Kate Micucci

Summary

POD MEETS WORLD: TEEN BEAT — KATE MICUCCI
iHeartPodcasts | February 25, 2026

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Episode Overview

This episode features Danielle Fishel in conversation with Kate Micucci, the multi-hyphenate actress, musician, comedian, artist, and author. Known for her roles in TV, her prolific voiceover work, her comedy duo Garfunkel and Oates, and her debut children’s book "The Monster and the Puppet Show", Kate shares stories from her quirky, creative childhood and her journey as a late-blooming but ever-youthful artist. This talk is rich with relatable reflections on awkward adolescence, the persistence of childlike wonder, navigating creativity and boundaries, as well as candid accounts of motherhood, mental health, and surviving cancer.

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Notable Sections & Key Insights

1. Childhood TV Obsessions & Dream Roles

[05:08 – 08:18]

• Kate reveals her deep love for TV and cartoons, especially Scooby Doo, and recalls circling favorite shows in the TV Guide each week.
• On landing Velma:
  “...it was when we were shooting the Garfunkel Notes TV show...I remember getting the call, and I was at a park...and I did a dance around a tree. I was so excited.” (Kate Micucci, 06:45)
• She describes surreal moments working as Velma alongside legends like Frank Welker:
  “I would just close my eyes and I’d think, oh my gosh, I’m with these voices. This is so crazy.” (07:34)

2. On Magical Career Moments

[08:18 – 10:26]

• Danielle and Kate discuss their “pinch-me” career moments—when childhood dreams come spectacularly true.
• Danielle shares her surreal experience landing "The Dish" after thinking she’d lost the job:
  “...there’s always a moment where I think I don’t have it...and then it all changed, and they called me and said, ‘It’s yours,’ and just—I couldn’t believe it was my life.” (Danielle Fishel, 09:42)
• Kate: “Those are the magic moments sometimes.” (10:13)

3. The Forever-Young Spirit: Creativity & Play

[15:10 – 20:32]

• Danielle observes Kate’s “forever young aura”—Kate laughs, shares stories of playing in NYC snow and building a 10-foot snowman with strangers.
• On creativity:
  “As I get older, I’m more aware that the things that I make really come from that childlike place. It’s not intentional...it just is...” (Kate Micucci, 15:45)
• Kate relishes making everyday moments joyful, like cheering at Mulch Fest with her son:
  “I think I just try to appreciate things...I hope I always feel [childlike].” (19:24)

4. Nerdy Passions, Unconventional Hobbies & Not Fitting In

[21:15 – 26:50]

• Kate was a shy, art-room kid—“I just kept to myself...I was very shy. I spent every lunch I could in the art room...” (21:24)
• Developed quirky passions: ukulele, puppetry, broadway cast recordings, film scores, and building elaborate train sets in her basement.
• Became an impromptu sandcastle building instructor at Shutters in Santa Monica:
  “Usually it was the parents that got excited...I ended up making sandcastles with a lot of parents.” (26:23)

5. Life Detours: Hawaii, Ukulele, and Family Support

[27:03 – 30:06]

• After art school, Kate took time off to stay with aunt and uncle in Hawaii, watering banana and pineapple plants in exchange for lodging.
• Describes the importance of parental/family support and allowing time to figure out passions.
• Grandfather bought her a ukulele in Hawaii—“it led to a lot of things.” (29:13)

6. Classical Training, Musical Roots, and Parenting

[30:06 – 32:36]

• Kate grew up practicing classical piano for hours daily, which she credits for her musical discipline and approach to projects.
• Discusses the struggle to get kids to focus vs. the structure of her own childhood.
• Swaps stories with Danielle about energetic sons and the chaos of parenting.

7. Teenage Years & The Highs/Lows of Adolescence

[32:53 – 39:44]

• High school was awkward but positive; middle school “was a bad time.”
• Fun anecdotes: being a ski instructor with her brother; the curious lateness of her romantic life—didn’t date until 24.
• On her surname’s “funny” reputation:
  “I didn’t know that there was...a dirty connotation for my last name until I was reading The Vagina Monologues when I was like, I don’t know, 25...then I was like, oh my God...” (34:33)

8. Childhood Confidence and Quirky Performances

[36:50 – 39:44]

• Kate was not socially confident but found her voice in performance:
  “...when I had a chance to perform...I was so excited and so confident because I was sharing what I had made...I love making things, but I equally love sharing them.” (38:33)

9. “Late Bloomer” Lessons & Nostalgia

[40:31 – 44:20]

• Kate sometimes wishes she’d socialized more, like hanging out in mall parking lots as a teen.
• Danielle takes a nostalgia trip—mall culture, 90s LA, and the “Topanga Mall”—mirrored today as she brings her own kids there.

10. Creativity, Boundaries, & The Monster and the Puppet Show

[49:43 – 55:38]

• Kate describes the inspiration for her new children’s book—a message about protecting creativity and energy:
  “This book is a lot about protecting your energy...being true to yourself...” (49:53)
• She gives credit to Mo Willems for mentoring her and notes her puppet “Camille” inspired the story.
• The book isn’t just for kids—“Even grown ups, if they just need a reminder...” (49:57)
• Danielle praises the message about boundaries:
  “I truly do not think I ever really mastered the concept of boundaries until I was in my 30s.” (53:28)

11. Motherhood, Postpartum, and Finding Inspiration

[56:01 – 58:21]

• Kate struggled with postpartum depression after giving birth in early 2020 and during the pandemic.
  “I knew something was deeply wrong...It was really hard and bad...so my husband said, why don’t we record your album?” (56:17)
• The kids’ album "My Hat" was both a lifetime project and a way out of depression, with help from her music-producer husband and musical friends.

12. Surviving Cancer and Gratitude

[58:21 – 62:40]

• On the day her kids’ album came out, Kate learned she had lung cancer (as a non-smoker); shares story of delayed diagnosis and successful surgery:
  • “...20% of my right lung out...it was found early...I’ve been cancer free...so I feel very lucky.” (58:51–60:37)
• Relates to Danielle’s breast cancer experience and the “scanxiety” they both face.
• The two emphasize the importance of health vigilance:
  • “...for anyone listening who’s putting off any doctors, just go, go check it out...do the blood work, do the things.” (62:28, Kate Micucci)
  • “Schedule the appointment, make the time, prioritize yourself.” (62:40, Danielle Fishel)

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Notable Quotes

• "You still have a direct pipeline to your childlike self."
  — Danielle Fishel (17:05)
• "The 12-year-old is nearly 50...that's true, yes."
  — Kate Micucci (16:05)
• "My favorite thing is, like, I love making things, but I equally love sharing them."
  — Kate Micucci (38:33)
• "I’m more aware that the things that I make really come from that childlike place. It’s not intentional...it just is.”
  — Kate Micucci (15:45)
• “I have those moments all the time...where you’re like how is this happening right now?”
  — Kate Micucci (07:15)
• “Those are the magic moments sometimes.”
  — Kate Micucci (10:13)
• "Schedule the appointment, make the time, prioritize yourself."
  — Danielle Fishel (62:40)

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Timestamps & Key Segments

• 05:08 – 08:18: Cartoons, Scooby Doo, & Dream Roles
• 08:18 – 10:26: Magical career breaks and dancing around trees
• 15:10 – 20:32: The forever-young 'childlike pipeline' discussion
• 21:15 – 26:50: Quirky hobbies, sandcastle building
• 27:03 – 30:06: Hawaii, ukulele, and supportive family
• 30:06 – 32:36: Classical music training, parenting musical kids
• 32:53 – 39:44: High school, awkward years, nerd pride, funny last names
• 40:31 – 44:20: Nostalgia, Topanga Mall, 90s youth culture
• 49:43 – 55:38: Writing a kids book, boundaries, and creative integrity
• 56:01 – 58:21: Motherhood, postpartum depression, creative recovery
• 58:21 – 62:40: Cancer survival, gratitude, and health advocacy

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Memorable Moments

• Kate’s joyful recounting of building a snowman with strangers in NYC. (16:00)
• Kate figuring out the double-meaning of her last name at age 25 thanks to The Vagina Monologues. (34:33)
• Confessions of social awkwardness and the safety of the art room and basement train sets. (21:24; 23:00)
• The story of sandcastles and parents who enjoy creativity more than the kids do. (25:35; 26:23)
• The shared “scanxiety” of cancer survivors, and advice to prioritize health. (61:03; 62:40)

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Closing Thoughts

This episode offers a blend of rich nostalgia, the importance of nurturing creativity at every age, and the realities of adult life—parenting, mental health, and health scares—handled with warmth and humor. Through Kate’s stories, both hilarious and poignant, listeners are reminded to cherish childlike wonder, embrace late-blooming creativity, build healthy boundaries, and, above all, prioritize their own wellbeing.

