Jane Lynch on Healing, Honesty, and the Freedom That Comes with Being Yourself

Summary

Podcast Summary: Making Space with Hoda Kotb

Episode: Jane Lynch on Healing, Honesty, and the Freedom That Comes with Being Yourself
Host: Hoda Kotb
Guest: Jane Lynch
Date: December 3, 2025

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Overview

In this heartfelt, insightful episode, Hoda Kotb sits down with acclaimed actress and comedian Jane Lynch for a candid conversation about healing, self-acceptance, personal growth, and the importance of honesty. Jane shares stories from her childhood, her journey to embracing her true self, her relationship with her mother, and how therapy and honesty have shaped her life and career. Throughout, the episode radiates warmth, humor, and encouragement—showcasing Jane’s infectious energy and her hard-won inner peace.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

Childhood & Finding Her Voice

• Jane’s Childhood Personality
  • Jane recalls being the center of attention, full of energy, and constantly performing for laughs—often making everyone else look “chill” by comparison. [02:28]
    • “I am running around and singing and dancing and acting like a fool, puffing on my mother's cigarette at like 4 years old.” — Jane Lynch [02:45]
• Room with Her Sister
  • Shared a twin bed room through high school, memorable for the simple joys of singing “Puff the Magic Dragon” alone and crying at its sadness. [03:30]

Early Setbacks and Parental Influence

• Fear and Quitting Acting
  • Early negative experience in high school play rehearsal crushed her confidence and led to being labeled a “quitter,” impacting her future casting opportunities. [04:46]
• Parental Skepticism
  • Her mother worried about the realism of acting as a career, once telling her, “You're not gonna be an actress,” a comment that lingered for years. [06:18]
    • “I burst into tears. And she felt terrible... until the day she died, she said, ‘I'm so sorry I did that.’” — Jane Lynch [06:43]

Stubborn Determination & Honesty in Self-Discovery

• Pushing Forward Despite Doubt
  • Jane chose to major in theater (eventually), kept auditioning, and emphasized that her passion was stronger than her self-doubt and her mother’s concerns. [07:25]
    • “I always say I'm a weeble that wobbles, but don't fall down.” — Jane Lynch [07:08]
• Coming Out and the Relief of Truth
  • Therapy was instrumental in Jane accepting her sexuality, helping her drop shame and embrace honesty. She describes finally telling her family by letter and the overwhelming acceptance that followed. [09:03]
    • “The relief really did come in the therapist's office when... the shame fell away.” — Jane Lynch [10:41]

Therapy, Self-Awareness, and Artistic Growth

• Therapy as a Life Tool
  • Therapy not only aided her personal healing but also deepened her craft as an actor, helping her realize that everything she needs for a character is already within her. [11:34]
    • “I realized it's all in me. Because I used to think the work was out here.” — Jane Lynch [12:21]
  • Emphasizes the value of self-examination: “The unexamined life is not worth living... You gotta put the light on [the shadows] so you can get to what is light in you.” — Jane Lynch [23:08]

Relationship with Her Mother

• Pride and Connection

  • Jane’s mother lived to see her success, expressed love in a reserved, “Swedish” way, sometimes by commenting on what Jane was wearing rather than her accomplishments.
    • “You are very good. And that would mean something.” — Jane Lynch [14:42]

• Bittersweet Memories

  • Clothes and watching TV together became meaningful rituals; her mother’s interest in fashion marked their bond. [15:07, 18:10]
    • “That person that you called to say what you're wearing—clothes mean a lot to me now.” — Jane Lynch [17:51]

• Complexity of Parental Love

  • Jane admits at times she wasn’t sure her mother loved her, but later, her mother confessed, “You are my best friend.” [16:39]

Finding Peace, Living in the Moment, and Career Reflection

• Present Focus
  • After a career spanning Glee, Broadway, and more, Jane lives in the moment instead of worrying about “what’s next.” She describes the joy of being fully present in her projects and daily life. [19:04]
    • “I don't have that at all... I am right here with you.” — Jane Lynch [19:14]
• Saying Yes, Saying No
  • Jane advocates saying “yes” to opportunities, especially early on, but notes these days it’s obvious when something is not a fit. [19:49, 20:01]

