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- [00:11]
Hoda Kotb
Okay, so something kind of strange and a little bit scary happened in our family. Just spoiler alert, everything's great. But it was late in the night that I had to rush my little girl, my 7 year old, to the hospital. And we were in the ER for several hours until the morning. And again, everything worked out fine. But something happened during those five hours where, for me, like, the world snapped into focus. It was like all the things that I had been thinking about that day or worried about or whatever, they were dissolved. It was like the only thing I cared about was Hope's gotta be okay. That was it. And so while we were sitting there with all the beeping and stuff of the machines, all I could think about was Hope being safe. And then I thought, like, isn't that what we all want for our kids and ourselves? To be safe, to be loved, to be seen? All those things. And yet we bog ourselves down with all this ridiculous worry and silliness and stuff that we think is urgent and on fire when really it's not. Nothing really is that urgent, even though we think it is in the moment. And so the next morning, I was driving to the gym and I was playing that Puerto Rico song. That's so funny. I love that song. It's like, I don't know Puerto Rico by Sax Boy Billy. Anyway, I was playing it, and you know when a song's so good, you roll the windows down. Well, I was rolling the windows down and I was thinking about Hope and how happy I was that she's. She's good. She's back to herself and the wind was blowing and I was like, wait, Hope felt this good last week? And I didn't roll down the windows and I didn't play Sax Boy Billy. I just went to the gym. So it just reminds us, like, there's celebration all the time. We don't have to have a big scary monster come in for us to say, oh, my God, I better appreciate X, Y and Z. Like, it's all just sitting there waiting for us. So I think, to me, it's like just to remind ourselves that don't wait for the darkness always before you see the great light that's out there, because it's always there. Which brings you to this guest, y'. All. I am super excited for this guest because I have loved her for such a long time, and her life has taken on so many different forms over the years. I knew her back when she was day drinking with me and Kathie Lee. Her name's Olivia Munn. She is an actress. She is a mother, she is a wife. She's a breast cancer survivor. And she's so funny. I know she's married to John Mulaney and he's the funny one, but as you'll see in this conversation, she's actually so funny. She's witty, and she kind of doesn't care, you know, when you're with someone who doesn't care. But what she's done is she has a great way of reflecting on her life as she's gone through things, as she went through motherhood, as she went through the difficulties that come with motherhood, in spite of all the joy, as she went through falling in love, which happened after she had her baby, falling in love with her husband. And then she went through this real scary chapter of breast cancer and how she evolved and came out of that and just how she sees the world now. I mean, she is somebody who understands that life's full of bumps and bruises and she's an ultimate optimist. I loved our conversation with Olivia Munn, and I hope you will, too. Joy 101 with Hoda Kotb is presented by CVS. CVS is there for moments big and small, making it easy to get what you need and leave feeling confident that you've got it all covered. It's where everyday errands turn into something more. You go in for the essentials, but you end up finding those small, useful things that add a little something extra to your day. With CVS brands, there's something for every moment. From trusted care and better for you. Essentials to trend forward. Finds and little touches of joy. Visit your local CVS pharmacy. Presented by cvs.
- [04:19]
Paramount Plus Announcer
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- [05:38]
Bethenny Frankel
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- [06:25]
Hoda Kotb
Okay, so first of all, because we both have kids. What happened?
- [06:30]
Olivia Munn
I know.
- [06:30]
Hoda Kotb
Okay, so just so everyone gets it. I met you a long time ago. We filled in, co anchored together. Do you remember that?
- [06:39]
Olivia Munn
Well, we did. And then also it was back when I was day drinking with you and Kathy.
- [06:45]
Hoda Kotb
By the way, the day drinking, that whole season was like one of my favorite seasons.
- [06:50]
Olivia Munn
It was St. Patrick's Day.
- [06:52]
Hoda Kotb
Oh, I'll never forget.
- [06:54]
Olivia Munn
It was the best. I was like, I'm on national television, a little tipsy.
- [07:00]
Hoda Kotb
You literally downed one. And I remember going like, this girl is boss.
- [07:05]
Olivia Munn
Well, when I saw the reaction on you and Kathy's face, I thought this was a mistake probably. Look at them. This was not a good decision. Yeah.
- [07:14]
Hoda Kotb
I cannot believe all the things, all the seasons you've already had in your life since then. So let's just talk about, first of all, what's life like in a beautiful home with two beautiful kids? All the chaos that comes with it. So what, what's joyful like in all of that?
- [07:33]
Olivia Munn
It's all joyful. I feel like, you know, I don't think I realized until, honestly all the stuff that I'd been going through the last few years that, that I. That I was missing this much joy, you know, that I. That I could be as soft and vulnerable as I have been. And, you know, we're in. It's a It's a mess at times, and we love it like that. And it's really. We just. We all really love and like each other. We like our kids. I think they're interesting. You know, we, you know, we don't really. You know how people always do the whole, like, oh, the old ball and chain, or, oh, my kids are driving me crazy.
- [08:15]
Hoda Kotb
You don't do that.
- [08:16]
Olivia Munn
We don't know because there are times we're exhausted. But I feel like people do that a lot. And it's kind of like. We all kind of do it because we've heard other people do.
- [08:23]
Hoda Kotb
Yeah, yeah, yeah.
- [08:24]
Olivia Munn
The truth is that we. We're just mesmerized by those little kids and our friendship with each other.
- [08:31]
Hoda Kotb
Let's go back then. So back when I knew you, did you, like, secretly have this vision, this idea that one day the kind of life that you had dreamt of would be to be with a guy you were crazy about, to have a couple of kids, to have that kind of stability? Was that something that was on the horizon or. No, never. No.
- [08:51]
Olivia Munn
Even as a little girl, I never was the one who thought. Thought about my getting married or, and. Or like, even having kids. I always love kids, but it just wasn't something on my mind. I always wanted to get to California and work, work, work. I mean, we first met, I believe, when I was 30. I just turned 30 that year, and I was on the Daily show with Jon Stewart, I remember. And I had my first, like, NBC, like, my first real acting job, this NBC sitcom. And so everything that I had wanted since I was little was coming to fruition. And so that was my focus.
- [09:24]
Hoda Kotb
So you wanted to be an actress. So at what point? Cause once you get the taste of that, some people don't want anything else. It's like they get this itch that they can't scratch. And you. Your career really was taken off.
- [09:38]
Olivia Munn
You know, I will say that I've only been able to as. You know, like, once you get through certain things in your life. But I think also age does this to you, where you start to look back. And I started to understand the decisions I had been making because career was so important. But I got derailed a few times with, like, in relationships. That kind of took me off my course. And. And so that's strange because I was, as I'm answering this question and thinking about it as you're asking, I'm like, oh, yeah, that was my focus. But then I, you know, to be completely honest, like, there were things that derailed Me. So I guess at that time, that was my focus, my conscious focus. But subconsciously, I think my brain was also thinking that I needed to be in a relationship.
- [10:25]
Hoda Kotb
Yeah. What were your relationships like before, John?