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Bonus: Kate returns for a special Friday episode featuring embarrassing childhood stories shared by listeners. Her book, "The Monster and the Puppet Show," is available now.

Transcript

[Bowen Yang]

The greatest to ever play the game, return to finish what they started. Welcome to Survivor 50. I wanted one more shot to play the game that I fell in love with 25 years ago.

[Kate Micucci]

I want to win against the best of the best. I chickened out at the final tribal. Season 50.

[Danielle Fishel]

It's an honor.

[Bowen Yang]

Light your torch.

[Kate Micucci]

I've got some unfinished business.

[Bowen Yang]

Be part of history.

[Danielle Fishel]

I have more to play for.

[Bowen Yang]

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[Danielle Fishel]

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[Kate Micucci]

What can't you do?

[Danielle Fishel]

Visit Capella. Edu to learn more.

[Bowen Yang]

This is Matt Rogers from Los Culturistas with Matt Rogers and Bowen Yang. This is Bowen Yang from Las Culturistas with Matt Rogers and Bowen Yang. Hey, so what if you could boost the WI fi to one of your devices when you need it most? Because Xfinity WI fi can. And what if your WI fi could fix itself before there's even really a problem? Xfinity is so reliable, it does that, too. What if your WI fi had parental instincts? Xfinity WI fi is part nanny, part ninja, protecting your kids while they're online. And finally, what if your WI fi was like, the smartest WI fi? Yeah, it's WI fi that is so smart. It makes everything work better together. Bottom line, Xfinity is smart and reliable. You deserve the Peace of mind of having Wi Fi that's got your back. Xfinity, Imagine that.

[Danielle Fishel]

Give me money for cigarettes I'll never

[Kate Micucci]

leave your cookie bed

[Bowen Yang]

I stay the

[Kate Micucci]

night and one night we can Two

[Bowen Yang]

or three years the kids are not

[Kate Micucci]

all right but that's okay.

[Danielle Fishel]

Cause no one here is take me. Hello, everyone. It is once again time for Teen Beat with Danielle Fishel. And lucky for this podcast, I am Danielle Fishel. And this is a podcast where I sit down with interesting people, hoping to turn the tables, forcing them to share their own awkward teenage stories with me. Because as a child, I performed for millions of people and a weekly salary, trading in my prepubescence for a national sitcom fame. And so now, 30 years later, I look at it like this. I gave you my childhood. It's time we hear yours. And this week, I'm joined by a guest who, in adulthood, paints on trash, plays the ukulele, and is one of the funniest people I know. So I can only imagine we're in for an incredible childhood. You've seen this adorable dynamo on TV shows like How I Met yout Mother, Scrubs, Raising Hope, and the Big Bang Theory, where she played Raj's love interest, Lucy. And she's a prolific voice actress, heard as Velma in the modern Scooby Doo franchise, webby Vanderquack on DuckTales, and she's even somehow the voice of Clayface in the Lego Batman movie. Not sure how that works. She was one half of the legendary musical comedy duo Garfunkel and Oates and released her debut solo album of music for kids called my hat in 2023. And now, yet another creative endeavor to excel in her. Her first ever children's book, the Monster and Puppet show, was just released and is available everywhere. What is left for this pocket sized genius? The Teen Beat podcast, of course. Welcome to the show. Actress, artist, author, musician, comedian, and friend, Kate Micucci.

[Kate Micucci]

Hi. Oh, my gosh, Danielle, that was just like the most heartwarming intro, and I thank you so much. That was so. That was really beautiful. Thanks for saying those kind things.

[Danielle Fishel]

You're so welcome. They are all true. You. You have led such an incredible, wonderful, beautiful life, and I can't wait to learn more about where it all started in your childhood.

[Kate Micucci]

I. I'm. I'm so excited to dive in. I'm. I'm just so thrilled to be here. It's great to see you, by the way. It's been. It's been a minute, so really nice to see you.

[Danielle Fishel]

Nice to see you. It has been a minute. I mentioned a few of your most notable voiceover roles, but I didn't even touch on Dogman or Angry Birds or Adventure Time. I mean, the list truly feels like it never ends. Were you a cartoon kid?

[Kate Micucci]

I was. I was very much a TV kid. Okay. And in fact, every Sunday, the TV Guide would come in the. The newspaper, and my mom would hand me the TV Guide and say, here's your Bible. And then I would circle my whole week. And I loved old movies, and so, you know. But I also, you know, just everything, you know. And so I watched a lot, a lot of tv, and I did watch a lot of cartoons. Scooby Doo being my favorite of all. And so when I got to actually be in Scooby Doo and play Velma, that was like, you know, truly a dream come true.

[Danielle Fishel]

Do you remember? Did you have to audition for it or did they offer it to you?

[Kate Micucci]

I did. I had to audition. And it was one of those things that came through, and it was when we were shooting the Garfunkel Notes TV show, and I was. You know, that time was like, an impossible schedule. And I got the call that they wanted me to audition, and I thought, oh, my gosh, what a dream. I would love to have that part. And so I auditioned, and I remember being in my closet, you know, recording it and sending it in, and then they had some notes. And so I said, I really want to get to these notes. I honestly don't know if I'll be able to get to them before next weekend. So the next weekend, they waited for me, which was so nice. And then I went back into my closet, and then I remember getting the call, and I was at a park, we were shooting, and I got the call that I got Velma, and I did a dance around a tree. I was so excited.

[Danielle Fishel]

I love those moments where, like, something you from the time you were a kid did. Did it ever occur to you as a kid, like, hey, I. I could do that someone is playing these voices and I want to. Or could do that. Or then when it ended up coming true for you, that you get to play Velma from your favorite cartoon, does it just feel like, how is this even my life?

[Kate Micucci]

Yes, I have those moments all the time. I wonder, you know, you've been doing this since you were a kid, so it was so much of your childhood that maybe it maybe doesn't seem as, like, fantastical or crazy. I don't know. But I'm sure you have those moments. Everyone does, where you're like, how is this happening right now? But there are times with Scooby Doo where we would all be in the studio. Gray and Matt Lillard and Frank Welker, and I'm with these legends, and I would just close my eyes and I'd think, oh, my gosh, I'm with these voices. This is so crazy. And Frank Welker, who plays Scooby and Fred, has been doing it since the very beginning. So we all grew up listening to his voice and Scooby Doo, among a thousand other things. And I would just close my eyes, and then I'd be like, oh, it's my line. Okay. And it was just the coolest feeling. So, yeah, I mean, there's definitely. I have those moments a lot. It's, you know, it's a cool thing. But, yeah, I'm sure. Do you have a good. Like, do you have a moment where you're like, I can't believe this. I'm. I'm sure with, like, even Dancing with the Star many times, you're probably like, what is my life right now? Yeah.

