interviewed.
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C
He's great.
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A
He asks the best fucking questions. Don't you think he does?
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C
He's great.
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E
Yeah.
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A
He really does his research. But I watched your Vulture interview, and he was asking you, you know, about your political stance and do you feel how you feel about being political? Do you ever get scared? And I thought that was a really interesting question and. And what you said about it. So I would love to just talk a little bit about that, like, how you frame that and how you view being political, because I'm sure, you know that I feel very strongly about, you know, the stuff that you're talking about, too. And I feel like it's a responsibility, not an option.
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C
Absolutely. I mean, I think that's. That's our, you know, what we're supposed to do. And honestly. And those are the comedians that resonate with me. I feel like we're like the daredevils, kind of like we're the ones who are supposed to go out and give a voice to the. The people who are marginalized. And I happen to check a lot of boxes in those margins, you know, being a woman, being, you know, African American, being queer. So it's just. It's just to me, that's that's what I'm into. You know, I. I would feel weird if I went out there and just talked about, I don't know, just everyday stuff and not about what's really affecting me in my life and everyone else.
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A
Yeah, I feel the same way. I feel like it's such a. And I've learned a lot over the years of when it's important to say something and when it's just kind of noise, you know, and when to pitch in and to be a little bit more, I guess, discerning about, you know, saying things. So it's not like you're just banging the same drum all the time to have an artfulness about it, which I've really started to. Grown to appreciate and understand more as I've gotten older. So that's been helpful because obviously we're all living through this. But I feel the same way about comics who don't address it, who don't want to talk about politics or can't say anything. I'd rather you be emphatically against what we're saying and be honest about that than trying to pretend you don't know what's going on. I find that to be an affront to all people, like to humanity. But while I was doing this reading about you, I had no idea you were married to a man. At some point, what were you thinking? I can't believe I didn't know this about you.
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C
I'm just trying to fit in. For years I was trying to fit in. You know, I heard that was the way to go. I heard that was the way to go.
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A
Oh, my God. How long did that last? Wanda?
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C
I chose that lifestyle to be straight. I really did.
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A
I would love, love to see some photographs from that era of your life.
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C
No.
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A
What. How long did that last?
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C
Oh, wow. That. That lasted what? Good Lord, maybe six, seven years. Six years?
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A
Yeah. And when you. Did you. When you left that marriage, did you tell him that you're not into men or was it just him?
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C
No, no. You know what? That wasn't even why it ended. I think it just was. It just was a bad situation. Bad relationship. Yeah.
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A
And that you grew up on an army with an army father. I had no idea about that either. That's crazy.
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C
Yeah. My dad's a retired colonel, so that
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A
must have been a really kind of very specific, strict upbringing.
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C
But you know what? Not really the way my dad approached it is. I mean, you know, he took his job seriously, but when, you know, he came home, he took off the uniform and you know, read the paper chilled. And he was just. He was just dad, you know, he. It wasn't make your bed and tighten the corners and all that stuff like that. No, we. But just. But just being in, you know, growing up in Virginia with, you know, black parents, it's stripped already. It really. The Army. It was nothing else that the army could do, really. Honestly, I really don't know what else Stormy could have done.
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A
Like, what kind of rules did they have for you growing up?
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C
It was mainly, like, respect. And, you know, it was, yes, sir, no, ma'.
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B
Am.
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C
And, you know, you cleaned up and we had chores and everything, but it was mainly just, like. Just a lot of behavior. And, you know, you don't. You don't act up in school. You know, you get good grades and do your homework, say your grace before you eat. And, you know, church on Sundays.
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A
Did you like going to church?
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C
I did. I did.
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A
Do you go still?
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C
I go online because the church. Covid. Covid was great, man. With the online church. I was. I was going to church all over the country, you know, popping here, pop in there. Let me see what they doing over here, you know. But I finally joined the church, and it's in Alexandria, Virginia, So I, you know, when I'm in town, I go. I pop in.
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A
That's nice. And does Alex go with you? No.
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C
No, she's.
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A
She's French. She smokes.
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C
She's French.
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B
She's French.
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A
The whole special is like, I love that you have her smoking cigarettes only to reveal that she doesn't smoke cigarettes at the end.
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C
Not at all. It's just how I've always seen her. I've always seen her just.
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A
So she's French, so she's not interested in church. But you. So that's interesting that you still go to church and that you're back in Virginia.
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C
I'm not saying all French people don't go to church.
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A
Well, most of them don't. It's not a European.
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C
They don't talk about it. But you know what? There's so many churches in. In Europe, especially in, like, in France, there's. There's tons of churches. I mean, look, they. They have Notre Dame. They got. You know.
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A
Yeah. But their churches. Their churches want to seem, like, historical.
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E
Yeah.
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A
Like, their churches seem like a relic from. Because half of those churches you go into, it's like. It's tourists.
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E
Right.
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A
You know, like La Sagrada in Barcelona. You're like, oh, my God. And then you're like, wait, you forget that you're Actually in a place of worship.
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C
Right. It's more like a museum, I guess.
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A
But it's interesting that. What about the kids? Do the kids ever go to church with you?
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C
They've been a couple of times with me. Yeah, but not really.
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E
Okay.
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A
Well, I think it's interesting when people return to their roots.
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C
Like, I failed at that. That's one thing. I go, oh, man, I didn't make my kids go to church.
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A
I think in these modern times we're living in, it would be a pretty big feat to get two kids to go to church. I know, but I do think this return to. You return to the church, it's very interesting at the phase of life that you're in, that these things are still in your life or that you've returned to them. Do you ever think about that?
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C
Well, I think it's what keeps me grounded. I guess I'm not necessarily grounded. It's my base. It's where I'm comfortable. Not really. Granted, it's my support, really. Yeah. It's my foundation. So it was pretty easy, I guess, to ease back into it.
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A
And does Alex like Virginia as a French woman?
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C
I don't think she has an opinion on it.
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A
You don't?
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B
She.
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C
Would she prefer the south of France? Absolutely. Absolutely.
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A
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- [17:01]
A
Do learn about Devato. Visit devato.com or call 1-877-844-8872. You're probably hearing a lot about longevity right now. And when it comes to skin, aging is associated with a decline in cellular energy. As that energy decreases, skin doesn't regenerate or renew itself as effectively, which is why you start to see dullness, fine lines and loss of firmness. Obagi Medical has been trusted by dermatologists for over 35 years. Their new gen cellular renewal serum is powered by NAD and supports SKIN's natural renewal process. In clinical testing, skin appeared up to six years younger after 12 weeks. Learn more@obagi.com and new customers can use code TEAPOD15 for 15% off qualifying orders. Terms apply. This show is brought to you by BetterHelp. We talk about mental health more openly now, but asking for help can still feel hard, as BetterHelp's latest research confirms. BetterHelp's 2026 State of Stigma report surveyed 2,000Americans and revealed that 85% of Americans believe getting support is wise, yet 70, 74% say society discourages people from doing so. It's easy to be a fan of getting mental health support when someone needs it, but getting ourselves into a therapist can be something that goes by the wayside. Sometimes you have to take your own best advice. Once you get past the hurdle of finding a therapist, it's easy to stay in a weekly habit and BetterHelp makes finding a therapist so much easier. BetterHelp does the initial matching work for you so you can focus on your therapy goals. A short questionnaire helps identify your needs and preferences, and their 12 plus years of experience and industry leading match fulfillment rate means that they typically get it right the first time. If you aren't happy with your match, switch to a different therapist at any time from their tailored recommendations. Don't let stigma stand in the way of support. Start therapy with BetterHelp. Sign up and get 10% off at betterhelp.com dearchelsea that's betterhelp.com dearchelsea when it's time to get a new car, where do you start? Car shopping can be, honestly, a little overwhelming, but it should be fun. Buying your next car should be exciting. And it can be. And if you can remember one thing, it's cars.com My dad was a used car salesman, so I know way more than I want to about the car buying process. And that means I also know how to get a good deal. And that's also why I'm uniquely qualified to tell you how easy it is to find the Perfect car on Cars.com Cars.com has the tools and expert advice to help you figure out what vehicle is right for you. Their site is super easy to use and their advanced search filters allow you to filter over 2 million new and used cars to find the exact car that you're looking for. Every review is written by a real person reflecting a real life experience. That's how you know you can trust the dealerships on cars.com cars.com features transparent deal ratings, including tools and badges to help shoppers understand the price of a vehicle and find the best deal. Finding a good deal is pretty important, and by understanding how a car's price compares to others in the area, Cars.com will help seal the deal. So don't take any chances. Do car shopping the easy way. Start your search with cars.com where to next? What about LA? What do you think about LA and living in LA? Cause don't you go back and forth?
