Karen Feinerman (2:30)

Okay.

Jenna Bush Hager (2:30)

Really? Just the sidekick? Cause she was hosting with Meredith Vieira. And, you know, I was just like doing the cooking segment and whatever it was. And at the time, our executive producer came up afterwards to somebody that worked for my mom and was like, jenna should do this. And actually, at the same time, ABC was calling. Cause they saw me on tv and I was like, no way. And so I said no. And I.

Karen Feinerman (2:53)

What was unappealing about it?

Jenna Bush Hager (2:54)

Well, it just wasn't my vision for myself. I think I was also. So I had this really big, and I still do, passion for education. And I had just received an offer for a dream job to work at the Seed School of Maryland. And so I wanted to take that. I was getting married. Like, we were moving to Baltimore. It just was not part of the plan at all. And frankly, like, I mean, you know, for years, I sort of hid from the media. So then, therefore, to go into it just did not feel like a natural progression at all. But I, I. You know, teaching, particularly in the most marginalized areas in our country, is very difficult. And I taught at a public boarding school for kids that are at risk or disadvantage. And it was hard. We went through three principles in a year. And so finally I was like, well, maybe. Maybe I should take this interview. And I actually think that's the best advice is you always take the interview. You know, you always go see what they're offering.

Karen Feinerman (3:48)

Yeah.

Jenna Bush Hager (3:48)

And what they were offering was sort of a different way of teaching. And at that time, it was sort of the golden age of television. I got to go to Africa multiple times. I went to Haiti after the earthquake. I went to, you know, all over the world. And so I'm so glad I did take the interview with 17 Years in September.

Karen Feinerman (4:05)

So you're there. You're having a very successful run with Hoda, and she tells you, I'm leaving. So now it's Jenna and Friends. And how has your leadership changed? What's your plan for the show?

Jenna Bush Hager (4:18)

Yeah, well, it's been. It's been an amazing opportunity, really, like, and the same sort of way that I didn't envision myself working at the Today show, I never envisioned Hoda leaving. And in fact, she kept saying, don't send your contract. Don't sign your contract. And I thought she was saying that so we could kind of link up our contracts and so we could be there really, until the same time. But what she was doing was protecting me because she knew I was going to be doing the show on my own, which is a different story than when you're sitting next to a partner you've had for six years. You know, that's a different thing. But I didn't ever even have one inkling of a thought that she was about to say, I'm leaving. It's nothing we discussed. I know she loved her work and loves her work. And so leaving, it felt like I just couldn't have wrapped my mind around that till I really sat down with her and heard her reasoning. So it was not something I chose. It was a shock, and it was a disappointment at the time. But I think two things we really sat in, the goodbye of it. You know, I mean, she had three months from the time she told me she was leaving till the time she actually left. And so by the time January hit and she was gone, we'd kind of mourned what was, you know, and we had really leaned in to what this new chapter was gonna look like. We talked about it a lot. We'd met about it a lot. I feel like we're in a really good spot for that to happen, so we feel really good about it. My leadership style has not changed. Like, how would you describe it? I would say I prob. Lead, like, with humor. And I think one of the things that's been, like, this great blessing that sort of was uncovered. We were always a really tight team from the moment, you know, even when I was filling in for Hoda. The Today show is a family. They don't say that, like, in the way that a mafia would say. It's sort of like, wink, wink, you know, it's a really wonderful place to work, and I know that legacy of it. I've been there a long time. I've worked with many of these people for almost 20 years, you know, so I grew up with them in many ways, had children there, all the things. So the atmosphere was really beautiful and family like. But I think I hopefully lead with appreciation and gratitude. I'm constantly telling people thank you for the work that they do, because many of the times, the producers are what make the show hum at all. I also have vulnerability. People know that watch our show. I'm, like, very honest about my feelings. And right now, the way I feel is wildly grateful for this team of people that have supported me through this, you know, went out for, like, a little happy hour, and I, like, kind of cried in a toast, but it's because. And I do. I've done that multiple times, you know, But I'm not scared to tell people how I feel. I never have been. But I also want people to know that the hard work they put in does not go unnoticed. And so, no, my. My style hasn't changed. I think our team has become closer, because when you go through the loss of something and the development of something new, you depend on each other, you know, and so that's been a really fun, beautiful chapter that I never would have asked for.