[Danielle Fishel]

But, you know, though, I think the closest one I have for that was when I started hosting the Dish for the Style Network. I was such a huge fan of the Soup when I was, like, going back to Greg Kinnear. I mean, the very beginning of it. I have always loved the Soup. And so then when I heard, oh, they're going to do a similar show but on the Style Style Network and they want it to be hosted by a woman and they want you to meet for, was like, what? I. I've never wanted a job more. I. I know this job. I'm familiar with this job. Like, I want this. It feels perfect for me. And so then when you accomplish the goal and you book, you know, you have the meeting and you. There's. There's always. For me, at least, it's always seemed like in every job that I've had that I've loved, there's always a moment where I think I don't have it, you know, or I really don't have it. Like, in that case, hosting the Dish, I. I did the meeting. They really liked me, but they had already had someone else on contract, and they were basically worried that contract wasn't going to work out because the person they had picked may be going to do a different show. She was in first position for. And so then they were like, oh, that show's not happening. She is going to host this show. And so I didn't have it. And, like, months Went by of me feeling like I wanted it so bad and I didn't get it. And then it all changed, and she did leave to go do a different show, and they called me and said, it's yours, and just. I couldn't believe it was my life. So, yeah, that's. That's. I was like, my God, when those moments happen, it's such a. It feels so good. I feel. I always feel like they're little signs that you're on the right path.

[Kate Micucci]

Definitely. I. I so agree. And I, like, even just as you're telling the story, I could feel your happiness and excitement about, like. Like, we. Then you always have that. That moment to, like, just, like, you know, if you're feeling down, you can remember that moment and be like, oh, right. Yes. Like, it's a. It's a gift in so many ways. And, yeah, I feel like. Yeah, those little, like, happy little dances, you know, in our. In our closet or whatever like those. It's just. Those are the magic moments sometimes.

[Danielle Fishel]

Absolutely. I picture your dance around the tree akin to Nicole Kidman dancing after she finally divorced Tom Brisk.

[Kate Micucci]

Oh, my gosh, those photos are incredible.

[Danielle Fishel]

Those are the greatest photos. Yeah, they're just great. I don't even know that I believe that. It's actually right after the divorce. I just. Whatever it was, she's so happy. I just love that for her, you know?

[Kate Micucci]

Yes, Yes,

[Danielle Fishel]

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[Bowen Yang]

Bowen Yang from Lost Culture Research with Matt Rogers and Bowen Yang. We all know the feeling when life gets really busy. Taking care of yourself can feel impossible. That's why Premier Protein shakes are my go to. They have 30 grams of protein, 160 calories, no added sugar and they taste amazing. So they're a healthy choice you'll actually want to make. It's not just for fitness, it's for getting after life. Premier Protein powers me to say yes to more Find your favorite [e-mail] that's P R E M I E R protein.com this is Matt Rogers from Las Culturistas with Matt Rogers and Bowen Yang. This is Bowen Yang from Los Culturistas with Matt Rogers and Bowen Yang. What if your WI fi was more than just WI fi? What if your WI fi made everything in your whole house just work together better? Well, Xfinity WI fi pretty much does exactly that. It's powered most elite high performing tech. Allow us to paint a very realistic example. Everyone in your house, everyone is on their devices at the exact same time. Gaming, working, swiping.

[Danielle Fishel]

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[Bowen Yang]

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[Danielle Fishel]

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[Bowen Yang]

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[Danielle Fishel]

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[Kate Micucci]

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[Danielle Fishel]

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[Kate Micucci]

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[Danielle Fishel]

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[Bowen Yang]

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[Danielle Fishel]

Listen to the ripple effect with Jenna

[Kate Micucci]

Kim Jones on the iHeartRadio app, Apple

[Danielle Fishel]

Podcasts or wherever you get your podcast. I don't think I'm speaking out of turn when I say that you have always had a forever young aura about you. When you were a teenager, did you

[Kate Micucci]

look like a baby?

[Danielle Fishel]

I'm just, I'm trying to imagine how you could possibly look younger than you do.

[Kate Micucci]

I, that's, thank you. I, I, it's funny because I just still, I mean, I think I hear people in their 80s and 90s talk about this where you still feel like you're in your 20s or something, but I think I do. I was trudging through the snow last night. I'm in New York City. It is just a beautiful snowstorm right now. And last night I was like, I've got to go out, I've got to go play in the snow because it was really good packing snow and I just was running through the snow by myself and I really was like, I feel like I'm 14, right? And then the coolest thing is I, you know, the great thing about the city is you just, people are friendly and they talk and I ended up making a 10 foot snowman with like 10 other people. And it was this incredible night. And but yeah, I do think, I think, well, to that point, I think we're all kids. Like this was a bunch of grownups making a snowman. And I don't know that. I mean, I think as I get older I'm more aware that the things that I make really come from that childlike place. It's not intentional. It never really was. It's just sort of naturally what happens when I make art or music. It just is, you know, if I'm, if it's coming from that core place in me, it's usually childlike in some way. Recently someone posted I love this, I should have like screen grabbed it because now who the. I don't know where it Is. But it said that 12 year old is nearly 50 and I thought that's true. Yes.

[Danielle Fishel]

Wow. No, it is, it's so, it's. To me, it's so inspiring because it is very clear that you still have like a direct pipeline to your childlike self, to the child within you. And for so many of us, as we get older, it becomes harder and harder to access that childlike part of us. And I was reading actually Captain Underpants to my six and a half year old the other night and we were in the chapter part of the book where he specifically mentions, you know, how adult. Anytime you get a group of kids together and they start having fun, I guarantee you within a couple of moments and some adult will come over and tell you to quiet down and you know, stop doing that. And he was like, don't believe me? Go try it. Go in a corner with your friends and start giggling and having too much fun and just wait and see. And other as I'm reading is going, yep, yep, that's true. And I thought, yeah, like I, I don't have as direct access to that childlike part of me anymore. And I don't like what. Do you think there's anything you do to continue to cultivate it or is it just naturally who you are?

[Kate Micucci]

I don't know. I think it probably is who I am in a lot of ways. I also really love trying to bring people in, in moments that can be celebrated, even if they're silly. I'm always the first to start cheering or clapping at something that might, I don't know. They had a thing called Mulch Fest here in New York where they take all the Christmas trees. People bring the Christmas trees to a certain spot and then they bring these mulchers and they like hand out bags and they just, you know, the trees get chopped into mulch and it's called Mulchfest. I've never been to Mulchfest. I'm new to New York City. So I said, I have a six year old as well. And I said, let's go to Mulchfest. And he was like, yeah, Mulchfest. And I didn't know what it was gonna be. And it was for most of the time just me and my son Mikey watching the mulcher. But then we like started cheering, like as the tree. I was like, yeah. And then like, we just like started making it a thing. And then more people like started watching. And then like we made it a little moment. And then the guys who were doing the mulch were like, this is really funny. Yeah.

[Danielle Fishel]

This is great, by the way. Thanks. It's helping us, it's giving us motivation to keep mulching these trees.

[Kate Micucci]

Yeah. So I don't know, I mean that's just an example of like I, I just, I, I think too, I just try to appreciate things and I, but I don't know, as far as the kid like stuff, I, I, I hope I always feel, I, I, I don't know. So far in my 45 years, I still kind of feel the same. So I guess hopefully it will continue. The other day I was walking down the street and there was this woman and she was, she had a cane and she was moving kind of slow. And I said, oh, hi, how you doing? And she goes, I'm great. And then a couple minutes, a couple beats later, she turned to me and goes, isn't it funny? I said, I'm great. I've got a cane and I'm moving so slow. I said, well, you look great. And I thought to myself, she had this youthful way about her. And I was like, I hope I'm like her when I'm her age, you know.

[Danielle Fishel]

That's so sweet. I love too that she realized, like, she probably hadn't thought like, how am I? Or you know, and then you pointed it out and her natural response was I'm great. And then she thought, I wonder what I looked like to that woman who asked. And what I looked like is an older woman walking slowly with a cane. And yet the truth is I'm great. I love that.

[Kate Micucci]

It was really sweet. But yeah, I don't know, I feel like, and I'm sure, you know, having kids, I was always very excited to be a mom because I always wondered what I would make with my kid. And I also wondered like what I would be like with my kid. And it does, it is a good way to tap in, you know. But yeah, Captain Underpants is a great lot of laughs in that way.