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C
Yeah, I still have my place in la. Yeah, I like it out there. I like it out in la. I have great friends out there. It's funny, when I'm there, it's like I'm working and I feel like I'm in show business. And when I'm in Philadelphia, I go, oh, you know, I'm in Philly, you know, so sometimes I've been out, you know, like gardening or whatever, and I just go, I wonder how much money I'm losing right now just out here not doing show business stuff, you know, but. But it's good because that's, that's where I get creative. That's where, you know, I'm. I have my boots on the ground as far as what's actually happening.
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A
Yeah. I find la. Don't you feel like everyone in LA has gotten sober?
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C
Oh, wow. You gotta hang out with my friends.
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A
There's a lot of sober people in LA now. There's a lot.
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C
Yeah, you're right. You're right. And you know, it's. I think it's our peers and we're all worried about our livers now. Right?
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A
I know, but I don't. I'm never gonna give up drinking. Do you know what I mean? Like, it's.
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C
No, no, I'm not doing that.
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A
Yeah, I know you're on the.
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C
With regard to drinking, I'm still ting vodka.
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A
Yeah. And if that takes me down, then so be it. Like, then that's the way it's gonna go down. But I went to three dinners last week and a total of 11 people were at three of these dinners. And I was the only person drinking at all three dinners, all three alone.
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C
Oh, wow.
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A
Yes. And I was like, wow, look what's become of us. I said, look at everyone. Everyone's sober. And not that people. Only one of the women was sober.
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B
Sober.
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A
The others just had no interest in alcohol. And I was baffled.
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C
But were they. But were they on weed?
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A
No. No. But I was on weed and alcohol.
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C
Good for you.
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B
Somebody's got to bring the party.
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A
Yeah, somebody's got to bring the party. I mean, God. Yeah. Where do you do stage time? Because when I saw you at Jane Fonda's thing, we both saw each other at a Jane Fonda event for her climate pack. Jane is. I know Jane is a really good friend of yours, and she's a really great friend of mine as well. And this woman is tireless in her efforts. I have never seen anything like it in my entire life. I've never seen anybody work as hard as Jane Fonda works.
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C
Can't name a person. Can't name one. She's. I mean, incredible. I really think she was put on this earth to make us all feel bad about ourselves. Really.
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A
She told me that she makes 100 calls before noon every single day to raise money for her climate pack. 100 calls per day.
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B
That's wild.
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A
By noon. I mean, can you imagine being that annoying and having to call people and ask them for money 100 times a day? I would be like, forget it. Forget about the climate. I don't have it in me.
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C
I can't see myself doing that, especially at Jane's age. I'm like, let the sun win. What do I care? You know?
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A
How did you guys first meet on Monster in Law. Was it?
- [23:22]
C
Yeah, Monster in Law.
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A
So what was your first interaction like?
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C
Incredible. I was so nervous because, you know, it's Jane Fonda, and this was her first project since she kind of, like, semi retired. So I'm like, oh, my God. You know, all my scenes are with her. What is this going to be like? And she walked in and she just was like, wanda. And just gave me a big hug and was like, I'm Jane Fonda. And I'm like. Like, we didn't know that, but okay. And she's like, I am, you know, just so excited to work with you. And she was just so gracious and just, you know, she's like, you're gonna have to help me out a lot because it's been a while since I've, you know, done this. And I'm like, okay, now a little patronizing, but all right, okay. But I appreciate It. I appreciate it. This is sweet.
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A
She's.
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C
She's just a sweetheart, really. Just genuine. Just a good, good woman.
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A
I mean, you've done a lot of acting work, and you're in a lot of stuff. I love you. And the other two, I mean, that is so fucking funny, that show. How do you decide when you're going to do stuff? Like when you're going to do a special, when you're going to take on a TV show? Or do you just wait for opportunities to present themselves?
- [24:38]
C
That's usually how it happens. Opportunities present themselves. Or I come up with an idea and I go, oh, I think I'm. Yeah, let me try this. I want to. Let me see if I can get this one. You know, get this up and going. As far as the specials, you kind of know, right? I mean, you. You get the material going and. And then you get to a point, it's like, I think I got something, and then it's like I need. When I feel like I'm like six months away, then I'll. Then I'll tell my agent, hey, let's, you know, let's do a special, because then that'll at least give me another year to work on it.
- [25:15]
A
Yeah, I think specials are really specific to each comedian, like how many times you have to run a set, how many times you have to do it. Some people feel like they have to do it 200 times. There are comedians who can do it 50 times and then be ready for a special. But I loved the opening sequence because she went back to Hampton. Is it Hampton College or Hampton University? Hampton University, which. And there's. The opening sequence is so beautifully shot. And who's I? Was that your director's idea? Was that your idea?
- [25:44]
C
Yeah. Julie Dash. Yeah. I wanted something saying, I'm coming back home. And, you know, she did that amazing movie, Daughters of the Dust. So she was like, I'm. You know, she put together a storyboard, and I was like, this is it. This is exactly what I wanted. You know, I wanted the band, I wanted the choir. So, yeah, she. She nailed it. And it's just. Yeah, it's beautiful.
- [26:06]
A
Yeah, it's beautiful. And you could tell how impactful it was because you're pretty emotional as you should be. Bringing that home is really profound. What number special is this for you?
- [26:15]
C
I think seven.
- [26:16]
E
Wow.
- [26:17]
C
I think it's seven. Yeah.
- [26:18]
A
Seven. And you haven't won an Emmy yet for a standup special, or have you?
- [26:23]
C
No. A lot of nominations, but no win.
- [26:26]
A
Okay, well, let's hope that this fucking brings it home. How do you feel? I want to ask you a question about, like, being a female in comedy, coming from another female rather than a man asking this question, because we get asked the same questions all the time from men. But I want to ask you about, like, your competitive spirit or your competitive nature and how you see that, how that's changed over the years for you. And do you view that as a good thing or do you view it as a negative thing?
- [26:57]
C
I don't look at it as a competitive thing. I, I compete with myself. You know, it's like, so my next special, it has to be better. Better than Legacy. And I'm already going, I don't know how I'm gonna do that, because this one was so meaningful. So it's like, what. What's. What is the next one gonna be? But I think, like, whatever. Whatever happens. Like, whatever happens in November, whatever happens in two years from now, we'll, you know, maybe that'll be something that will inspire the next one. Or maybe I'll be like, hey, it. That's it.
- [27:37]
A
I did Legacy.
