Webisode: The Mentor

Summary

Office Ladies Podcast Summary

Episode: Webisode: The Mentor
Release Date: May 14, 2025
Hosts: Jenna Fischer and Angela Kinsey

---

Introduction

In this heartfelt and insightful episode of Office Ladies, Jenna Fischer and Angela Kinsey delve into the beloved webisode, "The Mentor," from their iconic show, The Office. The hosts not only break down the episode's plot but also share exclusive behind-the-scenes stories, personal anecdotes, and touching listener mentorship experiences that highlight the profound impact of guidance and support in both professional and personal realms.

---

Overview of "The Mentor" Webisode

The Mentor is a standout webisode that focuses on the dynamics of mentorship within the quirky environment of Dunder Mifflin. The episode centers around Erin Hannon's desire to gain insights into the accounting department and Angela Martin’s decision to take her under her wing, offering not just professional guidance but also personal coaching on office etiquette and behavior.

---

Behind-the-Scenes Insights

Directorial Debut of Kelly Cantley

Angela and Jenna recount how "The Mentor" marked Kelly Cantley’s first foray into directing. Jenna shares, "Kelly knew exactly what she wanted for every shot, which made the shooting day really fun and easy" (06:10). Kelly's preparation was meticulous, often consulting with Randall Einhorn to perfect each scene. Angela adds, "She was super prepared and knew exactly what she wanted for every shot. There was no waffling" (09:21), highlighting Kelly's efficiency and vision.

Writing Process

The episode was penned by Nate Federman and Jonathan Hughes, who selected the mentorship theme from a pool of ideas. Jenna explains, "Of all those ideas, the one he picked was the mentor. And then Nate and Jonathan wrote it from there" (07:03). This collaboration ensured a rich and engaging storyline that resonated well with fans.

Production Challenges and Solutions

Angela recalls an amusing behind-the-scenes moment involving a wig mishap: "We may never know why Kelly's bangs looked different, but it added an unexpected layer of mystery" (56:30). Such spontaneous moments contributed to the authenticity and humor that The Office is renowned for.

---

Analysis of the Webisode

Plot Summary

In "The Mentor," Erin seeks to emulate the efficiency and professionalism of the accounting team. Angela, observing Erin's potential, offers to mentor her, leading to a series of humorous and enlightening interactions. The webisode showcases Angela’s strict yet caring nature as she guides Erin through the nuances of office life, from proper mail sealing techniques to maintaining a professional demeanor.

Character Dynamics

The mentorship between Angela and Erin provides a deeper look into Angela's character, revealing her desire for order and perfection. Jenna notes, "Angela's snarky yet supportive approach makes their interactions both funny and meaningful" (23:03). Additionally, the involvement of other characters like Creed and Kevin adds layers of humor and complexity, exemplifying the ensemble's dynamic.

Memorable Scenes and Quotes

One standout moment occurs when Jenna describes her on-set mishap: "While I was putting on my makeup, I stabbed myself in the eye with my mascara wand" (04:13). This candid sharing underscores the camaraderie and genuine friendship between the hosts. Another memorable exchange is when Erin does her impression of the Count from Sesame Street, bringing nostalgic humor to the episode.

---

Personal Mentorship Stories

Listener Experiences

Throughout the episode, Jenna and Angela read and reflect on several listener-submitted mentorship stories, highlighting the diverse ways mentorship shapes lives. For instance, Grace T. from Massachusetts shares how her mother mentored her through running, fostering a strong parent-child bond and instilling a love for the sport (12:06). Such stories emphasize the universal importance of having a mentor, whether in sports, career, or personal growth.

Hosts’ Personal Stories

Angela opens up about her grandmother, Lena Mae Kinsey, who was a pivotal mentor in her life. She recounts, "She taught me how to drive a car, crochet, and instilled in me values that continue to guide me today" (60:29). Jenna shares her experience with Clea Shearer, a mentor who provided unwavering support during her breast cancer treatment. Jenna states, "Clea answered every question, comforted every nerve, and inspired me to help others" (73:45). These personal narratives add emotional depth to the episode, showcasing the profound and lasting impact mentors can have.

---

Conclusion

In Webisode: The Mentor, Office Ladies masterfully blend episode analysis with heartfelt discussions on mentorship. Jenna Fischer and Angela Kinsey provide listeners with not only a deeper understanding of the webisode but also inspire through their shared stories and those of their audience. The episode serves as a testament to the importance of mentorship in navigating life’s challenges and achieving personal and professional growth.

---

Notable Quotes with Timestamps

• Angela Kinsey: "Do you know that you could make money off of your home while you're away on vacation?" (00:32)
• Jenna Fischer: "That's very Schrute Farms of them. Although Dwight doesn't leave." (00:43)
• Angela Kinsey: "She showed up with a blazer and super prepared," highlighting Kelly Cantley’s professionalism (10:21)
• Jenna Fischer: "I stabbed myself in the eye with my mascara wand," sharing a personal mishap (04:13)
• Listener Grace T.: "Even when we don't get along, I know she's there for me." (12:06)
• Angela Kinsey: "My grandmother taught me how to drive, crochet, and instilled in me important values." (60:29)
• Jenna Fischer: "Clea answered every question and comforted every nerve," describing her breast cancer mentor (73:45)

---

Note: For a complete and immersive experience, listeners are encouraged to tune into the Office Ladies podcast and watch "The Mentor" webisode available on YouTube and Peacock.

Transcript

[Angela Kinsey]

We are getting ready to plan some travel for the holidays. And so we've started to look on Airbnb. We love to stay at an Airbnb because when you travel with children and your family, it is nice to have a kitchen. It's nice to have you all in one area. Jenna, I got a hot tip for you.

[Jenna Fischer]

What is it?

[Angela Kinsey]

Do you know that you could make money off of your home while you're away on vacation?

[Jenna Fischer]

Tell me more.

[Angela Kinsey]

I will. While you're away, your home could be an Airbnb.

[Jenna Fischer]

Oh, really?

[Angela Kinsey]

Yeah. Think about someone who's frequently traveling, you know.

[Jenna Fischer]

Yeah.

[Angela Kinsey]

While they're away, their home's making them money.

[Jenna Fischer]

That's pretty sweet.

[Angela Kinsey]

I know.

[Jenna Fischer]

That's very Schrute Farms of them. Although Dwight doesn't leave.

[Angela Kinsey]

That's true. And if he did leave, you'd be stuck with Mo's.

[Jenna Fischer]

Yes. Well, it sounds like Airbnb is a really practical way to earn some extra money.

[Angela Kinsey]

If you've stayed at an Airbnb, wouldn't it be cool to give that experience to others?

[Jenna Fischer]

Your home might be worth more than you think.

[Angela Kinsey]

Find out how [e-mail] host gentlemen, listen up.

[Jenna Fischer]

Macy's is having their men's wardrobe sale. It is the perfect time to get a suit for any of your fancier occasions, as well as some separates for your more laid back ones.

[Angela Kinsey]

One of my good friend's son is graduating and they just did this. They went and got their son a suit. It was so sweet. And Macy's has so many great brands like Hugo Boss, Michael Kors, Calvin Klein. Just really everything you're looking for.

[Jenna Fischer]

And shoes. They've got Cole Hahn, JM and Hugo Boss. Right now, save an extra 25 to 60% off at the Macy's Men's Wardrobe.

[Angela Kinsey]

Sale running May 13th through the 18th. Shop now in store or@macy's.com.

[Jenna Fischer]

I'M Jenna Fisher.

[Angela Kinsey]

And I'm Angela Kinsey.

[Jenna Fischer]

We were on the Office together and we're best friends. And now we're doing the ultimate Office lovers podcast just for you.

[Angela Kinsey]

Each week we will dive deeper into the world of the Office with exclusive interviews, behind the scenes details, and lots of BFF stories.

[Jenna Fischer]

We're the Office Lady 6.0.

[Angela Kinsey]

Hello. Hey there.

[Jenna Fischer]

Today we're breaking down another webisode, the Mentor. And we're also going to share mentor.

[Angela Kinsey]

Stories from you guys who wrote in, plus some of our own.

[Jenna Fischer]

Yes. But first, before we get started on all of that, can I do a personal share?

[Angela Kinsey]

Yeah. What's going on?

[Jenna Fischer]

Do you want the long, medium, or short version of this story? Actually, just pick medium or short.

[Angela Kinsey]

I'll go medium.

[Jenna Fischer]

Okay. So I got up this morning, and I thought, today is a drawstring pant day.

[Angela Kinsey]

Oh, I love those days.

[Jenna Fischer]

I mean, I've been putting in more effort when we come into the studio. I only have to work outside of the house one day a week. Okay.

[Angela Kinsey]

Only one day. You need to look super cute. Unless there's a school thing.

[Jenna Fischer]

True.

[Angela Kinsey]

Yeah.

[Jenna Fischer]

But today, even though it was not a work from home day, I was like, I just feel so good in my pajama pants. What can I wear? But then I took a shower, and after the shower, I thought, you know what? Make the effort, Jenna. It's one day a week.

[Angela Kinsey]

Yeah.

[Jenna Fischer]

Now I am still wearing a drawstring pant, but I put in an effort, and I thought, I'm gonna put on the makeup. Cause by the way, I wasn't gonna put on makeup either.

[Angela Kinsey]

But when you say drawstring pants, you're not in sweatpants. These look like sort of a khaki kind of green trouser.

[Jenna Fischer]

Yeah, they are. An elastic waist trouser.

[Angela Kinsey]

Oh, well, I'm here for it.

[Jenna Fischer]

Thank you. I mean, it's a happy middle ground. Okay, but this isn't even about my pants. I don't know. That's the medium part of the story, which was that my instinct. The point of this is, my instinct was, make almost no effort today, and that will make you happy. And I went against my instinct, and I decided to put on makeup and all the whatever. And while I was putting on my makeup, I stabbed myself in the eye with my mascara wand.

[Angela Kinsey]

Oh, God.

[Jenna Fischer]

And it still hurts.

[Angela Kinsey]

Like, it's so painful when that happens.

[Jenna Fischer]

I hope I don't need to go to the eye doctor after this recording. I mean, I think I'm okay.

[Angela Kinsey]

Can I guess which eye it is looking at?

[Jenna Fischer]

You guess which one Is it your right eye? Yes.

[Angela Kinsey]

Because it's a little puffy in the corner.

[Jenna Fischer]

Yes. It hurts.

[Angela Kinsey]

Oh, honey.

[Jenna Fischer]

I am still recovering, and it was a good, like, 90 minutes ago.

[Angela Kinsey]

I wouldn't have noticed right away, but since you said it, now I'm looking at it. And, lady, you got yourself good.