[Danielle Fishel]

Yes, there are. Well, for as young of an aura as you have, you also have very old fashioned taste. You play the ukulele, you had an educational focus on puppetry and you are an expert in sandcastle building.

[Kate Micucci]

Yeah, I mentioned sandcastle building.

[Danielle Fishel]

Yeah. I mention all of this to ask, were you a popular kid? No.

[Kate Micucci]

Shocking. No, I was not. Although I was kind of, I just kept to myself, you know, I was very shy. I spent every lunch I could in the art room, which is like one of those cliches you hear, but it was very true. And I kind of knew everyone and I Was, I think, friendly. But I never got, like, asked to the party or, you know, any of that kind of thing. And I didn't want to. I think that was my protective way about being. I was like, oh, I don't want that anyway, so it was a way of protecting myself that I wasn't invited to things because I was like, well, I'm. I'm good, you know. Right.

[Danielle Fishel]

You were rejecting them rather than them rejecting you. Yeah.

[Kate Micucci]

Take that cool kids yet.

[Danielle Fishel]

But where did that, like, influence come from for you? Were your parents into those things? Like, most, a lot of kids, at least my kids, all their reference for things that they're into come from pop culture. Things that are cool in pop culture, what their friends are into or things that Jensen or I are into.

[Kate Micucci]

Yeah.

[Danielle Fishel]

So, like, where did those interests come from for you?

[Kate Micucci]

You know, I think. I don't know. My mom was really great about taking my brother and I to the library. And I think that has a huge influence on me. The more I think about it as I get older, because we'd always be getting books and reading a lot. And then my favorite thing about the library was the, the tapes. And I'd always go to the Broadway section. And a big Broadway nerd just like ate up all of the. All of the music I could get. And I just remember feeling like I could get lost in those, you know, those soundtracks and also big film score nerd. And so I think in Hollywood, like, that was always, like, for me. I would read People magazine and Entertainment Weekly. Those are my two gateways into, you know. And my school librarian in high school used to save me those two magazines so that I'd get the old week old copies. She'd give them to me every week and I'd save them. And I, I think just like living in this pretend world. I grew up in a small town in Pennsylvania, yet I like, dreamt of, you know, I dreamt of Hollywood. I never thought. I just loved. I loved the idea of it and I loved, you know, I loved movies and I saw everything I could. And I guess I lived very much in a pretend world, I guess, in a way. But I also was just genuinely happy making things. I was always painting and drawing and I had a really cool train set. But, like, to paint a picture, my 16, the summer I was 16, the majority of my summer was in that basement making a train set. So I feel like that's really. That kind of says it all, I guess, right there. But, like, even in the train set, I had like my Hollywood Imagination and, like. Oh, and like, Jim Carrey, like, lived behind this. Like, you know, it was just like I had, like, the famous people of the time living in my train set in my imaginary world.

[Danielle Fishel]

I love that.

[Kate Micucci]

Yeah. So I. Yeah, I think I was. I didn't start dating, really until I was 24. You know, like, I was a. When they say late bloomer, that's really, really late in the scheme of most. Most people in life. But I've kind of always been a little slow to things, and I think that's okay, you know?

[Danielle Fishel]

Yeah, that is okay. I also. Well, I mean, compared to you, when I say I was. I was a little bit of a late bloomer in the sense that I didn't really want to experience. I mean, I had lots of crushes on boys, but I wasn't actually ready to act on any of those feelings until later than most. But I. All I wanted to do was focus on boys. Like, I just. I wanted to think about them all the time. I wanted to talk to them all the time. I wanted to write notes to them all the time. Um, but I had, you know, and then maybe hold hands. But compared to you, I think actually I was flying right along what you just described.

[Kate Micucci]

I was like, oh, man, I wish I was that brave.

[Danielle Fishel]

So brave. I do want to. I mean, I buried the lead a little bit here. Sandcastle building.

[Kate Micucci]

Oh, right.

[Danielle Fishel]

I'm dying to know. Where do you even pick this skill up?

[Kate Micucci]

You know, I worked at shutters in Santa Monica.

[Danielle Fishel]

Okay.

[Kate Micucci]

The hotel on the beach. It's a beautiful hotel. My brother was a doorman there. And so I. I was about. I don't know, right around the time I started dating, I was 24, and my brother was working there, and he said, I have heard they want to start doing sandcastle classes. And I told them, you're really good at making things in the sand. And this just came from being at the beach. Growing up with my brother, I'd always make things in the sand. And I was like, yeah, I could do that. But, you know, I was doing every odd job possible. Like, so I was like, sure. And then we ended up, like, it was a weekly class. It ended up being really awesome. It was just. The funny thing about it is usually it was the parents that got excited about making things, and the kids really didn't care at all. So I ended up making sandcastles with a lot of parents.

[Danielle Fishel]

Yeah. You know, it's funny. I thought my kids would be very. I was excited to teach my kids. Like, here's how you build a sandcastle. All they want to do is dig holes. Yeah, they just want to. They want to dig and like watch it fill up with water and then fill it back up. Or they want to be covered with the sand, which is like my nightmare. And I'm the one who wants to build. Build a sandcastle. So I'm gonna need you to teach me some skills.

[Kate Micucci]

Next time. Next. Next time I'm there. We can do it. Let's do it. Okay, great.

[Danielle Fishel]

Next time you visit la, we'll meet at the beach so you can teach me how to build a sandcastle.

[Kate Micucci]

I'm super down.

[Danielle Fishel]

You would assume that that might be the strangest thing you had ever done to make ends meet. But then I stumble on watering banana and pineapple plants in Hawaii.

[Kate Micucci]

That was. Yeah, I, that was more of a family gig, I guess you could say. My aunt and uncle lived in Hawaii on Big. They still do. They're on the big Is grew up in the small town, like I had mentioned, never had been to Hawaii. And I had gone to a two year art school. My plan was to be a toy designer. And I love the movie Big. And I think there was a part of me that was like, I want a loft with a trampoline and a bunk bed. That's the dream. And I thought, well, then I'll be a toy designer. But also I loved toys, so it kind of made sense for me. And so I went to a two year art school that had a great. It was like a good gateway to then going to school to be a toy designer.

[Danielle Fishel]

Yeah.

[Kate Micucci]

Here in New York. And then I. I just wasn't ready for the big city of New York City. I was like a little scared by it, I think. And my dad said, why don't you take some time off because, you know, school is expensive. And trying to figure out the right school. I didn't want to make the wrong decision.

[Danielle Fishel]

Yeah.

[Kate Micucci]

So my uncle, my uncle and aunt in. In Hawaii and Audrey and Uncle Eddie, they're the best. They said, stay with us. So I slept. They had this like covered porch and I slept in this giant chair that was my bed. And as my like, way of repaying them for letting me stay there for. It was only three months, but it's a good chunk of time.

[Bowen Yang]

Yeah.

[Kate Micucci]

I did all of their. They had huge farm of like banana plants and pineapple plants and I did all the watering, so it was great. Wow. Yeah.

[Danielle Fishel]

That is so cool. I love when family, both for your parents and your aunt and uncle for them to be so supportive, to say one. I mean, a lot of parents hear that their kids just spent a bunch of money on school or that they spent a bunch of money on school, and then I still don't know what I want to do. And youth and the. The. The response is not maybe you need to take time off. It's, well, well, then what have you been? You know, there's like, a different energy around it. But your parents really nurtured the idea that you needed to take your time and that you needed to really feel good about whatever was the next step for you. So they encouraged you to take that time off. And then for you to have an aunt and uncle to say, hey, come be with us for three months and figure it out and think about it, that's so cool.