- [27:37]
C
I'm done. You know, who knows? But, yeah, I, I don't. I don't look at it as. As competing, because if you do that, I think you're gonna get out of who you are, you know, as far as your voice. I, I, I don't want to look at somebody else's special and go, oh, I can do that, and then start taking on these elements that. That aren't really authentic to me, but I could pull it off. But I don't, you know, so I don't. Yeah, I try not to. I try not to do that. However, I will say that there's, you know, like, for me, the one who did it was Chris Rock. When he did Bring the Pain to me, that elevated comedy where it challenged me, where I said, I got to do better. And so if. So if I look at that as a competition. Yeah, but to me, it was more like a challenge, not, you know, I got to do, you know, be better whatever than what he was doing.
- [28:39]
A
Like, it inspired you to want to, like, create something like that. What about. What about Bring the Pain specifically? Was it the, like, the sentiment of it, or was there something more specific? I mean, obviously, that was an incredible special. I think he wanted me for that.
- [28:54]
C
Right, Right. Yeah. No, I mean, no one was doing that. We were all not really talking about anything. It was, you know, just a lot of sex jokes. And black people do this, white people do that. And I don't know, it was just kind of like, comedy was just kind of. It just like, Def Jam was hot. Def Jam was hot, which was good because we got a lot of great voices from that. Great, you know, funny comics from that. But Chris, I think he brought it back. He brought it back to. For me, like, you know, Prior and Carlin and back in that lane.
- [29:34]
A
Yeah, I think there's definitely an evolution that happens, and we're living during a time where we're seeing it a lot, and I love the time we're living in for the reason, because there are so many female comics that are killing it and crushing it. It's, like, so nice to finally have so many people to reference and point to. When people ask you, what is it like to be. You know, what was it like to be one of the only women? And it's like, we were never. I was never in a situation where I was the only woman. I'd be on a lineup where I was the only woman, but I was not the only woman. You know, like. And to see it now, where there's so many people that you can refer to and speak to, when somebody asks you, who should we be looking at? You're like, oh, this is so fucking nice. It actually has changed since we've been on the scene, you know, to see.
- [30:23]
C
Absolutely.
- [30:23]
A
To see that evolution. And then also, I think, personally, for each comic, like, as women, I feel that even more that you have such a. You know, you have different periods of your life. I'm 51. I think you're 62 now, right?
- [30:38]
C
Yes.
- [30:39]
A
And, like, you're speaking that, like, you're talking a lot about the twins in this special. You're talking about them and the, you know, you talk about spanking. You talk about what, you know, the impact that they've had on your life. Like, the fact that they're going to be out of the house soon. Probably they're going to go to college in a year or two years.
- [30:56]
C
In a year?
- [30:57]
A
Yeah, in a year. Are you looking forward to that period of time?
- [31:00]
C
You know what? I am. And Alex got upset with me because I said that I think I was on Jimmy Kimmel or what are these shows? And I said, I'm excited. I'm looking forward to it. And she. And that upset her because she. I guess she took it as like, I want the kids gone. But to me, it's like, yeah, I did. You know, we did it. We, you know, we raised these kids, and now they're equipped and they're ready to go. To the next. The next stage. And I love that idea. And also like the idea of the two of us back to just us, you know, where every night is date night. You know, it doesn't have to be all this, okay, I gotta go do this. You gotta drop this one off and whatever. I look forward to that.
- [31:54]
A
What if, when both of the kids went off to school, when. What if in order to have the freedom that you desire, you had to spend one month, you and Alex had to spend one month living at your house? And you can choose one of these three people that would move in with you for just one month, and then you would be free of them for the rest of your life. And then you could have your private time. I'll give you three options. Sarah Huckabee, Sanders, Megyn Kelly, or Ivanka Trump. One of those three people has to live with you. In order for your kids to have successful lives, that's the price you have to pay. They're going to go to college, they're going to get jobs, and they're going to be happy, high functioning adults. Who do you choose? Think about it.
- [32:39]
B
Nightmare, blunt rotation.
- [32:42]
A
Well, nightmare blunt rotation.
- [32:44]
C
Okay, so like, how, how bad would their lives be if I didn't do this?
- [32:49]
B
Bad.
- [32:49]
A
Bad. You don't know. You can't risk it. You can't risk it. You have to choose one of these women.
- [32:54]
C
Okay, I'm gonna, I'm gonna go. I'm going. Ivanka Trump.
- [33:01]
A
It's an interesting choice.
- [33:02]
E
Okay.
- [33:03]
B
Yeah.
- [33:04]
A
And tell us why.
- [33:05]
C
I think I could break her in like two weeks. Give me two weeks, I'd break her. And she's gonna tell me something. She's gonna give up something.
- [33:16]
A
Yeah, she, she's.
- [33:17]
C
You know what I'm saying? I'm, I'm, I'm gonna get something out of her. I really, I'm.
- [33:20]
A
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. But you're not allowed to be physically violent with any of these people.
- [33:26]
C
Oh, no. Spiritually conversation.
- [33:29]
A
You can be spiritually violent conversation.
- [33:31]
C
Just. No, no, no, no. I won't put my hands on it. Just conversation. Okay, I'll get something out of her.
- [33:38]
A
All right. I like the choice of Ivanka Trump. Although her voice.
- [33:41]
C
Yeah, I'm gonna find, I'm gonna find out where all the bodies are buried.
- [33:44]
A
Do. Where all the bodies are buried. I mean, I don't even think she knows what the fuck is going on. I mean, with this whole Albania thing,
- [33:53]
C
it's like, oh, my God. Island she did that.
- [33:56]
A
She discovered. She. If she.
- [33:58]
C
Island, she Christopher Columbus.
- [34:02]
A
There was a cartoon. I don't know if you saw this on Instagram, but there was a cartoon of her swimming like that. You know, she tells the story like, Albania wouldn't even have known that she bought that island if she hadn't done that interview. That's like some shit I would pull. Like, I out myself before I get caught, you know? And they did this cartoon of her swimming, and then she swims to the island, and they climb to the top and they're like, I think we'll buy it. But what the Albanian people have done has been inspirational.
- [34:28]
C
Oh, beautiful, beautiful. Oh, give it up.
- [34:31]
E
Yeah.
- [34:32]
A
And they're a beautiful people because people are going to Albania, like, you know, that's becoming a hot spot for travel. So I'm pretty proud of them. And they've inspired Americans because it seems like we're all sitting around with our thumbs up our asses, looking around, going, who's going to tell us what to do next? And nobody seems to have any good ideas. Are you hopeful about the midterms, Wanda?
- [34:51]
C
I am, yeah. I am. I'm very hopeful. Yeah. Especially now. And, you know, people are finally speaking up. I mean, some Republicans are finally speaking up about this Iranian deal, so. But I am. I am. I am hopeful. I think people are just. They've been hit so hard by everything, so. So they got. They got to vote. They got to. They got to step up.
- [35:15]
A
Yeah. And also, I think that, you know, all this gerrymandering stuff, like, I really do think that's gonna kick back. There was a state today that voted against it, a Republican state legislature that said absolutely no to the gerrymandering. So, like, I think that also is gonna have some unintended, not positive consequences for the Republicans. And I think the people that are real MAGA heads, like, those people, we just have to consider as mentally ill. They are.
- [35:40]
C
Exactly. They're.
- [35:41]
A
Well, it's like racism. You're mentally. Like when someone described racism to me as mental illness, I was like, that clicked in. And that applies to magazine, too. It's mental illness. So there's no cure. We can't help them. It's just. That's the way it's going to be for them and forget about those people and trying to flip them. That's pointless. And. Yeah.