Personal Life and Daily Joys

• Marriage and Independence
  • Jane enjoys a fulfilling, supportive marriage, with both partners valuing independence and personal space. [23:41]
  • “We just really support each other... I found a really great best friend.” — Jane Lynch [23:59]
• A Day in Jane’s Life
  • Wakes early, enjoys tarot and astrology, reflects, grabs coffee alone but welcomes brief social encounters, takes long seaside walks, and always ends the day with a steak and a British crime drama with her wife. [24:16, 24:38, 26:04]
    • “I give myself a steak every day. That's good. It's my favorite.” — Jane Lynch [26:08]
    • “Jennifer and I watch an episode of some British crime drama... It does help me sleep.” — Jane Lynch [26:25]

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “When you speak the truth, your body relaxes—even if it’s...this is the diagnosis. You’re just like, that’s it.” — Hoda Kotb [08:47]
• “Write a note to your family about this... Just write it... I wrote it and I read it to her, and she said, that’s beautiful. And I said, I’m going to send it. And I did.” — Jane Lynch on coming out, [09:49]
• “The desire to do it is stronger than [the doubts]... I was riddled with self-doubt, but I still did it.” — Jane Lynch [08:01]
• “The unexamined life is not worth living. I think you gotta look at all this stuff and not be afraid of it.” — Jane Lynch [23:08]
• “You gotta put the light on [your shadows] so you can get to what is light in you... that no circumstances can take away.” — Jane Lynch [23:29]
• “I always say, I’m a weeble that wobbles, but don't fall down.” — Jane Lynch [07:08]

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Timestamps for Key Segments

• [02:28] Jane’s early childhood and performing for her family
• [04:46] High school play setback and its emotional impact
• [06:18] Mother's skeptical advice about acting
• [08:47] The relief of living truthfully—coming out story
• [11:34] Using therapy for growth as an actor and person
• [14:28] Mother’s understated pride and their connection through clothing
• [17:51] The loss Jane felt when her mother passed
• [19:13] Living in the moment and embracing her current career stage
• [20:01] The importance of saying “yes” to opportunities
• [23:08] The value of examining your own life
• [24:16] Jane’s ideal day and simple pleasures
• [26:25] Relaxing nightly rituals with her wife

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Tone & Takeaway

The conversation is candid, reflective, and filled with laughter and vulnerability. Jane and Hoda balance humor with gravity, touching on deep themes like self-worth, family relationships, and the peace that follows self-acceptance. Jane’s story is one of resilience and inspiration—reminding listeners to lean into honesty, embrace joy in simplicity, and make peace with themselves.

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For anyone seeking inspiration, comfort, or a gentle nudge toward self-acceptance, this episode is a masterclass in authenticity and the healing power of humor and truth.

Transcript

[Hoda Kotb]

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[Jane Lynch]

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[Hoda Kotb]

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[Jane Lynch]

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[Hoda Kotb]

There's something beautiful that happens when we stop chasing what's next and we finally learn to live in the moment. Well, my guest today has spent years making us laugh, but her true superpower might be just the peace she's found within herself. Jane lynch is one of the most recognizable voices in comedy, known for her iconic roles in Glee, Best in Show and the marvelous Mrs. Maisel. But behind the quick wit and sharp humor is a woman who's done the work she's walked through self doubt, addiction and the fear of being fully seen and come out on the other side, calm, grounded and present. In our conversation, Jane shares how honesty and therapy helped her let go of shame. What she learned from her relationship with her mother and and why. These days, the simple joys, a walk by the ocean, a good cup of coffee and a quiet morning at home mean everything. She reminds us that joy isn't just found in the laughter we create, but in the peace we allow ourselves to feel. I'm Hoda Kotb. This is my podcast making space. Well, first of all, I'm so happy to be with you. Every time I'm with you, I feel.

[Jane Lynch]

That way about you.

[Hoda Kotb]

The lights go on. When you were younger, were you the kind of kid who walked in a room and everyone's like, jane's here.

[Jane Lynch]

You know what I was. And the reason I know that is because I saw some. I don't know if everybody said, Jane's here. I saw some old home movies. Oh, with my cousins and me. And I am running around and singing and dancing and acting like a fool, puffing on my mother's cigarette at like 4 years old.

[Hoda Kotb]

Wait, what?

[Jane Lynch]

For a laugh? You were, like, looking for a laugh. I was looking for a laugh, but I made everybody else else look like chill.

