Kerry Washington

Summary

Good Hang with Amy Poehler – Kerry Washington (April 14, 2026)

Episode Overview

In this lively episode of "Good Hang," Amy Poehler welcomes acclaimed actress and activist Kerry Washington for a wide-ranging conversation about her roots in the Bronx, career-defining roles, activism, family, and what makes her laugh. The episode opens with a segment featuring Tony Goldwyn (her “Scandal” co-star), who shares insights and questions for Kerry, providing a unique perspective on her work ethic and character. The discussion is filled with humor, warmth, personal stories, and reflections on balancing ambition, activism, and motherhood.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Tony Goldwyn on Working with Kerry Washington

Segment: 02:46 – 12:23

• How They Met: Tony Goldwyn recalls meeting Kerry at the 2008 Democratic Convention and then reuniting for “Scandal.” He describes always being struck by her chameleonic acting:

  "Every time I saw her in a movie, I found myself going, who is that actress in that role? ... Oh my God, that's Kerry Washington." (03:18)

• Scandal Origins: Tony shares that he was immediately interested in working on "Scandal" once he knew Kerry and Shonda Rhimes were involved.
• Leadership on Set: Tony praises Kerry’s commitment and leadership as #1 on the call sheet, telling a story about how Kerry unflappably set the tone for hard work and professionalism at 4 AM Good Morning America tapings:

  "Darby goes up to Kerry, and this is classic Kerry Washington… Darby goes, Kerry, you know, this Good Morning America thing ... And Kerry's like, of course we're doing it, Darby. ... Like, isn't it amazing that they want to put us on their opening of their show?" (07:22)

• Activism: Tony admires Kerry’s approach to activism—it's "fully professionalized ... next to maybe Jane Fonda, I've never seen anybody like that." (09:14)
• Relationships on "Scandal": Tony compares the cast friendships to “high school best friends” and notes their enduring closeness years after the show.

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2. Kerry Washington: Bronx Roots and Upbringing

Segment: 13:13 – 16:53

• The Underdog Borough: Kerry describes growing up in the Bronx as giving her resilience and hustle:

  "The Bronx is like the underdog borough ... and so there's like a hustle ... a different kind of strength and resilience, I think, from people who are from the Bronx." (13:31)

• Class Pride & Visibility: Discussion about class divides, giving credit to nannies, and making working-class contributions visible.
• Personal Connections: Kerry shares how Amy’s public gratitude toward her childcare staff resonated—her own grandmother worked in the neighborhood where she went to school.

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3. Creative Journey and First Breaks

Segment: 19:06 – 25:47

• Decision to Act: Kerry knew she wanted to be an actress halfway through college after a transformative summer conservatory.
• Early Career: Booked her first film ("Our Song") during the year she gave herself to “try acting.”

  "We were stealing shots on the subway. We didn’t have permits … but it was a story of these three girls growing up in Brooklyn." (24:07)

• Sense of Fulfillment: Describes realizing she was “in the pocket”—exactly where she wanted to be—while shooting that film.

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4. "Scandal" and Stepping into Leadership

Segment: 26:28 – 33:36

• Casting and Breaking Barriers: Kerry describes the intense competition for “Scandal’s” lead—“everybody wanted to be Olivia Pope.”
• On Shonda Rhimes: Initially finds "Shondaland" intimidating, but quickly commits after meeting Shonda:

  "I was like, I will give up my citizenship to live in this land of yours. I loved her." (28:53)

• Becoming a "Number One":

  "She taught me how to be a number one...step into leadership and not shy away from it..." (29:27) Kerry admits her goal used to be a "happy artist life," never expecting to be a TV lead.

• Healthy On-Set Relationships: Kerry and Amy discuss how the cast remained close and secure, even as fans passionately “shipped” their characters.

  "We like to fuck with people ... but everyone's secure. That's the key." (32:05)

• Motherhood and Work: Kerry had two pregnancies during “Scandal.” The set became family-friendly and included a playroom.

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5. Activism & Staying Engaged

Segment: 34:52 – 38:54

• Dealing with Fatigue: Kerry shares her approach to activism in a tough world:

  "I try to ask myself, what am I able to do today? ... To not do nothing. Because we can all be doing something ... it's time, treasure, or talent." (36:09)

• Community as Support: She credits Eve Ensler and Jane Fonda with teaching her that plugging into community activism is restorative.

  "Plugging into community actually helps you feel better. Like, being part of something bigger is a balm for your soul." (38:54)

• Balancing Fun and Impact: Acknowledges the importance of making activism accessible and not a “drag.”

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6. Work Ethic, Parenting, & Leading by Example

Segment: 41:44 – 48:17

• On Instilling Drive in Her Kids:

  "I feel like they don't have that thing of being from the Bronx ... so I wonder where they'll find it." (45:36)

• Sports Mom: Kerry is a “loud cheerer” at her kids’ games, but strives to meet her kids where they are emotionally.

  "I try to like sit on the bench with them." (46:52)

• Small Town Reporter Approach: Amy shares a parenting trick: reflect kids' feelings back to them, as a “small town reporter,” to encourage talking rather than fixing.

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7. Directing and Career Evolution

Segment: 48:57 – 53:37

• Directing TV: Kerry loves directing for the opportunity to “help other people do their best work.”
• Desire for More: Wants to direct a feature but is mindful of the family time it demands; references Ben Affleck’s family-friendly work style on set.
• Imperfect Women: Preview of Kerry’s new Apple series with Elisabeth Moss and Kate Mara—a family-friendly, collaborative production that shares lead responsibilities.

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8. Personal Growth, Family, and Resilience

Segment: 55:10 – 59:33

• Practicing Kitsugi: Kerry’s hobby is the Japanese art of repairing pottery with gold, which she uses as a metaphor for healing family wounds.

  "By not making the cracks disappear, but highlighting them with gold, you bring beauty to the broken spaces ... the places where we are wounded are what make us most beautiful." (56:00)

• Family Healing and Memoir: Kerry speaks openly now about learning later in life that she was donor-conceived, which has brought more authenticity and grace to her family:

  "There's ... so much allowing now in our family and grace. So much more truth ... I’m just so, so grateful." (59:14)

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9. Laughter, Family, and Life’s Simple Joys

Segment: 59:37 – 67:45

• Kids as Comedians:

  "I love when my kids get a good burn on me ... a well-timed comedic burn, it just makes me love them more." (60:28)

• Favorite Family TV - The Amazing Race:
  Kerry’s entire family obsessively watches “The Amazing Race” for the travel, teamwork lessons, and humor:

  "You're also learning ... what makes a good team, what partnership looks like, what respect... it's so, so we love it and we laugh a lot." (62:14)

• Would She Compete?: Kerry says she and her husband (Nnamdi) would be a great team—she's got the Bronx hustle, but jokes she’d need to train for the running.
• Values in Entertainment: The discussion on "Amazing Race" also highlights values of kindness, teamwork, and karma.

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Notable Quotes & Standout Moments

• On Leadership:
  “She taught me how to be a number one … to step into leadership and not shy away from it.” – Kerry Washington (29:27)
• On Parenting:
  "I try to like sit on the bench with them ... just give it some time." – Kerry Washington (46:52)
• On Activism:
  "To not do nothing. Because we can all be doing something." – Kerry Washington (36:09)
• On Community:
  "Plugging into community actually helps you feel better. Like, being part of something bigger is a balm for your soul." – Kerry Washington (38:54)
• On Resilience:
  "By not making the cracks disappear, but highlighting them with gold, you bring beauty to the broken spaces..." – Kerry Washington (56:00)
• On Fun and Joy:
  "A well-timed comedic burn, it just makes me love them more.” – Kerry Washington (60:28)

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Timestamps for Key Segments

• Tony Goldwyn segment: 02:46 – 12:23
• Bronx roots & upbringing: 13:13 – 16:53
• Deciding to act & early career: 19:06 – 25:47
• Scandal & leadership growth: 26:28 – 33:36
• Activism, fatigue, and community: 34:52 – 38:54
• Parenting & instilling drive: 41:44 – 48:17
• Directing career & new projects: 48:57 – 53:37
• Kintsugi & family healing: 55:10 – 59:33
• Laughter, family, Amazing Race: 59:37 – 67:45

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Tone & Style

The episode is natural, energetic, and full of both meaningful insights and quick, witty banter. Amy and Kerry connect as working mothers, artists, and friends. The warmth and mutual respect make for an engaging, honest, and uplifting listen, balancing deep topics with playful tangents and lots of laughter.

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Summary

This episode of “Good Hang” with Amy Poehler and Kerry Washington is a deeply engaging and joyful conversation about ambition, resilience, the importance of community, and embracing all parts of one’s identity. Kerry’s insights on leadership, activism, and motherhood are balanced by candid memories and playful humor—especially around what she’s learned from roles like Olivia Pope and what it means to be “from the Bronx.” Full of practical wisdom, relatable stories, and delighted tangents (shout out to “The Amazing Race” superfans!), it’s a must-listen for anyone looking for inspiration, camaraderie, and a really good hang.

