Not a Loser with Amanda Seyfried

Summary

Dear Chelsea – "Not a Loser with Amanda Seyfried"

Podcast: Dear Chelsea
Host: Chelsea Handler (with co-host Katherine)
Guest: Amanda Seyfried
Release Date: December 18, 2025

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Episode Overview

In this engaging and heartfelt episode, comedian Chelsea Handler and co-host Katherine welcome Academy Award-nominated actress Amanda Seyfried for a candid conversation about her career, personal life, creativity, and challenges. The episode navigates topics ranging from Amanda’s celebrated roles and journeys with anxiety and singing, to the joys and chaos of farm life, and even provides heartfelt advice to listeners on love, risk-taking, and family boundaries. The signature "Dear Chelsea" tone prevails—funny, disarmingly honest, warm, and a touch irreverent.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Amanda Seyfried's Oscar and Golden Globe Nominations

• Recognition for "The Testament of Ann Lee" and "Housemaid"
  • Chelsea gushes over Amanda’s talent and congratulates her on her recent nominations for “The Testament of Ann Lee” and upcoming release “Housemaid”.
  • Amanda corrects misconceptions about her previous nominations, confirming her Dropout win (08:40).

Notable Quote:

“This is one of the most talented people in this industry. She can do fucking anything.” — Chelsea Handler (10:57)

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2. Performing & Process: Singing, Anxiety, and Self-Acceptance

• Amanda’s Evolving Relationship with Her Voice
  • Discusses her journey from “Les Mis” to "Ann Lee," letting go of perfectionism in her singing and valuing authenticity over technique.
  • Shares her disappointment over not getting “Wicked,” but reframes it as fate (12:22).

Notable Quotes:

“I finally stopped listening to myself in the way that kind of made it not fun to sing.” — Amanda Seyfried (13:53)
“It’s a human voice, not a trained voice.” — Amanda Seyfried (14:42)

• Anxiety as a Performer
  • Amanda and Chelsea reflect on anxiety—public speaking, acceptance speeches, and the unpredictability it brings (09:49-10:27).

Notable Quote:

“If you had to get up on that stage, who knows which way the wind would have blown… You’re a little bit like… You don’t know what’s gonna happen.” — Chelsea Handler (09:51)

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3. "The Testament of Ann Lee": Religion, Trauma, and Female Agency

• Portraying Ann Lee
  • Amanda describes the film’s themes: religion, the Quaker movement, sexuality, female leadership, and communal trauma.
  • Chelsea comments humorously on the logic behind Ann’s choices ("becomes Christ to get out of sex") and the resonance of female autonomy (14:48).
  • Both discuss the historical context of trauma and how religious communities grapple with sexuality and pain.

Notable Quotes:

“She becomes, like, the female Christ, and then uses that as an excuse to stop having sex with her husband. Which I think is really a tale as old as time.” — Chelsea Handler (14:53)
“The direct line between sex and pain was too clear for her.” — Amanda Seyfried (15:49)

• Working with a Female Director
  • Amanda contrasts the empowerment and understanding of shooting intimate scenes with a woman vs. a male director—especially in traumatic or sexual contexts (18:15-20:07).

Notable Quote:

“When there’s a woman who’s in charge of how it’s being shot and what’s being seen... it just feels heavier, it feels more empowered, and it feels more truthful.” — Amanda Seyfried (19:22)

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4. Craft & Creativity: Method, Preparation, and Compassion

• Diving into Different Roles
  • Amanda shares thoughts on how she prepares for vastly different projects ("Ann Lee" vs. "Housemaid"), including accent work, authenticity, and learning choreography.
  • She emphasizes empathy and “falling in love” with her characters, no matter how complicated (20:42-21:45).

Notable Quote:

“I just had to fall in love with her... It comes from compassion and all that stuff. You know, human to human stuff.” — Amanda Seyfried (21:25)

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5. Farm Life, Family, and Balance

• Daily Life in the Catskills
  • Amanda opens up about her life on a farm with her husband, children, mother, and aging pets. She loves the grounding aspect of nature and the responsibilities outside her career (24:38-29:42).
  • Joking about kitchen disasters, learning to poach eggs, and animal-related chaos.

Notable Quotes:

“It’s... basic meaning nature is bigger than you here... It’s not judging you... It’s just there. And when all the noise is gone... it’s probably really healthy.” — Amanda Seyfried (29:42)

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6. Taking Risks: Listener Advice Segment

Angela’s Dilemma: Love vs. Business (36:45–42:29)

• A 34-year-old listener faces a crossroads: pursue romance with her long-distance love in Ecuador, or double down on her new floral business in Buffalo.
• Chelsea and Amanda encourage Angela to chase the adventure, while also offering practical advice—trialing someone to manage the business and viewing the move as an “experience,” not just “for a man.”

Notable Quotes:

“When you say yes to life, life says yes to you.” — Chelsea Handler (40:34)
“It's bigger than a guy. It’s about being in love and about the experience. The experience of love. It doesn't matter who the person is.” — Amanda Seyfried (40:25)

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Lindsay’s Dilemma: Setting Wedding Boundaries (46:10–51:49)

• Lindsay seeks advice on not inviting her father's difficult partner (“the Bee”) to her wedding, worrying about family fallout.
• Upon updating, Lindsay shares her father was surprisingly receptive.
• The hosts praise Lindsay’s boundary-setting and affirm that her self-respect will lead to a happier wedding.

Notable Quotes:

“The bride... is the most important person on any wedding day. You created a boundary. You're self-respecting, you're self-preserving.” — Chelsea Handler (48:21)

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7. Love Story: Amanda & Her Husband

• Amanda recounts, with endearing honesty and humor, the messy and complicated steps to meeting and committing to her husband: meeting during a stage play, both in other relationships at first, feelings of self-doubt and "feeling like a loser," enduring a tough breakup, and finally coming together (57:51–63:39). They discuss how being "held down" (supported) is crucial when you're vulnerable.

Notable Quotes:

“I also didn’t know... I just assumed he thought I was a loser, because that’s kind of how I, you know, viewed myself when it came to men. I worked on it. I no longer feel that way, thank God.” — Amanda Seyfried (58:08)
“But you know what also about damaged women? We can fucking fix ourselves, and then we can be whole again, and we don’t need another.” — Amanda Seyfried (63:19)

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Memorable & Funny Moments

• Chelsea’s culinary drama: Dropping sweet potatoes in the oven at the moment of triumph (27:22).
• The Edgerton Bet: A running bet on how to pronounce Joel Edgerton’s name, playful banter and "sing-song" penalty (05:41–06:33).
• Amanda’s honest self-deprecation: Her self-awareness and humor about being “not a loser” but feeling like one in the past, plus candid stories of farm mishaps and parenting.

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Important Timestamps

• [07:57] Introduction of Amanda Seyfried—live from the Catskills
• [10:52] Discussion of award nominations and Amanda’s talent
• [13:13] Amanda on singing for film, letting go of perfection
• [15:15] Sexuality, trauma, and religious themes in "Ann Lee"
• [18:15] Working with a female director – differences and impact
• [20:42] Amanda’s approach to wildly different roles
• [24:38] Amanda’s daily life on the farm and with family
• [36:45] Angela’s call – advice on romance vs. business
• [46:10] Lindsay’s call – handling a toxic step-parent at her wedding
• [57:51] Amanda’s love story and honest reflections on relationships

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Closing Thoughts

This episode weaves comedy, vulnerability, and insight—offering listeners honest perspectives on creativity, boundaries, risk, and self-worth. Chelsea and Amanda’s rapport is effortless and supportive. Between Hollywood stories and heartfelt advice, the message is clear: embrace adventure, trust yourself, and don’t be afraid to be a little weird (or to chase a "snack" of a dog around a snowy farm).

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For Listeners Who Missed the Episode

Expect a lively, insightful, and emotionally rich conversation—whether you’re interested in showbiz, self-realization, or simply a reminder that it’s okay to laugh, cry, and take risks. Amanda Seyfried is open and witty; Chelsea Handler is unfiltered as ever. And the advice? Unapologetically empowering.

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Transcript

[Chelsea Handler]

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[Katherine]

Hi Chelsea. Is it still raining in Whistler?

[Chelsea Handler]

Well, it's raining in the valley. It snowed. I got up at midnight because Doug woke me up because he had diarrhea. So he woke me up at midnight. I went out, took him. It was a winter wonderland. There was snow everywhere. I was like, oh my God. And it was so beautiful. And then I woke up this morning and it was raining. I really this climate change is now it's a situation of like the valley and then like mid mountain, you have to see where the freezing level is.

[Katherine]

So have you been able to ski at all yet or no?

[Chelsea Handler]

Yeah, I skied.

[Caller or Guest]

I've skied.

[Chelsea Handler]

I've skied. When you go up top, it's fine, but it's just kind of hard to get on the mountain in the rain and then go all the way up and then you're like, oh, it's snow.

[Amanda Seyfried]

So.

[Chelsea Handler]

But you know, I just have to stay focused.

[Katherine]

So what are you doing in this last couple of weeks of the year? Are you chilling?

