Podcast Summary: Handsome – "Jane Fonda asks about hope"

Release Date: March 10, 2026
Hosts: Tig Notaro, Fortune Feimster, Mae Martin
Special Guest: Jane Fonda

Episode Overview

This lively episode of "Handsome" sees comedians Tig Notaro, Fortune Feimster, and Mae Martin tackle a question from the legendary Jane Fonda: "How do you remain hopeful?" The trio reflects on where they find hope amid challenging times, share personal stories, and dissect what hope means in action—not just theory. Fonda herself offers profound thoughts on hope as a form of defiance, drawing from her decades of activism.

Key Discussion Points & Highlights

Handsome Banter & Life Updates

• Oscar Luncheon & Celebrity Encounters
  • Tig shares her experience attending the Oscar nominees luncheon, feeling both out-of-place and proud:
    • “I know maybe five people up here personally, but I felt so proud of everybody. I was so overwhelmed with, like, God, good job, everyone.” (03:00)
  • Light ribbing about celebrity selfies and outfit choices gives way to an amusing tangent on color-coordinating for "luncheons."
• Food, Haircuts, & Cozy Vibes
  • Mae sips Vietnamese broth from a mug, sparking a comedic guessing game ("Is it urine?" Fortune jokes at 10:50) before leading to a discussion about gratitude and the simple pleasures of life, like broth after hardship.
  • Tig recounts her jokey Star Trek video about being “the hottest cast member,” causing a flurry of unexpected compliments about her haircut.
  • The hosts reflect on dopamine detoxes, sensory deprivation tanks, and the trendy idea of "showering in the dark" as ways to reset and appreciate small joys.

Notable Tangents & Humor

• Sensory Deprivation Tank Adventures
  • Fortune shares her experience:
    • “At first, I was like, I'm gonna drown. But…once you kind of, like, let yourself go, your body does start floating…It does become very relaxing.” (15:34)
• "Tits Out Hot Tub" and Chichis
  • Extended laughs around Fortune's preferred hot tub style (“You can't forget about tits out”) and the bilingual slang for body parts keep things light and relatable.
• Self-Tapes & Acting Woes
  • Mae describes the awkwardness of auditioning to play an “androgynous sex robot” (27:24), while the hosts riff on how hard it is to fake a laugh or a yawn on camera.

[32:34] The Big Question: Jane Fonda on Hope

Jane Fonda’s Intro & Gravitas

• The hosts express reverence and surprise at receiving a question from such a legendary figure:
  • Mae: "Icons like this are still so active in the world, doing cool, great things." (32:25)

[33:05] Jane Fonda’s Question (direct quote)

“My question for you all, which is an important question, because the people that appear to be in charge of this country right now want us to be hopeless, confused, chaotic and hopeless. So remaining hopeful is basically an act of defiance and it’s absolutely needed right now. So my question for you is, how do you remain hopeful?” (33:05)

Deep Dive: What Hope Means & How to Find It

Jane Fonda as a Source of Hope

• Tig: “Just Jane Fonda. She gets up and she starts rallies. She’s making videos for TikTok…She cares so much. And it’s really remarkable because…I feel so lucky to be alive right now. Which I feel like so many people would say the opposite of.” (37:05)

Hope as Action (and Not Just Optimism)

• Mae:
  • “Her brand of hope is empowering…she’s up doing stuff because she’s seen first hand the effect that…activism can have…” (38:21)
• The hosts discuss feeling overwhelmed by bad news and the negative feedback loops of social media but emphasize that older generations like Fonda offer perspective, having seen the world recover from dark moments before.

Research and Human Nature

• Mae shares solace from a study showing no decline in empathy and kindness over decades:
  • “We are actually wired for altruism and community and kindness…that’s reassuring.” (41:11)

The Power of Real-World Connection

• Fortune:
  • “I think what makes me stay hopeful is also remembering to go out into the world and be around people…when I meet so many different people, that makes me hopeful because…there are a lot of really good, kind people in all these different cities and states.” (45:46)

Media, AI, and Discernment

• The hosts acknowledge the psychological toll and misinformation prevalent online—but assert the importance of participation, discernment, and focusing energy on verifiable positive action.

[51:12] Jane Fonda’s Full Answer – Key Quotes & Takeaways

“Hopelessness is not only self-defeating, it’s unrealistic…If you want to be hopeful…do hopeful things. Celebrate incremental victories and improvements instead of waiting for the big final victory. Engage in caring and nurturing activities—they promote hopefulness…My current action…working with the entertainment industry to protect the First Amendment…These actions have helped me remain hopeful.” (51:12)

• Fonda shares wisdom from Greta Thunberg:

  “Look for action, and hope will come.”

• And from Václav Havel:

  “Hope is the ability to work for something because it is good, not just because it stands a chance for success.”

Practical Strategies for Hope

• Start Local, Show Up
  • “It’s so cliché, but showing up is half of it…People will point you in the right direction because they’ll be absolutely thrilled that you’re there.” (54:04)
  • Mae shares her experience volunteering with Food on Foot in LA: “I was totally nervous…Now almost every Sunday I’m there. It makes me feel so great.” (54:47)
• Boycotts, Economic Activism, and Direct Action
  • The group reflects on the efficacy of collective action—whether it’s pressure campaigns that free people from ICE detention or boycotts that change corporate policy (e.g., Jimmy Kimmel’s story at 55:39).
• Elevating Bravery and Community
  • Mae: “There are hundreds of thousands of people out there doing [brave work]…Don’t beat yourself up if you…get paralyzed. Just do the little thing that you feel you can, and that will lead to another…” (58:00)

Notable Quotes & Moments

• “Remaining hopeful is basically an act of defiance and it’s absolutely needed right now.” — Jane Fonda [33:15]
• “If you want to be hopeful, do hopeful things. Celebrate incremental victories…Engage in caring and nurturing activities—those promote hopefulness.” — Jane Fonda [51:20]
• “Her brand of hope is like empowering…we have the power to make changes.” — Mae Martin [38:21]
• “I think what makes me stay hopeful is remembering to go out into the world and be around people…there are a lot of nice people in all these different cities and states.” — Fortune Feimster [45:46]
• “We are actually wired for altruism and community and kindness…that’s reassuring.” — Mae Martin [41:11]

Key Timestamps

• 03:00 – Oscar luncheon stories; Tig meets Leo
• 10:50 – Broth-in-a-mug guessing game and gratitude discussion
• 15:34 – Fortune describes floating in a sensory deprivation tank
• 32:34 – Introduction to Jane Fonda’s question
• 33:05 – Jane Fonda's recorded question about hope
• 37:05 – The hosts discuss Fonda’s example and activism
• 41:11 – Mae on the science of human empathy
• 45:46 – Fortune on finding hope in real-world encounters
• 51:12 – Jane Fonda delivers her full answer on how to stay hopeful
• 54:47 – Mae shares her LA volunteering experience

Tone & Language

The episode is characterized by a playful, intimate, and often absurd style (think: “tits out hot tub,” "pruned cooter"), balanced by sincerity and depth when tackling the topic of hope. The comedians’ camaraderie and openness make weighty issues accessible and actionable, sustained by Jane Fonda’s inspirational gravitas.

Bottom Line

The hosts—and Fonda herself—insist on hope as a deliberate practice rooted in action, resilience, and community. Whether through civic engagement, personal kindness, volunteering, or collective economic activism, the message is: Start local, show up, and celebrate every small win. As Fonda puts it: “You never know how things are going to turn out. So take action and be hopeful.”