[Kate Micucci]

Yeah, it was. You know, I think there's so much pressure put on kids to just, you know, they're expected to know what they want to be. And these days, I think everything's changing so quickly that who knows, like, what jobs are going to look like? Like, it's so hard to know what you want to be. And I still, every day I'm like, what am I today? Like, you know, I'm very fortunate that I get to jump around and try a lot of things. And I know that's a really lucky thing, but I feel like, you know, it's always great to just be open kind of. And I think that was the idea in Hawaii, too, where I was just like, all right, universe, like, send me some signs. And it really. I got some signs while I was there. One being that my grandpa, who was also there at the time, bought me a ukulele, and that's when I started playing ukulele. So. And, you know, almost cliche that I started playing the ukulele in Hawaii, but it led to a lot of things.

[Danielle Fishel]

Yeah, exactly. That led to so many things for you. Is that where you first realized you were a musician?

[Kate Micucci]

No, I grew up playing classical piano. So I think maybe the classical piano part of my life also feeds into my being just sort of a solitary person. But I grew up competing. My brother and I both competed with piano and, you know, was practicing. My mom really was very strict about it, and so we had to practice at least an hour a day. And, yeah, by the time I was a senior in high school, I was probably practicing close to three hours a

[Danielle Fishel]

day,

[Kate Micucci]

and then I just stopped for a while. I started taking it again in college, but I'm just so grateful that I have that training because I think my classical training, I don't have it. You know, there's a few pieces I still have in my memory, but it's more that I apply it to a lot of other things that I do. Even just how I look at a script or a project or, like, how do I kind of see it. Like, I do music. In a way.

[Danielle Fishel]

I wish I could get my children to focus on anything for even close to an hour, but I apparently am not being strict enough because, whew, that would be an absolute fight. We try to just do homework or, you know, practice reading and writing for 30 minutes a day, and, boy, you'd think I was holding their hands to a fire.

[Kate Micucci]

I feel you. We are in the same boat, you and I. Yeah. My son does not want to do. I mean, the reading, homework, if we get through it. And like, as soon as we're done, it's like it's over. But I think, I wonder, like, you know, by the time I started playing piano at 4 and Mikey is 6 and I don't know, like, I don't know when I really, really hope that he'll have an instrument that he focuses on, but I still am. It's a big question mark as to how I'm going to try to have him do that. I don't know. My husband's a musician, so he's all around music, you know, but I don't know. I feel the same way. I. I want him to have a focus. Maybe it's not music, maybe it's something else, but.

[Danielle Fishel]

Right, right.

[Kate Micucci]

Right now it's just flipping off the couch.

[Danielle Fishel]

Correct. Exactly. All the time. All the time. The minute he comes home, my son throws his backpack down, rips off his shirt, and goes immediately to, like, jumping off the couch, throwing the mat, throwing the cushions on the floor, practicing wrestling. I'm like, okay, this is so much boy energy.

[Kate Micucci]

We need to get the kids together next time. They said yes. Sounds like they'll really get along.

[Danielle Fishel]

I think they will.

[Kate Micucci]

And.

[Danielle Fishel]

And. And then we have my other son, Keaton, four and a half, and he's right there with them. I think the three of them will have a blast together. You mentioned being from a small town. What was high school like for young Kate Micucci in small town Pennsylvania?

[Kate Micucci]

You know, again, I was pretty. Pretty shy and. But I. I have good memories of high school. I think middle school was really rough for me. I think that was a bad time. And looking back, I was. I. You know, I just think even. Just like, you know, it's that that hormone shift and everything else. I was just kind of lost and sad and didn't know why. And then once I got to ninth grade, I think my body started evening out or something, so I started feeling like, oh, okay. And. And that's really when I was throwing myself into art a lot more and, you know, finding myself a bit there. But I feel like I have great memories of high school. It was just awkward, but it wasn't bad, you know? And, yeah, I think that I really loved my teachers. My senior year, they found mold in the high school, like, throughout the high school, and. And then. So I only had school for two hours a day, and that was a whole crazy thing. So my brother and I were ski instructors. So during the winter, we'd go to school for two hours, then go skiing. Like, there's, like, good memories there.

[Danielle Fishel]

Yes. By the way, ski instructor for high school. Sounds awesome.

[Kate Micucci]

Yeah, you know, we thought. I remember my parents saying, like, we thought, like, you know, get you in, like, the cool kid mix somehow. It really. My brother and I were, like, really the nerdy ski instructors. But, you know, it was, you know, we were teaching little kids, like, I'm very good at skiing backwards slowly.

[Danielle Fishel]

Okay, great. So that's the skill you took on from. Yeah. Okay, that's great.

[Kate Micucci]

So a lot of, like, memories of, like, snot and cold gummy bears as rewards.

[Danielle Fishel]

Oh, yes, yes. And saying, pizza, French fries. Pizza, French fries, as often as possible. When did your last name become funny to kids?

[Kate Micucci]

Oh, you know, it's interesting. That's such a good question, because I don't. I think it snuck up on me. I think that, first of all, I didn't know that there was, like, you know, a dirty connotation for my last name until I was reading the play the Vagina Monologues, when I was like, I don't know, 25. And that word was in a long list of words. And I was like, oh, my God. That is what. But that is why. That is why they were. This moment, this moment, this moment. It was like a. In my mind. So. So, yeah, that became funny to me then because I was like, how did I miss that? But then, of course, I was a sheltered, sheltered kid. But I. I. Kids love to say my last name, and kids love to say my full name. So among. I. I really kind of realized it when I was babysitting a lot. Like, after college, I was babysitting to, like, pay my bills and. And kids always said, Kate Micucci, Kate Micucci. And to this day, it's Just a funny. It's a fun, funny thing. I don't know, but I love that people. I love that kids know my whole name. It's very cute.

[Danielle Fishel]

It is very cute. I mean, Jensen had a best friend growing up whose name was BJ Service.

[Kate Micucci]

Wow. Wow.

[Danielle Fishel]

And none of them thought it was funny or knew it was funny until college, And I don't know how that's possible. But then in college, they were like. Jensen was mentioning him to somebody else, like, oh, well, my best friend, BJ Service. And they were like, you have a friend with the name? And he was like, yeah. What? I don't. What. And then obviously they were like, that's so funny. And he was like, what? How did. None of us. I don't know how that. I just don't know how that's possible.

[Kate Micucci]

That is so amazing.

[Danielle Fishel]

And. And.

[Kate Micucci]

And did he. He must have had a moment, bj, where he realized what it was. But I wonder for him what that was like.

[Danielle Fishel]

I know.

[Kate Micucci]

Yeah. He had my moment with the Vagina Monologues. There was something. Yeah, for sure.

[Danielle Fishel]

A moment where he goes, that's why they've been saying my name like that.

[Kate Micucci]

Yeah.

[Danielle Fishel]

Yeah. Oh. When you think about. I know we just talked about junior high, and also, junior high was not my favorite time in life. I think it's just rough for everyone no matter who you are. But. But would you have. Would you say you were a confident kid?

[Kate Micucci]

No, I. Well, it's funny. I think I was both things because I was. I really in. In social settings, I was not whatsoever. That middle school feeling. I still talk about that middle school. There's a lot of times in life today where I'm like, oh, I feel like a middle. I'm in middle school right now. Like, there's this.

[Danielle Fishel]

That

[Kate Micucci]

it's so. Yeah, I don't think that I. I wasn't confident. However, when I had a chance to perform then I was like, in eighth grade, we had to do this presentations on presidents, and I got fdr, and I just did this whole performance where I dressed like Uncle Sam. I built this box that you had to put a quarter in. And then the music started, and I pressed my little tape player, and then I came out and was an animatronic Uncle Sam as I presented this whole story on fdr. And then I had a whole puppet sequence with fdr, and then he gets sick and he turns green and all these things. And I remember my teacher having to walk out of the room, and I thought, that's weird. And I was like, oh, he must be laughing. Like. Like, he had to probably leave to laugh. But I. In those moments, I was so excited and so confident because I was sharing what I had made. And I think that's still, to this day. What is. Like, my favorite thing is, like, I love making things, but I equally love sharing them. And, you know, I'd write a song in college, and then I'd run across the dorm and knock on a dorm, be like, you want to hear the song I wrote? Like, I was always just wanting to share this thing immediately. And so I think I had confidence to, you know, be an animatronic Uncle Sam. And I also knew that the kids were loving it. And I remember being done with my presentation, and then a kid said, if I put another quarter in, will you do that again? And I thought, oh, I did it. Like, so. So I think those moments, I definitely had confidence. But when it came to, like, anything social, forget it. Yeah, I. I didn't even like to ride the bus. I was really scared. I didn't. There were big kids on the bus. Like, it was scary to me. And my dad would drive me in his electric van. He has a electric company, Bushkill Electric. So we'd drive in his van, and we'd listen to Howard Stern. And I thought that was so cool, and that was making me cool. But then there were many times where he had to turn it off.