[Chelsea Handler]

Are people visiting People are visiting people. My niece and her boyfriend arrive tomorrow. I have another friend coming from that I met on my cruise to Antarctica. That's the new pronunciation of Antarctica. I was forgetting the second T or the first one. And then yeah, I have some people coming. And then, oh, I've been watching all the movies. I have my link for my Critics Choice because I'm hosting the Critics Choice Awards on January 4th. So I have to get all of those movies in my brain to come up with my jokes and monologue and La la, la. I mean, I have writers that are also working on it, so hopefully they're working harder than I am.

[Katherine]

Hopefully they're watching those movies too now.

[Amanda Seyfried]

Okay.

[Chelsea Handler]

I don't know if you're allowed to.

[Katherine]

Say, but do you have any favorites so far?

[Chelsea Handler]

Well, I watched Hamnet yesterday, which made me ball. I ball.

[Katherine]

I really want to watch it.

[Amanda Seyfried]

I'm very excited.

[Chelsea Handler]

I mean, I love that. I love crying like a baby on my couch alone with Doug, and then Doug comes over to console me. It's really cute. Yeah, Hamnet was beautiful. J. Kelly. I just started. I have to watch that. Adam Sandler is so good when he's, like, acting, acting, and I don't know. Yeah, I've seen so many that it's really. Oh, yeah. Train Dreams with. Is really good with Joel Edgarton and What's that?

[Katherine]

Actually, it's Edgerton.

[Chelsea Handler]

Is it Edgerton?

[Katherine]

I think it's Edgerton.

[Chelsea Handler]

I think it's.

[Amanda Seyfried]

Maybe you're right, though.

[Katherine]

Okay, I'm.

[Chelsea Handler]

We'll look at your. Okay, let's. Let's make a bet.

[Caller or Guest]

Okay.

[Katherine]

All right.

[Chelsea Handler]

What should we bet?

[Katherine]

What should we bet?

[Chelsea Handler]

If I'm right, you can't sing sing song words anymore. You can't go. Okay, hi, Chelsea. And if you're right, what can I do anymore?

[Katherine]

Be mad at me for sing songing.

[Chelsea Handler]

Okay. All right, that's fair. Okay, look it up. Look it up right now in real time.

[Katherine]

Looking it up.

[Amanda Seyfried]

Okay.

[Katherine]

Edgerton or Edgerton?

[Chelsea Handler]

You're gonna be right.

[Katherine]

And now I'm like, you are gonna be right. Okay, it's coming.

[Chelsea Handler]

Please welcome back to the show our.

[Caller or Guest]

Friend Joel Edgerton, everybody.

[Amanda Seyfried]

Oh.

[Caller or Guest]

Fuck.

[Katherine]

See, now you have to love my sing songing. I do try to rein it in sometimes, but.

[Chelsea Handler]

You should. You should try to rein it in. It doesn't really match this podcast. Well, I guess it does match the podcast. It doesn't match me.

[Katherine]

It's like a nice balance, right?

[Chelsea Handler]

Hopefully.

[Caller Angela]

Hopefully.

[Chelsea Handler]

I was actually afraid it was gonna.

[Amanda Seyfried]

Make your head explode, Katherine. It'd be like holding in a sneeze.

[Chelsea Handler]

Yeah, exactly. Save it for the bedroom, you two. Okay. Save the singing for the bedroom, please.

[Katherine]

Okay.

[Chelsea Handler]

Today was one of my favorite people. We've had so many great actresses on lately, and this is another one. She's an Academy Award nominated actress, a Golden Globe win for her work in the Dropout, and she has a second Golden Globe nomination for her new movie, the Testament of Ann Lee. So Please welcome Amanda Seyfried. Welcome. Amanda Seyfried is on the podcast today. She's on Dear Chelsea. She's coming to us live from her farm, I think, in the Catskills, I want to say. Is that right?

[Caller or Guest]

Yes.

[Chelsea Handler]

Are you going to audibly respond or are you just going to do thumbs up for this interview?

[Amanda Seyfried]

You know what this is?

[Caller or Guest]

This is Zoom culture.

[Chelsea Handler]

Yeah, well, Amanda, we've been in Zoom culture since fucking 2020. You've had five years to get a head start.

[Amanda Seyfried]

No, it's because I'm used to it. Last night I was on an hour long call on mute, giving, you know, thumbs ups and a. Okay.

[Chelsea Handler]

You know what is nice about Zoom culture is sometimes you just pretend that you can't get on so that you don't have to. Like, I've done that before when I've had, like a business zoom. I'm like, I can't make it work. I'm on mute. And then I just can. And then I just click. The meeting's over without me.

[Amanda Seyfried]

I mean, always one person that does that. And now I'm gonna question it every time.

[Chelsea Handler]

Right, right. So we have a lot to celebrate. Amanda was just nominated for. You've been nominated for Golden Globes before, right? For Mamma Mia. You got nominated and I think you won. Oh, whoops. Okay. You were snubbed that year, so she was nominated this year. We're gonna. She. She's lip syncing again. She was nominated for. It's called the Testament of Ann Lee and this is a move. So congratulations, Amanda. Why don't you take your flowers for a second? Say thank you.

[Amanda Seyfried]

Thank you so much. Double, double time. It's been great. I did not get a Golden Globe nomination from Mamma Mia. But that was okay.

[Chelsea Handler]

Did you get another Golden Globe nomination before?

[Amanda Seyfried]

I got a nomination? And I won for the Dropout, and I wasn't there.

[Chelsea Handler]

Ooh, wow, that's pretty tricky. Where were you? On your farm?

[Amanda Seyfried]

No, I had to work.

[Chelsea Handler]

You said that in quotes. Like, you put quotes up. Like you didn't really have to work. I totally had to work.

[Amanda Seyfried]

It was. It was. It would have been impossible. It probably would have been possible, but it was. It felt like too tricky to get all the way to LA from working.

[Chelsea Handler]

Where were you?

[Amanda Seyfried]

I was actually doing a workshop of a musical and it felt like everybody's scheduled had to align for so long that we finally got them all to align in this one week and it just happened to be that Golden Globe week. So it was the first thing I had won and then I didn't get to accept it, which I guess maybe that's a blessing.

[Chelsea Handler]

Well, listen, I'm aware of your anxiety. You've talked a lot about your anxiety, and I think it is a blessing because if you had to get up on that stage, who knows which way the wind would have blown? You know what I mean? Cause you're a little bit like. You don't know what's gonna happen.

[Amanda Seyfried]

X Factor, man.

[Chelsea Handler]

Yeah, it's an X factor, which I fucking. I mean, listen, we all fucking love it. But probably for your personal well being, it was better for you to be in a workshop. And that's also very professional that you were able to say, I'm not gonna go to the first nomination I got, then win, and then come back to your group of actors. They must have even respected you more after that.

[Amanda Seyfried]

Yeah.

[Chelsea Handler]

Okay, well, I'll follow up with all.

[Amanda Seyfried]

Of those people, I think so. There was a lot of celebration, actually. Yeah, it was nice.

[Chelsea Handler]

So you were nominated for a Critics Choice Award this year. Just so you know, I'm hosting the Critics Choice, so I am. I am definitely going to single you out and do something funny for you or about you, because you know how I feel about you and I just think that you deserve that.

[Amanda Seyfried]

Thank you. In any way, shape or form, I would be happy to join you.

[Chelsea Handler]

Maybe we will do something cute together. That's actually a great idea. But I am very excited that you got nominated because first of all, I just want to be in total seriousness, this is one of the most talented people in this industry. She can do fucking anything. She can do anything. Demonstrated by her two movies that are out right now. I think Housemaid comes out tomorrow. And the Testament of Ann Lee is going to come out shortly after. So. And these are two completely different movies. One is about the Quaker movement and this woman. Let's talk about the Testament of Anne Lee, because this is. I had to watch this movie twice. The first time I was stoned.

[Amanda Seyfried]

Wait, I can't imagine watching it. Stoned is a. But hence experience.

[Chelsea Handler]

It was. I didn't understand which religion we were in. I understood, like, there's a lot of singing and dancing, which I all hope turns into TikTok dances because they're intense. And Amanda's an incredible singer. I heard you sing that Carole King song, I don't know. On whose late night show recently, because you were trying to. Joni. Oh, yeah. Joni Mitchell. Sorry, not Carole King.

[Amanda Seyfried]

No, it's mine.

[Caller or Guest]

I love it.

[Chelsea Handler]

Joni Mitchell. What was the song called Hotel California.

[Amanda Seyfried]

Yeah, it was like a quick little.

[Chelsea Handler]

I know, but. But you were talking about your voice and your singing voice and saying that you don't really believe. Like, I guess you. What was the movie you auditioned for that you didn't get where you had to sing?

[Amanda Seyfried]

You want me to say it out loud?

[Chelsea Handler]

Well, if you.

[Amanda Seyfried]

I'm kidding. No, no, it's a joke. I'm over it. Wicked.

[Chelsea Handler]

Wicked, right? Oh, right. So that's even a double whammy. So all of. But look.

