Office Ladies – "A Look Back on an Interview with Zach Woods"
Podcast: Office Ladies
Episode Date: September 17, 2025
Hosts: Jenna Fischer & Angela Kinsey
Guest: Zach Woods (Gabe Lewis on The Office)
Main Theme: An insightful, candid, and humorous conversation with Zach Woods reflecting on joining The Office cast in its later seasons, memories from set, the imposter syndrome of being a newcomer, and deeper musings on identity, artistic fulfillment, and kindness.
Episode Overview
In this special episode, Jenna and Angela hit rewind, re-airing one of their most beloved interviews – their 2023 conversation with Zach Woods, the actor behind Dunder Mifflin’s awkward and endlessly memorable Gabe Lewis. The episode is a joyous, reflective deep dive into Zach’s experience joining The Office during its sixth season, the anxieties and quirks of that transition, stories from behind the scenes, and a thoughtful exploration of what it means to thrive as an actor and as a human being. Highlights include heartfelt gratitude toward casting director Allison Jones, hilarious recountings of set moments and fan-favorite Gabe lines, and revealing discussions about navigating success and self-worth in Hollywood.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. Zach’s Path to The Office & The Magic of Allison Jones
[11:47 - 15:02]
- Zach credits casting director Allison Jones as his "fairy godmother," sharing how she not only championed his career but also helped him find a place to live in LA:
“Allison Jones...tapped me with her magic wand and gave me my life in LA, basically.” (Zach Woods, 14:37)
- Both Jenna and Zach recall how rare and impactful it was to encounter a Hollywood gatekeeper genuinely invested in nurturing new talent.
- Allison Jones is described as humble, “flinty” and quietly influential—someone who resists overt praise but who has launched many comedic actors’ careers.
2. Improv Roots & the Joys of ‘Cringe’
[16:14 - 17:49]
- Zach shares the importance of his Upright Citizens Brigade (UCB) background, and the camaraderie and unabashed silliness of improv.
- The group laughs about seeing improv troupes doing warm-up games, and the lovable nerdiness of that scene:
“They look so happy...being so cringe so happily out in public in New York on the street. God bless you guys.” (Zach Woods, 17:05)
3. First Days on Set: Nerves, Impostor Syndrome, and Kindness
[18:09 - 23:56]
- Zach describes the anxiety and surrealness of joining a long-running, celebrated ensemble as the new guy, and his fear (he jokes about buying “multiple humidifiers and lozenges” at Walmart for his voice).
- His first scene was a talking head, which helped ease him in.
- He recounts the remarkable warmth and “hospitality” from the existing cast and crew:
“It was the photo negative of what happened to the character Gabe...it was the exact opposite.” (Zach Woods, 23:02)
4. Favorite Behind-the-Scenes Stories
[25:06 - 26:05]
- Jenna reminisces about Zach’s legendary white elephant gift—the sarcophagus jewelry box—still on her bookshelf.
- Zach jokes about the “spiritually fraught” nature of white elephant gift exchanges and the pressure to impress one’s peers.
5. The Kathy Bates & Great Danes Era
[26:23 - 27:09; 48:53 - 49:32]
- Zach shares that his earliest episodes included wild moments: entering Dunder Mifflin to hot dogs, the “Sabre Song,” wrestling Great Danes, and scenes with Kathy Bates.
- All recall the intimidating arrival of Bates on set, the awe they felt, and the inside stories that come with celebrity cameos.
- The Great Danes, he notes, were “frustratingly professional,” acting like experienced pros rather than cuddly pets.
6. Impressions of Being Recognized as Gabe
[57:34 - 59:14]
- Zach recounts a painfully awkward moment: being recognized by a fan in an airport while (innocently) photographing a lactation station for his show’s research, mirroring Gabe’s on-screen awkwardness.
7. Acting, Anxiety, and Artistic Advice
[63:27 - 69:01]
- The group discusses what they wish they could tell their earlier selves in The Office years: about saying ‘enough’ for themselves, not being pressured into others’ ideas of success, and the importance of diversifying self-worth beyond career.