- [36:00]
B
Yeah.
- [36:00]
A
So are you in Philly?
- [36:01]
C
Oh, I'm Philly. When I met Alex, he was living here.
- [36:04]
A
So Philly's a fun city. I mean, those people are fucking scary.
- [36:08]
C
I love it.
- [36:08]
A
Sports games, though. Jesus. Yeah, we tried to go to something there once. And I was like, oh, my God, this is a violent. This is violence.
- [36:16]
B
Get off the streets after the game.
- [36:19]
C
Yeah, we don't play about our sports.
- [36:21]
A
I know, I know. Which teams do you support?
- [36:23]
C
The Sixers and the Eagles.
- [36:25]
A
Yeah, yeah, yeah. The Eagles are so fun. That is a great team to support.
- [36:29]
C
Yeah.
- [36:29]
A
And do you guys go to games and stuff?
- [36:31]
C
Yeah, we go to games and we work. We worked on bringing a WNBA team to Philadelphia and that's going to happen in 2030.
- [36:40]
A
Oh, congratulations. That's fucking awesome.
- [36:43]
E
Awesome.
- [36:44]
C
Yeah.
- [36:44]
A
What's the name of the team? Do you know?
- [36:46]
C
We don't know yet. We don't know yet. It's with the Sixers in conjunction with the. You know, the Sixers are the ones who actually put the bid in. But we're the. But our group, the Philadelphia Sisters, we lobbied and we've been working on this thing for, like, years. Like seven. It was before COVID I know. We was working on this for a long time to get them to get a team. And we got a team.
- [37:09]
A
Wow. I fucking love that. Good for you. Congrats.
- [37:13]
C
Thank you.
- [37:16]
A
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A
Do learn About Devato, visit devato.com or call 1-877-844-8872. You're probably hearing a lot about longevity right now. I know I am and I know I care about it. And when it comes to skin aging, is linked with a decline in cellular energy. As that energy decreases, skin doesn't regenerate or renew itself as efficiently. And that's when you start to see dullness, fine lines and loss of firmness. Obagi Medical has been trusted by dermatologists for over 35 years. Their newly launched facial serum, New Gen Cellular Renewal Serum, is powered by NAD and supports skin's natural renewal processes at the skin cell level. In clinical testing, skin appeared up to six years younger after 12 weeks. Learn more@obashi.com and new customers can use code Chelsea15 for 15% off qualifying orders. Terms apply when it's time to get a new car where do you start? Car shopping can be, honestly, a little overwhelming, but it should be fun. Buying your next car should be exciting. And it can be. And if you can remember one thing, it's cars.com My dad was a used car salesman, so I know way more than I want to about the car buying process. And that means I also know how to get a good deal. And that's also why I'm uniquely qualified to tell you how easy it is to find the Perfect car on Cars.com Cars.com has the tools and expert advice to help you figure out what vehicle is right for you. Their site is super easy to use, and their advanced search filters allow you to filter over 2 million new and used cars to find the exact car that you're looking for. Every review is written by a real person, reflecting a real life experience. That's how you know you can trust the dealerships on cars.com cars.com features transparent deal ratings, including tools and badges to help shoppers understand the price of a vehicle and find the best deal. Finding a good deal is pretty important, and by understanding how a car's price compares to others in the area, Cars.com will help seal the deal. So don't take any chances. Do car shopping the easy way. Start your search with cars.com where to next this show is brought to you by BetterHelp. We talk about mental health more openly now, but asking for help can still feel hard, as BetterHelp's latest research confirms. BetterHelp's 2026 State of Stigma report surveyed 2,000Americans and revealed that 85% of Americans believe getting support is wise, yet 74% say society discourages people from doing so. It's easy to be a fan of getting mental health support when someone needs it, but getting ourselves into a therapist can be something that goes by the wayside. Sometimes you have to take your own best advice Once you get past the hurdle of finding a therapist, it's easy to stay in a weekly habit and BetterHelp makes finding a therapist so much easier. BetterHelp does the initial matching work for you so you can focus on your therapy goals. A short questionnaire helps identify your needs and preferences and their 12 plus years of experience and industry leading match fulfillment rate means that they typically get it right the first time. If you aren't happy with your match, switch to a different therapist at any time from their tailored recommendations. Don't let stigma stand in the way of support. Start therapy with better help. Sign up and get 10% off@betterhelp.com dearchelsea that's betterhelp.com dearchelsea we take a couple callers and we give advice. Wanda, are you ready to do that? You're prepared?
- [41:47]
C
Oh sure. I'm great at this.
- [41:48]
A
Yeah, I'm sure you are. You have enough life experience and wisdom to shed some light on some situations.
- [41:53]
B
Yes. You know what? We're going to start with Kelly. Kelly. She's just writing in, but she says Dear Chelsea I, a 29 year old black female, have been dating a guy, 31 and notably white for about two years and it's come to light that his parents are social and political idiots who are incapable of critical thinking. That's right, you guessed it, they're mega vegetables. It seems as if they think I'm some sort of Candace Owens aberration to their racist philosophies, yet they're never comfortable overtly discussing politics when he and I are around. My boyfriend also seems to have gotten the short end of the evolutionary stick because he finds it's imperative to still spend holidays with them as if it's no big deal. Two to five times a year. I'm talking spending the night at their home when we visit, having hour long forced topical conversations about shit like beer. I'm unable to continue faking the funk and he seems to think that spending time with his folks is an unsavory yet umbilical facet of the relationship. Relationship. Otherwise, we're extremely compatible. But also, I'm young and hot and need to get out of here if there's going to be no return on investment of my youth.
- [43:03]
A
Help Kelly, get out. Kelly, get out of there.
- [43:06]
B
Run.
- [43:07]
A
Anyone? I like the way she termed that umbilical.
- [43:10]
B
Umbilical.
- [43:10]
A
I know that was a good use of a word in that sense. I would say to get out of that situation because anyone who I don't. I mean, you've dealt with your in laws. But your in laws are probably cool because they're French, right? Yeah, that's. That's. That's not the same thing. But I don't think when somebody has that kind of relationship that. That obligatory relationship where they want to spend three to five holidays. I mean, as soon as we're adults, that's enough with that stuff. Like, you don't have to spend Christmas, Thanksgiving and all. How many? I didn't even know there are five. What are you spending Flag Day together?
- [43:45]
B
Memorial Day, July 4th.
- [43:47]
A
Yeah. That's too much.
- [43:48]
C
Yep. The 4th. Yeah. Well, she said three to. She said what, two to five times or how many.
- [43:53]
B
Yeah, two to five times a year.
- [43:55]
C
Two to five times a year. I go, let's, let's. Let's work with it. Because. Because we can save this man.
- [44:02]
A
Can we?
- [44:03]
C
You know, that's a. She's gonna get a good white man on our side. You know what I'm saying?
- [44:09]
E
Okay.
- [44:09]
A
Okay.
- [44:10]
C
If she dumps him, he might go back.
- [44:13]
A
Right, right, right, right. And that's a good angle. That's why you're here, Wanda. Thank you for that insight, you know,
- [44:19]
C
but to me, if. If she is really into him, why don't she just negotiate? Look, I'm. I'm gonna make one trip a year to spend with your dumb parents. And the other times you, you know, you go on your own. And, I mean, I'm sure she has family that she wants to go see, right?
- [44:38]
B
Yeah.
- [44:38]
A
Yeah.
- [44:39]
C
So. Yeah, so let him go see his family. She goes see her family, she can talk shit about his parents to her family.