[Caller or Guest]

See.

[Chelsea Handler]

Look at this.

[Amanda Seyfried]

No, exactly. It's all happened exactly. Like, I. I truly believe that it was for the best, for sure, for everyone involved, because I got to do this, too.

[Chelsea Handler]

You were talking on this interview that I saw about your singing voice, and you were saying how much you've worked on your singing voice since Les Mis, and in Les Mis, we all thought you fucking nailed it. And you were saying that you have become a better singer since then and that you weren't at the level or at the place you wanted to be when you filmed Les Mis. Do you still agree with that assessment?

[Amanda Seyfried]

Well, I agree with that assessment, but I also completely let go of the need to access something that I might not ever be able to access in terms of, like, control of the vibrato and the stamina and the breath work. I understand that I'm not gonna be starring in a musical on Broadway where I need the kind of stamina that I've been trying to build. You know, my voice is specifically because I ended up doing something like Ann Lee, where it wasn't about how it sounded. It was about where it came from. It was about how it was felt, not just by me, but by the audience. Right.

[Caller or Guest]

But by.

[Amanda Seyfried]

By her followers. And it's like I finally stopped listening to myself in the way that kind of made it not fun to sing.

[Caller or Guest]

I mean, I.

[Amanda Seyfried]

Listen, I will say, during my Wicked auditions, I sang better than I thought I would. I felt I was. I think it came with the. The excitement, the momentum of. Of. Of how much I was training for it. And I. I was very proud of myself. For sure. That will never go away, But I also realized maybe I'm just not that kind of singer. And I don't. I don't need to sound like anyone else. It took me four years, but at least I'm here. And. And. And, you know, when I listen, if I were to listen to the songs in Les Mis, it was exactly how it needed to be for that time. And. And Ann Lee came, and I was Able to, you know, the opportunity was amazing.

[Caller Lindsay]

And it was.

[Amanda Seyfried]

It was perfect for where my voice was in that. It's a human voice, not a trained voice.

[Chelsea Handler]

Yeah, yeah, I like what you just said. That's perfectly said, because you are singing for, like, your followers and you are leading this group of people. And then, I love. Midway through the movie, she gives herself. She becomes Christ. She becomes, like, the female Christ, and then uses that as an excuse to have sex. Stop having sex with her husband. Which I think is really a tale as old as time.

[Caller or Guest]

Yeah.

[Amanda Seyfried]

And you know what? Everybody was like, oh, for. For Jesus, for peace, for. For communion with God. Sure. Listen, I don't think any of us would denounce or, you know, eliminate fornication nowadays, because even though it's tricky, it's still incredibly pleasurable. But they weren't up for pleasure. They wanted peace. And it was. It made sense to her. In her trauma.

[Chelsea Handler]

Yes.

[Amanda Seyfried]

In her trauma as a woman, you know, losing these children. The direct. You know, the direct line between sex and pain was too clear for her.

[Chelsea Handler]

It had to be painful. Everything had to be painful.

[Amanda Seyfried]

Yeah. And it makes sense. It made sense for her. But the fact that, you know, almost 6,000 people at one one point were like, yeah, I can do that too.

[Chelsea Handler]

Right.

[Amanda Seyfried]

Lose my mind. I would love to know how many people were hiding and having birth control.

[Katherine]

There was a birth control. So, you know, kind of. There's a giveaway at the end of that.

[Chelsea Handler]

Yeah, right, right. Exactly.

[Caller or Guest]

That's true.

[Chelsea Handler]

So how is this. Cause you had a female director. So, I mean. And there's a lot of nudity. There's a lot of sex in this movie. There's a lot of childbirth. Yes. A lot of childbirth. A lot of, like, bearing. I mean, birthing positions that I hadn't been familiar with prior to watching this.

[Amanda Seyfried]

Right. It's a lesson for a lot of people that childbirth is traumatic for most people. And there's nothing like a scene in a movie where you can see it from where it's all happening, I think, necessary. Do you know, like, apparently this is a rumor. I don't know if it's for sure, but I believe it to be true that in Venice, 15 men walked out after that scene.

[Chelsea Handler]

Oh, I read that. I read that. Oh, that's so.

[Amanda Seyfried]

And I'm like, men, men. These are your babies.

[Chelsea Handler]

Yeah.

[Amanda Seyfried]

You created your seed.

[Chelsea Handler]

Created this baby. Exactly.

[Amanda Seyfried]

The seed is from you.

[Chelsea Handler]

I posted this thing on Instagram the other day where I was like. It was a quote from Cher about, you know, what men if men knew. If men had to give up and interrupt their career and give up nine months of their physical life and breastfeeding. Yeah, all of the things like that, they would want to have a say in it. And I posted, like, credited Cher, and, like, there's like 50 guys on there going, well, you don't think this affects our life too? Like, this is so sexist to say it only impacts women. It's like, oh, shut up. Just shut up. You're missing the whole fucking point. But how was it working doing all of that? All those sex scenes, all those birthing scenes. Like, how was it working with a female director versus a male director? Was there a big difference for you?

[Amanda Seyfried]

Well, there's no question with Mona. She and I have lived. We can relate on. On things that I can relate to with men. And that's just a fact. There's a trust. There's an innate trust in how it's going to be shot, in why it's important. There are no questions. At a certain point when you go on a set, you have, you know, we've got our dp, who's a man who I love and trust and, like a family member. We have these male crew members. But when there's a woman who's in charge of how it's being shot and what's being seen and how the story's gonna unfold, it just feels heavier, it feels more empowered, and it feels more truthful, especially when it comes to that kind of content, that kind of situation and experience. And I'm not saying a male director couldn't have done it beautifully. I'm just saying my perspective and the way I felt in that room, that tiny little room, I. I was empowered as well. And I probably would have been empowered. Like, I worked with Adam McGuy, and I was super naked in. In a movie I did when I was 24 called Chloe. And I didn't question much because there was a lot of. There's a lot of discussion around the whole thing. For a while, it felt. Felt the way it needed that. You know, we were doing everything right. But I'm just saying, like, with Mona, I don't know, she's just got a sensitivity to these things. And I'm not saying you have to have gone through childbirth to understand. It's just a sensibility that we have and an instinct that we have as women. That for me, when I'm working, especially with that kind of subject matter, I just feel a little closer to it. I feel a little bit more. It's more reachable. I just feel like I'm being taken care of as well. Long story short.

[Chelsea Handler]

No, no, I like to hear you talk about it. Cause I'm curious about what kind of actor you are. Are you a method actor? Cause these two projects, you're. Cause these two projects are so different. Like housemaid. I can't imagine that that's a method acting role, right? That's more of, like camp and like, you know, crazy. Kind of like Thriller. And it's based on all these books. And then this one is real serious. Like, you've gotta do your. So how do you approach two different roles like this? Like, what do you do as an actor?

[Amanda Seyfried]

The thing about Annalee is that she's a real iconic person who. Whose story has not been told in really any grand way that she so deserves, I think. And so, like, there's a lot of responsibility because to know everything I could possibly know about her and also to learn everything. Like, there's so much collaboration. Obviously it was like 18th century. We don't know what those dances really look like. We don't know exactly how she's saying. Like, there's so many things that we had the freedom to explore and change and design. So with those designs, I had to like, completely embody the. Like, I had to move. I don't hate dancing, but I had to learn the choreography. I had to understand why each move was happening from a spiritual point of view, from. From a necessity point of view. Because she was so committed and so devoted. I just had to embody someone in a way that I haven't before because of. Because of the nature of, like, what. Treat. What she created. And she was only able to create that because she so believed that she was the Messiah. And I just had to fall in love with her, like, like with Elizabeth Holmes. I had to fall in love with her. I just have to somehow find it in my. You know, find the sisterhood, create it, which comes from compassion and all that stuff. You know, human to human stuff. Like, you know, being able to relate to the character you're playing. But I also had to, like. I mean, I just had to. There was so much pre production, so much preparation. Cause there was a Manchester accent too.

[Chelsea Handler]

Oh, yeah, that was really good.

[Amanda Seyfried]

I mean, that was a great hill.

[Chelsea Handler]

And is that you narrating the whole film?

[Amanda Seyfried]

No, that's Thomas and Mackenzie with her accent and she's from New Zealand.

[Chelsea Handler]

Oh, okay. Because I was confused because I was like, this sounded like you sometimes.

[Amanda Seyfried]

And then it wasn't because you Watched it Stone.

[Chelsea Handler]

I know. And that's why I went back and I watched sober.

[Amanda Seyfried]

But also, it's okay. Like, I think the experience you had watching Destiny Manly Stone is. Must have been somewhat confusing, but also maybe enlightening in a different way. I think it's wonderful. I actually told my caretaker at my farm who's not here today to, you know, have like, a shot of rumors.

[Chelsea Handler]

Yeah, for sure. You should have a shot of something. Absolutely. Because it's a lot to take in, and it's something that's so foreign to modern day. Like, you know what we believe in, like, modern day culture. Like, you really have to get into it. And the good thing about being stoned is that you kind of just drop judgment and you're just kind of taking something in. That's what I like about it. Sometimes when I'm. I watch a movie and I'm not stoned, I'm like, right away, like, oh, like, you know, this is not necessary. This is gratuitous. Or this is too much sex.