[Hoda Kotb]

You were that.

[Jane Lynch]

Yeah.

[Hoda Kotb]

So was that your happy place to be, like, entertaining, or were you. Oh, all through school, too?

[Jane Lynch]

All through school, too. Yeah. I like. I liked being the. I liked being the class clown. I liked being kind of fellow well met.

[Hoda Kotb]

You know, one question I always ask, and it gives. It's like an interesting insight into someone, but. Okay, so close your eyes for a second.

[Jane Lynch]

Yes.

[Hoda Kotb]

And imagine that you are walking into your childhood bedroom.

[Jane Lynch]

Yes.

[Hoda Kotb]

Did you share it? Were you by yourself? What's on the walls? What did it feel like? Was it neat? Messy? Describe. Open your eyes and describe what it looked like.

[Jane Lynch]

Well, this is the one on Dante in Dalton. It was two twin beds with my sister, who's two years older than I am, and I had a window that looked out onto the next door neighbor's side lawn. And I have a really strong memory of being put in there to take a nap, smelling the freshly cut grass and singing to myself, puff the Magic Dragon, which made me cry. So I have a very sweet default Jackie Papers. Can you go forward? Yeah. So I have a strong memory of that.

[Hoda Kotb]

So were you guys, when you were living with your sister, how old were you? How long were you guys in the room together?

[Jane Lynch]

Well, we. Until we were through high school.

[Hoda Kotb]

Through high school, yeah. And did you have posters on the wall when you grew older?

[Jane Lynch]

I didn't. We didn't have posters. I think my mom put up little things, but no, we didn't have that.

[Hoda Kotb]

You didn't have.

[Jane Lynch]

My brother had, like blacklight posters and, you know, metal type stuff. He was a little darker than we were. But no, we didn't have like Bobby Sherman or David Cassidy or anything like that.

[Hoda Kotb]

Although we loved Love them. So when you. You say you like being on stage. So as a kid, I would imagine you wanted to jump into plays and do things. But there was one time I was reading that you were getting into a play and you decided that you weren't gonna do it.

[Jane Lynch]

Yeah.

[Hoda Kotb]

What made you hesitate?

[Jane Lynch]

It was like fear kicked in. Hoda, you know, when a kid kind of go through life innocently and with an open heart. I was a freshman in high school and I auditioned for this play. I got cast as the king in the Princess and the Pea, one act version of it. And I got great laughs at the audition. And I showed up for the first rehearsal and I did exactly the same thing, and I didn't get any laughs. And it was a rehearsal. Now, I know you don't judge your experience on that as a kid, but it's. It crushed me, and I became afraid, and I quit. I made up a, you know, kind of a justification for myself saying, you know, I wanted to be on the tennis team, but that wasn't the truth.

[Hoda Kotb]

So you were really afraid, so.

[Jane Lynch]

Yeah.

[Hoda Kotb]

So did you just say goodbye to acting for a little bit in school?

[Jane Lynch]

Well, I could never say goodbye to acting. So I kept auditioning for things, and I never got cast because I had a reputation as a quitter. Oh, God. That's a.

[Hoda Kotb]

As a kid, as I was a freshman.

[Jane Lynch]

Isn't that terrible? Yeah, it's terrible. So I didn't get cast after that. And then I did a theater arts class in my senior year, and we. The class put on a production of Godspell so I didn't have to audition. It was. Everybody got a.

[Hoda Kotb]

You were in it. What was your part?

[Jane Lynch]

I played Turn back. Oh, man. Turn back. Oh, man. The kind of sexy woman, kind of burlesque. I love it.

[Hoda Kotb]

Yeah, I love it. So you knew that you loved it there. And I would imagine you said to your mom and dad at that stage, you found something you loved.

[Jane Lynch]

I've got.

[Hoda Kotb]

I've got it. What did your parents think of your choice?

[Jane Lynch]

Well, my mother thought it was unrealistic. And in fact, she told me while I was writing agents letters in Chicago, like, pick me. Yeah, pick me. I'd like to be an actress kind of a thing. And she stopped me and said, you're not gonna be an actress. I know. And I burst into tears. And she felt terrible. In fact, until the day she died, she said, I'm so sorry. I did that. I'm so sorry.

[Hoda Kotb]

Cause I think they're helping. Cause they're like, don't. Yeah.