- [44:47]
A
That's right. That's a good solution, is to compromise. And even if. And if for some reason she doesn't have family, then you can go celebrate those holidays with your friends or take some mushrooms and celebrate them alone like I do every fucking Christmas without my family. So that's. That's. Those are. Several options are on the table.
- [45:04]
B
And I think when. Whenever she does go, he has to make a donation to, like, some liberal cause, like an abortion fund or something.
- [45:12]
C
Absolutely.
- [45:13]
B
Yeah.
- [45:14]
A
Speaking of which, Wanda, I heard you talking about the roast and that you were so glad you didn't do it. I mean, I just want to reiterate how glad you must be that you didn't do it.
- [45:26]
C
Oh, my God.
- [45:27]
A
Were you tempted at all to do it?
- [45:30]
C
I was, because I thought I was going to be able to go in and then just get out. And they were like, no, you have to stay for the whole thing and be on it. On A dance. And I was like, can't do that, man. I can't do it. But you did great. You really did.
- [45:47]
A
Oh, thank you. Thank you.
- [45:48]
C
Yeah. Yeah. You and Cheryl, I thought, had the best sets.
- [45:52]
A
Thank you. I mean, yeah, Cheryl crushed it.
- [45:54]
C
She bought into it. And it wasn't just lazy, you know, just whatever. You're short. It was really good. Bravo.
- [46:03]
A
Thank you. What was the reason you couldn't. Because you just couldn't sit there on the dais with those guys for three hours? Or is there a different.
- [46:09]
C
Yeah, I couldn't because I knew. I knew what it was gonna be.
- [46:12]
A
Yes.
- [46:13]
C
You know, Right. I knew where it was going. I knew it was gonna be. And I was like, somebody's gonna say something real dumb and real ugly, and either I'm gonna get up and walk out and knock shit over or, you know, I'm gonna, you know, beat Kevin, you know. But no, I love Kevin. I got no. I got no beef with Kevin at all.
- [46:35]
A
Yeah, Kevin's pretty easy to love.
- [46:37]
C
Yeah.
- [46:38]
A
Yeah.
- [46:38]
B
Well, our first caller today is T. And he says his subject line is black and bi, I guess. Dear Chelsea, I'm a 28 year old guy living in southeast Texas, born and raised. To cut to the chase, I'm a queer, identifying black men who's never actually dated or sexually been involved with men. I know, weird, but I'm sure I don't date much, but there's been a couple of girls here and there, some of which were in high school, which I don't really count as real relationships. When people hear me speak or see how I socialize with others, especially women, the question of is he gay? Always comes up. Maybe because I'm not a fucking creep. I've noticed since I was 14 that I wasn't completely hetero, but who is? But labels feel restrictive. Not to mention being a black man raised in the south and how that plays a part in existing as a man. But I do a pretty good job of not succumbing to the woes of toxic masculinity. I don't hide my sexuality, but I'm also not screaming it from the rooftop. Now I want to actually explore dating guys since I've never dipped my foot into that pool. But like I've mentioned, I don't date much. I'm almost hyper independent. I enjoy my piece too much to let anyone ruin that. But I know if I found the right person or people, I could have something really nice and better than what I enjoy now. The apps are terribly exhausting and I Think one reason I've not dated men is because the ones around here are absolutely, unbearably terrible. Whether they're Republican, DL, synonymous, or just plain boring. I tend to lose interest pretty fast. But I don't know if this is genuine disinterest or some latent self inflicted homophobia. What's your advice for a bi guy living in Texas that wants to enter the world of gay dating for the first time at 28? And what advice do you have for me when the inevitable you're 28 and have never dated a guy comes up?
- [48:18]
A
T. Hi, T. Hi.
- [48:21]
D
Hi, ladies.
- [48:22]
A
Hi, T. Hey. This is Wanda Sykes, our special guest today.
- [48:27]
C
How you doing?
- [48:28]
D
It's so nice to meet all of you. I. I can't even, like, say how starstruck I am right now.
- [48:35]
C
Oh, you're sweet, T. What part of Texas are you in?
- [48:40]
D
I'm about an hour outside of Houston.
- [48:43]
C
Okay.
- [48:44]
D
It's not, like, really big, but it's not like super small either.
- [48:47]
C
I mean, Dallas is pretty, you know, popping as far as in the queer community, but I think, you know, go to Atlanta for a weekend, I think. I think you'll find out real quickly which, you know, what floats your boat.
- [49:05]
A
You're into, I think.
- [49:07]
C
Right.
- [49:07]
A
I think that that's a great idea. Solid idea.
- [49:10]
E
Yes.
- [49:11]
A
Have you been to Atlanta, T?
- [49:13]
D
I have not been to Atlanta.
- [49:15]
C
Oh, boy.
- [49:17]
D
No, I've.
- [49:17]
C
I've definitely been. It is gay overload.
- [49:21]
D
Yeah, I've been to Dallas a couple times. I actually went with a couple friends maybe two or three years ago, and I was actually super surprised about how. How queer the place is. But, yeah, you don't have to tell me how gay Atlanta is. You hear about it all the time. Absolutely.
- [49:39]
A
But I definitely think it's worth the trip. I mean, I think that's a serious. A good piece of advice because it is good to go, especially, like, get outside of your community and check out what you're into and find, you know, spend a long weekend there. I'm going to Dallas for a show. You come. My niece goes to Emory University in Atlanta. We'll take you out. She'll know where the gay bars are and where to go. If you want to do that. I'm serious. We would take you out and do that because there's nothing I love more than shepherding somebody into their gayness. But also, I don't want you to think of 28 years old as like. Like, that's an embarrassment. I think you should flip the script. I think you should flip the script on that. You should look at that as I've been waiting until I'm whole adult man and waiting until I'm mature enough to be in a relationship and a romantic relationship and to be sure of what it is I'm looking for. So there's an advantage for you not having to have been through all the drama and all the noise and ugliness that relationships can bring when you're kind of too young and, and immature to really know what you're doing. So first I would start with that. You know what I mean? Like, flip the script on that.
- [50:52]
D
Yeah, I, and I completely agree. It's, it's more, it is more along the lines of, you know, I needed to like, I guess find myself, you know, before, you know, just throwing myself into something just because, you know, some people don't like to be alone or, you know, some people have to be in a relationship or anything like that. But yeah, like, I just, I really like the, you know, the, the peace and the, the lack of drama that comes with being single. But, you know, not, not that it gets old, but, you know, there are some things that, you know, you'd like to share with people and, you know, being in a. A relationship kind of gives you that, like, built in person, I guess, to do those things with. But yeah, no, I completely agree with you guys with, with that. And I have been doing like a lip. A bit more traveling this, like, past, like, year or so. I was talking to Catherine a couple days ago. I'll be actually going on a cruise. I think we leave Saturday.
- [51:50]
A
Well, then that'll be the end of it. Don't. There. There you go.
- [51:55]
D
Right. Yeah, exactly. So, yeah, I mean, yeah, no, I'm excited and I think doing some traveling, especially to cities as, you know, queers, Atlanta and Dallas are. Is definitely like, pretty, pretty solid and good advice.
- [52:10]
B
T. Do you have, like, very many queer friendships where you live now?
- [52:14]
D
Yeah, like, I have a couple of queer friends. Honestly, most of my friends are probably like, bi, but yeah, like, it's pretty good. And we're all kind of in the same boat of like, we're pretty much like around my same age. But like, the dating scene around here is just, you know, it's not Dallas or, or something like that. So it's more of just like, you know, if you can find that, that diamond in the rough, I guess, like, you know, you're a really lucky one. But not to say that there's like, none around here. It's just like, you know, you have to find Someone or someone's, you know, that kind of fits what you're looking for.