[Amanda Seyfried]

Or this is what I want to drop, like, for watching all these Academy movies. Yeah, it's. It's. First of all, some of it's homework and it. I hate things that feel like homework, but some. But I should be stoned. I'm. I'm. I think I bought gummies. I like cbd, but I haven't taken them yet because I'm afraid to get stoned. Because I. The times I've been really stoned have been people. I'm sure I've told you some of these stories before. It's bad, but I think I should do that because when I was watching another movie the other night, I'm like, why are they shooting it like that? Well, why. Why are we watching from this direction? Why do they say that? Like, okay too. Like, I'm just judging everything.

[Chelsea Handler]

Exactly. And that's.

[Caller or Guest]

That's.

[Chelsea Handler]

That's the best gift that cannabis gives me is to drop the judgment. I just can be and enjoy something. So we would need to just find you the right concoction because I know your personality is a little bit tricky with drugs and stuff.

[Amanda Seyfried]

There's like a 2.5 THC gummy that has, like, a lot more CBD in it. Price. Charlotte's Web.

[Chelsea Handler]

It can have a lot more CBD in it because it's 2.5 milligrams. So whatever.

[Amanda Seyfried]

It has CC.

[Chelsea Handler]

Yeah, but it doesn't. That's two point. It's like, that's nothing. Anyway, so 2.5.

[Amanda Seyfried]

I'm not a scientist.

[Chelsea Handler]

I am. I am a scientist. Soy scientista.

[Amanda Seyfried]

Soy astronauta.

[Chelsea Handler]

So soy soy astroglida. Let's talk about what's happening on this farm that you live on. I love that you live in the Catskills on a farm with your two kids and your husband. Is it so nice? Tell us about your life.

[Amanda Seyfried]

And my mom.

[Chelsea Handler]

And your mom.

[Amanda Seyfried]

Yeah, she's right over there.

[Chelsea Handler]

Hi, mom.

[Amanda Seyfried]

She can't hear you because you put. Made me put headphones in that time.

[Chelsea Handler]

I said hello.

[Amanda Seyfried]

You know who else is here? My decrepit 16 year old dog. She's waving.

[Chelsea Handler]

Oh, your poor dog.

[Amanda Seyfried]

I know. And I saw him yesterday. I was on a. I was on his Zoom and I saw him whip by so fast from the barn to the house and I saw a car backing up and I was like, this might be the moment.

[Caller or Guest]

No, this might be the moment.

[Amanda Seyfried]

He goes in or falls because of the ice. And he's an idiot. He's 16 and he keeps running, tries to eat everything. Anyway, the farm's great. It's. It's great. It's great. I'm leaving again right after I talk to you. I gotta go to the city and do some concerts tonight. I don't even wanna. I don't even know.

[Chelsea Handler]

Are you singing?

[Amanda Seyfried]

Singing some stuff from the. And Ann Lee.

[Chelsea Handler]

And so your mom's there to hold down the fort while you go with Tommy.

[Amanda Seyfried]

And then although he's in the city right now because he also has a life. It's really tricky. Yeah.

[Chelsea Handler]

Where, where does, where. Why does he get to have a life?

[Amanda Seyfried]

No, the. No, it's great. It's. It's just. It was six degrees when we got up today. And so all the animals are walking on ice. And when they have four feet. Right. Four legs. All of them have four legs, four wheel drive. It's great. And there are a lot of them in the barn and so it's, it's. We got a lot of heat lamps up and I always think about fires and, you know, it's. It's managing a lot and I understand that. I chose this life, so I can't whine about it. But it's tricky. I like the word tricky.

[Chelsea Handler]

I do too.

[Amanda Seyfried]

It's all encompassing.

[Chelsea Handler]

Yeah. And it's also. You have to keep an eye on. It's not that you're complaining about it. You just have a lot. A bigger set of responsibilities.

[Amanda Seyfried]

Like this morning I dropped the kids off and said goodbye and cried because I should be getting my period any second.

[Chelsea Handler]

Did they cry?

[Amanda Seyfried]

No.

[Chelsea Handler]

Yeah.

[Amanda Seyfried]

I cried. And. And their classrooms are next to each other. It's. It's a nice life. And then I got back, and I decided to go with the time I had. Help the person who's feeding right now and do the stalls and do the. And take the. The horseshit out of the stalls and put new shavings in the stalls and do the buckets and stuff. And that is my least favorite chore. But I did it because I wanted to feel productive and, like, I. Helpful?

[Chelsea Handler]

Yeah, I get that feeling a lot. I always feel like, what am I really contributing, you know, other than my personality? Because I don't make a ton of contributions. Like, I can't.

[Caller or Guest]

Do you cook?

[Chelsea Handler]

I mean, I'm trying to, but last night, I tried to take out these sweet potatoes from the oven, and the pan fell out of my hands, and then all the sweet potatoes fell into the crease of the oven. So I had nailed it. I had made a turkey burger with cheese, grilled onions, and a poached egg on top. I was like, fuck me. Right now I'm the ruler of all kitchens.

[Amanda Seyfried]

And.

[Chelsea Handler]

And then I went to go take out the sweet potatoes as a nice little accent, and then everything went sideways, so I declared victory too early. So that's as, like, sophisticated as I've ever gotten in the kitchen. Was last night's turkey burger.

[Amanda Seyfried]

I don't even know how to poach an egg.

[Caller or Guest]

Oh.

[Chelsea Handler]

Oh, well, great. I love being one step ahead of you in the kitchen.

[Amanda Seyfried]

Oh, you're 70,000 steps ahead of me in the kitchen. I don't know anything.

[Chelsea Handler]

Well, it sounds like you know how to farm a little bit.

[Amanda Seyfried]

Yeah, but that's not in the kitchen.

[Chelsea Handler]

No, but it sounds like you're making a contribution, like. Yeah.

[Amanda Seyfried]

Yes, you're right.

[Chelsea Handler]

Can you clean? Like, are you good at cleaning up messes?

[Amanda Seyfried]

Yes. Okay.

[Chelsea Handler]

I can't do that either. No, I can't.

[Caller or Guest]

I just.

[Amanda Seyfried]

Yes, you can.

[Chelsea Handler]

I could, I guess, but I don't really. Ever heard of a Clorox wipe? I don't like to just. I don't like any sort of, like, stain removal. I have to get someone else involved.

[Amanda Seyfried]

So then if you're home alone and one of the dogs missed two. Right.

[Chelsea Handler]

There's one now. Yeah.

[Amanda Seyfried]

Snack.

[Chelsea Handler]

Yeah, snack.

[Amanda Seyfried]

And a snack takes a giant dump on your carpet.

[Chelsea Handler]

Snack will get put down. If he did something like that. That would never.

[Amanda Seyfried]

Well, he's gonna. Cause he's gonna get old.

[Chelsea Handler]

No, no, no, no, no, no. He's. First of all, he's not gonna get Old. I will clone him before that happens. Secondly, he's two and a half. So don't get ahead of yourself and project about your 16 year old dog. Okay. Onto my two and a half year old snack.

[Amanda Seyfried]

I'm just saying.

[Chelsea Handler]

I sent Amanda a picture of snack of Doug the other day and she goes, that's a snack.

[Katherine]

He is a snack.

[Caller Angela]

He's extremely tasty.

[Amanda Seyfried]

He's a snack. It is.

[Chelsea Handler]

What's your dog's name again?

[Amanda Seyfried]

Finn.

[Chelsea Handler]

Oh yeah, yeah. Finn's been around forever. Finn has these crazy eyes too. Doesn't he have two different color eyes?

[Caller or Guest]

Nope.

[Amanda Seyfried]

You're getting that confused with somebody else's dog.

[Chelsea Handler]

Interesting.

[Amanda Seyfried]

But I do have a horse with two different color eyes. Oh yeah.

[Chelsea Handler]

You're such a farmer. I love it. Amanda, tell me why you decided to move to a farm. You know, why not? But do you think that it helps? I think it probably helps you when you go away a ton, right? Like for your work and career. It's so nice to be removed from all of that.

[Amanda Seyfried]

It's, it's that you. It's so basic here. It's not, it's not basic. I'm like, basic meaning. Nature is bigger than you here. Like, like you in the mountains. Like you're inside of this giant world and you, in some ways you feel protected because nature is very powerful. But it's, it's not trying to fuck with you. It's not judging you. It's not trying to take your job or belittle you or manipulate you. It's just there. And when all the noise is gone, there's probably a frequency, a lower frequency that you're operating on, which is probably really healthy. And also like, you get to like, worry about real things. And I'm not saying that like living in Hollywood or living in New York City is bad for me. I'm just saying, like, I can take it, a chunk of it and really enjoy myself. You know, getting in an Uber and going from one place to the next and then walking from one block to the next and getting a Starbucks and a Zabar's bagel and a pedicure all within an hour. It's dreamy. But it's, you know, it's a. For a good temporary fix.