- [10:30]
Olivia Munn
Well, I'm friends with almost all of my exes. Almost all.
- [10:37]
Hoda Kotb
We'll talk about that in a minute.
- [10:39]
Olivia Munn
But looking back, there just weren't, like, there. There are certain qualities that I was missing for them and that they were missing for me and what I looked back on. And I think that because of how I grew up, my mom and dad divorced when I was six months old. And then she married a man when I was 2 years old, until I was 16 years old who wasn't a good guy. And so I learned a lot about my relationship choices. Not until I was 37.
- [11:09]
Hoda Kotb
Yeah. Wow.
- [11:10]
Olivia Munn
And I was thinking about. I'd read something about, like, a poverty state of mind. And, you know, there's like, rich poverty, like, and then poor poverty, and how, like, billionaires, like, they can lose their money and then get it all back. And, like, how does that happen? Because they just believe. And then I started realizing, like, one of my best friends, her mother and father divorced, like, same as me, when she was young. And then her mom remarried a man who was an amazing father. Cause I'd asked her before, like, oh, do you even miss your. She's like, no. Her stepdad was amazing, and it was her father. And so as she went through life, she would be broken up with the guy, but not even care. It would never phase her. She would never cry. She'd be with somebody for five years. He cheated on her. And I was like, are you devastated? She's like, no, I'm moving on. She just.
- [11:54]
Hoda Kotb
She had that.
- [11:55]
Olivia Munn
She had that because she always believed, well, there will be somebody else.
- [11:58]
Hoda Kotb
Somebody else, yeah.
- [11:59]
Olivia Munn
At the same time, though, the way that her mother raised her was that money was very scarce. So she's gone from job to job to job to job because she hasn't really figured out how to love what she does for work. Right. Because her goal was. Right.
- [12:18]
Hoda Kotb
Yeah.
- [12:18]
Olivia Munn
So she. I say she had a financial poverty mindset, but a rich relationship mindset. And then you switch mine around. So I had a father who left and a horrible stepfather. So my relationship idea was a relationship poverty mindset. But my mom was always like, whatever you want to do, I'll figure out a way to get money. We were middle class, military family, so it wasn't like we had tons of money, but my mom was like, whatever you want to do, whether it's gymnastics or cheerleading or anything. We'll figure out the money. So I had a financial, you know, wealth mentality. So I. But the relationship poverty put me into a place of being in relationships and staying too long because I didn't think there would be something else.
- [13:03]
Hoda Kotb
Why do you think your mom stayed with him all those years?
- [13:06]
Olivia Munn
Well, my mother was an immigrant, right? She left her home country, you know, Vietnam, the day the war ended, and was one of the last boat refugees out and came to America. And, you know, I think that when you. There's a fear that you don't belong in this country and that you kind of are safer when you're with someone. With someone. And also, she had, you know, all of my aunts and uncles, my mom's, you know, and my mother, they all have multiple master's degrees. You know, they've become successful doctors, radiologists, engineers. One worked for NASA, and my mother went that route, but then got married early. And I think especially during that time, right? You give up everything. And when you become a mother for so long, the workforce is like, why did you take so much time off? And you're like, I wasn't taking time off work. I was working. I'm a mother. I'm running an entire household. But at that point, there was this feeling like, what am I going to go back to do? But also, it's interesting, as parents, I think a lot about my younger self. That's the way I. I think has been the best benefit for me as a parent is that I remember my childhood very well. And I remember my mom always said to us, you know, do whatever we can find the money. But she never said something, but I saw it, which was like, I remember thinking, what will we do for work? If my mom. Like, if my mom. I would daydream that my mom would divorce him. But then I would be like, what would we do? What would we do? Where would we be homeless? Cause it was because he worked. And we lived in a home that was funded by the military, so everything was attached to him.
- [14:43]
Hoda Kotb
You know what's interesting about you, I'm just listening to you and this is you're someone who's obviously done work on yourself, because the way you're describing, looking back, reflecting. But as a little kid, when you're living in that house, you don't have any of this knowledge. You just see, like, what the hell's going on here.
- [15:02]
Olivia Munn
You know, what I did have was, you know, when you look back on your younger self, I was told this by my Therapist. They're like, you know, you think your memories are. As an adult, meaning, like, the way that you. You're like, well, I felt that this was unfair. And you can still rationalize that when they said you could go to the water park, and then they switched plans, and all of a sudden we had to go somewhere else, that. That felt unfair. And as an adult, you can say, well, things change and plans change, and, you know, promises have to be broken sometimes, but you still remember that it was unfair. And I remember being. I was. I took it in more, and I real. I was like, this is not okay. This is not okay. And I would speak up more, and I would scream more and shout back more and get punished more.
- [15:46]
Hoda Kotb
What did he do when you did that?
- [15:47]
Olivia Munn
I mean. Well, first it's the screaming. And it was a household where my stepfather hit us a lot. And so. But I learned to take the hits. And I. And I. And I remember there was one specific moment that I talked about recently, but it was that I went for a long time without talking to him. And at this point, I'm a teenager, and I thought, I'm just gonna talk to him anymore. And he could pick up on that. And eventually, one day, I was walking up the stairs, and he was walking down, and he. And I just wasn't looking at him, and he grabbed me, and he said, I'm sick and tired of you not looking at me when I. You know. And I was like, I look. And I looked up at him, and then I rolled my eyes and was gonna keep walking, and then he, like, just smacked me across the side of my head, which then, like, hit the wall on the stairs that had all the family photos. And then I remember it broke the glass, and I had a little bit of blood coming down, and. And I remember, like, tears came up in my eyes, but not from being upset emotionally, because just, like, the pain. And I remember him looking at me and looking that, like, I had tears in my eyes, but I still was, like, steely, steely. And I just was like. And I rolled my eyes again and kept walking. And I remember that moment was like. Was a pivot. It was a real strong pivot. And then not that long after they divorced.
- [17:08]
Hoda Kotb
Wow.
- [17:09]
Olivia Munn
Yeah.
- [17:09]
Hoda Kotb
And then how did you. Because again, we all choose what we grew up with. So how did you decide, like. Or did you say, I'm not. I mean, after a while, did you say, I'm not having. I'm doing the opposite of what I had?
- [17:22]
Olivia Munn
What do you mean by we all chose? That's how you take race.
- [17:24]
Hoda Kotb
I feel like most girls look for what they had growing up, even though you don't know if you want it or not. I mean, we choose what they choose the guy. We're like, I like my dad. My dad was distant. I look and I think men do that as well. And men do it, too.
- [17:39]
Olivia Munn
And I had learned as well that we repeat patterns in our life to prove that we're worthy so that we can finally get to that place where you're like, oh, see, someone like this can love me back. Someone like this saying I'm worthy. And what I realized again, like, and even though I've done the work, but a lot of it happened at 37, you know, such a magic number. I know. And also it came with also having not a great therapist who was an amazing person I know, really cares, very successful, but the advice she gave me was pretty wonderful.
