Good Hang with Amy Poehler

Episode: Julia Louis-Dreyfus

Date: December 9, 2025
Podcast: The Ringer

Episode Overview

Amy Poehler welcomes comedy icon Julia Louis-Dreyfus for a freewheeling, affectionate, and deeply funny conversation. The episode features reflections on long-running careers in comedy, competitive friendships, behind-the-scenes stories from iconic shows like Seinfeld, Veep, and SNL, and candid insights on aging, resilience, and staying joyful. Special guest Tony Hale makes a memorable appearance to ask a heartfelt question about parental influence and the power of laughter through hard times. The tone remains breezy, personal, and, above all, hilarious throughout.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Tony Hale's Visit & Relationship with Julia (02:34–12:18)

• Tony Hale and Amy Poehler’s History: They reminisce about meeting on Arrested Development and, earlier, during SNL days because Tony’s wife was a makeup artist on the show.
• Veep’s On-Screen Dynamic: Tony describes the codependency between his Gary and Julia’s Selina as “I worship. She was Jesus to me ... I just heard poetry when she was screaming at me” (05:32).
• Julia’s Leadership Experience: Tony emphasizes how Julia set a positive, respectful tone on the Veep set, making it “a gift for the next seven years ... her humanity was awesome to be around” (06:11).
• Fun with Podcasts and Bits: Amy and Tony riff on the concept of “going too deep,” imagining Tony’s future podcast: "Too Deep," and joking about favorite desserts.
• Tony’s Question for Julia: “What did your mom do right?”—prompted by admiration for Julia’s relationship with her mother (07:53).

2. Amy & Julia’s Warm-Up: Competitive Spirit & Photo Duel (13:13–15:04)

• Amy and Julia compete over who has more photos on their phone—Amy: 82,014, Julia: 56,276 (13:27–13:46).

  • Julia: “Screw you, Amy Poehler.” (13:50)

• Lighthearted tech anxiety: “Technology makes me sweat,” admits Amy (14:51); Julia adds, “That’s right, mother. It does.” (14:54)

3. Podcasting: Why So Much Effort? (15:33–18:26)

• Amy on Research: Admits she asked no men for advice before starting her podcast—“I tried not to ask men for advice.” (15:45)
• Julia’s Approach: For her show (Wiser Than Me), Julia does “a lot, baby,” of research for authentic, deep conversations (18:00).
• Shared Work Ethic: Both discuss their “good student” mentality—“I wanna do well ... the podcast was born out of my own curiosity.” (18:43)

4. SNL, Cultural Icons, & Big Sister Energy (19:10–23:50)

• Influence of Icons: Julia’s admiration for Jane Curtin and Carol Burnett, describing their work as getting “into your bloodstream without your knowing.” (20:08)
• Jane Curtin’s Sane SNL Strategy: “She made the decision that she was not gonna come to work on Monday and Tuesday... she was protecting herself.” (20:56)
• Gen-Z language lessons: Amy and Julia comically fumble through internet slang (“glaze,” “dead,” “bet”).
• Amy on Julia as Her “Big Sister” and Icon: “You are like the LeBron James of TV.” Julia: “I don’t accept it.” (23:51–23:56)

5. Winning, Award Show Comedy, and Competitive Fun (24:05–27:29)

• Competitive Women: Both stress importance of fun competition—“Fun is all caps ... there’s [also] another kind of competitive woman we don’t care for.” (25:12–25:19)
• Legendary Award Show Bits: Julia: “It’s very good to focus on what to do if you win or you lose. And Amy Poehler is very fun to come up with bits with.” (25:25)
  • Notably, the time they swapped acceptance speeches as a prank (26:31).