[Jenna Fischer]

I really did. So I don't know what the moral of that story is, but I think if you are feeling like it's a low effort day, just listen to yourself. I wish I listened to myself. Why the mascara today? Clearly, I didn't want it.

[Angela Kinsey]

You were rejecting it. Your whole body was like, no.

[Jenna Fischer]

So that's it. That was my share.

[Angela Kinsey]

I hope it gets better.

[Jenna Fischer]

Thank you. We also had a guest in our studio today.

[Angela Kinsey]

We did. We have a guest in our studio. The cutie patootie Ramen is here. Can ramen say something into the microphone?

[Jenna Fischer]

Sure. Please hold Ramen.

[Angela Kinsey]

Hey, buddy.

[Jenna Fischer]

Sam's dog is Ramen. For anyone who doesn't know, I guess Ramen.

[Angela Kinsey]

You want to say hi to office ladies?

[Jenna Fischer]

You say hi. He's licking the mic. He's licking the mic.

[Angela Kinsey]

Yay.

[Jenna Fischer]

Aw.

[Angela Kinsey]

Oh, my gosh.

[Jenna Fischer]

He's so cute. Okay, well, let's get into it because I think this is gonna be a really fun episode. Despite my achy eye, I wanted to kick things off with an article, actually. This is from Screen Rant, and it's about the webisode the Mentor, which Angela, you are the star of.

[Angela Kinsey]

Oh, I don't know about that. I mean, me and Ellie, it's not a solo. Like, we're a dynamic duo and it was so fun.

[Jenna Fischer]

It's a nice two hander. But this is like, this is an Angela Martin a story.

[Angela Kinsey]

It is. And that, you know, didn't happen very often, so it was really fun.

[Jenna Fischer]

Well, when I read this article, it made me smile, so I want to read it. Here's what it said. The Mentor is such an incredible work. It's a shame it never aired on TV.

[Angela Kinsey]

Aw.

[Jenna Fischer]

In this webisode that released in 2010, we find Erin bored of her job. She wished to be as collected as the accounting department and asked the group if they'd be willing to help her. Shockingly, Angela tells Erin she'd be her mentor because she sees great promise in Erin. Not only did Angela teach Erin how to do her job, but she taught her how to dress, sit, and behave. Hmm.

[Angela Kinsey]

And she delighted in it. Angela loved having a trainee.

[Jenna Fischer]

I know.

[Angela Kinsey]

She was, like, so animated.

[Jenna Fischer]

But I do think this speaks to the point that some of these webisode plot lines, they would have made great full office episodes as well. That's why they're so good.

[Angela Kinsey]

Yeah.

[Jenna Fischer]

And satisfying, I think.

[Angela Kinsey]

I think so too. Well, I'll share about it as we go. And, you know, one thing I did remember is that we did like a little mini press day, and Ellie and I did interviews and I found one on TV fanatic all about the webisode. I'll share it in our stories. But it did feel kind of special, you know.

[Jenna Fischer]

Well, we also reached out to Kelly Cantley about directing the Mentor because it was her directorial debut. I also spoke with Nate Federman, who Wrote it along with Jonathan Hughes. I asked him, how did this one come about? And Nate said that Kelly Cantley, our first ad, was assigned to direct, but since she didn't have a writing background like some of the other directors we worked with on other webisodes did, he said he believes Aaron Shore, who was on our writing team, was asked to supervise the writing. And so Jonathan and Nathan pitched ideas. And of all those ideas, the one he picked was the mentor. And then Nate and Jonathan wrote it from there. So that's how this one came about. And then Kelly got picked to direct.

[Angela Kinsey]

Well, this is something I loved about our show, that people would get an opportunity to sort of, like, spread their wings and really shine. And I went into my digital Clutter lady to see what I could find from this time, and not specifically to this webisode, but in 2009, I found an email from our second, second assistant director, Stephanie Kinch. You remember Stephanie, of course, and Rusty Mahmood, who was our other assistant director. And. And they wrote an email saying, hey, guys, we're part of the dga, the Directors Guild of America mentor program, and we're gonna be having some trainees on set that we're gonna be mentoring.

[Jenna Fischer]

I remember them. I remember our DGA trainees. Yeah. If you wanna get into the Directors Guild of America union for, like, assistant directing, to be part of the AD staff, you have to go through this mentorship program, and you get assigned to different sets for, like, a certain number of hours, if I remember correctly. And, yeah, they would usually be at base camp, which is a pretty crazy way to enter the business, I think.

[Angela Kinsey]

Right. You're wrangling all of the actors.

[Jenna Fischer]

Yeah. You have to get them to hair and makeup, and you have to get them back from lunch, and you have to get them out of their trailers and changed into their clothes.

[Angela Kinsey]

Yeah, it's a big job, but I just thought that was great that even on our own set, we were mentoring people. And, you know, I do want to talk about working with Kelly as a director, because we knew Kelly as our assistant director, and we asked her how she prepared to direct for the very first time.

[Jenna Fischer]

This was her first.

[Angela Kinsey]

First time directing. And her response made me chuckle. She said, I remember asking a few directors I liked working with if they had any advice for me. Charles McDougall told me to wear uncomfortable shoes.

[Jenna Fischer]

What?

[Angela Kinsey]

So I would stay alert and aware and to stay on set so anyone could find me if they had a question.

[Jenna Fischer]

Oh, my gosh.

[Angela Kinsey]

Uncomfortable shoes. You're on your feet all day.

[Jenna Fischer]

All day. Well, what was it like working with Kelly as a first time director? Ange, do you remember her feet being uncomfortable?

[Angela Kinsey]

I don't remember her feet, but I do remember that she showed up with a blazer.

[Jenna Fischer]

Oh.

[Angela Kinsey]

And sort of like a really cute.

[Jenna Fischer]

Little scarf, which is very different from how she dressed as our first ad, which was usually in like a hoodie and like cargo pants.

[Angela Kinsey]

Yes, yes. I feel like as our first ad, she had tons of like scripts in her pockets and a walkie talkie and all this. And so she really showed up sort of like in this new look.

[Jenna Fischer]

Yeah.

[Angela Kinsey]

And she looked fantastic. And of course, she was super prepared and she knew exactly what she wanted for every shot. There was no, like, kind of waffling, like, oh, do I put the camera here? No. She had a vision and that made it a really fun, easy day. And, you know, of course she knows the show so well and the characters so well. So it just was a great experience and I really enjoyed revisiting this episode. I can't wait to talk about it. And I reached out to Ellie Kemper and she shares some of her memories about it too.

[Jenna Fischer]

Well, before we get to all that to kick us off, let's share one of the letters we got. When we reached out, we said, we put a call to action into the world. We said, we want to hear your mentor stories because we're going to be talking about this webisode and about mentorship in general. And this one came from Grace T. In Massachusetts, who said, hi, office ladies. I'm 15 and I'm a huge fan of the office and your podcast. I've been through a lot of stuff in my life, but my mom, Emily, has always been my greatest supporter and mentor. I just love that this 15 year old is like referring to her mom as her mentor. Grace went on to say, even when we don't get along, I know she's there for me. And the biggest thing she's mentored me in has been running. And when it isn't cross country or track season, I run with her almost every day.

[Angela Kinsey]

Oh, my gosh.

[Jenna Fischer]

She's really fostered my love for the sport. And since she ran in college herself, she's been helping me improve so much. I hope you share this on the podcast so she knows how much she means to me.

[Angela Kinsey]

Aw. I love that.

[Jenna Fischer]

I love that they're bonding through running.

[Angela Kinsey]

Yeah.

[Jenna Fischer]

You know, Grace's letter reminded me that my sister is in a mentorship program that is centered around running and physical activity. And it's called Girls on the Run. And my sister has been one of the coaches for my gosh, years now.

[Angela Kinsey]

That's awesome. I have never heard of that.

[Jenna Fischer]

Yeah, she does one of the local St. Louis chapters, but it's a national organization, and I looked it up. It started in 1996 in Charlotte, North Carolina, with a team of 13 gals. And then they just got together and started, like, running together. But also, you're not just running. You're sharing stories. You're pumping each other up.

[Angela Kinsey]

Yeah.

[Jenna Fischer]

And also, if you don't feel like running, you just walk it. But it's just this way to get girls together with female mentors.

[Angela Kinsey]

Yeah. Community support.

[Jenna Fischer]

Yes, exactly. Yeah. And they host, like, 5K events across the United States, and my sister does one every year. It's really sweet. She sends me the pictures.

[Angela Kinsey]

And I love this. I did not know this about your sister.

[Jenna Fischer]

And, you know, my sister is not a runner or anything. She's not like, it sounds like Grace and her mom are, like, they are pretty serious about it, but this is just about, like, activity. Just like, you know, like, you and I know, lady, some of our best shares are when we're on a power walk together.

[Angela Kinsey]

Oh, I know, right?

[Jenna Fischer]

A walk and talk.

[Angela Kinsey]

A walk and talk. That's where it all comes out.

[Jenna Fischer]

That's right.

[Angela Kinsey]

Well, I love that. I think we should share about Girls on the Run and our stories.

[Jenna Fischer]

Definitely.

[Angela Kinsey]

And let's take a break. When we come back, we're gonna break down the mentor webisode. We're gonna share more stories of mentorship. And for those of you who want to watch along us, you know, some of these webisodes are on YouTube, and then some are on Peacock. Again, we are not sponsored by Peacock, but I just want you to know where they are.

[Jenna Fischer]

Why should we not sponsored by Peacock?

[Angela Kinsey]

I don't know. But I want people to know where they can watch them.

[Jenna Fischer]

I mean, I think, yes, good to share. But, like, hello, the people at Peacock. I'm just saying, Jenna's like, hello.

[Angela Kinsey]

But I do want to tell you, even if you do go to the website, it's kind of hard to find them. Like, you have to go under the office thing. You know, you click on the office, and then you have to go under collections, and then you scroll down and there's.

[Jenna Fischer]

This is on the Peacock website. On the Peacock.

[Angela Kinsey]

Yeah. And then there's the full library of webisodes. So if you're looking for them, I know they're there. And a lot of them are also on YouTube.

[Jenna Fischer]

You know, the Reason we're probably not sponsored by Peacock is because we're giving them too much free advertising.

[Angela Kinsey]

Oh.

[Jenna Fischer]

So, I don't know, maybe moving forward, I'm going to say you can find it on, you know where, the Internet. Until they start paying me the big.

[Angela Kinsey]

Dollars, they're definitely not going to pay us anything now.

[Jenna Fischer]

All right, let's take a break, and when we come back, we're going to break down the mentor webisode.

[Angela Kinsey]

Jenna, let's say you just realized your business needed to hire someone, but, like, yesterday, like, you got to get someone hired right away. How can you find amazing candidates fast?