[Jane Lynch]

Yeah. Don't get your hopes up. She was. So That I would get crushed. Yeah.

[Hoda Kotb]

And it happened right there and it happened.

[Jane Lynch]

You know, I probably got crushed two years later. Cause that's when I left the play. But, you know, it's so strong in me. You probably have this something that is so strong in you that, you know, I always say I'm a weeble that wobbles, but don't fall down. Remember that till.

[Hoda Kotb]

Yes, Weebles wobble, but they don't fall down.

[Jane Lynch]

They don't fall down. Yeah.

[Hoda Kotb]

Wow. So your mom tells you this. It sticks in you. And I'm sure it pops up every now and then. So you go to college and you're a what, a C student, Something like that. You were like, C, what were you studying? What was your path?

[Jane Lynch]

My mother said, don't major in theater because you'll never get a job. So I majored in mass communications. Which is like adjacent to the theater.

[Hoda Kotb]

Yes, yes.

[Jane Lynch]

And eventually I started getting into plays and I changed my major. I didn't tell my mother.

[Hoda Kotb]

Oh yeah.

[Jane Lynch]

Until I got. I auditioned for a tuition waiver and I got it. So I said, mom, I have secretly been a guess what. Yeah. And she was so happy, you know, she was happy for me, but she really was concerned that I wouldn't, you know, she always said, learn to type. She was a secretary.

[Hoda Kotb]

Kind of old school like that.

[Jane Lynch]

Yeah, kind of old school. She thought I wouldn't be able to.

[Hoda Kotb]

What gave you courage to try when your mom. The person you probably turned to isn't so sure?

[Jane Lynch]

Well, you know. Yeah, it's stronger. The desire to do it is stronger than that. And my insecurities were pretty strong, especially by the time I was in, you know, college. That I was. I kind of was riddled with self doubt, but I still did it.

[Hoda Kotb]

Yeah, it was bigger than me. You went for it.

[Jane Lynch]

I did.

[Hoda Kotb]

You talked at. I told you, I love listening to a commencement address and one of my favorites, it shows the best of. And if you guys who are listening to this wanna feel good. Jane has two commencement addresses that were great. One is at Columbia, one's at Smith College, and they're both incredible. But you talk about too, your life and choices you made and when you decided to be honest. And someone once told me, when you speak the truth, your body relaxes. Even if it's. This is the diagnosis. You're just like, that's it.

[Jane Lynch]

Okay, that's it.

[Hoda Kotb]

It's a relief. And when it came to your sexuality, that was a. That was one of those moments. Do you remember the moment where your body relaxed when you said, okay, I understand who I am now?

[Jane Lynch]

Yes. And I was okay with it. I was seeing a therapist. I was in la and I was, you know, auditioning and trying to work as an actor. And I was about a year sober, one or two years sober. And I met a woman at a meeting and she was a therapist and she was a very centered. She was in her 70s, very centered and very calm. And whenever she spoke in a meeting, people just got very quiet and really listened to her because she laid out such truths, you know. And so I said, I would like to see you as a client. And she said, okay. And we had really strong, powerful, kind of Quiet, honest sessions. And she said, write a note to your family about this, about your sexuality. You don't have to send it.

[Hoda Kotb]

Just write it.

[Jane Lynch]

But. Just write it. So I wrote it and I read it to her, and she said, that's beautiful. And I said, I'm gonna send it. And I did. So I mailed it and I called my brother and I said, are you sitting down? And he's like, what? I said, I'm gay. And he said, I kind of knew that.

[Hoda Kotb]

Thanks, sis. Yeah, he had one of those.

[Jane Lynch]

And I said, I just sent a letter to mom and dad telling them that. And he said, oh, okay, you know, I'm going over on Saturday and, you know, I'll talk to them about it, that it's gonna come. Cause in those days, it took four days, forever.

[Hoda Kotb]

So what were those days? As you're awaiting.

[Jane Lynch]

Scared. Scared. Yeah. But it was such a relief when my mom called and said, oh, honey, we love you. It doesn't matter. We wish nothing but love for you. And. Oh. And it was a relief. But the relief really did come in the therapist's office when I. When you yourself accepted it. And the shame fell away. Yeah.

[Hoda Kotb]

And did everything start after that? Like people say, once that truth is out, whatever your truth is, like, things just start happening.