Karen Feinerman (7:22)

Okay, so now it's Jenna and friends. You're dating.

Jenna Bush Hager (7:26)

Yeah, we're dating, and we're continuing to. And I think, you know, we will eventually have a permanent host, I think, but we don't know. And I'm type A in a weird way. I'm not a perfectionist at all. But I also like planning. I like plans. I like to sort of know how things are going to go. For my personality, this has been a challenge, and it's kind of a great way just to live in the present. Like, we do not have a plan, and that does not scare me.

Karen Feinerman (7:53)

Like, we don't.

Jenna Bush Hager (7:54)

We actually don't need one. Which, thank God, because if it had gone terribly awry right then, we would have been like, what are we doing? It's like what we're doing now is. Is just. It's great.

Karen Feinerman (8:06)

So that's. It's a different energy, though. Have a different host every week with you.

Jenna Bush Hager (8:11)

I'm tired. I've had 50 different people sitting next to me over the last six months.

Karen Feinerman (8:16)

That's a lot of dating.

Jenna Bush Hager (8:17)

Yeah, it's a lot. I couldn't believe it.

Karen Feinerman (8:19)

What are you looking for?

Jenna Bush Hager (8:20)

This is the thing. It's like, I'm not looking for anything. You know, I'm just living in the moment with these people, many of whom I'm meeting for the first time, which is crazy. I mean, and it is. It is a lot. It's a lot for our producers, it's a lot. For me, it's a lot easier to sit next to somebody, you know, and love and do a show with them and know they have your back and.

Karen Feinerman (8:39)

All this shorthand and that.

Jenna Bush Hager (8:41)

Yeah, this is. It's been a major growth moment for our show. But for me, personally, professionally, I mean, I'm sort of. Can't believe I can do it, and I have done it and I'll continue to do it. I can't believe our team has done it and done it so well. It's a big feat, but it's fun and it's. I think it allows for a level of spontaneity and openness that is a real challenge to do on national television.

Karen Feinerman (9:07)

Week in and week out.

Jenna Bush Hager (9:08)

Yeah. But I'm up for it, and I, you know, who knows how long it will go? We really, like, again, are just living in the moment of it now, so.

Karen Feinerman (9:15)

All right. I know one of your co hosts was your husband.

Jenna Bush Hager (9:17)

Yes.

Karen Feinerman (9:18)

Henry Hager.

Jenna Bush Hager (9:18)

Yes.

Karen Feinerman (9:19)

He, it seems like, is much More private than you. How do you guys sort of balance that with you being in this very public, very big life?

Jenna Bush Hager (9:27)

I mean, I think, again, we've been together for 20 years, so we balanced that sort of dynamic for a long time. I mean, when he married me, I was the president's daughter, so nothing's a real surprise, which I think is important. And I also respect him immensely. So if he says, like, hey, that might be one step too far, whatever it is, like. And I think also, we're so aligned on our thoughts about how we want to protect our children. So it's not like I'm like, hey, let's not put that or post that or whatever it is. And I think I've started and learned lessons, you know, not to talk about my kids in a way that might embarrass them later, you know? And, like, I try to really ask myself. And I've done this in writing, too, but, like, whose story is this to tell? Is this my story as a mother to talk about a child? You know, and if it is, okay, but is this something that Mila might think? She's 12 now. She's going into seventh grade. Like, I'm. I'm not into that. So we figured that balance out. But more importantly. And it's a constant conversation, I'm so lucky because I have a husband who's so supportive of my work that he would do something like go on television to sit next to me, even though it's was not his least favorite thing to do. And he killed it, too. And I think that's, like, a real example of, like, somebody that's showing up for somebody they love, really, just for me to show his dedication to me, and yet, because he was vulnerable about it, you know, he did a great job.

Karen Feinerman (10:57)

All right, well, you've done a lot of crazy things on the show. I mean, you had your hair cut live just recently.