Transcript

[Amy Poehler]

This episode is brought to you by Kerastase. So, you know your hair ages just like skin does, right? Well, good news. Kerastase has dropped their new Chronologist line. It's like a revitalizing spa day for your hair that reverses those pesky signs of aging, like lack of thickness and volume, dullness, dryness and frizz. Use the full range of Chronologist shampoo mask and overnight serum and you'll wake up to visibly fuller, smoother, healthier, and thoroughly pampered hair. Let your locks feel young again. Try the new crinologist line by Kara Stoss. Hello, everyone. Welcome to another episode of Good Hang. Very, very excited about our guest today. It is the one, the only Kerry Washington. Kerry is so talented. She is so good at so many things. And we're going to talk about a lot of those things today. We are going to talk about growing up in the Bronx. The Bronx. And how it shaped her and what she learned from being from there. And we're going to talk about her activism, how she stays connected in a turbulent, often depressing world. We're going to talk about scandal because of course. And we're going to get to the nitty gritty in a lot of that. And we're going to talk about Amazing Race, a random show that we talk about and talk about how good it is for kids. We're going to talk about her new TV show, Imperfect Women with Elisabeth Moss and Kate Mara that's coming out on Apple. All of these things are going to be discussed today, but most importantly, we're going to discuss her with someone who loves her. And who is that person? Fitz. That's right. Tony Goldwyn, writer, producer, director, just coming off of directing Shay Joey, a new musical with Savion Glover that is hopefully on its way to Broadway. We're catching Tony right after rehearsal. He's tired and still he can't wait to profess his admiration for his co star. So let's see if we can get him on the zoom horn. Tony, are you there? This episode is presented by Allstate. Checking Allstate first could save you hundreds on car insurance. That's smart. Not checking that the fake roast chicken is in fact a fake roast chicken before chomping into a wing. Rookie mistake. Yeah, checking first is smart. So check Allstate first for a quote that could save you hundreds. You're in good hands with Allstate. Potential savings vary, subject to terms, conditions and availability. Allstate North American Insurance Company and affiliates, Northbrook, Illinois. Tony.

[Tony Goldwyn]

Hi, Amy. How Are you.

[Amy Poehler]

Thank you for talking to us today. Because I have to say that the relationship that you and Carrie had on screen and off screen is really, really wonderful to watch, and people are very invested in it. And what I. What I have to say is what I glean from the way you two interact with each other is a deep mutual respect. Deep, deep respect for the way you work and the kind of people that you are. Can you tell us how you first met?

[Tony Goldwyn]

My first recollection we may have met briefly before this was at the Democratic Convention when Obama became president in 2008 in Denver, which was a really incredible experience, I bet. And we kind of became friends through kind of social activism and stuff, but didn't know each other well. But for me, when Shonda asked me to do Scandal and she told me Kerry Washington was doing it, Carrie was an actress who, every time I saw her in a movie, I found myself going, who is that actress in that role? Because she was so different in every movie she did. And at the end of the credits, I look at and go, oh, my God, that's Kerry Washington. She just was so great. And everything I saw there was Rhae, or Last King of Scotland, I remember seeing her in. But again, totally different than anything I'd seen. So I was just like, God, I hope I get a chance to work with her. So when Shonda said to me, she's like, are you playing the president in my new show? And I was like, well, Shonda Rhimes writing a president, that should be pretty interesting. When she said, Kerry Washington, I was like, you and Kerry Washington? I'm in.

[Amy Poehler]

Had you known Shonda before? Had you worked with Shonda before?

[Tony Goldwyn]

Yeah, I met Shonda. I directed the. I think the second or third episode of Grey's Anatomy.

[Amy Poehler]

Oh, wow.

[Tony Goldwyn]

Yeah, it was one of the first TV things I'd done. I directed a couple of movies. And then Betsy Beers, Shonda's partner, called me up and said, you know, we'd like. Would you consider doing Grey's Anatomy? And I saw the pilot of that show and said, wow, this is amazing. Of course. And I was just getting used to directing tv, so I did that. And Shonda and I met, and she was brand new to television. Little did we know she was going to become Empress of the Universe.

[Amy Poehler]

Yeah, totally.

[Tony Goldwyn]

But I knew the second I met Shonda, too, I was like, oh, this woman's the real deal.

[Amy Poehler]

It's so interesting that you and Carrie met in real life doing political work. I'm really in awe of how she stays Connected to the real world while also playing these people. Like those two things don't always happen.

[Tony Goldwyn]

She does. I mean, first of all, she's like, she's got this amazing husband, Nandi. She's got, she's a totally fully devoted mom of three kids and you know, and, and, and her profession. And yet she's a thought. She's like 1000% in everything she does. I don't know how she does it and I can't ask her because she's too modest. She just like laugh in my face. If I was like, you're amazing. How do you do it? You know, she, she wouldn't take it. So, you know, I'm, I, I learn a lot. I learned, I always learn a lot from her.

[Amy Poehler]

What was it like? She was kind of the leader of the show. She was number one on that call sheet.

[Tony Goldwyn]

Carrie, from the get go. We had an amazing cast of great people, all grown ups, no, you know, jerks in the cast. But Carrie set a tone by example. She works harder than anybody. And then that role, she worked so hard. I have a funny story. We talked about leading by example and I think it was maybe our fifth season or something like that. When we were going to premiere the season, Good Morning America wanted us to be on the show, but they wanted us to be on as they're opening at 7am to do it. So we're like, great, great, great, great, great. And then I was in the makeup trailer and some of the actors like, wait, so we're in LA. Wait, 7am means we're like 4am we have to be here where we're working. Everyone's just sort of bitching and moaning about having to be. Well, that means you have to go in. The girls are like. And that means we got to get up at 2:30 to be in hair and makeup. Like, I don't know. Do you want to do it? I'm not sure. What? Well, did you. And I'm kind of like, well, I don't know, I mean, you guys want to do. So I don't have to get made up that much. So what should we do? What do we think? Well, let's see. What. So it was one of those things of actors kind of being like, like children. And we go to the. I'm on set and one Darby and I, Darby Stanfield of Wonderful. Darby Stanfield was in our cast. We're talking about it. And Carrie walks into the set, onto the stage. She wasn't working there. She just walks to say hi. And Darby's like, oh, you know, I wonder if Carrie wants to do Good Morning America. Like, maybe. And I was like, well, why don't you go ask her? See how she feels about it. So Darby goes up to Kerry, and this is classic Kerry Washington. Darby goes, kerry, you know, this Good Morning America thing that's happening at like, 7:00am that means we got to get there 2:00 clock in the morning. And. And I'm just wondering why. And Carrie's like, of course we're doing it, Darby. We're in season five, and ABC wants to promote us by putting us on Good Morning America. Like, of course we're getting up at two in the morning to do this. Like, isn't it amazing that they want to put us on their opening of their show? And Darby goes, yes, I think it's so fantastic. She comes running over to me and I'm like, yep, that's quintessential Kerry Washington.

[Amy Poehler]

I mean, I want to talk to her about that because she has this work ethic that's really, really. You can feel it. And, and it's. And it's, you know, it feels very collaborative and inclusive. It doesn't feel, like, strident. But I. I'm really curious where she gets it from.

[Tony Goldwyn]

I don't know. It's for real. It's just for real. It comes out of a kind of joy and passion and some intense inner drive that she does have. I mean, yeah, you know, no one works as hard as she's. Just something drives her. Part of it, I think, is. I mean, she's a. She has a lot of gifts to give the world, you know, and a limited amount of time to give.

[Amy Poehler]

Well, I want to ask her about that. How does she stay? You know, how do you stay. How does one stay involved in this time of, like, deep fatigue and deep. Like, every day is really feels really harder and rougher than the next, and there's a lot of people hurting and a lot of people struggling. How do you stay. How do you stay in it?

[Tony Goldwyn]

It's a. It's a big question. And she's got an answer for herself, which I think could be useful to all of us. I mean, I want to ask her about that. I sort of had two things that I. Yeah.

[Kerry Washington]

What.

[Amy Poehler]

What do you. What, what do you want to ask?

[Tony Goldwyn]

Well, there are things that I. As I told you, if I asked her myself, she'd laugh in my face. You know, we talked about her activism and Carrie as an activist. She's not a normal celebrity activist, which is a great thing. You know, people donate their time and their money and their image and their passion to two things that they care about. Carrie does it on a level I've next to maybe Jane Fonda. I've never seen anybody like that. It's become a fully professionalized, fully operational part of her business. It's like, she doesn't do anything. If I'm going to do it, I'm going to do it for real and have a major impact. And. Yeah. So I just would love to hear her talk about how that became so professional, so full on, you know?

[Amy Poehler]

Yeah.

[Tony Goldwyn]

And then I guess the second thing I was. I wanted to ask her, which I could never. She would never answer to me, is the drive we talked about, like, and I wonder, as a parent, like, when you have that much drive as a human being, I'm curious to know, does she, like, impart that to them?

[Kerry Washington]

Yeah.

[Tony Goldwyn]

Or is it something she just lays back and has to dial that back in order to let them kind of be them or find it for themselves? And I wonder. It's such a good question. No, we do this.

[Amy Poehler]

Yeah. Like, how do you lead by example? How do you figure out what is the right thing for your kid before you go? And those are great questions. And I want to talk to her about both those things. And there are areas that I want to get into with her. What does it feel like to have done a show that's so. Still, so beloved? I mean, people feel such a connection to that show still. It is. And of those characters, I'll just say it reminds me a little bit of when me and Adam Scott talk about our characters on Parks and Rec. Like, we love Ben and Leslie's love. Like, we love their love. And it feels like you and Carrie both get that, where people are into you. Your character's love.

[Tony Goldwyn]

Yeah.

[Amy Poehler]

Like, what is it?

[Tony Goldwyn]

It's a beautiful thing.

[Amy Poehler]

It is.

[Tony Goldwyn]

It constantly amazes me. I mean, I guess because of Netflix and whatnot, people just this past month or two have been coming up to me a whole lot going, oh, my God, I just finished Scandal. I just discovered, like, people just discovering it. I'm like, didn't we finish that seven years ago?

[Amy Poehler]

Yeah.

[Tony Goldwyn]

And we had such a beautiful. Like you said about you and. And Adam, we had such a beautiful time doing it. And a group of deep friendships were made, which more than any other job I've ever done. You know, I have some really close friends from over the years that I've worked with, but that group was like your high school best friends for seven years. And we're all still really tight.

[Amy Poehler]

Well, I so appreciate you talking to us. Thank you for the questions. Carrie will be so happy that we talked. Such a fan. Congrats on the musical. Cannot wait to see it. Cannot wait till it goes to Broadway. Cannot wait till it wins the Tony and eventually turns into a film that you direct.