[Jenna Fischer]

I mean, where do you start?

[Angela Kinsey]

It's easy.

[Jenna Fischer]

What is it?

[Angela Kinsey]

You just use Indeed.

[Jenna Fischer]

I knew that.

[Angela Kinsey]

I know you did.

[Jenna Fischer]

I was pretending like I didn't, but I didn't know.

[Angela Kinsey]

It was a very big sigh. It was very dramatic.

[Jenna Fischer]

Thank you. Well, when it comes to hiring, Indeed is really all you need so you.

[Angela Kinsey]

Can stop struggling to get your job. Posts seen on other job sites. Indeed Sponsor jobs help you stand out and hire fast.

[Jenna Fischer]

I've only been in the position of having to hire someone like a few times in my life, and it was never easy. It was tedious. And I just remember getting a lot of resumes for people who really didn't fit the job criteria. It was very frustrating. Felt like a real time suck.

[Angela Kinsey]

I bet it would have been a lot easier if you had Indeed.

[Jenna Fischer]

Well, I'm sure it would have been.

[Angela Kinsey]

Here's the deal. In the minute that we've been Talking to you, 23 hires were made on Indeed According to Indeed Data Worldwide.

[Jenna Fischer]

There's no need to wait any longer. Speed up your hiring right now with Indeed and listeners of this show will.

[Angela Kinsey]

Get a $75 sponsor job credit. To get your jobs more visibility@ Indeed.com.

[Jenna Fischer]

Officeladies, just go to Indeed.com officeladies right now and support our show by saying you heard about Indeed.

[Angela Kinsey]

On this podcast, Indeed.com OfficeLadies Terms and Conditions apply.

[Jenna Fischer]

Hiring Indeed is all you need.

[Angela Kinsey]

I'm Emma Grade, and I've spent the.

[Jenna Fischer]

Last 20 years building, running, and investing in some incredible businesses. The more success I've had, the more.

[Angela Kinsey]

People started coming to me with questions.

[Jenna Fischer]

How do you start a business? How do you raise money? How do I bounce back from failure? On my new podcast, Aspire with em. Agreed.

[Angela Kinsey]

I'll be answering these questions and more through weekly conversations with the smartest minds out there.

[Jenna Fischer]

Listen to and follow Aspire with Em.

[Angela Kinsey]

Agreed.

[Jenna Fischer]

An Odyssey podcast available now.

[Angela Kinsey]

Wherever you get your podcasts, imagine your Dream bedding. You know, something really soft, but also cool and cozy but gentle. Well, if your dream sounds similar to mine, we'd like to introduce you to Buffy.

[Jenna Fischer]

They have sheets and pillowcases and a duvet, all with, like, special temperature adapting properties.

[Angela Kinsey]

This bedding has been awarded.

[Jenna Fischer]

Literally.

[Angela Kinsey]

It's won awards from Good Housekeeping to Architectural Digest to Consumer Reports and be. They just want House Beautiful Editor's Choice for luxury sheets.

[Jenna Fischer]

Listen, you had me at cooling. I know, okay? Like, I don't even care what color it is. Although I did get a beautiful rust colored duvet cover.

[Angela Kinsey]

With a continuous commitment to quality. Every Buffy item comes with a complimentary three year warranty. Most brands stop at one. While Buffy protects you against rips, stains or defects for three full years, no questions asked.

[Jenna Fischer]

Get 20% off your first Buffy order using Code Officeladies at Buffy CO. That's.

[Angela Kinsey]

20% off when you use Code Officeladies.

[Jenna Fischer]

At Buffy Co. Buffy Code Officeladies. All right, we are back. Here we go. It's the Mentor, directed by Kelly Cantley and written by Nate Fetterman and Jonathan Hughes. The cast for this webisode is Angela Kinsey, Ellie Kemper, Brian Baumgartner, Oscar Nunez, Creed Bratton, Kate Flannery, Mindy Kaling and BJ Novak.

[Angela Kinsey]

Yes, BJ and Mindy are really funny in this, too.

[Jenna Fischer]

They really are.

[Angela Kinsey]

Well, this webisode series starts with part one titled the Pupil. And Erin is at front reception and she's looking over the partition over into accounting. And I think she just thinks they're having the best time.

[Jenna Fischer]

Well, I mean, she's looking at them as if they are eating a giant buffet dinner, like, very longingly. Yeah, she is, like, entranced. I saw the shooting schedule for this. Kelly Cantley sent it to me, and this was the very first thing you guys shot. Oh. And in fact, you shot this whole first webisode basically in order, which is so unusual.

[Angela Kinsey]

Oh, yeah, because sometimes we would bounce around.

[Jenna Fischer]

Sure.

[Angela Kinsey]

But that sounds like Kelly, doesn't it? Very efficient.

[Jenna Fischer]

Yes.

[Angela Kinsey]

Here it is.

[Jenna Fischer]

She knows how to lay it out.

[Angela Kinsey]

Yeah. Well, you know, I did reach out to Ellie about this and I sent her the link so she could watch and she said, oh, my gosh, Ang, watching that webisode just turned my day around. Thank you. Like five exclamation points. And then she sent in an audio clip. Let's hear it.

[Jenna Fischer]

Okay. I loved every webisode for the Office because you got to be a little more. I'll just say stupid in them. Like, they were pretty Silly. I mean, a lot of the Office was silly, but these were, like, particularly stupid in a great way. And the mentor was so much fun. Angela. Because you and I, Angela and Aaron, didn't always get to have that many scenes together in the show, so it was so wonderful to have a chance to be together in a story. And it's just so ridiculous. The entire get up is insane. Like, Angela, why are you wearing that to work to begin with? And then my, like, minioning of you, like, my copying your outfit. I. Look. I. I don't know what I look like, but it's not this century, and it was bananas. So I remember that the whole webisode was a ton of fun and just stupid and silly and, like, just overall ridiculous. And I wouldn't have it any other way. Aw, that's so sweet.

[Angela Kinsey]

I know. It did crack me up when she said, I don't know where this outfit is from, but it's not from this century.

[Jenna Fischer]

Well, we'll have to talk about those outfits when we get to them.

[Angela Kinsey]

Well, Erin is gonna have a talking head where she says, you know what? Sometimes she gets really bored at reception, and she wonders, what's it like, you know, to be an accountant? The mystery of the accounting department. And she goes up to Oscar in the kitchen, and she's like, look, I want your life. How do I get it? And then he asks her, is she good with numbers? And she does her impression of the Count from Sesame Street. I think we need to hear it.

[Jenna Fischer]

Are you good with numbers? The Count used to be my favorite part of Sesame Street. Von Apple. Two apples. Three apples. Yeah, maybe it's not for you.

[Angela Kinsey]

All right, first of all, you can see that Ellie is breaking at the end of it.

[Jenna Fischer]

Yes.

[Angela Kinsey]

But secondly, the reason why I wanted to play this clip is that Aaron is not the only person in the Office that does an impression of the Count from Sesame Street.

[Jenna Fischer]

Yes, there was an Office episode. Is it Kevin that does the Count when he's the Girl Scout? Cookies.

[Angela Kinsey]

Kevin gets made fun of by Oscar as Cookie Monster.

[Jenna Fischer]

Oh, yeah.

[Angela Kinsey]

And that clip goes around, and then Kevin tries to make fun of Oscar by making Oscar the Count, but Oscar's just his normal voice in the video. Okay, but the person that does the Count impression is you.

[Jenna Fischer]

What? I do what? How did we just rewatch this whole show, and I don't remember this, and.

[Angela Kinsey]

I was cracking up. So here you go, dueling the Count impressions.

[Jenna Fischer]

Yeah, I mean, the Count has a very distinct voice.

[Angela Kinsey]

Thank you.

[Jenna Fischer]

Yeah, I want to count to 10.

[Angela Kinsey]

Anyway. That cracked me up. Our two gals from St. Louis, both doing the count from Sesame Street.

[Jenna Fischer]

That's very funny. Well, Oscar is going to tell Aaron that he does not think that accounting is for her. Erin's, like, very dejected, but all of a sudden, Angela, who's sitting at the table in the kitchen, is gonna chime in and say, you know what? I'll mentor you.

[Angela Kinsey]

But she's so snarky, even in how she offers. She's like, I mean, I'll do it. I do everything else around here.

[Jenna Fischer]

Yeah.

[Angela Kinsey]

She's so put out.

[Jenna Fischer]

I love it.

[Angela Kinsey]

But she'll do this project.

[Jenna Fischer]

You have a great talking head, Angela, where you say you see potential in her. Right now, there's nothing.

[Angela Kinsey]

There's nothing.

[Jenna Fischer]

But there could be some potential.

[Angela Kinsey]

Well, right away, Angela starts training Erin in the art of sealing an envelope.

[Jenna Fischer]

Yes.

[Angela Kinsey]

I guess you don't do that at front reception. You're going to learn how to do it over in accounting. So you guys know I had a very hard time saying, self sealed.

[Jenna Fischer]

Self sealed.

[Angela Kinsey]

Self sealed.

[Jenna Fischer]

Self sealed.

[Angela Kinsey]

Self sealed.

[Jenna Fischer]

There it is.

[Angela Kinsey]

There it is. That's what I had to do on the day. But it's a vow before an L. My Southern folks out there. Do you struggle with that? Angela goes on to say, you know, licking is for idiots. That means you, Kevin.

[Jenna Fischer]

Kevin likes how they taste.

[Angela Kinsey]

I bet he does.

[Jenna Fischer]

I have a question. Do you lick envelopes?

[Angela Kinsey]

Not if I can help it. I don't like the taste.

[Jenna Fischer]

When I worked in an office, I had to do a lot of mass mailings.

[Angela Kinsey]

Mm.

[Jenna Fischer]

Like, a lot.

[Angela Kinsey]

Yeah, we did, too. When I worked at 1, 800 dentists, we sent out a company Christmas card. Hundreds.

[Jenna Fischer]

Oh. This was like, I would have to send out for whatever reason, like, marketing things or, like, sales charts or, like, I don't even know. So many mass mailings, I guess, that today are just emails, probably. Okay, well, newsletters. Yeah.

[Angela Kinsey]

In the emails.

[Jenna Fischer]

Well, I would get one of those things that, like, holds water. It's like a mini.

[Angela Kinsey]

A dauber.

[Jenna Fischer]

Yeah. And then that's what I would do to seal my envelopes.

[Angela Kinsey]

Are you ready for this?

[Jenna Fischer]

What?

[Angela Kinsey]

They had a machine that you loaded the envelope in and it went through the machine.

[Jenna Fischer]

A liquor machine.

[Angela Kinsey]

A liquor machine.

[Jenna Fischer]

Like, it would lick it. Yeah.