Jenna Bush Hager (11:04)

Yes, it looks good. Are you okay with it? Thank you. I am, yes.

Karen Feinerman (11:07)

Okay, good. You've jumped out of a plane live, for which you won an Emmy. You had a bucket of cold water. Is there anything that you have said? No, I'm not.

Jenna Bush Hager (11:18)

I mean, there's a million things I've said no to. You just haven't seen them, and I haven't done them, so therefore, I've forgotten them. You know, it's like, at age 40.

Karen Feinerman (11:25)

No top one comes to mind of no.

Jenna Bush Hager (11:28)

Something I've said no to. I mean, there's a lot I say no to. I'm sort of in my dating Era and my era of protecting myself, you know, because I feel like time is super precious. I've had to put a lot of unexpected time towards work. You know, I didn't know Hoda was leaving. And I was. I'm also starting all this other stuff. So it's like, unless something like, really fills me up, like there was a shoot this week that I was like, do we really need this? And they were like, no, we don't. You know, I don't hesitate to say no. And I think it's actually a really important word for women to use, like, yes.

Karen Feinerman (12:00)

Yes.

Jenna Bush Hager (12:00)

I don't want to say yes to things that aren't appealing to me.

Karen Feinerman (12:03)

Uh huh. All right. I want to switch gears to something that I find so interesting. So this country feels really divided. And personally, I always try to look for something positive. And the one thing that I love is the unlikely but seemingly very real relationship between your father and Michelle Obama, who I know you're very fond of. What do you think it is that people love about that?

Jenna Bush Hager (12:29)

Well, I think for exactly what you just said, like, in a country that is extremely polarized, and by the way, it's not so unlikely if we look at history, even recent history, where politicians of different parties would get along really well, but in this polarized moment in our country's history, it feels refreshing and foreign because we just haven't felt something like that. I mean, meanwhile, Bill Clinton and my grandfather were best friends. And if you look at times before then, many politicians from different, you know, sides of the aisle or whatever you would say have had friendships. It's just in this climate, it feels unusual and it feels refreshing. It feels like a callback to, like, kinder times, gentler times, which I think people are longing for.

Karen Feinerman (13:18)

Would you consider Michelle Obama as a co host?

Jenna Bush Hager (13:21)

Yes, of course we would. I mean, we would love to. I think we probably already asked her, but we would love it. Maybe she will in the fall. Who knows? She's. She has her own podcast. She seems to be killing it.

Karen Feinerman (13:32)

Yep.

Jenna Bush Hager (13:33)

So I don't know that she has the time, but of course I would.

Karen Feinerman (13:35)

Okay. All right, we're going to take a quick break.

Jean Chatsky (13:38)

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Karen Feinerman (16:13)

You have a production company and a publishing imprint under your Thousand Voices banner. So tell me, what are you cooking up for everyone?

Jenna Bush Hager (16:22)

Well, the imprint is super exciting, it's new and it's in partnership with Random House Publishing Group. I'm obsessed with it because we started a book club at the Today show six years ago now. And Read with Jenna. Read with Jenna. So for six years I've been working in publishing as a founder of a national book club. So I've gotten to work with agents and publishers, with writers. I heard so much about what readers want. And so when this idea came to us, it felt like a real natural progression on something I'm obsessed with. And I really am truly obsessed with it. So we're looking for emerging voices, a wide variety of storytelling selling, and it's been so much fun. And we right now have eight books that we're publishing. The first one in October of 25, all the way through fall of 27. So it's a lot of work. I see myself as a spotlight for newer writers. So I'm going to book festivals with some of these writers. We're planning events, we're doing publicity with them, and all the things that we kind of have learned best practices via the book club, and now putting to work with our publishing imprint. So it's super exciting. One of my favorite things in the world is sort of sharing writers that I love sharing, you know, the platform with them, having writers have a whole new audience because I've recommended their work. It's a ton of work, and I don't even really register it because I'm so passionate about it. I'm so obsessed with it that it's just so much fun.

Karen Feinerman (17:53)

So your first book coming out is called Conform.