[Tony Goldwyn]

Thanks.

[Amy Poehler]

I will. I will. Thank you so much, Tony. Thanks for your time.

[Tony Goldwyn]

Bye. It was great to see you.

[Amy Poehler]

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[Kerry Washington]

I'm so excited.

[Amy Poehler]

I want to start because I'm obsessed with New York kids.

[Kerry Washington]

Oh.

[Amy Poehler]

I mean, I grew up in the suburbs of Boston. Kids that grew up in New York, they're just.

[Kerry Washington]

We're a different breed.

[Amy Poehler]

You are. And you grew up in the Bronx.

[Kerry Washington]

I did.

[Amy Poehler]

What was it like growing up in the Bronx? Little Carrie, what was the Bronx like when you were growing up?

[Kerry Washington]

The thing about being from the Bronx? And I just did a speech about this, a whole entire speech, because I was presenting Jennifer Lopez with an award, and she and I went to the same Boys and Girls club in the Bronx. And I was saying in this speech that the Bronx is like the underdog borough. It's like the forgotten borough. You know, like Brooklyn had Spike Lee and Queens has all the airports and the cemeteries and like Astoria. But the Bronx is like the forgotten borough. And people don't expect much of you when you're from the Bronx. And so there's like a hustle. There's a certain kind of hustle and determination to make it. If you. If there's something you want to do. There's a different kind of strength and resilience, I think, from people who are from the Bronx.

[Amy Poehler]

I agree. It feels. It feels like. And also, Fred Armisen Does a really funny bit about this. Fred does all the accents of different parts of New York, and he always talks about the Bronx.

[Kerry Washington]

Yes.

[Amy Poehler]

And how it's so. Even the word with an X in it.

[Kerry Washington]

Yes, it has an X. It's also the only borough that has a the in front of it. You don't say the Brooklyn.

[Amy Poehler]

The Bronx. The Bronx.

[Kerry Washington]

It's like a thing. Yes, it's a whole thing.

[Amy Poehler]

It's so true. And there's a vibe. I mean, there's a working class vibe, certainly.

[Kerry Washington]

Yes, for sure.

[Amy Poehler]

And a sense of pride. But you're right, there is a. There is a.

[Kerry Washington]

It's like a scrappy, scruffy hustler vibe to it that I'm really proud of. Yeah, super. I don't think I would, you know, have the things I have or have done. But I have to tell you, this is a little bit of a tangent. But I have to get. I don't want to forget to say this. I love a tangent. Morning. When I got up, I was thinking about. I was prepping for this interview.

[Amy Poehler]

You're such a good student.

[Kerry Washington]

I was like, I remember my first time 100 dinner that I ever had the blessing to attend. You were one of the TIME 100 recipients. And your speech changed my life. It was extraordinary because you got up. It was like you stood up at the tables. Do you remember this? Everybody stood up in the room at the tables. And you thanked me, your nanny. That's who you thanked in your speech.

[Amy Poehler]

Yeah. I own my nannies. Nannies a lot.

[Kerry Washington]

And I was thinking about it this morning because it really moved me. I got very emotional, but I was like, I wasn't even a mom then. I wasn't a mom yet. And I think now, when I think about it, it's one of the things I love about you because you do credit the people who make it possible. Right. And I know, like, I'd be nothing without the support that I have with childcare in home, all that. But also, I think growing up in the Bronx, my grandmother, like, I went to a very fancy Upper east side. I went to the same school as Gwyneth went to. I went to fancy Upper east side school. My grandmother used to cook and clean houses in that neighborhood. And so I think there was a part of me that when you got up and thanked your support team, your home staff, it made me feel like my family was seen. Like, it made me think of my grandmother. Oh, that's so nice. And like, that you were thanking the people that other people like to Ignore or pretend, don't exist or want to like marginalize. It just was so moving.

[Amy Poehler]

Carrie, thank you for saying that. I think people like to make the hard working class often invisible.

[Kerry Washington]

Yes.

[Amy Poehler]

And also it's just mean to other women because it's like nobody's doing this alone.

[Kerry Washington]

Nobody's doing this by themselves. That's right. And you don't get more credit by making other humans invisible. Like it doesn't make you more perfect.

[Amy Poehler]

Well, I feel like a lot of the work that you do is exactly that, is making sure that people feel visible and feel seen. Like whether it's the art you're making or the stuff that you're fighting for. And it makes sense to me that

[Kerry Washington]

like it would impact me that way.

[Amy Poehler]

Yeah.

[Kerry Washington]

That I heard it that way.

[Amy Poehler]

Yeah. Before I pass by JLo.

[Kerry Washington]

Yeah, yeah. Just a little mic drop on JLo.

[Amy Poehler]

Yeah.

[Kerry Washington]

She taught me how to dance.

[Amy Poehler]

Can you just tell us what do you mean?

[Kerry Washington]

So we had this dance teacher named Larry Maldonado and Larry was a dream. Larry taught me so much. He was like this very eccentric gay man dance teacher and he ran the dance program at the Boys and Girls Club and he got really sick in the 80s like a lot of people did. And Jennifer is not that much older than me, but she's a little bit older than me. So she was one of the big girls at the club. And so when Larry went into the hospital, she started teaching dance. She was teaching the little girls classes. So I mean if I was like 8, she was 16 or something like that. But she was teaching. I learned like hip hop and flamenco and like all I learned to dance from Jennifer. She's never hired me to dance in any of her videos, but I don't know what that says.

[Amy Poehler]

Yeah, that's wild. So crazy because when you're that age and there's like a 16 year old girl, they're just. And they're good. They're the most beautiful, talented.

[Kerry Washington]

Yes. I remember right before she left to go off to LA to purse pursue her dream of being famous, she did this duet dance with Larry. So he must have gotten better and was back and it was like very risque. We weren't supposed to watch it. The little girls were like, no, this is not for you. It was like later on in the dance program. But we all hid in the wings because we couldn't not watch it. It was beautiful. She was beautiful. And it was just. Yeah, she's always been a real inspiration for me.

[Amy Poehler]

That's so cool. What a fun to Use a gr. Gwyneth term. Like sliding doors moment. Totally. Like, see you again in 20 years in a different way.

[Kerry Washington]

Wild. So wild.

[Amy Poehler]

And you went to Spence, and you were in Midsummer Night's Dream. With Gwyneth.

[Kerry Washington]

With Gwyneth. It's the only time I've ever worked with her.

[Amy Poehler]

You've not worked with J. Lo or Gwyneth since?

[Kerry Washington]

No. You guys, I'm good. We have history. I'm available. Gwyneth. Jennifer.

[Amy Poehler]

Who were you in Midsummer? Because I was also in that play.

[Tony Goldwyn]

You were.

[Kerry Washington]

Who were you? You were packing.

[Amy Poehler]

I wish.

[Kerry Washington]

Who were you?

[Amy Poehler]

I was Peaseblossom.

[Kerry Washington]

Of course.

[Amy Poehler]

You were one of the fairies.

[Kerry Washington]

I was a fairy, too, and I don't remember which one.

[Amy Poehler]

I know they all have names. You might have been Peaseblossom.

[Kerry Washington]

I bet I was Soul Mace.

[Amy Poehler]

So I just kind of. I was like. Just like a background dancer.

[Kerry Washington]

Yes, same.

[Amy Poehler]

Did you know. I mean, I feel like you could do many things well. You do do many things well.

[Kerry Washington]

Kind. My kids would argue with you, but I like that you think that.

[Amy Poehler]

And I feel like, you know, there's probably a point in your life where you had to have a real. Like, you know, you grew up around a lot of artists. You knew from an early age you were a creative person. But did you make a decision like, I'm gonna be. I'm gonna be an actress?

[Kerry Washington]

Yeah, I did.

[Amy Poehler]

And what age?

[Kerry Washington]

So I was halfway through college.

[Amy Poehler]

Okay. Yeah. Pretty late.

[Kerry Washington]

Yeah, pretty late. And I went to college on an acting scholarship, which I didn't even know existed, but. And it was sort of like being on a basketball scholarship. Like, I went. I had to audition for all the plays. I really got benched. I got to do a lot of theater.

[Amy Poehler]

Right.

[Kerry Washington]

And so that was maybe the beginning of being like, oh, people will give me money, like, significant amounts of money to do this, because it was helping to pay for. But then halfway through college, I did this summer conservatory program at Michael Howard Studios in Chelsea in New York. And that was the first time in my life that from the moment I woke up, you know, to the moment I went to bed, all I did was act. There was no, like, hiding behind other classwork or being an academic or. It just was like I was just an artist all day long, every day, and I was so happy.

[Amy Poehler]

You loved it.

[Kerry Washington]

I was so happy.

[Amy Poehler]

Yeah.

[Kerry Washington]

And I was doing, like, clown work and improv and scene study and acting as a business class, and I just was like, I couldn't get enough.

[Amy Poehler]

Yeah.

[Kerry Washington]

I wanted to sleep there at night. I Just. I was like, I. So I thought, okay, I'm gonna try to do this. I gave myself one year after college, and I was like, if I can get a significant job in this year, then I'll go for it. And. But at the same time, I had, like, the workbooks next to my bed to study for the LSATs.

[Amy Poehler]

That's what I get for LSATs. Interesting.

[Kerry Washington]

I thought maybe grad school for psych, but I. But that even would. Is, like, I'm gonna try for law school first.

[Amy Poehler]

And in a. In a. Again, sliding doors way, you would be what kind of lawyer?

[Kerry Washington]

Right now I'm thinking of, like, all's fair. I'd be, like, a badass divorce lawyer, sexy Sarah Paulson type. But I don't know.

[Tony Goldwyn]

Whatever.

[Kerry Washington]

It'd be sexy.

[Amy Poehler]

Whatever it is, it's sexy.