6. Chicago Roots, SNL Beginnings & Seinfeld’s Origin (27:34–33:10)

• Sketch Beginnings: Both started in Chicago sketch groups, often being “the only girl in the group” (27:46).
• SNL Initiation: Julia’s troupe was met “with a lot of animosity” as the new cast, recalling their “excruciating” invitation to perform for skeptical SNL writers in a fluorescent-lit room (29:31–30:12).
• Seinfeld’s Early Struggles: Started as a “four episode order,” with the network mandating a female character—thus Julia’s Elaine. “Apparently, the network told them you have to put a girl in the show.” (32:26)

7. Elaine’s Legacy, Style Regrets, and “Sexy” Sitcom Pressure (33:10–36:41)

• Elaine as an Icon: Elaine is a perennial Halloween costume, but Julia jokes, “God, I’d love to go back and fix that look.” (33:33)
• The ‘Friends’ Influence: Julia remembered thinking, “Oh, fuck, I should have been sexy.” (34:06)
• Motherhood on TV: Both discuss being really pregnant on their shows, Julia sharing Jerry Seinfeld’s suggestion: “How about Elaine just gets fat?”—which made her cry but later reflect it “might have been funny.” (36:25–37:14)

8. Family & Parenting: Heartfelt Moments (40:00–41:21)

• Julia’s Family: Amy praises Julia’s kids, and Julia expresses gratitude for Amy giving Charlie his first acting job. “I am so grateful because you’re a good person ... it was very informative to him.” (40:39–41:21)

9. “Talk Well” Behind Guests’ Backs, Friendship with Ina Garten (41:40–44:13)

• Sweetly contentious bit about semantics of “talking well” versus “asking questions.”
• Julia describes Ina taking her and Brad to Caviar Caspia in Paris; “frankly, I don’t even like caviar … and it was delicious.” (43:38–43:52)

10. Veep: Chemistry, Codependency, and Creative Joy (45:14–47:53)

• Julia’s love for Tony Hale: “He is deeply funny. He is profoundly generous. He is incredibly neurotic. He worries about everyone.” (45:28–45:47)
• Explaining Selina-Gary’s on-screen codependency with a “trellis and plant” metaphor—“That plant is not going to live without the trellis. And FYI, the trellis doesn’t give a shit about the plant.” (46:30–46:51)
• Playing Selina: “Couldn’t be more fun to play ... focus only on myself ... appalled if anyone is not focused on me and take no responsibility for anything. Never apologize.” (47:25–47:41)

11. The Legacy of Joy and Laughter Through Difficulty (53:17–58:03)

• Amy: “The incredible joy and privilege it is to just get older ... how great to be alive.” (53:25–53:35)
• Facing Grief and Illness: Julia reflects on going public about her cancer and how “there’s a lot to be said in self-soothing by soothing others.” (55:29–55:47)
• Laughter as Survival: “We need it ... it’s the way to get yourself up out of the basement. The elevator is laughing ... those are my favorite laughs—when it’s very ... like, church giggles, basically. Or like funeral laughs.” (56:02–56:25)
• Chemo camaraderie: “All of my girlfriends came and shoved into this tiny little room ... I was high as a kite ... it was a dream, dream, dream.” (56:51–57:41)

12. Now Watching, Streaming, and Snacks (58:04–64:53)

• Julia’s Current Joys: Instagram dog videos (“spud” the dog attacking food, 58:12), Survivor, Amazing Race, and especially Alone (“You’d never make it on Alone, Amy.” [61:17])
• Both fantasize about watching TV together with snacks—Julia avid for dill pickle chips, Amy, “a basic Doritos bitch.” (64:11–64:32)

13. Answering Tony Hale’s Tender Question (48:01–50:13)

• What did Julia’s mom do right?
  • Julia: “My mother is a very intellectually curious person ... has a very good sense of humor ... my memory is that she was laughing as hard as I was” (48:30–49:00).
  • They reflect on how shared laughter bonds parent and child—“it’s a binder” (50:13).