Jenna Bush Hager (17:56)

It's called Conform. I mean, the story is wild because mainly, you know, it's agents or it's sort of the traditional way. But because I've talked books for six years on national television and have a platform, people will stop me on the street and hand me books. And this one came wildly through my child, my husband, and just had shoulder surgery. A little boy in my son's class. Mom. I'd never met her, but I wanted to get out of the house, so I wanted to invite a play date for him. My daughters were gone. It was like a Saturday afternoon. I had a babysitter. It helps with mom guilt to have a little kid come play with your son. So I could go get, like, exercise, you know, I'm a caregiver for my husband, and I never had been. I probably wasn't very good. And I'm taking care of three kids. I need one hour of exercise. So I invited this little boy over and his mom arrived and she was like, george is actually having separation anxiety. And I'm like, lacing my shoes on the way out. Like, I just, like, I really needed, like, a walk, you know. And she's like, do you care if I stay? And I was like, oh, you know, like, slowly and lacing. I'm like, of course you can, because I can't say no, you know. So I sit down with her for a little bit. I ended up going for the walk. Don't worry. But I sat, I felt rude, just like walking right out of the door. So I sat down and we started talking. And she was a stay at home mom who was talking to me about this world she'd created. It's a nine book plan. She'd already written the first one, which is the book that we are publishing in October called Conform. But compared to other people who are sort of pitching a book, that wasn't what she was doing. Like, I just was asking her questions about herself. And she said, I'm writing, but it's more like I'm creating this universe of books and here's my idea for publishing them and here's my first book and the second book. And I just thought like, wow, what a dynamic and thoughtful plan. And so prolific at that point. She'd written the first two. And so I just, I said to her, and I, and I wouldn't say this if I didn't mean it. Like, send it to me. I'll take a look at it. At that moment, we weren't.

Karen Feinerman (20:01)

That's a risky thing because then your kid can't have play dates with them anymore. If you're like, if it doesn't work.

Jenna Bush Hager (20:06)

Out okay to say, this isn't for me. And I've learned that after how long I've been in this business, there's plenty of things I just say, I can't do it or this isn't for me, or let me send it to somebody that might be able to help. Like, I'm not scared to say no.

Karen Feinerman (20:19)

Good.

Jenna Bush Hager (20:20)

I've.

Karen Feinerman (20:21)

That's great advice.

Jenna Bush Hager (20:22)

Too old, you know, And I've worked too hard to say yes to things I'm not obsessed with. It's just too much. But I'm like, I just love to read it, you know, she was not pushing it it in any way and I'd never met her. So then I put on my shoes and I walked out of the house. And then we had the idea to start this imprint with the focus around emerging talent. She's a debut writer. I also, because I've worked in publishing for so long, in her voice I was like, there is something here. Like, there is something here. One of my colleagues in LA with our production company loves Romantasy and Distomance and all of that. She read it in like 24 hours and she called me and she was like, like, I don't know if we can cuss on this podcast, but like, holy, this is the best thing I've ever read in this category. It's incredible. And Then all of the UTA assistants read it, and they were going wild. And so it was an obvious choice. And I'm so thrilled. I mean, now she's written three books, so this is publishing in October. The next book comes out six months later, and then the following book six months after that. So it's wild. And nothing else has ever come, like, in the form of a children's play date. But I'm also like, it was the best play date that I didn't want to be at ever. You know, that brought us together. And I. I really respect her as a. As a writer. She's unbelievably prolific, and all of us like her editors. Like, I've never seen revisions like this and all the things. So what's her name? Her name's Ariel Sullivan. And she would come drop George off at my house when I was at work, and she'd just say to, like, our nanny, is it okay if I sit in the driveway and continue writing? Because I can get more done than if I drive home, then come back and pick him up. So it's it really such a pleasure to get to work with her.

Karen Feinerman (22:01)

Right. So you have so much reading to do. How do you get that done?