- Zach shares:
“Don’t mistake your neuroses for your artistic process...tell a new story at work. Tell someone else’s story.” (Zach Woods, 70:21)
8. Favorite Lines, Scenes, and Legend Status
[39:39 - 41:26]
- Jenna shares a rundown of Gabe’s fan-favorite quotes, including the infamous:
"Shut up about the sun. Shut up about the sun!" (Jenna quoting Zach/Gabe, 40:30)
- They laugh over the “sometimes I wonder if I have ovaries in my scrotum” line, with Zach genuinely appalled at the phrasing.
9. Reflection, Connection, and Kindness
[77:44 - 79:40]
- Zach beautifully articulates the kindness he experienced and how it shaped his life and career:
“I want people who like the show to know how kind the people who worked on the show were and are, you know.” (Zach Woods, 79:40)
10. Gabe’s Legacy & The Enduring Comfort of The Office
[59:01 - 61:25]
- Zach discusses the demographic split of his fans, the show’s enduring comfort for young people, and how The Office acts as “emotional wallpaper”—a safe, familiar escape for viewers.
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments (with Timestamps)
-
Allison Jones praise:
"Allison Jones... tapped me with her magic wand and gave me my life in LA, basically."
(Zach Woods, 14:37) -
On improv and happiness:
“Grown adults just being so cringe so happily out in public... I found it so moving.”
(Zach Woods, 17:05) -
First-day nerves:
“I was in a Walmart, buying multiple humidifiers and lozenges... muttering my lines to myself like a crazy person.”
(Zach Woods, 19:18) -
Welcomed by the cast:
“It was like the photo negative of what happened to the character Gabe... The group of people is just, like, so envelopingly sweet.”
(Zach Woods, 23:02) -
White elephant gift:
“It feels like a moral, spiritual test. So I’m glad that I passed.”
(Zach Woods, 24:33) -
Favorite Gabe line:
“Shut up about the sun. Shut up about the sun.”
(Jenna quoting, 40:30) -
On being recognized in public:
"This guy just saw me by myself in an airport photographing a lactation station... he must think I'm like, that Gabe is a toned down version of me."
(Zach Woods, 58:23) -
On legacy and comfort of the show:
"It's so sweet to me that kids find it so comforting that it's a kind of emotional wallpaper."
(Zach Woods, 59:14) -
On success and authenticity:
"Success on somebody else's terms is not success. And success on your own terms doesn't have to look like somebody else's..."
(Zach Woods, 67:03)
Timestamps for Important Segments
-
Zach’s Introduction and Allison Jones’ impact:
[11:47 – 16:15] -
Improv background & early dreams:
[16:14 – 17:49] -
Joining The Office and overt nervousness:
[18:09 – 20:41] -
Experiencing the warmth of the cast:
[21:07 – 24:47] -
Reflecting on favorite gifts and memories:
[24:47 – 26:05] -
First run-ins with Kathy Bates and early set experiences:
[26:23 – 28:56] -
Being the “old-timers” now & fan interactions:
[29:25 – 34:06] -
Blog post for actors and comfort in vulnerability:
[34:06 – 36:47] -
Favorite moments and improv scenes:
[39:39 – 41:26] -
Search Committee, Lady Gaga, and working with guest stars:
[45:18 – 48:53] -
Life, identity, and choosing your own ‘enough’:
[63:27 – 66:43] -
Deep artistic and philosophical takeaways:
[67:03 – 70:32] -
Most magical moments on set:
[71:17 – 76:18] -
Kindness, connection, and cast family:
[77:44 – 79:40]
Conclusion
This episode is a testament to the lasting bonds forged on The Office and the personal growth, humor, and kindness that defined its off-screen family. Zach Woods, with his signature wit and introspective warmth, offered memorable stories and authentic perspective—a true treat for fans longing for new insights into the show’s legacy and the lives it touched. Jenna and Angela, as ever, bring equal parts heart and hilarity, sustaining the connection and joy that made The Office a comfort for so many.
For more behind-the-scenes content, be sure to follow Jenna Fischer, Angela Kinsey, and Zach Woods online, and keep an eye out for Zach’s upcoming stop-motion series, “In the Know.”