- [18:12]
Hoda Kotb
Did not work.
- [18:13]
Olivia Munn
And so I realized that I'm going to keep getting the same lesson in life until I learn it. So it will keep coming back. I just need to learn it. And I was about to kind of go down that same route again. And I recognized it again, you stopped yourself. And I was like, God, all this pain I had gone through with the last relationship and the courage it took to get out, that will all be for nothing if I do this again.
- [18:43]
Hoda Kotb
Wow.
- [18:43]
Olivia Munn
Because it's going to happen all again. So I was like, oh, no, no, no. And then that changed my mind because it's almost like. It's like working so hard for something. Like, that's not a relationship, just something I could put my mind to. Something else. Like, I worked so hard. I got through all this pain just to throw it away for something that I almost know is gonna end again. And that changed my mind.
- [19:04]
Hoda Kotb
I was like, I'm surprised that you let people in. Like, after that, I would think it would be hard to trust anybody to allow someone to come into your life, into the sacred parts of you that you're like, these are tender. I don't know about you.
- [19:18]
Olivia Munn
It was hard. Yeah. I don't think that I really allowed someone into my life until after I had my first child. Yeah. At that point, I was 40 when I got pregnant, 41 when I had Malcolm. But it was because, You know, looking at my son and realizing, like, okay, my job as a parent is to teach him how to climb a mountain, but how can I help him with the stumbles along the way if I haven't conquered it myself? So I got to figure this out. So that when I have chills all
- [19:56]
Hoda Kotb
over, just from what you're saying, I'm
- [19:57]
Olivia Munn
just letting you know I can see them, but it's like, I need to do it, and I need to. And it is possible. You just have to do the work.
- [20:05]
Hoda Kotb
Tell me about love, because you trusted after Malcolm. So, Malcolm, let's talk about Malcolm for a second. So this was probably among the most transformational moments of your life, this baby. So the minute Malcolm was placed in your arms, tell me, what, when a shift happened, did it happen then? Did it take a minute? Like, what happened with you once you had that baby in your arms? What changed?
- [20:32]
Olivia Munn
It actually started. The shift started. It didn't fully, you know, come to a beautiful birth in myself until after he was born. But I remember going, like, am I pregnant? You know, like, do some math. Let me just figure something out. And then I remember going to see my doctor, and he was like, yeah, you're pregnant. And he's like, come back in a couple days to see if, like, it's going to be a successful pregnancy. And then he. And I said, well, what are we looking for? He's like, we're looking for the numbers to, like, I think double or just increase. I can't remember exactly what the math was, but when I came back, he was like, it's gone up four times. And I was like, what does that mean? He goes, it's just immediately a very strong pregnancy. And when he said that, I just had this feeling like, oh, this is my baby and he's supposed to be here, or I didn't know it was a boy at that time. I was like, this baby's supposed to be here. And I remember just feeling, like, just peaceful. In the past. It was like, oh, my God. Like, if you're thinking about the possibility of getting pregnant, you're like, I can't do this. And, you know, when you're younger, you're like, I have dreams to pursue. I don't have the money. And, like. And at that point in my life, I made all decisions for. For myself. If I wanted to travel somewhere, I did. If I wanted to take a job, I did. If I didn't, I didn't. And so those were, of course, probably there, but it was like, oh, this is it.
- [22:03]
Paramount Plus Announcer
Now streaming on Paramount from executive producer Lena Waithe, the acclaimed series the Shy reaches its final chapter. For seven seasons, we've lived these stories, walked these streets, become part of this community. Now it all leads to this. Friendships will be tested, families will evolve, and secrets refuse to stay buried as the past catches up and the future comes into focus, one truth remains. The Shy is more than a series, it's a legacy. Don't miss the final season of the Shy, now streaming on the Paramount Premium Plan.
- [22:37]
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- [23:37]
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- [24:39]
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- [25:40]
Hoda Kotb
So you have this baby, and then after Malcolm, that's when you finally trusted love.
- [25:46]
Olivia Munn
I mean, yeah, because I saw. I saw John with him.
- [25:50]
Hoda Kotb
Yeah. And what did that do?
- [25:51]
Olivia Munn
I was actually talking about about this the other day because one of those photos show up on your phone, and I was like, it was a picture of him holding Malcolm. And then right after that, it was a picture of him because we were told by a friend, somebody has to stay with the baby because there'll be doctors and nurses with the mom, but somebody, just in case something happens, just so you can be there and then make decisions and go. So there's a picture. My best friend since I was 13. She was there taking all the photos. And there's this picture of him with his hand on his mouth, just, like, looking at Malcolm. And you can tell in that moment, his whole heart burst open. And he. You know, he said that he was like, oh, oh, there you are. Like, there's my. This is who I've been looking for and waiting for my whole life. And he just immediately became a father. But we also came home, and he knew how to use. Like, he knew that every bottle had different nipple sizes. I didn't know that.
- [26:47]
Hoda Kotb
How did he know?
- [26:48]
Olivia Munn
He had done all this research. He was like, hey, I know how to do the swaddle. And I was like, how do you do the swaddle? He was like, well, I've been practicing on the teddy bears we bought.
- [26:55]
Hoda Kotb
So he was. He was gearing up all the way,
- [26:58]
Olivia Munn
which I really needed because I had a horrible postpartum anxiety that started about a month after he was born.
- [27:05]
Hoda Kotb
So that you had anxiety after, which left you in what kind of a
- [27:09]
Olivia Munn
state it's unbelievably difficult. I mean, I've gone through breast cancer and then helped my mother through breast cancer, and that was more difficult. And I wish that more people talked about it and there's more empathy and compassion for women who go through this. Depression is something that I was worried about. And there's a lot of people who understand postpartum depression. I was not prepared for postpartum anxiety. It was like a month or so after, and all of a sudden I wake up, like 4am and I just go. And I'm gasping for air and my chest is tight. And it's like that every day for almost a year. Every day I wake up at 4am My eyes just pop open at 4.
- [27:48]
Hoda Kotb
Are you afraid of something or what's happening?
- [27:51]
Olivia Munn
So at first I didn't have any thoughts about it. It was just as a physical feeling, which is. So then your brain starts to put thoughts to it. And it was a really interesting thing that happened, especially talking about. We were talking about earlier with my mindset. I all of a sudden started having a poverty mindset, which is something I never had. All of a sudden I'm thinking, oh, my God, I can't pay for the baby. What's going on? And also at that time, John was on this massive stadium tour and making so much money, which is great because we're a family, but my whole life, I was making my own money and focused on that.
- [28:25]
Hoda Kotb
And now you weren't.