Jenna Bush Hager (22:06)

I mean, I just get it done. It's like the way that all of us get things done we don't necessarily want to do. I'm obsessed with this app called Speechify. It sort of changed everything to me because until maybe six months ago, everything I read had to be printed or on my Kindle, because I read about a year to now, two and a half, three years in advance. And so nothing's been published. Nothing can be listened to. And Speechify allows me to listen to books. You can put PDFs into this app and you can basically speed it up. And I read it at the same time. So I can read a book in like three hours now with this app. But I read in a million different ways in all the different places. I always have a book on me. You know, when we're done in the hair and makeup chair, and when I'm done going over my notes, I'm reading. I'm reading on my commutes, I'm reading on the treadmill. Especially now with the imprint, my reading has had to go up. I was reading for the book club and the production company, and now with the imprint, it's a lot.

Karen Feinerman (23:07)

That is a lot.

Jenna Bush Hager (23:08)

But it's great. And it hasn't like, I. I find it to still be joyful. And we also for read with Jenna have a team of readers for the production company. We have at least four readers for the imprint. There's at least three of us, and then, you know, editors too. So it's not like it's only me doing the reading. I hired really great people who are really organized and have spreadsheets of what we're reading. And we're trying to be really conscientious of passing quickly and, you know, going forward with something we love quickly and all of the things.

Karen Feinerman (23:38)

Passing quickly is a very gracious thing to do.

Jenna Bush Hager (23:41)

Yeah. Yeah, it is.

Karen Feinerman (23:42)

So the. The part that's so interesting to me is the editing part. How did you know you had it in you to edit?

Jenna Bush Hager (23:46)

I mean, I. Because every book we had ever read that was a no for read with Jenna. I'm like, if only this part rang more true. But also, I'm a writer, so I've edited my own books over years. You. But I think voracious readers have a little bit of editing in them. I also, if you're have read everything, you're like, huh, this doesn't feel so emotional, or this doesn't feel so true, or, you know, the way you've described this person feels one dimensional. I mean, there's a million ways now that I've had conversations with maybe six different editors over eight of the projects. 99.9% of our conversations around edits, we've agreed on on both things I bring to them where I'm like, huh, this ending didn't really do it for me or whatever it was. So what happens is I'll read a book, they'll read it simultaneously. If I love it, I'll call and say, I love this book. Like, should we make an offer? And before we even do that, we have an editorial conversation so that I make sure our thoughts are aligned. And so far, they've never not been aligned. And I'm working with multiple people. And then the editor will sort of take it from there. And then I'll do one final read and I just, for example, or publishing a book called June Baby in June of next year, which is good. And it's an amazing, beautiful book. It was written by a woman named Shannon, an author who was cleaning houses in Block island while she wrote this, like, beautiful kind of coming of age love story, mother daughter story on the island of Block Island. And so I just read it again and I sent my editor, like, the final notes. So it's teamwork, but so far it's been seamless.

Karen Feinerman (25:26)

Well, it must be an amazing feeling for you. To transform someone's life's work.

Jenna Bush Hager (25:32)

Yeah.

Karen Feinerman (25:32)

And to have it be on a big stage and have it be recognized.

Jenna Bush Hager (25:36)

I think it's such a fun and such a privilege just be able to have a platform you can share. So, like, I don't take that for granted. Like all of the authors I've worked with over the last six years, we're like a little family. We get together, we see each other. We just did a book festival where many authors came to Nashville, and readers, you know, there's like, a real tangible, amazing feeling of it and that I just, like, don't take one second of it for granted.

Karen Feinerman (26:03)

I ask all my guests, how do you do it? What makes your life work? Right. Both personally, you have three children, and.

Jenna Bush Hager (26:10)

Professionally, I think part of, like, the advice I give everybody is marry somebody that's wanting to be a partner, you know, because if I had a husband who was like, you're gone four mornings a week, and I'm putting the kids on the bus or whatever it was, was. Then it would be impossible to do it because I. I'm a sensitive person, and that would, you know, break me in many ways and sort of push me away from the ambition that I obviously have. So I think finding somebody that's really supportive and believes in your dreams, like, almost as much as you do, which I don't think is that easy, but I think there's a lot of good people out there. You know, there was this fairy tale of somebody coming in to rescue you. And when I was a, like, playing barbies in the 80s and 90s, it was like, oh, who's going to choose me? That sort of feeling. And, like, where are the choosers? You know, women are. Should be thoughtful about who they spend their life with, because it really can predict the trajectory of their careers. And so I think I just feel so lucky because I got married so young. I've been with Henry for a really long time that I picked somebody that chose me, you know, and I chose him.

