Podcast Summary: Making Space with Hoda Kotb

Episode: Selma Blair on Acting Through Adversity and the Power of Positivity
Host: Hoda Kotb
Date: October 8, 2025

Episode Overview

This episode features an intimate conversation between Hoda Kotb and actress, activist, and author Selma Blair. Together, they explore Selma’s journey with multiple sclerosis, her evolution as a person and artist, and the vital role that vulnerability, humor, and positivity have played in her resilience. Selma’s reflections touch on childhood challenges, her acting career, her relationship with her son, and her role in changing how society views chronic illness.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. The Journey of Self-Discovery and Vulnerability

• Selma’s TEDx Talk ([03:29–05:02])

  • Selma describes how necessity forced her to evolve, and how being vulnerable in the chronic illness and disability communities became a source of connection and empowerment.
  • “Things can seem pretty grim, but you never know when it can change.” — Selma Blair [04:47]

• Vulnerability as a Superpower ([02:43])

  • Hoda frames vulnerability as “its own kind of superpower” through Selma’s example.

2. Childhood Experience and Family Dynamics

• Growing Up with Undiagnosed MS ([05:24–07:59])

  • Selma recalls being a strong-willed child, often labeled dramatic or depressive due to symptoms later identified as MS.
  • She credits her mother, a magistrate and lawyer with a strong work ethic, as her stabilizing force growing up.
  • “She always felt kids should be a little bit afraid of their parent. They feel safer.” — Selma Blair [07:14]

• Unexplainable Childhood Symptoms ([07:54–09:03])

  • Fatigue, vision issues, and bladder problems plagued Selma from a young age, leading her to self-doubt and search for comfort in books and, from a young age, alcohol.

3. Early Coping Mechanisms and Coping through Books

• First Experiences with Alcohol ([09:29–10:55])

  • Inspired by a book, Selma drank heavily for the first time at age 7, using alcohol to self-medicate unrecognized pain and distress.
  • “At 7, at a Passover Seder, I had my first dead drunk. I was like, okay, that was terrifying. And how do I get that again?” — Selma Blair [10:14]

• Connection to Literature ([11:04–12:36])

  • Books provided comfort, solace, and identity.
  • Childhood favorites included C.S. Lewis’s "Till We Have Faces," Sylvia Plath, John Irving, and Roald Dahl.
  • “Books were my happiness...Anyone said, what if you had to rob any store? What would it be? I’m like a bookstore.” — Selma Blair [11:45]

4. Family Reactions and Parenting Reflections

• Mother’s Response to Diagnosis ([12:36–13:54])
  • When Selma finally told her mother about her MS diagnosis, her mother responded with pragmatic optimism, downplaying the severity but also expressing relief that there was now an explanation and treatment options.

5. The Importance of Skin and Self-Care

• Discovery of Skincare Line ([14:01–16:23])
  • Selma found healing for her skin—a metaphor for self-nourishment—through a chance encounter with a facialist who introduced her to a gentle, evidence-based Australian skincare line.
  • “It was just a kindness of a stranger…within a week my skin started to not burn as much.” — Selma Blair [14:58]

6. Journey into Acting and Adversity in Hollywood

• Breaking into Acting ([16:29–18:17])

  • Selma details living at the Salvation Army’s Parkside Evangeline Women’s Residence and hustling through rejection until her first agent, Jana Kogan, recognized her talent.
  • “It was just an example of everything not to do that was damn comedic. And then she called me in, and then she signed me.” — Selma Blair [18:17]

• Navigating Early Success with Unrecognized Illness ([18:31–20:17])

  • Signs of MS—frequent crying, balance problems, fatigue—appeared during films like "Cruel Intentions" and "Legally Blonde," but went undiagnosed.
  • Misdiagnosed with leukemia on "Hellboy 2."