- [28:25]
Olivia Munn
And now the money. Cause we, you know, everything was new. So, you know, he paid for things, but I would just be the one buying things, you know, all the time. And I was like, well, money's going out, but no money's coming in. And a real interesting thing when, you know, when you hear about this in the news with mothers who are going through postpartum depression or anxiety. And I think a lot of it happens with anxiety from what I've been seeing in the news, or at least what I'm seeing lately. Something. Something plays a trick on your brain. And I had reached out to my business manager, and I was like, how much do I have? And when I saw it, my heart dropped and I freaked out because it was like less than half of what I had thought. And then I didn't say anything to John for like a month or so. And then finally we were talking about something, and I just said, oh, he took me out to dinner. He's like, let's get out. And I was like, okay. And so I go out to dinner with him and I'm just like. I felt so horrible just being out in the world. I was like, why am I out? I need to be at home feeling anxious and thinking about this and doing nothing. Freaking out. I need to be home freaking out. Yeah. And so I just said it. I was like, I'm feeling all these things. I don't know what to do. And I just. I'm at a loss. And he was like, wait. He was like, is that. That's what's going on? I go, yes. And he said the next day, he called his business manager. He's like, we're sending her a credit card. All bills go to me. I'm handling everything. And that did help because all of a sudden I was like, relief. Well, but it didn't change everything because my brain was still thinking about things, and I still had what my business manager said, but at least I wasn't. Money wasn't going out anymore. But then a few months later, I asked my business manager, like, can you just give me my total value again? And it was like two or three times more, I can't remember at the time, more than he had told me at the beginning. And I said, wait, what are you. He goes, what are you talking about? And I went back to the email and I absorbed it, read it, experienced it wrong. I read it all wrong.
- [30:29]
Hoda Kotb
So you were freaking out over a number that wasn't even correct.
- [30:32]
Olivia Munn
It was in black and white.
- [30:33]
Hoda Kotb
It was in black and white. But that wasn't what your brain processed.
- [30:35]
Olivia Munn
And it's. So that's where, like, I think the compassion understanding for women going through this. Thank God I didn't have thoughts of self harm or hurting anyone else. And my heart just breaks for those women and the understanding that that needs to happen for them because I. I very much understand it.
- [30:55]
Hoda Kotb
That's so interesting. So talk about, like, having Malcolm and just having that part of your life while this other thing is kind of brewing inside and you're feeling all these anxious thoughts. But there you are holding this baby. What did the best feelings feel like for you during those early days?
- [31:17]
Olivia Munn
I did feel like it was just so cozy.
- [31:21]
Hoda Kotb
Yeah, that's it.
- [31:22]
Olivia Munn
And I guess the thing that really made me feel so good was that I, Even though I was going through that anxiety, I felt really capable. And I was like, oh, I can do this. And I know I'm gonna be a good mom and I'm gonna figure out the stuff along the way. And I just. I could see how he was such a happy baby, such an easy baby. I mean, John would just sit there on the couch with him. My mom was there. My mom drove me crazy. Of course she did. My mom drove me so crazy. But she's the best thing ever. John met her, like, a few days before we had Malcolm. And so she comes in and she rolls her suitcase in, Big suitcase. She doesn't even say hi to me. She's only seen me pregnant once before that, like, earlier in the pregnancy. And she does, hey, how are you? And then opens up the suitcase and takes out a frozen Butterball turkey. And she was. It's from Oklahoma. And I was like, it's Butterball. We have them here at Ralph's on Ventura. Like, what are you talking about? And then she starts unpacking, like, vegetables from my garden. I was like, okay, well, that's from your garden. And she'd be like, from Albertsons. And you're like, okay. Like, this special sauce. It was so crazy. And how did they click?
- [32:36]
Paramount Plus Announcer
Did they.
- [32:36]
Olivia Munn
Oh, my. Are you kidding me? He is. He is her best friend. She is his best friend. Like, last night, she's in town, and they're watching this Korean movie. And then John put our son to sleep and fell asleep with him because it's very tiring, and it's great to go to sleep with your son. And I had to wake him up because my mom was like, hey, wake up, John Mulaney. She calls him first and last and last name. Hey, wake up, John Mulaney. It's time to watch the movie. I gotta finish it. And I was like, well, he's sleeping. Wake him up. So I go in there, and I'm like, john, John. He's, like, startled. He's like, what? I go, you have to go finish the movie. My mom's waiting. Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah. I gotta go. He was in a deep slumber, and he was like. I go, you don't have to let me tell. He's like, no, no, I gotta watch it. We gotta finish it.
- [33:18]
Hoda Kotb
I'm going, oh, my God. I can't believe they clicked. How weird, though, that your mom saw you pregnant once. Shows up with her luggage, just met John, there's a baby. Like, all of this dynamic is happening. And they click.
- [33:30]
Olivia Munn
So it was a really funny time. And I talk about driving me crazy. So I was trying to breastfeed. I had very low supply. It took me forever to fill the bottle. I could maybe give him one or two feedings a day. And then we had to do formula the rest of the time. And so I put it on Our big kitchen island. It was off to the side of it. You know, it's a big. There's a. She had like three quarters of it for her cooking. And I had one little corner, and I come in and I go, where's the milk that I left on the counter? Because you have to keep it on the. When you make breast milk, you have to keep it on the counter. And you could put it back in the fridge after a certain amount of time, but I want it to be room temp for him. She goes, what milk? I go, the ones that were right here in the bottle that I used for my breast milk. And she was like, oh, I threw away. I thought it was garbage. I was so mad.
- [34:19]
Hoda Kotb
You lost it.
- [34:20]
Olivia Munn
I was. I lost it. I was like, I cannot believe you. Why would you do that? I cannot believe you. Do you know how long it takes me? I was screaming so much. I was so upset. And then later, she goes up to John and says she's really mad at me because I threw away the milk. And John goes, you threw away the milk? She goes, yeah, but I also noticed something. She told you to get humidifiers for the house, all the rooms. You didn't do it. So I'm going to tell her you didn't do it so she won't be mad at me. She goes, so you have to know that and don't let her be mad at me anymore. You have to accept it.
- [34:55]
Hoda Kotb
They're like two pieces of pod, those two.
- [34:57]
Olivia Munn
But then John comes up to me and he goes, this is what your mom. This is your mom's plan. I was like this little crazy Asian lady. They're little plots.
- [35:06]
Hoda Kotb
First of all, can you believe how well those two click? I cannot believe your cute little family this moment.
- [35:14]
Olivia Munn
You know, you should have seen her or you should go back and watch it. She was on Seth Meyers with John. She was in the audience watching him. She went to John was on Seth, and she went to the audience and they threw back to her. And I was like, her comedic timing was very good.
- [35:27]
Hoda Kotb
Was she really funny?
- [35:28]
Olivia Munn
Well, yeah, but she was just answering the questions normally. But she was very good.
- [35:33]
Hoda Kotb
What parenting stuff did you take from her and what did you leave behind from what she showed you?
- [35:39]
Olivia Munn
You know, I was one of five kids. I have two step siblings who were my siblings from 2 to 16, and then there was a divorce. And so they have a different trajectory in life. But my mother had, like, physically had my brother and my sister, and my sister is a partner of a law firm. And My brother is a physicist who lives in Paris. And yes, I am the disappointment of the family. If anyone is asking of my Asian family, they're like, oh, actor. But my mom, ever since we were little, she never took credit for our wings, our ability. You know, she always. She was. You know how. I've heard some parents, you know, especially growing up, they're like, oh, you get that from me, or you get that from me. My mom never did that. Never did. So I feel like, you know, she never took credit for our wings, which is why we all felt we could fly, we could jump. And we just. We did it. We all thought anything was possible.