[Angela Kinsey]

You just ran it through and it would. And then you seal it, and you run it through and seal it.

[Jenna Fischer]

Well, my office didn't have that fancy machine.

[Angela Kinsey]

Maybe you should get one.

[Jenna Fischer]

You know what this is reminding me of?

[Angela Kinsey]

What?

[Jenna Fischer]

One time, I was a temp at A healthcare company. Like an insurance place.

[Angela Kinsey]

Oh, yeah.

[Jenna Fischer]

And my boss went on vacation, and she, like, showed me before she went on vacation, I was, like, supposed to watch her desk or whatever. And her job had something to do with, like, giving people coverage or not giving them coverage.

[Angela Kinsey]

Oh, my God.

[Jenna Fischer]

And I was supposed to, like, look.

[Angela Kinsey]

Up stuff on a chart, determine if they got coverage or not.

[Jenna Fischer]

Yeah. For whatever their thing was. And I found it confusing. And I also just didn't have it in me to not cover things. So for one week, I covered everybody's. And I don't even know whatever happened. I don't know if my boss came back and was like, what the hell?

[Angela Kinsey]

Oh. Cause you just temped the week she was gone.

[Jenna Fischer]

Yeah, for one week.

[Angela Kinsey]

Oh, my gosh.

[Jenna Fischer]

And it was like an automated system, but I had to, like, enter a code.

[Angela Kinsey]

Yeah.

[Jenna Fischer]

And I had to, like, code it. And then I had to say, like, I just had to hit a button that was, like, covered or not covered. And so for one week, under her code, I just covered everybody's stuff.

[Angela Kinsey]

Wow.

[Jenna Fischer]

Everybody got coverage the week I was a temp.

[Angela Kinsey]

I feel like it's such a. I would think, a big responsibility to just, like, leave to someone you don't know at all who hasn't learned your job.

[Jenna Fischer]

She was a big executive.

[Angela Kinsey]

I'm thrilled that everyone got covered.

[Jenna Fischer]

I mean, I know I was like, I don't work here. I barely understand these forms. I have to put covered or not covered. Because if you're gonna put that in my hands, everyone's covered. Because, God forb. I don't cover something that shouldn't be.

[Angela Kinsey]

I know, I know, I know.

[Jenna Fischer]

I'd rather error the other way. And, you know, it's on you. Big company. But, I mean, it's like, paid, paid, paid, paid. Just paid them.

[Angela Kinsey]

Wow.

[Jenna Fischer]

It's like, you get paid, you get paid, you get it. Here's your coverage. But also, ever since I worked there, I've thought about just how incredibly random. Like, hit me on a good day, you're covered. Hit me on a day that I feel like I have to go by the quote, unquote rules. You're not covered. Like, it was so impersonal.

[Angela Kinsey]

Yeah. And these are people's lives.

[Jenna Fischer]

Yes. And their health care.

[Angela Kinsey]

Yeah.

[Jenna Fischer]

And it's always left an impression on me.

[Angela Kinsey]

Yeah. How could it not?

[Jenna Fischer]

Right? Yeah, I know.

[Angela Kinsey]

Oh, man, that bums me out.

[Jenna Fischer]

I'm so sorry.

[Angela Kinsey]

It's okay. This is a story from your life.

[Jenna Fischer]

It's just a story from my life.

[Angela Kinsey]

These things Happen.

[Jenna Fischer]

Also, at that job, I had to do a mass mailing and they didn't.

[Angela Kinsey]

Have a licky machine.

[Jenna Fischer]

I bet they didn't.

[Angela Kinsey]

Well, where are we? Well, we're in the conference room. Angela is showing Erin how to do her makeup. She wipes Erin's mascara off. She says, listen, if a fleck of this were to fall onto the ledger, it could look like a decimal point. And that's a thousand dollar mistake. I know we just went off topic, but I was going to tell this story and it's so embarrassing, but I just went to the dermatologist for her to look at my rosacea.

[Jenna Fischer]

Sure.

[Angela Kinsey]

With that. Super high powered. It's like it looks like a little wand. They hold up and then it flashes your face on the computer, like the pigmentation. And so it shows your pigmentation super, like magnified. Right. And you know, because I have rosacea, it's like red, red, red. And then all of a sudden there was like these two black dots. And I go, oh. I go, sorry, I guess my face is also dirty. I should have washed it. You know, trying to make a joke. And she goes, no, those are probably hairs.

[Jenna Fischer]

Wait, what? You were thinking they were mascara flecks?

[Angela Kinsey]

Yes.

[Jenna Fischer]

And she's like, no, you have two tiny black hairs growing out of your cheek.

[Angela Kinsey]

And I said, that is horrifying. And she goes, no, it happens. It's perfectly normal. So hashtag perial menopause. I hope you guys are still listening.

[Jenna Fischer]

This happens. It happens. Hairs grow out of your face when you get older. All right, listen, we're going to talk about the mentor now. Okay, here's what's happening. Aaron is now transformed into Angela. She is wearing the same sort of like high neck white blouse with so.

[Angela Kinsey]

Many buttons, very Victorian looking. Angela has sawed off Aaron's high heels.

[Jenna Fischer]

Yep.

[Angela Kinsey]

And they walk into the break room together in sync. They're like just two little marching people walking in saying, hey, expense reports are due by lunch. No late exceptions, no excuses. Meredith. And they turn and walk out.

[Jenna Fischer]

I think she's even walking like you. She's dressed like you. She's got the braid like you. And she is starting to mimic your physicality as she walks out of the conference room.

[Angela Kinsey]

I do remember Ellie, like, looking at me like we were on set and I was sitting and I was like, what are you doing? And she was like, I'm trying to sit like you.

[Jenna Fischer]

Yeah, I could tell. All right, that ends. Webisode number one. Part two is titled Reimbursements. And I wanted to share Some more from Kelly Cantley.

[Angela Kinsey]

Okay, Great.

[Jenna Fischer]

About her directing, she said she really prepped the hell out of this. I believe that you sort of mentioned that she knew exactly what she wanted to do. She said that she bugged Randall Einhorn every day at lunch or wrap for about a week, talking to him about how she was planning to shoot this, because she said this was 11 pages of material, and you had one 11 hour day, including lunch, to get all this work done. I looked at the schedule, and you shot this on Monday, October 19, 2009, which means it would have been during our sixth season of the show. I remember we were on a hiatus that October because Steve was doing a movie. Kelly said that on the shooting day, you guys would rehearse, and then Randall would give, like, grip and electric lighting notes. And then while they were lighting the scene, you just rehearsed her, and Randall would run to the next scene and prep that. And that's how you guys kept going. Yeah, she said it was really hectic, but it was a lot of fun. She said she could have never done it without Randall's support. And she also wants to give a big thank you to Paul Lieberstein and Steve Burgess, who gave her the chance to direct.

[Angela Kinsey]

Aw.

[Jenna Fischer]

Well, this second episode of the webisode is gonna open with an Angela and Aaron talking ahead.

[Angela Kinsey]

Yeah, this Talking Head is gonna reveal why the whole office isn't there. Apparently, Michael took everyone out to Spaghetti Eddie's, and a lot of them got food poisoning. But I also do love that in this joint Talking Head, they are starting to sit alike and their mannerisms are becoming more alike. And I imagine Kelly, as the director, was really happy that they wrote this Talking head because it meant she didn't have to just have certain angles that didn't show the whole bullpen, which we.

[Jenna Fischer]

Had done in other webisodes, and it made it difficult.

[Angela Kinsey]

Yeah.

[Jenna Fischer]

So adding that one little story piece, now she can show the whole bullpen.

[Angela Kinsey]

That's right.

[Jenna Fischer]

Well, next up, Erin is going to start passing out reimbursement checks.

[Angela Kinsey]

Meredith notices hers is short, and Erin kind of feels bad and kind of starts being like, well. And Angela is behind her and goes. And then that's when Erin is like, hey, we only reimburse up to 30 days, and your receipts are 32 days old. Meredith is pissed. She says, how am I supposed to get the boot off my car now?

[Jenna Fischer]

Yeah. When I saw this part, I was like, what is Meredith's job again? Why is she getting reimbursement checks?

[Angela Kinsey]

Client services?

[Jenna Fischer]

I went to the show Bible. And she is service rep. Supplier relations.

[Angela Kinsey]

Oh, right. Supplier relations.

[Jenna Fischer]

Yeah. Remember she was sleeping with the one.

[Angela Kinsey]

Guy from free Paper or something.

[Jenna Fischer]

Paper. And then there was steak involved.

[Angela Kinsey]

Yeah.

[Jenna Fischer]

But yeah, so I could see her like taking suppliers out to lunch. Yeah, to a boozy lunch.

[Angela Kinsey]

Sure.

[Jenna Fischer]

And then she has to get reimbursed.

[Angela Kinsey]

Yeah.

[Jenna Fischer]

Okay.

[Angela Kinsey]

Okay. Aaron and Angela now walk into the kitchen and Aaron's like, that was such an adrenaline rush. And Angela's like, you did great in there. Angela's so tickled. And they walk past Creed and Aaron says, hey, we don't reimburse for rhino horn as it's not work related. And then I have a little bit of an improv.

[Jenna Fischer]

Uh huh. Is this when you tell Creed to shower?

[Angela Kinsey]

Yeah, I say you need to shower and shave. So if you look. Creed is not shaved in this episode.

[Jenna Fischer]

Well, I mean, it was our week off.

[Angela Kinsey]

It was his week off. And so we had sort of like given him crap about it between scenes and so I improvised it in the episode.

[Jenna Fischer]

Oh, that's very funny.

[Angela Kinsey]

Yeah.

[Jenna Fischer]

Well, I deep dived rhino horn.

[Angela Kinsey]

What?

[Jenna Fischer]

Should you be interested? Why is Creed getting rhino horn?

[Angela Kinsey]

Why is he?

[Jenna Fischer]

Well, according to WorldWildlife.org for centuries rhino horn has been used in traditional Chinese medicine to treat a wide variety of illnesses ranging from reducing fevers to stopping nosebleeds and preventing strokes. My Internet AI search, because now if you google something, you get like that weird AI compilation of, of like suggestions.

[Angela Kinsey]

Of what it could be.

[Jenna Fischer]

Yeah. So rather than showing me all the articles for me to click on, it does like that little AI summary. Yeah, I don't know. Do I trust it? I don't know. I like to read the articles. But full disclosure, that little summary thing said that some people also believe that rhino horn is an aphrodisiac. And some black market dealers claim it can cure cancer. But there is no scientific proof that it can cure anything.

[Angela Kinsey]

Yeah. So leave the rhinos alone.

[Jenna Fischer]

It's a problem.

[Angela Kinsey]

Yeah.