[Danielle Fishel]

Yes, exactly.

[Kate Micucci]

He was like, oh, God, you turn that off.

[Danielle Fishel]

Yeah. I think I might have caught something I wasn't supposed to hear. What was the most amount of trouble you ever got into as a kid?

[Kate Micucci]

You know, I just. I didn't scared. I was so fearful, and I was such a. Like, a people pleaser. I wanted to please my parents. I. I didn't. I mean, maybe the worst thing would be, like, not practicing the piano long enough or something, but that really. How lame is that? I never did. I was not a rebel. Not a rebel whatsoever.

[Danielle Fishel]

I love that. It's not even like, I skipped practicing piano. You were, like, not practicing the piano for the full hour. You did it for 42 minutes. And then. Yeah. And you were like, nope, that's the most amount of trouble I ever got into.

[Bowen Yang]

Okay.

[Kate Micucci]

I sometimes do this thing where I go back, and I'm like, if I could go back in time and do high school again or do middle school again, what would I do? And I'm like, I just wish I had. I wish I had socialized more. And I think that would have been like hanging out in a parking lot. At the Walmart, But I wish I had done that. I didn't get that experience, but again, that's okay. But, yeah, I just wish I had had a little bit more outgoingness toward other people, because I do now. I love hanging out.

[Danielle Fishel]

Well, and even to hear you talk about how you'd make a song and then run down the hall and knock on the door, it's like when you felt inspired to connect with people, you would reach out and then it would always go well. So it's kind of surprising that that amount of feedback of, like, when I do go out of my comfort zone, it's always a positive that that feedback didn't make you inspired to do it in other scenarios. You just. Yeah, you just were very choosy about when you did it.

[Kate Micucci]

Yeah. Probably maybe a bit of fear of failing socially or something.

[Danielle Fishel]

Yeah.

[Kate Micucci]

But I have a question for you because, you know, you were in LA as, like, what was the. Where did kids go? Like, where did teenagers go? What was like, the hotspot in la at the mall. The mall? Which mall?

[Danielle Fishel]

The Topanga Mall.

[Kate Micucci]

Oh, how fitting.

[Danielle Fishel]

It was perfect. I was at the Topanga Mall every single weekend, getting my Vanilla Bean ice blended from Coffee Bean, going to Victoria's Secret. I, you know, was not. Had no reason for lingerie, but we would look at the bras, try on bras, me and my best friend Jamie, and then we'd wander around the food court, get food, you know, check in at the Charlotte Russe, see what there was.

[Kate Micucci]

Charlotte Russe.

[Danielle Fishel]

Yeah, it was the mall. The mall was pretty cool. And then, like in the Hollywood scene, Ed Dubevix.

[Kate Micucci]

Oh, yes. That was on La Cienega, right?

[Danielle Fishel]

Correct.

[Kate Micucci]

When I first moved to la, that was still there, but I think maybe for like, just a year, and then it went away. But that was. That was a cool.

[Danielle Fishel]

That was a cool hangout. We. We loved. We loved that. But, yeah, the mall. And it makes me very happy now because, like, a lot of things, you know, now we're moving into the nostalgia of the early aughts, but we have just been really inside a big 90s nostalgia craze. And as a part of that, I'm also noticing there are lots of young cools at the mall. I'm still at the mall every weekend. Yeah, I. Because it's my. It's what. What I know. And so I bring my kids to the Topanga Mall. Same mall, Very, very sheltered. Bring my kids to the Topanga Mall. We play at the arcade. We, you know, ride on the little train. That's there.

[Kate Micucci]

We.

[Danielle Fishel]

We wander, we see movies. We go to the Topanga Social, which is now like the elevated version of the food court, and we just hang out there. And I'm pleasantly surprised by how many young people are at the mall.

[Kate Micucci]

That is so fast. Yeah. I mean, that mall is gorgeous, if you can call them all gorgeous. That's probably one of the most gorgeous malls. Like, I feel like I. Yeah, that makes sense. And it's still, like a comfort for you. And then you get to share that with your kids. It's pretty cool. Yeah, I think. Yeah. I always wonder. I daydream about, like, probably in the time that I was, like, daydreaming about Hollywood in the 90s, I think. What was it? What was it for someone like you, a kid in the 90s. And, you know, and also, I should mention, I also lived vicariously through my so called life. Oh, that show was like, I dreamt of having, you know, a cool boyfriend like Jared Leto.

[Danielle Fishel]

Yeah, so did I. Yeah, I was not that cool. Yeah, no, I. No, that. That was. You know, I joke a lot that my mom. It's not even a joke. My mom would not Let me watch 9 My 90210 or Melrose Place. My mom was very much like, oh, no, those kids are doing things you don't even need to know about. And so I always just had to pretend that I knew what my friends were talking about at school. And they were like, did you watch? Oh, my God, I can't believe Brenda. And I was like, I know. Like, I just had to pretend like I knew what was going on. Going on because I wasn't allowed to watch any of it.

[Kate Micucci]

So, yeah, I understand that. I. I didn't watch 90210 or. And like, any of what I would consider, like, yeah, like cool kid shows.

[Danielle Fishel]

Cool kid shows.

[Kate Micucci]

Yeah.

[Danielle Fishel]

Yeah, I know. Most people are surprised to learn what OCD really is because pop culture has spread the idea that it's just about being super neat and organized, but that's not accurate at all. My husband has ocd, and I can tell you it is so much more than that. Real OCD is a serious condition where you get unwanted, distressing thoughts called intrusive thoughts. They're stuck on repeat in your mind, often focusing on people or things we care about, like relationships, identity, or character, making them hard to ignore. And then you feel driven to do certain behaviors called compulsions to try to make the anxiety stop. This obsession and undying desire to make it go away can completely derail you. For decades, Jensen ruined his own life and the happiness of those around him purely because he couldn't make the repeated worry go away. But he'd eventually learn it doesn't have to be that way, because OCD is one of the most treatable mental health conditions. Once you get the right kind of specialized therapy. OCD needs ERP therapy. That's exposure and response prevention, which is proven to be the most effective treatment. Regular talk therapy isn't recommended and can actually make OCD worse. NOCD is the world's leading OCD treatment provider and all of their licensed therapists specialize in ERP therapy with NOCD is 100% virtual, covered by insurance for over 138 million Americans, and includes support between sessions so you never have to face OCD alone. To learn more about starting OCD therapy with no CD, go to nocd.com and book a free call with their team. That's N O C D.com this is

[Bowen Yang]

Bowen Yang from Lost Culture Research with Matt Rogers and Bowen Yang. We all know the feeling when life gets really busy. Taking care of yourself can feel impossible. That's why Premier Protein shakes are my go to. They have 30 grams of protein, 160 calories, no added sugar, and they taste amazing. So they're a healthy choice you'll actually want to make. It's not just for fitness, it's for getting after life. 30 grams of protein gives you the fuel you need. It's not just for intense gym sessions, it's just for life. With the wide variety of flavors from cafe latte to cake batter, it never feels boring. There's a flavor for everyone. I personally love the peaches and cream, but maybe you're a root beer floater, cinnamon roll kind of person. Premier Protein powers me to say yes to more. Find your favorite [e-mail] that's P R E M I E R protein.com or at Amazon, Walmart and other major retailers. This is Matt Rogers from Las Culturistas with Matt Rogers and Bowen Yang. This is Bowen Yang from Los Culturistas with Matt Rogers and Bowen Yang. What if your WI fi was more than just WI fi? What if your wifi made everything in your whole house just work together better? Well, Xfinity WI Fi pretty much does exactly that. It's powered by their best, most elite high perform. Allow us to paint a very realistic example. Everyone in your house, everyone is on their devices at the exact same time. Gaming, working, swiping, Right? Because of course they are. And the finale of your Favorite show of all time of the week is on at the exact same moment. Well, you can boost the WI fi to your device with Xfinity. And have you ever asked yourself, what if my wifi could keep watch over my kids for me? Well, probably not, because that's a weird thing to ask yourself, But Xfinity wifi has parenting skills, even if you sometimes forget yours. Xfinity's like, don't worry. I'll monitor the WI fi. It's completely proactive, fixing issues before they even happen. Bottom line, Xfinity is smart and reliable. You deserve the peace of mind of having WI fi that's got your back. Xfinity. Imagine that.