- [36:37]
Hoda Kotb
You. You have beautiful Malcolm. You have your cute little family and the butterball turkey and the. But in the luggage, I'm into all of the. And then later on in life, you learn a really scary and terrifying diagnosis. A long time ago, I was diagnosed with breast cancer. And I remember it like the moment that the diagnosis came and I went into panic mode. I went into. My life has a beginning and an end. I haven't done the things I want to do. I have all these dreams, and I felt afraid in my window. How did it affect you, those words? And what was the urgency? How did your life change
- [37:18]
Olivia Munn
at that moment? It's like. It's like a huge marker, and there's a different story that's now being told in your life. Like, when somebody goes back and tells a story of your life, you think it's gonna be one way, and all of a sudden, there's a fork in the road. And in that moment, it was. It felt like, this sounds strange, but that's why I bond so much. You know, we bond with women who've gone through breast cancer because we've all had that same moment where we're told the same thing. And it felt like seeing a really big celebrity. Like, if I seeing Oprah, you know, because I'd seen this in movies, I'm like, oh, I've seen this. When someone sits down, they go, it's cancer.
- [38:03]
Hoda Kotb
Cancer.
- [38:03]
Olivia Munn
You know, you watch it, like, from a third person perspective, and then all of a sudden, it's happening to me. And it was like, oh, wait, I've seen this same scene play out in movie. I mean, it's TV shows. Like, it just was like, how did I, like, Truman show myself into this? Like, this isn't just. And so it was very surreal. And as it's happening, my brain is. It feels like. It feels like I'm in a movie. But at the same time, My brain is being like, you're not. Be here right now. Be here right now. And I got really focused. I was like, she's telling me a lot of stuff because she was. My doctor was like, you have multifocal, multi quadrant breast cancer. And it's an aggressive, fast moving cancer. So we have to move fast. And you need to do a double mastectomy. And I think that it's probably going to be in your left breast as well, because it's abnormal to have it this many places in your right. And so as she's saying that, my brain is being like, come back, come back to here. And she was right. I had breast cancer in my left breast as well. So then I was diagnosed with multifocal, multi quadrant bilateral hormonal breast cancer. And then it was off to the races. And so I just stayed focused. I talked about this. When I talked about my cancer for the first time, it was that I only cried twice during that. I cried before going into my dull mastectomy and I cried a week after when I saw myself with the expanders in. And you know, my. I started. I bled a lot during my surgery. So what was supposed to be a three or four hour surgery turned into like a ten hour surgery. And so there was like going into that. Maybe my. I just knew how serious it could be. And so that made me nervous thinking about my son, thinking about all the things you're like, wow. Like. Cause I think, you know, we don't. A lot of us don't know the day we're gonna die, right? When my grandmother died, it was the middle of the summer in Oklahoma. It's a bright, sunny day. Nothing happens bad on a sunny day. You watch the movies. It's always ominous and cloudy and dark and thunderstorms. And it was an emergency call at 911 the night before, taking her to the hospital. I was the one called 911. I was staying with them during college. It was. And then I come home and they say, you gotta come back. You have to turn off the machines. We go back in. It happens so fast because, you know, I'm only like 21 at this time and I'm just. And everyone's in shock because she was like the heart of the family. And I go home and I remember like looking out and seeing people just like walking along and, you know, holding their drink and like, you know, just. They had, just had lunch and now they're. And then there's somebody who's walking back with groceries and these other people are laughing and like life is going on. And I was like, but, you know, but. And I was like, okay. It's not the birthdays and the Christmases and the New Year's that we remember. It's not these big events. It's like life happens on a Tuesday and that becomes a marker in your life. And you're like that day. Anything can happen on any given day and you don't know it. My grandmother went to bed not knowing that the next day would be the last. None of us knew.
- [41:15]
Paramount Plus Announcer
Right now streaming on Paramount from executive producer Lena Waithe, the acclaimed series the Shy reaches its final chapter. For seven seasons, we've lived these stories, walked these streets, become part of this community. Now it all leads to this. Friendships will be tested, families will evolve. And secrets refuse to stay buried. As the past catches up and the future comes into focus, one truth remains. The Shy is more than a series. It's a legacy. Don't miss the final season of the Shy. Now streaming on the Paramount plus premium plan.
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- [43:28]
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- [44:31]
Hoda Kotb
things which I reflected on later. It gave me courage because I think I was a little bit of a scaredy cat when it came to asking for things at NBC. I was like, I can't ask. They don't have it. They always say, no, I can't do it. I can't do it.
- [44:47]
Olivia Munn
By the way, it was partial part of the conditioning of being a minority woman. I know it's very easy for business affairs to say no.
- [44:54]
Hoda Kotb
Yeah, to say no. So I remembered after I got sick and I had a mastectomy and I got this weird epiphany. It was like in the middle of the night and I got four words. I got, you can't scare me. And I was done with fear over stupid things. Real things I would be afraid of, stupid thing I wasn't. So I went to Rockefeller center. I hit 52 on the button where it took me up to the. Where your ears pop. And I walked into Jeff Zucker's office, who was the head. And I said, you're starting a new hour of today. I said, I want that hour. And he was like, who the. Who is this? I go, my name is Hoda. I said, I work at Dateline. I know I'm in a box. I just had cancer. I'm not afraid anymore. I don't care. And I Went through this big speech and I walked out of there like my heart was pounding. I was literally sweating through my clothes. I went down. I was like, oh, my God, I did it. I did it. Like, I couldn't believe I actually said it. And two weeks later, there was a producer who liked me who was starting that show. Two weeks later, they called me and they were like, we're gonna give you a shot. And I was like, holy crap. If I hadn't have been sick, I don't think I would have had the gut. I would have continued because life was fine. But there was something about life having margins and get busy and stop being afraid of frivolous things. So it kind of gave me that because nothing.
- [46:20]
Olivia Munn
You realize that the scariest thing is at your doorstep. Yes.
- [46:26]
Hoda Kotb
Right.
- [46:26]
Olivia Munn
So you're like, what else could be scary? You saying no, right?
- [46:29]
Hoda Kotb
Yawn. That's what I felt like. Bs. Who cares? So what. So did when you. So you got sick and then you were thinking, I'm sure you were thinking about having other kids and what would life be like? So did you think, well, those are dreams dashed, we should just continue? Or what changed?