[Jane Lynch]

What happened? What flooded into my life in terms of, like, people opportunities? I was doing a lot of theater, which was for free, of course, and I started getting guest spots on sitcoms. I was able to walk into a room just with a different sense of myself. I started bringing myself to the work. I started bringing myself to the roles. And I had another therapist later on who I was complaining about riding on the bike path and how people were passing me on the wrong side and how that's dangerous. And she said, you must write a monologue from the point of view of this woman. And her name is the Angry Lady. And I did a one woman show all about her.

[Hoda Kotb]

Oh, my gosh.

[Jane Lynch]

She's the main character. So it was like I saw how I could take what's inside of me.

[Hoda Kotb]

Exactly.

[Jane Lynch]

Blow it up a little bit and be able to. First of all, you have to be able to look at it.

[Hoda Kotb]

Look at it.

[Jane Lynch]

The intolerance that lives in me and how I'm so angry at other people who don't follow the rules. And I blew it up into this lady who wears a neck brace. You know, she's just so angry about everything. And every monologue she does, she ends up doing something so embarrassing, like, I won't even say, because it gets a little blue. But that really helped me. And so getting these sitcom auditions, I was able to look at these characters. Maybe they have five lines. You know, it would be a guest star. But I was able to bring my. There was always something in me. And I realized it's all in me. Because I used to think the work was out here.

[Hoda Kotb]

Yeah, yeah.

[Jane Lynch]

You know, like, oh, that character's out here. How do I do that? But she's right. Even Blanche dubois, someone who I walk through life, I'm nothing like her. But in me is a very. There is a frail person in me who doesn't want to get old, who wants to always be in the great lighting, especially more these days. But I mean, I was able to tap into that even as a young person, that it, it's all in me.

[Hoda Kotb]

My God, that's so profound.

[Jane Lynch]

For anybody doing anything, anything.

[Hoda Kotb]

Wow. More with Jane lynch after the break.

[Jane Lynch]

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[Hoda Kotb]

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[Jane Lynch]

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[Hoda Kotb]

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[Jane Lynch]

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[Hoda Kotb]

Huh, that sounds easier than I thought.

[Jane Lynch]

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[Hoda Kotb]

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[Jane Lynch]

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[Hoda Kotb]

Investing involves risk, including risk of loss. Fidelity Brokerage Services, LLC Member nyse, SIPC. So did your mom get to see your success?

[Jane Lynch]

Yes, she did. She was very proud of her.

[Hoda Kotb]

What did she, what did, what was she able to see?

[Jane Lynch]

Oh, she just, you know, my mother, she's Irish and Swedish, but the Swedish always wins out. And I say so. She's a little reserved. Yes, of course. But she'll say things like, you are very good. And that would mean something.

[Hoda Kotb]

That's the world.

[Jane Lynch]

That's the world.

[Hoda Kotb]

Yeah.

[Jane Lynch]

And she would, you know, tell people about me, and she's not. She hated braggers. Yeah. You know, and I was kind of like a show off growing up, so there was a part of her that kind of didn't like me. You know, the part of me that's always showing off. Like you could see in those home movies, my mother looking at me, like, scowling.

[Hoda Kotb]

Here she goes, here she goes, there she goes. What did she love the most about what you did? Was there a particular role? What?

[Jane Lynch]

The clothes I wear. She loved clothes.

[Hoda Kotb]

She loved clothes.

[Jane Lynch]

My mother was. She would love this jacket. Yeah. The gold and the pink. Oh, she would love it. Mostly it was about that. Like, I'd say, mom, I gotta. I'm gonna. I'm on Party of Five. I'm playing a school mom. What are you wearing? So you know, Nora Ephron did a show, directed a play called Love Loss and what I Wear.

[Hoda Kotb]

Oh, yes.

[Jane Lynch]

So she asked about my mom, and I said, you know, my mom was a good clothes maven. And when I got this role on, Julia, Julia, she said, what are you gonna wear? She said, I have the play for you. She said, I'm doing this play called Love Loss. And what I wore, what I wore. It's like, what you remember these, like, traumatic or high points of your life and what you were wearing.

[Hoda Kotb]

Yes.

[Jane Lynch]

And that was my mother. She would say, I remember that day. I was wearing a navy blue suit with brass buttons.