[Jenna Fischer]

ScientificAmerican.com confirms that rhino horn has been used historically in traditional Chinese medicine. The list of historical uses also includes headaches, hallucinations, high blood pressure, typhoid, snakebite, food poisoning, and even possession by spirits.

[Angela Kinsey]

Stop it. Leave them alone.

[Jenna Fischer]

However, the president of the American College of Chinese Medicine said every historical documented use of rhino horn in traditional Chinese medicine was for treating conditions such as fever and infection. It was never, never used to improve sexual function or to cure cancer. So it was used, but very sparingly. But a lot of black Market dealers claim that it can do all kinds of things. So what Creed was using it for or what he wanted it for, I don't know. But leave the rhinos alone. Don't buy this. There are so many websites where, like, please don't buy this item, because, you.

[Angela Kinsey]

Know, they kill the rhinos.

[Jenna Fischer]

They kill the rhino just for the horn.

[Angela Kinsey]

Yeah, it's horrible.

[Jenna Fischer]

It's not good.

[Angela Kinsey]

Well, now Erin is going to have maybe the toughest person to give her bad news to. She's going to go up to Kelly and Ryan in the annex, and she gives Ryan his check. And then she turns to Kelly and says, listen, you can't get reimbursed for your business dinners. And Kelly's like, what? She goes, we didn't talk about business on those dinners.

[Jenna Fischer]

Rules are rules.

[Angela Kinsey]

Kelly is ticked off, and Ryan is, like, enjoying it. He's like, drama.

[Jenna Fischer]

Yeah. And then Kelly has a talking head that's basically just her being like, angela. Angela.

[Angela Kinsey]

I get sent that.

[Jenna Fischer]

You do?

[Angela Kinsey]

Yeah, it's online, and I've been sent it before.

[Jenna Fischer]

Well, Kelly is not seeing Angela as a proper mentor for Aaron. This is where we end this episode. And in the next episode, Kelly is going to take matters into her own hands. Part three is titled Lunchtime.

[Angela Kinsey]

Kelly and Ryan are gonna approach Erin at reception, and they say, hey, we're gonna go to Farley's for lunch, and we'd love for you to join. And she was like, yes, I'd love to.

[Jenna Fischer]

Yes. And then Ryan says, kelly, go get your wallet. I'm ready to go.

[Angela Kinsey]

He's such a turd.

[Jenna Fischer]

I know.

[Angela Kinsey]

Angela is watching all of this, and she does not want Erin to go with them for lunch. And so she says, hey, Erin, do you wanna have lunch? And over lunch, we can go through invoices.

[Jenna Fischer]

Yeah. She says, maybe we'll even use the Kohler method.

[Angela Kinsey]

And Erin's like, what? And she was like, it's accounting. Would you like to learn it? She's like, I would very much like to learn it. And Angela's like, great, we can share my fig Newton.

[Jenna Fischer]

I have a question for you. Were you curious if the Kohler method was real or made up?

[Angela Kinsey]

I was.

[Jenna Fischer]

What do you think?

[Angela Kinsey]

Real.

[Jenna Fischer]

It is real. It is. So this guy, Eric Lewis Kohler, was an American accountant, and he wrote, like, the Dictionary of Accounting, like the show bible of accounting that is used to this day?

[Angela Kinsey]

To this day, yes.

[Jenna Fischer]

His dictionary is considered the comprehensive resource for understanding accounting terminology and principles. It covers a wide range of accounting topics, including auditing, cost accounting, and financial accounting. It is the show bible of accounting.

[Angela Kinsey]

Wow. He wrote it way back then. We're still using it. That's some old tech.

[Jenna Fischer]

It's old academia.

[Angela Kinsey]

There you go.

[Jenna Fischer]

Right?

[Angela Kinsey]

You did it.

[Jenna Fischer]

I did it.

[Angela Kinsey]

You did it. Well, Kelly and Ryan are ready to go. I guess Kelly went and got her wallet. And Erin is gonna say, I can't go. And then Kelly's like, what? And starts to bribe her. Like, do you want these earrings? You know they're yours. Would you like to have them back? And then Angela's like, I have triple carbon invoices. And they're kind of doing this back and forth. Kelly's like, you can ride in the front seat. And Angela says, her earrings have depreciated. Would you like to know what that means? She was like, I would very much like to know what that means. And I have to say this. I actually am, like, bummed that Kelly isn't supporting Aaron in this moment, because Aaron clearly wants to learn some stuff.

[Jenna Fischer]

Well, Kelly's not a real friend.

[Angela Kinsey]

I know, I know, I know. Why am I even going there? Why am I even going there? Ultimately, Aaron does not go with Ryan and Kelly. Kelly is still so ticked. She's like, Angela, Seriously? And they leave, and Angela's just so tickled.

[Jenna Fischer]

Yeah. This episode is gonna end with Aaron telling Creed that he is also not gonna be reimbursed for buying a Monkey paw.

[Angela Kinsey]

Please tell me you didn't look up monkey paw on the black market.

[Jenna Fischer]

I did. You know that I did. Why? Well, why would he have one?

[Angela Kinsey]

Well, he's clearly, like, dealing in some black market trade ring now.

[Jenna Fischer]

Okay, well, I thought, is this medicinal? You know? No. Here's what I could find. The Monkey's Paw was a horror short story by English author W.W. jacobs. It first appeared in Harper's Monthly in September 1902. And here's what happens in the story. Three wishes are granted to the owner of the Monkey's Paw. But the wishes come with an enormous price for interfering with the fate. Also, the 1983 novel Pet Cemetery by Stephen King was reportedly inspired by the Monkey Paw.

[Angela Kinsey]

I mean, Pet Sematary is so scary.

[Jenna Fischer]

Yeah, I read it a long, long time ago.

[Angela Kinsey]

I watched part of it and couldn't finish it. It was too creepy.

[Jenna Fischer]

Well, lady, you don't like horror stuff.

[Angela Kinsey]

I do not. But don't say it.

[Jenna Fischer]

We have an episode coming up where you have agreed to watch the first 15 minutes to 20. Cause I picked a movie, and I'm gonna need 22 minutes of your time.

[Angela Kinsey]

All right. You watched 30 minutes of John Wick at least.

[Jenna Fischer]

I might have watched close to 45. Honestly, I don't know when he gets the adrenaline shot from the Doctor, but that's how far I watched. It's pretty far.

[Angela Kinsey]

Okay.

[Jenna Fischer]

I got to the whole rave.

[Angela Kinsey]

But anyway, the assassin's rave.

[Jenna Fischer]

I've picked the movie for you.

[Angela Kinsey]

You have?

[Jenna Fischer]

And I watched the first 22 minutes, and it's gonna be very intense, but it's not gonna be. I cut out before, like, the mega gory stuff.

[Angela Kinsey]

Gory. So it's not just, like, suspense horror. It's, like, gory stuff.

[Jenna Fischer]

Mm.

[Angela Kinsey]

Oh, God. I'm not gonna like it. Are you gonna tell me the name of the movie? Are you saving that for a reveal?

[Jenna Fischer]

You want me to tell you now? John Carpenter's the Thing, starring Kurt Russell as the thing.

[Angela Kinsey]

Something out of a swamp.

[Jenna Fischer]

I'm not gonna tell you.

[Angela Kinsey]

God.

[Jenna Fischer]

Sam, is Thumbs upping my choice?

[Angela Kinsey]

Okay.

[Jenna Fischer]

You're gonna love it, Angela. Is she. Yes. Yes, you are. It's such a. It's such a classic. It's a great film. It's like a truly great film.

[Angela Kinsey]

You know what I'll do is I'll have Josh film me as I watch the 22 minutes.

[Jenna Fischer]

Perfect.

[Angela Kinsey]

All right, well, we should point out that that webisode also has a Kevin talking head where he says, what does depreciate mean?

[Jenna Fischer]

Yeah.

[Angela Kinsey]

How does he not know that?

[Jenna Fischer]

I want to save that for this next webisode because it's going to come up later for me. We are on to part four, titled BFFs. Question mark?

[Angela Kinsey]

Question mark?

[Jenna Fischer]

Question mark? Yeah.

[Angela Kinsey]

This episode starts with Aaron. She's walking in the kitchen. She actually walks up to Creed, and right as she does that little. I don't know. What is it? A janitor's closet that Ryan has made his office. The door opens up, and he grabs Aaron and pulls her in and shuts the door.

[Jenna Fischer]

Yes.

[Angela Kinsey]

Creed doesn't even raise an eyebrow.

[Jenna Fischer]

Yes.

[Angela Kinsey]

He just goes about his day.

[Jenna Fischer]

This is when Kelly is gonna force Aaron to watch a slideshow of all of the fun times they've had together. It's pictures of the two of them together. Kelly is complimenting herself a lot. How cute she looks. Look at how cute I am in this one. It's very funny.

[Angela Kinsey]

This slideshow is all about Kelly has nothing to do with them being good friends.

[Jenna Fischer]

No. Aaron happens to be in the pictures. And she gives Aaron an ultimatum. I love this line. She says, are we gonna be BFFs or just Fs. And that would be pretty effing awful.

[Angela Kinsey]

Erin is gonna admit that they did have some good times. Ryan tries to pull them in for a group hug. So we also learn during this scene, Cause Ryan has a talking head. That he's been laying the groundwork for a threesome.

[Jenna Fischer]

He thinks he's about a week away.

[Angela Kinsey]

Yeah. Mm.

[Jenna Fischer]

Lady, I'm sorry to tell you I am having a hot flash.

[Angela Kinsey]

Okay.

[Jenna Fischer]

I need air.

[Angela Kinsey]

You look a little sweaty.

[Jenna Fischer]

Well, I am sweaty, yes. As happens with a hot flash. Would everyone be okay if we just took a break? I'll cool down a little, we'll come.

[Angela Kinsey]

Back, I'm gonna have some cheese, and.

[Jenna Fischer]

Then we'll finish breaking down this last webisode, and we'll also get into our mentorship stories. How does that sound?

[Angela Kinsey]

Sounds great. I have a thing when we come back. I'm calling Wig Gate.

[Jenna Fischer]

Oh. Okay.

[Angela Kinsey]

There's a lot to say when buying a new home or car, but only one thing to say that can help you protect them. Like a good neighbor, State Farm is there.

[Jenna Fischer]

And just like that, a State Farm agent will be there to help you choose the coverage you need. No matter where you are in life, when you need coverage options, your State Farm agent is there to help. On the phone or in person.

[Angela Kinsey]

Like a good neighbor, State Farm is there. I mean, I love a photo book. You know this about me. You love a photo book. We both do yearly photo books.

[Jenna Fischer]

Yes. I like to get the pictures off my phone, off my computer, and into a physical thing that we can put on a shelf and hold.