- [46:46]
Olivia Munn
So we had actually planned to. I had frozen my eggs twice in my 30s. And so. And we got pregnant naturally with Malcolm, and I was like, let's unfreeze these eggs and turn them into embryos. And that was actually already scheduled for the very next day after I learned I had breast cancer. So John was like, what should we do? What should we do? And I said, no, no, no, we keep going. I don't know what's gonna happen. Turns out it was the best thing because I wouldn't be able to carry and hormones are really dangerous. So we turned those eggs into embryos and we got a good amount. But I had this. I just was nervous, right? Because I've heard of friends getting a lot of. Because I froze my eggs when I was 34 and 39. The 34 year old eggs were great. The 39 year old eggs were all a wash. So like 16 eggs didn't.
- [47:43]
Hoda Kotb
Gone. Wow.
- [47:43]
Olivia Munn
So. Because at. At certain ages, right? Like, one month is good, one month is not good. And so that happened to be not a good month. And so I'm thinking like, well, the process. I'm like, oh, my gosh. I'm like, I have. We have to try again. We have to try again.
- [47:57]
Hoda Kotb
You weren't afraid, like the cancer, the sickness, what does this mean? You just kept.
- [48:02]
Olivia Munn
I was afraid, but I realized then that I think I'll be afraid for the rest of my life. Because we always have to look over our shoulder. Because you're like, okay, the breast cancer's there. I had a double mastectomy, but maybe there's trace amounts and could have come back into my bones or my blood. So it's always going to be there. And I had decided that I will. I can't choose where the fear wants to be and wants to sit. And I'm like, you might be sitting passenger side, might be sitting in the back, but it's going to be in the car of my life and it's going to be with me. So I just go, you're there?
- [48:33]
Hoda Kotb
Just. That's it.
- [48:34]
Olivia Munn
Yeah, you're there. And so I did. I said to John, I want to try again. And my fertility doctor, Dr. Wong, is amazing, a close friend. And he was like, look, there's a cancer protocol I can put you on. It's going to be minimal hormones and it's going to take you about minimum six tries to get there. And we wanted a little girl. And so I was like, okay. I was like, I need like two more girls. We had one girl with the 39 year old badge. And I was like, I want like two more. And he was like, we're gonna go for one more. He's like, because I want to keep you safe. And that's. He's like, but he goes, but you're gonna have to gear up to do it a lot. Because at my age at that point, he said, One out of 10 eggs is going to be a healthy egg.
- [49:18]
Hoda Kotb
Okay. Viable.
- [49:19]
Olivia Munn
Yeah, yeah. And it's viable. So then I went in and then the first time they were only able to get out. So I'm doing the math. Okay? We've lost, you know, 30%. And then only two made it to blastocyst, which means they're able to go get tested. So then they get tested. And he was like, just prepare yourself because the numbers aren't on our side. And also it's a 50, 50 girl or boy. And I remember I was talking with John one day and I said, look, I know he said one more, but you have to let me and support me going for two more. I just feel like I need two more. And he was like, okay, if that's what you feel, I'll support you. And then we got a call that day from Dr. Wong and he's like, it's the dream. It's two healthy baby girl embryos. It was like less than 1% chance we got it. And then my daughter Mei Mei. She's one of those two eggs. So if I hadn't gone through that again, this little girl wouldn't be here screaming all of the time. She screams. Malcolm doesn't scream, really?
- [50:19]
Hoda Kotb
And Mae Mei is that certain? She's.
- [50:21]
Olivia Munn
You know what she did the other day? This was the craziest thing to me. Like, just the thought process. It's only with me, I don't know. You know, it's the moms that you get on. She comes over, ma, mommy, Mommy. And then she decides. She doesn't, like, throw. She decides to looks at me, decides to squat down, lay down, throw her hands back. It was very decisive of every step. Starts screaming, screaming. And she does that a lot. So this time I was like. I go, mae, Mae. That looks so uncomfortable. And I walk. Cause usually I'll pick her up and be like, mae, Mae. But this time I was like, come on. So then I walk away. And then when she opens her eyes, she's like. And then she sees me, and she doesn't even get up. She scoots with her legs on her back to find me, finds me, and then screams again. She does that around the house. It was like I moved four times. I couldn't believe it. This girl.
- [51:11]
Hoda Kotb
Oh, my gosh, she's feisty, man.
- [51:13]
Olivia Munn
She really is.
- [51:14]
Hoda Kotb
Wait, so. So your parenting and John's parenting similar. You guys are pretty on par with each other.
- [51:21]
Olivia Munn
We were raised pretty differently. You know what? We have the same values, and we really get along, and we really like each other. So not to say there aren't arguments our arguments come from. I thought about this a lot because one of my friends was like, do you guys ever fight? And I was like, yeah. She's like, what do you fight about? And I cannot remember a thing that's good like, that we specifically thought about. But we do fight. And I could narrow it down to what makes us fight. And it's just miscommunication. It's. I said this thing, and then you thought I said this thing or I told you to do this thing, but you didn't. And it's miscommunication with a combination of feeling overwhelmed and so it's never really a thing that we disagree on.
- [52:06]
Hoda Kotb
Why do you love him so much?
- [52:10]
Olivia Munn
John is such a generous soul. He loves being needed. You can put as much as you want onto his plate, and he will happily take it. He wants you to. He's like, thank you for giving me this opportunity to help you and to shine. There are so many people in his life that he just steps up for all the time.
- [52:33]
Bethenny Frankel
He.
- [52:34]
Olivia Munn
You know, when I went through breast cancer, he was running from my house to take care of Malcolm, Put him to bed and back to Cedars, bringing me, like, food and back and forth and back and forth all day long. And he's incredibly funny. A lot of people don't know that about him, but he's very nice. He's very thoughtful. He's so smart. This guy is so. We. He really wants to go onto Jeopardy. Not celebrity Jeopardy. Oh, regular, Real Jeopardy. He's very like. We've. There's this website, the J Archive.com and they have every Jeopardy question ever. And they have it. They made this little Jeopardy like boards. You can click on each one and it'll be like, you know, it looks just like it. And he just nails it every time.
- [53:24]
Hoda Kotb
So you got a smart, funny, sensitive, loving. You said you fell in love with him after Malcolm. What was the. Do you know? Can you put your finger on when.
- [53:34]
Olivia Munn
It's probably just like there's a. You know, there's just a lot of things combined that compound into feeling, like, really safe with him. But I would say it's probably the hurdles that we had to face early on with just, like, merging our lives together. How is that going to be? I'm going through postpartum anxiety. I tell him, how does he handle that? My mom is crazy. She wants to set him up for me to be mad at him, to take the heat off of her. He handles that well. There's just. It's every time we found a hurdle and he was there, and a lot of times for me, I'm very much like, I can do it myself.
- [54:18]
Hoda Kotb
Yeah, I got it.
- [54:19]
Olivia Munn
And there are people who are like, no, no, let me help you. But John's very good at listening and respecting that. And so oftentimes he'll say, like, the way that he acts is, take your hurdle. I'll be on the other side. And when someone. When you trust someone enough to be there, then you see them with your, you know, with, you know, your child. It's, you know, it's a very. I just knew, like, this is like a very special person.