[Hoda Kotb]

Wow.

[Jane Lynch]

I bought it at, you know, Lord and Taylor. And, you know, she had. The whole story was about the outfit.

[Hoda Kotb]

What was your mom like?

[Jane Lynch]

She was beautiful. She was tall and, you know, probably only about 5, 9, but when she was growing up in the 40s and 50s, it was very tall. She was very elegant. She was not effusive. She could be very staid and she was very funny without trying. Yeah. Because there was a part of her that was a little bit on the spacey side.

[Hoda Kotb]

Yeah. How did you know that she loved you?

[Jane Lynch]

It's kind of a struggle. There were times I didn't know sometimes, but then I. You know, there would be moments, especially as she got older. Oh. She said to me once, you are my best friend. And so that. Yeah, I know. It was a big deal. Oh, I have chills over there. Yeah. Yeah. Because I was one of those. I was an insecure kid. I wanted to please everybody. I wanted everybody to see how fabulous I was. And I was loud and always performing. And that was not her cup of tea.

[Hoda Kotb]

That was not her cup of tea.

[Jane Lynch]

Yeah.

[Hoda Kotb]

My friend Maria Shriver was telling me that it wasn't until her mom was dying that she was laying in bed with her. And she said that her mother finally let her, like, hold her hand and lay with her and she said her mom showing love was much. She was stoic and let's get busy and let's go and let's. You know, there was no do do.

[Jane Lynch]

I can imagine.

[Hoda Kotb]

There's no nurturing and know Maria.

[Jane Lynch]

Yeah.

[Hoda Kotb]

Maria's a nurturer.

[Jane Lynch]

Yeah.

[Hoda Kotb]

And she talked about that in her poem book that she would, like, sit outside of her mother's closed door and wonder, you know, would she come out. But it's interesting about how relationships evolved. What did you lose the day your mom passed?

[Jane Lynch]

That person that you called to say what you're wearing and clothes mean a lot to me now. That person who, you know, I'm hosting an award show. The stuff that I know she cared about. I knew that if I told her about this particular thing, it would light her up.

[Hoda Kotb]

Light her up.

[Jane Lynch]

And then we have this thing like when we were. My father had passed, and when I would go visit my mother, we would sit in front of the TV and we'd watch tlc and we'd watch what not to wear.

[Hoda Kotb]

Yes.

[Jane Lynch]

Marathons. You know how they'd have one after the other.

[Hoda Kotb]

Oh, of course. Of course. She loved it. Oh, she loved it.

[Jane Lynch]

We loved Stacy Clinton.

[Hoda Kotb]

Yeah.

[Jane Lynch]

And we would talk about, you know what? I don't agree with the shape of that jacket. You know, I love it. Yeah. We just. And I ended up meeting Stacey.

[Hoda Kotb]

Oh, you did? Yes.

[Jane Lynch]

And I told her all about it. She was just loved. High point. Yeah.

[Hoda Kotb]

So, I mean, look, your career has taken all kinds of incredible turns up and down people probably, I'm sure, still stop you about Glee. You do stuff on Broadway. You do game shows. You do all kinds of acting. As you're looking. Looking at your career at this point, you have tons of opportunities. There's a million things already happening. But where do you see, like, this moment for you right now?

[Jane Lynch]

It's just varied. And I'm very in the moment of it.

[Hoda Kotb]

Yeah. Tell me.

[Jane Lynch]

It used to be what will be my next show? And I don't have that at all.

[Hoda Kotb]

I love that.

[Jane Lynch]

Yeah. And I like doing the Weakest Link this new season. It's celebrity Weakest Link. And there was something. It's so good. It's on FOX now, and it's great. And I would say that our staff, too, because we didn't. We were kind of revived from the dead. We all were so in the moment. The staff, the writers, the crew, we all came back together and there was something about, hey, we're back, we're back. And we all stayed very much in the moment. And that's kind of where I am right now. I'm right here with you.

[Hoda Kotb]

How do you know what to say yes to and what to say no to? Has that selection process changed over the years?

[Jane Lynch]

It's usually pretty obvious. And I rarely say no. I get pretty good stuff, but every once in a while it's a no.

[Hoda Kotb]

So was saying yes the key, kind of decent?