- [52:52]
A
Well, you're super adorable.
- [52:54]
B
Yeah.
- [52:54]
C
Yes.
- [52:55]
D
Thank you.
- [52:55]
C
You're not gonna have any problems. Look at that smile. Oh, yeah.
- [52:59]
D
Thank you so much.
- [53:00]
A
Yeah. And I think just. Just even getting to a place in your life where you're just saying it out loud and, you know, calling into a podcast about it and expressing like, the desires and what you actually want in life, those are really important things to actually say out loud and go after and be proactive about. So, like, you know, take these trips, keep talking about it, and then, you know, go on. Have you been on these apps and stuff? Because I think one of the good things about these apps is that you can be so specific about what you are looking for, where you can kind of cut the trash out. You know, like, if you tell somebody, like, this is exactly what, you know, this is what I want. I don't want anyone with kids or I want somebody who's also bi. I want somebody who's never been with. You know, whatever your specifications are, you can say that on an app and that's a nice thing, that while apps have their own set of problems, that's one of the advantages that you can kind of cut out all the noise with your specifications.
- [53:59]
D
Yeah, I've. I've definitely been on the apps. I probably. I delete them on and off every now and then. I don't currently have on my phone now, but I have been, you know, kind of getting that itch of like, maybe should I download it again to see what's going on. So, yeah, maybe I'll. I'll hop back in. It's. And it's not really, I guess, you know, not to like, give myself a big head or anything, but it's not really hard to like, find people to match with. It's just, you know, the. I guess keeping it going is kind of hard. Like, I'm not like a ghoster, but, you know, maybe a little like phantom move about if things aren't really like, you know, picking up or like you can't really see them, you know, going anywhere.
- [54:42]
E
Right.
- [54:43]
D
But yeah, no, I'll probably have to give the apps another try. Again.
- [54:45]
B
I like Chelsea's original idea, which is get out to a gay bar. Like, gay bars are closing across the country. Yes.
- [54:53]
D
Within like a hundred mile radius of me, I'm pretty sure.
- [54:56]
A
Are you sure?
- [54:56]
D
Maybe in Houston. But like, maybe in Houston is like the only place I can think of
- [55:01]
A
there's going to be a gay Bar in Houston. There. There has to be a gay bar in Houston. I mean, I wouldn't be performing in a city that didn't have gay bars. So that's just like, not even. Yeah, so you got to go to. I mean, that's important also. It's also important to meet people. Like, you know, whether it's romantic or not. You want to meet people in your community and build a community.
- [55:19]
D
Absolutely.
- [55:20]
B
Yeah.
- [55:20]
D
Yeah.
- [55:21]
A
So be proactive about it that way. And also, are you on Instagram?
- [55:25]
D
Absolutely. Yeah.
- [55:26]
A
Yeah, so that. That you can geotarget people and, like, look for people in your area, you know, and then you can hit people up on DMs. Yeah, that's a nice way to meet people, especially if you're not, like, you know, for anonymous people who are, like, living. You could slide into someone's DMs and be like, oh, I love your profile. Do you. You know, if. Do you ever want to do something? Like, you see, you know, you look at the vibe of what they are, but, you know, there's all different ways to do it. But I love being, obviously in person is a lost art, and people need to, you know, double down on that A. Because gay bars are closing down all the time, and we need to keep them open and we need to give them business. So keep that in mind also when you're doing this. And. Yeah. Just to build your community. You just want to build. I love that you have friends that are in the same kind of situation as you and that you guys are, like, figuring it out together. That's great that you have, like, a support system, so to speak. So just keep doing that, but be very proactive about putting yourself out there.
- [56:20]
C
Yeah.
- [56:21]
D
Thank you so much. I gotta get my. My bypass. Even Gotta rate a couple of gay bars, I guess.
- [56:26]
E
Yeah.
- [56:26]
A
There you go.
- [56:27]
D
The next step.
- [56:29]
A
And seriously, look at my tour schedule on my Instagram when I'm Atlanta, in Atlanta, if you want to come that weekend, there are always gay men at my shows. There are. And hit Catherine up and we'll coordinate tickets for you and everything.
- [56:44]
D
I will definitely do that. Okay. Thank you so much. Thank you, ladies.
- [56:48]
A
With pleasure, guys.
- [56:49]
F
Yeah.
- [56:50]
B
Awesome.
- [56:50]
A
Thanks, T. Go get it, T. You're so cute.
- [56:54]
D
Thank you so much. You guys.
- [56:56]
C
Have a.
- [56:57]
D
Have a good one.
- [56:58]
A
Okay, Bye.
- [57:00]
C
Bye.
- [57:01]
D
Bye.
- [57:02]
B
Yeah, I love him. He's just so sweet.
- [57:04]
C
He's cute.
- [57:05]
B
So cute. He's gonna do great. He's gonna do just fine.
- [57:10]
A
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DO learn about Devato. Visit devato.com or call 1-877-844-8872. You're probably hearing a lot about longevity right now. And when it comes to skin, aging is associated with a decline in cellular energy. As that energy decreases, skin doesn't regenerate or renew itself as effectively, which is why you start to see dullness, fine lines and loss of firmness. Obagi Medical has been trusted by dermatologists for over 35 years. Their new gen cellular renewal serum is powered by NAD and supports SKIN's natural renewal process. In clinical testing, skin appeared up to six years younger after 12 weeks. Learn more@obagi.com and new customers can use code TEAPOD15 for 15% off qualifying orders. Terms apply when it's time to get a new car, where do you start? Car shopping can be, honestly, a little overwhelming, but it should be fun. Buying your next car should be exciting. And it can be. And if you can remember one thing, it's cars.com My dad was a used car salesman, so I know way more than I want to about the car buying process. And that means I also know how to get a good deal. And that's also why I'm uniquely qualified to tell you how easy it is to find the Perfect car on Cars.com Cars.com has the tools and expert advice to help you figure out what vehicle is right for you. Their site is super easy to use and their advanced search filters allow you to filter over 2 million new and used cars to find the exact car that you're looking for. Every review is written by a real person, reflecting a real life experience. That's how you know you can trust the dealerships. On cars.com cars.com features transparent deal ratings, including tools and badges, to help shoppers understand the price of a vehicle and find the best deal. Finding a good deal is pretty important, and by understanding how a car's price compares to others in the area, Cars.com will help seal the deal. So don't take any chances. Do car shopping the easy way. Start your search with cars.com where to next here's something wild Women go through massive changes in their bodies, and somehow we're just expected to deal with it quietly. No roadmap, no real conversation, and definitely no one explaining what's actually happening. And that's why I really like what Vella is doing. They're helping change the conversation around women's health in a way that feels honest, modern, and long overdue, bringing together science, intimacy, wellness, and the real experience of being in your body. Because it's not just here's a product, it's understanding why things change, how your body evolves, and what you can actually do to feel more connected to yourself again. And I think that matters because when women understand their bodies, they stop feeling confused and start feeling empowered. What Vella is creating feels radical, but honestly, it should have existed a long time ago. Vella, Understand your body. Reclaim what's next? Available now. Visit vellabio.com
- [61:18]
B
well, our next caller is Meg, and she says, happily laid off. But now what? Dear Chelsea, I'm Meg. I'm 51, a Pisces, born in 1975. Just like you, I live outside Philadelphia, and I was just. I was just laid off from an amazing company that I truly felt like I would spend the rest of my career with. It was an amazing place to work until it wasn't New leadership and it all went south. Here's the thing. I'm not devastated. I'm relieved. I can finally breathe again, and that's the part that's keeping me up at night. I've had a good career, and what has genuinely brought me joy, the part I do for free, is leading people, mentoring women early in their careers. Watching someone who didn't believe in herself figure out that she's actually brilliant. Teaching women to be bold and strong and have their voices heard, that has always been the best part of the job. And I've quietly wondered if there's a version of my life where that's not just a sidebar. Are I have a teenage daughter watching every move I make, a list of life projects I keep deferring, and a bit of Runway thanks to savings and a supportive spouse. I want to show my daughter that you don't have to stay on a path just because you've already walked most of it. That reinvention isn't just for your 20s, that it's actually braver to start over at 51 than it ever was at 25. I don't want to just find another job. I want to find the right next chapter. So, Chelsea, you're 51. You've done this, and you don't sugarcoat anything, which is why I need your help. Meg.