- [54:43]
Paramount Plus Announcer
Now streaming on Paramount plus from executive producer Lena Waithe the acclaimed series the Shy reaches its final chapter. For seven seasons, we've lived these stories, walked these streets, become part of this community. Now it all leads to this. Friendships will be tested, families will evolve, and secrets refuse to stay buried as the past catches up and the future comes into focus. One truth the shy is more than a series, it's a legacy. Don't miss the final season of the Shy now streaming on the Paramount Premium Plan.
- [55:17]
Olivia Munn
Think about it.
- [55:18]
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- [56:17]
Meaningful Beauty Advertiser
Now I'd like to introduce you to Meaningful Beauty, the famed skincare brand created by iconic supermodel Cindy Crawford. It's her secret to absolutely gorgeous skin. Meaningful Beauty makes powerful and effective skin care simple and it's loved by millions of women. It's formulated for all ages and all skin tones and types and it's designed to work as a complete skin care system, leaving your skin feeling soft, smooth and nourished. I recommend starting with Cindy's Full Regimen which contains all five of her best selling products including the amazing Youth Activating Melon Serum. This next generation serum has the power of Melonleaf Stem cell technology. It's melon leaf stem cells encapsulated for freshness and released onto the skin to support a visible reduction in the appearance of wrinkles. With thousands of glowing flowers five star reviews. Why not give it a try? Subscribe today and you can get the Amazing Meaningful Beauty system for just $49.95. That includes our introductory five piece system, free gifts, free shipping and a 60 day money back guarantee. All that available@meaningful beauty.com
- [57:18]
Redfin Advertiser
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- [58:19]
Hoda Kotb
You know what I love about you? We've talked for, I don't know, 40 minutes, whatever it is. We haven't mentioned work once. And you are overflowing with goodness, it seems to me. I mean, you're doing this terrific show. It's called you'd Friends and Neighbors. It's on Apple tv. But I feel like your life is so overflowing that that's. Obviously, it's important to you, but you can see where you're.
- [58:42]
Olivia Munn
But it is my focus. The things that I'm. I'm really happy that I get to do the show. Like, you know, before I was offered the show, I had called my agents and said, like, I don't want to act anymore. Like, so don't. Don't put me up for anything. Just don't. I'm not available anymore till the end of time. And by the way, I wasn't going to announce it. You know how, like, actors are. Like, I'm retiring.
- [59:08]
Hoda Kotb
Right. So you just.
- [59:09]
Olivia Munn
You don't play for the Yankees. Like, we're not expecting you to be there on Tuesday. Like, where is he? First base is empty. You know, I'm like, guys, it's okay. You know, and so it was just a private thing that I was making. It was a private decision. And then. And it's because I had gone through
- [59:32]
Hoda Kotb
so much, all the things. Yeah.
- [59:37]
Olivia Munn
And then they called me and they were like, hey, there's this show. You only have to do one season. You could do more if you want. They've expressed interest in that. But, you know, it's Jon Hamm, Jonathan Tropper, the creator, Apple. I read it and was like, I think I can do this. So when I. When I did it, I forgot. I kind of forgot that I didn't really talk to John about it. I was Just like, I'm doing this and we ought to go to New York now. And it wasn't like, until maybe like a couple months into shooting. He was like, I should ask you, are you not gonna retire now? What's happening?
- [60:10]
Hoda Kotb
So what is happening? You just. If you find a project you love, you'll do it.
- [60:13]
Olivia Munn
Exactly.
- [60:13]
Hoda Kotb
What a great. What a great way to go through life. Right?
- [60:17]
Olivia Munn
Well, because also, you know, my kids need my time. I need my time with them. I know how life changes in an instant. But I also have a big passion of helping women know about the lifetime risk assessment test with breast cancer. It's. I had no idea that when I talked about it, it would be so far reaching and help so many people. But that was my goal. That's what I wanted. And I never had a mission in life. You know, people were like, my mission is I just have this passion mission. I just wanted to have a nice life, you know, be a good person, good daughter, good friend, you know, all those things. And then all of a sudden I. I was like, oh. And I didn't realize that till like, maybe my fourth surgery. And I was like, oh, this is what.
- [61:07]
Hoda Kotb
This is it.
- [61:08]
Olivia Munn
Oh, yeah. If I do it right, maybe I could. Maybe I could really make a difference.
- [61:14]
Hoda Kotb
Well, I think you talking about this test that people are unaware of is super important. And it didn't surprise me when I was watching what you're doing because you live your life in such a beautiful way in all things. So we do call this Joy 101, girl. So what is it that is bringing you in this season as we're reflecting on this life of yours? What's bringing you joy? Like, what lights you up these days?
- [61:44]
Olivia Munn
Having a day off, you know, when you look at your calendar, John and I talk about that a lot when you look at your calendar and it's just like, there's nothing to do with not one thing. So that, you know, I can hang out at home with the kids, or I can get dressed and go out. You know, it's just like when. When I can do anything for myself and my family, just having an empty calendar on a day. Do you know that feeling, by the way?
- [62:09]
Hoda Kotb
It's the best feeling in the world. It's like I've got not one thing
- [62:12]
Olivia Munn
to do, especially if it's not a weekend. You know what I mean? Pick a week. It has to be a weekday. Where you're like, what?
- [62:18]
Hoda Kotb
No, no. Yeah, the weekends are reserved for Chuck E. Cheese. Yes, I know the things that we do so if someone's listening right now and has gone through breast cancer, has gone through a difficult child, whatever they're going through and can't find that light, they're, like, looking for it, and they don't. They feel overwhelmed, like you felt during these anxious times of the surgery or maybe when you were a little girl, what's some advice that you would give them to try to find their way out of that?
- [62:47]
Olivia Munn
That's a tough question, right?
- [62:49]
Hoda Kotb
It's a big one, but just glimmers of it.
- [62:51]
Olivia Munn
No, but I understand it, because I am. I. I'm asked that by other women who've gone through breast cancer because not everyone is in the position that you and I are in. We're so lucky. We were given the opportunity to fight. A lot of people are in a position where they're told to get their affairs in order. They got to figure out what to do with their children. It's. It's not the same for everyone. So there are people who are facing real fear. And so I think what I can say, what has helped me. I've had friends and stuff ask me, like, how did you find yourself again? And I don't think about it as finding myself again. I think about returning to myself, and I'm like, when was it when I could just have a day where I didn't worry about anything and I put myself back there. I remember being with my grandmother in her car. You know, the kind of car that's like, the front seat is like one big seat, and you're just like, no seatbelt swishing around. The cops are looking at you, going, way to take care of your kid. That's awesome. Keep it going. And running errands with her and going through the bank. You know when you had to do the tube that sucks out?
- [64:05]
Hoda Kotb
Oh, my God, the tube. Yeah.
- [64:06]
Olivia Munn
And then hearing that sound of it sucking. And then they send back lollipops and the humming of the car and that sound of a turn signal when it's quiet and just driving around the streets, going to the salon where she got her rollers in for the week. You know, the whole, like, curl it for the week, and you're good. And in that moment of my life and in those specific moments, I didn't have to think about anything. My mother, my grandmother were just. I was along for the ride. And it's so nice to think back and to return to myself in those moments where I don't have to make any big decisions, where life feels like it's forever and I Think that it's really hard to do that when you're in a tough position, when you're really scared.