[Angela Kinsey]

Yeah. Shutterfly books are built to last with premium papers and best in class printing.

[Jenna Fischer]

Well, the books are great. I love personally the lay flat option. Do you ever get that? I think it's like you add it on and you can get it so that when you open it up, it just lays flat.

[Angela Kinsey]

I like that you can get different size options because the one Josh and I make for our family is a pretty big book. But sometimes I make a little small one just for a special occasion.

[Jenna Fischer]

I did that for grandparents. We did a grandparents book. Yes. Well, listen, we have an exclusive offer for our listeners. New customers get a free 8x8 photo book with promo code [e-mail].

[Angela Kinsey]

Well, like Jenna just said, we have an exclusive offer for our listeners. New customers get a free 8x8 photo book with free promo code, officeladiesutterfly.com.

[Jenna Fischer]

Enter code at checkout. See promotion details page for more info. Make something that means something with Shutterfly.

[Angela Kinsey]

What does a confident smile say to you.

[Jenna Fischer]

And maybe more importantly, what does it say about you?

[Angela Kinsey]

With Smile Generation, it says you're taking care of more than just your teeth.

[Jenna Fischer]

Because confidence doesn't start and stop at a bright smile. It's about your whole body wellness.

[Angela Kinsey]

Smile Generation reimagines oral health as the gateway to long term confidence. Why? Because oral health issues have been linked to heart disease, diabetes, and even cognitive conditions. When you care for your smile, you're investing in your future and that confidence. It starts with feeling supported. With Smile Generation trusted providers, you're not just another patient, you're a partner.

[Jenna Fischer]

They prioritize personal, patient focused smile care that truly listens to you. Plus, with education and preventive care at the core, Smile Generation empowers you to understand the connection between your mouth and your overall health so you can stop issues before they start.

[Angela Kinsey]

Here's your chance to take the first step. Smile Generation is offering a $59 new patient special. That's a comprehensive exam, cleaning and x rays, a $290 value.

[Jenna Fischer]

New patients only offer not valid for Tricare or Medicare Advantage. May be covered by insurance, subject to plan restrictions.

[Angela Kinsey]

Book by December 31, 2025.

[Jenna Fischer]

Visit smilegeneration.com officeladies for full terms and to book now. All right, we're back, and I just want to give everyone an update that my hot flash has passed. Good. Sure. I'll get another one before the end of the podcast. I'm getting these because I'm on tamoxifen, which it suppresses by estrogen absorption. It is for part of my breast cancer treatment. This is an ongoing thing. I have to take it for five years, and hot flashes are a side effect. I'm basically like a woman white, knuckling her way through menopause because I'm allowed no support because that's horrible. I know.

[Angela Kinsey]

That's horrible.

[Jenna Fischer]

I know. All I'm allowed to do is, like, have fans and, like, drink cold water. I can't take anything, but let me end on an up. My eye's feeling better. Oh, yeah.

[Angela Kinsey]

Well, that's good.

[Jenna Fischer]

So I don't think I need to go to an eye doctor today.

[Angela Kinsey]

Oh, that's a relief.

[Jenna Fischer]

It is. Now, where were we? Oh, yes. Angela and Erin are sitting side by side. They're working together. But Erin's gonna have a talking head where she says, you know what? Both Kelly and Erin are her friends. She feels really conflicted.

[Angela Kinsey]

Yeah, she's torn.

[Jenna Fischer]

She is. Is this wig gate?

[Angela Kinsey]

This is wig gate for me. All right. I know this sounds Crazy. But if you go to a minute and 23 seconds, her bangs look different. Something is different.

[Jenna Fischer]

Aaron's bangs.

[Angela Kinsey]

Yes. And I'm like, what happened? I actually texted Ellie, but she hasn't gotten back to me yet. Cause I'm like, ellie, don't think I'm crazy. Is there any world where you would have needed to worn a wig one day? It's only in two talking heads.

[Jenna Fischer]

I know, but you shot this all in the same.

[Angela Kinsey]

I know.

[Jenna Fischer]

Why would she have had regular hair earlier in the shooting and then suddenly be in a wig?

[Angela Kinsey]

All I can think of is we broke for lunch and maybe whoever had done her hair left for the day. It's different. It is different. Look, I took pictures. I need you to look at this.

[Jenna Fischer]

I looked at the schedule. There were no pickups. You did this all in one day.

[Angela Kinsey]

That's fine. Fine. I am telling you, whoever did her hair left. And then they had to redo it. Maybe she took a nap at lunch. I want you to look her hair. Look at her bangs line. Look at her bangs.

[Jenna Fischer]

Okay.

[Angela Kinsey]

Take my. Okay, I'm coming. I'm over to you. I mean, you have your glasses on, but you're across the table. I'm coming over.

[Jenna Fischer]

Okay, now we're together on one microphone. Look at that. I see it.

[Angela Kinsey]

This is how she looks the whole entire episode.

[Jenna Fischer]

Okay.

[Angela Kinsey]

Okay.

[Jenna Fischer]

Yep.

[Angela Kinsey]

And then in this talking head, it's some weird. Oh, look at that. What?

[Jenna Fischer]

See? Wait. I don't think those are her real bangs.

[Angela Kinsey]

I know.

[Jenna Fischer]

I think those are clip on bangs.

[Angela Kinsey]

Yes.

[Jenna Fischer]

What is this?

[Angela Kinsey]

Yeah.

[Jenna Fischer]

Oh, lady, you have done it.

[Angela Kinsey]

I know, I know. What the heck is that?

[Jenna Fischer]

That's a mom detective right there.

[Angela Kinsey]

I know. And I texted Ellie, and as soon as she gets back to me about it, I'm gonna share, even if it's in another epis. I'm going to be like, you guys remember the wig and the mentor?

[Jenna Fischer]

I bought fakie clip on bangs when I lost my hair because I wondered if I could kind of put them in, like, on the little bit of sprig of hair that I had left. I know a clip on bang when I see it, by the way. The answer was no, because they were all awful. But that is a fakie bang.

[Angela Kinsey]

I know. Look at the line of it.

[Jenna Fischer]

It's a fakey bang.

[Angela Kinsey]

I know. And you know what they do is they do a thing. Because I've had on a show one time, they tried to give me bangs and I didn't have bangs. They pull some of your hair down and Then they clip under it.

[Jenna Fischer]

That's right.

[Angela Kinsey]

And she has this overlap.

[Jenna Fischer]

Yes, she does.

[Angela Kinsey]

So I don't know if that was a pickup that we did and she had grown her bangs out. I don't know. Listen, something happened.

[Jenna Fischer]

Hmm. You did it. You uncovered that. Okay, I give that all to you.

[Angela Kinsey]

Thank you.

[Jenna Fischer]

Well, now Erin is gonna unbutton her blouse a little bit in front of Angela.

[Angela Kinsey]

Yeah.

[Jenna Fischer]

This is her way, I guess, of like reclaiming a little bit of herself.

[Angela Kinsey]

Yeah.

[Jenna Fischer]

Oh, Angela is not having it.

[Angela Kinsey]

Yeah. And then she's like, just stop. And then Erin tells Angela she rounded down rather than up, that Angela has made a mistake. And Angela says, get out.

[Jenna Fischer]

Mm.

[Angela Kinsey]

Talk about no wiggle room for forgiveness.

[Jenna Fischer]

And this is when Kevin offers to be Aaron's mentor. This is when I would like to call back the Kevin talking head where he doesn't know what depreciate means.

[Angela Kinsey]

Yeah, I'm not so sure he's the best mentor for Aaron. Not that Angela was great, but she was actually learning things from Angela.

[Jenna Fischer]

Yes.

[Angela Kinsey]

Because now we're gonna learn that Kevin makes a lot of errors, even with his adding machine. So Kevin and Aaron are now in the kitchen. He's teaching her how to be an accountant. He's showing her how to use the adding machine. She's kind of heavy handed with it. So he takes and she just starts reading him numbers. He's entering the numbers. Entering the numbers.

[Jenna Fischer]

He's doing it like without even looking at the counting machine.

[Angela Kinsey]

Yeah.

[Jenna Fischer]

His fingers are just like going over the keys. And she's like, that's amazing.

[Angela Kinsey]

And I know some people can really do that. But Kevin says, yeah, It's a gift. 70% accuracy. Yeah, lady, 70% accuracy. That means 30% of the time he's wrong.

[Jenna Fischer]

Yeah, he's just made. Nonsense.

[Angela Kinsey]

That's not good.

[Jenna Fischer]

That's not good. No.

[Angela Kinsey]

Well, this made me think of a letter that we got. It cracked me up. It is from Claire F. In Brisbane, Australia. She wrote in and said, a friend and colleague of mine, let's call her Kate, is a. Oh, I love any.

[Jenna Fischer]

Letter that's like, let's call her. Go on.

[Angela Kinsey]

Let's call her Kate is a music teacher, specifically band and woodwind instruments.

[Jenna Fischer]

Okay.

[Angela Kinsey]

When our department got a new manager, she put in parentheses, let's call him Ron.

[Jenna Fischer]

Okay.

[Angela Kinsey]

I love it. I love a code name. Claire. She said, we all figured out that Ron really didn't know what he was doing quite quickly. One day he called Kate into his office and said that he had been impressed by her Work. And seeing as she is young and still relatively a new teacher, would she like to have him, Ron, as her mentor? Kate was hesitant, but what could she say to her boss? So she agreed. And so began a series of patronizing and unhelpful meetings and rehearsal observations. The mentorship came to a swift end when Ron offered Kate a lesson on oboes, an instrument he does not play. Claire shares with us that oboes are notoriously hard to play due to the type of reed they use. There is an incredible amount of back pressure when you blow into it. Ron started the oboe lesson with Kate. He blew into the oboe, made a quick sound, then stopped abruptly with a grunt. He left the room in a hurry and did not return.

[Jenna Fischer]

Had he pooped himself? What happened?

[Angela Kinsey]

It turns out that when Ron blew into the oboe, the back pressure had been so much that he'd given himself a hernia. Oh. Oh. And then Claire says, that was the end of that.

[Jenna Fischer]

Oh, my goodness.

[Angela Kinsey]

So I just had to share that because I was like, this is sample. Ron, was Kevin of not being a great mentor?

[Jenna Fischer]

Yes, for sure.

[Angela Kinsey]

Thank you, Claire, for writing in. Kelly is now going to burst into the kitchen crying. She said her sister was named prom queen. This has obviously really upset her. Aaron looks to Kevin, like, what do I do? Kevin says, go to her. Go comfort her. And she gets up, and they embrace. And Kevin has a talking head where he says, she's going to blossom under his tutelage.