[Chelsea Handler]

It can be taxing.

[Amanda Seyfried]

It can be taxing. Yeah. I don't need all that energy.

[Chelsea Handler]

I'm with you. I listen. I spend about 45 days a year max in Los Angeles because I love to just be out and about in different places. So I can relate to what you're saying let's. Katherine, you said we have a caller, right? We're gonna take a quick break. We're gonna be back with Amanda Seyfried and we're gonna take a caller. Cause Amanda, I think you should be giving advice to people. That's the obvious next step. And this is an advice call in show. So we're going to take a break. We'll be right back. Hi guys. I have some very exciting news. I am always looking for companies to support that are ethical. And let's be honest, the phone companies we've all been stuck with are not that. You know, I travel constantly and supposedly I have international free roaming on Verizon, yet my phone bills are still 300, 400 and even $500 a month. It makes zero sense. So I switched to a company with actual ethics, Noble Mobile. And they pay you for staying off your phone. The more you unplug, the more money you save each month and the most you'll ever pay is 50 bucks. Unlimited coverage when I need it, cash back when I don't. It was started by people I know and trust. So if you trust me and want to join my mission to stop being a phone addicted zombie, come along. Go to noblemobile.com Chelsea right now and try it for just 10 bucks. That's noblemobile.com Chelsea ever been at the pharmacy counter and the pharmacist asks do you have any questions? And suddenly your mind goes blank? That's exactly why you need to listen to beyond the Script from CVS Pharmacy and iHeartMedia. Starting January 14th, hosted by Dr. Jake Goodman, this podcast brings you real conversations with CVS pharmacists. I need to get on this. The health experts you see most answering the questions you wish you'd asked, like which medications might not mix well, which vaccines should you consider before a big trip? And even those questions you were too embarrassed to say out loud. Each episode busts myths, decodes health trends, and gives you practical, trustworthy advice straight from the people behind the counter. No white coats, no lectures. Just real talk, real answers and maybe a few laughs. Listen to beyond the script on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Since I want the absolute best for my Chow Chow Doug, I am making the switch to Ollie. Your dog's well being starts with their food and that's why Ollie delivers fresh human grade food that your dog will love. So head to ollie.com Chelsea and use code Chelsea to get 60% off your welcome kit when you subscribe today. Plus they offer a happiness guarantee on the first box. So if you're not completely satisfied, you'll get your money back. That's Ollie O L L I E.com Chelsea and enter code Chelsea to get.

[Caller or Guest]

60% off your first box. You know what's not fun? Waking up at 2am Drenched in sweat. Been there. That's why I started using pod 5 from 8 sleep.

[Chelsea Handler]

And let me tell you, it is a game changer.

[Caller or Guest]

It's designed with women's health in mind, especially for those of us dealing with hot flashes. Pod 5 is this genius smart mattress cover that fits over any bed and pulls your body before a hot flash can mess with your sleep. And when I need an extra relief, I just tap the bed or use the app to activate hot flash mode. 30 minutes of instant cooling. It's like having a personal climate concierge. It's clinically proven to reduce hot flashes by over 50% and I genuinely sleep deeper and wake up feeling way more refreshed. I love that it's a non medical solution, but it's backed by real data and it feels totally natural. Anyone who listens to this podcast knows that I would like to sleep in a refrigerator and now I can. And if you sleep with a partner, Pod 5 cools each side of the bed independently. So no more kicking someone out for being a human furnace. You both get your perfect temperature from 55 degrees to 110 degrees.

[Chelsea Handler]

Go to eightsleep.com Chelsea use code Chelsea and get up to $700 off Pod 5. You can try it risk free for 30 days. Trust me, better sleep starts here. From nursing and healthcare to business and it Rasmussen has a range of programs to fit your goals and passion no matter what your day to day looks like. Rasmussen's programs allow you to balance school with life while you pursue your degree. So if you're ready to pursue your education goals, Rasmussen is ready to help you take that next step. Head on over to Rasmussen Edu and check out the opportunities waiting for you. Your future is a bright one. Rasmussen University can help you get there. And we're back with Amanda Seyfried and we're taking our first caller, Amanda. Okay, so lock in.

[Katherine]

I'm really excited about this question. So Angela, I'm not gonna read the subject line cause it kind of gives it away. It's very simple.

[Chelsea Handler]

Okay, don't.

[Amanda Seyfried]

Don't.

[Chelsea Handler]

Great.

[Katherine]

She says. Dear Chelsea, I'm a 34 year old child free woman in what feels like a full blown real life plot Twist. Two years ago, I left my job and finally chased my dream. Starting my own floral business specializing in senior assisted living centers. Since then I've been piecing a living together with part time gigs until one of those just ended. And now it's go big or go broke. But also it's terrifying. But also a little thrilling. Here's where it gets messy. Seven months ago, at a giant flower conference, I met a man who owns a rose business in Ecuador. We spent six hours talking and surprisingly fell into a long distance whirlwind romance.

[Chelsea Handler]

I love it already.

[Katherine]

I've never been known as a hopeless romantic, but he's turned out to be my exception. Since then, we've seen each other about every six weeks. Ecuador, Spain, Rome, the whole montage. It's dreamy, but draining my bank account. And while he hopes I'll eventually join him in Ecuador, I'm still trying to keep my business alive here. Do I double down on my business plan or go full Eat, Pray Love Florist edition? Sincerely, a confused Realist Angela.

[Chelsea Handler]

Hi, Angela. First of all, you need to fucking go for it. This first.

[Amanda Seyfried]

You should.

[Chelsea Handler]

The look in Amanda's eyes. She's in love. Now look at her. She's looking at Fall and her husband the first time they fell in love. We all have love in our eyes. You have to go for this adventure. That is my passionate opinion about life. Anytime there's a time to take a jump and you've been given some proof that that's the right jump. You don't even need the proof. You just need to trust your instincts and go for it. What's stopping you?

[Caller Angela]

Yeah, I mean, I guess I just. I built my life here. I live in Buffalo, I'm not from Buffalo. And I came here eight years ago and I've like built my life here. And so it just feels so. I guess almost wrong to let it go after I put so much work in to it for a man. But then again, it's like. Like I said, he's kind of my exception. It's so different.

[Amanda Seyfried]

You're not letting it go, you're just. It's still there. I mean, first of all, buffalo.

[Chelsea Handler]

Yeah, I know. You gotta get out. Just for a little while.

[Caller or Guest]

Like.

[Caller Angela]

I love buffalo.

[Caller or Guest]

I know, me too.

[Amanda Seyfried]

But it's cold.

[Chelsea Handler]

This is coming from a woman on a farm in the snow. Is there anyone that can watch your business while you're God? You go and gallivant around with your guy from Ecuador.

[Caller Angela]

I mean not. Not fully yet. Just because it's such a Small business. I've been running it pretty much by myself, but I am going for a month on the 19th, so I'm going to stay there for a month just to kind of give it a little bit of a trial run then I guess just to see how it will all work out. I don't know, it's just.

[Chelsea Handler]

Is there anyone in that month that you can have like try and run the business for you while you're gone? Just to give someone a test run? A woman?

[Caller Angela]

I haven't like. Yeah, obviously I haven't like set anyone up to do that yet. So I guess that would be something that I would, I'd probably think of that doing that before, after, like if I go again.

[Chelsea Handler]

I know, but just to, but to give someone a trial run would give you a lot more like confidence in maintaining your business while you go and do this, just in case you need to like, I understand giving up everything that you've built is more of a harder pill to swallow in search of romance. But like if you go and you go down to Ecuador and live with this guy, are you guys going to be working together down there?

[Caller Angela]

No, I would have to like find probably a remote job or a job down there where it's English speaking because even though Duolingo is great, it's just not doing it for me right now.

[Chelsea Handler]

Well, you have to be honest. Are you on a streak? Are you on a Duolingo streak?

[Caller Angela]

Oh yeah, I'm over 200 days. Like since the day I met him.

[Chelsea Handler]

I was like, oh, okay. Better than me. What am I talking about? Amanda, what do you have to say about this?

[Amanda Seyfried]

Well, listen, yeah, it's no small thing, but I don't see it as you leaving your life for good forever. It's not like you have a one way ticket and you can't come back. Right. It's like you, life is so short. It's like, what are we doing? I mean if you feel something like that, like, that you have that kind of fire in you for this, for this experience. It's not for a guy. It's for the experience of being in love and like traveling the world. It's a big, it's bigger than a guy. So it's like when you characterize it as leaving your life for a guy, that's not really what's happening. I mean, I think you trust yourself in some ways. Like you're already going for a month. It's true that you could hire somebody to take care of it or you can shut it down for A month and see. And see how it goes. But I think you take this opportunity to find someone who's willing to maybe keep it. Keep it alive for you. Because if you also have that connection back to your business while you're there, as stressful as it might could possibly be, it would still make you feel like you can do both.

[Katherine]

Yeah. And that you have a little income.

[Caller Angela]

Yeah.