[Jane Lynch]

I said yes to everything my whole life. Yes, you did. Yeah. And that really does help. And I think that when actors ask me, like young actors, do you have any advice? I say yes to everything. I just wanted to be invited to the party. I didn't care what it was, whether that was getting paid or if it was even actually gonna end up on a stage, you know, I just wanted to do it. I wanted to be invited to the party and be creative with a bunch of other people. Never wanted to do it alone. No desire to do anything alone.

[Hoda Kotb]

Yeah. Is when you look back at Glee, which is that what people mostly stop you for. Does that ever get old? Never, never.

[Jane Lynch]

No. People keep watching it too. And it's young people for the most part. And I just met a couple of people at an interview downtown, and the 30 year old, I don't know if they were. They're probably full fledged staff people, but they were just beside themselves about Glee, you know, and they would have come to it later. So it was kind of nice to know that.

[Hoda Kotb]

More ahead with Jane Lynch. Stay with us.

[Jane Lynch]

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[Hoda Kotb]

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[Jane Lynch]

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[Hoda Kotb]

At prices this good, you can grab something for yourself too.

[Jane Lynch]

Marshalls, we get the deals.

[Hoda Kotb]

You gift the good stuff.

[Jane Lynch]

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[Hoda Kotb]

To get started.TikTok.com TikTok ads holiday PSA from DSW. This is your reminder that shoes are a gift, Literally. So unwrap something good, like boots that.

[Jane Lynch]

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[Hoda Kotb]

Or cozy slippers that give you an.

[Jane Lynch]

Excuse to stay in.

[Hoda Kotb]

Or sneakers that feel like pure joy.

[Jane Lynch]

Because shoes aren't just shoes. They're exactly what you wanted.

[Hoda Kotb]

Let us surprise you so you can surprise them.

[Jane Lynch]

Find shoes that get you and everyone.

[Hoda Kotb]

On your lips at prices that get your budget at dsw stores or dsw.com I think the idea. I was thinking about how you talked about going to therapy throughout your life, which has been a lifesaver.

[Jane Lynch]

It has.

[Hoda Kotb]

Was starting off in therapy and beginning that process. Was that something for you? That was a layup? Or were you like, I don't need that. Because I think people listening, some people are struggling with, you know, should I dig? Don't look for hurt or just keep going.

[Jane Lynch]

Oh, the unexamined life is not worth living. I think you gotta look at all this stuff and not be afraid of it. You gotta just look at it. And like I said, it made my work so much more profound as an actor, but I just think as a human being, because what you realize is that it's not the real stuff anyway. It's shadows that live inside of you. And you gotta put the light on em so you can get to what is light in you. That's. To get what is in you that abides, that no circumstances can take away from you.

[Hoda Kotb]

Wow. How's your personal life?

[Jane Lynch]

It's great. It's great. I'm married. I have a great partner in life, and we're both very independent. You know, sometimes we go through a whole day and she's in her space and I'm in my space because we're both like that and we just really support each other.

[Hoda Kotb]

It's. So you found.

[Jane Lynch]

Yeah, yeah. I found a really great best friend.

[Hoda Kotb]

Found the right person. You found the right person. Okay. So this podcast is called Making Space.

[Jane Lynch]

Yeah.

[Hoda Kotb]

And so if you had a day that was just for you, nobody was gonna. They're like, jane, it's all, you open your eyes when you want, you go to sleep when you want. You do exactly what you want. How would you feel that day?

[Jane Lynch]

Well, I live that that day. I live that life. Right now. I don't have a job like you do. I work occasionally. Really? You know, so most of my days are I open my eyes and sometimes the hours yawn before me and I go, what am I gonna do with Them, so I don't have that problem.

[Hoda Kotb]

When do you open your eyes?

[Jane Lynch]

Naturally, about 5, 36. 36.

[Hoda Kotb]

Okay.

[Jane Lynch]

And I like to get up when it's light because I get a little depressed in the dark. But I tend to go to bed early, so I wake up early, and I have my caffeine and I have some tarot cards.

[Hoda Kotb]

You do?

[Jane Lynch]

Yeah, I just started studying tarot and doing tarot.

[Hoda Kotb]

Really?

[Jane Lynch]

Love it.

[Hoda Kotb]

What are you learning? Like, that's interesting.