- [62:39]
A
Hi, Meg.
- [62:40]
E
Hi.
- [62:41]
C
Hi.
- [62:42]
A
This is Wanda Sykes, our special guest.
- [62:44]
E
Hi, Wanda.
- [62:45]
C
Hi, Meg.
- [62:46]
A
I loved your letter. I think that is really empowering. And you could tell that you're a woman who empowers other women by everything you wrote and wanting to demonstrate that for your daughter. So I don't know, what's the problem? Like, yes, you should. You should reinvent yourself and do something. Do you know what you want to do? Is that what you're asking?
- [63:06]
E
You know, I. I've thought a lot about it. I wrote the letter, like, six weeks ago. So I've had more time to think about it. And, I mean, the more time that's gone by, the more I'm like, I definitely don't feel like going back to what I was doing. It was. It was great. It was a career, but it's not, like, passion in terms of, like, the industry and stuff like that. But what I really love is just being a role model and, like, being a person that, like, I had a lot of earlier career women that were on my team, and they just. They always just, like, came to me for every. Every kind of problem, every kind of challenge. And I always, you know, just really felt like I could. I could figure out the right words to. To help them and to. To lead them. So I just. I think about that, and that's, like, I haven't been doing that too much, and that's what I miss the most. My girls. And, yeah, I just. I. I kind of. I'm trying to figure out, like, what can I do that's maybe leadership focused? But then I also, like, have a lot of different passions in life. I love to travel. I love to ski. I love to, you know, be with my family. So I'm like, how can I, like, do all that and make money? I don't know.
- [64:18]
A
Easily, easily. First of all, you have the whole world at your fingertips. Like, you have such a luxury that you're talking about right now, you financially able to, to do that most people are not. You have a daughter that, like, this is a very exciting time. So, like, you should be really excited. Definitely. If you can get rid of that job that you're not passionate about, get rid of it. The most exciting thing I felt when I turned 50 was like, I was so scared of turning 50, thinking it was like, not so scared, but I kind of was like I wasn't excited. And then I turned 50 and it was like this brand new excitement. Like it was like a whole reset. I don't know if you felt that way Wanda, at 50 or 60, but I feel like every decade gives us like, we're still here. We've got all of our shit together. Like, we're the reason we got ourselves to the position we're in. So we've got receipts to show how competent and capable we are. And then like, you have a whole new like, chapter. It's very exciting. And you kind of, you're smarter than you've ever been. You have more wisdom than you've ever had, and you have more life experience than you ever had. The world is your oyster. You can figure out a way to mentor young girls or business women or however you want to do it easily. That's not going to be hard for you to figure out. You've done it before. And there's everybody. I mean, that's pretty much the most worthwhile thing I can think of doing would be helping other people succeed, you know, So I think you should totally, like, get running in that direction. You seem completely competent in knowing what you're good at. And that's kind of like, you know, the thing that people call in here the most about is not knowing which direction to go in and not knowing what they even feel passionate about. And you have all of those answers. So it's just about taking steps in that direction. Don't you think, Wanda?
- [66:07]
C
Absolutely. Absolutely. I had a real job before I got into comedy. I worked at nsa, but I just knew it was something else that I was supposed to be doing. But I, you know, left the job to pursue comedy because that's what I'm passionate about. I think you, you know, you know what you, the parts of your job which gave you, gave you joy, you said that was helping other women. There's so many non profits out here with who could absolutely, you know, use someone like, you need someone like you. There's, like, women. Actually. I met this woman last night. She runs a program for women who are just coming out of jail, out of. Out of prison.
- [66:52]
A
Yeah.
- [66:53]
E
Yeah.
- [66:53]
C
I mean, if that's not, you know, that makes you uncomfortable, whatever, but still, there's. There's so many programs of, like, nonprofits who need that, who can, you know, give young women a path just to. Just to point them in the right direction as far as, you know, how they can get their, you know, life together, help with the resumes or whatever, to get them, you know, back up and. And into society. So. Yeah. Or, you know, it's like you said, I'm just career advice. I'm sure especially when you come out of college, you don't know what you. What you really want to do unless you're, you know, going for that hard science, you know, doctor, lawyer, whatever. But it's. Yeah. I mean, it's for someone just to sit down and talk with young women about what they want to do and. And also to help them find what they're passionate about. You know, it could save a lot of people a lot of headaches, get going down a path and getting stuck in a job. But then, like, oh, God, where did I. This is. This can't be the rest of my life, you know?
- [67:56]
E
Yeah. Yeah. I loved my career. I loved what I did, and, you know, I learned so much. Like, had I not had all that life experience, and I kind of was like, definitely, always a person that just, like, jumped in, rolled up my sleeves, got, got the job done, whatever needed to be done, and I've always kind of taken that attitude. But, you know, now I'm like, where. How can I. How can I really put, like, pen to paper and say, like, where. Where do I start? Like, I guess that's where I'm kind of struggling. Like, I know in my. In my heart, like, what brings me joy and what. What makes me happy, but I'm kind of like, all right, how do I. How do I find that? And I guess that's. That's kind of where I. Where I am right now.
- [68:34]
A
I feel like you.
- [68:36]
B
Your vibe is high. And I think if you can continue to maintain that high vibe and keep, like, looking and searching, the right thing is going to come to you. Whether that's looking online at different jobs, networking with women's groups, women entrepreneur groups,
- [68:49]
A
or women's business groups, and mentoring opportunities. Like, just go online and look up mentoring opportunities. Cause I'm sure you're gonna run into a Bunch of things you didn't even know existed. There's so many career coaching. I mean, all my friends that are CEOs have like, career coaches. And that might not sound appealing to you, but, like, there's a coach for everything. And if you're a motivational type of person, there's people that are gonna need help with, you know, whatever you're willing to do in terms of like, whether it is for a nonprofit or if it's. Or if it is something where you need to get paid. Like, you just have to start putting your foot forward in that direction. And when you get off this call, like, really sit down and write down what it would look like for you to mentor. Like, what are you looking to do? Do you want to mentor people personally, professionally, like a life coach? Like, what it is you are. Like, write it all down so that you can really kind of like have time to think about what is the most appealing part about that job for you and what you excel at. And I think that you'll get a clearer idea the more you keep kind of being introspective and like, really sitting with all of that.
- [69:55]
B
Yeah, I agree. There's something magical when you write stuff down almost as if it's already happened. Like, this is what my dream job looks like. These are the elements that it has. This is where it's located and get really specific about what you want. That it just like, helps that crystallize and materialize. I know it seems.
- [70:14]
C
Woo woo.
- [70:15]
B
But it really does work.