[Chelsea Handler]

And also when you say yes to life, life says yes to you. That's just what happens when you take big risks. You get big rewards most of the time. And like, you've. You've met this guy. I trust that you're a sensible person. Just in the short time that you've been talking, you don't seem unstable or off balance or in, you know, and. And I loved what Amanda just said. It's bigger than a guy. It's about being in love and about the experience. Experience of love. It doesn't matter who the person is. So I think that you really do have to go down and listen. You're gonna go down for a month and you're gonna have your answer anyway.

[Caller Angela]

Yeah.

[Caller or Guest]

Yeah.

[Caller Angela]

I just planned that after I wrote in, so. Yeah, I guess that will be a big tell.

[Caller or Guest]

Nice.

[Chelsea Handler]

There is no better feeling than falling in love. It is the best feeling.

[Caller Angela]

Yeah.

[Chelsea Handler]

The texting, the flirting, the phone calls. If you're into phone calls, I'm not. But all of it is so fun.

[Amanda Seyfried]

Fun.

[Chelsea Handler]

You?

[Caller Angela]

Yeah, I have to be into phone calls now, so, yeah.

[Chelsea Handler]

FaceTimes. That's what I really get.

[Caller Angela]

Yeah, exactly.

[Chelsea Handler]

FaceTime. I got two. I got two FaceTimes yesterday. And my new policy is say yes. Answer the call. Answer the call. Because I always just put it to voicemail. I'm like, no, no, no. And I answer both calls. And both of them were really, like, great, fun, high vibe, like 30 minute phone calls. I'm like, I'm glad I did that. I'm going to start, you know, doing this more often. It's a nice way to connect to people.

[Caller Angela]

Yeah. Yeah. I feel better after the fact.

[Chelsea Handler]

Okay, well, go live your life, sister. You're fine. You don't need us. You're gonna have a great time and let us know what happens after a month and report back to Katherine so we can stay tuned. Okay.

[Katherine]

Yeah.

[Caller Angela]

Okay. Sounds good. Thanks, guys.

[Caller or Guest]

All right.

[Amanda Seyfried]

Have fun in Ecuador and write about it.

[Chelsea Handler]

Yeah, write journal. Make sure you're journaling about it.

[Caller Angela]

Yeah. Every day. I like, I'm going to do at least, like, a couple sentences. I decided while I'm there, just to kind of keep track of where my mind's at.

[Chelsea Handler]

So, yeah, that's a good habit to get into, you know?

[Caller Angela]

All right, thank you.

[Chelsea Handler]

Okay, thanks. Take care.

[Amanda Seyfried]

Thanks.

[Chelsea Handler]

That's exciting. So funny how.

[Katherine]

I know sometimes people are, like, so excited and thrilled for something, and then they hold themselves back because they're like, do I really? I don't know if it's a. Deserve this thing, but it's like, should I? Shouldn't I? Like, yes, you should.

[Chelsea Handler]

But people are scared they're gonna. Because it's like, listen, as a woman, you give up your whole thing, your business that you built for a man.

[Caller Angela]

Like, we.

[Chelsea Handler]

If the guy lived here and was like, okay, you have to. I don't want you working, we would say, no, Run as fast as you can away from that guy. So it is hard as a woman when you've built something to say like, oh, I'm gonna abandon it. I understand that.

[Katherine]

I'm glad you encouraged her to, like, have somebody else run it while you're. While you're gone.

[Chelsea Handler]

So she's got a little income and have a feeling, give it away.

[Katherine]

Yeah.

[Amanda Seyfried]

Also, Ecuador, there's airplanes exist. You know what I mean?

[Katherine]

Buffalo will still be there.

[Chelsea Handler]

Buffalo to Ecuador. I'm like, I choose Ecuador.

[Amanda Seyfried]

It sucks. But also, can he come here?

[Katherine]

I mean, would he want to?

[Chelsea Handler]

Yeah, it doesn't sound like it's a good time for anyone from Ecuador to be coming here, but anyway.

[Amanda Seyfried]

Oh, you know what? Good point, good point, Good point. Sometimes I'm living in the. You know.

[Chelsea Handler]

Well, listen, that farm will do it to you. I don't. I don't blame you.

[Katherine]

It's just idyllic where you are. Well, our next caller is Lindsay. She is 33, and she says, dear Chelsea, sorry this is long. I love you. I met my Fiance Brayden Almost 12 years ago when we were about 21, working at the same restaurant. We quickly started dating. When we first hooked up, I knew he was a keeper. On top of that, he's respectful, hilarious, an incredible listener, devoted to me, and lets me know about it every single day. I genuinely feel that I found one of the good ones. We're just now embarking on this new adventure of getting married. The time is now officially here, and I'm freaking out. My parents marriage was rough. My dad, a white American, moved to Indonesia after college to work as an accountant for an oil company, where my mom, a native Indonesian, was a secretary. I think they were happily married for some time, but my dad says he had a midlife crisis in his early 40s and had an affair with a woman nearly half his age. I don't exactly know when this crisis started, but it's really all I remember of their marriage. I never witnessed any affection or kindness between my parents. In the rare times my dad was home, we all walked on eggshells. He frequently took so called business trips, which we eventually realized were excuses to spend time with his mistress. When he wasn't with her, she would turn her focus on us, harassing us with relentless phone calls and public outbursts, causing scenes. Side note, my mom nicknamed her the Bee since we weren't allowed to curse. They even had a child together before my parents divorce was finalized. And these are just some of the many painful experiences that I can't fully capture in a single email. When I was 8, my mom finally saved enough of her own money to flee to the US and access the protections and rights granted to her under the American justice system as the state spouse of a US citizen. For whatever reason, my dad and the Bee are still together to this day. And my dad frankly seems unhappy, if not miserable, to put it lightly. The Bee is a nuisance at family gatherings. She's impulsive, acts inappropriately, and gives irrelevant commentary. She's not the most socially adept person and could possibly suffer from mental health issues, which I completely understand and can relate to. But there's no indication she sought professional help. Despite this, my siblings and I have done our best to tolerate the discomfort of being civil towards her for the sake of our family. Yes, our dad is arguably a pos, but at least my brother, sister and I have an amazing superhuman mom. It's important for me to keep a positive relationship with my half siblings and offer any guidance or advice if they ever need it. But this all brings me to my dilemma. My fiance and I do not want the Bee at our wedding. So how do we navigate the situation? Love, Lindsay.

[Chelsea Handler]

Oh, okay. Hi, Lindsay.

[Caller or Guest]

Hi, how are you?

[Chelsea Handler]

Hi. This is our special guest, Amanda Seyfried. Today.

[Amanda Seyfried]

Sorry.

[Caller or Guest]

Oh my gosh.

[Caller Lindsay]

Hi. Nice to see you.

[Chelsea Handler]

I'm sorry, that's a really difficult, crappy situation. I'm so happy that you're getting married though. And just know that like, you know, our parents don't define us at all. I couldn't be more opposite than both of my parents. Sometimes they give you like a roadmap of what not to do, you know, and so like, your marriage will be completely different than the ones than the one your parents had. Just from how insightful you are. Because of this. Now your half Siblings are from the beef.

[Caller Lindsay]

Yes.

[Chelsea Handler]

And how many are there?

[Caller Lindsay]

I have two half siblings and then one stepbrother as well that she had from a previous relationship.

[Amanda Seyfried]

Do they love the bee?

[Caller Lindsay]

Yeah, I think so.

[Amanda Seyfried]

Sorry, go ahead.

[Chelsea Handler]

No, no, no, that's fine. That's a fair question. So they love her and do they know how you feel about her?

[Caller Lindsay]

We've never spoken about it directly. I think there's always some. I can tell that they also feel uncomfortable at times, you know, when she acts out.

[Chelsea Handler]

Well, I think, like, you have to be prepared. If you disinvite her, which you totally have every right to do, your father's probably gonna not come either. There's a chance that that happens.

[Caller Lindsay]

Right, right. And I actually do have an update. Since I initially wrote the email, we really needed to get going on the wedding planning. And honestly, Chelsea, I knew what you were going to say to me probably is to just do it, to have a conversation with him. And he actually was really receptive and agreed to not have her come to the Bali wedding. He is also still committed to contribute financially despite that.

[Caller Angela]

So.

[Chelsea Handler]

Wow, great. Yeah, this is a great update. Thanks for bringing one.

[Katherine]

Now, are your, your half siblings, they're all going to come as well, or.

[Caller Lindsay]

Some can't make it just because of other obligations, but yes, that I have extended. Extended the invites to them.

[Amanda Seyfried]

Yeah.

[Caller Lindsay]

So right now it's the holidays and I'm gonna have to face everyone in person pretty soon, including the Bee. So it is a little bit, you know, nerve wracking.

[Chelsea Handler]

But you know what? Hold your ground. You made a boundary. You stood up for what you want at your wedding. On your wedding day. That is the most important. The most important person on any wedding day is the bride. Fuck the groom. Okay? So the bride, it's your day. You created a boundary. You're self respecting, you're self preserving. All of these things are really strong choices that you've made. You did this all on your own. So, like you're already a g. Like this is all good stuff. And you can look at her in the eye with dignity because at least you were upfront and honest about what you want. You know what I mean? And now and just take the hot air out of it, there's only tension. If you allow tension to. If there's two people creating tension, if there's no tension coming from you, she has no one to have tension with in the first place.