Karen Feinerman (27:16)

You chose him?

Jenna Bush Hager (27:17)

Yeah. But, like, understands what choosing me also looks like. Like, you know, that it's like all the complications that come with being my husband and taking on the duties that some people would think belong to one, you know, the wife, for example. Like, that doesn't scare him at all. And also, he knows how much I want to be with our kids. And so as long as I. I also have, you know, morning television is a great career for raising children because I'm home in the afternoon.

Karen Feinerman (27:47)

Right. So what's the division of labor.

Jenna Bush Hager (27:49)

He takes the mornings. And a lot of times I take the even. And I mean, we, by the way, like, did it during COVID with three children. I had a six month old baby and we didn't have childcare at all. Like, we have childcare now, you know, and so everybody gets a little bit of a help. Obviously we need it. You know, I commute, so there's evenings where he'll stay late at work. And I totally get it. There's, you know, mornings where especially in the summer, he's not getting to work until a little later. Also, I'm obsessed with reading. So it's like I want to read to my son every night. You know, I want to lay in bed with my daughter and do our, like, joint book club. I want to take on all the things that I'm really into, you know, and he does all the insurance stuff I'm not interested in at all. And that's sort of the unseen labor. So there's times where it's like I'm picking up my child's room for the 40th time and you want to sort of say, like, what have you done today? But the truth is I could never say that because it's like he started my day by a lot. But then he does all the unseen stuff too, so.

Karen Feinerman (28:48)

All right. Do you have one thing at home you just absolutely hate to do?

Jenna Bush Hager (28:53)

I love to clean. I clean when I'm nervous. Like, everybody knows that about me. But I'm also kind of a messy. Like, I spill on myself a lot. I'm clumsy, I guess you would say. And I'm not a. I don't even care. So I'm not a perfectionist in that way. But I love like organizing and cleaning on days when, like, big moments in my life were, you know, like the day my dad and mom flew home to Texas from D.C. i like, went to the inauguration and then I drove back to Baltimore, which is where I was living. And I was just kind of sad that life was over. But also I was like, I'm not. My parents are going to be living in Texas and I moved up to the East Coast. Like, what am I doing? You know, I felt uncertain. Most people in uncertainty, like, maybe go like comfort eat or have a glass of wine. I'm like, I'm going to clean out my closet. You know, order.

Karen Feinerman (29:40)

It gives you.

Jenna Bush Hager (29:41)

I'm going to clean out my closet. So cleaning I love. I don't mind it. Even though I'm tired. I like cooking. Okay. I'm not great at it. And I think once I was like, oh, I don't, I don't need to be great at it. I sort of have like it even more. So there's nothing I really hate. I don't feel like I need to go to like cocktail night for the third grade parents. And it's not that I dislike it, but I wake up at 4:40 in the morning.

Karen Feinerman (30:05)

You gotta protect your time.

Jenna Bush Hager (30:06)

Yeah. My rule is like if my kids are there and see me there, I'm there. You know, like the school plays, all of that stuff, but like the things where it's extra and it actually isn't really about my kids. I don't feel like I need to go to.

Karen Feinerman (30:20)

Okay, that's a good answer. All right, we're gonna take a quick break. We'll be right back with the lightning round.

Jean Chatsky (30:26)

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Karen Feinerman (32:24)

Time for the lightning round. We have some fun questions for you. Few. Would you rather type questions? All we ask. Just first. First answer pops into your head. Don't think about it.

Jenna Bush Hager (32:33)

Okay.

Karen Feinerman (32:34)

Okay. Long hair or bob?

Jenna Bush Hager (32:37)

Bob.

Karen Feinerman (32:37)

It's working. It's working. Okay. New York City or Austin, Texas?

Jenna Bush Hager (32:41)

Austin, Texas.

