Good Hang with Amy Poehler
Guest: Jon Hamm
Release Date: April 28, 2026
Podcast: The Ringer
Host: Amy Poehler
Episode Overview
This episode of Good Hang features Amy Poehler in conversation with her longtime friend, Jon Hamm. The two reminisce about their overlapping comedy and TV careers, struggles and triumphs, mutual friends, and what still makes them laugh. From deep dives into Mad Men and Parks and Recreation to sports, Bad Bunny, and the philosophy of chosen family, the conversation is rich, nostalgic, and characteristically warm. The episode also features a guest call-in from John Slattery (Roger Sterling on Mad Men), adding a bonus layer of camaraderie and insight into Jon Hamm’s world.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. Mad Men Memories & Cast Chemistry
- Time Stamp: 02:31–08:57
- Amy kicks off the episode with a call to John Slattery, Jon’s co-star, to share his take on Hamm, their beginnings on Mad Men, and the show’s dynamic.
- Slattery on the Cast’s Humanity:
“Not just [Roger Sterling], everybody had... just when you thought, ‘well, this is just somebody who thinks like this,’ they’d do something incredibly human or funny or touching or whatever.” (02:54)
- Slattery reveals he initially auditioned for Jon Hamm’s part and recalls the sibling-like energy between them, both on and off the show—but he considers their real-life relationship as equals rather than as an older/younger brother dynamic.
2. How the “Avengers” of Comedy Formed
- Time Stamp: 12:01–16:06
- Amy and Jon reflect on the early 2000s, when a now-famous cohort (Jon Hamm, Paul Rudd, Adam Scott, et al.) all came together as young hopefuls in LA.
- Hamm on Meeting Paul Rudd:
“Paul would come back with [his college roommate] to visit St. Louis... That’s when we got to know each other. I was probably a senior in high school, and he was a freshman in college.” (13:13)
- Jon describes feeling “older” than his age, often cast in older, paternal roles due to his height, deep voice, and beard.
3. Growing Up & Discovering Acting
- Time Stamp: 16:26–18:57
- Jon’s high school background was unusually supportive, encouraging kids to cross-interest boundaries (e.g., sports and theater). Notably, Ellie Kemper was one of his students!
- Hamm:
“You weren’t siloed if you were a jock. You weren’t just that... from my school, Ellie Kemper was one of my students when I went back to teach.” (16:44)
- Childhood loss profoundly shaped him—his mother passed away when he was 10, his father at 20 (23:52–24:45)—but he credits his extended family, especially his aunt Sue, for roots and support.
4. Baseball Dreams, Sports, & Finding Purpose
- Time Stamp: 18:06–21:22
- Jon was initially an aspiring pro athlete (baseball catcher), but realized early on he lacked the drive of those who live for the game:
“I like it, I don’t love it.” (20:49)
- Both Amy and Jon reflect on playing sports as hobbies rather than lifelong commitments, unlike the consuming passion they now feel for their creative careers.
5. Auditions, Hustle, & Landing Mad Men
- Time Stamp: 28:25–33:06
- Jon shares the grind of being an “other guy” in auditions for almost seven years before Mad Men broke through. In the year he got Mad Men, he tested (i.e., final auditioned) for seven different pilots (28:47).
- The final Mad Men audition involved Matt Weiner introducing him around as Don Draper before he was actually told he had the role:
“I go, do I have this job?...I’m gonna walk you around the production office, and I’m gonna introduce you as Don Draper and you’re gonna act like you have a job.” (30:45)
6. The Legacy & Ending of Mad Men
- Time Stamp: 33:06–41:17
- Amy and Jon dissect the finale’s themes and that final, powerful group therapy scene:
- On Don’s Growth:
“Matt has said...I want people to realize that the characters are going to be just a little bit better at the end. Just a little bit.” (34:03)
- On Filming the Finale:
“A lot of it was tremendously difficult, cause I was handling a lot of personal mishigos in my life...being on a show for that long is a lot.” (36:09)
- On Don’s Fate:
“I think he goes back. He is a successful advertising executive and I think he finds happiness and peace. I think he connects with his children.” (41:03)
7. Chosen Family, Collaboration, & Lasting Bonds
- Time Stamp: 24:51–27:08; 25:09–25:29
- Jon and Amy talk about “collecting and choosing family” in showbiz, the circus-like, transitory world of TV and film, and the rare enduring friendships.
8. Losers Lounge — Celebrating Not Winning!
- Time Stamp: 45:00–47:34
- Amy and Jon share the hilarious origin of their awards-night tradition “The Losers Lounge”:
- “Any awards night, there’s way more people that lost than won. So we decided that there should be a celebratory place for the losers to hang out.” (46:15)
- Frances McDormand, even after winning, wanted to come:
“She came and paid.” (47:19)
9. SNL Stories & Camaraderie
- Time Stamp: 49:39–54:05
- Jon raves about hosting Saturday Night Live and being warmly welcomed by Poehler and the SNL cast:
- The legendary “Mad Men” themed pitch meeting, with everyone in character (51:05–51:40)
- Amy’s story of going into labor right after SNL, and Jon’s memorable comic comfort:
“I know this is hard for you...But this is a big fucking deal for me, so you better pull your shit together.” (53:48)
10. Who Does Jon Turn to for Answers?
- Time Stamp: 55:24–57:19
- Jon admits he’s very self-dependent but occasionally reaches out to mentors like Lorne Michaels. He treasures the wisdom of “talking to his elders,” as well as peers who’ve been influential in his journey.