[Caller Lindsay]

Totally, totally. Yeah, I hear you. And it's going to be uncomfortable for me too, but I just have to deal with It.

[Chelsea Handler]

Yeah. You just have to deal with it, and that's okay. And. But. But you know what? You don't have to deal with her at your wedding. So that's great. And I'm like, I'm so. So many women are going to be listening to this and be inspired by you and taking charge of the situation in. In. In the ways that. In which you did. And also giving hope to other people's fathers. Like, I'm so pleased to hear that your dad was so receptive that he's still contributing financially. Your dad is probably miserable in his marriage. He probably is. I mean, she sounds, you know, not ideal, so. Yeah. So congrats on everything. You already crushed it. You're calling in basically just doing a victory dance.

[Caller Lindsay]

Yeah, definitely. No, I mean, I still wanted to. I thought it would still be a good conversation to have with you.

[Chelsea Handler]

Absolutely.

[Amanda Seyfried]

Yeah.

[Caller Lindsay]

I'm super excited. Also, Chelsea, you're more than welcome to join us.

[Chelsea Handler]

When is the wedding in Bali? Yeah, I love Bali.

[Caller Lindsay]

Next August.

[Chelsea Handler]

Is it in Ubud or is it on the beach?

[Caller Lindsay]

Actually, a little bit southeast of Ubud in a city called Mangis. It's more like old Bali, they say. Just like, a little less crowded and less traffic.

[Chelsea Handler]

Okay, well, why don't you, Catherine, follow up with her? Because if I'm traveling in August, I'll totally swing by. I love Bali. I need an excuse to go there.

[Caller Lindsay]

Oh, my God, that'd be so fun.

[Chelsea Handler]

I don't go. Listen, I got invited to a lot of weddings, but I will only go to someone I just met.

[Caller Lindsay]

Oh, my God, that would be a dream come true.

[Chelsea Handler]

I know, but don't get your hopes up. I mean, I can't commit, but you never know with me. I could show up. I could just.

[Caller Lindsay]

This conversation is everything, so.

[Chelsea Handler]

Oh, I love it. I love it. Thank you so much for calling in, Lindsay.

[Caller Lindsay]

Of course. Thank you so much for taking the time.

[Amanda Seyfried]

Great.

[Chelsea Handler]

Yeah. This is awesome. I hope I make it.

[Katherine]

Yeah. Have so much fun. Lindsay.

[Caller Lindsay]

Oh, my gosh.

[Amanda Seyfried]

Congrats.

[Caller Lindsay]

Thank you. And can I just say, Chelsea, I've been following you for a long time. I used to watch Chelsea lately. Every single night. And, you know, sometimes we kind of live in a dark world, so I really appreciate you for bringing laughter and joy to the world. Yeah. I love your comedy and what you do, so keep at it.

[Chelsea Handler]

Thank you. Thank you so much. You know what? Also, Katherine, hook her up with two tickets for next year's tour.

[Katherine]

Oh, sure.

[Chelsea Handler]

Cause I'm doing a tour. The High and Mighty Tour. We're gonna. And I'm sure I'm coming to a city near you. If I haven't announced it yet, I'll be announcing more dates. But we're gonna hook you up with tickets so you can come and say hi.

[Caller or Guest]

Oh, my God.

[Caller Lindsay]

Thank you so much. I know you're coming to Denver and I haven't been able to make it to one of your shows. I really wanted to go to the Red Rocks one, but I just couldn't make it happen. So I really appreciate that.

[Chelsea Handler]

That's okay. We'll make it happen at the Paramount in Denver. I'm coming there. Yes, absolutely. We're gonna make it happen. Okay. Fun. I love it.

[Amanda Seyfried]

I love it.

[Katherine]

Thanks.

[Caller Lindsay]

Thank you so much.

[Amanda Seyfried]

Have fun.

[Chelsea Handler]

Okay, bye.

[Amanda Seyfried]

Oh, how you're Santa Claus.

[Chelsea Handler]

Oh, my God, I feel like Santa Claus. It's the Christmas season, you guys.

[Amanda Seyfried]

Isn't it nice though, to know that you're gonna be like, in different city? Like, if you know specifically where you're gonna be and like, you can offer that to people and it's just like. And you're giving access with this, with this show. People can call. It's just you. Also two for two. Like, some pretty badass women just called in. Like, I don't know. I'm here for it.

[Chelsea Handler]

I love it. I love it. All right, we're going to take a break and we're going to come back and wrap up with Amanda. And we're back with Amanda Seyfried. Hi, guys. I have some very exciting news. I am always looking for companies to support that are ethical. And let's be honest, the phone companies we've all been stuck with are not that. You know, I travel constantly and supposedly I have international free roaming on Verizon, yet my phone bills are still 300, 400, and even $500 a month. It makes zero sense. So I switched to a company with actual ethics, Noble Mobile. And they pay you for staying off your phone. The more you unplug, the more money you save each month. And the most you'll Ever pay is 50 bucks Unlimited coverage when I need it, cash back when I don't. It was started by people I know and trust. So if you trust me and want to join my mission to stop being a phone addicted zombie, come along. Go to noblemobile.com Chelsea right now and try it for just 10 bucks. That's noblemobile.com Chelsea. Ever been at the pharmacy counter and the pharmacist asks, do you have any questions? And suddenly your mind goes blank. That's exactly why you need to listen to beyond the Script from CVS Pharmacy and iHeartMedia. Starting January 14th. Hosted by Dr. Jake Goodman, this podcast brings you real conversations with real CVS pharmacists. I need to get on this the health experts you see most answering the questions you wish you'd asked, like which medications might not mix well, which vaccines should you consider before a big trip, and even those questions you were too embarrassed to say out loud. Each episode busts myths, decodes health trends, and gives you practical, trustworthy advice straight from the people behind the counter. No white coats, no lectures. Just real talk, real answers, and maybe a few laughs. Listen to beyond the script on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. The holidays are here. Which means I am stressed, over, committed, slightly buzzed and pretending I know how to cook. But at least my dog Doug is thriving. He's eating just fresh from Just Food for dogs. Real human grade food with none of that processed junk. It's shelf stable, which means I can toss it in my suitcase when I travel or shove it in a cabinet next to my tequila. And honestly, Doug's living his best life. His coat is shiny, he's got energy, and when guests come over, he's the only one not complaining about their food. Meanwhile, I'm over here eating takeout and calling it festive. So this holiday season, give your dog something better than table scraps. Give them just fresh, real food for dogs who have better taste than we do. Go to justfoodfordogs.com for 50% off your first order. No code, no hassle, and thank God, no cooking required.

[Caller or Guest]

You know what's not fun? Waking up at 2am drenched in sweat. Been there. That's why I started using pod 5 from 8 sleep and let me tell you, it is a game changer. It's designed with women's help in mind, especially for those of us dealing with hot flashes. Pod 5 is this genius smart mattress cover that fits over any bed and pulls your body before a hot flash could mess with your sleep. And when I need an extra relief, I just tap the bed or use the app to activate hot flash mode. 30 minutes of instant cooling. It's like having a personal climate concierge. It's clinically proven to reduce hot flashes by over 50% and I genuinely sleep deeper and wake up feeling way more refreshed. I love that it's a non medical solution, but it's backed by real data and it feels totally natural. Anyone who listens to this podcast knows that I would like to sleep in a refrigerator and now I can. And if you sleep with a partner, Pod 5 cools each side of the bed independently. So no more kicking someone out for being a human furnace. You both get your perfect temperature from 55 degrees to 110 degrees.

[Chelsea Handler]

Go to 8sleep.com Chelsea use Coachelsea and get up to $700 off pod 5. You can try it risk free for 30 days. Trust me. Better sleep starts here. From nursing and healthcare to business and it Rasmussen has a range of programs to fit your goals and passion no matter what your day to day looks like. Rasmussen's programs allow you to balance school with life while you pursue your degree. So if you're ready to pursue your education goals, Rasmussen is ready to help you take that next step. Head on over to Rasmussen Edu and check out the opportunities waiting for you. Your future is a bright one. Rasmussen University can help you get there. One of my favorite people. I really, ever since I first interviewed Amanda, it was probably on Chelsea. Lately it was I, I've loved her. She is so fucking funny. She's weird and she says things that are inappropriate. I love that. And you're not like an actor actor even though you're a great actor. You're. You don't take yourself seriously. And I think that is really the ingredient that makes people the most likable is when they don't take themselves so seriously.

[Amanda Seyfried]

Thanks. And it was like, like I reached out to you after the a storm, recent shit storm. Which I'm not used to used to operating in a shitstorm, but it happened. And like I reached out to you because I don't know why I felt like you were simple. We're similar that we don't take ourselves very seriously and you are actually a comedian and, but you actually know your, you know your and it was like it made me feel so much better. Oh thanks for, for like at least like you're like you're fine. I don't know why. You know what I mean? It's something that you had posted.