[Kerry Washington]

I'd wear heels. I don't know. Maybe I'd be like an Olivia Pope. Like, maybe the. Maybe the souls or the energy in your life gets to you no matter how. So maybe I would have been a crisis person, and I figured out how to be that person. I mean, my mom, who desperately did not want me to be an artist because she's a professor of education, and she was like, I don't want you to starve. You know, she just. The idea of a starving artist. And I brought my parents with me. The first time I was at the Emmys. The first time I was nominated at the Emmys, I brought them, and we were sitting at the Governor's Ball, and my mom's, like, cutting into her steak, and I was like, anybody, star? She was like, you're doing okay. But I think, oh, God, I lost my train of thoughts. But that was not a humble story to tell.

[Amy Poehler]

No, I love that story. And also what I feel like is you gave yourself a year, and in that year, something big happened.

[Kerry Washington]

Yes.

[Amy Poehler]

What was the break?

[Kerry Washington]

You're good at this.

[Amy Poehler]

Yeah, I'm good at listening. Thanks. Let's brag about ourselves for a second.

[Kerry Washington]

You're so good at this. You kept track.

[Amy Poehler]

That's really my one tangent.

[Kerry Washington]

Cause you're not intimidated by the tangents. I can't bring this back.

[Amy Poehler]

And honestly, if you care to know, I do. I think about the tangents. I don't know if you think. I'm much more of a visual learner and remember, So I think about a tangent when you're talking. I think about literally a line going out like this, and I picture it going out like that, and I'm like, just don't Forget to get it. Ooh. I actually visualize it so I don't forget it.

[Kerry Washington]

Do you do that in your improv work? Like, when you're doing a sketch? It's really similar. Right.

[Amy Poehler]

I think more and more I'm learning that I visualize things in order to, like. I try to give it some kind of, like, picture in my mind.

[Kerry Washington]

Yeah, because you have to. In the scene work, let it go some. You have to be open to the exploration. But then also remember, you gotta land the plane.

[Amy Poehler]

So your first big break.

[Kerry Washington]

See, did you see that was magic. Did you see that happen? Oh, my God.

[Amy Poehler]

What would you consider your. Because there's a lot of things that could be your first big break.

[Kerry Washington]

Yes, I think so. I gave myself this year, and in that year, I booked my very first film, which was called Our Song, which is actually having its 25th anniversary this year.

[Amy Poehler]

Tell us about that film.

[Kerry Washington]

It was this really tiny, scrappy, independent film. I mean, our entire transpo department consisted of, like, four metro cards. And we all had Metro cards. Exactly, exactly. We had no wardrobe department. I mean, it was an incredible experience. Cause we were stealing shots on the subway. We didn't have permits, but it was a story of these three girls growing up in Brooklyn. And I wanted this part so badly. I learned to be in a marching band to be in the movie, because it was about a summer in these three girls lives in Brooklyn that are all part of this marching band. It was the best experience when I was a kid. We lived in this high rise that was across the water from LaGuardia Airport. And we were, like, in a flight path where at the 12th floor, we were at the top floor. These airplanes would fly by when I was a kid, and I would always want to be on those airplanes. Like, where are they going? I wanted to be on those planes, like, explore other places and have adventures. And when we were filming Our Song, we were stealing shots on the A train in Far Rockaway, close to Kennedy Airport. And I remember sitting on the train and a plane going over and thinking, nope, there's nowhere else I want to be.

[Amy Poehler]

I want to be right here. How cool.

[Kerry Washington]

Doing what I'm doing. You can't put me on a plane right now. I am, like, in. This is it. This is it. I'm in the pocket.

[Amy Poehler]

That's such a cool feeling. I mean, you kind of wish it for everybody. You do, right? That whatever they're doing, they realize, like, this is exactly what I want to be doing.

[Kerry Washington]

Yeah, I wish that for my kids. I wish it for myself, even, like, project to project. Because sometimes you sign. Sign on for something, and you're like, oh, this is exactly what I thought it would be. Or better. Like, this is better than I could have imagined. And it feels so good. And sometimes you're like, what time is lunch?

[Amy Poehler]

Yeah, I know. When you. When did you first. Not that.

[Kerry Washington]

We're lucky. We're super lucky to be doing what we do. We're blessed.

[Amy Poehler]

I think it's really hard. I think it's as hard as coal mining. I think acting is brain surgery. Acting is harder than brain surgery.

[Kerry Washington]

I don't know why more actors don't win the Nobel. Nobel Prize.

[Amy Poehler]

Yeah, I agree.

[Kerry Washington]

Because we bring peace.

[Amy Poehler]

When people talk about brain surgery, I'm like, try acting honestly, seriously, for one day.

[Kerry Washington]

Because I'm like, in your brain doing surgery.

[Amy Poehler]

Exactly. Metaphorically.

[Kerry Washington]

You know what I mean?

[Amy Poehler]

Yeah.

[Kerry Washington]

Multiple patients a year.

[Amy Poehler]

Who's starving now?

[Kerry Washington]

See what I mean? Do you see what she does? It's brilliant.

[Amy Poehler]

Okay. Yeah. Tell me, when you first heard about Scandal, was it written for you?

[Kerry Washington]

Mm.

[Tony Goldwyn]

Mm.

[Amy Poehler]

I mean, Shonda. One of one.

[Kerry Washington]

She's one of one.

[Amy Poehler]

What an incredible phenom of a human. Yes, Phenom, Truly. So it was an idea out there that you heard about, and did you feel like, I have got to get that?

[Kerry Washington]

So, you know, there's been a lot of talk. When Scandal came out, a lot of the headlines were like, this is the first time that a black woman is leading a network drama in almost 40 years. Like, it hadn't happened in my lifetime. I'd never seen it. So you can imagine that when word on the street was that there was a show that was starring a black woman that was going to be on abc. Like, people went crazy. Everybody wanted to read for it. And God bless Shonda. She was like, I didn't have the heart to say no. So she read Everybody from, like, 15 to 85. Everybody wanted to be Olivia Pope. She read everybody. She met with tons of people. I heard about the project, and I was really a film actor. It was that time when, like, film actors were starting movie.

[Amy Poehler]

You were Chris Rock.

[Kerry Washington]

I had done Rey. I had done Last King of Scotland. Yes.

[Amy Poehler]

Great films.

[Kerry Washington]

So I was like, I. I was like the good luck charm. Like, if you hire me to play your wife, you win an Academy Award. Forest Whitaker, Jamie Foxx. So I. I wasn't hesitant to do television because I was starting to see that there were these incredible women. Like, Glenn Close was doing Damages, and, you know, you were starting to see it. That There were opportunities for women to play antiheroes and have, like, more experience in television, and movie stars were doing more tv. And so I wanted to read the script. I was like, if it's great, I'll consider it. And I read it, and I was like, oh, it was one of those things where, like, I threw the script across the room. Cause I was like, this is. I have to play her. It's for me. Like, no, I have to. The unfortunate thing where there were, like, 10 other actresses who felt the same way. And so we all auditioned and auditioned.

[Amy Poehler]

Come in and come in and come in.

[Kerry Washington]

I met with her first because I was at a certain place in my career. I could do a meeting first. Sure. So I met with her, and I remember getting off the elevator, and there was a huge sign that said shondaland. And I was like, oh, I don't know about this.

[Amy Poehler]

Right.

[Kerry Washington]

Like, it's your land.

[Amy Poehler]

Right.

[Kerry Washington]

Like, what does that mean?

[Amy Poehler]

Right.

[Kerry Washington]

I have a country I live in.

[Amy Poehler]

Yeah. You know, you always want to be careful when people say their own name too much.

[Kerry Washington]

You know what I mean?

[Amy Poehler]

Yeah. You never know.

[Kerry Washington]

And then I sat down with her, and I was like, I'm in. Like, I will give up my citizenship to live in this land of yours. It was just. I loved her.

[Amy Poehler]

It's interesting. You have to play a character who has to kind of, like, take care of other people.

[Kerry Washington]

Yeah.

[Amy Poehler]

Do you feel like in playing that character, you learn anything about how you take care of other people in your life? Like, are you a fixer?

[Kerry Washington]

I could and almost did write an entire book on the things I learned from Olivia Pope. She taught me.

[Amy Poehler]

Tell me a couple chapters so much.

[Kerry Washington]

The biggest thing was she. And I feel like you'll really understand this. She taught me how to be a number one, like, at work and in my life. She taught me how to, like, step into leadership and not shy away from it and to be team captain, to not be afraid of it. That whole, like, it's my name on that door. Like, she taught me to not be afraid of that. Because I always thought. I mean, I had this role model of Jennifer Lopez, but I was like, I'm not that. Like, I'm not that pretty, and I don't dance like that. And I just. I thought, I'm never gonna be the kind of actor who's, like, on the COVID of magazines. I'm just gonna. I. My goal was to have a career where I could pay the bills, do a few commercials a year, do a lot of theater, and just live a Happy artist life. So she really taught me to not be afraid to step into more.

[Amy Poehler]

Yeah.

[Kerry Washington]

And that was extraordinary. And, yes, I think there was. There is with her. I don't know if she taught me how to be a fixer. I think I brought a lot of that to her.

[Amy Poehler]

Yeah.

[Kerry Washington]

Like, it was written that way. I don't mean to say I invented it, but I. I already understood the need to want to make things around me better and to help people and to. Like, that's in me. It's a little bit of, like, an only child thing and maybe a little bit of my own codependency. Like, there is something in me that wants to help other people. I mean, even that joke I made about, like, if you hire me to play your wife, you'll win an Academy Award. Like, I do take a lot of pride in the fact that I think when I go home at night, I wanna know not only that I did my best work as an actor, but I take a lot of pride in helping other actors do their best work across from me in the scene. Like, I want my scene partner to be like, whoa, I didn't know. I like. You know, you can do things to, like, push each other and make it better. And, like, that idea of the water, we all rise together. Like, I love that. I love helping people win.