- [70:16]
C
Work.
- [70:16]
E
No. And you always talk about journaling and. Right. And I'm, you know, I always feel like I open a book and I'm like, okay, I have it all in my head, but where do I, where do I start? So I just need to like, like I said, like, put pen to paper and just try to get some words out. And you know, I've done a lot of writing in my, in my career, so I should be able to do that.
- [70:34]
A
Yeah, but you're gonna be great. Everything's gonna be great for you. I can already tell.
- [70:39]
E
Good.
- [70:39]
C
Yeah. Even that you like to ski. Put together some ski or club or whatever where you bring a bunch of women together and, you know, you all go skiing and talk about shit.
- [70:52]
E
Well, I have my friends that I do that with already.
- [70:55]
B
But you know, there's a business idea in there though, I think.
- [70:59]
C
One.
- [70:59]
F
Yeah.
- [71:00]
E
No, I like it. I like it.
- [71:01]
A
Team building. A team building ski trip. There you go.
- [71:04]
E
Yeah, there you go.
- [71:06]
B
Carpet events. I mean, that's great.
- [71:08]
E
Yeah. Yeah. I'VE done events. I've done just probably about everything in marketing. So there's just, like. There's so many things, so many directions.
- [71:14]
A
Yeah, just get. Get quiet and get with yourself and just, like, write down all the things that are appealing to you and you're. And everything will start to come into focus. You know, if you just allow the time and allow yourself the freedom to walk away from your job and know you're doing that and take a leap of faith in your own competency and see what. What that shapes out to be.
- [71:35]
E
Yeah, that's great. That's great. I appreciate it so much.
- [71:38]
A
Yeah.
- [71:38]
C
And it's the reason why that job ended, because you're supposed to be doing something else. So you're right. Life had to usher you out of it.
- [71:45]
E
You know, those are never, like, great experiences to go through, but sometimes it's that forcing function that you need it. Yeah.
- [71:52]
C
Absolutely not. But, yeah, needed a. Needed a push.
- [71:55]
E
Yeah. And it's summer, so I get to enjoy that with my kids and.
- [71:58]
A
Oh, there you go.
- [71:59]
E
You know, I'll take it.
- [72:00]
B
All right, Meg, will you follow up with us?
- [72:03]
E
I will, I will. I will keep you posted. Thank you so much for having me. It was so nice to meet you all.
- [72:08]
A
Thanks, Meg. Thanks for calling in.
- [72:10]
E
All right, thank you. Bye.
- [72:12]
A
Bye.
- [72:12]
D
Bye.
- [72:13]
A
Okay, Wanda, before we go, I just want to ask you, what is the worst piece of advice that anyone's given you?
- [72:20]
C
They. To wear more, like, dresses on stage. When I said. When they said more, I was like, I'm never. What are you talking about? What are you talking about? Can you see that? Can you see me come out? Some nice, long, like, floral flowy.
- [72:42]
A
Yeah, I know. People have told me that so many times, too. It's like they have one. They have the same advice for all women. Wear more dresses. I had the guy at the Laugh Factory telling me to put a bird on my shoulder. He said I should put a bird on my shoulder. Jamie Masada. But, you know, that was another thing in your special, when you were dancing around and showing, when you were demonstrating, you were, like, losing. I was like, when she stops moving like that. Like, what was that. What was that shuffle you were doing you were acting out?
- [73:13]
C
Oh, the New Edition.
- [73:14]
A
Oh, yeah, yeah. The New Edition dance moves. Yeah, yeah. When you were done, when you were doing that, I was like, that's too much exercise while you're on stage. I'm like, when she stops that, let's see how she's breathing.
- [73:25]
C
I was wounded.
- [73:26]
A
I know. That was really worth it. Though. That was cool. Good stuff. Well, Wanda, thank you so much for being with us today. Everyone. Her special.
- [73:33]
D
Thank you.
- [73:33]
C
That was fun.
- [73:34]
A
It's out now on Netflix. It's streaming and it's called Legacy. Make sure you watch it.
- [73:39]
C
Thank you.
- [73:40]
A
Thank you so much. Say hello to Alex for me, will you, please?
- [73:43]
C
I will.
- [73:44]
A
Okay, thanks. Take care.
- [73:46]
C
Bye.
- [73:47]
B
If you want advice from Chelsea, write in to dearchelsea podcastmail.com Dear Chelsea is a production of iHeartMedia. Follow Chelsea Chelsea on all Socials Elseehandler and find Catherine on TikTok lashkadabra. Dear Chelsea is edited and engineered by Brandon Dickert Executive producer Kathryn Law. Find full video episodes and minisodes now on Netflix and get tickets to see Chelsea live@chelseahandler.com.
- [74:18]
A
Longevity is getting a lot of attention right now, but one of the earliest and most visible signs of aging shows up on the skin, and that's linked with a decline in cellular energy. As skin loses energy over time, it doesn't regenerate or renew itself as efficiently, leading to dullness, fine lines, and loss of firmness. Obagi's newly launched facial serum, New Gen Cellular Renewal Serum, is powered by NAD and designed to support skin longevity. In clinical testing, skin appeared up to six years younger after 12 weeks. Learn more at Obagi.com, and new customers can use code Chelsea50 for 15% off qualifying orders. Terms apply. Here's something wild. Women go through massive changes in their bodies, and somehow we're just expected to deal with it quietly. No roadmap, no real conversation, and definitely no one explaining what's actually happening. And that's why I really like what Vella is doing. They're helping change the conversation around women's health in a way that feels honest, modern, and long overdue, bringing together science, intimacy, wellness, and the real experience of being in your body. Because it's not just here's a product. It's understanding why things change, how your body evolves, and what you can actually do to feel more connected to yourself again. And I think that matters because when women understand their bodies, they stop feeling confused and start feeling empowered. What Vella is creating feels radical, but honestly, it should have existed a long time ago. Vella, understand your body, Reclaim what's next. Available now. Visit vellabio.com It's 2026. We upgraded our phones, our cars, even our coffee. So why are we still acting like pleasure is negotiable at Pink Cherry? It's not. They've got hundreds of toys that actually deliver. And whether you know exactly what you like or you're still figuring it out. There is a wide range to explore if you'd rather skip the guesswork. Their mystery boxes make it easy. They curate a mix for you so you can discover new favorites without overthinking it. And they ship discreetly with free shipping on orders over $59, which we love. So go to pinkcherry.com and use promo code Chelsea to save up to 80% off site wide because life is hard. Feeling good shouldn't be pinkcherry.com because everyone deserves pleasure. Listen, I have access to the top dermatologists, high end treatments, beauty experts, all of it. But what's interesting in those circles is that the conversation has shifted. Now the talk is about extending the longevity of youthful looks way before more invasive options and the latest science from the Mayo Clinic Proceedings plus Stanford University not only do we know now that visible aging happens in bursts, one day you look and feel like yourself and the next, well, no. But we also know that the way our skin looks is a mirror to our overall wellness. That's why people in the industry are talking about Exosomes as the most innovative solution to younger, firmer looking skin. Plated is one of the brands that really stands out. Their Exosome technology has won countless beauty awards as well as innovation awards including Time Best Invention. Plated has over 10 peer reviewed clinical studies data showing remarkable results on real people in just weeks. Plated is is clinically proven to reduce the visible signs of aging and deliver younger, brighter and firmer looking skin. This is more than skincare, it's a cosmetic treatment in a bottle. Visit platedskinscience.
- [77:45]
C
Com.
- [77:45]
A
This is an iHeart podcast. Guaranteed Human.