Emergency Intercom Podcast Summary

Episode: All roads lead to this moment w/ Veronika Slowikowska
Hosts: Enya Umanzor, Drew Phillips
Guest: Veronika Slowikowska
Date: February 13, 2026

Overview

In this lively and hilarious episode of Emergency Intercom, Enya and Drew are joined by comedian, actress, and current Saturday Night Live cast member Veronika Slowikowska. From grappling with age anxiety, cultural differences, and public mishaps to the chaos and thrill of live comedy on SNL, the conversation weaves through pop culture nostalgia, personal growth, and riotous tangents. The group also dives into childhood memories, family quirks, food obsessions, and the journey of carving out your own space in art and comedy.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Name Struggles and Pop Culture Tangents

• Veronika discusses the frequent mispronunciations of her name.
  • Joke about possibly changing her name to “Is Cool.”
  • [03:31] "Sometimes wish I just did change my name to Is Cool, because I feel like you..." – Veronika
• Emma Stone’s name coming up as “Emily Stone” on Letterboxd, leading to a discussion about Hollywood naming conventions.
  • [03:47] “Do you guys know this Emma Stone is now going by Emily Stone?” – Veronika

2. Age and Generational Differences

• The hosts and Veronika joke about their ages, perceptions, and generational divides.
  • [05:23] "Unironically, though, I did think you were, like... 22, 24." – Host
  • [05:36] "No, thank you and no work done." – Veronika
  • Hosts riff on how the entertainment industry treats age differently for men and women.

3. Becoming an American & SNL’s Wild Ride

• Veronika talks about her recent move from Canada to the US, getting her green card, and working on SNL.
  • [09:40] “It only makes me laugh... I would argue that this cast, to me, has some of like, the craziest bangers. Like, you and Jane alone...” – Host
  • [10:04] “Like, dressing room. And it’s... We called it the vortex.” – Veronika
• The breakneck pace and unpredictability of working at SNL.
  • [11:36] "You don’t even have time to think...the whole show is like a living organism." – Veronika
  • Describes multitasking: writing, acting, picking wigs, sets, and sometimes self-directing.
  • [12:12] “I feel like I’m in school, crazy school. But then... we happen to go live in front of millions of people.” – Veronika

4. Memorable On-Air Moments & Dealing with Live Mishaps

• Veronika shares a story about a costume malfunction during a live SNL performance with Sabrina Carpenter.
  • [16:30] “You can kind of see my insecurity in my eyes, but I just kept going...” – Veronika
• Everyone agrees that live mishaps can make performances more entertaining and authentic.

5. Comedy Roots, Musical Theater, and Subculture Nostalgia

• Veronika’s journey from small-town Ontario and musical theater to TV comedy.
  • [19:21] “I went to school for musical theater, which is, like, I think, so obvious when you find that out.” – Veronika
• Group reminisces about the golden age of subcultural cartoons (Adventure Time, Steven Universe, Smiling Friends) and how fandom can both elevate and overwhelm a show.
  • [21:35] “Any subculture that ended up in Spencer’s and Hot Topic...the fandom ruined it.” – Host

6. Pop Culture Connections & Friend Circles

• Veronika connects “all roads lead to this moment” to how friend circles intertwine in their creative worlds.
  • [32:18] “I mean, all roads lead to this moment, in a real way. In a real way.” – Veronika
• Connections to artists like Zach Villere, Devin Lee Carlson, Ricky Thompson.

7. Food, Vices, and Cultural Oddities

• Enthusiastic debate over regional foods: Tim Hortons, Skyline Chili, and strange American vs. Canadian snacks.
  • [34:53] “Tim Bits. Justin Bieber did a collab with them...they were called Tim Beads.” – Veronika
  • [37:28] Detailed description of Skyline Chili (“it’s really crazy...that’s a good ton of cheddar cheese on top”).
• The gang shares food rituals, odd comfort foods, and cultural food surprises when traveling.

8. Parents on Social Media

• Hilarious tales of their parents’ social media misadventures, including boomer Facebook content and accidental cringe posts.
  • [42:57] “My dad is one of those people who like...all in Spanish.” – Host
  • [44:28] “My dad got banned off Instagram. I don’t know how you get banned off Instagram.” – Kai

9. Coming of Age: Shame, Hair, and Growing Up

• Veronika tells an unfiltered story about not realizing you could or should shave as a teen, and discovering it only after a public summer with friends.
  • [50:33] “That was how I discovered I could shave my pubes. Don’t have to. Could. And no. But it was like, no. I straight up, like, just didn’t know.” – Veronika
• Discussion broadens to shame, guilt, and body hair acceptance.