[Amy Poehler]

I think that's the best thing about TV is, like, when you're locked into a part that you love and with people that you love. Like, I know you love Tony. I love your cast. Like, you're in a marriage. You're really in, like, a long marriage where you have to like each other.

[Kerry Washington]

Yes. Yes. It's family. It's really interesting because this is, like, what the fans don't want to hear. But I really am so grateful for the healthy relationships that I was able to have also with the men on that show, like, Scott Foley and Tony Goldwyn. Like, I love their wives. They love my husband. Like, there's so much.

[Amy Poehler]

Okay, well, let's talk about this. Yeah, let's talk about this. Because what's underneath about this is people ship you guys all the time.

[Kerry Washington]

So hard, by the way, we like to fuck with people. Like, we. I. Of course, I post stuff all the time with Tony.

[Amy Poehler]

Like, and that's how you can tell everyone's secure.

[Kerry Washington]

Yes, yes.

[Amy Poehler]

That's how you can tell.

[Kerry Washington]

That's the key.

[Amy Poehler]

Because you can tell that everybody's feeling totally fine and enjoying it. Because when people don't do that, then

[Kerry Washington]

you can't fuck around.

[Amy Poehler]

That's the scandal.

[Tony Goldwyn]

Hey.

[Amy Poehler]

No, but I mean, it is. It's like, that's what the sense I got from watching you two work together. And. And full disclosure, we talked to Tony for this podcast.

[Kerry Washington]

What? What did he tell you?

[Amy Poehler]

I'll tell you.

[Kerry Washington]

Tell me all the things. I love him so much. If he said anything bad, I'll kill him.

[Amy Poehler]

And did he tell you that he

[Kerry Washington]

likes my husband better than he likes me? Because that's the truth.

[Amy Poehler]

Well, I'm obsessed with your husband.

[Kerry Washington]

I am, too.

[Amy Poehler]

Nandi was so funny on the Kroll show, by the way.

[Kerry Washington]

He's so good on Kroll show.

[Amy Poehler]

He's so funny.

[Kerry Washington]

He's really funny.

[Amy Poehler]

I love him. And. Okay, so you're saying, like, you guys were able to have a healthy, working, appropriate, platonic relationship where you were able to discover these characters together and enjoy the fact that people love them together?

[Kerry Washington]

Yes. I love that people ship them. I love it. I love it so much. I love that people get into arguments like, oh, Lake, oh, Litz, all that stuff. I love it. And I love that, you know, that we gave people romance, you know, that we gave people escapism, that we made people think, that we made people feel. I love all of that.

[Amy Poehler]

You had two kids while you were doing your show?

[Kerry Washington]

Yes.

[Amy Poehler]

I also had children when I was doing a show.

[Kerry Washington]

It's very hard, Isn't it wild?

[Amy Poehler]

I, by the way, never really. I don't think I really knew that. I mean, I never really sunk in that you.

[Kerry Washington]

You were. Oh. Because my kids were being hidden behind boxes and Prada bags.

[Amy Poehler]

So you had them both. So you were. You had. You were pregnant and gave birth on both with both during show.

[Kerry Washington]

Yes.

[Amy Poehler]

Dang.

[Kerry Washington]

Yes.

[Amy Poehler]

That's hard. That's hard. I'm just gonna. That's all. I have no question, because I only. It's hard.

[Kerry Washington]

It's a thing.

[Amy Poehler]

It's hard.

[Kerry Washington]

It's a thing. But also, I was so, so blessed because Shonda also had young kids, and we built a playroom on the lot, and Viola had a daughter, and how to Get Away was on the same lot. And so we had this playroom. Like, I had my kids at work with me all the time.

[Amy Poehler]

That's awesome.

[Kerry Washington]

I figured out how to nurse during, you know, camera turnarounds. I was like, I need 15 minutes. Get on. And I just. I loved it. I love my. My kids are set kids. They're set kids. They. They are comfortable on a set, which is important because I went with my mom to. When she was teaching, I went to her office. And I would sit in her lecture halls. And I want them to know that what I do is work. That I'm working, you know?

[Amy Poehler]

Yeah. Okay. We talked to Tony.

[Kerry Washington]

Yes. Okay. Oh, yeah. How did I forget? Okay. What did he say?

[Amy Poehler]

I mean, he's, he's your biggest fan.

[Kerry Washington]

Aww.

[Amy Poehler]

And, you know, there's so many things about you that, like, you know, I mean, we talked about, like, the fact that you're the amazing activist that you are, the way that you stay engaged with the world, the way that you make sure that you use your currency for good and how important it is to you and how impressive it is to people. I mean, you have been working tirelessly for a long time and talking to people about what matters to you and what matters to this country and what matters to the world. How do you stay engaged right now, Carrie? It's tough.

[Kerry Washington]

It is really tough.

[Amy Poehler]

And people are feeling super fatigued and really feeling numb and checked out and feeling disconnected and feeling discouraged. How are you staying connected and not opting out? Any advice?

[Kerry Washington]

You know that toxic positivity thing that people talk about of, like, just well aware of it. Yeah. Right. I'm. Oopsie. I don't want to do that.

[Amy Poehler]

I know. I mean, I, I, I don't want it.

[Kerry Washington]

But this is not that.

[Amy Poehler]

No, I don't think it is, but it is. You're right. It's always like, you don't want to. Like, it's gonna be, it's gonna be great. I mean, great.

[Kerry Washington]

No, some things are bad.

[Amy Poehler]

It's bad.

[Kerry Washington]

Horrible.

[Amy Poehler]

Y', all, Y'. All, it's bad.

[Kerry Washington]

Yeah. But I also don't want to bury my head in the sand because I think it's really important to stay open hearted and to ask myself, what am I willing to do? Cause that's changed also, like, I think every day, each person and every day there's a different level of what we can give. So I keep trying to ask myself, like, what, what am I able to do today? And some days it's like march for six hours for no kings with my entire family and make seven posters and do it all. And some days it's like I want to donate $5 to a community organization. You know, like, there's different. But to not do nothing, to really, like, ask of myself to not do nothing. Because we can all be doing something whether. And you know that it's time, treasure, or talent. Like, no matter who you are, you have something you can give and it can change over time. But I think we all have to be leaning into solution. Like in little ways even.

[Amy Poehler]

The other thing I just wanna commend you on is. And it's. And definitely from a social media perspective is you also make things seem fun. Oh, and I know that that word fun can feel like, I don't know, not weighted enough. But it is important because when you ask people for their time, their energy, it's really hard. I mean, people have really complicated lives. And when you ask them to join into something, if it looks like it's a drag. A drag? Yeah. If it looks like it's a drag, they're like, I'm already pretty sad.

[Kerry Washington]

Yes, yes. You know, like, so true.

[Amy Poehler]

Like, I gotta take care of my family. And like, I hope those other sad people are also hanging on. But I'm sad too. But there's something about the way I find in how you talk about things. And like, thinking about Tony showing up for things is a good example of that. Your instinct to want to make it interesting for the, like, just this idea of, like, how can I involve people? Is. It's not an easy thing to do.

[Kerry Washington]

So I would say two things about that. One is that I learned from two extraordinary women. Eve Ensler, who wrote the Vagina Monologues, and Jane Fonda. And I used to be on a board, like the board, the V board, we called it, for the Vagina Monologues and. Which went from being a play to being a global movement to end violence against women. And those two women, really, throughout my life have taught me that when you're feeling isolated, alone and afraid, if you plug into community and Community activism in particular. But when you plug into Community into, like, baking bread for somebody else or making cookies or driving somebody else's kid to school or just checking on a girlfriend who you haven't heard from in a long time. Like, plugging into Community actually helps you feel better.

[Amy Poehler]

Yeah.

[Kerry Washington]

Like it being a part of something bigger than you actually is like a balm for you, your soul.

[Amy Poehler]

This episode is brought to you by Hilton Guys. You know what vacation perfectionism is? It's the pressure to get your family's summer vacation booked and make it perfect and memorable. Stressful, right? Well, don't worry, because the team at Hilton takes care of what matters. So you can exhale and disconnect. They've got over 9,000 hotels around the world, including amazing resorts and all inclusive options. So you'll definitely find the stay that you're looking for. For when you want your summer vacation to feel like a vacation, it matters where you stay. Book [e-mail] Hilton for the stay this episode is brought to you by ebay. On ebay, every find has a story. Like if you're looking for a vintage band tea. Not just a tea, the band tea. You wore it everywhere until your ex stole it. Now you're on ebay. There it is. Same tea from the same tour. The things you love love have a way of finding their way back to you. Especially on ebay. Shop ebay for millions of finds, each with a story. Ebay Things people love did you know

[Kerry Washington]

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[Amy Poehler]

This episode is brought to you by Sephora. As a mom, Mother's Day is great. Breakfast in bed, fresh flowers, a little peace and quiet. But as a daughter, Mother's Day can be tricky because you want to spoil your mom. But finding her the perfect gift can be overwhelming. That's where Sephora comes in. From skin care and signature scents to must have makeup, hair, tools and gift sets, Sephora has everything you need to make your mom feel loved and celebrated. So this Mother's Day shop beauty gifts at Sephora. Toni talked also again about like your incredible. One of his questions was.

[Kerry Washington]

Oh, he had a question.

[Amy Poehler]

Yes.

[Kerry Washington]

Without taking questions.

[Amy Poehler]

Okay, good. So you've directed. No no, no, go ahead.

[Kerry Washington]

What was discussion that by the way,

[Amy Poehler]

you shouldn't take a question. Don't take a. Just be like I'd rather not answer.