11. Bad Bunny, Music’s Power, and Dancing
- Time Stamp: 62:30–66:49
- Jon credits music—especially Bad Bunny, who became the soundtrack to his life with his now-wife Ana—for bringing joy, community, and even a bit of viral fame (dancing videos).
- On Bad Bunny:
“The world was a little...is a little bit of a bummer. But boy, man, for 15 minutes of that halftime show...10 out of 10, no notes, perfectly executed.” (65:00)
- The healing, community-building power of music is emphasized:
“The universal language...when it hits the right, right buttons, feels good.” (66:38)
12. Recent Comedy Recommendations
- Time Stamp: 67:36–70:17
- Jon recommends the Canadian comedy Shorsey, praising its humor, sentimentality, and spotlight on Indigenous talent.
- “It’s a tremendously ambitious show that delivers...I’m trying to pump their tires a little bit.” (69:51)
- Amy agrees, noting its unique, heartfelt angle on comedy.
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
- Slattery on Hamm’s Competence:
“You have to be smart emotionally to be that funny...it makes sense that he’s as good at drama as he is at comedy.” (05:44)
- Jon Hamm on Chosen Family:
“Being on a show...for an extended period...you definitely forge relationships that are pretty solid, and don’t really dissipate once the circus moves on.” (25:09)
- Losers Lounge Rules:
“If you wanted to come and you were a winner and you had a statue in your hand, you had to pay.” (46:27)
- Jon on Auditioning for Mad Men:
“I started at the very, very bottom...first audition was a pre read, just reading with the casting directors. They didn’t know my work...and it was like an hour and a half to get across town in the rain on a Friday.” (29:22–30:15)
- Jon Hamm, on Don Draper’s Fate:
“I think he goes back. He is a successful advertising executive and I think he finds happiness and peace. I think he connects with his children.” (41:03)
- Amy on SNL’s Special Kind of Comfort:
“The crying to laughing switcheroo...we get a few in our life when we’re really, really deeply sad and then someone says something to make us laugh. I think it extends your life.” (54:18)
- On mentorship (about Lorne Michaels):
“Part of the magic of that man is that he’s so inscrutable and so Canadian that it’s a koan in some way.” (55:53)
- On Bad Bunny:
“For 15 minutes of that halftime show...10 out of 10, no notes, perfectly executed.” (65:00)
- Jon on Chosen Family in Work:
“You meet—we’re all kind of crazy weirdos, you know, with different talents. But when certain people come through your orbit...that person’s amazing at that.” (25:32)
Timestamps for Key Segments
- Mad Men Deep Dive with John Slattery: 02:31–08:57
- Forming the Comedy “Avengers”: 12:01–16:06
- Growing Up, Sports, and Drama: 16:26–21:22
- Audition Stories & Mad Men Casting: 28:25–33:06
- Discussing the Finale & Don Draper’s Fate: 33:06–41:17
- On Chosen Family: 24:51–27:08
- Losers Lounge & Award Show Shenanigans: 45:00–47:34
- SNL Stories & Amy’s Labor: 49:39–54:18
- Jon Hamm's Mentors & Seeking Advice: 55:24–57:19
- Bad Bunny, Joy, and the Power of Music: 62:30–66:49
- Recommendations: Canadian Comedy Shoresey: 67:36–70:17
Tone and Final Thoughts
The episode is full of the warmth, intelligence, and mutual affection characteristic of the Poehler/Hamm comedy circle. Both Amy and Jon offer revealing insights about the perseverance required for careers in show business, the profound importance of chosen community, the small but meaningful ways people grow, and the necessity of humor and joy—whether found in a “Losers Lounge” or a Bad Bunny halftime show.
Amy’s Sign-off:
"...I’m very happy to call myself one of your chosen sisters, Ham. You are happy? I’m happy to be one of them. So thanks for doing this." (72:10)
Listen if You
- Love behind-the-scenes TV talk (Mad Men, SNL, Parks & Rec, 30 Rock)
- Want to hear Jon Hamm’s evolution from struggling actor to Emmy-winning lead
- Appreciate candid, wise, and often hilarious ruminations on friendship, family, and showbiz
- Need a reminder that even award show "losers" find ways to laugh, dance, and party
Note: Timestamps mark the beginning of a segment or notable quote. This summary omits ads and strictly non-content sections. All speaker attributions and relevant quotes are preserved in original tone and cadence.