[Jenna Fischer]

Yeah. And then Oscar has a snarky talking head where he just says, yeah, Kevin can be a great teacher if you want to learn how to eat pizza. Geez, Oscar, why'd you even have to chime in, bud?

[Angela Kinsey]

Just to be a snark.

[Jenna Fischer]

Just to be a snarky snark.

[Angela Kinsey]

Erin is gonna end this webisode series with a talking head. I want you to know fakie bangs are back. Okay, two minutes, 53 seconds. All right, she says you can have it all. Be BFFs with Kelly and crunch numbers. She's one lucky duck.

[Jenna Fischer]

Okay, all right. So she got her friendship back with Kelly because she soothed Kelly through this drama with her sister becoming prom queen.

[Angela Kinsey]

And she gets to be an accountant because now Kevin is her mentor.

[Jenna Fischer]

So I guess that's her win.

[Angela Kinsey]

Win, win, win. Oh, wait. Ellie just texted me back.

[Jenna Fischer]

What did she say? Is it an answer?

[Angela Kinsey]

She put in all caps. Look. Absolute wig, right?

[Jenna Fischer]

What?

[Angela Kinsey]

And then she has, like, four question marks. And then she says, I have no memory of a wig one way or the other. But those bangs. I mean, what was going on? And why would I need a wig? It's so confusing. Didn't I have bangs already? Was the wig for the French braid? Literally, what is the situation?

[Jenna Fischer]

So she has no memory, but is also confirming that it is a wig.

[Angela Kinsey]

Oh, yeah. She said it's absolutely a wig, but I can't remember why. Well, there you go.

[Jenna Fischer]

Mystery solved.

[Angela Kinsey]

Ish. We may never know.

[Jenna Fischer]

We may never know.

[Angela Kinsey]

That's kind of our thing.

[Jenna Fischer]

Well, this whole mentor webisode did remind me of a letter that we got from Katie M. In Richmond, Virginia, that I wanted to read because it's about women helping women in business.

[Angela Kinsey]

Okay.

[Jenna Fischer]

Because that's what this is. Angela's helping another woman in business. Katie said, I've been working at my company for five years, and roughly two years in, I started working with a young woman who was about five years older than me, and she very quickly became my work bff. We tackled many projects together and also made it through some rough times, from sexist co workers to surviving a series of layoffs after a big restructuring. She ended up being on another team, and while we knew we wouldn't be able to work together as much, we still made an effort to have a long chat at least once a month. It was through these chats that we began talking seriously about career trajectories, and she inspired me into taking on more serious projects on my team and advocating for myself. At the end of last year, a position opened up on her new team, and she went above and beyond in helping me prepare for interviews, market myself, and boost my confidence. Because of her, I ended up getting a serious promotion, and I am now directly in the field I want to be. Because of her, for the first time in my professional career, I am on an incredible team of all women. Let's break the narrative of women kicking the ladder down and promote stories like mine of women lifting each other up.

[Angela Kinsey]

Aw, that's great.

[Jenna Fischer]

I loved that.

[Angela Kinsey]

Thank you, Katie.

[Jenna Fischer]

And you know who it made me think of was Terri Weinberg.

[Angela Kinsey]

Oh, yes.

[Jenna Fischer]

Terri Weinberg was one of the executive producers on the Office. She worked for Reveille, which was the company that owned the rights to the British Office, and they were part of developing the show for an American audience from the very beginning. Terri was part of our auditions. She was on the set of the pilot. She is just an amazing woman. And after the Office was over and I wanted to maybe get into some producing myself, I had gotten a script, and I didn't know where to start. I really liked it. It was From a writer submitted it to me, and I thought, how do I get this into the hands of the studios? Like, how do I try to sell this? And I called Terry, and Terry said, send it to me. I'll read it. Let's have lunch. I mean, do you know how much she's so busy and like, that she took the time to read this that I thought maybe I could do something with. She had lunch with me. She gave me all her thoughts. She laid out like, here's what I would do. Here's what I wouldn't do. And I ended up selling it to Warner Brothers. Now, the show didn't get made, but under Terri's guidance. And she said, always call me about stuff like this, Jenna. Always. This is what I do. Like, this is what I love doing. I love helping other women in this industry make their mark.

[Angela Kinsey]

Yeah. She has been incredibly supportive to us over all these years, is still in touch with us, is still such a huge champion. Whatever marker happens in our career, she celebrates it. When we wrote our book, when we got the podcast, just on and on.

[Jenna Fischer]

I'm sure if you look in our comments on Instagram, you're gonna see cheerleading from Terri in our posts.

[Angela Kinsey]

Yeah, she's the best.

[Jenna Fischer]

Yeah. Well, listen, that ends the webisode series. It was such a pleasure to watch.

[Angela Kinsey]

It was. It was really fun.

[Jenna Fischer]

But before we go, we wanted to share a few more of your stories of mentorship and our own.

[Angela Kinsey]

I'm going to kick us off with a letter that I just loved. It's from Kristen, from Virginia. And Kristin says, when I was in my mid-20s, I became infatuated with calligraphy. I received a gift certificate to take classes with a local woman named Betsy. She was probably in her 70s and was left handed, which is a challenge for calligraphers. So she wrote upside down. It was incredible to watch.

[Jenna Fischer]

Wow.

[Angela Kinsey]

Yeah. She was so thrilled. Someone under the age of 50 actually wanted to learn calligraphy. I was hooked on the art. For my very first class with her, I signed up for every class she offered and eventually asked her to be my mentor. I started taking private lessons, and she exposed me to so much about the art and different tools and supplies, lettering styles, artists, historical references, and so much more. I learned something new every week, and it really put me ahead when I started engaging in professional work and networking. Because of her, I started a business, wrote a book, started teaching, and became very involved with a professional calligraphy organization, of which I am currently the president. Wow. I know. In 2020, Betsy was diagnosed with advanced ALS and was unable to continue working. Shortly before she passed away, she referred a few jobs to me and told me that I was one of her best students. And Kristin put in parentheses, crying.

[Jenna Fischer]

I am crying.

[Angela Kinsey]

Yeah, chills. She goes on to say she wished me the best of luck with the calligraphy community. This year. I got to host a calligraphy conference in the very city she taught me in, and it's a really beautiful full circle moment for me. I wouldn't be where I am today without Betsy. I think of Betsy often and how selfless she was. She had no secrets. She just wanted to pass along her knowledge. The style she taught me called Copper Plate is actually a style she didn't love love, but she taught it in memory of a dear friend of hers that passed away. The mindset of generosity and legacy is something I carry with me daily that's making me tear up.

[Jenna Fischer]

Yeah, me too.

[Angela Kinsey]

Betsy was and continues to be an inspiration to me, and I'm so lucky I had the chance to learn from her. And thanks for the opportunity to share about this mentorship experience that means so much to me.

[Jenna Fischer]

I just love is that wonderful that legacy that Betsy has that she passed down?

[Angela Kinsey]

Yeah. Thank you.

[Jenna Fischer]

She changed that woman's life.

[Angela Kinsey]

Truly, truly.

[Jenna Fischer]

It's become her whole career now and.

[Angela Kinsey]

Just took such time to share her knowledge and didn't hold any of it back. Gave it all freely to her to share with her, to build her up. Kristen, thank you so much for sharing. That letter really touched us, and we're so happy now to know about Betsy.

[Jenna Fischer]

Yeah. Angela, do you want to share about a mentor you've had in your life?

[Angela Kinsey]

Yes. We both decided we wanted to share for this episode about someone who meant a lot to us and mentored us. And, you know, I just knew immediately who I was going to share about, and it's my grandmother, Lena Mae Kinsey. So much of who I am, of my values, of the things that I connect with that mean something to me, they all started with her. I've shared this before. I moved around a lot as a kid just with my dad's job. But my grandmother's home was the one constant place I had, and I would go and stay with her in the summers. And looking back on that time, oh, my gosh, I just cherish it. She just taught me so many things. I mean, I started to list them out in no particular order. She taught me how to work a riding lawnmower. She taught me how to drive a car. She taught me how to crochet. She tried to teach me how to quilt. I was just not very patient. She was an amazing quilter. She would put us all to work, all of her grandkids in her garden. The woman could grow anything. And I would spend hours with her in her kitchen. She always had something from her garden that she was making or chores that she would have us do. And it's so interesting because, you know, your parents might give you a chore, and you're like, ugh. But my grandmother would give me a chore, and I delighted in it. I was like, what can I do? One time, she taught me how to make a homemade ice cream using the peaches that she had picked from her garden. And, you know, in sort of going back and remembering, I have this book that she made me, and I started to go through it. I had saved all of her cards and letters. She was a very big believer in writing letters and cards. You got a card every year on your birthday to all her grandkids. She had a ton and her great grandchildren. But she also wrote me a lot of letters. She put together this whole book for me when I asked her one time, once I said, I would love to know more about our family tree. She put together a whole book for me of birth certificates and marriage license and just on and on about our family history. Jenna, here's a picture of all her peaches. She would just send me pictures from her yard. And these are the things that just mean so much to me that I still find ground me in my life now. She had a real heart for service. She volunteered in her community. She was a firm believer in, if you don't have something nice to say, then don't say anything at all. And I have these tangible mementos of her now. She made us all quilts by hand. She made each of her grandkids a little lacy cover for their baby Bible. But I look now in my own home, and I see all these touchstones that are her. If you went in her house, she had so many pictures, like, it almost looked cluttered because she just wanted everyone to see her family. And my house is so full of pictures. I once had a friend who was dating this new gal, and she was very chic. And she came over to my house, and she walked in and she goes, oh. She goes, I feel like I'm in a grandma's house. And I think she meant it to be snarky, but I took it as such a compliment. I mean, my kitchen cabinets, I purposely picked the color that was my grandmother's wallpaper. In her kitchen. Anyway, she was just full of grace and kindness. She was hardworking and earnest. I just loved and admired her. And as I went back through her letters and cards that she sent me over the years that I saved, I wanted to share just one sentence that she wrote to me, and it just kind of sums everything up. She had written me a card because I had just moved to Los Angeles, and I had shared with her that I was really struggling on how to start this dream of being an actor. No one in my family was an actor. This was a crazy thing for me to go to Los Angeles and do this. And the first sentence of her card she sent me said this. I believe you are on your way. There may be bumps in the road, but that makes the smooth part seem much better. So she's one of my biggest mentors, and my happy place is my yard with my plants and my hummingbirds. She had the most amazing hummingbird feeder. It was just a regular one, but it hung outside her kitchen window, and she would get a gazillion hummingbirds, and we would just sit there and visit at her kitchen table. And, yeah, I'm so thankful that I had her in my life.