Karen Feinerman (32:42)

Okay. Arrive at the airport two hours early or just make it.

Jenna Bush Hager (32:45)

Just make it. But hopefully not today.

Karen Feinerman (32:48)

Okay. First on the dance floor or last one off?

Jenna Bush Hager (32:52)

You would think not last off, but I. I like a good party. Luckily, I also like sleep.

Karen Feinerman (32:58)

Okay. A time that you felt most powerful having my babies. Ah, good answer. Okay. Duet with Dolly Parton or a duet with Beyonce?

Jenna Bush Hager (33:08)

Dolly Parton, even though I love Beyonce.

Karen Feinerman (33:10)

Okay, the last piece of advice you learned at today's show, either from a guest or someone who works there. Anyone?

Jenna Bush Hager (33:16)

The last piece of advice I've learned, I think, is that it's important to really say goodbye. And I learned it through saying goodbye to Hoda. Like, if we can in life, try to tell people how much you love them before they go.

Karen Feinerman (33:31)

Okay, best place to read a book.

Jenna Bush Hager (33:33)

My bed.

Karen Feinerman (33:34)

Okay.

Jenna Bush Hager (33:36)

With a cat.

Karen Feinerman (33:37)

Bed with a cat. You've called your husband Henry frugal. He prefers thrifty. What's his best money saving strategy?

Jenna Bush Hager (33:45)

I mean, never to spend anything.

Karen Feinerman (33:47)

Okay, so it's a very broad strategy.

Jenna Bush Hager (33:49)

It's made me frugal. I'll just tell you something. If you've been with somebody for 20 years, all of a sudden you're frugal, and I guess it's good. And now our kids are. They're like, mom, you can't buy Georgie ice cream. My niece. And I'm like, yes, I can. Don't worry. You know, now it's warped into my children, too.

Karen Feinerman (34:07)

All right, what's one of his money saving strategies that you could live without?

Jenna Bush Hager (34:11)

He likes to save money and save energy. So sometimes we'll come home and it will be like 79 degrees. And he's like, but nobody was here. And I'm like, yeah, but do you know how much energy it takes to get it from 79 to 72? I don't know. This. This might just be me hoping, but somebody told me this at work that if he just kept it on 72 degrees all the time, as opposed to jacking. And listen, if you're gone for two weeks, but every day taking it up to 78 and then turning it down and the electricity, the energy that it has to get to go, go six degrees down, I think is a lot Now I'm not 100 sure. Do you disagree with that?

Karen Feinerman (34:52)

I don't know. I'm not quite sure.

Jenna Bush Hager (34:54)

Don't take it for. This is somebody on our crew told me.

Karen Feinerman (34:57)

Okay.

Jenna Bush Hager (34:58)

Henry needs to understand that if he just kept it or pretend he just.

Karen Feinerman (35:01)

Kept it at 74, and then all you have to do and you meet.

Jenna Bush Hager (35:03)

In the middle, and then you go, too. I think it's the going all the way up to nearly 80 degrees, where people are like, what is happening here? And I'm not just talking about if you're gone for two weeks. I'm talking about in one day if everybody leaves the house. He likes to play with the thermometer. He's been better about it, so maybe he turned over a new leaf.

Karen Feinerman (35:22)

Okay.

Jenna Bush Hager (35:23)

A girl can dream a hundred percent.

Karen Feinerman (35:25)

Yeah. Okay. What's the last show you binged?

Jenna Bush Hager (35:28)

We're binging the pit right now.

Karen Feinerman (35:29)

Oh, it's so.

Jenna Bush Hager (35:30)

It's really good.

Karen Feinerman (35:31)

Yeah, that's really good. Okay. Happy hour appetizer that you never pass up. Queso of any kind.

Jenna Bush Hager (35:39)

Only queso. Queso and guacamole, too, but queso.

Karen Feinerman (35:43)

Okay.

Jenna Bush Hager (35:43)

I mean, you don't eat much of it in New York City, but if I could, I would.