10. Drinking, Weed, and Social Scenes

• The crews’ substance habits – weed versus alcohol, and the pressure to socialize as young adults in creative circles.
  • [55:20] “No, I like, I'm like a casual drinker. Question mark...But I'll smoke mad weed. Like I don't give a fuck.” – Host
  • Drinking and afterparties at SNL; Kenan Thompson sometimes attending.
  • [59:17] "Kenan specifically does go sometimes. Yeah, yeah, yeah." – Veronika

11. Family, Siblings, and Kids

• Veronika, the hosts, and Kai share their family structures, differences with siblings, and musings on wanting (or not wanting) kids.
  • [61:08] "Are you guys youngest, oldest, middle?" – Veronika
  • [62:49] “I love to like ruin this tight little body. Solid core. I went to solid core twice, and we can tell.” – Veronika (joking about working out and potential pregnancy)

12. Aging, Life Timelines, and Creative Careers

• Honest discussion about the anxieties of aging, especially in creative fields, and revelations that “it’s never too late.”
  • [67:35] “That's one thing I learned...I was like, no, there's actually a million [shots].” – Veronika
  • Comedy and the creative path causing life milestones to happen “10 years later” compared to friends in “normal” careers.
  • [68:49] “Elder Gen Alpha is really funny. I need to give you your flowers.” – Drew

13. The Internet, Mishaps, and Cancel Culture Moments

• Joking about famous influencer mishaps, like the Dolan Twins’ wildfires post and Logan Paul's infamous missteps.
  • [70:47] “The clouds are crazy. The sunset is gorgeous. Yes. Mighty people were dying.” – Host
• Hosts tease having “raw footage” of Logan Paul and recollect being misidentified as drug users by other YouTubers.
  • [75:18] “David Dobrik said that he thought I was on ketamine.”

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On SNL's Chaos:
  • “The whole show is like a living organism, and you just have to let go completely and be totally fine with whatever outcome.” – Veronika [11:36]
• On Being a Woman in Entertainment:
  • “For women in entertainment, you have to go bald at one point. You have to shave your head, and then you get taken dead serious.” – Host [07:07]
• On Mishaps Feeding Authenticity:
  • “I just kept going...and it was, like, so fun. ... That was a moment where I could have gone to my room and cried that it didn’t go perfect. But that’s why I signed up for this. It’s live.” – Veronika [16:30]
• On Growing Up:
  • “I was very shy until, like, grade seven... I would just, like, she would speak for me. ... And then I, like, sang at the talent show and—” – Veronika [48:04]
• On Creative Careers:
  • “Everything that happens to your friends that are choosing normal careers happens to you—but like 10 years later.” – Drew [68:01]

Timestamps for Important Segments

| Timestamp | Segment/Insight | |-----------|-----------------| | 02:24 | Veronika Joins, Name Chat, Branding Jokes | | 05:23 | Age Reveal & Commentary on Age in Showbiz | | 09:40 | SNL Experience: "The Vortex" and Work Flow | | 16:30 | On-Air Mishaps: SNL Costume Malfunction Story | | 19:21 | Musical Theater Roots, Small Town to Stage | | 21:35 | Subculture Nostalgia: Adventure Time/Cartoons | | 32:18 | "All roads lead to this moment": Serendipity in Friend Circles | | 34:53 | Tim Hortons, Food Rituals, Canadian-American Differences | | 42:57 | Parents' Social Media Foibles, Generational Divide | | 50:33 | Coming of Age & Body Hair "Eureka!" Moment | | 55:20 | Vices: Drinking, Weed, and the Creative Life | | 59:17 | Inside SNL Afterparties & Meeting Troye Sivan | | 61:08 | Siblings, Family, and the Kid Question | | 67:35 | Aging, Anxiety, and the Freedom of "More Than One Shot" | | 70:47 | Internet Mishaps: Influencer Scandals & Logan Paul | | 75:18 | YouTubers & Drug Jokes, Logan Paul Vlogging Story |

Media and Recommendations Shared

• Nirvana the Band the Movie
  • “Haven’t seen it, but I’m taking your word for it. It’s gonna be amazing.” – Veronika [80:40]
• Survivor Season 50
  • “I’m Survivor pilled.” – Kai [80:53]
• Saturday Night Live (SNL)
  • Featured throughout; highlighted by Veronika as a formative, ongoing experience.
• Cartoons & Shows Discussed:
  • Adventure Time, Steven Universe, Smiling Friends, Insecure

Final Thoughts

This episode captures the essence of Emergency Intercom: poignant, irreverent, and uncensored. It offers a snapshot of modern creative chaos — from SNL’s breakneck demands to the wild world of internet fame, the bittersweetness of aging, chosen family, and the joy in every live mishap.

“There’s actually a million [shots]. Even if I screw up, whatever I’m doing now, I’ll figure it out again.”
– Veronika Slowikowska [67:35]