7. The Path to Diagnosis

• Missed Signs and Finally Seeking Help ([23:38–25:20])

  • After giving birth to her son in 2011, Selma’s symptoms worsened. Persistent fatigue and numbness drove her to seek an MRI at last, resulting in her MS diagnosis in 2018.
  • “I had actually told Christina Applegate to get an MRI when I saw symptoms, and that changed my life. So I’m a real proponent of MRIs.” — Selma Blair [25:13]

• Relief and Retroactive Clarity ([25:32–26:18])

  • The diagnosis brought exhale and grief: “I sobbed with an exhale, but I still didn’t…Peace. That’s what was going on my whole life.” — Selma Blair [25:32]

• Initial Treatment Struggles and Hope ([26:18–27:46])

  • Selma pursued aggressive treatments and, with time, found a doctor—Dr. Regina—who matched her needs and ambitions.
  • “It’s just amazing how much you learn all the time. It’s not linear.” — Selma Blair [27:45]

8. Parenting with MS and Community

• Impact on Her Son ([27:46–28:40])

  • Being unable to work full time meant more time with her son, which she cherishes despite physical hardship.
  • “He holds my hand, he makes sure I have my water. Just simple things that really move the needle.” — Selma Blair [28:22]

• On Community and Support ([30:52–32:15])

  • Going public brought an outpouring of support, but also the waning attention typical of chronic illness visibility.
  • “But having the push of support in the beginning really meant so much, and I saw the best in people.” — Selma Blair [31:38]

9. Attitude, Medical Partnership, and Daily Resilience

• Choosing Positivity ([32:24–34:10])

  • Selma credits an intentional shift in her outlook for much of her present-day wellness, along with attentive medical care, routine, and self-kindness.
  • “My attitude changed into something really positive and playful. And I thank God for that every day because without that attitude, who knows what things I’d lean back on…that wouldn’t get me feeling better.” — Selma Blair [33:09]
  • The importance of daily habits—exercise, sleep, eating well—are paramount.

• Coping with Bad Days ([34:34–35:48])

  • Refers to the “spoon theory” (energy budgeting for chronic illness) and grants herself permission to rest as needed.

10. Changing the Conversation Around MS

• On Secrecy and Openness ([37:59–39:00])
  • Inspired by Jamie Lynn Sigler, Selma found strength in sharing her MS story. She highlights the importance of learning from those who walked the path before.
  • “It makes me feel warm that Christina tells her truth. That she speaks my truth on the days I don’t want to because I’m busy trying to be positive.” — Selma Blair [38:55]

11. Meditation, Mind-Body Practices, and Joy

• Transcendental Meditation & Horseback Riding ([39:59–40:44])
  • Selma practices meditation daily, finding it essential for calmness and clarity, also sharing the mending power of horseback riding.
  • “There is something about sitting down that way that helps my speech…That calms my nerves. Nervous system.” — Selma Blair [40:37]

12. Joy, Rest, and Making Space

• What Restorative Time Looks Like ([40:59–41:38])
  • On her ideal day off: reading a new book by the ocean, shaded and serene, or playing in her pool with her son.
  • “Just to read an entire book by the beach one day? That’s incredible. Also, I like to just jump in my pool, and I’ll just stay there and do flips and flips and flips, like a little kid.” — Selma Blair [41:33]

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “Things can seem pretty grim, but you never know when it can change.” — Selma Blair [04:47]
• “At 7, at a Passover Seder, I had my first dead drunk. I was like, okay, that was terrifying. And how do I get that again?” — Selma Blair [10:14]
• “Books were my happiness...If you had to rob any store? What would it be? I’m like a bookstore.” — Selma Blair [11:45]
• “I sobbed with an exhale, but I still didn’t…Peace. That’s what was going on my whole life.” — Selma Blair [25:32]
• “My attitude changed into something really positive and playful…without that attitude, who knows what things I’d lean back on.” — Selma Blair [33:09]
• “It’s just amazing how much you learn all the time. It’s not linear.” — Selma Blair [27:45]
• “It makes me feel warm that Christina tells her truth. That she speaks my truth on the days I don’t want to…” — Selma Blair [38:55]
• “Just to read an entire book by the beach one day? That’s incredible. Also, I like to just jump in my pool…like a little kid.” — Selma Blair [41:33]

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Selma’s TEDx Talk and Vulnerability: 03:29–05:02
• Childhood Stories and Family: 05:24–09:03
• Books and Early Coping: 11:04–12:36
• MS Diagnosis and Medical Journey: 23:38–27:46
• Parenting, Community, and Support: 27:46–32:15
• Attitudinal Shift and Wellness: 32:24–34:10
• Secrecy, Visibility, and Changing the Conversation: 37:59–39:00
• Meditation and Joyful Rituals: 39:59–41:38

Final Reflection

Selma Blair’s candid, quick-witted, and authentic conversation highlights the power of embracing one’s struggles and turning them into sources of connection, hope, and even humor. Her story will resonate with anyone facing chronic adversity—and remind us all that real strength lies in honesty, self-compassion, and making space for joy and growth.