Notable Quotes

• On Selina and Gary (Tony Hale):
  “I worship. She was Jesus to me ... I never heard it. I just heard poetry when she was screaming at me.” (05:32)
• Competitive Friendship (Amy Poehler):
  "You are like the LeBron James of TV."
  Julia: “I don’t accept it.” (23:51–23:56)
• Podcasting Philosophy (Julia Louis-Dreyfus):
  “I’m talking to older women about the wisdom they have acquired in their life ... I really need to come to the table understanding who these people are and how to have an authentic conversation.” (16:33)
• On Surviving Grief:
  “There’s a lot to be said in self-soothing by soothing others. For real. I don’t mean to sound all Pollyannish. I actually think it’s true.” (55:47)
• Amy on Joy in Aging:
  “The incredible ... joy and privilege it is to just get older. There’s so many people that aren’t here that want to be here ... how great to be alive, basically.” (53:25)
• Julia on Playing Selina:
  “Appalled if anyone is not focused on me ... and take no responsibility for anything. Never apologize. It’s always your fault, your fault and your fault.” (47:25–47:45)
• Julia on Childhood Laughter:
  “We would start … my memory is that [my mother] was laughing as hard as I was. My guess is that maybe she was laughing because I was laughing. But I remember sort of feeling like I was partnered with her in enjoying this extraordinarily funny ping pong bit.” (49:50)

Memorable Moments & Timestamps

• [13:27] Amy & Julia’s photo-off: “82,000 photos.” Julia, mock-offended: “Screw you, Amy Poehler.”
• [25:40] Julia recounts award show bits with Amy, especially swapping speeches.
• [32:26] Julia explains how Seinfeld’s executives demanded a female character: “Network told them you have to put a girl in the show.”
• [36:25] Julia’s story about Jerry Seinfeld suggesting Elaine just gets fat instead of hiding her pregnancy.
• [45:28] Julia’s heartfelt praise of Tony Hale and their on- and off-screen rapport.
• [55:47] Julia on the unexpected comfort in helping others after sharing her cancer diagnosis.
• [61:03] Amy and Julia discuss why neither would survive Alone: “There’s no way you’re making it on Alone.”
• [64:32] Amy: “I’m a basic Doritos bitch.”

The Heart of the Conversation

• A celebration of competitive, supportive, and deeply funny friendships among women in comedy.
• Honest, warm reflections about the challenges (and joys) of aging, grief, family, and the sometimes absurd rituals of showbiz.
• The importance of laughter—especially in the hardest moments.
• A love letter to collaboration, deep curiosity, and finding joy in both the successes and awkward misstarts.

For First-Time Listeners

If you’re new to Good Hang, this episode encapsulates the show’s spirit: two comedy legends swapping stories, mocking themselves, being honest about anxiety and aging, joyfully riffing on pop culture, and taking a real, funny look at the art of “just hanging out.” The warmth and affection between Amy and Julia, plus the surprise depth (and silliness) from Tony Hale, makes for terrific listening, whether you’re a longtime fan or new to their world.

Listen for:

• Inside Hollywood dirt (but with love!)
• Unexpectedly moving stories about the healing power of comedy and friendship
• A masterclass in how to tease and praise your friends at the same time

Recommended jump-in moments:

• [13:13] Photo competition starts
• [25:40] Award show antics
• [36:25] Pregnancy on set war stories
• [45:14] Tony Hale segment and Veep codependency
• [55:47] Julia on sharing her cancer journey
• [58:04] What Julia and Amy are watching (and snacking on) now

Highlights in Original Tone:

“Appalled if anyone is not focused on me ... Never apologize. It’s always your fault, your fault, and your fault.”
— Julia Louis-Dreyfus, [47:25]

“How about Elaine just gets fat?”
— Jerry Seinfeld suggestion, retold by Julia [36:43]

“Fun is all caps. Because there’s another kind of competitive woman ... that we don’t care for.”
— Julia Louis-Dreyfus, [25:12]

Note: This summary skips all advertisements, intros/outros, and non-content sections.