[Danielle Fishel]

Breaking news, everybody. Not everything is terrible. I repeat, not everything is terrible.

[Kate Micucci]

The Ripple Effect with Jenna Kim Jones

[Danielle Fishel]

is proof that the Internet, it hasn't ruined humanity entirely.

[Bowen Yang]

Clean the world. We have almost 10,000 hotels that operate our soap and plastic recycling program. And we have created and distributed 90 million free bars of soap to children, families, mothers in 127 countries across the globe.

[Danielle Fishel]

It's like magic, you guys.

[Kate Micucci]

So put down your doom scroller and

[Danielle Fishel]

pick up your faith in humanity and

[Kate Micucci]

join me, Jenna, for the Ripple Effect. It's a reminder that you can start a ripple that changes everything.

[Danielle Fishel]

You really can.

[Bowen Yang]

Best stat of all is that the death rate to children under the age of five dying to hygiene related illnesses has decreased by more than 60% since the day we started.

[Kate Micucci]

Listen to the Ripple Effect with Jenna Kim Jones on the iHeartRadio app, Apple

[Danielle Fishel]

Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. So I want to talk to you now about the monster and the puppet show. I'm so excited. Your first kids book. As you know, we are huge fans of your art in our house. I am the proud owner of a Kate Micucci original, and now I get to introduce your work to my boys. So tell me, where did the idea for this story come from?

[Kate Micucci]

Well, thank you for saying that, you know, it really came from, you know, well, basically, Mo Willems, who I'm a huge, huge fan of, and I mean, he truly is. He's as wonderful a person as his books are. So funny and so cool. And he is that, you know, and when he was helping me figure out this book, along with his editor Tracy, who's become a great friend, he was saying, you know, you really need to have a story that matters and like, you know, something that's true to you and. And this book is a lot about protecting your energy and your creativity and just really kind of being true to yourself. In a way. And I think that is what I'm really proud of is I feel like even grown ups, if they just need a reminder of that. Even though this is a kid's book, it really does have that message. And yeah, so it really, it started with this book morphed a million times before we got to where we are now. But that process alone was very fascinating and very, very fun. And I knew I wanted, you know, this like, creature to be creating. It was like a monster creating. I wasn't sure. And then it became a puppet, which is perfect because I am a. Just a big puppet person.

[Danielle Fishel]

Yes.

[Kate Micucci]

Like I said, super cool. So it just kind of made sense. And my. I have this puppet Camille that I've had for 25 years now. And. And so she was really an inspiration for this idea of, you know, this creature finding a puppet and then, you know, what comes out of that. But. And then I also am really proud. I don't want to give anything away, but there is like a fun little twist at the end. And I, you know, I keep saying it's sort of like, you know, Sixth Sense, but way different.

[Danielle Fishel]

I love that.

[Kate Micucci]

But, yeah, and Mo, I will say Mo was just to work with him, was. And I've always wanted to publish a book. I have so many books I've written and illustrated and I've never done anything with them. So this is a dream come true that is happening, you know, at 45 now. So I'm really, really excited again. Late bloomer, I guess.

[Danielle Fishel]

Yeah. We are also a big Mo Willems house. We were gifted the Piggy and Gerald elephant and Piggy series by Paul Scheer. When we first had Adler, that was their congratulations on your baby gift. And it was perfect. I have read every single one of them at least a thousand times. Both my children love every single one of them. And I was very excited to see that in your book, on the last page, there is a pigeon. And my kids look through every book and. And want to see where the pigeon is at the end of the Piggy and Gerald books. And there are only two in the whole series that for whatever reason, the pigeon doesn't make an appearance.

[Kate Micucci]

Oh, really?

[Danielle Fishel]

And my children asked to skip those.

[Kate Micucci]

Wow. Oh, I'll try to get to the bottom of that for you because I don't know which ones. But, yeah, I'll find out for you.

[Danielle Fishel]

I'm invited to a party. Does not have a pigeon appearance at the end. So do I. And I'm trying to think of what I'll Figure out what the other one is.

[Kate Micucci]

Yeah, let me know.

[Bowen Yang]

I will.

[Danielle Fishel]

Because I have always wondered, like, how did the pigeon not make an appearance in these? And if I pull one out, Keaton will go, is that. Check the back. Is that one that doesn't have pigeon? And I'm like, no pigeons in this one. He's like, yeah. So it's. I was very excited to see that pigeon made an appearance in yours. Thank you.

[Kate Micucci]

It's an honor to have the pigeon. Yeah. It's just an honor to be associated with this world. And that it's an elephant and piggy reading book is like, I don't know. The whole thing has been so cool.

[Danielle Fishel]

It's.

[Kate Micucci]

It's very exciting.

[Danielle Fishel]

I love that you're creating boundaries and setting boundaries for kids, and I love that you specifically said. It's even a good reminder for adults, because I truly do not think I ever really mastered the concept of boundaries until I was in my 30s.

[Kate Micucci]

Yeah.

[Danielle Fishel]

I. In my 30s, all of a sudden I started looking around going, why do I have all of these situations that pop up where eventually something makes me very uncomfortable? And I just realized, like, wow. I don't think. I don't think I was very specifically taught that I can and should create my own boundaries around things that I'm comfortable with. I think you mentioned being a people pleaser, being a child actor. It's almost impossible that you don't become a people pleaser and that you don't always look to others for what you should be doing to make them happy.

[Kate Micucci]

Yes.

[Danielle Fishel]

And so you're very rarely in touch with what you want or need or what makes you comfortable, but you can pretty much immediately tell what other people need and want for you to do. And so it was really the first time in my life I was like, oh, I can set boundaries. So I agree with you that although this is a book for kids, parents and children will have something to gain from this wonderful book. So I'm really excited for the world to be able to get their hands on it.

[Kate Micucci]

Oh, thank you. Yeah. I feel like similar to you. I'm kind of new to being aware of it. I think having a kid really helps for. At least help me to go, like, okay, this is time with my son as he's small, and it really makes you go, okay, what do I say yes to? What do. How. You know, because I, you know, it's great to be able to. To spend so much time and. And be there for him. And. Yeah, I think. But also just in life, you know, Regardless of. Of, like, a kid's schedule or whatever else. Like, it's really good to know what you need as a person. Yeah, it's a. Yeah, it's. It's a hard thing to do.

[Danielle Fishel]

Yeah, it is.

[Kate Micucci]

Yeah. It takes practice. I guess I'm not quite there yet, to be honest.

[Danielle Fishel]

Yeah, it still takes practice.

[Kate Micucci]

And.

[Danielle Fishel]

Yeah, I agree. I'm. But. But at least recognition that we need them and we can do it is. Is good. It's like, it's in the forefront of our minds now. Since becoming a mother, you have released a kids book and a kids album. Did you expect to find so much inspiration in motherhood?