Karen Feinerman (35:47)

Okay. All right, the last one. This one's two parts. Okay. It's what's the best investment you ever made and what's the worst? And I have a really broad definition of investment. It could be a class you took or time you spent doing anything.

Jenna Bush Hager (36:01)

I think the best investment was time, particularly with my grandparents, and they were the ones that were like, you should take the interview at the. The Today show. I was a teacher, so I spent a lot of time with them in the summers by myself. Sometimes, like, I'd go up for a week at a time because I had the summers off. And I would say that was really invaluable. And they lived until I was in my mid-30s, and that was amazing to have that time with them and really also get to ask them things that felt, you know, profound. And I had moments like that, even in the last years of their life, that really, really changed me as who I am as a mom and as a human and changed the trajectory of my life, really.

Karen Feinerman (36:44)

Okay, so the investment of time.

Jenna Bush Hager (36:46)

Yes.

Karen Feinerman (36:46)

That's an excellent one.

Jenna Bush Hager (36:47)

Yes.

Karen Feinerman (36:47)

Okay. What is the worst investment you've ever made?

Jenna Bush Hager (36:51)

I'm like, what is the worst investment that I've ever made? I mean, why is that hard for me to think about?

Karen Feinerman (36:58)

Maybe it's a waste of time.

Jenna Bush Hager (37:00)

Well, I'll tell You. I mean, I don't watch reality TV anymore. It's so weird. I got. I used to love reality tv. Really not judge me mental of people that like it. I just got pregnant with my eldest daughter, who's now, you know, 12. And when she was in my stomach, I just was like, I don't want her to think this is how I talk to my girlfriends. You know, Like, I'd watch a Real Housewife. And I'm like, but that's not how I talk to my friends. Like, we don't yell at each other all the time. We love each other, you know? But I would say more than that is mindless scrolling. I have been known to take off social media apps off my phone when I just feel like, gosh, I'm reading the same article over and over again or I'm swiping to look at the same pictures. I, like, catch myself if I think it's addictive, because it is.

Karen Feinerman (37:45)

It is.

Jenna Bush Hager (37:46)

It's addictive.

Karen Feinerman (37:46)

It's interesting because as I was preparing for this, I was looking up a lot of different things. And I got your book. My feed is now all.

Jenna Bush Hager (37:53)

I know.

Karen Feinerman (37:54)

It's all Jack.

Jenna Bush Hager (37:55)

Isn't it weird how you'll be talking with somebody?

Karen Feinerman (37:57)

Yes.

Jenna Bush Hager (37:57)

I was just speaking to somebody about an idea. They were like, this would be a good sponsor for something. And then it was in my Instagram feed, and I was like, wait a minute.

Karen Feinerman (38:06)

Wow.

Jenna Bush Hager (38:07)

This is. It is. I'm sorry that I ruined your algorithm, but it will change back once you research your next guest. Then it will be all them.

Karen Feinerman (38:14)

It is crazy, and it was awesome.

Jenna Bush Hager (38:16)

Well, thank you so much.

Karen Feinerman (38:17)

All right, so you gotta go. So thank you. Thank you. You can check out Jenna and Friends weekdays on NBC and find out more about Thousand Voices at thousandvoices. Com. Conform is available now for pre sale wherever you buy your books. Plus, you can find out the latest on Jenna's book club on Instagram. That account is eadwithjenna. Thank you so much for taking the time to listen to our conversation on how she does it. We would love to hear from you, share your thoughts in the comments, and please follow or subscribe to our podcast on Apple or wherever you listen. That way you'll know as soon as a new episode comes up. You can also choose check out our video podcast on YouTube and follow us on Instagram. The account isdi podcast. How she does it is part of HerMoney Media, a great source of information on all things that impact your wallet. Be sure to check it out. Even better subscribe to Updates from the hermoney community@hermoney.com subscribe Our Senior Producer for How she does it is Meredith Reese. Producing for her money are Katherine Tuggle and Haley Pascalides. This podcast is produced at Gotham Production Studios. Our music is from Video Helper and our show comes to you through Megaphone. Wishing you all a week that includes some laughter and a good book. We'll have another great conversation for you soon. Until then, onward.