[Kerry Washington]

No. I remember doing one of our first. It was like our first all cast appearance on Good Morning America with the scandal cast and none of them had a lot of press before, right? And I had done all these movies and so I was like you guys here's the number one thing to remember cause they came into the green room and they were like something was going on with Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt or something. And they came in the green room and they were like, do you mind if we ask you? And I said, we'd rather not talk about that. And the whole cast was like, oh, oh. You said, you guys, no matter what anybody asks, you just say what you want to say. Always say that to people want to say.

[Amy Poehler]

Answer whatever question you want. If someone says you've had, you know, there's difficult things going on at home, you can go, I mean, I think at the end of the day, what's important about us as a community.

[Kerry Washington]

There you go. That's it.

[Amy Poehler]

Whatever you want, that's it.

[Kerry Washington]

That's right. It's your interview.

[Amy Poehler]

The person forgets what they even ask if you're good enough.

[Kerry Washington]

You know, why they don't know to come back.

[Amy Poehler]

They don't know. They don't know to tangents. They don't know how to get back in there. And if they come back with, like, but what I asked about, then you're

[Kerry Washington]

like, oh, I think we're out of time.

[Amy Poehler]

You're like, it's weird. I can't hear you. Speaking of therapy, my therapist used to say something that was always, like, making me laugh is when someone asks inappropriate question. Like, we're talking not like reporters, but let's say, like a friend or a colleague who asked something inappropriate. And if you want to stall for time because, you know, like, our instinct is to, like, react, you can go, what an interesting question.

[Kerry Washington]

I say it all the time. I love that I say it all the time.

[Amy Poehler]

I was like, I'm so curious why

[Kerry Washington]

you ask that all the time. That is. Are you just like, that's a great question.

[Amy Poehler]

What a good.

[Kerry Washington]

What a great question.

[Amy Poehler]

I wonder what made you ask that question.

[Kerry Washington]

Yeah. Can you. Can you unpack that for me a little bit more? Where did that come from?

[Amy Poehler]

Where did that question come from? And then they go,

[Kerry Washington]

Okay, what was Tony's question?

[Amy Poehler]

His question was your intense inner drive. When it comes to. You have this inner drive which he really respects.

[Kerry Washington]

Okay.

[Amy Poehler]

When it comes to being a mom, is it something you, like, want to instill in your children? Oh, like. And it's kind of what we talked about. Like, how do you push? Or do you push? How do you figure out, like, you have a very strong work ethic?

[Kerry Washington]

I do. I'm like a longshoreman of acting.

[Amy Poehler]

I mean, I promise we will cut this part and not keep it in, but have you ever done the Enneagram test?

[Kerry Washington]

You can keep it in. I've done it I don't remember. I don't remember what it is.

[Amy Poehler]

Very enneagram3 to me.

[Kerry Washington]

Really?

[Amy Poehler]

Achiever.

[Kerry Washington]

Achiever. Oh, interesting. But anyway, I feel like Reese is. I feel like she told me she's a three.

[Amy Poehler]

Oh, she's a big time. I would say so whatever I am.

[Kerry Washington]

I remember I told Rashida and Rashida was like, oh, I don't like those. And I was like, but we're friends. And then it like changed her mind.

[Amy Poehler]

Enneagram 7, wing, 6 thing for Rasheeda to say.

[Kerry Washington]

Oh, see, I love this about you. I didn't know we're cutting all this out. Do you now are you an astrology person also or just an enneagram?

[Amy Poehler]

No, that is nonsense. I believe in

[Kerry Washington]

numerology.

[Amy Poehler]

Yeah, but he was wondering if, like your drive, like, how do you. Do you. Do you try to instill that in your kids? You want to lead by example. Like, how do you. Because I think what's underneath that and what I think is interesting is when I started with is that you can do many things well and you work really hard. How do you instill that in your children?

[Kerry Washington]

I do.

[Amy Poehler]

Or do you?

[Kerry Washington]

I think about this because I feel like they don't have that thing of being from the Bronx. Right. They don't have that scrappy hustler. At least they weren't born in the neighborhood that I think produced it in me. And so I wonder where they'll find it. Yeah, I see my kids are really resilient. And I see it mostly in sports. That's like their opportunity, their place where they. That gets.

[Amy Poehler]

So what kind of sports mom are you? Do you go to the games?

[Kerry Washington]

I go to the games.

[Amy Poehler]

And do you cheer?

[Kerry Washington]

I do. And much to the dismay of my children. Cuz I'm like a loud cheerer.

[Amy Poehler]

Are you a. After the game. Let's say they have a game and it doesn't go well. What do you say to them? There's no wrong answer here, really. I mean, unless you like berate them, which I know you wouldn't get it. How do you. How do you like to approach?

[Kerry Washington]

I really try to be directed by them. Like I try to figure out how they're feeling about it.

[Amy Poehler]

Yeah.

[Kerry Washington]

And ask a lot of questions. I don't try to like make it better immediately. I try to just like if there was a visual metaphor for it. I try to like sit on the bench with them.

[Amy Poehler]

Oh, that's great.

[Kerry Washington]

And just like look where they're looking. Just give it some time.

[Amy Poehler]

It's funny that you do that. I find that there's a lot of good conversations when people are looking forward in the car.

[Kerry Washington]

Yes. With cards. Kids especially walks in the car. That like, thing of like, I'm just going to be here, like, let me know. Like, was that hard? Do you feel good? Yeah.

[Amy Poehler]

I heard a really cool thing one time again. Probably just read it on Instagram. Definitely didn't read it in a book. Definitely didn't read it in a book. Heard it on a commercial on YouTube.

[Kerry Washington]

Lately I've been like, where did you get that? And she's like, well, not to sound like you, but I read it in an article. I'm like, what article? Like, time for kids. She's like, an article.

[Amy Poehler]

But I read something once or again, saw something one time that was like, act like I loved this metaphor. Act like a small town reporter with your kids. So just repeat back to them what they just said as if you're writing it down in a small notebook.

[Kerry Washington]

They'll feel so holy. Yes.

[Amy Poehler]

And they, it was like, the less questions you can ask, the better. So they're like, that was a bad game. That was a bad game. I sucked. I didn't play well. You didn't play well. Like, you don't say why? Like, questions can sometimes kind of stop the. Because all you want them to do is talk.

[Kerry Washington]

Yes. Oh, that's so good.

[Amy Poehler]

And then if you want, you can kind of like give them a headline back. Like, so it was a bad game and you didn't play well. Oh, wow. And they're just like, yeah. And then pause. Because the coach said whatever.

[Kerry Washington]

Yes.

[Amy Poehler]

Because the coach said what? Like, it's.

[Kerry Washington]

Because that's all. We just want to be witnessed, like, as human beings, we just want to be witnessed and heard. And that's such good. Like, I hear you, I see you. I'm going to give it back to you. Like, that's good.

[Amy Poehler]

Isn't that a good way to think about it?

[Kerry Washington]

It's really good.

[Amy Poehler]

As opposed to what my instinct sometimes to do is like, well, you know what I would do?

[Kerry Washington]

Yes.

[Amy Poehler]

You know what I think you should say?

[Kerry Washington]

Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.

[Amy Poehler]

And I always ruin it at the end.

[Kerry Washington]

Yeah.

[Amy Poehler]

You've directed a lot. You love directing.

[Kerry Washington]

I love directing.

[Amy Poehler]

What do you love about it?

[Kerry Washington]

I haven't directed as much as I would like to, so I need to do more.

[Amy Poehler]

I'm saying that here and you walk in kind of. You what? You've, you've, you've walked in other people's shows like you've Walked in and done. You did smilf. You did insecure. Insecure.

[Kerry Washington]

I love directing.

[Amy Poehler]

What's it. What's it like to walk into a show that's already running?

[Kerry Washington]

It's so fun. I mean, I. Especially if I love the show and love the creatives and I just. I. I think the thing I love about directing is that thing I was talking about with acting. Like, I love to help other. I love to help create an environment where other people can do their best work and to help push people toward excellence, to like unlock the things that are going to make other people better, whether it's set design or acting or a score. Like just getting into a situation to help other people do what they do best. I love. Yeah, I love that. Yes, I love it.

[Amy Poehler]

Yeah. And do you think you want to. I mean, have you directed a feature?

[Kerry Washington]

I haven't.

[Amy Poehler]

So that should be next.

[Kerry Washington]

Yeah, I think so. Yeah, I think so.

[Amy Poehler]

It's a lot of.

[Tony Goldwyn]

It's a lot.

[Kerry Washington]

It's a lot of time away from your family. So I'm like, it's a lot of time. So I did this movie with Ben Affleck, the senior, and he was like, you need to find a feature to direct. And I was like, I have to find a feature that I like to. Enough to spend that much time away from my amazing husband and children.

[Amy Poehler]

Have you ever heard Sarah Pauley talk about any of this stuff? The amazing director. She talks a lot about me too. And when she did women talking, which I thought was amazing, she talks a lot about how, you know, there's this, you know, we talk, obviously we're always trying to like. Right. The imbalance of not enough female directors. And there's not enough discussion about the fact that like women and with kids, it's very. You have to give up a lot of time. And that she was like hoping and kind of working towards this idea that you could have these humane ways of working where more women could direct. And she talked about that movie. Yeah. That she had women on her crew be able to kind of like what Shonda did, like bring kids to work, try to keep hours shorter, try to keep prep more remote, whatever it was, so that more women were incentivized. Cause it is like, like, it's like. It's really, really hard to be away.

[Kerry Washington]

It's a life choice. Yeah. So on this film with Ben, he likes to be home with his kids for dinner. And so we were done filming every single day by 6:37. It meant I was out before drop off. But I Was home for dinner and bedtime and homework to the point where my son was like, mom, is your part not big? Like, why are you. Like, he was worried for my career. Like, why are you home every night for dinner? Did you get fired? Are you like, pretending to act during the day?

[Amy Poehler]

You putting on an outfit and sitting in your car?

[Kerry Washington]

He was like, mom.

[Amy Poehler]

He's like, be honest.