[Jenna Fischer]

Lady, I am so, like, moved by your description of her, because everything you're saying, it is just living through you. Like, so clearly to me, as your friend, like, when you said that when you walked in her house, she had tons of pictures. I mean, this is a thing about you. Like, guys, Angela's fridge is covered, and you put pictures in frames. And I love how your home feels, but also, like, how many pictures of your hydrangea can you take?

[Angela Kinsey]

I know.

[Jenna Fischer]

And that's the picture of the peaches right there.

[Angela Kinsey]

I know.

[Jenna Fischer]

You know, like, she is living through you like this. I see her impact on you so clearly as you described this. All the handwritten notes you've sent to me, all of your digital clutter. It's all like, I'm just seeing her.

[Angela Kinsey]

Yeah.

[Jenna Fischer]

Oh, thank you for sharing that.

[Angela Kinsey]

Yeah.

[Jenna Fischer]

I feel like even after all these years, I just got to know you even more deeply because you shared that.

[Angela Kinsey]

Oh, you would have just loved her.

[Jenna Fischer]

I have no doubt. I love you.

[Angela Kinsey]

Well, Jenna, I know you have a letter that really moved you that was sent in to us that you would like to share.

[Jenna Fischer]

I do. So this letter was from Omar R. In Williamsburg, Brooklyn. Here's what Omar said. First of all, day one listener here. Your show and podcast has brought me so much joy. And anytime I have anxiety, hearing you ladies talk really relaxes Me and makes me feel like everything will be okay. My mentor story is unique in that I didn't know they were my mentors when I was younger. I was 21 years old at a bar in Brooklyn and two older gentlemen sat next to me and they overheard me talking to my friends and they said hi. They had just moved to the United States from France. We ended up talking most of the night and found out they had a dog who needed walking and taken care of every other month. When they were back in France for business, they taught me everything I know about etiquette. They brought me to my first ever dinner parties, events, Broadway shows. At 21, I didn't know about decorum, and honestly, I didn't know very much about reception respect. They believed in me and always encouraged me to work hard and make something with myself. Their kindness and motivation was what I needed. As a lost 21 year old, I walked their dog and sat their home for years. They moved back to France a few years ago, and I never fully got to thank them for everything they taught me about life. So say yes to those who are older and wiser. Say yes to those who motivate you to pursue your dreams. Say yes to those who have positive intent for your life. I now help run a creative department for a tech company, a position I would have never had if they didn't always believe in me to pursue my dreams and never give up. And then Omar said, thank you, ladies, for all that you do. Looking forward to hearing more and more stories y' all have to share. Also, finally watched the Edge because of your podcast.

[Angela Kinsey]

Oh, my gosh.

[Jenna Fischer]

And I now say to my friends, a good plan today is better than a perfect day. Plan tomorrow. And I have now become a mentor to my younger friends. And I owe it all to two random Frenchmen I met in a bar when I was 21. I'm 31 now. Aw. I just loved it.

[Angela Kinsey]

I did, too, because it's the kindness. And, you know, they were strangers, they were kind, and they helped this young person, like, have a sense of security, community, and that's a lifelong friendship.

[Jenna Fischer]

Yeah.

[Angela Kinsey]

That's wonderful.

[Jenna Fischer]

Yeah.

[Angela Kinsey]

Well, Jenna, I know you have a really special mentor you would like to share about.

[Jenna Fischer]

I would. I want to share about my breast cancer mentor, Clea Shearer. In all of my talking about my journey so far, I haven't had a chance to share about Clea. Maybe because it's so emotional.

[Angela Kinsey]

Right.

[Jenna Fischer]

But after I got my diagnosis, the only person I'd ever known who had had breast cancer was Christina Applegate. We had done a movie together, Hall Pass. It was after she had been through her surgery, and we shared a lot about it on that movie. She's such a wonderful person. After I got my diagnosis, I. I texted Christina, and I said, hey, do you have a minute to talk? And are you somewhere private? I have something personal to share with you. She texted back, I'm alone. Call me. And I called her, and I said, I have breast cancer. And Christina, who is amazing, she goes, I knew it. I knew it was breast cancer or Ms. I knew that's why you wanted to talk to me in private. She was like, damn it. Damn it.

[Angela Kinsey]

Oh, God.

[Jenna Fischer]

It was just so perfect, because I was like, I know, right? She's like, God. I mean, God, I just love her. So she was talking to me, and it was very clear at this point that I was going to have a lot of treatments, that chemotherapy was gonna be part of my treatment. And she said, jenna, my breast cancer journey was so long ago, and it did not include all the things that you're gonna have to go through. But I have a friend who just went through so many of these similar things. Her name is Clea. Can I put you in touch? I know she's a stranger to you, but trust me. So I texted Clea.

[Angela Kinsey]

Just someone you'd never met.

[Jenna Fischer]

Never met.

[Angela Kinsey]

Right.

[Jenna Fischer]

She sprang into action in a way that I don't even know how to ever thank her for. She answered every question. She comforted every. All of my nerves. She offered suggestions and guidance. But most of all, she was just a person who had done it before and was okay. And I needed to hear from that person so much.

[Angela Kinsey]

Yeah.

[Jenna Fischer]

And she has become an absolute dear friend of mine through all of this. We are still friends. She still counsels me, and she has inspired me to take on that role for others. And so.

[Angela Kinsey]

And you are.

[Jenna Fischer]

And I have been.

[Angela Kinsey]

Yeah.

[Jenna Fischer]

And what it taught me was that going through this whole thing, this whole mess of breast cancer and treatments, if I could somehow make it useful, if I could somehow help another person feel less scared, less alone, if there was any part of my sharing that was a comfort to another woman.

[Angela Kinsey]

Anything you had learned, anything that. Anything from this experience where you could help someone.

[Jenna Fischer]

Yes.

[Angela Kinsey]

Yeah.

[Jenna Fischer]

I wanted to do that. So while I haven't shared maybe a whole lot publicly, I have shared privately with other breast cancer patients. And it's a thing that Clea taught me how to do. She absolutely taught me how to be that for other people, because she was that for me. And. And that just kind of like open book sharing just meant the world to me. And so. Thank you, Clea. You guys might know Clea from the home edit or she's one of the hosts of ABC's Home Makeover, Home Edition.

[Angela Kinsey]

Oh, I didn't know that.

[Jenna Fischer]

Yeah, she's amazing.

[Angela Kinsey]

You always talk to me about Clea, but I never knew anything about her other than that she was the person that you could confide in during this time and get knowledge from.

[Jenna Fischer]

Yes. I mean, since we're talking about her, you can actually watch it on Hulu. It's so great if you want to know this woman and how great she is. Like, there's a whole type of mentorship that happens as she's going through and helping people build a new home and rebuild their life through their homes. And who she is is so clear.

[Angela Kinsey]

I have heard her name for a year, and this is the first time. I mean, I just knew how special she was to you.

[Jenna Fischer]

Yeah.

[Angela Kinsey]

I'm so glad you shared about her because I have never met her. I just hear so much about your friendship and what she's helped you journey through, and I just want to give her a big hug. So I need to meet her.

[Jenna Fischer]

Well, you have to meet her someday. And you know, she works with her best friend, Joanna.

[Angela Kinsey]

Okay.

[Jenna Fischer]

And I got to go out to lunch with the two of them. And lady, I was like, is this what it's like to go to lunch with me and you?

[Angela Kinsey]

Oh, really?

[Jenna Fischer]

Because these Two are such BFFs. They're so cute. So we have to have a total BFF lunch sometime. Let's do that.

[Angela Kinsey]

I'd love that, but I feel like I'll get emotional when I meet her just because I just know that there were so many things that you needed during that time that myself and like your friend group and even some of your family members, we didn't speak the language. You know, we didn't have the understanding, and we gave you everything we could. But you needed a community that understood what you were going through, and Clea was a big part of that for you.

[Jenna Fischer]

She was. I mean, you would say to me if I was nervous about something, you say, well, what does Clea say?

[Angela Kinsey]

Yes.

[Jenna Fischer]

What did Clea think?

[Angela Kinsey]

Yes.

[Jenna Fischer]

Like, have you talked to Clea about that?

[Angela Kinsey]

Yes.

[Jenna Fischer]

So you definitely know her.

[Angela Kinsey]

I know that.

[Jenna Fischer]

Yeah.

[Angela Kinsey]

I'm so glad you shared. I know how important she is to you. I'm so happy that you shared.

[Jenna Fischer]

Yeah. Thank you, everyone, for listening to this podcast that has gone in so many different directions.

[Angela Kinsey]

So many different directions.

[Jenna Fischer]

I did not expect.

[Angela Kinsey]

This is a joy. We love doing it. So thank you so much for listening. Thank you for your letters that you write in just all of it.

[Jenna Fischer]

Yeah. And thank you, Kelly Cantley, Nate Federman, Ellie Kemper, for helping us out with this episode as well.

[Angela Kinsey]

Yeah. Well, we'll see you next week.

[Jenna Fischer]

See you next week.

[Angela Kinsey]

All right. Go hug your mentor.

[Jenna Fischer]

Thank you for listening to Office Ladies.

[Angela Kinsey]

Office Ladies is a presentation of Odyssey and is produced by Jenna Fisher and Angela Kinsey.

[Jenna Fischer]

Our executive producer is Cassie Jerkins, our audio engineer is Sam Kieffer, and our associate producer is Ainslie Bebekow.

[Angela Kinsey]

Odyssey's executive producers are Jenna Wise Berman and Leah Reese. Dennis.

[Jenna Fischer]

Office Ladies is mixed and mastered by Chris Basel.

[Angela Kinsey]

Our theme song is Rubber Tree by Creed Bratton.

[Jenna Fischer]

If you live in California and you're looking to buy a home, let's face it, buying a home in California can feel like a lot. It is overwhelming. But with a realtor, it doesn't have to be.

[Angela Kinsey]

Everything's easier with a trusted advisor by your side, someone who knows California real estate inside and out. I'm talking about your realtor.

[Jenna Fischer]

We love our realtor.

[Angela Kinsey]

We love our realtors.

[Jenna Fischer]

Like love, love. Still in touch with him.

[Angela Kinsey]

One of my best friends has become one of my best friends. Walked my sisters down the aisle at my wedding.

[Jenna Fischer]

A great realtor knows your neighborhood because they're your neighbors.

[Angela Kinsey]

If you're worried about how to make an offer, how much to put down contingencies, let your realtor do the worrying for you.

[Jenna Fischer]

Let your realtor focus on all that paperwork, all the hassle and the headaches. You can just focus on making your new home the place of your dreams.

[Angela Kinsey]

Whether you're dealing with deep in the search or just daydreaming of your forever home, you don't have to go at it alone. Learn what your realtor can do for you at championsofhome. Com.