[Kate Micucci]

You know, I hoped I would. I. I, like, you know, I dreamt of having, like, a room of Legos. Like, I, like. Like, I was like, I just want to, like, play Legos. And then it was, like, a reason to play. I mean, I still played Legos without having a kid, but I think I. Yeah, I. The kids album came about in kind of a. Like, I had really, really bad postpartum depression, and I had Mikey in 2020 and in January of 2020. And then I. I knew something was deeply wrong because I'm. I was just operating at a level that I wasn't ever accustomed to. It was really hard and bad. So I went to a doctor and who had been recommended to me for postpartum, and I. I said, I think I might need some medication or something to get me out of this fog. And the woman was like, no, you're fine. You just have the baby blues. And then we went into lockdown for Covid. And so I had postpartum for, oh, gosh, probably a year and a half. And I was writing songs for him. But actually, a lot of the songs on the record were also from 20 years ago. They're like, songs I've been writing my whole life. And my husband was so sweet because he could see that I, like, was struggling. And he said, why don't we record your album? And luckily, he's a music producer, so Jake was like, let's just go. Let's just start recording. Let's just, like, see how that feels. And it was just a really sweet thing for him to do for me because that was really when I could start to feel it shift, you know, my. Like, I was like, oh, right, I do this. I make things. I can do this. And then also, it was at a point in the pandemic where we were able to have friends to come in and play different instruments, and everything just started feeling A little better. So my kids album kind of came out of that. And so in almost a different way of, you know, having a kid.

[Danielle Fishel]

Yeah. Different type of inspiration.

[Kate Micucci]

Yes, exactly. But I'm really, like, making that album was just so much fun. And we were all in a. Like, we did it live to tape, so we were all in the same room and I'm singing and our friend Brendan was on drums and my husband's on bass and my friend Sean's on guitar. And we're just like in a circle playing and recording. And it felt so alive and like, just really fresh and fun. And I think I'm very proud of the album, so.

[Danielle Fishel]

You should be.

[Kate Micucci]

Thanks. But then. And then on the day that the album came out, I found out I had lung cancer. So that was a whole other thing.

[Danielle Fishel]

Oh, my gosh.

[Kate Micucci]

But then that brings a whole other, you know, appreciation for life. And I know you went through your version of that and how lucky are we? And, you know. Yeah, I know. It gives a whole new perspective on things.

[Danielle Fishel]

Absolutely. How are you doing now? What was your treatment and how's everything looking for you?

[Kate Micucci]

I'm doing really great. I'm gonna knock on my head because it's like, there's always that little fear in the back. But I did just have my six month scan last week, so I leave feeling like, okay, I'm okay right now. But I was diagnosed with lung cancer. I thought, thought, that's insane because I've never smoked a cigarette in my life. That couldn't be. And, you know, to this point, I've talked about this a little on. On like my Instagram and stuff, but I. They told me I needed to go to the lung doctor because they had found a spot when I got a routine heart scan. And they said, you looks like you have something dangerous in your lung. And I just thought, there's no way. Like, I've never smoked a cigarette in my life. So I didn't go to the doctor and I let a lot of time go by. And then to my gp, my great doctor, just who's on top of it, he called me like months later and said, what are you doing? You haven't gone to the doctor. You need to go to the lung doctor. And I said, oh, really? Okay. And thank God, because I, you know. But they ended up taking 20% of my right lung out. And that was all I had to do. I mean, I say all because, yeah, the recovery was. I kept being like, I'm fine, I'm totally fine. But I'd say It took a good six months to feel like I was kind of put together again. So I was very tired. But that is a very lucky, lucky scenario that it was found early. It was able to just be taken out and I didn't need to do anything else. So, yeah, I've been cancer free basically since I had the surgery, and it's been two years now, so I. I feel very lucky. How are you and how is your health?

[Danielle Fishel]

Similar, similar. I only had to have two lumpectomies in 20 days of radiation, so.

[Kate Micucci]

Oh, that's wonderful.

[Danielle Fishel]

Yeah. I didn't need chemo and I have had multiple mammograms since my surgeries and no evidence of disease. So, yes, pleased to say also, same boat. There's always that tiny little bit of fear in between. You know, they think they call it scanxiety.

[Kate Micucci]

Yes.

[Danielle Fishel]

You know, around the time of it, getting another scan, you're always like. Because like you, I had zero thought in my mind that there could be anything wrong. I had just had a mammogram the year before and it was clear like. And I was, you know, it was like, I'm in my early 40s. As far as I was aware, breast cancer doesn't run in my family. I had one aunt who had also the exact same thing I ended up being diagnosed with, but it was like she. Even the way she talked about it was like, it's barely even cancer. It's pre cancer. It's. It's. So I. It wasn't in my mind that I would have any reason to have a concern. And so when you're like, wow, you can have zero concern and still have cancer.

[Kate Micucci]

Yeah.

[Danielle Fishel]

So, yeah, there's still some anxiety around there, but. But ultimately I'm in the same boat, Healthy, doing well and cancer free.

[Kate Micucci]

So, yes, I'm so happy. I'm happy. So, yeah, talking about it is always a reminder, you know, we're so fortunate. And I think, you know, for me, I, like, I'm sure you probably felt the same way where it's like, okay, I still get to do this. I get to do this. Is. I remember someone asking if I was really upset, and I was like, no, I feel like I won the lottery or something. Like, how lucky that this was almost a fluke in the way mine was found. And so, yeah, it just really is a great reminder that. To appreciate everything, you know, and yeah, I'm so glad. I'm so glad you're doing well and likewise. Yeah. And for anyone listening who's putting off any doctors just Go, go check it out. You know, do the blood work, do the things.

[Danielle Fishel]

That's exactly right. Schedule the appointment, make the time, prioritize yourself.

[Kate Micucci]

It.

[Danielle Fishel]

It. It is. I would always rather know than not know. And there's so many things now with so many different types of cancers that the earlier, you know, the amount out there compared to even just 10 years ago. Yeah, it's night and day. So.

[Kate Micucci]

Yeah. And I always say to friends, like, just get. Like you said, get the information. Just, like, get all the information then. And then you have it and, you know, and then you can. And hopefully everything's fine. And if there's a little weird thing, then you'll go down that path and figure it out. Yep. Yeah. Just try to. Yeah. To stay on top of it is a good thing.

[Danielle Fishel]

Yes, absolutely. There was no way I was gonna hang out with Kate and only do one episode. So this Friday, she's back for a bonus episode as we look to you, our listener, for an embarrassing childhood story sent via email. So make sure you have subscribed to the dedicated Teen Beat feed on whatever streaming service you use for podcasts. That way, whenever a new episode drops, it's in your library, no questions asked. And I'd love to hear your childhood cringe. So send a somewhat concise voice memo to teenbeatpodmail.com and next thing you know, we could be playing it on a future episode. Plus, Kate Micucci's first children's book, the Monster and Puppet show, is available now. Go pick it up, maybe even get a few as gifts for the kids in your life. Learn more on her Instagram aatemicucci. Teen Beat is an iHeart podcast produced and hosted by Danielle Fishel, executive producers Jensen Karp and Amy Sugarman, executive in charge of production, Danielle Romo, producer and editor Tara Subaksh. The theme song is by Mark Hoppus. Yes, that Mark Hoppus. Follow us on Instagram eenbeatpod. Take me.

[Bowen Yang]

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[Kate Micucci]

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[Bowen Yang]

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[Danielle Fishel]

Okay, so that's not like some marketing hyperbole.

[Bowen Yang]

You literally can't get just one.

[Kate Micucci]

They come in twos.

[Danielle Fishel]

So like, if you want just one, you're gonna need to find a friend who loves slow Roasted Chicken bacon and Avocado Ranch sauce. Or a friend of a friend.

[Bowen Yang]

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[Danielle Fishel]

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[Bowen Yang]

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[Danielle Fishel]

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[Bowen Yang]

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[Danielle Fishel]

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[Kate Micucci]

Guaranteed human.