[Kerry Washington]

Be honest. I was like, no, I have a really big part. He was like, oh, mom, mom, it's okay. It's okay. There are no small parts, Mom.

[Amy Poehler]

But that's so humane.

[Kerry Washington]

And so we so on imperfect way. It was this extraordinary experience of all three leads. Were all moms.

[Amy Poehler]

Let's talk about this. Who's in Imperfect Women with you?

[Kerry Washington]

Lizzie Moss and Kate Mara and myself. I mean, most of our directors are moms, all of our producers. I mean, it was such a family friendly set. And it was great because the show is really told from three points of view. So basically, for like a third of the show, I was number one on the call sheet. A third of the show. Kate Mara was number one on the call sheet, and a third of the show, Lizzie was number one on the call sheet. So we got to all like star in a show, but we all had lots of time to do other things. In Lizzie's episodes, I'm sort of a glorified extra, like number six. Even though I'm not, but it feels like I'm one of the ensemble. And so it was a really wonderful way to share the load of the pressure of what it takes to lead a limited series because we really shared that responsibility.

[Amy Poehler]

That's really cool, so fun.

[Kerry Washington]

And also it's really. Cause you got to flex. Like, everybody got to do really meaty. I mean, these women, Kate Mara and Lizzie Moss are. They're beasts of acting. Just extraordinary talent.

[Amy Poehler]

What a cast. I mean, I've just. We rewatched the Mad Men recently.

[Kerry Washington]

So good.

[Amy Poehler]

Good Lord.

[Kerry Washington]

So good.

[Amy Poehler]

Elisabeth Moss is.

[Kerry Washington]

She's extraordinary. She's a treasure. She is an incredible actor and another amazing director. She's an incredible director.

[Amy Poehler]

I am not surprised you like me. You've been in the business a long time and you've seen it and you've seen it change and like, and expand and grow and the way things that.

[Kerry Washington]

That I just did. You just did.

[Amy Poehler]

Oh, time, baby.

[Kerry Washington]

Okay.

[Amy Poehler]

Remember, did you ever smoke cigarettes? So that's a yes.

[Kerry Washington]

Casually. We. I was like a weekend smoker.

[Amy Poehler]

You never bought cigarettes? No.

[Kerry Washington]

Never bought cigarettes? Well, no, not really. Only for like a boy. I really Liked and we shared them. But I wasn't like a real. Then always it was because I would start smoking because of a character and then get, you know, I was like kind of method with the smoking. Nothing else. Just the smoking.

[Amy Poehler]

Yeah. No. Do you have any like, vices right now that you try to get rid of anything?

[Kerry Washington]

I try, honestly. So this question, like, I don't like the guilty pleasure question because I feel like if I'm not killing anybody, then I don't want to feel guilty about my pleasure.

[Amy Poehler]

That's right.

[Kerry Washington]

My pleasure. Like, pleasure is good.

[Amy Poehler]

What about your hobbies? Like, do you like fake food?

[Kerry Washington]

No, but this I know came from.

[Amy Poehler]

Yes, Ina Garten gave me that. And there's three gifts.

[Kerry Washington]

Should I have brought you fake food?

[Amy Poehler]

Not at all. But I just realized something today. And not to put you on the spot, it's not a psychological test. And your therapist, Julie. Well, nope, won't mine. But you've got three different types of burgers. One's a candle and I would love to know which one you'd like to pick. And for people that are listening, we've got a candle. Cheeseburger. We've got a wooden cheeseburger. And we've got a square.

[Kerry Washington]

Oh, that's.

[Amy Poehler]

She went for the squish. You know who else went for the squish? Michelle Obama.

[Kerry Washington]

Oh. I mean, water seeks its own level. This is so satisfying.

[Amy Poehler]

Yeah.

[Kerry Washington]

Excuse me, I'm. Have a moment.

[Amy Poehler]

Yeah. Asmr.

[Kerry Washington]

And I'm not going to feel guilty because it's pleasurable.

[Amy Poehler]

Yeah. Do you enjoy. Do you have any, like.

[Kerry Washington]

I love dark chocolate. I'm a big dark chocolate girl.

[Amy Poehler]

And are you. Are you like a. Is there any kind of knitting hobby

[Kerry Washington]

situation really, like Kitsungi? Excuse me, I did not sneeze.

[Amy Poehler]

Hold on.

[Kerry Washington]

You want to Google it

[Amy Poehler]

while you tell me what it is?

[Kerry Washington]

So it is the Japanese art of putting broken pottery back together again with gold. Oh, wow. It's so beautiful.

[Amy Poehler]

Oh, wow. That looks so.

[Kerry Washington]

Pieces are so beautiful. And so I had read about it a long time ago. And then I had this beautiful pottery that my mom and dad bought for Nnamdi and I for our 10 year anniversary. It had like a Bible verse around the. It was handmade. It was beautiful. And my kids were playing ball in the house and they broke it and they. I was. I was able somehow miraculously to regulate my nervous system in the moment and not yell. I was like, oh. And they were devastated. My son was like crying and I remembered kitsunki and I was Like, I'm gonna put this back together. And so I found this private teacher, this was last year on my birthday, and I went and brought her these pieces. And we put this bowl back together. And the art, the philosophy of this art is that by not making the cracks disappear, but by highlighting them with gold, you actually bring beauty to the broken spaces. And you honor that the places where we are wounded and broken are what make us most beautiful. It's just so special. So it's very meditative and beautiful. And so now my friends give me their broken plates and bowls and things. But yeah, I really enjoy that.

[Amy Poehler]

By the way. What a nice thing for your kids to also see too. Like, we make mistakes. It's okay. We're all.

[Kerry Washington]

And now actually what they say to people when they ask about it is they're like, so now we're part of the bowl too. Cause it's like, it's our anniversary bowl. Of course they had to be a part of it.

[Amy Poehler]

Oh, that's so nice. And honestly, it reminds me of your memoir. It reminds me of Thicker Than Water, which was amazing.

[Kerry Washington]

I mean, that was very artful what you just did there. Thanks.

[Amy Poehler]

Super Kitsune.

[Kerry Washington]

Gay.

[Amy Poehler]

But it does because it reminds me of what you spoke about and you spoke about. You've spoken about your experience recently, learning more about your family and learning. And you wrote beautifully about it, about. In an attempt to kind of find your roots, your family kind of informed you, like, hey, the way maybe you thought this family came to be was a little different.

[Kerry Washington]

You've been lied to for four decades.

[Amy Poehler]

And that you were born with artificial insemination and that. But from a donor. From a donor. And you spoke so beautifully about it and honestly about it. And I guess my question to you is now with some time, you've kind of. The book's out, you've spoken about it. How do you like to talk about it now?

[Kerry Washington]

I really enjoy talking about it because it's been such a healing journey for my family. Like, we're in so. Such a better place than we used to be. And we were. We kind of had a picture perfect esque for. For a working class family from the Bronx. We were like, as perfect as it gets. Or so we performed to be. And now there's like a real genuine closeness and authenticity and truth between us that's so special. I'm just so, so grateful. So I really like talking about it. There's just. My mom said this thing. We were being interviewed, I think by Robin. Robin. And my mom said, you know, we're just not as afraid to hurt each other as we used to be. And that's huge.

[Amy Poehler]

That's huge.

[Kerry Washington]

Safety in relationship, that. Trust that, like, things are hard, but you'll get through it. I don't know. There's just like, so much allowing now in our family and grace. So much more truth and grace than there used to be. I don't know. It's just such a gift my parents gave me by telling me this truth about who I am and who we are.

[Amy Poehler]

Yeah. It's so awesome. Well, from what I know about you is you love to laugh.

[Kerry Washington]

And I do. You do. I really do.

[Amy Poehler]

What is making you laugh these days? What is like a way where you practice tuning out or enjoying yourself or like, who. What do you watch? Read? Is it a. Is it. You have something. Well, you're thinking of something.

[Kerry Washington]

Well, this podcast. Does everybody say that?

[Amy Poehler]

No. No, not enough.

[Kerry Washington]

This podcast is amazing. Oh, my God, Carrie.

[Amy Poehler]

Thank you.

[Kerry Washington]

The big thing is my kids.

[Amy Poehler]

Yes.

[Kerry Washington]

Really? Because people. So I have one that's 20, my bonus baby's 20, and then an 11 and a 9. And they're like, now they have their own wit and it's sharp and I love that. Like, I actually, this is so. I want to be really clear. I love when my kids get a good burn on me.

[Amy Poehler]

Yeah.

[Kerry Washington]

But it's different. I'm not saying that I want my kids to be disrespectful. Like, there's a different thing about, like. Like I see some of these other households that my kids hang out in sometimes where there's no discipline or respect in the house. Like, that does not fly in my home. It's really important. But like a good, well timed comedic burn, it just makes me love them more.

[Amy Poehler]

Because maybe teasing is a little bit of a love language for you.

[Kerry Washington]

I think so.

[Amy Poehler]

Because I. I share that. Like a. A well placed tease that is well observed is a sign of intelligence. That your kids are paying attention to you. Yes.

[Kerry Washington]

They see you.

[Amy Poehler]

That they know you can take a joke.

[Kerry Washington]

Yes. They feel safe with me. They see me. They feel comfortable flexing their own mental prowess. I just love that.

[Amy Poehler]

Yes. And they're trying to figure out what goes too far. And they're supposed to practice with you. Yeah, they are.

[Kerry Washington]

So I love that. And I love also that it humbles me. I love that my kids are so not impressed with me, which I love.

[Amy Poehler]

Guys started watching any stuff, any comedy together because that is the age around 8 and 11 where you start being like, start scaring shows.

[Kerry Washington]

So the number One show that we obsess over as a family, even. So we go back and watch old episodes because it doesn't come on enough is Amazing Race.

[Amy Poehler]

Let's talk about Amazing Race.

[Kerry Washington]

We.