[Jane Lynch]

I love myth. I love symbols, and I love astrology, too. I study astrology, so I do something along those lines where I kind of deepen my knowledge. And when you're deepening your knowledge about those things, they're resonating inside. Yeah, yeah, yeah. And the synchronicities of life are alive.

[Hoda Kotb]

All right.

[Jane Lynch]

And be aware of them.

[Hoda Kotb]

How does the rest of the day. How would it unfold?

[Jane Lynch]

The rest of the day would unfold. I usually go someplace for coffee because I love social and. But I sit by myself.

[Hoda Kotb]

You do?

[Jane Lynch]

I go on my own, sit by myself. But I do a lot of waving, and, you know, someone will stop by the table. But for the most part, I'm on my own. And then I take a good long walk.

[Hoda Kotb]

Oh, yeah.

[Jane Lynch]

And I live by the ocean, so that's easy to do.

[Hoda Kotb]

Beautiful. What does that give you? That walk gives you everything.

[Jane Lynch]

It gives. It's everything. And sometimes my mind is empty. Sometimes I'll listen to, like, a podcast or something, but a lot of times it's just empty.

[Hoda Kotb]

Just let it go.

[Jane Lynch]

Yeah. Yeah, Let it go.

[Hoda Kotb]

Yeah, let it go.

[Jane Lynch]

It's never really completely empty, but I'll go off on a fantasy. And then sometimes it just gets very quiet, and it's really just a. Maybe the tarot card I pulled that morning is living in me a little bit.

[Hoda Kotb]

Oh, I love that. And then how would the day wrap? Like, how would you wind up your day?

[Jane Lynch]

Well, I would have a steak. I eat a steak every day. I love it.

[Hoda Kotb]

You do?

[Jane Lynch]

So I give myself a steak every day. That's good. It's my favorite.

[Hoda Kotb]

Just for protein or just because you.

[Jane Lynch]

Like protein and fat?

[Hoda Kotb]

Okay.

[Jane Lynch]

I'm kind of into protein, and it's actually helped me lose weight.

[Hoda Kotb]

God.

[Jane Lynch]

Okay. Yeah. So I love. And I love a steak. I always have. And I was like, if you love a steak, you should have one every day.

[Hoda Kotb]

Every single day.

[Jane Lynch]

Every single day.

[Hoda Kotb]

What do you do right before your lights out?

[Jane Lynch]

Lights out? Oh, Jennifer and I watch an episode of some British crime drama.

[Hoda Kotb]

Okay.

[Jane Lynch]

And it does help me sleep.

[Hoda Kotb]

It does. The crime.

[Jane Lynch]

The crime.

[Hoda Kotb]

It's weird.

[Jane Lynch]

Yeah. We're watching Sherlock right now.

[Hoda Kotb]

Okay.

[Jane Lynch]

Yeah, we watch Bletchley Circle before that. And we're moving on to Bad Girls, which is not a crime drama, but that. Do you know Bad Girls?

[Hoda Kotb]

No, but I've heard a couple of friends have talked about it.

[Jane Lynch]

Yeah. Yeah. It's supposed to be really good. Okay, now, so we'll go on to.

[Hoda Kotb]

That and then it's lights out. You're an early bird.

[Jane Lynch]

It slights out and I usually kind of. My eyes are getting heavy at around 7:30, 8:00 clock, watching the show.

[Hoda Kotb]

Good. Well, Jane, you're such a pleasure. I love sitting with you. Thank you for sharing. Hey guys, thank you so much for listening and for coming on this journey with me. If you like what you heard, and I hope that you do, please give Making Space a five star rating and review on Apple Podcasts. And make sure you tell your friends. Follow us on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you're listening right now. Making Space with Hoda Kotb is produced by Allison Berger and Mitch Rissmiller along with Kate Saunders. Our associate audio engineer is Juliana Mostarilli. Our audio engineers are Matt Tierney and Joe Plord. Original music by John Essence. Missy Dunlop Parsons is our executive producer. Libby Least is the executive vice president of Today and Lifestyle.

[Jane Lynch]

This is an Etsy holiday ad, but you won't hear any sleigh bells or classic carols. Instead, you'll hear something original, the sound of an Etsy holiday, which sounds like this. Woohoo. Now that's special.

[Hoda Kotb]

Want to hear it again?

[Jane Lynch]

Get original and affordable gifts from small shops on Etsy. For gifts that say I get you shop Etsy.