- [64:59]
Hoda Kotb
Yeah.
- [65:01]
Olivia Munn
But with the time that we have here on Earth, no matter how long or short it is, or no matter how quick it is coming upon us, try to use that time to think back on those memories and return to yourself. Just live in yourself as much as possible.
- [65:19]
Hoda Kotb
Girl, I love you.
- [65:21]
Olivia Munn
Oh, I love you. You're awesome.
- [65:23]
Hoda Kotb
Thank you for coming on my podcast.
- [65:24]
Olivia Munn
Oh, my gosh, I'm so excited.
- [65:25]
Hoda Kotb
I feel very, like, I don't know, tingly and aw.
- [65:29]
Olivia Munn
Well, I love you and I'm so happy you're doing this. I was so happy, Let me just say, to hear you make that such a big decision. Speaking of not being afraid, you know, making that decision, I mean, I think it shocked all of us because you and Jenna are so wonderful together and everyone just loves you. And it didn't seem like you were like, oh, there's so much more for you to do. And that was a little bit strange. You're like, where are you going? Where are you going?
- [65:54]
Hoda Kotb
What's happening?
- [65:54]
Olivia Munn
Where are you going? Where are you going?
- [65:56]
Hoda Kotb
You know, it's so funny on those moments where you're like. Cause when you said, I'm not gonna act anymore. And you were, you had. You had made a big life choice. And it was interesting for me too. Cause when I. I remembered feeling like a warm hand on my heart when I decided, it was almost like my body relaxed when I thought, that's it. Like, this is the top of the wave and it's beautiful here. But I knew it was the top. And as I was thinking about it, I remembered saying to myself, like, I'm gonna see if I can sleep, if I can put my head on the pill without tossing it. Did I make the right decision? And I went home and I have a nine year old and a seven year old. So my seven year old was, who was six at the time, was climbing a tree in the front yard and she was up and down. I was thinking about this Today show thing and what should I do? And I watched her climb up and down, up and down. Look at me, mommy. I'm like, oh, my God, you're up. And again. And I was. I go, sweetie, you're at the top again. I go, now what are you gonna do? And she goes, well, I guess it's time to find a different tree.
- [66:52]
Olivia Munn
Wow.
- [66:53]
Hoda Kotb
I go, what? She goes, a different one, right, Mom, I'm already climbed this. And I go, yeah, yeah. So everywhere I looked, there were bursts and signs. So it's interesting how life guides you. And the thing I. The only thing I ever really wanted to do do was like, I feel like we all get one ride around the sun, so just put goodness in, and that's it. So I was like, I just want to build something that makes people feel good. So that was.
- [67:21]
Olivia Munn
I heard someone say something, then you just reminded me of that. Said, a great way to double your life is to do something different every day. Because when we do the same things every day, the days all blend in. But if you go to this coffee shop, instead of that, if you go ahead and just text that one person, that one friend you haven't talked to in a long time, you will start to remember those days, because it's the things that are different that you end up remembering. So then your days feel different. Your days feel longer, you remember them more. You're just do one thing different every day.
- [68:01]
Hoda Kotb
That's good.
- [68:02]
Olivia Munn
I know. So I've started doing that. Really?
- [68:04]
Hoda Kotb
Okay.
- [68:04]
Olivia Munn
Yeah. Like, even coming here to see you.
- [68:06]
Hoda Kotb
This is new. This is different.
- [68:07]
Olivia Munn
This is new. This is different. Or with my children, you know, I have realized I'm not the museum mom. I'm not. John's always like, do you want to go to the math museum? I do not. There's one here. I don't care. What about the children's museum? It's for children. Okay. What about the MoMA? That's for adults. I don't know how to explain this to you. He's a big museum dad. But I've decided. I was like, okay, I will go, even if it's not something I want to do, because I want to double my days. I want to experience something new, do something new every day. It will double your life.
- [68:39]
Hoda Kotb
We're gonna end right there. It's perfect.
- [68:40]
Olivia Munn
I love you.
- [68:41]
Hoda Kotb
I love you, too, Olivia.
- [68:42]
Olivia Munn
I'm so happy I got to see you.
- [68:43]
Hoda Kotb
Me, too. Okay. That was, like, a beautiful conversation with Olivia Munn. I mean, I'm smiling right now because I had chills while she was talking about all the things and what I'm. I mean, as I was. As I'm thinking about it, it's such a reminder that to have, like, beautiful highs in life, all of the beautiful things that have happened. She also had things that were really difficult and challenging. And I think it reflects both ways. Like, you could live your life kind of middle of the road all the way, and you don't have any of these highs or lows, but Your life will be just that, like a straight arrow. But for Olivia, she's been through it. She took risks. She fell in love or tried over and and over. She ended up having a career. She ended up first falling in love with her son and then falling in love with her soon to be husband, John Mulaney. I'm so into Olivia Munn and everything that she's about anyway. God, I feel floaty a little bit after her. I don't know what it is about her, but being in her presence is beautiful. It's a beautiful, beautiful experience. Again, her show, you Friends and Neighbors is on Apple tv, season two, and I love that she was like, I'm not gonna work anymore. Then she's like, okay, I'll do that one. So she everything's on her terms. How beautiful is life there? All right, you know me. I like to close with a poem. This one's one of my favorites. And it's called Joy chooses you. Joy does not arrive with a fanfare on a red carpet strewn with the flowers of a perfect life. Joy sneaks in as you pour a cup of coffee, watching the sunlight hit your favorite tree just right. And you usher Joy away because you're not ready for her. Your house is not as it should be for such a distinguished guest, but Joy cares nothing for your messy home or your bank balance or your waistline. You see, Joy is supposed to slither through the cracks of your imperfect life. That's how Joy works. You cannot truly invite her. You can only be ready when she appears and hug her with meaning. Because in this very moment, Joy chose you. So when Joy comes knocking at the door, just let her in. Thanks for listening, guys. Lots of places can expose you to identity theft. That's why LifeLock monitors hundreds of millions of data points a second for threats to your identity, which is way more than anyone can do on their own. If we find anything suspicious, like new loans or changes to your financial account accounts, we alert you right away. All through text, phone, email, or the LifeLock app. Save up to 30% your first year. Visit lifelock.com iheart Terms apply.
- [71:56]
Bethenny Frankel
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- [72:31]
Olivia Munn
Just try it Paramount plus is now
- [72:34]
Paramount Plus Announcer
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Olivia Munn
What?
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Paramount Plus Announcer
Yes, with all new episodes of Tyler Perry's Divorce Sisters.
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Hoda Kotb
He's always liked a little drama, plus
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Paramount Plus Announcer
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Hoda Kotb
Just make sure we protect each other
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Paramount Plus Announcer
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- [73:00]
Just Food for Dogs Advertiser
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