[Chelsea Handler]

I don't know. No, no, no, I understand. But before we close, I just want to ask you how did you meet your husband?

[Amanda Seyfried]

On stage. I mean I, I, I did a stage play the last time, the first and last time I will ever do that to myself and my psyche. Did you know?

[Chelsea Handler]

Right? Did you, what was it like when you like when you guys locked in?

[Amanda Seyfried]

I mean, I guess it was like a kind of a long you know, when that happens, like, we were both involved with other people, but like. And I also didn't know, like, I, I just assumed he thought I was a loser because that's kind of how I, you know, viewed myself when it came to men. I worked on it. I no longer feel that way, but thank God. But I was, you know, like 30 or 29 and I was in a, like a dead end relationship. And I think that a part of me had opened at that point because I was so done with feeling like.

[Chelsea Handler]

Shit because of relationships. You mean?

[Amanda Seyfried]

I was in a relationship where I was completely just like, not seen. But I was also like, ooh, I want to settle down. You know, I had the dream of the kids, you know, very early on and. But, but so I, part of me was kind of opened up and when I, when I met him, I was just like, I really liked his voice and I liked the fact that he had like salt and pepper hair. He's only like nine years older than me, but for some reason. And he was like a, he's a theater guy, so he, his feet were so solidly on the ground when it came to that kind of work. And I was so scared. I was like floating and I felt like he kind of, in some way, figuratively, kind of pulled me down and helped me through and supported me and had this like, unconditional support of me in that, in that new realm that I was in. And I had this amazing director, Lee Silverman, at. And I just felt really safe and seen. And it was a new, wild, new experience that scared me. And I think when you're really scared and you have someone who's like, here, take my hand, you kind of can't help but fall in love with something about them, whether they're a man or a woman. You feel safe. And I felt safe with him. And then the show was over. He went back to la. My relationship ended, thank God, mercifully, like immediately, even before the show ended. And then we talked a little bit. But then come January, that next year, he was out of his relationship. And it was so scary though. It was so scary to commit to somebody because I was like, I'd been kind of burned in my last relationship, so committing with him as a person who was free, like a real. Because when I was with him in this, in the show, he wasn't a real. He wasn't an opportunity. He was. There was no opportunity there. He was with somebody. Like, I just was like, oh, I know how this feels. This is what I want. Doesn't have to be him, but I know how this feels. And then, of course, it was so messy that summer. Just, like, dealing with, like, the. The like ongoing. Just, like, ongoing trauma of a breakup. And then talking and then. And then, like, keeping the break. It was just like, yuck. And then I crocheted myself into oblivion here on the farm because I had already bought the farm and I was all alone watching Felicity. I watched Felicity.

[Chelsea Handler]

She's another favorite of mine. Carrie.

[Amanda Seyfried]

Four days. I watched the entire Four Seasons. Was it four Seasons? And I was crocheting fucking Christmas stockings. And I had my friend. My best friend Peter, who I'm sure you know from Netflix, now he's an Amazon, came to see me and was like, are you okay out of here? I'm like, I'm fine. I'm just getting ready for the Christmas season. And it was October, so I was. I was great. I was single. I wasn't great. So, like, that was. And going through all that and being alone and being, like, out here in the woods with nobody for an extended period of time. I went back to LA for Christmas because my sister was out there, and we all went to LA for Christmas. And then, like, started, like, meditating and. Cause I was just so lost, really, like, horrible breakup, extended breakup. And then in January, I was like. I was, like, meditating with Alan Arkin. Like, it was in January. I. Oh, dear. We met up at his place in la. And dear, so many. Dear.

[Chelsea Handler]

You need to take a Vyvanse or something. Did you take your Vyvanse today or your Adderall?

[Amanda Seyfried]

Oh, my God, I forgot to take.

[Caller or Guest]

My lunch for today.

[Chelsea Handler]

Oh, my God.

[Amanda Seyfried]

You just reminded me. Okay, last night. I didn't take it last night.

[Chelsea Handler]

Okay, well, let's go take it. Go take it right now.

[Amanda Seyfried]

You saved my day. You don't understand. But anyway, it was great. That's how I met him.

[Caller or Guest]

Long story short, that's how I met him.

[Chelsea Handler]

What was the moment where you guys decided to be together? Did you call him or did he call you?

[Amanda Seyfried]

I berated him because I saw him like, another person's his Instagram. And I was like, oh, so you're gonna, like, like, now you're free? Like, I was an to him, and then we, you know, reconnected. But I was an asshole to him, I believe, and he understood that that meant I cared about him.

[Chelsea Handler]

Yes.

[Amanda Seyfried]

And I was like, oh, you. You need to go live in. Can't do the accent. I was like, good luck. And he was like, oh, she really likes me. She's jealous of this.

[Chelsea Handler]

Yeah.

[Caller or Guest]

That's how.

[Chelsea Handler]

That's how damaged women show. By berating a man when we're. That's how, you know, we've been bruised.

[Amanda Seyfried]

But you know what also about damaged women. We can fucking fix ourselves, and then we can be whole again, and we don't need another.

[Chelsea Handler]

We can hold it down. Once we fix ourselves, we can hold it down. Yeah. And. But it's nice that he held you down on the theater. In the theater, during the play. He held you down, and then you held it down for yourself. So there we go now.

[Amanda Seyfried]

Yeah. And then, like, cut to a year later, he held me down and I got pregnant.

[Chelsea Handler]

Okay, on that note, we want you to go take your Lexapro. Go take it right now. Get off this and go take it.

[Amanda Seyfried]

This never happens. I fell asleep with my son last night and I forgot to take my meds.

[Chelsea Handler]

Your son is a great rapper, by the way. I loved that video. I love you, Amanda. Did you want to say something more?

[Amanda Seyfried]

I love you, too. There's always something more to say, isn't there? I'm gonna go take my medicine now.

[Chelsea Handler]

Okay. Bye, honey. Have a great day.

[Amanda Seyfried]

Holy shit. Love you guys.

[Chelsea Handler]

I just announced all my tour dates. It's called the High. I will be touring from February through June. So go get your tickets now. If you want good seats and you want to come see me perform, I will be on the High and Mighty tour.

[Katherine]

Do you want advice from Chelsea? Write in to dearchelsea podcastmail.com Find full video episodes of Dear Chelsea on YouTube by searching earchelseapod. Dear Chelsea is edited and engineered by Brad Dickert executive producer Kathryn Lawrence. And be sure to check out our merch@chelsea handler.com.

[Chelsea Handler]

You guys, I have some very exciting news about an ethical phone carrier. I just switched to forget about all these other phone companies. Forget about Verizon, forget about att, forget about T Mobile. There's this new carrier called Noble Mobile and they actually pay you to stay off your phone. You can earn real money, up to 20 bucks bucks back every month just for putting your phone away. If you're like me and you're tired of feeling controlled by your phone, social media, or just disgusted by those screen time alerts, this is the answer. Go to noblemobile.com Chelsea and try it for $10. That's noblemobile.com Chelsea. Ever been to the pharmacy counter and your mind goes blank when the pharmacist asks any questions? That's why you need to listen to beyond the script from CVS Pharmacy and iHeartMedia starting January 14th. Hosted by Dr. Jake Goodman, each episode features real conversations with CVS pharmacists, the health experts you see most, breaking down the questions you wish you'd asked, from which meds may not mix well to what vaccines you need before a big trip. They will bust myths, decode trends, and share practical advice that you can actually use. Listen to beyond the script on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. It's time to dump skincare companies that make us feel bad about getting older. I'm 50 years old and guess what? I'm loving life. Froia Organics is completely different. They know they're not going to magically make you look 20 again, and honestly, who wants that anyway? But they do use arctic plants like arnica and sea buckthorn that hydrate, repair and protect your skin's natural barrier, giving you healthy, radiant skin at any age. No fillers, no bullshit, just natural ingredients that actually work. Visit froiaorganics.com now to get 40% off. I used to wake up at 2am.

[Caller or Guest]

Drenched in my own sweat. Not the cutest. Then I found pod 5 from 8 sleep and it changed everything. It's built with women's health in mind and helps with those brutal hot flashes. It is a smart mattress cover that cools your body before a hot flash hits. And when I need an instant relief, I just tap the bed to use the app to activate Hot flash mode. It's clinically proven to reduce hot flashes by over 50% and it even cools each side of the bed independently.

[Chelsea Handler]

Go to eightsleep.com Chelsea use code Chelsea and get up to $700 off Pod 5. You'll thank me later. From nursing and healthcare to business and it, Rasmussen has a range of programs to fit your goals and passion no matter what your day to day looks like. Rasmussen's programs allow you to balance school with life while you pursue your degree. So if you're ready to pursue your education goals, Rasmussen is ready to help you take that next step. Head on over to Rasmussen Edu and check out the opportunities waiting for you. Your future is a bright one. Rasmussen University can help you get there. This is an iHeart podcast. Guaranteed Human.