[Amy Poehler]

It's not talked about enough. Is it still on?

[Kerry Washington]

It's still on Amazing Race and they're still racing.

[Amy Poehler]

There's still Phil.

[Kerry Washington]

He's still traveling the world. I. I've never met him. I. If I ever meet him, I'm going to pass out. He's amazing. And so what?

[Amy Poehler]

He's amazing.

[Kerry Washington]

He's amazing. He's amazing and he races. The thing I love about watching it with our kids is. So there's all this kind of learning going on. First of all, we're learning geography. Right. We're learning culture.

[Amy Poehler]

Right.

[Kerry Washington]

We're learning languages, dance around the world, food around the world, music around the world, landmarks in important places. So there's that. You're also learning, like, just travel resilience. Because we're a big travel family. So there's learning, like, sometimes the hotel is closed, sometimes you miss the train. Like, they're learning that kind of stuff. But the biggest thing are these relational dynamics.

[Amy Poehler]

Oh, yeah.

[Kerry Washington]

Because I love when my son turns to me and he's like, he is not a good husband. Right. Like, you see these teams where you're like, why is he talking to her like that? Or like, two siblings where you're like, they do not really get along. Or two sisters where you're like, I love their relationship like that. It's so they're really learning about what makes a good team, what partnership looks like, what respect, what. It's so. So we love him and we laugh a lot in Amazing Race. Cause inevitably, in the first couple of episodes, there's always the people that are like, they have no business being amazing. Those people have no.

[Amy Poehler]

And you're, like, racing around in the world. No.

[Kerry Washington]

But they're having a good time, and we have a good time with them.

[Amy Poehler]

Do you. Okay. Do you think when you watch Amazing Race, do you think you would do well on it?

[Kerry Washington]

It was. So here's one of the really sweet things. And I don't talk about my relationship often. I know.

[Amy Poehler]

I love Nadia. We always see.

[Kerry Washington]

It's the first show we watched together. Like, even when we were. We were watching Amazing, we would crush on Amazing. We would crush Amazing. We would.

[Amy Poehler]

He has all of the physical prowess.

[Kerry Washington]

There's too many retired athletes on there.

[Amy Poehler]

But he has the athlete thing. And he's so smart and funny. And you have the drive.

[Kerry Washington]

Yes.

[Amy Poehler]

You Have. You'd be there.

[Kerry Washington]

I'm scrappy. I got the Bronx. I'd been Bronxes, me. Wherever I go. My mother's like, why do you make everything the Bronx? Whenever I'm like, come over here. She's like, this is not well.

[Amy Poehler]

But you watch it and think, I would do well. The only thing I know I would not do well on is the running.

[Kerry Washington]

What? It's a race. What are we talking about? You have to run. What do you mean? There are always end.

[Amy Poehler]

I mean, I run. Okay.

[Kerry Washington]

Sometimes it's a foot race. The foot race. Sometimes it's two teams.

[Amy Poehler]

Like, you can be so great, and then at the end, you just have to run with your bag to the next thing.

[Kerry Washington]

That's true.

[Amy Poehler]

That's not nice.

[Kerry Washington]

I would kill you would.

[Amy Poehler]

Are you a good runner?

[Kerry Washington]

No, but I would make myself a good runner.

[Amy Poehler]

See, this is a difference.

[Kerry Washington]

I. I think I would struggle with the driving.

[Amy Poehler]

Oh, I could do that well. Yeah, we would be a good team.

[Kerry Washington]

Okay.

[Amy Poehler]

Because I would be like, at the end, when they'd be like, run to the thing. I'd be like, you got this car.

[Kerry Washington]

And I would go. And in the car, I'd be like, go for it. I get nervous on the highway. I'm one of those people who, like, as you approach the moment where it splits, I'm like, I don't know. Gps. Be more clear. I get really nervous.

[Amy Poehler]

No. I could lock in on the driving, but with the running, I know I would try as fast as I could, I would try as hard as I could, and I would just get so far behind.

[Kerry Washington]

We always make the mistake of falling in love with a team that's like a father daughter or a mother son, and they do so well, and they're so smart and they're so on it. And then there's a foot race, and

[Amy Poehler]

you're like, it takes them down.

[Kerry Washington]

She's 87. They're not gonna win. They're not gonna win.

[Amy Poehler]

And that is why I don't think it's fair. There's too much running in that show about race.

[Kerry Washington]

But also, anything can. Like, the thing. The. Great. We're not gonna talk about this forever. But the thing that's so magical about the Amazing Race and the other thing that my kids really are absorbing is anything's possible.

[Amy Poehler]

True.

[Kerry Washington]

The final challenge can be all mental.

[Amy Poehler]

It's so true.

[Kerry Washington]

And you think you're the team who's got it, but if you can't figure out how to make that special Portuguese sausage the way, then you're done.

[Amy Poehler]

And to the point about team. When people are at their lowest point, when they're very, very stressed, they're real. The real personality comes out.

[Kerry Washington]

It's so true.

[Amy Poehler]

So when someone is kind and when they're kind to each other at their lowest moment, then you know they're gonna be okay.

[Kerry Washington]

Yes. We always. Because we watch old episodes and we so Google like, are they still together? Do we think they're married still? Did they ever get married? We're such. We're like, super.

[Amy Poehler]

You and Nani need to go on an agent.

[Kerry Washington]

All right. Or genomity that you said that. But no, I can't. We can't and like compete with all the Big Brother people.

[Amy Poehler]

Remember Battle of the Network Stars?

[Kerry Washington]

I do remember.

[Amy Poehler]

You might be too young for that. But I was.

[Kerry Washington]

But I do have a memory of that.

[Amy Poehler]

There was an amazing moment in TV where all of the stars in TV had to put on really short shorts and do like Olympic events and just do track and field events and be. And it was the most famous people in tv.

[Kerry Washington]

And they all did it.

[Amy Poehler]

And they all. I mean, I don't even know if

[Kerry Washington]

you do it today. If they did it, would you do it? You would say all but the running.

[Amy Poehler]

I would do all but the running. And I wouldn't do very well in any of the events.

[Kerry Washington]

But I would have so much fun.

[Amy Poehler]

I'd be a good, like mouth. I'd be like. I'd be. I'd be able to trash talk.

[Kerry Washington]

Oh yes. That's important.

[Amy Poehler]

And that was important. In Battle of the Network Stars there was a little bit of like, haha, I'm gonna get you kind of. But insurance would never let this happen now.

[Kerry Washington]

That's true. They wouldn't do it now.

[Amy Poehler]

No.

[Kerry Washington]

You'd be the teams we. That I'm proud that my kids don't like. Cause I got nervous. They would just be focused on the winning. But there are like, occasionally there are teams who lie about what to do next. They're like, they figure out a challenge and then they lie to the next team.

[Amy Poehler]

I know.

[Kerry Washington]

And those teams.

[Amy Poehler]

And it always comes back to biting.

[Kerry Washington]

Karma. Karma.

[Amy Poehler]

When they take the thing. They're like, don't show them.

[Kerry Washington]

That's right. But they're like, oh yeah. The clue's over there. There. And it's really over there.

[Amy Poehler]

And you're like, see you in hell.

[Kerry Washington]

That's right. That's right.

[Amy Poehler]

See you in amazing.

[Kerry Washington]

Raise in the ass. Yeah.

[Amy Poehler]

And Phil's going to be like, you've arrived. You've been. You're the last to arrive. You are sorry to inform you.

[Kerry Washington]

Oh, it's so good.

[Amy Poehler]

Okay. Thank you so much for doing this. This is so fun. Thank you so much, Carrie. It was so fun talking to you and. And I'm always just impressed by your range and ability to do so many things so well. Thanks for being an awesome guest and it's just great talking to you. And I feel like I want to just plug this YouTube show, the street that you grew up on, because there's great guests like Michelle Obama and Issa Rae and Sarah Paulson. And it's a great idea, this idea of just figuring out where you grew up and digging deeper. And it feels like, like Carrie's always trying to do that in her own life and in her characters. And so check that out on YouTube. And I've heard that you can get YouTube without commercials if you pay a little extra, which I'm not willing to do. But if you want to do that, that's up to you. So thank you so much for joining us. Cari, thanks so much for listening to Good Hang and we'll see you soon.

[Kerry Washington]

Bye.

[Amy Poehler]

You've been listening to Good Hang. The executive producers for this show are Bill Simmons, Jenna Weiss Berman, and me, Amy Poehler. The show is produced by the Ringer and Paper Kite for the Ringer, production by Jack Wilson, cat Spillane, Kaia McMullen and Alaya Zaneris. For Paper Kite, production by Sam Green, Joel Lovell and Jenna Weiss Berman. Original music by Amy Mil.

[Kerry Washington]

Streaming only on Peacock.

[Tony Goldwyn]

A classic love story. You are my forever person.

[Amy Poehler]

I love you.

[Tony Goldwyn]

But there's one tiny problem.

[Kerry Washington]

The husband makes the wife feel small.

[Tony Goldwyn]

Oh, no, Lindy. In other words, the husband accidentally shrinks

[Amy Poehler]

the wife to 6 inches tall using

[Tony Goldwyn]

his super secret project.

[Kerry Washington]

But he doesn't know how to unshrink

[Tony Goldwyn]

her and she might be stuck.

[Amy Poehler]

Mini forever.

[Kerry Washington]

Make me big again.

[Tony Goldwyn]

Now a classic love story starring Elizabeth

[Amy Poehler]

banks and Matthew McFadyen.

[Tony Goldwyn]

The miniature wife.

[Amy Poehler]

Streaming now only on Peacock.

[Kerry Washington]

Spring just slid into your DMs. Grab that boho. Look for that rooftop dinner, those sandals

[Amy Poehler]

that can keep up with you.

[Kerry Washington]

And hang some string lights to give your patio a glow up. Spring's calling. Ross, Work your magic.